The History Book Club discussion

January

1.Carlo Collodi
Finish Date: January 2012
Genre: Children's Fiction
Rating: B+

This was an amazing story told by Collodi a long time ago, and the Disney adaptation does no justice to the deep morality and darkness to this adventure.

Pinocchio is young empty-headed puppet thrown into a crazy world of assassin's, asses, and faeries, and this was a brilliant tale that should be told to children how it was originally written and not sugar-coated by the Disney tale of Pinocchio.

Good Eric, you might want to just bold the year and not the whole text.

Good start with the citations, Eric.

I honestly don't think I have ever read the original book and like most, only know the Disney version. It appears that the book is much darker......reminiscent of Grimm's Fairy Tales which can be very disturbing.

by The Brothers Grimm

Thanks for the recommendation Eric, will consider downloading this on my kindle to read to my son once were finished the Narnian series.

by C.S. Lewis

January


2.Jules Verne


Finish Date: January 17, 2012
Genre: Classic, Adventure
Rating: B

After discussing this with one of my friends, I believe that this story is poking a little fun at the English way of nationalism in that era. England was the center of the world, and the way Fogg doesn't care at all about his surroundings on his journey is a little funny to me.

This story was great, but sometimes, Verne drags on a little. Nonetheless, this story is a great short read that everyone should enjoy.

January

3.Philip K. Dick

Finish Date: January, 2012
Genre: Science Fiction
Rating: B-

I loved this story, and it makes me want to read more of PDK's fiction. The story is a little predictable, but you don't know EXACTLY what goes on until the end.

It was a great, extremely short read. Read it on Kindle if you've got it. I think it's only ninety-nine cents.

Eric, you are off to a good start and some good variety going. Fun! Don't forget to number each entry. You can edit the ones you have posted easy enough.

Keep on reading!

January

4.Ray Bradbury

Finish Date: January 2012
Genre: Children's
Rating: A-


I absolutely loved this story. It reveals osme of the history, and the mystery, behind halloween. The story moved quicly through the boy's night on Halloween. From Mexico to the Dark Ages, the story weaves through a night of terror and fun.

This book is great to read around Halloween, but can be read at any time throughout the year to kids.

February


5. Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Finish Date: February 2012
Genre: Short Story
Rating: B+


Talk about a husband's plan to cure his wife's depression backfiring.


I read this story for my American Lit class, and I loved it. The story slowly reveals the madness that is forming from this woman's isolation treatment.

This short story is a must read.

February


6. Susan Hill


Finish Date: February 2012
Genre: Horror/Ghost
Rating: A


I love this story. I have yet to see the movie, but there isn't any way it could do this novella justice.

So great. I recommend this for anyone who enjoys a classic ghost story.

February


7. L.M. Boston

Finish Date: February 2012
Genre: Children's Fantasy
Rating: C+


I usually love children's fiction, but this story was a little dragging and uneventful for me. It seemed there was a lot of building up to nothing. It is the first book in a series, and maybe the rest of the series is a little more exciting.

February


8. Roald Dahl

Finish Date: February 2012
Genre: Children's Fiction
Rating: A

I've always loved this story, and for any kid this is a dream. A factory full of candy and adventure would be an amazing experience!

This is a great, great, great story!

March


9. Mark Twain


Finish Date: March 2012
Genre: Classic/Adventure
Rating: B+


Huckleberry Finn's story is said to be the first true American novel with real American dialogue. This is a beautifully told tale with small incidents in the story, easily found, that one can see Twain added later in his life.

I love this book. A clear must read.

March


10. F. Scott Fitzgerald

Finish Date: March 2012
Genre: Short Story
Rating: C-

I read this for school, and it didn't change my view on Fitzgerald. I don't like much of his work.

March


11. Carl Sagan

Finish Date: March 2012
Genre: Science/Non-fiction
Rating: A-

This book contains Carl Sagan's thoughts on the evolution of human intelligence. It is easier to read than one might think, but a little of the facts are a little outdated.

I enjoyed reading this very much, and I recommend it for anyone who likes evolution or science in general.

March


12. Anne Waldman


Finish Date: March 2012
Genre: Collected Works
Rating: B


I do like some of the beat writers, but some of them are just so boring.


This collection did a pretty good job of making good selections, and if you like the poetry of the beat generation, then this might a good pick up.

I'm using this as some research for my "teach a lesson" project in my American Lit class.

Eric wrote: "February


6.Susan Hill


Finish Date: February 2012
Genre: Horror/Ghost
Rating: A


I love this story. I have yet to see the m..."

Eric......is this the same author of the Simon Serailler series (one of which is cited below)? I have read them and like her style but did not know she wrote a ghost story. I will be looking for that. BTW, if it is the same author, don't forget to add the photo which is available.



by Susan Hill

Yes, it is the same woman.

The picture shows up when I look at the thread but not in your quoting. That is weird.

It's OK now......sometimes photos have a way of doing that!

March


13. Allen Ginsberg


Finish Date: March 2012
Genre: Poetry
Rating: B-


This is a good collection of poetry, but it is going to require another reread since it is short.

I am reading all these beat writers as a school research project. There might be more than a few on this list. Ha

Eric you are cruising right along. Sounds like a fun school research project! Can't wait to see what else makes it to the list.

March


14. Susan Glaspell

Finish Date: March 2012
Genre: Drama
Rating: B+


This is a one act play from the dawn of uniquely American drama. Glaspell's one acter is a great, short read, and I encourage anyone who hasn't read it, to get on the American drama train quickly!

April


15. Jack Kerouac

Finish Date: April 2012
Genre: Novella
Rating: A-

A lot of people don't like Kerouac's writing style, but this feels a little different than On the Road, which I'm also reading write now. I liked this novella, and it took me almost no time to read. I'd suggest to anyone as a second chance for Kerouac.

April


16. Lawrence Ferlinghetti

Finish Date: April 2012
Genre: Poetry Collection
Rating: B-

I like Ginsberg a lot more than I like Felinghetti, but this was a good collection. I don't see why this is one of the most popular collections of American poetry though.

I think that poetry is such a personal thing that I wonder how a collection such as this one would resonate with so many.

Regarding your progress - you are off to a great start.

One thing that you have forgotten which is a nit but part of the format is the category header - Review: in front of the start of the review. If you go back and add that to your previous entries - everything will be pitch perfect. Just check out the required format.

Here is the required format:

Our Required Format:

JANUARY

1. Winston S. Churchill
Finish date: March 2008
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.