What kind of stuff do you all read?

[S.Kenton]

Just curious what taste every one has when it comes to reading material?
I am not a huge magazine reader simply due to the boring stuff and mostly advertisement stuff in them. They can be good for pictures though to look at and day dream, but usually the writing sucks LOL.
I've pretty much destroyed the book department and am looking for "new" authors that write decent about the mountain man era. I've gone through so many books by various authors, including one writer that has a 70+ book series, that it's getting super hard to find new material to enjoy.

I’m a subscriber to “ Muzzeloader Magazine”… I also read and re-read a lot of Allen Eckertts works. Many times I simply read on this forum..

 

[Nazgul58]

"If you can find them Bantam books did a great series on WW2 aces. Martin Cadin co wrote a great book on the best surviving Japanese ace in a book called Samurai. He based his novel the last dog fight on this guy"

Yes! Read as many of the bantam books as possible in my youth, still have some in a box somewhere.

Try H. Ryder Haggard, King Solomon's Mines author. He wrote a lot of books , very readable. He actually grew up in Africa in the 18880-1890's. He met and understood many of the characters in his books. Lots of guns and shooting muzzle loaders.

Don

P.S. - I have at least 3 books going at any time. Read a lot of CW history, the wife and I visit as many battle sites as possible when we travel.

 

[oldwood]

Historical reprints of original 2nd and 3rd generation pre-1800 testimonies taken from periodical newspapers pre -1860. Also Foxfire Vol.
Five has m/l information by Elliot Wigginton (spelling ?) What I have studied extensively for 60+ yrs. is the American Appalachian history , between 1740 to 1800. Have about 15 , or so , hardback books , and a few softcover ones . I read these histories in a revolving order about every four years in secession. My memory is not what it used to be. The historical narratives by Allen Eckert , are excellent as well , for a newbee historical starter set. The Kentucky State Historian , Herbert Altschiler , wrote a book or two of interest , concerning the pre and post Eastern Indian war activity in Southern Appalachia , that might be available from the Ky State Library , Frankfort Ky.. (visited there in 1990 , they still had some reprints).. The Log Cabin M/L Shop Catalog , has a good selection Wish ya luck on reading. Don't quit reading !! ........oldwood

 

[billraby]

I am usually on the road for work 3 to 5 days a week so I read a lot. I got a Kindle from Amazon and they got that deal where you get as many books as you want for $10 or so a month and I definitely get my money's worth. Of course I read lots of history. For fiction is mostly horror, science fiction, and adventure stuff. A while ago I read a couple books that seemed like they would be absurd but turned out to actually be extremely good. That got me branching off into subjects that I had never thought of reading before and I have found quite a lot of good ones.

Avoid vampire stories. Now they are all sexy, rich, mysterious, and wear fancy clothes. Yuck! Vampires should be scary and gross. Don't even think of reading any werewolf stories written recently. Now they tend to be romance stories and don't have many female characters. Enough said. I tried a couple of those romance novels that women like so much. I'm done with those. Those are just pornography. I have liked Stephen King stories for a really long time. But every book that he wrote while Donald Trump was president was awful.

You don't have to stick with the old classics anymore. There are a lot of really good new books now. Get one of those Kindle things. Its small and you can download books onto it. Its saves a fortune and you don't end up with a room full of books.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09SWW583J?ref_=nav_em__k_ods_eink_jr_0_2_7_3&th=1

 

[Salt River Johnny]

I read older books from the internet that pertaining to early Missouri history pre 1840. Finding alot of first person stories and alot of great information about War of 1812 in Missouri and earlier interaction with the native population. I use all this information for my fb page "The Mud lark mess". I am useing all this information for living history programs. Very rewarding.

Salt River Johnny

 

[Matt85]

Haven't done much reading in a few years but I do listen to audio books sometimes. Lately it's been sci-fi books but I'm partial to old war novels as well.

 

[D.Summers]

I believe most everyone here would enjoy "Long Knife" by James Alexander Thom! Excellent novel about George Rogers Clark. I truly recommend that you read this novel! Good stuff!! I promise you!!

 

[SOLANCO]

I will read anything and everything. Churchill's histories. Cereal boxes. Wall Street Journal. US Army weapons manuals. Naval histories. Certain magazines. Detective novels.
Hemingway's novels. I am fascinated by his command of language. I no longer so much read them as study them.

 

[Louisk]

Air warfare is some of my favorite stuff. I love when the author makes you feel like you are there in the cockpit. I read “race of aces” last year about **** Bong and it was awesome. I think I need to come up with a Tenngun reading list! We seem to like a lot of the same stuff

One of the best aerial warfare books I've read was a semi-autographical novel about WWI flying by V.M Yeates Called "Winged Victory."

 

[tenngun]

One of the best aerial warfare books I've read was a semi-autographical novel about WWI flying by V.M Yeates Called "Winged Victory."

I bet in general people on this forum like the same books
Read the lord of the rings this last winter, again, Ivanhoe about thanksgiving again. Last summer took a turn with Maltese Falcon, the Bogart movie was real close to the book
Just finished The Mexican War by Justin Smith originally published in1919 and Before that Ripper by Patricia Cornwall where she defends her belief that Walter Skerret was Jack the Ripper. Have the Adventures of Captain Bonniville waiting in the wings
A Japanese Poet shortly after we opened Japan was found guilty of some capital crime. He wrote that ‘we are doomed to die tomorrow but through books live a thousand years

 

[Blackbeard4590]

I found a very old copy of "Crow Killer". The original journal account that the movie "Jeremiah Johnson" was based upon at a flea market. Really a wonderful story. I have not ever found a reprint, but if you find a copy, it well worth the few hours of your time it takes to read it.

"Theodore Roosevelt on Hunting" is collection of his journals during his worldwide adventures and is also fascinating and sometimes funny.

"Man Eaters of Tsavo" is the true journal account that the movie "The Ghost and the Darkness" was based upon. Another riveting account and well worth the few hours it takes to read.

Just a few that you will enjoy.

 

[Omahkapi'si]

Recently read some historical books on Hudson’s Bay and Northwest Companies. Reading the writings of David Thompson. Also reading several books on Blackfoot language.

 

[Rum River]

Lots of good responses here - some of these I have to investigate.

I do get some magazines. World War II, Aviation, Rifle, Handloader, The Fouling Shot, Fur Fish & Game, Black Powder Cartridge News.

I get the American Hunter too, like others here I skim the thing in a half hour or less.

One of my sons put me onto a science fiction series written by Craig Alanson, "Expeditionary Force". I enjoyed that one a lot.

 

[alcessapiens]

Maneaters of kumaon by Corbett is superb. All about leopards and tigers in 1920’s India who had to be killed due to their taste for human curry. Anything by Robert Roark and for historical fiction, Bernard cornwell (sharpe series)or Steven pressfield who writes from the point of view of the ordinary soldier. Steven Ambrose for ww2 and Bruce catton on the civil war. Any of the Thomas greiss West Point series (you have to get the atlas that goes with each book as it’s very helpful understanding the battles and overall strategy). The Firefox books ( best set of books to own if you want to learn how to do for yourself). And pretty much any good writer from Steinbeck to Hemingway, London, Kipling Twain and copper ( Twain is rolling in his grave being lumped in with cooper) .T.E.Lawrence 7pillars of wisdom (made into Lawrence of Arabia) pat conroy (superb writer) basically everything. Even read a romance novel someone left in the airport ( read it through and realized why they’d left it). Buying a retirement house soon and, after my tools and equipment, books will be the heaviest item to move.

 

[user 49399]

The Holy Bible first and most.

After that, anything to do with muzzleloaders, hunting, fishing, farming or music.

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

I have a wide range of interest. I'm currently finishing up the scifi series EXPANSE. Nine volumes. Very good. Going on to Elmer Keith HELL I WAS THERE!

 

[Campbell]

History, biographies, Bible.
If you have a good writer anyone’s biography can be a very interesting story.

 

[Bill Bryan]

Lifetime SciFi addict but also like good history. My wife and I have started audio books since we both retired. I'm starting to get into mysteries which is her favorite. The den is 2 books deep on every shelf and there are stacks of magazines everywhere. Bill

 

[Rich44]

Never was one for lots of reading, was always too busy with adventures, inventions and making projects. And now being an older man my eyes get tired fast when reading. I admit by not reading more I missed a lot of good stories. I did read many shop books on how to run this machine or make that. I liked biography's of famous people especially inventors and I also have a complete set of Tom Swift books that were written for the younger set that were enjoyed. Have also lots of Bible related books from 1800's, all read, but admit one or two were over my head with heavy wording. Guess I have just been too busy making my own stories.

 

[Whughett]

All fiction novels, Science and Fantasy, Detective or Adventure any thing except romance. For decades it was paper backs, since the mid 90’s, Digital downloads first on a kindle now on my IPhone. I’ve several hundred purchased thru Amazon on the phone. Had a subscription to “Scribe” for a few years, now it’s Amazon Unlimited or the “Libby App” for the local library.

Like several users mentioned, I too subscribe to a wide variety of magazines over the decades past, Guns, Handloading, American Rifleman, North American Hunter, Sports, Woodworking, Motorcycles to name a few interests, but…… no more magazines, except the NRA AR, these days it’s YouTube or digital books on the cell phone.