The History Book Club discussion

The Operators: The Wild and Terrifying Inside Story of America's War in Afghanistan reading this now too early to give an analysis of the book but it is already making my hair stand up

Waterloo fiction currently reading -just started

THE MOTHERLESS OVEN. SUPER WEIRD BUT GOOD.

Beatrix wrote: "Waterloo fiction currently reading -just started"

Terrific book. I hope you enjoy it.

Beartix......please don't forget your book citations. They should look like this:

by Michael Hastings

I don't know which fiction book on Waterloo you are reading since there are so many, so I just picked one at random to illustrate the book citation rule,

by Karen Olsson(no photo)

You might want to visit our link, "Mechanics of the Board" that explains the guidelines for book citations.

www.goodreads.com/topic/show/287892

Hayley......don't forget your book citations, which should look like this. Thanks.

by Rob Davis(no photo)

You might want to visit our link, "Mechanics of the Board" that explains the guidelines for book citations.

www.goodreads.com/topic/show/287892

Saving Capitalism author Robert Reich

Love the way he rights or the lay person to understand what's happened to our rights and income. When you understand, it makes you follow hedge funds, the "Street" and mega wealthy. Reich gives hope if Congress ever gets back to "We the People." Great book.

Linda......don't forget your book citations, which should look like this.

by Robert B. Reich

You might want to visit our Mechanics of the Board to read the guidelines for book citation.

www.goodreads.com/topic/show/287892

Currently reading:

by Anthony Doerr

What a beautifuly story! I'm not even half-way through and I'm already hooked.

by by Anna Katharine Green

Such an interesting read! Unexpectedly so. A page-turner.

Great Samanta - you might want to help Kate in message 2396 with her citation.

Hello, Quanjun! Be sure to put citations of the books you are mentioning at the end of your post because it makes them better visible to other members. Like this:

by Adrienne Mayor

by Winston S. Churchill

Hello Kate! Be sure to do the citation of the book you are mentioning at the bottom of your post, after the text of your message (and not inside it). Like this:

"Currently reading A time for trumpets which is good, though I'm almost 20% in and so far there haven't been any maps.

by Charles B. MacDonald

This way, the book you are mentioning is more visible to other members and they can immediately see the author's name (and go to his profile, if they want).

Thanks Samanta for helping both Quanjun and Kate. Very thoughtful of you.

I am Torturing my Kindle with by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

I must say that the penguin classics edition is an excellent translation, the edited remarks bring great insight of the world of those days.

I'm midway through Mornings on Horseback, which I'm enjoying a great deal. So far, at least, it's a good deal more about TR Sr than the future president, but that depiction of (privileged) life in New York in the late 19th century makes it all the more fascinating.
by David McCullough

I have started by Erik Larson

I'm reading by Peter D. Kiernan(no photo) - an interesting and timely book.

Hello, Jukka! Can you, please, put the citation of the book at the end of your post (and not inside the text) because it's easier for other members to see what you are talking about. Like this:

I am Torturing my Kindle with The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.

I must say that the penguin classics edition is an excellent translation, the edited remarks bring great insight of the world of those days.

by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Making my way though:

Our Declaration: A Reading of the Declaration of Independence in Defense of Equality by Danielle S. Allen

Good try at the book citations, Michele. The book cover is necessary without the book link, as such:

by Danielle S. Allen

Mason and Dixon by Thomas Pynchon

Roberto, please make a citation for the book you are mentioning. It makes it easier for other members, who might be interested, to access the book here on Goodreads. It should look like this:

by Thomas Pynchon

I just started Mary Beard's SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome. It is excellent in a recounting of Roman history from the supposed time of Rome's founding, but it is brilliant in the way it continually weaves in what we know and what we don't know along with how we know these facts (or suppositions). I'm about a quarter of the way through the book but find it hard to put it down for long.

Larry, when citing a book, please use our official citation so that other members can easily access the book(s) you cite and put it at the end of your post. Thank you!

by Mary Beard

Samanta wrote: "Larry, when citing a book, please use our official citation so that other members can easily access the book(s) you cite and put it at the end of your post. Thank you!

[bookcover:SPQR: A History o..."

Samanta, I understand now. Thanks.

Today I received the two volume Liberty Fund edition of Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville. I plan a leisurely pace reading it between other reading material and projects.


by Alexis de Tocqueville

Just started this today. Quite good so far.
by Atul Gawande

Reading "Middlemarch" - a long, leisurely read - and breaking it up with "The Worst Hard Time."

by
George Eliot

by Timothy Egan

Good additions, Naomi but don't forget the book citations as shown below.

by Irin Carmon (no photo)
by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Tim Egan could write soup can labels and I would read them, love his writing. Have you read any of his other books?
Timothy Egan

Alisa wrote: "Tim Egan could write soup can labels and I would read them, love his writing. Have you read any of his other books?
Timothy Egan"

This is the first of his I've read. I agree that his writing really pulls you in - I can taste the dust!

Molokai a novel by Alan Brennert about a Hawaiian girl who is sick with leprosy and is forced to live in a colony

Roberto......don't forget your book citations as such:

by Alan Brennert

Slowly making my way through The Great Sea: a Human History of the Mediterranean by David Abulafia.

by David Abulafia

Reading:

by Heraldo Muñoz no photo

Just started this today and can tell it is going to be great. Gloria Steinem is an excellent writer.
by Gloria Steinem

A very interesting insight into the 19th century law of marriage in USA.

by Hendrik Hartog (no photo)

Kell, if there is no book cover you do the citation like this:

(no image) donner summit a brief history by margie powell (no photo)

Recently started Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption. His TED talk is good, so looking forward to digging into this. Reading about the death penalty can be challenging, but a topic I find myself returning to periodically. If we are going to hold onto it in this country, than we sure as hell have to get it right.
by Bryan Stevenson

I have to admit that I waffle re: the death penalty. The thing that usually influences me toward it is the murder/rape of children.....the most horrible of crimes. But does it deserve the death penalty more than the murder of an innocent bystander or a thrill killing (think Leopold and Loeb)? Even though the crime is immoral, is the death penalty any less immoral? I think it is an issue that will never have consensus.

I have a similar frame of mind about the issue. Compounding the problem is wrongful convictions and when the death penalty is involved that compounds the tragedy.

I agree with you both. I think there are some circumstances that the killer is beyond a shadow of a doubt guilty, and is a complete monster. These are few cases where I would not be opposed to the death penalty. Otherwise, an eye for an eye is not the answer.

Hopefully, the use of DNA has lessened the chance of the innocent being put to death.......but not always. I think the other issue that is troublesome is that people spend up to 20 years on death row......why? I'm not a lawyer but I don't think the appeals process lasts for years and years. It doesn't make a lot of sense.

The appeals process does last for years and years especially in a capital case.

Shows you what I know. I thought you had to have some basis for appeal......new evidence, incompetent representation, jury tampering or juror/judge with conflict of interest.

Yes, all of the above and more. There is always the base for an appeal and in a death penalty case there are often new counsel brought in to handle the appeal.

I am just about to start Supreme City which is the story of NYC in the Jazz Age. It has gotten very good reviews but is almost 800 pages long. I hope I don't drop it on my foot!!!!

by Donald L. Miller

Jill wrote: "I am just about to start Supreme City which is the story of NYC in the Jazz Age. It has gotten very good reviews but is almost 800 pages long. I hope I don't drop it on my foot!!!!

[bookcover:Supr..."

You'll have that finished by the end of the weekend?

Currently reading:

by Portia de Rossi

(In danger of deliberately sounding like Yoda) Food for thought this book is... :(

Taking a break from nonfiction and going with a best-selling mystery. Just started it, everyone seems to be talking about this, not sure what I think so far but too early to tell really. Anyone read this?
by Paula Hawkins