So... what are you reading?

[Jock Scot]

Just re-read, "Sniping In France" by Major Hesketh-Pritchard D.S.O., M.C..

Not a commonly found book, but the true memoirs of a big game hunter who got fed up with with his men being shot by German snipers whilst in the trenches during WW1. He used his skills to counter the threat and eventually set up a sniping school for the British Army behind the lines and they eventually won the sniping battle hands down. Interesting and modest stories of daring do , technical issues, and the importance of fieldcraft and observation skills. The Scottish stalkers and ghillies get a particular mention.

[The Q]

Blood of kings by j.d.Davies.
This is a book about the events surrounding king James VI / I and the deaths of the Ruthven Earl of Gowrie and his brother.
The book starts with the event of the deaths at Gowrie house in Perth on 5th August 1600, then it switches to the events prior that date, then to the events after that date and then to the rumours circulating about everyone involved.

This was an event I had not heard about before, for that I am grateful for the book. But sadly I find the book a mess, leaping around the timeline, and at times difficult to follow.
So much of the information was deliberately obscured at the time , with the added roumers, and 416 years of distance no one can say for certain what happened other than the Ruthven family lost out big time. The book I find has too much supposition to make any conclusions.

[Dale-of-Cedars]

Just re-read, "Sniping In France" by Major Hesketh-Pritchard D.S.O., M.C..

Not a commonly found book, but the true memoirs of a big game hunter who got fed up with with his men being shot by German snipers whilst in the trenches during WW1. He used his skills to counter the threat and eventually set up a sniping school for the British Army behind the lines and they eventually won the sniping battle hands down. Interesting and modest stories of daring do , technical issues, and the importance of fieldcraft and observation skills. The Scottish stalkers and ghillies get a particular mention.

Found an online HTML version of the book (at least chapters I - XI, I don't know if it is complete):
http://www.allworldwars.com/Sniping%...-Prichard.html

[GMan]

The Road From Damascus a novel that Tobin Yassin-Kassab

[davidlpope]

Volume 1 of Robert Remini's biography of Andrew Jackson.

[Xavierus]

After learning more about the basics of heraldry and how the coats of arms are made, I got inspired to geek out and learn more about the subject in detail.

Here's what I have lined up in my reading queue:

Design Your Own Coat Of Arms
The Art Of Heraldry: An Encyclopaedia Of Armoury

[The Q]

A school in South Uist, by F.G.REA.
He was a School master recruited from England to teach in the outer Hebrides between 1890 and 1913. The School was Daliburgh Garrynamonie, about as far south as you can get in South Uist ! Seventy year later I attended Iochdar School which is about as far north as you can get on the island all of about 20 miles.

I found the book well written and an interesting read, there are correction and notes from the editor as the authors memory made some errors but it doesn't spoil the book.
FG.Rea introduced football and kite flying to the island, and was present when the first bicycle arrived! He mentions the children would often be missing to help with the harvest or peat cutting, 70 years later the school bus used to pick up the children and drop them off at the peat cutting sites!!!! 1971!!!!
I found it interesting he mentions two hotels which I have been in, and several other places I know, especially fishing which is extremely good out there, I never failed to catch a fish and I am no fisherman!!!!

From the point of view of this site, he notes the younger boys wore kilts but the older boys wore trousers. The school age then was 5 to 13 (14 from 1901). He also notes that all the cloth was locally made, he does not mention what pattern or colours the kilts were. In the 1970 and 80s I never saw a kilt out there, not even at a wedding.

When trousers were required one of two tailors on the island was summoned who arrived at your blackhouse ( see Lewis black house https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackhouse) and stayed until they were made. Generally the men wore dark blue jersey and dark blue heavy trousers.

[DWFII]

Recently finished the Saxon Series (10? books) by Bernard Cornwell. I enjoyed it...

Another favorite (although not currently reading)--The Great War series by Harry Turtledove. 8(?) books, maybe more.

And for those who like celtic fantasy/SF Dies the Fire by S.M Sterling...another ten or so books.

[GMan]

Japanese Death Poems written by ZenMonks and Haiku Poets on the verge of Death.

[Pegasys]

Old-world Scotland; glimpses of its modes and manners by T. F. Henderson Published 1893