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Free Republic Book Thread, Week of 03/05/05

Posted on 03/05/2005 11:22:06 AM PST by Tanniker Smith

Hello, once again. Welcome to the weekly Free Republic Book Club thread.

The winner of the poll and the topic for this week is historical novels.

For those of you that want to get a jump on next week, the runner up in the last week's poll was mysteries, so grab one off the shelf and get busy reading, so you'll have something for next week. 8-)


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: book; bookclub; books; club
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To: JustaCowgirl

Also enjoyed Michener. I was in southern Spain in the mid 70's when I read Iberia. It was actually more of a travelogue.

Two passages stick with me even after all these years. He states that if you invite a Spanish family to dinner, do NOT serve them corn. It is an insult. Spaniards believe that "only pigs and Mexicans eat corn."

The other was sort of a sweeping opinion of the country. He said - "Spain. Five thousand years of tradition unmarred by progress."

Kind of the way I though of it when I was there.


41 posted on 03/05/2005 2:01:31 PM PST by CTOCS (This space left intentionally blank...)
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To: Maceman

Have you ever tried to deprogram a young liberal?


42 posted on 03/05/2005 2:06:19 PM PST by SilentServiceCPOWife (Romeo&Juliet, Troilus&Crisedye, Bogey&Bacall, Gable&Lombard, Brigitte&Flav)
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To: A Citizen Reporter
As a matter of fact, I think The Source is the Michener title I was thinking of, not Caravans. Like you, it's been a number of years. That was a really great novel. If I'm not mistaken, and I could be, I think Caravans was set in Afghanistan. The Source is definitely in Israel. The Michener title set in Afghanistan might be a very interesting re-read.

Another good historical novel I really liked was The Journeyer by Gary Jennings, about the life of Marco Polo. It was extremely gory, as all Jennings' novels are, but fascinating.

43 posted on 03/05/2005 2:09:43 PM PST by JustaCowgirl (You have seen that life is fragile, and evil is real, and courage triumphs -- George W Bush)
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To: CTOCS

Interesting insight into Spain. I didn't finish Iberia, I found it dull. But being there would definitely change one's perception, I'm sure.


44 posted on 03/05/2005 2:11:19 PM PST by JustaCowgirl (You have seen that life is fragile, and evil is real, and courage triumphs -- George W Bush)
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To: CTOCS
Yes, I've had that one recommended to me. I LOVE alternate history, it's probably my most favorite category. (I think Killer Angels was alternate history, if I'm remembering correctly).

My absolute favorite alternate history (time travel, actually) of all time is Time and Again by Jack Finney. I you haven't read that, it is a must read, IMO. Takes you back to gaslight-era New York City via the Dakota Hotel.

My other favorite alternate history is the Eden series by Harry Harrison, the series based on the premise that dinosaur and human species developed in parallel and come into competition for dominance in ancient times.

Thx for the recommendation. Never been a Civil War buff, but maybe I'll have to try it.

BTW, another good historical novel: Lion of Ireland, about Brian Boru, the first king of Ireland.

45 posted on 03/05/2005 2:19:27 PM PST by JustaCowgirl (You have seen that life is fragile, and evil is real, and courage triumphs -- George W Bush)
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To: SilentServiceCPOWife

I like Anya Seton as well. Haven't tried John Jakes.

I also like Mary Stewart a lot. Her Merlin trilogy was wonderful.


46 posted on 03/05/2005 2:23:43 PM PST by JustaCowgirl (You have seen that life is fragile, and evil is real, and courage triumphs -- George W Bush)
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To: don-o

At Amazon.com you can buy the paperbacks for about 80 cents.
They have a lengthy list, as well.
I also buy books at www.zooba.com.
They have all the new best sellers....some skimpy historicals.
Lots of craft books there.
All they charge is $9.95 and that includes the shipping...when I finish a new book I sell it at Amazon.


47 posted on 03/05/2005 2:27:07 PM PST by joyce11111
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To: JustaCowgirl

Which Anya Seton book do you like the best? My favorites are "Green Darkness" and "Catherine".


48 posted on 03/05/2005 2:27:19 PM PST by SilentServiceCPOWife (Romeo&Juliet, Troilus&Crisedye, Bogey&Bacall, Gable&Lombard, Brigitte&Flav)
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To: JustaCowgirl
Two of my favorites by Michener (besides the ones you named) are Chesapeake and Poland.

Auel's first two books, Clan of the Cave Bear and Valley of the Horses were very good.

Ditto on anything by Leon Uris although I've read that the last novel he published wasn't so good--I've avoided reading it because I don't want to be disappointed.

Paul Scott's Raj Quartet is awesome. I'm currently reading M.M.Kaye's The Far Pavillions--very good. I also liked her Shadows of the Moon.

Enjoy John Jakes.

Also Colleen McCullough's work except I didn't much care for A Creed for the Third Millinieum.

Byzantium (Stephen Lawhead) is very good.

Ken Follet--Pillars of the Earth.

I've read two Edward Rutherford novels: Sarum and London and both were very good.

49 posted on 03/05/2005 2:31:41 PM PST by elli1
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To: elli1

Ken Follet--Pillars of the Earth....I loved that book!


50 posted on 03/05/2005 2:55:42 PM PST by formerlytempaussie (Minnesota- National Mosquito Runway)
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To: Tanniker Smith

Thanks for the ping.

If you are interested in the life of Christ and his apostles, I highly recommend "John, Son of Thunder" by Ellen Gunderson Traylor.

It is a spiritually inspired novel about the apostle John.


51 posted on 03/05/2005 3:26:41 PM PST by wizr (Freedom ain't free.)
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To: SilentServiceCPOWife

I would say "Green Darkness" is my favorite. I may have read Catherine, but I don't recall it to memory right now.


52 posted on 03/05/2005 3:41:32 PM PST by JustaCowgirl (You have seen that life is fragile, and evil is real, and courage triumphs -- George W Bush)
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To: elli1

I loved both those M.M Kaye books you listed. She was really, really good.


53 posted on 03/05/2005 3:42:50 PM PST by JustaCowgirl (You have seen that life is fragile, and evil is real, and courage triumphs -- George W Bush)
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To: don-o
I was talking to a friend about Taylor Caldwell yesterday, who I read years ago.

Any recommendations?

I happen to be re-reading (read it years and years ago) Grandmother and the Priests.

Some of my favorite Taylor Caldwell books are:

-A Pillar of Iron--about Cicero

-The Earth is the Lord's--about Ghengis Khan (don't tell Kerry)

-The Arm and the Darkness--about the Hugenots and Catholics

-Several novels set in 1800s America---The Trilogy starting with Dynasty of Death is very good. Also

-This Side of Innocence.

-Dear and Glorious Physician--about St.Luke

-Great Lion of God--about St. Paul

-I, Judas---about Judas

-two of her works that are not historical fiction but I like are

-Wicked Angel--a bad seed story and

-The Devil's Advocate--that I think some freepers might like--a story of a future America that has fallen under totalitarian rule and how some are fighting against it.

She really did write many novels set in or beginning in America that I can't name off the top of my head but the detail of the country during that time has always interested me.

54 posted on 03/05/2005 7:05:43 PM PST by cyncooper
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To: Tanniker Smith

Please add me to the book club list, thank you :)


55 posted on 03/05/2005 7:19:12 PM PST by HarleyLady27 (Prayers ease the heavy burdens of the living....)
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To: Tanniker Smith
Hey, Its not a novel but more of a history book relating to the British media and the US Civil War..... you can download the file here... I think they wrote it in 1908 or something
56 posted on 03/05/2005 7:39:40 PM PST by GeronL (Condi will not be mistaken for a cleaning lady)
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To: JustaCowgirl

My favorite book is "...And Ladies of the Club" by Helen Hooven Santmyer.

It starts just after the end of the Civil War and is set in a small town in Ohio.

And the "Club" of the title is...a book club!

Many of the ladies are...Republican!

Quite a bit of political observation and discussion is in this book along with battles of the Civil War (especially later in the book when a character takes to telling children his war stories in detail).

I've read the book 3 or 4 times and never fail to have a good cry at a couple points, too. The characters are so well drawn you become immersed in their interaction and drama. Highly recommended.


57 posted on 03/05/2005 7:51:22 PM PST by cyncooper
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To: cyncooper

Thx for the recommendation. I've never read that one, I'll have to try it sometime. That one should keep me busy for a while, if I remember correctly it's very long.


58 posted on 03/05/2005 8:25:38 PM PST by JustaCowgirl (You have seen that life is fragile, and evil is real, and courage triumphs -- George W Bush)
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To: formerlytempaussie

I have read all of Ken Folletts books...he even writes me!

I think my fav was Eye Of The Needle.

Did you read The Hornet...that one really had me turning pages FAST!


59 posted on 03/05/2005 8:31:41 PM PST by joyce11111
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To: Tanniker Smith

Please add me to ping list : )))

Currently reading The Purpose Driven Life ( in 40 days) and looking for something good in fiction : )


60 posted on 03/06/2005 2:17:14 PM PST by alisasny (We get 4 more years, you get OBAMA...: ))
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