The History Book Club discussion

Hello everyone:

Glad to be aboard. I loved history since I was a kid; my dad brought home a U.S. Civil War book and I was hooked ever since. I hold a graduate degree in it and have the pleasure to make my living doing history research and book reviews. I enjoy world history, but especially British and American.

I look forward to reading and posting in this group! Thanks!

Hello Bryan,

Welcome to the History Book Club. Happy to have you.

What kind of history research are you involved in? You have joined at an optimal time; we are just beginning No Ordinary Time, The Federalist Papers and A. Lincoln.

Bentley

Hi Bentley:

I work at Monticello, home of Thomas Jefferson where I work on the online resource, the Thomas Jefferson Encyclopedia. I also work at TJ's University of Virginia where I work on the Edward Kennedy Oral History project, and hope to jump onto the George W. Bush Oral History Project if we get the contract. So, you can tell I like many periods in history.

The three books look great!

Bryan,

Sounds like you work virtually...and what great subjects to research. Yes, you run the gamut. Good luck with the additional contract.

It just happens that our spotlighted thread is another Presidential read. Jump right in when you get a chance.

Bentley

Bryan wrote: "Hi Bentley:

I work at Monticello, home of Thomas Jefferson where I work on the online resource, the Thomas Jefferson Encyclopedia. I also work at TJ's University of Virginia where I work on the E..."

WOW, so would you be able to give us a private tour of Monticello? I should quit my IT job and try to participate in helping the Lincoln papers project, or maybe work for Mount Vernon or something like that. Awesome.

Actually, Joe, a lot of the documentary papers are going online these days and might need IT help, so you never know...

Don't quit the day job yet Joe (smile)!

Yeah, I know! LOL.
I wish I majored in history in college.

I'm Susanna, and I'm a stroke survivor.

I majored in history and did most of an M.A. in it before having the stroke.

Hello Susanna....welcome; we are happy to have you join us. As group moderator, I looked up your profile when you joined; I frequently send out greetings to all new members. It is great that your health has improved and you must have been very shocked being so young to have experienced such a serious health event.

We are glad that you connected with this group and we look forward to your posts.

Bentley

Andrea wrote: "Jason wrote: "Greetings everyone!
Well, my name is Jason and I live in CT.
I am 30, and work in corp. accounting.
I have a degree in music performance, and am currently looking at graduate pr..."

Sorry for the late reply (thanks Bentley)
I was an organ and piano performance major with a concentration in historical performance practice.
I love must and all arts actually - to me the arts enhance life, be it writing, art, music, theatre, you name it.

Classical guitar is beautiful, I bough a handmade acoustic guitar that was made in spain with the intention of learning but all the years of keyboard playing I find the guitar wreaks havoc on my hands.

Thanks for the note, and I look forward to chatting with you.

Jason,

Welcome! What is "historical performance practice"? Sounds interesting. I have a great love for organ and piano performance. My grandfather was a well-known professional organist and always felt my father should have gone professional on the piano. I am mostly self-taught on the piano, so I'm no virtuoso. But I love the music. I like how you say the arts enhance life. In many ways the arts are what makes life beautiful.

I hope you enjoy discussing history with us all.

Elizabeth S wrote: "Jason,

Welcome! What is "historical performance practice"? Sounds interesting. I have a great love for organ and piano performance. My grandfather was a well-known professional organist and al..."

Historical performance practice refers to playing music as intended or as close to intended. So for organ, for example, playing the pieces with registrations that were available when Bach wrote the piece even though new organs are far more advanced then his of the 15-1700's.
Employ the use of fingerings that were common at the time, avoid the use of heals when playing pedals, or even play in your stocking feet as would have been done in the time.
The idea is to emulate the piece as closely as possible to the original.

Jason wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Jason wrote: "Greetings everyone!
Well, my name is Jason and I live in CT.
I am 30, and work in corp. accounting.
I have a degree in music performance, and am currently looking at..."

Hey Jason..I am glad that Andrea posted that question..we now learned some things in the process; thank you for that wonderful response.

Bentley

Thanks for the explanations, Jason. I've found that there's often some kind of magnetic repulsion or something between born piano players and the guitar and vice versa (just my weird observation, I'm not much good at either). I'm not a music expert, but I always think the more I know about the performance history of a piece, the more I can appreciate what the performer is choosing to do.

And welcome to Susanna, with whom I've had such interesting discussions in other groups. Glad to have you join us!

I am a space scientist working for NASA with a love for history in addition to planetary science. I enjoy Civil War history in particular. I am interested in joining due to your upcoming reading of A. Lincoln.

Welcome James! Space science and the Civil War, what an interesting combination.

Space and planetary science sounds great! Plus history! Can't have too many loves. Welcome!

Thanks for joining us James! We are all interested in reading your comments in the up and coming Presidential read, A. Lincoln.

Hi! My name is David and I'm an author from Canada. I am also an aboriginal and historian. I've published two books both non-fiction. One is on Ojibwa History and has much on Michigan, Ohio and Ontario historical events, but from a native perspective (sort of "the other side of the story". The other book is more general and is on Ojibwa culture. I live on an "Indian Reservation" on the Michigan/Ontario border and have a master degree from Tyndale Seminary, Toronto, Canada. My third book is due out by the end of the year. I look forward to interacting with the group, especially on discussions involving European/Native American relations. I also have a great interest in Church History as this was one of my majors at seminary. Thanks for listenting to me ramble on!

Thanks for joining us, David. It's such a pleasure to see so many different backgrounds represented here. I look forward to reading your comments.

Hello David,

What an interesting background. We are happy to have you with us.

Bentley

James wrote: "I am a space scientist working for NASA with a love for history in addition to planetary science. I enjoy Civil War history in particular. I am interested in joining due to your upcoming reading of..."

Welcome James...you should recommend some books on Civil War history that we can put on the potential reading list. Look forward to your posts when we begin A. Lincoln.

Bentley

Hi David,
I'm interested in Native American history too. I actually live in Michigan now, but haven't studied the native history of this area too much, as I grew up in Iowa, so know more about the "Western" U.S. I've spent some time travelling in the Black Hills, and "summitted" Bear Butte for the third time this year (okay I'm not much of an athlete). I'll read more about your books.

Thank you all for the welcome... There are indeed a large number of tremendous Civil War books... Once i get a feeling for what you all might like, I would be happy to recommend some books. I have been reading about the Civil War for a good 20 years.

James,

We are of course glad to have you with us.

Please by all means send me a list. I will add you as a friend which might make it easier to send me book recommendations. I am going to put together a military history folder and the civil war will of course be part of that; all selections will be on the military history bookshelf and/or a shelf devoted to the Civil War.

There are some books which are more conducive to a group book discussion while others (though great books) might be better for independent research; for the group reads I have found it better for participation to be selecting the former rather than the latter...but make both kinds of reading material available to the members as an additional option that they might be interested in.

Bentley

James,

I envy you your profession. If I could live my life over, I would have studied science rather than history. Alas, I am damned to a life of regret ... .

Larche

And I have regretted not studing history... go figure.

Hello!

I am 59, from Missouri, and have a degree in History and Pol Sci. I have been reading mostly about the Founding Fathers for the last year or so. I am looking forward to the group. I have been looking for a history discussion group.

Welcome Dhenning,
It looks like we might be doing a Jefferson book in the near future. A lot of people here are interested in American history.

Andrea wrote: "Welcome Dhenning,
It looks like we might be doing a Jefferson book in the near future. A lot of people here are interested in American history."

Excellent. I've read a couple Jefferson bios recently and have another on my list to read.

Dhenning1950 wrote: "Hello!

I am 59, from Missouri, and have a degree in History and Pol Sci. I have been reading mostly about the Founding Fathers for the last year or so. I am looking forward to the group. I have be..."

Happy to have you join us. I am currently on vacation and traveling in
Scotland....have not been on as much due to traveling issues; just completed going around the top of Scotland and through the Highlands and Ullapool; then headed over to the Isle of Skye. been quite a trip thus far.

I will reach out to you more Dhenning when I get back to England in a couple of days. You are correct...we will be reading a Jefferson book; most likely followed by a Teddy Roosevelt book for the Presidential series; we read other genres for the spotlighted selections.

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Bentley

Intro myself -a lapsed historian having done nothing in the field since graduating at Manchester. Occasionally stumble across a book by (or at least mentioning) former tutors which keeps the flame sputtering, just. Travelled quite a bit - Africa, Indonesia, China: next stop the US!

Welcome Sitatunga...believe that the other moderator has some connection to the University of Manchester as well. Traveling is great; it really enlarges one's perspective on life as well as the world.

When you get to the US..you will be in my neck of the woods...metro NYC area. Right now I am spending some time in Great Britain on vacation..with some travel to continental Europe soon and then back home.

What are you doing now..have you settled in the Manchester area or have you traveled further afield?

By all means jump into any conversation that interests you and we look forward to reading your posts.

Bentley

Welcome, Sitatunga. I see that you and I have several books in common on our to read lists. Bentley has suggested that we might consider a book of African history at some point in our reading, but I haven't thought out what might be interesting for a group read. Perhaps something by Martin Meredith? Maybe you also have some suggestions.

Hi Andrea
I've lost touch somewhat - that's why I left the Goodreads Africa book club (or whatever it's called) -of course, you can check my list for what I liked reading then ....
Right now as you will see I am into this enormous tome on the history of Christianity; written by an 'outsider' i.e. with a historian's eye not a religious one and it's excellent. What you get is basically a history of western European civilization plus some Eastern into the bargain, such is the sweep - thoroughly recommended

Thanks Bentley - no I left grotty Manchester years ago - now I live nr a place called Milton Keynes, i.e. an hour out of London and work at Cranfield University. Yes, we'll be in NY for this trip of a lifetime in Sept 2010.
As far as history is concerend I'm a bit of a grasshopper: colonial Africa, medieval European, WW2,the Victorians, the Reformation, you name it. Generally ignorant of US so I need to gen up on that!

Sitatunga, Wow, what an interesting mixture of history periods to be interested in! Sounds appropriate to name yourself a "grasshopper."

Some interesting African history sounds like fun sometime. It would be great if those who've already read a lot in that area, like Andrea and Sitatunga, can pick something good to suggest for us all.

Have to agree with Elizabeth...maybe Andrea and Sitatunga can put their heads together and come up with some suggestions.

That is great that finally you are planning a trip to the US...hope you have a great time and see the sights. Welcome to the group.

Bentley

Hi Everybody, my Amazon friend Bentley invited me into this group.
Although I'm still working as a photographer I am also hard at work on several manuscripts, two of which take place in Roman times. One in 69 AD and the next about 150 years later.
I don't like to put words into the mouths of people we basically don't know too much about (I am very skeptical when I read character descriptions of generals and emperors). Most historians have to base their non fiction tales on what we have left of what was once written. But most of that was paid for by one side or the other so I believe it is too difficult to create a real setting based on facts. The so-called facts are almost all tainted.
One example of false interpretation of the so-called facts is the neverending tale about the Varus disaster and the German chest beating following it. Germans always believed they had forever ended Roman involvement into Germany above the Rhine. Well, anybody familiar with Rome's desire for expansion would have doubted that - to say the least. As you probably know a few years back a battlefield has been discovered close to Hannover. From what we can tell the Roman legion slaughtered the Barbarians. What can I say?
Therefore my stories involve only fictional characters but their actions fit in into what we think we know happened back in the days. I want my readers to think about the ordinary people who lived before us, breathed, loved and died and then were forgotten. I hope the more we think about those normal folks and the way we resemble them, the easier it will be for us to accept the others around us today.
Apart from Rome, other periods of interest are: the Etruscans, city states of ancient Greece, early to mid Middle Ages in France, D-Day, the Ardennes campaign (not just the battle of the Bulge but anything leading up to it), Napoleon, and the Afghan campaign that is taking place right now - which of course doesn't make it historical.
On top of that I'm of course open to anything I don't know too much about yet.
All best,
André

Hello everyone, I'm Pedro from Brazil. I am a lawyer and a big history buff, mostly WWII and Roman times. I've read all Ambrose's books on the subject. I'd like recommendations of other authors.

Welcome Sitaunga. I'm a newbie,too and I'm looking forward to discussing history books soon.

Hi Pedro, although fiction I highly recommend Steven Pressfield's Killing Rommel (read the blurbs and you'll see why) and as to non fiction An Army at Dawn and The Day of Battle by Rick Atkinson, of course The Longest Day, D-Day by Antony Beevor (and some of his others), Alamo in the Ardennes by John C. McManus.
All best, A

Sitatunga,

I'm sorry I misspelled your name in my previous post.

Hello Pedro,

Welcome to the History Book Club. We are glad to have you; there are a number of discussions going on currently including a book on FDR and the Federalist Papers. Additionally we will be starting A. Lincoln on November 1st.

If you have any questions, please do not hestitate to contact me.

Bentley

Thanks Bentley for the welcome and thanks Andre for the suggestions. I guess I'll start with Antony Beevor. I am going to Iran next month for a business trip and on the way back I am stopping in Paris. I am thinking about renting a car and driving to Normanday. Has anybody ever been there ?

Hello Pedro,

Will be going to Verdun myself. Hope to make the trip to Normandy soon.

Enjoy your trip to Iran (stay safe) and enjoy your time in Paris. We look forward to reading your posts.

Bentley

I'm Mark Roth. I'm a senior staff writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette specializing in health and science writing, but occasionally, I do history pieces with a local angle and I really enjoy history.

I hope I can be a responsible member of the group even if I don't join in on reading the current book. For some reason, the FDR legacy has never grabbed me that much from a biographical standpoint, so I think I'll bide my time until the next one.

No problem Mark..happy to have you with us.

The next spotlighted book will be The First World War by Keegan.

Bentley

Bentley wrote: "No problem Mark..happy to have you with us.

The next spotlighted book will be The First World War by Keegan.

Bentley"

And, of course, there is the Lincoln bio and The Federalist Papers both going on right now. And just reading posts people are starting to put up in the various threads about different wars. Good stuff.