Yockbo's Book Club
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
The Sergeant in the Snow - Mario Rigoni Stern (c.1953)
The book opens around Christmas 1942, where our author's unit is holding a section of the Don River North of Stalingrad. About the first third of the book deals with the unit holding the line across the river from the Russians. The unit has been in the line for some time and Stern talks about the daily tasks and we get to know some of the men in his unit and their officers. The later two thirds of the book deals with the encirclement of his unit (along with many other German, Italian and Hungarian units) and their attempts at breaking out and reaching friendly lines.
I had a hard time getting into the book initially. Part of this has to do with the translation I think. I found myself re-reading sentences quite often. However I eventually got used to the cadence or rhythm of the writing and stopped thinking about it and found myself wrapped up in Sterns trek across the frozen steppe trying to keep his men together and alive. I was very taken by the pace of the book. When they pull off the line, things are orderly and he has a detailed narrative of the events. As the retreat progresses he is able to articulate his own as well as those around him gradual deterioration from lack of food and rest.
I have read a number of accounts of German soldiers on the Eastern Front in WWII and I was really taken by how different this one was from them. You could tell our man and the men he was describing are Italian and really have no interest in being on the Don in the middle of a Russian Winter. There isn't a lot of talk of politics or parasitism, just a bunch of guys that would much rather be at home in their villages. And yet, our guy is obviously a leader and trying his best to serve his unit and take care of his men.
He mentions other periods of his service, for example running into friends from his time in Albania and other places. I know also that his unit was as far as the Caucasus the prior summer as part of Operation Blau. Yet none of this is covered, the book stays focused solely on the retreat and his eventual escape back to friendly lines.
There are a couple of actions described in detail and one amazing incident involving a dove and a one in a million shot (Stern 1, Dove 0). Also I was taken by how humanely he and his men treated the locals. This seemed to be the case with other Italian units as well. It goes without saying that the things he and his men had to overcome (and most of them didn't) to reach friendly lines was nearly superhuman. I know I get cranky when the temperature in the house gets near 60F, I simply can't imagine what it would be like to walk for days on end, with little or no food in the sub-freezing temperatures they were exposed to. Amazing stuff.
So this was a good book, not a great one but one that I am certainly glad I had the chance to read.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Red Son
Author: Mark Millar
Published: 2003
Let me start by saying, this is a very easy, very quick read. Once I picked it up, it sucked me right in and I wasn't able to put it down until I was finished. The art is on par with what you would expect from DC, no appearance of rushed or taking the easy route. And the story and dialoge is very engaging. Any person who is even a passing fan of the Superman mythos should look to pick this up.
This is a comic trade of three comics that were released back in 2003. Red Son Rising, Red Son Ascendant, and Red Son Setting. It is based upon the idea of "what if Superman's ship crashed 12 hours earlier/later in Soviet Russia". And follows through the the life of this soviet superman from public announcement at Stalin's new 'weapon' through several of the stages that the classic comics took Superman, just from this new perspective.
There are several noted superheroes from the DC universe that make their appearance in these comics, reimagined, including: Green Latern, Wonder Woman and Batman. Many of Superman's greatest foes also make an appearance, such as Brainiac. And of course, what Superman alternate history comic would be complete without Lex Luthor.
A quick synopsis: Superman starts as Stalin's right hand man, being the obvious counterpart to history's original 'Man of Steel'. The US enlists the aid of Doctor Lex Luthor to either overcome or remove this new threat to National Security. Time passes and Lex Luthor's various projects fail. Stalin passes away and Superman Ascends to control ofthe Soviet union and it's growing number of allies. Things build up on both sides, with Superman taking more control, dealing with more and more insurrections while things look bleaker and bleaker for the 'good guys', until things come to a head and Superman is confronted with his worst concerns.
It is an interesting exploration into how things could have turned out different with such a small change as when the capsule came down. It also, possibly inadvertantly, puts a new light on Lex Luthor, who in the normal mythos is generally presented as a brilliant if morally absent super villian. This comic paints a picture of someone, still incredibly brilliant, and still morally absent to a degree, but who's motivation is showing that humanity doesn't need a 'super being' playing parent and guadian. A theme that his actions reinforce repeatedly throughout.
The post climax ending of this is also pure gold. I can see myself revisting this several times in the future.
Dragons of a Fallen Sun
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Newest reads
Well here are some books that I read that I was really looking forward to and had to settle for somewhat of a disappointment.
It was a small 3 book series by Michael Moorcock "The Elric Saga"
The first book was a fun read. Basic premise of the book is the introduction to the Kingdom of Melnibone and the current ruler Elric.
The Melniboneese are a superior race of beings to their human brethren. The best description is maybe elf like in physical characteristics with a large ego as they know they are the supreme race. Swords and magic is what they rule with and it is far superior. Within book one it tells of Elric's struggles as he rules his kingdom and how he handles the situation which arise. Elric would be considered a pacifist among his people which in turn makes him an anomaly. The book was quite entertaining and I stayed with it as the storyline drew to a conclusion eagerly looking forward to the next book.
Book 2 and 3. Not much I want to write about this. The book jumped the shark, spiraled downward, and simply started to crash and burn. It went into time warps, different worlds, parallel universes none of which seemed to make sense as I was reading. The author seemed to need something that filled pages and whatever dropped into his tiny brain he wrote on paper.
Not the best review in town but I was uninspired
Friday, December 31, 2010
The Mote in God’s Eye – Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle (c.1974)
Monday, December 6, 2010
Rikk's "reads"
Pillars of Earth : - Ken Follett
Cindy recommended this book and I am glad she did.
The book spans roughly a 50 year period of time approximately 1125- 1175. It reads quite well and kept me entertained the entire way through it. As I picture the time line it is how I see the people living. thank goodness I didn't live back then.
The book has families, monks, bishops, knights, kings and whatever else you can think of and how they all interact in the time period.
If you were a peasant in those days where do you turn for justice ?
Where can you turn for help other than the church ?
There is a vast chasm between the nobility and the peasant class with little hope of just surviving for the later.
The book is hard to define as the time span encompasses so much
If I had to pick the main character of the book it would be Jack or Brother Phillip. The relationship between the two and of their struggle against corruption in the church and kingdom. Their dreams and aspirations and how they go about accomplishing them with everything stacked against them.
The Mote in God's eye : Larry Niven
Good book enjoyable read.
I am not as much a sci-fi fan as I am a fiction fantasy fan but the book was a lot of fun. The imagination of the writers just to create the Mote home world and their evolutionary path is quite astounding.
The ending which I will leave you to find out was not what I thought it was going to be. A little bit of a surprise from where my thoughts on the book were going up until the end.
I think my favorite character of the book was Admiral Kutuzov. You don't see much of him but he appears to be a no nonsense type of person. There is not much grey in his way of thinking.
Trickle up Poverty : - Michael Savage
First I want to start off as I a not a big Michael Savage fan. I find him somewhat arrogant and pompous but what he says does make you stop and evaluate the current affairs going on in our country.
If you are a "Righty" / Republican I am sure you will love the book
If you are a "Lefty" / Democrat well...... i am sure you will have the complete opposite view.
I am neither but enjoyed the book as it does make you stop and think.
The book's general purpose is trying to "enlighten" the American people about our current president and his policies regarding the US. It takes terrorism, military, healthcare and many other numerous subjects into consideration.
I recommend the read whatever your political views as I can find no fault with a book making you stop and think. I hear the term "sheeple" quite often now a days and I could agree with that term more than ever. People don't find answers for themselves or at least try to. They read and parrot information back to the next person lucky enough to be within range.
These are a few of the books I have read in the last few weeks. I will try and post better descriptions the more I post. I am currently not reading any books atm but that will be resolved rather shortly.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Faceless Killers - Henning Mankell (c.1997)
I was very pleased with the book. Fairly standard police story with an interesting lead character and the added bonus of being set in Sweden. The book kept my interest up until the last quarter, when it became a stay up all night and read book. I was very happy with the ending and immediately ordered the next book (The Dogs of Riga ).
Then, within minutes of finishing the book, I made the mistake of watching the BBC version. I was amazed at how poorly the BBC series held up after having read the novel. It was so bad that I couldn't even finish the episode and I promptly deleted the rest of season 2. For me, Wallander will stay in the book and not on the screen. If you haven't read the books and are interested, the BBC series is pretty good. It is shot in Sweden with British actors, however it takes liberties with the entire string of novels and mixes up story lines to conform to the small screen.