The History Book Club discussion

One of the group members indicated in a post that on audible - Hillbilly Elegy has a very favorable short term price until I believe March 18th of $6.95 - that means you can get it early and store it until the discussion. I verified and Amazon is showing that special pricing on the audible version - pretty good actually - the price of a specialty coffee (smile). Also most libraries have this book.

by J.D. Vance

LAND OF THE MORNING SUN - THE TWO KOREAS CHALLENGE - Come read with us about North and South Korea and the fascinating ancient Korean history and fascinating past. Enjoy some Korean authors along the way.

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/challenges/...

This challenge continues through March 2019 which focuses our attention on the Land of the Morning Calm - The Two Koreas (South and North Korea).



The HBC members voted for the two Koreas to be the next two countries for our reading challenge. So get in a tranquil location and we will travel to East Asia and to the two Koreas for this next reading challenge.



So the challenge is:
Land of the Morning Calm - The Two Koreas - Pick Five

To Read: 5 books (or any number of your choice)|

Dates: March 25, 2018 through the end of March 25, 2019

Goal: Read 5 books (or the number of your choice) within the dates above - Each of the books could be focused/be about/have a scene or even a bit action in a different city/town/county of either North or South Korea (so if for example you read 5 books - either five cities/towns/counties of North or South Korea are referenced in some way, etc.); or they can reference various personages or icons of North or South Korea like Gyeongbokgung Palace, War Memorial of Korea, the Demilitarized Zone, N. Seoul Tower or any of the ancient dynasty sites, temples, or be about specific famous people from either Korea or folks who worked in the Koreas like Park Shin-hye who is a famous actress, Kim Dae-jung (former president, Nobel Laureate), You See-Yeo (singer, songwriter, composer, pianist), Ban Ki-moon (secretary-general of the UN, Chang Myon (politician, educator, former prime minister), Seri Pak (golfer), even Confucius or Buddhism or even Korean sports like Tae Kwon Do, Jokgu, Ssireum, Kite Flying; or read about the last Olympics or books which take place (even one chapter) in a particular segment of the Koreas maybe Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Jeju, Gyeongju, Pyongyang, Kaesong or be about a famous place or event that happened in the Koreas (the Olympics, the Korean War or involved the Koreas like (Republic of Korea proclaimed or the Korean Armistice) - books can be non fiction, historical fiction, history related or even fiction - the sky is the limit.



Maybe read some South Korean and North Korean authors: Park Wan-suh, Ko Un, Hwang Sok-yung, O Chonghui (Oh Jung-Hee), Ch'oe Yun, Shin Kyung-sook, Kim Young-ha, Kim In-suk, Krys Lee, Yun Ko-eun, James Church, Eunsun Kim, Chol-Hwan Kang, Jang Jin-Sun, Hyeonseo Lee, Yeonmi Park, Son Ok-Sun, Hyun Hee Kim, Hook Kang, Joseph Kim, - just to name a few.

Or authors who write about North Korea like Barbara Demick in Nothing to Envy - arguably the best known book about North Korea and a finalist for the United States National Book Award and winner of Britain's Samuel Johnson Prize.



Examples: If you read a book about the current North Korean Chairman (Kim Jong-un) - the other four books cannot be about Kim Jong Un, if you read a book about the Korean War - then you cannot count as your five another book about the same subject - there must be a segment in the book about another city or another entity or person in either North or South Korea to count. If you read a book about the Olympics in Korea - then you cannot count as one of your five any other books about the Olympics and so on.

Report: Your reading challenge experiences on the shelf that you have created for the challenge.

How To Join In:
Click on the title at the top. Please join by simply signing in at the bottom and say how many books you plan to read about or taking place in North or South Korea and its inhabitants/icons/events/places and create your own personal shelf to add them to when you have finished reading them. That is all there is to it and goodreads will keep track. Become your own meditative and calming experience to the Land of the Morning Calm - the Two Koreas through your completed books.

Note: Don't forget to set up your shelf first and then add the name of that shelf here when setting up the challenge for yourself.

We hope you will participate in this challenge which was kicked off today. You can sign up now so you are ready to go - I am letting you sign up now.

We will focus on North and South Korea this time: Any location in the Koreas including the following:



Also, any icon like Haeinsa Temple, any famous person from North and South Korea or lived in the two Koreas including King Sejong the Great or Kim Gu , etc or any other famous or noteworthy person from or born in the Koreas or any book about any event which took place or involved the Koreas.

In order for a book to appear toward your goal, you must add it to your '' shelf, and set the date read.

Note: Make sure to click on the title of the challenge which is linkable text - (Land of the Morning Calm - The Two Koreas Challenge). That will take you to a separate window which then lists the participants who have joined the challenge. Check to see that your name is there. At the bottom of the text which describes the challenge, make sure to enter in the box the number of books you would like to read; then make sure to add the name of the book shelf you would like linked to the challenge - for example: Koreas Challenge. Make sure to save your input and check to see that you are added. You should be good to go.

Link to Instructions:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Link to Land of the Morning Sun - The Two Koreas:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Link to I Like to Learn Map of Asia and learn the locations of all of the countries in Asia with this challenge quiz - lots of fun
http://www.ilike2learn.com/ilike2lear...

Link to Koreas thread: (Two threads - Land of the Morning Calm - The Two Koreas)
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

And

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Link to Citation Examples and Mechanics of the Board thread (links given when members join)
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

and

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

In the East Asia folder:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

March Newsletter Broadcast to all Members - The History Book Club:

All, this is a broadcast to all members.

In the month of March - we have the following
discussions on going:

H is for Hawk by Helen MacDonald
Sign up here:
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/event/show/...

Link to Discussion Thread: (it is never too late to join any discussion thread - they are always open and we will respond)
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

The Federalist Papers by Hamilton, Madison and Jay
This is a discussion that will last for a year and a half. We are only doing one essay a week.

Sign up here:
https://www.goodreads.com/event/show/...

Link to Federalist One Discussion:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Link to Federalist Two Discussion:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Link to Federalist Three Discussion:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Link to Federalist Four Discussion:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Caesar: Life of a Colossus by Adrian Goldsworthy
Sign up here:
https://www.goodreads.com/event/show/...

Link to Discussion Folder:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...

Upcoming:

The Hillbilly Elegy by JD Vance
April Book of the Month
Sign up here:
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/event/show/...

Winter is Coming: Why Vladimir Putin and the Enemies of the Free World Must Be Stopped
by Garry Kasparov
May Book of the Month
Sign up here:
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/event/show/...

We also have a new challenge up - Koreas (North Korea and South Korea) - very timely.

Here is the link for you to sign up. You need to sign up for the challenge first, then make sure to set your goal and also set
up your shelf and save your books.

We have instructions that will help you too.

Sign up here: https://www.goodreads.com/challenges/...

Other Challenges:
Japan - https://www.goodreads.com/challenges/...

Ireland - https://www.goodreads.com/challenges/...

We will also be discussing some of the rules and standards in the upcoming months and how to contribute. Also we will review some of our very basic requirements to make sure that our group runs smoothly and why we ask you to do certain things.

First let us talk about Introductions:

Link to the Introduction Thread:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

One of our rules and guidelines asks for all new members to at least
give a brief intro as to who they are (you can use your avatar name if you choose); and where you are globally in the world - city and state; or if you are outside the US - city and country of origin.

We love to know where everyone is posting from. Additionally,
just tell us a little bit about yourself and why history and our group interested you. We are delighted to have all of our global members.

You will always receive a welcome from us. What that welcome asks you to do is to post an introduction on our introduction thread. We will always provide the link. Once you do that, one of our moderators will welcome you formally to the group and give you personally some helpful advice and links to get you started off
on the right foot.

So if you haven’t received our welcome - you will. And if you haven’t introduced yourself and you are a member of the group - please go right away to the introduction thread and post. That way we can all get to know who you are and what you are interested in.

As far as notifications from us, you will receive one broadcast message a month with links, you will receive only one event notification per upcoming book - so make sure that when you get it - you sign up for the discussion either by selecting yes or maybe - otherwise you will get no further reminders.

We also send out a broadcast message per poll (only one) and most times we embed it in the monthly newsletter. We do have a Moderator’s Thread where you can see what is upcoming and can ask questions if you are confused about anything that is posted. Sometimes we post an upcoming calendar, but our confirmations for book discussions are the event notifications that we send out (only one per book). So that is what you should watch for.

We are always available via PM. We are sending a monthly broadcast to help our members and newcomers navigate our site.

All best,
Bentley

All, I want to remind folks that we very rarely contact anybody via PM aside from assisting moderators reaching out to discuss with the member how to follow rules and guidelines etc. or if we feel that you are not following our rules for membership for numerous reasons. If we find that we cannot send you a message and we get that message, then we delete the member immediately. We are volunteers and if you want to participate in this group - then you need to follow our rules and guidelines. There are a lot of other groups where this may not matter but it does here.

Just as a reminder about broadcast messages.

We send very few but when we do - I have to laugh - we always lose 10 people or so. I frankly would like to know what these folks are looking for. Are they looking for groups where nobody does anything and there are no group reads or discussions. And they receive nothing either. Well goodreads in their set up allows you to determine who you hear from, which groups, how often etc. - so just update your settings.

We offer quite a few moderated reads and long term discussions and we are actively moderated which is a wonderful thing. I am trying to send out a monthly newsletter with links to what is ongoing or upcoming so you will know what is going on and how to find it. And all you have to do with the PM is delete it or whatever - hopefully you read and take advantage of something coming up.

So this is how things work here if you are new:

a) We send out one event notification per book - if you say yes or maybe - then you will have something to refer to. If you say no - you won't. If you ignore our requests and do not even bother to respond - then you are not helping us with our planning so we can bring you what you are looking for. By the way we are doing this for free - we are volunteers and not goodreads employees.

b) We have occasional polls and we will include that notification in our monthly broadcasts which comes as a PM - that will give you information on the current discussions, the upcoming ones, polls, buddy reads and a variety of offerings that we provide. These go to everyone and can be read or not but they give valuable information and links to find things easily which members have asked for.

c) We send one newsletter broadcast per month. We are very cognizant of spam and do not allow it here.

So if you get a PM which is a broadcast - you are not getting it personally - it is a PM broadcast sent to everyone so that they are aware of something new going on.

We just sent out the following broadcast in lieu of the normal one event notification per book because we did not have time to do this with this bestselling new book:

New Buddy Read - A Higher Loyalty by James Comey

Members:

Normally I send out an event notification per book discussion - but this particularly newly published book - A Higher Loyalty - Truth, Lies and Leadership just came out and we jumped on the opportunity to begin a buddy read discussion.

All members are invited to participate in any buddy read or in any discussion on the group site. Since this is a brand new release - we are using the spoiler html in order to not spoil the book.

We have set up the table of contents and the seven week syllabus for the book which means that we will be reading and discussing the book through June 3rd. There is plenty of time to jump right in and join the discussion at any time.

Here is the thread link for the discussion:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

We welcome all members.

Regards,
Bentley

Members - we have a very interesting read taking place with the blockbuster release of James Comey's new book.

There are also discussions taking place on Caesar, Hillbilly Elegy and The Federalist Papers. A lot going on this month.

by James Comey (no photo)

by Alexander Hamilton

by Adrian Goldsworthy

by J.D. Vance

Just as an FYI: All, Bentley is moving; Mayflower comes tomorrow for packing so I am out straight. Loading on Tuesday - and unloading on Thursday. Thank you very much for the kind notes - everything is OK - just moving.

All, I have been away - unavoidable and zero time or access - I will work on opening up and scheduling what we have missed as I have time.

Welcome back, Bentley. We missed you.

Welcome back Bentley. Hope the move went as smoothly as possible.

Thank you folks.

Buddy Read:

This event notification is for the BUDDY READ discussion - Fear: Trump in the White House by Bob Woodward. Discussion begins on September 17th, 2018 and ends on December 31, 2018 (three months).

Synopsis:

THE INSIDE STORY ON PRESIDENT TRUMP, AS ONLY BOB WOODWARD CAN TELL IT

With authoritative reporting honed through eight presidencies from Nixon to Obama, author Bob Woodward reveals in unprecedented detail the harrowing life inside President Donald Trump’s White House and precisely how he makes decisions on major foreign and domestic policies. Woodward draws from hundreds of hours of interviews with firsthand sources, meeting notes, personal diaries, files and documents. The focus is on the explosive debates and the decision-making in the Oval Office, the Situation Room, Air Force One and the White House residence.

Fear is the most intimate portrait of a sitting president ever published during the president’s first years in office.

Please join us for this BUDDY READ discussion.

Bentley

Update: You can begin and end this buddy read at any time. We are using the spoiler html because many folks are still waiting for their books. As you know -normally if you keep up with the assigned reading and are discussing the assigned segment you do not normally have to use spoiler html unless you go ahead on a single thread discussion but for this book since it is such a blockbuster and the major booksellers had run out of books - we wanted to give everyone a chance to participate and not have the book spoiled before they had a chance to get the book from the library or from a bookseller. You can begin when you get the book whenever that happens to be.

by Bob Woodward

Regarding the Event Notification area:

1. We send out event notifications - only one per book so as not to cause any spam for anyone. We hope that the group member will respond yes, maybe or no - whatever their choice is so that we can plan. We also send a copy of the thread link to those folks only who have replied yes or maybe. If you ignore the event notification, you do not get another one and we have no idea in terms of planning who will be joining us or who is waiting for the book.

2. So the event notification area is only used for that response - it is not a discussion area on the merits of the book - since we do not want any spoilers and cannot control spoilers there - nor is it a spot to challenge why we are even reading the book in the first place. In the buddy read segment we read books that are timely or are of interest to any group member. In the other segments we read and discuss books of the month or we have longer spotlighted reads of history or non fiction books. There is never an obligation to participate in any specific book discussion although we do ask you to participate in the group in other ways.

3. However, stating negative things about the book or the author is ok with civility and respect. We do hope you will read the book by
the author before saying those things - however most importantly we ask this - in order to not ruin the experience for somebody else who is.

Your reviews of the book are always your own and we could care less what your independent rating happens to be or is. That is up to you.

4. What is particularly curious about our current buddy read is that there are just a very few folks who seem to want to polarize the fact that we selected a blockbuster book to read in the first place as a buddy read. And that we selected this book by this author who has expressed certain views that they do not agree with or obviously do not want to be discussed. We have received comments that the group is liberal, that the book is not historic, that they wonder about a history and non fiction book club that would even select such a book, that they do not believe that the author is credible or that the nonfiction book is actually a book of fiction and that the moderator themself must be liberal (smile). Obviously even the selection of this book about a specific presidency seems to instill some sort of fear, disgust, antagonism and hostility.

5. We are particularly concerned about the event notification area because some of these folks are not simply posting on their response feed but moving around and posting on a host of others, signaling likes and being altogether disagreeable about this particular choice of the group which does not suit them. We do not expect that everybody is going to like a specific book or any book for that matter - but all group members can post if they would like to do a buddy read on a book of their choice no matter what that book happens to be as long as it is not a banned book from goodreads and as long as the discussion and postings are civil and respectful. We are quite open to that and we will help set you up and get you going as you lead your discussion.

6. Even though posts of why you are not reading the book are fine when you respond, what we do not allow is a continued posting and reposting of views which question the choice, the book itself like we are watching the ground hog day movie, or question the author, or question the group for selecting the book to read as a buddy read in the first place or question the moderator for asking folks to move off the topic and move on. Once you have said your piece - then move on. Those are our rules and guidelines. We do not care what your political affiliation is or whether you like or dislike the author or their books. That is all fine with us.

7. Please remember that the event notification area is not a discussion thread - it is simply a response area and an area where we add links to the thread where the book is being discussed and only then for the yes responses and the maybe responses. It is nothing more than that and it should only be used for those purposes. We allow everyone to express their view but then we ask for you to move on.

Procedures for getting a 50 Books Read in 2019 thread and/or a 100 Movies Watched in 2019 thread.

1. In the coming weeks - I will set up the introduction thread for the 2019 threads for 50 Books and 100 Movies.

2. In the past, we automatically set up the participants from the year before with their own new thread for the following year as long as they are actively participating in the previous year. Going forward we will not be doing that. I have found that I wasted personal time setting up threads for folks who have not been actively involved the previous year. So please let your wishes be known and we will happily oblige when the time comes around.

3. On the introduction thread for 50 Books Read for 2019 and 100 Movies Watched in 2019 which we will set up soon - we will ask for interested parties to post their request for a thread for the new year. Once we receive your post - we will set up your thread for 2019 and the standard required format sample will be in message one as it always has been for many years. The standard format is not optional but we are here to help you and to let you know when corrections need to be made if any. So there are no worries about that. We will always tell you as soon as we notice any inconsistencies and we help you make those edits. Most of the time - in fact 95% of the time - the edits take a minute or two and folks become pros in no time.

4. We also have "how to" threads in each category and we explain in detail how to do each segment of the standard format, and why and also any other exceptions that you may need to know about. None of this will change next year. It all remains the same as it always has been. No changes and no surprises.

5. We actively assist and moderate these sections to help folks with the format as things come up or if mistakes are made. We will post on the thread what needs to be corrected or edited and also - if need be - send a PM. Once the edits are made - the correction post is removed from the thread as if it never existed. However, we do expect that when the moderator posts that edits need to be made that they are done without fanfare or added drama or challenges to the moderators who are just keeping everything going smoothly. If the moderator posts are ignored or simply not seen for any reason, we will send a PM with a copy and paste of the post with instructions as to how to make it compliant with the standard. And we are here to help. Vicki and Lorna have spent a great deal of time working with folks on these threads as have I. If we do not hear from the member - we delete the post and send a copy to the member for reposting so they always have a copy.

6. Our group maintains solid standards, rules and guidelines which we have always adhered to - there are no surprises or varying interpretations of the format requirements - it is easy, straight forward and the format is the same as it always has been "for years". There really are no surprises.

7. Please also refer to the how to thread if you have any questions - there are solid details and examples on these threads to help you out. Also refer to the group's rules and guidelines - we actively moderate as we have personal time in the midst of our life obligations. We are short staffed and do this all for free and the love of reading and books. So please follow the guidance of the moderators and their instructions and everything will proceed smoothly.

8. Also remember the following: no self promotion of any kind, no causing attention to personal booklists, reviews, blogs, other groups, other personal websites, books that are in the works that you are writing or have written, advertising, or links to your reviews. Also be mindful that per comment box only one book is commented and reviewed so that the numbering is sequenced properly and there is no confusion. All other reminders are on the "how to" thread but the above is nothing new for any threads on the HBC. Standard format, rules and guidelines always apply - same as always.

9. Stay tuned.

Happy New Year to all of our members in the History Book Club throughout the world. Best wishes in 2019 to each of you!


Fireworks over Sydney Harbour during New Year’s Eve celebrations.CreditBrendan Esposito/Australian Associated Press, via Associated Press

Thank you so much Lorna.

50 BOOKS READ IN 2019

All, we have completed set up of all new 2019 50 Books Read in 2019. If you cannot find your new thread or would like one - go to the link below and sign up on the Introduction or the How To thread expressing your interest.

Just because you had a thread in 2018 does not automatically mean you get a new thread in 2019.

If you dropped out and stopped mid year, we would wait to hear from you before setting up a new thread in 2019 but everyone is welcome and let's face it - it is a new year and you have a brand new clean slate to write on. Happy Reading all.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...

Note: You do not have to promise to read 50 Books, or 100 Books or any number in between. Even 10 books is fine or just wanting to complete one. We have a standard format which you need to follow and we are here to help you become successful. New year and new goals.

Challenges:

Members - you can access all of the previous challenges by clicking on this link - I have extended them all through the end of 2019 once again - but we are not keeping the older challenges on the top of home page (too much clutter); but they are all still readily accessible. So enjoy all of them as long as it takes for you to complete your own personal challenge.

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/challenges/...

How to Link to the Land of the Rising Sun Challenge - Japan: - Still Open but not at the top of the home page

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/challenges/...

How to Link to the Land of the Morning Calm - The Two Koreas (South and North Korea) - Still Open but not at the top of the home page

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/challenges/...

How to Link to the Ireland - The Luck of the Irish Reading Challenge - Still Open but not at the top of the home page

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/challenges/...

Here is the link to the Challenges folder which has some valuable information and some interesting threads related to the above:

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...

January 22, 2019

1. I decided that aside from the Cultural History thread under Art, Architecture and Culture that we needed a separate thread for anthropology and archaeology under Anthropology and Archaeology - of course we have the Ancient History and Medieval folders too but there is a cross pollination and some books do not fit narrowly in one or the other.

Link to the Art, Architecture and Culture folder:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...

Link to the Anthropology and Archaeology folder:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...

The EVICTED discussion is open. This is a very leisurely buddy read. Please join in when you can. It is never too late to join a buddy read. Being that it is a single thread discussion with folks joining in as they have time - we need to use spoiler html. Instructions are readily available on the thread itself. There are two threads - one for the discussion itself and then a glossary thread for additional details, urls, ancillary material so as not to disrupt the discussion.

The glossary thread is a spoiler thread so no spoiler html code and brackets do not have to be used on that thread. But on the discussion thread - the spoiler html is needed.

Here is the discussion thread:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Here is the spoiler glossary thread where no spoiler html code is needed:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

by Matthew Desmond

I am willing to help out with the welcome committee if you still need someone

Great - I will send you a PM tomorrow. Thanks - it is very interesting - you get to know a lot of folks from around the world. We will work with you on this to get you going for us etc.

Folks,

I am going through my friend's list and if I know you personally somehow - maybe you helped out in the group, etc. - then I will keep you on the list with access to my profile, or and this is the important part - if you are a member of The History Book Club and sent me an invite to be your friend. If you are in either of those two categories or in both of them - then I will keep you listed as a friend. However, in reviewing the list, there are some who are not in either of those two groups so I am culling the list so that I will be able to add to the friend's list with folks who are active or who I have some connection with either at the HBC or in some other capacity.

Regards,

Bentley

Update: The friend list is being seriously culled. One of the prerequisites is that you are a member of the History Book Club - if you are not then you will be culled unless you are a personal contact or have assisted the History Book Club - then of course we are very grateful.

Moderators of other Groups:

First, we have many moderators from other groups who are members of the History Book Cub and have been members for many, many years and many are all in good standing and contribute a great deal to the discussions and to the HBC as a whole. We are happy to have you with us. You are valuable members of our group.

However, there are some who have come to our group and have copied what we do here to be used in their new groups or existing groups and contributed nothing to any of the discussions or to the success of the HBC. They have actually made zero comments on any thread in the group site!

In fact, they have not even introduced themselves to the group.

They have used our membership list which is against our rules and guidelines to foster their own group and have used our ideas and our set up almost verbatim in their groups without contributing in any of our discussions. Since running a group takes a lot of work and successful discussions take a lot of time; we feel in time that these groups will run their course; here at the HBC we mind our business and stay the course.

When we come across this sort of activity however within our group; the member will be blocked immediately without discussion.

Our rules and guidelines indicate that we do require some participation and contributions to our group. We do not detract in any way from any other group and we wish all groups well; but if you do join this group we expect you to follow our rules and guidelines and participate with no self promotion whatsoever and you must contact Bentley before you join so that he can discuss with you the expectations of the group. We expect that rule and guideline to be followed, we expect you to introduce yourself on the introduction thread with zero self promotion, we expect you to post and contribute on our threads and participate in a discussion or two each year.

All members must contribute in some way. Please refer to our rules and guidelines for details. If you have not done the above and do not plan to contribute, then you will find yourself one group short - we wish you well in your Goodreads endeavors elsewhere - reading is a wonderful endeavor no matter where you read. Happy Reading.

Update:

Bentley is reviewing the membership list etc. and whether outside moderator's have contacted Bentley before joining and have introduced themselves on the introduction thread with zero self promotion. These are part of the group's rules and guidelines. If the minimum has not been done - then you are not a member in good standing here and will be one group short. We value our members' time and we do not allow our membership to be spammed. Secondly, if you have done the above - there is still a need and requirement to participate on an on-going basis (yearly). You can do that in a variety of ways - participate in a buddy read, participate in a Spotlighted Read or other discussion, add books to our threads, in other words - contribute. We are here to foster positive book discussions and interactions on this group site; we are not here for any other reason - so participation is a must to be a member here. Please read our rules and guidelines; we are especially cognizant of moderators from other groups who are not here for the right reasons.

EVICTED BOOK DISCUSSION IS OPEN

by Matthew Desmond

The Discussion Thread for Evictedis open - here is the link: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Please join the discussion and please utilize the spoiler html when you are tackling the discussion questions that are posted. When everyone posts and gives their opinions - it makes for a great discussion:

The Glossary Thread for Evicted is open and it is where all of the author’s primary sources are linked as well as other urls:
- here is the link: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

We are open and ready to read your posts. Do not be shy.

THE RETURN - BOOK OF THE MONTH DISCUSSION IS OPEN

by Hisham Matar

Synopsis:

From Man Booker Prize and National Book Critics Circle Award finalist Hisham Matar, a memoir of his journey home to his native Libya in search of answers to his father's disappearance. In 2012, after the overthrow of Qaddafi, the acclaimed novelist Hisham Matar journeys to his native Libya after an absence of thirty years.

When he was twelve, Matar and his family went into political exile. Eight years later Matar's father, a former diplomat and military man turned brave political dissident, was kidnapped from the streets of Cairo by the Libyan government and is believed to have been held in the regime's most notorious prison. Now, the prisons are empty and little hope remains that Jaballa Matar will be found alive. Yet, as the author writes, hope is "persistent and cunning".

This book is a profoundly moving family memoir, a brilliant and affecting portrait of a country and a people on the cusp of immense change, and a disturbing and timeless depiction of the monstrous nature of absolute power.

Awards:

Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography (2017), Costa Book Award Nominee for Biography (2016), Orwell Prize Nominee for Longlist (2017), Los Angeles Times Book Prize Nominee for Christopher Isherwood Prize for Autobiographical Prose (2016), National Book Critics Circle Award Nominee for Autobiography (2016); Folio Prize (2017), The Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction Nominee (2016), Slightly Foxed Best First Biography Prize (2016), PEN/Jean Stein Book Award (2017)

Links:

The Discussion Thread - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

The Glossary Thread - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

We hope that you can join us for a lively discussion about Libya and the book.

Group members:

by Alexander Hamilton

We have updated the Federalist Papers threads and we have started anew just a few weeks ago. We have updated the invitation and event notification today because it was so long ago when the first one was initially sent out and we wanted to be sure that folks were aware.

You will not receive any other notifications unless you sign up for the journey.

On the event notification response if you posted - yes - then I will let you know when the next essay opens up. We will be going in order; but we will take a break between each one because the moderator could not keep up the pace of doing one a week and being able to give it their all.

There are too many other discussions going on that they are attending to. But the papers are important so we want to make this journey.

We have threads for all of the Federalist Papers we have completed thus far.

We are beginning Federalist No 15 on March 4th. And we will do one at a time in order; but taking a break between each one so that we have the energy and the stamina to get through all of them.

We have threads already set up for Federalist 1 through 14 and you can post and discuss those as well. There are helpful aides on each thread and you can post on any of the threads opened thus far.

We will go back and forth between the other Federalist Papers when things come up in current events or Supreme Court cases, etc. which pertain to one of the Federalist Papers or another. So this will be a relaxing commitment and we will have a break after each one.

Please let us know if you would like to join us - respond either yes, maybe or no to help us with our planning when you get the updated event notification - this will help us tremendously.

Regards,

Bentley

Here is the link to the Federalist Papers folder:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...

Link to event notification:
https://www.goodreads.com/event/show/...

Link to Federalist. No 15 beginning March 4th:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I am still in!

Great Michael - we begin 15 on March 4th. Thanks - we will do an essay and then have a week break or so depending upon how long it takes to go through a specific essay.

Too much to rush through each one in a week without a break. I think that will work better for everyone.

WE ARE OPEN - Week Fifteen - March 4th - March 9th (2019) FEDERALIST. NO 15



Just to let the Federalist enthusiasts know - The Federalist Papers are alive, well and updated and we are on Fifteen - and that paper opened up for discussion today.

Just post - I am going through the paper - paragraph by paragraph but just post your thoughts and start a discussion about it as a whole or any paragraph or any quote - just begin the interaction.

We are going through these papers for all of you to interact.

This is open and active and there are over 141 members signed up so just let us know you are on.

We are not going to rush any paper any longer; we will take our time for each paper in order to have time to discuss each paper properly.

Once we have done each paper properly we will have break in between and then assign the next one - so that reading the Federalist Papers will never be a burden to anyone; but something to look forward to.

The other 14 papers have already been discussed; but they are always open on their respective threads and anyone can post or add material to any of those previous threads which are relevant to the papers then or today. And if you just started - you can start with 15 and then circle back.

So see you on the the threads: here is the link to the conversations:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...

Regards,
Bentley

The EVICTED discussion is still on-going and anybody can join when they want to. This is a very leisurely buddy read. Please join in when you can. It is never too late to join a buddy read.

Being that it is a single thread discussion with folks joining in as they have time - we need to use spoiler html. Instructions are readily available on the thread itself. There are two threads - one for the discussion itself and then a glossary thread for additional details, urls, ancillary material so as not to disrupt the discussion.

The glossary thread is a spoiler thread so no spoiler html code and brackets do not have to be used on that thread. But on the discussion thread - the spoiler html is needed.

Here is the discussion thread:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Here is the spoiler glossary thread where no spoiler html code is needed:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

by Matthew Desmond

Note: This book is an eye opener and Desmond has done a fabulous job.

The Becoming Discussion is ongoing and is located on these threads (you can join any time):

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...

by Michelle Obama

Synopsis:

In a life filled with meaning and accomplishment, Michelle Obama has emerged as one of the most iconic and compelling women of our era. As First Lady of the United States of America—the first African-American to serve in that role—she helped create the most welcoming and inclusive White House in history, while also establishing herself as a powerful advocate for women and girls in the U.S. and around the world, dramatically changing the ways that families pursue healthier and more active lives, and standing with her husband as he led America through some of its most harrowing moments.

Along the way, she showed us a few dance moves, crushed Carpool Karaoke, and raised two down-to-earth daughters under an unforgiving media glare. In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her—from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world’s most famous address. With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it—in her own words and on her own terms. Warm, wise, and revelatory, Becoming is the deeply personal reckoning of a woman of soul and substance who has steadily defied expectations—and whose story inspires us to do the same.

Right now I am listening to two books that you can join in on for Free Reads.

by Andrew G. McCabe (no photo)

Link to Free Reads and this book discussion: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

and

by Mark Kurlansky

Link to Free Reads and this book discussion:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Please direct me to the link for the Hero of the Empire discussion that began yesterday. I have searched the group page but haven't found it.

Thank you,
Jeff Taylor

Jeffrey, thank you for your interest. The book citation should look like so in your post:

by Candice Millard

The link to the book discussion is as follows: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show_...

However, there is not any discussion of the book at this point. I will also notify Bentley of your interest in the book.

Lorna,
Assisting Moderator (T) - Civil Rights and Supreme Court

The event notifications will be sent out this weekend.

Bentley wrote: "The event notifications will be sent out this weekend."
thank you,
Jeff

What is the discussion thread for BOM The Korean War: A History?
byBruce Cumings

Michael wrote: "What is the discussion thread for BOM The Korean War: A History?
byBruce Cumings"

Thank you for your interest Michael. I will contact Bentley about a discussion thread.

Lorna,
Assisting Moderator - Supreme Court and Civil Rights

Thanks Lorna, I noticed the book is off the upcoming discussion list but I do not see it on the currently reading list. Maybe it isn't happening due to lack of interest. Not sure.

Just following up on my earlier question. If the discussion of by Bruce Cumings, no photo has been cancelled I am good with that. I have purchased the book and have begun reading it. I would just hate to miss the discussion of the book because I cannot find the correct thread. Thank you!

Michael wrote: "Just following up on my earlier question..."

I read this for the discussion too, and found the book very enlightening and jarring. If you want to discuss it on the Koreas thread, it is here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Jeff and Michael - I am setting up a thread and will send out the event notification - sorry for the delay.

It is being set up.

Bentley wrote: "Jeff and Michael - I am setting up a thread and will send out the event notification - sorry for the delay.

It is being set up."

No sweat! Thank you Bentley. I know life is busy just didn't want to miss it if it was taking place. I have been out of the picture for quite a while as well. Work has been crazy busy.

Jeff wrote: "Michael wrote: "Just following up on my earlier question..."

I read this for the discussion too, and found the book very enlightening and jarring. If you want to discuss it on the Koreas thread, i..."

Jeff, thank you for the offer. I am always up for discussion.

Michael - it will be set up and we will be doing the discussion and read. Sorry for the delay. It has been a difficult year to have any time for the hobbies that I love the most - reading and this group.

Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and its Legacy

by Heather Ann Thompson

We have sent out the event notification for the book Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and its Legacy. This discussion and group read will begin on September 1st and last for three months to allow everyone an opportunity to read and discuss at leisure. Please respond with yes, no or maybe to assist us with our planning. At the History Book Club - you will get only one event notification per book we will be reading and discussing together. We will be sending two other event notifications out for the September 1st start and both of the other books are also extended reads. If we have missed any books we will reschedule them so as to not disappoint any group members.

WINNER OF THE 2017 PULITZER PRIZE IN HISTORY
WINNER OF THE 2017 BANCROFT PRIZE

NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST * LOS ANGELES TIMES BOOK PRIZE FINALIST * NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK FOR 2016 * NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE BOSTON GLOBE, NEWSWEEK, KIRKUS, AND PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

THE FIRST DEFINITIVE HISTORY OF THE INFAMOUS 1971 ATTICA PRISON UPRISING, THE STATE’S VIOLENT RESPONSE, AND THE VICTIMS’ DECADES-LONG QUEST FOR JUSTICE

On September 9, 1971, nearly 1,300 prisoners took over the Attica Correctional Facility in upstate New York to protest years of mistreatment. Holding guards and civilian employees hostage, the prisoners negotiated with officials for improved conditions during the four long days and nights that followed.

On September 13, the state abruptly sent hundreds of heavily armed troopers and correction officers to retake the prison by force. Their gunfire killed thirty-nine men—hostages as well as prisoners—and severely wounded more than one hundred others. In the ensuing hours, weeks, and months, troopers and officers brutally retaliated against the prisoners. And, ultimately, New York State authorities prosecuted only the prisoners, never once bringing charges against the officials involved in the retaking and its aftermath and neglecting to provide support to the survivors and the families of the men who had been killed.

Drawing from more than a decade of extensive research, historian Heather Ann Thompson sheds new light on every aspect of the uprising and its legacy, giving voice to all those who took part in this forty-five-year fight for justice: prisoners, former hostages, families of the victims, lawyers and judges, and state officials and members of law enforcement. Blood in the Water is the searing and indelible account of one of the most important civil rights stories of the last century.

(With black-and-white photos throughout)

Here is the link to the event notification:

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/event/show/...