Unusual Topics in Historical Fiction

Use this forum to discuss the October 2019 Book of the month, "Skills of the Warramunga" by Greg Kater.
ab2020
Posts: 115
Joined: 22 Jul 2019, 14:53
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 34
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-ab2020.html
Latest Review: The Altitude Journals by David J Mauro

Unusual Topics in Historical Fiction

Post by ab2020 »

This book brings to life an era and a place not often written about. What did you think of this? What did you learn about post-WWII Malaysia, and what else would you like to know?
User avatar
Dorcas Serwaa Adu
Posts: 40
Joined: 02 Jun 2018, 19:36
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 14
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-dorcas-serwaa-adu.html
Latest Review: Skills of the Warramunga by Greg Kater

Post by Dorcas Serwaa Adu »

Well, that's one interesting thing about books. They help to discover, criticise and correct the wrongs of society. In actual sense, it being about an era and place not often written about makes the book more captivating. Like everything else, humans love new things and will like to explore more. For this reason, once one starts reading the book, it becomes a new addictive drug they can't stop taking :wink: . Though, I haven't completed the book, I can tell the place is just like any other place, it has its good and bad. While people try to push forward, the anti progress minded ones will do anything to sabotage that. What I'll like to learn more about is the culture or way of life of the people way back before the era the author wrote about and also how it is at the moment.
User avatar
Akpome1
Posts: 129
Joined: 08 Mar 2019, 05:44
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 35
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-akpome1.html
Latest Review: Mixed Blessings by J.M. Muse

Post by Akpome1 »

Yes! In my research about the book, I discovered that the criminals' aim was to disrupt the creation of the Malayan Union by the British Military Authority set to take place on the 1st of April 1946. That is one thing about authors. They don't just write anything for writing sake. They try to portray something.
User avatar
djr6090
Posts: 680
Joined: 29 Jun 2019, 10:15
Favorite Book: The North Wind Descends (The Lord Hani Mysteries Book 4)
Currently Reading: There's a Hole in My Bucket
Bookshelf Size: 111
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-djr6090.html
Latest Review: The Odessa Legacy by Dr. Richard Bend

Post by djr6090 »

I didn't realize that Malaysia was part of World War II. It does make sense though, as the Japanese were dedicated to subduing the whole Pacific.
User avatar
DC Brown
Posts: 325
Joined: 26 Jul 2018, 08:42
Currently Reading: Sold on a Monday
Bookshelf Size: 204
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-dc-brown.html
Latest Review: The Byrds of Victory by James Robert Campbell

Post by DC Brown »

I appreciate how Kater weaves historical facts throughout his books. I've read the other two as well and have learned much about the aborigines, WWII, and its effect on lands unknown to me. I begin to wonder if he was there?
DorcasToo
Posts: 766
Joined: 02 Feb 2018, 16:01
Currently Reading: Call Me Pomeroy
Bookshelf Size: 207
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-dorcastoo.html
Latest Review: Tidal Pools by Robert Marier

Post by DorcasToo »

Greg Kater always has a way of weaving and meshing beautiful historical facts into awesome fiction. That's evident in this Malaysian WW 2.
User avatar
ReyvrexQuestor Reyes
Previous Member of the Month
Posts: 2049
Joined: 28 Sep 2017, 07:38
Favorite Book: <a href="http://forums.onlinebookclub.org/shelve ... 5">Raven's Peak</a>
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 299
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-reyvrexquestor-reyes.html
Latest Review: Journey by Lindsay Schuster
Reading Device: 1400697484

Post by ReyvrexQuestor Reyes »

The book achieves credibility to a great degree because of the good guys' achievement of countering the villains' political agenda, a very plausible threat to a sovereign state's existence. But on the whole, the setting reminds me of the Vietnam War, at least, the jungle warfare.
"In the beginning was the word.........John 1:1"
...To delineate the times that lovers miss,
...A thousand dreams can't beat a single kiss.

-reyvrex (Love Sonnet 107)
User avatar
LinaMueller
Posts: 1117
Joined: 09 Jun 2019, 13:22
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 261
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-linamueller.html
Latest Review: The Wingless Fairy by Kye Strothers

Post by LinaMueller »

I didn't know anything about the Japanese Kempeitai before reading this book. Greg Kater seems to know a lot about history.
Heart! We will forget him!
You an I, tonight!
You may forget the warmth he gave,
I will forget the light.

When you have done, pray tell me
That I my thoughts may dim;
Haste! lest while you're lagging.
I may remember him!

Emily Dickinson
User avatar
Sam Ibeh
Previous Member of the Month
Posts: 1103
Joined: 19 Jun 2019, 09:46
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 459
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-sam-ibeh.html
Latest Review: The vampires: Sodom and Gomorrah by Levănt DuPrae

Post by Sam Ibeh »

For a book of this nature, historical fact is a never do without.
User avatar
Mallory Porshnev
In It Together VIP
Posts: 426
Joined: 20 May 2018, 17:52
Currently Reading: Moloka'i
Bookshelf Size: 332
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-pricklypurple.html
Latest Review: The Paradize Inn by Sheri O'Sullivan

Post by Mallory Porshnev »

I love reading about places and time periods that I don't know much about. This book taught me so much about Malaysia, but I would love to learn more about the country.
User avatar
Hester3
Posts: 241
Joined: 30 May 2019, 10:55
Currently Reading: I Will Make of Thee a Great Nation
Bookshelf Size: 85
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-hester3.html
Latest Review: Wilderness Cry by Hilary L Hunt M.D.

Post by Hester3 »

I also did not know that Malaysia was involved in WWII, but I love to read books about time periods that I am unfamiliar with, especially when the books are well researched and historically correct.
User avatar
Howlan
Posts: 1985
Joined: 01 Oct 2019, 08:15
Favorite Book: Looking for Alaska
Currently Reading: War Graves
Bookshelf Size: 122
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-howlan.html
Latest Review: The Soviet Comeback by Jamie Smith

Post by Howlan »

The book touches a bit on the Malayan history and the formation of the Malayan Union and it was quite refreshing as you don't get such details of Malayan history normally.
User avatar
Howlan
Posts: 1985
Joined: 01 Oct 2019, 08:15
Favorite Book: Looking for Alaska
Currently Reading: War Graves
Bookshelf Size: 122
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-howlan.html
Latest Review: The Soviet Comeback by Jamie Smith

Post by Howlan »

Dorcas Serwaa Adu wrote: 05 Oct 2019, 21:43 Well, that's one interesting thing about books. They help to discover, criticise and correct the wrongs of society. In actual sense, it being about an era and place not often written about makes the book more captivating. Like everything else, humans love new things and will like to explore more. For this reason, once one starts reading the book, it becomes a new addictive drug they can't stop taking :wink: . Though, I haven't completed the book, I can tell the place is just like any other place, it has its good and bad. While people try to push forward, the anti progress minded ones will do anything to sabotage that. What I'll like to learn more about is the culture or way of life of the people way back before the era the author wrote about and also how it is at the moment.
Absolutely agree with you. Such a drug is really sought after by us booklovers.
AntoineOMEGA
Posts: 293
Joined: 09 May 2019, 01:23
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 24
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-antoineomega.html
Latest Review: Poetic Inspirations by Melody D. Velez

Post by AntoineOMEGA »

This Novel is really unique because I had no clue Malaysia was part of WW2.
User avatar
evraealtana
Previous Member of the Month
Posts: 1528
Joined: 22 Mar 2019, 19:45
Currently Reading: The Signature of All Things
Bookshelf Size: 127
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-evraealtana.html
Latest Review: Never Teach A Pig to Sing. It is a waste of Time by Freida Atwood

Post by evraealtana »

I love it when an author writes a historical fiction novel that makes you want to learn more about the subject on your own - I too had no idea that Malaysia was part of WWII, since it often gets overlooked in history classes, so I had to go look it up to get some background. Learning about the same subject from a professor or a textbook wouldn't be nearly as compelling as learning about it from a novel, but the knowledge is the same in either case.
Post Reply

Return to “Discuss "Skills of the Warramunga" by Greg Kater.”