Brideshead Revisited
Evelyn Waugh and Bryony Lavery
9.0
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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
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A decorated First World War pilot, Hans Baur was one of the leading commercial aviators of the 1920s...
George Orwell: English Rebel
8.0
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An intellectual who did not like intellectuals, a socialist who did not trust the state, a writer of...
David McK (3425 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
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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
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A POWERFULLY EVOCATIVE AND EMOTIONALLY CHARGED NOVEL FROM THE ACCLAIMED AUTHOR OF CORELLI'S MANDOLIN...
Historical Fiction First World War Family Saga
Countdown 1945
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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
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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
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For the first time, witness and read about New York's most prominent black teams, from post Civil...