Barbarossa wrote: "Misfit wrote: "I'm going to get back into Wolf Hall this weekend..."

How is Wolf Hall?
Should I believe the hype?"

Nona wrote: "Wolf Hall I've heard alot about that one lately is it good? I tend to agree with you on most books so le me know."

I've stalled at page 150 and gone on to read something else. It's in the present tense and very distracting. It sure is *literary* though.

Tanzanite just finished it, I'm waiting to see her review.

Misfit wrote: "I'm going to get back into Wolf Hall this weekend..."

How is Wolf Hall?
Should I believe the hype?

Wolf Hall I've heard alot about that one lately is it good? I tend to agree with you on most books so le me know.

OK, I'll be nice. Must remember to thank Mr. Gates and his Microsoft millions. I'm pretty sure they help alot with library funding :)

Wish I'd been smart and started using the library a long time ago. Doesn't even matter which branch in the county has the book - it comes to where I ask it to come. No charge.

I'm going to get back into Wolf Hall this weekend, and I'm also working on Mary's Luke's novel on Katherine Parr The Ivy Crown. She had a whole other life way before she married Henry.

thats absolutely mean....but I have to remember I am in poe-dunkville Oklahoma. See why I 90% by books rather then try to find at the library.

I also have her non fiction MQofS, haven't read it yet but it is here somewhere.

Nona wrote: "ugh, misfit we have to get together and discuss these titles before I go to the library, we have a very small library and I get excited that they actually have the title only to find out their crap..."

Nona, don't ya just love Bothwell's nickname for her? Orange Blossom? It just gets more bizarre, wait until the plots with the pope.

I'm tempted to give you the link to my library's catalog just to make you jealous but I'll be nice :p

Susan C wrote: "Oh thank goodness, I'm referring to the nonfiction!"

Now I think of it did she write a NF on Mary Q of S or is it the Bloody Mary book??

ugh, misfit we have to get together and discuss these titles before I go to the library, we have a very small library and I get excited that they actually have the title only to find out their crappy and end up hating myself for wasting my time.

it is her historical entertainment, I'm now on page 31.....however I tend to like them just for the laughs and giggles.

Oh thank goodness, I'm referring to the nonfiction!

Only if you want to read the most ridiculous piece of made up nonsense you've ever come across. I assume we're talking about her new one that she labels "historical entertainment" and not an older bio of hers.

Misfit wrote: "Nona wrote: "Caroll Erickson Mary Queen of Scotts though I'm only on paragraph 1 page 1, lol. Haven't had alot of time to read with us all having the flu."

Nona, let's see how far you get. Bad, ..."

Oh, say it isn't so - it's on my shelf also!

Nona wrote: "Caroll Erickson Mary Queen of Scotts though I'm only on paragraph 1 page 1, lol. Haven't had alot of time to read with us all having the flu."

Nona, let's see how far you get. Bad, unbelievably bad.

Lyn wrote: "Nona - I was looking at that one at Borders the other day. It looks good. Let me know what you think.

Susan C - I really want to read When Christ and His Saints slept, actually that whole series. "

I'll be sure to keep you updated on my thoughts, I just finished Courts of Love by Plaidy and loved it.

Nona - I was looking at that one at Borders the other day. It looks good. Let me know what you think.

Susan C - I really want to read When Christ and His Saints slept, actually that whole series.

Caroll Erickson Mary Queen of Scotts though I'm only on paragraph 1 page 1, lol. Haven't had alot of time to read with us all having the flu.

I'm currently reading When Christ and His Saints Slept and Blood Eagle.

I just finished Courts of Love and loved it.

Here are two small teasers from my novel Silent Coup. Hope someone on the list has read or will read it. Would love some feed-back. www.joanfrancis.net
Bennett's story 1932
Bennett ordered a second beer to go with his sandwich. He was sure that a German spy had just handed off some secret information that he or one of his confederates had obtained in America. The adult within Bennett tried to caution against the soaring adrenaline rush he was feeling, but the kid in him, the pirate of his youth, was thrilled that a whole new adventure was starting. He would find out who he could give this information to.
He finished his sandwich, drained the last of his beer, and smiled as he leaned back in his chair. He was to have a legal job that paid well, new places to see, new people to meet, and in Germany he anticipated a wonderful new freedom. His mood soared on optimism, adventure, adrenaline, and a very good bock beer. He was sure that Germany in 1932 was going to be a wonderful place to live.
Diana's story: currnt year--Bennett's Legacy
“Otto Brehm—Attorney at Law” was written in fading gold letters on the second-story window. At least the office was real. The car Brehm had promised would pick me up at the airport had never materialized and my repeated calls to him went unanswered. After an hour I had given up and hired a cab. Was Brehm even here? Why would he send me a first class plane ticket from California to North Carolina and not bother to be in when I arrived.
I had been summoned because I was an heir of my great-uncle Bennett. Why, I couldn’t imagine. I had only met the man twice when I was a child. He had lived rather like a hermit on a five-acre farm somewhere near the Smoky Mountains. No one ever mentioned why, at least not to me. I had heard that Bennett and his father, Zeb made some money with Prohibition moonshine and that Bennett had a pension from some firm he had worked for, but he had been retired since the mid 1960s. Born in 1911 and retired for decades, there probably wasn’t enough left in the estate to justify the cost of my plane fare.

Donna, I read Moloka'i when it first came out and really liked it. So far, I am really enjoying Honolulu also. I have been fascinated by the history of Hawai'i ever since I read the book by James Michner when I was in High School.

I also just finished The Heretic's Daughter about 3 weeks ago. I thought it was a good read, and like you, the intolerance and viciousness made quite an impression on me.

I am currently reading The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent. It is very good but it is also hard to read about so much intolerance and visciousness.

Lyn, What do you think of Honolulu? I read his book Moloka'i and really enjoyed that and I have been thinking of reading this new one.

I loved Innocent Traitor also. I read it a while back and have not read any more of Weir's books, but I have them on my TBR list.

Enjoy,
Sydney

Tisha, I really enjoyed Innocent Traitor, hope you do, too.

I am currently reading Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon and Honolulu by Alan Brennert.

What am I reading now. I'm just wrapping up Weir's The Children of Henry VIII and am about to start The Innocent Traitor which is about Lady Jane Grey.

Currently reading the rather good Mr. American amongst others.

I am listening to The Disagreement A Novel by Nick Taylor. It is an interesting look at a Virginia family during the Civil War.

Misfit wrote: "I'm on a *new* old author discovery, Pamela Belle.There's a great tribute site with info on the books here, http://www.pamelabelle.com/

I have less than 100 pages of the last of ..."

Sounds like my cup of tea, I will check out the link. Thanks

I'm on a *new* old author discovery, Pamela Belle.There's a great tribute site with info on the books here, http://www.pamelabelle.com/

I have less than 100 pages of the last of the Chains of Fate trilogy, all set during England's Civil War in the 1600's through the reign of Charles II. Very good stuff and nice to have stories with the characters outside of the court life and "see" the countryside.

What is everyone reading? I just finished The Help and I am about to begin "Shanghai Girls" by Lisa See. I think Lisa See is an extremely talented writer. These books are a departure for me, but I felt like a change.

As they say - so many books, so little time. Right now I seem to be in a WW II phase and I am reading Billy Boyle A World War II Mystery with The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society to follow both for face to face book groups.

I have Ines of My Soul A Novel, The Illuminator and Land of Marvels A Novel on my TBR pile. Have you read any of these?

Donna wrote: "Hi Sydney, I finished The God of Spring A Novel and I can see why it gets mixed reviews. It is not an easy read especially the graphic descriptions of the terrors on the raft but the..."
Hi Donna,
It sounds like a absorbing and enlightening book and I am going to add it to my TBR list. I am not really an art history buff, but I think I might enjoy this one. Every once in a while I like to read something that I can really get my teeth into for a bit. Perhaps this winter when I am holed up in my apartment for a while.

What are you reading next?

Hi Sydney, I finished The God of Spring A Novel and I can see why it gets mixed reviews. It is not an easy read especially the graphic descriptions of the terrors on the raft but the insight into the artistic process behind the creation of the type of epic painting Gericault was attempting was very interesting. I expected a bit more of the politics of the time but the end of the book focused more on the artist's personal struggle with fame and fortune. Overall I liked the book but it is probably not for everyone.

I finally finished World Without End by Ken Follett, which I did not enjoy as much as Pillars of the Earth.

I have just started The Serpent’s Tale by Ariana Franklin. I read Mistress of the Art of Death by this author and I found it to be a very interesting and fun read. I hope I will enjoy this one as much. I love twelfth-century England……

Hi Donna,
That does sound interesting. Please let us know what you think of it when you finish - I might want to add it to my ever-growing list of TBRs.
Sydney

I just started The God of Spring A Novel by Arabella Edge. Has anyone else read this? It gets mixed reviews but so far seems interesting a mix of art and politics.

Hi Sydney, I finished The Course of Honor and I really did enjoy it. Enough detail about the politics of Rome but not overwhelming. The story was told from the perspective of Caenis who started out as a slave, became a freewoman, and ended up as the love of Vaspasian's life.

Hi Donna,
Ancient Rome hasn't held a lot of interest for me either, but this book looks pretty good. It has gotten good ratings and it sounds like a book I would enjoy. I have added it to by TBR list.

Thanks for telling us about it.

Currently reading The Course of Honor by Lindsey Davis. Ancient Rome is not my most favorite period of history to read about but I am really enjoying this book. I read one of Davis's historical mysteries,The Silver Pigs A Marcus Didius Falco Mystery, and enjoyed that as well.

Laura wrote: "Currently I am reading Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay. It is another WWII book, but it flashes back and forth between the present day and 1942.

I had never read anything about the roundup of Jew..."

Laura, I have read that one and loved it too. Hope you enjoy it!

Currently I am reading Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay. It is another WWII book, but it flashes back and forth between the present day and 1942.

I had never read anything about the roundup of Jews in Paris before, so I find the story extremely interesting. I'm only about 100 pages in, so not a ton to report on. Am reading it for a book club though, and everyone who has already finished it loved it.

Donna wrote: "Just finished The Last Queen and enjoyed it very much. A very different viewpoint on the behavior of Juana who was considered crazy by her contemporaries. While she my have had some mental health i..."

I think it was a case of a young woman who was very much in control of her mind - deemed mad by the men in her life who had all the control and whom others would have more readily believed. She was a victim of her time. Maybe there were some mental issues, but like you said Donna she faced a lot of adversities. Poor Juana.

Just finished The Last Queen and enjoyed it very much. A very different viewpoint on the behavior of Juana who was considered crazy by her contemporaries. While she my have had some mental health issues, she was also faced with incredible political problems, had a number of children, moved all over Europe, and all at a rather young age.

Hi, everyone. I am currently reading The Last Queen by C.W. Gortner. I am about half-way through and it is very exciting - a lot of background information. I do not like Philip the Fair at all nor do I like his advisor - oily men both! I like Juana a lot.

I am currently reading The Rose of Sebastopol. It is a very interesting story; however, I cannot figure out the relationship between the two girl cousins. Has anyone read this book? Can you help in deciphering their relationship? Otherwise, it is a good book and I am enjoying it.

Batya wrote: " Having said that the middle bit of the last book (or the 4th book depending on how you read it, anyway the Louise de la Vallière bit) was a bit of a struggle for me.
??? So the 4th book is Louise..."
The only complete version of the saga I could get was the Oxford classics editions. There are 3 books though the last book is usually published as 3 or 4 as it is huge, or edited down to the Man In The Iron Mask.
The first 2 books in the saga are as you know:
The Three Musketeers
Twenty Years After
Now it gets tricky. The next bit is called either 10 Years Later/10 Years After (as it occurs roughly 10 years after Twenty Years After) or more usually The Vicomte de Bragelonne (which is what the 1st part of the Oxford trilogy is named). In English this part tends to be split though due to the length (about 2000 pages in total).
The Oxford edition is split into:
The Vicomte de Bragelonne
Louise de la Vallière
The Man in the Iron Mask
From what I can gather most single volume editions are just called The Man In The Iron Mask and have a preface that gives highlights of the previous bits...yet the Iron Mask bit is pretty much a subplot to the wider power struggle between Fouquet/Louis/Colbert. One bit you may have missed if you went for the single abridged version is D'Artagnean's involvement in the restoration of Charles 2nd, and proof that Raoul isn't just a fop when he and D'Artagnean quell a riot almost on their own...hard as nails.
But loads of padding in LDLV, and courtly politics made that part a chore for me.
As to the Anjou wine...man do those guys drink, and their sneering atitude to English ale saves their lives in 20YA. Anjou is a favorite with them...when Milady isn't poisoning it obviously.

Having said that the middle bit of the last book (or the 4th book depending on how you read it, anyway the Louise de la Vallière bit) was a bit of a struggle for me.
??? So the 4th book is Louise de la Valliere? What is the order? Musketeers, 20 years Later, Man in the Iron Mask and Valliere? Yes they are a struggle, but I read wikipedia and cliff notes to smooth it over.

Have a glass of Anjou wine ready at the end to toast them, and

I'll need to ask my wineseller about Anjou? Sounds interesting. I'm a big Paul Doherty fan (medevil mysteries) and his characters are always driking Claret, which I found out is a blend of red grapes and Claret is an English term. They got the wine from France (which they ruled at the time) and taverns blended it in wine tuns.

be prepared for your understanding of friendship to change subtly.

Just how did your understanding of friendship change?

Anyway, now onto the Bernard Cornwell Arthurian trilogy, and The Man Who Outshone the Sun King The Rise and Fall of Nicolas Fouquet which goes into the Hx background of the last part of the Musketeers saga.

Sounds interesting

Barbarossa wrote: "Hmmm, the Librivox thing looks interesting."

Doesn't it though? I have been thinking about it for some time now, too. I just need to get an MP3 player and try it out. A friend of mine purchased a really inexpensive one (around $25) and she absolutely loves to listen to books from Librivox. She listens to books when she gardens, cleans house, etc.

Hmmm, the Librivox thing looks interesting.

Batya wrote: "Hello, my name is Batya, I just joined the group. I'm on a real history kick. I'm reading the classics via Librivox.org and the audiobook player on my Nokia phone. This is a free public domain mp3 ..."

Hope you're enjoying your time with the musketeers. I just finished the lot recently and loved it. Having said that the middle bit of the last book (or the 4th book depending on how you read it, anyway the Louise de la Vallière bit) was a bit of a struggle for me.
Have a glass of Anjou wine ready at the end to toast them, and be prepared for your understanding of friendship to change subtly.
Anyway, now onto the Bernard Cornwell Arthurian trilogy, and The Man Who Outshone the Sun King The Rise and Fall of Nicolas Fouquet which goes into the Hx background of the last part of the Musketeers saga.

Batya wrote: "Hello, my name is Batya, I just joined the group. I'm on a real history kick. I'm reading the classics via Librivox.org and the audiobook player on my Nokia phone. This is a free public domain mp3 ..."

Hi Batya,
Welcome and I hope you will enjoy being part of the group.
Sydney

Thanks Wanda and please refer to me as Jerry, I am only 85.

Jerry

Hello, my name is Batya, I just joined the group. I'm on a real history kick. I'm reading the classics via Librivox.org and the audiobook player on my Nokia phone. This is a free public domain mp3 downloadable website. Has over 1500 public domain works of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, stories etc. I'm working on the 3 Musketeer trilogy and currently reading Twenty Years after. I'm reading all the Paul Doherty Historical Mysteries and I highly recommend this author.

I have finally begun The Blackened Canteen. I am ashamed it took me so long to start. I can say that even though I have only just begun the book, I already love it. Mr. Yellin tells a powerful story in a way which is straightforward and readable.