The History Book Club discussion
MY BOOKS AND I
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WHAT IS EVERYBODY READING NOW?
Just finisheda fascinating look at a man who I heard of but didn't know a lot about. Seems overboard in singing his praises to me. Near the end I kept thinking come on have your motorcycle crash and die! so I can mark this as read.
Michael Korda
I just read
by
Harlan Coben. A very fast read, and a great concept that fascinates me - how people are tried and convicted in the media and in public opinion in the absence of a fair trial or, in some cases, facts. The internet can be a great source of information, but it can also be the worst and most damaging rumor mill, one with no accountability.Thanks to Bentley for the tip on this one!
Cheryl wrote: "I just read by Harlan Coben. A very fast read, and a great concept that fascinates me - how people are tried and convicted..."Cheryl, I just picked up that book recently as well and it looks great. Glad to hear your review of it.
I just started to read Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brian.I've read that the series is wonderful. I enjoyed the movie and the sound track even more.
Patrick O'Brian
Patrick wrote: "I just started to read Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brian.I've read that the series is wonderful. I enjoyed the movie and the sound track even more.[author..."the series is great, just remember that about the only thing the movie had in common with this book is the title and the name of the characters.
Cheryl wrote: "I just read by Harlan Coben. A very fast read, and a great concept that fascinates me - how people are tried and convicted..."In the book
Douglas Starr. French police would arrest someone totally innocent and the town gossips would then convict them. Even when let go the gossip would not quit and they often had to move and change names. This was in the 1890's so this is not a media/Internet problem.
Am getting ready to start an unusual history book....the history of the fictional detective. Written by Howard Haycraft whose life's work was the compilation and critique of the detective story, it covers the "golden age" of detective tales. Although my love of history comes first, I am a sucker for a good detective story from the era of 1920-1950s so am looking forward to a book that combines my two favorite genres. 
by Howard Haycraft (no photo)
Mod
Patrick, Thanks for the heads up now I won't try to compare the two.
Patricrk wrote:"In the book 
Douglas Starr. French police would arrest someone totally innocent and the town gossips would then convict them. Even when let go the gossip would not quit and they often had to move and change names. This was in the 1890's so this is not a media/Internet problem."Good point, and great recommendation - this book will go on my to read list! Guess it's human nature - although the internet certainly makes it easier and faster to spread the gossip . . .
I just put aside my book club reading and devoured a fascinating book, JOHN WAYNE GACY; DEFENDING A MONSTER by Sam Amirante. The book makes you wonder if we'll ever be able to determine for certain whether such a person, deemed "crazy," should be considered responsible for his/her actions. Gacy was a good father, a well known and well liked community figure, but killed some 33 young men. Well written page-turner by the man who vigorously defended him. by Sam Amirante
Oops, we have a glitch on the html, Marjorie:
by Sam AmiranteInteresting book. Wow, thanks for sharing.
Just completed a very fascinating book about the rise and fall of Prohibition. The author has done remarkable research and provides both sides of the issue in a fair-minded manner and not without humor. The influence of pressure groups such as the Anti-Saloon League, the WCTU and, of all things, the Ku Klux Klan carried the day and the Eighteen Amendment became the law of the land.....almost. He illustrates how most citizens including the "mob" side-stepped the law and liquor flowed freely, some of it deadly. I would highly recommend this book....it is quite enlightening and well-written.
by Daniel Okrent.
Marjorie wrote: "I just put aside my book club reading and devoured a fascinating book, JOHN WAYNE GACY; DEFENDING A MONSTER by Sam Amirante. The book makes you wonder if we'll ever be able to determine for certai..."The book mentioned in message 1121 has some discussion on "insane" and being able to be held punishable for your crimes. If I remember right, being a psychopath is not an allowable insanity defense under current law. Psychopaths know what they are doing is wrong, they just don't care and will do it anyway.
I have just started:
by Charles Lachman(no photo).I'm not very far into it but it certainly puts a new slant on the life of President Cleveland, if indeed all the information is presented fairly. The fact that he fathered an out-of-wedlock child is a known fact but some of the circumstances surrounding the mother and child are less than honorable. I have read:
by the same author and enjoyed it very much so I have great expectations for this book.
I've just started
by Annette Gordon-Reed It's for a class, but I'll try not to let that ruin it for me :)
Hi Tim, good effort on the links, make sure to select the book cover and author photo when using the add book/author feature in accordance with our club rules. Your post would look like this:
by Annette Gordon-ReedI've heard great things about this book. Let us know what you think of it when you are done.
My bad. I've gone back and corrected it. I'll be sure to post when I've finished.
Reading afghanistan by thomas barfield, unbroken by laura hillenbrand and what hath god wrought by daniel walker howe.
Hi Jon, some great choices there, and thanks for posting the book covers. We may have missed your introduction post and if you are new to the group please pop over to our introduction thread and tell us a little about what brings you to the club and your interests.
We do have guidelines as to how to cite books so that people who are interested in books can see where they are discussed on goodreads. Using the add book/author feature we ask that you post both teh book cover photo (which you ahve done) as wel as the author photo (if there is one) and the author link (always). Like this:
Thomas Barfield
Laura Hillenbrand
Daniel Walker HoweThere are also directions on the mechanics of the board thread but let us moderators know if you need a hand.
Looks like some great selections, thanks for sharing.
Hi Alisa,thanks for the information. I will do intro shortly.
Jon
I've just started a massive book; "Forgotten Valor: The Memoirs, Journals and Civil War Letters of Orlando B.Wilcox" edited by Robert Garth Scott.
by Orlando Willcox
Taking a diversion into fiction and reading my second book by this prolific author. I loved the first one I read some years ago -
- but the current one I am reading not so much. I'll finish it because I am almost done and with this author you never truly know how it will all come out until the end. The plot in this one just isn't as compelling as the previous book I read. But popular fiction thriller, it does the trick.
and
both by
Dean Koontz
Just finished up
by
Markus Zusak This novel gives a glimpse at life in Germany during WWII as seen by death narrating the story of a young girl. Interesting
Sounds like an interesting book Patricrk. I've started reading "The Annals of Imperial Rome" by Tacitus.
by
Tacitus
I posted this book on another thread but thought I would put it here as well. It is an alternative history of WWII which is made up of short essays by noted historians on the "what if" scenario. It is very scholarly and a pretty slow read....but worth it. I only have one complaint...the type face is so small that it is almost a chore to read it. Other than that small glitch, it is a fascinating book.
by Dennis Showalter (no photo)
I'm about 1/4 the way through this, and so far very it is very enjoyable.
by Andy Beckett (Sorry no photo).
Michael Burleigh One death is a tragedy a million deaths is a statistic. This book is about the statistic. It makes a distinction between the Nazis death factories and the allied bombing.
Thanks Hubert. Don't forget to add a book cover and author photo and link when you cite.
Noam Chomsky
Oh right! Book cover works well because your mouse can hover around the image and the title comes up as well. Has Chomsky ever made it to the read-a-thon list?
No problem, Hubert. Yes, I like the book covers as well, all part of the visual, eye thing and the mouse. Very cool, indeed.Other moderators could chime in, but I don't remember in the recent past that
Noam Chomsky was read by our group.You could try a buddy read if others are interested.
I didn't see any
Noam Chomsky books in the archives as being a group read....at least not in the recent past.
I am just into the first chapter of; "The Last Escape: The Untold Story of Allied Prisoners of War in Europe 1944-45".
by Tony Rennell
Just started this, a bit tech heavy in the early pages but a few interesting insights about the formative years:
by
Paul Allen
now I am reading this:
by
Lindsey DavisI don't know if I can finish this book - somehow I cannot 'feel' the story unfortunately.
:(
i've read quite a few books now on Tudor history and i'm currently reading this:
by David Starkey
i think this is the first book i've read by Starkey, but i enjoy the podcasts i've heard of his lectures. he's quite an opinionated man! agree or disagree, i find him entertaining.
by
D. J. TaylorI finally started this book....it has been in my TBR pile forever. To be frank, I'm not sure I am going to enjoy it because the subjects of the book are so irritating....shallow, without purpose in life, and just plain silly; however, it is a window on the time when England was recovering from the Great War and society, searching for relief, found amusement in the antics of the Bright Young People as they were known collectively. If I can keep that in mind, I may change my initial reaction to the first few chapters.
Some books I read recently that I really enjoyed:
Interesting books, Sid....but don't forget to add the link to the author and photo (if available) as shown below:
by Toby Wilkinson
by Jack Weatherford
by
John Julius Norwich
The History Book Club
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To add a book cover and author, click on the add book/author link above the comment box. you can then search on the book title, and using the radio button at the bottom select book cover. Click on 'add' and it will populate the comment box. Immediately go back into the add book/author feature, click on the author tab at the top, and repeat the process selecting the author photo (when available) and author link (always.) You post would look like this:
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