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kilroy
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Topic: Recommend me a book! Posted: 05-Apr-2007 at 14:39 |
So, i'm fixing to buy a few new books and i need a few ideas! Recommend anything, in an era of history. nonfiction/fiction (although i tend to read more nonfiction) doesn't really matter.
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Adalwolf
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Posted: 05-Apr-2007 at 14:56 |
The Man Who Would Be King by Ben Macintyre. It is about a Quaker from Pennsylvania who travels to Afghanistan in the early 1800s and serves several local Kings, and eventually is a king himself! A very fun and interesting read!
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Dawn
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Posted: 05-Apr-2007 at 17:49 |
was there a movie based on that book?
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SearchAndDestroy
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Posted: 05-Apr-2007 at 17:53 |
I like Simon Scarrow's Eagles series. So if you don't already have it, pick up the first one "Under the Egale." I'm sure you heard of it, it's about the invasion of Brittania under Claudius.
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"A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government." E.Abbey
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Posted: 05-Apr-2007 at 23:54 |
"Malinche", of Laura Esquivel. Is about the Native lover of Hernan Cortes during the conquist of Mexico. Very revealing of the mentalities of the time.
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Adalwolf
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Posted: 06-Apr-2007 at 00:17 |
Originally posted by Dawn
was there a movie based on that book? |
If there is, I haven't heard of it.
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Concrete is heavy; iron is hard--but the grass will prevail.
Edward Abbey
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red clay
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Posted: 06-Apr-2007 at 08:09 |
1491, by Charles C. Mann. Non fiction. From the Washington post- 1491 compels us to re-examine how we teach the ancient history of the Americas and how we live with the environmental consequences of colonization.
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Aelfgifu
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Posted: 06-Apr-2007 at 09:09 |
The myth of Nations by Patrick Geary. About Roman and early medieval nationality and historiography, and its influence on nineteenth century and modern conceptions of nations and nationalsim. Very interesting!
And if your interests run towards fantasy-history I can recommend Jonathan Stange and Mr. Norell by Susanna Clarke. An 'alternative' history of England, if magic would have been real... A highlight in reality based fantasy, very entertaining...
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malizai_
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Posted: 06-Apr-2007 at 10:24 |
Originally posted by Adalwolf
The Man Who Would Be King by Ben Macintyre. It is about a Quaker from Pennsylvania who travels to Afghanistan in the early 1800s and serves several local Kings, and eventually is a king himself! A very fun and interesting read! |
The Last American King of Afghanistan
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Posted: 06-Apr-2007 at 13:30 |
Originally posted by Dawn
was there a movie based on that book? |
..there is a film called 'The Man Who Would be King' starring Sean Connery and Michael Caine in the lead roles, but this film was based on the short story by Rudyard Kipling.....a great slice of 'boys own' adventure though, cracking film with some neat historical twists and turns....
....sorry, forgot the purpose of the thread, i would recommend Simon Schama's 'Rough Crossings'...great non-fiction surrounding Britain, slavery, and the American War of Independence.....top notch writing and a fantastic insight into some of the 'ordinary' (and not so ordinary) folks involved....
Edited by Act of Oblivion - 06-Apr-2007 at 13:33
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kilroy
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Posted: 06-Apr-2007 at 19:20 |
Thanks for the recommendations people, i will be sure to investigate all of these possibilities. S&D, i've heard so much about Scarrows work, but never tried him out, i guess i'll have to . and i've been courting the idea of trying 1491 out for a while, and now that its a paperback, i just might (its much cheaper now!). Keep the recommendations coming people! don't stop now!
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Maharbbal
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Posted: 06-Apr-2007 at 20:36 |
I loved the Memoirs of the Captain de Contreras, an action-filled piece of non-fiction absolutely marvelously written (in Spanish at least). It is great and very revealing I'd advise any body who has 10 bucks to spend to buy and. And as it is written by a soldier it is short, tasty and easy to read. Finally the character of Contreras is just soooo great!!!
My favorite piece of fiction would certainly be the Skin (La Pele) by Curzio Malaparte. It is about Naples after the liberation. The harshest and truest text ever written about human nature. If you like the period you also have Catch 22 and Naples 44.
I also enjoyed a lot How I ate my father by Roy Lewis, very very funny.
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SearchAndDestroy
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Posted: 06-Apr-2007 at 21:11 |
S&D, i've heard so much about Scarrows work, but never tried him out, i guess i'll have to . |
I love these stories. It's about two Legionaries that go through all the big events in history. He plans to have the two at the seige of Judea down the road, but I think it's going to be awhile before we get there. It's just a very fun, and sometimes quite gruesome story of two soldiers trying to make it out of every dangerous adventure alive. Lots of blood, and swearing, can't get any better if you ask me!
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Dawn
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Posted: 07-Apr-2007 at 00:25 |
Have no idea how I missed those ones.he seems to have been around for awhile . I'm going to get more new books and my husband now hates you guys.
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SearchAndDestroy
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Posted: 07-Apr-2007 at 12:42 |
Which ones are you picking up if you don't mind me asking?
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"A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government." E.Abbey
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Dawn
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Posted: 07-Apr-2007 at 14:23 |
it was Simon Scarrow's Eagles series that I was refering to and I ordered the first two.
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kilroy
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Posted: 07-Apr-2007 at 14:33 |
I just picked up Scarrows first book at the used book store near me for a buck . Looks like some good reading. Don't know what else i'm gonna get though.
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SearchAndDestroy
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Posted: 07-Apr-2007 at 19:04 |
Very nice, glad to see you two picking up Simon's books. Please tell me how you liked them when you've read them. I hope you guys enjoy them, they are my favorite series.
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"A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government." E.Abbey
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SearchAndDestroy
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Posted: 17-Apr-2007 at 15:53 |
So have you guys read any of the books yet?
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Dawn
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Posted: 17-Apr-2007 at 17:24 |
unfortunatly mine have not arrived yet and I am still reading the bookclub books.
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