I just finished reading the book, "The Ultimate Guide to Tractors" It was written by Jim Glastonbury and originally published by House Publishing Limited, of the UK. The guide is 442 pages long with really fine print and was difficult for an old man with failing eyes to read. There were lots of photos of tractors and a complete story of most of the tractors that were made. Of course there was a history about John Deere, Case, International, Ford, White, Oliver, Massey, Massey-Harris, Massey Ferguson,and Allis Chalmers but there were also lots of stories about the early companies and what happened to them. It was very interesting reading. It tells about the horsepower ratings of the different models each produced and how they were developed. If you wish to spend a few hours learning more about the interesting history and development of tractors then this is the book for you. I wish to thank my brother for providing it to me for Christmas.
Cheerily
IJK
"The Emperor's General" written by James Webb is an interesting historical fiction novel. It is about a fictional character and his time as General MacArthur's trusted aide. It was a fascinating read and I truly enjoyed it. It covers the time during the surrender and occupation of Japan and the intrigue involved. A must read for anyone interested in MacArthur. Copyright 1999 and published in 2000 by Bantam Books.
Cheerily
IJK
I just finished reading two books that are written by two different authors and in settings over 50 years apart but seem to be tied together.
The first is "Havana" by Stephen Hunter, copyright 2003. It is a story about Havana in 1953 before Castro had came to power. It tells of the turbulent times and part of his rise to power. It is from Simon & Shuster, Inc.
The second is "Cuba" written by Stephen Coonts, copyright 1999. It is a story about the fall of Castro and the possible happenings that will accompany that fall. This story is set in 2006 and was published by St. Martin's Press.
Both books speak about some of the same events that shaped Castro's rise to power. The first while it was happening and the second in the past tense. Reading "Havana" first followed by "Cuba" makes for some very interesting reading and I enjoyed them immensely.
Cheerily
IJK
