The History Book Club discussion
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WHAT IS EVERYBODY READING NOW?
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'Aussie Rick'
(last edited Oct 16, 2010 10:13PM)
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Oct 16, 2010 10:13PM


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The Days of the French Revolution
Christopher Hibbert"
Jack, remember when mentioning a book to post the book cover, author photo (if available) and link. Otherwise the goodreads software won't do it's job and link back to your post. It should look like this.

Thanks!


It offers a wonderful way of enjoying a quiet, unhurried Sunday afternoon.
For almost 20 years, I've been a fan of Patrick O'Brian's 'Aubrey-Maturin' series of seafaring novels set during the Napoleonic Wars. He really knows how to convey the atmosphere and the sensibilities of that era. This book is a treat!


It offers a wonderful way of enjoying a quiet, unhurried Sunday afternoon.
For almost 20 yea..."
Komet, thanks for the recommendation and your note. Don't forget to include the author photo (if available) and linke in addition to posting the book cover whenever you mention them. Both are needed to populate the goodreads software properly and something we ask of all the membership. Thanks!








There are some history reads, some sci-fi, and one science book. They should keep me busy for a little while!

I have a copy of "Lost to the West" by Lars Brownworth to read myself, if you get to it before me let me know what you think of it :)




A historical fiction about two Jewish children & the "witch" who cared for them in Nazi-occuppied Poland during WWII. I really enjoyed this.
I am currently reading (along with my ongoing non-fiction group reads):


Fiction, Classic, Mystery, Victorian, "1001 Books to Read Before You Die"


Hi Rick, I'm very interested in Quanah Parker.
Do you know this one:
by Bill Neeley
I liked it a lot. Other than Gwynne's it's just on Mr. Parker's life.
Do you know this one:

I liked it a lot. Other than Gwynne's it's just on Mr. Parker's life.
André wrote: "Hi Rick, I'm very interested in Quanah Parker."
Hi Andre!
I recently moved out West to Southern Oregon and I find myself surprised by the presence of living, active Native American communities. Back East, my exposure was pretty much limited to the National Museum of the Native American in Washington, DC. "Out here" Native American issues are not so much history as they are a part of a continuum of events extending to current times.
Anyway, I only know a little about Quanah Parker. I first heard about QP when I read the fiction,
by Kirk Mitchell
which is a contemporary thriller set on a reservation. The protag, named Quanah Parker (yep) is a Native American ex-FBI agent who returns home to get caught up in an intrigue. There's actually quite a bit of historical research included in the narrative which ties in to the characters, reservation life and, the crime itself.
And of course, there's the seminal non-fiction work on Western Expansion vs the Native American nations, in which Quanah Parker has a chapter,
by Dee Brown
I checked out the movie too, but didn't care for it particularly and I don't recall there being anything about QP in it :-(
Hi Andre!
I recently moved out West to Southern Oregon and I find myself surprised by the presence of living, active Native American communities. Back East, my exposure was pretty much limited to the National Museum of the Native American in Washington, DC. "Out here" Native American issues are not so much history as they are a part of a continuum of events extending to current times.
Anyway, I only know a little about Quanah Parker. I first heard about QP when I read the fiction,

which is a contemporary thriller set on a reservation. The protag, named Quanah Parker (yep) is a Native American ex-FBI agent who returns home to get caught up in an intrigue. There's actually quite a bit of historical research included in the narrative which ties in to the characters, reservation life and, the crime itself.
And of course, there's the seminal non-fiction work on Western Expansion vs the Native American nations, in which Quanah Parker has a chapter,

I checked out the movie too, but didn't care for it particularly and I don't recall there being anything about QP in it :-(
Thanks Tanya. Dee Brown's book is of course a good one. I don't know your fictional detective as yet but will look into it.
Thanks for the suggestions!
Thanks for the suggestions!

Do you know this one:

I liked it a l..."
Hi Andre, would you beleive it if I told you I've got a copy of that book sitting somewhere un-read in my library!
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André, Honorary Contributor - EMERITUS - Music
(last edited Oct 21, 2010 12:16AM)
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Hi Rick - believe it or not, I'm ready to believe anything you tell me about your magnificent library - and your wife. Please also send her my heartfelt greetings!

André wrote: "Thanks Tanya. Dee Brown's book is of course a good one. I don't know your fictional detective as yet but will look into it.
Thanks for the suggestions!"
Please add author's link and photo when available when citing them; it helps the goodreads software:
Dee Brown
Thanks for the suggestions!"
Please add author's link and photo when available when citing them; it helps the goodreads software:





Bryan wrote: "Just started:

Karl Marlantes"
by Karl Marlantes narrated by Bronson Pinchot
I experienced the audiobook edition earlier this year. I say "experienced" because it went far beyond reading or listening as a book. "Matterhorn" pierced through my ambivalence about the Vietnam War by dumping me in the middle of the jungle with shocking realism. *I had dreams about being in Vietnam!* It's the best book I've read this year and I've been relentlessly recommending it (in both audio and print editions) to absolutely everyone! I hope you love it too!




I experienced the audiobook edition earlier this year. I say "experienced" because it went far beyond reading or listening as a book. "Matterhorn" pierced through my ambivalence about the Vietnam War by dumping me in the middle of the jungle with shocking realism. *I had dreams about being in Vietnam!* It's the best book I've read this year and I've been relentlessly recommending it (in both audio and print editions) to absolutely everyone! I hope you love it too!



[bookcover:Matterhorn: A Novel of the V..."
Awesome, Tanya. So far, so good; you are dumped in the middle of the jungle with the first sentence!



and I just started and finished Liberty and Civilization
yesterday.



and I just started and finished Liberty and Civilization
yesterday."
Martin, please remember to add the author link (plus photo where available)whenever citing a book. Thanks









I just finished






So I then started reading






The book covers the war in Algeria between the French and Algerians between 1954 and 1962. I am not sure how I ended up with the book but I am really enjoying it. Mr. Horne has done a good job of giving a balanced description of a war this recent that involved so many controversial actions by both sides.
In a situation like this there are a lot of powerful stories. One in particular, however, caught my attention.
Paul Teitgen was a high level official responsible for oversight of the police. A terrorist was caught red-handed planting a bomb in a gasworks and it was known that he had planted a second bomb before being caught. Thousands could be killed when the second bomb detonated but Mr. Teitgen refused to have the terrorist tortured to discover its whereabouts.
I want to avoid a discussion on the merits of Mr. Teitgen's decision but however you feel about it you must respect his moral courage in holding what is perhaps the more difficult position in such a horrific situation.



I consider that to be a fortunate accident!
Have you read anything else by Horne? How does it compare in quality to to this book?



I've read most of Alistair Horne's military histories, including "How Far from Austerlitz" (Napoleon), "The Price of Glory" (Verdun in WW1), "To Lose a Battle" (France 1940), and many of his general French histories and have found them all very enjoyable and very readable.



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