Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

My theme book for September is Biography of a Battalion: The Life and Times of an Infantry Battalion in Europe in World War II byJames A. Huston.

Hi Nita, our next theme month is October and the theme will be on any book or books covering any unit involved in WW2 (unit history).

I guess this will be my October book! :-)

Nita wrote: "I guess this will be my October book! :-)"

Its a good choice for the theme read :)

Just a comment on others contributions to these theme threads. Since joining this group the theme read have been very enjoyable for me personally. I read every one of the contributions others make and enjoy them thoroughly. I think the key is the respect shown for the opinion of others. The themes themselves are also able to cover broad subjects within the theme and I have to say that I have been taken to areas that I have read not as much about as I wish I had. Big thumbs up!

Hi 4ZZZ, I'm glad you have been enjoying the theme reads and I agree with everything you said in your post. Its nice to enter a conversation/discussion without any negative reactions or disrespectful responses.

The October 2016 theme read page is up and ready for comment and discussion, its on any book of your choice that covers a unit history during WW2:

/topic/show/...

The December 2016 theme read page is up and running for discussion. The theme is on any WW2 novel of your choice, I hope you have a good book to chat about:

/topic/show/...

Hi folks, I plan to set up six theme reads for the group in 2017.

Every second month we will have a new theme to read and share books about.

So what subjects/themes would members of the group like to read about?

All suggestions will be appreciated (as long as they are polite suggestions :) )

Maybe Mediterranean and South East Asia?

4triplezed wrote: "Maybe Mediterranean and South East Asia?"

We could certainly work some theme reads around those subjects.

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "4triplezed wrote: "Maybe Mediterranean and South East Asia?"

We could certainly work some theme reads around those subjects."


Just noticed you had a book on Crete in my feed. I have a few on Crete as well. Would that be a theme read?

We could have a theme on any campaign in the Mediterranean, so the book on Crete would fit in easy :)

I would enjoy both Mediterranean and South East Asia as topics.

I dont know if these are appealing enough to people, but I would be interested in an abstract theme such as a defeat from the perspective of the defeated (battle, campaign, or even the war)

Also the buddy read that I just saw seemed very interesting (Fleet at Flood Tide). I noticed it too late, but would be interested in something like that in 2017 so that I can benefit from the perspective of the history buffs that frequent this group.

Hi Dane, some pretty good suggestions there. I am sure we could work something into a general theme of the defeated during a battle or campaign of WW2.

If there is a particular book that a few group members which to read together I am always happy to set up a page for a buddy read so let me know if you have any book in mind you are keen on.

Dane wrote: "I would enjoy both Mediterranean and South East Asia as topics.

I dont know if these are appealing enough to people, but I would be interested in an abstract theme such as a defeat from the perspe..."

Good ideas, Dane. I have a copy of --

Singapore's Dunkirk: The Aftermath of the Fall by Geoffrey Brooke

which would fit the perspective of the defeated.

Nice choice MR9!

Hi folks,

This is the planned theme reads for 2017. The themes are designed to be very general so as not to make it too hard for folks to join in. You can read any book or books of your choice that fit within the specified theme:

February - The defeated Perspective (any book that covers the views of a defeated army, a defeated soldier, etc. from any battle or campaign of WW2)

April - Mediterranean & Middle East (Land, air & sea)

June - Eastern Front (Land, air & sea)

August - South East Asia & Pacific Region (Land, air & sea)

October - Western Front (Land, air & sea)

December - Aviation Battle or Campaign

If anyone has a specific title that they would like to try and read with other group members in a buddy read please let me know and if we can gather a few interested people I will set up a separate thread for that book.

I would need some suggestions before February read

Yep, that could be a hard one but since you have an interest in Iwo Jima this might be the perfect book:

So Sad To Fall In Battle: An Account of War Based on General Tadamichi Kuribayashi's Letters from Iwo Jima by Kumiko Kakehashi

Nice schedule AR!

Should be a fun few themes and we are bound to discover a few good books in the process.

February - The defeated Perspective (any book that covers the views of a defeated army, a defeated soldier, etc. from any battle or campaign of WW2)

The Fall Of Crete Alan Clark

April - Mediterranean & Middle East (Land, air & sea)

Anzac Fury: The Bloody Battle Of Crete 1941 Peter Thompson

June - Eastern Front (Land, air & sea)
Rising '44: The Battle for Warsaw Norman Davies

August - South East Asia & Pacific Region (Land, air & sea)
Destination Corregidor Robert L. Underbrink

October - Western Front (Land, air & sea)

Really looking to torture myself with this. Presently a heady 4.25 on good reads! :-)
D-Day, June 6, 1944: The Battle for the Normandy Beaches Stephen E. Ambrose

December - Aviation Battle or Campaign

To be announced. I have got to give myself a further reason to explore book shops over the coming months.

Dane wrote: "I would enjoy both Mediterranean and South East Asia as topics.

I dont know if these are appealing enough to people, but I would be interested in an abstract theme such as a defeat from the perspe..."

Mediterranean generally gets a good turn out. After all there are a metric butt ton of books on Rommel in North Africa.

Michal wrote: "I would need some suggestions before February read"

The Miracle of Dunkirk



Strange Defeat

Singapore Burning: Heroism And Surrender In World War II


Just at a few that are in my library and I have been reading somewhat slowly. So far though all of them are pretty good.

The February theme is a great one. I'll probably go with this one that I borrowed from the library today:
Japan's World War II Legacy

For the April theme, I hope to read this one sitting on my shelf:

The Day of Battle: The War in Sicily and Italy, 1943-1944

For June, please forgive me for stretching (or contracting) it a bit:
The Last Battle

For August, oh mine.

For October, as a follow-up to the April book:

The Guns at Last Light: The War in Western Europe, 1944-1945

And finally, in December, a book on the Kamikazes:

Divine Thunder: The Life and Death of the Kamikazes

Hopefully I can stick to this. It's a new year after all.

BTW, I saw this book sitting on the 'New Arrivals' shelf in the library today:

The First Victory: The Second World War and the East Africa Campaign

Looks like a very readable book with some nice maps. And smells great too.

Chin Joo, you are so organzed, but I like your selections, especially the February one. May check it out.

Now -- a quandary. I have several books appropriate for the February theme of a defeated army's perspective:

Fighting for MacArthur: The Navy and Marine Corps' Desperate Defense of the Philippines by John Gordon

Crete 1941: The Battle and the Resistance by Antony Beevor

Nanjing 1937: Battle for a Doomed City by Peter Harmsen

Dunkirk: Fight to the Last Man by Hugh Sebag-Montefiore

As usual, I'll make a spur of the moment decision when the time comes.

wow as always "ridicilous" amount of suggestions. thanks guys!

Great suggestions! Like MR9, I'll probably decide at the last minute, and changing my mind at least 3 times.

I'm with MR9 and Mike :)

Two books I'd recommend for the February read:

Reaping The Whirlwind: The German And Japanese Experience Of World War II

Arnhem 1944: The Airborne Battle, 17-26 September

If I may suggest two bigger books for a buddy read in line with the Mediterranean & Pacific themes:

The Path to Victory: The Mediterranean Theater in World War II byDouglas Porch

Hirohito's War: The Pacific War, 1941-1945 by Francis Pike

Two excellent recommendations Dimitri.

Dimitri wrote: "If I may suggest two bigger books for a buddy read in line with the Mediterranean & Pacific themes..."

I have the Porch book on the shelf.

Its not a bad book if I remember correctly Mike, I am pretty sure you would enjoy it.

Dimitri wrote: "If I may suggest two bigger books for a buddy read in line with the Mediterranean & Pacific themes:

[book:The Pat..."

I have the Path to Victory but haven't cracked it open yet. One of these days.

Ah, that sentence, uttered down the ages; "One of these days" :)

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Ah, that sentence, uttered down the ages; "One of these days" :)"

That is such a great song by Pink Floyd. I think I have a copy of it around her somewhere. Better not play it at work though.

DJ - is that the one that says "you better watch out, too many dogs around" or something like this?

Hmmmm, no. I think that might be Dogs, which is off Animals. I am not a big Pink Floyd fan, but they have some songs that I really enjoy.

One of these Days, only has one line in it. 'One of these Days I am going to cut you into little Pieces'. The rest of it is just music. It was back before Gilmore joined the band.

The music starts at about 0.41, but that is standard for the artsy style they were going for.



By the way, the Lords Prayer that they have for Sheep is an awesome read.

Dj wrote: "Hmmmm, no. I think that might be Dogs, which is off Animals. I am not a big Pink Floyd fan, but they have some songs that I really enjoy.

One of these Days, only has one line in it. 'One of these..."

David Gilmore was in Pink Floyd for all but their first album DJ. One of these Days is off Meddle the album before Dark Side of the Moon. I am a fan from waaaaaaaay back.

4triplezed wrote: "Dj wrote: "Hmmmm, no. I think that might be Dogs, which is off Animals. I am not a big Pink Floyd fan, but they have some songs that I really enjoy.

One of these Days, only has one line in it. 'O..."

I will bow to your greater knowledge on the subject.

I think we are getting off topic but I would like to say that Wish You Were Here is the best song that Pink Floyd ever produced. I never get tired of hearing that one.

Sweetwilliam wrote: "I think we are getting off topic but I would like to say that Wish You Were Here is the best song that Pink Floyd ever produced. I never get tired of hearing that one."

Well it is still a tad on topic, even though it is still Pink Floyd. The Wall album, much like Tommy from what I understand is about the affects WWII had on the band members as children of the War. The question I always wondered and never bothered to look into was Vera Lynn a broadcaster in England about that time?

Dj wrote: "Sweetwilliam wrote: "I think we are getting off topic but I would like to say that Wish You Were Here is the best song that Pink Floyd ever produced. I never get tired of hearing that one."

Well i..."

I think this is a great topic DJ. In fact maybe next year we could have a thread on WW2 cultural topics. (Getting in early)

Tommy was great as well. Soldier comes home and kills wife after she found another man. Young boy mentally scarred after witnessing the event.

Roger Waters father died on Anzio beach in WW2. Waters was a baby at the time. I think The Wall a masterpiece but then I would ha! Interestingly there was song called When the Tiger Broke Free that was used in the film version of the wall that the film clip shows a soldier being (if I recall) killed in a bombing. I ended up buying the 7" vinyl version. Link here as to Waters and his father.


The Wall film is not to everyone's taste as it covers this event and the life of the rock star in a fairly surreal way. Domineering mother due to lack of father, that type of thing. Later life issues with wealth, fame and the opposite sex. Biographical I suspect.

There is no doubt in my mind that after reading Waters interviews, listening to his songs and reading of his pacifist ideals, the fact he never knew his father due to death at war has had a profound affect on him. Due to his talent he has been in the position to artistically articulate and deal with these events. Many never had that luxury sadly.

Vera Lynn I presume you know of due to the song of the same name from The Wall??? The Forces Sweetheart she was known as. Vera Lynn is till with us and will reach a century this March. On her passing there will be national mourning in the UK. She is a much revered individual.

Interestingly I read a long time ago about the wartime hit song Lili Marlene that Vera Lyn covered.





Searching on the internet will provide a wealth of detail about this wartime song. The wiki is as good a place to start.


Music and WW2 is a very interesting cultural subject IMO.

4triplezed wrote: "Dj wrote: "Sweetwilliam wrote: "I think we are getting off topic but I would like to say that Wish You Were Here is the best song that Pink Floyd ever produced. I never get tired of hearing that on..."

Thanks for sharing,

If anyone in the group is interested myself and Alex from the group will be reading Stephen Fritz's book; Ostkrieg, starting sometime next week. I am going to set up a buddy read page and anyone who would like to join in is free to do so.

Ostkrieg: Hitler's War of Extermination in the East by Stephen G. Fritz

The thread/page for the buddy read:

/topic/show/...

The February 2017 theme read page is now up and running. The theme is on any book or books of your choice that cover any WW2 Battle/Campaign (land, air or sea) from the defeated perspective:

/topic/show/...

For those members who expressed an interest in reading a book on the Holocaust I have set up a thread/page for discussion.

Members can ready any book or books on the subject and post comments and observations here:

/topic/show/...