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I don't recall how many books are nominated, but if there are 20 or so, how about we narrow it down to 2 and people can choose to read both or one? Or 3 could work as well. But as far as 2-3 per poll, that sounds like a little much (not sure if that was what you were going for but you used one poll as an example so that's what I took it as). So we can still have polls to narrow it down to 2-3 top choices.

I'm happy to go with what people think is best for the group - I do like Chrissy's idea of a "play-off" between the top 2 or 3.

Hi Chrissy, we only had seven books nominated in the first poll, these are the results to date with "The End" being voted number 1. I can do a second poll of other titles and then we can vote on those. I can take the top 2-4 from each poll and we can vote again and either run with one book for all or a number of books s suggested earlier. If anyone has any comments of suggestions please let me know.


The End: The Defiance & Destruction of Hitler's Germany 1944-45 - 3 votes

Enemy at the Gates: The Battle for Stalingrad - 3 votes

All Hell Let Loose: The World at War, 1939-1945 - 2 votes

Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin - 2 votes

Ostkrieg: Hitler's War of Extermination in the East - 1 vote

The Storm of War: A New History of the Second World War - 0 votes

Target Tirpitz: The Epic Quest to Sink Hitler's Last Battleship - 0 votes

That sounds good to me. I also like Singleton's idea of reading in parts as summer is racing season for me so scheduling in little bits of reading will be easier than trying to get a whole book read.

Hi Nicole, there will be no time line with any of the books that we select to read and if people use the spoiler function then you can post when ever you can and not have the story revealed to you if you are a bit behind others.

This is how the second round of voting for Group Read is looking:


Eagle Against the Sun: The American War With Japan - 2 votes

Whirlwind: The Air War Against Japan, 1942-1945 - 2 votes

BISMARCK: The Final Days of Germany's Greatest Battleship - 1 vote

Hitler's Empire: How the Nazis Ruled Europe - 1 vote

Given Up for Dead: America's Heroic Stand at Wake Island - 1 vote

When all votes are finished I will send out a third round of the top 2-4 books from rounds 1 & 2 so we can vote on those, does that sound OK?

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "When all votes are finished I will send out a third round of the top 2-4 books from rounds 1 & 2 so we can vote on those, does that sound OK?"

Ok

Update from vote 1: "Enemy at the Gates: The Battle for Stalingrad" is now the clear winner with 4 votes.

I vote for "Eagle Against The Sun"!

It's looking like "Enemy at the Gates: The Battle for Stalingrad" has become a clear winner so far for poll 1.

by William Craig

I've read this years ago but will be happy to re-read it with the group.

I'm happy to go with the people's vote :)
Bah another book I need to buy (or hopefully my local library might have a copy).

Looking forward to the read.

Its a good book and I am pretty sure most libraries will have a copy :)

and used book stores.

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Its a good book and I am pretty sure most libraries will have a copy :)"

I found a hardcover copy for $7Cdn at the used bookstore the other day so snapped it up. Looking forward to reading it.

Here is the current status of the 3rd poll for a group read book:


All Hell Let Loose: The World at War, 1939-1945 - 3 votes

Enemy at the Gates: The Battle for Stalingrad - 2 votes

Eagle Against the Sun: The American War With Japan - 2 votes

looks like a tie - so what is the plan?
want to read them both or do a run off poll?

Well we could do both, I could set up two separate threads, one for; "All Hell Let Loose: The World at War, 1939-1945" (3 votes) and another for; "Eagle Against the Sun: The American War With Japan" (3 votes) and people could join which ever group book they prefer. This may also attact other members who may have one of the books to join, what do you think?

I think having the 2 reads is good. Gives people a choice and those who are faster readers or have more time can read both if they choose.

Good point Nicole.

I also vote for having 2 reads because it gives people more flexibility. For example, I just checked the libraries around me and none have Hastings book (either version/title), but they do have the Eagle Against the Sun. Furthermore, judging by Amazon I can score a used copy of that book for a copy bucks, but would have to plop down ~$20 for the Hastings book. Having two books allows people to still get to participate even if they can't find one of the books to borrow or at a price point they're comfortable with.

By the way, I'm not hating on the Hastings book because it sounds very interesting and I'd love to read it. Just going to have to decide if it's worthwhile to spend that much money on it at this time for me personally (in penny-pinching mode)

Fully understand Chrissy so two titles to select to read seems to be the easiest. We could also arrange a buddy/group read later for "Enemy at the Gates" if you like.

Chrissy wrote: "I also vote for having 2 reads because it gives people more flexibility. For example, I just checked the libraries around me and none have Hastings book (either version/title), but they do have the..."

Do you own a Kindle or some sort of e-reader Chrissy? If so, Hasting's book is very much "available" on the internets.

Wilson wrote: "Chrissy wrote: "I also vote for having 2 reads because it gives people more flexibility. For example, I just checked the libraries around me and none have Hastings book (either version/title), but ..."

Nope. Although in recent weeks I've warmed up to the idea, and think I might ask for one on Xmas or my next birthday. In a few weeks I'm allowing an exception on my year-long book ban so depending on the price of that book then (i.e. hopefully there might be a cheaper used copy up then) I might get it.

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Fully understand Chrissy so two titles to select to read seems to be the easiest. We could also arrange a buddy/group read later for "Enemy at the Gates" if you like."

I'd be up for that :)

Just a suggestion (I'm not sure whether you can edit it after sending out the group read invite or not), but might want to specifically include that the Hastings book falls under two different titles depending on UK/US version.

Fixed (I think).

If anyone here is interested I am going to start reading "Meeting the Fox" on June 1st. I'd be happy to make this a buddy read if anyone else has an un-read copy and has nothing else to read at the start of June.

by Orr Kelly
Description:
As their unproven commanders struggled to match wits with the wily Desert Fox, 100,000 poorly equipped, undertrained, and inexperienced GIs battled their way across North Africa. Hobbled by inferior weaponry and an inexperienced officer corps, these green but courageous citizen soldiers clashed head-on with the fabled German Afrika Korps and its legendary commander, Erwin Rommel. Meeting the Fox tells the unforgettable tale of the men who transformed themselves, in the heat of battle, from a poorly organized army of convenience into a relentless and unstoppable fighting force.

Reviews:
"Orr Kelly has dramatically brought to life the desert war by masterfully weaving the view of higher headquarters with the pathos of the foxhole. Meeting the Fox takes the reader on a gripping journey from North Africa's beaches and drop zones, the practically forgotten disaster at Sidi bou Zid, to the final battles in Tunisia. Meeting the Fox is destined to rank among the best narrative histories on the American experience in North Africa." - Patrick O'Donnell, (author of Beyond Valor and Into the Rising Sun)

"An almost bullet-by-bullet, shell-by-shell account, Meeting the Fox offers riveting personal experiences from those who fought the Axis forces during the desperate campaign for North Africa." - Gerald Astor, historian.

When is the next group read ?
Is there interest in another group read in September or is that too soon ?
We should get the ball rolling and start selecting a book if so, it will be here soon enough.

Any paricular area or subject your interested in? I can put together some suggestions and start a poll and see what the majority votes for if you like?

Too many interests. Someone suggested something more specific for the next read, which sounds good to me.
I have a large TBR pile, I would love to read one of them, but that is not a requirement.

OK, I will start putting together some suggestions on a specific battle or person and see how we go.

Anyone want to throw a few titles in that they want to be considered for the next group read?

Here's a few to get people started, I've tried to cover a range of theatres and interests:

The End: Hitler's Germany, 1944-45 by Ian Kershaw (no cover)

by Roger Moorhouse

by E. M. Collingham

by Flint Whitlock

by Richard F. Newcomb

by Juliet Gardiner

by Martin Middlebrook

by G.H. Bennett

by Theodore Taylor

by Robert Gerwarth

by David Killingray

by Geirr H. Haarr

by Doris Kearns Goodwin

by Mark Felton

Good selection of titles Geevee, a few of which I do have sitting in my pile of books to be read :)

A few others to throw into the mix:


by Von Hardesty

by Hans Schaufler

by Curzio Malaparte

by Karl-heinz Frieser

by Bruce Gamble

by Danny S. Parker

by Tony Le Tissier

by Egbert Kieser

Soooo many books we could suggest eh! Any more readers want to suggest for the poll?

Too many, a few more from my TBR pile :

by Dominick Bidwell

by Cornelius Ryan

by John Toland

Here's a few suggestions


Andrew Roberts

Adam Tooze

Nigel Davies

Patrick Bishop

John C. McManus

Sara Helm

Herbert Werner

Damn, so many good books, it’s going to be hard to get a consensus but we can only try :)

May need a few run offs. Hopefully we can get enough voters for reasonable results. It is difficult with only a few.

We will give it a go and see how it ends up.

Thinking that with run up poll , should allow two or three votes to get better selection. I don't think that goodreads allows this so would need a separate thread or have people post in the poll a second choice that will be tallied and added to the results.

I will run a number of polls taking the top 5 titles from each poll and placing them into a run off list to vote on. Maybe we could take the top 2 books and run two separate threads so members can discuss whichever book they are reading?

I'm thinking the lists people have submitted mean I may need to buy some more books just in case one of the ones I don't have gets nominated :)

You can count me as a vote for The End: The Defiance & Destruction of Hitler's Germany 1944-45.

Everyone's suggestions are also interesting! Looks like I'm going to have to make a trip to the library.

gasp!

Geevee wrote: "I'm thinking the lists people have submitted mean I may need to buy some more books just in case one of the ones I don't have gets nominated :)"

What do people think about a campaign book like; Crucible of Combat: Germany's Defensive Battles in the Ukraine, 1943-44 by Rolf Hinze which is about 450 pages of narrative? Or maybe a shorter book like his title; To the Bitter End?

by Rolf Hinze

by Rolf Hinze

They look like some fine books, unfortunately they are not easily available for me. I would enjoy a campaign book. Would like to read something i have or can get from my library. Of the two 'Crucible of Combat' appeals more.... its trying to make its way into my TBR pile, can't find any cheap used copies though.

I have a copy and it looks pretty good, he has another volume due out soon that may also interest you:

by Rolf Hinze

However you are right about accessibility for other members.

I will start sending out some polls so members can vote on books they would like considered for a group read. The top 3 titles from each poll will go into a run off poll till we have a winner or maybe two books that can be read side-by-side by members like the last group event. I will try and select books that are readily available and I am thinking of a starting date of 1st October to allow enough time for voting and for folks to be able to find a copy of the nominated book. Anyone have any issues, objections or suggestions to this course?