140.A History of Warfare – John Keegan

I love reading about history.  I read what I can get my hands on and the history channel is always on my tv.  I must admit that John Keenan's book (140 on my list) A History of Warfare really opened up my eyes.  Is war inherit to man?  An argument (as stated in the book) can be made that slavery was inherit to man and now this is a repulsive notion.  Can war also follow suit?  As a pacifist, I very much hope so.

 One of the things I liked most about this book is that it doesn't dwell on the Western world.  The Mongols, the Zulus and the Mamluks all get studied.  Tactics, outcomes and theories abound in this book.  The book was published in 1993 so the first gulf war is covered and discussed.  A must read for all the naval gazers out there. 

Lifes little suprises

I'm walking through work and I look over at a shelf and #250 (Daphne Du Maurier) on my list is just sitting there waiting for me.  I really enjoy days like this.

The World According to Garp by John Irving

 

 

This is one of those books that I should have read years ago.  I've been meaning to read this for a long time.  I finally got to it and its a very sneaky book.  It actually reminded me (at the beginning) of the Royal Tenenbaums movie.  The characters are so funny and quirky.  So much so that for the first half of the book it was Alec Baldwin voice I could hear in my head while reading.

 

Once you get halfway through the book do you notice what a heavy book this actually is.  It really sneaks up on you.  Alec Baldwin slowly faded away and the undertoad started (the undertoad a vital part of the story). We meet some truly interesting characters (that will stay with me for a long time) and the story just gets darker and darker.  But on reflection the characters just experience life.  The highs and the very lows happen in equal measures.  

 

I would recommend this book to all.  John Irving is funny and delicate and can hit you over the head with sorrow.  If you read this book or any other book that I have reviewed let me know about it.  I would love to hear if you agree with my reviews.

 

 

Next book on my list is:

 

  





Merry Christmas

What a great day.  I woke up early and witnessed Manchester United crush Aston Villa 3 - 0.  I'm a happy, happy man when the Red Devils win.  My day got even better when I got to work and found a gift on my desk.  My good friend K. left me (no. 273 from my list) The Glass Bead Game by Herman Hesse.  I work with such thoughtful and wonderful people.

Thank you K. your kindness is very much appreciated.  As soon as I finish The world according to Garp I will read The Glass Bead Game.

Peter

Update

 

 

 

I decided to check out my reading progress this year.  This year I have read 22 books and have another 2 books on the go. I am hoping to finish the 2 books by the end of the year.  If my math is correct I will have completed all 501 books in……..16 and a half years.  Yikes!  That is a lot of years.  Thankfully I had already read War and Peace.  Ulysses frightens me.  But I always knew I read that book one day.  Maybe that is a book I’ll start reading January 1^st.   The difficulty will be sourcing some of the books.  I have the public library which has most of them, the Amazon store and kindle e-books will have most of the rest but there are just some that I am having trouble finding. 

 

For instance, number 34 on my list is Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang – by Mordecai Richler.  I am trying to find a copy of this and not buy it from Amazon.  I love Mordecai Richler (I once had the pleasure of meeting his son Daniel Richler….while my friend asked him if he had any drugs to sell) and the fact that he has written a children’s book really intrigues me.  If anyone reading this post has a copy of Jacob Two-Two and would like to give/lend me this book please leave a comment on this post.  It would really help out my quest. 

 

 

 

Stay tuned for the next 16.5 years.

Heidi by Johanna Spyri

I think the next time I read a book like Norman Mailers The executioners song I will follow that up with a kids book like Heidi.  Such a light hearted bouncy book, set in the Swiss Alps.  I usually listen to music while I’m reading books.  I have a steady diet of Arcade Fire, U2 or David Bowie but all that music felt so alien while reading Heidi.  I had to switch to Mozart.  Once that happened I  was completely absorbed in the story.  I didn’t read any of these books when I was a kid.  My childhood reading was practically nothing but the 3Investigators.  I read those books any chance I could get.  Going back over these kids book now is quite a joy. 

 

Obviously this book will appeal to any younger girl that you have in the family (in fact they are being currently sent to my nieces in Canada for Christmas presents).  Christianity also plays a big part in the book but thankfully it doesn’t hit you over the head with religion.  It was written in the late 1800’s so you have to take it for granted that religion will be part of the story.  There is also a plethora of movie and animated adaptations.  The most famous was in done in 1937 starring Shirley Temple as Heidi.  As you have noticed I haven’t gone into the story at all.  I think that is something that you should discover on your own.

 

Next book on the list:

 

 

2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke

It has been years since I've seen a 2001: Space Odyssey.  So long ago in fact that I had forgotten most of the story.  For that reason this book was fresh and I wasn't comparing it to the movie.  As I started to do research into the book a few things surprised me.  The book was written pretty much at the same time as the movie script.  It flushed out the story and Stanley Kubrick had a lot of input on how the book was written.  It has similar qualities to I, Robot but 2001: A Space Odyssey is much creepier and menacing.  I wouldn't want to be stuck in a space ship with HAL. 

I read this book while on holiday at the beach.  I stopped reading The Executioners Song (not a good beach book) and picked up this one instead.  A beach holiday is not the same without a good piece of fiction.  That holiday will always be entwined with this novel.

If you are into science fiction you have probably read this book, if you are just getting into science fiction this is a must.  Read this and I, Robot.  It will help a lot.

Next book on my list:

The Executioners song by Norman Mailer

 

This book really got to me.  I wasn't expecting that.  Not that I'm a jaded MOFO but I've read a lot of books that deal with murder and the victims of murder.  But, maybe the fact that this book is based on real life murderer Gary Gilmore, his family, victims, trial and eventual execution by firing squad was the reason why it stuck with me.  I was so involved that I had to put the book down a few times and immerse myself in other "happier" works of fiction. 

 

I wouldn't suggest picking up this book unless you can handle heartbreak.  For this book will break your heart and will make you squirm and you will put it down in disgust.  If you can handle it.....read it.

 

My next book will be:

 



 

 

 

 

I, Robot by Isaac Asimov (2nd attempt)

The Three Laws of Robotics:

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

The 3 laws you see above, dominate the book.  Every chapter reinforces the importance of the 3 laws.   Each chapter is like a short story about Robots.  There are certain characters that filter through but for the most part they are stand alone stories.  The first chapter is written like a children's story or a cautionary fairytale.  As you get deeper into the book the stories become more complex and deal with some weighty subject matter.  The final 2 chapters are the most interesting with the argument is man better with or without computers its centre piece.

It is very clear the influence that Isaac Asimov had on Science Fiction.  The amount of books and short stories that Asimov has completed is astounding.  This maybe said a lot but there wouldn't be Science Fiction without Asimov.  This a great read if you have never delved into Science Fiction before and want to get at its heart and soul.


Next book is

I, Robot by Isaac Asimov (first attempt)

 

I took out I, Robot from the Brisbane library today.  At least I thought it was I, Robot.  It turns I got out the MacMillan Readers version of it.  This is what is written on the back of the book:

 

This series provides a wide variety of enjoyable reading material for all learners of English.  MacMillan Readers are retold versions of popular classic and contemporary titles as well as specially written stories, published at six levels.  This book is level 4 Pre-intermediate.

 

So I guess I'll be taking this book back and I'll try to get the real version of I, Robot.

 



What we talk about when we talk about love - Raymon Carver

This book was published in 1981.  One year after the death of Raymond Carver.  This is the first Raymond Carver book that I have read.  It will likely be my last.  This collection of short stories has left me wanting.  Just when the story is going somewhere or is about to go in an interesting direction the writer ends it.  The stories themselves are  at times so mundane that I wonder what is the point?  It could also be that this is way beyond my intellectual level and that while I am just scratching the surface others will get so much more out of these stories.  I hope so.  He is a brilliant writer I just wish there was more meat on this bone.  Also, as I was reading I couldn't help but feel some of these stories felt familiar.  After a little bit of research I found out that some of these stories were used for Robert Altmans movie Short Cuts.  Which is my favorite Robert Altman movie. 

Have you read any Raymond Carver that you would recommend?  Leave a comment here for others to read.

The next book I am reading is:

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court

Its really amusing how life works out.  I had totally planned on reading another book but somehow I started to read A Connecticut Yankee.  Mark Twain is a genius and is funny as hell.  This is one of the first time-travel books ever published and it's great.  The story follows the adventure of a Yankee from Connecticut who mysteriously ends up in England during the middle ages.  This is not a kids book akin to Tom Sawyer or Huckleberry Fin.  It's a book full of political intrigue and grown up thoughts.  Twain was a republican and very much hated the British noble by birth or fealty to a sovereign.  It was released in 1889 but the spirit of 1776 (American Revolution) bleeds through this book.  Here is a great example of his republican spirit:

The country is the real thing, the substantial thing, the eternal thing; it is the thing to watch over, and care for, and be loyal to; institutions are extraneous, they are its mere clothing, and clothing can wear out, become ragged, cease to be comfortable, cease to protect the body from winter, disease, and death. To be loyal to rags, to shout for rags, to worship rags, to die for rags—that is a loyalty of unreason, it is pure animal; it belongs to monarchy, was invented by monarchy; let monarchy keep it....


Another thing I very much enjoyed in this book are Twain's not so veiled cracks at the Catholic church.  He did not like the Church and did not hide from that fact.  Actually the whole book is about debunking the Monarchy.  The main characters goal is to turn Camelot (this perceived moral pinnacle of English life) into America.  If you think that would be a good thing or not I'll leave up to the reader.  It's quite clear that this book has influenced so many other time-travel books.  Many of its themes have been explored by so many other books that a few times I had wondered if I had already read this. 

I really loved this work of fiction.

The next book I am going to read is:

The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins

This is the second book in a row that I read from Wilkie Collins.  The first being the Women in White.  I loved both these books and it really is a shame that I had never heard of Wilkie Collins before.  He is a wonderful writer.  Even though the books are set in the 1850's they do not feel dated at all.  The characters weave in and out of the story beautifully.  The Moonstone is constructed in the same way as the Women in White.  Many characters taking turn at taking over the narrative of the story.  It's a really great way for the author to tell the story in different voices.  For example part of the narrative is written by a Mr. Bruff.  A highly educated lawyer whose narrative is concise and logical and deals with truths.  Another narrative is done by Drusilla Clack.  A poor cousin of the main characters (and a pain in the ass) who believes (as a good Christian woman) that everyone should lead good Christian lives.  Thankfully, she is dismissed and ridiculed by every other character in the novel.

The Moonstone is also considered the first detective novel written in the english language. 

The next book I'm going to read is:

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

 

I had never heard of the Woman in White by Wilkie Collins.  Which is a shame.  I really loved reading this book.  Mr Collins has this very simple yet direct way to tell a story.  The story unfolds very slowly but once it gets going its hard to put it down.  The book's narrative is done in many voices.  Major and minor characters take turns to describe versions of the story and its not till about halfway through the book that the main betrayal starts to reveal itself.  The appearance of Count Fosco is a delight.  We don't find out till quite late is he is a hero or a villain. 

 

I was so delighted by this book that I'm going to read the other Wilkie Collins book in the 501 must read books.  The Moonstone.  Which apparently is a great detective story.  Review coming shortly.

 

 

 



The Voyage of the Beagle by Charles Darwin

I really tried to love this book.  Darwin is a hero of mine.  Origin of the Species is truly one of the great books of all times.  The things that make Origin so great is what (for me) made this book very slow and tedious.  It is the same problem that I had with the Jack London book (Cruise of the snark).  Too much information about very small things.  In Darwin's case he writes page after page about specific birds and how these birds are different then other birds.  For people who like and care about these things then this is the book for you.  I put the book down and picked up a work of fiction instead.

The book I've picked up instead is the Wilkie Collins book The Woman in White.  It's one of those books that after reading 2 paragraphs I knew I would love.  I've read over 100 pages and its a great book.  Review coming soon.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott



I knew nothing of this book.  I've heard of it and thought I might read it one day.  But I was quite clueless going in.  I perceived it might be a pretty book.  Full of ribbons. bows,  sugar and spice and everything nice.  This book contains all this.  But there is so much more.  There is a heartbeat that does not cease in it's (digital) pages.  The author reveals truths and lessons for young women as she writes.  There are moments which are tender and other moments that have light hearted frivolity.  The end of the book has a mixture of joy and utter sadness mingled in nicely.  Saying that I did found myself distant from this book.  It did not effect me emotionally.  Both the happy and sad passages were taken very earnestly by this reader.  This surprised me as I am usually a person that books effect quite deeply.  Maybe one day if I ever re-read this story I would get more emotionally involved.  What I hope is that I have not setup these books that I am reading as a task.  Getting through as many books as I can and checking them off my list.  I'm hoping that will never be the case as fiction and reading is a true love of mine. 

If you have a young daughter then this is a must read book for them.  It is very tender and sweet and there is a light that shines through the (digital) pages.  I just hope you are able to have an emotional response that I can't quite get.

Next book on my list is the voyage of the beagle by Charles Darwin.

The Cruise of the Snark by Jack London

The beginning of this book is amazing.  Jack London delves into the reason why he has decided to sail around the world.  He lists all his theories and all the problems in building and funding  the 45ft Snark. It is so detailed and exact that you understand the term best laid plans of mice and men.  I'm thoroughly impressed by detail oriented people.  God bless list makers and accountants.  I do not live in detail and lists (says the man who is writing a blog about 501 books!) and get turned on by people that envision a project from seed to tree.

As I go through this book it is failing to keep my interest.  Almost 40% of the book is either about building the Snark or about the first destination of the boat (Hawaii).  While there are still some lovely passages, the author starts to write about eating deep sea turtles and the joys of catching and eating Dolphin my interest wavers.  It could be my 21st century mind creeping in but I am not a fan of eating Dolphin or Turtles.  Call me old fashioned. 

As I delved deeper into the book it has continued to disappoint me.  Some of the strengths I liked in the beginning were the things that really let me down.  For starters there is a part in the book where Mr. London describes how he figured out his latitude and longitude.  He drones on for almost 20 pages.  In the end I've had to stop reading the book so I still don't know how the rest of the trip went.  Maybe I'll come back to it.....maybe not.  It has driven me crazy.

This is a book for you trainspotters out there.  I'm not one of you. 5/10

My next book is:

Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

I read this book when I was a kid.  Or at least I thought I had.  As I am reading/re-reading I'm not remembering much of it.  I've seen TV and movie adaptions of course but the story feels new to me which was a nice surprise.  Huck of course is resourceful and funny.  Some of the hijinks's are great and his planning and escaping near danger is what gives this book its classic nature. 

The one problem I am having with is his companion Jim.  I'm not put off by the repeated use of n-word.  As much as I hate it now I understand that when Twain was writing it was common practice to write characters in such a way.  It's his speech that is throwing me off.  Maybe it's my 21 century brain that is having trouble figuring it out.

Huck Fin really is an incredible character.  Twain really nailed it with this one.  Such a clever little chap.  Always has mischief in his mind.  Sometimes his mischief leads to bad results but most of the time he is just having some fun.  This is a book that all kids should read.  Huck keeps getting in jams with very narrow escapes.  He meets all sorts of interesting people on the river.  Give this to your child right now!

Brave new world by Aldus Huxley

 

 

I just finished this book.  I'm not sure how I feel about it.  First off, I can't believe this book was published in 1931.  It feels much more modern then that.  It has left me feeling cold to be honest.  This book depicts the future world without soul.  I am not referring to soul in a religious sense.  But soulless in the sense of feeling human.  Love, doesn't exist.  Instead people are urged to give themselves freely to each other sexually.  Babies are not born but grown in labs with futures already certain.  You are either a worker or an intellectual.  The populace is encouraged to take a drug which will always make them feel better.  Soma the drug of the masses.  But what happens when you bring in a person from the outside world?  Someone who believes in God and has read Shakespear? 

 

I'm not sure why I didn't like this book as much as I imagined I would.  Maybe I'm not intellegent enough to grasp it?  I'm not sure the reason but it took me forever to finish this book.  Its not a very long book but it took me ages....which usually means I'm not totally into it.  I rate this book 7/10.

 

If you are smart as a whip and usually get stuff then this is the book for you!

 

I am going to tackle Jack London's The Cruise of the Snark.  I hope it is interesting.

 



The Crusades through Arab Eyes by Amin Maalouf

 

I love history.  The Crusades has always been a topic that I was drawn to.  The world changed after the Crusades.  I've always read books from the Christian or Western point of view.  This book was fascinating because all the sources were from Muslim Chronicles.  I can now understand why and how the first crusade was so successful.  The Muslim world (like Europe) was fractured.  Egypt was not friends with the Turks.  Baghdad wasn't getting on with Damascus and so forth and so forth.  In many ways the east were far advanced in science, medicine and obviously mathematics.  Algebra was one of the things that came to Europe because of the Crusades (art, medical practices and the carrier pigeon were other things that the Europeans took back with them). 

 

Muslims saw the Christians are barbarians.  Uneducated blood thirsty warriors(there were a few stories of Christians eating Muslims that they had just killed).  It would take 200 years before Saladin was able to bring forces together to finally kick them out of the Holy Land.  The author goes on to explain while the Christians took so many things back with them the Muslims rejected everything and anything Christian.  This maybe as simple as invader/invaded.  The conquerors take and the invaded reject.  In fact many Muslims believe Crusades are still going on in the middle east and have a mistrust of the west dating back to the 1100.  This book is a must read for all the history buffs out there.  It takes a different spin on a sad and desperate time. 

 

I rate this book 10/10.

 

I am now reading Brave new world by Aldous Huxley