The History Book Club discussion

JANUARY

1. Terry Pratchett
Finish Date: January 2010
Rating A
The fifth book in Pratchett's Discworld series, a satire of popular fantasy genre themes. Favorite characters include Conanina, daughter of Cohen the Barbarian. A lot of fun.

2. Terry Pratchett
Finish date: January 2010
Rating: A
One of the Witches sub series of Prachett's Discworld series (#6 of the Discworld books to be published, 2nd of the "Witches" novels). A parody of MacBeth.

3. Terry Pratchett
Rating: A
8th in the Discworld series, 3rd of the "Witches" novels. Possibly my all time favorite in the Discworld series, a very different take on the "Fairy Godmother" story.

Great start.

Steven wrote: "JANUARY

1. Terry Pratchett
Finish Date: January 2010
Rating A
The fifth book in Pratchett's Discworld series, a satir..."

I love Terry Pratchett. The stories seems to be fluffy at first but he writes with a very complex and subtle humor while at the same time putting together an excellent and sometimes moving story. The satire is very well done also. Sometimes subtle and sometimes not subtle at all. An outstanding author in my opinion.

FEBRUARY
4. Terry Pratchett
Finish Date: February, 2010
Rating A
The 20th in the Discworld series. Death (the character) takes over for the Discworld's Santa Claus (Hogfather) when the latter disappears. Death's adopted daughter - Susan Sto Helit - is one of my favorite characters in the entire series.

Thanks Bentley.
Erick, I agree with your take on Pratchett's work. Beneath the fun and the fantasy are some brilliant takes on human nature and society.

FEBRUARY (cont.)

5. Terry Pratchett
Finish Date: February, 2010
Rating: A

The 14th book in the Discworld series, the 4th of the books featuring "the Witches". These are my favorite books in the series. In this one the Elves return to Disworld. Unfortunately, these aren't the good wonderful Elves ala Lord of the Rings...

6. Terry Pratchett
Finish Date: February, 2010
Rating: A

The 18th in the DW series, the 5th book featuring the Witches. A re-telling of "The Phantom of the Opera" in some ways.

7. Terry Pratchett

Finish Date: February, 2010
Rating: A

The 23rd in the DW series, 6th of the books in which The Witches are the main characters. A satire on the vampire legends and literature, along with a "youth in revolt" theme. I love the young vampires who are determined to offend their elders, even to the point of filing their fangs to appear normal...
Anyone who remembers their own youth or has kids or who works with teens will understand...

MARCH

8. Terry Pratchett

Finish Date: March, 2010
Rating: A

The 8th in the DW series, and the first in which the city's Night Watch, or Guards are the main characters. Sam Vimes, their leader is one of Pratchett's best realized characters. A "cop" through and through, complex, flawed, but a good man trying to do well in a not so good world. Kind of like a lot of my historical real life heroes...

9. Terry Pratchett

Finish Date: March, 2010
Rating: A

The 15th in the DW series, 2nd of the books which feature the City Watch or Guards, led by Sam Vimes. Diversity comes to the Watch, and just like in our world, not all goes smoothly...

10. Joseph Wambaugh

Finish Date: March, 2010
Rating: A

After years (decades actually) of writing stand alone with no sequels. Wambaugh has returned to his LA roots and written three novels in a row about the police men and women of "Hollywood Station" - this is the 3rd of the novels. While not quite as good as the first two, it's still an excellent take on police, society and human nature in general, seen from a everyday beat cop's perspective. Be prepared for some morbid humor...

11. Ron Powers

Finish Date: March, 2010
Rating: A

Listened to this biography of Twain on CD while driving my car to and from work. This was the first biography of Twain I've read (or listened to, to be precise) and I thought it was well done, made me want to learn more about the great American author...

Just a note, I've only included books so far that I've read cover to cover, which is of course the idea behind the list I would think. However lest anyone think I've gone "history less" during early 2010 I've also read large portions of historical fiction ( Harold Lamb's Khlit the Cossack tales set in central Asia in the early 1600's as well as some Supreme Court history in the books by Jim Newton and by Jeffrey Toobin.

So while I'm not adding them to my list at this point, I thought I'd mention that I haven't let my history addiction go unfullfilled during this period of addiction to Terry Pratchett...

No problem...when you get them finished don't forget to give them an add...all good.

12. by Jeff Pearlman

Finish Date: April, 2010
Rating: C+
A gossipy look at the Dallas Cowboys Pro Football team in the period after Jerry Jones bought the team, and hired University of Miami football coach Jimmy Johnson to lead the team. It was ok, I'd have preferred a little more analysis and a little less sensationalism. Still, I thought it was a worthwhile book just to get a glimpse of the lives of pro football celebrities in the 1990's.

13. by Mike Mignola

Finish Date: May, 2010
Rating: A

Mike Mignola's latest graphic novel about his fantasy character Hellboy. I thought this was one of the best in the series to this point. Delves into a lot of mythology and legend, also brings in characters from previous stories, setting up a possible grand finale in upcoming stories. Recommend for those who like fantasy and don't mind graphic novels (or comics as we called them in my youth).

14. by Sarah Vowell

Finish Date: May, 2010
Rating: A / A+

I finally finished a real history book! I think Sarah Vowell is a national treasure in the way she mixes contemporary culture and historical acumen and analysis in her books/essays. This one is about the Puritans who came over in 1630 lead by John Winthrop. I'd definitely recommend to anyone in the group who is interested in colonial American history.

15. by Carl Hiaasen

Finish Date: May, 2010
Rating: B

A light fun read, set in Florida's Everglades. A woman is pushed overboard on a cruise ship by her husband, who is involved in a shady plan with a crooked industrialist to hide the fact that his business is breaking a bunch of environmental laws. As I said, a fun, quick read.

Steven wrote: "15. by Carl Hiaasen

Finish Date: May, 2010
Rating: B

A light fun read, set in Florida's Everglades. A woman is pus..."

If you like Hiaasen and Pratchett you may want to try Christopher Moore. He is as wacky as Hiaasen with a bit of fantasy. They are some of my favorite reads when I don't read history.

Thanks John,
I'll add Moore to my list. A friend recommended Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal and I've been interested in Fool as well.

JUNE

16. Going Postal by Terry Pratchett.

Finish Date: June, 2010.
Rating: A

Convicted felon Moist von Lipwig is given a choice, become Post Master of the run down Ankh-Morpork Post Office or be executed. Fantasy set in the Discworld but any student of human behavior will recognize the Pratchett knows history and pyschology very well, in order to write such great parody and satire.

How are you doing?

Ok, Bentley. Thank you for asking. My father passed away in June, so it's been a sad time, but other things have been going well.
Started back to school, walking every morning lately with my son. Getting energy back.
Hope you are well :)

Glad you are OK Steven...but very sorry for your loss. That is a tough time for anyone. Was a little worried for you because had not seen you around that much anywhere on goodreads...and thought something might be up with you. Glad that things are settling down even a little bit and that you are getting back into life. It is hard when you lose a person you considered your staunch supporter in life.

JUNE

17. by Dave Barry

Finish Date: June, 2010
Rating: A

Humorist Dave Barry's take on the Twilight phenomenom and other aspects of life in these United States.

18. by Terry Pratchett

Finish Date: June, 2010
Rating: A
More Discworld satire and fantasy when reformed con man Moist von Lipwig is assigned to tackle the city of Ankh-Morpork's financial system.

19. by

Finish Date: June, 2010
Rating: C +

Discworld book no. 9 - a take on the Faust legend. Inept wizard Rincewind returns.

JULY

20. by

Finish Date: July, 2010
Rating: B

Historical fiction - pirate adventure by Crichton, similar to his Eaters of the Dead in that it's an over the top historical swashbuckler with some fantastic thrown in. Good, maybe a little too much by the end.

Steven wrote: "MARCH

8. Terry Pratchett

AT some point will have to get round to reading more Terry Pratchett.:)

You may already know it's Mark Twain's 100 Anniversary of his passing this year..anyhow UC Press have put out his actual autobiography just released this month...I've put it on my xmas wishlist. You might be interested.

Mark Twain

Velvetink wrote: "Steven wrote: "MARCH

8. Terry Pratchett

AT some point will have to get round to reading more Terry Pratchett.:)
..."

Thanks for the update Velvetink, Twain is one of my favorties/interests. I would like to check this out.

JULY

21.
by

Finish Date: July, 2010
Rating: B

Discworld book no. 25. The city of Ankh-Morpork gets it's own newspaper.

JULY

22. by

More than just a fantasy, Pratchett takes a wry look at imigration, labor, and tolerance. Golems become a major part of the Ankh-Morport community.

23. by

One of the best Discworld novels, which is saying something. Sam Vines travels back in time to the "bad old days" of Ankh-Morpork.

24. by

Well written story of Jesse Owens and the 1936 Olympics.

25.
by

Discworld # 34. Sam Vines and the City Watch try to head off impending war between the Dwarfs and the Trolls. As usual, Pratchett is making wry observations about our own society and times and world.

26. by

Discworld no. 21. A sunken island (the Atlantis of Discworld? ) rises and Ankh Morpork and Klatch both consider war in order to obtain it. A satirical look at war and diplomacy.

Steven wrote: "JULY

22. by

More than just a fantasy, Pratchett takes a wry look at imigration, labor, and tolerance. Golems become a majo..."

An interesting coincidence Steven, I just finished


and I am reading

right now.
Of course, both of these books are by Terry Pratchett

I saw some Pratchett in your list before which reminded me of how much I enjoy them. As you said, they are classic British satire. Humorous with a serious, and very critical, message.