What Are You Reading?

I've been reading Hugh Ambrose's "The Pacific" again, as well as Eugene Sledge's "With The Old Breed: At Peleliu And Okinawa".

 

I've read that one, its really good. Can't believe all the crap them guys went through.

 

I totally agree with you on that; I'm using Ambrose's and Sledge's books and books on Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan and Tinian as a basis for my story about a fictional platoon in the 8th Marines during the Pacific war.

 

I'm about done with "Halsey's Typhoon" (Bob Drury and Tom Clavin), and despite the jerky backwards-and-forwards start, with entire chapters devoted to naval history and meteorology (not as bad as they sound) interspersed, it was actually a very good book. Once the typhoon slammed into the fleet, I had a very hard time putting the book down (darn 1-hour lunches!).

Amazon.com: Halsey's Typhoon: The True Story of a Fighting Admiral, an Epic Storm, and an Untold Rescue: Robert Drury, Tom Clavin: Books

 

Anyone read Spandau: The Secret Diaries and can advise if it's worthwhile? I've already read Inside the Third Reich.

 

With the Old Breed by Eugene Sledge. Next on my list is his book, China Marine.

 

If you're interested in Speer, read Albert Speer: His Battle With Truth by Gitta Sereny. Absolutely incredible and the best biography I've ever read. I just finished Sereny's Into That Darkness: An Examination of Conscience, which was also incredible.
Sereny spent a lot of time with Speer while writing the book in addition to time with other members of the Third Reich.
Into That Darkness came out of 70 hours of interviews she did with Franz Stangl, the last of which was nineteen hours before he died. She also interviewed survivors of Treblinka and other SS staff from Sobibor and Treblinka.
I have not read any other Sereny books just yet, but those two were phenomenal and I can't recommend them highly enough.

 

Recently completed Flyboys by James Bradley. Good book, very detailed and informative. I'm shocked as to the atrocities that included cannibalism. Started D-Day by Stephen Ambros.

 

I've recently started Day of Battle, the 2nd installment of Rick Atkinson's liberation trilogy. So far so good.

 

Historical novel Killing Rommel by Steven Pressfield and The March to Tunis by Alan Moorehead.

Would also like any recommendations for books about Italian and British in North Africa 1940. Especially any Italian accounts.

 

Could someone please recommend some books that focus on the various perspectives of the North African Campaign (as in Germans, US, and the UK)

 

I highly recommend An Army at Dawn by Rick Atkinson. It's primarily from the US viewpoint, and most of the focus it on the US operations from Torch to the surrender of the Afrika Korps. I picked it up at Barnes & Noble for about $18.00 American.

 

Lions of Iwo Jima

 

Next:

General von Senger und Etterlin: Neither Fear Nor Hope , Presidio Press 1989

Dilip Sarkar: Angriff Westland (Air raids September 30th, October 3th and October 7th 1940.) Ramrod Publications 1994

 

Thank you for the recommendation, but I am searching for a book that covers ALL perspectives, not just the US. Also I read An Army at Dawn and it was great ; )

 

Just finished John Perry's "Sgt. York, His Life, Legend and Legacy" last night. EXCELLENT book, focuses mostly on his life post-WW1. There is a chapter or two on his early years, and a chapter about his military service, but since most other books devote all of their pages towards his growing up and military time, Mr. Perry went and followed him after the war. A fascinating look at a fascinating man, and one who is quickly rising to the top of my "historical person I'd most like to meet" list. I highly recommend this book to anyone who's interested in Sergeant York.

 

Last week I finished Civil War Trivia and Fact Book, a gift from a family member. Yesterday finished The Illustrated World War II Encyclopedia Vol. I. Only 23 volumes to go (gulp!!)