No comments about Mrs Jordans Profession IV.

No comments about James Joyce's Ireland.

5 comments about Robert the Bruce King of Scots.

1. This is one of the most well written books on Scottish history that I have had the pleasure to come across. Its thoroughly gripping whereas other books about this time period have positvely made my eyes glaze over.
   It takes a deeper look at the politics and war of the time and introduces you to Bruce's fascinating followers James Douglas and Thomas Randolph. This book is a must for those interested in history.



2. Scott's "Robert The Bruce" is a truly enjoyable and fascinating book. One is shown the growth of the playboy Lord of Annandale to the courageous, self-sacrificing warrior king who risks everything to lead his people to freedom. A chunk of history I was not too familiar with, Scott fills in the gaps and describes the situations and major characters in an engaging manner. Highly recommended!



3. This is a great biography of Robert the Bruce. Ronald McNair Scott gives a nice full and fleshed out story of Robert the Bruce and his rise to throne of Scotland. Mr. Scott does a great job following Bruce through his Grandfather and Father's initial competition and ultimately his own attempt for the Throne after the deaths of King Alexander and his last remaining heir. Like most noble families in Scotland of the time they had land and family links to England. The Bruce, Balliol, and Comyn families all dynastic ties and claims to the throne but in the end the Bruce family won out. Mr. Scott does uses well known sources for his biography like Barbour, Fordun and Barrow. Of course they glorify all that Bruce does and spends minimal time on his faults. Mr Scott gives us a general bio that is great for the novice to Scottish history and those reading their first book on Robert. There is a lot of personal story here with some supposed quotes to help you feel you are with Bruce when he knights Wallace, accepts the Guardianship, or when he murders his primary rival John Comyn and claims the throne or when he wins his great victory against the English at Bannockburn. But Mr. Scott doesn't stop there. We see him continue to firm up Scotland's independence against Edward I, II and finally III. We get a vivid view of his great Lieutenants, James Douglas and Thomas Randolph. Bruce finally sees peace in "old age" at 55 and dies with a son and grandson to succeed him. But in the end he was a man with all the faults ordinary man and for all he gained he equally paid a price in family, pain and life. After his death the English rise again and his heirs continue the struggle. But that is another story for another book. Robert the Bruce, King of Scots by Ronald M. Scott is the life of the Bruce as history remembers him today.



4. Scott's book is a biographical and chronological account of Robert the Bruce's accomplishments. It is written to be read, as well as studied and is quite well done from that point of view, forming a coherent narrative, or story, if you like, detailing the life of the King of Scots.
   
   An interesting biography.



5. An interesting read, but you had better like history. No glamour here, just fact telling. I was struck by the ongoing hatred for the Scots on the part of Edward I and Edward II. Bruce gets the last laugh.

5 comments about Doctor Danger Forward: A World War II Memoir of a Combat Medical Aidman, First Infantry Division.

1. I thought this book captured the essence of the tumult of three years of combat. I was spellbound by the way relationships developed and deepened. The author raised the question of why men respond so differently to the trauma of combat and war. A well-written story.



2. If you want to learn what it was really like fighting to save lives with the U.S. Medical Corps in World War II, give this newly released personal account by Allen N. Towne a try. Mr. Towne relates his five years'service as a frontline medic with the First Infantry Division in North Africa, Sicily, Omaha Beach, as well as France, Belgium, and Germany. He carries you along with him as a former college student who finds himself in the thick of some of the war's bloodiest battles. You will find it difficult not to read it straight through in one sitting.



3. My father served with the author and is in a few of the pictures and anecdotes. I have a greater understanding and appreciation of what war is all about. Dad did not want to talk about what he saw and experienced when he was alive. He shared his scrapbooks on a few occasions, dodging some questions that were too close to him.

   When Dad died, I sent a letter to "the outfit" as he referred to the men with whom he served. I had some wonderful letters and calls from men who had shared a part of his life that I never knew. But, I now know better from reading this book, the courage and determination that these men showed just to survive the day to day part of the war. The horrors that these men shared needed to be buried until someone could put them into a context for the rest of us to truly understand and appreciate them. The author has done that in a vivid, yet compassionate manner. Everyone needs to read this book. Thank you, Mr. Towne for revealing this part of the war to the rest of us.




4. This is one of the few books that deal with the combat medic. For the most part the medics roll is just a foot note in other works but this writing is all about the medics of the 1st Division.
   
   Sgt. Towne basically took his day reports and added his commentary to give a more complete picture of the day to day activities of Company B. It is not a polished historical read like you would expect form Ambrose, but I feel Sgt Towne's perspective (as a true to life, been there done that) gives him the view point that other historians could only wish they had.
   
   This book was of particular interest to me; do to the fact that my father was as a platoon leader in Company B, from April to August 1944. His name was briefly mentioned when he was wounded on August 6th (my father was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his action on this day). I was able to locate the general movements of my father but disappointingly not specific actions. Many of Sgt. Towne's commentaries refer to other platoons but not by name; however I feel that I did gain a lot of information that is not located in any other writing.
   
   I would recommend this book to all.



5. Towne has given us a firsthand account of many of the significant American battles of WWII from a combat medic's perspective. This memoir is a must read for anyone interested in getting a factual historical glimpse of WWII.

1 comments about Neil Lennon: Man and Bhoy.

1. Neil comes across as being very honest in this book. It is a good read. However, he states that Willie Thorns was a former world snooker champion. This is incorrect as Willie Thorne never was. He mentions that Martin O'Neil won 64 caps playing for Northern Ireland where, approx. 15 pages later, Martin O'Neil goes onto explain to another player in front of Neil Lennon what he won as a player, including winning 62 caps playing for Northern Ireland. When I read inconsistencies like this, the credibility of the book drops & starts to disappoint me. If you don't mind such inconsistencies, then read the book, as you will enjoy it.

1 comments about The World Encompassed: Drake's Great Voyage 1577 - 1580.

1. Wilson's book gives the reader a taste of the tremendous adventure this must have been for Drake and those in his group. Very soon, into the South Atlantic, they were in strange, new waters where mystery and superstition dominated the thoughts of the explorers. There is so much more the reader longs to know - what were the thoughts of the average crew members? What did the physical sights look like to them. What was day-to-day life like on this long voyage? Of course, Wilson had little to go on. The principal diary of Drake was lost after he turned it over to the Queen. The book is readable and exciting. With few earthly frontiers left, we can only imagine the spirit of adventure these men must have felt. But so much is lost down through the ages. Even the Ship - the Golden Hind - was itself not preserved and decayed into rotten wood. We must be thankful for what little is left to know about this great voyage.

4 comments about Diana: The Intimate Portrait.

1. I read this book and I feel it is time all the fluff and nonsense about this woman is put to rest. I did not buy it but was given it as a gift. Yes, she died too young, but she LOVED the attention she got from the press. Her and Dodi knew the press would follow them that night and should have stayed in the Ritz. If she was pregnant as some claim, I would be willing to bet the father was Dr. Hasnat Khan who refused to make their relationship permanent - so poor Dodi Fayed came in mighty handy - same dark skin, etc. This woman also had many affairs during her marriage, and I believe Prince Charles that he only went back to Camilla when he realized the demon Diana really was. I never heard a word about the Prince dating other women whilst still married to her, until he went back to Camilla.
   She caused much hurt and pain in several marriages. As far as doing so good, she played the press like a fine violin, and her deep concern for the poor is really touching. However, she did not leave one single penny of her own money to the poor. Someone in England who has some ties to people with info told me the reason the marriage went bad after the birth of Harry was that Diana expected the Queen to retire from the throne, secure in the three male heirs, and the Queen let her know that would never happen - hence the hysteria. Sorry, there was a tarnished image of this woman and it is time everyone try to stop moaning over her. I have heard people of the telly ask what Camilla had that Diana did not - THE DEEP LOVE AND RESPECT OF THE PRINCE. Remember, she was raised with close family ties to the Royal Family and knew what was involved. I hope she rests in peace.



2. This is an enjoyable, light fluffy read on her life. I did not really learn anything new about Diana...and it was nice to revisit Diana...in the moment...through the stories with people who knew her right before she died.



3. I don't agree with Deidre's opinion. This book is wonderful.
   I can't imagine why "Deidre" is so bitter person and said a lot of nonsense about Diana.
   Diana was unhappy with Prince Charles and she deserved to be happy.
   No matter if she had many affairs. The most important at all is that she had helped too many people all around the world and she made the difference for them. She sold many of her dresses to help people with AIDS,she had raised a lot of money to people in need.
   Princess Diana made what many people have never done before.
   "Deidre" opion about Diana don't have to be take into consideration.
   It's really sad to know that there's people like "Deidre" in this world.
   "Deidre" should have keep what she thinks about Diana to herself.



4. Poor, disillusioned Dierdre. The Princess was flawed and lived her life with inconsistencies. So do we all. To condemn Diana for having affairs while touting the love that Charles has for Camilla reeks of hypocrisy. Now, on to the book: If you are a Diana fan, you will learn nothing new from this latest attempt to cash in on Diana's sad life & untimely death. Expect a breezy trip through much-traveled territory, and you will not be disappointed. Oh, and Diedrre, one last thing: The Princess can never rest in peace as long as people such as you insist on casting aspersions and repeating vile rumors spread by Charles' sycophants (look it up in the dictionary).

No comments about The Queen & Us: The Second Elizabethan Age.

No comments about Remembering Matt Talbot.

1 comments about Richard Aldington and Lawrence of Arabia: A Cautionary Tale.

1. This is a nice book. Describes how stuborne T.E.L's friends were when any critic wanted to publish anything that contradicted their belifes. Mostly just a combination of the letters Aldington and others wrote while he was trying to publish his book on T.E.L.