When you're not reading a mystery...

[Thomas]

Sue wrote: "Thomas, that sounds like an interesting book, particularly with the Benedict Arnold angle.

Tara, I like memoirs too and selected history. I have never read books related to food. But I do think I ..."

It is a good book

[Tara]

Sue wrote: "Thomas, that sounds like an interesting book, particularly with the Benedict Arnold angle.

Tara, I like memoirs too and selected history. I have never read books related to food. But I do think I ..."

Food history is fascinating, particularly before we were pretty much able to eat whatever we want whenever we want, regardless of season and locale. Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky is a good example of this; who knew there were so many ways to cultivate salt!
Food is also so personal. We take dishes we loved as children, and carry that into the food we make for our own children. Think about recipes that are considered to be classics, such as a stew, but that have so many individual variations, there is no one right way to make it. The one risk however is that it will make you hungry, so best to read on a full stomach.

[Sue]

Tara, you’re so right. I make casseroles my mother used to make for us when I was young, simple food likely based on meals she knew from her childhood too. You’ve got me thinking in a different way about this type of reading. I have heard about Salt. Maybe I’ll take a look at that. And I will have to remember about not reading when I’m hungry 😋

[John]

Tara wrote: "Sue wrote: "Thomas, that sounds like an interesting book, particularly with the Benedict Arnold angle.

Tara, I like memoirs too and selected history. I have never read books related to food. But I..."

I highly recommend A History of English Food!

[Sue]

That looks interesting, John. I’ll add it.

[Thomas]

I read The Devil's Pawn It is historical fiction, based on the lesser known play Faustus II by Goethe. My review, 3.5 stars rounded down. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Jaye]

Later by Stephen King.
I just finished this and enjoyed it.
I don’t read horror much anymore but i consider this to be more in the supernatural genre. It's a quick read and i had a hard time putting it down.

[Thomas]

I read Levi's War I enjoyed it and recommended it to my wife. It is historical WWII fiction My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Dorothy]

I'm reading Apeirogon by Colm mcCann. I am listening to it on Audio and it is read by the author. It is very good but I am finding it hard going because of the subject matter. It is set near Jerusalem and is about the conflict between Israel and Palestine.

[Sue]

I’m reading an ARC of The Final Revival of Opal and Nev, a novel that is actually released today. It’s a biography of a music duo that began in the 1970s. So far it’s really well done with really complicated and interesting characters. Very much enjoying this and quite certain I will be recommending it.

[Thomas]

I read Blood Washing Blood: Afghanistan’s Hundred-Year War It is an excellent history book.
My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Thomas]

I read. Dreidel To The Grave. It is an alternate history book, with Hitler still alive and a Mossad spy looking to kill him.
My review. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[[deleted user]]

I'm reading Framley Parsonage by Anthony Trollope. It's book 4 in the Barset Chronicles. I adore this series and Trollope - highly recommend!

[Dorothy]

I'm reading 'Hamnet and Judith by Maggie O'Farrell, but I may have to set it aside to finish all the library books I took out today!

[Thomas]

I read The Women of Chateau Lafayette
I won it in a GR giveaway. It is historical fiction. I enjoyed it and recommend to anyone who likes strong women characters.
My 4 star review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Thomas]

I read a history book which I won in a GR giveaway, The Victorious Blood
I recommend it only to someone interested in the actual battle of Karbala, 680CE.
My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Thomas]

I read a historical mystery, Why Kill the Innocent
I enjoy this series and recommend it. My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Pamela]

One of my favorite actors — ever since the 1960s with The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and most recently in the American TV series NCIS — has been Scottish actor David McCallum, who like many talented actors has other passions. McCallum is a musician and as I recently found, an author. In 2016, he saw his crime novel Once a Crooked Man published, and yesterday, I found the book while exploring another local library I recently began using. (I live in an area where there are four cities close by and have library cards from three of the four city facilities.)

Previously I read The Gun Seller by another actor — this time English — whose work I really enjoy, Hugh Laurie. I first discovered Laurie in the Jeeves and Wooster series, as well as the Blackaddler series and have seen a couple of A Bit of Fry and Laurie. And then there was the American TV series House and the films Sense and Sensibility, Disney's 101 Dalmatians and Stuart Little.

[Michaela]

I discovered David McCallum in the TV series Kidnapped, after the book by Robert Louis Stevenson, and love him in NCIS too, so I added this book to my list. Wonder what you´ll think of it Pamela!

[Pamela]

Michaela wrote: "I discovered David McCallum in the TV series Kidnapped, after the book by Robert Louis Stevenson, and love him in NCIS too, so I added this book to my list. Wonder wha..."

Am finishing a book right now and hope to get to it Monday. I've read the first page and it was intriguing.

[C.J.]

Michaela, thanks for this news! I'm also a fan of David McCallum & glad to hear he's also written a novel. And Hugh Laurie is a multifaceted genius -- if you haven't yet seen him as the villain in the BBC 4-part John LeCarre's "The Night Manager," you won't believe it's the same actor who brought Bertie Wooster to hilarious life. I can't wait to read his book!

[Thomas]

I read The Outlier: The Life and Presidency of Jimmy Carter by Kai Bird
I enjoyed reading this very comprehensive biography of a much maligned President. I rate it 4.5 stars rounded up. My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[John]

I know I'm ancient, but I remember David McCallum in The Man from U. N. C. L. E.

[Thomas]

John wrote: "I know I'm ancient, but I remember David McCallum in The Man from U. N. C. L. E."

You're not alone. I also remember him from UNCLE.

[C.J.]

Thomas wrote: "I read The Outlier: The Life and Presidency of Jimmy Carter by Kai Bird
I enjoyed reading this very comprehensive biography of a much maligned President. I rate it 4...."

Thomas, I very much enjoyed their recent interview at the Leon Levy Center. Glad you liked the book -- I look forward to reading it.

[Thomas]

C.J. wrote: "Thomas wrote: "I read The Outlier: The Life and Presidency of Jimmy Carter by Kai Bird
I enjoyed reading this very comprehensive biography of a much maligned Presiden..."

Thanks CJ

[Thomas]

I read War of the Wolf by Bernard Cornwell It is book 11 in the Saxon Tales series. I recommend that you read them in order. I enjoyed this one and rate it 4 stars. It is historical fiction. My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Thomas]

I read Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead i enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone interested in historical fiction. See my review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Thomas]

I read Three Sisters by Heather Morris It is a true story of 3 Slovakian Jewish sisters sent to Auschwitz. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Thomas]

I read Who Slays the Wicked by C.S. Harris It is book 14 in the Sebastian St Cyr series and I recommend that you read them in order. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Thomas]

I read War Lord by Bernard Cornwell It is book 13 in the Saxon stories historical fiction series. It has been adapted for film as The Last Kingdom on Amazon Prime. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[John]

I'm just about finished with Nocturne: A Journey in Search of Moonlight, essays framed around a lunar theme - outstanding!

[Sue]

John that sounds good and I’ve added it.

I’m reading The Magician by Colm Toibin. I’m enjoying it especially since I’ve read three of Thomas Mann’s novels. Watching their development is very interesting.

[C.J.]

I recently finished Kate Quinn's The Rose Code -- best book I've read in ages! (Richard Osman's The Thursday Murder Club is second.) Now I'm itching to read her other books. (And Osman's sequel.)

I'm not a big fan of WW2 fiction, & after watching Foyle's War with the terrific match of Anthony Horowitz & Michael Kitchen, I felt nothing could top that, but I'm really glad I didn't miss The Rose Code.

[John]

This one was up for a Booker prize, but mixed review from me I'm afraid: Swimming Home by Deborah Levy.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Thomas]

I read Daughters of the Resistance by Lana Kortchik
It is historical fiction, set in occupied 1943 Ukraine. I read it in 2 days and recommend it to anyone who likes historical fiction.
My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Thomas]

My wife and I went on Columbia/Snake river cruise. The ship had weak WiFi. Here are 3 NG book reviews:
Beasts of a Little Land by Juhea Kim Historical fiction set in Korea
My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Storms from a Clear Sky by Denise Frisino
Historical fiction set in WWII US. My 3.5 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Dark Night by Paige Shelton Alaskan mystery. My 3.5 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Thomas]

Two more books that I read on the way home. Delta routed us as follows: Lewiston, Idaho to Salt Lake City, Utah to Atlanta, Georgia to Buffalo, NY. Our day started at 5am and ended at midnight when we arrived home.
Cold Heart by Kimberly Tilley My 4 star review for an excellent reconstruction of a 1903 murder in Buffalo, NY.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Dust in the Heart by Ralph Dennis A thriller set in North Carolina, as a sheriff searches for a child killer/rapist. My 4 star review for a noir writer who rivals Chandler. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Both books were Amazon purchases. I love my kindle. When I finish 1 book, I can move on to the next.

[Thomas]

I read Violeta by Isabel Allende and I recommend it. It is historical fiction set in Chile, from 1920-2020.
My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Thomas]

I read Brezhnev: The Making of a Statesman by
Susanne Schattenberg
I enjoyed it, but it is rather long(512pp.) with impressive footnotes and bibliography. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[John]

I've started one that may be of interest to some members here: From the Ground Up: The Story of a First Garden (set in California).

[Thomas]

I read My Heart Went Walking by Sally Hanan I enjoyed and rated it 3.5 stars rounded up. It is the story of an unmarried teenager in rural 1983 Ireland who refuses to give up her baby for adoption. Not a mystery, but literary fiction.

[Thomas]

I also read A Tall History of Sugar by Curdella Forbes
I rated 3.5 stars rounded down. It is literary fiction, set in Jamaica.
My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Thomas]

I just finished Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson It is abook of family secrets and pain, but I could not get invested in it. My review, 3.5 stars rounded up. I struggled with rounding up or down. If you like Kristin Hannah, this has some of the same themes, but not the emotional intensity. My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Not a thriller or a mystery, but literary fiction.

[Thomas]

I enjoyed reading The Bright Ages: A New History of Medieval Europe and rate it a solid 4 stars. It is a revisionist history of the middle ages in Europe, sometimes called The Dark Ages. My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
It was a GR giveaway.

[Dorothy]

That sounds interesting. I recently watched a TV series on the 'Dark Ages' explaining why they were not dark and had many great art treasures.

[Thomas]

Dorothy wrote: "That sounds interesting. I recently watched a TV series on the 'Dark Ages' explaining why they were not dark and had many great art treasures."

I recommend it.

[Dorothy]

Thomas wrote: "Dorothy wrote: "That sounds interesting. I recently watched a TV series on the 'Dark Ages' explaining why they were not dark and had many great art treasures."

I recommend it."

I've just ordered it from the library. I'm 24th on the waitlist.

[Penny]

Absolutely loved this book



my review

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

[Thomas]

I read No Land to Light On by Yara Zgheib It is literary fiction, describing how the Executive order barring anyone from several Muslim countries entry to the US, affected 1 man. My 3 star review for a sad story https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...