Recommended reading - The Last Detail (1970):

The Last Detail

By Darryl Ponicsan.

First published 1970.

Published by Skyhorse.

Paperback.

ISBN-10: 1510727752

ISBN-13: 978-1510727755

Description:

The Acclaimed Novel That Was the Basis for the Classic Movie Starring Jack Nicholson.

Unlike the other branches of the armed services, the navy draws its police force from the ranks, as temporary duty. The risk is that men on Shore Patrol might bring their humanity to the task. This accounts for the underlying tension in "The Last Detail", which takes place during the height of the Vietnam War. Billy Bad-Ass and Mule Mulhall, two career sailors in transit in Norfolk, awaiting permanent orders, are given a "chaser" duty. Their assignment is to escort and deliver Larry Meadows, an 18-year-old sailor, from Norfolk to Portsmouth, N.H., where he is to serve an eight-year sentence in the brig. It's good duty, on the face of it, until the two old salts realize the injustice of the sentence and are oddly affected by the true innocence of their prisoner, even though he is guilty as charged. Failure, or refusal, to carry out their duty is never a question, no matter how much they hate the detail or how wrong it seems, and yet something must be done, some gesture made in order to help their hapless prisoner survive the long ordeal he faces, and to purge their own sense of shame. "The Last Detail" was Darryl Ponicsan's first book and it catapulted him into the front rank of American novelists. It was made into the 1973 film starring Jack Nicholson, and has become a classic of the Golden Age of American cinema. This new edition of "The Last Detail" coincides with the publication of its long-awaited sequel, "Last Flag Flying", also available from The Wright Press.

Recommended reading - Mad with Much Heart (1945):

Mad with Much Heart

By Gerald Butler.

First published 1945.
ASIN: B0006AQZEY
Published by: Rinehart & company, inc.
Hardcover.

Description:

Filmed as On Dangerous Ground (1951), directed by Nicholas Ray and Ida Lupino.

William Styron, on books:

A great book should leave you with many experiences, and slightly exhausted at the end.

You live several lives while reading.

- William Styron.

On this day in music history - Calm Within, by Laura Sullivan (2015):

The album Calm Within,

by Laura Sullivan,

was released on December 11, 2015.

On this day in music history - Ama, by Cecilia Chailly (2001):

The album Ama,

by Cecilia Chailly,

was released on December 11, 2001.

On this day in movie history - Driving Miss Daisy (1989):

Driving Miss Daisy

directed by Bruce Beresford,

written by Alfred Uhry,

based on the play by Alfred Uhry,

was released in the United States on December 11, 1989.
Music by Hans Zimmer.

Cast:

Morgan Freeman, Jessica Tandy, Dan Aykroyd, Patti LuPone, Esther Rolle, Joann Havrilla, William Hall Jr., Alvin M. Sugarman, Clarice F. Geigerman, Muriel Moore, Sylvia Kaler, Carolyn Gold, Crystal Fox, Bob Hannah, Ray McKinnon, Ashley Josey, Jack Rousso, Fred Faser, Indra A. Thomas, Trilby Beresford, Dean DuBois, Jay Freer, Jen Harper, Martin Luther King, D. Taylor Loeb.

On this day in movie history - Pittsburgh (1942):

Pittsburgh

directed by Lewis Seiler,

written by Kenneth Gamet, Tom Reed, John Twist, Robert Fellows and Winston Miller,

based on a story by George Owen and Tom Reed,

was released in the United States on December 11, 1942.
Music by Hans J. Salter and Frank Skinner.

Cast:

Marlene Dietrich, Randolph Scott, John Wayne, Frank Craven, Louise Allbritton, Shemp Howard, Thomas Gomez, Ludwig Stössel, Samuel S. Hinds, Paul Fix, William Haade, Charles Coleman, Nestor Paiva, John Alban, Charles Arnt, Lois Austin, Don Barclay, Robert Barron, Brandon Beach, Brooks Benedict, Edward Biby, Ted Billings, Wade Boteler, Chet Brandenburg, Tex Brodus, James Carlisle, Hobart Cavanaugh, Jack Chefe, James Conaty, Harry Cording, Victor Cox, Hal Craig, Oliver Cross, Grace Cunard, Sayre Dearing, Jack Deery, William Desmond, Helen Dickson, John Dilson, Jimmy Dime, Ed Emerson, Bess Flowers, Douglas Fowley, Joe Garcio, Jack Gardner, Jack Gargan, Kenneth Gibson, Gus Glassmire, George Golden, Dick Gordon, William Gould, Bobbie Hale, Eddie Hall, Chuck Hamilton, Sam Harris, Winifred Harris, Carol Henry, Edward Keane, Joe Kirk, Ethan Laidlaw, Nolan Leary, Kay Linaker, Frank Marlowe, Alphonse Martell, Johnny Marvin, Larry McGrath, Mira McKinney, Paul McVey, Robert Milasch, Irving Mitchell, Sandra Morgan, Frances Morris, Edmund Mortimer, Charles Morton, Broderick O'Farrell, Monty O'Grady, Bob Perry, Lorin Raker, Bob Reeves, Cyril Ring, Robert Robinson, William Ruhl, Virginia Sale, Paul Scott, Harry Seymour, John Sheehan, Charles Sherlock, Jack C. Smith, Tom Steele, Sammy Stein, Brick Sullivan, Charles Sullivan, Ben Taggart, Dale Van Sickel, Frankie Van, Ray Walker, Glen Walters, Anthony Warde, Phil Warren.