The History Book Club discussion

Bill Donovan., 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.

JANUARY


1. by Jo Nesbø
Finish date: January 1, 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: B
Review: The second volume in the Harry Hole detective series. The author is Norwegian, and the story has detective Harry Hole going to Thailand to investigate the murder of Norway's ambassador. An interesting "who done it" with a couple of intriguing plot twists.

2. by J.M. Coetzee
Finish date: January 2, 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: B
Review: My primary reading "likes" fall within the genres of military history and detective fiction. However, a couple of years ago I was made aware of various "1001 books to read in a lifetime" lists and I have started to work my way through one. J.M. Coetzee, a South African author, has quite a few entries on the list. In this story, a college professor,forced to resign in disgrace after having an affair with one of his students, moves back to the South African countryside and tries to comes to grip with his life while living with his daughter. I have no doubt there was a fair amount of symbolism I missed while reading this book, but I found it to be a very enjoyable story.

Bill, you are making great progress - one thing that will make things easier is that you do not have to put the month above each and every book completed in any month - just the first one in each month. So if you complete 19 books in January - you only have to put the month January in caps and bold about the first one.

Not sure if you have gotten the hang of bolding yet.

But try your hand at the html and bold the month if you can. If you are having any difficulties mastering that - we are here to help you.

JANUARY

No problem, Bill, copy and paste this:

<b>Put Month here in Caps</b>

3. by Jo Nesbø
Finish date: January 5, 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: A
Review: The third in the "Harry Hole" series by Jo Nesbo. Set in Norway, with an interesting historical tie in (Norwegian volunteers fighting in the Waffen SS on the Eastern Front), Nesbo creates an intriguing mystery as one of the former soldiers seeks revenge for "betrayals" that occurred at the war's end.

You are on the right track now, Bill. BTW, you are joining a large group of Jo Nesbo fans!

Jo Nesbo (no photo)

Never heard of either of these authors. (bows head in shame) Adding them to my TBR pile now. Thanks!

Great progress Bill and I am adding number one to my list.

4. by J.M. Coetzee
Finish date: January 7, 2015
Genre:Fiction
Rating: B
Review: A man who loses his leg in a bicycle accident and falls in love with his caregiver, a married woman struggling with raising a family. While trying to determine how to win his heart, he has a mysterious visitor who challengest him to rethink how to live his life. On the "1001 best" list.

Interesting Bill. That sounds like a great list. Do you have it so you could post it on your thread. A few of us love non fiction and history but also can't turn down a good mystery or thriller - Jill also comes to mind (smile)

If it is not a link that is self promotion but to an outside link from the New York Times book review for example - that is OK but also not to any site on goodreads.

If you send me the link via PM - I can let you know.

I am another Jo Nesbo fan. Like you, Bill, I haven't read them in order. Sometimes there is too much graphic brutality in his stories for me, but Nesbo really knows how to write a page turner. And, of course, I am always intrigued by Harry Hole. I wish he would get his life in order, but then there would be no further books.

Jo Nesbø

Bentley wrote: "If it is not a link that is self promotion but to an outside link from the New York Times book review for example - that is OK but also not to any site on goodreads.

If you send me the link via ..."

Sent you reply via PM

Bill wrote: "4.by J.M. Coetzee
Finish Date: January 7, 2015
Genre:Fiction
Grade: B
Review: A man who loses his leg in a bicycle accident a..."

Sounds interesting. I choose books from the 1001 list on occasion.

Ann wrote: "I am another Jo Nesbo fan. Like you, Bill, I haven't read them in order. Sometimes there is too much graphic brutality in his stories for me, but Nesbo really knows how to write a page turner. And..."

He does have very deep valleys in his life, doesn't he? I've found I can deal with the "graphics" far easier in a book than in a movie!

5. by Martin Amis
Finish date: January 9,2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: A
Review: A story of a life told in reverse, as a spirit who inhabits a man's body narrates the story of his life from the end to the beginning. It was an interesting read since even the conversations in the book start from the end, and end at the start. Recommended.

Hi Bill - one thing that I just noticed which needs updating in message 8, and message 23. It is not a Grade but a Rating:

So swap out the word Grade and replace it with the word Rating followed by a colon. - Rating:

Also on message 23. then have a separate line where you put the word Review followed by a colony - Review: follow with your comments. Everything else is fine. Always check back to message one in order to not forget the details.

6. by John Buchan
Finish date: January 11, 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: B
Review: This book is on the "50 Essential Mystery Novels Everybody should read (link below). It's one of the first "man on the run" mysteries.


http://flavorwire.com/434548/50-essen...

Source: Flavorwire.

Message 23 - great and thanks for the link. Message 20 is good now and 10 just change grade to rating.

7. by Jo Nesbø
Finish date: January 13, 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: A
Review: The fourth in the Harry Hole series, as Harry wakes up one morning with little memory of the night before, and discovers that the woman he had visited was murdered during the night. And that's just the beginning of the intrigue.

8. by Jo Nesbø
Finish date: January 14, 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: A
Review: The English title of this book is "The Redeemer" but I was not able to find that version in the book lookup. "Frelseren" is the Norweigan title.

9. by James M. McPherson
Finish date: January 21, 2015
Genre: Non Fiction; History; Civil War
Rating: B
Review: A combination high level overview of the battle of Gettysburg and a brief tour of the battlefield. A enjoyable, quick read.

10. by Wilkie Collins
Finish date: January 23, 2015
Genre: Fiction; Mystery
Rating: B
Review: A book that makes an appearance on just about every mystery "must read" list, this story is told via several "first person" accounts from key characters in a story that combines fraud, identity switching, secret societies and much more.

Ok wow great progress - just a few things missing - Review: and the review in message 24 and 27

Yes, the section should contain a few words - positive or negative about the book but they do not have to be long - even a sentence or two is just fine - it also help others who are wondering about the book.

11. by James L. Swanson
Finish date: January 28, 2015
Genre: Non Fiction; American History
Rating: A
Review: With the 150th anniversary of Lincoln's assassination coming up in a little over 2 months this seemed like a timely book to read. The author covers everything, from the plot, to the attacks on Lincoln and Seward, the 12-day manhunt that led to Booth's death and ends with a summary of how the key players in the drama spent the rest of their lives.

12. by Jo Nesbø
Finish date: January 31, 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: A
Review: Harry Hole has to deal with an apparent serial killer while at the same time investigating members of his own department whom he feels sure was behind the killing of his partner. Oh and he's dealing with some big time personal issues as well. Nesbo is a wonderful story teller.

FEBRUARY
13. by Daniel James Brown
Finish date: February 4, 2015
Genre: Non-fiction
Rating: B
Review: The story of the 1936 University of Washington 8 man crew and their journey that ended at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

Good job Bill as usual and great progress. Sounds like you felt message 30 was a great book.

They look good.

14. by Jo Nesbø
Finish date: February 10, 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: A
Review: The 8th in the "Harry Hole" series, finds Harry chasing a killer from Norway into the heart of Africa. One of the most interesting aspects of this series is uncovering the motivation of the individual committing the crimes. There's a fair amount of misdirection, but that's what makes these novels fun.

15. by Jo Nesbø
Finish date: February 13, 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: A
Review: Detective Harry Hole comes back from self-imposed exile to investigate a murder that the son of his former girlfriend has been charged with.

16. by John Sandford
Finish date: February 16, 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating B:
Review: The 8th novel in the Virgil Flowers series starts out as an investigation into some dog nappings and evolves into a murder investigation involving a corrupt school board. I'm a fan of both this series and the "Prey" series and this one does not disappoint.

Great progress Bill and some good looking books.

17. by Jo Nesbø
Finish date: February 19, 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: A
Review: The tenth novel in the "Harry Hole" series finds Harry retired from the police force and working as an instuctor at the police academy. A series of murders of both former and current police officers bring his former colleagues to request his help. Another very involved mystery involving missed clues, red herrings, dead ends and finally cracking the case.

18. byJ. David Petruzzi
Finish date: February 20, 2015
Genre: Non-Fiction
Rating: A
Review: If you're going to buy just one tour book of the Battle of Gettysburg let this be the one. An informative narrative and detailed maps serve as the backbone of this work. The tours cover the main 3 day battle at Gettysburg, the overlooked battles at Hunterstown and Fairfield, an in-depth look at the cavalry battle on July 3 ("East Cavalry Field" for those familiar with the National Park) as well as tours of the town of Gettysburg, the cemeteries and hospital sites.

First let me say that I am going to get this book before I visit Gettysburg. Thank you.

You are doing a great job and thanks. I hope that I can spend a bit more time in the area - there is obviously a lot going on to see and experience.

Chris - hello - if you add the citation for the author - that is how we get the link added: (the author's photo if available and the author's link)

Camilla Läckberg

If you could edit 43 that would be awesome.

Also just add the first book in the series - that is how we do it:

by Camilla Läckberg

We do not allow the links like that because the goodreads software cannot populate and does not populate the cite with these postings and there is then no link back to the post to even acknowledge your recommendations. (Just remove the last link and add the remainder and everything is cool)

I will circle back. Thanks.

19. byPrit Buttar
Finish date: February 22, 2015
Genre: Non Fiction, World War 1
Rating: B
Review: The first of a projected multi-volume series analyzing the eastern front during World War One, this volume focuses on the fighting in 1914. All the major campaigns are covered: The Austrian offenses in Serbia and Galicia, the Russian offensive in East Prussia, the Battle of Tannenburg and the German/Austrian offensive and retreat in Poland. The 100th anniversary of the beginning of the First World War has seen several books published about the much neglected (in Western Press) eastern front of that war and this book is a welcome addition. I didn't give it an "A" because I felt there should have been more maps. Given the scale of the fighting it was difficult to envision some of the movements with the maps provided. All in all, though, a good book.

20. by Anthony Trollope
Finish date: February 23, 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: B
Review: Cousin Henry is the sole male heir to a large estate. His uncle feels compelled to follow traditional English beliefs that a male heir should inherit the estate, but he has also become endeared to his neice, Isabelle, who has lived at the estate and has taken care of him for many years. Henry, while not a bad man, seems to leave a poor impression on people. His uncle despises him and Isabelle refuses to marry him. Although the current will has Henry as the heir, the uncle threatens to rewrite his will to leave the estate to Isabelle. Unfortunately the uncle dies before the will is rewritten. Or did he? Two local farmers come forward swearing that they witnessed a new will that has Isabelle as the heir. The house is searched, but no other will is found. The original will is declared valid (unless a new will turns up) and Henry inherits. Then one day Henry pulls a book out of a bookcase and the revised will is found between the pages of the book. The rest of the story centers around the moral dilemma Henry faces between keeping the estate for himself or doing what is right and making the revised will public. Recommended.

Great books and recommendations, Bill. One little nit to remember......please use a lower case "d" in the "Finish date". It is a small thing but we strive for consistency in our posts. Thanks so much.

MARCH
21. byDavid Stahel
Finish date: March 3, 2015
Genre: Non-fiction
Rating: A
Review: Stahel's third book on combat on the eastern front during World War 2 (his previous 2 volumes covered the fighting in the initial stages of Operation Barbarossa and the Battles around Kiev, in addition he has a book discussing Nazi policies on eastern front), this volume covers the October German offensive against Moscow. Despite the enormous successes achieved by Army Group Center at the battles of Vyazma and Bryansk, the Germans failed in their objective to take Moscow. Stahel discusses the various reasons for the failure including inadequate logistical planning, little acknowledgement of the conditions in the area of Russia covering the approach to Moscow when Typhoon was planned, the already worn out and reduced state of many German units from the previous fighting during the summer, the bitter resistance from Soviet forces, even when trapped in pockets, and finally the autumn rains and mud which reduced mobility to practically nothing until the freezes came.

22. by Camilla Läckberg
Finish date: March 4, 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: D
Review: A disappointment. I had high hopes for this book but found that it never engaged me. I thought the writing was amateurish, although whether the fault lies with the original writer or the translation (from Swedish) I don't know. I know there are a couple more volumes in this series but after reading this one I think I'll take a pass on those.

Bill wrote: "22.byCamilla Läckberg
Finish date: March 4, 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: D
Review: A disappointment. I had h..."

Bill, I'm sorry you didn't like this one. I'm a big fan of this genre so I may not be as discriminating. Better luck next time :-)

23. by Martin Amis
Finish date: March 5, 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: D
Review: This book was way too quirky for me. It reminded me of On the Road
which I also didn't care for.

by Jack Kerouac

24. by Émile Zola
Finish date: March 9, 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: B
Review: A young woman trapped in a loveless, dreary marriage. A young man. low on motivation, seeking a life of leisure. They meet, and what follows is a story of adultery, murder, despair and revenge.

Bill something is wrong with message 47 and I suspect it is because you added the book citation in the text rather than at the bottom. What you did is a format no no. (smile).

First Review: must be on the very next line under Rating: And just type the name of of the book and the author and do the full citation of the book underneath. Let me show you here - thank you for trying though to get everything in (smile). But a few fixes are necessary.

23. by Martin Amis
Finish date: March 5, 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: D
Review: This book was way too quirky for me. It reminded me of On the Road by Jack Kerouac which I also did not care for.

by Jack Kerouac