Welcome to Litsy!

Erik Larson always writes a well researched history book, and this one is no different. He looks at the early years of WWII and the blitz on London. I enjoyed this different look at London during WWII. Larson tells us in detail how the bomb shelters truly were. I learned so much by listening to this audiobook. Churchill was an interesting person but eccentric. He had no shyness about him and would take baths while his secretary was taking ⬇️

Fair warning, I'll read just anything regarding Churchill. I worried this author wouldn't grab me as he runs hot and cold for me. However this one was a solid read and offered a unique perspective on a topic that's widely written about. #bookspin @thearomaofbooks

"Somehow, through it all, Churchill had managed to teach them the art of being fearless."
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#catsoflitsy

Finally finished this #AuthoraMonth from May. My overall thought is how lucky England was with Churchill: definitely the right man at the right time. After reading this, I wonder if we would have won WWII without him. While I loved Larson's THE DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY, this did become a bit cumbersome. My diary is less detailed than this! Did I need to know his every waking moment? No. Though him taking daily naps was endearing. 😃

@Soubhiville

Review is late but I did manage to finish this 18 hour audio tome for last month‘s #bookspin and #aam

Larson covers the first year of Churchill‘s leadership and the British experience of World War II in all encompassing detail from a surfeit of primary sources. Larson‘s writing is approachable and paints a compelling portrait of Churchill in the context of the Blitz. Did I enjoy this? Yes. Was 18 hours of it a bit much? Also yes.

18 hours of Churchill seems like a lot. Somehow this author pulls it off.

#AuthorAMonth @Soubhiville

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

Even at an increased speed this was long and there were moments that I was distracted by life and would find myself thinking rather than listening but it was fascinating. Erik did his research and for an American I feel like I got a good picture of Churchill and his family. My impression is he was at the right place at the right time.

4 🌟 #AuthorAMonth

#AuthorAMonth @Soubhiville

I tried so hard, but it's not for me. So many explanations for familiar landmarks really wound me up. Saying that, I am from UK. Maybe this wouldn't bother anyone from overseas.
DNF

I probably should‘ve stayed away from this for #AuthorAMonth because 18 hours is a bit much for a subject I‘m not already interested in, but Larson changed my mind before (Dead Wake about the Lusitania). However, even his insightful writing couldn‘t make me interested in the tedious details of Churchill‘s first year as Prime Minister. Eh. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I found the personal/family stuff much more interesting. Erik Larson is probably one of my favourite nonfiction writers but this one just did not get my attention. I‘m sure I missed even much of the personal stuff, but of what I did take in, that was the stuff that did keep my attention, even if briefly. There were bits and pieces of info from Germany, and from the U.S., as Churchill really wanted the help of the Americans. This one, not for me

In London 1940, the war wasn't going great and America wasn't getting involved. Germany was rapidly expanding and England was increasingly alone in their fight. But, they had a guy -- and I acquired so much knowledge about this guy through this long book about a short period. I loved it!

I like this a lot

Checked into the campground this afternoon and continued a bit of this

New favorite! As someone who got a very America centric education regarding WWII, I enjoyed this immensely. Giving personal stories of those that survived The Blitz, depicting life while at war, providing glimpses into the life and family of Churchill, it made this book difficult to put down. It still includes major events involving Britain and Germany, but it focuses on the human element that is so easily missed when looking back at history.

23 of 2022. Winston Churchill is one of my favorite historical figures and Eric Larson a favorite author, so I was excited to read this book. I was not disappointed. Larson did a great job researching and telling the story of Churchill‘s administration during the Blitz with great insight into him and his family. Highly recommend! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#FirstLineFridays

“No one had any doubt that the bombers would come.”

I want to listen to this epic research again. Like, as soon as possible. The intricate details that went into this work was amazing. The intrigue of not only between governments, but between the people. I loved how Larson entwined the primary documents, the diaries of regular people, with letters from military and government personnel to tell one heck of a story. Rudolph Hess's story was insane.

I picked this book up out of curiousity. The title sounded interesting and sounded like something out of the Twilight Zone.
I've only just started it. So far, I find it interesting even though I don't read historical stuff often.
If you've read this, what did you think?
#thesplendidandthevile #eriklarson #winstonchurchill #theblitz #worldwarII #bookworm #readersshallruletheworld #readersgonnaread #bookwormproblems #toomanybookssolittletime

I just found this so charming. And yes, I write in my books, fight me. I love buying used books with writing in them as well, or sharing books that are written in. It gives you such an insight into another person's mind.

As a late Baby Boomer, I imagine grandchildren reading this book. It will be a story a century ago; and about people and a society that is long dead. Stripped down, like Churchill in all of his delicious indelicateness, it might be a character study for the ambitious who value competence, hard work, loyalty, ideals, symbolism, and who embrace joie de vivre(!). Larson reveals the force of Churchill in a single year (shorn of his worst colonialism).

What was so wonderful about this book was that it wasn‘t just about Churchill- it was also about his family and his administration. Larson balances the man with the myth quite well and gives his reader insight into Churchill‘s motivations and desires. A fascinating read.

Great in depth account of the first year of the Battle of Britain during WWII from the perspective of the Churchill administration and family.

Day2 of the #LitsySummerCampReadathon & I finally finished this brilliant NF audiobook! While waiting for more of the chunky wool for my scarf, I decided to keep #audioknitting and started this cotton baby blanket for my next grandbaby(due in 10 weeks!)on circular needles. This book was fabulous, it transports you back 80yrs to the chaos & death in a London almost destroyed by the Blitz.It gives insight into Churchill, his family & cabinet, plus👇

At the end of my 1st day of #LitsySummerCampReadathon I‘ve listened to just over 9hrs while #audioknitting my scarf. I‘ve had to stop as I‘ve run out of chunky wool until tomorrow🤞It‘s now at 130cm! I love this blue with the mustard yellow, I should‘ve bought more of it. #OpinionTime should I add a panel of the cream to this or should I order more blue & mustard? Will definitely finish the book tomorrow as there‘s only 3+hrs left.

100cms of #audioknitting (woohoo!🙌)and I‘ve run out of mustard.So the last half of my scarf will be a panel of this blue and a last touch of cream that‘s being delivered tomorrow.Bloody lockdown, can‘t even buy last minute wool! Just over halfway through the tagged audiobook, absolutely fascinating with not just facts about London during the Blitz, but also insights into Churchill‘s family, government & war office plus Berlin, Hiltler & Goerring.

So far I‘ve done 42cm of #audioknitting!Not bad for someone who hasn‘t picked up a needle in 20+yrs.I know it‘s easy chunky knitting but I‘m warming up before embarking on a blanket for my next grandbaby(shh it‘s a surprise🤫).Loving this audiobook so far, it can be hard to keep up with NF in this format but this has been fairly easy, plus the narrator is great at voices for each person which match with historical records.How‘s your weekend going?

Just started an #audioknitting project! I haven‘t knit anything in years, so long ago I couldn‘t find most of my kit. Ended up having to rebuy most, not just wool but needles, hooks, measuring tape, the lot. Got some bargains on eBay & Spotlight though. Picked up a set of 11 USB light up crochet hooks in a case for $10!🙌 Thinking of adding some stripes of this blue & a cream, or should I just block mustard? Oh, the book so far is brilliant!🤓🧶

The raids generated a paradox: The odds that any one person would die on any one night were slim, but the odds that someone, somewhere in London would die were 100 percent. Safety was a product of luck alone. One young boy, asked what he wanted to be when he grew up, a fireman or a pilot or such, answered: “Alive.”

#currentlyreading #bookblurbs #audiobook #audionerd #history #Europe #war

#BookSpinBingo #July2021

This is an excellent account of the Nazi's bombing of London WWII during Churchill's first years as PM. Interaction with family members & staff & interesting anecdotes. Larson‘s an excellent researcher & this one is well done. I love the fact that Churchill taught his people "the art of being fearless." Having a leader like Churchill was a great comfort to the people. I look forward to reading more books by Larson.

#curiouscovers #gray #littenlisten

#CuriousCovers Day 3 #BlackandWhite This is in my audio library TBR. I‘ve liked the other two Larson‘s I‘ve read and I‘m looking forward to this one.

Erik Larson always entertains with the details and stories.This book focused on the nazi bombing of London in the first years of the war.There‘s fantastic information about how Churchill and his government ran the way,tried to gain support from the US and developed weapons and gained help from civilians.My favorite story was about him going to meet Roosevelt to plan after the US joined the war and how he stood around naked talking to the president

I‘ve been wanting to read this for a while now. 😃 #99ponmindle #kindledailydeals

Not calling this a bail, but I am going to put this book aside until I can get hold of a print copy. Reading it in electronic format is simply too difficult for me these days when I spend my entire life on screens for pandemic reasons.

I haven‘t posted a #bookstack in a while. My definite April reads. Hoping the squeeze in a few more titles! #bookspinbingo

Starting today! I picked this up during the Covid lockdown last spring and just couldn‘t concentrate on it, so I set it aside for brighter days. I‘m using this as my 1940s pick for the Decades Reading Challenge (by The Book Girls Guide). I‘ve loved several of Erik Larson‘s other books and can‘t wait to dive into this one...I‘ve heard great things! #bookspinbingo

I find Churchill fascinating, though admittedly problematic, and read everything I can about him. This is now a favorite due to the glimpses into everyday life during his first year in office. Highly recommend on audio 👍🏻

Excellent! It's a close look at Churchill and his inner circle during the first 12 months of his tenure, as he led Britain through the 1st year of WWII and Germany's Blitz of England. Larson brings to life the colorful characters involved and the day-to-day life of Londoners during the time. This was my March #bookspin @TheAromaofBooks

My favourite is the tagged book. I think I liked because it how Churchill rallied the Brits during the #battleofbritain with honesty and to do their bit and also Larson‘s writing style helped to move the story along. #lockdownfaves

#currentlyreading

The subtitle of this excellent book sums it up well: “A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz”. London had 57 consecutive nights of bombings by the Germans during WWII and the cost of lives was extremely high. This focuses on Churchill and his family from 5/10/1940-5/10/1941 and for sure I‘d have been a nervous wreck during that time and place. A good look at one aspect of the war; not intended to be all-encompassing.
#botm

Recently, someone asked me who my favorite author is, and instead of giving my longstanding answer, I really thought about my response. Learned something- my favorite author is Erik Larson.

Excellent book on the politics of England during the Blitz

Outstanding book. Definitely lived up to the hype.

5-12 Jan 2021 (audiobook)
A well written and researched book telling the story of Winston Churchill, family and guests during the London Blitz. Churchill was eccentric; Australia was barely mentioned (probably to be expected but Australians like to think they played a large role in WWII); and I concluded that Japan really won the war for the Allies - bombing Pearl Harbour and forcing the US to join seems to have been the deciding factor.

I put a hold on this in early March and because of the pandemic, I didn‘t get it until early July, around the time that the library I use opened up. I found it to be incredibly engrossing and riveting. Day 2 of #12booksof2020