The History Book Club discussion

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Patricrk wrote: "Bentley wrote: "Good for you....I hope you enjoy it. Will you have wi fi?"

We are suppose to, it was one of the things we looked for in the apartment ads."

Hi Patricrk, not ..."

Thanks Aussie Rick they look interesting.

Mistress of Rome by Kate Quinn. So sue me. I take my fiction like I take my movies: Liberally punctuated with sex and violence. The cover is misleading; this book is pretty bloody.

Hannah, will be interested to know how your final evalutation. I'm not so much a fan of that era but am a fan of all things Roman and Italian drama and this looks to fit that bill.

I am taking a break from reading all things historical (probably for only a week or so). Instead I'm deep into the world of science fiction and urban fantasy. Right now I'm reading Death Masks by Jim Butcher. After that I'll be reading Mouse and Dragon by Steve Miller and Sharon Lee, and then more books by Jim Butcher.

by Jim Butcher
by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller

While I am away on holidays I packed a few books in my suitcase as I never know what I sort of mood I will be in when I'm about to start a book. For my week away I packed a US Civil War title, a Napoleonic title and a WW2 book. I just finished "Septimius Severus" and have started; "Napoleon 1813".

by Anthony Richard Birley

by Hezi Shelah

Have a nice holiday, Rick!

Alisa wrote: "Hannah, will be interested to know how your final evalutation. I'm not so much a fan of that era but am a fan of all things Roman and Italian drama and this looks to fit that bill."

So I finished
Mistress of Rome by Kate Quinn
and have given it almost a week to settle. It's not exactly beautifully written, but Quinn's simple, colloquial prose and minimalist descriptions somehow manages to work in this historical setting because it keeps the plot moving forward quickly.

And boy does Quinn know how to weave an epic tale full of sex, violence, intrigue, dramatic (if not a tad contrived) plot twists, and an orgy--What novel about Ancient Rome would be complete without one? The sex stuff is not overly descriptive but it happens.

Have any of you read...
by Stephenie Meyer?
Okay, PLEASE hear me out on this. Quinn's writing style reminded me of Meyer's. What bothered me about Twilight was not the conversational, simplistic writing, but the pages upon pages of redundant mush and general pointlessness (and I have no interest in reading the rest of the series). Also, Meyer's character's are hopelessly dull whereas Quinn's are not.

There is no redundancy or pointlessness in Quinn's Roman saga. Meyer wishes she could use that conversational, simplistic style like Quinn can because Quinn is infinitely better at it. Mistress of Rome is a somewhat lowbrow but fun historical novel. I kept thinking to myself 'What!? That's absurd! What happens next!?' and frankly, I could not put it down.

Hope that helps!

I just finished The Kalahari Typing School for Men by Alexander McCall Smith. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency comes highly recommended if you're looking for a cozy mystery.

I just started by Pauline Gedge. As I am unfortunately unfamiliar with Roman Britain and Celtic tribal customs, it's getting off to a slow start. I find myself running to Wikipedia with every turn of the page to find out about the people, places, and festivals that are mentioned. However, once Gedge is done painting a richly detailed picture of Albion circa AD 30, then the plot can get going. So I'll stick with it until then.

Patricrk, I recently read:

by Alistair Horne and totally loved it. In some ways it's a history of France, but it always stays very focused on the physical reality of Paris, both then and now. I'm really excited for the next time I visit Paris; I think this'll give me a whole new perspective. Very highly recommended.

I was also really intrigued by

(Graham Robb), as Aussie Rick mentioned, although I haven't actually read it.

I decided to buy a copy of "Parisians" for myself but I am now reading "The Man Who Would Be King" by Ben MacIntyre. So far its been a very good read and quite interesting.

by Graham Robb

by Ben MacIntyre

Love to hear how you feel about Parisians, Rick.

I'm reading Shadow Divers, about some wreck divers who stumbled onto a U-Boat wreck off New Jersey where no U-Boat was supposed to be. It's kept me up til 1:30 am, so it must be good.

by Robert Kurson

Hi Alex,

I just don't know when I'll get the time to squeeze it in, hopefully soon :) Your current book sounds good as well, keep us posted on your final view.

Yeah, I'm familiar with that feeling. :)

Rick, and anybody else interested in the Iliad, I just finished this one. Beautifully written!
by David Malouf

Well, that's interesting, André. Hadn't heard of it. I'll check that out. Thanks!

Hi Andre,

I've heard good things about David Malouf's novel, I will have to see if I can squeeze that in as well!

I've just started Nathaniel Philbrick's new book; "The Last Stand" and so far I am enjoying his account of Custer, Sitting Bull and the Battle of The Little Bighorn.

by Nathaniel Philbrick

Aussie Rick, that book seems to be getting a lot of attention. Will be interested to hear what you think of it!

I just finished by Mark Kurlansky today, fun and fascinating microhistory. Now contemplating the reading pile and will pick something and start tomorrow. So many choices!

Hi Alisa, I've heard that Mark Kurlansky writes some very interesting books on odd subjects but writes them well.
Don't you find it hard sometimes trying to work out what to read next?
I sometimes end up with a pile of books in front of me trying to work out what I feel like reading.

Dude, and the complicating factor is that I have a broad range of interests so that focusing on a good day is a bit of a challenge! :-D

Weird, I was just talking about Salt today. I didn't actually love it; I thought it was an interesting idea but the execution fell down a little bit. But I'm in a distinct minority. Kurlansky also wrote Cod, which is...uh, like Salt except about cod.

I gotta say, one of my favorite things is to spread out the five or so books I might read next and choose between them. There's a shiver of excitement. I have a lot of interests too...the problem is that there are a lot of things that are interesting. :)

I finished 1215: The Year of Magna Carta today. Four stars: gave me a real nice sense of life in the 13th century, for everyone from peasants to kings, and also the context in which the Magna Carta happened. Really a very smart book, despite its superlame cover.

I think I'm going to move on to The Prose Edda before rolling into my exciting new project, reading Shakespeare's English Kings: History, Chronicle, and Drama as I read (or re-read) Shakespeare's histories.

by Mark Kurlansky
by Danny Danziger
by Snorri Sturluson (Awesome name, homes!)
by Peter Saccio
by some other dude, according to the Supreme Court (wtf really?!)

I do see your point in a way Alex..why don't they just try to concentrate on doing their jobs, stay away from the lobbyists and leave poor Shakespeare alone - smile (lol)

A very prodigious list Alex and goal.

Alex, I have Cod by Mark Kurlansky on my to-read list because it sounded fun but not in a rush to read it anytime soon. I know what you mean about Kurlansky's writing style, I found it a bit random. I liked it overall, the content was fun, but didn't love it due to the execution.

Looks like by Tracy Kidder will be next on the reading journey

I've just finished a very interesting book titled "Their Darkest Hour" by Laurence Rees and have just picked up a Civil War book; "Perryville" by Kenneth Noe.

by Laurence Rees
"This book is both a lasting contribution to our understanding of the Second World War and a powerful insight into the behaviour of human beings in crisis" - The Independent

by Kenneth W. Noe

I swear I am not on a mass-murder theme, at least intentionally, but just started this and am very much enjoying it. Mix of grizzly crime , crime investigation and the criminal judicial system in Italy, crime reporting from the journalists perspective, sex, deviance, snippets of Florentine culture and history, and well-written.
bywith Mario Spezi.

Oh, and yesterday I read this horrific account of surviving Auschwitz. Hard to summon the words to describe the feelings this evokes. Read it.
byElie Wiesel

Just started on a few new books. Firstly a new one for night shift
by Frederick Taylor have been wanting to read this one for a while.

For my commuting I am listening to the unabridged reading of
by Melvyn Bragg
This book I think benefits greatly in the audio format. Being that there are a lot of comparisons of words form different stages of the language. Hearing these are fascinating.

Finally on my Kindle I am having a quick break from history (kind of) and reading
by John
Birmingham
An entertaining Alternative History novel, set during World War II.

All in all these should keep me ticking along for
a bit.

"The Adventure of English" sounds very interesting, Michael. Can you tell me a little bit more about it?

I've just finished "Woeful Afflictions" by Mary Klages. It wasn't exactly my cuppa, but then, she's a literary scholar, and I am not!

I'm now starting "Protect Befriend Respect" by Judith Fingard & John Rutherford, which I hope I like since they're both highly respected professors at my University!

Hi J

by Melvyn Bragg looks at the life and times of our spoken language. The author traces it's origins and follows how it evolves. He discusses in detail key people and events that helped it along the way. I am finding it great listening and love how it points out some of English's bizarre rules. Such as if we have he, his, him, it follows we should have she, shis or shim. Or my favorite if we have mouse and mice then it follows we should have house and hice.

A good read or listen for those interested in the history of English.

Just before we took off for France my daughter gave me this book on the Spanish Civil War which she had picked up at a yard sale. I'm about a fourth of the way through now and find it very interesting.
Hugh Thomas

Barely into this but so far so good. So much is written about the civil rights era of the 60's that perhaps other time periods are overlooked. This takes place in the early-mid 1920s in Detroit.
byKevin Boyle

I'm well into Shakespeare's English Kings and just finished the two parts of Henry IV last night. It's as much fun as I was hoping it would be. Really interesting (to me, because I'm a dork) to find out how accurate Shakespeare's history was. (Answer: depends on the play. Richard II is real accurate; Henry IV, close enough unless you really care about dukes.)

And the prose Edda was totally kickass.

by Snorri Sturluson or another gentleman, we're kinda guessing here
by Peter Saccio
by William Shakespeare

Yet more nighshift. Ah well it gives me the chance to start reading

by Richard Guilliatt, Peter Hohnen.

An intriguing looking read it follows the exploits of the World War I raider SMS Wolf.

Hi Michael, I think you will enjoy reading "The Wolf", its a pretty good yarn.

by Richard Guilliatt

Hi 'Aussie Rick', as usual your spot on. I am finding "The Wolf" a ripping read. It is my first foray into the subject of German Raiders.

by Richard Guilliatt

Im looking at reading also a book called "Hitlers Secret Pirate Fleet" by James P Duffy.

Publishers Blurb:
They were the deadliest ships of World War II--nine German commerce raiders disguised as peaceful cargo ships, flying the flags of neutral and allied nations. In reality, these heavily armed warships roamed the world's oceans at will, like 20th-century pirates. They struck unsuspecting freighters and tankers out of the darkness of night or from behind a curtain of fog and mist. For almost three years they led the Royal Navy on a deadly chase from sea to sea, seeding Allied ports with hundreds of mines and, on one occasion, even bombarding a shore installation.

Ill work on adding the book tonight as it does not show on Goodreads

I've just started a recently purchased second-hand book titled; "Battle for the Bundu" by Charles Miller which was first published in 1974 but has received some great reviews.

by Charles Miller

Message 336, Alex wrote: "And the prose Edda was totally kickass."

Cannot agree more. I occasionally play in a punk/hardcore/metal crossover band with some friends. I routinely go to the Edda* and saga for song inspiration. Satanic livestock, murderous ghosts, and valkyries who weave on looms made from the bones, entrails, and heads of slain warriors was about 800 years ahead of its time, stylistically speaking. It was practically made for fantasy and black metal.

Of more general (and more mainstream) interest...

I recently read Catch-22** and was thoroughly taken by it. The Good Soldier Svejk: and His Fortunes in the World War, published in 1923 by Czech author Jaroslav Hašek,*** is consideredJoseph Heller's inspiration for Catch 22, by his own testimony. So far, I've found it longer, but lighter; less labyrinthine, but funnier. It reminds me of the 1940s Disney propaganda shorts (the ones where Donald Duck joined the American army to fight in WWII), but cynical and facetious. Or a sacriligious Beetle Bailey with more sex... Or Gomer Pyle, USMC with life, death, tuberculosis, venerial disease, pathos, and avarice on the line.

I've also been very interested in late attempts to redeem Senator McCarthy and the House Un-American Activities Committee by partisan revisionists, who range from entertainers like Glenn Beck to the very peculiar quasi-educational codex of American conservatism Conservapedia. I found a copy of Masters of Deceit: The Story of Communism in America and How to Fight It by J. Edgar Hoover in a used book store for $0.50 and am looking forward to it. As a person born in the 1970s, the red scares of yesteryear trickled down through my grandparents and parents, but were diminished from their original intensity. I would like to read a first-hand, primary source example of pristine hysteria/naked, period partisan politics. I think it will be very interesting. (One Good Reads review calls it, simply, "Serious comedy gold.") This is two books away down my reading list, though, so it might be a month before I get to it.

* Patricia Ann Terry

** Joseph Heller

*** Jaroslav Hašek

Ive just started reading by Ferdynand Antoni Ossendowski. This is my first free book from the Gutenberg Project. I have my eye on it for a while after it was referenced several times in the book by James Palmer.

Also just started listening to by David Starkey on my travels.

Hi Michael, I'd be interested to hear what you think of David Starkey as an author. I have one of his books sitting in my library waiting to be read soon on Henry VIII.

by David Starkey

No worries 'Aussie Rick' I will report back to you.

What a great looking do Michael - we notice those things..at first glance I thought it was a border collie.

Hi Bentley, yep that's my Border Collie Amber. I have two Borders, great at rounding up the cats :)

She looks so smart....border collies have such a wonderful personality and are very intelligent.

She looks so smart....border collies have such a wonderful personality and are very intelligent.

Yes very smart bu also very rambunctious

Antony and Cleopatra by Adrian Goldsworthy

as an admirer of mr. Goldsworthy's writing I'm enjoying this as much as his other works.
Comes highly recommended.

Thank you Andre; this looks like a great book.

Bentley, it is. A very personal view of these two people and their relationship. As in Caesar Adrian Goldsworthy is most interested in the personalities. He makes them come alive in a way seldom seen before and - most important - freed from all the cliches.

Thanks for your post.

Hi Andre, I have read many if not most of Adrian Goldsworthy's books and would be interested to hear what you think of this book once you have finished it. I have recently read Diana Preston's "Cleopatra & Antony" and I have copies of "Antony & Cleopatra" by Patricia Southern and a copy of "Cleopatra The Great" by Joann Fletcher so as you can see I am sort of full up on the subject but it may be hard for me to resist another good book :)

by Diana Preston

by Patricia Southern

by Joann Fletcher