The History Book Club discussion

Hi Jill, I have only read bits & pieces about the Channel Islands during WW2 in other general histories but I do recall in one book, which I can't recall the title, that British Police on the Channel Islands assisted German authorities in rounding up Jew's to be sent back to the concentration camps in Europe!

Forgot to mention that I just got this little book from one of my book reading buddies who has the same taste that I do.

by Lucian K. Truscott Jr.(no photo).

Hi Aussie Rick and Jill,
These two are supposed to be good. One of my friends who visited the islands thought they told the story well; the second recommendation deals with the Jews on the island.

by Madeleine Bunting (no photo)

by Paul Sanders (no photo)

I also recall - I may be mistaken though - that in

by Laurence Rees (no photo) he mentions the Jews of the Channel Islands too.

I have read two books by this author now and liked them both. Picked up a third, which arrived in the post today. European spy novels set in the 30's and 40's. Looking forward to it, whenever that might be ~
by Alan Furst

Just got this little dandy from my book club. (There was an HBO series based on it but I didn't see it.) It traces the story of Atlantic City from a quiet seaside health resort, through the notorious backroom politics and power struggles, to the city's rebirth as a gambling mecca. Am looking forward to reading it.

by Nelson Johnson(no photo)

Before bookswap ended I picked up a few things on my TBR list. This one arrived today.

by Barbara Holland

My last purchase for a while - decided keeping the car running was actually more important... everything else goes on the wish list! (We'll see how long that lasts!)

by Christopher Hibbert

by Christopher Hibbert

by Karl Shaw

by Nassir Ghaemi

Some interesting books there Cheryl, fun reading!

Picked this up recently now added to the ever growing TBR pile ~
by David Talbot

My copy of a very eagerly awaited title arrived today; "The Battle of Adwa" by Raymond Jonas.


by Raymond Jonas

Just got back from stalking another second-hand book shop, I found a 1915 edition of "The Life of Bernal Diaz Del Castillo" (no listing at Goodreads) and a 1928 edition of "The Fourth Musketeer: The Life of Alexander Dumas". Both books in pretty good condition and only cost $27.00 in total.

The Fourth Musketeer: The Life of Alexandre Dumas (no cover) by J. Lucas-Dubreton

Just back from coffee at the local cafe and reading a few pages. I also checked my post office box and received these two today and both look like very good reads:

by David Stahel

by Ian W. Toll

Just received this book which has been recommended highly by several of my friends. It is the story of 13 year old Mary Phagan who, in 1913, was found brutally murdered in the basement of the pencil factory where she was employed. The factory manager, Leo Frank, was arrested but that was only the beginning of this grim tale. Extremely tragic.

by Steve Oney(no photo)

Sounds like a very interesting book Jill, you best give us all an update when you have finished reading it.

Picked up copies of the following books recently:


by Stacy Schiff

by Patrick J. Kelly

by Tonio Andrade

I for some reason have been on an early Afghanistan kick lately, reading about how the special ops guys did there thing early on. Just Finished "First In" by Gary Schroen and its counterpart "Jawbreaker" Gary Bersten. Interesting to see two huberistic CIA guys each tell the same story from their own views. As to which is cooler, I think I'll go with the Special Forces guys that they were supporting. As a former military man, I'm more inclined to think the SF guys had a little more to do with what went on than two 65 yr old analysts from Langley. But thats just an opinion. I'll add more as I delve into those first guys on the ground and how it all began.

MilitaryReview, thanks for sharing your suggestions and impressions. We love it when members contribute to the discussion! I think you are new to our club, so consider this a pointer: We use the add book/author feature whenver mentioning a book and/or author so people can see and link to the books referenced. Using the feature your post would look like this:
by Gary Schroen
by Gary Berntsen
Using the goodreads software like this links books to discussions about them.

Take a look at our mechanics of the board thread http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/2...

and then drop over to the introduction thread http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/9...
and tell us a little about yourself.

Thanks again for the recommendations.

Picked this up which has been on my to-read list for awhile. Don't know when I will start it, but looking forward to it nonetheless.
by Isabel Wilkerson

I've been on an antebellum emigrant American history binge lately, going through Hard Road West (Mehldahl), The Plains Across (Unruh), So Rugged and Mountainous (Will Bagley), and Blood of the Prophets (Bagley). Really like Bagley; So Rugged and Mountainous is the first of a trilogy, I believe. I did not see a thread specifically devoted to this era...?

Hard Road West: History and Geology along the Gold Rush Trail

The Plains Across: The Overland Emigrants and the Trans-Mississippi West, 1840-60

So Rugged and Mountainous

Blood of the Prophets: Brigham Young and the Massacre at Mountain Meadows

K.A., looks like some great reading you have going there. Our club guidelines require you to post the book cover, author photo (when available) and author link when citing books and/or authors using the add book/author feature. Your posts would look like this:
Keith Heyer Meldahl
John D. Unruh
Will Bagley
Will Bagley

The American History thread is probably the most relevant to your posts. History covers such a huge range of topics we don't have the space to devote to highly specific topics but always are interested in the suggestions of our members and will consider adding as we can.

If you have not already done so, please also check out our mechanics of the board thread for our posting guidelines, and if you have a moment stop by the introduction thread to introduce yourself to our membership.

Thanks!

???I used the "add book" feature - what did I do wrong? I looked up each book, went to it, and hit "add book" - it added the link but not the cover...

Guess I'll go to a different thread, then.

On the bottom of the feature there are two options, one is for link and the other is for cover. Unfortunately, it defaults to link, so you have to manually change it.

That's right, D. K.A., look for the radio button on the bottom and click cover. We are here to help.

Alisa wrote: "Picked this up which has been on my to-read list for awhile. Don't know when I will start it, but looking forward to it nonetheless.
[bookcover:The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America..."

I read Wilkerson's book last year and it was outstanding. I think I gave it an A or A+. In the midst of glowing reviews, there was some scattered blather about her rather positive outlook but that kind of criticism is going to happen no matter what. I was enthralled - enjoy.

by Michael Bellesiles

Just picked up this book about America in the messy aftermath of the War Between The States. A quick glance through the TOC reveals that a lot was happening in 1877. I don't think I am familiar with this author but the book has gotten positive reviews here on GR.

Alisa wrote: "Picked this up which has been on my to-read list for awhile. Don't know when I will start it, but looking forward to it nonetheless.
[bookcover:The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America..."

This is a marvelous book and I enjoyed the way the author blended the stories of three different people with the history behind America's great migration.

Thanks, I am looking forward to digging into it. When is another question, but once I have the book in my hot little hands it has a tendancy to move up in priority. Glad to hear your experience with it, I have heard great things.

Isabel Wilkerson

Found this book in a bargain bin at the library. I love NYC so thought that this might be just the ticket. I glanced through it and it appears to cover every era of that great city.

Eric Homberger

Another jewel from the bargain bin. This little book is "an aid to social letter writing and to ready and effective conversation". It contains phrases to be used to better communicate. This is the 1920 reprint (initially released in 1919) and it is a delightful reference which still can be used. The cover shown below is not from the edition that I have but is the only one available.

by Edwin Hamlin Carr

I also found this book at the library sale. It is published by the National Geographic Society and is a guide to the "sceptered isle". Lots of great photos and narrative....each section is authored by a different historian. It is a book to read when one wants to take a break from a heavier tome....."this blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England".

by National Geographic Society

Jill wrote: "I also found this book at the library sale. It is published by the National Geographic Society and is a guide to the "sceptered isle". Lots of great photos and narrative....each section is authored..."

Looks very interesting Jill, nice find!

The Bargain Bin at the local library has some real gems....you just have to dig around. Nothing over $2.00 and all hardback. I have been lucky to pick up quite a few little-known books that have turned out to be very interesting.

I bought a bargain book on Friday called by Pat Lowery Collins picked it by total chance when i saw that it was only $4.99. It's a historical fiction and we all know how much i love my historical fiction.

A friend with whom I often share books just sent me this one which he raved about. It will have to wait since I have about 4 books on tap right now.............but will try to get to it in the next couple of months. I have a feeling that someone else here has probably read it. Would be interested in any comments.

by Gregg Jones

I've got a copy read to go Jill, just need to find the time to read it!

Now I wonder how I knew that???!!!! Like you, I've got a bunch to read before getting to this one....... but my friend really liked it and we usually agree on books.

I recently read "The War Lovers" by Evan Thomas which covers how American got involved in this war. This new book covers more of the actual fighting itself so I am keen to get to it as soon as I can :)


by Evan Thomas

Jill wrote: "A friend with whom I often share books just sent me this one which he raved about. It will have to wait since I have about 4 books on tap right now.............but will try to get to it in the next..."

Wow, that looks really good. I've just added it. Thanks!

Maybe you will get to it before I do, Brandon.......let me know how you like it.

Finally got a copy of this book, which I think you recommended AR. I glanced through the first few pages and it looks so good that it is up next on my reading list. Starting it tomorrow.

by David King

Jill wrote: "Finally got a copy of this book, which I think you recommended AR. I glanced through the first few pages and it looks so good that it is up next on my reading list. Starting it tomorrow.

[bookcove..."

Jealous! On my reading list too! You are getting to stuff before I do . . . so you have to keep us posted.

Ha!!!! I had looked for it for several months.....AR had given it such good recommendations that I was determined to find it.......and it does look good. I will let all know.

I was in Charlottesville, VA last weekend for The Festival of the Book and heard Philip J. Deloria (son of Vine Deloria Jr.) speak on his own books and I bought both of them which renewed my interest in the ongoing studies in Native history.
& by Philip J. Deloria (no photo)

So when I got home I was looking some stuff up for a friend whose dissertation will include some Comanche and Apache info and discovered I had totally missed a newish book, by Brian DeLay, War of a Thousand Deserts: Indian Raids and the U.S.-Mexican War

Brian Delay (no photo) That one will be here today.

Btw, Vine Deloria Jr. (no photo) was a an outspoken influential and prolific writer in the field of Indian studies during the 1960s - 1990s. He passed away in 2005.

& & by Vine Deloria Jr. (no photo)

And to refresh myself, I'm going to have to hunt down my copy of by Vine Deloria Jr. (no photo) - Philip's ideas are much different.

Sound like you had a great time,Becky. I love book festivals!!

Picked these two interesting books up yesterday that I had ordered from overseas:


by Lam Quang Thi

by Francis Parkman
(mine is a 1910 hardback edition)

Aussie Rick I was beginning to wonder if you ran out of room as we haven't seen you on this thread for awhile. Glad to see you are still acquiring! :-)

Hi Alisa, work has kept me a bit busy of late but I never stop buying books :)

I've been rummaging in the library bargain bin again and came up with this book, which I am ashamed to admit, I have not read. Saw the film with Daniel Day-Lewis which I enjoyed but thought it was about time I read the book. It appears to be a first edition but looks like the dogs have been chewing on it!!! No matter, it is still readable.

by Edith Wharton

Jill wrote: "Finally got a copy of this book, which I think you recommended AR. I glanced through the first few pages and it looks so good that it is up next on my reading list. Starting it tomorrow.

[bookcove..."

I finished this book and it is fascinating and highly recommended.

Jill wrote: "I've been rummaging in the library bargain bin again and came up with this book, which I am ashamed to admit, I have not read. Saw the film with Daniel Day-Lewis which I enjoyed but thought it was ..."

Jill, I read
The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton a year or two ago and loved it! I have read a few of her other books, but I think The Age of Innocence is my favorite. I haven't read a whole lot of classics, but I found that Wharton is very readable and entertaining.