What are you reading?

[ShareStories]

I found "Write it When I'm Gone--Remarkable Off the Record Conversations with Gerald R. Ford" by Thomas Defrank, in the Dollar Store. It was on my to read list and I was thrilled to find it!

[J.]

I am reading The man-eaters of tsavo. Interesting, have wanted to read it for some time. I get a kick out the colonial English way of writing and thought. Quick read too.

[Martha]

I'm listening to The Civil War by Shelby Foote & reading The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean. It's a science book, but very historical, also. Science was my least favorite subject in school, but this book is very good.

[[deleted user]]

About a 1/3 of the way through John English's 2nd volume on The Life of Pierre Elliott Trudeau.1968 to 2000. Plan to read " The Invicible Quest- The life of Richard Milhous Nixon by Conrad Black next. Hopefully the biography of Nixon will be balanced. He disliked Trudeau who was hard as nails. When he was told what Nixon had called him ( a few things actually) he just said " I've been called worst things by better people."

[☼Bookish]

Maureen wrote: "Pam wrote: "I'm reading Old Cookbooks, of all things. Have no idea how I got on this reading jag, but currently working my way through Amelia Simmons "American Cookery" -- circa 1796. The first ..."

So what did you cook that was 'interesting', Maureen?

============

Currently reading the "Saga of Eric the Red" and related books. The saga was totally unlike what I was expecting. Really a remarkable document with N. America and Greenland only being a very small part.

[Patty]

The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory, the second in the War of the Roses series after The White Queen. More of a woman's novel but you effortlessly learn the history before the Tudor era while involved with the storyline.

[Jeanette]

Pam wrote: "I'm reading Old Cookbooks, of all things. Have no idea how I got on this reading jag, but currently working my way through Amelia Simmons "American Cookery" -- circa 1796. The first cookbook that..."

I love old cookbooks. this site http://digital.lib.msu.edu/projects/c... has digitized some old cookbooks and has them available online.
Especially since many include how to's on serving and life and household management and tasks, Unlike a history book, you can gain real knowledge of how people lived, worked and ate in everyday life.

[P.]

When I was researching the Simmons' for a book [in fact it continued to play a role in the plot of the next] I found Mary Barile's 'Cookbooks Worth Collecting' interesting. It has lots of info and the history and lore of notable cookbooks and just plain talks cookbook.

P

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19...

[☼Bookish]

P. wrote: "When I was researching the Simmons' for a book [in fact it continued to play a role in the plot of the next] I found Mary Barile's 'Cookbooks Worth Collecting' interesting. It has lots of info and ..."

Well that's a cool book. Thanks P~

[ShareStories]

I just got out 2 books on FDR and am currently reading Closest Companion--The Unknown Story of the Intimate Friendship between Franklin Roosevelt and Margaret Suckley.

[Diane S ☔]

Just finished Elizabeth;s Women which was very good and a different take than most of the other books of the Tudor period. Very good read.

[Vince]

I won a copy of Frank: The Voice from Goodreads. Should be getting it soon, I hope.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads, Crazy Cat Lady]

Reading The Rape of Europa: The Fate of Europe's Treasures in the Third Reich and the Second World War and finding it fascinating.

[Bipin]

could anyone suggest a good book on Napoleon?for someone who doesn't know much about him.

[Natalie]

Currently reading Fannie's Last Supper and really enjoying it .

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads, Crazy Cat Lady]

Bipin wrote: "could anyone suggest a good book on Napoleon?for someone who doesn't know much about him."

You could try Napoleon by Felix Markham.

[Bipin]

thanks Susanna for the help.

[Debbie]

Half way through the Lost City of Z by David Grann.

[[deleted user]]

Recently finished "George Etienne Cartier" by Alastair Sweeny. Probably one of the most important men that enabled Canada to extend from southern Ontario to the Pacific Coast Not given enough recognition in our country (it mostly went to John A. Macdonald).

Currently reading David Halberstam's "The Fifties". He covers everything from McDonalds, McCarthy, Elvis,MacArhur etc. Well written but definitely he's writing his own opinions along with facts he thinks are the most important.Sort of 100 biographies in one book. He does not give a pretty picture of the American involvement in installing the Shaw in Iran and Guatemala versus United Fruit.

I'm reading it to decide what topics I will follow up on. The only person so far that I didn't know anything about was C. Wright Mills. He wrote "White Collar" and " The Power Elite". Does anyone think they're worth reading. I probably will read " The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit" written in 1955.

Already picked up a new biography of Richard Nixon by Conrad Black who went from Canada to a Lord in England to a convict in the USA. You very seldom see the very rich fall so far. He owned many newspapers, has an excellent mind and can write. Hopefully enough times has passed to give a fairly objective view of the Nixon years.This writer will know something about public disgrace and its impact.

So far Halberstam has treated Nixon pretty fairly. The author basically says what he pleases except when he is dealing with Ike. Much harder to be too opnionated of a legend. However he has not spoken very well of the Republicans.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads, Crazy Cat Lady]

I think I read The Fifties about 15 years ago. It was interesting.

[Melisende]

Diane - currently reading Elizabeth's Women and Christopher Marlowe - Poet & Spy by Park Honan

[Mike]

I just finished a re-read of "Undaunted Courage". I am amazed at how involved I got in the passage of the Corp of Discovery up the Missouri, across the Rocky Mountains and then down the Columbia. The obstacles overcome, the perseverance of the men, the decisions made by both Lewis and Clark and the courage of entering an uncharted land for over 2 years with numerous dangers, known and unknown is truly amazing. Ambrose does a great job of transporting the reader into the moment. I felt like I was right there with them.
After reading this book I want to see more of the spots where the Corps traveled.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads, Crazy Cat Lady]

I really enjoyed that one, Mike. Have you read his Nothing Like it in the World: The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad 1863-69? I really enjoyed that one, too.

[P.]

Mike wrote: "I just finished a re-read of "Undaunted Courage". I am amazed at how involved I got in the passage of the Corp of Discovery up the Missouri, across the Rocky Mountains and then down the Columbia. ..."

I bought this while in some of the territory the corps traveled and just couldn't get in to it. I'll have to give it another try. The Ken Burns PBS L&C is stunningly beautiful.

[Mike]

Susanna wrote: "I really enjoyed that one, Mike. Have you read his Nothing Like it in the World: The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad 1863-69? I really enjoyed that one, too."

[Mike]

Susanna wrote: "I really enjoyed that one, Mike. Have you read his Nothing Like it in the World: The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad 1863-69? I really enjoyed that one, too."
Yes I have read it and I loved that book too. Ambrose took on a subject, on which there is very little written and expertly showed the drama surrounding the building of the railroad and its immense impact on our nation. If it was fiction rather than history I'm not sure that the story would sound so believable. Ambrose is a very good story teller as far as I'm concerned.

[Mike]

P. wrote: "Mike wrote: "I just finished a re-read of "Undaunted Courage". I am amazed at how involved I got in the passage of the Corp of Discovery up the Missouri, across the Rocky Mountains and then down t..."

Funny that you should mention that. I first picked up this book 5 years ago or so. I just couldn't get into it at the time either. When I picked it up again recently everything resonated with me, especially the chapter about how Jefferson and the other leaders of the day had had a longtime vision to send out an exploring party to the Pacific. That vision was at least 50 years old by 1803.
I guess the time just needs to be right.

[Corey]

Just about to finish Ron Chernow's "Washington: A Life". As usual, a very comprehensive biography from Chernow. Very eye-opening informaiton about Washington, particularly his treatment of some of the servants/slaves who worked for him, several of the friendships that were severed due to political clashes, his relationship with his mother and his temper (which I knew about from accounts of his contemporaries, but had few examples to demonstrate it).

Very interesting read. Highly recommended.

[Martha]

Mike wrote: "P. wrote: "Mike wrote: "I just finished a re-read of "Undaunted Courage". I am amazed at how involved I got in the passage of the Corp of Discovery up the Missouri, across the Rocky Mountains and ..."

Undaunted Courage is the book that got me back into reading non-fiction more regularly. I bored all my family & friends by talking about it practically non-stop. I was WITH them on their trek. I have 2 or 3 others of his to read, but haven't gotten around to them yet. He was an awesome writer.

[Lisa]

I'm new to this group and, full disclosure, am the author of a recently released History book. I'd like to invite all of you to read THE KENNEDY DETAIL: JFK'S SECRET SERVICE AGENTS BREAK THEIR SILENCE. As the co-author, I am happy to engage in conversations with readers about the book. I'm happy to report that the book is striking a chord with both male and female readers around the country of all ages. Thanks for allowing me to be a part of your group.

[Diane S ☔]

Lisa wrote: "I'm new to this group and, full disclosure, am the author of a recently released History book. I'd like to invite all of you to read THE KENNEDY DETAIL: JFK'S SECRET SERVICE AGENTS BREAK THEIR SILE..."

I actually did recently read this book. It was extremely well done and reading about the Kennedy Family as well as his assassination from the secret service agents who were so personaly involved really brought the events to life.

[Vince]

Autobiography of Mark Twain: The Complete and Authoritative Edition, Volume 1

[Diane S ☔]

Reading Cleopatra of course and also Catherine of Aragon, liking both very much, two different woman, two different time periods but alike in their passionate convictions.

[Martha]

I'm reading Blood and Thunder: An Epic of the American West & loving it. Not too far into it yet. Also, reading Truman, but haven't picked it up in several days. It will take some time for me to get through it.

[Lynn]

I am reading a novel, Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, but will read The Man Who Ate His Boots; The Tragic History of the Northwest Passage next.

[Judith]

I really enjoyed Cleopatra so I decided to read Bettany Hughes's Helen of Troy, another strong queen/great beauty lost in legend. The book had been sitting on my shelf, so it seemed a good choice to finally get around to reading it. I'm enjoying seeing how Hughes deals with the even sketchyier evidence than Schiff had to cope with. Both Schiff and Hughes seem to be great at researching and creating the cultural environment.

[Crystal]

Judith wrote: "I really enjoyed Cleopatra so I decided to read Bettany Hughes's Helen of Troy, another strong queen/great beauty lost in legend. The book had been sitting on my shelf, so it seemed a good choice t..."

Which one are you reading? It looks as if there are two listed on GoodReads; Helen of Troy: Goddess, Princess, Whore and Helen of Troy: The Story Behind the Most Beautiful Women in the World. They sound facisnating, will have to put on my to read list

[Crystal]

I just finished Annies Ghosts: A Journey into a Family Secret. It centers around personal history, but also delves into our not too distant history of the mental institutions of America. Its a wonderfully done book, from a journalist's and also son's point of view, Steve Luxenburg. It really makes you want to research and hang onto your own family history.

[Judith]

When it came out in paperback the title changed. I just double checked on Amazon and they are both the same book. I'm definitely enjoying it. I don't know why I let it languish on my shelf so long. Hughes is a BBC broadcaster and there's a PBS show she made from this book also. Maybe it would be a good follow up read as a group read. I'm new to this group, so I'm not sure how the choosing process works.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads, Crazy Cat Lady]

OK, will combine them, then. Thanks! I think I saw the PBS show - it was very interesting.

Currently reading Cleopatra: A Life and Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds. Just finished the section on the South Sea Bubble in that one.

[Diane S ☔]

Now reading Founding Foodies which combines the history of food in our country and the important part our founding fathers had in its production and imoportation.

[Judith]

I have to say that is a tempting combination--feeding both the foodie and the historian in me. I'll add it to my to read list.

[Blaine]

Just began rereading The Big Rich: The Rise and Fall of the Greatest Texas Oil Fortunes by Bryan Burroughs.

Had read this previously and really enjoyed it. Now we are reading it as part of our monthly Book Club.

[P.]

Diane wrote: "Now reading Founding Foodies which combines the history of food in our country and the important part our founding fathers had in its production and imoportation."

Delighted to hear about this book, which I've ordered. I have Dewitt's Whole Chile Pepper Cookbook.

[K Browne]

In honor of Dr. King, I'm reading Parting the Waters, By Taylor Branch.

[[deleted user]]

Reading "The Invincible Quest- The Life of Richard Milhous Nixon by Conrad Black 2007. On page 727 and finding it fairly balanced and very comprehensive. I've reached 1971. A long book but has lots of notes,index, and a 11-12 page bibliography. It's also a good review of significant events in American history from 1948 on. Very well written, opinionated, interesting descriptions ( he can be pompous and likes to use unusual words ). Like Nixon himself, he continues to fight for his reputation after his current fall from grace. He is also used to dealing with the elite. Being a man who had a news paper empire, his comments on the media are also informative. You may agree or diaagree with him but the book is well documented. It has changed my perceptions of Nixon, some of them to the better, some of them not. I wasn't looking forward to reading a book on Nixon, but felt it was necessary to better understand American politics. The book has been a pleasant surprise.

Black is a controversial figure himself being a newspaper mogul , giving up Canadian citizenship, becoming a British Lord, and then found guilty in USA courts for questionable business practices. He is presently out on bail after serving some time. He is very self assured and took on the American Legal system in what many thought was a lost cause. He has also written a book on FDR titled Franklin Delano Roosevelt" Champion of Freedom".

[Michael Gawlinski]

I'm starting Empire of the Summer Moon

[R.]

I just started Hero: The Life and Legend of Lawrence of Arabia by Michael Korda...it's pretty interesting so far, and if nothing else the movie will make more sense to me now.

[Martha]

I've just started listening to Citizens of London: The Americans Who Stood with Britain in Its Darkest, Finest Hour and am loving it.

[Diane S ☔]

Have you ever read Dreamers of the Day by Mary Doria Russell? It is a fiction book but has a young Lawrence, Getrude Bell and Winston Churchill in Cairo during the peace talks. We did it for a book group and all loved it.