Book Suggestion(s)

[ole]

That about sums up Shelby Foote, ashbel. Riveting! When he gets off on telling a story, everything else is suspended until he is finished. One of the first sets a new student of the USCW must have for starters.

ole

[Baggage Handler #2]

I did a quick search of the thread and didn't see Douglas Southall Freeman's Lee's Lieutenants, which surprised me a little.
It was an essay of his, about walking down a street in his town and seeing Jubal E. (sort of characterized as the scary old man down the street) that made me first realize the 1860's were part of the continuum of all of us, and that people then did in fact live, thrive, and struggle.

In short, it began to become real.

Maybe Freeman's out of style, but man, what a style to be out of!

Lately, I'll hit up google books or gutenberg and try to get opposite sides of the same event. It's also worth seeking some words by a solid writer (again, Bierce drives the fierceness home like no other - I never want to read some of his stories again, but I know I will).

[timewalker]

Originally Posted by diddyriddick

Walker....I sooooooo miss the Half-Price bookstore on NW Highway.

HPB is the source of probably 80% of my Civil War library

[timewalker]

Originally Posted by Ashbel

Does anyone else "read" Books on Tape besides me?

I have found that there is nothing better for a long car ride than a book on tape. I can't read and drive, but I sure can listen.

Our public library has several hundred good history books on tape. It takes me about two weeks to "read" the average book.

About 15 years ago I was commuting 45 minutes each way to work and listened to the entire Shelby Foote trilogy in a summer. He might not be the greatest historian, but he is a fabulous story teller. I couldn't wait to get in the car to resume the story and there were many evenings where I sat in the car in the driveway to listen to the end of a chapter.

Must be a Texas thing. I commute from Flower Mound to downtown Fort Worth so I have a 45 minute to an hour each way. I get lots of books on tape finished that way. I'm currently "re-reading" Last Full Measure that way. I have also discovered the free iTunes university and have downloaded a bunch of their lectures to listen to on History and Theology.

[samgrant]

If the greatest consumers of Books on tape/CD are frequent and/or long distance drivers, I fear gas prices may have an effect.

Myself, I own a car, but I take a bus to work and only drive out of the city to play golf; and only drive any further to visit my 91 year old mother in another state.

I can imagine that books on tape/cd might be a good thing, and the I'd think that the mellifluous tone of Shelby Foote might make for a soothing trip, but I think I would have to pay more attention to the tape than the traffic, where with music one does not need to be so attentive.

Besides that, I just like books when I'm sitting. or standing on the crowded bus, and I can't mark a passage with a post-it note on a recording.

Sam

-

[Oscoda]

Originally Posted by timewalker

Must be a Texas thing. I commute from Flower Mound to downtown Fort Worth so I have a 45 minute to an hour each way. I get lots of books on tape finished that way. I'm currently "re-reading" Last Full Measure that way. I have also discovered the free iTunes university and have downloaded a bunch of their lectures to listen to on History and Theology.

I'm glad that this iTunes University subject came up. I'm a high school teacher and often watch science lectures to "borrow" ideas for my classes. I think it's a GREAT idea to download history lectures and listen to them. mp3 format and free. I haven't sampled any of the history lectures provided by iTunes. Are they any good?

[ole]

Besides that, I just like books when I'm sitting. or standing on the crowded bus, and I can't mark a passage with a post-it note on a recording.

That strikes a chord. I've never listened to a book on tape and I can't read one off the screen. Something about the flipping and putting a flysn on something I want to remember.

But I have a three-day drive coming up and am considering getting something. However, there will be two ladies in the car who are bored to tears by my passion. So. Any suggestions as to a cd book?

ole

[Scribe]

Originally Posted by rivrrat

I would reconsider Foote.

If he does I suggest he read with care.

In Foote's brief treatment of the battle of Prairie Grove and aftermath in V2 of the trilogy he makes the following errors:

Foote wrote: "Schofield, believing in mid-November that hostilities had ended for the winter, left the largest of his divisions near Fayetteville...."


In fact, Schofield left the division -- Brig. Gen. James G. Blunt's near Maysville on the Arkansas-Indian Territory border some 35 crow-flies miles and 42 road miles from Fayetteville. Blunt would later move to Lindsey's Prairie, 22 crow-files miles from Fayetteville, and then to Cane Hill, 16 crow-flies miles from Fayetteville. But Blunt made both of these moves on his own, not on
orders from Schofield.

Foote wrote: "... and [Schofield] withdrew to Springfield with the other two [divisions], which he placed under Brigadier General Francis J. Herrron...."


In fact, Schofield left the other two divisions under the command of Brig. Gen. James Totten. Herron did not take command until Totten was recalled to St. Louis as a witness in a court martial.

Foote wrote: "... when word came from [Lt. Gen. Theophilus H.] Holmes... for him [Maj. General Thomas C. Hindman, commanding all Confederate forces in
northwest Arkansas] to return posthaste to Little Rock with all his men..."


In fact, Holmes ordered Hindman to give up any advance in Missouri, but not to return to Little Rock.

Foote wrote: "The first sign that they [Herron's reinforcements moving to Blunt at Cane Hill] were not going to make it -- at least not on schedule -- came later that morning, twelve miles down the pike when they encountered long-range cannon-fire..."


In fact, the fight started when Brig. Gen. J.O. Shelby's brigade smashed into Herron's cavalry advance. The first artillery was fired by the federals, not by the Confederates.

Foote wrote: "... Blunt cancelled the truce, and prepared to follow. By that time, however, Schofield was on the scene."


In fact, the truce ended Dec. 10 and Schofield didn't leave in St. Louis until after Christmas.

Foote wrote: "Hindman's discomfort was considerably increased in late December, when Schofield finally unleashed his cavalry for a forced march against the Confederates...."


In fact, Schofield didn't unleash anyone. Blunt and Herron had moved out for an attack on Van Buren on Dec. 28 and were making the attack on Dec. 29 when Schofield arrived at Prairie Grove He did not catch up with his army until it was on its way back from Van Buren. And, in fact, it was not a cavalry attack; Blunt had taken a mixed force of 8,000 infantry, cavalry and artillery to Van Buren. Blunt had made this move on
his own, not under any orders from Schofield. As a matter of fact, he was disregarding Schofield's telegraphed orders, and Schofield would later call the raid a mistake.

[Ashbel]

Ole
If the ladies aren't Civil War buffs but like history, you might try "Undaunted Courage" by Ambrose or "John Adams." I just finished "Undaunted Courage" and enjoyed it immensely.

[Ashbel]

Timewalker
Try the Fort Worth library. They have a great Audio/video section.

Before I started listening to books on tape I thought it was a ridiculous idea. Who would listen to a book being read word for word? Boring. Yet, once you start, you are hooked. Now I feel guilty listening to music or news on the radio. I could be learning something instead!