OneGuyFromBarlick

Sue, I'm certain that you have put your finger on the value of wide reading, including contemporary fiction, in getting a sense of what the frame of reference was. Essential to really understanding society, a sort of total immersion experience.

Exactly Stanley. These two books were the sort of books that I wanted to create from my genealogy knowledge, but I don't think I could do it

Try Sue, you never know what you can do til you try.

True, Gloria

I am out of reading matter, a book for November/December?

So am I Sue. I finished Secret River last night so I need something a bit lighter to read! I found it an increasingly difficult read, knowing that events could only turn nastier and so they did. As someone who usually chooses not to watch violence on TV or in films I found myself wanting to put the book down when the description of the massacre became so graphic, but I stuck with William Thornhill to see how he dealt with it. A very cleverly written book.
Is Gloria reading Secret River?

No Wendy I'm not. I have a James Patterson just started, which in my dotage I think I may have read before
I am calling in the library tomorrow so if anyone chooses one I can see if they have it. If we don't choose one by tomorrow, they have a book of the month in our library so I will get that and take pot luck. I have read some before and they are usually very good, they are chosen by a local book group who meet in the library.
Gloria

Sounds like a good idea Gloria, I'm happy to let your library choose our next book.

Okay dokay will do.

I'll go with that. The trouble with the violence inSecret River, is you know it was true. How awful. I have just read The glassblower of Murano, a good story based on a legend about the mirrors in Versailles, and also a genealogical based book

Right team, got the book, here are the details--
"The House of Special Purpose" a novel of the Romanovs by John Boyne.
It looks very interesting, and has got very good reviews.

I downloaded it last night....looking forward to starting reading.

Ok will look it up now

Got it, but there are three novels with this name and two seem to be the same story with different authors, I had to check which one it was.

Not a lot of time to be reading a the moment, but I am slowly getting through it, and really enjoying it.

Me too. I am about half way through

And me too!

I've finished it. What a good book. I didn't see that ending coming. Excellent, and sad.

Don't tell us, I still have a way to go. Things keep getting in the way of my reading at the moment, but I will get to it.
Should I look and see what the Library Book Club recommend for it's next book or has someone else an idea of what to read? I'll look and let you know what it is anyway.

That would be great Gloria, they certainly got this one right.

Yes, good idea Gloria. I'm only half way through at the moment, but it is an enjoyable read.

I'm about the same Wendy. I'll call in the library tomorrow and see what their suggestion is. I have read a few and they have always been very good.

I couldn't put it down in the end.

Our library's book of the month is "Where the River Ends" by Charles Martin. I have got one and will start it when I have finished "The House of Special Purpose".
Getting a bit like you Sue --- I don't want to put it down. I think I have it sussed but will no doubt be proven wrong.

Thanks for the new title