The History Book Club discussion

Teri, here is your new thread in 2016. Happy reading in the new year.

Our Required Format:

JANUARY

1. by Winston S. Churchill
Finish date: January 2016
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.

Teri wrote: "February

..."

Oops, Teri! FEBRUARY is supposed to be all caps.

Are you following the TV series, Teri?

Exactly the same, including the hooked husband!

I've read the Outlander books since they first came out (I'm a sucker for time travel novels!) and I'm happy now that the series is back on again. Ive never read any of the smaller sideline novellas that she has written but it sounds like maybe I should get some of those too.

by Diana Gabaldon

I liked Lord John immediately and think he is a very good addition to all the other characters. I especially like him and his brother in one of the last books during the Revolution. Gave a great look at the other side's views.

I think I will read the novellas. You make them sound good. Normally I don't like that writing style. Not enough meat to make a book and too much for a short story.

Thanks Pamela

You finished a book today in the Readathon.

Teri wrote: "8. by Gilbert King
Finish date: April ..."

How did tensions rise if they just stopped to help a stuck car ? It's a perfect occasion to keep your racist mouth shut for a moment, be neutral/civil & accept help.

Teri wrote: "10. by Thomas Wolf (no photo)
Finish date: May 31, 2016
Genre..."

I could go on and on about the importance of this book if you are a non-profit board member or employed by a board. In so many cases, boards are unclear about where their responsibilities begin and end and overstep their bounds.....or they take everything reported to them by the administration as gospel without studying financials and policies and become a "rubber stamp " board. It is an arena that is much more complicated than it appears and board training by a professional and reading this book is a must toward having an effective board which is reflective of the population being served by the organization and meeting the goals of the organization. Good recommendation, Teri, especially for those of us who serve as board members of various non-profits.

I have used Boardsource before several times and recommend them as a resource. They will come on site and conduct training in whatever areas that you need. Very good organization. They basically turned around a board that I was on that was, frankly, a mess as people just weren't educated in board responsibilities. It made all the difference in the world.

Boardsource (no photo)

Just a note, Teri. They will come on site and do hands on training to the Board. We did that for one of the boards on which I am a member and it was excellent.

Ha! Glad you enjoyed this as much as I did. Applause applause, great review. And I'm with you on the roe and liver recipe - it will never be the breakfast of champions list in my house.

by Mark Kurlansky

I knew it!!!!! Now I am going to have to read that darn book after I made fun of Alisa.

Teri I have read Salt, that was the first one of his I picked up. There is a bit of overlap (because how do you preserve cod? Salt, of course, and every culture has its own salt cod recipe, some better than others but that is another story.). I have his other books of his on my to-read list. Jill, get on board! :-)
by Mark Kurlansky

You are all too much fun!!

Lorna, we found each other over an inexplicable love for the obscure. Join the party? :-)

Does that mean cod and salt and . . .

And so much more. Ask Jill about the book about goat glands.

Ooh, you almost had me but now I'm thinking not so much but I must laud each of you for your enthusiasm. You are the best!!!

Lorna, don't turn your back on us yet. We need another enthusiast!!

OK, I just re-read Teri's review and I will give my best to the obscure; actually it sounds pretty interesting. Thanks Alisa!

Whoohoo! :-)

Lorna.......give joining in our obscure book group a try. We think we are quite amusing and a bit crazed!!!! And you will end up reading books you never heard of and would never have considered reading. So far, they have all turned out to be fun.

Thanks Jill, it sounds perfect - I'm in!!

You might go with Cod first and then move on to the goat gland book ....a nice contrast!!! Alisa, Teri, and I all have a bit of the eccentric in us and get a kick out of making fun of each other's books and then reading them ourselves.

by Mark Kurlansky
by Pope Brock

Thank you Jill, cod it is!

I love Peculiar children. I've only read the first book so far (and loved it), because I'm waiting to get my hands on all three books before I start reading the series again. It's one of my favorite fantasy series.

by Ransom Riggs

Yes, m'am! :D I still have to find the third book. Not available at the moment in Croatia in English, and I have the first two in English. The great thing is that all three are translated to Croatian.

I'm going to have to read this. I think I read all her books as a child.

That looks great, Teri........I am still struggling with Montana Fried Beaver Tail though!!!!

Teri wrote: "23. by Mark Kurlansky
Finish date: August 28, 2..."

I know I would love this book.

That sounds very interesting, a travelogue from 70-80 years ago although the food is what my kids say is not my taste.

I hope you ladies like it. It's a very eclectic series of articles but very interesting, none the less.

As much as I hate to admit it, I have eaten possum in a stew. We usually just think of it as road kill but, although pretty greasy, it is not that bad.

Let me guess, it tastes like chicken?

Get a grip!!!!

Oh, Jill! And people look at me strangely when I tell them I love fried squirrel!!

Squirrel gravy is wonderful, Francie. And we are probably making people who are reading this, sick.

LOL, they just don't know what they're missing.

My mother used to make liver and onions in the days before her cholesterol issues. It is a Jewish delicacy apparently but it's not exactly my taste. Lol after reading this thread I might not be able to eat meat for a week.

Love liver and onions!

Absolutely love liver and onions as well as chopped liver on bagel. We should take this conversation over to the Food thread!!

My husband swears by squirrel gravy and biscuits! He loves squirrel but his thoughts on possum are "Ah ain't eatin' no (expletive deleted) possum" :) I haven't tried either one of those critters...
But- the book looks interesting!

It looks like there is enough interest to make this a book of the month, Teri. We could share recipes!

Sign me up!!! I am always interested in travelogues involving regional food.

Sounds like a great idea.......regional food is wonderful and I am always up for new recipes from the northern and western part of the country. I've got lots of southern recipes to share.

What does it matter where meat comes from ? Squirrel me up, I'm already down with liver !

Terri, we were lucky enough to see Lily Tomlin in person a few years back. She was delightful.

Since I was a phone company employee for many years, Ernestine was always my favorite, but she has so many good characters.

It was a one woman show. She was so personable and so funny - love her!