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N. & S. American History: What have you read lately?
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Chrissie wrote: "Susanna, have you read the book David McCullough wrote about the Panama Canal? I have that on my must read shelf. All of his books sound fascinating. Which did you like best? I have a hard time cho..."I have it on my bedside table.
The first one I read,
Mornings on Horseback The Story of an Extraordinary Family, a Vanished Way of Life & the Unique Child Who Became Theodore Roosevelt, may be my favorite. But I've enjoyed all of them, particularly The Great Bridge The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge, which I read last summer and gave five stars.
I am a big fan of Mr. McCullough.
Hello Chrissie,
I have not read his book on the Panama Canal, though I would like to. I usually read books about the Founding Fathers, so I usually prefer books like John Adams. But as I would like to be a diverse reader, I would be eager to read about the Panama Canal. Susanna, I agree with you. I am also a big fan of David McCullough.
Susanna and Lena, Actually I HAVE read this author. I read his book about Roosevelt, but that was over 10 years ago! I am tempted to add both the Panama and the Brooklyn Bridge one to my must shelf - ie the shelf of books that I will buy when I order next time! I really enjoyed the one about Roosevelt!
Lena, It is called Mornings on Horseback. It is about Theodor Roosevelt. You will find that Susanna in message 53 has a direct link to it! If you like reading more about him, I read another great book about him and his discovery of a tributary of the Amazon. See above my message 40 for a direct link. The book is called the River of Doubt.
I read his The Johnstown Flood in the last month or so, and it's very good, too. And a short one for McCullough. I think it was his first book; it was published in 1967, I think.
I just started Ines of My Soul A Novel by Isabel Allende and so far it is very good. I am not sure if this came before or after Zorro but it seems to be more like her earlier books.
Good luck Donna. I think it was published after Zorro. Please mention here in this thread what you think in the end! Kirkus did not give it a very good review.
Donna wrote: "I just started Ines of My Soul A Novel by Isabel Allende and so far it is very good. I am not sure if this came before or after Zorro but it seems to be more like her earlier books."
I am just about to finish this one as well. What did you think Donna? Have you read Daughter of Fortune by Allende? I have to say Daughter of Fortune is my favorite by her. Ines of My Soul is very good to but just not quite as good IMHO.
Hi Emily and Chrissie, I'm sorry to say I didn't finish Ines of My Soul. I kept putting it down to read something else and then it needed to go back to the library. I do think I would like to try to finish it at some time but it just didn't hold my interest like Daughter of Fortune which I thought was terrific.
Donna wrote: "Hi Emily and Chrissie, I'm sorry to say I didn't finish Ines of My Soul. I kept putting it down to read something else and then it needed to go back to the library. I do think I would like to try t..."
Well I too prefer her earlier writings, particularly tThe House of the Spirits and the ones about her daughter. That you kept putting it down isn't a good sign!
Currently reading Freedom Just Around the Corner A New American History 1585-1828, by Walter McDougall. Interesting interpretation.
I'm reading The Immigrants by Howard Fast. I'm not that familiar with American history in the early part of the 20th century, so I can't really comment on how historically accurate it is, but the storyline is decent enough. I don't think I'd go out of my way to find this book, but for the buck I paid, it's pretty good.
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Books mentioned in this topic
The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl (other topics)The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge (other topics)
Copperheads: The Rise and Fall of Lincoln's Opponents in the North (other topics)
Nothing Like It In the World : The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad 1863-1869 (other topics)
Little Women (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Geraldine Brooks (other topics)John M. Barry (other topics)
