Book Review #13 and #14

Yes!  It is another installment of the book review 2-for-1 special.  I read one of them some time ago, but really wanted to think about what to say.  Without further ado, I give you my reviews of The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillipa Gregory and This is No Drill: Living Memories of the Attack on Pearl Harbor by Henry Berry.

Book Review #13

Ah, historical fiction, how I enjoy it!  Historical fiction is interesting - based on history, but still fiction.  Going into this book, I didn't know much about the history.  I knew Henry the VIII was the King of England with many wives.  I knew at least one of his wives was executed.

The story centers around the court of Henry the VIII and his loves (more accurately, lusts) of the ladies around him during the 16th century.  A rivalry grows between sisters Ann and Mary Boleyn, who, at different parts of the book, the King has his eye on.  The Boleyn family desires to have their piece of England's throne and it seems will stop at nothing.

I really enjoyed reading and learning some of the history, and also enjoyed the fictional aspect, the nuances and details that may or may not have been true.  The author weaves hatred, an ambitious family, love, lust, torment, the search for happiness, ruthlessness, and manipulation into the fabric of history seamlessly.  In addition, I will say this book is, as I referred to it throughout my reading, as "saucy."  History tells of King Henry's very lusty advances and his love of women, and this book lends to the details.  The details.  If you blush or embarrass easily, this book may not be for you, but it, I will admit, lends the novel a "can't put it down" aspect!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and will likely read The Boleyn Inheritance sometime in the future.  Don't be afraid of the sauciness of this book!  I thoroughly enjoyed it cover to cover.  I give this book 4 out of 5 stars on my book rating scale.

Book Review #14

My most recent read I picked up over Thanksgiving from my parent's house.  It was sitting in a stack of books in my mom's "library" (that's what I choose to call it, calling it anything else would be minimizing the scale) and I thought it looked interesting, given my love of World War II history.

It definitely turned out interesting!  The author conducted a series of interviews with groups and individuals who survived the Pearl Harbor attack, instructing them to tell what they remembered from that day and the moment of attack.

There is not much to really say about the book, for we all know the history and the outcome.  The main points and interesting side notes I gleaned from his various interviews were the following:

• There were many, many warning signs that the Japanese were going to attempt an attack, but it was so unfathomable that no one believed it until they were under attack.

• Interesting side note: The U.S. soldiers called the Japanese planes "meatballs" because of the rising sun painted on the underside of the Japanese plane wings.  To them, it looked like a big, red meatball.

• After the attack, you could not have found a soldier without hatred for the Japanese that lasted throughout the war and, for some, years into their lives.

• The attack on Pearl Harbor was referred to by several in the book as a "sucker punch."  Was it ever.

• The attack on Pearl Harbor, while it may have been the beginning to U.S. involvement in the Pacific War, in some ways sealed the Japanese's fate for the remainder of the war.  For one, the Japanese sent most of their very best pilots, and, despite not being able to get our planes in the air efficiently, we shot down many of their planes, killing the pilots.

• Interesting side note: The statement made when an attack was in progress was supposed to be "This is no drill!"  Most of those interviewed stated that instead of "This is no drill!", they were told, "This is no sh*t!"  I guess they wanted their message to be loud and clear in terms those sailors could understand!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book.  I give it 4 out of 5 stars on my book rating scale.  I recommend anyone read it, especially if you don't have a grasp on what a truly infamous day this was in our country's history.