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James A. Michener

BeerThirtyBeerThirty Member Posts: 2,465
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in Yellow Snow's Record Shoppe
How many of you have read any of his work? I'm about to start reading Alaska. The only Michener book I've read was Hawaii, 25 years ago. I was 15 and it was a struggle. A good book overall but a struggle for a dumb kid who didn't really appreciate historical fiction.

Those of you who have read any of his work let know what you thought. I'd like to read Tales of the South Pacific too.
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    RaceBannonRaceBannon Member, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 101,134
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    I've read Centennial and Space

    Thought I had read more. Maybe Hawaii

    Watched the Bridge at Toko Ri several times
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    DerekJohnsonDerekJohnson Administrator, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 59,905
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    I read Hawaii when I was 19.
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    BeerThirtyBeerThirty Member Posts: 2,465
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    DerekJohnson said:

    I read Hawaii when I was 19.

    Did you like it? Care to read any more?
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    YellowSnowYellowSnow Moderator, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 33,846
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    edited July 2022
    My parents were big Michener folks. I need to revisit although I’ve struggled at times with fiction as a means for telling history.
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    BeerThirtyBeerThirty Member Posts: 2,465
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    YellowSnow said:

    My parents were big Michener folks. I need to revisit although I’ve struggled at times with fiction as a means for telling history.

    if done right it can be very helpful. I had a professor who used The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara in his U.S. History class. I enjoyed reading a novel on the civil war rather than a textbook.
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    PurpleThrobberPurpleThrobber Member Posts: 41,769
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    edited July 2022






    I'd read a Michener book but my life expectancy isn't that of Uncle Race.
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    El_KEl_K Member, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 1,086
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    Loved Centennial the miniseries. Barbara Carerra as a hot looking squaw. It is like 26 hours long or some shit. But no, never read the books.
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    TXDawgTXDawg Member, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 818
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    I've read Hawaii, Texas, and Alaska. Thinking about picking up Poland. Definitely books you appreciate more as an adult. Kinda fun to read if you're ever planning a trip to the area where the book is set.
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    YellowSnowYellowSnow Moderator, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 33,846
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    BeerThirty said:

    YellowSnow said:

    My parents were big Michener folks. I need to revisit although I’ve struggled at times with fiction as a means for telling history.

    if done right it can be very helpful. I had a professor who used The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara in his U.S. History class. I enjoyed reading a novel on the civil war rather than a textbook.
    Gettysburg movie was based off it.

    I don't have any beef with historical fiction. It's just not my bag, baby. I'm a fucking noyd and like the dense, non fiction.
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    StateChampWereUStateChampWereU Member Posts: 39
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    Hawaii was great. That's all for me.
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    StLouisDawgStLouisDawg Member, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 486
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    Have read several. Mired in worthless detail and no real threads to sink into.

    I liken it to experimental jazz. Those who like it because they are so deep into theory and bullshit they no longer care if it sounds good.

    Would rather read a harlequin romance.
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    DerekJohnsonDerekJohnson Administrator, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 59,905
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    BeerThirty said:

    DerekJohnson said:

    I read Hawaii when I was 19.

    Did you like it? Care to read any more?
    Sorry @BeerThirty just saw this. I liked it but I had to push myself to finish it. I bought another one but only got 50 pages or so into it as I recall, and I never read a Michener again.
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    DerekJohnsonDerekJohnson Administrator, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 59,905
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    I still like the idea of Sue Grafton doing a Husky series... E is for Emtman
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    PurpleThrobberPurpleThrobber Member Posts: 41,769
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    StLouisDawg said:

    Have read several. Mired in worthless detail and no real threads to sink into.

    I liken it to experimental jazz. Those who like it because they are so deep into theory and bullshit they no longer care if it sounds good.

    Would rather read a harlequin romance.

    Know a gal who was a harlequin romance novel cover model.

    She's still hot AF in her 50's. Wood but no pics because her husband is kind of a psycho.

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    BeerThirtyBeerThirty Member Posts: 2,465
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    Just finished Alaska and Tales of the South Pacific. Not bad but I'm going to take another break from Michener
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    RaceBannonRaceBannon Member, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 101,134
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    I also read this one. Seems timely


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    CougzzCougzz Member, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 278
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    Based on prior responses, I think most would enjoy Leon Uris novels better…Battle Cry, Exodus and some good, original Irish novels. Michener was a huge fan (academically) of the University of Texas and the University of Washington.

    He was a prick.
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    LebamDawgLebamDawg Member, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 8,531
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    when I lived in Baltmer (that is what Baltimorons like to call it) I read Chesapeake, Hawaii many years ago. Hawaii was long and drawn out just like the movie.
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    RatherBeBrewingRatherBeBrewing Member Posts: 1,557
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    I read:
    Texas
    Tales of the South Pacific
    Poland
    The Covenant (South Africa)
    Alaska

    I started Centennial but it was too slow of a start for me and I must have had something better to read. I would recommend all of them except for maybe Texas - couldn’t get into it too much. Tales of the South Pacific was his first work and it was okay but I’d put the other three over them.

    If historical fiction shit is up your alley Edward Rutherfurd took the formula and did it Limey style. I only read the first few, but Sarum, Russka, and London were all enjoyable.
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