Rust cohle randall flagg8/8/2023 It’s the last of her Tudor trilogy and takes concentration to read. I caved and bought The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel. Glad I decided to follow my grandson’s lead. Well, Harry leads an exciting life and the plot moves right along. My grandson read the series a year ago and I thought I should see why he so enjoyed them. I finished Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince and am now reading HP and the Deathly Hallows. Since covid, I have read a variety of books that I might have read but might not have if I’d had better access to titles I’d reserved at my public library. I will admit to starting some books and not finishing…I think it’s my state of mind. I have almost finished The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas which it very much a book I’d likely set aside, even though it won the Commonwealth Writers Prize in 2009. There was non-fiction, too, but some of it depressing and that’s not what is needed right now. There have been a number of mysteries in my list but they were an easy read and kept my mind off more serious things. I have read The Dutch House by Ann Prachett and Greg Iles’ Mississippi Blood, the last in his Natchez Burning trilogy. I am not going to recommend any dystopia right now. He reminds readers that the book is not about covid 19, but it is about a pandemic. But The Stand is a dystopian landscape after Captain Trip (a deadly flu) decimates the population. Like a well-done horror or suspense movie should, he safely scares you. I am, for the most part, a King fan, and enjoy his writing. The Stand- by Stephen King is not on the list. Sheltering- A Reading List and Confession? He was an amazing personality, just the man for the time. After that, victory was likely although it took four more years of “blood, toil, tears, and sweat.” Churchill inspired the British people to keep fighting when it seemed hopeless. The December 7th attack on Pearl Harbour forced American entry to the war. The People of Great Britain suffered huge casualties, saw cities destroyed, and yet they did not give in. Since it is nonfiction, The Splendid and the Vile is not a fast read but for me, it made the Blitz very real and carried me back to a time when the future of Europe and Great Britain was very much at stake. Churchill knew that although this aid was welcome, defeat was inevitable unless America joined the war. Roosevelt did manage to have the Lend Lease Bill approved and some relief was afforded Great Britain which was nearing the limit of its resources. During that first year (1940-41), American support in any form was unpredictable. Similarly, we are shown how Goebbels, Reich Minister of Propaganda, spun the story for the German public and how he attempted to mislead the British.Ĭhurchill had to maintain a fine balance between revealing Britain’s desperate situation and gaining real help from the United States. The story of the Blitz is well known but this book not only looks into the dramatic events, but as also explores the lives and feelings of the people directly involved, either in making decisions or as family supporting Churchill.ĭiary entries of Goering, WW1 ace, and then Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe look at how the Blitz was conducted from the German viewpoint. Some of the sources haven’t been used in other accounts of Churchill’s first year in power. Larson has consulted many diary entries, official documents, and letters. The Splendid and the Vile recounts Churchill and his family’s experience during the Blitz. Perhaps because the media is inundated with stories of COVID hardship or maybe because I’ve been thinking about my mum and dad in World War 11, I have been watching documentaries and movies that feature Churchill. This year there’s more opportunities than ever to seek out and enjoy books you haven’t had time for earlier. Outdoor activities notwithstanding, winter offers long evening hours and more time to read.
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