History: Actual, Fictional and Legendary discussion

Now I will start Portrait of the Mother as a Young Woman. This novel, by a contemporary German author, was immediately snatched up all over Europe. I am curious to try it! It is historical fiction.

Ed wrote: "Susanna wrote: "Started Working IX to V Orgy Planners, Funeral Clowns, and Other Prized Professions of the Ancient World yesterday. Quick, fun read.

I have [book:Twilight of Splend..."

Re history of not so famous people, albeit not in ancient times, I loved T. Zeldin's Intimate History of Humanity even though the title over-reaches and it is fundamentally a collection of "histories" that caught the author's fancy (most cynical view). http://www.amazon.com/Intimate-Histor...

Yesterday I started The Birth of Venus. This has been reviewed by so many, there is absolutely no reason to write a review when I am done! :0) Yes, I am enjoying it. I am wondering why it has that strange prologue; how is that going to tie into the story?! Patience, Chrissie! Everybody seems to love this book!

I was only so-so on Birth of Venus. I was hoping for something other than what it was, I guess.

Susanna, the reviews were so stupendous I was expecting more. The first few chapters had me smiling at Alessandra's impudent thoughts, but now I am just following along. It is not bad, but neither is it utterly marvelous either. I still do not understand the connection to the prologue.

Yes, I think my problem with it was that it was oversold to me.

Susanna wrote: "I was only so-so on Birth of Venus. I was hoping for something other than what it was, I guess."

Thank you Crissie and Susanna. A book I won't feel compelled to add to my TBR list.

Susanna, that could be my assessment too, but it is not a bad book and I have no intention of stopping now! What I mostly want from an historical fiction book about art is to get into the head of a particular artist. I do not think this book will do that; this is not the purpose of the book. I adored Arrogance about Schiele!

I have started Maps and Shadows. This is historical fiction. It is said to stay close to the true historical events, that being the plight of the Poles sent to gulags in Siberia when Russia invaded Poland at the beginning of WW2. Later the Poles were released so that the men could help fight against the Germans. However this left many women and children in Russia, while the husband/father was off fighting. This book is about the flight from Siberia of just one such Polish family. Poetry is interwoven into the story, which is told from four different points of view, four members of the same family.

Currently reading Generation Kill. I love the miniseries, and I hope the book is even better.

I've gone back to reading Moby Dick. I usually read this before going to bed, and I read library books during my other free time I spend reading. I should make this my goal book to finish in the month of March.

I have started There Is No Me Without You: One Woman's Odyssey to Rescue Africa's Children. It is about the huge problem of AIDS orphans in Africa. It is about one woman in Ethiopia who has helped. The pictures of these kids, included in the book, will grab your heart. My friend Lynne gave it 4 stars, and she is as restrictive with her stars as I am!

Moony wrote: "I've gone back to reading Moby Dick. I usually read this before going to bed, and I read library books during my other free time I spend reading. I should make this my goal book to finish in the mo..."

Moby Dick is an interesting novel. Do not be disheartened with all the technical (e.g. blubber) description, the characters were awesome and memorable.

Silvana wrote: "Currently reading Generation Kill. I love the miniseries, and I hope the book is even better."

Have to say it, I didn't like the mini-series at all.

Moony wrote: "I've gone back to reading Moby Dick. I usually read this before going to bed, and I read library books during my other free time I spend reading. I should make this my goal book to finish in the mo..."

How do you stay awake for more than 2 or 3 minutes reading "Moby Dick".

Maybe that's why he reads it at bedtime?

Susanna and Ed, now I am laughing: It put me to sleep too. But Ahab's Wife: Or, The Star-gazer is excellent.

My mother liked Moby-Dick. (Maybe that's why Victorian American lit is one of her specialty fields. LOL)

Now I have begun Nicholas and Alexandra. Why? Because I have heard marvelous things about the author. The subject matter is of course interesting too!

I really enjoyed Nicholas and Alexandra; looking forward to Massie's Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman later this year.

Massie's writing is great. I am looking forward to the book in November too! :0) Thanks!

Started Worldly Goods: A New History of the Renaissance last night; interesting so far.

Chrissie wrote: "Susanna and Ed, now I am laughing: It put me to sleep too. But Ahab's Wife: Or, The Star-gazer is excellent."

agreed!!

Laura, so you liked this novel too! I have Abundance: A Novel of Marie Antoinette, but I haven't read it yet.

Chrissie wrote: "Laura, so you liked this novel too! I have Abundance: A Novel of Marie Antoinette, but I haven't read it yet."

I got it from Bookmooch, I'm planning to read pretty soon.

Not everything by this author is good. I read one book of short stories and thought it was terrible. So one has to be careful.

Am reading Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption & will read John Adams next.

Martha, if Unbroken interests you, also check out The Forgotten Highlander. I was worried about all the hype of the former and instead ordered the latter. It hasn't come yet.

Thanks, Chrissie! I'm always on the lookout for new good non-fiction ... not that I don't have plenty of unread books at home waiting for me! :-)

Please let us know what you think of Unbroken. One of my GR friends read both books and preferred The Forgotten Highlander. That also played in on my decision.

Martha wrote: "Am reading Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption & will read John Adams next."

Martha, what about Unbroken??

I've just finished Part 1. Japan has bombed Pearl Harbor & the war for Louie has begun. I'm enjoying it so far although I don't look forward to any torture scenes ... have a difficult time with those. Blood & Thunder had several atrocities.

sounds interesting and I've already saw some interesting reviews about this book. I'm looking forward for your review, hopeful without any torture scenes.

I'm reading The Religion by Tim Willocks. I've been looking forward to reading this book so I hope that it doesn't turn out to be a disappointment.

Unbroken is sooooo good. If The Forgotten Highlander is better ... well, I just have to get it. I've also had The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II recommended. I apparently am on a WW2 reading plan. I didn't do this on purpose, but do find it fascinating. Absolutely loved Citizens of London: The Americans Who Stood with Britain in Its Darkest, Finest Hour.

Laura wrote: "sounds interesting and I've already saw some interesting reviews about this book. I'm looking forward for your review, hopeful without any torture scenes."

I will definitely leave them out!

Martha, I have The Rape of Nanking on my lists too..... Isn't this hopeless. With GR we find books faster than we can read them.

They should call this place GoodBookEnablers.

So true, so true!! :-) At least with all the book apps on my iPhone, I'm not taking up more living space with actual books. And once I get into the story, I don't seem to care if it's a real book or an ebook.

Susanna wrote: "They should call this place GoodBookEnablers."

very well said Susanna!!

Martha, I just got a Kindle and I am so happy. Do you know what DTB are? Dead Tree Books - that is paper books. I am also being ecoloically correct! :0)

I must finish Nicholas and Alexandra before I read something on the Kindle! No way am I abandoning this great book. Susanna, it is just marvelous.

It is a great read; I may need to reread it (if I can find our copy). I also have his bio of Peter the Great on my bedside stand. I've read it, but a long time ago; must be at least 25 years.

I guess I should read Peter the Great too.I already have it on my list. I love all the details. You really feel like you are there. right now the book is describing life at Tsarkoe Sela and the five kids. Everything from their remarks to each one's peculiarites.

Ed wrote: "Silvana wrote: "Currently reading Generation Kill. I love the miniseries, and I hope the book is even better."

Have to say it, I didn't like the mini-series at all."

In Jules Verne's name, WHY??

I will be starting Ava's Man. It looks terribly inteeresting, being about the author's grandfather and mother growing up in the Appalachian foothills during the Depression. I think I am going to like the grandfather. Also it was available for my new Kindle :0)

I'm currently reading Main Street on my Kindle. Wow! Sinclair (hope I spelled that right) was ahead of his time. Fifty classic books for $2.99! I've almost got one done. Only forty nine to go. Seriously, it's a pleasure.

Paul wrote: "I'm currently reading Main Street on my Kindle. Wow! Sinclair (hope I spelled that right) was ahead of his time. Fifty classic books for $2.99! I've almost got one done. Only forty nine to go...."

If you have Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis. Try it. It's like being transported to another time.

The Murder of King Tut by James Patterson and Martin Dugard

I wanted to read this when it came out but I was far too bogged down with the books on my shelf. I suppose that factor hasn't changed much but I wanted to read new books involving Ancient Egypt, so there.

Thank you, Ed. I don't think it's part of the package, but I'll definetly put it on my TBR list.

I will now start The Confessions of Catherine de Medici because a group of which I am a member is reading this now, and I have had it waiting to be read for ages! Oc course I am curious about her, living myself near France! She has been so maligned, and I believe this book looks at her with a more balanced view. Furthermore, I have read another book by the author, and I loved it!