|
|
Post by rgs318 on Apr 28, 2020 11:48:48 GMT -5
I am currently reading the first volume of a Rev War trilogy (historic fiction), To Try Men's Souls by Newt Gingrich and William R Forstchen. The writing is very good and the narrative helps to put flesh on the story lines of The Crossing off the Delaware, the Battle of Trenton and the role of the writings of Thomas Paine. Paine, with slight modification, could well be speaking of our current health crisis or even of Holy Cross and its faithful today.
"These are the times that try our souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine Crusader will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of our alma mater; but those who stand it NOW, deserve the love and thanks of all Purple men and women."
If you do read the book (also available in recorded form on Hoopla), I would like to hear your reaction to it.
|
|
|
|
Post by hchoops on Apr 28, 2020 12:04:17 GMT -5
i just finished a wonderful book, The City Game by Matthew Hoffman.
It tells the story of the CCNY 1950 double championships and the subsequent point shaving scandal.The author offers an accurate and detailed account of New York City history in the late 40s-early 50s. (with some HC mentions)
It is extremely well written
|
|
|
|
Post by KY Crusader 75 on Apr 28, 2020 12:20:55 GMT -5
I am currently reading the first volume of a Rev War trilogy (historic fiction), To Try Men's Souls by Newt Gingrich and William R Forstchen. The writing is very good and the narrative helps to put flesh on the story lines of The Crossing off the Delaware, the Battle of Trenton and the role of the writings of Thomas Paine. Paine, with slight modification, could well be speaking of our current health crisis or even of Holy Cross and its faithful today. "These are the times that try our souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine Crusader will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of our alma mater; but those who stand it NOW, deserve the love and thanks of all Purple men and women." If you do read the book (also available in recorded form on Hoopla), I would like to hear your reaction to it. I read Gingrich's historical novel on Valley Forge--an excellent read |
|
|
|
Post by rgs318 on Apr 28, 2020 12:23:54 GMT -5
That is the second book in the trilogy. I am holding off reading it.
In the Civil War trilogy, he altered history a bit. This however, stays pretty close to accurate history...just adding characters and discussions to bring the "common person" to life.
PS: I have to believe that it is Forstchen who is the better writer here.
|
|
|
|
Post by hchoops on Apr 28, 2020 12:40:42 GMT -5
That is the second book in the trilogy. I am holding off reading it. In the Civil War trilogy, he altered history a bit. This however, stays pretty close to accurate history...just adding characters and discussions to bring the "common person" to life. PS: I have to believe that it is Forstchen who is the better writer here. Maybe the only writer ? |
|
|
|
Post by WorcesterGray on Apr 28, 2020 12:43:40 GMT -5
In the spirit of things . . . Plagues and Peoples, William H. McNeil. An inquiry into the influence of disease on the course of history.
A Journal of the Plague Year, Daniel Defoe. Semi-fictional account of the Great Plague of 1665 in London.
Arthur Mervyn, Charles Brockden Brown. Gothic novel set during the 1793 yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia.
|
|
|
|
Post by thecrossisback on Apr 28, 2020 13:03:33 GMT -5
Just read the book A Farewell to Glory: The Rise and Fall of an Epic Football Rivalry Boston College Vs. Holy Cross
Great book, It is too bad the author Carew, is not alive to see the rivalry continue.
He would have surely went to the game in 2018.
|
|
|
|
Post by rgs318 on Apr 28, 2020 13:05:28 GMT -5
I was very moved by that book. I agree about Carew.
|
|
|
|
Post by lou on Apr 28, 2020 13:27:44 GMT -5
We saw Erik Larson speak at our library a few years ago. Someone asked him what he was working on...a book about about Churchill he said. "The Splendid and the Vile" was recently released, a terrific story of leadership under tremendous pressure, as many died during the blitz
|
|
|
|
Post by alum on Apr 29, 2020 8:48:49 GMT -5
I notice that several of the books mentioned have to do with war. The comedian John Mulaney, a Georgetown grad like his parents, has a bit about his father in which he says that all baby boomer dads are cramming for a quiz on World War II
It starts about one minute in.
I have been interested in spies and codes and ciphers since I was a kid. I am reading a book called "The Woman who Smashed Codes" by Jason Fagone which my daughter (who says I don't read enough books about women) sent to me. I am enjoying it.
|
|
|
|
Post by hchoops on Apr 29, 2020 12:02:14 GMT -5
A book I read recently, A Woman of No Importance, by Sonia Purcell, is the story of the US spy, Virginia Hall, who helped win WWII.
Very compelling.
|
|
|
|
Post by ndgradbuthcfan on Apr 29, 2020 12:43:27 GMT -5
The Dutch House, which contains this quote for our times.
"I was not born with an imagination large enough to encompass this moment".
|
|
|
|
Post by Chu Chu on Apr 30, 2020 12:40:26 GMT -5
Just finishing "The Plague" by Albert Camus. I highly recommend it for insight into our current state of affairs. Human nature has not changed much.
|
|
|
|
Post by sarasota on Apr 30, 2020 16:01:03 GMT -5
Reading now Nathaniel Philbrick's "In the Hurricane's Eye." Insight into the naval events surrounding victory at Yorktown.
|
|
|
|
Post by rgs318 on Apr 30, 2020 16:10:30 GMT -5
That was an amazing piece of good luck for our side. The faces off the Brits when the French fleet showed up at Yorktown, and not the British fleet, must have been priceless.
|
|
|
|
Post by ndgradbuthcfan on Apr 30, 2020 16:49:42 GMT -5
The Weight of Ink by Rachel Kadish. A little bit of everything: historical London in mid 1600s, Jews fleeing the Inquistion in Portugal, Bubonic Plague, researchers trying to solve the puzzle and an amazing heroine.
|
|
|
|
Post by sarasota on Apr 30, 2020 22:16:26 GMT -5
We should never forget that if it weren't for the French, even though their motives were self-serving, we'd be eating kippers and crumpets and playing in the Premier Soccer League, Lady Pelosi would be leading the American Labor delegation in Westminster, Prince Harry's & Prince William's Stepfather would be Alex Rodriquez, Pakistanis would be one of the largest minority groups and the Earl of Trump would sit in the House of Lords.
|
|
|
|
Post by alum on May 1, 2020 7:37:48 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by hchoops on May 1, 2020 8:04:49 GMT -5
Thanks, Alum very interesting |
|
|
|
Post by Chu Chu on May 2, 2020 12:05:10 GMT -5
We should never forget that if it weren't for the French, even though their motives were self-serving, we'd be eating kippers and crumpets and playing in the Premier Soccer League, Lady Pelosi would be leading the American Labor delegation in Westminster, Prince Harry's & Prince William's Stepfather would be Alex Rodriquez, Pakistanis would be one of the largest minority groups and the Earl of Trump would sit in the House of Lords. My nomination for Sarasota post of the year! |
|
|
|
Post by sarasota on May 2, 2020 12:13:07 GMT -5
I'm learning that French Admiral DeGrasse needed over a million livres before he could sail his fleet from the Caribbean up to the Chesapeake. His fleet was anchored outside Havana (Spanish Cuba). Normally there was lots of gold in Havana, received in regular shipments from the gold mines in Spanish Mexico. But a ship had recently left Havana to return to Spain with tons of gold. DeGrasse sent two officers into Havana to collect money from the citizens, mechants and Spanish soldiers in Havana. They quickly donated over a million in gold to DeGrasse, which enabled him to sail his fleet up to the Chesapeake and make possible the ultimate victory against Cornwallis and the British at Yorktown. The spaniards felt indebted to the French for earlier enabling the Spaniards to hold onto Pensacola up in the Florida Panhandle. So who knew. We owe our Freedom not only to the French but also to the Spanish. We owe a lot to the Spanish. Think of Jennifer Lopez and Julio Eglesias.
|
|
|
|
Post by hc6774 on May 3, 2020 6:24:46 GMT -5
Blood and Thunder, Epic of the American West by Hampton Sides
A story of 'Manifest Destiny', the indigenous people versus the Mexicans then westward expanding whites; Kit Carson. an amazing American
|
|
|
|
Post by hchoops on May 14, 2020 21:41:49 GMT -5
Just finished a wonderfully written biography of Dorothy Day who founded the Catholic Worker newspaper and shelters for the poor and needy in lower Manhattan.
A deeply researched, balanced account of her personal transformation by authors John Loughery and Blythe Randolph.
Some HC mentions, inc Michael Harrington, author of The Other America.
|
|
|
|
Post by Chu Chu on May 21, 2020 12:52:11 GMT -5
Just finished "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl. What a profound and wonderful book.
"Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom."
|
|
|
|
Post by hchoops on May 28, 2020 15:30:50 GMT -5
John Feinstein's recent book, Back Roads to March, is a wonderful tale of the many eastern low and mid majors, inc in the PL, and their paths though their seasons to conference tourneys, and for some the NCAA tourney.
Feinstein has always fought for the lesser known teams, and this book takes the engrossed reader through the 18-19 season.
HC's 2016 run gets a mention
|
|
