tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75088575786661975142024-02-08T02:31:37.627-08:00Felbrigg's Book ReviewHere I provide reviews of books as I finish them. I will give you my opinion and have no vested interest in the books or authors.Felbrigghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01277819393170407852noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508857578666197514.post-44322030959473218292009-08-30T07:41:00.000-07:002009-08-30T07:41:37.674-07:00Monte Cassino by Matthew ParkerThis book presented the story of a battle I had only ever heard of in passing. It's a tragic story of blood and death.<br />
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The Germans in Italy had build a massive line of fortifications and defensive positions across Italy to keep the allies in the south. Up against this line of stone and lead the allied forces butted their heads.<br />
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The fortress complex of Monte Cassino was extremely strong and caused misery and death on a D-Day scale for weeks and weeks. Yet despite this cost in the lives of young men who has heard of the battles of Monte Cassino?<br />
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This excellent book, is very readable, flows in an excellent style and combines historic narrative with survivors anecdotes to produce an engaging, perhaps even enthralling, story that is hard to put down.<br />
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I learnt a lot while reading this book. I literally had no idea about the battles covered here. I was astounded to read just how lethal and persistant the conflict in Italy was. Companies reduced to 10% strength and still being left in the line because no one can reach them to relieve them. Men without food or water stuck on exposed rock surrounded on three sides under fire day and night and yet staying in position not giving an inch. I was astounded by the tail contained herein, astounded that such heroic horror had escaped my knowledge until now.<br />
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In summary this was a terrific read.Felbrigghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01277819393170407852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508857578666197514.post-1042553308294679402009-08-16T06:19:00.000-07:002009-08-16T06:35:04.675-07:00Barbarossa : The Russian German Conflict 1941-1945 by Alan ClarkThis non fictory book takes an overview look at the entire conflict between Germany and Russia in world war two.<br /><br />It's written from a top down point of view, spening much time dealing with the German leadership and it's interactions and it's effects on the campaign and the battles therein.<br /><br />We do get a few anecdotes of individuals on the front line but more often follow the decisions made by generals at the front as they try to both please their masters in Berlin and counter the assaults being pushed forwards by the Stavka.<br /><br />As you move forwards through the book you follow the various campaigns in chronological order, from the initial incursion and the poor Russian response, right through until the Russian forces enter Berlin.<br /><br />I found the book well written and well paced. The word for word dicussions between Hitler and his staff were very enlightening. You get to see how his mind and abilities seemed to fade throughout the war right up until the end. the tactics and technology advancements were also covered in a broad way, that showed me the various tides to the war that until reading this book I'd had no idea about.<br /><br />All in all a good read for anyone with an interest in the Russion-German side of WWII.<br /><br />7/10<br /><br />First printed in 1964, reprinted in 2001 by Cassell & coFelbrigghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01277819393170407852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508857578666197514.post-71842392584740591702009-05-25T11:42:00.000-07:002009-05-25T11:49:48.369-07:00Blackout by Chris RyanThis book takes SAS diversion from the usual pattern of Chris Ryan's books. The lead character wakes up not knowing who he is, where he is, or why he's there.<br /><br />Certain things hint that he might be a soldier but he really does not know.<br /><br />The blurb on the back reports a possible terrorist threat is turning the power off in captial cities around the world. That's the plot, but the book does not leap into that because the lead characters main plot is finding out who the heck he is!<br /><br />The writing in the story is as good as any of the Chris Ryan books and as usual the action is pretty constant as is the pain the poor lead character has to go through.<br /><br />If you've liked any of the previous Chris Ryans books then your likely to like this one as well.<br /><br />It has as much action as his other novels but is improved by the mystery of the lead character has to solve, "Who am I"?<br /><br />6/10Felbrigghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01277819393170407852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508857578666197514.post-22782162597376721382009-05-16T12:38:00.000-07:002009-05-16T13:10:28.702-07:00The Sky People by S.M. StirlingThe Sci Fi novel starts with an slightly alternate history. Back in the 60s the Russians stayed ahead in the space race and actually sent a probe to Venus. Where they beamed back pictures of humans fighting Neanderthals in an earth like environment.<br /><br />Thats where this story takes off, with the east and west having set up minor settlements on Venus.<br /><br />The story follows one of the westerners as he greets a new influx of settler/scientists. Then the story moves into adventure. We have an epic voyage, wars, aliens and mysteries.<br /><br />The story is well written and features constant discovery of new things about this amazing world that keeps the interest level up. The adventure is engaging and the characters seem real enough, so you can follow the plot and really bury yourself in it.<br /><br />I read this in a couple of days. It was good. :)<br /><br />8/10Felbrigghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01277819393170407852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508857578666197514.post-53350654571499653162009-05-02T09:25:00.000-07:002009-05-02T09:40:04.342-07:00The Hit List by Chris RyanThis book was first published in 2000 when I still thought Chris Ryan was this big shot SAS guy who could write good books.<br /><br />Nowadays I think Chris IS a big shot SAS guy who gets other people to ghost write his books.<br /><br />There's a style in this book that doesn't seem to match that of the other books of his I've read, and not in a good way.<br /><br />The first half of the book has a lot of action and adventure but in no way belongs to the plot of the book. It's a case of this happens and then that happend and then the other took place and then the plot started. Once I got to the actual plot it was immediately obvious that the first half had been a virtual waste of my life.<br /><br />The idea behind the book is that the lead character gets recruited into a super uber secret government hit squad type affair. The first half of the book, and I literally mean half, is ex-SAS bloke gets mucked about a bit and peeved and is driven to the super uber secret group. Instead of half of the blummin book, that could have been dealt with in a couple of pages so why waste my life reading all that guff!?<br /><br />In the end, the book overall is okay, not great, just okay and if you like ex-SAS stories then you'll find this a time filler.Felbrigghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01277819393170407852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508857578666197514.post-7366339401051196642009-04-24T09:48:00.000-07:002009-04-24T09:56:30.548-07:00The Traveller by John Twelve HawksThis is a modern novel set in the very near future. <br /><br />The premise of the story is that down through history there have ever been "travellers". These people have been able to cross over to other realms and then return. The returned travellers bring back new ideas and cause trouble and revelation. The book hints that Jesus himself may have been a traveller.<br /><br />As well as travellers there have also been "Harlequins", these individuals dedicate themselves to protecting the travellers.<br /><br />Set against them are the brotherhood. Another underground organisation that dedicates to establishing law and order, and eliminating the disruptive travellers.<br /><br />Into this world the author sets his appealing characters who from the get go and born into action and adventure. I'm afraid to say too much lest I give away the plot!<br /><br />One night this week I went to bed at 9, determined to get a much needed early night, only to find myself still reading at 10:30! It's that absorbing.<br /><br />This is book one in a series and I'm looking forward to gettin my hands on the next installment.Felbrigghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01277819393170407852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508857578666197514.post-16362616766284221112009-04-15T10:22:00.000-07:002009-04-15T10:37:25.290-07:00Bomber Boys by Patrick BishopThis book is subtitled "Fighting Back 1940-1945" and that really gives the game away.<br /><br />This is a non fiction historical presentation. The author takes a look at all aspects of the Allied Bomber forces during World War II.<br /><br />He takes us from the Dunkirk campaign where the bombers were desperately out gunned , in pitiful machines and sufffered terribly, right through to the end of the war.<br /><br />I found this book a real pleasure to read from end to end. It's not some dry series of facts but the details are presented in a very readable humane way. The experiences of the lads flying the bombers are always at the fore in the text, so if the author is explaining some abstract political motivation it's done through the effects it had on the crews with anecdate and memoir.<br /><br />I found myself enlightened about a number of things relating to the Bomber forces. For instance how the design of the aircraft might cost crew their lives when bailing out, or how ineffective the machine guns in the turrets were. I was astounded to learn that the crew were being encouraged to use amphetamines when flying.<br /><br />The book does not shy away from the horror that the Bombers wrought on the ground, especially in the area-bombing of cities. It also highlights how the Bomber crews were forgotten after the war, or rather, sweapt under the carpet by an embarrased officialdom.<br /><br />An excellent and well written book.<br /><br />10/10<br /><br />.Felbrigghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01277819393170407852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508857578666197514.post-81701041028076145272008-08-17T02:56:00.000-07:002008-08-17T03:05:42.312-07:00Ultimate Weapon by Chris RyanI've become very suspicious of any book with Chris' name on the cover these days. The publishers are ghost writing so many books these days and Mr Ryan is apparently writing one book a week that you never know if he really did write it.<br /><div style="float:right"><iframe src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?t=booran-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&asins=0099492148&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><br /><br />Fortunately in this case is does not matter. The book is excellent. It's a high action adventure, where a retired SAS man gets roped back into service for one last mission. This old man is such a joy to read. He's cantankerous, unpleasant and self reliant and just such a perfect model of what your hero shouldn't be that he really brings to the book to life.<br /><br />All in all this book was really fun to read, high adventure in the SAS novel tradition, it even gives an alternate reason for the Gulf 2 conflict!<br /><br />If you like military adventure then I highly recommend this one.<br /><br />8/10Felbrigghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01277819393170407852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508857578666197514.post-73626438595529291312008-08-05T03:09:00.000-07:002008-08-17T03:05:12.145-07:00Infinity Concerto - Greg Bear<div style="float:right"><br /><iframe src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?t=booran-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&asins=0712618163&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><iframe src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?t=booran-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&asins=0099547104&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /></div><br /><br />I hate Greg Bear. I never used to hate him, but now I do. the first book by him that I ever read was called simply "Eon" which was a fantastic Sci Fi book. Absolutely great. then I read the sequel to "Eon" which was not so good but a passable sequel.<br /><br />Then I read a couple of his other books, none of which reached the heights of the Eon sequel...<br /><br />Then I read this book, "Infinity Concerto". In short I was totally disapointed.<br /><br />The story revolves around a young man who gets encouraged to enter another world thats hidden from our world. There he encounters other races, and finds humans subjugated to their power. He goes through the standard hero's journey until you get to the last quarter of the book.<br /><br />At this point Bear seems to have lost the will and started making up nonsence and writing tripe!<br /><br />The books ending seemed to pay no heed whatsoever to the main characters journey. Why go through all of this "training" this experience, and it have no relevance to the end game. Was it only there to fill pages?<br /><br />I'm very disapointed and I don't think I will be reading another "Bear" book. That said, I would recommend "Eon".<br /><br />2/10Felbrigghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01277819393170407852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508857578666197514.post-3393993292556886332008-07-19T02:13:00.000-07:002008-07-19T02:25:03.676-07:00Night of the Fox by Jack Higgins<div style="float:right"><iframe src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?t=booran-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&asins=0451189736&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><br />This is a world war two story and is a jolly good yarn. An American Colonel with all of the details about D-Day in his head gets torpedoed and ends up drifting to the German occupied island of Jersey. The Allies have to get him out... or kill him.<br /><br />They turn to a man with a history. A professor that can act, think and behave like a true Nazi. He is smuggeled into Jersey and his mission is to get the Colonel out, or kill him.<br /><br />The story is gripping from the beginning. I found that I was drawn to the main character almost immediately. As his history is revealed this apparently cold heartless man is proved to be anything but. Every page is full of the tension that Higgins is very good at creating. The bluff and counter bluff add interest and confusion to the story and the sense of impending doom keep even the most mundane of occurances a high tension moment.<br /><br />I got through the book in just a few days and found myself staying up too late and suffering the next day because I kept reading.<br /><br />7/10Felbrigghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01277819393170407852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508857578666197514.post-7431611777193684642008-07-09T01:29:00.000-07:002008-07-09T01:38:05.883-07:00Flash Flood by Chris Ryan<div style="float:right"><iframe src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?t=booran-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&asins=0099488639&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><br /><br />I picked up this book because of the authors name. I've read a number of "Ryan" books and love the modern military/spy stuff he rights.<br /><br />However this book is different. It follows a young mans adventure across London during a tremendous natural disaster.<br /><br />Although the book is not the military adventure as I was expecting, it is an adventure and the action is almost continuous. I sped through this book in just a few days. It's not a long book and appears to have a YA slant. The text is larger print than normal and when I thought I still had another chapter to go, I discovered that the story was over and the remainder of the book was actually a preview of another Chris Ryan book.<br /><br />I hate it when they do that!<br /><br />The story was good, and I really enjoyed it. <br /><br />7/10Felbrigghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01277819393170407852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508857578666197514.post-24004412550516832792008-07-07T02:16:00.000-07:002008-07-09T01:38:49.319-07:00Sniper One by SGT Dan Mills<div style="float:right"><iframe src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?t=booran-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&asins=0141029013&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><br />I was loaned this book by a pal at work on Friday. I took it back to him on Monday having finished reading it over the weekend.<br /><br />It was terrific. It's another of the modern military memoirs that are coming out these days and tells what was to me anyway an untold story of the "peace keeping" in Iraq in the early 2000's.<br /><br />It tells the story of the a sniper company garrisoned on the outskirts of a run down town in the Iraq interior. The whole area is riddeled with anti UK anti American groups who show thier displeasure with combat.<br /><br />On their first trip out of the base the newly arrived sniper company gets into a serious fire fight and it does not stop after that.<br /><br />The story goes on to tell how the British battle group is beseiged and culminates towards a full scale assault by the Iraqis to overrun the base.<br /><br />This story is terrifying and exillerating at the same time and shows both the horror and the humour of modern urban combat. Literally, a must read!<br /><br />10/10Felbrigghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01277819393170407852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508857578666197514.post-74137013389273972922008-07-03T11:13:00.000-07:002008-07-03T11:36:27.871-07:00Gods Smuggler to ChinaThis book tells the true story of a man going by the name of "Brother David" who hears God telling him to go to China to distribute Bibles.<br /><br />It reads like an autobiography, we get get to learn about his childhood and youthful problems. We even get told about how and why he turned from the church for many years and would have nothing to do with it.<br /><br />That changes though, and the interesting incidents of his life that bring him around and send him back to the church and even into missionary work.<br /><br />The majority of the book is taken up with his involvement in the smuggeling of Bibles into mainland China. This book was published in 1981 back when China was a lot more "closed" than it is now so some of the trouble he has to go through will seem odd or even strange to people who havn't lived through it. ( Try telling a 16yo about the Berlin wall, they wont believe it!).<br /><br />The story is very focused on the spirtiual side of the Davids work and as such is what many might call a "bible bashing book". I found it very interesting, and that side of things did not put me off of the story at all, in fact it is the story, as Davids motivation and that of the people who help him is entirely driven by thier faith.<br /><br />I dont suppose this book is still in print, but if you find it, pick it up, it's a good read.Felbrigghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01277819393170407852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508857578666197514.post-85749349094104931602008-06-24T11:23:00.000-07:002008-06-24T11:36:51.267-07:00Dead Hand - Harold CoyleI read a lot of books and I couldn't possibly keep them all. Believe me, I have tried that in the past. My mother was a book horder and I caught the habit from here. However that has changed, spending two years on the road taught me to be more discerning. I no longer keep all of the books I read, the majority of them get passed on to friends or left in bus stops.<br /><br />Every now and then a book comes along that I just cant blindly give away. "Dead Hand" by Harold Coyle is one of those books.<br /><br />To be honest I cant imagine ever giving up one of his books as every one I've read has hooked me from the outset and I've ended up devouring them in a couple of days.<br /><br />"Dead Hand" is a military thriller with a story of Epic Proportions! As the cover itself gives away, a huge asteroid hits the Russian tundra cauing terrible destruction and activating the "Dead Hand" that would fire all of the remaining Nukes.<br /><br />So with that premise Nato moves to prevent the Dead Hand scenario and we have a terrific military adventure story.<br /><br />Harold likes to show both sides in his stories and he does that here with a wonderful and absorbing manner. We follow the exploits of SAS, Foreign Legion and Spetnatz.<br /><br />The characters are real men and you feel for them as they enter the field and have to deal with the terrible facts of modern warfare.<br /><br />I was blown away by how good this book was. I really quite upset when it ended as I wanted more of his excellent work to feast my eyes with.<br /><br />9/10Felbrigghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01277819393170407852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508857578666197514.post-56057070608847698102008-06-17T01:58:00.000-07:002008-06-17T02:50:08.689-07:00Seize the Night - Dean KoontzI've read many Koontz books in my time and enjoyed many of them. This one, was outstanding!<br /><br /><div style="float:right"><br /><iframe src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?t=booran-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&asins=0747258333&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><br /><br />The story follows the nocturnal adventures of Mr Snow a young man with an allergy to light. Therefore he sleeps by day and becomes active by night. The story only covers a couple of days(nights) and is jam packed with adventure, horror and a darn good plot line that will keep you hooked.<br /><br />The story is set in a town where a an made bug has escaped that mutates men and beasts, often turning them mad and violent. Yet it is a slow acting thing, and the government, including the local police are acting more often than not to hide the strange happenings rather than trying to help the people involved.<br /><br />This book was a real page turner, and I ended up staying up later than I should while reading it. This is a sequel but you do not have to have read the previous book. I am however on the lookout for the prequel because this book was so good.<br /><br />Rated : 8/10Felbrigghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01277819393170407852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508857578666197514.post-89488262159684526842008-05-26T12:55:00.000-07:002008-05-26T13:08:34.084-07:00Iron Tower TrilogyThe trilogy is surprise surprise made up of three books.<br /><br />The Dark Tide<br />Shadows of Doom<br />The Darkest Day.<br /><br />Written by Dennis L. McKiernan<br /><br />The series is a fantasy story following the basic principals of most fantasy series. "1) Something bad is coming. 2) Oh dear its arrived. 3) Oh crap! We'd better deal with it."<br /><br />The author says that he loved the Lord of the Rings story and wanted more, and this story is the result. He has created his own fantasy world, and put his version of Hobbits right in the middle. He has made a change to the Hobbit character however. In LotR Hobbits are laid back lazy people, in this trilogy they are presented as a much more "realistic" people. They work hard to make a living and have a strong cadre of Bow armed border guards.<br /><br />The story is very engaging, I found myself drawn to these less soppy Hobbits and hoping and wating them to succeed. They are not always successful which makes them feel more real and allows your sympathies to come through.<br /><br />In short, it's an exciting, fun adventure, and has deliberate LotR references and parrellels that make it both familiar and new.<br /><br />Rated 7/10Felbrigghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01277819393170407852noreply@blogger.com