June 2018: Digging Up the Past

The theme for June is Digging Up the Past. It includes books about archeology and archeologists (real or fictional like Indiana Jones and Ruth Galloway), underground cities and finding evidence in mass graves. Yes, it can even include stories about the history of digging for fossil fuels.

Possible titles:

I think I could definitely find a good 'tomb raiding' book for June. Nice topic.

Looking forward to this one! I bet I've got a bunch of books that will fit.

Oh, good! The Crossing Places is on my TBR. I'll save it for June!

>2 Roro8: Tomb raiding sounds good. LOL

>3 majkia: I figured the theme would be broad enough that we could find books on our TBRs to read. I own the suggested titles except for the Indiana Jones and the Montreal book (although it looks interesting.)

>4 countrylife: The Ruth Galloway books are really good, Cindy. Which reminds me, I should dig out my next read in that series.

I am planning on reading Painted Horses by Malcolm Brooks. It is about a archaeologist who is working ahead of the installation of a power dam in Montana in the1950's. Her job is to see whether the site is rich in Native American history before it gets covered in water.

One of the first fossil hunters was a woman. I'd recommend these books:

You can read fiction about her Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier
But I actually preferred the nonfiction about her: The Fossil Hunter / Shelley Emling.

>6 DeltaQueen50: That sounds like a good one, Judy.

>7 LibraryCin: Thanks for the recommendations. I had heard about the first book about Mary Anning but not the nonfiction account about her life.

I've had one on my shelf for years, The Qin Terracotta Army: Treasures of Lintong I can't wait to read!!

>9 Tess_W: That sounds like a good one, Tess.

I'm early with this one, but I've just read a book which fits this time frame. "Finding Camlann," by Sean Pidgeon, records the search by Donald Gladstone, an archaeologist, for the substance behind the Arthurian myth. Working from three different points of view with an aging Welsh scholar and an Oxford linguist, Gladstone's search channels in toward the physical proof of Arthur's final battle and resting place. I loved the interwoven story lines, the search for source material and the piecing together of Arthur's historical presence.

>11 cfk: Finding Camlann sounds like an interesting one and definitely fits the theme. Will you be reading more for "digging up the past"?

A Natural History of Dragons will be my entry for this. And possibly Bones of the Earth.

>13 majkia: Both of those books sound interesting!

The Pompeii exhibit was at our local museum a month or so ago. Even tho I've been there, as well as visite the National Archaelogy Museum in Naples and saw many of the castings from the city, this exhibit absolultely floored me. May need to read something about Pompeii, either fiction or non, for this month

>15 cindydavid4: I'll be interested to see what you find to read about Pompeii.

I tried reading the historic fiction one written a few years back and found the writing just ghastly! Prefer looking for a real history I think, unless there is a HF thats decent.

>17 cindydavid4: I hope you are able to find something readable; better than the last one.

I have some Elizabeth Peters books I need to read. Also, I found this when searching for some ideas. https://www.cozy-mystery.com/blog/mystery-books-with-anthropologists-and-archael...
Leona

This one's going to be a tough one. I've been trying to combine RTT with ROOTing, and the only as yet unread books that I can put my fingers on right now are....

• Herwig Wolfram, History of the Goths
• René Grousset, In the Footsteps of the Buddha
• Sharon Hernes Silverman, Daniel Boone Homestead: Pennsylvania Trail of History Guide, which is really just a 48-page guidebook, though there's definitely archaeology involved.

I could do some rereading – like John Morris's The Age of Arthur: A History of the British Isles from 350 to 650, which I haven't read in decades – but I think I'll go on the Buddha and the Goths, which probably include some sort of archaeology or other.

>19 mnleona: Thanks for the link that will come in very handy for this theme. Looks like there are some interesting series on there.

>20 CurrerBell: It can be difficult to find a ROOT to answer challenges. I try to use ROOTs for my challenges as well but sometimes have to resort to library books.

Probably--haven't decided on another.

Robert Harris wrote a good one set in Pompeii

>23 cfk: >24 cfk: There are lots of possibilities out there. The one on Pompeii sounds interesting.

Based on using tags to search what's on my tbr, I have a few. Some probably "fit" better than others. Using "archaeology" or "fossils", here are a few options for me:

Last Days of the Romanovs / Helen Rappaport
Fatal Voyage / Kathy Reichs
Dinosaur Lake II: Dinosaurs Arising / Kathryn Meyer Griffith
The Sixth Extinction / Elizabeth Kolbert

I'm leaning toward "The Sixth Extinction". The audio is currently available at my library, so I('m hoping it will still be when I finish the audio I just started! That timing would work well for June, anyway!

>26 LibraryCin: Those look like good ones. I hope the audio of The Sixth Extinction is available when you want it.

Oh dear, I was so looking forward to Painted Horses by Malcolm Brooks for my June read. Unfortunately I found the book had too many plot holes, the characters were undeveloped and the female lead character was a ninny! Too bad. :(

>24 cfk: Yeah, I tried reading it, the writing was pretty awful.

I got the audio book The Eye of Heaven by Clive Cussler today at the library.

>28 DeltaQueen50: That sounds like a good one to avoid, Judy. >29 cindydavid4: Was Painted Horses the one that you meant as well?

>30 mnleona: I hope that works out for you.

>31 Familyhistorian: I think you might have the wrong Cindy - don't know that book at all
:)

I started Pompeii by Robert Harris, only to find that nearly 50 pages are missing at the beginning. So maybe I'll switch to The Colosseum, if I can find it. I know it must be on the non-fiction shelves...

>33 cindydavid4: Ah I see, you were commenting on the Pompeii book. I wasn't sure.

>34 MissWatson: I hate it when pages are missing but at least it wasn't at the end of the book when you have already read most of it.

The Rise of Rome: From the Iron Age to the Punic Wars by Kathryn Lomas, in the Belknap (Harvard) Press series History of the Ancient World (4****), takes in the period beginning roughly with the Ninth Century and ending with 264BC, the outbreak of the first Punic War. (The next book in the series will commence with the Punic Wars.) Despite the subtitle From the Iron Age..., there is some early reference to late Bronze Age culture.

A great deal of the book is based upon archaeological findings, especially the earlier chapters, where there is little written history; and even in the later chapters there is substantial cross-checking of literary sources (such as the sometimes inaccurate Livy) with archaeological evidence.

Generous amounts of Tables and line-drawn Figures along with gorgeous full-color Plates.

>37 CurrerBell: Books that use archealogy to inform history are usually very interesting. That sounds like a good one.

The Qin Terracotta Army: Treasures of the Lintong by Zhang Wenli. This, one of the world's largest historical treasures, was unearthed by accident in 1974 when a family was drilling for a well. There had been minor "discoveries" in the past 1500 years, but the earthenware that was discovered was considered broken or evil and discounted. This large colorful book illustrates and tells in detail the findings of the excavation. It's just amazing at the detail the artisans provided as some of this material was crafted B.C. Lintong was the burial ground of the emperor Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor to unite China. 700,000 convicts worked in the tomb for 38 years. The aim was to build a completed army of warriors and horses in terracotta to serve the Emperor in the underworld. Over 7,000 soldiers, horses, and bronze chariots have been found to date. Instead of posting a picture of the book, I've posted a couple of the pictures I found the most impressive. This was a non-fiction book and very very dry with its seemingly never ending size of each pit, statue, etc. I would have liked more history and less meters! 92 pages 3 1/2 stars

>39 Tess_W: I have been there and you first walk into this area and see all the statues. It is amazing. I will have to check on this book. Thanks.
Leona

>39 Tess_W: Too bad the book wasn't more interesting, Tess. I find the terracotta warriors fascinating. >40 mnleona: I didn't realize that you could actually visit. It would be wonderful to see.

> 40 There are other building to visit besides this one. We walked all around the area. Each statue is different. I loved my visits to China. People are so friendly. If you go you must go with a group.
Leona

I have that; you are right about dry, but still informative. The photos made it all worth while for me

>34 MissWatson: Found it! A useful introduction to the history of the Colosseum.

> 34 I will add these to my TBR list. I was there in April.

I finished Bones of the Earth which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Germs Guns and Steel The Fates of Human Societies Been meaning to read this book for ages, and just happened upon it at the used store. Thought this just might work, he references lots of archaelogy finds....Now would be the perfect time I think

>46 majkia: Ooh, time travel as well as digging for dinosaurs. Bones of the Earth sounds like a good one.

>47 cindydavid4: Germs, Guns and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies has been on my shelves for a while. The size is a bit daunting. I hope you enjoy it.

>48 Familyhistorian: Hard to beat that combination.

>50 majkia: : )

The Sixth Extinction / Elizabeth Kolbert
4 stars

There have been five major extinctions. We may be headed (primarily due to humans) toward a 6th. This book is a mix of archaeology, paleontology, geology, anthropology, zoology, biology, history… The author looks at some species that have already gone extinct and others that appear to be heading that way. The book is filled with mastodons and mammoths, dinosaurs, rhinos, bats, neanderthals and humans (though we’re the only ones in this scenario that are expanding!).

I quite liked this, but I have to admit (and maybe it’s – at least in part – due to listening to it rather than reading it), I’m afraid I won’t remember most of it before too long. The information was not really surprising to me, but I did find it very interesting while I listened, even if I’m not sure how much I will remember.

That is why I cannot listen to books - I get too distracted, and I can't remember what was said when its finished. My visual memory is very good, I don't have a problem remembering what I read. But I know everyone is different others have no trouble

>53 cindydavid4: It really varies for me. I did manage to pay attention (mostly) to this one, but I just finished yesterday, and I'm already forgetting things! I have read that reading on paper (this also includes a comparison to ebooks) is the best way to remember. I actually think the comparison was not for audios, but was between ebooks and print. I remember something along the lines of being able to picture it in your head, including how far into the book you are, where on the page, which side of the page, etc. helps to remember.

>53 cindydavid4:
>54 LibraryCin:

Educational studies have shown that students only retain 10% of what they hear.........that is why lecture only classes are not good!

Also, studies have shown that once a person reads ONLY on an ereader, it is most difficult to go back to paper books---I can testify to that. I now make sure I alternate e-reader with a paper book.

>52 LibraryCin: I have wondered about The Sixth Extinction. Thanks for your synopsis.

>53 cindydavid4: >54 LibraryCin: I have never read an audiobook and haven't been tempted to try because of the limited retention factor. It is very difficult for me to retain what is said to me, especially directions, I need to see them in writing!

>55 Tess_W: I guess taking notes in class is a good thing then, Tess. At least then there is something visual. Using visual media in lectures probably also helps.

When I volunteered to host June, I thought that there was no way I would be travelling this month so I would be a able to read at least 2 books for this topic, 1 fiction and 1 nonfiction. I have been away since the end of May and returned home on Tuesday. I will be able to fit in the latest, to me, book in the Ruth Galloway series which is book 5 but the books in my archeology section are staring at me.

>55 Tess_W: Also, studies have shown that once a person reads ONLY on an ereader, it is most difficult to go back to paper books---I can testify to that. I now make sure I alternate e-reader with a paper book.

Oh, I hadn't heard that! That's interesting! I guess I still read quite a mix! In fact, probably more in print again than I was for a while because print library books are more available now than ebooks are for me to get at shorter notice; for a while it was the other way around. :-)

>56 Familyhistorian: I guess taking notes in class is a good thing then, Tess. At least then there is something visual. Using visual media in lectures probably also helps.

Yeah, I always found taking notes helped me when it came to studying. Not just taking them initially, but I used to makes notes from my notes of what I thought was most important!

>59 LibraryCin: You sound like you were very organized. I don't remember making notes from my notes although it probably would have been helpful.

>60 Familyhistorian: I guess I've always been pretty organized. Really, making notes from the notes just meant less to study, overall! ;-)

>60 Familyhistorian:
>61 LibraryCin:

The "best" students make notes from notes!

I take notes when I read as it helps me write the reviews. I am listening to The Eye of Heaven by Clive Cussler in the car. When I drive to Minneapolis it is almost an hour drive.
Leona

>63 mnleona: I've thought about doing that, but I just don't take the time! (And sometimes I'm somewhere or doing something where it's hard to write something down... public transit or if I'm listening to the audio, I could be up and around and doing lots of things!). I know I'd remember more when it came to writing my reviews, though.

Taking notes when reading sounds too much like school work. To write the review I need to have the book with me just in case I need to look up some information.

>65 Familyhistorian: That's why I don't write long and/or deep reviews....too much like school work! I write only enough to remind me about the book should I need to look it up!

>66 Tess_W: I find that what I write in reviews is enough to bring the plot and the feel of the book back to me. Very handy that.

I finally read a book for this month's theme. The fifth book in the Ruth Galloway series, Dying Fall was another interesting mystery that involved murder as well as digging up bones. This time the archaeological theme involved the bones of King Arthur.

My reads for the theme of Digging Up the Past:

The Crossing Places, Elly Griffiths
The Janus Stone, Elly Griffiths
Red Bones, Ann Cleeves
Turtle in Paradise, Jennifer L. Holmes

>69 countrylife: Turtle in Paradise was a new one on me. What did you think of it?

That's too bad, I enjoyed Pompeii!

>70 Familyhistorian: : Meg, Turtle in Paradise is a YA novel, so none of the themes is delved into too deeply, though it touches upon the caring of some people for others who are in dire straits, the ruthlessness of some, the worth of family, making new friends, pirate's treasure, hurricanes and coming of age - set during the depression. It was a 3-1/2 star read for me.

>72 countrylife: It sounds like an interesting one. Quite often I find YA reads really good.