The History Book Club discussion

January

1. John G. Neihardt
Finish Date: January 17, 2013
Genre: Historical Non-Fiction
Rating: A-

Review: Historical firsthand account of Black Elk's life. The major firsthand events covered are Custer's Last Stand, the personality and killing of Crazy Horse (Black Elk's cousin), and The Wounded Knee Massacre. I think this book is a historical treasure. It shows what life was like for the Lakota during this time...the day to day living, the battles with those taking their land, and their relationships with other tribes. I felt a great sadness for the Lakotas as they seemed to only want to be left alone and keep their home. People claim this is a book on religion...though I didn't get that as much as I sat fascinated with all of the history. I have a particular fascination with Crazy Horse because he was loved by his people but so feared by those taking their land. Those taking their land tricked him and killed him because they feared him rising up and defeating them (he was only one man!) I only deduct points or a grade because it is translated and so much can get lost in translation...as well as opinions and translator's own personality can show through. I am not sure it did although the potential is there so just in case some it is is not purely Black Elk's words I have taken a grade away. It is a wonderful book worth reading. I am grateful Black Elk agreed to tell his story.

Thanks for the interesting review, Autumn. I noticed that you also posted it in the Native American thread, so I jumped over here to see your review. Based on it, I will be adding the book to my TBR which is becoming totally unmanageable.

Jill wrote: "Thanks for the interesting review, Autumn. I noticed that you also posted it in the Native American thread, so I jumped over here to see your review. Based on it, I will be adding the book to my TB..."

Thanks Jill :). It is worth the read! I enjoyed it very much-it is also a good timeline of that time--you see how events unfolded from other events. I do know what you mean...my tbr list is unamanageable as well!

2. Alice Hoffman
Finish Date: January 31st, 2013
Genre: Magic Realism
Rating: B

Review: My grandma gave me my love of books. This caught my eye and I picked it up because my grandma used to read Hans Christian Andersen ( it was my favorite) and it seems to inspire this tale.

The narrator is a woman, the tale is about her and she is a librarian, whose name is never given (and it is in 1st person). She blames herself for a wish she made about her mother as a little girl and decides to close her heart from feeling anything. Her brother and grandmother take care of her as a child and throughout her life she remains rather aloof. As an adult, she is struck by lightning and the journey that unfolds after her strike helps her live again. The characters are interesting ( a brother that loves bats and refers to The Choas Theory, the men in her life have interesting quirks, her friends are thought-provoking) and some of the insightful lines in this book are lovely. It is also a tearjerker and a page turner. A good easy book to take on vacation but has enough revelations about the human spirit that it is not goofy and gives you something to think about. And though I enjoyed it very much I give it a B for one thing that drove me loony, and that is the author's use of "garlic". I wish she had used anything from nature but this. It just seemed too much of a cliche that it came off a little corny. Still worth the read ( I am probably being unfair), if you are looking to escape for a day. Very good. I'll be reading more from her.

February

3. Jennifer Donnelly
Finish Date: February 12th, 2013
Genre: Historical Fiction/Historical Romance
Rating: A-

Review: The book starts in 1888, East London, when Jack the Ripper is on the loose and unions are trying to form and come to the forefront. A young unmarried couple Fiona and Joe are working their fannies off to save for a shop of their own so they can finally settle down. Life happens and they experience many obstacles... some that take Fiona across country. I love the place and time of this novel. It is written so well with so much detail that I can hardly believe it is her first written novel. I like the struggles in this book and encounters with many different historical characters like Jack the Ripper...journalist Nelly Bly and others. It can be a bit dramatic for some. I think it is an excellent piece of page turning fiction. Recommended.

Good start Autumn.

Bentley wrote: "Good start Autumn."

Thank you Bentley! :)

March

4. Joseph M. Marshall III
Finish Date: March 4, 2013
Genre: Biography
Rating: A-

Review: This is the story of the life of Crazy Horse (defeated Custer among others); this particular version of his life story has been passed on through generations of Native Americans. He was a great warrior but more than that he seemed truly a leader. He faced many obstacles in his life that made him even more destined to be part of his own legend. For instance, as a young boy he was made fun of, he was rejected by his first love, he came from humble beginnings, he seemed to be a survivalist but was withdrawn and did not have a temper. I loved how personable this biography was -- it was like watching someone's life on film. Side notes: Soldiers say... part of his warrior reputation came from when they were attacking him --Crazy Horse got off his horse calmly and started picking the ice out of his horse's hooves, all the time looking them dead in the eyes as if unafraid of the oncoming battle. This is an interesting read. I am always baffled at how history text books can differ from other historical non-fiction texts like this one. Crazy Horse is someone in history I would like to talk to if I could. I had a hard time grading this. I enjoyed it immensely --but with so many versions of his life going around it is hard to know which ones are most accurate. I do think this one is accurate though.

5. John Green
Finish Date: March 9, 2013
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Rating: B+

Review: A group of friends at a boarding school struggle with life and death. I like his writing. Historically what is interesting about this novel are the famous last words of well known people strung throughout. Some of them are accurate. Some are not. But they give you lots to think about. Winner of the Printz Award.

6. Alice Hoffman
Finish Date: March 21, 2013
Genre: Crime Fiction/Magic Realism
Grade: B

Review:

The River King took awhile for me to get into. At first the characters didn't interest me. I didn't care about the ghost story, the deceased horrible professor and his wife that never ran away (but should have), and all the crotchety adults that seemed to settle for their unhappy lives in a desolate town at an eerie boarding school. Even Betsy, whom I like and seemingly gets the attention of the entire town still didn't do anything for me.

Then I was introduced to Gus and Carlin, two teenagers that attend the boarding school, coming from poverty, but wanting to fit in, so they invent happier stories about their lives. Their characters are full of dimension. I instantly fell in love with Gus even though his teachers find him a slacker and his peers think he is disgusting. And I like Carlin just for her independence even though I felt angry with her sometimes. And I loved them together. Regardless of Carlin and Gus having a sense of right from wrong, and inherently being good decent people, they still can not prevent the cruel and hidden hearts of some of their classmates. What happens still leaves me sick and uncomfortable. It made me not want to read the book anymore yet I couldn't stop turning the pages, especially when the police officers are introduced because I finally felt that maybe there were adults in this book worth a darn. So I kept reading because I wanted justice. I wanted all the secrets revealed.

Another point of interest for me involved the similarities between The River King and the story of the Fisher King. Both involve someone in need of saving and these literary comparisons added some interest to this book for me. I think this would be an excellent book to discuss in an English course. There are a lot of literary elements to discover within its pages.

It's a good book. Out of all the Hoffman books I've read this has the most details and character development, though if I am honest I like her distant dream like type books better when reading for fun. This is just so heavy and depressing but it was still worth the read. 3.5 stars.

7. Betty White
Finish Date: March 23rd, 2013
Genre: Non-Fiction
Grade: C

Review: This book is like going to the zoo with Betty White. It is fun. Her sense of humor is found in this book which I loved. I love animals so I liked reading about the conservation efforts of the zoo and all the special relationships Betty has had over the years with the animals. Here's the thing though. It needs an editor to go through it again. It's often out of order by chapter. Some animals have in depth bios while others it is just a sentence, obvious facts for animal lovers. Sometimes just a picture book, sometimes not.. It needs more organization and more depth to serve its purpose. I felt like this really missed the boat but I love Betty and the subject in which the animals emotions and personalities are shown....but it could have been so much better. Beautiful photographs.

Love Betty White.

Betty White

Bentley wrote: "Love Betty White.

Betty White"

Me too. She is a funny and authentic lady.

Betty White

8. Margaret Atwood
Finish Date: March 28th, 2013
Genre:Mythology
Grade: C

Review: For fans of the Homer this is the story of Odysseus's wife Penelope. It talks about what she endured while he was away decades at sea. This too is lacking depth. I feel like the subject made it an easy sell but it could have been so much better for the readers. Just not enough development. Disappointed.

April

9. Jodi Picoult
Finish Date: April 1st, 2013
Genre: Historical Fiction
Grade: B

Review: This is the story of a Jewish woman who discovers that she has befriended an SS officer and how she struggles with what she must do about that. There are flashbacks of the Holocaust throughout most of the book. It is a tearjerker, painful and full of grief. I read it in one day. I had a difficult time with the ending though. It just didn't feel right. I just felt it wasn't very conclusive (now I have even more questions that will never be answered) and I felt like it should have been more meaningful because of the heaviness of it.

10. Jill Abramson
Finish Date: April 3rd, 2013
Genre: Non-Fiction
Grade: A-

Review: It is about Jill Abramson Golden Retriever's puppy's first year of life. It covers a lot of puppy training and also delves into how to give your heart to a new dog after your old best dog friend passes on. I enjoyed this because I related to much of it. I thought it could be a little repetitive but still very good. My mom gave it to me for Easter at a perfect much needed time in my life.

What a cutie.

Bentley wrote: "What a cutie."

Sure is! Her name is Scout. She reminds me of my new male hound mix (Dash) who is extremely goofy but adorable (and looks a lot like the girl on the cover but with a white stripe down his nose). Sadly, I lost my Springer Comet this Christmas to brain cancer. So hard to lose such special friends so early but what joy they bring while they are here.

Sorry about your Springer Comet - your avatar must be Dash (and handsome he is too).

You are right - they are the best.

11. Kathleen Givens
Finish Date: April 6th, 2013
Genre: Historical Fiction
Grade: B

Review: The year is 1263 at a Highland village in Scotland, Margaret Mcdonald's life has been arranged by her father to strengthen alliances. However, things change when Vikings attack her homeland. The Irish help them keep their attackers at bay. It is an easy read with some real facts strewn in. It was perfect for my plane ride home.

Bentley wrote: "Sorry about your Springer Comet - your avatar must be Dash (and handsome he is too).

You are right - they are the best."

Thanks Bentley :)! My pic is of Comet --I still need to change my avatar--but he was a cutie and a goofball too. I'll have to change it to the new guy some time. But yes, they are indeed the best!

Oh he was too. Yes, the new guy would be nice to see too,

Bless your heart, Autumn. It is so hard to lose our animal children but Comet is free to run the fields again. As my vet told me when I had to make one of those terrible decisions......"don't worry, she will be waiting for you".

Jill wrote: "Bless your heart, Autumn. It is so hard to lose our animal children but Comet is free to run the fields again. As my vet told me when I had to make one of those terrible decisions......"don't worry..."

Thanks Jill for the kindness! :) What nice words--I agree-- I think they will be waiting for us! Can't imagine forever without all the animal children there too. My vet said something similar, making a list of all the things he was now enjoying again. I am happy for that. Those words remind me of the Rainbow Bridge poem which is really lovely and a comfort.

12. Alice Hoffman
Finish Date: April 11th 2013
Genre: Historical Fiction
Grade: B

Review: Follows the young life of a really sweet girl and her family during the Spanish Inquisition- when many Jews and Christian converts were burned at the stake. Easy read, it probably could even be for young adults but it is also hard to read because of all the suffering that takes place. Very sad what humans can do to other humans.

13. Sherman Alexie
Finish Date: April 18th 2013
Genre: General Fiction
Grade: B+/A-

Review: Short story collection centered around the life at a Spokane Native American reservation. I am a little biased ...I love this author. I heard him speak at a lecture and never cried, laughed and felt so much emotion all at once than I did then. I feel the same way when I read his work. The reason is...he doesn't seem to hide any emotions...it's all very raw and tender writing... making me feel like I know the characters. I liked his short story collection Sherman Alexie just a wee bit more but that doesn't seem to be the case with some of his fans.

14. S.J. Watson
Finish Date: April 20th, 2013
Genre: Thriller
Grade: B+

Review: Every morning Christine wakes with only the memories of her young adult life. She has to reacquaint herself to what her married adult life has entailed. She has amnesia. The writing is not the best but not bad. It's good. It's a page turner. I doubt anyone leaves this one unfinished. I wanted to know what had happened to Christine and what would happen to her.

May

15. Shirin Ebadi
Finish Date: May 9, 2013
Genre: Memoir/Autobiography
Grade: A

Review: Covers the politics and history of Iran especially 80's-90's. Many court cases and laws are covered in this book. I learned a great deal about Iran in general and the changes that have taken place there.

Most impressive to me is this woman's bravery. She remained a loyal supporter of her country even when things were really scary. The fear of being imprisoned and/or killed on sometimes just a whim (over a job change even or a book read), or change over politics seems like scary business to me. Yet she remains authentic, loyal, and uses her skills to help people. Amazing!

Well worth the read.

Glad you read that book Autumn - amazing woman and despite everything - loves her country.

I added it to my TBR list after reading your review. It looks really interesting.

Bentley wrote: "Glad you read that book Autumn - amazing woman and despite everything - loves her country."

Thanks Bentley, I agree. So happy I read it too! Her story is remarkable.

Alisa wrote: "I added it to my TBR list after reading your review. It looks really interesting."

I recommend it wholeheartedly!

It really is.

June

16. Neil Gaiman
Date Finished: June 3rd, 2013
Genre: Mythology/Fantasy
Grade: B+

Review: Immigrants through time have brought their beliefs and stories to America. Their stories include real people, real Gods whose essences are dying because of new beliefs and things claiming more value.
This is the story of Old Gods (like Odin, Anansi, Ibis among many many others--countless really--and even some real historical folks such as Johnny Appleseed) vs. new often times technological Gods.

I thought Gaiman was going to be an easy read, but he isn't. This story is very complex and for the first half of the book I was very confused. This is a book for adults. This is literature. I keep saying this because before I started reading it, I had completely different expectations. I thought it would be easy and entertaining. Instead it is complex and significant. This makes a person ask a lot of questions about what is real and what is not? It is a thought provoking read.