PERHAPS A GIFT VOUCHER FOR MUM?: MOTHER'S DAY
This book was everything I have been looking associated with that era of history!! I have already read so much about it but this book brings in so many facts and figures that I did not already know about. It is an interesting read as well as so informative and educational. I recommend that educational classes and/or book clubs utilize it as you will learn many things you did not previously know and that inform you about the whole era. I think this Bennett Fisher should write more books like this!!!! -Informed Reader I just finished Mr. Bennett Fisher's WWII Pacific Theater book. I enjoy military history, World War II especially. However, I have found as I age that reading a book on one topic (such as the Doolittle Raid or the Iwo Jima Campaign) turns into a long slog. This book is thirty stories full of drama, poignancy, and irony; most of which I have never heard of - despite the fact that I have studied WWII history. The word Extraordinary in the title is definitely apt. Each story is about 18 pages, some much shorter and some much longer. This is a good length for the military history fan, as opposed to the military historic researcher and academic. Mr. Fisher has what I would call a fond habit of taking off on tangents, related to the main story. For example, the story on the underage Marine (Jack Lucas) awarded the Medal of Honor addresses the number and reasons how and why more than a hundred thousand underage boys enlisted for WWII. As another example, the chapter on Desmond Doss addresses the history of conscientious objection in the United States. These are interesting and definitely add to the story. Another habit of the writer is cramming a lot of data in a paragraph - skimming will not work with this book. The last chapter, the best I know, has never been written up as a composite unit. This is the one on the nine Presidents (two who were President during WWII, and the seven who were in the military during WWII who later became President) involved with WWII. The chapter end (plot spoiler) which addresses President Bush's heroism is touching, considering that he died last year. To sum up, I definitely recommend this book. However, the best way to read it, at least in my opinion, is to read one chapter, then set the book down for a week, and then read the next chapter. - D Gholke
