The 16th Century (Oct - Dec 2023)

[Liz, Moderator]

Just finished The Mirror & the Light. I really enjoyed it, although I feel it's not quite as brilliant as the first two. I think it's at its best when the action is at court and Cromwell is directly involved. Quite a lot of the story happens elsewhere and is reported back. However the writing is excellent as ever. A brilliant trilogy!

[Liz, Moderator]

I hope to collect my next book for the genre challenge tomorrow, but in the meantime, I've started The Witch's Trinity which is set in 16thC Germany, during the Inquisition. A small village is experiencing a second winter of famine and the villagers turn on each other, seeking to blame their bad luck on witches... It's been on my to read list for a long time and I can't remember where I first heard about it - but so far, so good...

[Kate, Moderator]

The Witch's Trinity sounds good Liz. Be interested to see how you get on. Do you have a link?

I've just finished Hamnet which was pretty good. I'm not sure I'm that keen on books in the present tense though. As there were flash backs to earlier years it would have helped if those at least had been in the past tense.
Anyway that's my 16th century book. It was set in 1596 mainly so I may take the old time machine for a whirl a bit earlier in the 1500s if I have time.

[Liz, Moderator]

Kate wrote: "The Witch's Trinity sounds good Liz. Be interested to see how you get on. Do you have a link?

I've just finished Hamnet which was pretty good. I'm not sure I'm that keen on books i..."

Yes, The Witch's Trinity was good, although the ending was a little awkward in my opinion, so it was really a 3.5 star read rounded up to 4 stars.

[Pam]

I am reading "The Misterious adventures of H" by Sarah Burtron which is set in the 17th century at the time of the plague. So far it looks v.good.
from: Pam Skelton (author FIRST TO GO -Amazon)

[Laura]

I don't think i am going to keep going with The Mirror & the Light at the minute; I am definitely going to pick it up again before the end of June just not feeling it at this moment in time so i am just starting Julius Caesar by Shakespeare

[Laura]

Just finished Julius Caesar and it was quite a easy enjoyable read

[Liz, Moderator]

Laura wrote: "I don't think i am going to keep going with The Mirror & the Light at the minute; I am definitely going to pick it up again before the end of June just not feeling it at this moment..."

Don't force it, Laura. Come back when you're in the mood. Reading is for enjoyment after all :)

[Abigail]

Finally settled on a book: The Queen's Sorrow by Suzannah Dunn.

[Laura]

Liz wrote: "Laura wrote: "I don't think i am going to keep going with The Mirror & the Light at the minute; I am definitely going to pick it up again before the end of June just not feeling it ..."

I definitely want to finish it by the end of June for sure, i really want to know how she finishes this trilogy off

[Abigail]

I finished The Queen’s Sorrow by Suzannah Dunn. I liked it quite a bit. It’s very rich in description and the storytelling tactics are clever.

[Kate, Moderator]

We are nearing the end of our time in the 16th Century. So how has everyone been doing?

I read Hamnet and followed that up with The Trip to Jerusalem which although it didn't specify a year it was Elizabethan so I presume I'm fine.

[Bill]

Kate wrote: "We are nearing the end of our time in the 16th Century. So how has everyone been doing?

I read Hamnet and followed that up with The Trip to Jerusalem which although ..."

I failed the 16th Century, hoping I do better in the 17th...

[Kate, Moderator]

Oh dear Bill! There's still a few days left if you can squeeze something in. Or just delay the 17th to give yourself time! I think that's what I would do. :)

[Kate, Moderator]

We are about to move into the 16th Century.
In the past C.J. Sansom and Hilary Mantel have proved popular authors for this era.

I still have Treachery on my list from last time but I also have 1588: A Calendar of Crime: One Year, Five Mysteries which looks intriguing.

What have you got lined up to read this time?

[Liz, Moderator]

I didn't get around to reading 'Equal of the Sun' or 'Hamnet' last time around, so I'm going to tackle them :)

[Abigail]

I was periodically uncertain about Hamnet but its climax is a terrific payoff.

Am told there are some good mystery series set in the sixteenth century, so I might go that route. Not a huge fan of Tudor tales, so we’ll see.

[Liz, Moderator]

You don't have to go 'tudor'- there's also renaissance Italy etc.

[Abigail]

True that—though I’m a relentless anglophile, it’s my comfort zone. You’re reminding me that I should have reread one of my favorite Michael Chabon novels, Gentlemen of the Road, during the Middle Ages months.

[Liz, Moderator]

I'm over halfway through 'Equal of the Sun' now. So far I'm enjoying the courtly intrigues of 16th century Iran... It's making a change from the tudors!

[Abigail]

Starting Orlando by Virginia Woolf, which is at least partly set in the sixteenth century.

[Liz, Moderator]

Orlando's been on my to read list for a while. Let me know how you get on. I read 'To the Lighthouse' some time ago and I probably admired it more than I enjoyed it!

[Abigail]

If it’s any consolation, Orlando is supposed to be very different from most of Woolf’s fiction. It has been described as a spoof, a jeu d’esprit, a comic biography. It seems she wrote it as a break from her serious novels. I haven’t read her other novels since I was in college so I’m quite curious to give it a go. Will report back. There’s supposed to be a movie version starring Tilda Swinton.

[Liz, Moderator]

Yes, the movie is very good - Tilda Swinton excellent as always!

[Abigail]

Finished Orlando and my reaction is “Hmmm.” I felt it was a pretty undisciplined book, perhaps started as a break from Woolf’s usual style, not intended for publication, that evolved into something more ambitious. My review is here, if you’re curious: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... Maybe I’ll watch the movie this evening!

[Kate, Moderator]

I've just finished 1588: A Calendar of Crime: One Year, Five Mysteries which was brilliant! 5 mysteries spread throughout the year, a lot of Scottish history and some interesting historical notes at the back. I also found the glossary at the end and wish I'd known it was there earlier! Thankfully there wasn't too much old Scottish so it was reasonably easy to follow without the glossary!

[Liz, Moderator]

I'm currently enjoying 'In the Name of the Family' by Sarah Dunant. It's her second book about the notorious Borgias. I really enjoyed the first (The Blood and the Beauty), which dramatised their rise. This one focuses on their grasp for ever more power and, no doubt, their eventual fall. Although I'll have to wait 'til I finish to really know...

[Abigail]

I read Dissolution by C. J. Sansom and pretty much hated it. I thought the research was thin and the characters not believable. Off to greener pastures.

[Kate, Moderator]

Time to finish up in the 16th Century and skip onto the next century. I'll warm up the time machine so get ready to step aboard.