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Chrissie
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Oct 25, 2015 01:09AM
Jean I too have noticed that English vernacular, rather than American, is often what you find in historical Canadian and Australian books. Makes complete sense! So logical, but I hadn't thought about it until I found this in several books of historical fiction.
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Yes, I'm sure you're right, Chrissie - thanks for pointing that out. I hadn't really thought about it!
Jean, me too - all of a sudden I realized it made complete sense!
Alice wrote: "B the BookAddict wrote: "Alice wrote: "Finished Wolf Hall. This is a "curate's egg". There's something I liked and something I didn't like about the novel.My Review"
...LOL, not Wolsey's egg :D I only learned this term recently from Jean. "
That's who I learned it from!
LOL I don't think I'm the only English person who uses it though ... ;)
I can recommend The Heavens are Empty: Discovering the Lost Town of Trochenbrod.My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Mod
A great fresco of England just before WWII. A look at almost all classes, and ages. The thoughts of both men and women, girls and boys. To be recomended
Alice wrote: "Finished Wolf Hall. This is a "curate's egg". There's something I liked and something I didn't like about the novel.My Review"
Excellent review Alice! I got this book a few months ago but haven't gotten to it yet.
I have heard that the next one -- Bring Up the Bodies -- is better. Anyone here care to confirm or deny that?
Leslie wrote: "I have heard that the next one -- Bring Up the Bodies -- is better. Anyone here care to confirm or deny that? "I've heard that as well many times. I don't have a favorite myself. I just wish the final installment would come out already.
Leslie wrote: "Alice wrote: "Finished Wolf Hall. This is a "curate's egg". There's something I liked and something I didn't like about the novel.
My Review"
Excellent review Alice! I got this boo..."
I have read both books and I felt the writing style in Bring Up the Bodies was more enjoyable. Well, there certainly was less use of ambiguous pronouns and I thought that was a major improvement. I actually had to purchase the audio version of Wolf Hall as an aid to get through the book version.
My Review"
Excellent review Alice! I got this boo..."
I have read both books and I felt the writing style in Bring Up the Bodies was more enjoyable. Well, there certainly was less use of ambiguous pronouns and I thought that was a major improvement. I actually had to purchase the audio version of Wolf Hall as an aid to get through the book version.
Leslie wrote: "Alice wrote: "Finished Wolf Hall. This is a "curate's egg". There's something I liked and something I didn't like about the novel.My Review"
Excellent review Alice! I got this boo..."
Thanks Leslie! If I try Mantel again, I think I'll pick A Place of Greater Safety - the French Revolution always appeals to me; plus I've heard good things about this one.
Just finished In the Dark
. If you are looking for a fast paced suspenseful read, this is a good one. Here is my review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Alice wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Alice wrote: "Finished Wolf Hall. This is a "curate's egg". There's something I liked and something I didn't like about the novel.My Review"
Excellent review Alice!..."
Alice, I too was more enticed by the French Revolution. I thought it was excellent. It came out much earlier than her other books.
Jean wrote: "LOL I don't think I'm the only English person who uses it though ... ;)"Me also!
Lisa Ann said "there certainly was less use of ambiguous pronouns and I thought that was a major improvement" which almost tempts me into trying Bring Up the Bodies - but not yet! Maybe I'll give it time for the (excellent) TV dramtisation to fade into the obscurity of my memory ...
Mod
Really looking forward reading the following books
Laura, thank you for explaining. I have been considering the series. The views are so split.
Mod
I liked it but I found exactly what I was looking for. I liked The Forsyte Saga a lot for istance, so you have to be sort of "keen" for those kind of books. This one though is much more "modern", both in topics dealt with and in writing style.
Glad it gave you exactly what you were looking for , Laura.
Not sure if this is the right place for my recommendation so please tell me if not.I have just started One by One which is the 5th in a series of 7 books called the Robert hunter Collection by Chris Carter.
I have read the first 4 back to back and now on the 5th and can say that I have really enjoyed them. Chris Carter is very descriptive and for me leaves a great image of what is and has happened. Always in my opinion wraps up each book nicely and keeps me guessing all the way through each.
These books are a 10 out 10 for me.
My only down comment is the third book The Night Stalker took me a little longer to get into.
Worth reading if you haven't already.
Jean wrote: which almost tempts me into trying Bring Up the Bodies - but not yet!
Maybe I'll give it time for the (excellent) TV dramtisation to fade into the obscurity of my memory ..."
I read Bring up the Bodies while watching the BBC miniseries and it didn't bother me at all to do so. I do understand wanting to wait a while to read it though.
Also, even though I had to trudge through Wolf Hall, I still plan to read The Mirror and the Light: Thomas Cromwell Trilogy #3 whenever it is released. If the second book had not been much easier to get through, I doubt I would ever be willing to tackle book #3.
Maybe I'll give it time for the (excellent) TV dramtisation to fade into the obscurity of my memory ..."
I read Bring up the Bodies while watching the BBC miniseries and it didn't bother me at all to do so. I do understand wanting to wait a while to read it though.
Also, even though I had to trudge through Wolf Hall, I still plan to read The Mirror and the Light: Thomas Cromwell Trilogy #3 whenever it is released. If the second book had not been much easier to get through, I doubt I would ever be willing to tackle book #3.
LauraT wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Laura, thank you for explaining. I have been considering the series. The views are so split."I liked it but I found exactly what I was looking for. I liked The Forsyte Saga..."</i>
Hi Laura,
The Forsyte Saga was one of my all time favorites - what made it even more enjoyable, was to discuss it with you and others.
Have you read [book:Brideshead Revisited ?
If so, which would you recommend The Light Years or Brideshead?
PS. I don't know why my post is all in itallics!
Mod
I liked it but I found exactly what I was looking for. I liked The Forsyte Saga"
I've not read Brideshead Revisited, but it has been on my TBR list for ages! Sooner or later I'll get to that as well!
We should do a Buddy Read! I have always meant to read Brideshead, but for some reason, never did.
Mod
Good idea! When are you free? Mid November? December?
LauraT wrote: "Terry wrote: "We should do a Buddy Read! I have always meant to read Brideshead, but for some reason, never did."Good idea! When are you free? Mid November? December?"
More likely, December - I have 4 lined up for November already: 2 long ones, 2 short ones
Terry - a bit of rogue html code has probably got in there. Try editing your comment 6696 to shorten the bit you are replying to. For example, you could stop it at the end of the sentence ending "looking for" - but leave the code < / i > (without spaces) in there. That might do the trick!Lisa Ann - thanks for replying.
Leslie wrote: "Alice wrote: "Finished Wolf Hall. This is a "curate's egg". There's something I liked and something I didn't like about the novel.My Review"
Excellent review Alice! I got this boo..."
Leslie, I did like Wolf Hall tremendously, the book shows us a very human side of Cromwell. Bring Up the Bodies was much more reader-friendly, plus a lot started happening re Anne Boleyn and the unfortunates who lost their heads because of her. Mantel seemed to write in a 'character friendly' mode in this book as well i.e. she had me feeling much more sympathetic towards Anne and her male cohorts than I had previously.
Having said that, obviously I can't wait for #3 in the series The Mirror and the Light. After that, I will miss TC.
@Alice I adored A Place of Greater onlySafety. It simply confirmed for me that Mantel had the smarts and wherewithall to write about not singular characters but also about four individuals swept along in a complex time. No prizes for guessing that I'm a Hilary Mantel fan.
Finished that other JFK assassination book I was reading:They Killed Our President: 63 Reasons to Believe There Was a Conspiracy to Assassinate JFK.Not much of a review, but then again it wasn't much of a book.
B the BookAddict wrote: "@Alice I adored A Place of Greater onlySafety. It simply conformed for me that Mantel had the smarts and wherewithall to write about not singular characters but also about four indivi..."I'm especially interested in the characters Robespierre, Danton and Marat.
Chuck wrote: "Finished that other JFK assassination book I was reading:They Killed Our President: 63 Reasons to Believe There Was a Conspiracy to Assassinate JFK.Not much of a review, but then ..."
Excellent review, Chuck!
@Alice Such a dangerous time to speak up for what you stood for and yet these three did it. I could not put this book down! Maybe you should clear your calendar for the next few days!My schooling had not really covered much about the French Revolution, just sparse details. So I really lapped up this book.
B the BookAddict wrote: "Excellent review, Chuck! "Thank ya, B!
There's just not really much to say about this one without going all off into the event itself. The thing is, I actually somewhat like Jesse Ventura, but his book really is the literary equivalent of throwing spaghetti against the wall.
B the BookAddict wrote: "@Alice Such a dangerous time to speak up for what you stood for and yet these three did it. I could not put this book down! Maybe you should clear your calendar for the next few days!My schooling..."
I've just placed a hold with my library! My scant knowledge of the French Revolution came from a couple of non-fiction titles (The Old Regime and the French Revolution and A Short History of the French Revolution) and Victor Hugo's novel Ninety-Three. I didn't take European History in my school days (choosing Chinese History instead) and now find myself thirsting for such knowledge :)
@Alice You will be soundly educated by the end of the novel. I'd only read Les Misérables by Victor Hugo; that was the scope of my French history. Any other knowledge had been gleaned from films on Louis and Antoinette. With A Place of Great Safety, my library edition edition was really old and with tiny writing which made my eyes ache but I persevered and it was worth it!
Another play review, this time of 2 plays by Christopher Durang which are often performed together, Sister Mary Ignatius Explains it All for You & The Actor's NightmareJean's review
@Bette, if I remember correctly, the revolution described in Les Misérables is the 1830-1832 revolt under Louis-Philippe d'Orleans' reign.
Alice wrote: "@Bette, if I remember correctly, the revolution described in Les Misérables is the 1830-1832 revolt under Louis-Philippe d'Orleans' reign."Yes, that's right. What I meant was it was the only part of French History that was covered in my schooling. Pretty poor, hey? The French revolution was a much more significant part of history but we weren't taught that:(
Sweetland was a disappointment for me.....All I can do is explain why it didn't work for me. Here is my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
B the BookAddict wrote: "Alice wrote: "@Bette, if I remember correctly, the revolution described in Les Misérables is the 1830-1832 revolt under Louis-Philippe d'Orleans' reign."Yes, that's right. What I mea..."
Sorry Bette - I misunderstood. Yes, sometimes school curriculum is very limiting.
Found this this morning - ....In today's New Zealand Herald is a list of extracts from book reviews - this is my favourite : The review is of the book Clarissa, or, the History of a Young Lady by Samuel Richardson, the review via One Star Book Review Tumblr. "The experience of reading this book is akin to being dragged through a bog of broken glass and Tabasco sauce. Face down. By a very slow mule."I just love it! Such descriptive writing.
B the BookAddict wrote: "Yes, that's right. What I meant was it was the only part of French History that was covered in my schooling. Pretty poor, hey? The French revolution was a much more significant part of history but we weren't taught that:( "Don't feel bad, I don't remember learning a thing about it American schools. You'd think they would have given it at least a cursory mention, but I don't remember hearing a thing.
I've been meaning to learn more about it for some time. Another thing I would like to learn about is the Franco-Prussian War.
BTW, if anyone can recommend any good nonfiction or historical fiction books for either topic I would much appreciate it.
I just want to add that I was thinking all last night about Sweetland, and why it didn't work for ME. I added a bit to my review - a clarification of the book's central themes; they can easily be misconstrued from the GR book description. So here is my review link again: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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