KARI ♪'S TASK - EXPLORING WITH LEWIS AND CLARK

[Carrie]

Melissa wrote: "My son dragged me to the library tonight so we could get the last Percy Jackson book, so I finally had a chance to seriously look for some options for this task.

For non-fiction, I found M..."</i>

I still have yet to finish the last Percy Jackson book myself and it's a series I have really enjoyed. Glad your son likes it too :)

The Time-Life book sounds pretty interesting.

I went and found some reviews of the fiction book over on Barnes & Noble. It seemed to have some mixed reviews, but from what I can tell, it seems like it should have about half of the book about the explorer Lewis' life involved and certainly not a typical book, since most times anything is mentioned, it's always about both men (Lewis and Clark) and not just one. So I'm giving this my okay for the challenge.

However, if you would prefer not to choose this book or find it not to be such a good read, you could try something else, if your library does offer it. Ask your library if they do Interlibrary Loans (ILLs) with other libraries and ask how long approximately it would take to get the book(s). As far as I know it's a free service (sometimes libraries charge for photocopies like when doing research papers I remember).

<i>Kim L wrote: "Cindy wrote: "If someone is still looking for a fiction book for this task, I recommend this one [book:From Sea to Shining Sea. It is the fictionalized story of George Rogers Clark's rather..."

You're quite welcome, Kim :)

[Donna Jo]

Just in case someone is still looking, for nonfiction I am reading William Clark and the Shaping of the West by Landon Y. Jones. It is a biography of Clark. The first two chapters are about the Clark family as set in the West (Ohio, etc), especially William's brother George Rogers Clark. The we get to the trek through the Louisiana Purchase, and the last third is his life after his return to the East. I had not realized how much influence he had later on Indian policy in the United States.
Not exactly storybook reading, but still interesting history.

[Melissa]

Kari ♪ wrote: "I still have yet to finish the last Percy Jackson book myself and it's a series I have really enjoyed. Glad your son likes it too :)

The Time-Life book sounds ,..."

Thanks Kari! I am a little concerned that the Melancholy Fate book seems a little less well liked, but I will give it a shot. I have also discovered that another branch in my library system has New Found Land Lewis & Clark's Voyage of Discovery so I am requesting that as a fall back in case the other one stinks! Also, my library does have Undaunted Courage on audio but I don't do audio books well so that would be a last resort.

(Both my kids are nuts about the Percy Jackson books but I just haven't set aside time to read them for myself yet. I better make time though since they are going to drag me to the movie for sure! wonder what task I can fit one in for...)

[Carrie]

Thanks, Donna Jo, for the suggestion. It also sounds like a very good book for just reading historical stories (and I don't mind reading history books at all).

Melissa, that sounds good about your library and a backup book just in case. Understandable about audiobooks. I do enjoy them, but I know and have friends who just have trouble with them. It certainly isn't for everyone...and if you have ever listened to one bad experience with a horrible narrator, it doesn't help.

I plan to do a re-read of the first Percy Jackson book before the movie and may listen to it on audio this time since I know the library does have it and see what I might have missed the first time through just reading it. I read so fast and audio helped me catch more. The books go pretty quickly, but not too fast like I found the Cirque du Freak books, which I could read in one evening's sitting. I hope if you read The Lightning Thief that you'll enjoy it. I'm always nervous when they make books into movies any more these days as the books are always better in most cases (in my opinion).

[Vicky]

Could I read The Journals of Lewis and Clark as non-fiction about the people and Little House in the Big Woods for fiction about the times?

[Helen]

For anyone interested in a Christmas Little House book try A Little House Christmas Holiday Stories From the Little House Books Good, easy read for kids for the holiday season.

Also there is one called A Little House Christmas Treasury by Laura Ingalls Wilder - a little longer, about 140 pages. Also, very good. (Interesting, I couldn't find this one on Goodreads list.)

[Carrie]

Vicky wrote: "Could I read The Journals of Lewis and Clark as non-fiction about the people and Little House in the Big Woods for fiction about the times?"

Thumbs up for both! Enjoy. I have been wanting to read that non-fiction book. So many good books on Lewis and Clark, never enough time to read them :)

[Melissa]

Okay, I gave The Melancholy Fate of Capt. Lewis a fair shake, but I didn't get far into it before I realized this book was going to really color my perception of Meriwether Lewis; and since I don't know much about the man, I prefer not to let a work of fiction form my first opinions. My library came through with New Found Land Lewis & Clark's Voyage of Discovery - it is cataloged as a Juvenile book ?!? It is 500p. but it is sort of free-form; part poetry, part epistle, part prose. I wonder if it could even work for Bridgit's task with the unusual format? I really like that it is told alternately from the point of view of each member of the expedition (including the dog). Not far into it yet but liking it.

[Carrie]

Hi Melissa, apologies about the long response time. Got back from traveling and so have been a little behind on things.

I would accept your new book unless you'd prefer to fit it somewhere else. I'm pretty flexible on this task for the most part. Sounds pretty cool about the point of views, including the dog *grin* Glad you're enjoying it over the other book.

[Melissa]

Kari (and Lisa, who originally recommended New Found Land Lewis & Clark's Voyage of Discovery), this book was AWESOME! I really liked it and stayed up late last night to finish it. I will write a lengthier review when I have a few more moments, but I had to say this book was SO good! I am thinking now of reading the journals to see how well the novel stacks up to the history; maybe that would work for the posthumous task... hmmm...

This has been a really fun task for me! Thank you Kari for thinking it up!

[Carrie]

Melissa wrote: "Kari (and Lisa, who originally recommended New Found Land Lewis & Clark's Voyage of Discovery), this book was AWESOME! I really liked it and stayed up late last night to finish it. I..."

*blush* Oh I'm so glad to hear that. Please let me know when you do your review, because I'd really enjoy reading what you thought of it. :)

[Melissa]

Kari, my review is up! hope you enjoy it.

[Carrie]

Very well written review. Thank you for letting me know and sharing. I have added to my to-read book list. Thank you again!

[Deedee]

I found another book with the son of Sacagawea:

Across the Endless River by Thaddeus Carhart


From GoodReads:
Across the Endless River : From the acclaimed bestselling author of The Piano Shop on the Left Bank, a historical novel about Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau, the son of Sacagawea, and his intriguing sojourn as a young man in 1820s Paris.

Since Museum of Human Beings by Colin Sargent
[image error] was approved, would Across the Endless River be approved also?

[Carrie]

Sure, I'll allow this novel as well. :)