The History Book Club discussion

Skeetor, 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.

Thank you!

JANUARY

1. by Kylie Logan (no photo)
Finish date: January 8, 2016
Genre: Cozy, Mystery
Rating: B-
Review: This is the third installment for the "League of Literary Ladies" series. I enjoyed the first in the series, Mayhem at the Orient Express, and got the next two based upon that experience. I was not as thrilled with the second, A Tale of Two Biddies and this one. I suppose I miss the humorous bickering between the book club characters. Also, the plots in the second two were a lot more predictable. However, I still do like the premise of the book club’s selection and the mystery being connected so I will most likely read the next installment - And Then There Were Nuns

by Leigh Perry

2. by Leigh Perry
Finish date: January 15, 2016
Genre: Cozy, Mystery
Rating: B+
Review: This is the third in the “Family Skeleton Mystery” series by Leigh Perry. I don’t think I would’ve picked up this book myself, but my sister, an avid cozy reader and loving all things paranormal, sent the first in the series to me. If you just let your mind wrap around a walking, talking, mystery-solving skeleton, the books are quite fun.

3. by Sam Thomas
Finish date: January 30, 2016
Genre: Mystery, Historical Fiction
Rating: B+
Review: This book is the second installment in Sam Thomas’s “Midwife Mystery” series. I was lucky enough to meet the author during a local library-sponsored “Author Crawl”. (There were two other authors featured as well: Kylie Logan and Shelley Costa.) Sam Thomas teaches history at University School near Cleveland, Ohio and he discussed how he came up with the idea of the series while reading a midwife’s will.

The protagonist is a financially well-off widowed midwife in York during the 1600s. Through her connections as a midwife, her social status, and family relations, she is able to assist in finding killers that plague the city. In this particular book, Lady Bridget Hodgson must find out who is committing the gruesome murders of the city’s “fallen women” and their patrons. What I think I like best in this series is the skillful manner in which the author conveys the atmosphere of York in the 1600s.

FEBRUARY
4. by Dean Koontz
Finish date: February 9, 2016
Genre: Mystery
Rating: A
Review: This writing in this story reminds me of his "Odd Thomas" series with the narrator pondering the meaning of life, etc.

The main character and narrator is a person who instills fear and hatred whenever anyone looks upon him. He therefore spends almost all his life apart from people underground - venturing above only after the city sleeps. On one of these excursions he encounters a person with a social phobia who hides herself behind heavy makeup, shuns society and will not allow anyone to touch her. Their encounter seems to be more then mere coincidence...

5. by Sam Thomas
Finish date: February 25, 2016
Genre: Mystery, Historical Fiction
Rating: B
Review: This is the third installment of the “Midwife Mystery” series by Sam Thomas. This time the city of York is going on a witch hunt. When the midwife and one of her friends try to stop it, her friend is killed.
Sam Thomas always incorporates some fact with his fiction and includes references in a note at the end.

Good progress as usual Skeetor.

Thank you much!

MARCH
6. by Edvard Radzinsky
Finish date: March 9, 2016
Genre: History, Imperial Russia
Rating: C+
Review: I wish I could split this review in half. If I could, I would give the first half maybe a 2-star rating and the last 4 stars.

The first half of the book is rather hard to read and dry. The author continually jumps back and forth in time, from paragraph to paragraph. It also appeared he was trying to put forth mystical meanings from Rasputin’s ravings and the family’s premonitions. The second half of the book’s writing style in my opinion vastly improves. The book almost seems to be written by two different authors.

I would probably still recommend reading it if you are interested in the subject. There are a lot of interesting excerpts from diaries of the family and participants in the tragedy, as well other intriguing documents.

7. by Ransom Riggs
Finish date: March 13, 2016
Genre: Children's Fiction, Supernatural
Rating: C
Review: I read this book as I had heard some people just rave about it, claiming while it is a children’s book, adults would enjoy it also. I thought I might enjoy it-- after all, I like the Minion movies. I didn’t enjoy it at all. Maybe it was due to all the hype about it. Perhaps my expectations were too high? Of course, personal opinions of books vary as much as taste preferences in food so…

I’m not sure if it is proper for me to rate this. This is a children’s book and I am past that age by quite a bit. So, I tried to think if any child I know would enjoy this book. I think someone 12-14 years old might, but then I didn’t like some of the vulgar language in it so I’m giving it a C.

I read this in about 4-5 hours (lots of photos). I did like the premise of the story but felt there was no depth to the characters, and their encounters were too predictable. I, personally, would not recommend this for an adult to read.

8. by Yuki Tanaka (no photo)
Finish date: March 22, 2016
Genre: History, War
Rating: A-
Review: This book is an in-depth look at some specific incidences of Japanese war crimes committed during World War II. The author covers the unwarranted massacres of POWs, the forced prostitution of women, wartime cannibalism, plans for bacteriological warfare and the massacre of innocent civilians. The events described were compiled out of interviews, letters, as well as documents and eye-witness accounts from the Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal. There is a lot of detail included, but it is a well-organized book and easily read.

The author also looks beyond the acts themselves to determine how ordinary people can change during war in such manner where they can commit such atrocities, as well as the state’s involvement in those psychological changes.

9. by Spencer Quinn
Finish date: March 26, 2016
Genre: Mystery, Detective
Rating: B+
Review: This is the first book in the “Chet and Bernie Mystery” series. I decided to try this series after reading Terry’s review of book #7 in the series “Paw and Order”.

This was a fun and entertaining read. It’s a fast-paced light mystery featuring a private investigator (Bernie) and his faithful companion (Chet). The story is told through Chet’s stream of consciousness. Chet is a dog who came close to, but didn’t quite graduate K-9 school. He doesn’t let that get him down.

I like that the author didn’t try to make Chet into a real “person” but let him be a dog, interested in dog things and just generally loving life.

by Spencer Quinn

APRIL
10. by Wilkie Collins
Finish date: April 27, 2016
Genre: Mystery, Classic
Rating: C
Review: I was disappointed in this book as I had read good things about it.
The story is told through multiple narrators (witnesses) and has some interesting characters but it moves rather slowly. Although the plot had some surprises, I found it to be a bit predictable.

MAY
11. by Sigrid Undset
Finish date: May 19, 2016
Genre: Historical Fiction, Family Saga, Norwegian Literature
Rating: B+
Review: A book I tried after a reading a review of Gyoza's.
I thoroughly enjoyed it. The author has a way of transporting you to medieval times in Norway with her vivid descriptions. This probably says much as well for the translators of this edition (Charles Archer and J.S. Scott)
The book is part of a trilogy that follows Kristin Lavransdatter as she grows and learns about life, love and consequences of decisions made or left unmade.

Glad to see your review of this one, Skeetor. I have been meaning to get to this series for a while.

Sorry-- didn't see your comment until now...we just moved and I am trying to get everything put up.
I am about half way through the second book right now. I saw there is more than one translation out there. The one I am reading has some archaic words, but it adds to the story in my mind.

JUNE
12. by Sigrid Undset
Finish Date: June 1, 2016
Genre: Historical Fiction, Family Saga, Norwegian Literature
Rating: B
Review: This book continues to follow the life of Kristin Lavransdatter. She begins her family and gets to really know her husband (the good, the bad and the ugly). There is also a bit of political plotting and danger mixed in.
This book started out a little slow for me but the latter part made up for it. The description of life in Norway during the 14th century is wonderful.
(Translated by Charles Archer)

13. by Vladimir Nabokov
Finish Date: June 15, 2016
Genre: Classic, Mystery, Crime
Rating: B
Review: I’m not sure how I feel about this book but it was an interesting read. The writing is excellent but I feel that at times the author put in a little too many references to doubles, reflections, etc.
The story is told by the narrator who is writing his “masterpiece” of the perfect murder. However, the narrator, besides being very haughty and self-assured, is a little touched in the head.

JULY
14. by Sue Grafton
Finish Date: July 4, 2016
Genre: Mystery, Detective
Rating: B+
Review: Kinsey Millhone was a police officer who couldn't handle the bureaucracy at the office so she quit and became a P.I. and her own boss. In this installment she is investigating an eight-year-old "solved" murder case - hired by the person who was convicted and served time for it.

This is my second time through this book. First time I read it was shortly after it came out. This time I listened to it on audio. What can I say? -I love Kinsey Millhone's attitude.

15. by Sigrid Undset
Finish date: July 20, 2016
Genre: Historical Fiction, Family Saga, Norwegian Literature
Rating: B
Review: This is the last book in the Kristin Lavransdatter trilogy. The writing is just as beautiful as ever and Kristin continues to age and grow through life.

16. by Kylie Logan (no photo)
Finish date: July 30, 2016
Genre: Cozy, Mystery, Detective
Rating: B
Review: This is the first in the “Chili Cook-Off” series by Kylie Logan (Constance Laux).
Maxie, along with her half-sister, take over the family business (chili seasonings) after their father mysteriously disappears. During the Taos Chili Cook-Off where they are selling their famous seasonings, a murder or two occurs and Maxie is determined to find the killer.
The author’s husband, a chili cook-off winner, supplies a recipe for “Lonnie Earnhardt’s Dilly Chili” as a bonus. (No, I have not made the recipe, but I might give it a whirl once the mercury drops.)

AUGUST
17. by Dorothy L. Sayers
Finish date: August 6, 2016
Genre: Mystery, Detective
Rating: A
Review: This is the first in the Lord Peter Wimsey series. I decided to read this series following a review by Jill. I love it. A bored intelligent well-to-do that likes to solve cases as a hobby. Filled with deductions and subtle humor.

18. by Michael Connelly
Finish date: August 9, 2016
Genre: Mystery, Legal Thriller
Rating: B+
Review: This is the 5th in the Mickey Haller series. I listened to it without having read/listened to the previous books and still liked it as a stand alone. Mickey (the Lincoln Lawyer) is representing a woman accused of killing a banker for foreclosing on her home.
(I am now listening to the second in the series, tried to listen to the first but did not like that reader's style...)

19. by Diane Kelly
Finish date: August 16, 2016
Genre: Cozy, Mystery
Rating: C+
Review: It was hard to rate this one as I liked parts of it but I just didn't think the writing or the characters were consistent. My sister likes the series and sent me several books from the series. Hopefully I will have a better time with those. (I just can't leave a book unread.)

Glad you liked the Wimsey book, Skeetor.

20. by Geraldine Brooks
Finish date: August 22, 2016
Genre: Saga
Rating: D
Review: I really do not know why this was a bestseller, I didn’t think the writing was that great. I also felt that the ending is what took my rating from a B-/C+ to a D/D+. The ending seemed to be just thrown together and characters turned upside down from the rest of the book. The ending really ruined the whole book for me. The "fictional liberties" she took (there was a Q&A in the back of my copy) was, in my opinion, cheap and unwarranted.

Skeetor wrote: "20. by Geraldine Brooks
Finish date: August 22, 2016
Genre: Saga
Rating: D
Review: I really do not know why th..."

Although I rated the book much higher, Skeetor, I have to agree with about the ending - it just didn't fit.

It was almost like a different person wrote it....

21. by Harvey Click
Finish date: August 26, 2016
Genre: Horror
Rating: A
Review: I got this book free for my Kindle during a special offer from Amazon. A great book. It starts out like a common horror story but then evolves into so much more. To me it has slight undertones of fantasy as well. It kept me turning pages into the night. My husband loved it also.
We both look forward to reading more of Mr. Click’s works.
Warning: Parts of this book are pretty dark and disturbing.

22. by Dixie Lyle (no photo)
Finish date: August 31, 2016
Genre: Cozy, Mystery, Fantasy
Rating: C-
Review: This the first in the “Whiskey, Tango & Foxtrot Mystery” series.
I really wanted to like this book as I am a huge animal lover and liked the pun on WTF- but I just didn’t. If you really like extremely supernatural stories, you might enjoy the book a bit more. Supernatural cozies are not normally my favorites but I have enjoyed several. This cozy just seemed to have too many supernatural things simply stuffed into it. I think that the adage “sometimes less is more” might apply here

23. by Michael Connelly
Finish date: August 31, 2016
Rating: B+
Genre: Mystery, Legal Thriller
Review: I listened to this book. I really like this author and the reader for the series. More legal drama. :)

SEPTEMBER
24. by Joseph Cognard
Finish date: September 11, 2016
Rating: A
Genre: Play, Comedy, Mystery
Review: I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I haven’t read many plays but this slightly dark comedy was so much fun to read. The zany characters came across as believable and even reminiscent of some friends of mine. There are many twists and turns in the story, including dead bodies. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for an enjoyable short read.

25. by Joyce Tremel
Finish date: September 12, 2016
Rating: A-
Genre: Cozy
Review: This is the first book in the “Brewing Trouble Mystery” series.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I found most of the characters to be entertaining and pretty well-developed. My only complaint is that early in the story, it was a little too evident who the culprit was--but I still recommend this book as a great cozy.
I am looking forward to reading the next in the series.
(This is one of those cozies that throws in a couple of recipes-Black Forest Cake & Buffalo Chicken Pierogies. I might give the pierogies a try or maybe I'll just open a good Hefeweizen)

26. by Sam Thomas
Finish date: September 18, 2016
Rating: A-
Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery
Review: I think this book is one of the best in the series with a bit faster pace and more intrigue. Midwife Bridget Hodgson travels to London to help quell a rebellion (and to catch a murderer). I really enjoy the author’s attention to detail and the historical background.

27. by Erik Larson
Finish date: September 25, 2016
Rating: A
Genre: History
Review: The book follows the changes taking place in Germany during Hitler's reign and the challenges faced by the US Ambassador and his family at the time. As usual, the author brings the personal experience along with the historical.

28. by Michael Connelly
Finish date: September 23, 2016
Rating: B+
Genre: Legal Thriller
Review: Another interesting legal case for Mickey Haller. I listened to this one on audio as well. I like this author's style of writing.

29. by Michael Connelly
Finish date: September 26, 2016
Rating: A
Genre: Crime Thriller
Review: This is the second book featuring crime reporter Jack McEvoy tracking a killer. Still enjoy Michael Connelly's work a lot.

OCTOBER
30. by Elizabeth Peters
Finish date: October 3, 2016
Rating: A+
Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Egyptology
Review: One of my favorite series from one of my favorite authors! This is the fifth in the Amelia Peabody series. I, as a rule, do not keep my fiction books, but I make an exception for this series.

31. by Diane Kelly
Finish date: October 7, 2016
Rating: B
Genre: Cozy, Mystery
Review: This is the second book in the "Paw Enforcement" series. I didn't particularly like the first in the series but since my sister sent me the first three books and I needed a book with at least a 50% green cover for a challenge...
Well, I was pleasantly surprised. This book flowed a lot better and the characters seemed to be a more consistant than the first.

32. by Diane Kelly
Finish date: October 18, 2016
Rating: B+
Genre: Cozy, Mystery
Review: Lucked out....I needed a book with "up" or "down" for a challenge so I read the third in the "Paw Enforcement" series. The writing continues to be about the same as in the second. However, I thought the story line was better than the second in the series.

33. by Barbara Kingsolver
Finish date: October 28, 2016
Rating: A
Genre: Saga, Native-America
Review: I didn’t really like this book too much in the beginning. The metaphors and similes came across heavy and a little forced. But, I absolutely fell in love with the book during the second half. I thought the dialogue was well done and it is an interesting look at cross-culture adoptions. I will definitely read more by Barbara Kingsolver.

NOVEMBER
34. by Tana French
Finish date: November 7, 2016
Rating: B+
Genre: Mystery, Detective
Review: 4th in the “Dublin Murder Squad” series, but by not having not read the previous 3 books I don’t think I lost anything. I liked the author’s writing style even though a couple of the descriptions/scenes seemed to drag on a bit. A very good (slightly dark) mystery.

35. by Albert Camus
Finish date: November 7, 2016
Rating: D
Genre: Classic, Philosophical novel
Review: Well, I was disappointed in this book. I read The Plague and really liked it. This one was just too weird and nonsensical for me. Meursault basically stumbles through life without any passion and does whatever anyone tells him to do. Oh, and he really doesn’t like be overheated or the brightness of the sun. The courtroom scenes are just too absurd.
I realize the author was going for the absurd but there just wasn't enough behind the absurdity for me.

36. by James Patterson
Finish date: November 24, 2016
Rating: B+
Genre: Detective, Mystery
Review: I listened to this book and it is the third in the "Michael Bennett" series. This was the first book I have read in the series and loved it. It was a good thriller/detective with a little humor mixed in. I will definitely look for the other books in this series.

37. by James Rollins
Finish date: November 26, 2016
Rating: B-
Genre: Adventure, Thriller, Science Fiction
Review: I listened to this book on audio. It is the seventh installment of the "Sigma Force" series. This was my first Sigma Force book. An interesting plot but it seemed the story wandered in parts. It had some rather engaging characters and I will probably look up the first in the series to read.

38. by Dianne Bright
Finish date: November 30, 2016
Rating: D
Genre: Romance, Fantasy
Review: I received this book free from Goodreads. (I seem to be the only one on Goodreads who does not like the book as it has a 4.55 average rating)
I liked the basic story line but I felt the characters were not consistent and their reactions to situations were not at all realistic. I also felt the author included too many mundane details that had nothing at all to do with the story. For example, I think every meal eaten by the characters was described.

Good progress Skeetor

39. by Michael Connelly
Finish date: November 30, 2016
Rating: B+
Genre: Detective, Legal thriller
Review: This is Harry Bosch #20 and Mickey Haller #7. I love this author's characters and his style of writing. Unfortunately I have been listening to them out of order as I get them based on what I can find at the library. If you choose to read the series, I would read them in order but if you don't really want to read the whole series, the books can stand on their own in my opinion...you may just run into some spoilers is all.

DECEMBER
40. by Raffaella Barker
Finish date: December 2, 2016
Rating: A
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Review: An interesting fictitious diary of a woman recently divorced. However, the story is not really all that much about the divorce. It is rather about just the everyday occurrences while living in the England country with quirky relatives, friends and her engaging children. Told in wonderful prose with a genuine humor that made this book a joy for me to read.