Tree of Smoke

From Barnes and Noble:
Denis Johnson parses the tragedy of Vietnam in a magnum opus (his first full-length novel in nine years) inscribed with all the pain and sadness, loneliness and futility surrounding that misbegotten war. At the center of a Dickensian cast of characters stand a CIA recruit working under deepest cover, his famous uncle (a legend in intelligence circles), a widowed Canadian nurse, and a pair of G.I. brothers who have traded in the desolation of their dead-end lives for the nightmare of war. Unfolding like a fever dream, Tree of Smoke captures a uniquely turbulent time in powerful images that linger long after the story ends. As he has done so many times before, Johnson shines a light into the darkest corners of the human soul and shows us, finally, where redemption truly lies.
How does the structure of the novel evoke the Vietnam War?

The Historian

From Barnes and Noble:
In this riveting debut of breathtaking scope, a young girl discovers her father's darkest secret and embarks on a harrowing journey across Europe to complete the quest he never could -- to find history's most legendary fiend -- Dracula.
How does this story compare to other Dracula/vampire stories?

Outlander

From Barnes and Noble:
In 1945, Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon—when she innocently touches a boulder in one of the ancient stone circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach—an "outlander"—in a Scotland torn by war and raiding border clans in the year of our Lord...1743.
Is the portrayal of time travel realistic?

The Autobiography of Henry VIII

From Barnes and Noble:
Much has been written about the mighty, egotistical Henry VIII: the man who dismantled the Church because it would not grant him the divorce he wanted; who married six women and beheaded two of them; who executed his friend Thomas ore; who sacked the monasteries; who longed for a son and neglected his daughters, Mary and Elizabeth; who finally grew fat, disease-ridden, dissolute. Now, in her magnificent work of storytelling and imagination Margaret George bring us Henry VIII's story as he himself might have told it, in memoirs interspersed with irreverent comments from his jester and confident, Will Somers. Brilliantly combining history, wit, dramatic narrative, and an extraordinary grasp of the pleasures and perils of power, this monumental novel shows us Henry the man more vividly than he has ever been seen before.
How does the first person perspective enhance (or not) the story?

Emperor: The Gates of Rome

From Barnes and Noble:
Ancient Rome comes alive in this first novel by British writer Conn Iggulden. This vivid historical novel traces the paths of the brothers Gaius and Marcus: one destined to be a renowned warrior, the other, a power broker in the Roman Senate. Cradled in an imperial history that most of us have largely forgotten, Emperor: The Gates of Rome delivers its epic story with freshness and unanticipated force.

Reviewers have pointed out anachronisms in the book. How do you think this affects the authenticity of the story?

Welcome to the McDole Public Library Book Club Blog!

Starting in November, librarians will host a monthly book club. We will discuss various historical novels on the first Monday of every month. Join us at 7:00 p.m. in the Walden Reading Room at the McDole Public Library. (Marked with bullseye on library map tothe left.)
Can’t make it to the meeting? You can still participate. Check out our blog anytime and discuss the book when it’s convenient for you! We will start each discussion with one question, and add more as we go.
Our first title is Emperor: The Gates of Rome by Conn Iggulden.