Re- kindled my interest in history
344255
I never knew so much of today's conflicts hinged on this region's colorful past. This book has been a great indoctrination and jumping off point for me to further explore how cultural influence impacts foreign relations regarding the stability of the human race.
203977
This is not your ordinary history book. Dr. Mabalon has called on the tool of personal narratives to bring history to life. For once in my life, I was not bored by the topic. Normally, history is just not my thing. But I could not put this book down. I was pulled in by the people in the book and their stories. It really makes the reality of the past something you can connect to. I could see how the stories of my Mexican relatives related to the stories of the manangs and manongs in the book. I strongly recommend this to anyone interested in Filipino-American history, California history, farm labor history, and immigration history.
3690201
This was a very interesting and different way to read history. When I first started reading I was disappointed, thinking it perhaps wasn't a history novel, however once I got my head around the time travel, I was hooked and enjoyed it.
1657020
The plot is interesting, atmospheric and educational, switching smoothly between 1879 and the present day. I love it when I learn new things and I found the informative snippets on names interesting. The area of London that this is set in is really brought to life by the author, and some of the historic information is key to the plot (and yes..I even found myself Wiki-ing the station Barnes did!!).

Nigel Barnes as the genealogist is shy and old fashioned but still attractive and likable. His love of history and knowledge of tracing people via census returns and archives was inspiring, as well as an integral part of the plot and the story. Never before has hours pouring over microfilm and dusty records been so exciting!

I'm looking forward to the next book so I can 'catch up' with the main characters again.
3035926
I really cannot emphasize enough how much I LOVED this book. I've always been fascinated with Victorian history (particularly social history), and this book is information-rich without being dry or overwhelming - in fact, it's the complete opposite. I found myself laughing out loud while reading and regularly Snapchatting humorous photo captions or particularly entertaining lines. I also couldn't help but share the more interesting bits with friends the next day - I'm sure my boyfriend really enjoyed hearing about the history of toilet paper and the place of corn cobs in that history. (Seriously, though, I'm still trying to figure out how that worked.) My only gripe is that Oneill could possibly have delved a bit deeper into each of the topics she discussed, but I understand why she didn't because of the sheer amount of topics to cover.

If all of my friends were as nerdy as I am, they would each be getting a copy of this for Christmas. Even so, I'll probably insist they all read it!
1926028
I really enjoyed reading "Dawn of Liberty." As a British person, I had a few wry smiles as my tyrannical countrymen were described, but considering this is a book largely about the product of that behavior, I hope Amber realizes that it is meant as a compliment when I say I read it  quickly, despite knowing how it would ultimately end!

I felt as though I'd been given a birds' eye view as history unfolded and came alive as I read. I live near DC and have had the pleasure of standing in the National Archives and visiting Philadelphia and standing in Independence Hall. Both those places now hold more meaning for reading this book.

If you enjoy history or learning more about the birth of the US, then I'd highly recommend this book.
1192848
I have always enjoyed history, particularly this period in time.  It was so refreshing to come across such an enjoyable read that told a different story about a time which has had so much written about it.  I loved that science and politics played a backdrop to the relationship of these two very different, yet fascinating men in history.  You have introduced me to a new genre that I enjoyed very much...thank you
3647255
I really enjoyed reading this book. It brought the people alive for me. Finally I was able to relate to them more than names and dates in a history book. I have developed a "relationship" with them and am looking forward to learning more. As someone who never likes American History, that's a big deal! Thanks Christina, I anxiously awaiting another of your books.
716078
I don't like to read novels, but a friend, who enjoys history, had recommended&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/String-Too-Short-to-Be-Saved-Nonpareil-Books-No-5/dp/087923282X/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">String Too Short to Be Saved (Nonpareil Books, No. 5)</a>&nbsp;after I had told her about&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Home-Life-in-Colonial-Days/dp/B001F0RTYO/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Home Life in Colonial Days</a>,<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Everyday-Life-in-Early-America/dp/0060912510/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Everyday Life in Early America</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Reshaping-of-Everyday-Life-1790-1840-Everyday-Life-in-America/dp/0060916060/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Reshaping of Everyday Life: 1790-1840 (Everyday Life in America)</a>&nbsp;- so I thought I would read this biographical book and then decide if I wanted to read his novel (which I just ordered and received and will start tonight).  I loved this book; it was extremely engaging and I like Donald Hall as a person and I enjoyed his thought patterns. It was fascinating to read about historical accounts of work in this world, his personal day, history of his work life and his daily work life, or Life Work.  The second part of the book was more about his family history of work, his father's work and how it affected him and his life on his grandfather's farm which was fascinating and wonderful.  When I read the last page last night, I decided to reread the preface because the last sentence was the first sentence and when I read it the first time I didn't understand. This book is a beautiful meditation on work and a reflection on life and history and it is a super choice for your next read.
3218173
I picked up this book when the electricity was out.  It had been a long time since I'd read.  I found that I couldn't put the book down.  I was taken back in time.  The author obviously did her research.  I learned a lot about a part of history that I was unaware of.  The characters and plot were well written.  Not only was I entirely engaged, but when finished I knew I wanted more.  Fascinating.  Best of all, it made me want to turn off the T.V. and read again.
558817
Wonderful story, time travel and history, my cup of tea!
2878823
I loved the history and the characters - wonderful trilogy of books!
615757
Having not excelled at history in school (there was too much emphasis on dates, perhaps) I am now making up for lost time. And I so much appreciated reading 'The Soldier, the Gaoler, the Spy and Her Lover' in which Simon Parke brings a special period of history (Charles I and Cromwell) to life. Simon sees a parallel in the warring factions of the 17th century's civil war with our own times, when Brexit is dividing the nation once again.
Jane Whorwood, the spy of the title, and king's mistress, was written out of history by royalists who wanted a royal martyr not a royal adulterer. But, luckily for us, Simon has written her back in, larger than life, and full of adventures. Jane even consults an astrologer in an attempt to keep her lover safe, a fascinating touch from those times.
The gaoler of the title, Robert Hammond, played a reluctant role in keeping his royal guest under lock and key. And there are more adventures galore with plots to escape and divided loyalties.
But nothing and no one can save Charles from sowing the seeds of his own destruction, leading to his execution on the scaffold in 1649.
I quote Mike Jones, former editor of Simon and Schuster: I am in awe of the research which seems impeccable.
Not only impeccably researched but a gripping and enjoyable read.
2658041
This is the type of history I enjoy.  In school, I learned the big pieces of history, but now, I want to know the stories behind the stories.  I want to know the whys and other causes for events that were neglected intentionally or unintentionally.  This book takes a big step for me to learn and understand the past, so I can better understand the present and anticipate the future.
2887136
I'm just finishing this book now and have loved it.  At first I was disconcerted that I could not follow all the characters, especially when Mantel did not make it clear to whom she was referring.  However, when I stepped back and decided I did not need to know everything that happened precisely, I found that I gained a marvelous view of the life and times of the people involved.  Her writing style is somewhere between prose and poetry, which allows room for me to roam about in the sentences, finding layers of meaning.  I caught up on some of the details on Wikipedia.
1750929
I started reading this immediately after finishing book five, and after reading that bundled 5,000 behemoth of a series, this felt like the fastest read of my life. It was interesting to have all of the references laid out in convenient lists, because Martin definitely hinted at events to come in books six and seven, and there were some points I didn't catch at all or hadn't developed fully until reading this book.

Okay now I'm not terribly history savvy, but a section of this book was about historical references throughout the series, and I knew that it was based off of medieval England, but I didn't know the extent to which Martin based his geography or even his characters off of it. Specific characters directly parallel the actions of actual Monarchs in medical England, and the Wall of the Night's Watch was based off of Hadrian's Wall (a bit small by comparison, but it's there nonetheless), which kept the savages and unknown world at bay. Frankel goes into a lot of detail about it, and it made me want to do my research and dive right into the dreaded history books.

A short read, but it brought an interesting perspective and some new opinions into the discussion, and definitely opened my eyes about some lesser-known facts. Maybe not worth the $4 for the Kindle edition, just because it's so short, but it's interesting regardless.
4743355
I read this to augment my participation in the Society for Creative Anachronisms with a full curiosity of history and wishing a deeper knowledge of how people actually lived in this period. This was insightful, intriguing, eye opening, thorough, and scholarly. It brings fascinating facts like none of the numerous books that I have read in my research, from ice-cream in Florence, to weather patterns and cash flow affecting trade, to surprising watercraft and piracy. Trade created Renaissance Europe, which is documented as it evolved. I read it and read it again finding my imagination explode. This trove of information showed me my ignorance of my previous conceptions. You can open the books up just about anywhere, begin to read and find stunning information. I stumbled upon a paperback edition, read it and then bought the hardcover... because it is such a keeper.