History: Actual, Fictional and Legendary discussion

Tina wrote: "I'm just starting The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl by Timothy Egan. I read the intro last night and am hooked! ..."

Sounds like another entry into my TBR list. Let us know what you think of the book when you finish it.

The Grapes of Wrath is till one of the most powerful books I've ever read.

Ed wrote: "Shomeret wrote: "I just started reading The Two Netherlanders: Humphrey Bradley and Cornelius Drebbel, a dual biography of two 17th century engineers of Dutch origin.

I tracked this..."

Humphrey Bradley turned out to be much more interesting than I thought he would be. He submitted a plan for draining the Fens in England to Queen Elizabeth's privy council in 1588. It was rejected for a variety of reasons. The most important one was that Queen Elizabeth's main priority was defending England against possible Spanish invasion. When Henry IV of France showed interest in swamp drainage and land reclamation, Bradley brought his plan to France and was proclaimed Maitre des Digues du Royaume in 1599 which means Royal Master of the Dykes. The author provides lots of context for the reasons behind Bradley's success in France, discusses the 18th century draining of the Fens in England and land reclamation technology.

It occurred to me that Bradley's national program for swamp drainage and levees in France, meant that when France began to consider agriculture in their North American colony of Acadia in 1636, they could bring over people from France who were familiar with drainage for the salt marshes around Port Royal in Acadia. When these same land reclamation experts were expelled from Canada by the British, some of them brought their technology from Acadia to Louisiana. We know them as the Cajuns. The author of this book doesn't bring up French land reclamation in North America, but I think it's an extension of Humphrey Bradley's influence.

The main reason why I was interested in Cornelius Drebbel is because Grudin had mentioned that he had designed a solar power collector that he claimed could power the entire city of London. This book discusses it briefly, but the author didn't think it was practical. From the description of Drebbel's solar power collector, he did understand the principle of solar power. If he had been taken seriously in the 17th century, we wouldn't have had the dependence on fossil fuels that we have today. Drebbel should be honored as the father of solar power. Unfortunately, unlike Leonardo da Vinci, Drebbel didn't leave any notebooks with drawings of his designs. So all we have is second hand accounts of his inventions and reconstructions.

Lawrence Harris, the author of The Two Netherlanders, died before his book was publsied. So there can never be a revised edition, and we'll never know what Lawrence Harris might have said about Drebbel and solar energy now that it's technologically feasible. So in some ways it's a dated book, but I found it worth reading.

Currently reading Gulag (the abridged version) but still hundreds and hundreds of pages. Even the first pages gave me chills.

Hi, I have been silent for too long.... I read many history books: memoirs, historical fiction and non-fiction. The last book I read A Mountain of Crumbs: A Memoir is about a girl growing up behind the Iron Curtain. It vividly depicts life in Leningrad during 60s and 70s. I was particularly enticed b/c I had taken a car trip with my family, not a bus tour, all the way from Helsinki to Moscow in 1973. I have so many memories. This book helped me better understand what I had seen. Ed, as you have requested to others, I will try and put my review in the group review thread......

Now I am reading The Accordionist's Son. It is aabout the Basque people and the Spanish Civil War. The author is quite acclaimed. So far I like it.

I practically always write reviews. Why? Well, for two reasons. First of all it helps me organize my thoughts to better understand what I think of the book. Secondly, if I don't write reviews I forget so much........ With the review written, I can go back and read what I thought while I was reading the book. I often quote lines that I find particularly interesting. How a writer writes is very important to me, much more so than the plotline! When the book is completed I summarize my total opinion of the book. The result is that the earliest parts of the book come at the end of my review, the last at the beginning. I do this so that my GR friends, those who are reading my reviews as I progress through the book, do not have to go to the end to just read the latest "installment". This does make my reviews a bit difficult to follow if you read them from start to finish; they go the wrong way page-wise! I warn if I give there are spoilers! I mostly try and explain how the book influenced me AS I WAS READING IT! I have realized that the experience HAS to be enjoyable, since I so often forget so much as time elapses. I will go know and add my review to the thread.

Ed,I have been considering the Patrick O'Brian and Bernard Cornwell series mentioned above for ages. Lee is a good friend. I see you recommended them to her!

I wrote a nice message here, and then lost it. So here is an abreviated version! I just finished A Mountain of Crumbs: A Memoir and have copied my review in the group's review thread! It was great. It is an autobiography of life behind the Iron Curtain during the 60s and 70s.

Now I am reading The Accordionist's Son. It has immediately drawn me in. It is about the Basque people and the Spanish Civil War. This is historical fiction, but I believe it is based on the author's indepth knowledge of the Basque people.

Chrissie wrote: "I wrote a nice message here, and then lost it. So here is an abreviated version! I just finished A Mountain of Crumbs: A Memoir and have copied my review in the group's review thread..."

You didn't lose the thread. It's here and very interesting. I'll have to access your reviews to really understand what you are saying.

Lee was one of the first members of this group and one of my first friends on GR.

You have certainly contributed a host of reviews. I only review books I've read since I joined.

From a writing point of view, IMHO, O'Brian trumps Cornwell big time.

Good to hear from you.

Hi Ed, I really like the people over at Lee's group Comfort Reads.... the problem is that given the conventional definition of comforting, well my books rarely fit in. MY idea of comforting is a book that discusses hard times, throws in humor and draws me out of my own petty problems. Anyhow, I prefer history in all forms. The REAL stories. I figure that if I am disappointed in the book I will at least have learned something. It can never be a total waste of time :0). So I have decide to be more active in this group. I like history, but no teacher EVER taught me well/ Having lived in defferent European countries is what has made me so interested. You see haow history has shaped each culture differently.

So O'Brian is better huh? I have heard that the first book is kind of militarily focused...... not my cup of tea. Must I start with that one? I guess I should to understand the whole thing. I know it is concerned with the Napoleonic Wars. I have thoroughly enjoyed Sandra Gulland's trilogy on Josephine Bonaparte. I think it begins with The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B.. I think they should all be read together! That it has been sold as three books is annoying...... I will see if I can add my reviews to the thread later today. I am not suppose to be sitting here writing!

I have read one Cornwall, and one of O'Brien's. I liked O'Brien a great deal better.

I also have The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B., and am considering reading it for this one.

Susanna, I hope you like the Josephine Trilogy.

Having finished The Accordionist's Son, and even though I only gave it two stars I AM very glad I read it. However my curiosity about the Spanish Civil War remains. I want to read more on this topic. I have Victoria Hislop's The Return, sitting here next to my desk so I figured I would give it a whirl. A very popular author. Is that good or bad? I am not sure! I DO like her wonderful depiction of the flamenco dance, but let's see what I learn about the Civil War...... There is a map in the book. :0)

I've heard good things about C.J. Sansom's Winter in Madrid.

Moony wrote: "I picked up The White Queen from the library and have been liking it so far."

I enjoyed The White Queen, too. It's not a period that I've read much about before, so I felt like I learned a few things while being entertained.

I'm currently reading The Killing Way, by Tony Hays. It's my first historical mystery and I quite like the main character.

I found a book in my collection that I had forgotten I had ... by Lindsey Hughes. Chapter 6 is The Napoleonic Era. I'll try to get to it before we've finished our theme read, but I'm a slow reader & have some books ahead of it.

Susanna wrote: "I've heard good things about C.J. Sansom's Winter in Madrid."

I have been considering that book..... but I think I may read Stone in a Landslide first since I already have it! The following review is what got me interested me in this book:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/....

Thanks for the tip!

Susanna, look at this one: Ghosts of Spain: Travels Through a Country's Hidden Past. It looks good too.

Susanna, ages ago I read a very good book about Spain during Franco's regime - but for the life of me I cannot remember the title. I cannot find it on my Spain shelf...... What I remember is how the book looked, not the title nor the author's name! Typical!!!! A multi-generational family living in a crowded apartment in Madrid. Crazy, but lovely characters. I think the main character was Nadja.....

I finished Victoria Hislop's The Return and put my review in the proper thread. I didn't like it at all. I will try Stone in a Landslide. It has to be better..... It too is about the Spanish Civil War.

I have just begun No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II.

I loved this one. So interesting.

Martha, my hopes are high!

Chrissie wrote: "I have just begun No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II."

"No Ordinary Time" is an outstanding book. I wrote a review and if you are interested you can find it at http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/....

Love your review & agree 100%!! I look forward to reading more of Ms. Goodwin's work.

Martha wrote: "Love your review & agree 100%!! I look forward to reading more of Ms. Goodwin's work."

Try Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln. It was excellent also. My review is at: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/....

Ed, I read your review before I purchased No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II. Your favorable comments and what other GR friends have said about Goodwin weighed in heavily. NPR has heaped on praise. I am already drawn in and can see that the writing is right up my alley. The auhor draws a picture of FDR and Eleanor that goes beyond a strict recounting of the facts, but it doesn't get gossipy. There are troubles between the two but also the respect and love between them is clearly evident. It is so important to look at both of them b/c they both shaped history. To understand what happened you have to understand who they are as individuals. You must understand their relationship. The author has done this from page 1. This is one of those exceptional history books that keeps the reader's interest because you see the characters not just as leaders but also as people. That is what I have noticed so far. I love it

My current non-fiction is Magnifico: The Brilliant Life and Violent Times of Lorenzo de' Medici, which is interesting. (Also reading, among other things, Vanity Fair, which is excellent. Very funny!)

I just finished The Royals by Kitty Kelley. Loaned to me by my sister-in-law. Read more like a trashy novel & frankly, I learned much more than I ever wanted to know about the current royal family. :-)

Martha wrote: "I just finished The Royals by Kitty Kelley. Loaned to me by my sister-in-law. Read more like a trashy novel & frankly, I learned much more than I ever wanted to know a..."

Kitty Kelley sucks big time. She should be writing from inside a trash can.

Oh Ed, you make me laugh!!! A good start to my day.

Ed, I'm pretty sure that's why I'd never read any of hers before! :-) If it hadn't come from my SIL, I would never have read that one. I don't even really count it as non-fiction.

Vanity Fair is excellent, really enjoying it, and just took a serious Napoleonic turn, which I wasn't expecting but am certainly enjoying.

Ed wrote: Kitty Kelley sucks big time. She should be writing from inside a trash can.


Maybe she rooms with Oscar the Grouch - and it's the real reason he's so grumpy.

Could be, Susanna!! She does like to focus more on the negatives of a person's life.

The only non-fiction book I'm reading now is The Autism Answer Book. I have a 14 year old athlete in my Special Olympics group who is autistic.

I finished No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II and absolutely adored it! Now I am reading the historical novel The Lovers of Algeria: A Novel which is about the Algerian colonial and civil war at the end of the 50s and during the 60s.

Glad you liked No Ordinary Time!! It's one of my favorites of recent years.

Martha, I din't like it, I LOVED it! What an author and what a bunch of fascinating people.

Me, too, Chrissie!! Exactly. I haven't read Team of Rivals yet, but am really looking forward to it.

Martha, I have added that too.

Team of Rivals is excellent.

If you're interested in Lincoln, I read another book about the Todd family & their relationships with him. Not the quality of Goodwin's writing, but I found it quite interesting. Had a lot of information about all of Mary Todd Lincoln's family - mostly her numerous siblings. House of Abraham: Lincoln and the Todds, A Family Divided by War by Stephen Berry. I live very near Springfield, Il & have toured his home here & other sites very many times over the years. His presidential museum is wonderful.

Having finished The Lovers of Algeria: A Novel I am now reading Claude & Camille: A Novel of Monet.

Lee wrote: "Hi Ed,

I've just started The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham set in 1920's Hong Kong. Have you read this one?"

Loved every Maugham novel and short story I've ever read. I'm sorry he's out of fashion....

I just recorded the movie starring Ed Norton. It got very good reviews. I really liked the Play, "Rain", although, I and most of the audience had to visit the Rest Room during the performance.

Hollywood's done versions of the story several times, with Gloria Swanson in '28, Joan Crawford in '32, Greta Garbo in '34, Rita Hayworth in '53, and Naomi Watts a few years ago. (Probably a few times I've forgotten, too!)

Susanna wrote: "Hollywood's done versions of the story several times, with Gloria Swanson in '28, Joan Crawford in '32, Greta Garbo in '34, Rita Hayworth in '53, and Naomi Watts a few years ago. (Probably a few t..."

I think you are referring to "Rain", right?

Ed wrote: "Susanna wrote: "Hollywood's done versions of the story several times, with Gloria Swanson in '28, Joan Crawford in '32, Greta Garbo in '34, Rita Hayworth in '53, and Naomi Watts a few years ago. (..."

The Painted Veil?

I love the short story Rain - I assume the play is based on it.

Yep.

I am currently reading The Painted Kiss about Klimt, having just finishedClaude & Camille: A Novel of Monet.

Chrissie wrote: "I am currently reading The Painted Kiss about Klimt, having just finishedClaude & Camille: A Novel of Monet."

"The Painted Veil", "The Painted Kiss": what's next "The Painted ?????????"?

Ed, I think it is quite a good name for a book about Klimt and his model Emilie Flöge. It was she that posed for Klimt's famous painting "The Kiss". If you compare the real Klimt paintings with the reproductions of these paintings often seen in books, you become very surprised. The writing is better in this book than in Claude & Camille: A Novel of Monet.

Joshuakaitlyn, I simply must add what you are currently reading. I read the Historian but ONLY liked the descriptive writing of the places, NOT the dracula bits! Thanks for the tip. Please add your review to the thread here. I would love to see what you say when you have completed it.