Wholesome History Reads Group discussion

Welcome, Jeanette.

Welcome to the group, Jeanette! Great to have you here. Awesome that you like the Guess the Photo thread! Looking forward to hearing your guesses. Enjoy!

Hi Jeanette and welcome to the group.

Thanks for the welcome, everyone.

Welcome to the group Jeanette!

I'm an author and lover of history books. I just published (HarperCollins) THE GREAT FIRE -- One American's Mission to Rescue Victims of the 20th Century's First Genocide." It's a book by the way that fits the group's standards. It tells the story of an American hero hardly anyone knows about. He saved hundreds of thousands of lives. -- Lou Ureneck

Welcome to the group, Lou! So great to have you here. Your book sounds amazing, by the way! I added it to my TBR list. Anyway, thank you for joining and we hope you enjoy your time!

Hello Ethan,

Although I’m interested primarily in Irish history, I find that by extension I’m interested in world history. I thank you for inviting me to the Wholesome History Reads Group (WHRG) and look forward to a good read!

Regards,

Elizabeth

Lou wrote: "I'm an author and lover of history books. I just published (HarperCollins) THE GREAT FIRE -- One American's Mission to Rescue Victims of the 20th Century's First Genocide." It's a book by the way t..."

Hi Lou, good to see you here, you'll be happy to know I have a copy of your book and hope to read it soon.

by Lou Ureneck


I have read Giles Milton's book on Smyrna, a fascinating but sad incident in history.

by Giles Milton

Welcome Jeanette, Lou and Elizabeth. Ethan runs a great little group especially the Guess the photo section.

Geevee wrote: "Ethan runs a great little group especially the Guess the photo section."

Thanks Geevee! That's so nice of you! ;-)

Welcome to the Group Lou

I agree with Geevee on the Photo contest

Hi! My name is J. Arthur, I'm a historical fiction writer and I'm a new member. Just like everyone in here, I joined the group because I want to interact and get connected with people who has the same interest and passion as me - history! Nice to meet everyone.

Hi J., and welcome.

Hi J. and welcome to the group :)

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Hi J. and welcome to the group :)"

Geevee wrote: "Hi J., and welcome."

Thanks for the warm welcome, Geevee and Rick! Looking forward to a great time with this group!

Let me add my welcome to the group

J.

Welcome, Welcome!

Hello J! Welcome to the group! Great to see you here. Thank you also for the friend request!

Ethan wrote: "Hello J! Welcome to the group! Great to see you here. Thank you also for the friend request!"

happy wrote: "Let me add my welcome to the group

J.

Welcome, Welcome!"

Hey! Thanks, Happy and Ethan! I'm so happy to be here. I've been exploring the threads and I'm enjoying the conversations.

Hi, I'm Anna. I'm looking forward to discussing and discovering books on here with everyone, I am pleased that there are other people on goodreads with an interest in history also!

Welcome, Anna! Tell us the title of your most recent, favorite history read. Mine was "The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt."

@Anna Welcome to the group! Great to have you here. I hope you have fun with WHRG!

Thank you both! I recently read the Vikings by Neil Oliver which was really fascinating. By far the best book I have read in the past couple of months though is 'Henry II' by Richard Barber which I would thoroughly recommend.

Welcome Everyone. I have been absent lately. I have been lost in my reading of The Luminaries - great read.

Hi Anna and welcome to the group.

Ethan wrote: "Welcome!
We're so glad you've joined our group. Please post a message about why you've joined, here. Thanks, and welcome to the community!"

Hi, I would like to join because I just published a book about WW2 based on interviews of veterans I conducted. The book is patriotic, weaves the basic history of the war into the veterans' stories and has been described as a heartfelt tribute to those who served. The book is new to Goodreads.

Welcome Theresa! Thanks for joining. Your book sounds great as well! Will definitely check it out. Have fun!

Thanks, Ethan! The book is called We Had A Job To Do.

Welcome Anna and Theresa. And glad you are back Wanda :)

Thanks for the book suggestions, @Anna ..... Welcome Theresa!

Let me add my welcome to Anna and Theresa

Welcome, Welcome!

Thank you all!

Hello to all. I am joining because I am interested in history in general, WWII specifically. My grandpa was an Iowa farm boy and became a waist gunner aboard a B-17 in a lead plane over Germany, stationed in Italy. When his step-mom passed, the family returned the letters received at the farm in Iowa, both from grandpa and his wartime sweetheart. My mom and I have put over 225 letters together into a book and would love to share it but don't want to be rude here on the boards. I look forward to learning more about the group!

Thanks, Jamie

Hi Jamie and welcome to the group, I bet that was a great project putting together your grandfather's wartime letters, well done!

Hello Jamie! Welcome to the group. I hope you enjoy yourself! Wow, that is an amazing story you have. By all means, please share more of it with us! ;-) Thanks and have fun!

Welcome to the group Jamie!

Great job with your Grandfather's letters

NEW BOOK Honoring Grandpa's WWII Service - Over 225 Letters Home

"FROM FARM TO FORT" From an Iowa Farm to a B-17 Flying Fortress.

FOR SALE/MORE INFO. AT WEBSITE:
www.worldwarIIletters.com $19.95

by Bill's Granddaughter, Jamie L. Blasdell

Over 225 letters home share the intimate details of Billy Brinker, a fresh-faced Iowa farm boy who enlists in WWII and becomes a waistgunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress.

Leaving the farm was a big step. Bill was a hard worker and his younger brother, Bobby, was still too little to do a man's work. It was assumed that Bill would stay and help run the family farm when he grew up, but the war dragged on and Bill enlisted hoping to become a pilot. His letters reflect his deep interest and knowledge of farming, as well as a unique insiders' view of training, bombing and gunnery missions in Europe.

Bill wrote in amazing detail of his daily life and everything that was happening around him. These letters are an historical treasure, so rich in emotion and insight. They transport you to the time, and you can't wait to read the next one! He also took rare pictures of camp, crew, furlough activities and planes in battle.

From the first time he leaves the family farm behind and begins training at Keesler Field, Mississippi, through the struggles of bombing missions in Germany, to his wartime sweetheart - you can read each and every one. Bill's wartime girlfriend, Estelle, lends a homefront view that rounds out the picture. Her letters reflect the sentiment that families all across the country were sharing.

Follow this riveting story of a young Iowa soldier in WWII, right through to the astounding and unexpected conclusion . . .

Staff Seargent William John Brinker, a Waistgunner in a B-17 bomber, was based in Italy in the 99th Bomb Group, 348th Squadron. He was in active service from January, 1944 through November, 1945. He flew in a lead B-17 on the bombing of Berlin, Germany as well as many other missions.

During this time he wrote home often, much like all G.I.'s did. His wartime sweetheart and family wrote many letters home to the farm, too. Bill's family kept the letters and many years later returned them to him. After sorting and reading through hundreds of handwritten pages, I realized my Grandpa's story was just too valuable to leave packed away in a box.

Though he refused to talk about the war most of his life, before he passed away he was excited about the idea of compiling a book and shared stories and anecdotes, as well as pictures and memorabilia. This book is to honor him and his service, as well as all those who served and sacrificed; may we never forget.

FOR SALE/MORE INFO. AT WEBSITE:

www.worldwarIIletters.com $19.95

@Jamie Thank you for sharing that! I'm going to have to find a copy of that book. Sounds great!

Hello everyone, I'm Brian, and I have been an avid reader of history for the past 1 to 2 years. Lately I seem to be reading a lot of Russian History.

Hello Brian! Welcome! Russian History is very amazing. Any good books you've enjoyed that you'd like to share? Have fun!

Hi Brian and welcome to the group. I just recently finished reading Catherine the Great by Robert Massie which then led to me to order a copy of a book on Potemkin.


by Robert K. Massie

by Simon Sebag Montefiore

Thanks Aussie for the recommendations.

Welcome to the Group Brian!!

Thanks happy, with luck I will be able to attend another History class this Fall.

Hi, I'm
Rose Seiler Scott
My book is
Growing up I often heard stories my German relatives. Their history was a puzzle that I felt compelled to piece together and bring into the open. The result is an historical novel, Threaten to Undo Us, which offers a unique perspective on World War Two and the years following.
As a Christian I wanted to avoid nasty elements (ie: swearing, sex scenes) in the story. You can imagine, given the subject matter, that it was a bit tricky, but I believe my book fits the "Wholesome" criteria as outlined on the website. If anyone reads it and feels otherwise please let me know. I also think it has broad appeal for those who don't usually read in the "Christian" genre. Warning: There are some nasty characters, who have different opinions than my own and say things I would not. This is a book about war, it's aftermath and suffering brought upon civilians, but I have done my best to avoid gratuitous descriptions, and keep it hopeful.

@Rose Hello! Welcome to the group. Great to have you here. Your book sounds awesome! As a Spirit-filled Christian myself I can appreciate when someone doesn't fill their books with inappropriate content. Good on you! I look forward to reading it. Cheers, and see you around!

Welcome Jamie, a great story.

Welcome Brian, I enjoyed this one recently, which I hope isn't a bit obscure as it is mainly outside the USSR.

Afgantsy: The Russians in Afghanistan, 1979-89. Rodric Braithwaite by Rodric Braithwaite

Welcome Rose, there is room for all styles of writing and subjects in history. Best of luck with the book.

Hi all, I'm wondering if anyone can tell me of a book suitable for a 9th grader on Canadian history?

Hi Sarah and welcome. I would think out group chief Ethan may be able to help.

@Sarah Welcome to the group! Great to have you here. To be honest, even though I'm Canadian I haven't read a lot of Canadian history books. There have been a few that I have read though and I'm trying my best to remember them (it was a while ago). One Canadian History book on the Second World War that I really enjoyed was Juno Beach: Canada's D-Day Victory, June 6, 1944 by Mark Zuehlke. In fact, he has a few good books. Being around 9th grade myself (I'm homeschooled so it's slightly different how we do things) I can say that you would probably enjoy it too. I will try to remember the general Canadian History books and will let you know when I think of them. Enjoy and have fun! ;-)