The History Book Club discussion

Kathy, here is your new thread in 2015. Happy reading in the new year.

Our Required Format:

JANUARY

1. by Winston S. Churchill
Finish date: January 2015
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.

Thank you, Bentley. I am sure I can find 50 to read this coming year.

Your thread awaits (smile)

JANUARY

1. by Nicola Griffith
Finish date: January 3, 2015
Genre: Historical Fiction/Fantasy?
Rating: C
Review: Hmmm. How to rate this book? It was a 2103 Nebula Nominee, so I expected a historical fantasy. Honestly this is definitely fiction, but I am not seeing fantasy involved. Griffith has done her research on the time period and much is well done, but she does use fictional license often. Lovely and well written, and at times too detailed. More of an intrigue/political type of novel than anything else. 7th century Britain and with the tension of old and new religions and warring kings. Just don't expect fantasy.

Good start Kathy - straight out of the gate.

2. by Daniel James Brown
Finish date: January 7, 2015
Genre: History
Rating: A
Review: A wonderful story of good ordinary people who through hard work and persistence are able to capture a truly amazing goal. A very uplifting story of the young men who won the 1936 olympic crew. Their rise to gold is told with the backstory of the depression and the rise of Hitler. Even with so much bad in the world, there is also always good.

3. by John Bytheway
Finish date: January 8, 2015
Genre: Philosophy/Self Help/Religion
Rating: B
Review: This is a great little book written for teenagers (but appropriate for adults also) about wisely learning for oneself about a testimony of Jesus Christ and what it means to be Christian.

4. by Andreas Eschbach
Finish date: January 10, 2015
Genre: Science Fiction
Rating: B
Review: Reads almost like a collection of short stories of different people in related worlds. Little by little we begin to see the connections between each group. Very different type of story for me, but done well. It does tie together in the end -- but don't expect to see too many characters more than twice in the story.

You are off to a good start

5. by Brandon Sanderson
Finish date: January 12, 2015
Genre: Fantasy/Science Fiction
Rating: A-
Review: Sanderson is one of my favorite fantasy writers. Great characters and fun action. The good guys battle against great odds against evil. Nice addition to the series, # 2 book.

6. by Pittacus Lore
Finish date: January 13, 2015
Genre: Fantasy/YA
Rating: C
Review: If you have liked this series so far, you will enjoy this book too. More of our favorite characters with the hide, run, and fight action that happens in each book. A bit of the mysteries of the legacies is shown and a cliffhanger at the end. So --when is the next book out?

7. by Pittacus Lore
Finish date: January 14, 2015
Genre: Fantasy/YA
Rating: C
Review: Another fun addition to the series. The short novellas included in this set again give some nice background for a few of our characters.

8. by Clayton M. Christensen
Finish date: January 17, 2015
Genre: Religious
Rating: A
Review: This book is not more of the same, and the principles apply to teaching and working with anyone who wants to know more about Jesus Christ and the Gospel be it members of the LDS faith or not, children and adults alike. It will give you insight on how to treat people as Christ would.

9. by Elizabeth Gaskell
Finish date: January 21, 2015
Genre: Classic Fiction
Rating: C
Review: Charming characters, short vignettes of life among the older ladies that live in Cranford and how to remain dignified on a budget.

You are doing well

10. by George Orwell
Finish date: January 26, 2015
Genre: Fictionalized Memoir
Rating: A-
Review: A very readable account of living in poverty.

11. by Alethea Kontis
Finish date: January 31, 2015
Genre: Fantasy/YA
Rating: C
Review: This is a second in a series, however; I did not read the first book and this one works just fine as a standalone. This book uses many different fairy tales and myths as background, it is fun when you notice them, but not important to enjoy the story. Written for the younger teen.

Good progress Kathy

FEBRUARY

12. by Barbara Goldsmith (no photo)
Finish date: February 3, 2015
Genre: History/Science/Biography
Rating: A
Review: An excellent view into the life of Marie Curie. It shows her genius and her human frailties both. Well written and good notes.

Kathy wrote: "February

12. by Barbara Goldsmith (no photo)
Finish Date: February 3, 2015
Genre: History/Science/Biography
Ra..."

It seems to be an interesting and good book judging by your review, Kathy. I must add it to my "to read" list soon.

And such a piece of history. Madame Curie was working on her radioactivity experiments between WWI and WWII. This book has much to offer.

Kathy wrote: "February

12. by Barbara Goldsmith (no photo)
Finish Date: February 3, 2015
Genre: History/Science/Biography
Ra..."

Added to my list, too.

Me, too. Thanks, Kathy!

Hope you all enjoy it. It is not a real long book, so it goes fairly quick being so interesting and short to read.

13. by Kenneth H. Blanchard
Finish date: February 4, 2015
Genre: Self Help
Rating: C
Review: A very quick and easy read. I would say this book is not really about retirement, but things that we all know we should be doing no matter what stage of life we are in: Build relationships with others, Be a life-long learner, exercise and eat healthy, and work on your spirituality.

I received a free copy of this book through GoodReads FirstReads.

14. by M.L. Stedman
Finish date: February 5, 2015
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: C
Review: A quick and good read. Be ready for a tear-jerker where no one is really good and no one is really bad, but just ordinary people trying to be better.

Good progress Kathy

15. by Katherine Addison
Finish date: February 7, 2015
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: A-
Review: Very well done! Political intrigue, emperors, and all that happens at court. Not much magic really if any, but likable characters and cunning evil doers.

16. by Keith Donohue
Finish date: February 8, 2015
Genre:Fantasy/Fairytale retelling
Rating: A-
Review: Very well written book on the fairy tale of the Changeling. It addresses the questions of most humans about our humanity, who am I? where did I come from? Very good. Retelling of The Stolen Child by William Butler Yeats

William Butler Yeats (no photo)

17. by Katharine Mary Briggs (no photo)
Finish date: February 12, 2015
Genre: Fantasy/Fairytale retelling
Rating: A-
Review: I really loved the story telling in this book. A different take on a Kate Crackernuts fairy tale. This one is set in Scotland. I had a bit of a difficulty with the written speech of the characters & dialect, and sometimes could not figure out the conversations, but that may not be a problem for the average reader. Otherwise a really good retelling.

18. by Anthony Doerr
Finish date: February 15, 2015
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: A
Review: I truly enjoyed this book and the way that the war is seen through the eyes of our two protagonists. With Marie-Laure being blind, we also feel, smell, and taste the effects of the war. The writing is well done and shows the tension between love and war.

Hmmm...I have a B&N coupon burning a hole in my pocket...this may be a winner. Thanks, Kathy!

:)

19. by Joe Abercrombie
Finish date: February 18, 2015
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: A
Review: This book in the series follows the first in the series a few years later. We have action, intrigue, young people trying to find out who they are, and a love story all in one. A really enjoyable book that I read in two days (could not put it down). It does suffer from the middle book syndrome, with a bit of uneven writing & voice, but otherwise quite good. And it definitely makes the reader want to continue with the series. Recommended.

I received a free copy from the publisher through Netgalley

20. by Paul Scott
Finish date: February 20, 2015
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating:
Review: Love this series. As always so many different pieces of the story tie together in unexpected ways and an ending that draws me to the next book in the series. I am sure that I am missing so many things that Scott alludes to in the story. This is one series that I think I will enjoy a reread.

Thanks

21. (no image) The White Cat and Other Old French Fairy Tales by Marie-Catharine d'Aulnoy
Finish date: February 21, 2015
Genre: Fairy Tales
Rating: A-
Review: Beautiful illustrations. Delightful tales, which represent an earlier era. Good is beautiful and the evil characters are hideous. Good triumphs in each story.

22. by Jonathan Darman
Finish date: February 22, 2015
Genre: History
Rating: B+
Review: This has been an interesting read. This is a piece of history that honestly I have never truly studied, but lived through the 60's as a child. We get a closer view of LBJ in the white house and the struggles of the country during that time. A small glimpse of Reagan, but our author ties the two men together with the unrest and changing ideas of the country during the time.

To me though, the person I'd like to know more about after reading this book is Lady Bird Johnson. What a remarkable lady.

All in all a good read, and certainly a different focus from most books. A blend of history and journalism.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through the History Book Club on GoodReads.

23. by Robert A. Heinlein
Finish date: February 25, 2015
Genre: Science Fiction
Rating: B
Review: Keep in mind when this one was written when you read it. Some of the technology is amazingly close and other far off. But an interesting mix of time travel and cryogenics. Classic Science Fiction.

Format and progress gd

MARCH

24. by Chinua Achebe
Finish date: March 4, 2015
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: A-
Review: A very different type of tale. A slow "plot" of encroaching imperialism. Too often the "white man" has viewed Africa as a primitive and uncivilized place. In truth the civilizations (tribes) of Africa are simply different, with different rules, gods, and justice. The greatness of this novel is in the authentic voice of the African and his world. It is good for us to get out of the Eurocentric view of everything.

Sounds interesting!

It has mixed reviews, so I wasn't sure I would like it -- but I really did.

I never seem to agree with other reviewers....if I love a book, there are always bunches of people who hated it....and vice versa. We all have different expectations!!!

And sometimes there's also author bashing or praise here on GoodReads, so we should be careful while reading the reviews and see the agendas and expectations of the reviewers, much like historians analysing primary sources. :)

25. by Shannon Hale
Finish date: March 6, 2015
Genre: Fantasy, Upper Elementary
Rating: B
Review: A delightful continuation of the series. Perfect for the spunky heroine chapter reader.

26. by Tom Reiss
Finish date: March 10, 2015
Genre: History
Rating: A
Review: A wide view of the of life of Alex Dumas. We see the French Revolution from an entirely different perspective and the range freedom for Blacks and those of Mixed Race.

Everything looks good with format. Thanks everybody - glad it is smooth sailing now.

27. by Pierce Brown
Finish date: March 12, 2015
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: B
Review: Excellent read. Yes, I can see some similarities to The Hunger Games, but more than just a knock-off.

by Suzanne Collins

28. by Pierce Brown
Finish date: March 13, 2015
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: A
Review: Could not put this one down. Excellent second book in the series. It does not stand alone and ends with a cliff hanger. But great political intrigue, wars, and space.

I received a free copy from NetGalley.