usnmm2 ** "There is No Frigate Like a Book"

"There is no Frigate Like a Book"
by
Emily Dickinson

There is no Frigate Like a Book
To take us Lands away
Nor any Coursers like a Page
Of Prancing Poetry-
This Traverse may the poorest take
Without oppress of Toll
How frugal is the Chariot
That bears the Human soul.

*******************************
"Books serve to show a man that those original thoughts of his aren't very new at all." --Abraham Lincoln --

****************************

I've been lurking around this group reading various posts. Some funny, some informative and some just hurt my brain. But all are interesting. So I thought I'd give it a whirl.

In my younger days I'd try to read and figure out the existential angst of the Jovian gods and how they interacted with the Proletariat masses. Now I read for enjoyment. (also I don't have try to impress the girls with weighty matters {besides it never worked anyway}). Anyhow that's why I like the Lincoln quote. There's not an original thought in my head.

Chris Kringle said to Natalie Wood ",,, you've heard of the British Nation, the French Nation well this is the imagiation"; So in my mind books are the planes, trains and automobiles that take us were no man (or woman) has gone before (see no original thoughts).

The last few years my reading has tended toward lite sci-fi and popular fiction. This year I've tried to change that somewhat by reading more non-fiction and a few more books of a literary nature. So far I've succeeded on the non-fiction part but a little lacking in the literary department. But I'll let the games proceed.

Here's the list so far this year;

1. Space Vulture by Gary K. Wolf - sci fi
2. Wolf Star (Tour of the Merrimack, No. 2) by R.M. Meluch - sci fi
3. The Four Deuces: A Korean War Story by C.S. Crawford - memoir
4. The Coldest Winter: America and the Korean War by David Halberstam. - history
5. "Sea Warfare (Classics of Naval Literature)" by Rudyard Kipling - essay
6. Dear and Glorious Physician, A Novel about Saint Luke by Taylor Caldwell - fiction
7. Into the Storm: Destroyermen, Book I by Taylor Anderson - sci fi
8. Japanese Destroyer Captain by Tameichi Hara - non fiction/memoir
9. Crusade: Destroyermen, Book II - sci fi
10. Maelstrom: Destroyermen, Book III by Taylor Anderson -sci fi
11. 1632 by Eric Flint - sci fi
12. Voyage of the Deutschland: The First Merchant Submarine by Paul Konig - history (WW1)
13. Hard Tack and Coffee - hsitory (civil war)
14. Breach the Hull by Mike Mcphail - sci fi (short stories)
15. Monday's Warriors by Maurice Shadbolt. - novel
16. Aggressor Six by Wil McCarthy - sci fi
17. A Bar in Brooklyn: Novellas & Stories 1970-1978 by Andrei Codrescu - short story collection
18. Midway: The Battle That Doomed Japan, the Japanese Navy's Story (Classics of Naval Literature) by Mitsuo Fuchida - history (WW2)
19. 1633 by Eric Flint - sci fi
20. Relentless (The Lost Fleet, Book 5) by Jack Cambell - sci fi
21. The Poets' Corner: The One-and-Only Poetry Book for the Whole Family by John Lithgow - non fiction
22. Roman Blood by Steven Saylor - novel
23. In The Wake of Madness by Joan Druett - non fiction
24. Typee by Hermann Melville - non fiction
25, Lest Darkness Fall by L. Sprague De Camp - sci fi
26. One Second After by William R. Forstchen - sci fi
27. She Was a Sisiter Sailor edited by Joan Druett - non fiction/memoir
28. Soldiers of Salamis: A Novel - novel
29. Orphan's Triumph (Jason Wander) sci fi
by Robert Buettner
30. Kit Carson's Autobiography (Bison Book) by Kit Carson - non fiction
31. Ned Myers; of A Life Before The Mast edited by James Fenimore Cooper - non fiction/memoir
32 Helliconia Spring by Brian W Aldiss - sci fi
33. A Narrative of the Life of David Crockett of the State of Tennessee
by David Crockett - non fiction/memoir
34. At All Costs: How a Crippled Ship and Two American Merchant Mariners Turned the Tide of World War II by Sam Moses - history (WW2)
35. They Were Expendable by W.L. White - non fiction (WW2)
36. A Hanging Offense: The Strange Affair of the Warship Somers - non fiction
37. South To Java by Vice Adm. William P. Mack - fiction
38 pOnly Yesterday: An Informal History of the 1920's by Frederick Lewis Allen
39. "In Harms Way" by James Bassett
40. "Submarine" by Edward L. Beach
41. Mr. Roberts by Thomas Heggen
43. "The Strange Case of Hellish Nell. The Story of Helen Duncan and The Witch Trial of World War II" by Nina Shandler
44. Flashforward by Robert Sawyer
45 Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco (in progress)

Welcome! I'm guessing from your user name and your book choices that you have some connection with the US Navy?

Thank you! And you guess right. My father was a career man (25 yrs) and I did 8 years. Most of my cousins uncles and one grandfather served in the navy or merchant marine at one time or an other.

A Hanging Offense: The Strange Affair of the Warship Somers by Buckner F. Melton

A very readable history of the only mutiny on a U.S. Naval vassal the U.S. Brigg of War Somers in 1842, that resulted in the three ring leaders being hanged. The result of which led to the founding of the U.S. Naval Academy.

On the surface you would say O. K. discipline in those days were harsh and these things happened in those days.. But it ends up that these three young men were hanged without a court Marshall or the benefit of legal council of any kind.

Add to the mix that the mastermind of the mutiny was a young acting Midshipman named Phillip Spencer whose father was John Canfield Spencer was Pres. John Tyler's secretary of war, and had arranged the boy's commission with the help of Capt. Oliver "Hazzard Perry.You now have the setting for high drama and what sounds like a Hollywood script.

The book is written in a very low keyed tone. Every chapter is more of an essay on the main people involved and each part of the event as it unfolds. Overall it gives a good account of the facts as known and the condition both political and physical of the U.S. Navy and the Country ain 1842.

The story is a who's who of America and American Maritime History. James Fenmore Cooper, Richard Henry Dana Jr., and almost every member of the Perry family. William H. Seward who would be Pres. Lincoln's Sec. of State in the Civil War.

The Lt. aboard the Somers was Melville's cousin and may have been the source for Melville's book Billy Budd. There are some very striking similarities between Capt. Mackenzie and Captain Vere. The last exchange between Capt. Mackenzie and Seaman Smalls is touching ;
Capt. Meckenzie - "Small" ..."what have I done to you that you won't bid me goodbye?"
..... "I did not know that you would bid a poor bugger like me goodbye Sir,"
.... Now Meckenzie it was who asked forgiveness of Small. He told the seaman that he had to go through with the execution; both the honor of the flag and the safety of the crew demanded it. "Yes, Sir and I honor you for it," replied Small. "God Bless that Flag!"

Billy Budd years later says;
""God bless Captain Vere!"

About halfway done with South To Java by Vice Adm. William P. Mack USN (Ret),a very good read so far.

Have two in the on deck circle and keeping with my pledge to read more non-fiction they are both histories;

Only Yesterday: An Informal History of the 1920's by Frederick Lewis Allen
and
At 12 Mr. Byng was Shot by Dudley Pope

Welcome to LT usnmm2. avaland beat me to the question. My hypothesis was correct.

7: urania1
Thank you for the welcome.

South To Java by Adm. William P. Mack USN (Ret.)

The book is about an old WW1 four stacker destroyer in the Plillipines at the start of WW2. The main charactor is a young Naval Officer is the gunnery officer. Just so happens that at the start of WW2 that Adm. William P. Mack USN (Ret.) was was a young gunnery officer on the USS Pope an old WW1 vintage four stacker station in the Phillipines.

This is what makes this book unique from the many other fiction books that I have read set in this time frame. There is a feel of authenticity to the conversations amoung the charactrs;
"Where and when will the war will start. Pearl Harbor, Hong Kong, Singapore etc."

Also the charactors or more fleshed out than in most books of this kind. Not only the officers but the enlisted as well. They all have their lives and problems aboard ship and ashore. We care about them.

The battle sequences were well written and the fictional USS O'Leary DD 200 Took nothing away from the actual historical battles.
Overall a good read and recommended to any that like Naval Fiction.There are a few more books that the author wrote to continue the story. I just might look into them ( )

Started reading Only Yesterday: An Informal History of the 1920's by Frederick Lewis Allen last night. Seems like it's will be an interesting read.
Many things that Lewis mentions about May 1919 sound familiar;

> '... short haired women, like long haired men, are associated with radicalism, if not free love.' (1960's?)

> refering to a cartoon that appeared in "Life";
'... Uncle Sam saying to a soldier, "Nothing is to good for you, my boy! What would you like?" and the soldier answers "A job" (today?)

and so far it's only the preface and chapter one.

Craze: Gin and Debauchery in an Age of Reason by Jessica Warner
A interesting social history of the"gin craze" of the early 1700's and the various "Gin Laws" passed by Parliment from 1729 till 1751. Sometime humrous, sometimes sad, sometimes the reading is a bit 'dry' (;D) but on the whole educational. (2 1/2 stars)

About halfway though Only Yesterday: An Informal History of the 1920's. I'm enjoying it alot. I see that Frederick Allen wrote another book about the 30's. Since Yesterday: The 1930's in America, September 3, 1929 to September 3, 1939. Plan on looking into that one also.

Started Harms Way by James Basset. Read it many,many years ago. It's the basis for the John Ford movie of the same name staring John Wayne.

Have The Englishman's Boy waiting in the wings, it sounds like it will be good.

>11 usnmm2: interesting. I read a book late last year about the Triangle Trade in New England - rum, slaves, and molasses. Rum from New England to Africa, African Slaves to the Caribbean, Molasses back to New England... The amount of distilleries in NE at that time was incredible.

12: avaland
The increase of distilled spirts (rum and gin) at that time led to a drop in price that made them available for the working poor.

Been in a reading rut for a while. Start reading a book and can't get interested in it. When this happens I usually revert to my old stand by's , Science Fiction or Naval books (fact or fiction). So have added two more too my list ;
1. "In Harms Way" by James Bassett
This book about the early days of WW 2 right after Pear Harbor. This was made into an excellent movie in the early 60's. The book as usual was better with the characters more rounded out, more background etc.
If you only know it from the movie, do yourself a favor and read this. You won't be disappointed
Bassett also wrote another good book Commander. Prince, USN: a novel of the Pacific War which is about the Asiatic fleet in the early days of the war.

2. "Submarine" by Edward L. Beach.
This was Beach's first book. In it he tells not only his experiences during his ten war patrols but in alternating chapters tells the story of other famous Submarines and crews. Anyone who has read anuthing about submarines in the Pacific will recognize the names of Wahoo, Tang, Trigger, Batfish, Archerfish etc. In it you see the development of the tactics that were used so successfully in WW 2. You can also see where he gets all his the material for Run Silent Run Deep, it's not just a novel but in many ways autobiographcal.
I think every script writer in Hollywood read this book. Because in it I can see every submarine movie that was made in the 50's

Mr. Roberts by Thomas Heggens

I decided to re-read this book after reading a bio of Heggen on line.
Mr. Roberts exploits on AKA 601, the USS Reluctant ( or the Bucket) was based on Heggen's life aboard the U.S. Navy attack transport USS Virgo (AKA-20).
The best parts of the book are all based on fact, even the palm tree which Heggen threw overboard twice in real life.
The book is made more poignant by the fact that Heggen committed suicide when he was only 30 years old.

Heres the link if anyone is interested in reading the article
(http://www.uss-virgo.com/wacky.htm)

Welcome.

Much of what you say resonates with me. I carry in me the love of a river. The first time I returned to my hometown after 26 years across the ocean, I went straight to the Danube, to be able to put my hand into its flow. And I am currently struggling with writing a short story in which the Danube plays a key role.

In your list at the top you have two books I am wondering about: the Codrescu and the Lithgow. Do you recommend them? Any comments?

16: polutropos,
Thank You for the welcome.
The Poets' Corner: The One-and-Only Poetry Book for the Whole Family by John Lithgow. In this collection pf poetry Lithgow gives us a wide range to choose from. The idea is "something for everyone". In that way it succeeds, with the bonus of a little introduction to each poem that tells of the poet or explains the poem. There is also a CD that comes with the book which features various actors and artists reading the poems.I enjoyed this book and recommend it for a wide range of people.

A Bar in Brooklyn: Novellas & Stories 1970-1978 by Andrei Codrescu.
I would say that this book is for the hardcore Codrescu fan. These stories (1 novela and several short stories) were writen when the author was concentrating on his poetry and are all experimental works.
Over all I enjoyed most them but couldn't tell you why.

Next book;

The Strange Case of Hellish Nell. The Story of Helen Duncan and The Witch Trial of World War II , by Nina Shandler

In 1944 Hellen Duncan and her four co-defendants listened to the court clerk read the following charges;

(from the back cover)
"...You four conspired together, and with persons unknow, to pretend to exercise some kind of conjuration, though the agency of the said Hellen Duncan, spirts of deceased persons should appear, and were cummunicating with living persons contrary to the Witchcraft Act of 1735"

A witch trail in 1944! That's enough to catch my attention for a read.

I hope it is good--it sure sounds interesting. Looking forward to your comments.

Really interesting collection of reads. In particular I share your interest in maritime stories (fiction or non fiction).

"There is no Frigate Like a Book"?

I can only add if the book is about a frigate all the better.

>21 zenomax: zenomax
"There is no Frigate Like a Book"

by
Emily Dickinson

There is no Frigate Like a Book
To take us Lands away
Nor any Coursers like a Page
Of Prancing Poetry-
This Traverse may the poorest take
Without oppress of Toll
How frugal is the Chariot
That bears the Human soul.

Flashforward by Robert J. Sawyer

With the T.V. show starting , I put everthing on hold to read this book to get a preview of it.

If you know what your future was in 22 years , could you change it? Could you use it? That's the basic theme of this book.
The book starts out fast an furious and goes down hill from there. The characters are predictable and the plot forced to a point where I couldn't suspend my disbelief and go along with the story.
The highlight of the book is when half the world starts to complain about a "flashforward" gap when the scientific world wants to try and reproduce the experiment.

I'm always on the lookout for new (to me ) sci fi writers. so on the plus side I'm going to try some of Sawyer's other books. He has won a Hugo and Nebula awards along with John W Campbell Memorial Award.

>21 zenomax: Try Two Years Before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana.

#22 - yes, a splendid poem.

#24 - Urania, I have that very book, and have read it twice over!

>25 zenomax: - zenomax, I first encountered the book when I was in elementary school and loved it.

"The Strange Case of Hellish Nell. The Story of Helen Duncan and The Witch Trial of World War II" , by Nina Shandler

This book might be a good read for those looking for something to read for Halloween. (even if it is history)
Helen Duncan was a median and Spiritualist born in 1898. Who at a young age could see sprits, and see the future events.

What makes this book good is that the author does a good job of going back and forth though Helen's life, to keep your interest up. It seems that she had the "Gift" as they call it to deliver messages for the beyond.
She got it right on many occasions. Example;

1. She predicted in early 1940 that Germany would not invade England. (this was just after Dunkirk)
2. That England and Russia would be allies (after Germany and Russia signed the non-aggression treaty)
3. That the United States would enter the war (we were officially neutral at that time)
4. that the War would last 6 years and involve the world from the U.S. to Japan (this is before Pearl Harbour)
5 And would end with two large bangs (atomic bombs?)

But this is not what got her into trouble!.
She told of the loss of the HMS Hood on May 24, 1941, and the sinking of the HMS Barham this is when the war department was keeping these reports secret. They went to the extreme of sending fake holiday greeting to the families of the diseased Seamen from these ships so the general public would not know.

Then the plans for D-Day start and Helen's problems begin to grow. till in n 1944 Helen Duncan and her four co-defendants listened to the court clerk read the following charges;

(from the back cover)
"...You four conspired together, and with persons unknown, to pretend to exercise some kind of conjuration, though the agency of the said Helen Duncan, spirits of deceased persons should appear, and were communicating with living persons contrary to the Witchcraft Act of 1735"

There is a lot more to the story. I don't want to ruin it for any who wish to read it. I give it about 3/5 stars.

Started Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco.
Somewhere in LT land I read that this was a thinking person's "The Lost Symbol" . So I'll give it a try though I'm not a thinking man.

Started His Majesty's Ship by Alaric Bond, to give my brain a break.

Read the first 100 pages of Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco. It seems good but my mental biorhythm's must be on a triple low just cann't wrap my mind around it at this time. Will pick it up again in a few months.

Am about 50% done with His Majesty's Ship by Alaric Bond Fairly good so far. He has a little different take on a well worn age of sail genre.

His Majesty's Ship by Alaric Bond

This is book #1 in Alaric Bond's "Fighting Sail Series". As an 'age of sail' story the action, tone and progression of the tale is on par with many other 'Age of Sail' books.
What makes this book different is the use of many characters and shifting point of views. You have the young boy that volunteers for service and is on a great adventure. The older men who were pressed into service and haven't been off the ship or see home in many years. Even some sailor's who belong to a clandestine group that is dedicated to the overthrow of England. A full gambit of officers from the older Midshipman who has almost no chance of making Lt.. To the Peer who has friends in high places, and one who has worked his way up from between decks.
With the many characters and shifting point views tends to make the ship and the sea going life the main characters in this story. This change in points of view is refreshing in a well worn age of sail genre.
After all there is only so many times you can follow Midshipman _________ to his rise to Admiral _______________. Don't get me wrong I've enjoyed every one of these series I've read (Hornblower, Bolitho, Ramage etc.). It's my feel good and safe genre. My comfort food of literature. But they can be a little repetitive. Anyway it's nice to see them handled in a little different and fresh way.
I have bought the 2nd book Jackass Frigate, which has met with good reviews. I hope Bond can keep it up.

Sounds like a book worth investigating. What period is it set in?

What do you think about the Patrick O'Brian novels by the way? Where would you rate them within this genre?

32: zenomax

His Majesty's Ship takes place on HMS Vigilant an old 64 gun ship of the line in 1795.

Patrick O'Brian. I've read a few of his and I must say that for some reason he is not one of my favorites. I don't know why?. His books are well written and researched. His battles sequences are the most acurate I've ever read (they are all based on real ship to ship actions only names have been changed). His characters for the most part aren't carboard cut outs. But I think for 'me' he is like J. Conrad, a little wordy (you can read 10 pages and nothing has happened). So having said this I find that I must really be in the mood to read O'Brian. I do plan on reading more of his books.

So far I've read The Golden Ocean which was his first book in this genre. It wasn't to bad for a first try (certainly better that many other first tries I've read) Which led me to read the first two Aubrey/Martin books Master and Commander and Post Captain. As I said I plan on reading more but I may take two or three starts till I'm in the mood to read them.

Anyway! I hope I haven't turned you off to O'Brian or made you mad.

Its getting to that time of year where I start to pick up books that I started to read and for some reason didn't finish. So next up is, The Englishman's Boy by Guy Vanderhaeghe. I started this a few months ago and seemed fairly good. Don't know why I put it down. But we'll give it another try.

Has been a crazy month at work. Way, way behind in my reading.
Finished and enjoyed Jackass Frigate, and about halfway through The White Rhino Hotel which I am also enjoying. (Got the next two in the trilogy to read)
Started reading The Road by Cormac McCarthy. It has been on my radar for awhile and I want to read it before the movie comes out next week.

"THE ROAD" BY Cormac McCarthy;

As a post-apocalyptic story this one is about par with a many others in this sub-genre of science fiction. What makes it good is the way McCarthy tells the story. Using a sparse economic writing style that is matter of fact, and has a cadence that draws you into this treck of this dark, bleak hopeless world. You can feel the cold and smell the ashes.
Overall I enjoyed this book, but like many others I could't tell you why.

This one lingered in my mind for a long time after I read it - it still has an effect. Somewhere around the Club there is a discussion on it with some pro and con.

>37 dchaikin: dchaikin

I kept seeing "The Road" in many places that's one reason I gave it a try.

Just finished Empire Falls by Richard Russo

A great book!!
One of the best books I've read in many years. Full of characters good and bad and I cared for everyone of them. I can add nothing to the positive reviews that have already been written by many readers.

Under The Dome Stephen King

I haven't read a new Stephen King book in years. But this one caught my attention, so here it goes for 1071 pages. This should take me into 2010.

Finished my last book of 2009. "A sailor's Life" by Jan De Hartog, and I must say I it is one of my high points for the year. Anyone who has been to sea for any lenght of time will enjoy this book.
In 1955 Jan De Hartog was an author of some repute of books about sailors and the sea, a young boy after reading one of his books decided to go to sea and wrote him to for his advice on going to sea. This book was the resault of that request.
The book is aimed at the young sailor out of a Maritime school and thinking of a career at sea. The book is organiized like a cruise. Covers topics as packing for your first sea voyage to retirement. Often told with little tongue in cheek humor but full of helpful tips, stories and observations of a lifetime at sea.