I’ll
be the first to admit I’m lousy at playing video games. I have neither the manual dexterity nor quick
reflexes to play most modern video games.
My
idea of a challenge is a rousing game of Monopoly.
My
son, on the other hand, is a pro.
Growing up he zipped through video games at a frantic rate-which didn’t
help my wallet.
Some
of my fondest memories were of him and me playing Mario, Earthworm Jim and
Goldeneye.
In
fact I still have our Nintendo 64 and Super Nintendo game consoles and a box
full of games for both.
I
have the Super Nintendo connected to my flat screen TV and every once in a
while I play Mario. It’s still a lot of
fun.
I’m
no video game expert by the furthest stretch of the imagination.
When
I taught high school video games were always a part of the conversation and many
of my students were huge video game fans.
I’m
sure they would get a big kick out of Carlton
Books new book: A History Of Video
Games, by Iain Simons and James Newman,
From
consoles, handheld, classic games, joysticks, accessories and everything in
between the book offers a deluge of information about video games complete with
color photos and engrossing text that really gets into the meat and bones of
the video game phenomenon.
If
you’re ‘digitally’ inclined then this is the book for you to take a ‘byte’ out
of.
England’s
Royal Air Force (RAF) has been around almost from the dawn off aviation.
In
1918-2018 RAF 100 The Official Story,
author James Holland celebrates the Centennial of the Royal Air Force with a
wonderful and fascinating new book.
The
beautifully bound, hardback book traces the genesis of the RAF starting with
WWI up until modern times.
Packed
with archival photos the book allows readers to follow the RAF through several
wars and peace time.
Key
battles, breakout innovations, state-of-the-art technology and aircraft design and
much more are all chronicled.
Important
historical military and civilian personnel are given their just credit along with
the unsung heroes of the RAF.
It’s
an inspiring and thought-provoking examination of one of the most famous and
successful Air Forces in the world.
It
was the war to end all wars. WWI was one
of the bloodiest and costliest wars of all time and unfortunately it was not
the last.
WWI
tossed conventional warfare tactics out the window as everything changed. Advances in weaponry, the introduction of
heavy tanks and mobilized weapons and aircraft drastically changed the face of
war.
In
The First World War, in association with
the Imperial War Museums, author Gary Sheffield’s book examines how the war
started its long and bloody years (1914 to 1918) and its turbulent end.
Packed
full of historical document recreations, archival photos and battle maps the
book goes into extensive detail about the key players, command figures and strategies
used throughout the war.
It’s
a remarkable book that never candy-coats the ugly reality of war. I found it to be an absolutely absorbing read
that made me feel as if it I was in the midst of battle.
I
felt the pain, heartache and fear of the troops while comprehending the sheer audacity
and determination by leaders to claim victory despite the cost.
WWI
shaped the world we live in perhaps more than any other war.