The History Book Club discussion

Here is your new thread for 2013.

Our Format:

JANUARY

1. Winston S. Churchill
Finish date: March 2008
Genre: (whatever genre the book happens to be)
Rating: A
Review: You can add text from a review you have written but no links to any review elsewhere even goodreads. And that is about it. Just make sure to number consecutively and just add the months.

Note: I will delete required format post once you get started.

Great Mike, don't forget to add January on the top in bold.

Mike wrote: "2.Ian Rankin
Finish Date:January 2013
Genre:Mystery
Rating:A
Review:This book marks the return of John Rebus and it was w..."

I've liked other books in this series, so I will add this to my TBR list

Mike wrote: "2.Ian Rankin
Finish Date:January 2013
Genre:Mystery
Rating:A
Review:This book marks the return of John Rebus and it was w..."

Thanks, Mike. I have read all the Rebus books and was very sad when I thought they were over. I did not know there was a new one.

Mike you are getting the new year off to a roaring start! Great job on the format, however there is no need to include the generic photo icon of the author when there is no photo. In that case the hyperlink will suffice.

Enjoy seeing the variety in your selections and what you are reading. Nicely done.

Mike wrote: "6.Patrick K. O'Donnell
Finish Date:January 2013
Genre:Military History (Korean War)
Ra..."

I'm going to add this to my TBR pile, thanks.

Mike wrote: "6.Patrick K. O'Donnell
Finish Date:January 2013
Genre:Military History (Korean War)
Ra..."

If you are interested in the Korean War, I highly recommend by David Halberstam

Mike you are on a roll! At this rate you will hit 50 books by March. Love your reviews and variety. Keep at it.

Mike wrote: "20. by Oliver Harris
FDate: February 2013
Genre:Mystery
Rating: B+
Review: Detective Nick Belsey is a mess. He wakes up in a ..."

sounds good

That really look interesting, Mike. Does the author abnegate or support any or all the myths?

Mike wrote: "Jill wrote: "That really look interesting, Mike. Does the author abnegate or support any or all the myths?"

He takes a stance against all five. Not to give much away but in the instance of nuclea..."

Thanks......I believe that the book must go on my ever-increasing TBR list. Sounds fascinating.

22 books and it's only early February! Holy Moley!

And a lot of them look interesting.

I will have to put this on my TBR list

You are on a roll, Mike!!!

I also really liked that Rebus book. It is a very multi-layered story.

by Ian Rankin

My TBR list is officially out of control. :-)

It is a great book. I hope he is not writing about writing these books, because he needs to work on the last volume, lol.

Robert A. Caro

Hey Mike, something happened with the author citation.

Mike wrote: "29. by Jonathan Kellerman
Finish Date: February 2013
Genre: Mystery
Rating: B-
Review:A new homeowner discovers a box containing the bones ..."

I liked the first few in this series, but found it went downhill after that.

Great progress Mike. I am inspired.

I have read several books in that series, Mike. I will be interested in your opinions as you read some of the other books.

Mike wrote: "33. by Rosie Schaap
Finish Date: February 2013
Genre:Memoir
Rating: A
Review: DISCLAIMER: I worked with Rosie Schaap at a social service agency in th..."

Your progress if making the rest of us look like slackers. I'm impressed, and emjoying your reviews and keeping up with your selections. This one looks great, adding it to the never-ending TBR list.

Mike wrote: "30. by [authorimage:Susan Hill]Susan Hill
Finish Date: February 2013
Genre: Mystery
Rating: A+
Review:The main theme of this book is about a young boy who is kidn..."

I read The Various Haunts of Men and was left with my mouth open when it ended. I'll add this one to my TBR list. Thanks.

by

Wow carry on Mike.

Mike wrote: "43. by Thomas Perry
Finish Date: March 2013
Genre: Thriller
Rating: D-
Review: I was really disappointed with this book. I've read a few ..."

Interesting. It got a good review in the NY Times Book Review today.

Tastes differ. :-)

You are on a roll, Mike!!!

Mike you are on a terrific pace and treating us to some good reviews. I, for one, am cheering you on!

57 books and it's MARCH? Holy moley! I thought *I* read a lot!

Mike wrote: "58. by Tana French
Finish: March 2013
Genre: Mystery
Rating: A+
Review: I can't begin to say enough good things about this book. The main ..."

Mike, do you recommend reading book #1 in the series first or is it okay to jump in with this one?

Thanks, Mike.

Mike you are a reading machine :)

Mike wrote: "68. by Filip Bondy
Finish: April 2013
Genre: Non-Fiction/Basebal..."

I am going to track that book down, Mike. Another one you might like which is in the same vein but is football related lists the most overrated and underrated players, teams coaches and moments in NFL history. It is a really fun book.

by Sal Paolantonio

Well done book

Mike, don't forget to add the month header in bold for the first entry when you start a new month. Small tweak but it's the format.
We are all cheering on your remarkable progress!

Sounds good! Should the series be read in order?

(I didn't know you could tattoo a tooth!)

Mike wrote: "83. by Peter Lovesey
Finish Date: May 2013
Genre: Mystery
Rating: A
Review: A young woman is found dead in a canal. The only clue t..."

One of my favorite detectives!!!!

Mike, I would also give Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea an A+. You are so right - the stark poverty, starvation, and social control in that small country are just amazing in this day and age. The political cult functions as a religion. And to think that North Korea used to be the more prosperous part of the country.

Barbara Demick

Mike your progress is fantastic, your reviews are very enjoyable to read, and we are all adding to our TBR piles. Keep it up!

Don't forget the month header in bold at the start of a new month. (You are missing May.).

Milke, I think Alisa means you need to put a bold May or MAY at the very beginning of entry 123, on its own line before the book listing.

Thanks Mike - you are making progress in that and awesome progress with your books.

If you click on the link that says '(some html is ok)' you'll see some shortcuts you can use to try to add formatting to messages. It's basically adding bracketed code before and after certain words. Maybe some computers don't allow these brackets, but I would imagine it's possible on almost all computers (as well as smart phones?)

Congrats on reaching 100! Keep it up, you are doing great and we are cheering you on.

Mike wrote: "101. by Val McDermid
Date Finished: June 2013
Genre: Mystery
Rating: A
Review: This is the sixth book in the Tony Hill and Carol Jord..."

Mike, did you know that there's a British TV series based on these books? It's called Wire in the Blood and is available streaming (or on DVD) from Netflix. I really like it, but haven't read any of the books.

http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/70140463...

Mike, when you mention other books, make sure to add them using the proper formatting. You can mention them in your text, and insert the book cover/author links at the end of your post. Thanks.

Vicki wrote: "Mike wrote: "101. by Val McDermid
Date Finished: June 2013
Genre: Mystery
Rating: A
Review: This is the sixth book in the Tony Hill a..."

Hi Mike,
That's how I discovered Val McDermid . . . I saw the series on my local PBS station (I love Robsen Greene who plays Tony) and I bought the DVD collection . . . then that led me to all her other books . . . I think I've managed to collect all of them in either eBook or audiobook format . . . haven't read them all yet . . . I like to read in order if possible . . and doing them together will be a treat . . .

Thanks for the tip Mike.

Mike wrote: "107. by Ian Rankin
Date Finished: June 2013
Genre: Mystery
Rating: A
Review: A man walks into a school and kills two teenage students ..."

This goes on my TBR pile too.

Thanks Mike, a happy one to you too. I like the Dummies books.

Added it to my TBR list, thanks Mike.

Like your adds Mike

Mike wrote: "139. by Mark Strand

Date Finished: August 2013
Genre: Art
Rating: A-
Review: 30 paintings of Hoppers are shown in this book along with a brief co..."

I love Hopper's Night Hawks and have a copy on my wall. I love to look at it and try to figure out the story behind the people sitting in the diner.