The History Book Club discussion

Bryan - here is your new thread for 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 Ken Follett
Finish Date: January 5
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: A-
Review: This was a interesting book. Follett really brings you into the WWI period with some great scenes. Some of the writing came off stiff. There are moments in the book that I was a little disappointed by lack of depth, those parts felt the author was going fast-forward. However, overall, this is a great way to engage about the WWI era.

2. by Dav Pilkey
Finish Date: January 5
Genre: Children
Rating: A
Review: I have been reading this series to my son and daughter. It is a very clever and funny book/series.

Can't go wrong with Follett generally but I agree with your assessment that at times he can read a bit quicker or too slow than maybe would be best.
How old are your little ones? What age would you recommend this series to start with? I have two little boys myself and am loking to develop a reading library for them through ages so we can do family reads.

Jesse when mentioning an author or book - just make sure to add the citation so that the goodreads software can count your comment. For authors we add the author's photo and the author's link (when available)

I know that Bryan will get back to you with your very thoughtful questions.

Ken Follett

Bryan I read your first book a long time ago - I enjoy Follett.

Ken Follett

Jesse wrote: "Can't go wrong with Follett generally but I agree with your assessment that at times he can read a bit quicker or too slow than maybe would be best.
How old are your little ones? What age would yo..."

My son is six, so he is just started on the path toward reading. So, I have been reading the books to him. They are geared probably to a 7-10 year old for the child to actually read it. However, every page has some pictures, so my 2 year old daughter likes them. She says, "Captain Underpants, Tra-la-laaa." Hilarious. The humor is pretty dry, so I find it funny, too. Take a look at your local library or bookstore. It is worth it.

Warning: the humor is a little vulgar and my wife still shakes her head about it, lol.

Bentley wrote: "Bryan I read your first book a long time ago - I enjoy Follett."

Great Bentley, did you read the second one?

by Ken Follett

No I have not but now that you mention it - I think I should (smile)

Bentley wrote: "No I have not but now that you mention it - I think I should (smile)"

I'm on board for number two. I sent the sample down to my Kindle.

Let me know if the second lives up to the first. I have been reading 41 and I have some comments on that one (smile)

by George W. Bush

Good, Bentley, I am eager to hear what you think. I want to read it myself.

by George W. Bush

It is interesting because Bush Jr. can't help himself alluding to his presidency more than he should. He also was adamant about ensuring the reader that Dad had nothing to do with any of the Nixon foibles or anything else that went wrong - because of the above some parts that were not supposed to be humorous were. However I have learned a great deal about the Senior Bush I did not know so well worth the read in my opinion. It was a bit heavy handed in places. Since I am doing this book on audible I also had the luxury of hearing George W narrate his own book.

Bentley wrote: "Jesse when mentioning an author or book - just make sure to add the citation so that the goodreads software can count your comment. For authors we add the author's photo and the author's link (whe..."

Ah I see, I thought it just took note of the authors mentioned and did not notice that it also tracks the # of mentions. Thank you for the heads up.

Bryan wrote: "Jesse wrote: "Can't go wrong with Follett generally but I agree with your assessment that at times he can read a bit quicker or too slow than maybe would be best.
How old are your little ones? Wha..."

Thank you sir. I'll look into it. We may be a few years away from it yet but it doesn't hurt to have it ready, right?

Absolutely, Jesse. I have a fair number of books stored for my kids when they are ready.

Bentley wrote: "It is interesting because Bush Jr. can't help himself alluding to his presidency more than he should. He also was adamant about ensuring the reader that Dad had nothing to do with any of the Nixo..."

Interesting, I'm not surprised about trying to divorce Bush 41 from Nixon. Who wouldn't, lol? Cool that Bush 43 is the narrator. Nice.

It makes it a bit more intimate that he is narrating it. His style, opinions come across that much stronger. As I mentioned on another thread he even tried to explain away his father's vote against the civil rights bill in 64 - he said that it was because Dad had very strong feelings about Federalism (smile).

3. by Dav Pilkey
Finish Date: January 20
Genre: Children
Rating: B
Review: Working on the series...more gross humor than the others.

4. by Dav Pilkey
Finish Date: January 30
Genre: Children
Rating: B
Review: Working on the series...more gross humor than the others.

FEBRUARY

5. by Laura Hillenbrand
Finish date: February 18
Genre: WWII History
Rating: A
Review: This is a fascinating tale and well written. I'm glad the author filled in the details after the war, especially about the Bird. It was not covered in the movie, which was pretty good.

6. by Jonathan Darman
Finish date: February 25
Genre: Presidential History
Rating: B
Review: This is an interesting book that traces the rise of Reagan and the downfall of LBJ. It would be interesting to have more of Nixon in this book, and in the end, the connection between LBJ and Reagan doesn't always come together, but overall, I'm glad I read it.

In compliance with FTC guidelines I received this book free through the History Book Club on Goodreads

APRIL

7. by Larry Correia
Finish date: April 12
Genre: Horror
Rating: B+
Review: Another good installment of this fun series.

8. by Ken Hughes
Finish date: April 23
Genre: American history
Rating: A
Review: this is a fascinating book that fleshes out Nixon's involvement in the Vietnam peace negotiations during the 1968 elections. The president thought there was a secret report on this, so he created "The Plumbers" which was before the Watergate break-in. Well written.

You know I blame you for my constantly burgeoning TBR list. Another one to add I see. To find the time . . . le sigh.

I know, I hear you.

9. by Ken Hughes

Finish date: April 30
Genre: American history
Rating: A
Review: Another good installment by Presidential Recordings scholar Ken Hughes. He lays a good argument for the "decent interval" in which Nixon held up the Vietnam peace until after the 1972 election and made sure that there was a fair amount of time before South Vietham would fall so he would not get blamed for losing the war. Well written and insightful.

MAY

10. by Robert Dallek
Finish date: May 8
Genre: Presidential Biography
Rating: A
Review: This is a re-read for me to prep for a summer course I'm helping with. Great read.

You are on a Presidential roll, Bryan!!

You finally finished - what course Bryan?

I know, Jill, I'm on fire :-)

Bentley-I am a teaching assistant for a Gilder Lehrman online course on the Kennedy Presidency.

JUNE

11. by James N. Giglio (no photo)
Finish date: June 10
Genre: Presidential history
Rating: A
Review: Good and balanced overview of JFK's presidency.

12. by Jean Edward Smith
Finish date: June 11
Genre: Presidential history
Rating: B
Review: A solid biography. No huge surprises for military and presidential enthusiasts, but good writing. Worth reading.

13. by Tavis Smiley
Finish date: June 27
Genre: American history
Rating: A
Review: This is a great book to fully understand MLK. His last days were not easy as he was challenged by other black leaders.

JULY

14. by Douglas A. Blackmon
Finish date: July 6
Genre: American history
Rating: A
Review: This Pulitzer winner is a good one. I knew nothing about the prisoner enslavement system post-Civil War. Eye opening. This is a must read for anyone interested in civil rights.

Bryan wrote: "13. by Tavis Smiley
Finish date: June 27
Genre: American h..."

Bryan I agree. I heard Tavis Smiley speak shortly after this was published and found the book and his comments enlightening.

He did the audio book himself. It was good.

I understand, Jason, Dallek is more favorable, no doubt. The historiography of Kennedy goes back and forth. Camelot/worshiping to over-critical, then a post-revisionist. Dallek and Giglio are in the group that has Kennedy making mistakes but growing as a president. I like Giglio better.

Robert Dallek

James N. Giglio (no photo)

How are you doing in August - Bryan - any good books?

AUGUST

15. by James W. Loewen
Finish date: August 30
Genre: American history
Rating: A
Review: This is a must read by anyone interesting in civil rights history and issues. It is a real eye opener.

NOVEMBER

16. by Gary J. Bass
Finish Date: November 11
Genre: American History
Rating: B+
Review: This is an eye-opener where you really learn that Nixon and Kissinger isolated themselves in the White House.

DECEMBER

17. by Tim Weiner
Finish Date: December 1
Genre: Presidential History
Rating: C+
Review: This is a good book for those who don't know much about Nixon, and I recommend the book to them, no problem. For Nixon experts, nothing new here.

18. by John S.D. Eisenhower
Finish Date: December 15
Genre: Presidential history
Rating: B+
Review: A great overall of a forgotten president. It is a fascinating story.

19. by Joel H. Silbey (no photo)
Finish Date: December 18
Genre: Presidential history
Rating: A
Review: Authoritative history of the 1848 election. Well written and interesting.

You are on a Presidential roll, Bryan!!!

Thanks Jill. Mainly related to work, but I'm happy to read them.