The History Book Club discussion

Krystal, here is a sample guide:

JANUARY
1. by Winston S. Churchill
Finish date: March 2008
Rating: A
Genre: Autobiography, Memoir, Non-Fiction
Review or a Few Words about book: 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.

Once you get going, I will delete this sample.

Alright thank you. I've got books on hold but i haven't got any yet as soon as i get one finished i will post. thanks. I"ll keep this in my fave so i remember

Everyone goes at their own pace, so start whenever you choose. I will keep an eye on your thread to make sure you get started with formatting etc but also let me know if you have any questions. Enjoy!

kk not a problem. Just wondering how to shut off all the notifications because i keep getting emails that i don't want.

click on your own profile, go to account settings, at the top there is a tab for notifications. from there you can control what you receive and the frequency.

1)Author Ella Chase

The Virgin Queen's Daughter


Start to Finish dates: March 20 2011- March 25 2011(after midnight finished it)

Rating: B+ because I was still confused as to who's daughter she was.

Genre: Historical fiction

Review: Elinor De lacey becomes Lady in waiting to Queen Elizabeth I. She defies her mother by applying to the job. She doesn't understand why her mother doesn't want her at Court till she goes to court and finds out things of her past. I don't want to give the book away.

updated the post

Great; thank you.

2)Author Stephanie Hemhill

Wicked Girls


Start to Finish date: March 27- April 1 2011
Rating:C-

Genre: Historical fiction

Review: My 2nd book wicked girls was another Historical fiction. The author tells us at the end of the book what kind of research she did. So I am classifying it as a historical fiction. Here's the review. I at first found it werid that it read like poetry it wasn't poetry at all but the writing didn't go from left to right. The writing was done with each new sentence on a new line. sample:
So we girls took it upon ourselfs to tell them
What we saw
and what we saw were witches in the field.
canting and singing and we saw the book
the devil's book.
(no that was not an actual page or anything, that's just a sample of how the book was read)The book is really about the salem witch trials in 1692. How witches became accused and the story of the girls who are inflicted were actual girls but some times the author changes their names.

Krystal, you are off to a good start. Please follow the rating guide above if you would. The number system you are using is not consistent (6/10, 4 out of 5), and the letter grade (A, B, C,+ or - modifiers, etc) is what we ask our members to use.

Thanks!

oh sorry didn't realize it was an alphabetical rating. kk I'll fix both posts then

3)I just finished by

Start to Finish date: April 3rd-April 10 2011

Rating: A+

Genre: Historical fiction

Review:Anastasia Secret gives a new twist on the last tsar and the Grand Duchess. It follows the Romanov family from about a year before the war up til their deaths. Anastasia falls for a solider when she hears him playing balalaika a traditional Russian instrument. There friendship evolves into love. Near the end of the book Sasha the young solider is in charge of their captivity. Alyosha does not trust him Alyosha is nicknamed Alexi that's how history knows him he is Anastasia younger brother. When they are moved to Yekaterinburg they thought they were going into the basement to take identity pictures or some family photo but then the guards start shooting on them. Some theories are that the Grand Duchess escaped because they had sewed their jewels into their clothes but it's very highly unlikely. I wonder what you guys think of The Last Grand Duchess? Did they survive? or no?

Interesting, Krystal, good book to keep in mind.

Your citations are getting better and better. Just add the author link at the end and you are in business :-)

by Susanne Dunlap

oh and i have to add the number i forgot that in the last post but here is my

4) by
Barbara Haworth-Attard

start to finish dates:Sunday April 10 to Monday April 11

Genre:historical fiction

Rating:B+

Review:I liked the book because it was an easy read if i can get through the book in about 2 days. The plot was good,the characters were good and the research was done well.

5) by Priya Parmar


Start to Finish date:April 19 2011-April 24 2011
Rating: A
Genre: Historical Fiction
Review or a Few Words about book: An interesting read about a girl who goes from rags to riches within 10 years Nell or Ellen Gwyen starts off by selling Oysters to help pay for living expense with her mom and sister,next she is promoted to Orange girl and from there she turns into an actress and catches the eyes of Charles II. Becoming his mistress by the end of the book and having his daughter.

6) by Catherine Coulter

Start to finish date: Saturday April 30- May 06 2011.
Rating: B+
Review: The Valcourt Heiress is set in 1266. Edward III is King. The book is about a girl who runs away from her mother who is also the valcourt heiress after her father dies. She runs away and is soon captured by her soon to be husbands men. Lord Garron saves her but the kidnappers dress her as a boy so Garron does not know who she is. She hides out in the forest even after all but one of her kidnappers is killed. She then pretends to be a priest’s byblow (priest bastard) Garron has inherited the Earldom of Warham from his brother who he thinks is dead. Therefore, Merry (the heiress) takes over the reconstruction of Warham because Warham has been destroyed by the retribution by The Black Demon. The Black Demon is in search for some silver coins that Garron’s brother Arthur stole. Also, the Demon is Merry’s soon to be husband. Merry realizes this when Sir Halric her only surviving kidnapper comes back to Warham to find that not everyone is starving which he thought he would find because Jason of Brennon (The Black Demon) kills anyone when they try to stop his men from searching for the coins. During the reconstruction, Garron and Merry go to surrounding towns to purchase things for Warham and they find that they are alike because they both write lists. Then one night Merry sneaks into Warham’s bedchamber, goes, and lies with him. He believes her to be someone else at first but then realizes who she is and they have sex. Then Garron proclaims that he must take Merry to London so the king can decide whom she will marry but she only wants Garron. While in London, her mother kidnaps her because it was her mother’s plan in the first place to have Warham destroyed so she could have the silver coins for Merry’s dowry. Then she would give Jason of Brenon Merry as his wife. However, the abyss of Merizling (Merry’s mother lets her go) although it is not Merry because she is not herself. The real Merry escapes and runs back to London to take Garron as her husband. (Merry had a sister she did not know about). Garron almost marries the pretend Merry. Then Merry’s would be betrothed and Garron duel and Jason is killed. Therefore, his father marries some French women so that his line does not die out.

7) By G.J. Meyer
Start to finish date: April 2 2011- May 21 2011
Rating: C (It was very dry and too long.)
Review: (note: I read a few books in between but I am past the renewing part now) The Tudors is a large book from Henry VIII time as a king to Elizabeth I reign. Its four-part book. The chapters are in two parts example The King’s Great Matter and then the background; The Church. At times, the book is very dry. It gets boring and then an event happens and it becomes interesting. It talks of how Henry separates the church and marries Anne and all the people who influenced his decision to do that. He is past the point of waiting for the pope to grant the annulment so he takes matters into his own hands and makes himself supreme head of the English church. By doing this, he receives money from all the monasteries and churches and other places of learning. This helps support his wars in the last decade. That Wolsey put him up too. The first two parts are about Henry VIII and his reign. The Third part is about Edward Seymour and Mary I. Not a lot of people know about Edward VI reign because he is what historians call a forgotten king because he was so young when he became king and died young. He was not ruling the country on his own he had a council set up for him before Henry VIII death. Edward was not to rule until he became of age which would have been 18 but he died long before that happened. An interesting part of Edward reign is in the 2nd part of one of the chapters on Edward was that he has a lot of grammar schools named after him but they were actually established way before he was born. Example one was established the year his father was born and others were established way after his death but because he was the first English King to put grammar schools to use that is why they bear his name. The last part is on Elizabeth I reign. Elizabeth had favourites who she elected to office they were the Dudlely Clan (forgot how to spell it)and the Cecil's. Also she had many wars that cost the treasurer and the crown alot of money.

I have started to read by Diane Chamberlain

8) by Diane Chamberlain

finish date: May 21 2011 (can't remember start date)Rating: A+
Review: It first starts out as a love story and it was good but things got complicated once they kidnnaped the govenors wife. I never expected the past was going to catch up with CeeCee I thought she was going to live out her lie without having to tell what really happened in her old life. A surprising twist was that the letters that CeeCee left behind when she ran away with the people who commited the kidnapping her friend brought them to her in jail and she was there for the rest of her life at about 44 years old her 16 year old life caught up with her and she exonarted the man convicted of killing the govenors wife because he didn't do it. the wife died of natural causes by hemmorging.

(not very good at writing reviews)

No you are doing fine - Krystal - yet try to not give away the plot and the surprises.

Maybe you might have said that the plot took some surprising twists and turns and you did not expect what happened to the character named CeeCee and that would eliminate any spoilers. I can see that you really loved the book and maybe you could have told us what kept your interest: was it the style of writing, did you feel like the characters came to life for you; did you feel empathy for the characters or the situation; what did you like about the book and what didn't you care for. How would you rate this book against other books you have read etc.?

By the way, you do not have to change anything in the post above, I just want to give you some helpful pointers for your next review.

thanks Bently I am not great at writing reviews. For me it's either the plot or the characters that are really good. I didn't want to mention much about too many characters then i would of definately gave the story away. It's easy to feel sorry for all of the characters in the book. With everything that happened to them but i think CeeCee could of handed herself better in two ways the obvious one would be not go along with the plan but then there would be no story or she could of ended it differently by only writing her story to her daughter as her mother did for her.

Well those are some of the angles to focus on for your next review without revealing the book's secrets.

9)GUARDIAN OF THE GATE
by Michelle Zink

Start to finish dates: May 21 to May 25 2011

Rating: B

Review: Guardian of the Gate is the contiunation of the book by Michelle Zink. Lia has a long journey ahead of her it is to find the missing pages to end the prophecy that has divided sisters for generations. There are friends who will help her on her journey and friends who decive her the only person she may trust is herself. She must guard her most prized possesion herself or all will be lost. she must be the sole keeper of the medalian or it could end up in the wrong hands. Falling in love is just one of the many plot turns. To find the missing pages she must travel far and long will she find the pages and end the prophecy for good only time will tell. There is one more book that will see to the end of the prophecy by

Good job Krystal.

Now one last book that I took out weeks ago by Susan Holloway Scott

Krystal, are you still reading this last book; because if you are no problem. If you are counting it make sure to follow the format that Alisa outlined for you in post 1. Happy Reading.

yes i will be reading it i was just stating the next one.

10) by Susan Holloway Scott
Finish date:June 3 2011
Rating: B
Genre: Historical Fiction.
Review; This is the story of the countess of Dorchester and King James II. In this amusing novel we see Katherine Sedley an outspoken girl for her times become the Duke and then later named King's Mistress. James becomes a Catholic much to the dismay of his people who are mostly Protestant. He is married to the Pope's Niece of Italy Mary Beatrice. but for some reason he is madly in Love with Katherine who is protestant. His priests and catholic council would rather he get rid of the Countess. We see her life from when she is a child to when she becomes mistress her father warns her it is a dangerous path but she still follows it. She has two kids with the Duke but the boy infant dies (he was named after his father). but her daughter Katherine thrives in the court of the duke's/King's daughter Mary and her Husband William of Orange(after James II dies, this was stated in the epilouge) What amused me though was this was my 2nd look at Nelly Gywn I first read of her in by Priya Parmar

11) by Michael Scott

Start to finish dates: June 4 2011- June 12 2011

Rating: A (in mythological settings)

Genre: Fantasy

Review: The Alchemyst is the start of the series of The Immortal Secrets of Nicholas Flammel. Nicholas Flammel was a real person who was born back in 1330. He was many things in his life. But he was and would always be an Alchemyst first. Nicholas and his wife Perenelle are on the run from Dr.John Dee. Dee is after the Codex also called The Book Of Abraham the Mage. No one really knows who Abraham was, was he a person? was he an Elder? or a dark Elder? He wrote many secrets in his book and Nicholas and his wife are the protectors of the book. one day in Sans Franisco,California Dr.John Dee(the Queen's man) finds Nicholas and his wife in a book shop that they owne. Dr.John Dee retrives the book but two teens twins actually help Nicholas Flemming (as he was known to the twins) try and help Nicholas and his wife but the book shop explodes and Perry Flemming is kidnapped. So the Twins,and Nicholas go to a friend of Nicholas named scathach and they all go on the run together. They end up in an Elders shadowrealm. Dee follows them there but Dee is unable to retrieve the missing pages of the book. They then drive to Ojai and enlist the help of the Witch of Endor (who also happens to be Scathach's granmother). Scathach is a warrior maid who is of the clan vampires but she doesn't drink blood.

12)
by Michael Scott

start to finish dates: June 12-15 2011

Rating:A

Genre: Fantasy


Review: this is the 2nd book in the immortal nicholas flammel series. In this book Dee has failed to capture Nicholas and the twins in Ojai,Califonia because they escaped using a leylines that connect to France. The twins,Flammel and Scatty are then caught by the french police but escape when sophie calls upon the wind to help them escape. they then find a friend of Flammel's the Comte De Saint Germain. He is known as a rock star in this century. Dee and an ally Machiavelli soon have the comte's house surronded. and they bring in the Disir who bring a deadly monster to the house and they lose control of the monster and it rampages through Europe. Josh goes after Niddhogg(the monster) because it has grabbed Scatty(Scathach) Josh also has the two ripped pages of the codex tied in a bag under his shirt and Dee and Machiavelli have convinced josh to come with them. They bring Josh to get awakended. They go deep in the Catacombs of Paris where the sleeping god is, the god of war,the one god that the humani(humans)as the elders calls us remember Mars Ultor or Mars the avenger. Soon Nicholas,Joan(st.germain's wife also know as Joan of Arc)and St.Germain find Josh,Dee and Machiavelli with Mars and they escape dee yet again by using the twins power. When Dee trys to capture them at Notre Dame he fails and Flammel and the Twins escape onto a train. In the book we find out where Flammel and the twins are headed.

13). by Michael Scott

Start to finish dates:June 15-23

Rating:A

Genre:Fantasy

Review:Here is the 3rd book in the series. In this book we stil see Perenelle Flammel trapped on Alactraz. The Crow Godess has now come to take care of Perenelle and finish her off but instead she unleashes the crow's two sisters(Macha and Badb). Nicholas and the children just barely escape Paris and are now in London to continue the twins training. In water magic and the only person who can do that is Giglimesh the King(the oldest Immortal in the world)and he is quite insane. St.Germain finds Nicholas and the twins a safe house but what they don't expect is to find W.Shakesphere. At first Nicholas thinks it's a trap but then forgives W.S for what happen Centuries ago. Betraying the Flammel to Dee and his masters. Dee has finally arrived to where Nicholas and the twins are and is not going down with a fight he has brought the wild hunt and Crennous. An Archon,the Archons ruled the earth before the Great Elders(Dee and people like him and there masters).But Flammel and the twins escape.

back on Alactraz Perenelle has freed Areop-Enap(the great spider)and with the help of the spider and Juan de Ayla Manuel(Guardian ghost of the island)have stopped the spinx,took care of the crow goddess. the Old Man of the Sea has tried to take Perenelle but she defeats him. Then Machievilli and his compainion come and try to kill Perenelle but the crow goddess does her a favour and misleads the pair into the cells and Perenelle escapes Alactraz on the boat that Machievilli came on.

Flammmel and the twins find Gilaglemesh and he teaches them water magic and then the only Leygate to get back to San Franisco is at Stone Henge. Dee has failed again in getting the twins and the codex his masters won''t be happy. and neither are Machilevillis masters. Joan of Arc and Scatach have gone missing because Machievilli used a simple spell and sent the two women back in time they were going to save Perenelle but I guess Perenelle didn't need the help.

When Flammel and the twins arrive on Mt.Tamplais they thought they were going to face another battle but instead they find Perenelle waiting for them. They catch up and everyone goes home


(I accidently put the fourth book cover instead of the 3rd.,the Sorceress is the third book not the neocromancer.)Im about to write that review.

14) by Michael Scott

Start to finish dates:June 24 to June 28

Rating:B

Genre:Fantasy

Review: I give this book a rating of B because Im not particularly liking Dr.John Dee. even before I ever discovered the series here I did not like him. He was Queen Elizabeth I right hand man. reading the series make me dislike him more because he is master at manipulating people and can always get his way. he is very convincing when he wants something in the series.

So Dee has been declared Utlagla.He is now an outcast his elders want him alive and he joins with an unlikely ally,Virgina Dare(she is loyal only to herself it is believed that she killed her master)Dare saves Dee from everything that is after him,bird and other more dangerous creatures.

Machievlli and Billy the Kid are trapped on the island after Perenelle escapes but then they are resuced by an immortal Native American. who then takes them to Billy's elder master there they talk and it is decided that they will go back to the island and release the monsters.

with Dee declared utlagla he and virgina dare jump through leygates to get back to San Franisco. Dee can't use his aura because it will betray his location and draw creatures to them.

Sohie meanwhile is kidnapped by Scathach twin sister(not known to sophie until a little later)and josh goes after her but he needs Nicholas help. They find Aiofe and Sophie on a house boat.there they all talk and then go to Prothemus(the real master of fire,St.Germain stole it from him)

Josh,Sophie and the Flammel's all go to Promtheus to ask him to train josh in fire magic. after that Josh is called by Dee so that dee can train josh in neocromaning. but he must call an archon and she is very deadly. Sophie tries to save Josh but they lost him to Dee and Dee's elders.

15) by Michael Scott

start to finish date:June 25 to July 4(finished just after midnight)

Genre:Fantasy

Rating:A(A little confusing at some parts but overall it's awesome)

Review: Nicholas Flamel is dying he has used his aura to much in the past week and if he uses even a little bit more he will spontaneously combust. So Perenelle has gone to tsagaglalal, she who watches. and so have countless other elders odin and iris,niten and others it all gets confusing and werid because now half of the characters are in the distant past on Danu Talis

On Danu Talis:
Scatty
Palamdes
Shakesphere
St.Germain
Joan of Arc
on Danu Talis the characters there are locked in a cave with lava under there feet and there are flying aircrafts that are after them. and then there is a few of the elders.

On Alactraz:
Dr.John Dee
Virgina Dare
Nicholo Machievilli
Billy the Kid
Neurus(old man of the sea)
Those that are on the island are too finally set the monsters loose in the city of Sans Franisco. they are to start with the creatures of the night.

San Franisco:
Sophie
Nicholas
Perenelle
Aunt Agnes(aunt agony in josh's words)
Odin
Hel
Niten
(view spoiler)[ Tsagaglalal and aunt agnes are one in the same. she is a mystery because she is not an elder,immortal no one really knows until everyone gathers at the house in pacfic heights. (hide spoiler)]

I hope everyone has enjoyed my reviews from The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flammel. The Enchanteress the 6th and final book will not be released until summer of 2012.
Now on to HP 7 before it's release of the final movie.

16) by J.K. Rowling

Start to finish date:July 5-July 11

Genre:Fantasy

Rating:A

Review:Harry,Ron and Hermione are on a mission. A mission only they can fulfill to find the remaing horcruxes and destroy them. The Deatheaters have taken over Hogwarts and teach the students dark magic instead of teaching them how to defend it. and it is now allowable to use any of the 3 unforgivable curses especially Cruico which is to torture. So Harry,Ron and Hermione go from place to place in search of places where Tom Riddle would have visited or lived in order to find the Horcruxes. At one point Ron leaves Harry and Hermione because he thought it would be easy to find the horcruxes so he leaves to go to his brother Bill's new house because his brother just got married to Fleur Delacour who was the Beauxtons champion in the triwizard cup in .Maybe I should go in order or at least try this is going to be one heck of a review.

Harry,Ron,Hermione and all the Weasleys and other guests are at Bill and Fleurs wedding when a talking patrounus appears saying the ministry has fallen. So Harry,Ron and Hermione all flee from the wedding disapparting under Harry's cloak. they end up just outside of London and almost get caught by deatheaters. (the reason because Lord Voldemort's name has now been tabooed but they don't know that yet). So they go on the run and start camping out in different forests and other places. They then go to Sirus house because Harry now ownes it because Sirus,Harry's godfather left it to Harry in his will. So Kreacher the house elf doesn't like it much but Harry forbids Kreacher from calling Hermione a mudblood(a wizard or witch with non-magical parents basically raised by muggles) and so Harry sends Kreacher on a task to find one of the order members who is on the run after they get Harry safely to the Weasleys. Once Kreacher finds M.Fletcher they ask him questions about stuff he has stolen from Sirus house. After awhile well in September really they sneak into the ministry and help some witches and wizards escape because they are accused of being muggles who illegal obtained a wand. What they are really looking for is a Horcrux the locket of Salazar slytherin. Of all the people who get end up getting the locket it's Dolores Umbridege who has it so they have to stunn her and take the locket from her. Dolores Umbride was The Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher in Harry's 5th year. Then they have to flee the ministry before they get caught. They use Polyjuice potion to make themselves look like ministry workers so they can get in. they almost get caught by a deatheater and as they escape a deatheater grabs hold of Hermione as she leads them back to Grimmuald place(Sirus black's house aka Harry's godfathers house)So Hermione finally kicks the deatheater off and the end up in a forest. They then put protective spells around them. They go over which Horcruxes have been found there are 7 destroyed one and there figuring out how to destroy the locket. At one point the all argue and Ron leaves. Hermione cries for days after but doesn't let Harry know.(He can tell he hears her crying at some points)They have lost track of time and so they finally visit Godric's Hollow were Harry's paretns died. As they lay a reff on Harry's parents grave an old witch watches them and asks them to follow them. It is Bathilda Bagshot she is the writer of one of there textbooks.they discover it is the resting place of one of the 3 hollows maker,Ignotus Peverell an old wizarding family name that died out. When they see Bathilda they almost get caught by Nagini who is Voldermort's snake (view spoiler)[(also one of the Horcruxes we find that out later)
(hide spoiler)] So they barely escape and head to another seculed spot. After awhile Ron finds them again. Hermione keeps thinking she hears footsteps and so as a safety precaution Harry and Hermione disappare under the invisiblity cloak. Then Harry in the forest of deann(Hermiones parents took her there one time) Harry runs after a silver doe(view spoiler)[turns out to be Snapes (hide spoiler)] He places the sword of Gryfindor into a lake and because of Hermiones spells,Ron can't get past them. So he has to wait for one of them to appear it turns out to be Harry who dives into the lake to retrive the sword. So with the sword they destroy the 2nd Horcrux(the locket) each of the founders has an item and voldemort turned them all into a Horcrux. Then one day Harry and Hermione use Lord Voldemorts name and some deatheaters catch up to them. They drag them to the Malfoy manor(a pureblood famil)were He who must not be named is. they lock them in a cell and a house elf that Harry freed helps them escape and they all go to Bill and Fleurs. There they talk with the prisoners who were at the malfoy manor, Luna Lovegood(her father writes a wizard magzine and tells everyone they should help Harry),Dean(for using the dark lord's name),Olivander(because the dark lord wants to understand what happen between Harry and his wand),a Goblin(because he was with Dean)So they all escape and so Harry,Ron and Hermione make a deal with Griphook who helps them break into the wizard bank into the Lestrange's vault. There they retrive Hufflepuff's Cup.(its been turned into a Horcrux)they narrowly escape yet again on a dragon. They then have no other choice but to go to Hogwarts and face Lord Voldermort there. There they find that a curfew has been set after dark on the village of Hogsmede. So someone the new owner of the Hogshead gets them into his shop and they learn that it is Professor Dumbledores brother. They then eat and get into the room of requirements through the hogshead(that room works in mysterious ways). They then fight Voldermort and death eaters. (I won't go into great detail about the battle because it's alot to remember)So Voldermort yells that Harry has til midnight to come into the forbidden forest. Finally Harry goes and they battle for awhile and Voldermort thinks Harry is dead but he's not. (view spoiler)[Voldermort killed the part of soul that lived inside Harry so now Harry no longer has Voldermort's soul as part of his its all Harry's now (hide spoiler)] (im getting better at html cool)So then Harry goes back into the battle in the great Hall and continues fighting with everyone else. Bellatrix is fighting 3 people at once and so is voldermort then finalliy Harry uses a defense spell on Lord Voldermort and it kills him. The end is in sight. No more Voldermort,the dark lord, He who must not be named is alive no longer. The people who have died for Harry's cause are Fred Weasley,Tonks,Remus Lupin(harry's 3rd DADA teacher)and Colin Crevvy who was a year below Harry in school.


19 Years Later
Harry and Ginny have married and had 2 boys and 1 girl. The girl Lily has to wait two years before she can go to Hogwarts. The oldest boy is in 2nd year and the younger boy is just starting Hogwarts.They meet up with Ron and Hermione who also have children. Ron passed the muggle driving test he lied to Hermione and told her he didn't confund the instructor but he told Harry he did. So then Ron's son(finds another friend on the train snogging another girl-Teddy Lupin who is Harry's godson and also goes to Hogwarts).So they all say there goodbyes to the children and the train takes off but before Harry's younger son Albus Severus gets on he's scared that he is going to get put in Slytherin and so Harry tells him that the sorting hat takes his choice into consideration. They also see Malfoy and his wife and Ron tries to get his son to dislike him but Hermione says Ron don't turn them against each other even before they start school. and the parents then shout last minute warnings and the train takes off. and Harry's scar has not pained him in 19 years.

17) by Kate Quinn

Start to finish:July 22 2011-August 7(I wasn't reading it continusly)

Genre:Historical Fiction,since I read by Susan Holloway Scott

Rating:B

Review:Mistress of Rome starts off Thea a Jewish girl who's whole family kills them self so they don't have to be Roman slaves. But as Thea gets older,she is sold too a Roman sentors daughter. Thea is sold too Lepida,but soon after Lepida sends Thea to do a errand and Thea messes it up for Lepida because the gladitor was suppose to fall for Lepida but he falls for Thea.So Thea gets sold to a new slave merchant. This Slave makes Thea a singer and Thea's son is born. Thea son Vix is the gladitors son although Thea doesn't tell vix til much later. As Thea is singing she ends up singing for Emperor and becomes the Emperors mistress.

I'm having a hard time doing a review for this book.

Why is that Krystal?

I don't know there was just so much to it. some of it was gruesome. sometimes i just have a hard time writing reviews. i just dont want to be sitting here for an hour writing.i can't remember all the details of the book because I don't want to put the ending first. and then go back and say oh before that this happened.

OK...no problem...just do the best you can...sometimes it is hard I know.

Not sure where to post this but I went through everyone's 50 BOOKS READ IN 2011 list just now took about 30mins to do and added some really great stuff. My list keeps growing and never enough time to finish. Now that school will be back in about 3 weeks it will take longer to have my TBR list complete but don't fear I plan on to keep reading. i love some of the Russian stuff that was added.

Krystal that is terrific, and I know I have done the same thing. That is the beauty of this club, we all learn and discover new things from each other. There will always be more to read. Fun!

Glad that you are finding some new books to place on your to read list. I love this feature and challenge called 50 books because I really also read each list and get some great ideas myself.

Bentley I know what you mean.When people read my list and see Michael Scott or
Michelle ZinkThey might want to read one of those fantasy books that I've mentioned.I know this is a history club but there are alot of good Fantasy books. I am finding in both Michael Scott and
Michelle Zink that there are some historical facts in the book. Michelle's books talk about legends of the lost soul. and she researched for her books for awhile before she even wrote the book. I admit I have no knowledge in American history and so I actually don't read any of the American history stuff I'm sure I'd be interested in it if I could just get my hands on one book but I am fascinated with European Royalty and have never looked back. and i have to add one new book to the list because I was at Wal-Mart today.

18)
by Anne Easter Smith

Finish date(can't remember start lol)-Aug 20 2011

Rating: A

Review: For the first time I believe I am rading about the times way before way before King Henry VIII. For the first time I am rading a fictonialzed eye witness account of the burning and trial of Jeanne d'arc-Joan of Aracdia micknamed La Pucelle-maid of Orleans who lead an army to defend the King of France. In the book we have all the usual royal noble, we have The Yorks,Lancasters,Beaufort,Woodville,Exter,and last but not least Tudors. Jeanne d'arc once told Ceicly Neville Duchess of York that two of her sons would be named King and she was right. Proud Cis as Cecily York was often called borne thirteen to fourteen children many who died. Her first pregnacy ending a miscarriage(as I read the authors research she fictionized the scence of Cecily miscarrying at Joan of Arcs trial)in Rouen where Jeanne trial was held. Her first daughter Joan was named for her granmother but in reality was named for Jeanne. Her next born Henry after the reignining king of the time died from a bee sting(again I am assuming this is fictionized).She had more sons who grew into adulthood as well as many daughters. It would be hard to name them all. Richard of York cecily's husband was always having to confess his lovaly to Henry the King because Richard did not trust the King's council of men.Richard was a soilder in Burgundy and Chief of Ireland both at different times in the book. He was captain of Calais at some other point. Calais is English held French land its on France's border but England claimed it as there owne.Near the end of the book Richard of York mets death in a battle. As well as his son Edward.

Note:I wrote this review out right after I finished the book I was over a week late with the book because my library would not allow me to renew it. I had write the review out to make it good.

19) by Marlee Matlin

Finish date: Sept 2011(kept forgetting to do review)
Rating: A
Genre: Autobiography, Memoir, Non-Fiction
Review: In this book we see famous deaf actress Marlee Matlin struggle with being diagonsed with hearing at just 18 months. We see her as she becomes an aspiring actress when she was in a theatre for deaf kids. she got to meet Henry Wrinkler who was The Fonz!!! on Happy Days. He helped her become the actress she is today. We see her make her big break in Children of a lesser god. Her struggle with drugs and her two year realtionship with William Hurt. She is the youngest actress to win an Academy award and first deaf winner. She talks about struggling to find roles and just struggling as a deaf person. She talks of different key events in her life and the different roles that shes played. She talks of being sexually abused by a babysitter and a teacher in highschool. The book is loaded with b&w and colour pictures throughout the book. She has also written a couple of other books which she mention in this book. She talks about filming in exotic locations and birthday parties in the past. She talks of hiring long time terp(interpreter Jack)she talks of doing the different shows she has worked on. Reasonable Doubts, The L word, guest apperance on the West Wing and my favourite Law and Order:SVU as Dr. Amy Solwey and she also appeared in Desperate Housewives but she doesn't give pictures of any scenes from the show. But she does for other ones. She talks about working with Jeff Daniels in Sweet Nothing In My Ear(trying to find the movie). About the debate of Cochlear implants within the deaf community. It's really a good book and i can't remember everything and nor do i wanna give it all away.

Don't you just love her; a terrific role model.

I forgot I already did my review for by Marlee Matlin

by the end of the weekend I'll add my reviews for by Leslie Carroll and by Kim Edwards. It's just that I've been busy so i haven't gotten a chance.

20) by Leslie Carroll

Start to Finish:August 20-September 20(was busy and only reading on the bus and Sunday's)

Rating:A++ so much information to take in and so many couples that I did not know of.

Genre:Historical non-fiction

I learned alot about the history of two of Europes most historical countries. England and France. There were over 30 couples and some we already know and love or hate. We learn about early king's and queens and the forced marriages that were married into. Most queen's don't marry for love but of royal duty to beget a heir (what else is new in the world of royalty). couples that were looked at were. I will only add the queen or king's first spouse if there is multiple spouses.

1)Lousi VII and Eleanor of Aquitaine(a book to look at Amy Kelly)

2)Edward VI and Elizabeth(very interesting in the way they met its more of romance then a treaty marriage <3 that part) David Baldwin

3)Ferdinand II and Isabella of Castile and Leon(Queen Catherine's parents who I adore for their strong leadership) Carolyn Meyer

4)Joanna of Castile and Philip the Handsome(Catherine's sister)

5)Henry VIII and his 6 wives we know them.(could of of done without this part because Henry is just so over done any more.) Robin Maxwell

6)Mary Tudor and Louis XII of France(Henry's sister) Carolly Erickson

7)Henri II and Catherine de Medici(one of the few Italian's mentioned) Leonie Frieda

8)Mary Queen of Scots and Francois(the one that Elizabeth I despised) John Guy

9)Geore I and Sophia Dorothea of Celle(I had never heard of Sophia til this book) Ragnhild Hatton

10)Peter III and Sophie Friederike Auguste of anhalt-zerbst a.k.a-Catherine the Great(finally a Russian couple and I love reading of Russians as well) Robert Nisbet Bain

11)Louis XVI and Marie Antoniette(she was known as the Austrian h***, she was a strong character but hers is a sad story) Carolly Erickson one of my favourite books

Most of the couples that I am about to mention I did not know of

12)George IV and Maria Fitzherbert(again I had never heard of this couple til the book. I believe I could of done withut it. They didn't make a real historical impact there love story was tragic, they didn't help England) Steven Parissien

13)Napolean Buonaparte(notice the spelling I spelled the Italian way as I remember it) and Josephine Beauharnais
one of my favourite books on Napeolon and Josephine is trilogy by Sandra Gulland

14)Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.(I was actually looking forward to this part because I want to learn more of Victoria because we do have a holiday named after her in Canada Victoria long weekend which is May 24-Queen Victoria was born on May 24, 1819. Following the death of three uncles and her father, she became Queen of the United Kingdom on June 20, 1837 and reigned until her death on January 22, 1901. Victoria is still the longest-reigning monarch of the United Kingdom. During Victoria's life, the British Empire expanded considerably. However, her powers as Queen of the United Kingdom were reduced as the House of Commons became more important and powerful in British politics.
http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/c...
Gillian Gill

15)Franz Joseph I and Elisabeth Amalie Eugenie ruled Bavaria(actually don't remember much on this couple)
Franz Joseph I of Austria and His EmpireAnatol Murad no cover or author picture for this one.

16)Tsar Nicholas II and Alexandra Feodorovna(this is one of my favourite couples they fell in love with each other and died together in the most horrific way, the Russian Revolution which took place in 1918 brought about the end of the Russian Empire. Do I believe their children survived never did believe the myth and in the early 1990's it was confirmed that Anastasia-the youngest girl and Alexi were found there have been alot of books trying to make the myth seem real but I never did believe it) so many great books

17)Edward VIII and Wallis Warfield Simpson(never even heard of either of these two before the book because they are a more modern couple and not many books on them I am assuming) Philip Ziegler

18)Rainer III Prince of Monaco and Grace Kelly(how does a tv star end up marrying a royal I will never know but the stars were not in their favour. Grace was a big believer in Astrology and did not ask what Rainer's sign was and when she found out they were not compatible she kicked herself for not asking first) Jeffrey Robinson

19)Charles Prince of Wales and Princess Diana Spencer(Diana died a tragic way we all know that we learn of her beauty,her charitable works and her compassion. They way her husband treated her was just unforgveable. Then in interviews she admitted to self-destructive behaviours because of her unhappiness. she knew of her husband's unfaithfullness.) Andrew Morton

20)I am adding Charles 2nd marriage because it's part of our history now. Charles and Camila had met in their youth but he was forced to marry Diana first. So Camilla had to wait for her turn, it didn't take long because they were lovers while Charles was married. Gyles Brandreth

the books listed after the couple are just refenced for further reading these might not have been choosen by the author Leslie Carroll but choosen by me.

I believe they forgot add stuff on Elizabeth II,her parents and Charless I only because of the many mistress he had and many illegitmate children he had surprisingly No Stuarts are mentioned I shook my head when I read the table of contents thinking that needed to be there.

will be doing my last review tomorrow

21)
by Kim Edwards

Start to Finish: October 1-October 8

Rating:B

Genre: not sure

Review:The book and movie are similar in most ways of course they only put big scenes in the movie. the movie is about grieve,loss, affairs, secrets, one main secret that destroys the family forever.Once again it is proven books to movie is never a good way to go. Some of the events in the book were left out a character from the book was left out all together. Norah's sister Bree is a character in the book but not the movie. In the book Norah grieves alot longer than the movie. one night in the blizzard Dr.David Henry's wife gives birth to twins first a boy paul who is healthy then a girl Phobe who the doctor realizes has down syndrome.The doctor asks the nurse to take the girl to a home but the home is more like a mental insituation and so the nurse Caroline takes the baby and raises the baby on her own. In the book and movie she meeets Al who drives her back to Lexigton,Kentucty. Then Caroline moves to a new city and moves in with an elderly family to take care of the uncle(book not movie) Al has a hard time tracking Caroline but he finally finds her. They move in and Caroline pretends that Al is Phobes father. Caroline fights for feebee(phobe to get a good education)one part in the book was that when Phobe(the daughter who was given away the one that the wife think is dead) her father goes after her and she tells him to go away. Paul the boy who survives wants to be a musician. Phobe has a boyfriend who has Down syndrome as well. Everyone goes to see Paul in concert and they stare at eachother. One day Norah asks David to fix a leaky faucet and he writes her a letter but then scratches it all out. Something with David's heart killed him. As Paul and Norah are cleaning out David's dark room they discover the secret. Then they go meet her. In the book Norah remarries and moves to France and Paul goes with her in the movie they don't show that.

22) , Norah Lofts

start to finish date:October 22-October 27

Rating:B a little dry at times

Genre:Historical Non-fiction

Review:This book brings us all the way back too 1066-to the present Queen Elizabeth II. It tells of the strong women who become queen and yes we are yet again reminded of Henry's six wives. Catherine of Brangaza was a nice read because of the way her husband treated her and i believe the author of


by Leslie Carroll left out that particular story. This book was a good easy read even though it was written in the 1970's by Norah Lofts

23) by Michelle Moran
finish date:Nov 6 2011
Rating:A
Genre:Historical fiction
Review:This is my frist look at Egyptian history since Grade 5. This is the story of Nefertiti who ruled Egypt with her husband Akhenaten or Amenhotep IV who defied the gods of Amun and raised Aten as Egypts only god(notice that in his name Aten is on the end. In the end Aten let them down and Egypt once again looked to Amun. Nefertiti and Akhenaten had 6 daughters because Nefertiti is Chief wife of Akhenaten and his second wife had two children Nefbuben(i think thats how to spell it) and I'll reveal later who her 2nd son is. Together the King and Queen of Upper and Lower Egypt create the city of Amarna. They bow down to a new god Aten instead of Amun. Nefertiti has all of her children in the new city. She and Akhenaten have the builder Maya paint them in all aspects of life. Mutnodjment was a healer known for mixing herbs. Nefetiti is jealous that her sister got pregant and will marry a soilder out of love so she poisons her sister with the herbs that her sister grows, back then acai berries poisioned a women's womb and made Mutny(Mutnodjment)lose the girl(but later she has a son many years down the road). At a Dunbar for Nefertiti,Akhenaten makes her is coregent it has not been done in many years that a women should be named Pharoh. While the feast is going on some of the people from the North bring the plague with them and every one is quartined in the palace many people die including some of the princess. In the end Akhenaten dies and Nefertiti reigns with her eldest daughter. One day during the quartine Kiya the second wife goes into labour(her first son dies from the plague)and she begs Mutnodjment to take care of her new son because as she goes into labour she is very pale and does not survive childbirth they name the son Tutankhamun. So Mutnodjment and her husband the soilder take care of him. one day nobody can find Nefertiti or the older daughter they finally find mother and daughter murdered by a forgein diginitary. and Muntnodjment must make a decision about her son(Tut)