JACK ARMY

House to House

by Staff Sergeant David Bellavia... good book.  Yeah, I'm only two years late reading it, but in my defense, I'm lazy... and slow.

Anyway, great read by a true Infantryman.  The good, the bad and the very ugly described in his honest, hard-hitting, soul-baring way, Bellavia relives the anguish of battle in Falluja and points out the character-creating moments that most men are afraid to face, much less embrace as he and his platoon-mates did.  This is as good a memoir as you're likely to read from this war, our war.  While he and I left/are leaving the Army with this war unfinished, I'm sure he'd agree with me in saying that what we did, particularly what he and his guys in Falluja did, contributed to it being a success.  When history judges what America and her allies did in Iraq starting in 2003, I have no doubt that it will be looked upon as a success and that America did what it has done several times in her short lifetime: championed the weak against the mean, evil and dangerous that would take advantage of us all for power and control.

Read House to House by David Bellavia and you'll then you'll be much closer to understanding what modern Infantry combat is like.

Kindle

Thinking of buying Amazon's Kindle.  If you have one, what do you think of it?  So far, I'm impressed by what it does, how many books it holds, the many features... it seems like a really good deal for the price, too.  I'd love to hear your input.

Thanks!

UPDATE:

Here's what has me hesitating to get the Kindle: Ebook License "Agreements" Are a Ripoff

What I don't want to do is have to pay to replace my library when Amazon changes formats in the future.  Just like the LP :: 8-track :: cassette tape :: compact disk upgrades, I'm not willing to invest hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars in a format.  I want to know that whatever I buy now, I'll be able to use in 25 years.  What do you think?

Git-ta-gether

Gonna round up some bloggers and Facebook pals all in one spot on Oahu.  If yer interested, let me know, either in the comments, by email or on Facebook.  I know we can't make everybody happy with a location and time, but I'll try to make it as convenient as possible for most.

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Oh, and I've finished Shadow of the Sword.  Excellent read, Jill Army has read it and now her mother is taking a gander.  I bought a copy to give to a Soldier of mine who I think has some issues that this book might help him see that he's not alone and that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

What I'm Reading

Currently, I have three books on the nightstand in various stages of completion:

1. Theodore Rex by Edmund Morris.  A great read about a president I really didn't know much about.  Well, I can say that about, oh, 36 of them!  Anyway, I graduated from Theodore Roosevelt Senior High School in San Antonio, TX, but never read a book about the guy.  Fixing that now.

2. Everyday Greatness edited by David K. Hatch and commentary by Stephen Covey.  Covey's own books are insightful and worth study, but this book is a compilation of articles from Reader's Digest which Hatch put together for his work as a leadership consultant.  So far, it is inspiring.  I have no doubt it will continue to be so to the back cover.

3. Beginning Writer's Answer Book edied by Jane Friedman.  I desire to write a book that will one day be published.  I have a few ideas that I think can be developed into full-blown novels but I really haven't had the inspiration or impetus to do the work necessary to make that happen.  My dream job is to be an author... one that makes enough money to live comfortably without doing any other work would be ideal!  So, I figured, what am I waiting for?  Nobody else is going to write my first book (see I said "first book" indicating that I'll write more than one...) for me.  Hopefully, this book will guide me to achieving that goal.  If not, at least I'll have a better understanding of what it takes to write a book and get it published.

So, that's what I'm currently reading.  Have you read any of those three?  What did you think of them?  Have you read anything similar that is worth a look?