What book is on your nightstand? Readers!

[Sillybilly]

On the third book of Miss Peregrine's home for peculiar children. It is a decent series, but not really what I was excepting, I am looking forward to finishing it up. Before that was A God in the Shed.

 

[triethylborane]

Wow, not read any of them, thanks, triethylborane. Added to my cart. Also interested in Weimar, though I have at least a decent command - but more from a social structure and coalition politics perspective, less on social or other history. The whole interwar interests me actually, so if you have any others, would love to read them.

My mind is thinking on Hajo Holborn's A History of Modern Germany series. Pretty misty now, but I was at one time particularly interested in the mid-19th century nationalist movements across Europe, and how it played in in Germany; and Holborn covers it well (it's V. 3; V. I is the Reformation, V. 2 is 1648-1840, V. 2 is 1840-1945. Holborn really lit me up as it was a theory of nation-state development that I was working on, using a lot of Germany's experience on the way to Bismarck as material. And he's dense in those mid- to late-century movements and trends.

Funny timing, literally just now bedside, re-reading the brewing material series (current, Malt), and just kind of aimlessly bored and considering another historical period. Ridiculous way in, I know, but watching with my wife the Tudors has rekindled my desire to dive in more deeply to the period, as well as English history generally (I have some Anglo-Saxon, but very surface otherwise). Tapped on re-reads of ancient history, and thought I'd read plenty on WWII so this is awesome - really looking forward to them, thanks again.1648-1840, and 3, 1840-1945).

Right now, I'm picking up a book I never got even close to finishing many years ago. Europe, Norman Davies. We'll see if I can make it this time, monster of a book.

Cheers, thanks again, triethylborane.

Albert Speer wrote "Inside the Third Reich" and he has another book which is a diary of his time in Spandau under the watch of the US, UK and USSR. "Inside the Third Reich" presents a Speer's perspective of events and of course he discusses his interaction and observations of Hitler.

"Hitler's Table Talk" is also a fascinating read, it is a collection of notes of the lengthy talks he would give at his, usually late, dinners.

Ive read snippets from Holborn's series, I think I have it on PDF somewhere. A lot of my other books regarding Bismarck-WWI-Weimar Rep-WWII are military oriented.

As for the Soviets, perhaps the definitive book is "The Gulag Archipelago" by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. That is a must read, particularly since you are interested in societal structure and actual historical facts. Brutal content.

Fire and Fury. Haven't started it yet but I had to get my copy to stash away before the book burnings begin.

Who is burning the book?

 

[user 246304]

Have read Inside as well as Gulag, the others, no. Personally I think Speer got somewhat of a pass though he spent 20 at Spandau. The "Urbane Face" of nazism, but he enslaved and murdered 1000's. May not have been with Zyklon B, but murdered nonetheless. The only thing I'm grateful to him for is his disobeying the Little Corporal's directive to bomb Germany back into the agrarian middle ages. A sort of Morganthau Plan, directed by his archenemy. Still, a good read. I've not read his account of Spandau, thanks.

And the Table Talk sounds fascinating. Yes, I did know of Hitler's predilection for extremely late night, hours long, rambling talks - compulsory, of course. That had to be a blast.

One I'll mention, if you've not read it, is Dreadnought: Britain, Germany, and the Coming of the Great War. A lot concerns the naval buildup to WWI. I'm very interested in the loss of what I'd call the great chessboard, central Europe, once Germany unified - it instituted a kind of stickiness when previously it was the map that provided flexibility in the State System. Bad for Germany, but it held for centuries. So, the zero-sum game both within the Continent and in colonial aggrandizement, post 1871. This book looks at aspects of this very well, IMO.

 

[user 246304]

Sorry, can't believe I spaced this as I love this book - Darkness at Noon. An early soviet revolutionary now in prison under Stalin's purges. By Arthur Koestler. Compelling read, imo.

 

[passedpawn]

As for the Soviets, perhaps the definitive book is "The Gulag Archipelago" by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. That is a must read, particularly since you are interested in societal structure and actual historical facts. Brutal content.

I've got to finish that on of these days. It's staring at me as I read this...

 

[headbanger]

 

[TANSTAAFB]

With the passing of the great Ursula K. Le Guin, I'm re-reading the Earthsea Trilogy for the umpteenth time since I was a kid. She'll be missed

 

[gratus fermentatio]

Project Smoke by Steven Raichlen

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0761181865/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

 

[hagar]

Second World War Infantry Tactics: The European Theater by Steven Bull

 

[Smellyglove]

Second World War Infantry Tactics: The European Theater by Steven Bull

This was a luck potshot for me just clicking into the thread to see what it's all about.

I'm above average interested in WW2, and this title seems very interesting. Is it a good and interesting read?

 

[Smellyglove]

NVM. I saw it was $12.49 for a Kindle edition and just bought it. Thanks for the post!

 

[hagar]

NVM. I saw it was $12.49 for a Kindle edition and just bought it. Thanks for the post!

Hey alright!
You won't be disappointed. I've both enjoyed the read and learned a great deal so far. I honestly thought it was going to be a bit of a slog but not at all.

Cheers!

 

[user 246304]

NVM. I saw it was $12.49 for a Kindle edition and just bought it. Thanks for the post!

Ditto - added!

 

[Vandulus]

Just finished yesterday - Persepolis Rising - The Expanse

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

Been reading Doug Stanhope's autobiography, Digging Up Mother: A Love Story.

Not sure if anyone else is into stand-up comedy, but he's absolutely a riot and based on the book has actually lived the sort of depraved libertine existence that he highlights on stage.

 

[gratus fermentatio]

Just picked up Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer, I'll start it this weekend.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0374104093/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

 

[Pkrd]

Just picked up Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer, I'll start it this weekend.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0374104093/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Looking forward to the movie.

I've got this bedside, need to finish the Rogue One prequel Catalyst before I start it.

 

[Homercidal]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077SCM3PG/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

This is a book by an HBT member. I've actually found it to be pretty entertaining! There are a few spelling/editing issues, but nothing major. The author is a friend of mine and a homebrewer near me.

It's a romance thriller type book. Not at all what one would expect from the author if you knew him.

It's a short read, which takes place on a light freight hauling ship.

I'm also starting to read a short series of books about some "C&C" (D&D, but without the risk of lawsuit...) players who magically get transported into their game by a sadistic DM. It's pretty funny and sometimes crude, but so far it's entertaining.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0088XPHOK/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

 

[pursuit0fhoppiness]

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime. and just finished Ready Player One, highly recommend for nerds. Spielberg making it into a movie.

 

[passedpawn]

Reading Billy Bathgate

Very interesting read. 2 hours, do it at work I sure like the way this guy writes. Entire (short) story is at link below.

Wakefield - E. L. Doctorow

If you are adventurous and read the Nathaniel Hawthorne original, let me know how they compare.

Well, I assume nobody read this I'm reading Billy Bathgate by same at the moment.

 

[aggiejason]

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime. and just finished Ready Player One, highly recommend for nerds. Spielberg making it into a movie.

+1 for Ready Player One. It was a good read, especially for anyone who grew up in the 80’s. I saw a trailer for the movie, however, and it seemed disappointing. Just read the book!

I just finished Artemis by Andy Weir (also wrote The Martian). It was an engaging read with a good mix of real space science and fiction. I’m a slow reader and still ended up finishing it in a day because I had trouble putting it down (and a long flight to Europe...)

 

[shoengine]

Atlas Shrugged. I'm taking a break from it though as I have classes, and it is an involved read.

Finished For Whom The Bell Tolls by Hemingway recently. That one was a good read, though I had to read up on the Spanish Civil War halfway through for some of the stuff to make sense.

 

[Steveruch]

A biography of Charles Darwin.

 

[Catoshy]

Robinson Crusoe.

 

[shoengine]

Robinson Crusoe.

Different than I thought it would be, but good. Kidnapped is a good follow-up.

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

Currently reading Artemis. About 70% of the way through. Digging it. Much different feel than The Martian, written by the same author.

 

[passedpawn]

I just finished Artemis by Andy Weir (also wrote The Martian). It was an engaging read with a good mix of real space science and fiction. I’m a slow reader and still ended up finishing it in a day because I had trouble putting it down (and a long flight to Europe...)

Currently reading Artemis. About 70% of the way through. Digging it. Much different feel than The Martian, written by the same author.

OK, you guys talked me into it. Adding to kindle now. I was much dismayed to have missed The Martian as a book. Won't make that mistake again

 

[passedpawn]

Atlas Shrugged. I'm taking a break from it though as I have classes, and it is an involved read.

Shrugged and Les Mis were the two books I was influenced by the most. Read both of them a couple of times.

If you get through it and want another similar, The Fountainhead is at least as good (IMO). Shorter, too

 

[MaxStout]

Some light reading--actually re-reading--an old fave from long ago, Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy.

 

[passedpawn]

Some light reading--actually re-reading--an old fave from long ago, Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy.

I also liked Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, by same author. Check it!