The History Book Club discussion

As I mentioned in the Recently Acquired Books thread, I picked up the book cited below in our library bargain bin. I am embarrassed to say that I have never read it and thought I had better fill in a blank in my reading list. I started it two days ago and am enthralled. A book of manners in the NYC of the 1800s, it has wit that I wouldn't have attributed to the author. I'm not sure why I thought it would be dry and pedantic but instead find it to be fascinating. I love it!!

by Edith Wharton

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "I've just started reading; "Brothers, Rivals, Victors: Eisenhower, Patton, Bradley and the Partnership that Drove the Allied Conquest in Europe" by Jonathan W. Jordan.

This book sounds really interesting, Rick. WWII is one of my favorites to read. How is it so far?

by Jonathan W. Jordan

So far it's been a very interesting read, hard to put down at times! It's full of great little accounts of these three great soldiers, like this exchange:

During a luncheon given by Eisenhower and Bradley in honor of King George VI, Ike remembered the king engaging George in casual conversation. Always solicitous to his American allies, His Highness politely asked General Patton how many men he had killed with his ivory-gripped revolvers.

“About twenty, sir”, Patton said.

“George!” Ike snapped.

“Oh, about six,” George said, changing his story without a trace of embarrassment.

Ike, his son remembered, was sure the answer was zero.

by Jonathan W. Jordan

Starting up Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman by Robert K. Massie

Should be a good book Kathy, enjoy :)

I am reading a classic account by Francis Parkman, this man writes with style and provides vivid images of a time long past in American history:

by Francis Parkman
My copy is a 1910 harback by Little, Brown & Company.

Am now reading about the bombing of Hamburg in 1943:



by Keith Lowe

That one looks interesting, AR but horrific.

I can't believe I am reading the book cited below but it is another one from the bargain bin. I realize it is a classic but the characters speak in epigrams constantly.....I know that Wilde is known for his wit but it gets to be a little much. I am sure I am in the minority but, although I like the book (and the film which I have seen several times), the witticisms are starting to try my patience. I expect to be castigated for this opinion!!!!!! :0)

bt Oscar Wilde

Jill wrote: "That one looks interesting, AR but horrific.

I can't believe I am reading the book cited below but it is another one from the bargain bin. I realize it is a classic but the characters speak in e..."

As you know, I had some problems with the witticisms myself.

Based on your recommendation, I've started listening to the Age of Innocence as narrated by David Horovitch and am absolutely loving it. I don't know why this has been on my TBR so long. I think a negative experience with an assigned reading of Ethan Frome in school made me leary of Wharton. That book seemed heavy and depressing whereas this is almost a comedy of manners so far.

by Edith Wharton

by Edith Wharton

I am reading a current book in one of my favorite detective series before I start a heavier history tome. Written by the Russian author, Boris Akunin, it is the adventures of Erast Fandorin, a sometime spy, sometime detective, in Czarist Russia at the end of the 19th century. I think I like these books because you get a flavor of what life was like during the reign of the Czars, as well as the well crafted stories.

by Boris Akunin

I've only read (well, listened to) one book by Akunin and I really enjoyed that one as well. I'm on a knitting jag and I might check one of his other audiobooks out for when I finish my Wharton.

by Boris Akunin

by Edith Wharton

I thought the proper way to spell Czar was Tsar? Maybe that's my way of spelling it because of the Eastern European in me. but i've always spelled Czar with a T not a C.

anyways I'm going to start reading by Philippa Gregory

I'm on the final chapter of Catch-22 and it's a great read. It's funny, thought provoking and chaotic. I think I may have to delve into Tolstoy next, not sure yet.

Craig you need to add the book cover,author photo and link like i have above your post should look like this

by Joseph Heller

Craig, thanks for sharing. I read Catch-22 years ago but and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Don't forget to select the bookcover, author photo (when available) and author link in accordance with the club rules when mentioning books and authors.
by Joseph Heller
Leo Tolstoy

sorry didn't see the Leo Tolstoy part. but i hope that helped just use the add book/author option above the comment box to add your selections.

Krystal wrote: "I thought the proper way to spell Czar was Tsar? Maybe that's my way of spelling it because of the Eastern European in me. but i've always spelled Czar with a T not a C.

anyways I'm going to sta..."

I think both are accepted spellings but I think Tsar is preferred. I was typing fast and used the Czar spelling. Thanks for calling it to my attention, Krystal.

translated by Samuell B. Griffith. 1963 edition. I've just started this book and the first 60 pages are just setting the stage for the actual 80 pages from Sun Tzu. I've had this for 30 years and started it at least once. Dating from around 400 BC there are 108 pages of editions to choose from.

by Sun Tzu

Did you mean the above? I know it's probably not the edition you are reading.

Bea wrote: " by Sun Tzu

Did you mean the above? I know it's probably not the edition you are reading."

that is the book, but your correct its not my edition.

No problem Jill. I've always used the Tsar spelling myself so I was just a little confused.

I'm just about 1/4 through by Elizabeth Bowen which was first published in the UK in 1938 so it's a classic now. The setting is between WWI & WWII in Britain. Bowen's style is rather dense and it's not light reading but it's well, well worth it.

Am currently reading
by Umberto Eco
Interesting book about the Italian Middle Age with criminal investigation and philosophy, life-style.
I just started it but it but I think it will be interesting read.

I finally decided to take all the books that I haven't read (around 70) off my bookshelf and not reshelve them until they have been read. Some have been on there for over 15 years and I figured it's about time to read them.

So have finally started reading The Histories by Herodotus and having a feeling it may take me awhile to get through it.

by Herodotus

Nicole wrote: "I finally decided to take all the books that I haven't read (around 70) off my bookshelf and not reshelve them until they have been read. Some have been on there for over 15 years and I figured it..."

Oh my - I've been thinking I'd take all those books and read the first chapter and decide which to toss! (heh) Some are recent acquisitions so those stay, but Women and Men by Joseph McElroy?

by Joseph McElroy

Nicole, I applaud and am inspired by your ambition! I am hoping to get through most of what is on my book shelves before I buy more, but not having much luck with that yet. Keep us posted on your progress!

Nicole wrote: "I finally decided to take all the books that I haven't read (around 70) off my bookshelf and not reshelve them until they have been read. Some have been on there for over 15 years and I figured it..."

I need to get the Herodotus off my bookshelf, too, Nicole. Have you read the first chapter of your McElroy yet, Becky? I have no idea what he's like.

I have started listening to the following book. I am a couple of hours into it and am getting a horrible feeling that I am in for twelve more hours of wallowing in other people's alcoholism, drug addiction, and dysfunctional relationships. Unfortunately, I blindly challenged myself to read this book this year. It may defeat me.

If anybody says there is a story line to look forward to, I might press on. Anybody???

by Nelson Algren

Herodotus

Joseph McElroy

Thanks Alisa, I'm not having much luck either. I had around 55 to read when I decided to do this. I shall try to avoid the bookstore for the next 2-3 months and see what I can whittle it down to.

Bea wrote: "Have you read the first chapter of your McElroy yet, Becky?."

Nope - I figure it's been there for several years it won't hurt to go another few days.

One nice thing about Kindle and Audio books is they don't need dusting on my tbr shelf - or anywhere! :-)

The Rape of Europa: The Fate of Europe's Treasures in the Third Reich and the Second World WarLynn H. Nicholas
I started this a few days ago. I have an uncontrolled sigh and click of the tongue after each paragraph of looting, buying and Goerings uncontrolled avarice. Ego, power, and opportunity. What a terrible combination.

G......please cite books with the book cover, author's photo (if available) and the author link. The book you mentioned should look like this:

by Lynn H. Nicholas

I hate to give up on a book but I did on this one. I thought it would be a light history about the lives of misbehaving monarchs and their families which it was......BUT, the style in which it was written was so off-putting that I just couldn't stay with it. One expects a history book, no matter what the subject, to have some formality.....instead this was written as if it was targeted to a young teen reader. When the author said the someone was the "BFF of Vlad the Impaler"; that King John "dissed" his courtiers; and that the crown of King Richard was "cool"........well, that pretty much finished me.


by Leslie Carroll

Jill wrote: "I hate to give up on a book but I did on this one. I thought it would be a light history about the lives of misbehaving monarchs and their families which it was......BUT, the style in which it was ..."

"BFF", OMG!

This goes on my do not read list.

Jill wrote: "I hate to give up on a book but I did on this one. I thought it would be a light history about the lives of misbehaving monarchs and their families which it was......BUT, the style in which it was ..."

Just out of curiosity...who was Vlad's BFF?

Nicole.....I think it was Mathias of Hungary but since I took the book back to the library, I'm not sure.

I'm nearly half way though; "The Bounty" by Caroline Alexander and so far it's been a pretty decent account.


by Caroline Alexander

One of these two books will get cracked open today. They both very different from each other and both look darn good!

by Nicholas D. Kristof
by Anne Moody

After abandoning The Man With the Golden Arm (not for me) and The Siege of Krishnapur (unbearable audiobook narrator), I am happily engaged in both a read and a listen.

I'm listening to the audiobook of:

by Candice Millard (no photo)

I'm reading:

by Charles Dickens, Wilkie Collins, Elizabeth Gaskell, and Adelaide Anne Procter (no photo)

The latter book is a collaborative short story or novella and so far is a ton of fun.

Nancy wrote: "At the moment I'm reading my first Dutch Classic: Terug naar Ina Damman (S. Vestdijk) . I'm fluent in Dutch no translation necessary. Wonderfully written, sorry I cannot find an English version an..."

Hi Nancy -

You've almost got our citation format down. Good try.

We list both the photo and the link for authors and the bookcover goes before the author photo. The book you mentioned would look like this.

by Simon Vestdijk

Nicole wrote: "I finally decided to take all the books that I haven't read (around 70) off my bookshelf and not reshelve them until they have been read. Some have been on there for over 15 years and I figured it..."

We did a group reading The Histories by Herodotus so look for all of the group discussions regarding the book as you read it.

by Herodotus

I've started reading; "Fighting for the Confederacy: The Personal Recollections of General Edward Porter Alexander" by Edward Porter Alexander. It's been highly recommended by many Civil War readers. It's a bit slow to start off but now we are into the Seven Days Campaign its starting to move along.

by Edward Porter Alexander

Bentley, thanks for the invitation to the discussion of "Caesar's Women" by Colleen McCullough. I haven't been able to find a copy of it in our city's library system. If I actually own it myself, it's in storage and pretty well inaccessible. If I can find a used copy of it anytime soon, I'll get it and try to catch up with the rest of you. Otherwise, I don't really know much about the subject.

Sigrun, don't forget to add the book cover, author photo, and author links when mentioning a book.
Thanks.
by Colleen McCullough

Hello Sigrun, it is also available on Kindle as a download and on audible.com. Hope this helps some. There are possibly used book stores that might have a copy - being that you are from Canada I am not sure about the possibilities there.

I keep forgetting about those e-books. I don't have a real e-reader yet, but the Kindle works very well on my laptop. I'll try to get it from Kindle. For the last couple of months I've been having a problem with passwords there. One of the many things I have to do, including my taxes (due April 30 here in Canada) is getting the Kindle/Amazon problem sorted out.

As for my "historical" reading, I've just finished "The Blood of Flowers" by Iranian-American author Anita Amirrezvani about carpet making and design in the 1620s during the last years of reign of Shah Abbas. It's very interesting to see a little bit of the life ordinary people lived during that time, though the main character, who is the narrator and known only as such, was not all that ordinary.

Sorry, still no picture of me, I don't really have one. I'll have to see what I can come up with.

I'll also try to remember the book and author photos; it's something I still haven't learned to do. Besides, I'll need to the cover and the author photo. Maybe my brother, the picture guru, can give me a hand tomorrow.

Ugh!! I just lost my commentary, including on what I just finished reading. Unfortunately, my right hand, arm and shoulder are sore and tired after that, so I'll try this again either later today or tomorrow.

Hello Sigrun,

First, I am delighted that you might be able to get the book downloaded on the Kindle. Isn't the Kindle grand?

Second, it would be great for you to add even any image as your avatar until you can find something better; even a beloved pet would do.

Third, when you introduced yourself on the introductory thread, one of the assisting moderators responded to you and gave you some helpful links. One is to our rules and guidelines, another is to our orientation which will help you get started on the correct path at the HBC and it discusses our citation rules which we take very seriously and which are not optional, and the third link was to a thread called the Mechanics of the Board which will help teach you how to do citations and use the goodreads feature (add book/author) which you can see at the top right hand side of the comment box when you are typing your message/post. Clicking on that box iteratively helps you to do the citations and once you practice it a few times, you will wonder why you thought it was so difficult. But the key here is that you have to try.

Fourth, you must cite every book and every author that you mention here because when you do the citation properly, the goodreads software populates across our entire group site and all of the threads and even all of goodreads linking everything together. If you check and look at the right hand column on any thread, you will see a complete list of every book that is ever mentioned on a thread and every author. It will also tell you how many times an author or book was mentioned and it will provide links to write-ups about the book, about the author and tell you where else the book or author was discussed anyplace on the group site so that you can find out more about the book, the author or join in on a discussion about either of these. Very powerful. Without doing the citations properly all of that is lost and folks will never to be able to track or reread your comments about any book. Once the thread gets longer, your comment would be lost in the shuffle but not if you do your citations properly . When you do your citations properly, every post is important and every post counts. So that is why they are a requirement here.

The book you cited should be cited properly this way:

by Anita Amirrezvani

Every book and author deserves the respect of a proper citation which honors the work effort and author and allows any group member the ability to find the book or read more about the author and/or what they have written and to research what others have said about the book itself. When you do proper citations, you allow all of that to happen naturally and across the site.

I hope that you will try to edit your post 1507 and try to add all three parts of the citation yourself. Before the author's photo we usually type in the word by and leave spaces and that is what I did above. In no time you will get used to adding and working with the html and you will get it right. But better to get it wrong first rather than not trying at all.

If you need any help, any of the assisting moderators are there as a safety net and don't forget the thread Mechanics of the Board which is found in the Help Desk folder.

All best,

Bentley

I sadly did not finish by Ella March Chase which I had started in mid-feb. But I will finish by Philippa Gregory

Happy Reading Krystal.

Nancy, thank you for your kind words; all of us appreciate them.

You are trying to do the citations and kudos for that. Just a couple of missing pieces - for McPherson you are missing the author's photo if available and in the second example you are missing the author's link even though you do have the photo. It appears that you need to go in twice in the author's area (tab) - once for the photo - they call it image, and the other for the author's link which is the author's name in linkable text. Check out the Mechanics of the Board thread for assistance. Citations have three parts: book cover, author's photo when available and always the author's link. Author Citations have the last two.

by James M. McPherson

by Elie Wiesel

Nancy, keep plugging away and you will get it; you are making a lot of progress.