Passing Time

[BrokenolMarine]

Fighting boredom during my recovery, I have been rereading my favorite series. I Finished both my favorite W.E.B. Griffin Series. The Corps (Marines) and Brotherhood of War (Army).

Now I have started the Lucas Davenport "Prey" series by John Sandford. I am getting ready to read book 11. There are 28 in the Davenport Series with a new book due in March or April, this one will feature his Daughter Letty as the main Character. Then there are the 11 books in the Virgil Flowers series next on my list. Griffen's characters seem more real because they all have flaws, they make mistakes, they succeed, they fail. I feel like I know them. Always a good sign.

Most of the books I have in paperback or hardback but the newest ones are on the kindle, it was cheaper. When I read them on Kindle, I miss the actual books.
How about y'all other readers out there?

I often found older books I wanted to read, especially in hardback, at the used bookstore, or yardsales. Many times there would be notes or comments in the margins, passages underlined or highlighted, with accompanying remarks. Humorous or insightful, rarely offensive. I often found I was in complete agreement with the previous owner. The dedications in the front leaf of the used books would often be interesting.

When re-reading books in my collections, I would find scraps of paper, register receipts, and the like I had used for bookmarks that brought back memories. One was a receipt from the hospital cafeteria. I had last read that book while waiting in the ER while Tina was being treated for Snakebite. I knew from the date and the hospital.

In another I found an IBM Data card, we had used those when the computers would go down on Midnight shifts back when I started as a dispatcher for my first PD. The call type and info noted on the card would be keyed in later. The cards would then be shredded. The old card had been started, then the computers came up, so it was never fully filled in. I had used it as a marker. This was from the early 90s.

I had read, and reread the book numerous times, and always put the card back in the book and stuck it back on the shelf. When I finished the book the last time, I put the card back in the book... and stuck it back on the shelf. I'll reread the book, and revisit those memories.

Another had a tiny fingerprint, in chocolate, from my oldest daughter. She used to curl up in my lap to nap when she was just a wee thing, while I would read. She'd steal a bite of my Hershey's bar. A tiny finger touched a page, years later, that page of the book blurred the words, every time I read the book. She is in her thirties now, with two of her own.

You can store a hundred books on a kindle, but not those memories.

[Travlin]

I only like "real books" that is two covers and paper pages between them. Among those that i treasure are COMPANY OF HEROES by H. Cary Jr. that is autographed to me, Hell I WAS THERE by Elmer Keith, SIXGUNS by Keith, CARTRIDGES OF THE WORLD, and SINGLE SHOT RIFLES AND ACTIONS.
there are several others but you get the idea.

[BrokenolMarine]

I have an autographed copy of "93 Confirmed Kills"

I met Carlos Hathcock briefly when he was the Guest Speaker at our SNCO Marine Corps Ball when I was an Instructor at NAS Memphis in the 80s. He was happy to sign the copies of the books we brought with us... he thanked those with new books and grinned at those with the well worn copies and thanked them for actually reading what was written. I told him that my well worn copy was at home, and I had the new copy to be signed, I wanted to keep it for my son. He said, "I ain't all that."

I was teaching Aviation Electronics to young Marines and Sailors and was actually excited to meet him. He was nothing like I expected. Quiet and reserved, he spoke softly about his pride in the Corps, his belief in Leadership Qualities, Leaders he had known and respected, and what he thought made good leaders.

I still found him very impressive.

He didn't talk about his time in Nam, his sniping, or any of his kills.
Years later, after I left the Corps and went into LE, I talked with our SWAT officers who had taken Sniper Training from him, and they said he was still calm and reserved. During training he talked about the techniques, about the shooting, about the experience... but still not the Kills. He wasn't that kind of Man. They found him a skilled shooter, a skilled instructor, and impressive.

I have his autograph. Unlike many others, I won't claim to have "known" him.

[cooperhawk]

I read constantly. As an Air Traffic Controller I developed the skill to multi task to an art. Because of this I can watch TV, read a book, and repeat back to my wife what she just said, and it irritates her to no end. She thinks I'm not listening.

I also like Griffin, Sandford, and many others. I average three books a week. Right now I'm reading "Caribbean" by Mitchener. One of my favorites of his is "Chesapeake" which I've read a couple of times. I used to hunt geese and fish there, and it hits home for me.

I use a "Nook" now as our book shelves are full and we've given away hundreds of books over the years. Actually I'm on my third Nook.

Griffin also wrote series about the Philadelphia Police, The OSS, and others. I always get excited when a new one comes out. Now his son is co writing with him.

John Sandford was a Minneapolis newspaper writer who won a "Pulitzer Price" and his "Prey Series" are written mainly about the local area around here. I mean mostly real towns. Makes it kinda fun.

Well anyway, I'm with you and read a lot.

[Hatchdog]

I’m in book eight of Griffin’s Corp series and really enjoying it. Many years ago I read his Brotherhood of War series which is great. Recently I read his Presidential Agent series and I felt it wasn’t as good as his earlier stuff. Today I read on a Kindle for the convenience of getting the next book immediately.

I thought I read that he had passed away and his son was continuing his work. Not sure tho….

[BrokenolMarine]

I really like series so that you start to feel like the characters are fully developed, and you know them. To me, a really good book is one that when you get to the end you look at the back cover, disappointed that there isn't more.

[Ernie]

I have always read a lot, library books and purchased mostly paperbacks. The paperback books got to the point where the older ones were falling apart and I had too many to store so I donated the usable ones, trashed the unusable ones and went to Kindle and library books. Like the Kindle because I have hundreds of books on the reader and my phone and I can access them where ever I am and have time to read. Also I can stay current on the newest books in all the series without waiting for the library to get them and my turn to take then out.

[BrokenolMarine]

I have the old Kindle that all you can do is read books on it, and it's not even backlit. I really like IT for reading, the charge lasts for days.
The new Kindle Fire tablet is ... a tablet, and is okay for that. Surfing the net, checking emails, and the like. I don't like reading on it. I thought I would, but prefer the old Kindle. The Fire kicks the books up to the Cloud, and only stores a few on the tablet, you call them "down" when you want them. Store too many and the rest of the functions bog.

The old Kindle will access Amazon Kindle Store to buy books and downloads them Quick... which is nice if you are on vacation or away from home and want a new book... it charges your amazon account. Sweet. Plus there are thousands of free ones in the kindle store.

[Hatchdog]

Another advantage of Kindle is you can pre-order a book and when it is released it will automatically download to your reader. You’re not charged until it downloads.

[daytime dave]

I read the W.E.B. Griffin series about the Army. I bought them all at a used bookstore years ago when places like that could exist. The last one I found was a place near camp that was an old house. The first floor was the store and the upstairs was the owners residence. It closed a few years ago.

I also enjoyed reading anything Zane Grey.

[cooperhawk]

I purchased a Nook many years ago when they first came out. I'm on my third one now. Just like the Kindle I can order books right from the screen, the only difference is I get them from Barnes and Noble.

I also use Gutenberg Library for free books. They have thousands and they are all free. Lots of Zane Gray.

https://www.gutenberg.org