A bit of reading material.

[[GG] SeaDogg]

Hey Tuncarl, Glad to know that you have enjoyed Richard Bolitho. I have read each and every one of that series at least 3 times and for some of the early ones many, many more. Im almost as obsessive about the books as Mel Gibson was about that book in 'Conspiracy Theory'. Remember how he had to buy every copy of the book he could find? What was that book anyway? Oh yea, "Catcher in the Rye.' Thats me, if I see an old Hornblower or Bolitho novel in a used book store I HAVE to pick it up and look at it. Sometimes the previous readers have left their marks inside, passages that they really liked, or their names or when they read them. Often these old veterans are cheaper than new reprints on the shelf so I own more than one copy of some volumes. One of my favorites is a first addition copy of Hornblower's "Flying Colors" which I bought for $4.74. It is signed by the gentleman who had read it- August 4th, 1939.

I have copies at home, copies in my Chevy, copies at my mom's so I can read at nite when I cant quite get to sleep. Some copies are for casual reference when Im writing in the forum on line or watching a movie on TV that isnt worthy of 100% attention.

Bolitho (Alexander Kent) got me thru some very tough periods of my life. I gained strength, experience and (I hope) a bit of seamanship from them that you cant get around fiberglass, dacron and aluminum. Coxn John Allday is my favorite character of all of them. What a fine man.

As for Hornblower, I happen to be reading him again during the day right now, I have free time at work here and there, I wont confess the other places that I sneak in a paragraph or two but more than one person behind me at a red light has honked his schnoz. I like CS Forester immensely. The more I read him the more I like him. If anyone is interested, there is a google-type discussion group devoted just to CSF and old Horatio and Forester's son has frequently posted replies in it. He has answered three emails Ive sent him in the past, something I really appreciated.

Bolitho's strength is the number of books, the depth of the characters and the way the series carries on beyond Richard's death, shot down much like Nelson was. Both authors always admitted they patterned their characters on Nelson. Its a great tribute to the real historical figure and offers insite based on solid historical accnts. The emotional side of the Bolitho books are hard for some to take, but I have always liked them. I saw many parallels in my own life in that regard even though my enforced isolation in order to play on the water was voluntary and not military in nature. Bolitho's last words as he lay shot through on his quarterdeck to his coxn: "Relax old friend, No regrets, We always knew.'' Hits like a fist.

As for Ramage, Lord Ash, the man is not silly at all. Dudley Pope was a fine yatchsman of his own accord and one of the best known historians England ever produced. CS Forester actually put the idea to Pope, while practically on his death bed, to write a fictional series like Hornblower. It was with Forester's permission that Pope found a place in fictional naval history for Nicholas Ramage to exist. Ramage books do one thing better than any other series. They are historically precise in all matters of seamanship. His descriptions of various evolutions and the innovative was sailors had of doing things were based on real data. You wont find a better source for that. Again, the love story just adds spice to it, but the use of equipment, men and guns is as good as fiction will ever be. Ive read everything Pope as well.


Of course theres two other guys that are very good. I like Dewey Lambdin's books- his character Alan Lewrie is of the same mold. The action is good and since Alan is a horny devil most of his life its a bit rated R- for raunchy in parts. But the navy and sailing ships is still the reason he writes, not the tother way around.

Patrick O'Brien is the only author many fans of the subject can take. I have not read very many of his books but of course, I have a special liking for the movie 'Master and Commander' as Ive bragged before. O Brien writes in a slightly different style and is not as easily readable to everyone, but some people live only for him and cant stand Kent or Forester at all. To each his own. Obrien is a legend regardless.

I guess theres nothing on land that parallels this in fiction.
Anyway, ''whoo'ed be a so'jer?''

Two other types of books of a different nature are also fun for me. The Clan of the Cave Bear series is a really fascinating go a Cro-Magnon man and based on solid archeology. ( Auel).

A husband and wife archeological team in North America (Gear)have also produced an astounding series on the American Indian. Beginning with ''People of the Wolf'' it follows select tribes and connects them to what is known or surmised of their religious and cultural origins, and uses solid evidence in the form of artifacts to paint a wonderful picture of various native american cultures. If you like this type of prehistory you cant go wrong and wont be bored.

[[GG] Tuncarl]

I have re-read the Bolitho books twice I think, but after 3 years in storage I have all my books back now, so I will be reading them again.

I also read some of Alexander kents books under his own name (Douglas Reeman) mainly second world war naval stories, and they are a great read. They really bring home some of the stuff ordinary people went through like the Blitz etc.
I can't remember the name but he also wrote 2 books on the British Marines set in the late 1800's

Jean Auel, books I also read, there has been a new one out for a while that I have to read, think the last I read was the 3rd one (The Mamoth Hunters ?)

[[GG] SeaDogg]

The last was "Shelters of Stone". That was a few years ago and word since has been that she will write only very slowly if she produces another. She's probably still hoping for a new archeological discovery that supports contact between cro-magnon and neanderthals. Its a slim but plausible thing now and the social implications of what she's created so far are too huge to commit a blunder with. thats life.

Theres a huge website and discussion group for those books too and you can get lost in it if ur not careful. Lot o Jondalar-lusting wimmen.

[[gg] Drake]

Hey,

Has anyone else read any books by Steve Berry?
He is a good author and he writes books that I put on par with the Da Vinci Code. His book the Templar Legacy was especially good and Im just about to read the Alexandria Link. Any ideas anyone?