Welcome to bookchat where you can talk about anything...books, plays, essays, and books on tape. You don’t have to be reading a book to come in, sit down, and chat with us.
How stories affect us very often depends on the setting, the time, the place, and the circumstances of the society in that place and time. We identify an era immediately with some of the large events of history and from the experience of reading about those times we often respond emotionally before we even open the cover of the book. We have expectations and previous knowledge and we want to know more. We expect the research to be excellent. We have questions and we want to compare this story with other books we have read.
For example, consider August 14, 1945. The end of WW II. Japan surrenders. It is overwhelming. The pain and sacrifice that came to an end. We bring so much to that time that cannot be measured. The author who sets a story in that era has us in his grip. We want to know what the world was like then and we do know from other stories many of the things that led up to that day.
Some books I have read:
Hiroshima by John Hersey.
Ghost Soldiers: The Epic Account of World War II's Greatest Rescue Mission by Hampton Sides
Incredible Victory: The Battle of Midway by Walter Lord
Thunder Below!: The USS Barb Revolutionizes Submarine Warfare in World War II by Eugene B. Fluckey
Street of a Thousand Blossoms by Gail Tsukiyama
I haven’t read this one, but I put it on my wish list. I had read a different small book about the Code Talkers.
Code Talker: The First and Only Memoir By One of the Original Navajo Code Talkers of WWII Chester Nez, Judith Schiess Avila
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/...
There is a whole page of books on this topic at B&N
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/...
War and Remembrance by Herman Wouk
The sequel to Winds of War, which focuses on Europe, War and Remembrance follows the war as it unfolds in the Pacific.
In Harm's Way: The Sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis and the Extraordinary Story of Its Survivors by Doug Stanton
Three Came Home by Agnes Newton Keith
http://en.wikipedia.org/...
Here is a Goodreads list of novels set in the Pacific:
http://www.goodreads.com/...
There are so many eras that are associated with war. Then there are colonial eras and places with stories about India, Kenya, South Africa, and Australia.
The setting is important and more than just the backdrop of a story. It is vital in fiction stories for the research to be right. By going through the days with characters we often learn more about what it was really like to live in those days than by reading a few paragraphs in a history book.
On the other hand, non-fiction books, autobiographies, biographies, and memoirs are inspirational. I am always grateful that a person was able to tell about their lives after living through terrifying trouble.
I am currently reading a story set in the late 1700’s, the true story about Alexander Dumas’ father, Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo by Tom Reiss. The French Revolution will come soon and then Napoleon.
I am also reading a book set in Russia in 1949 where three years of the author’s life is fictionalized into four days. It is set in Moscow. In the First Circle by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (The First Uncensored Edition)
Which settings in books immediately conjur up connotations for you?
Do you seek out books set in particular times or places?
Which is your favorite setting?
Diaries of the Week:
Write On! Using quirks.
by SensibleShoes
http://www.dailykos.com/...
England: A Photo Diary
by Lenny Flank
http://www.dailykos.com/...
R&BLers: Birth Announcement for "Slightly Foxed -- but Still Desirable"
by Limelite
http://www.dailykos.com/...
Contemporary Fiction Views: Chasing dreams in Shanghai
by bookgirl
http://www.dailykos.com/...
Curing the Poison of "Rankism"
by Robert Fuller
http://www.dailykos.com/...
Robert Fuller says:
Chapter 19 of The Rowan Tree is up. Bring on the hardcore ballet lovers! As always, I welcome comments and reviews.
http://www.rowantreenovel.com/...
The audiobook version is available at last:
Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/...
iTunes: http://www.apple.com/...
Audible: http://www.audible.com/...
To celebrate, I've launched a new Goodreads Giveaway for three signed paperbacks:
http://www.goodreads.com/...
The audiobook was a huge endeavor, and I'm relieved it is done. My voice is still hoarse.
NOTE:
plf515 has book talk on
Wednesday mornings early