Review: 12 Strong: The Declassified True Story of the Horse Soldiers

12 Strong: The Declassified True Story of the Horse Soldiers by Doug Stanton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A fantastic and awe-inspiring recounting of the early days of America's involvement in Afghanistan. The book illustrates how putting a few highly capable individuals in just the right position with the authority to get the job done results in the job...getting done.

The book also illustrates how the difference in cultures creates many opportunities for missteps.

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Review: Beren and Lúthien

Beren and Lúthien by J.R.R. Tolkien
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was hoping for a more refined tale that was more in keeping with The Hobbit and LotR. This was not that.

I read the first version of Beren and Luthien that is included in the book. It was interesting but not as tight as the later works. The origin story for the conflict between dogs and cats was pretty good.

If you are a hard-core Tolkien fan, then this book is for you. If you had a hard time getting through the Silmarillion, then this book probably is not for you.

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