Random books from margad's library

Hammer's German Grammar and Usage by Martin Durrell

Morgans Passing by Anne Tyler

The German-Americans: An Informal History by Richard OÇonnor

Comfort Me with Apples by Ruth Reichl

The Geographer's Library by Jon Fasman

Address Book for Germanic Genealogy 6th ed. by Ernest Thode

The Annals of Imperial Rome (Penguin Classics) by Tacitus

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Friends: aluvalibri, amanaceerdh, Bay, Flit, historicalhoney, janeajones, jessicajames, keren7, ladymacbeth1, LouisMaistros, maggie1944, MaryNovik, Moseyer, poppi, RachelfromSarasota, SandraGulland, StevenTill, Storeetllr, theoldman, TheresaWilliams, Twynnie

Interesting libraries: antiquary, ariadne02, bhowell, GirlFromIpanema

LibraryThing authors: Helen Hollick (HelenHollick), Louis Maistros (LouisMaistros), Luis Alberto Urrea (LuisAlbertoUrrea), Mary Novik (MaryNovik), Linda Proud (Poppi), Sandra Gulland (SandraGulland), Sharon Kay Penman (Sharonkay), Sarah L. Johnson (ariadne02), David Liss (davidliss), Lisa See (lisasee), Nicholas Nicastro (nicastrobooks)

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Member: margad

CollectionsYour library (1,134)

Reviews68 reviews

TagsHistory (358), Fiction (289), Historical (106), Celts (92), Texas (88), Britain (86), OM (86), Germany (73), German (64), GR-WH-4 (63) — see all tags

Cloudstag cloud, author cloud

GroupsAncient History, Art is Life, Astrology, Books Compared, Club Read 2009, Happy Heathens, Herbal, Historical Fiction, Historical Mysteries, History: On learning from and writing history — show all groups

Favorite authorsStephen Arroyo, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Allan Gurganus, Cecelia Holland, Jean Markale, Larry McMurtry, Steven Ozment, Ellis Peters, Mary Renault, Steven Saylor, Anya Seton, Anne Tyler (Shared favorites)

About meMy ancestors migrated from Germany to Texas around the 1850s, so I am especially interested in German and Texas history, but history in general attracts me. I write fiction and nonfiction. My Historical Novels website at www.HistoricalNovels.info includes over 3500 listings of novels set in periods from the prehistoric to the mid-20th century. Currently, it includes more than 60 reviews, and I'm adding more on a regular basis.

Here are links to a couple of articles I have written:

The Scholar's Supernova, about a young man who saw a supernova in Cairo in AD 1006

Boudica: Celtic War Queen Who Challenged Rome, about Boudica, who led the British rebellion in AD 61

About my libraryMy fiction collection is haphazard, but heavy on historical fiction. Since I'd be broke if I bought all the novels I wanted to read, many favorites are not in my home library. If I love a novel, I sometimes impulsively buy the author's next work, skewing my collection toward novels that I found a bit disappointing. In nonfiction, I collect history books, especially about the Celts, ancient Rome, Germany, Hungary, medieval Europe generally, Texas and the U.S. Civil War.

What I'm writing:

A book about the history of the little railroad town, Kingsbury, Texas, where my father grew up.

Homepagehttp://www.HistoricalNovels.info

Membership LibraryThing Early Reviewers/Member Giveaway

Real nameMargaret Donsbach

LocationPortland, Oregon, USA

Account typepublic, lifetime

Connection NewsConnection News

URLs http://www.librarything.com/profile/margad (profile)
http://www.librarything.com/catalog/margad (library)

Common KnowledgeSeries (162), Awards (200), Characters (1514), Places (341)

Member sinceJun 30, 2006

Most recent activity

margad reviewed, added:
Home: A Novel by Marilynne Robinson (read review)

margad reviewed, added:
The Audacity of Help: Obama's Economic Plan and the Remaking of America by John F. Wasik (read review)

margad added:
Lebensbilder Martin Luthers

margad reviewed, added:
Gunpowder: Alchemy, Bombards, And Pyrotechnics: The History Of The Explosive That Changed The World by Jack Kelly (read review)

margad reviewed, added:
Quakertown by Lee Martin (read review)

margad reviewed, added:
The White Queen: A Novel by Philippa Gregory (read review)

Noticed your "astrology interest". You might want to check out http://www.matrixastrology.com/.

posted by Naren559 at 7:15 am (EST) on Nov 20, 2009

Hey I was just looking over an old message string (best historical novels of 2008) -- don't ask me why except I have it starred -- and wanted to recommend a novel that I thought was great but has not seemed to get much attention: The Open Door by Elizabeth Maguire. It's one of those that uses a real-life person -- Constance Fenimore Woolson, a popular writer of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She was believed to be in love with Henry James, though this novel -- written as a purported memoir by her -- takes a different view. I found it particularly interesting after reading "Five of Hearts" by Patricia O'Toole, where Woolson appears as a minor character. It's also a particularly touching read when you realize the author died too young, shortly after finishing the book.

posted by keywestnan at 5:29 pm (EST) on Jul 29, 2009

Thanks for spreading the word! Those podcasts are such a great resource; I'm eager to get them to people who might appreciate them. Did you listen to Allen Gurganus? (I think he was the first week but the whole thing is kind of a blur; among other things I switched jobs this year from the community college library to the public library which has been an interesting adventure.) You can subscribe to the podcasts on iTunes as well so you'll automatically get new ones when they're added. I'm finding I'm spending more and more time reading historical fiction and keeping an eye on that area of LT talk -- which is bad because I'm the program chair for the 2011 literary seminar, about food. But now you've got me wanting to read Pope Joan before the movie comes out and darned if we didn't have it just sitting here on the shelf at work ...

posted by keywestnan at 6:17 pm (EST) on Jul 22, 2009

Hopkins is indeed an interesting character. There are so many in the Civil War that could not exist in our current culture; they were truly people of that era. The egotism of generals on both sides, the political machinations---one would not see such things to such an extent in today's more professionalized military.

Hopkins's campaign was built on such a shaky foundation: if they could get popular support in New Mexico; if they could capture Union supplies and other things. One wonders how things would have gone if Chivington hadn't destroyed the Confederate supply train at Apache Pass.

My interest in the Civil War is fairly recent. My forebears immigrated here from Holland in the 1880s, so I cannot claim any ancestors who served in the war.

posted by DVanderlinde at 11:57 pm (EST) on Apr 26, 2009

FYI
I have uploaded a cover for Henry Hopkins Sibley: Confederate General of the West by Jerry Thompson. This is from the 1987 Northwestern State University Press edition.

posted by DVanderlinde at 1:42 pm (EST) on Apr 24, 2009

I clicked on your name here at LT because you wrote about reading A Thread Of Grace...Italy in WW II. I read lots of fiction with this as a backdrop.
But I just last night DVR'd a movie on Boudicia and there you have it mentioned on your profile!!

posted by MEENIEREADS at 12:00 pm (EST) on Mar 23, 2009

I Sought on Earth a Garden of Delight

I sought on earth a garden of delight,
Or island altar to the Sea and Air,
Where gentle music were accounted prayer,
And reason, veiled, performed the happy rite.
My sad youth worshipped at the piteous height
Where God vouchsafed the death of man to share;
His love made mortal sorrow light to bear,
But his deep wounds put joy to shamed flight.
And though his arms, outstretched upon the tree,
Were beautiful, and pleaded my embrace,
My sins were loath to look upon his face.
So came I down from Golgotha to thee,
Eternal Mother; let the sun and sea
Heal me, and keep me in thy dwelling-place.

-- George Santayana

posted by theoldman at 2:10 pm (EST) on Mar 10, 2009

Hello - one of mt favourite poems too!
I didn;t know that about Stonehenge, although it doesn't surprise me. I love the place, but my husband hates it - it does that to people. I see from the previous comment that you like Edith Pargeter - me too. Also, I love Mary Renualt. She came to speak at my school when I was about 12, and I've never forgotten her. I just wish I'd read some her books then - I remember feeling that I'd like to ask her all sorts of things, but didn't know what...
Do you know Peter Ackroyd's work - I think he's a great historical writer.
best wishes,
G

posted by Goldengrove at 6:24 pm (EST) on Mar 9, 2009

Margaret,

I just now realized who you were. Didn't realize that before I sent my message. I think your website, HistoricalNovels.info is great. I direct people there oftentimes when they ask me about an historical fiction novel. It's also linked off of my web site. Thanks for all the effort you've put into compiling those lists. An invaluable resource.

I'll have to look into Edith Pargeter's The Heaven Tree. I enjoyed Pillars of the Earth and World Without End, and I've heard good things about Edith, just haven't read any of her stuff before.

I'm a subscriber to Elizabeth's blog and we comment back and forth every now and then. I'll have to take a closer look at her resources. Thanks!

Glad to have found you on LibraryThing as well!

Steven
http://steventill.com

posted by StevenTill at 5:48 pm (EST) on Feb 11, 2009

Always nice to find others interested in medieval history. I found your profile through the Medieval Europe group. Any particular book you would recommend? What's your favorite non-fiction book on medieval history? I'm always looking for new books to add to my library. Thanks.

Steven
http://steventill.com

posted by StevenTill at 10:17 pm (EST) on Feb 10, 2009

Hi, Margaret,

I bought Pop Void #1 at a long-gone bookstore on Polk Street in San Francisco. They always had a great selection of independent publications. Long live Funny Face Drink Mix!

Best,
Lynn

posted by lperil at 3:50 pm (EST) on Jan 26, 2009

Margaret -- hope you had a good journey home. I managed to miss a turn-off, and it took me 8 hours instead of 6. Oh well, it was a good day for driving. I'm so glad we had a chance to meet in Key West and that it was such a good experience. Keep me posted on how the Texas and Faust books are progressing!

posted by janeajones at 7:44 pm (EST) on Jan 19, 2009

Hi, Margaret ~ I just checked out your reviews and wanted to thank you for your reviews. I'm putting all of them EXCEPT "The Sunne in Splendour," "Gargoyle," and "Mistress of the Art of Death" on my list of books to read in 2009. Why not those? Well, I've already read them and agree wholeheartedly with all you said about them.

Happy holidays!

Mary

posted by Storeetllr at 2:35 pm (EST) on Dec 21, 2008

That's fantastic (that you're coming to the Seminar) -- which workshop are you taking? I'm actually on the board and served on the program committee -- our major problem was having far too many wished-for writers than we could fit but I think we wound up with a great group. Have you been to the seminar or Key West before? It's a really amazing time ... and I think with the timing this year, it will be especially great to hear all these writers talking about the past/how we got here ... I'm taking a workshop, too, with Patricia O'Toole.

posted by keywestnan at 7:15 am (EST) on Dec 14, 2008

Wow! I took a list at your website! It must be one of the most thorough lists of historicals anywhere! Thanks for having Shades of Gray listed. That is quite a resource.
I will add a link from my jessicajamesbooks website if you don't mind.

posted by jessicajames at 3:51 pm (EST) on Sep 24, 2008

Thanks so much for your kind words about my reviews. I have to admit, some of my reviews aren't great; I don't put the effort into them that I should. I wanted to be very careful about how I reviewed Never Let Me Go, though, because I think it is good to be uninformed. I'm so sorry you've had the secret spoiled, but I hope you enjoy the book all the same.

In addition to bookmarking your website at home, I've also bookmarked it at work. I'm a library assistant at a public library, and I can see it coming in handy. It will be nice to have the website right there, ready to be pulled up at a moment's notice. Do you intend to add to it as new novels are released?

posted by shootingstarr7 at 2:09 am (EST) on Aug 1, 2008

I'm going to the second session. Key West is really gorgeous in January -- it'd be fun to connect if we happen to be there at the same time -- Jane

posted by janeajones at 8:36 pm (EST) on Jul 27, 2008

Margaret -- while reading the book review in the local paper today I thought about you. There was a big featured review of STEALING ATHENA, an historical novel by Karen Essex about Aspasia, Pericles' mistress. Here's the link to her website if you're interested: http://www.karenessex.com/. I can't seem to pull up the article, probably because it was reprinted from the LA Times.

Also -- do you know about the Key West Literary Seminar? The topic this year is historical fiction. I actually got some conference money from my college to go. They do a really lovely job: http://keywestliteraryseminar.org/lit/

I know it's way far away from you, but they do have some interesting stuff on their website. Happy August -- Jane

posted by janeajones at 5:23 pm (EST) on Jul 27, 2008

Hello Margad,

I love your Web site! I'm a frequent user. I was so glad to find you here on LT.

I enjoyed Lady Macbeth enough to re-read, and I don't say that about too many books. I haven't read Dunnett's Macbeth, but it's on my TBR list. I hope to get to it this Summer. I've heard lots of good things about it.

I hope to chat with you again soon.

LM

posted by ladymacbeth1 at 5:29 pm (EST) on Jun 22, 2008

Dear Margaret: I was browsing through the Historical Fiction group and came across your post about the Historical Novels website. I am going to direct my students to use it as a tool to help them find books to read for my class this year (I teach U.S. history and government to 11th and 12th graders. What I like most about your site, so far, is the brief description of each book and the fantastic effort you've made to categorize the novels. I'm new to LibraryThing, but I'm enjoying the literary chats which were sadly missing in the other book groups I joined. Thanks again for the site!

posted by RachelfromSarasota at 3:43 am (EST) on Jun 16, 2008

Margad -- your historical novels site is amazing-- it's going to take me a while to browse all through it, but I'm looking for some good (literary) novels to assign to my humanities students, and this is a treasure trove! Thanks for all your hard work there. -- Jane

posted by janeajones at 7:42 pm (EST) on Jun 5, 2008

"I finished reading The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows the other day and had to let you know how very much I enjoyed it. The opening is brilliant - so unexpected, and yet it perfectly foreshadows her harrowing experience in prison during the Revolution. This makes me want to read a good biography of Josephine, but I think I will gobble up your two sequels first!"

Did I ever thank you for this, Margaret? (I'm just now catching up on LibraryThing.) If not: THANK YOU!

posted by SandraGulland at 4:47 pm (EST) on May 14, 2008

Thank you for your note, Margaret, re MISTRESS OF THE SUN. Yes, "dangerously seductive" is as good as it gets!

posted by SandraGulland at 4:39 pm (EST) on May 14, 2008

Thanks for inviting me to Books Compared! It looks like a really interesting group.

posted by jibrailis at 10:19 am (EST) on Apr 29, 2008

Hi Margaret - Glad you're enjoying the new posts. Sorry it's all HP related, but I guess with a book that popular it's bound to draw comparisons. And the spin-off post was a pretty unique occurrence! You'll be glad to know too that with every new book I'm reading, I'm mentally writing comparison reviews in my head. I'm mentally working on one right now that might pan into an interesting discussion. Thanks again for the invite to a really neat group!
-el :)

posted by elbakerone at 5:12 pm (EST) on Mar 3, 2008

Hi Margaret,

Thank you for your welcome to Books Compared, and your invitation to contribute a comparison. I probably will do that, at some point soon.

I have enjoyed exploring your library this morning, and noted the books books on Texas history and Indian fighters. W. K. Stubblefield (known as Billy) was my husband's gr-gr-gr-grandfather. Billy Stubblefield lived in Palo Pinto County Texas in the 1860's and was a cattle rancher and Indian fighter. A book in my library, "Charley Newell Shot!" is the biography of his son-in-law, and includes chapters on Billy and Texas. I was nearly drooling over your collection of books from that region and time.

Currently I'm working my way through a book from the Portland library: "Bring Your Family History to Life through social history", by Katherine Scott Sturdevant. It's a five star at Amazon, but out of print and used copies are $$$.

I love visiting Powell's (any of them) but the flagship store downtown has an aura all its own. (I wonder what it will feel like with the remodel finished?)

Regards,

April

posted by Pandababy at 2:09 pm (EST) on Mar 2, 2008

Margaret, I just read what you wrote on Life after Death, in the discussion group. I thought it was wonderful! And I share the hope that after our existance here ends, the journey continues. I also think after a while heaven seen by the Christian view would be very boring. Thanks for sharing
Michael

posted by michaelbartley at 1:44 pm (EST) on Feb 29, 2008

Hi margad - Glad to see the discussion I posted took off - I linked to the thread from the Early Reviewers group so that brought in James Dashner as well as some other readers. It's neat to get such a variety of comments and input. Thanks for starting the Books Compared group - I think it's really fun and I love the idea of a review that includes more than one work! I really like reading the threads on there and seeing the different connections people make with various books.
"See" you around! - el :)

posted by elbakerone at 7:29 pm (EST) on Feb 16, 2008

Hi Margaret,

Thank you for you wonderful note re. Josephine B.

I also love your website. I posted a link to it on my Facebook page, here. I'll soon be setting up a blog on my website: I'll be sure to mention it there, as well.

My next novel, just coming out, is set in the court of the Sun King: Mistress of the Sun. If you'd like to review it, I could have my publisher send you an Advance Reading Copy. Let me know through my email: sgulland AT sandragulland.com

Again, thank you!

Sincerely,

Sandra Gulland
www.sandragulland.com

posted by SandraGulland at 4:39 pm (EST) on Feb 9, 2008

Hi Margaret (Margad),

Thank you for your note: "Welcome to Books Compared. I love historical fiction, and your Josephine trilogy is on my TBR list. So I'd like to especially encourage you to join the Books Compared discussion. Perhaps if we're lucky, you'll find time to post a comparison!"

I'm impressed by your thoughtful posts on Books Compared. I'm looking forward to spending more time on LibraryThing in general—and checking out your library specifically. Right now I'm in pre-liftoff for a novel about to come out, set in the Court of the Sun King, so busy indeed!

Cheers,

Sandra Gulland
www.sandragulland.com
posted by SandraGulland at 8:46 am (EST) on Jan 18, 2008

Pam's book is TERRIFIC!
posted by sarahelizabethii at 11:26 am (EST) on Nov 23, 2007

Hi Margaret
I stand in awe of Hildegard of Bingen & how she was able to compose & conduct her music. Hardly anything was written down, to teach her nuns the music she had only her hands. Hold your hand in front of your face, spread your fingers & realiz that was the first music staff. 5 fingers became the lines (e,g,b,d,f) & the 4 spaces between the fingers were spaces (f,a,c,e) That just amazes me the way she was able to teach - completely illerate with no musical back-ground women to sing those beautiful chants. I have done some singing in choirs, but mostly I have played in the orchestra or concert band. I am so glad I was able to do that & several of my children also. Do you have many "Chant" CD's? I have a Cd of Benedictine nuns chanting the "Virgin martyrs "& "Our Lady of Sorrows." Knowing something of the background helps to appreciate the music.
posted by MarianV at 10:13 am (EST) on Nov 15, 2007

hi Margad, thanks for your postings on Themes in Literature. I knew I could count on you for some beautiful excerpts from books I have never even heard of, let alone read!
Keep em comng!
:)
Murr
posted by tomcatMurr at 7:56 am (EST) on Oct 22, 2007

Hi Margaret. I've been in Texas so long now that most people consider me a native. Even my friends in the New Mexico Historical Society look at as if I was an interloper (I grew up in Albuquerque). I'm probably more Texan than my wife, a native born Houstonian. Good luck with the book on Kingsbury. Rural Texas can be a problem to work on. I wrote my Master's Thesis about Rockdale, and I am currently working a project about Milam County. Lot of research work still to be done.

Best,

George
posted by georgecooper at 6:53 pm (EST) on Sep 20, 2007

Hi Margaret, I was reading the posts on Art is Life Group and noticed that you said you lived in Portland. Since I live in that great city too, I wanted to say hello. I also share your interest in the Civil War and ancient history. I have a love for the Greeks. My interest in the Civil War came about from a roomate I had when I lived in Ashland. I do miss Ashland, I grew up in Southern Oregon. So anyway hello
Michael
posted by michaelbartley at 5:27 pm (EST) on Sep 19, 2007

Hello Margaret,

thanks a lot for your kind comment, I think your german is far better than my english!

Concerning your question about Yourcenar, it's been quite a while since I read that book so I had to have another look into it before I could answer your question. Well, I think his "inside" view presented by these letters is quite fascinating, but on the other hand he sometimes seems too emotionless about his own life, everything seems to be too predetermined to make this text really fascinating. This also results in some "Weitschweifigkeit" (don't know the english word, sorry), though I must admit that I don't know enough about this special epoch to successfully distinguish fiction from facts.

Nevertheless, overall I think this book is a classic of historical fiction and a pleasurable read for everybody interested in roman history.

Best regards!
posted by DeusXMachina at 4:34 am (EST) on Sep 11, 2007

My blog has an archive on the left-hand side if you scroll down. One of the headings will be "poems." Just click on that and all the poems I have on the blog will come up. Thanks for your interest! Art is Life has been a lot of fun.
posted by JMatthews at 6:25 pm (EST) on Aug 30, 2007