European Royalty discussion
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What have you read lately?
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Susanna - Censored by GoodReads
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May 03, 2010 02:24PM
I like Heyer but I haven't tried that one. I have heard The Conqueror is not one of her best ones, though.
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T he Conqueror is one of her "armour' ones, along with Simon Coldheart and My Lord John and others . I know they are meticulously researched and all, but I find them almost unreadable with the emphasis on the archaic language and the - well, frankly boring-characters.I know she only wrote her Regency ones to make money and for fun, and regarded her 'armour' ones as the real thing . But.......................
Finished The Conqueror and I nearly quit several times but bravely read the whole book. I skipped pages though...Now I'm reading Eleanor of Aquitaine by Marion Meade. I've read Alison Weir's book of her before but I'm liking this much more.
I am nearly finished reading Julian Rathbone's The Last English King and I am thoroughly enjoying it. It has it's flaws, but I do not find them too off putting.
The Last English King
I just finished The Lady Elizabeth and loved it, so I am now reading I, Elizabeth. So far I'm enjoying it. I was hoping that Alison Weir had a novel about Elizabeth that would take up where The Lady Elizabeth left off. It looks like her other book about Elizabeth is a historical biography, not a novel. I read The Lady in the Tower and then got bogged down in Eric Ives book and had to stop for a while. I read Wolf Hall and loved it, and downloaded several more books about Anne Boleyn that I plan to read. It is interesting to read about Elizabeth and see how her Mother's past and character impacted her. Any other recommendations? There is a new book coming out about Anne Boleyn. Does anyone know anything about it?
Happy Reading,
Joy
I am currently reading Wolf Hall. Has anyone else read it?
I just finished The First Man in Rome by Colleen McCullough and loved it! Definitely a five star book! Took me awhile to get through it, but was worth it!
Sharon wrote: "I am currently reading Wolf Hall. Has anyone else read it?"I read it and loved it! It makes Thomas Cromwell a very human character and it is a great read. Well written and entertaining.
Enjoy,
Joy
Recently finished The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette. I must say that the author depicted Marie Antoinette in an interesting way, in a kind of shallow way .
finished The French Mistress, very good read! I love Susan Holloway Scott's Mistress books, and Charles II is a interesting fellow to read about.Now I'm only on page 5 of Kate Emerson's Pleasure Palace and so far I'm not impressed but will read on. It seems a bit flighty if you get my jest.
I just ordered several Jean Plaidy books for my NOOK. It is so easy to buy books for downloading. Just point and click and in less tha 2 mins I have another book.
Finished ´We Speak No Treason I: The Flowering of the Rose by Rosemary Hawley Jarman. I liked how she portrayed Richard III but otherwise didn't like the book much.Now I'm reading the second book White Rose Turned to Blood. I've liked it better so far but haven't read much yet.
I really want to read Jarman's books; I've had them on my list at PBS for a while. I may have to break down and buy them.
I haven't had the best luck with Jarman. I gave up on We Speak no Treason on the third book. Have tried two others and not much success - only one finished. She's pretty flowery.
Someone here was reading 'Wolf Hall'. I am reading it and it's very well-written, but I find it a bit confusing. I think that it's because I have to move from place to place and I read different books in every place.I'm also reading 'The Six Wives of Henry VIII' by Starkey and Antonia Fraser's latest about Louis XIV. I like Antonia Fraser's book the best.
I don't think I'll read more Jarman's books, didn't like those two...Shame I have both of them as my own...
Elysium wrote: "I don't think I'll read more Jarman's books, didn't like those two...Shame I have both of them as my own..."She's either a love or hate author.
I've started By Fire, By Water by Mitchell James Kaplan.
Just finished Leslie Carroll's Notorious Royal Marriages: A Juicy Journey Through Nine Centuries of Dynasty, Destiny, and Desire. I actually liked this one better than her "Affairs" one.
Sharon wrote: "I am currently reading Wolf Hall. Has anyone else read it?"I read it earlier this year and really enjoyed it. I hear she's working on a sequel, which I would certainly read.
ETA: I have read a good bit of Antonia Fraser over the years, and enjoyed all of it. I think Cromwell is one of her few I haven't read yet (it's on my list; I have my mother's copy from the ... 70s, I think.).
about halfway through Secrets of the Tudor Court: Pleasue Palace by Kate Emerson, not sure if I like it but sticking with it. I seemed to have a hard time getting into it or something, just seemed the story didn't start til after the first 100 or so pages for me. And some parts seem a little far fetched if I may say so.
Nona wrote: "about halfway through Secrets of the Tudor Court: Pleasue Palace by Kate Emerson, not sure if I like it but sticking with it. I seemed to have a hard time getting into it or something, just seemed ..."Nona, I gave up on that one it just didn't work for me. I hated the MC as well. There were too many others waiting a turn at the library so I moved onto something else.
Finished The Plantagenet Prelude and it was jut okay. I had a little problem with Eleanor sleeping with both her uncle and Saladin and chasing Rosamund through the maze.Now I'm reading Falls the Shadow by Sharon Kay Penman. I love it!
Elysium wrote: "Finished The Plantagenet Prelude and it was jut okay. I had a little problem with Eleanor sleeping with both her uncle and Saladin and chasing Rosamund through the maze.Now I'm reading [book:Fa..."
well, you will need a lot of tissues in order to read this book...
Elysium wrote: "Finished The Plantagenet Prelude and it was jut okay. I had a little problem with Eleanor sleeping with both her uncle and Saladin and chasing Rosamund through the maze.Now I'm reading [book:Fa..."
Some other book I read (non-Plaidy) had Eleanor sleeping with her uncle as well. Whether or not it was actually true, I wonder if a couple decades ago it was believed to have happened (I know the other book I read was written awhile ago like the Plaidy book). Kind of like a lot of older books I read about Anne Boleyn reference a stepmother, but now it's believed there was no stepmother (I think - it's been awhile since I've read up on her). I love how history is constantly changing! :)
That's popped up in other books on Eleanor, including the Ellen Jones one which is pretty much a fantasy and not history IMHO. As for what Alan Savage did with her and Saladin? Woof woof.You do not want to know.
I'm hearing that the new Weir book on Eleanor has her pretty sexed up, at least in the first 14 pages.
Lisa wrote: "I see it was Sharon that was reading 'Wolf Hall'."
I finished it and thought it was really good. I greatly enjoyed it, although I agree it was hard to follow at times. I had a hard time keeping straight who was doing the talking...
Still, a great book. I heard it is supposed to be a trilogy.
I finished it and thought it was really good. I greatly enjoyed it, although I agree it was hard to follow at times. I had a hard time keeping straight who was doing the talking...
Still, a great book. I heard it is supposed to be a trilogy.
Susanna wrote: "Sharon wrote: "I am currently reading Wolf Hall. Has anyone else read it?"
I read it earlier this year and really enjoyed it. I hear she's working on a sequel, which I would certainly read.
ETA..."
What is the title of her Cromwell book? I read her book on Mary Queen of Scots years ago and thought it was really well done.
I read it earlier this year and really enjoyed it. I hear she's working on a sequel, which I would certainly read.
ETA..."
What is the title of her Cromwell book? I read her book on Mary Queen of Scots years ago and thought it was really well done.
ohhh, I started Daughter of the Grail by Elizabeth Chadwick and am really enjoying it so far, on chapter 4 I believe.
Robin wrote: "Working on
after breaking down and finally purchasing it from Book Depository. :)"That's a good 'un.
Misfit wrote: "Robin wrote: "Working on
after breaking down and finally purchasing it from Book Depository. :)"That's a good 'un."
great book!!
Susanna wrote: "I believe Antonia Fraser's biography of Oliver Cromwell is just called Cromwell."
Thanks, I will look for it at the library.
Thanks, I will look for it at the library.
Finished up Harold the King a couple days ago. I absolutely LOVED it! Fantastic book. A big book but it was wonderful!
Robin wrote: "Finished up Harold the King a couple days ago. I absolutely LOVED it! Fantastic book. A big book but it was wonderful!
"Robin, I also loved this book!!
I read THE KITCHEN BOY several months ago. I thought it was fantastic. I have since read RASPUTIN'S DAUGHTER and THE ROMANOV BRIDE also by Robert Alexander. They were very good; but THE KITCHEN BOY is still my favorite.
Rosalie wrote: "I read THE KITCHEN BOY several months ago. I thought it was fantastic. I have since read RASPUTIN'S DAUGHTER and THE ROMANOV BRIDE also by Robert Alexander. They were very good; but THE KITCHEN..."All on my 'to buy and read someday' list! The positive recommendation inches them further up the list :)
I'm getting ready to start Anna by Cynthia Harrod Eagles. First of three set in Russia starting early 1800's. It's a chunkster.
Misfit wrote: "I'm getting ready to start Anna by Cynthia Harrod Eagles. First of three set in Russia starting early 1800's. It's a chunkster."It looks good--let us know what you think of it!
Books mentioned in this topic
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)
Queen Victoria: From Her Birth to the Death of the Prince Consort (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Alison Weir (other topics)Alison Weir (other topics)
Alison Weir (other topics)
Jean Plaidy (other topics)
Jean Plaidy (other topics)
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