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God: A Human History
God: A Human History
Reza Aslan | 2017 | Philosophy, Psychology & Social Sciences, Religion
7
5.0 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
Historical context is fascinating but explanations fall short
I had a few issues with this book. No doubt the history of the various religions was absolutely fascinating, exploring polytheistic belief systems to its evolution into monotheism. However, the connections suggested between how God is seen to be humanized is not very clear, rather it seems to be a throwaway remark about two psychological concepts that force human beings to look at everything with human eyes. It is also not very clear in terms of its explanation on why God must be one and not many.

As an atheist/ agnostic reading this, the historical elements were more of interest as the philosophical aspect seems to fall short due to the lack of exploration on why God even became a concept.
  
The Pillars of the Earth
The Pillars of the Earth
Ken Follett | 2014 | Fiction & Poetry
8
7.6 (13 Ratings)
Book Rating
In Depth, long page turner
Contains spoilers, click to show
I'm not normally the sort of person who goes in for historical fiction. Especially those set in the Dark Ages, but gave it a go as had heard it was a modern 'must read'.
For something that was over 1000 pages, it never felt like a slog or a chore to read. The more you get in to it, the more you want to read in one sitting.
Admitted, the sex scenes are quite gratuitous and graphic at times. And, taken in a modern context, the continual dumping on the lead character can seem overly harsh, as if the author gets pleasure from torturing his lead. But read the book through the historical lens of it's 12th-13th Century setting, and this reduces the frustrations, and adds to the realism
  
All Things New
All Things New
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This book I loved. I was so into the book. It surely talks about what life was like once the Civil War ended. The North won. It tell about the south trying to get life back to normal and how they wanted the way it was. This book show you of how some slaves were treated during this time.

It tell a story about slave were once they were treated. There another story though as well but it I do not want to give way much. If you enjoy Historical fiction or Histoy of America this is really a good book to read. If you do not read Historical Fiction, I still recommend it you for it something to read and different then your your normal genre. You choose for yourself.
  
The Animals at Lockwood Manor
The Animals at Lockwood Manor
Jane Healey | 2020 | LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
A tense, suspenseful debut historical novel
The Animals at Lockwood Manor is a debut historical fiction novel. It takes place in England during the second world war. Hetty Cartwright is tasked with moving animal specimens from the Natural History Museum collection to a manor in the countryside to protect them from the German air raids. Shortly after moving to Lockwood Manor, Hetty realizes all is not quite right with the inhabitants of the manor. The novel is well-written, tense, and atmospheric. The author skillfully builds the suspense, culminating in the motive for hosting the zoological collection and the revelation of multiple secrets. There is also a romance intertwined with the plot and, although important, is not the main focus of the story. It was highly readable and difficult to put down.