What are you reading?

[Martha]

I have never heard of that one. Thanks, Diane, I'm adding it. I usually love historical fiction, too.

[Jeremiah]

Just finished Vive la Revolution: A Stand-up History of the French Revolution by Mark Steel and loved it. Was nice to read something with a little humor.

[Diane S ☔]

Am now reading Muriel's War and American heiress in the nazi resistance. Muriel was the grandaughter of the man who founded the Swift meatpacking dynasty in Chicago. Shw was living in Austria when it was taken over by Hitler. Fascinating.

[Judith]

Diane wrote: "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..."

I enjoyed Dreamers of the Day. It was a fascinating insight into "Lawrence of Arabia," but I thought the end was a bit of a cop out. I won't say what Russell does for the ending for those who haven't read it, but I found it disappointing. The book overall is definitely worth a read.

[Jerry]

Diane wrote: "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..."
I have not but it sounds interesting. I have read Ms. Russell's
The Sparrow and thoroughly enjoyed her writing so thanks for the suggestion.

[Jerry]

Just finished Washington: A Life. Ron Chernow does a wonderful job compiling the prodigious amount of material left by Washington and his contemporaries. While Washington was not perfect, what strikes me is that a couple of minor changes to the events in his life could have drastically changed the founding of this country.

[Diane S ☔]

I am now reading A Being so gentle, the frontier love story of rachel and Andrew Jackson. Liking it so far, there is alot of information about the [political focus of the time as well as the settlers problems with the Indians.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads, Crazy Cat Lady]

For years I carried Herodotus in my handbag for emergency reading. I'd pick a section at random and see what I got.

[Judith]

Diane wrote: "I am now reading A Being so gentle, the frontier love story of rachel and Andrew Jackson. Liking it so far, there is alot of information about the [political focus of the time as well as the settle..."

Herodotus certainly knew how to write entertaining history, even if his definition of "history" is somewhat looser than most modern historians would accept! He's a favorite of mine also.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads, Crazy Cat Lady]

He's a favorite of mine, too.

[Count]

I've gotten my teeth into Learned Hand: the Man and the Judge. Written by a former clerk of his, and a formidable legal scholar in his own right, it takes a bit of a hero-worshipful tone, but one quickly gets the impression of a deep and thoughtful man with a rich sense of history and humor. The meat of this one seems certain to be meaty indeed.

[Marian]

Just finished "Rhett Butler's People" by donald McCaig. It is not exactly a sequel to "Gone with the Wind" as it is a parallell story telling the incidents from GWTW & the relationship between Rhett & Scarlett O'Hara, all from the point of view of Rhett Butler. This is a quiet, well written book.The author introduces Rhett's sister Rosemary who is the narrator is much of the period covered by GWTW. Rhett is portrayed as a thoughtful gentleman who decides that a gentleman's life is not for him. Any one who enjoyed GWTW will enjoy Rhett Butler & his people.

[April Ann]

The Kitchen House I just started this one, so far it's captured my interest. Looks like it's going to be a quick interesting read!

[Manuel]

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

I just finished reading that book. It was incredibly interesting. I kept thinking what a wonderful mini-series it would make.

Im embarrassed to say that I have read lots of information about Harriman, Edward R Murrow but I had no idea about ambassador Winant. This book made me want to read more about Pamela Churchill.

[Manuel]

Just finished reading Reflected Glory: The life of Pamela Churchill Harriman.

What an incredible life this woman lead. Starting life on the lower end of the British nobility and literally sleeping her way to the top by always choosing the most influential bed partners.

I was amazed and shocked that as Winston Churchill's high profile, 21 year old daughter-in-law she managed to have such a long lasting key affair with Averill Harriman during the height of WWII and it never became a security or blackmail issue for the Germans.

Who would have thought she would end up being the American ambassador to France during the Clinton administration?

Great book.

[Martha]

Manuel wrote: "Just finished reading Reflected Glory: The life of Pamela Churchill Harriman.

What an incredible life this woman lead. Starting life on the lower end of the British nobility and literally sleeping..."

The behind-the-scenes stories are quite amazing, aren't they. I'm adding Reflected Glory to my tbr list. I'm still only about a 1/3 of the way into Citizens of London. I'm finding it a very good book. Glad you enjoyed it, too.

The image of Winant walking through the bombed areas asking if he can do anything to help will stay with me a long time. No wonder all of England loved him!

[Diane S ☔]

Just finished reading The Third Miracle which is about the process in the Catholic Church by which they declare someone a saint. Very interesting. Also reading The Painted Darkenss by Brian James Freeman which is a samll book that I am liking alot about a man who becomes an artist after a terrible event that happened when he was five. He doesn't remeber it when he grows up but his paintbrush does.

[Donna]

Just finished I Am Murdered George Wythe, Thomas Jefferson and the Killing That Shocked a Nation by Bruce Chadwick.

Found out a lot about arsenic poisoning, laws that were written about testimony and trials. I liked this book.

[April Ann]

I just finished The Kitchen House, highly recommend it!

[☼Bookish]

Just finished, "The Memoirs of General Philip H. Sheridan Volume I. Part 1"

and am starting up: "Every Day Foods in War Time." War time being WWI.

[[deleted user]]

Teaberry wrote: "The Story of Britain: From the Romans to the Present: A Narrative History

Haven't made it very far; I think I'm up to the late 1300's. I'm enjoying it, although sometimes the author ..."

I just bought that, though I wasn't planning on reading it just yet. I'm glad to hear you are liking it so far.

[Diane S ☔]

I am now reading a very strange book called the Hitory of History about a young American in Berlin who loses her meory for a period of time and becomes obsessed with the history of the third reich. Her job is to give tours of present day Berlin but her obsession takes a very strange form. Extremely well written but I am not quite sure how I feel about it yet. Alot of history though.

[Donna]

I just found this group. I'm about to start "Cleopatra."

[Maphead]

Just started The Man Who Loved China by Simon Winchester and I'm loving it.
In case anyone is interested, there's quite a few history books featured on my book blog. Here's the link:
http://maphead.wordpress.com/

[Martha]

Just finished Citizens of London: The Americans Who Stood with Britain in Its Darkest, Finest Hour & thought it was awesome! Am reading Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption. I didn't plan on starting a WW2 trend, but looks like I'm doing it.

[Pete]

Gave five stars to 'The Jesus Mysteries' by Timothy Freke and Peter Gandy.

[April Ann]

Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles

I've had this one on my bookshelf for a while now. Finally reading it, so far so good!

[Diane S ☔]

April Ann wrote: "Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles

I've had this one on my bookshelf for a while now. Finally reading it, so far so good!"

Read this one. I think Margaret George is a fantastic author and I really enjoyed this book.

[Martha]

I have this one, but won't be able to start it for a couple of months. Have so many stacked up to read. Hope you enjoy it. I think it looks wonderful.

[J.S.]

Donna wrote: "I just found this group. I'm about to start "Cleopatra.""

Ditto--great group name and theme, and I have Cleopatra: A Life loaded on my kindle. Thank you for the awesome recs here!

[Manuel]

April Ann wrote: "Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles

I've had this one on my bookshelf for a while now. Finally reading it, so far so good!"

I really liked it when I read it a few years ago.
Interesting how someone with so much to gain, could make SO MANY bad choices regarding men, love, and policy. She is a great contrast to her cousin Elizabeth who struggled all her life to stay alive.

I was sad for Mary when I finished the book, then I realized her descendants sit on the British throne today; the Tudors are the ones who became extinct.

[Jane]

I am currently reading a pre-read book by Peter Godwin
"The Fear: Robert Mugabe and the Martyrdom of Zimbabwe".

[Diane S ☔]

I just started Madame Tussaud by Michelle Moran and I am really enjoying it. When I was in highschool history I was fascinated by the French Revolution and in this book we get an insiders view. Historical fiction I know but extremely well researched.

[Lianne]

I've started reading Christopher Hibbert's The Borgias and Their Enemies: 1431-1519. I like Hibbert's narrative style and it's a good introduction to the Borgias (I read his book on the Medicis last year and that was pretty good too).

[Martha]

Am reading John Adams and listening to A World Lit Only by Fire. Both are very good.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads, Crazy Cat Lady]

Reading Worldly Goods: A New History of the Renaissance - interesting.

[Lianne]

I've started reading Sarah Bradford's George VI (I was inspired after watching The King's Speech twice xD)

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads, Crazy Cat Lady]

I know I have read a bio of George VI, but cannot for the life of me figure out which one it is! (I don't think it's the Sarah Bradford one, though; publication date looks too recent.)

[Martha]

Elizabeth wrote: "Martha wrote: "I have never heard of that one. Thanks, Diane, I'm adding it. I usually love historical fiction, too."

If you love historical fiction you should read [book:39 Clues Complete Colle..."

Thanks, Elizabeth! I'm going to have to live forever to read all the books on my tbr pile! LOL

[Martha]

Anything that creates a love of history is terrific with me! I have to read a non-fiction history, biography or historical fiction all the time. I usually have 7-9 books I'm reading at a time, but concentrate on 3 for the most part. One is always historical! Thanks again for the recommendation.

[Mike]

I'm reading Robert Darnton's The Case for Books: Past, Present, and Futureafter finishing off two books by Neil Postman - Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business and Building a Bridge to the 18th Century: How the Past Can Improve Our Future. I'm on an Enlightenment jag.

[Donna]

I am reading Cleopatra

[Jerry]

My father, a WWII vet, was fighting in Korea at the age of 37 when I was born. WWII I understand to a point; Korea - not at all. So now I'm reading The Korean War. I'm only a third of the way through it but already my knowledge and understanding has increased ten fold.

[Jody]

I'm reading Erik Larsen's newst -- In the Garden of Beasts. Won it here on Goodreads. Not as impressed with this one as I was with Devil in the White City, which was amazing.

[Denise]

I'm reading In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson.

[M.K.]

Just starting In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson. 8% into it and it's fascinating. I'm a WWI and WWII enthusiast as well as an author of historical fiction.

[Geevee]

I'm halfway through . Very interesting how Melvyn Bragg outlines the affects and influence the King James Bible has had on society, language, science, literature and so on across the English speaking world.

[Patty]

I finally got Cleopatra from the library waiting list but haven't begun. Am reading All Clear by Connie Willis, which is the second volume of a time travel duo. The travellers from 2060 to World War Two can't return to their own time because something goes wrong. Heavy on history.

[Martha]

I just finished John Adams & absolutely loved it. Going to stay in that era and read Jefferson's Great Gamble: The Remarkable Story of Jefferson, Napoleon and the Men Behind the Louisiana Purchase next.

[Jerry]

Martha wrote: "I just finished John Adams & absolutely loved it. Going to stay in that era and read [book:Jefferson's Great Gamble: The Remarkable Story of Jefferson, Napoleon and the Men Behind the L..."
I thoroughly enjoyed John Adams also. I await your take on Jefferson as it's on my tbr list.