2019 | rnhope

The Fort by Bernard Cornwell - another historical novel by Cornwell. Excellent research and detail of the fiasco at Penobscot Mass during the Revolutionary War. Insight on a tremendous failure of leadership and the single biggest failure of our naval forces besides Pearl Harbor. Rich descriptions of the actual men involved, both English and American.
Flashman on the March by George Macdonald Fraser - delightful. Good sense of period and dialogue. Flashman is entertaining as a character and story-teller. Excellent references to historical players and events.
The Book of Air and Shadows by Michael Gruber - excellent story of the search for an unknown Shakespeare work.
Sharpe's Escape by Bernard Cornwell - the second Sharpe's book I've read. Very fun, easy read but also very true to history... in this case the French assault on Portugal in 1810. I always enjoy a look into history that had been completely unknown to me.
Winter in Madrid by CJ Ransom - another Ransom book but unrelated to the Lamentation series. Madrid post revolution and Franco's flirtation with Hitler.
the Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason - rising to the top of the list, a story of Burma and a world I knew nothing of... an odd story of an Englishman that becomes a "lotus eater"
Enigma by Robert Harris - Nice story set in the WWII Bletchly Park, the home of code-breakers that broke the Enigma-based codes. The work went on after Turing left for the US and the Brits pushed on under trying conditions.
Church of Marvels by Leslie Parry - a wonderful book, full of surprises. Story of a family of performers on Coney Island in the era of freak shows and marvels. Woven in are themes of disability, sibling love, adoption, separation, drugs, sword swallowing, incarceration, and independence; with life eventually moving full-circle.
True Allegiance by Ben Shapiro - well shaped commentary/novel of current-day political turmoil from this unapologetic conservative commentator.
Lamentation by CJ Ransom - 642 pgs... well paced, historical fiction, interesting characters. Novel in a series of novels and I'll likely read some others. Tale of a hunchback lawyer named Shardlake and his run-ins with the royal court of Henry VIII and Catherine Parr.
Heartstone by CJ Ransom - historical fiction and prequel to Lamentation; equally good.
Ship of Fools by Tucker Carlson - you don't have to like Tucker to appreciate his critique of political players and trends.
Floaters by Joseph Wambaugh - in the same vein as Hiaasen and good fun.
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett - disappointing book by an author whose books I have loved in the past. This one just seemed loggy. Traces a family for about 50 years and pieces were interesting but fractured throughout and tedious.
Past Tense by Lee Child - another Jack Reacher story... a quick read and enjoyable without a hint of literary merit. A man that knows what's right and acts accordingly. Still funny that they've cast Cruise in the role of a giant.
American Gods by Neil Gaiman - hard to know what to say about Neil Gaiman... he doesn't fit any box whatsoever. Story of the ancient gods being forgotten in America and their replacement by modern gods, with battle ensuing. Everything from Herodotus to Odin, from Slavic gods to Native American gods.
No Surrender by Carl Hiaasen - his first book for teenagers but anything by Hiaasen is worth reading. Story of youngsters getting into trouble with the wack-jobs resident in Florida
Genius by Patrick Dennis - not at all what you would expect but well done... life in the 60's for a NY writer wintering in Mexico City.
River Thieves by Michael Crummey - my second book from this Canadian author... very good depiction of growing white population in among native Nova Scotia.
Warlight by Michael Ondaatje - Canadian author with a post-war story of London. Unusual characters and storytelling perspective.
Comedy in a minor key by Hans Keilson - written in '47 in Amsterdam, translated. Tale of a couple hiding a Jewish refugee, his passing, and the quick reversal of roles. Odd book, but engaging.
The Shortstop by Zane Gray - an 'aw-shucks' story of a young ballplayer... very innocent and naive style and story.
A Woman in Jerusalem by AB Yesoshoa - an interesting story of moving the body of a woman to her Soviet homeland... I enjoyed it but rushed through it towards the last 1/4 of the book.
Liquid Smoke by Nicholson Baker - an interesting and unique approach to telling the story of the beginnings of WWII. Another non-fiction.
Avenger by Frederick Forsyth - much more detailed than most mystery/suspense. Good background on Bosnia religious turmoil.
Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne - Not the same as the movie with David Niven but still enjoyable. Reads much more like a travellogue.
Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade by Diana Gabaldon - author of the Outlander series but this curious book, based in middle of 18th century, was on another subject altogether. Interesting story but, beyond that, a homo-erotic story-line that wasn't expected and more graphic than I ever imagined.
How to be a Good Creature by Sy Montgomery - wonderful book and illustrations describing the author's love of and interaction with animals, from pets to the wilds. Heartwarming.
Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope - Trollope was a prolific author in mid-late 19th Century. Very slow, gentle story in an age where authors painted a picture as opposed to telling a story. Hard to stick to but pleasant.
Girl in Hyacinth Blue by Susan Vreeland - a story tracing the history of a Vermeer backwards to its origin... interesting but not thrilling.
Botticelli by T Leman Hare - one of my very favorite artists!
The Prince by Machiavelli - Interesting but not as insightful as you would think from having heard it mentioned a million times over the years.
The Divine Husband by Francisco Goldman - another in the growing list of Spanish authors and Latin America/South America set stories. Very, very detailed and a difficult read because of the Spanish... but altogether a good book.
The Indiscretions of a Duchess by Anthony Hope - written in late 19th century when style was so very different... slow but enjoyable.
Beauties of Tennyson - "And would that my tongue could utter; the thoughts that arise in me."
The Memoirs of Helen of Troy by Amanda Elyot - interesting speculation of the world of this beauty, from youth through Marc Anthony.
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
The Judas Strain by James Rollins
The Dakota Cipher by William Dietrich - not much of a book
The Gospel of Judas by Simon Mawer - you knew He had to die.
Stem Cell Therapies by Jason Marchetti
Stem Cells, An Insider's Guide by Paul Knopefler
The Ludwig Conspiracy by Oliver Potzsch - from the Polish... wasn't worth the effort to translate.

Flashman on the March by George Macdonald Fraser - delightful. Good sense of period and dialogue. Flashman is entertaining as a character and story-teller. Excellent references to historical players and events.

The Book of Air and Shadows by Michael Gruber - excellent story of the search for an unknown Shakespeare work.

Sharpe's Escape by Bernard Cornwell - the second Sharpe's book I've read. Very fun, easy read but also very true to history... in this case the French assault on Portugal in 1810. I always enjoy a look into history that had been completely unknown to me.

Winter in Madrid by CJ Ransom - another Ransom book but unrelated to the Lamentation series. Madrid post revolution and Franco's flirtation with Hitler.

the Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason - rising to the top of the list, a story of Burma and a world I knew nothing of... an odd story of an Englishman that becomes a "lotus eater"

Enigma by Robert Harris - Nice story set in the WWII Bletchly Park, the home of code-breakers that broke the Enigma-based codes. The work went on after Turing left for the US and the Brits pushed on under trying conditions.

True Allegiance by Ben Shapiro - well shaped commentary/novel of current-day political turmoil from this unapologetic conservative commentator.

Lamentation by CJ Ransom - 642 pgs... well paced, historical fiction, interesting characters. Novel in a series of novels and I'll likely read some others. Tale of a hunchback lawyer named Shardlake and his run-ins with the royal court of Henry VIII and Catherine Parr.

Heartstone by CJ Ransom - historical fiction and prequel to Lamentation; equally good.

Ship of Fools by Tucker Carlson - you don't have to like Tucker to appreciate his critique of political players and trends.

Floaters by Joseph Wambaugh - in the same vein as Hiaasen and good fun.

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett - disappointing book by an author whose books I have loved in the past. This one just seemed loggy. Traces a family for about 50 years and pieces were interesting but fractured throughout and tedious.

Past Tense by Lee Child - another Jack Reacher story... a quick read and enjoyable without a hint of literary merit. A man that knows what's right and acts accordingly. Still funny that they've cast Cruise in the role of a giant.

No Surrender by Carl Hiaasen - his first book for teenagers but anything by Hiaasen is worth reading. Story of youngsters getting into trouble with the wack-jobs resident in Florida

Genius by Patrick Dennis - not at all what you would expect but well done... life in the 60's for a NY writer wintering in Mexico City.

River Thieves by Michael Crummey - my second book from this Canadian author... very good depiction of growing white population in among native Nova Scotia.

Warlight by Michael Ondaatje - Canadian author with a post-war story of London. Unusual characters and storytelling perspective.

Comedy in a minor key by Hans Keilson - written in '47 in Amsterdam, translated. Tale of a couple hiding a Jewish refugee, his passing, and the quick reversal of roles. Odd book, but engaging.

The Shortstop by Zane Gray - an 'aw-shucks' story of a young ballplayer... very innocent and naive style and story.

A Woman in Jerusalem by AB Yesoshoa - an interesting story of moving the body of a woman to her Soviet homeland... I enjoyed it but rushed through it towards the last 1/4 of the book.

Liquid Smoke by Nicholson Baker - an interesting and unique approach to telling the story of the beginnings of WWII. Another non-fiction.

Avenger by Frederick Forsyth - much more detailed than most mystery/suspense. Good background on Bosnia religious turmoil.

Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne - Not the same as the movie with David Niven but still enjoyable. Reads much more like a travellogue.

How to be a Good Creature by Sy Montgomery - wonderful book and illustrations describing the author's love of and interaction with animals, from pets to the wilds. Heartwarming.

Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope - Trollope was a prolific author in mid-late 19th Century. Very slow, gentle story in an age where authors painted a picture as opposed to telling a story. Hard to stick to but pleasant.

Girl in Hyacinth Blue by Susan Vreeland - a story tracing the history of a Vermeer backwards to its origin... interesting but not thrilling.

Botticelli by T Leman Hare - one of my very favorite artists!

The Prince by Machiavelli - Interesting but not as insightful as you would think from having heard it mentioned a million times over the years.

The Divine Husband by Francisco Goldman - another in the growing list of Spanish authors and Latin America/South America set stories. Very, very detailed and a difficult read because of the Spanish... but altogether a good book.

The Indiscretions of a Duchess by Anthony Hope - written in late 19th century when style was so very different... slow but enjoyable.

Beauties of Tennyson - "And would that my tongue could utter; the thoughts that arise in me."

The Memoirs of Helen of Troy by Amanda Elyot - interesting speculation of the world of this beauty, from youth through Marc Anthony.

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

The Judas Strain by James Rollins

The Dakota Cipher by William Dietrich - not much of a book

The Gospel of Judas by Simon Mawer - you knew He had to die.

Stem Cell Therapies by Jason Marchetti

Stem Cells, An Insider's Guide by Paul Knopefler

The Ludwig Conspiracy by Oliver Potzsch - from the Polish... wasn't worth the effort to translate.

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