ŷ������

For those who like to enjoy some company while reading a good book on WW2 and a place to discuss aspects of their reading these are some theme reads I am going to set up for the rest of the year:

July Theme Read - Any personality of WW2; be it a soldier, airmen, sailor, general, politician or civilian.

September Theme Read - Any battle of WW2; be it on land, sea or air, any battle that interests you during the Second World War.

November Theme Read - Any weapon of WW2; any weapon used during the Second World War that fascinates you, be it a tank, rifle, plane or warship, in general; e.g. the Sherman tank, or a specific item; e.g. Bismarck.

Thanks Rick, you just helped me solve a dilemma. I'm on the first bit of Ishiwara Kanji and Japan's Confrontation with the West but also want to read An Army at Dawn: The War in North Africa, 1942-1943 in line with this month's theme. Now I can defer the former to July.

I'm glad that worked out then Chin Joo :)

Thanks for the reminder of the themes Rick.

My pleasure Geevee, I hope you can join in with some of the theme reads.

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "For those who like to enjoy some company while reading a good book on WW2 and a place to discuss aspects of their reading these are some theme reads I am going to set up for the rest of the year:

..."

Relative to the July read, is anyone familiar with the book, "Blackburn's Headhunters"? It's based on the WWII experiences of Donald Blackburn, a young officer left behind when MacArthur left the Philippines. Blackburn organized a guerrilla force to harass the Japanese and held out until MacArthur's return. As I note on my book on Oscar Koch, Blackburn was my regimental commander at Fort Jackson, S.C., in 1956 or '57, although I saw little of him. With jungle warfare in Vietnam in the not-too-distant future, he became an important figure in organizing U.S. special forces and eventually became a brigadier general. I've always intended to track down that early book about Blackburn (also made into a movie), but never have got to it. I'd like to know more about him, and if anyone has read it and can give me an evaluation (i.e., is it worth the effort?), I would be very grateful.
Robert Hays

I just read our group theme newsletter. I understand we can read any book(s) as long as they relate to that months theme and then we all discuss them in a big symposium of thoughts? Very cool idea. I look forward to the July theme read (my first with the group).

Hi Allie, I'll look forward to chatting with you in the July theme read, do you have a book picked out yet?

Ha! There's several waiting in my tbr but sadly, my library is ill-equipped. I'll have to do some searching until then!


I'll probably read about Churchill. Or I have a few "Band of Brothers" bios. Or maybe civilians fighting with the resistance. Lol, nope don't have one in mind yet.

Well any good book will do :)

Allie wrote: "I just read our group theme newsletter. I understand we can read any book(s) as long as they relate to that months theme and then we all discuss them in a big symposium of thoughts? Very cool idea...."

Great stuff Allie the more the merrier. We always have a great mix of books...which leads to me adding more to my TBR!

I hope folks have been searching through their libraries to select a good book for July's theme read?

I am always changing my mind but for the moment I have settled on this book to start the theme read off:

by Gilberto Villahermosa

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "I hope folks have been searching through their libraries to select a good book for July's theme read?

I am always changing my mind but for the moment I have settled on this book to start the them..."

I will go to my local library tomorrow and request an ILL of --

Man Of Valour: The Life Of Field Marshal The Viscount Gort, VC by John Colville

It was recommended by Geevee.

I'm pretty sure that will be a very interesting account. I'll be keen to hear your thoughts on the book and the man as we go along Manray9.

What a nice idea this threat is. (Thank you Aussie Rick for the newsletter) I'm not sure as to which extent I'll be able to attend in July, as I'll be facing 10 written examinations and the troubles of writing my own book.

However, I still have a german copy of in my locker (school is where I spend 90% of my time these days) so I hopefully will be able attend to some extent at least.

I already started to read this book at some point, mostly in the evenings, but it made me feel quite gloomy so I started to read it in school, forgot about it during the last examination's period though. So I'll hopefully give it another try next month :)

Best of luck with the exams Katriina. The theme reads are really relaxed so if you start there's no pressure to finish at the end of the month. It's done to get people reading a broad range of books and chatting about things, including introducing other members to titles they might not have found or thought of reading. We know people have all sorts of things going on - including being GR members other books and groups - so feel free to join in and meander along at your own pace.

What Geevee said :)

But lots of luck for your exams, I hope you pass with flying colours!

Not sure where my recommendation went. For a story of a WWII hero, I want to mention my Father in law. Oscar Weber. He was in the U.S. Navy for 40 years. His story is in my book, "from Shaniko to Pearl Harbor. He was in during Both world wars including his time stationed at Pearl Harbor. Here is an excerpt from the book, showing the kind of man he was.
Once, while out retrieving dummy torpedoes on a training mission, one of the two man planes in the sir got into trouble. It was apparent that the plane would probably crash.it was necessary to let the navigator out first. The pilot panicked, threw back his canopy and parachuted safely into the water. Oscar watched the plane crash and knew that the navigator had died. He got a signal to pick up the pilot, but he ignored the signal. He had to face a board of inquiry, and he told them he thought the s.o.b. could swim to shore as he had just killed his shipmate. He did not believe that was the way the Navy did things. Luckily the Captain at the trial was an old time officer and dismissed the charges against him for disobeying the order. At Pearl Harbor he spent 3 days rescuing sailors and retrieving bodies from the harbor. He was an asset to the Navy! Trinette Weber

Thank you Geeve and Aussie Rick! :) Usually there's alot of pressure on this kind of thing, so I'm glad I just can read along at my own pace. So thank you alot!

I'm hoping to pass with flying colours. One of these exams is history, so that should turn out well for me ;)

We don't do pressure here there's far too much of that in people's non-GR lives :)

Katriina. �� wrote: "What a nice idea this threat is. (Thank you Aussie Rick for the newsletter) I'm not sure as to which extent I'll be able to attend in July, as I'll be facing 10 written examinations and the trouble..."

Good luck, Katriina. Although it was long ago, I still recall all too well the pressure of completing my Ph.D. program. So much so, in fact, that as a teacher I always felt a good deal of sympathy for my own students as they faced their exams.

The July theme read thread is now open for those going to participate in the event.

I have been thinking about what theme reads we could try as a group for 2015. What do folks think of a battle theme every second month?

It could be books on the Battle of Britain, the Battle of the Bulge, and the Battle of the Atlantic, etc.

Every second month would be a different battle and for those little know battles that occurred during WW2 we could have a month set aside for books covering these little know or read about conflicts.

Let me know what battle or battles you would like to read about and I will try and set up some theme reads for 2015 where we could all get together and read some interesting books about these famous battles.

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "I have been thinking about what theme reads we could try as a group for 2015. What do folks think of a battle theme every second month?

It could be books on the Battle of Britain, the Battle of t..."

Good idea. Let me recommend Burma.

Good idea Rick, here is my 2 cents worth;
Singapore;
Tobruk;
Kokoda;
Kohima/Imphal;
Berlin; and
Kursk.

I better stop myself there before going to overboard!

James wrote: "Good idea Rick, here is my 2 cents worth;
Singapore;
Tobruk;
Kokoda;
Kohima/Imphal;
Berlin; and
Kursk.

I better stop myself there before going to overboard!"

I am up for Singapore and the Indian battles.

There are so many interesting battles we could read about and I may have to tweek the idea a bit. Like maybe themes for battles of 1941 or 1942, etc, or books on battles on the Eastern Front as a monthly theme read. We can discuss and play with this before 2015 at least :)

I don't know much about individual battles, so this appeals to me. Are these limited to ground, or can we suggest sea and air as well? I reckon they weren't called battles in the sky. Anyway, no matter what is selected I'll learn plenty.

That might be a good idea. You could even catogorise them into theater and early(39-41), mid(42-43), and late(44-45) war as well.

Darcy wrote: "I don't know much about individual battles, so this appeals to me. Are these limited to ground, or can we suggest sea and air as well? I reckon they weren't called battles in the sky. Anyway, no m..."

They will be open to books covering battles on land, air and sea, unlimited options :)

sounds interesting.
I have a few on Crete in my TBR I have been wanting to read if that makes the list.

Crete is a good idea and I think Malta would be also.

Sooo many battles and good books. We can mix it up as well with things like a theme month on carrier battles of the Pacific or a theme month of airborne/Para battles or great tank battles, etc.

Great suggestions by everyone, and thanks Rick for starting this off. My additions to the pot would be escape & evasion and naval actions in the south Atlantic.

POW's along with escape & evasion could work as well, good suggestion Geevee.

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "I have been thinking about what theme reads we could try as a group for 2015. What do folks think of a battle theme every second month?

It could be books on the Battle of Britain, the Battle of t..."

Great idea. So far as Europe is concerned, the Bulge is the big one. I know less about the Pacific but it seems to me there is a good number of possibilities.

I changed my mind about which book to start of the September theme month (of course). I decided to go with this book considering it will be the 70th anniversary of the battle in question:

Arnhem 1944: The Airborne Battle, 17 26 September by Martin Middlebrook

I purchased my copy in 1994, the 50th anniversary of Arnhem and its been sitting in my library waiting ever since!

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "I changed my mind about which book to start of the September theme month (of course). I decided to go with this book considering it will be the 70th anniversary of the battle in question:

[bookcov..."

AR, that's on my list too.

And now its going on mine :)

Excited for Septembers theme read!! Although I have no idea what I'll be reading :)

seems like this would be the best title for 'September' ..


It Never Snows in September

(just kidding AR, not that it wouldn't be good)

It fact it's one of my favourite books on the battle Carl :)

My first written corrrespondence/interview with a German was SS Lt. Gen. Wilhelm Bittrich when I was in high school. I had seen A Bridge Too Far and managed to locate him. Interesting man indeed. That led to many other such interviews when I lived in Germany.

An inspired beginning Colin!

A very interesting start to your writing career indeed!

So have folks been searching for which book or books they wish to read for the September theme month, any book/books on a WW2 battle?

Trying without success. I have been looking for a book on the Battle of Taierzhuang, perhaps the only battle in which the KMT army triumphed over the Japanese in China. Maybe I'll go for a Chinese book instead?

Sounds like a battle I will need to check out! I hope you find a decent book Chin Joo :)

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "So have folks been searching for which book or books they wish to read for the September theme month, any book/books on a WW2 battle?"

I will stretch the theme from a battle to a campaign with:

Desperate Venture: The Story of Operation Torch, the Allied Invasion of North Africa by Norman Gelb

Sounds like a good idea Manray9 :)

I'm going to read A Bridge At Arnhem, about Operation MARKET GARDEN and the Battle of Arnhem, for my themed read. I've actually already started reading it. Good book so far!