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“The war is lost.”- Colonel Hermann von Oppeln-Bronikowsi, German Army, 21st Panzer Division. Those four short words summed up the results of the allied armies June 6, 1944 invasion on the Normandy coast of France. While from the historical viewpoint it seemed like a cinch, on that fateful morning, the Allies rolled the dice risking all on a small break in the weather along France’s Atlantic coast. As noted by their enemies, they won big! Author Cornelius Ryan’s 1959 book still remains one of the best accounts of that invasion. Ryan did multiple interviews with allied and, to a lesser extent, Axis soldiers who were there and whose “D Day” memories were still vivid. His narrative takes the reader along with the naval crews, the paratroopers and glider pilots, and the infantrymen whose “grand” strategy was to simply survive and advance. There’s no better way to understand this historic event than from the viewpoint of those who fought there. Ryan’s book is filled with the dread, excitement, and confusion that’s the real stuff of combat. Though it’s been 75 years, his narrative can convince you it all happened yesterday. 350 pages. 940.542 RYA
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“You know my methods. Apply Them…” And, that’s exactly what that great writer and wit, Oscar Wilde, does in Gyles Brandreth’s entertaining mystery novel. The story opens with Wilde running late to an appointment, arriving there to find a gruesome murder has taken place. Wilde is determined to find the killer of the deceased, a young boy of the streets named Billy Wood, and enlists the aid of his friend, author Robert Sherrard, and, the young Southsea doctor and newly-minted author Arthur Conan Doyle. Doyle introduces Wilde to his friend Scotland Yard Inspector Aidan Fraser who seems reluctant to pursue the case until he is forced to do so by another grisly discovery. Meanwhile, Oscar, spouting observations that would make Holmes proud, pursues the case himself through the back streets of London and then to Paris as he follows the clues to solve the case. Here’s a fast-paced little mystery (based on some real-life relationships) with a perfect Victorian setting, a hint of scandal, and enough throwbacks to the Holmes stories to warm the heart of any Baker Street Irregular. 343 pages. M FIC BRA
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Simon (Si) Morley is your typical 1970s everyman- a New York City artist, stuck in the routine drudgery of his job. That is, until a stranger, who seems to know everything about Si and his past life shows up. The stranger turns out to be a U.S. Army officer involved in a secret government project that has found a unique way to transport people back in time. It so happens that Si has an interest in going back to the New York City of 1882. His girlfriend has a mysterious letter dated that year and he wants to find out some missing and tantalizing information associated with it. When the project’s director agrees, Si begins his unique journey. That’s when the adventures begin. Si does indeed go back and learns about the mysterious letter while picking up some other valuable information for his government agents. His first successful trip is followed by others, each one bringing him closer to intervening in an important historical event. Believe me, you’ll be hooked from page one of this one. If you enjoy this book, there’s a sequel that features Si’s further time travel adventures - Finney’s From Time to Time. 399 pages. Both books - (SF FIC FIN)
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Like many endeavors, it seemed a good idea at the time! Returning to the States from years living in England, author Bryson becomes entranced by a trail near his Vermont home. When it turns out to be part of the famous Appalachian Trail, Bryson decides to reconnect with his homeland by walking the entire Trail from south to North. Here begins a Mark Twain - like journey (a la Twain’s famous western romp Roughing It) that will leave you chuckling and, sometimes laughing out loud. Bryson admits to being a physical softie and he selects an old friend from Iowa, who’s in even worse physical shape, to go with him on his journey. As you can imagine, the greenhorns soon find that they have bitten off just a little more than they can chew. Even discarding excess equipment and food doesn’t help as they just plain quit the journey in North Carolina before trying it again in Roanoke, Virginia (they have cheeseburgers in Shenandoah National Park!). If you’ve ever hiked “the trail”, you’ll know exactly what Bryson is writing about. But, even if you haven’t, you’ll be impressed by his wit and observations. 276 pages. 917.404 BRY
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