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I am obsessed with WWII books!
I just finished The Plum Tree by Ellen Wiseman, which I Loved, and now I'm reading The French War Bride by Robin Williams.
I'm the author of "Rembrandt's Shadow" also a historical romantic fiction of that era (based on True historical events of our family)

Susan wrote: "I am reading Commonwealth by Ann Patchett and The Special Prisoner by Jim Lehrer. Most of my time (I am in Tucson for 6 mos) is going toward marketing my new novel Threshold, about climate change i..."

How is Commonwealth? I've read two of her books so far. I seem to always be intrigued by the plot, but then the execution is a little lackluster. Her books are thought provoking though.

I'm currently reading The Queen of the Tearling. It's not what I expected. It's like medieval, but it's dystopian with elements of fantasy thrown in. Very weird world building.

I'm reading a history book Attila the Hun by John Man for research and hit a major snag that drives me crazy. I know little about Attila, but have deeply studied the time period from the Roman side of things and Man gets several easily checked facts from the Roman history wrong. Now I don't know how much to believe from his area of expertise. I always use the journalist standard of verifying facts from at least two reliable sources, but now I don't know if I can use him as "reliable" which makes him next to useless. ARG!

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil � John Berendt � 4****
Berendt was a free-lance journalist when curiosity took him to Savannah and he began to write about the particularly insular culture of that Southern city. Then a murder happened, and his story really took off. I first read this sometime in the mid to late 1990s, and on re-reading it I’m not so keen about it. The murder doesn’t happen until half-way through the book, and that was really the most interesting part. I’m still giving it 4 stars because I believe that was closer to my original reaction to the book.
LINK to my review

I just finished Looking for Alaska by John Green & Wow!

My Review: /review/show...

. I just started it. I have always enjoyed Lisa See

I am going to start reading The Blessing Stone hope it is good.

I just finished Savage Girl and I couldn't believe how good it was. It may only be January but I think it could be one of the best books I read all year.

There seems to be renewed interest in Anthony Trollope's works, so I read a book of six of his short stories, Selected Short Stories.

I like short stories and had never read Trollope. Can't say I was crazy about these, but he did have a way with words, so I quoted some bits I liked. I think fans of Jane Austen will probably enjoy Trollope.

My review
/review/show...

I've started The snow child by Eowyn Ivey. I've been reading several books set in Alaska and the Arctic. This one looks interesting and different.

I'm reading David McCullough's John Adams. I know it's non-fiction, but it reads better than many historical fiction works. Both John Adams and David McCullough are eloquent writers and are a pleasure to read.

I just finished Anna and the Swallow Man and now beginning The Pianist: The Extraordinary Story of One Man's Survival in Warsaw, 1939�45, both ser in WW2 Poland.

Elliott wrote: "I'm reading David McCullough's John Adams. "

I'm a big fan of McCullough's work. Loved Mornings on Horseback.

I'm reading "The Beekeeper's Apprentice " by Laurie King. It's the first in a series that has a new take on Sherlock Holmes.

^^ I love that series it's such good fun

Blueberry wrote: "I just finished Anna and the Swallow Man and now beginning The Pianist: The Extraordinary Story of One Man's Survival in Warsaw, 1939�45, both ser in WW2 Poland."

Did you like Anna and the Swallow Man? I read it as an early release and had a hard time getting into it.

Margaret wrote: "I've started The snow child by Eowyn Ivey. I've been reading several books set in Alaska and the Arctic. This one looks interesting and different."

Margaret, I just read and absolutely loved her second book, To The Bright Edge of the World, so I'm especially looking forward to her first one that you're reading now.

I've also got the other one on my Tbr list. It was your recommendation that prompted me to read Snow child

Was lucky to score an ARC for , what'll be the 3rd book in the Blake & Avery series by historian M.J. Carter. I really enjoyed the first book, the second was also good (but maybe not quite as much as the first), but this third has been fantastic.

Christine wrote: "Blueberry wrote: "I just finished Anna and the Swallow Man and now beginning The Pianist: The Extraordinary Story of One Man's Survival in Warsaw, 1939�45, both ser in..."


I liked it a lot, stayed up to 3am finishing it. I gave it 5 stars. Half of it I listened to on audio. I didn't like the ending at all, but then went back the next day, reread it and accepted it. haha The ending seems to be a common complaint among reviewers.

Started Victoria:The Queen by Julia Baird.

Finished Advise and Consent- which was like watching the Senate confirmation hearings on TV- fascinating.
To start Woman in White-looks intriguing

I read Les revenants du Haut-Barr set in Alsace Lorraine area in France during the early 19th century. It is a good crime and history novel, which I rated 4 star and reviewed.

Jackie wrote: "I'm currently reading The Queen of the Tearling. It's not what I expected. It's like medieval, but it's dystopian with elements of fantasy thrown in. Very weird world building."

Jackie - I listened to this and ended up driving around and around and around...I'm usually not a fan of fantasy, but this was a big favorite the year it came out. Hope you enjoy it!

Reading Woman in White which in the introduction was published in the newspapers by none other than Charles Dickens !!

I started The Big Green Tent by Lyudmila Ulitskaya. Set during in the Cold War, in the Soviet Union.

Am reading The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger - 20% through and finding the premise and the interactions fascinating.

I just started reading Inés of My Soul. So far I am really enjoying the writing style of the author. It starts in Spain and then it is mostly set in Peru.

Bree wrote: "Am reading The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger - 20% through and finding the premise and the interactions fascinating."

I thought the book was very clever and well-written. They also made a movie out of it, but I didn't see it. Wasn't sure how such a complicated story would translate to the screen. Enjoy!

Faith wrote: "Bree wrote: "Am reading The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger - 20% through and finding the premise and the interactions fascinating."

I thought the book was ..."

The movie was very confusing if you hadn't read the book.

More than halfway through Marie Antoinette: The Journey by Antonia Fraser, and really enjoying it. I like the Sofia Coppola film with Kirsten Dunst, which I think was based on this particular biography.

Jessica wrote: "More than halfway through Marie Antoinette: The Journey by Antonia Fraser, and really enjoying it. I like the Sofia Coppola film with Kirsten Dunst, which I think was bas..."

Jessica, you're right that the film was based on this biography! I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and liked the movie too :)

Just finished Same Kind of Different as Me
My review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/1887162120

I am reading nothing. This week I put down two titles I really looked forward to. Fear I am facing the book blahs. Any suggestions of a Knock Your Socks Off Book? Or even a good read? Thanks in advance.

From an old time member who hasn't been around much lately.

Nancy from NJ wrote: "I am reading nothing. This week I put down two titles I really looked forward to. Fear I am facing the book blahs. Any suggestions of a Knock Your Socks Off Book? Or even a good read? Thanks in adv..."

I really enjoyed Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. Also I really enjoy Jodi Picoult. I am currently reading Small Great Things

The Husband - Dean Koontz � 3.5***
Mitch Rafferty runs a two-man landscaping business, so he’s sure there’s a mistake when a kidnapper calls and says that if he “loves his wife enough� he’ll find a way to pay the exorbitant ransom. This is the first book by Koontz that I’ve read. It’s not great literature, but it sure held my attention and I’ll definitely read more from him. Especially when I’m in the mood for a fast-paced, entertaining thriller.
LINK to my review

Christine wrote: "I just started reading Inés of My Soul. So far I am really enjoying the writing style of the author. It starts in Spain and then it is mostly set in Peru."

I am a big fan of Allende's. This was a 4-star read for me.

Thanks Jayme but I already read the Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet which I loved as well as Small Great Things. I have so many kindle books downloaded that I am often overwhelmed when nothing suits me. But I have a free day tomorrow and am determined to finally get into a keeper book.

Jayne - Sons of the Blood sounds real good. Ironically I am watching The Crown on Netflix. I love English history although I sometimes find I need a family tree either to refresh my memory or for me to learn something I didn't know.

Finished and loved Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad

My review:www.goodreads.com/review/show/1886057983

I finished - GASP! - Aussie author Steve Toltz's enormous book A Fraction of the Whole.

Great writing (short list for 2008 Man Booker Prize) , but by golly it's long. I did include a lot of quotes so you can see what a good writer he is.

My review
/review/show...

I'm reading Small Island. Takes place in London & Jamaica in 1948. On my kindle, The Gilded Hour. New York City in 1883. Enjoying both of them so far.

Janet wrote: "I am obsessed with WWII books!
I just finished The Plum Tree by Ellen Wiseman, which I Loved, and now I'm reading The French War Bride by Robin Williams.
I'm the author of "Rembrandt's Shadow" als..."

Hope you don't mind if I suggest my own WW2 novel, about a Canadian woman who becomes an aerial photo interpreter for Allied Intelligence. It has some good reviews!

Patricia, I have Small Island in my library. Let me know how you like it. I thought I would like The Gilded Hour but I had a hard time getting into it and put it aside.

I finished "Small Great Things" and starting "Closer To My Heart"

Oh golly, I loved this one! Short and almost perfect. Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson is so full, it's hard to believe it isn't longer.

Young black girl in Brooklyn - doesn't begin to describe it.

My review
/review/show...

Just finished A Perilous Undertaking by Deanna Raybourn - loved the main characters Veronica and Stoker they are so entertaining...now I am onto The Forgotten Room by Karen White, Beatriz Williams and Lauren Willig.

Maisie Dobbs � Jacqueline Winspear � 2**
This is the first in a series featuring a former housemaid and Army Nurse. The book begins in 1929, and Maisie Dobbs has opened her own private investigation agency. I like Maisie and the supporting characters, but this first book spent way too much time in the past, and not nearly enough time on the actual mystery. Still, although I was disappointed in this book, I’d be willing to try another because of the characters, setting and period.
LINK to my review

This year for historical fiction I plan to read The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell, The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett, and Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco.