Wholesome History Reads Group discussion

Welcome!
This is the place to discuss various explorers and their exploration. It could be David Livingstone, Howard Carter, or Captain James Cook, but whoever you want to talk about, this is the thread to do do it. Enjoy!

Just finished reading a biography of Francis Drake

not bad, but a little dry in spots - slightly less than 4 stars, but rounded up

happy wrote: "Just finished reading a biography of Francis Drake

not bad, but a little dry in spots - slightly less than 4 stars, but rounded up

"

Nice! That would been an interesting read. I've always liked reading about his life.

This was a very informative read and rattled along with great pace like a novel:

by Laurence Bergreen

The book on exploration I have enjoyed the most:

by Andrew Chaikin

One of my favourite books on exploration was this book on Captain Scott:


by Ranulph Fiennes

Sound great, everyone!. @Geevee I remembered I read one on Neil Armstrong a while ago. Don't remember the name or anything about the book. Think I may have liked it. Can't remember.

I would like to find a good book, fiction or non-fiction, on archeological exploration, like the Indiana Jones movies. If you guys have some suggestions, please let me know! ;-)

Hmmm, none spring to mind at the moment Ethan but I'll check my library and see what I can find.

The original books by Howard Carter on exposing and exploring Tutankhamun's tomb: The Tomb of Tutankhamun: The Discovery by Howard Carter are readable. There are about 3/4 volumes and I read from my local library volume 2 which was an 1930s original volume.

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Hmmm, none spring to mind at the moment Ethan but I'll check my library and see what I can find."

O.K. Sounds good. Let me know if you find anything! ;-)

Geevee wrote: "The original books by Howard Carter on exposing and exploring Tutankhamun's tomb: The Tomb of Tutankhamun: The Discovery ..."

That sounds interesting. Thank you! Added to my TBR list...

Hello Kristin! Great suggestion. Yes, I love old book shops. It's so fun to look around and try and find the hidden treasures buried deep in the dusty piles. That's like exploring in itself! I love reading exploration books (probably more so now since watching Indiana Jones), but I would also have to agree that reading a book by explorers is better than reading about them.

Thanks again!

The European Discovery of America: The Northern Voyages


I just finished this; its volume 1 of 2 volumes, about the voyages to North America before 1600, and the 2d volume is on the southern voyages. Very fascinating and a well written book.

@Al thank you for the recommendation! That book sounds superb. Welcome to the group, by the way! Great to have you here.... ;-)

Al wrote: "The European Discovery of America: The Northern Voyages


I just finished this; its volume 1 of 2 volumes, ..."

Looks good Al, thanks for posting.

Another book on modern and early 20th century exploration I enjoyed was this one:

The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon by David Grann

@Geevee Oh yes! That is a really great book. I read that recently but forgot to post in in here. A very exciting and fun read!

Just finished this book. A pretty exciting read - although I found it slightly dragging and inconclusive - about a husband who has a thirst for adventure and goes off to Honduras in a search to rediscover La Ciudad Blanca, a "lost city", originally "found" by Theodore Morde. This book is a good, easy to read adventure story entwined with the story of Theodore Morde's own adventure (and supposed finding) of "The City of the Monkey God," as it's also called. Just don't go in to this book (like I did) expecting something along the calibre of "The Lost City of Z". I definitely recommend giving it a try and reading it for what it is: an amateur, inconclusive modern adventure, but nontheless a really good effort.

by Christopher S. Stewart

I just read this book. Super fun and exciting read! I rated it five stars. I saw the movie first then finally got around to reading the book. Probably one of my favorite books. The book is really easy to read and it keeps you on the edge-of-your-seat the whole time. The ending is phenomenal! I definitely would reccommend this book. Try and find a copy of you can!

by Thor Heyerdahl

Ethan wrote: "I just read this book. Super fun and exciting read! I rated it five stars. I saw the movie first then finally got around to reading the book. Probably one of my favorite books. The book is really e..."

I read this yrs ago in high school - a real classic. He also has one about sailing the Atlantic on ship built of papyrus

Just finished this book:

by Dean King

You know when you find a book that once you finish it you feel like re-reading it again? Well this is one of them. It's an amazing, gripping and suspenseful story of Captain James Riley and his crew of the the ship Commerce trying to survive starvation, thirst and ultimately slavery in the Sahara in the late 1800s.

The descriptions of the hardships these brave men had to endure are so vivid you feel like you're there with him. Your mouth will start to water when you read about them ravenously devouring a warm pot of congealed camel blood. Yummy. Well, not really water, but the descriptions of hunger and thirst are so real you feel like you're watching a movie. Speaking of movies I've read that the rights to the book have been acquired by Paramount. Hope they make a movie about it soon!

Anyway, this is one of the best books I've ever read. It kept me more than engaged from start to finish. If you're a fan of amazing books, then this is for you.

Thanks for the rec. This one looks really interesting and I've added it to my To read shelf.

@Rose
No problem. Awesome! I know you'll enjoy it.

I quite enjoyed it as well, a very good story.

Thanks for the recommendation Ethan. Sounds good.

It's going on my to-read list. Thanks!

Just watched the movie Everest that my daughter purchased on DVD. I quite enjoyed it so I ordered a copy of this book for her which I thought was a great story:

Into the Silence: The Great War, Mallory and the Conquest of Everest by Wade Davis

@Geevee @A.L. Nice! Hope you enjoy it.

@Aussie Rick Awesome! I saw Everest in 3D at the cinema. Really enjoyed it! Felt like you were right there on the mountain with them. Thanks for the book rec! Going on my to read list. ;-)

My pleasure Ethan :)

If my cousin hadn't told me to read this book, I probably never would have picked it up. I have since thanked him profusely for his recommendation. This is a history of the quest for the elusive and mythical Northwest Passage to the East and the explorers who valiantly searched for it. They faced the unknown dangers of the voyage to the "new world" and had no maps to guide their way. Henry Hudson, the great explorer, is the subject of the book, as is his last and tragic attempt but there is additional information on some of the other brave sailors who searched in vain. It is well written and I highly recommend it.

by Peter C. Mancall

Jill wrote: "If my cousin hadn't told me to read this book, I probably never would have picked it up. I have since thanked him profusely for his recommendation. This is a history of the quest for the elusive an..."

Excellent recommendation Jill! I realised that I have a copy but haven't gotten around to reading it yet. That's something I will try an fix as soon as I can.

Jill wrote: "If my cousin hadn't told me to read this book, I probably never would have picked it up. I have since thanked him profusely for his recommendation. This is a history of the quest for the elusive an..."

Sound like a good one Jill, off to the To Buy pile it goes...

Am currently reading this book but I'm not sure I am going to recommend it. The first chapter is extremely technical and the reader would have to be a pilot to fully understand it. Then it becomes a biography which really doesn't have anything to do with the mystery of the disappearance. I'm not finished yet since I've put it aside for a while but will finish it. Has anyone else read it?

by Elgen M. Long

Jill wrote: "Am currently reading this book but I'm not sure I am going to recommend it. The first chapter is extremely technical and the reader would have to be a pilot to fully understand it. Then it becomes ..."

Not me I'm afraid Jill and by the sounds of it not likely either :)

I saw this just pop up on MSN, it may interest you Jill:

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/world/...

I'm not sure I buy that theory but what do I know?.....what does anyone know? It seems that there is "proof" for several different scenarios. I always believed that they ran out of fuel and crashed near Howland Island and died in the crash. As far as finding the remains, we have to remember we are talking about the middle of the Pacific Ocean, so the chances are slim to none that any traces would be found. I imagine it will forever remain a mystery and capture the imagination with new theories popping up periodically. Reminds me of attempting to discover the identity of Jack the Ripper.

I saw that program, and frankly I was not impressed by the photo. It could have been anybody, and there was some indication that it was not taken in 1937. It's a lot like all those programs TIGHAR puts out saying they have proof, but they need more money for just one more trip.

And why was it such a big secret after the war was over? I realize that the government, any government, doesn't always tell the truth but this hardly seems to be something that should be hidden for 80 years.

I have put the book on my "to be finished later" shelf since I have other things to read that interest me more.

I am almost finished with a fantastic book about Mount Everest and the disaster of 1996 when several died on the mountain. Not only does the author, who was part of the expedition talk about that particular event but also gives an overview and history of the exploration of the world's highest point....the roof of the world. It is full of information about the physical toll on the human body which is almost beyond belief. I was also glad to note that he gave the Sherpas the recognition and dignity that they deserve. I will be writing a review soon. Even if you don't give a hoot about mountain climbing, this book still should be read. Enthralling.

Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer

Sounds like a great book Jill, thanks for posting the details.

Earlier this week I finished Blood River: A Journey to Africa's Broken Heart by Tim Butcher. It's a combination of travel/adventure and history, tracing the author's journey through the Congo, so fits perfectly in this discussion.

I am pretty sure I have a copy of that book hidden away some where Tony. I will have to see if I can find it.

I'm keen to check out this book once its released in September:

Erebus: The Story of a Ship by Michael Palin

I've started this book today, so far so good:

Erebus: One Ship, Two Epic Voyages, and the Greatest Naval Mystery of All Time by Michael Palin

I'm keen to read this book after watching the series "The Terror":

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2708480/

Here is a great article with photographs from National geographic on HMS Erebus and Terror:

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2...

Looking good Rick, I'm keen to give it a go. I missed "The Terror" although I Dodd tress it a good few years ago now. I also saw the documentary based on the book in the article. Heartbreaking how close they got.

Here is some interesting information from Michael Palin about a trip he took to the Antarctic Peninsular in 2015:

"The narrow strait down which Ross sailed between Joinville Island and the tip of the peninsular is known as Iceberg Alley. One mega-slab of detached ice-shelf, known as B15-K is 37 miles long and it took us two hours to pass it. In the summer of 2017 a trillion-ton iceberg the size of Delaware broke away from the Larsen Ice Shelf and drifted into the Weddell Sea. Rising 600 feet above the water and dropping 700 feet below, it was formed by ice-shelves cracking under pressure from their own weight."

Erebus: One Ship, Two Epic Voyages, and the Greatest Naval Mystery of All Time by Michael Palin

Some of the crew of the Erebus went on to live full and interesting career's, like the young assistant surgeon, Joseph Hooker:

"Now the young assistant surgeon was set to become the most successful botanist of the Victorian era, producing Flora Antarctica, a handsome four-volume account of his researches on the voyage, and later succeeding his father as director of Kew Gardens, a position he held for twenty years. He was showered with honours and medals, including a knighthood and the Order of Merit. Hooker was twenty-two when Erebus set off for the Antarctic, and he was ninety-three when Captain Robert Falcon Scott, preparing to set off for the South Pole, asked him to raise the flag that marked the start of the expedition. Born in the reign of George III, Joseph Dalton Hooker died in the reign of George V, on 10 December 1911."

Joseph Hooker:
http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/hooke...

For the final trip of the Erebus and the Terror they spared no expense to ensure the crew for happy as was possible under the circumstances:

"Three tons of tobacco and 200 gallons of wine were also loaded and, to ensure the all-important grog rations could be maintained, the two ships between them carried 4,500 gallons of 130-140-proof West Indian rum."

Plus they didn't forget the other items of rest and relaxation:

"Both vessels had extensive libraries. Most ships were issued with the basic 'Seamen's Library, but on this expedition it was augmented to some 1,200 volumes per ship..."

Erebus: One Ship, Two Epic Voyages, and the Greatest Naval Mystery of All Time by Michael Palin