There's a current post in regards to book characters, I believe there was also one on book authors
Now the question is What are you reading this summer?
Here are my current reads.....


Good autobiography about John Fogerty and CCR.

Always liked Hank Williams, seen the movie now I'll read the book!


And last but not least .... Always had a big interest in the gangster era of time


This is what I'm reading so far this summer

I am reading "THE VENDETTA" by Melvin Purvis' son about his fathers dealing with J. Edgar.

Re-reading:
MURDER CITY
(Ciudad Juarez and the Global Economy's New Killing Fields)
Charles Bowden

and

ERNEST HEMINGWAY
(a life story)
Carlos Baker

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Halfway and one more step

At the moment, Lost Horizon, by James Hilton.

I just started to read ' The Point Blank Directive'.

Military historian L. Douglas Keeney's work on 'Operation Point Blank', the ambitious plan set forth by Generals 'Hap' Arnold, 'Tooey' Spaatz and James Doolitle to de-fang the Luftwaffe by D-Day.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

"White Hunters", by Brian Herne, who was one. This is a history of the profession and the men in it, from earliest days. A remarkable work!

Just finished, "Naked Greed", by Stuart Woods. I like his books about the NYC lawyer Stone Barrington better than I do his other stuff.

I'm slightly behind on John Sandford's Prey series and Virgil Flowers books. I need to get the last two, I think.

I like Victoria Houston's series about a female police chief in small town Wisconsin.

I enjoyed Suzanne Arruda's series about the American girl in Kenya in the 1920's and her eventual love, a former Army pilot in WWI. The author graciously credited me in her last few books as her firearms consultant. I appreciate it, but hasten to add that until we met at a signing and I gave her a spare copy of Taylor's, "African Rifles and Cartridges", she was getting advice (?) from a fellow college professor who seems to know VERY little of firearms. Suzane rejected my advice about the pilot's sidearm, as she wanted him to carry the Colt M-1917 that she saw him wearing in WWI France. A good choice, and I can't gripe. Those are her books. I leaned more toward a Colt M-1911 or S&W M-1917. She preferred the aura of Colt and Winchester as brands. And she preferred that her heroine Jade have a knife forged for her by a man on her father's ranch to the Marble's Ideal or Remington RH-36 that I suggested. But I have no real objection to the five-inch bladed one that Jade wears in her boot. I see something very like a Randall Model 5, and I like that knife. Her series is now complete, unless things change. But if you like reading about colonial Africa in those days, I recommend her books. They're a little too PC for me in some regards, especially concerning a young African who reminds me too much of a future Mau-Mau leader, maybe even of Jomo Kenyatta. But they're very readable. I recommend her site, designed by her husband Joe, another academic. The Arrudas were very cordial when we met. I'm sure we have some PC differences, but overall, I like the books. I prefer the African-set books by the late Robt. C. Ruark, but he's long gone, and Suzanne's books are worth a read, too. She consulted a number of original sources that I've also referred to, so authenticity is there, if a touch liberal, in my view. If you enjoyed, "Out of Africa", I think you -and your wife- will like Mrs. Arruda's works. I think there are six books in that series. Check her site; I think it's still up.

I'm largely into detective books, but read military history, too.

I've been re-reading, "Duels in the Sky" by a Royal Navy test pilot who flew about all Allied and Axis fighters, and, "Imperial Japanese Navy Aces of World 2" . And, "Fighting Mustang: The Chronicle of the P-51", by Wm. Hess. The RN pilot was Capt. Eric Brown.

Some of these books are long out of print. You have to look for them. Worth it.

Another member located a copy of Chief Inspector Colin Greenwood's book on gun crime in Britain, and how British gun crime increased as laws grew tighter! He told me that he had to get the book via a UK source and wasn't surprised that it seemed new, although printed in 1972. He feels that if the British public had opened and read that book, the laws there might be different. I didn't ask if I could use his name here, so I hope he won't mind if I mention his PM comments. He can add more if he likes. He's one of our more articulate, observant members. And that rarity, a conservative academic...

Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates.
Over 200 years ago and war still goes on.....

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

Got two books at the gun show last weekend. One: 'The Capture of Attu' by Lt Robert J. Mitchell, I haven't started yet. The other: 'Germany's V2 Rocket' by Gregory P. Kennedy, is very dry, but has all the facts, including some on the Russian developments, the firing tests conducted by Great Britain (which I'd never heard of), and an extensive description of the US firing of captured V2s from White Sands, including the two that went astray and landed in Juarez, Mexico.

I've been going through Donald Rumbelow's book:'The Houndsditch Murders and The Siege of Sidney Street'. Great description of the action, but since he's a retired British cop, very little information about the weaponry. I'd love to do a story on the weapons used: Dreyse 32s, a Bergmann Simplex and a couple of Mauser C 96s, but information on them from any source is pretty scanty. The Metropolitan Police weapons were practicaly useless. Each precinct station had a Webley revolver from around 1888, locked in a box with some ammo. Most precincts had lost the key. They had some Martini rifles in .303, but all had been fitted with Morris Tubes for indoor target shooting. There was no effective weaponry available until Winston Churchill got some Scots Guards from the Tower with .303 Enfields. He wanted them to bring a couple of cannon but cooler heads prevailed and that didn't happen. The cover picture shows a group of people, mostly wearing police helmets. There are two in front, wearing top hats and overcoats (it was Feburary and it was raining). The one peering around the corner is Winston Churchill. He always did like to get close to the sound of the guns.

I have multiple books presently in process of reading on my Kindle.

"December 1941 - 31 days that changed America and saved the World" by Craig Shirley. I'm presently at December 18th. Interesting book.

"Crazy Horse and Custer" by Stephen E. Ambrose. Just started it today. $1.99 at Amazon with a dollar promo credit, so a whole dollar for Stephen Ambrose. Sign me up for that any day.

"The Sinews of Peace" Post-war speeches of Winston S. Churchill. I'm at 7 November 1945, a speech to the House of Commons on Foreign Policy. Later in this volume is the "Iron Curtain" speech in Fulton, Missouri on 5 March, 1946, after which this volume was named. $1.99 at Amazon with a $1.99 rebate, so, free. Churchill, for free. Put me at the head of that line, please.

The most recent one finished was "Conversations with Major Dick Winters" by Colonel (ret.) Cole C. Kingseed, USA

Most recent "purchase" is Gibbons' "History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire: Complete" for Kindle at Amazon. 99 cents. Again, 99 cent promo credit, so... free. That one is going to take some time and effort, methinks.

Re reading "About Face" by Dave Hackworth." And reading the latest biography on Tecumseh Sherman. And also just got "The Last Gunfight” about the Earps, Behan, Curly Bill Brocious, John Ringo and the McLaury and Clanton families.

Just finishing "The Sum Of All Fears". Not sure of the next read. I was thinking "Rules for Radicals"

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Steve
The Lounge Rant Master

Tom Clancy? Dang, he was good!

If you want more Clancy, check out Without Remorse, The Bear and the Dragon, and Red Storm Rising, three of his more underrated novels. I can't read much of his stuff past Rainbow Six, although I'll admit that the Campus was kinda cool.

Personally, I'm powering through the last of the Culture novels (if anyone's familiar). After that, dunno. I might go back to working on Reacher books, but that stuff gets tired after a couple in a row. Maybe World War Z.

Every summer since the 60's, I reread two classics. Takes me back to times we shall never see again, and written by a master story teller of hunting, fishing, and a boy interacting with the adults of his community, and especially his grandfather, as he grows up.

The Old Man and the Boy, Robert Ruark.
The Old Man's Boy Grows Older, Robert Ruark.

As I now have nice summer cold, and we are under heat alerts for the next few days, it is time to begin rereading again.

Author's note
Anybody who reads this book is bound to realize that I had can real fine time as a kid.
R.R.
😎

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Wherever my mind isn't
Jim

I used to read a lot. Not so much any more.

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SDMF

Just finished
One Ranger, A Memoir by Joaquin Jackson

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SWCA #2306
DAV in honor of POP

Currently:
Emperor's Revenge - Clive Cussler Oregon Series
The Heart of Everything That Is - Bob Drury and Tom Clavin

Recently finished:
The Gangster - Clive Cussler Issac Bell Series
Devotion - Adam Makos
Unrepentant Sinner - Charles Askins
Texas Ranger - John Boesseneckei
Welcome to Hell - Patrick Turley
Memory Man and The Last Mile - both by David Baldacci
Thunder Below - Admiral Eugene Fluckey

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

Currently reading "Samaritan" by Richard Price.

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642-1, M&P15 TS

"a savage war of peace: Algeria 1954 - 1962" by Alistair horne.

I bought that frank hamer bio for my dad a few weeks ago. I want to read that one myself.

ive been wanting a Remington model 8 ever since learning he shot up bonnie and clyde with one.

too bad .35 Remington is so hard to come by.

I really like the books written by Duane Swierczynski. The latest one I'm reading now is Canary. Very good so far. His stories are quite gritty and may not be to everyone's liking. This author is very reachable and open to comments. I've e-mailed him a few times and he responds quickly.

I like some of the old westerns as well and read something every day. Right now I'm encouraging my grandkids to read. They have their I-pads and have a reading app installed. Every night there's time set aside for reading, sometimes by themselves and sometimes out loud as we sit and listen.

Read the "Lincoln Lawyer" series while on vacation. Bought "Castner's Cutthroats" about the Alaskan Scouts during WWII=laid up with an injury, so I'm reading it now. VERY good. Re-read some Elmore Leonard before we left. Wife bough me the Harry Bosch series (offshoot of Lincoln Lawyer series) to read while I'm laid up. That's next in line.

My fiance gave me the book "Killing Jesus", but I haven't read it yet.

Killing Jesus | Killing Jesus

Just finished The Men in Blue series by W.E.B. Griffin. Before that it was Stephen E. Ambrose's "D-Day". Now I'm on page 74 of 1143 pages of "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" by William L. Shirer. That will keep me busy for a while!

Rise and fall was a very good book, and brought forth one possibility that I hadn't thought of, nor ever heard discussed. I won't say what it was until you finish the book.

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

Just finished reading Texas Rangers: The Epic Life of Frank Hamer. Great book.


And currently reading In The President's Secret Service. An interesting read giving one a different perspective on certain government officials, past and present, and their wives (or girlfriends, as the case may be). Also gives a lot of insight as to not only the duties of the Secret Service, but to the hours and sacrifices these folks give.

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Pack light and cinch tight.

Whisky Advocate

In addition to dead tree books, also steadily go thru unabridged on CD ( formerly on Tape).

Literally right now, Wilbur Smith in hardback, Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle in paperback. Lois McMaster Bujold on CD. Recently finished Greg Illes latest on CD, and checked out the prevous two, now on standby.

The new Frank Hammer bio almost makes me want to pay retail for it.

WEB Griffin was mentioned. Its not great literature, but holds up well to multiple rereadings.

John Ringo once replied to an email.

Actually the Lincoln Lawyer is an offshoot of the Harry Bosch books.

The Apache Wars, just finished Texas Ranger and next is The Sun and the Moon and the Rolling Stones.
I've been a reading fool all my life.
Regards,
turnerriver

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turnerriver

I've read Wilbur Smith since he appeared in print, about 1965. But I think he's going downhill. He and Jack Higgins are both nearly 80.

The Narrow Road to the Deep North, by Richard Flanagan; Custer's Luck, Edgar L. Stewart; Ardor, Roberto Calasso; The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde.

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Not in jail.

Found a series by Jack Higgins. I kinda of like them a little older. The Sean Dillon series. A former IRA enforcer turned British special agent.

I would guess not to everyone's liking but awesome to me.

Just started Murder House by James Patterson. So far so good.

Run Spot Run.

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Dum vivo cano

I just finished "The First Congress" and if you think arguing, wrangling and difficult decisions are something new, read this book.

I am also on the last 100 pages of Paul Johnson's "History of the American People". He is a Brit and has some striking insights on some of our greatest heros and villains. He talks very pointedly about how the press used to cover-up for Presidents they loved(FDR and Kennedy) and even Johnson for a while and since then it's been all out war on Republicans.

I read Louis Lamour short stories on my Kindle until I nod off.

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Bob.
SWCA 1821

I'm currently working my way through all ten volumes of Charles Spurgeon's sermons from the mid 1800s. Some of them are trying, but most of them (especially this one http://spurgeongems.org/vols1-3/chs60.pdf ) are fantastic and moving.

Right now re-reading Public Enemies by Bryan Burrough, an incredibly detailed but very readable account of the crime wave of 1933-34 and the rise of the FBI to the role of a national police force.

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Oh well, what the hell.

Currently reading "Unbroken" about Louie Zamperini by Laura Hildebtrandt. Very interesting about life in Japanese Prison Camps.

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Support your Police, & NRA

Just relistened to American sniper, house to house, and seal team six.

Sent from my XT1030 using Tapatalk

Recent summer fare:

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Have a few going right now. The one that's got my attention presently is The Last Gunfight by Jeff Guinn, the latest in what's supposed to be the real story of the Earps, Clantons, and the OK Corral.

A Spenser book by Robert B. Parker, Now and Then. All his books are sho' nuff page turners.

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Real men love cats!

The movie was hard to watch. I think any military vet, especially someone who has been in a combat zone would have to struggle to keep it together while watching that and for the rest of the day.

My daughter and SIL took us to see it and I guess every one could read my emotional state on the way home. I was being very quiet and I'm NEVER quiet. When we got home my daughter pulled me aside and asked me if I was alright and apologized.

It caught me by surprise. No way I could get through the book.

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Real men love cats!

I haven't been reading as avidly as I have in the past, but I finished The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin a few weeks ago. I was a bit disappointed because it seemed to cut off just before the Revolution..I guess I'll have to find other perspective for more info on the time leading up to, and thru the founding of this country.

I've been looking for a few more suggestions, and this thread definitely has plenty to choose from.

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John 14:6, Luke 21:11

Ah, Tex, you're making me blush!

Yes, I'm the guy Texas Star is referring to... Thanks for the kudos. Yes, I'm reading the book by Colin Greenwood mentioned above. You can actually read the whole thing on the Internet for free, but I spend enough time at a keyboard, or on my iPad, I still try to read and collect real, mostly hardback, books. It is a shame that folks in the U.K. didnt take heed of the info in this book before they plunged into the mess that they are in now. We can learn a lot from their experience. In 1900, they had basically the same firearms freedoms that we had at that time.

Anyway, I am juggling that book with "Hitler's Generals", and just finished "Churchill's Generals", and have ready to read, the third, "Stalin's Generals". I just finished a three volume biography of Sir Bernard Montgomery. Also read his Memoirs, and before that reread the books of Eric Ambler, who wrote what I guess we could call "intrigue" books...spy stories, adventure, pre and post WWII European settings. I probably average about a hundred books a year, so along with guns and everything that goes with them, books are one of my overriding passions.

And of course, since I'm also an academic, I have to keep up with my subject, criminal justice, so I read in that field as well.

So I could probably fill up the page if I listed all the books that I'm into right now or in the recent past!!!

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

I just finished David McCullough's "The Path Between the Seas", about the creation of the Panama Canal 1870-1914. I thought it was a very good read.

I'm just starting "Target Tokyo" by James M. Scott



Piled up on the night stand ready to go next are;

"One Year After" by William R. Forstchen. This is the follow up to his book "One Second After" which I really enjoyed.

"Rough Riders - Theodore Roosevelt, his Cowboy Regiment, and the Immortal charge up San Juan Hill" by Mark Lee Gardner

"The Wright Brothers" by David McCullough. I've read several of McCullough's books and have liked them all.

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- Change it back -

Just finished Crises of Character by Clinton Secret Service Agent Gary J. Byrne. I have started Robert Humphrey's Once Upon A Time In War, which is the story of WW 11 - 99th Division.

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Sierra 255
Ret. LEO/ NRA-LIFE

Just finished "Find em, chase em, sink em", wwii submarines.
A book on chaplains during wwii.
Just started a book on George Washington written in 1800's and after that a book about people captured by Indians.

I read that several years ago. A very powerful and moving story. I have not watched the movie yet, but saw the post below yours about going to see the movie. I understand that it was pretty well done. The book is indeed a testimony to the limits of human endurance and faith. Zamperini was a true American hero. One of my best friends, who is Italian-American, would say that Z. Was a true Italian-American hero. I won't disagree.

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

Just started Micheaal Connelly the crossing (a harry bosch book) great crime drama

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Regards from THE Old Fart