The Voice of Asia by James A. Michener

February 28, 2018 by Christina

Nonfiction — print. Random House, 1951. 338 pgs. Purchased.  Before embarking on any trip — around the world or within the United States — I always look to see if James A. Michener wrote about the particular place I’m set to visit. I find his multi-generational, fictional stories make the nonfictional history of a particular geography accessible and intriguing in a way that guidebooks cannot. As I will be traveling throughout southeast Asia in April, I looked into Michener’s back […]

Categories: 2018 Reads, Asia, India, Japan, Nonfiction, Thailand, Travel, Vietnam • Tags: James A. Michener

Poland by James A. Michener

September 18, 2017 by Christina

Fiction — Kindle edition. Random House, 2014. Originally published 1983. 688 pgs. Library copy. Covering eight centuries of Polish history, Michener’s novel begins in the then-present day of 1981 with a sit down between the fictional Minister of Agriculture of communist Poland, Szymon Bukowski, and the leader of the farmers, Janko Buk, who are operating same vain as the Solidarity movement occurring in Gdansk. Bukowski and Buk come to realize their family history — and, in fact, the history of Poland […]

Categories: 2017 Reads, Chunkster, Europe, Fiction, Genocide, Holocaust, Poland • Tags: James A. Michener

The Bridge at Andau by James A. Michener

January 17, 2011 by Christina

Nonfiction — print. Random House, 1957. 272 pgs. Library copy. I decided to read this book for two reasons; the first being that I will be travel to Hungary in March and know little about the country outside of the days of the Nazis and Arrow Cross, and the second that I consider Michener one of my favorite authors but have read of his nonfiction. The cover of my book says that this book is “the heroic story of the […]

Categories: 2011 Reads, Europe, Hungary, Nonfiction • Tags: James A. Michener

Centennial by James A. Michener

April 3, 2010 by Christina

Fiction — print. Fawcett Books, 1982. First published 1974. 1086 pgs. Gift. Michener wrote Centennial in 1974, and I consider it to be one of my favorite books. Ever. I was about eight when I discovered the television mini-series in my grandfather’s basement, and upon watching the whole series over Christmas break, I borrowed my dad’s 1,086 paged, paperback copy that he purchased for $2.95 and proceeded to read skim for my favorite parts. I didn’t actually read the whole […]

Categories: 2010 Reads, Chunkster, Fiction, North America, Reread, United States • Tags: James A. Michener