GentleRain – Page 19 – Cannonball Read 17

One Good Book About Edward VIII and One Bad Book

The Woman Before Wallis by Andrew Rose

Traitor King by Andrew Lownie

March 22, 2023 by GentleRain 1 Comment

These two books contrast very well in terms of how to do historical research and writing well versus how to do it lazily and sloppily. Andrew Lownie’s Traitor King is a great example of deep, serious research combined with strong, clear writing. Lownie makes an extremely well-sourced case for the argument that Edward VIII (David) had strong connections to the Nazis, as did Wallis, and that both of them were fully traitors to the British nation. I have never been a fan of David at […]

“Our past whispers in our ears, whether we hear it or not.”

The Shortest History of England by James Hawes

The Shortest History of Germany by James Hawes

March 22, 2023 by GentleRain Leave a Comment

Both of these books by James Hawes cover several thousand years of history in about 230-270 pages, so they do live up to the title. There are probably shorter pocket histories out there, but these will give you a pretty clear-eyed overview of the two countries. I liked The Shortest History of England enough that I got the German one, but found it less engaging. I think it might be more attributable to me, as I’m way more interested in England and tend to founder […]

“Their own words are their best memorial:” Civilian Casualties of WWII

Leningrad by Anna Reid

In the Ruins of the Reich by Douglas Botting

March 20, 2023 by GentleRain Leave a Comment

Both of these books illuminate the impact of cataclysmic war on the civilian population, which is an angle I personally find much more compelling than straight military history. I am way more interested in the individual experience and the repercussions of what we in America tend to view of the last good war, or the war in which we foreground ourselves as heroes. These books both complicate that picture and ask the reader to face the consequences of war. Books that deal with the immediate […]

Three Great Manga Short Story Collections

All My Darling Daughters by Fumi Yoshinaga

Don't Say Any More, Darling by Fumi Yoshinaga

Sneeze by Naoki Urasawa

March 19, 2023 by GentleRain Leave a Comment

I read these three books today as a relaxing re-read of two of my favorite manga artists. Fumi Yoshinaga and Naoki Urasawa have very distinct sensibilities, but I think they both have a facility with emotion and the ability to pack a lot of characterization, both spoken and unspoken, into a drawing. All three of these books are short story collections, which enables you to see more of the breadth of both authors’ work. All My Darling Daughters is made up of interconnected short stories […]

“I think everyone should just figure out what works for them and enjoy it on their own terms.”

I Think Our Son Is Gay Vol. 3 by Okura

I Think Our Son Is Gay Vol. 4 by Okura

March 12, 2023 by GentleRain Leave a Comment

This is a very sweet slice-of-life series that follows Tomoko, a mother who suspects that her son Hiroki is gay. Throughout the course of the series, she challenges her own internalized prejudices and learns more about how to support her son even if he’s not able to come out to her yet. I think what stands out to me the most with this series is how grounded in reality it is. The author, Okura, is gay, and I think that lends itself to the books […]

“My suffering was washed away along with my tears. But somewhere mother’s tears remain in stasis, jelled.”

A Drunken Dream and Other Stories by Moto Hagio

February 12, 2023 by GentleRain Leave a Comment

This is a very nicely packaged hardcover collection of manga short stories by Moto Hagio. The stories are varied but they have strong emotional themes connecting them, mainly dealing with feelings of lonliness/isolation, societal pressures, and tragedy/grief. Hagio’s beautiful art wonderfully coveys the emotions of the characters and the plots. Her art is delicate and finely detailed. The stories are uniformly very strong. My favorites are “Angel Mimic,” “Iguana Girl,” and “The Child Who Comes Home.” “Angel Mimic” deals very deftly with themes of suicide, […]

Zirza on A Gothic Classic for a ReasonIt's one of those wish-you-could-read-it-again-for-the-first-time books. I loved it.
Emmalita on “It came to something when you found yourself hoping that the footsteps you heard were ghosts.”I loved the ending! I don’t think it’s been out long enough to talk about why though.
Dixie on Track Her Down by Melinda LeighI am just starting Track Her Down and I have read them all in order till now and thought I...
Roland of Gilead on How can you give us the gift of a crazy character named Rando Thoughtful and then just as suddenly take that gift away? We need to talk, Uncle Stevie.I came across this randomly years after it was written because I was searching "Random Thoughtful. But I have the...
Emmalita on “Only you, Em, would refer to heartbreak as a distraction. I think I would have a more sympathetic response if I asked to marry a bookcase.”Oh my goodness, Gallifrey was beautiful. I’m sure her mittens were gloriously murdery.

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