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I assume you're here at this website because you like my books. Good. And that also means you might like the books I enjoy reading, and that all of us might enjoy the books that you read, so this is simply a place where we can exchange news of books - any books - not just historical novels. Tell us if you've read something wonderful and entertaining, and we'll post your recommendations and reviews here. And, please, let us know what you think of these recommendations!

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Reading Club Results 71 through 80 Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Archives

Posting Date: 01 Dec, 2008                          (71.)  Posted By: Mike Metcalfe  Buy This Book: Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Book Title: THE TERROR Book Author: Dan Simmons Publisher: Bantam Press ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Description/Review :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::   This is the best book I have read since Tim Willocks' The Religion. A fictionalised account of Sir John Franklin's final and fatal Arctic voyage in search of the North West Passage. Don't be put off by the thickness of the volume but do only read it in a warm room with a hot drink handy. If nothing else it will encourage you to eat plenty of fruit and veg.

Posting Date: 22 Nov, 2008                          (72.)  Posted By: Alan Bingham  Buy This Book: Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Book Title: WOLF OF THE PLAINS Book Author: Conn Iggulden Publisher: HarperCollins ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Description/Review :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::   I came to read these books when searching for an author who may write similarly to Bernard Cornwell and who could fill in between Mr. Cornwell's writing, having now read all his books. These books by Conn Iggulden I find very interesting and hold you and are also based on facts as are Mr. Cornwell's They cover the life of "Genghis Khan" with a third book in the series "Bones of the Hills" which I have yet to read. Very Good Reading

Posting Date: 16 Nov, 2008                          (73.)  Posted By: Sheila Churchill  Buy This Book: Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Book Title: AN INFAMOUS ARMY Book Author: Georgette Heyer Publisher: Arrow Books ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Description/Review :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::   Heyer is noted to be the gold standard by which romantic historicals are judged, but don't let that mislead you into thinking this is some kind of sugary, ladies -only novel. Originally published in 1937, her writing is fresh and enjoyable . The description of the Waterloo battle itself is compelling, in fact, made me think I could run into Sharpe at any moment.

Posting Date: 07 Nov, 2008                          (74.)  Posted By: keith pinkerton  Buy This Book: Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Book Title: THE PURE LAND Book Author: Alan Spence Publisher: Conongate Books ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Description/Review :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::   Powerful poetic novel re Thomas Glover the real life Scotsman who established trading links with japan and was instrumental in the creation of their modern navy interwoven with Hiroshima and Nagasaki decades later.Glover is the basis of the story of madame butterfly and the love story is told here also.Spence is professor of creative writing at Aberdeen Uni and the book tells an incredible yet factually based story of epic proportions which like much of Bernard's work deserves to be on the big screen

Posting Date: 06 Nov, 2008                          (75.)  Posted By: David M. Dunaj  Buy This Book: Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Book Title: CITIES IN FLIGHT Book Author: James Blish Publisher: Overlook Hardcover ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Description/Review :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::   Yes, this is science fiction. But sci-fi with a historical bent that fans here may enjoy. Blish creates the future history of an earthman galactic culture told in four volumes. Here we find Homeric heroics blended into the structure of Oswald Spengler's historical theory. It's a culture where anti-gravity and anti-aging drugs have enabled the cities of earth to literally uproot themselves and become migrant workers among the colonial worlds of the galaxy. It's great story telling as the reader follows a saga which revolves around the adventures of New York, New York in flight. A note of caution to the reader. This book was written during the cold war with the Soviet Union as main antagonist. So take this into consideration when you read the first volume. The divergence from actual history will not in any way ruin your reading enjoyment.

Posting Date: 05 Nov, 2008                          (76.)  Posted By: Luke wynes  Buy This Book: Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Book Title: THE HUNDRED YEARS WAR Book Author: Desmond Seward Publisher: Robinson Publishing ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Description/Review :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::   Desmond Seward gives great detail in this book,it brings back the battles and people in pictures and carefully picked out words. Highly recomended.

Posting Date: 04 Nov, 2008                          (77.)  Posted By: William Carter  Buy This Book: Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Book Title: FIRE IN THE EAST Book Author: Harry Sidebottom Publisher: Michael Joseph ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Description/Review :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::   The first in a three part adventure for Rome's siege hero Ballista, who has to defend a City from the might of Persia.

Posting Date: 02 Nov, 2008                          (78.)  Posted By: Andrew Moore  Buy This Book: Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Book Title: The Complete War Walks: From Hastings to Normandy Book Author: Richard Holmes Publisher: Publisher: BBC Books ISBN 978-0563487173 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Description/Review :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::   Richard Holmes looks at several key battles starting with the Battle of Hastings and ending up at Normandy in the second world war passing Agincourt on the way. This book is clearly written and looks at the battles from different perspectives; the background looks at why they happened, the key players, the repercussions, the soldiers viewpoint... I really think that if you like the works of Bernard Cornwell you will like this book as some background reading. Unlike formal history lessons, this book deals less with the dates etc and more with what I like to call the real history. Mr Holmes has actually walked these battle sites and read as much as possible about the battles before writing about them in his own inimitable way. It's easy to read and very informative.

Posting Date: 31 Oct, 2008                          (79.)  Posted By: Helen Powell  Buy This Book: Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Book Title: DARK FIRE, DISSOLUTION AND SOVEREIGN Book Author: C.J. Sansom Publisher: Pan Books ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Description/Review :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::   All 3 book are a great read. They are set in Tudor England. The main character is Mathew Shardlake who is a lawyer and a hunchback. He gets draged into all sorts of situations sometimes against his better judgement and the results are fantastically colourful stories. You can almost see, smell and hear Tudor London.

Posting Date: 03 Oct, 2008                          (80.)  Posted By: David Eric Coote  Buy This Book: Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Book Title: TREACHERY Book Author: Julian Stockwin Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Description/Review :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::   This is the latest in the series of books charting the Naval career of Thomas Paine Kydd. Taken by the Press and rated landsman (Kydd), becomes by turns a seaman (Artemis), Petty Officer (Seaflower), Master's Mate (Mutiny), promoted to Lieutenant (Quarterdeck & Tenacious) and Commander (Command). He finds love and loses it (The Admiral's Daughter), and is disgraced and regains his honour in the latest of the series, originally titled "The Privateer's Revenge". Julian Stockwin has once again invoked the politics and some of the personalities of the Napoleonic War and succeeded in turning what could have been a dry tale into a very readable and enjoyable story; the best part is that there is more to come! I can only recommend that you go out, beg, borrow or buy, and enjoy.

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