European Royalty discussion
European Royalty Discussions
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What have you read lately?
Yeah, Forever Amber was banned in Boston when it was published, it was much too racey for the 40's. Pretty tame by today's comparison, she sleeps around but it's pretty much behind closed doors.I'm reading The Botticelli Secret by Marina Fiorato. Interesting setting a mystery in a painting.
Karla wrote: "I'm loving Amber's character, which is strange because so many historical romances with bratty "heroines" have me throwing it against the wall. Something about Amber and Scarlett O'Hara makes them ..."I loved Anthony Adverse. I never thought of comparing it to Forver Amber, but now that I think about it there are some similarities in all the changes, ups and downs, they go through in their lives. I read AA about 20 years ago when I was stuck in bed for two weeks. Maybe that's why I have a special fondness for it. Someday I should try it again, but it's so big my copy is actually in two volumes!
Karla wrote: "I'm loving Amber's character, which is strange because so many historical romances with bratty "heroines" have me throwing it against the wall. Something about Amber and Scarlett O'Hara makes them ..."Oooh Karla, I feel I must speak in defence of Scarlett - yes a spoiled brat at the start, but so much more by the end, and struggling under one of the eras MOST unfriendly to women's freedom.
Amber never rises above superficiality to my mind......
Amber does not change at the core the way that Scarlet does, but Amber is a woman who does what she has to in order to survive and once she knows what she wants nothing stops her from getting it, just like Scarlet! They almost move in reverse of each other; Amber doesn't start out spoiled, but by hustling and scrabbling she works her way up to a pampered life, whereas Scarlet is born spoiled and has to learn how to hustle and scrabble on the way to becoming a hardworking provider. I love both books and both heroines!
Jenny wrote: "Amber does not change at the core the way that Scarlet does, but Amber is a woman who does what she has to in order to survive and once she knows what she wants nothing stops her from getting it, j..."Jenny, excellent comment. I can't wait for the group read, I suspect the discussions might get lively.
Sawyer wrote: "I'm looking forward to the "Forever Amber" discussions also. I haven't read it for many years, but have always considered it one of my favorite books. I bought a copy because I knew that I'd want ..."That's on my list to read this year, too. I don't know much about Jauna. What bothers you about her portrayal?
I have finished Penman's "Here Be Dragons" (absolutely LOVED IT!!!) and Cornwell's "The Last Kingdom." Now to get to work on some that I own!
Robin wrote: "I have finished Penman's "Here Be Dragons" (absolutely LOVED IT!!!) and Cornwell's "The Last Kingdom." Now to get to work on some that I own!"Here Be Dragons, *sigh*
Hands down one of the best books I've ever read. Finish the trilogy if you can. The other books are great, too.
Sawyer wrote: "Jenny wrote: "Sawyer wrote: "I'm looking forward to the "Forever Amber" discussions also. I haven't read it for many years, but have always considered it one of my favorite books. I bought a copy ..."No, it's a valid complaint. That's one of the aspects of historical fiction that writers have to be careful with. It can be very tempting to portray women as we would like them to be, not as they really would have been. I think that's why a lot of good medieval fiction is so poignant, because it's so sad to see how women were treated.
Jenny wrote: "Amber does not change at the core the way that Scarlet does, but Amber is a woman who does what she has to in order to survive and once she knows what she wants nothing stops her from getting it, j..."
I haven't been giving much in-depth thought to Amber vs. Scarlett bec I haven't read GWTW in 20 years, but your comment definitely rings true, Jenny. I think I'll be bumping GWTW to the top for a re-read right after Amber so I can read both heroines with the same eyes. :)
I haven't been giving much in-depth thought to Amber vs. Scarlett bec I haven't read GWTW in 20 years, but your comment definitely rings true, Jenny. I think I'll be bumping GWTW to the top for a re-read right after Amber so I can read both heroines with the same eyes. :)
Sawyer wrote: "I'm looking forward to the "Forever Amber" discussions also. I haven't read it for many years, but have always considered it one of my favorite books. I bought a copy because I knew that I'd want ..."I had similar thoughts about Juana's portrayal. While it's admirable from a modern-day POV, it's a tad unrealistic for the time period. I also was hoping for Juana to be portrayed (sympathetically) as having a true mental illness and how that affected her as opposed to how the story unfolds. I can absolutely see why a lot of people like this book - it just wasn't what I was looking for in a story about Juana.
Sara W wrote: "While it's admirable from a modern-day POV, it's a tad unrealistic for the time period."
This is why I usually toss more recent historical romance in favor of the "old school" stuff. So much of it seems to be written from the perspective of "how we would prefer the attitudes to have been" as opposed to how they really were. There's nothing more jarring to the senses than reading a scene where the hero stands up at a frontier town meeting in defense of the heroine and sounds like he's just read an article in Cosmo.
This is why I usually toss more recent historical romance in favor of the "old school" stuff. So much of it seems to be written from the perspective of "how we would prefer the attitudes to have been" as opposed to how they really were. There's nothing more jarring to the senses than reading a scene where the hero stands up at a frontier town meeting in defense of the heroine and sounds like he's just read an article in Cosmo.
Karla wrote: "Sara W wrote: "While it's admirable from a modern-day POV, it's a tad unrealistic for the time period."This is why I usually toss more recent historical romance in favor of the "old school" stuff..."
Oh I agree, and the writing is for the most part much better as well as the sex being so quite so graphically detailed.
Although I wonder if all that sex is required now. I just saw a rather snarky comment to a reader who commented on a review that there was too much sex for her taste and someone else answered back,
"Well, then read something other than romance!! Or stick to Christian writers."
I'm reading The Sisters of Henry VIII: The Tumultuous Lives of Margaret of Scotland and Mary of France by Maria Perry. Haven't got far yet but it's been good so far.
Re Juana - I know I'm always on about Norah Lofts, but her Juana ( in, I think, Crown of Aloes?) is just what you would like I think. Young and naive, but in no way anachronistically drawn, and NL's portrayal of what was almost certainly a real mental illness exacerbated by a constantly unfaithful and belittling husband is sympathetic and realisticPS I am right with you Misfit re the idea that offering an opinion ( like too much graphic and rather silly sex) instantly means some spotty youth/girl somewhere is thus entitled to assert publically that you are only obviously a reader of light romance or Christian books. Christian books? WTF?
Yes, thanks Barbara about the Norah Lofts lead in regards to Juana! I like her as well and didn't know she covered Juana in any of them.
I finished Shields of Pride by Elizabeth Chadwick. It was my first Chadwick's book and I liked it. I have The Greatest Knight too and can't wait to read it!Now I'm reading Four Queens: The Provencal Sisters Who Ruled Europe by Nancy Goldstone. I've liked it so far. Didn't know that much about Eleanor's (Henry III's wife) sisters.
Elysium wrote: "I finished Shields of Pride by Elizabeth Chadwick. It was my first Chadwick's book and I liked it. I have The Greatest Knight too and can't wait to read it!Now I'm reading [book:..."
IMHO Shields is one of the weakest of Chadwick's books, so it should be all uphill from there :)
Hi i have just joined im reading Marie Antoinette the last queen of france by evelyne lever its a great biography not my absolute favorite but certanly im enjoying it and im nearly finised. Im also reading Georgiana Duchess of Devonshire by Amanda Foreman soon i will be reading A tale of two cities by Charles Dickens and The Early Loves of Anne Boleyn by Josephine Wilkinson which i was meaning to read for ages
Elysium wrote: "I finished Shields of Pride by Elizabeth Chadwick. It was my first Chadwick's book and I liked it. I have The Greatest Knight too and can't wait to read it!Now I'm reading [book:..."
I bought the Four Queens book awhile ago and really want to get to it soon. I'm glad to hear it's good!
Hi Lily! I'm thinking about reading A Tale of Two Cities this year, too. I haven't read it since high school. I'm aspiring to read at least six novels this year of French history!
I just finished Our Lady of Cleves by Margaret Campbell Barnes, historical fiction that presents an interesting view of Anne of Cleves' life. Currently ready When Christ and his Saints Slept by Sharon Kay Penman, a book which deals with England's first civil war - between King Stephen who stole the throne from its rightful heir, Maude, the daughter of Henry I.
Misfit wrote: "Elysium wrote: "I finished Shields of Pride by Elizabeth Chadwick. It was my first Chadwick's book and I liked it. I have The Greatest Knight too and can't wait to read it!Now I'..."
I side with Misfit, maybe not weakest but the story did not grab me like her others. If you really enjoyed it you will love her others!! Lords of White Castle, White Mantle and the Champion are my top favorites but Marsh Kings Daughter is up there too!!
I'm reading Leopard Unleashed and you are right Misfit, the story is great but not sure what I think of Olwen and Renard yet
I'm new to the group and am very excited about the information, discussion and feedback offered. I just recently got into the royal history genre, my favorite being Tudor England. I'm currently reading Murder Most Royal by Jean Plaidy. I just started it but am liking it so far!
I am about to finish King of the Wood by Valerie Anand! It's excellent - it tells the story of William Rufus, William the Conqueror's son. I wanted to mention it, as it is out of print, I believe.
Lauren wrote: "I am about to finish King of the Wood by Valerie Anand! It's excellent - it tells the story of William Rufus, William the Conqueror's son. I wanted to mention it, as it is out of print, I believe."I read Georgette Heyer's book about William the Conqueror, but it ended when he became the Conqueror. Didn't William Rufus rebel against him? I'd be interested in reading more about that time period.
I read Georgette Heyer's book about William the Conqueror, but it ended when he became the Conqueror. Didn't William Rufus rebel against him? I'd be interested in reading more about that time period.
I've read Georgette Heyer's book as well... This one picks up a few years later. It was actually Robert Curthose (the Conqueror's eldest son) who rebelled, not William Rufus. In a lot of ways, the relationships between Robert, Rufus, and Henry reminded me of the relationships between Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine's four sons.
King of the Wood is very interesting - it is split fairly evenly between the Plantagenets and a story of the fictional Ralph des Aix, whose life interects quite heavily with that of William Rufus and later the future Henry I. It also has some interesting stuff on paganism among the peasantry.
I guess Henry II's sons inherited that behavior!My library has King of the Woods! yay! Is there any romance in it?
I guess Henry II's sons inherited that behavior! My library has King of the Woods! yay! Is there any romance in it?
I wouldn't really describe it as being particularly romantic per se. There is definitely some romance (I don't want to give spoilers, but there Henry finds love and Rufus falls in and out of love with an important character) but there isn't a great love affair a la Llewellyn and Joanna, Katherine Swynford and John of Gaunt, or Henry and Eleanor (in the early years).
Lauren wrote: "I am about to finish King of the Wood by Valerie Anand! It's excellent - it tells the story of William Rufus, William the Conqueror's son. I wanted to mention it, as it is out of print, I believe."That was the first Anand I'd read and I didn't realize until I read her Norman trilogy that there is some character overlapping with King of the Wood. Series,
By the end of the first three you'll see how the family came to possession of Fallodeane (sp?). They are hard to track down without spending a fortune but perservere or go for an ILL.
Finished The Greatest Knight: The Story of William Marshal by Elizabeth Chadwick. Loved it! Now I'm reading Lucrezia Borgia: Life, Love, and Death in Renaissance Italy by Sarah Bradford. It's been good so far but I'm not familiar with Italy and all the strange names makes me confused...
Elysium wrote: "Finished The Greatest Knight: The Story of William Marshal by Elizabeth Chadwick. Loved it!"I really enjoyed The Greatest Knight and am looking forward to the US release of the sequel next month, The Scarlet Lion!
Kassie wrote: "I'm new to the group and am very excited about the information, discussion and feedback offered. I just recently got into the royal history genre, my favorite being Tudor England. I'm currently rea..."Welcome to the group Kassie!
Elysium wrote: "Finished The Greatest Knight: The Story of William Marshal by Elizabeth Chadwick. Loved it! Now I'm reading [book:Lucrezia Borgia: Life, Love, and Death in Renaissance Italy|14526..."
I read Jean Plaidy's two book series about Lucrezia. The book you're reading sounds interesting (I agree about the names though - I just don't know enough about Italian history to keep the families straight).
Thanks Misfit! I just added them to my "to read" list and will hopefully track them down soon.
Lauren wrote: "Thanks Misfit! I just added them to my "to read" list and will hopefully track them down soon. ":)
Once you're done with them there's always her "Bridges Over Time" books. I haven't hunted down book #6 but #4 & 5 kind of dropped off a tad. The first few were fun as you see England's history through the serfs and yeomen and not the royalty.
I think that's the order.
Finished:
About to start:
Robin, what did you think of The White Boar and The Queen's Pawn?
The White Boar was pretty good. A bit dry though. It was more of Francis and Philip Lovell and their relationships with Richard and how they saw him, etc.The Queen's Pawn was okay. Basic storyline was interesting enough. I'll have my review up on my blog next month before it's released.
Robin wrote: "The Queen's Pawn was okay. Basic storyline was interesting enough. I'll have my review up on my blog next month..."Robin, what's your blog URL?
Jenny wrote: "Robin wrote: "The Queen's Pawn was okay. Basic storyline was interesting enough. I'll have my review up on my blog next month..."Robin, what's your blog URL?"
almostcrazymommy.blogspot.com
:)
Robin wrote: almostcrazymommy.blogspot.com..."Well what do you know, I was already a fan of your blog and didn't even know it! Look forward to your reviews!
European Royalty
Books mentioned in this topic
The Book of Royal Useless Information: A Funny and Irreverent Look at the British Royal Family Past and Present (other topics)Katherine (other topics)
Queen of the North (other topics)
Victoria and her daughters (other topics)
The Heir Apparent: A Life of Edward VII, the Playboy Prince (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Noel Botham, Bruce Montague (other topics)Alison Weir (other topics)
Alison Weir (other topics)
Alison Weir (other topics)
Jean Plaidy (other topics)
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I know! I've read quite a few "old" historicals and the language can get a bit ponderous at times, but this one is a breeze. How is Anthony Adverse in comparison? I haven't read that one yet, but it's another doorstopper "old" book.