What are you reading at the moment?

[morse1001]

Sub-titled Fight to the last Man.

This is a wide ranging and impressive book, rich with details and stories of the British and to a certain extent French fall back to the beaches of Dunkirk.

He not only includes the military situation but also the diolauge between the British and French Politicos and how that effect the troops on the battlefield.

A very good read and well worth the time and expense. I doubt if there will be an finer book on the subject, so it worthy of a place in any collection.

[Kyt]

I've wondered about Flyboys - seems like a good read. I'm usually wary of such books about the USAAF as the seem to be a lot more gung-ho in comparison to the RAF memoirs and histories. I may have to give it a go.

Am in the middle of Hidden Victory: The Battle of Habbaniya by Air Vice-Marshal AG Dudgeon, about the defence of the RAF base at Habbaniya in Iraq by a small team of instructors of the No.4 Flying Training School based there during the insurrection by Iraqi rebels, and supported by the Luftwaffe.

And I really enjoyed Dunkirk, though it did take quite a while to read as I kept getting distracted.

[morse1001]

Sub-titled POWs of the Second World War in the Pacific.

I have to say that I did not really like this book, but I suppose that is because I read Surviving the Sword by Brian MacArthur which was by far a much better book.

But it does have its good points but not all that many. Still it fills in some details missed out by MacArthur and it was cheap from a book sale in the town!

[Kitty]

Saw a piece in last weeks paper on a new film that's coming out called Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, written in 1938. Sounded good so I bought the new reprint of it from Persephone Books. I have just shamelessly enjoyed a 'women's novel' from the 1930's.

And now back to the ruddy pdf's on moorland ecology and management.

[Antipodean Andy]

What was it about, Kitty?

I'm still on Owen's Down to Earth. Rather embarrassing as I got 50 pages into it, enjoyed it immensely, put it down (big mistake) and then got busy for a month! Back into it now and am immersed in the world of Mac!

[Nostalgair]

Good to hear Andy. I'm glad you're enjoying it.

I've had some great feedback through my website of late and a letter from a BofB veteran who read it as well.

My enthusiasm to launch into the next book is absolutely peaking at the moment. These tales need to be told.

Cheers,

Owen

P.S. I won't tell you how it finishes

[Kitty]

aww go on

Andy was basically about a 40year old spinster who gets sent to the wrong address for a job and ends up flowering and getting the life she has always wanted. Very Cinderella-ish. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Shame i can;t say the same for all the PDF's

[Antipodean Andy]

Motorworld by Jeremy Clarkson for a change. I do find myself reading it like he speaks though complete with tonal changes of voice. The Clarkson style I guess you'd call it!

[Antipodean Andy]

Alamein to the Alps - 454 Squadron RAAF 1941-1945 by Mark Lax.

[Kyt]

Just finished reading Guests of the State : The Story of Allied and Axis Servicemen Interned in Ireland During World War II by T. Ryle Dwyer. What, at first appears to be just about the crews that were interned, ends up being a great analysis of the difficult position that the Irish State was in over the long years of the war, with poilitical pressure from both within and from outside to join either side.

It also highlights how personality played a major part in the political conflicts.

At the end of the day, one actually believes that the Luftwaffe internees behaved much better than the Allied ones. But don't think this is a dry book. There are some great, and sometimes hilarious, stories of escape attempts. And the case of the American pilot was ordered back to Ireland by his superiors because he had broken parole and hence had not acted like a gentleman.

This site was invaluable for filling in the gaps on the technical details like serial numbers, outcome of crews etc:

Aircraft Landings Ireland 1939 - 1946