The History Book Club discussion

Nancy, this is your thread for 2024. I have included the link to the required format thread and an example.

Please follow the standard required format below - I hope you enjoy your reading in 2024. Here is also a link for assistance with the required guidelines:

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...


Our Required Format:

JANUARY

1. by Winston S. Churchill
Finish date: January 23, 2024
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.

IMPORTANT - THE REVIEW SHOULD BE SHORT AND SWEET - THERE ARE NO LINKS OF ANY KIND IN THE BODY OF THE REVIEW ALLOWED. NONE. DO NOT REFER TO ANY OTHER BOOK IN YOUR BRIEF REVIEW. THE ONLY BOOK CITED IN YOUR REVIEW IS THE ONE YOU ARE REVIEWING - NO OTHERS. ALL LINKS TO OTHER THREADS OR REVIEWS ARE DELETED IMMEDIATELY - THERE WILL BE NO WARNING. WE CONSIDER THIS SELF PROMOTION AND IT IS NOT ALLOWED AND IS IN VIOLATION OF OUR RULES AND GUIDELINES.

Nancy, you are ready to go for 2024. We now have a special perk where we can list the books we want to read for the 50 Books Read in 2024. You also now have a Personal Reading List thread where you can keep track of what you want to read; and/or what you have completed etc for the challenge. These of course can be carried over to the next year's personal reading list if you do not complete your 2024 To Be Read list.

Have fun with your two threads. Sample formats are included; but there is room for some personal preferences on the Personal Reading Lists. Have fun.

Lorna wrote: "Nancy, you are ready to go for 2024. We now have a special perk where we can list the books we want to read for the 50 Books Read in 2024. You also now have a Personal Reading List thread where you..."
Thank you so much!

Lorna, you’re the best! With Bentley tied up, you certainly have a lot on your plate. Thank you for all that you do!
Regards,
Andrea

Lorna wrote: "Nancy, you are ready to go for 2024. We now have a special perk where we can list the books we want to read for the 50 Books Read in 2024. You also now have a Personal Reading List thread where you..."
Lorna, where can I find my second thread: Personal Reading List thread where you can keep track of what you want to read?

Nancy, I will add it later today. Thank you.

Lorna wrote: "Nancy, I will add it later today. Thank you."

Thank you, I thought I'd miss something...I couldn't find it. :)

OCTOBER

1. by Augustine of Hippo
Finish date: October 24, 2024
Genre: Philosophy
Rating: B
Review: Good News: This massive classic book has been on my bucket list for years. Is it possible to get through 1186 pages of St. Augustine? Well, I finally forced myself to read a book a day (22 books). It is the only I could finish the book. Finished? I'm gald it is done and dusted. It is NOT for the fainthearted. What is The City of God? I finally got my answer: it is more of an ideal that humans should strive for rather than a particular place or institution. It is an argument against paganism in favor of Christianity.

Bad News: I was not always thrilled to start my reading day with this book. It drains so much energy from me...and I just want to move on to another book.

Bad News: I slowly collaped like a cold soufflé while reading Books X-XXII. It felt like a retelling of the Bible. Books XX-XXII are a final attempt to convince us that The Last Judgement, Hell and Heaven are real.

Good News: After a few books I learned that you cannot absorb every single word in this book. Each book has plusminus 25-35 chapter summations, so read that carefully, read/skim the text and draw a succint conclusion for yourself.

Personal: It’s the final countdown…the end of an important journey. Today I’ll say goodbye to St Augustine. Now if I can only find the coffee mug with the logo:
"I read The City Of God."
#ThereMustBeCoffeeInHeaven, right?

Congratulations, Nancy! I never had the courage to attempt reading Augustine’s magnum opus, so you give me hope. Is it anything like John Bunyan’s “The Pilgrim’s Progress?” Other than length, of course!
Regards,
Andrea

Andrea wrote: "Congratulations, Nancy! I never had the courage to attempt reading Augustine’s magnum opus, so you give me hope. Is it anything like John Bunyan’s “The Pilgrim’s Progress?” Other than length, of co..."
Andrea, I can't say anything about comparison of Pilgrim's Progress b/c I've not read it. I requested you as "friend" if you accept you can see my updates while I read the book. It is readable...some parts you can skim...and be sure to have plenty of morning coffee and cookies within hand reach! I only read this book in the morning when my brain was rested and sharp!

My goodness, Nancy I’m flattered … but I have a hard and fast rule not to accept friends who are not personally known to me. However, thank you for the compliment.
Regards,
Andrea

Andrea wrote: "My goodness, Nancy I’m flattered … but I have a hard and fast rule not to accept friends who are not personally known to me. However, thank you for the compliment.
Regards,
Andrea"
No problem... :)

2. by Clint Smith
Finish date: October 26, 2024
Genre: Poetry
Rating: A+++
Review: Good News: This was en excellent choice for my first book.....while I prepared breakfast. The poems are short often very personal so it is easy listening.

Bad News: Difficulty with audio books when I'm not in front of my laptop is taking notes.
Stop audio, click book mark and with sticky fingers try to put my thoughts into a few sentences.

Personal: These poems, brilliantly innovative to the extraordinarily beautiful...
moved me, surprised me, delighted me, sliced my heart wide open. I try to explain to people what it is like to live in a new country (...by my own choice). They are surprised I still get excited and enthusiastic about USA elections after all these years living abroad.

Clint Smith took my breath away when he read his poem Meteor Shower. Clint tells us that meteor showers are named after the constellation from which they originate.
The universe tells us we can never get too far from the place that created us. Just like a comet there is always a streak of our past closely following us...like obstinate memories.
I am one of those comets.
#MustRead

I'm so glad Nancy that I saw this review. I read How the Word is Passed but was not aware of this poetry collection. I'm going to see if my local library has a copy of his poetry. Thank you!

by Clint Smith

Vanessa wrote: "I'm so glad Nancy that I saw this review. I read by [author:Cl..."

Same for me…I loved his book How the Word was Passed. I am a member of Audible and in my membership this book was included ‘free’! I’m sure you can find this book at the library (84 pg).

Nancy, thank you for the additional information!

Nancy, you are doing an excellent job with the format. However, please remember to make sure that your month is in bold. So if you would please make that change as follows: OCTOBER.

Thank you.

Vanessa, as a form of housekeeping. It is easier if you do not try to put the book and the author in the body of your comment, but wait until the end, like so:

by Clint Smith

Lorna wrote: "Nancy, you are doing an excellent job with the format. However, please remember to make sure that your month is in bold. So if you would please make that change as follows: OCTOBER.

Thank you."
Okay, I will fix that now.

Wow! Guys and gals, it’s so Exciting to have NEW BLOOD … there will be occasional hiccups, but you’ll land on your feet! If poetry is the subject: I highly recommend Margaret Atwood’s new book, “Paper Boat” … it’s absolutely stellar … I’m about a quarter of the way through and already I’m moved to tears …

by Margaret Atwood
Regards,
Andrea

Andrea wrote: "Wow! Guys and gals, it’s so Exciting to have NEW BLOOD … there will be occasional hiccups, but you’ll land on your feet! If poetry is the subject: I highly recommend Margaret Atwood’s new book, “Pa..."
Thanks, for the recommedation!

Thank you, Nancy, It is looking great, good progress.

Lorna wrote: "Vanessa, as a form of housekeeping. It is easier if you do not try to put the book and the author in the body of your comment, but wait until the end, like so:

[bookcover:How the Word Is Passed: A..."

Thank you Lorna for your helpful advice! I will fix my previous post. Thank you for taking care of these threads and for helping us when needed.

Andrea wrote: "Wow! Guys and gals, it’s so Exciting to have NEW BLOOD … there will be occasional hiccups, but you’ll land on your feet! If poetry is the subject: I highly recommend Margaret Atwood’s new book, “Pa..."

Andrea, I appreciate your recommendation. I could use more poetry in my reading life. Thank you!

Thank you, Vanessa.

All of you are most welcome,
Regards,
Andrea

3. by Aeschylus
Finish date: October 28, 2024
Genre: play
Rating: A++
Review:
Good News: Lives of Io and Prometheus become entangled. One must help the other. Thank goodness Aeschylus uses the 'chorus' help the reader along the way with important backstory. Pg 43 starts with long "road trip" that Io must follow to remove Hera's curse. Irony: Io wants to die to relieve her suffering, Promethesus is unable to "die" (curse Zeus) to relieve his suffering.

Bad News: I needed to look up many Greek Gods so I could follow the story. Who was Cronos, Io, Argus etc.? Don't forget Prometheus' grandfather Oceanus. But all in all knowing this story and learning about mythology is an education in itself.

Good News: I compared this classic play with history!
Prometheus: after stealing fire from the gods, he was publicly tried and punished for his actions.
Robert Oppenheimer: was hounded out of public life. 
Prometheus gave the gift of fire to man; Oppenheimer...gave man the gift of a nuclear bomb.

Personal: The only way I can get through a Greek play is while reading...translate the antiquated text into colloquial words/phrases. I give he characters new names (Prometheus = Pete, Hephaestus - Hank). I keep asking myself simple questions: what does the title mean? What does a chorus do? It is probably basic info about classic Greek plats...but by engaging actively I can make an otherwise dull play into something I can enjoy or even laugh about. Call me crazy..but this works. This was a great play...a real page-turner. Prometheus and Zeus are going to clash...but when and how? (pg 52) "Now it is happening: threat gives place to performance!" In other words... "Game on, Zeus!"
MustReadClassic

Nancy, What a superb review!. Did you read it in the original Greek? Even if not, your mention of the famed Robert Oppenheimer earns you “a state of grace”. Have you read the latest biography about Oppenheimer?
Regards,
Andrea

by Kai Bird

Andrea wrote: "Nancy, What a superb review!. Did you read it in the original Greek? Even if not, your mention of the famed Robert Oppenheimer earns you “a state of grace”. Have you read the latest biography about..."

Thank you Andrea for your kind words. No Greek in my cirriculum but plenty of Latin! I'm including this biography on my 50 books 'to read list' now!

Me too! I spent two years in Latin reading Caesar’s “Gallic Wars” … Then I graduated to reading German: mainly Thomas Mann and Franz Kafka … Later, I tutored my mother in Koine Greek, which was very interesting … at least I knew how to transliterate …
Regards,
Andrea
by Gaius Julius Caesar
by Thomas Mann
by Franz Kafka

NOVEMBER

4. by Lu Xun

Finish date: 2 November, 2024
Genre: novella
Rating: B
Review:
Good News: The novella is actually a series of stories about the old Chinese way of thinking. The only real character in the story is Ah Q . Fun fact: Why did the author name the character Q? The letter reminded him of a head with pigtail...like old chinese!

Good News: What does the author intend the reader to feel? That is a question I seldom ask myself...but should! Ah Q deserves our sympathy. But the Chinese are a silent people. Lu Xun wanted to show us the lack of sympathy in this story....not sympathy itself.

Personal: Why do I keep thinking the Trump is a lot like Ah Q? Like Ah Q: Trump always finds a way to convince himself that he’s won every fight he’s in, even if he has clearly lost. (election, legal cases, debates) More than once Trump has called Kamala Harris “dumb,” “mentally unfit,” “slow,” “stupid” and an “extremely low IQ person”.
Just like Ah Q...imaging superiority to escape facing up to the challenge of a strong opponent.
This was such a small book...with so much to say!

Sounds like a winner, Nancy!. Thank you for a very pertinent review … have you voted? …
Regards,
Andrea

Andrea wrote: "Sounds like a winner, Nancy!. Thank you for a very pertinent review … have you voted? …
Regards,
Andrea"
Andrea, I emigrated to The Netherlands years ago, and am a citizen now.....so cannot vote in USA. But I'm always interested in US politics!

Well, Nancy you made a smart move … American politics is very interesting from the sidelines … However, down here in the trenches, it’s a whole ‘nother War!!! I have voted … now all I can do is pray …
Regards,
Andrea

Andrea wrote: "Well, Nancy you made a smart move … American politics is very interesting from the sidelines … However, down here in the trenches, it’s a whole ‘nother War!!! I have voted … now all I can do is pra..."
I'll be thinking of you on Tuesday while I try to stay awake until at least the closing of the polls in Florida, Georiga, NC, Minn/Wi/Mich (the Blue Wall) and Penn. I;'l be watching opnmij IPAD in bed...and perhaps will plan a 2hr nap while the pundits chat on, and on and on. This is history in the making!

AMEN!!!
Regards,
Andrea

Andrea wrote: "AMEN!!!
Regards,
Andrea"

:)

5. by Timothy Egan

Finish date: 02 November, 2024
Genre: nonfiction
Rating: A+++
Review:
Good News: Is this "Fever" the basis for Trump's playbook? KKK in Indiana with S. Stephenson warning of immigrants (...they were from Sicily then); a small lie takes hold in a sleepy mid-western town can ruin people's lives/business. (...remember cats in Springfield Ohio?). History does repeat itself. "Eye-opener" of a book that gives you a clue as to the influence that the Klu Klux Klan had
... and STILL has on US politics!

Bad News: Terrible audiobook choice when preparing breakfast! There are so many tidbits of info I want to write down and remember while I try to raise my spatula and orchestrate a perfect stack of pancakes into existence. Where's my pen and notepad?

Bad News Ch 6: I'm sorry I missed this snappy song from the 1920s: "Daddy Swiped Our Last Clean Sheet and Joined the KKK". Throughout the 1920s, Gennett a record company and label in Richmond, Indian... pressed vanity records for the KKK.

Good News: Writing: The pacing is terrific, all muscle and no fat. Every sentence has purpose. I read the audiobook and sat in front of the laptop...looking up so much info with Wikipedia! This book is a riveting history lesson. Chilling chapters 15-16-17: Madge Oberholtzer (1896 - 1925) was an American woman whose rape and murder played a critical role in the demise of the second incarnation of the KKK.

Personal: Indiana is not a state I read anything about but in the 1920s it was the center of the KKK movement! But that is not so surprising: Indiana had 95% native born, 97% white the "purest state in the union!" Indiana had 315.000 members of KKK in 1923, more than in Georgia and Texas. I could not stop myself comparing the rise if KKK and the current politics in the Republican Party! Similarities spring to mind: men were the muscle (Congress, senate, local politicans); women spread the poison (political organization "Moms for Liberty"); ministers sanctify it all! (Ralph Reed's Turn to Faith). Worth your reading time....
#Eye-Opener

Sounds like an “eye-opener” indeed!. Thanks, Nancy, for a grand review! My poor, ol’ TBR List, it jus’ keep rollin’ along …
Regards,
Andrea

Andrea wrote: "Sounds like an “eye-opener” indeed!. Thanks, Nancy, for a grand review! My poor, ol’ TBR List, it jus’ keep rollin’ along …
Regards,
Andrea"

This book just grabbed me and would not let go…and it is all true !