All About Pocket Knives

Just got this in..............

Just finishing this one.

I'm about halfway thru Killing Reagan. Nice easy read and there are so many details I had forgotten. I'm liking Nancy less and less as the book goes on.
Good read.

Ray

......."gentleman jim" by troy parker......the epic story of admiral james s. Russell.......another little known ww2 personality................... ..........................

Working on PEACE AFTER THE FINAL BATTLE, by John Dorney right now.
This is about the fascinating story of the Irish Revolution and Civil War in 1912-1924.

http://www.amazon.com/Peace-after-Final ... nal+battle

About halfway into Lords of the Plain by Max Crawford. Written in 1985 - got a copy at a used book store. Historical fiction account of the U.S. 2nd Cavalry's efforts to subdue the Comanches in the 1870s in west Texas. Contains probably the best descriptions I've read of the beautiful, powerful, and (especially at that time) foreboding landscape of the Llano Estacado and surrounding "badlands" areas including Palo Duro canyon. Good read.

"In late April, we came to the southern border of the llano estacado, it's escarpment rising 200 feet above the broken countryside we had passed through. McSwain turned our column, and for two days we rode beneath the walls of the llano, following its ragged border in a northeasterly direction. On the third day, the Tonk scouts reported they had found a way up onto the plain, and McSwain detached a scout of twenty troopers and ten Tonks under the command of Lieutenant Jeremy Jones. On May 2, we stood in camp and watched the column of thirty men disappear into an arroyo twisting up through the sheer cliffs that capped the plains. These men were never to return. No trace of them, their horses, or their scouts was ever found."

Ken

I'm currently almost halfway into "People of the Longhouse" by W. Michael and Kathleen O'Neal Gear. Recommended by my oldest friend.

There's a Randy Wayne White, "Doc Ford" novel titled "Bone Deep" waiting in the wings.

........ken, i'll have to show this to the wife, this is right up her alley!!!.......... ......................

This is an accurate account of an amazing stand by a small detachment of British soldiers against thousands of Zulu warriors. I also recommend the excellent movie "Zulu" starring Michael Caine and Stanley Baker.

Undaunted Courage by Stephen Ambrose.

The story of the Lewis & Clark Expedition for Discovery.

Charlie Noyes

I hope you enjoy that book, Charlie. I thought it was great.

Charlie, I have read almost all of Stephen Ambrose's work, including 'Undaunted Courage". Great book.

Ken, if you haven't read "Empire of the Summer Moon" by S.C. Gwynne, I highly recommend it. Great book on the Comanche's - especially Quanah Parker.

It belonged to the people that owned the cabin in north Georgia in which we vacationed last week.

I didn't finish it, got about half way through, so I need to find a copy somewhere.

I'm enjoying it a lot more than I did Sacajawhea.

Charlie Noyes

Unk wrote:
Ken, if you haven't read "Empire of the Summer Moon" by S.C. Gwynne, I highly recommend it. Great book on the Comanche's - especially Quanah Parker.

Unk, I read it a few years ago and agree it's a great book. Texas history is a passion of mine. Without a doubt the best account of the Comanche ever written. It's interesting to me that, thanks to Hollywood, the Apache are generally thought of by most as the fiercest of Native Anerican tribes. The fact is the Comanche ran the Apache (and any other tribe that encroached on Comanche "territory") completely out of the south plains.

Ken

Agreed, Ken. I enjoyed Empire of the Summer Moon about as much as any book I have ever read.

For those of you who are into WWII, I recommend "Tarawa (Too Young To Vote)" by Robert L. George. He describes amphibious landings on Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan and Tinian, when he was with the Marines. There was some especially hellish fighting on Tarawa.

I had the pleasure of meeting Bob around 2002 or so, while I was out in California on business. He was married to a cousin of mine, and we had a little mini family reunion, at which Bob gave me an autographed copy of his book. Bob passed away in 2005. What a fine, fine gentleman, as are almost all of the "Greatest Generation" that I have met.

http://www.amazon.com/Tarawa-Young-Vote ... 0971630208

Tarawa. Bloody Tarawa.

My former employer's father, John B. Richardson, Sr, on Tarawa.

I took this photo at his funeral a couple of years ago.

His son looks almost exactly like that. Amazing resemblance.

Charlie

Note the round dog tags. Now that's salty.

General David M. Shoup, the 22nd Commandant of the Marine Corps (and the Commandant when I joined the Corps) led the initial invasion of Tarawa as a recently promoted Colonel. His landing craft was destroyed by shore fire and he had to wade ashore (as did many Marines) where he was struck by shrapnel in the legs and received a grazing wound from a bullet in the neck. In spite of his wounds, Colonel Shoup continued to lead and direct his Marines until two days later he was relieved by Colonel Merritt Edson. For his leadership during the assault and the push inland Shoup was awarded the Medal of Honor and the British Distinguished Service Order.

Lately I've picked up two books at the Library and Linnea has sent one home with me that I've already read. At least they were not purchased books.

Just picked up and have started Stephen Hunter's "The Third Bullet" a Bob Lee Swagger novel.

jerryd6818 wrote:.....
Just picked up and have started Stephen Hunter's "The Third Bullet" a Bob Lee Swagger novel.

I'd be interested in hearing a report when you are finished.
Hunter has always been a favorite of mine.

Ray

Can do.

Just wrapped up reading the entire series of Vince Flynn novels. This last one was TERM LIMITS and it is not a Mitch Rapp story. The story was not quite as saturated with action as the others but still a very good read.
Also finished up HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN by James Lee Burke, my favorite author. This is a Hackberry Holland story and is he ever a flawed character. Burke's prose just seems to flow.

Ray

Paladin wrote:Just wrapped up reading the entire series of Vince Flynn novels. This last one was TERM LIMITS and it is not a Mitch Rapp story. The story was not quite as saturated with action as the others but still a very good read.
Also finished up HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN by James Lee Burke, my favorite author. This is a Hackberry Holland story and is he ever a flawed character. Burke's prose just seems to flow.

Ray

I too have read all of the Vince Flynn series and almost everything James Lee Burke has written. Since you liked those, if you haven't already done so, you might want to give these a try. These are all top shelf favorites of mine.

Randy Wayne White -- Doc Ford novels (currently 23 of them)
John Sandford -- His "Prey" series (currently 26 of them) and the "Virgil Flowers" series (currently 9 of them)
Daniel Silva -- Gabriel Allon novels (currently 16 of them)
Lawrence Block -- Matthew Scudder novels (17 at last count)
Lee Child -- Jack Reacher novels (currently 21 of them)
Nelson DeMille -- Most are John Corey and his wife, FBI agent Kate Mayfield (19 including some that are not John Corey)
Barry Eisler -- John Rain novels (currently standing at 9 of them)
Sue Grafton -- The Alphabet Series, she's currently 76 years old and has finished "X". Will she live long enough to write Y & Z?
John Grisham -- Anything by him is good.

There are more on my list but that's enough for now. I'm sure you've already "discovered" most of those authors but maybe there is one or two that are new to you.

Addendum: John D MacDonald died in December of 1986 but not before pumping out 21 of the Travis McGee series. Maybe a tiny bit dated now (because I've read all of them?) but anyone who hasn't read one or all of these should at least try one. You too might get hooked and dream of living on the Busted Flush.

jerryd6818 wrote:

Paladin wrote:Just wrapped up reading the entire series of Vince Flynn novels. This last one was TERM LIMITS and it is not a Mitch Rapp story. The story was not quite as saturated with action as the others but still a very good read.
Also finished up HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN by James Lee Burke, my favorite author. This is a Hackberry Holland story and is he ever a flawed character. Burke's prose just seems to flow.

Ray

I too have read all of the Vince Flynn series and almost everything James Lee Burke has written. Since you liked those, if you haven't already done so, you might want to give these a try. These are all top shelf favorites of mine.

Randy Wayne White -- Doc Ford novels (currently 23 of them)
John Sandford -- His "Prey" series (currently 26 of them) and the "Virgil Flowers" series (currently 9 of them)
Daniel Silva -- Gabriel Allon novels (currently 16 of them)
Lawrence Block -- Matthew Scudder novels (17 at last count)
Lee Child -- Jack Reacher novels (currently 21 of them)
Nelson DeMille -- Most are John Corey and his wife, FBI agent Kate Mayfield (19 including some that are not John Corey)
Barry Eisler -- John Rain novels (currently standing at 9 of them)
Sue Grafton -- The Alphabet Series, she's currently 76 years old and has finished "X". Will she live long enough to write Y & Z?
John Grisham -- Anything by him is good.

There are more on my list but that's enough for now. I'm sure you've already "discovered" most of those authors but maybe there is one or two that are new to you.

Addendum: John D MacDonald died in December of 1986 but not before pumping out 21 of the Travis McGee series. Maybe a tiny bit dated now (because I've read all of them?) but anyone who hasn't read one or all of these should at least try one. You too might get hooked and dream of living on the Busted Flush.

Jerry,
Thanks for this and I'll do a little research and pick one or two out.
I also have read much of Steven Hunter's work. Did you finish the one you were working on? To be honest, I was disappointed in the last two of his. It was sorta like he just 'phoned them in'. I didn't want to bring it up earlier since you were just starting one.

Ray

Paladin wrote:
I also have read much of Steven Hunter's work. Did you finish the one you were working on?
Ray

I sorta finished it. I struggled through the first 5/6ths and just skip read the last 1/6th. Some of it held my interest but a good part of it didn't.