The History Book Club discussion

Good job Christopher with the set up. I was just going to do the post.
It looks good.

So you like mysteries on your non fiction night out (smile) - so do many of us. Check your PMs - you should be getting a few.

Good reviews and format is perfect. Length perfect.

I use to be a sci fi person when I was a bit younger but as I got older - I phased it out but still have all of the sci fi books in a bookcase and sometimes give them a whirl. But now I go pretty much back and forth between non fiction and mysteries/thrillers/hard boiled. Depends on the mood. Sometimes I just want a mindless read.

Christopher wrote: "March

7. by Daniel Walker Howe (No Photo)
Finish date: March 2nd, 2013
Genre: American history
Rating: B+
Review..."

Glad you liked it - I wish I could have more involved but Sandy hit. Yes Clarke and Asimov seem more timeless.

I liked Team of Rivals another book by her that I liked is her bio of Johnson, especially her discussion of LBJ and Vietnam. It will be interesting to see what Robert A. Caro has to say about that.


Doris Kearns Goodwin

Peter wrote: "I liked Team of Rivals another book by Doris Kearns Goodwin that I liked is [bookcover:Lyn..."

Peter, no problem about the elements of the citation - you have everything but just type normally in the text of the post. And place the citations at the bottom it is easier and we can read your post better.

Good progress Christopher and Chandler - one of my most favorites.
And I might add you read the best of the lot.

Raymond Chandler

I might have to give that book a whirl again - that is the best of the hard boiled and from what all hard boiled is born - although I have to give Dashiell Hammett much much credit too. He is as least as important I suspect.

Dashiell Hammett

Bentley wrote: "Good progress Christopher and Chandler - one of my most favorites.
And I might add you read the best of the lot.
I might have to give that book a wh..."

The Big Sleep is a fantastic book and was also beautifully done on film with Bogart in the lead. Wasn't this the book that Chandler said he wasn't even sure that he could explain some of the plot. I know I was in the dark about a couple of the murders. Love it.

by Raymond Chandler

See both versions of the movie - there is the Bogart one and Bogart for me is the perfect Marlowe. But the 1978 Mitchum one is truer to the novel in some instances aside from some very quirky location decisions which I think were a bit wacky.

Now there is nothing like Bogey and Bacall - but there were also some great performances in the Mitchum one by Jimmy Stewart no less, Sir John Mills, Harry Andrews as the butler was superb; I even liked Oliver Reed as Eddie Mars better here and Edward Fox and Joan Collins were the perfect Joe and Agnes.

But aside from these actors - everything about the Bogey/Bacall one was better. I actually enjoyed both for different reasons.

I am going to clean up poor Christophers thread. We also have a film history thread already where that can take place.

I like this book, too. Well-balanced. Good luck on your POTUS goal! Keep me informed of your progress or you need recommendations.

Edward P. Crapol

Interesting to read about Kearns Goodwin's latest book. Even if some historians criticize her for letting assistants write some of her books or conduct the vast majority of her research, I've enjoyed her non-fiction tremendously in the past.
Doris Kearns Goodwin

So have I Craig and I think some of the criticism was blown out of proportion and some was deserved.

I like his style too Christopher but Doris Kearns Goodwin style is conversational and chatty and I like her as well.

Caro seems more to be the Dean of Historians.

Doris Kearns Goodwin

Robert A. Caro

Just curious. Are you a coach of an Academic Decathlon team? All AcDec students will be reading The Sun Also Rises as part of their 2013-14 competition. I coach a team and read the book for my own enjoyment a month or so ago. (if you do coach AcDec, you know that next year's topic is World War I)
by Ernest Hemingway

One of my faves Christopher.

Good for you.

Great progress, I got to about Polk.

Christopher.....great minds!!! I am on the first chapter of this book and based on your review, I picked a good book.

by Scott Miller (no photo)

Nice, looks interesting, Christopher.

Christopher - I know you are talking about the book but in the video section on our site at the top of our thread - you can watch six videos narrated by Shadid himself and get to see everything first hand. They were released when the book was. They are quite good. There is also on that video thread some other videos I added where his wife is talking about him, the house, and the book.

I sent you a PM.

Am I allowed to comment in here? I’m not sure if I am, so forgive me if I commit a faux pas.

Like you, I really like Anthony Bourdain. I enjoy his humour and incisive perceptions of the restaurant industry. He's a bit of a rebel at heart and as you say a bit of an anti-hero.

Being a bit of a foodie (I love to cook) and have a real interest in good food and different cuisines as well as the restaurant industry generally I loved this book.

When I first saw it, I thought, ‘ey up’, I’ve missed this one, but it’s actually the first one of his I read. I was misled by the new cover, the one I read had a different cover. I’ve also read the sequel to that one and have another of his on my to-read list.

This is the one I read: and the sequel: by Anthony Bourdain

And the one to read: by Anthony Bourdain

No I did not know that Israel was one of the few nations that supported Iran in the Iran/Iraq war - strange bedfellows.

That sounds like a very interesting book. You have read some great books for the challenge. I love these challenges because it forces you to pursue books in other parts of the world and it gives you enough time to do it while also reading other things.

These are a good way to get nudged (I am a professional nudger).

Bentley wrote: "These are a good way to get nudged (I am a professional nudger)."

You can get paid for nudging???? :-)

That is for sure - I also get paid for that all of the time too.

Christopher wrote: "June

26. by Matthew Heines (no photo)
Finish date: June 16th, 2013
Genre: Memoir
Rating: F
Review: The final book I read f..."

What a great review, Christopher. Your last sentence made me laugh. Obviously, I won't be looking for this book.

With such great books available for the challenge what made you choose that one?

Well that is good if you ever go there - smile

Great review, the last sentence is hilarious!

Thanks for calling a spade a spade and not sugarcoating your reviews! I really appreciate your honesty and your genuine reviews really help me shape an idea in my head on whether a book is worth my valuable reading time!

I liked this book, too, Christopher.

Reagan could please the public and you can see how well a crowd pleaser can do - but I do not believe he was the "brightest light".

Congratulations on finishing it on the 132nd anniversary of Garfield's assassination.

Yes, after reading Destiny of Republic last year (one of the best books I read all year, in my opinion, by the way), I feel Garfield would have been one of our top presidents ever. Certainly he had the ability to be the top president in the Gilded Age.

by Candice Millard

Christopher wrote: "July

29. by Candice Millard
Finish date: July 2nd, 2013
Genre:..."

An excellent book.

I was very happy to find out that a book on Garfield was published and did well. I wonder if it translated to more visitors at Lawnfield, his home in Ohio??

I usually like Woodward's books but this one doesn't sound too interesting. Probably will pass on it Thanks for your review.

Bob Woodward

(I think it is time for him to change his photo!!!)