1benitastrnad
Hello folks
Let me introduce myself and then I will introduce the category for the month of June.
I am a newly retired librarian and university professor who is just discovering the joys of doing nothing. I retired March 1 of this year and planned to spend my first 6 months doing nothing except reading and drinking coffee. (There is a Starbucks located 4 blocks from my house) However, I have just discovered the joys of binge watching TV show and movies and in one week I have learned how much of a time suck binge watching can be. I don't spend all my time reading. I have a nice patio and each year I cover it with planted containers that make me spend the summer watering the various pots. For years I only planted white or light colored plants because that was what I could see and enjoy when I got home from work. This year I am planting REDS and BLUES as well as white flowers. I also do lots of knitting. This is a good habit to have when you are binge watching. I may not be getting as much reading done as I wanted, but I am getting more knitting done than I anticipated. This is my first time hosting one of these categories so I picked something easy and wide open so that there isn't much monitoring for me to do.
The Fifties mark the mid- point of a century and often provide a way to look at what has happened in a century and what is just glimmering on the horizon for the rest of the century. The goal for this month is to read a book about an event or person associated with the fabulous fifties of any century after the year 1000 CE and continuing to the present day. For instance - in the 1050's Macbeth, king of Scotland made a pilgrimage to Rome and died in 1057, therefore, the Shakespeare play Macbeth would qualify for this challenge. In the 1150's, the University of the City of Paris is founded. It is now known as the Sorbonne, so books about this institution, or set there, would work. Henry Plantagenet succeeds his father, Geoffrey of Anjou as Count of Anjou. He eventually becomes Henry II of England and husband to Eleanor of Aquitaine, so books about this couple would fall into this category. The English Civil War ended in 1154 so the series of books written by Sharon Kay Penman would fit the bill. Fredrick Barbarossa is crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 1155 CE. Skipping a few centuries, in 1450 Francesco Sforza becomes Duke of Milan and establishes that dynasty. 1453 is the fall of Constantinople and the end of the Hundred Years War between France and England and 1458 sees the start of the War of the Roses in England. The novels of the Cousins War series by Philippa Gregory would work for this era as would Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr. Christopher Columbus was born sometime in the 1450's so a biography of him would be appropriate. In the 1850's there is the Crimean War, the Second Opium War, and the Indian Mutiny. Books about Florence Nightingale would be appropriate as would the Ibis Trilogy set in the Opium Wars and written by Amitav Ghosh. In the U.S. it is the time of Bleeding Kansas, sort of a pre-Civil war so Good Lord Bird would work. The outbreak of a Cholera epidemic in London was traced to a neighborhood water pump and Uncle Tom's Cabin was published in the U.S.
If you are unsure about what happened or who was born or died during the fabulous fifties of any century Wikipedia will be a big help. Wikipedia has a decade list that gives the main events all over the world along with lists of famous people of that time. Just type in 1250s or 1750s and the decade will come up. The problem here is going to be that there is so much to choose from as this is a wide open category. It may be hard to narrow things down. The upside is that there is something in it that should appeal to almost everybody and there are so many books that would apply in this category.
Let me introduce myself and then I will introduce the category for the month of June.
I am a newly retired librarian and university professor who is just discovering the joys of doing nothing. I retired March 1 of this year and planned to spend my first 6 months doing nothing except reading and drinking coffee. (There is a Starbucks located 4 blocks from my house) However, I have just discovered the joys of binge watching TV show and movies and in one week I have learned how much of a time suck binge watching can be. I don't spend all my time reading. I have a nice patio and each year I cover it with planted containers that make me spend the summer watering the various pots. For years I only planted white or light colored plants because that was what I could see and enjoy when I got home from work. This year I am planting REDS and BLUES as well as white flowers. I also do lots of knitting. This is a good habit to have when you are binge watching. I may not be getting as much reading done as I wanted, but I am getting more knitting done than I anticipated. This is my first time hosting one of these categories so I picked something easy and wide open so that there isn't much monitoring for me to do.
The Fifties mark the mid- point of a century and often provide a way to look at what has happened in a century and what is just glimmering on the horizon for the rest of the century. The goal for this month is to read a book about an event or person associated with the fabulous fifties of any century after the year 1000 CE and continuing to the present day. For instance - in the 1050's Macbeth, king of Scotland made a pilgrimage to Rome and died in 1057, therefore, the Shakespeare play Macbeth would qualify for this challenge. In the 1150's, the University of the City of Paris is founded. It is now known as the Sorbonne, so books about this institution, or set there, would work. Henry Plantagenet succeeds his father, Geoffrey of Anjou as Count of Anjou. He eventually becomes Henry II of England and husband to Eleanor of Aquitaine, so books about this couple would fall into this category. The English Civil War ended in 1154 so the series of books written by Sharon Kay Penman would fit the bill. Fredrick Barbarossa is crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 1155 CE. Skipping a few centuries, in 1450 Francesco Sforza becomes Duke of Milan and establishes that dynasty. 1453 is the fall of Constantinople and the end of the Hundred Years War between France and England and 1458 sees the start of the War of the Roses in England. The novels of the Cousins War series by Philippa Gregory would work for this era as would Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr. Christopher Columbus was born sometime in the 1450's so a biography of him would be appropriate. In the 1850's there is the Crimean War, the Second Opium War, and the Indian Mutiny. Books about Florence Nightingale would be appropriate as would the Ibis Trilogy set in the Opium Wars and written by Amitav Ghosh. In the U.S. it is the time of Bleeding Kansas, sort of a pre-Civil war so Good Lord Bird would work. The outbreak of a Cholera epidemic in London was traced to a neighborhood water pump and Uncle Tom's Cabin was published in the U.S.
If you are unsure about what happened or who was born or died during the fabulous fifties of any century Wikipedia will be a big help. Wikipedia has a decade list that gives the main events all over the world along with lists of famous people of that time. Just type in 1250s or 1750s and the decade will come up. The problem here is going to be that there is so much to choose from as this is a wide open category. It may be hard to narrow things down. The upside is that there is something in it that should appeal to almost everybody and there are so many books that would apply in this category.
2DeltaQueen50
I have updated the Wiki and have added the location of this thread to our first post.
On Sept. 18, 1850, the Fugitive Slave Act was passed in the United States. This act provided for the return of slaves brought to free states. I am going to be reading Soul Catcher about a slave catcher having to bring an escapee back from Boston.
On Sept. 18, 1850, the Fugitive Slave Act was passed in the United States. This act provided for the return of slaves brought to free states. I am going to be reading Soul Catcher about a slave catcher having to bring an escapee back from Boston.
3kac522
My plan is to read The Ghost Map by Steven Johnson, about the cholera epidemic in London.
4CurrerBell
1650s England, the era of the Protectorate.
5LibraryCin
>1 benitastrnad: I am a newly retired librarian and university professor who is just discovering the joys of doing nothing. I retired March 1 of this year and planned to spend my first 6 months doing nothing except reading
I am also a librarian, but I just hope I am able to retire at 65 (15 years from now). And this above is what I also want to do! :-) And I want to pick up hobbies I've dropped over the years to do more reading: jigsaw puzzles, more tv, cross-stitch, making cards... maybe knitting again, but I'm not good at it! It would need practice.
I am also a librarian, but I just hope I am able to retire at 65 (15 years from now). And this above is what I also want to do! :-) And I want to pick up hobbies I've dropped over the years to do more reading: jigsaw puzzles, more tv, cross-stitch, making cards... maybe knitting again, but I'm not good at it! It would need practice.
6LibraryCin
Oh, and I saw the topic and thought 1950s, but you've made it broader! I like it! Will have to see what's on the tbr (I still might end up with 1950s, but I like that I have additional options.)
7LibraryCin
I actually have quite a bit that fits 1950s... hmmm, fiction, though, and I usually try for nonfiction in this group.
Well, if I go with fiction, I might go with:
The Golden Tresses of the Dead / Alan Bradley
Bunny Lake is Missing / Evelyn Piper
But I'm going to keep looking to see what I might have that's nonfiction, as well.
Well, if I go with fiction, I might go with:
The Golden Tresses of the Dead / Alan Bradley
Bunny Lake is Missing / Evelyn Piper
But I'm going to keep looking to see what I might have that's nonfiction, as well.
8CurrerBell
I've got so many oodles in my Mount TBR that are set in the 1950s. There's a lot of fiction I really want to get around to, especially getting a start on Marilynne Robinson. I really also want to get to Elizabeth Strout's (one of my favorite contemporary writers) early novel Abide with Me. In non-fiction, I've got David Halberstam's The Coldest Winter: America and the Korean War and Alistair Horne's A Savage War of Peace: Algeria 1954-1962.
Not sure, though, but I may start with that great poem of the 1850s which I've never read, Les Fleurs Du Mal, and give Baudelaire a crack in Richard Howard's award-winning dual-language translation. (My French isn't good enough generally to handle poetry, and I suspect particularly to handle Baudelaire.)
ETA: Hmmm, checking Wikipedia, it looks like Les Fleurs Du Mal really ranges from the 1840s through Baudelaire's death in 1867. Its first edition, though, was 1857, and it seems to be a bit concentrated toward that decade.
Not sure, though, but I may start with that great poem of the 1850s which I've never read, Les Fleurs Du Mal, and give Baudelaire a crack in Richard Howard's award-winning dual-language translation. (My French isn't good enough generally to handle poetry, and I suspect particularly to handle Baudelaire.)
ETA: Hmmm, checking Wikipedia, it looks like Les Fleurs Du Mal really ranges from the 1840s through Baudelaire's death in 1867. Its first edition, though, was 1857, and it seems to be a bit concentrated toward that decade.
9benitastrnad
>3 kac522:
I have read Ghost Map and it is very good. It is a good snapshot of life in Victorian London.
>7 LibraryCin:
The Flavia De Luce series is so good! I have read all of them and they are a great look at post-war WWII Britain.
I have read Ghost Map and it is very good. It is a good snapshot of life in Victorian London.
>7 LibraryCin:
The Flavia De Luce series is so good! I have read all of them and they are a great look at post-war WWII Britain.
10cindydavid4
>6 LibraryCin: yes, I like this broader topic very well! Probably choose an early medieval date, but honestly I should try a decade I don't know as much about like 1750 london ETA actually think Ill go for something during the 7 year war which I(1756-1763), pitted Austria, France, Russia, Sweden and Saxony against Prussia and England. Ive heard about it but know little of the history
11cindydavid4
Well Nancy Mitford has a biography of Frederick the Great which might shed some light on that war. Could be interesting. Still would like a HF about it, if anyone has any suggestions
12benitastrnad
>10 cindydavid4:
The Seven Years War is also the French and Indian War in the U.S. So an epic poem like Evangeline by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow would work - as would the history nonfiction classic Montcalm and Wolfe by Francis Parkman. Or anything about Braddock or George Washington in the French and Indian War.
The Seven Years War is also the French and Indian War in the U.S. So an epic poem like Evangeline by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow would work - as would the history nonfiction classic Montcalm and Wolfe by Francis Parkman. Or anything about Braddock or George Washington in the French and Indian War.
13benitastrnad
I am thinking I am going to read Elephant's Journey by Jose Saramago. In 1551 King Joao III of Portugal gave the Archduke Maximillian and elephant as a wedding present. This novel is the story of the journey of getting the elephant from Lisbon to Innsbruck.
14cindydavid4
>12 benitastrnad: Good idea, but I don't know anything about the eropean 7 year war whereas I know some basics of the french indian war. So looking for books about that
15cindydavid4
>13 benitastrnad: oh, I want to read that! love Saramago and must get this book!
16MissBrangwen
There is no way I will get to it in June, but I am adding Hard Times by Charles Dickens to read for this prompt later this year. It was published in 1854.
17dianelouise100
In about 1356 or ‘57, Geoffrey Chaucer began his residence and training in the court of Elizabeth, Countess of Ulster and wife of Prince Lionel, second son of Edward III. With this move from middle class life with his parents in London to the life of a courtier in training, Chaucer started on the long road to becoming the “father of English literature” as well as an important and lifelong servant of the English kings. I’ve been reading Donald Howard’s exceptional biography, Chaucer: His Life, His Works, His World. Since so much began for Chaucer in the decade of the 1350’s, I’ve decided to count this book for the ‘50’s theme and hope to finish it by the end of June.
18cindydavid4
I knew about the French Indian 7 year war in the colonies, but never knew what the eupean 7 year war was It appears to have started in 1757 when the Prussian Fredreck the Great struck and ran over Saxony which caused a major shake up The Seven Years' War pitted the alliance of Britain, Prussia and Hanover against the alliance of France, Austria, Sweden, Saxony, Russia, and eventually Spain. So I decided to read Nancy Mitfords bio of Frederic the Great. Very well written; its a wonder that he managed to survive his childhood given the physical and mental abuse and torture from his father Frederic William. After I finish Ill see if I can find a novel about the war itself
19benitastrnad
I am a bit behind in all my reading obligations so I know I won't be starting Elephant's Journey until after June 15th. I will write more about the book after that.
There are some really good ideas for readings during the "Fabulous Fifties."
>17 dianelouise100:
Chaucer is a great subject for this category. I don't have that biography on my TBR list of literary biographies, so I eagerly await your report.
>18 cindydavid4:
I also have a copy of that biography of Frederick the Great by Nancy Mitford. That is a great idea. I started reading Montcalm and Wolfe by Francis Parkman and have never finished it, so perhaps I will get to that later this summer and get it read.
There are some really good ideas for readings during the "Fabulous Fifties."
>17 dianelouise100:
Chaucer is a great subject for this category. I don't have that biography on my TBR list of literary biographies, so I eagerly await your report.
>18 cindydavid4:
I also have a copy of that biography of Frederick the Great by Nancy Mitford. That is a great idea. I started reading Montcalm and Wolfe by Francis Parkman and have never finished it, so perhaps I will get to that later this summer and get it read.
20atozgrl
I was not sure if I had anything that would fit this category, but I found a copy of George Washington's First War: His Early Military Adventures on my shelf, and it should work well. It tells about the very young George Washington and his adventures in the French and Indian War.
21cindydavid4
my review of Fredrick the Great by nancy mitfod
why did you choose this book? The RTT theme this month is The Fabulous 50s ("the goal for this month is to read a book about an event or person associated with the fabulous fifties of any century after the year 1000 CE and continuing to the present day). Thought about time periods I didn't know much about and realized the Europr in year1700s fit the bill, Just so happens the 7 year war happened in 175O.at that time. So Id just read something by mitford and when I saw this book I thought it would be perfect to read about Fedrick the Great
synopsisfrom Amazon The Prussian king Frederick II is today best remembered for successfully defending his tiny country against the three great European powers of France, Austria, and Russia during the Seven Years’ War. this book in the end provides a good overview of Frederick's life and times
what kept me reading this history felt like I was reading a novel, one with lots of names and places, and people who influenced Fredrick. I learned about his abuse from his father Fredrick William and that he managed to survive. Learned about his relationship with Voltaire, and his battles during the war. He was a writer, a musician, a leader, /and loved France. I found out why England and Prussia, along with Hanover were allies against France, Austria and Russia, the negotiations, the thouand upon thousand of people (soldiers and civillian) who died in what some call the real First World War that stretched from England, Sweden, Russia, Poland and of course the American colonies. I learned some of the geography at that time, just where was Prussia and the places they fought over. Learned about Poland being carved up, and learned about the empress Maria Theresa of Austria, as well as some of the other strong women leaders of the time. I learned that the french indian war in the colonies was just a mirror of the battles taking place in Europe. And I wondered what would have happened if france had won that war
what slowed me down lots of battle descriptions lots of people fights with family the royal families of said countries, all the negotionaations all got to be too much. that being said, Id pick up where I left off and continued for a bit more.
recommended to anyone interested in this history time and place, and anyone wanting to know about this kings life.
rating 4*
why did you choose this book? The RTT theme this month is The Fabulous 50s ("the goal for this month is to read a book about an event or person associated with the fabulous fifties of any century after the year 1000 CE and continuing to the present day). Thought about time periods I didn't know much about and realized the Europr in year1700s fit the bill, Just so happens the 7 year war happened in 175O.at that time. So Id just read something by mitford and when I saw this book I thought it would be perfect to read about Fedrick the Great
synopsisfrom Amazon The Prussian king Frederick II is today best remembered for successfully defending his tiny country against the three great European powers of France, Austria, and Russia during the Seven Years’ War. this book in the end provides a good overview of Frederick's life and times
what kept me reading this history felt like I was reading a novel, one with lots of names and places, and people who influenced Fredrick. I learned about his abuse from his father Fredrick William and that he managed to survive. Learned about his relationship with Voltaire, and his battles during the war. He was a writer, a musician, a leader, /and loved France. I found out why England and Prussia, along with Hanover were allies against France, Austria and Russia, the negotiations, the thouand upon thousand of people (soldiers and civillian) who died in what some call the real First World War that stretched from England, Sweden, Russia, Poland and of course the American colonies. I learned some of the geography at that time, just where was Prussia and the places they fought over. Learned about Poland being carved up, and learned about the empress Maria Theresa of Austria, as well as some of the other strong women leaders of the time. I learned that the french indian war in the colonies was just a mirror of the battles taking place in Europe. And I wondered what would have happened if france had won that war
what slowed me down lots of battle descriptions lots of people fights with family the royal families of said countries, all the negotionaations all got to be too much. that being said, Id pick up where I left off and continued for a bit more.
recommended to anyone interested in this history time and place, and anyone wanting to know about this kings life.
rating 4*
22benitastrnad
>21 cindydavid4:
I have always wondered if the Nancy Mitford biographies were any good. By that I mean readable and scholarly at the same time. You answered my question so now that title, and a couple of others goes on the gigantic TBR pile.
I have always wondered if the Nancy Mitford biographies were any good. By that I mean readable and scholarly at the same time. You answered my question so now that title, and a couple of others goes on the gigantic TBR pile.
23cindydavid4
One thing I forgot to mention - she stretches his death out really long.....bt scholarly? she has notes, a bibliography and a for extra reading section, as well as an index.
24DeltaQueen50
I have completed my read of Soul Catcher by Michael White. This was an excellent read of historical fiction and almost a 5 star read for me but the obvious ending lead me to give it 4.5 stars.
25benitastrnad
I have started reading Elephant's Journey by Jose Saramago and so far it is an intriguing story. Subhro (the mahout) and Solomon (the elephant) have just started their journey. There is humor in this story, but I can also sense dark undercurrent's. This is not my first Saramago novel. I read Blindness years ago and thought that novel was outstanding. This is a totally different kind of novel and works into this category very nicely.
26cindydavid4
also reading that one and you are right, there is some darkness coming. I read blindness and the gospel of jesus christ (cant fine the touchstone for this) which I absolutely loved
27john257hopper
For this month's theme I have chosen the 1850s and The Fortune of the Rougons, the first novel in Emile Zola's epic Rougon-Macquart cycle. This is my review:
This was a re-read of the first novel in Zola's 20 novel Rougon-Macquart cycle about the lives of two related families in the Second Empire period of Napoleon III between 1851-70. When I first read this almost exactly ten years ago, I wasn't too impressed and found it dull and slow moving. I have a more positive opinion now, and quite enjoyed most of the interplay between the generations of the two branches of the family, especially the opportunism and desire for fame and fortune of Pierre Rougon, dominated by his wife Felicite, the tragic backstory of his mother "Aunt" Dide, and the youthful romanticism, both political and emotional, of Silvere and Miette. While some of the manoeuvrings around the fictional town of Plassans dragged a bit, for the most part I enjoyed the story and feel an appetite now to tackle the following books in the series, which I did not feel ten years ago. At one point, the families are described colourfully as "a pack of unbridled, insatiate appetites amidst a blaze of gold and blood". Once the Coup d'Etat has brought the Emperor to power and buried the second French Republic, it is the Rougons' time to prosper: "Their appetites, sharpened by thirty years of restrained desire, now fell to with wolfish teeth. These fierce, insatiate wild beasts, scarcely entering upon indulgence, exulted at the birth of the Empire — the dawn of the Rush for the Spoils. The Coup d’Etat, which retrieved the fortune of the Bonapartes, also laid the foundation for that of the Rougons."
This was a re-read of the first novel in Zola's 20 novel Rougon-Macquart cycle about the lives of two related families in the Second Empire period of Napoleon III between 1851-70. When I first read this almost exactly ten years ago, I wasn't too impressed and found it dull and slow moving. I have a more positive opinion now, and quite enjoyed most of the interplay between the generations of the two branches of the family, especially the opportunism and desire for fame and fortune of Pierre Rougon, dominated by his wife Felicite, the tragic backstory of his mother "Aunt" Dide, and the youthful romanticism, both political and emotional, of Silvere and Miette. While some of the manoeuvrings around the fictional town of Plassans dragged a bit, for the most part I enjoyed the story and feel an appetite now to tackle the following books in the series, which I did not feel ten years ago. At one point, the families are described colourfully as "a pack of unbridled, insatiate appetites amidst a blaze of gold and blood". Once the Coup d'Etat has brought the Emperor to power and buried the second French Republic, it is the Rougons' time to prosper: "Their appetites, sharpened by thirty years of restrained desire, now fell to with wolfish teeth. These fierce, insatiate wild beasts, scarcely entering upon indulgence, exulted at the birth of the Empire — the dawn of the Rush for the Spoils. The Coup d’Etat, which retrieved the fortune of the Bonapartes, also laid the foundation for that of the Rougons."
28kac522
>27 john257hopper: Isn't it a pleasure to re-read something and enjoy it more on the second go-round?
29john257hopper
>28 kac522: yes it is. Feels it was worth it :)
30LibraryCin
I am almost done the most recent Flavia de Luce, and I realized I usually not only try for nonfiction (but not always), I really usually also try for more history. Sigh. I will count this one, but if I have time, I might try to pick out something else with more of a history focus for the time period. But only if I have time.
31LibraryCin
The Golden Tresses of the Dead / Alan Bradley
3.25 stars
Flavia’s sister, Feely, is getting married. Unfortunately, she discovers, in her wedding cake, a severed finger! Flavia quickly ports it away with the intention of finding out who it belonged to and how it got into her sister’s wedding cake. When Flavia and Dogger are invited to tea, they come across the dead body of who would have been their host.
I listened to the audio for this, again. I love Jayne as Flavia, but it’s more the characterization that I love. Like many other audios, unfortunately, it doesn’t keep my attention, so I did miss much of the story. I wanted to try at least one ebook in the series, rather than audio, to see if it held my attention, but (at least this time) my library only had the audio, so audio it was! The mysteries do not seem to be front and centre in any of the books in the series. I’d like to rate it higher, but I think I just missed too much of what was going on to do so.
3.25 stars
Flavia’s sister, Feely, is getting married. Unfortunately, she discovers, in her wedding cake, a severed finger! Flavia quickly ports it away with the intention of finding out who it belonged to and how it got into her sister’s wedding cake. When Flavia and Dogger are invited to tea, they come across the dead body of who would have been their host.
I listened to the audio for this, again. I love Jayne as Flavia, but it’s more the characterization that I love. Like many other audios, unfortunately, it doesn’t keep my attention, so I did miss much of the story. I wanted to try at least one ebook in the series, rather than audio, to see if it held my attention, but (at least this time) my library only had the audio, so audio it was! The mysteries do not seem to be front and centre in any of the books in the series. I’d like to rate it higher, but I think I just missed too much of what was going on to do so.
32nrmay
Just finished a historical novel set in a small town in South Carolina, 1957.
A remarkably good book for middle readers dealing with race relations.
Jericho Walls by Kristi Collier.
A remarkably good book for middle readers dealing with race relations.
Jericho Walls by Kristi Collier.
33benitastrnad
>31 LibraryCin:
I read the entire Flavia De Luce series and really enjoyed Jayne Entwhistle as the narrator. She was perfect as the "voice" of Flavia.
You are correct about the mysteries. What the books gave me was a sense of how much English society was changing after WWII.
I read the entire Flavia De Luce series and really enjoyed Jayne Entwhistle as the narrator. She was perfect as the "voice" of Flavia.
You are correct about the mysteries. What the books gave me was a sense of how much English society was changing after WWII.
34john257hopper
I have continued my exploration of the 1850s with The Lerouge Case by Emile Gaboriau. This is the first in a series of crime novels written in the third quarter of the 19th century by this French author, who died tragically young aged only 40. It is widely considered to be the first French detective novel. I really enjoyed this - there was an economy of style and a crispness about the narrative that I relished. The murder of the Widow Lerouge was discovered and reported to the police in the first couple of paragraphs and the crime was seemingly resolved by chapter 4; only to give rise to unravellings of various characters' lives and pasts, with different motivating factors affecting their possible involvement in the cause of Lerouge's murder. There are inevitably echoes of the origins of Sherlock Holmes - "The misfortune is that the art is becoming lost. Great crimes are now so rare." This crime concerns not only murder but infant substitution and lifelong deceit. A great read and I am glad there are many more in this series (I thought until a few minutes ago it was a five book series, but I now realise it is some 10-11).
35MissWatson
I didn't realise it when I borrowed it from the library, but Ein Seehund aus Eisen is set mostly in the 1850s. It's a biography of Wilhelm Bauer who invented some of the first working submarines.
36CurrerBell
Instead of Zola (>27 john257hopper:), I've at last in my life gotten to Gustave Flaubert (trans Lydia Davis), Madame Bovary. 5*****, in significant part because of the quality of Davis's translation. Flaubert started writing the novel in 1851, finally finishing it (with perfectionist delay) in 1856, which resulted in an obscenity trial which Flaubert's lawyer won in one day. Davis was awarded the 2003 French-American Foundation Translation Prize for her translation of Swann's Way, so her skills as a translator are well recognized; and her Bovary edition includes substantial and useful endnotes on what in some cases would be obscure 19th century French factoids. Davis, also an author of "flash fiction," won the Booker in 2013.
I'm now hoping to get through the supplementary materials in my Norton Critical of Bovary.
I'm now hoping to get through the supplementary materials in my Norton Critical of Bovary.
37john257hopper
>36 CurrerBell: I've read Madame Bovary twice and really enjoyed it second time round. I read Eleanor Marx-Aveling's translation.
38MissWatson
And another book about Wilhelm Bauer: Der Petersburger Seeteufel describes the submarine he built for the Russians in 1855-1857. Very technical, with lots of illustrations. It's quite a fascinating episode.
39dianelouise100
I’ve finished Chaucer: His Life His Works His World which I would recommend as an excellent choice for anyone interested in Chaucer’s life or generally in medieval literature. Would be very useful to anyone planning to read some of his works and needing a general introduction to the writer and his times or a review of same. Written in a clear and readable style.
40dianelouise100
Sorry, wrong thread
41benitastrnad
I finished reading Elephant's Journey by Jose Saramago last night. This is the second novel I have read by this Nobel Laureate. However, it is very different in style and intent, so I still don't have any inkling of the author's over-arching philosophical compass for his writing. This short novel (my copy had 205 pages) took me much longer to read than I anticipated. It was the story of the journey of an elephant and his mahout from Lisbon, Portugal to Vienna, Austria in 1551-1552. This is the second book by this author that I have read. I found it harder reading than I thought it was going to be. My translation has no, or very little, punctuation, and no capitalizations of names, places, or people, no quotation marks, etc. The lack of grammatical markings made it hard to read, as I had to process it differently. However, Saramago tells a good story, and I loved all the digressions. Many of them were a hoot. They were also full of musings to puzzle over. This was an enjoyable work of historical fiction.
42PocheFamily
>41 benitastrnad: Saramago wrote my "favorite among favorites", All the Names, so you've tempted me to seek out the Elephant's Journey with your recommendation!
I read, or rather, listened to / re-read, "The Quiet American". I had hoped to tackle a different book, and time was running out on me ... but I'm ever so glad to have had a chance to revisit this novel. Graham Greene set the book in 1950s Vietnam, writing a then very contemporary piece. It poses as the narrator's personal history but below the surface the whole time is the colonial and future American involvement in the Vietnamese political struggles of the mid-century. It's rather spooky in its prescience. It has autobiographical elements from Greene's own life, too.
I read, or rather, listened to / re-read, "The Quiet American". I had hoped to tackle a different book, and time was running out on me ... but I'm ever so glad to have had a chance to revisit this novel. Graham Greene set the book in 1950s Vietnam, writing a then very contemporary piece. It poses as the narrator's personal history but below the surface the whole time is the colonial and future American involvement in the Vietnamese political struggles of the mid-century. It's rather spooky in its prescience. It has autobiographical elements from Greene's own life, too.
43Familyhistorian
Much of the action in The Perfume Collector was set in the 1950s but, as with many stories set in history, used multiple time lines to tell the tale. Grace, a young wife in England was left an unexpected legacy by a woman in Paris. She had just become aware of her husband’s affair and was determined to find out for herself about the inheritance without involving him. Once in Paris, she found the story of the woman who died more intriguing the actual things left to her although those were strange in themselves. In unravelling the mystery she not only find out about Eva and the past but determined where and with who, she wanted her own life to be lived.
It was interesting to catch a glimpse of a Paris still affected somewhat by the occupation and also to be aware of how wives in this time period like Grace were supposed to act and be guided by their husbands – a different time indeed.
It was interesting to catch a glimpse of a Paris still affected somewhat by the occupation and also to be aware of how wives in this time period like Grace were supposed to act and be guided by their husbands – a different time indeed.
44countrylife
This was a really fun challenge, benitastrnad! I decided to read something for all ten of the '50s that fell within your time scope. Some of my reads were more in-depth than others. But I enjoyed the spirit of this challenge here in my favorite group!
45cindydavid4
that was fun! Loved reading about every ones
choices! maybe we can repeat it later with different year decade, maybe every year?.
choices! maybe we can repeat it later with different year decade, maybe every year?.
46DeltaQueen50
It was a great topic and I too would love to see it repeated with a different year decade - something to keep in mind for next year!
48benitastrnad
It is now July 1st and time to end this month's challenge and move to July's topic. There are a few cleanup sentences to post here, with the first being the link to the July "Reading Through Time" monthly theme. https://www.librarything.com/topic/351568#n8167742
Paul Cranswick will be leading us through July with the topic of Revolutions. I have my book picked out and will start reading it in a couple of weeks.
I went through the thread for this month and since I finally figured out how to post things to the Wiki, I added all the books that were reported here as being finished. However, feel free to go into the Wiki and edit as you will. If you finish a book that you started for this months theme please post it here and I will add it to the Wiki.
And now to satisfy the statisticians in the group -
The group read 21 different titles.
There was 1 title read by two people - Elephant's Journey by the Nobel Laurate Jose Saramago.
The decade of the 1850s was the time setting of the most books read of any of the decades with 6 titles.
The group read more fiction than nonfiction. (at least from what I can tell.)
And now it is time to move on to the next theme.
Paul Cranswick will be leading us through July with the topic of Revolutions. I have my book picked out and will start reading it in a couple of weeks.
I went through the thread for this month and since I finally figured out how to post things to the Wiki, I added all the books that were reported here as being finished. However, feel free to go into the Wiki and edit as you will. If you finish a book that you started for this months theme please post it here and I will add it to the Wiki.
And now to satisfy the statisticians in the group -
The group read 21 different titles.
There was 1 title read by two people - Elephant's Journey by the Nobel Laurate Jose Saramago.
The decade of the 1850s was the time setting of the most books read of any of the decades with 6 titles.
The group read more fiction than nonfiction. (at least from what I can tell.)
And now it is time to move on to the next theme.
49LibraryCin
Nice! I love the stats review.
Thank you!
Thank you!
50atozgrl
Belatedly, I finally finished George Washington's First War: His Early Military Adventures over the weekend. It fit this challenge perfectly. Unfortunately, we took a trip that was planned at the last minute at the end of June, and that delayed my finishing this book.
I thought the book was very good. It gives much more detail about the events leading up to the French and Indian War and Washington's activities during the war than anything I have read before, and I understand much more about the war as a result. It's fascinating to see how such a very young and inexperienced Washington dealt with the situation and learned from his mistakes. He often does not come off very well, but he was also growing up at this time, and lacked mentors.
The writing is clear and easy to read. Much of the book is very interesting in its descriptions of Washington's life and the various battles. The Jumonville massacre and Braddock's battle with the French and Indians are described in detail, so that it's clear what happened. The book ends with a discussion of the lessons Washington learned during these years when he grew up into manhood, and how these events influenced his later more famous service during the Revolutionary War. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in early American history.
I thought the book was very good. It gives much more detail about the events leading up to the French and Indian War and Washington's activities during the war than anything I have read before, and I understand much more about the war as a result. It's fascinating to see how such a very young and inexperienced Washington dealt with the situation and learned from his mistakes. He often does not come off very well, but he was also growing up at this time, and lacked mentors.
The writing is clear and easy to read. Much of the book is very interesting in its descriptions of Washington's life and the various battles. The Jumonville massacre and Braddock's battle with the French and Indians are described in detail, so that it's clear what happened. The book ends with a discussion of the lessons Washington learned during these years when he grew up into manhood, and how these events influenced his later more famous service during the Revolutionary War. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in early American history.
