History: Actual, Fictional and Legendary discussion

Thanks, Susanna and Ed. I am learning more about Rome and the world of that time than I ever imagined. For example, I never had any idea that central Anatolia was populated largely by Celts.

I am so engrossed by it all that it takes me about four weeks to read each volume.

It's good enough to be worth reading slowly.

I'm reading an American Historical Fiction set during the Revolutionary War. It's new as an ebook and OOP in trad.

(Not up on Lindermuth's GR page yet.)
I'm truly enjoying the slightly-whimsical first person telling. Historical detail is really good.

Really enjoyed The Devil's Company: A Novel. It's a good solid 3 1/2 stars, and I gave it four. It's the third in a series about a thieftaker in 1720s London, one Benjamin Weaver, "the Lion of Judah." (He's a retired boxer.) This one is about skulduggery at the East India Company.

Susanna wrote: "Really enjoyed The Devil's Company: A Novel. It's a good solid 3 1/2 stars, and I gave it four. It's the third in a series about a thieftaker in 1720s London, one Benjamin Weaver, ..."

Hello Susanna, a similar series which is set in Regency London that you might enjoy is the Matthew Hawkwood series by James McGee. The novels Ratcatcher, Resurrectionist and Rapscallion are action packed adventures involving French spies, arrogant aristocrats, highwaymen, prison hulks and the wonderful period atmosphere of London at that time.

Really enjoyed the Hawkwood series by McGee, hope to see another book in this series in 2011. Rebellion is due for release in February, can't wait.

Stop it you guys! Unless I've been misled by the old maxim, "You can't take it with you", I will have to take a large number of books with me in order to finish all that are on my TBR list.

Currently reading Parachute Infantry: An American Paratrooper's Memoir of D-Day and the Fall of the Third Reich. Sooo glad I finally found this book. Being able to read Webster's memoir feels amazing. He's such a wonderful writer. An angsty one, that is ;p

Ed wrote: "Umberto Eco drives me crazy. I barely could stand 100 pages of Foucault's Pendulum. Can't imagine that anything could be worse."

Yeah, Eco could make one really exhausted :) The Name of the Rose is nice though. Foucault's Pendulum is my next Eco's. I hope I could stand more than 100 pages...the synopsis surely makes an impression that the book is tougher than The Name of the Rose.

Silvana wrote: "Yeah, Eco could make one really exhausted :) The Name of the Rose is nice though. Foucault's Pendulum is my next Eco's. I hope I could stand more than 100 pages...the synopsis surely makes an impression that the book is tougher than The Name of the Rose. "

Good Luck! "Foucault's Pendulum" is a long way from "The Name of the Rose".

I am just now starting Fortune's Favorites by Colleen McCullough.

I'm reading The Song of Troy by Colleen McCullough. I wasn't impressed with the only book I've read of hers, but I'm hoping to be proven wrong because she has a lot of interesting sounding books that I would like to read.

Currently reading Grace Service, Golden Inches, a memoir of her life in early twentieth century China. She and her husband tried to establish a YMCA in Chengdu just before WW1. The title is a reference to the Chinese saying that an "inch of time" is like an inch of gold. Also reading David Landes' Revolution in Time about the developments of clock-making.

Moony wrote: "I'm reading The Song of Troy by Colleen McCullough. I wasn't impressed with the only book I've read of hers, but I'm hoping to be proven wrong because she has a lot of interesting sounding books th..."

I think she's the greatest. The Roman Republic series is a masterpiece.

I think her Masters of Rome series is first-class.

I am currently reading Truman for a group read, but I'm terribly behind the group! Loving the book though. I also just started Blood and Thunder: An Epic of the American West as I've been wanting to read it for a very long time. I always read more than one book at a time ... too ADD, I think. I like being able to visit different times, depending on my mood. My own little form of time travel. :-)

I'm reading A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, And the Birth of Americaby Stacy Schiff.

So far I was sad to read about how Pierre de Beaumarchais (author of The Figaro Trilogy: The Barber of Seville, The Marriage of Figaro, The Guilty Mother)was treated. He advanced a great deal of money to help supply George Washington's army. American Silas Deane had assured him that he would get reimbursed, but it never happened. He never got any thanks for his aid and Benjamin Franklin wouldn't see him. He was financially destroyed and his health suffered. His support for the American Revolution should at least have been acknowledged in some way, but it's been forgotten.

I am reading and likng The Gift of Rain, but it is not at all as good as Under a Cruel Star: A Life in Prague 1941-1968, which was stupendous.

I finished The Gift of Rain and left a review under the appropriate thread. It ended up with three stars.

I just started Shanghai Diary: A Young Girl's Journey from Hitler's Hate to War-Torn China and I absolutely adore it, even though I have only read about 30 pages. I felt compeled to begin a review. This never happened with the last book! It is fascinating to read about the Jews who fled to Shanghai, when so many other countries closed their doors to them during WW2. Here are my thoughts about this memoir: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I bet I will end up loving this book. I feel it in my bones.

Horse Goddess by Morgan Llywelyn

I will start today The Beautiful Mrs. Seidenman: A Novel. I like reading translated works. This Polish novel of historical fiction is said to be excellent.

I finished Fortune's Favorites and started Caesar's Women, both by Colleen McCullough.

I just finished 'Unbroken' by Laura Hillenbrand. It was one of the best books I have read in a long time. Although it was 100% true, it read like a fiction novel. This should be required reading for all young kids that think they're "tough"

Steve,
You should check out The Forgotten Highlander. It could be even better. I am going to read TFH first.

Thanks for the recommendation Chrissie. I just started To Try Men's Souls, so i'll put TFH on my list. Please let me know what you think when you're finished!

Steve when I read it I will post it here.

I am currently reading I Have Lived A Thousand Years: Growing Up In The Holocaust, having just finished The Beautiful Mrs. Seidenman: A Novel.

The beginning of the book I just finished fooled me. I thought it would be great, but it turned out to be a disappointment. My review explains why: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I feel like an idiot b/c I liked it so much in the beginning. The lines WERE funny! I feel duped.

Currently reading Cleopatra: A Life and Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds. Just finished the section on the South Sea Bubble in the latter; the alchemists are next up.

Currently reading Rocket Boys
Awesome memoir by a NASA engineer who build rockets when he was a teenager, against all odds.
How I envy America children sometimes. The entrepreneurship/creativity/independence aspect I mean.

Steve wrote: "I just finished 'Unbroken' by Laura Hillenbrand. It was one of the best books I have read in a long time. Although it was 100% true, it read like a fiction novel. This should be required reading fo..."

Hey didn't she write Seabiscuit: An American Legend? Yes she really has a knack of writing endearing nonfictions.

Silvana wrote: "Steve wrote: "I just finished 'Unbroken' by Laura Hillenbrand. It was one of the best books I have read in a long time. Although it was 100% true, it read like a fiction novel. This should be requi..."

Yep, same author.

I haven't read Rocket Boys, but 'October Sky' was one of my favorite movies when I was younger. I think it's the same story...

Yes, I believe it's the same story.

Steve wrote: "I just finished 'Unbroken' by Laura Hillenbrand. It was one of the best books I have read in a long time. Although it was 100% true, it read like a fiction novel. This should be required reading fo..."

I've read excerpts. It's incredible how Hillenbrand takes an obscure situation and turns it into such an interesting story.

I will now start Spoon River Anthology. I need a breath of fresh air, having just finished I Have Lived A Thousand Years: Growing Up In The Holocaust. This was an excellent book! If you only want to read one more holocaust book, choose this!

I will continue my reading of Spoon River Anthologyn which is poetry, and now also start Jamilia. I am curious to read a book by the author Chingiz Aïtmatov. He is/was the Kyrgyz ambassador to the European Union, NATO, UNESCO and the Benelux countries.

I will now start House of Day, House of Night. I am curious to read it b/c it is written by a highly acclaimed Polish author. I like translated books.

I will now start The Samurai's Garden, on the recommendations of Jeanette and Christine!

So few people bother to mention what they are reaeding here....... I am curious.

Chrissie, I believe you were born with a natural curiosity!
I've sort of set Truman aside, not because I'm not enjoying it, but it's so big I cannot hold it for long periods of time. I have a Roberts Bookholder & will get back to it once I've finished a couple more books. I crazily started 4 very big books at once, but am whittling them down.
Just finished Katherine and it was ok. I'm glad I read it.
Will get back to Blood and Thunder: An Epic of the American West when I've finished some others. It's very good.
My current commute listen is also very good ... I liked it from the first paragraph ... Citizens of London: The Americans Who Stood with Britain in Its Darkest, Finest Hour

Martha, I wish I could read so many books at the same time. I AM reading a poetry book along with The Samurai's Garden. I stick in a poem, now and then.....

I too am glad I read Katherine by Seton. I was in fact pleasantly surprised, but you don't see me running out and grabbing another by the author. I read it, and now that is done and that is enough.For my taste. I don't remember how many stars I gave it.

I remember reading some of her books in my teen years, but don't remember which ... I think The Winthrop Woman was one. Dragonwyck comes highly recommended by a friend so I bought that one. I have several in front of it. I like bouncing between time periods. I really like the late 30s into the 40s ... WW2 era. Also, like the detective stories, Hammett, Chandler. Love movies from that time period, too. I grew up listening to Louis Armstrong & Big Band music, so I guess my mother is to blame!

Martha, oh heavens, I thought I had The Winthrop Woman on my to-read list, but actually I have already bought it..... I wonder where I stashed it! I have books behind books, even though I have booksshelves everywhere. I forgot I bought that. It does sound good. I guess that is why I bought it. I will have to remember Dragonwyck. I usually only add one unread book at a time for a given author. Thanks for reminding me!

I know what you mean about books everywhere! I'm trying to go through the ones that are in just one room of my house! Almost at 100 and not halfway done.

The worst is no matter how hard I tell myself not to buy more.... I do. My bought books are in my "to-read soon" shelf. Soon? How can I read all of them soon! It is good that I have GR to keep track of the books I have bought. I don't know how many books I have on that shelf. I don't dare look. At least now I don't buy a book twice by mistake.

It is nice to know I am not alone with this mania.

Currently reading Post CaptainPost Captain. I was (unpleasantly) surprised with the Jane Austen-like stories in the first parts of the book. Like I care about who fancied who. Thank goodness, I've come to the better part now.

I'm now briskly making my way through "A DANGEROUS LIAISON: A Revelatory New Biography of Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre" by Carole Seymour-Jones. An absolutely engaging book.

I will now start Shark Dialogues.

I get all excited every time I open a new book! But wouldn't you get excited?! Check out The Tale of the Rose: The Love Story Behind The Little Prince. Antoine de Saint-Exupery wrote The Little Prince, definitely one of my favorites. Probably one of yours too! Well, here is the memoir of the woman behind the tale, Exupéry's muse, the inspiration for the Little Prine's beloved rose! Consuelo de Saint-Exupéry died in 1979, 35 years after her husband. The manuscript for this memoir was discovered in a trunk in 1999 by an academic doing research for the biography of her husband.

Priam's daughter by Georgia Sallaska

I just finished Caesar's Women and am starting The October Horse, both by Colleen McCullough. I know this is skipping Caesar - Let the Dice Fly, but I have already read that one.

Tim

Tim wrote: "I just finished Caesar's Women and am starting The October Horse, both by Colleen McCullough. I know this is skipping Caesar - Let the Dice Fly, but I have already read that one.

Tim"

I sure loved this series. I have the final volume Antony and Cleopatra waiting for me in the U.S. It will be the first book I pick up when I arrive.

I am just starting Between Two Seas. Why? Well, because I very much liked another novel that I read by this author, entitled The Homecoming Party. Maybe you remember how much I liked it?! I believe I have already posted a link to my GR review here. This author was born in an Italo-Albanian community in Calabria, Italy, I loved his style of writing.

I am about to start The Royal Physician's Visit, which is historical fiction. I expect to learn something, hopefully, and this Swedish author is said to be really excellent. Actually, I feel like grabbing The Book about Blanche and Marie but I am having difficulty getting it. It is sold out everywhere, both the Swedish edition in Sweden and the English one at Book Depsitory. So, since I have this one, it will have to do. I can judge if I like the writing. It does annoy me that I am reading the translated English edition. Oh well....