Brideshead Revisited
Evelyn Waugh and Bryony Lavery
9.0
Rate It
Book
My theme is memory, that winged host - that soared about me one grey morning of wartime. Billeted to...
I Was Hitler's Pilot: The Memoirs of Hans Baur
Book
A decorated First World War pilot, Hans Baur was one of the leading commercial aviators of the 1920s...
George Orwell: English Rebel
8.0
Rate It
Book
An intellectual who did not like intellectuals, a socialist who did not trust the state, a writer of...
David McK (3369 KP) rated Blood's Campaign in Books
Mar 5, 2020
Which is where I live (well, in Northern Ireland).
Living, as I do, not that far from Carrickfergus in Belfast I was aware of the siege of Carrickfergus, and (of course) of the Battle of the Boyne - it's impossible not to be, living here! With William's victory celebrated by a section of the community every 12th of July - although the subjects were never really taught at all in my school days; seemingly more concerned with the Norman conquest or with the English Civil War or World War 2 than with 'local' history. In retrospect, I think that might be because local history is (still) a touchy subject: what is one man's hero, for example, is another man's villain in this country!
Anyway, I've gone off topic: Blood's Campaign.
An interesting read, with Holcroft Blood still an unusual protagonist (hinted as being on the autistic spectrum?), with - even for someone born and raised in Northern Ireland - some fascinating history thrown in, although (I have to say), that this one didn't quite grip me as much as Angus Donald's 'Outlaw' (Robin Hood) series.
The Kaiser's Web
Book
In bestselling author Steve Berry's stunning novel, former Justice Department agent Cotton Malone...
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated The Zig Zag Girl in Books
Jul 8, 2021
This was the twenty-sixth (and final!) book in my #atozchallenge! I challenged myself to read a book from my shelves that started with each letter of the alphabet.
"'The way the body was cut into three, each part put into a black box, it reminded me of a magic trick. One you used to do before the war.'"
I absolutely adore Elly Griffiths, but I don't read a lot of historical fiction, so I've always kept this series in my back pocket. When I needed a "Z" book for my challenge, this seemed like a perfect fit. No surprise, really, but this was an easy and interesting read. Griffiths is such a good writer, and this is written in what I've come to think of as Elly's style--a fun, enjoyable form, where she captures the essence of each of her characters so well.
The book is filled with magic and war stories. The mystery is quite captivating--it's a good case, which draws you into the story. And Edgar, Max, and their crew are very compelling. I enjoyed the themes of friendship and wartime, plus the surprising vulnerability that shone through in both Max and Edgar. I would certainly read the next book in the series. 4+ stars.
So Much Life Left Over
10.0
Rate It
Book
A POWERFULLY EVOCATIVE AND EMOTIONALLY CHARGED NOVEL FROM THE ACCLAIMED AUTHOR OF CORELLI'S MANDOLIN...
Historical Fiction First World War Family Saga
Countdown 1945
Book
From Chris Wallace, the veteran journalist and anchor of Fox News Sunday, comes an electrifying...
Post War Boy: Memoirs of a Baby Boomer: Part 1: Growing Up in Southampton, Ringwood and Christchurch
Book
They say if you can remember the Sixties you could not have been there. Well post war baby boomer...
Black Baseball in New York City: An Illustrated History, 1885-1959
Book
For the first time, witness and read about New York's most prominent black teams, from post Civil...