Hello all :) Since I got my latest book in the mail. I decided I would do a blog on my Personal collection of books, featuring my bed XD.
It was my intention to make notes on every book, whether I have read them or not, and what i thought of them.... But I would be here forever D=. I will try to update it gradually with those when I can. And will update this when I get any new ones.

Till then feel free to ask me my thoughts on any of these :P

Please note I am doing most of these notes "Closed Book" going only off memory, so some Info may vary or I may not remember it right

General stats:
Current number of books in library: 86
Number of them that I have read: 49

Stack #1

Ways and Means: Lincoln and His Cabinet and the Financing of the Civil War
Status: Read ✔️

Being a American Civil War buff. I always love books that bring out the details, and history behind the scenes. As we all know the Basics of the Civil War. Some 2 million men served in the United States Federal Government, With some 1 million in the confederate states. But all these enlisted men had to be paid their wages, equipped with proper gear, including rifles, camp equipment, uniforms, ammunition, food stuff, feed for animals, and other such expenses of maintaining a army. Before the war there was no national standard of currency. Each state had its own states banks, Issuing its own "Bank notes" These bank notes being redeemable for Specie/ solid currency (gold/ bullion/ coins), and these notes could vary in worth depending on when and where. Also worth to note, that often times the smaller banks would fail, causing economical issues. In comes the Civil War, and Federal government soon finds itself spending millions upon millions on its armies. In thinking that the war was going to be short. At first the war was financed in loans from major banks, and Government bonds payed to the Treasury in specie, and redeemable after a set time to the individual depending on the bond. In addition to Loans, and bonds. The First National banks where created, and a standard uniform currency was created as the United States Dollar as we now it today, the dollar or "Greenback" being used for any debt or payment anywhere in the United States. I learned from another book related to this that after the war, There would be Supreme court cases trying the "constitutionality" of the national dollar, and the new "Greenbacks" being used to pay debts set before their existence that where to be payed in Specie, but that is a story for another book

Lincoln and His Admirals:
Status: Read ✔️

A nice little book on the Naval side of the American Civil War. This book covers things between Lincoln's dealings with the attempt at resupplying Fort Sumter, its ultimate failure. The building of a large Navy, which prewar was small and inadequate to the task, In conjunction with the effecting of the Naval Blockade on the South. The naval operations on the Mighty Mississippi river, the running of and taking of Vicksburg. Operations on the Tennessee river. The Red River campaign in Texas, Retaking Charleston SC. As well as things like the Trent Affair, which could have very nearly started a war between the USA and the UK, When an American Naval vessel stopped, and boarded a British steamer, searching and removing the CSA Diplomats bound for London. As well as the Hunt for, and sinking of the CSS Alabama

Courage and Country: James Shields: More Than Irish Luck
Status: Read ✔️

A General in the American Civil War I had been wanting to know more about. James Shields was born in Ireland, immigrating to the United states. Holding political offices before becoming a General in the war. He is also best know for his near duel between himself and Lincoln, which both quit. There is many versions of just how the duel between James Shields, and Abe Lincoln went down. Between Lincoln's "Rebbeca letters" which was articles that appeared in Newspaper, assuming the view of a Illinois farm wife, criticizing Shields for his work as State auditor. Later in the war Shields would serve as a Brigadier general. Tactically defeating Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson at the battle of Kernstown 1862. He would then go on to become a Senator. Through his life becoming Senator from three different states!

Grant and Twain: The Story of an American Friendship
Status: Read ✔️

A book about the friendship between Samuel Clemens "Mark Twain" and Ulysses S Grant. Twain would help Grant later in his life with trying to publish his biography after contracting cancer. Promising Grant a much better deal for the publishing of his book, then his predecessor's offer.

Days of Steel Rain: The Epic Story of a WWII Vengeance Ship in the Year of the Kamikaze
Status: Read✔️

The story of a a WW2 "Vengeance ship" USS Astoria. Built and named after a sunken ship also of that name. Taking you through the Initial loss of the first Ship, to the rebuilding, and naming of the new Vengeance ship, the hold ups in construction, and its final shake down cruises. The ship would serve in the Pacific Theater of WW2, seeing action as escort for Aircraft carriers, as well as shore bombardment at Okinawa, and Iwo Jima, to the Infamous "Halsey's typhoon" Where US naval vessels where caught in a Typhoon sinking some ships, and severely damaging others. The title of the book coming from the description of pieces of shrapnel from anti Aircraft guns raining back on deck, from firing upwards at incoming Kamikazes

Civil War Field Artillery: Promise and Performance on the Battlefield
Status: Read ✔️

A in depth look at the workings of Artillery during the American Civil War, including things like the proper loading procedures, the required staff, and materials, as well as structuring of the artillery branch of arm. The makeup of a "Battery" The various projectiles, fuses, and their affects. Such things as Solid shot, case, and canister shot. Common issues with some projectiles, guns, the issue's work arounds. As well as general accounts of the various uses of the guns in combat.

The Rifle: Combat Stories from America's Last WWII Veterans, Told Through an M1 Garand
Status: Read ✔️

Possibly one of my favorite books! The author accounts for his efforts to interview the still remaining vets of WW2 left alive today! His story starts out with his experiences in war (quite graphic do not read if you don't want the gruesome details). Remembering his neighbor who he always grew up seeing as a "Grumpy old guy" He would begin to understand his struggles with memories of the war. His Neighbor having never talked about the war. The author would go out to purchase a M1 Garand the standard issue arm of WW2. Taking it to show his neighbor, The WW2 vet suddenly light up, and came alive with his hands on the rifle, and would go on to tell his story. Having him sign his name on the rifle, The author would go on to interview countless other vets, and collect their signatures/ stories. Most of the chapters each having usually a picture of the WW2 vet as they where back then, and one of them holding the rifle in the present. A book I couldn't put down, and was sad to be done with

Spearhead: An American Tank Gunner, His Enemy, and a Collision of Lives in World War II
Status: Read ✔️

Another book I couldn't quite put down. Telling the personal story of a Tank gunner, and his experience of war in "The Spearhead Division" 3rd Armored. The book elaborates well on tense moments, such as when a German tank unknowingly slipped into the formations of US tanks, to the tank duel in Cologne Germany, and the use of the new Pershing tank

[url=/account/manage/blogs/6198842/Collins%20German Unabridged Dictionary, 9th Edition]Collins German Unabridged Dictionary, 9th Edition[/url]
Status: Have studied some

Not much to really see here, just a book i have giving a translation of English words to German, and section in the other half Giving German words translation to English again.

Knight's Cross : A Life of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel
Status: Read✔️

Interested in learning aspects from other view points and both sides of history, to get a better understanding of battles, and such. I found and got this book. Having knew of him from history I picked up from my dad, and documentaries he would watch. Starting with his leadership in WW1 in Italy, Romania where he would learn his tactics of mobile warfare. The books mainly focusing on his North Africa campaign in WW2, with its supply difficulties, making getting fuel for operations hard. I must admit some of fine details have escaped me, but I will have to re read some of the books I have at some point

Lee
Status: Read✔️

A book I had purchased some years ago, and tried to read once, but couldn't get through, to a few years ago. My dad also being into the Civil War at the time, decided to Partially name me after him >.< Besides being the largest commanding General of the Confederate states in the Civil War, he went through west point academy. Taking Engineering posts, and seeing action in the Mexican American War. Which like him would give rise to many well known names of the Civil War. Lee's biggest advantage during the Civil War was his knowledge of his adversary, and their likely actions/ personalities. Having known them from West Point, or Mexican war days. Coupled with the fact of Union War effort at the time. Succeeding before Ulysses S Grant was placed in command in the USA. A General/ adversary he did not know. In desperate battles of the late years of the war when the crushing numbers of The Union army would tell, as well as the casualties that would ensue. Case in point "The Battle Of The Wilderness", and "The Battle Of Cold Harbor" before the fall of Richmond. Personally I think his talents could have been better used in a better cause, but he ultimately refused command over all the Union Armies at the outbreak of the Civil War, and Chose his home state of Virginia and the CSA.

Rebel Yell: The Violence, Passion, and Redemption of Stonewall Jackson
Status: Read ✔️

A book about another well know Confederate General of the Civil War. Thomas J. Jackson, better known by his nickname of "Stonewall" gotten from the first battle of Manassas/Bull Run. Also beginning his Military career in the Mexican American War. Later becoming a professor/ teacher at Virginia Military Institute (VMI). He was often Loathed by his students for his strictness, and stiffness in personalty which would become his identifying trait. Later in the Civil War he would be assigned action in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, alluding USA Generals such Nathaniel P Banks for some time, much to their frustration. He would ultimately be accidentally mortally wounded by his own men during the battle of Chancellorsville occurring shortly after the battle of Fredericksburg. Riding out himself with some other staff to do reconnaissance of the enemy. Upon his return ride in the dark, he as mistaken for a enemy by his own troops and was fired on. Suffering wounds which would lead to his arm being amputated, and his eventual death from the infection of the wound.






stack #2

Stack #3


stack #4


stack #5


stack #6


stack #7


stack #8


stack #9


stack #10