What are you reading?

[George]

Reading "The Religion" by Tim Willocks. I am unfamiliar with the period of history it covers, mostly set around the invasion of the island of Malta by the Turks and would like to know if this book is a legitimate historical novel, i.e. is there a historical basis for the events portrayed? How historically accurate is the portrayal of this era? It's interesting,but redefined for me the terms "brutality" and "religious hatred." Can anyone comment?

[Tytti]

George wrote: "is there a historical basis for the events portrayed?"

Well, I am no expert but the Wiki article seems to have many sources to look into.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Si...

The Dark Angel is set in roughly the same era, during the siege of Constantinople a century earlier.

[Emily]

Daniel wrote: "Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire."

Was that the basis for the movie The Duchess?

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads, Crazy Cat Lady]

Yep. I think it's been sold under that title, as well.

[Malcolm]

You make want to take advantage of a free Kindle promo of my book 'The Judas Cross'.It is a bit of a stretch to call it historical fiction, but it is set in the nineteen twenties and full of authentic period detail. A psycho thriller of dark secrets and historical legend with a good outcome. Free for another 24 hours at http://www.amazon.com/Judas-Cross-Mur...

or any Kindle store worldwide.

[Emily]

I just finished Igniting the Flame: America's First Olympic Team, which was incredibly insightful. I had no idea that the first Olympic team had such a hard time convincing the country that the games were a good thing! I started reading this only as research for my next novel, but I ended up finding it amusing and enjoyable. Highly recommended.

[Tytti]

I am reading Mika Waltari's (better known for his historical novels) "The Truth about Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania", published in 1941. It was forbidden after the war by the Allied Control Commission, of course.

Basically it tells (and quite accurately even by what we know today) what happened in those countries between 1939-41, when they were occupied and annexed by the Soviet Union, and how it was done. He had pretty much all the information available to him that was known at the time, the military intelligence and so on. There's even some humour in his writing, like when he wonders how come the Soviet Union was so scared of the three little Baltic countries. And the events would be funny, if they weren't true. Unfortunately they are. It also feels very current, after following the news from Ukraine.

[James]

Having read biographies of Carnegie, Vanderbilt, Morgan, etc., over the years, I'm stunned by how good Henry Clay Frick: An Intimate Portrait by Martha Frick Symington Sanger is. A perfect combination of family history (she's his great-granddaughter), biography, and always the importance of his art collection. The full-color plates throughout are stunning. I wish every publisher spent this kind of money on a biography of a collector.

[Gary]

I'm reading "John Quincy Adams: American Visionary," by Fred Kaplan.

Brilliant book, and a good read.

[Amy]

Hey Joshua, if you want a great fiction about Cicero, check out Roman Blood by Steven Saylor. I know, terrible title, but AWESOME series.

[Susan]

Just finished:The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History Now its onto: Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman I guess this one could be considered a biography

[Amy]

Monuments Men brought these people forward, but - it was a horribly written book - read this book as a timeline. The book on these folks hasn't been written yet.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads, Crazy Cat Lady]

I thought Monuments Men was OK, but preferred The Rape of Europa: The Fate of Europe's Treasures in the Third Reich and the Second World War.

[Malcolm]

This is very recent history, but one of my own back catalogue books now on Kindle is in a free download promo for five days. It was written at the height of the sleaze period in British politics in the aftermath of Thatcher. It is pretty graphic (adult content) but it is a compelling read and full of authentic insider detail.If you have Kindle or a Kindle app on your Iphone or tablet(the app is free) try 'Downfall In Downing Street' from Amazon worldwide.If you prefer a real book it is available to buy in a new paperback edition. Enjoy!

[Kirsten]

I've been reading and listening to

[Linda]

I just started reading a book I won in a goodreads firstreads giveaway, Michelangelo: A Life in Six Masterpieces. It looks like a good one.

[Cadi]

Just started The Spanish Civil War by Paul Preston. I recently picked up one of those Oxford short introductions on this war and found it very interesting. I heard Preston's book was a good start for someone not too familiar with the subject.

[Anthony]

With the current news on infectious disease I would recommend reading "The Hot Zone".

[Malcolm]

To celebrate the launch of the new Compact Edition, with a striking new cover, of Hitler's First Lady, in denser type and therefore 100 pages shorter, the paperback will be on offer from today at the special price of £5.99, or currency equivalent, worldwide from Amazon. The new Kindle of this edition will be on sale at £0.77p, but today for ONE DAY ONLY WILL BE FREE to download. Don't miss your freebie if you have Kindle or the App, but hurry - just for Aug 6th.

Customer Review " I really enjoyed this book - fascinating plot that had me gripped. At centre of the story is an Anglo-German family whose loyalties are torn during the second world war. The woman has an affair with Hitler - seems rather far-fetched but the book draws you in and I couldn't put it down!"

[Erin]

I've been focused on fiction this year, for another book club, but I am planning to read Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall and Robert K. Massie's The Romanovs: The Final Chapter.

[Malcolm]

Thanks for support and hope you enjoy to those who got a free copy of 'Hitler's First Lady' on Kindle! If you missed out there is now a discount period which gives real value. Kindle at $1 plus tax and under £1 in UK/Europe. Paperback £5.99 or equivalent from Amazon worldwide.

Customer Review " I really enjoyed this book - fascinating plot that had me gripped. At centre of the story is an Anglo-German family whose loyalties are torn during the second world war. The woman has an affair with Hitler - seems rather far-fetched but the book draws you in and I couldn't put it down!"

[Kirsten]

Anthony wrote: "With the current news on infectious disease I would recommend reading "The Hot Zone"."

I read that years ago and would recommend it now considering all the news about Ebola.

[Kirsten]

I've been listening to by Margaret Atwood

[Emily]

Erin wrote: "I've been focused on fiction this year, for another book club, but I am planning to read Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall and Robert K. Massie's The Romanovs: The Final Chapter."

Let me know how The Romanovs is! I keep meaning to learn more Russian history.

[M.D.]

Kirsten wrote: "Anthony wrote: "With the current news on infectious disease I would recommend reading "The Hot Zone"."

I read that years ago and would recommend it now considering all the news about Ebola."

I read it recently and found it very interesting as it is a true story. Since there was no epidemic from the incident described in the book, it was not as fascinating as The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History about the 1918 flu pandemic. While not specifically about ebola, Laurie Garrett's books are great non fiction reads on the topic of epidemics, The Coming Plague: Newly Emerging Diseases in a World Out of Balance and Betrayal of Trust: The Collapse of Global Public Health

[Erin]

Emily wrote: "Erin wrote: "I've been focused on fiction this year, for another book club, but I am planning to read Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall and Robert K. Massie's [book:The Romanovs: The Final C..."

Will do! I love Russian history and Massie's work, so a good combo for me :)

[Crystal]

Just started The Last Kingdom (The Saxon Stories) by Bernard Cornwell. It's historical fiction, and as far as I know there's 7 so I'll be reading these for a bit. A lot of good reviews.

[Crystal]

I just finished "Divergent", and now I'm reading "The Runaway Jury" By John Grisham. I am loving the book. I have trouble putting it down. :D Next will be "Cleopatra, A Life" I'm kinda looking forward to that book and learning something new. :D

[Jerry]

Just finished The Heart of Everything That Is: The Untold Story of Red Cloud, An American Legend, a very readable history of the war with the plains Indians. While centered around Red Cloud, the author explores all the converging events that set the scene for the book's climax battle such as the introduction of horses, the Civil War, the gold discoveries and the evolution of guns.

[C. J.]

Crystal wrote: "I just finished "Divergent", and now I'm reading "The Runaway Jury" By John Grisham. I am loving the book. I have trouble putting it down. :D Next will be "Cleopatra, A Life" I'm kinda looking..."

I love John Grisham! I have read two of his books and a third I have that I hope to read in the near future ("The Rainmaker").

(Note: Sorry I thought this was a different group thread with a similar title. I usually like to mention non-fiction on here...)

[Will]

I just finished Beowulf and the Beowulf Manuscript, in which author Kiernan uses paleographic evidence to make a strong argument for dating the manuscript to a more specific period than "the late 10th or early 11th century." His commentary on the manuscript's origin also piqued my interest, as it didn't involve the vagaries so often found in discussions of the manuscript.

While it's unlikely we'll know more about the authorship of the this Old English work than we do about the authorship of The Iliad or The Odyssey Kiernan gives you plenty to think about -- in clear, well-written prose -- in this book.

Who says history is boring?

[Kirsten]

M.D. wrote: "Kirsten wrote: "Anthony wrote: "With the current news on infectious disease I would recommend reading "The Hot Zone"."

I read that years ago and would recommend it now considering all the news abo..."

THE GREAT INFLUENZA was a great read.

[Tytti]

Kirsten wrote: "M.D. wrote: "Kirsten wrote: "Anthony wrote: "With the current news on infectious disease I would recommend reading "The Hot Zone"."

I read that years ago and would recommend it now considering all..."

I've read Plagues and Peoples a few times, for an entrance exam...

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads, Crazy Cat Lady]

Plagues and Peoples is interesting.

[David]

Currently reading Catastrophe 1914: Europe Goes to War about the outbreak of the First World War, which I'm finding very interesting. I find the period has, rather topically, caught my interest - I just bought a copy of Testament of Youth for my wife, and while on holiday I picked up a copy of The First Casualty and started reading that, which was a mistake I think. Pretty poor historical fiction.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads, Crazy Cat Lady]

The Guns of August is excellent on the start of World War I.

[Donna]

Just finished reading WHITESEED THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE LOST COLONY OF ROANOKE by Paul Clayton
Quite a good read

[Dick]

David wrote: "Currently reading Catastrophe 1914: Europe Goes to War about the outbreak of the First World War, which I'm finding very interesting. I find the period has, rather topically, caught..."
you might try one of the great memoirs, written at the age of 26 I think. Robert Graves Goodbye to All That.Goodbye to All That Another awesome book on WWI is The Great War and Modern Memory

[Tytti]

Does anyone ever want to read (historical) books that you think are not very good, just so you can write a poor review among the praising ones? Usually because you can find mistakes in the blurb (or elsewhere) that you know will be very hard to explain, or something like that. Maybe I am just evil like that... I guess fortunately I am such a slow reader that finishing a book like that might be too difficult for me.

[Emily]

Donna wrote: "Just finished reading WHITESEED THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE LOST COLONY OF ROANOKE by Paul Clayton
Quite a good read"

Did that give any insight besides what we get in history textbooks? (They came, they disappeared, they scratched a word on a tree?)

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads, Crazy Cat Lady]

It looks like a historical novel - well, that is a decent setting for one.

Powhatan as bad guy is a new wrinkle, I guess.

[M.D.]

Emily wrote: "Donna wrote: "Just finished reading WHITESEED THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE LOST COLONY OF ROANOKE by Paul Clayton
Quite a good read"

Did that give any insight besides what we get in history textbooks..."

Exactly what I was wondering.

[Donna]

It made Gov. White a weak man, Powhatan a very bad man and gave hope that the good people of the colony were given a new life with the good Indian Tribe.

[Linda]

Tonight I finished reading Michelangelo: A Life in Six Masterpieces by Miles J. Unger. If any of you have ever disappointed your parents by becoming an artist instead going to business school, you'll like this book. Michelangelo's father was always disappointed and ashamed of him for being an artist (artists were considered common laborers before Michelangelo made people realize the genius behind his art). Even though his father never worked a day in his life, and was supported financially by Michelangelo, he still berated his son for being an artist.

[Linda]

I just started 1172 BC: The Year Civilization Collapsed. This was the end of the Bronze Age, the first time in history that could really be called civilization. There would not be another collapse as great or as devastating for another 1500 years when the Roman Empire collapsed. The collapse in 1177 BC was the start of the first Dark Ages. Looks like it will be good.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads, Crazy Cat Lady]

Oh, that looks interesting.

[Linda]

Susanna - Censored by GoodReads wrote: "Oh, that looks interesting."

A perfect storm of many different things came together to make all of civilization collapse in 1172 BC. The author makes a claim that the same gathering of events that collapsed civilization then are happening now. I hope he's wrong!

[Kirsten]

I've been listening to

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads, Crazy Cat Lady]

Currently reading The Riddle of the Labyrinth: The Quest to Crack an Ancient Code, which is about deciphering Linear B.

[M.D.]

Linda wrote: "Susanna - Censored by GoodReads wrote: "Oh, that looks interesting."

A perfect storm of many different things came together to make all of civilization collapse in 1172 BC. The author makes a clai..."

It took me a few tries to find it. The title is 1177 BC (not 1172 BC). I'd like to know the similarities with our current period.