It's interesting to note how different people develop and change personal habits or preferences; when I was younger, fiction and the novel were king, but now generally speaking everything I read is nonfiction.
Good point John. Since I was a teenager it has been my practice to read a few pages of some book or another every night before I go to sleep. Usually fiction, rarely nonfiction...
Non fiction is for serious reading. Currently, in any given day I may read any number of books related to the Martini or the shooting of the Martini--Mann and Greener foremost, with Skennerton always at hand. I think like you John, when a question comes up on the boards I dig in my library to see if I can find the answer. This might require reading passages in several different books to come up with answer. Serious cover to cover non fiction is usually reserved for the throne room. Current reading in that quiet room is Lt. Col Mike Snook's
How can man die Better about the battle at Isandlwana.
Sitting beside me here at the Computer are Skennerton and Siekonic.
Terry Johnston's historical fiction of Western American is highly recommended. Not often do you find as accurately narrated fiction, carrying extensive foot noting. His depiction of the Battle of Big hole is incredible. The Montana Univerity at Bozeman's has Johnstons work on the required reading list.
When I lived in Virginia for a few years I read Bernard Cornwell's Civil war series. It was so interesting to read about the battle fields and geography that drove by every day on the way to work.
Wilbur Smith's African stories take some liberties with history, but living in South Africa, I had a better understanding of what he was trying to convey. Walking the land he was describing but the story in a whole other light.
The best for me of the historical fiction O'Brien, Kent, Donachie, Forester, Lambdin and Connery. Naval fiction in the day of sail. I have to add Poyer's civil war trilogy to this list.
