The History Book Club discussion

Kathy F wrote: "According to the book I am reading now, the author tried to insinuate the child could have belong to either Grover Cleveland or Cleveland's father in law, Oscar Folsom. But Cleveland, being such a..."

That's a long book title--Looks interesting!! The President Is a Sick Man: Wherein the Supposedly Virtuous Grover Cleveland Survives a Secret Surgery at Sea and Vilifies the Courageous Newspaperman Who Dared Expose the Truth by Matthew Algeo

i'm still working on Six Wives - The Queens of Henry VIII by David Starkey




i started this months ago and have interrupted my reading of it over and over again to read other books. i'm determined now to finish before the end of the year and have fewer than 100 pages left. Starkey makes some interesting points that i have not read in other books about Henry's six wives. i'm looking forward to writing my review.

Hello Naomi,

You are doing a terrific job then getting this accomplished. Your goal is within reach. Keep up the good work.

Naomi......I have been doing the same thing with: by Lawrence James.....starting and stopping to pick up other books. At least, you have gotten further than I have in my quest to finish a book that I need to read. Way to go!!

I am now reading a little different type of history....the rise of rock and roll. This is the revised edition of a book that I read several years ago and thought I would re-visit it. It is another of those books that one can read in spurts, so I will probably be undertaking something a little "heavier" at the same time. Maybe I will finish the book mention in my post 1262 above!!!

by Charlie Gillett

Lawrence James

Jill wrote: "Naomi......I have been doing the same thing with: by Lawrence James.....starting and stopping to pick up other books...."

Bentley wrote: "Hello Naomi,

You are doing a terrific job then getting this accomplished. Your goal is within reach. Keep up the good work."

thanks for the encouragement! i did finish the book yesterday, but finding time to write a review will take a while. in spite of the long period of time it took me to read it, it was an excellent book about Henry VIII's six wives. Starkey has a unique point of view.

Naomi -congrats but make sure every time to cite the author or book mentioned. Remember the goodreads software populates our site correctly that way with a counter and pointer to all posts mentioning the book and author with wonderful links.

David Starkey

I'm reading The Last Gunfight: The Real Story of the Shootout at the O.K. Corral--And How It Changed the American West and also The Believing Brain: From Ghosts and Gods to Politics and Conspiracies How We Construct Beliefs and Reinforce Them as Truths I have to stop and really think about the concepts of Shermer's book, so it takes a while. Meanwhile, I an greatly entertained with Guinn's history-story...

Great Chantal, thanks for your post. Don't forget to add the book covers and author photos/links to your citation:

by Jeff Guinn

by Michael Shermer

I've just started this

by Denys Blakeway

It is very interesting and highly readable.

Erik Larson

All I have to say is wow! This book attempts to answer questions like " Why did it take so long to recognize the real danger posed by Hitler and his regime?"(pg. xiv)

So far it's answering such a thing. It's unsettling. A very good book and I recommend it to people.

Half way through by D.T. Max(no photo)

About the discovery and history of prion disease in animals and humans. Prions are foodborne illnesses, associated with meat, that can't be destroyed by heat or chemicals. They include: mad cow disease, scrapies in sheep, kuru in humans, Creutzfeld-Jakob syndrome and (maybe) Alzheimers. Glad I am a vegetarian!

Autumn wrote: "Erik Larson

All I have to say is wow! This book atte..."

I love Erik Larson's books. Will definitely put on my to-read status. Erik Larson

Kathy F wrote: "Autumn wrote: "Erik Larson

All I have to say is wow!..."

Kathy, this is the first one I've read by Erik Larson. I'll have to look for more of his works.

Hey Kathy, if you state the author's name - you have to cite; the reply feature doesn't count (smile)

The software will link your post then to all other posts talking about Larson.

Erik Larson

Bentley wrote: "Hey Kathy, if you state the author's name - you have to cite; the reply feature doesn't count (smile)

The software will link your post then to all other posts talking about Larson.

[authorimage:E..." Hi Bentley, will do. I completely forgot that one! K

No problem. We try to help out the software any way that we can; that way all conversations and posts on authors and books are linked and searchable for those group members who want to find out about other discussions on the book or author. It also cross populates the entire site which is very nice.

by David Cordingly

Here's what I'm currently reading:


by Andrew Carroll. I'm only 100 pages into it. My reading is slowed due to all the Christmas hullabaloo. I can recommend it to those who like letters as literature/history.

Hi David:

Don't forget to use the author link:

by Andrew Carroll

Bryan:

I tried to put in an author link, but I couldn't figure out how to do it in menus and boxes. I'm afraid I have not yet acquired a speaking relationship with html.

ETA: Okay, I just tried it again, and this time a box with the proper link popped up.

I appreciate your efforts, I know you will get the hang of it--the more you do it, the easier it gets :-)

by Michael Hiltzik I'm just finishing up the 100 days. Very readable and interesting.

I have just started reading a new book on an interesting aspect of the Napoleonic Wars:


by Philippe R. Girard

I just started reading by Henry Kissinger. So far it's pretty good, although I disagree with his harping on the realpolitik that he championed during his tenure as Secretary of State.

Looks like terrific books Patricrk and Christopher. Enjoy your read AR.

La Ballade de la mer salée by Hugo Pratt

It's a re-re-re-read. My favorite Pratt. Nice for Christmas.

After that it'll be

Max Fridman, tome 1 : Rhapsodie hongroise by Vittorio Giardino

my favorite Giardino...

About to start the recently-released The Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Medicine, Madness, and the Murder of a President by Candace Millard, who also wrote a well-received book on Theodore Roosevelt a year ago.


The book is about the death and presidency of James Garfield, the second American President to be assassinated and whose death in 1880 at the hands of Charles Guiteau has always been something I've been mildly interested in.

Craig, thanks for sharing and welcome to the group. Just noticed your introduction thread and responded there, and glad to see you are jumping into the discussions. Great!

Good job with the book cover. Also include the author link (always) and a photo if there is one available. In situations like the above where there is no author photo, you do not need to post the 'no photo' icon. Although not mandatory some people note it in parens.

by Candice Millard

I have seen several of our members note this book, and it looks like a great selection.

Everyone is talking about this book and since I like the author, I treated myself to a holiday gift to me....and bought it. Starting it this week and know that I am going to like it

by Erik Larson

I've got about 30 more pages to go in the book (or since I'm listening to an audio version, about 30 more minutes of audio which I'm assuming is about 30 pages?). Hate to perhaps disappoint you, but I have not enjoyed this book at all. Can't believe that a subject as potentially as interesting with intrigue, murder, sex (the daughter Martha and her many trysts) and historical narrative can be so .... boring. And this is from someone who has really enjoyed reading Larson in the past. Unfortunately, he seems to have hit his peak with Devil in the White City and Isaac's Storm as his last two books haven't been nearly as well-written.

Again, I'm not quite done with it, but feel like I haven't learned anything at all about the Dodd's and the relationship between the U.S. and Germany in the late 1930s. And I was really looking forward to reading this book too.

by Erik Larson

Ooops....maybe it won't be as good as I thought...but I am going to give it a try.

BTW....when you mention a book, don't forget to add the citations.

and by Erik Larson

The joys of a winter vacation - cold lousy weather is a good excuse to stay inside and read! Working through the reading pile in no particular order, I read this one yesterday:
by Billie Holiday
Intense story, the movie was better than the book but the book is written in Billie's voice and covered some material not covered in the movie. A good quick read.

Today I am starting in on this one, which has been in my reading stack for awhile.
by David von Drehle

Alisa........I'm glad you are going to read
by David von Drehle.....I think I recommended it several months ago because I was so fascinated by the story which has many layers. My guess is that you will also like it.

Alisa wrote: "The joys of a winter vacation - cold lousy weather is a good excuse to stay inside and read! Working through the reading pile in no particular order, I read this one yesterday:


Great book - I read it last year and it was a quick and enjoyable read. Amazing to see what an impact this event still has a century later on youngsters; (I teach American history at the high school level and the kids always pay close attention to this event) I like to remind them it was the worst loss of life in New York history until 9/11.

I've just picked up and started; "There Was a Soldier: First-hand Accounts of the Scottish Soldier at War from 1707 to the Present Day" by Angus Konstam.

by Angus Konstam

Craig......I was totally engrossed with the book. I was aware of the incident but not in detail. I liked the device of following the lives of some of the victims and their families. A horrible tragedy that did not need to happen.

Don't forget to cite the author when mentioning the book in your posts.

by David von Drehle

Been a productive holidays for me and have finished three books that I was in the midst of within the last three days. So I'm starting two new ones - Lindbergh by A. Scott Berg (Pulitzer-winning bio book back in 1998) and on audio - 11/22/63 by Stephen King.

A. Scott Berg

by Jodi Picoulti'm 61% done according to that little time line indicator on the home page.

After some prodding by Jill and Bryan, I have put aside my book on Scottish soldiers and taken up; "To End All Wars".

by Adam Hochschild

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "After some prodding by Jill and Bryan, I have put aside my book on Scottish soldiers and taken up; "To End All Wars".

[bookcover:To End All Wars: How the First World War Divided Britain|11376794..."

I don't think you will be disappointed A.R. I am really enjoying it so far. I got it for Xmas from my dad, and it was not on my Xmas list. A nice surprise.

I am reading Volume II of the Sherlock Holmes Series. An excellent addition to volume one. I recommend every book lover everywhere to read these fantastic and classic stories. There is some interesting commentary on American life and Americans in general. It covers and interesting social history. It was written in the 1890's and covers a bit of secret societies in American and the gold rush.

The Complete Sherlock Holmes, Volume II

Jill wrote: " by Erik Larson

I got this one for Christmas and I am really looking forward to reading it. I loved Devil in the White City.

Hi Alicia:

Don't forget to add a book cover and author:

Arthur Conan Doyle

I have to read these someday; I read probably about 2 or 3 as a teenager.

Craig, don't forget the author link on the Stephen King book.
by Stephen King

I've heard good things about it, let us know what you think.

I started this just before Christmas. It is an interesting account of how "Dig for Victory" came into being, and became - with some inter-departmental disagreements and false starts - a great success in getting people to grow their own food during the Second World War in the UK. It perhaps sounds dry but is far from it.

by Daniel Smith

That does sound a bit dry, Geevee but sometimes the subject of a book leads one to think that it might be less than interesting. Let us know what you think when you are finished.

by Daniel Smith

Bryan wrote: "Hi Alicia:

Don't forget to add a book cover and author:

Arthur Conan Doyle

I have to re..."

Oops! Thanks!

Bryan wrote: "'Aussie Rick' wrote: "After some prodding by Jill and Bryan, I have put aside my book on Scottish soldiers and taken up; "To End All Wars".

[bookcover:To End All Wars: How the First World War Divi..."

I got that book for Christmas as well. Except the subtitle on the book jacket is "A story of Loyalty and rebellion 1914-1918"

Hi Patricrk, it's been a pretty good acount so far so I think you'll enjoy it. My copy is the UK edition.