Lets fatten up our TBR list! Recomend a book chain

[Suzanne]

OT: At risk of diverging too much from the Tudors to the Stuarts... MaryLou, yes, the problem that Charles II had was that he was really a transitional monarch. His father had fought and lost a civil war (losing his head at the end of the day, literally); when Charles II was 'invited' back by Parliament, he found himself less of a divinely appointed monarch than he had been raised to see himself as. It set the stage for what became a steady erosion of absolute monarchy from then onward. If you want to watch good movies about the causes of that, there are two on DVD. The first is an older one, Cromwell, with the title role being played by Richard Harris and Alec Guinness as the hapless monarch. That's a very good tale of the Civil War; To Kill a King takes a look at the relationship between Cromwell and Fairfax as it led up to Charles I's execution. Both -- pace Kelly -- take some liberties with the details, but are generally reasonably good on the events, and good watching.

Kelly, IMO, doesn't matter a bean if you've been here for 2 minutes or 2 decades; a poster's opinion is just as valuable... :-D

[Rdonn]

I agree 100% about accuracy. I go nuts when someone writes a "fact" I know isn't true. For heaven's sake, do some research! It also drives me nuts when I comment about a movie's inaccuracies and friends say, "It's just a movie, lighten up!!" Instead I become a thunder cloud. Can't wait to read some of the books recommended. Ruth

[Lyn (Readinghearts)]

Kelly - there are many people here who feel exactly the way that you do, so no worries. There are also just as many that fall into the other camp. We all have a kind of live and let live philosophy in the group. I enjoy hearing everyone's POV. It's the differences that make us all so interesting.

[Kelly_Hunsaker_reads]

Thanks for the welcome ladies. I am going to enjoy this thread I think! :)

Question: Do you all have book challenges, or read the same books like an online book club?

[Misfit]

Kelly wrote: "Thanks for the welcome ladies. I am going to enjoy this thread I think! :)

Question: Do you all have book challenges, or read the same books like an online book club?"

Kelly, you just jump right in and voice your opinion. I am one of those who does not do challenges as my reading plans can easily get upset at the mere mention of a long forgotten author or something new. That's why these groups are fun becaue all it takes is one comment to upset that reading apple cart :p

[Rdonn]

Has anyone watched Simon Schama's History of England in which he depicts an era by the most important person/people. There's a great episode with Queen Elizabeth, and Mary Queen of Scots, and also a good one on the Stuarts. He's an interesting historian.

[Aly]

Kelly! I totally agree with you!!!!!! Phillipa Gregory drives me nuts because she refers to herself as an historian and yet look at her books!!!! I'm revisiting The Other Boleyn Girl and discovering more inaccuracies then I remember. I think Alison Weir does a good job with facts (although she did take some liberties with The Lady Elizabeth). But AW is an actual historian, so I expect accuracy from her.
I guess I don't mind if an author makes up a character in an historical era. But it drives me nuts having historical characters do something that they probably wouldn't do.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads, Mod #4]

I'm more forgiving of historical novels where the story is accurate as far as historians knew at the time it was written - but yeah.

Why anyone must make up a story about the Tudors when the truth is as weird as it is, I have no idea.

[Lyn (Readinghearts)]

Good point Susanna, Like there isn't enough information without making anything up!!

Kelly - we tend to do a group book reading every couple of months, but usually don't do challenges. The current book is The Queen's Mistake In the Court of Henry VIII by Diane Haeger, which was our December group read, but I think many of us are reading it in January.

[Susan C]

Suzanne wrote: "My "Top Tudor" list:

1. The Ivy Crown by Mary Luke
2. Mary Tudor by Hilda Lewis
3. The Diary of Henry VIII by Margaret George
4. Come Pour the Dark Wine by Dinah Lampitt (about Jane Seymour)
5. Wo..."

Great list. I own around half of then so I will need to add the others to my tbr list.

[Lyn (Readinghearts)]

Great book list Suzanne, I will have to look some of those up to add to my TBR.

[Jennifer, Mod #5]

Suzanne wrote: "Even when it's fiction (unless I'm reading about imaginary worlds), I like what I read to be consistent with the facts. Otherwise, it breaks my concentration -- that kind of reverie you go into whe..."

I didn't even notice this when reading TOBG... there were so many other things that were inconsistent that I guess I missed that one. What order did she write the siblings to be? I know there has always been a bit of confusion as to who the older sister was...

[Jennifer, Mod #5]

Susanna wrote: "I'm more forgiving of historical novels where the story is accurate as far as historians knew at the time it was written - but yeah.

Why anyone must make up a story about the Tudors when the truth..."

I agree... normally I don't mind innaccuracies or a little stretch of the truth but really... it's the Tudors! Why in the world would anyone have to try to make them interesting???? I think they did a very good job of it themselves!

[Aly]

I second that Jennifer!! You don't have to make the Tudors any more juicier than they already are!!!

PG put the Boleyn siblings in this order: George, Anne, Mary.
Most Historians agree that the order she put them in is reversed. So Mary is the oldest and George the youngest. I don't know what evidence they have to support that other than Mary was married first.

[Marylou]

Marylou wrote: "Marylou wrote: "Last night I watched a dvd, The Last King, about Charles II.(netflix) Although it is not Tudor I was fascinated to see how the parliament took away the king's power after King Charles ..."

[Rdonn]

For those interested in "Bloody Mary", the best researched and historically accurate book is "Spanish Tudor" by an author I've mentioned before, H.F.M.Prescott. It doesn't read like fiction, but I prefer her knowledge of the period, etc. to historically inaccurate fiction and I find her interesting, not dull. It's an old book, printed in 1940, and at the time won awards. It's still the best today, I think and can be found on line. rdonn

[Angela]

I just recently bought The Queen's Dollmaker by Christine Trent to add to my collection. I can't wait to get to it, I have a few books ahead of it. I just finished Earthly Joys and liked it.

[Susan C]

I just bought the Queen's Governess by Karen Harper. It looks really good for an easy read.

[Katherine]

Susan C wrote: "I just bought the Queen's Governess by Karen Harper. It looks really good for an easy read."

I read Mistress Shakespeare by Karen Harper a while ago. Harper's descriptive passages about theater life were well written.

[Angela]

Susan C wrote: "I just bought the Queen's Governess by Karen Harper. It looks really good for an easy read."


The Queen's Governess was an amazing book. I read it through in one reading.

[Susan C]

Angela wrote: "Susan C wrote: "I just bought the Queen's Governess by Karen Harper. It looks really good for an easy read."


The Queen's Governess was an amazing book. I read it through in one reading.
"

Thanks for the feedback! It really looks good.

[Marylou]

Bloody Mary by Prescott is at Amazon reprinted.

[Misfit]

Argh! I hate it when I'm almost done with a long post and the computer locks up and it's lost. One more time....

I'm almost finished with a long forgotten novel (thanks to Tanzanite) called In The Shadow of The Crown by Susan Bowden. The first half is set during R3's reign, but the latter jumps ahead to the Northern uprising against Henry VIII. Despite the lurid cover it's definitely more history than romance and any sex so far has been pretty tame. There are two more to complete the trilogy that I've ordered. Not quite four star material but entertaining none the less.



That last one's a beaut isn't it?

One more - used prices for Kathryn in the Court of Six Queens has taken quite a drop, there are several on Amazon for just over $7. I've been watching prices for this for about three years and at first it was $50 and up so this is quite a drop. While the author does take some historical liberties and it is definitely a romance it is still a lot of fun.

The MC eventually serves all six of Henry's queens while trying to keep her head intact. I think what I liked best is seeing a pair grow older and wiser, fall in and out of love and marry others. There's quite a twist at the end and I do wish there'd been a sequel.

[Melisende]

Today, just finished "Mary Tudor: The Tragical History of the First Queen of England" by David Loades (Pub: The National Archives, 2006).

A very fair examination of the life and reign of Mary Tudor. Without laying the blame solely at the feet of Mary, Loades looks into all factors that contributed to the "Bloody Mary" myth.

A very fair biography.

[Barbara]

on Roku you can watch them on TV--worth the price!!

[Barbara]

The Children of Henry VIII Allison Weir

The Sisters of Henry VIII Maria Perry

[Barbara]

Wen wrote: "MAP wrote: "+1 on the getting addicted very young because of the BBC miniseries. I like to say that while most of my friends were watching Sesame Street, my mom was making me watch The Six Wives o..."

Netflix!!!!

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

Netflix is great.

[Katherine]

Do we have any suggestions for the June read yet?

[Aly]

The poll for who we are reading closes in a couple of days. I think we changed it to a July read. I have to book to recommend in general though Tudor Queens of England. I found it in the clearance bin at B&N day before yesterday!

[Susan]

I just finished . I liked it as a whole, though I can see where it wouldn't appeal to everyone.

Being in a Tudor mood, I'm now reading . Interesting and well-written so far.

[Lyn (Readinghearts)]

There is a poll going currently to come up with the person that we want to read about. So far the winner is Elizabeth of York. Then the mods list books about that person and we vote on the book. We did move it to July, though.

[Lyn (Readinghearts)]

Susan wrote: "I just finished . I liked it as a whole, though I can see where it wouldn't appeal to everyone.

Being in a Tudor mood, I'm now reading [bookcover:153..."

Susan, 1539 looks really good. I have added it to my future TBR.

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

I just finished "threads the reincarnation of anne boleyn" a different twist & I really enjoyed it. highly recommened this one.I visited my son last summer up north & a used bookstore there had ALL the above jean plaidy books (orginal copies) all in almost new shape..I thought Id won a lottery! great books to learn about the tudors.

[Ashley]

Hi, I'm new to this group and I'm sure this book has already been mentioned. 'the six wives of Henry VIII' by Alison Weir. I've only recently developed an interest in the Tudors and I felt I needed a stronger historical background on the Tudors. I absolutely cannot put the book down. I knew this time period was interesting but honestly I had no idea. This is very exciting!!! I love it when I can find a book that I cannot put down.....and I can't wait to read more about this time.

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

welcome ashley! best group to join if you love history..and tudors!:)

[Lyn (Readinghearts)]

Ashley - When you finish the one about the wives, you should read

The Children of Henry VII by Alison Weir (The link does not seem to be working)

It is supposed to be really good, also.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads, Mod #4]

The Children of Henry VIII is indeed good, and I recommend it.

[Lyn (Readinghearts)]

Thanks for including the link, Susanna. When I was trying the link app wasn't working, and I was going to go back and add it later, but I forgot.

[Aly]

It's one of my favorite books!!

[Susan]

I was skimming this library book last night and found it fascinating--a nonfiction book focusing on the important women in Elizabeth I's life:

[Lyn (Readinghearts)]

That does look good, Susan. I just added it to my TBR.

[Tina]

I second that!

[[deleted user]]

And third! LOL!

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

ME TOO!! Ive added it to my TBR list!thanks susan

[Jemidar]

Susan wrote: "I was skimming this library book last night and found it fascinating--a nonfiction book focusing on the important women in Elizabeth I's life:[bookcover:Elizabeth's Women: Friends, Rivals, and Foes..."

Starting the chain again, I've put this one on my Wishlist (thanks Susan!)
and would like to recommend my all time (sentimental) favourite Tudor book "Young Bess" by Margaret Irwin. I read it when I was 14 and was enthralled, starting my life long love of all things Tudor.

Young Bess is the first in a trilogy. The others titles are "Elizabeth, Captive Princess" and "Elizabeth & the Prince of Spain." They have only recently come back into print and I would highly recommend all three :-).

[Susan]

I have an old copy of "Young Bess"; will have to dig it out soon!

[Ashley]

Thanks for the recommendation 'The children of King Henry the VIII'. I just finished 'The six wives of Henry the VIII' and I just loved it. I was glad to see the other book is at the library I will have to pick it up as soon as I read a book I've had on hold for a while at the library, it just came in. I know this site is for book recommendations on tudor, but if you're ever interested in reading anything about ancient egypt I recommend the trilogy by Michelle Moran...the first is Nefertiti, the 2nd is the Heretic Queen and the third is Cleopatra's daughter. I read the first 2 in about 2-3 days each.

[[deleted user]]

I've read those first two by Moran recently. I have reviews up. :)

[Susan]

I'm reading this biography of Mary I: . It's sympathetic toward Mary but not a whitewash; I'm about 2/3 through it.