LOTR Read-Along: The Two Towers: The Palantir

Book Three of The Lord of the Rings has probably been one of the most enjoyable books I've read so far. It's quick and rapid fire, with absolutely no time to rest at all. From frequent battles, to meeting new characters in every chapter, there has not been a dull moment at any point in the story. So it's only fitting, that Book Three would end on quite an intense cliffhanger. All thanks to Pippin.

Goodreads Reviews: Churchill's Shadow Raiders

Churchill's Shadow Raiders: The Race to Develop Radar, World War II's Invisible Secret Weapon by Damien Lewis

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

England takes great pride in its many accomplishments in history. They believed themselves to be the inventors of Radio Detecting and Ranging or radar, however WWII would change all of those assumptions. As Germany was raining heavy fire down on England, it became apparent that the Germans were clearly in possession of their own radar technology. And not only in possession, but also advanced radar that far surpassed what England had created.

As Churchill becomes more and more aware of this fact (even amid the naysayers of his cabinet), he believes that England must strike back if they are ever going to turn the tide of the war. After the Battle of Dunkirk, Churchill asks for volunteers into the Special Services. These men would eventually form the Special Air Service, a highly trained airborne infantry. Their primary focus was to land in enemy territory and stop them from engaging any farther.

The Special Air Services had a shaky start, with the supposed failure of Operation Colossus, but was actually a remarkable success. And then finally the real baptism by fire, Operation Biting. The full blown raid into France where Hitler was housing the advanced radar system. Instead of destroying it, though, England wants to retrieve it and bring it back to help better their own technology.

The Special Air Services, Op Biting, charging into unknown territory to steal something that may not even exist was a gamble, but it ended being a fortunate one. The British Airborne proved to be necessary to the Battle of Britain, and became the model for America's own airborne infantry.

There's a story about me coming across this book. Last year, I completely immersed myself into the study of WWII after reading Band of Brothers and then watching the mini-series. The series was so excellent that it left me wondering about the real men and their lives. So for the rest of the year, I read as many books as I could find about the men of Easy Company and reviewing them on both Goodreads and my personal website.

So now, we get to early January of this year and I get this e-mail:

Hi, Ivy,

I found your blogpost on the Band of Brothers books and series, and wanted to e-mail you to see if you might be interested in another WWII nonfiction book:

CHURCHILL’S SHADOW RAIDERS: The Race to Develop Radar, WWII’s Invisible Secret Weapon (Kensington Books; May 2020). This is the true story of a daring parachute-and-sea raid – executed shortly after Dunkirk - to capture the Germans’ advanced Wurzburg radar, using what Churchill called “ungentlemanly warfare”. The Shadow Raiders undertook the first operation to seize the German radar in Operation Biting – the Allies’ first successful airborne raid, claiming a top-secret weapon that changed the course of history.

Award-winning British author and war correspondent Damien Lewis used salvaged British War archival material to create the thrilling narrative. Lewis has spent over two decades reporting from war, disaster, and conflict zones around the world, winning numerous awards. He has written more than a dozen books about WWII, including The Ministry for Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Dog Who Could Fly, SAS Ghost Patrol, and The Nazi Hunters. His work has been published in over forty languages, and many of his books have been made, or are being developed as feature films, TV series, or as plays for the stage.

More about the book and a link to a digital copy is below my signature. (If you’re not sure, you can listen to Damien talk about the book here: Episode 287-Damien Lewis Interview: Churchill’s Shadow Raiders | The History of WWII Podcast - by Ray Harris Jr (worldwariipodcast.net)

Thanks! – Best, Ann

Ann Pryor
Senior Communications Manager
Kensington Publishing Corp.

So, needless to say, I was absolutely surprised that a publisher had been on my site and read my reviews! And of course, I was genuinely very interested in the book as well. I finally managed to purchase the book, not knowing what to expect as this was from England's POV, but I was certainly not disappointed either.

There were a lot of people in this story and it was hard to keep up with everyone, but they were so wonderful to read about as well. The Special Air Services wasn't just soldiers. It was made up of scientists, mechanics and codebreakers; all of them with gifts and talents that were employed for the war effort. The French Resistance plays a vital role in this story. One of my favorite chapters was about the French Resistance leader, Gilbert Renault and the great sacrifices he and his people made.

Of course, not being a scientific person, I had a hard time understanding the science behind radar and was lost on more than one occasion. However, the people and the places more than made up for my momentary confusion. There is one excerpt from the book that so overwhelmed me, that for a moment I wondered if I was reading about a battle from WWII or from a thousand years ago:

All of a sudden, a new sound reverberated across the headland. Incredibly stirring to Cox and his sappers, it must have struck the fear of God into the enemy. A crescendo of bloodcurdling yells rose above the battle noise: 'Caber Feigh! Caber Feigh! Caber Feigh' - Gaelic for 'The Antlers of the Deer.' Since the immemorial this had been the battle cry of the Seaforth Highlanders, whose distinctive cap badge displays a highland stag. Charteris and his men were making for the valley of death, leading a wild charge. 

Inklings Link-Up~March 2021

Happy Spring everyone! Time for Inklings Link-Up : )

Here are my other Inklings Posts

1. At any time during the month, on your own blog post a scene from a book or film that matches the prompt.

2. Link-back to Heidi's blog in the comments section with a link to you Inklings prompt.

March Prompt

A scene involving a mirror in book or film

Goodreads Reviews: The Things Our Fathers Saw: Voices of The Pacific Theater

 

The Things Our Fathers Saw: The Untold Stories of the World War II Generation from Hometown, USA-Voices of the Pacific Theater by Matthew A. Rozell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What is seen in war can never be unseen much less talked about. During WWII, Glen Falls, New York was nicknamed Hometown, USA when LOOK Magazine wrote several articles about the homefront life while their young men (and women) were overseas. And what those soldiers saw was beyond unmentionable. Nearly seventy years later, the WWII veterans from Glen Falls, New York open up and tell their stories to high schoolers for a mass student history project.

32 veterans take turns sharing their own history of the second world war, from Pearl Harbor to Hiroshima. Some were still in school, some were in college, some were engaged to be married, some were already in the Pacific serving in the Navy. Wherever they were, when the Japanese bombed, they knew they were at war. Women answered the call to service volunteering in the WACs, WAVEs and Air Responders.

Some of the most hellish and nightmarish war experiences came from the Pacific Theater. The men who were already in the Pacific when Pearl Harbor was hit received the worst as they were herded into POW camps, receiving inhumane treatment that left them wishing for death. The Death March of Bataan was especially difficult to read through.

Along with the veteran's interviews, letter and journal excerpts were provided. Those tend to be my favorite, because it allows the reader to truly understand the mindset of the soldiers at that moment. Voices of The Pacific Theater was excellent. The war in the Pacific can be confusing because of the many smaller battles that were being fought on multiple islands. The immense casualty toll was unimaginable and the cruelty of the Japanese was second to none. However, these voices of soldiers, nurses and their families speak of absolute courage in a time when courage was most needed.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier Premiere

I saw

I loved

I can't wait for more!

 

Literary Treasure Co. and The Flower Letters

Good old Instagram, always finding ways to keep me occupied in the literary world! If you still get excited about receiving packages or finally reading that long awaited letter, then I highly suggest looking into these two wonderful companies!

LOTR Read-Along: The Two Towers: The Voice of Saruman

 

So, we're almost to the end of book three and quite a lot have happened. From Merry and Pippin's escape and meeting Treebeard and the Ents. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimili's run across the wildlands, reuniting with Gandalf (now Gandalf the White), riding to Rohan and saving King Theodan, the Battle of Helm's Deep, the sacking of Isengard and finally meeting up again with Merry and Pippin. Now the former Fellowship and King Theoden and his men must face one final battle. Confronting Saruman.

Band of Brothers Appreciation Week - Day Seven

Appreciation week has come to an end! This was fun, but Tumblr does not make it easy to post anything! However, it was great to write down my thoughts about the show and fandom.

Band of Brothers Appreciation Week - Day Six

Favorite quotes...I have quite a few, but unfortunately the graphics I found weren't that good. Yet, there is no such thing as a awful quote in the series. The whole mini-series is completely quotable! The one I finally chose was actually spoken by the real man and never did anyone else deserve to say it more.

Band of Brothers Appreciation Week - Day Five

If you read my book review of  David Webster's Parachute Infantry, he wrote about how much he loved the Dutch people. And this favorite scene of mine seems to pay homage to that love. One of the most misunderstood and bullied characters in the entire Band of Brothers franchise actually gets a good moment. And when I say David Webster is disliked in both the fandom and in real life, I'm not kidding. It's sad because he seemed to be a good person and an excellent writer, who saw through the lies of the higher ups of command and refused to always see war as a 'positive solution.'

Band of Brothers Appreciation Week - Day Four

Of the many things I enjoyed about the Band of Brothers mini-series, one of them was pairing the most opposite of friendships. Richard Winters who came from a strict, conservative, farm life in Pennsylvania and Lewis Nixon who was wealthy, lively and an alcoholic were great friends in real life. And it seems like the writers took that opposites attract friendship and wrote them into several other characters. 

Band of Brothers Appreciation Week - Day Three

How does one have a favorite episode of Band of Brothers? I took my a while to really answer what my favorite was. And really, it was the one that had the deepest impact on me. A doctor's devotion to his brothers in arms. Really, when I think I have a hard time at work, I remember this episode and realize, there is nothing in my life that is not too hard as compared to what he and countless men did in the war. 

Band of Brothers Appreciation Week - Day Two

Ohh! We get to do favorite character today! It's impossible to have a favorite character in this series! However, it narrows down to the person you can either identify the most with or drive to be most like. For me it was between Staff Sergeant/2nd Lieutenant Carwood Lipton or Army Medic, Eugene "Doc" Roe. Both wonderful men, with similar personalities (to mine) and both quietly did their job expecting nothing in return, but to simply do what needed to be done.

Band of Brothers Appreciation Week - Day One

After the last two months of participating in four blog parties, I swore I was going to forgo anymore parties, but when I saw this on T u m b l r I couldn't pass it up! It's especially fitting after doing The Fandom Tag and I wrote that Band of Brothers was one of my newest fandoms : )

The Fandom Tag

Skye tagged me!

Thank you!

LOTR Read-Along: The Two Towers: Flotsam and Jetsam

With the Battle of Helm's Deep over and the Ride to Isengard completed, the story takes a bit of a break from the fighting and magic and madness. If you think about it, it's probably only been a couple of weeks from the actual breaking of the Fellowship to the reuniting of...most of them. Lest we forget, there are two other important members of the Fellowship that are wandering the vast and dangerous outskirts of their enemies homeland. 

WandaVision: Season 1

To be honest, I wasn't really interested in WandaVision when I first heard about it. I love Wanda and Vision, they're great characters, but the previews were so bizarre, I wondered if it was going to be worth investing in. The reviews for the first several episodes were rather disheartening. WandaVision was just too weird...it doesn't make sense...where's the storyline? And then suddenly the reviews changed and people have fallen in love with it and are lauding it an absolute success. So, I figured I've give it a try. While the show may have had an uncertain and questionable beginning, the story starts to unravel in a well paced and timely manner. 

Goodreads Reviews: Brothers in Battle, Best of Friends

 

Brothers in Battle, Best of Friends: Two WWII Paratroopers from the Original Band of Brothers Tell Their Story by William Guarnere

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Of all the books I've read about Easy Company, this biography (well biographies) is my absolute favorite. Sergeant William "Bill" Guarnere and Edward "Babe" Heffron were both from the culturally diverse streets of South Philly. Both were as different as night and day. Bill was a tall, handsome free spirit of Italian descent. Babe was a small, pale, Catholic boy from an Irish family. In spite of their differences, their upbringings were similar. Growing up in the Great Depression, they were poor and learned how to work hard at a young age. They played in the streets with the other kids, hung out on the neighborhood corners and laundromats and were devoted to their families.

Even though they lived only a couple streets away from each other, they never met. Not until the war. After Peal Harbor, Bill immediately signed up for the 101st Airborne where he was sent to serve in Easy Company. He trained under Sobel in Georgia, sailed to England, parachuted over the beaches in Normandy and was promoted to 2nd Platoon Sargeant.

Babe joined Easy Company several months later and was put into Bill's platoon. Babe made his first jump in Holland during the disastrous Operation Market-Garden. Because of their similar upbringings, Bill and Babe became friends; a somewhat unusual occurrence seeing as Bill outranked Babe and men usually socialized within their own respective ranks.

Bill and Babe both take turns telling their own stories. Bill's from Georgia to Bastogne where he was sent home after he lost his leg. Babe from North Carolina to Austria. Shortly after the war, they met up again in the streets of Philly and remained lifelong friends. Bill was primarily responsible for putting together the Easy Company reunions and was a primary source for Stephan Ambrose's book, Band of Brothers.

Everything about this book was enjoyable. I loved hearing Bill and Babe's stories of growing up in Philly, their time in Easy Company, experiences in the war and their eventual homecomings. As compared to most men who returned from war, both Bill and Babe readjusted to civilian life very well. They eventually had families of their own, but lived within a few blocks from one another in South Philly. The war would always be a part of them and in spite of the loss and bloodshed they witnessed, they were thankful to return home and be able to tell their stories.