[JustaCowgirl]

As a matter of fact, I think The Source is the Michener title I was thinking of, not Caravans. Like you, it's been a number of years. That was a really great novel. If I'm not mistaken, and I could be, I think Caravans was set in Afghanistan. The Source is definitely in Israel. The Michener title set in Afghanistan might be a very interesting re-read.

Another good historical novel I really liked was The Journeyer by Gary Jennings, about the life of Marco Polo. It was extremely gory, as all Jennings' novels are, but fascinating.

[cyncooper]

My favorite book is "...And Ladies of the Club" by Helen Hooven Santmyer.

It starts just after the end of the Civil War and is set in a small town in Ohio.

And the "Club" of the title is...a book club!

Many of the ladies are...Republican!

Quite a bit of political observation and discussion is in this book along with battles of the Civil War (especially later in the book when a character takes to telling children his war stories in detail).

I've read the book 3 or 4 times and never fail to have a good cry at a couple points, too. The characters are so well drawn you become immersed in their interaction and drama. Highly recommended.