The History Book Club discussion

Gle., 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 E.M. Forster
Finish date: January 25, 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: A
Review: Set in the 1920's, A Passage to India tells the story of a young British woman who accuses a native Indian doctor of rape.

FEBRUARY

2. by David Ruffle
Finish date: February 2, 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating:B+
Review: Written from the voice of Dr. Watson, the book was like a way too brief cup of tea with a long lost friend. It's been years since I've read a Sherlock Holmes story but I'm going to enjoy finishing this trilogy.

3. by Mineko Iwasaki
Finish date: February 8, 2015
Genre: Biography
Rating: C
Review: A fascinating look at a part of Japanese culture that is fading. The author was once the most successful geisha of her generation; typical of her generation, she wanted more, and left to find a life of her own. Mineko Iwasaki was the first geisha to ever tell her story.

4. by Stanley Wolpert
Finish date: February 10, 2015
Genre: Biography
Rating: B+
Review: Once upon a time I had a political crush on Nehru. After reading this version of his life, Nehru has lost some of his elevated status in my mind, but only some. I still crave a leader like him for our times. Biographies often annoy me a tad by seizing on one small incident and then using it to make an assumption much larger than is justified. This book was no exception. That said, the author made a sincere effort to be balanced, and I appreciate that.

Awesome (lol) - it probably should be right (smile) - you are up to date

MARCH

5. by Arthur Herman (No photo available)
Finish date: March 3, 2015
Genre: History
Rating: A
Review: A fascinating study into two of the greatest leaders of the 20th Century. They were polar opposites in most respects but shared at least two traits, a deep love & loyalty for their country and firm convictions. I respect both men but for entirely different reasons. Both men leave me more convinced than ever of the balance that life requires. Solomon said it best, "there's a time for war, and a time for peace...."