TopHatter

Yeah what a deal too!

Stunning pictures in a huge coffee table book, all for a few bucks. How often do you see that?

RAL's_pal?

You know damn well I already made the comments via email. As I recall, your sense of humor wasn't that great yesterday......

TopHatter

Of course I knew that. I meant public remarks here in the thread.

Hasn't been all that great for a couple of weeks now but that's a whole other story...or stories.

RAL's_pal?

What kind of book indexing system do you use for this collection? I see Russell Spurr's book on one shelf and 2 shelves down is another book on the Yamato. Where do you plan to place Landgraff's book in your collection?

thejester

War At Sea by Nathan Miller; got it when I was 11 and devoured it.
Wings and the Navy by Colin Jones; fascinating read about the development of naval aviation in the RAN, from the decision to buy carriers postwar to the end of the involvement of HMAS Sydney in the Korean War.

Standard of Power by Dan van der Vat
The Sea Warriors by Richard Holmes (?)
Naval Battles of the First World War by Geoffrey Perret
Three biographies of Nelson and one each of Lord Cochrane and Sydney Smith
The Oxford History Of The Royal Navy

And, of course, Jane's Fighting Ships of the Second World War

TopHatter

*shrug* Didn't put a great deal of thought into it. Probably grouped vaguely by category and also most read.

I'll clear a spot out for Dick's book, depends on the dimensions too.

Francois

I like to read other sides of the stories.
Reason why I learned German, English and learning Japanese now.
Because at a given time and place you have one (or one plus when a good book) vision of what happened.
One country tend to write its vision of history and is too rarely chellenged, imo.
So I buy other languages books, by other national writers, and get multiple view sight.
Can bring confusion, needs some big open mind, as the history is not always the truth, and the truth is not everywhere the same.

ANd I always try to keep away (but I often fall on the trap) of authors that tend to discribe his country as the best in the world (kind of typical from american authors, but not exclusively, I admit).
When I read accounts on WWII from French/US/Brit/German/Japanese perspective, I feel content and understanding for each other.
Effects of propaganda 60+ years ago are still very deep and strong in todays generations.

SnowLeopard

Me, I read EVERYTHING!

Which is why I can't show pictures of my bookshelves. First of all, it would be incomplete. My shelves are stacked 2-3, even 4 times over, so what can appear on the front can hide what is behind. Secondly, pictures might show something incrimidating.

An index system would be nice. From time to time, I make a list what is one each shelf, but books get shifted from season to season, sometimes because they are being read, sometimes because they are needed to be grouped together for a project, so between the list and a hopeful index system, it really doesn't work.

The general system is just trying to find a space to put the books THOUGH I do try to keep all the law enforcement books in one area, the psychology books in another, scuba, art, sealife, and so forth. Of course, there are crossovers as well. Ballard's books, for example, are mostly Naval history, but I've used them for antiquity theft research and that's just one example.

There are various vices in the world that many can't say no to, can't stop. It may be food, it may be drink, it may be the pleasures of the flesh. My main one is about books. I'll go into 1/2 price, say I will keep the blinders on, only look in certain categories, for certain books ........ and walk out 2 hours or so later, havin spent $100. One of these days, the shelves are going to crash thru the foundation and I will have a basement library.
-------------------------------------------
([a body has been found in the library of Arthur and Dolly Bantry] "Oh, Dolly, what a terrible thing!"--Miss Jane Marple
"I know. Rather thrilling, isn't it?"--Dolly Bantry, (w,stte), "Marple:The Body in the Library")

temujin77

Right now, my books tend to be organized in big piles in the corner of my room... Yeah, I know, shame on me for treating my books this way, but I have plans to buy a new house in the next year or two, so it doesn't make sense for me to buy new shelves. I'm looking to have custom shelves built when I buy my new house and build a library room. Since I like WW2 in general, not just naval, I plan to organize my books by theater of operations in general. That may prove to be lopsided, since I have a lot more Pacific Theater books than others, while only two CBI books, however. We'll see how things turn out.

__________________
Pete
World War II Database

RAL's_pal?

I think I'm going to get some large boxes and clear my shelves of things like the Janes, DANFS, Morison's books, etc., and bury them in the closet. I ran across some books I didn't even know I owned and wasn't even curious enough to open them up. With my bad memory, I'll probably write the titles on the side of the box in case I want to access a particular book.

TopHatter

Well said.

A reviewer on Amazon.com summed things up nicely in his commentary on Shattered Sword. Despite being a book about Midway, the reviewer's comments could easily apply to any WWII subject:


Until just recently, that's been my situation as well.

Finally though, after far too many years, I have a dedicated room especially for my books...I call it a "library".

It's got a nice ring to it, don't you think?

Dreadnought

Good God Man,
Are you suggesting that I put my four year collection of Maxima in the wide open "library"? The "mistress Dread" would certainly do special ops intell on this location, defeat its defenses, paint it with a laser pointer and launch numerous around the clock sorties until she undoubtly "wipes it from the face of the earth".

And contrary to popular belief she would only need ONE carrier to do it.

Perish the thought of such my cheeto swilling friend.

Currently my Naval books give said magazine collection excellent cammo.

__________________
Fortitude.....The strength to persist...The courage to endure.

temujin77

You know how many houses here in the US have that useless "living room" that's reserved for guests only? I'm going to have none of that. With my next house, I'm going to make it my office, with custom shelves from floor to ceiling. I might consider putting in a Victorian desk, too, for those big atlas books.

What would "Mistress Temujin" say? I don't care I love her dearly but I'm getting my library!

Dreadnought

HEHEHEHEHE The best part is in a few months I move to a new location. Said location will have a den (spare bedroom converted) for a private room of my own to work and read. Then "mistress Dread" can only do little survaliance ops as she will be miles away. Dam woman next im investing in a "goalkeeper" for said library.

temujin77

I think "Mistress Temujin" will be allowed in my library, Dreadnaught

I think her non-war books will give the library a nice balance, actually!