pick60/100 Book 2 of The Hot War trilogy. Like most middle books, not a lot happens, the plot is moved forward a little, and sets up the conclusion for the final novel. The various POVs, from both sides of the war, is the main point of interest. Some lives get better, some get worse, but the war is seen from all angles, both military and civilian. Onward to the concluding volume, Armistice. 4.5 ⭐ #Read2025 #SeriesLove2025
pick54/100 Alternate history has always been my favorite subgenre of science fiction, and few writers do it better than Turtledove. What if Truman used the atomic bomb to end the war in Korea? The results are horrific, and this is only the first book of the trilogy. Moscow, Kiev, Leningrad, Portland, Seattle and Los Angles gone up in atomic mushrooms. I did find it a little unrealistic that that much radiation from this destruction wasn't killing ⬇️
Somewhere to the south and east lay Hungnam, the North Korean port on the Sea of Japan.
#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl
pickThe book greatly describes the early stages of the Korean War. A good part of the book focuses on soldiers caught up in the fighting, portraying many of the struggles of war endured. Other parts describe the geopolitics during the lead-up. Several prominent figures, such as MacArthur and Mao, are also examined. Definitely worth reading.
pickWell, this was much grittier than expected! Really well written and intense. The smatterings of charm and wit and humor were so well executed for a story that, overall, was not a light one. This had been on my TBR for a wicked long time and I went into it just trusting that I‘d put it on that (admittedly extensive) list for a reason. If you like a tidy ending and linear storytelling, skip it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
pickHoo boy. If you survived watching Red Sparrow, I think you can handle reading this book. That being said...
Lee gets full marks in writing quality for managing to
make an eminently readable book despite truly
harrowing subject matter. Recounting events surrounding Korean experience beginning in World War II and the Korean War, the tragic history of a split country is told here primarily by focusing on violence against women 1/?
Today's 'scratched my brain just right' sentence. ☀️
bailedIm on a bad run: 2 bails in a row😩 30 pages in, I‘m wondering why the author seems to hate all of his characters. I Googled and it seems Condon liked to “rage” at politics, authority, military. This book is supposed to be satire. Fair enough. For me, it‘s a weird kind of satire, not being any colours of the “amusing” spectrum and it‘s full of obnoxious characters. It‘s verbose and dull. It spawned 2 films, which I haven‘t seen🤷🏻Bailed on p. 81
