READATHON BREAK TWO - OCTOBER 24, 2015

[Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief]

Tell us a little bit about the book you are reading now and anything that surprised you, that you did not know before or has gotten you thinking about a new subject. Or just something about the book you are enjoying.

I always learn something new with each book.

[Samanta]

The more I read Letters from Mexico, I see Cortes as a very pompous...um, person. His letters are all about the glorious Spain and its complete superiority over other nations while he tells the king how he killed thousands of people. Also, by his account all the indigenous people wish nothing more in their lives than to serve His Majesty. I mean, seriously?! I realize, Cortes had to be very careful when writing letters to his king and that his accounts are probably exagerated, but still, my eyes rolled many times. But not to be harsh only on the Spaniards, the indigenous tribes seem equally coniving and willing to go to war and conquer each other, at least by his account. Cortes present himself as the most intellingent and able person there is. Reading his letters, you would think that Spain would crumble to dust without him.

by Hernán Cortés

As for The Forsaken Inn, well that one was a pleasant surprise. I never even heard of the author before enrolling in a course on historical fiction, where the novel was a core reading material. The funny thing is, not even the professor had heard about her before he started to prepare the course, and she is called the "mother of detective fiction".

by Anna Katharine Green

[Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief]

Excellent post Samanta.

[Teri]

I just started reading Pepper: A History of the World's Most Influential Spice after reading Salt: A World History a few weeks ago. I thought Pepper would be a good follow up. I'm only a few pages in, but according to the Preface, the extinction of the dodo bird is related to the pepper trade. Thought that was an interesting follow up to The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History, that I finished reading earlier this month.

by Marjorie Shaffer (no photo)
by Mark Kurlansky
by Elizabeth Kolbert

[Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief]

That is an interesting find and discovery - you read the most interesting books Teri

[Teri]

I spend too much time (is that possible?) on Goodreads. Their recommendation feature and seeing what others read has made my TBR list grow so long, I may never read all that I want. I have such varied interests that I enjoy reading little about everything. Although I'm not so interested in zombies or romances. :-) However, even those find their way into my pile from time to time.

[Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief]

Well they have some good lists.