What have you read lately? Showing 1,501-1,550 of 1,703

[Sara W]

FYI - The Greatest Knight by Elizabeth Chadwick and The Borgia Bride by Jeanne Kalogridis are on sale for the Kindle at Amazon ($1.99 and $2.99 respectively). I think the sale may end tomorrow (it's some "big deal" sale on a lot of books - I browsed through a lot of the books and came across these).

[Sera]

Sara W wrote: "FYI - The Greatest Knight by Elizabeth Chadwick and The Borgia Bride by Jeanne Kalogridis are on sale for the Kindle at Amazon ($1.99 and $2.99 respective..."

Thanks, Sara! I picked up both of these.

It's a great sale, but lots to dig through.

[Sara W]

Sera wrote: "Sara W wrote: "FYI - The Greatest Knight by Elizabeth Chadwick and The Borgia Bride by Jeanne Kalogridis are on sale for the Kindle at Amazon ($1.99 and $..."

I know! I looked through around 500 of them before stopping and only bought 6 books (well, I probably could have bought more but I'm trying to only buy Kindle books at the time I plan to read them so I didn't want to go too crazy!).

[Sera]

500! Wow, good for you. I only plowed through maybe a 100 or so. Like you, though, I didn't buy too many. 4 for a total of under $10. I've been buying $1 paper books at the library so I am out of room in my house again I've given away over 300 books the last 3 years, and I am full again. My husband not too happy that I have two Kindles, and yet, I continue to buy "real" books. I can't help it. I go with the best deal price-wise so overall, I'm saving money even though I'm using up storage space.

[Jennifer]

Reading The Scarlet Contessa: A Novel of the Italian Renaissance . I finished The Devil's Queen: A Novel of Catherine de Medici a few days ago and liked it very much.

[Grizel]

Jennifer wrote: "I'm reading Murder Most Royal but I'm not really enjoying it. I love Plaidy and this year my intent is to read the rest of the books of hers that I ..."

If you're sick of the Tudors, try the Capetians. The series I'm currently reading,`The Accursed Kings' is five (I think) books about the French royal family in the fourteenth century. I can't say it's riveting, edge of your seat reading (you can check Wikipedia if you want to know what happens) but it's informative and has some good descriptions of life and politics in fourteenth century France.

[Kat]

Hallo!

Just finished reading Sex with the Queen and also Sex with Kings. I love the drama behind their oh so perfect aristorcratic lives!

Makes me think that they were just as scandalous (if not more) than nowadays!!

[Jennifer]

grizel wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "I'm reading Murder Most Royal but I'm not really enjoying it. I love Plaidy and this year my intent is to read the rest of the book..."

Excellent-- I hadnt heard of that series but I'll go find it! Thanks!

[Kelly A.]

I'm about to start Captive Queen: A Novel of Eleanor of Aquitaine by Alison Weir...I'm a bit anxious about it as AW is one of my favorite authors but I've heard some pretty scathing reviews about this particular book.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

Was that the one that got the review entitled "Sex with Wimples"?

[Jemidar]

Yep. I thought it was awful.

[Jennifer]

I'm reading The Confessions of Catherine de Medici , Sizzling Sixteen, Voodoo River and The Union Quilters: An Elm Creek Quilts Novel.

I'm enjoying the Medici-- I recently read Jeanne kalogridis' book on the same subject and it's interesting to see how the two authors emphasize different events from the same life.

[Frances]

Cel wrote: "Just mentioning that anyone who has been interested in Sharon Kaye Penman's books, and likes the Justin de Quincy Mysteries - there is a face book site "Fans of Justin de Quincy" as the publisher d..."

Will check it out, I quite liked those.

[Jennifer]

Just finished Gone with the Windsors . Good book but my god, Wallis Warfield Simpson was annoying and selfish. I read a bio of her about 25 years ago and thought the same thing then.

[Jennifer]

Started Becoming Marie Antoinette yesterday. I'm about 20% in and really enjoying it so far. It's concentrating on her life before France at this point, which isn't usually the part of her life you get much exposure to.

[Christy]

I really enjoyed Becoming Marie Antoinette...I was drawn in by the voice of Marie A, and really felt for her. I am looking forward to the next two books in this trilogy.

[Sara W]

Through a Glass Darkly by Karleen Koen is currently on sale for the Kindle for $2.99 at Amazon.

[Kathy]

I'm reading the the Devil's Queen. So far I'm really likeing it.

[Misfit]

Sara W wrote: "Through a Glass Darkly by Karleen Koen is currently on sale for the Kindle for $2.99 at Amazon.

"

I was poking around one of my local used book stores yesterday and spotted original hardbacks of TAGD and Now Face to Face. They are HUGE.


I'm reading The Last Love by Thomas Costain. About Napoleon's exile on the island of St. Helena.

[Jennifer]

Just started The Other Queen . I liked The Other Boleyn Girl but quit reading the Wideacre trilogy partway through the first book because it was so poorly written, so we'll see how this one goes!

[MichelleCH]

Reading Mary Queen of Scots - a great big book of historical photos and interesting bits of information. Taking my time to absorb it all.

[Gemma]

Well I'm about half way through . Its a good read, but so far I see a massive big ommision with regards to Jaquettes first husband that is bugging me.

Other than that its a good read and shows more about how the tudors managed to come to power.

[Susan]

I'm reading The Boleyns: The Rise & Fall of a Tudor Family and Lionheart.

[Tanya]

Sara,
I bought Lines of Succession in London in 1992, and you're the first person I've ever heard mention that book. Because I love both history and genealogy I find it fascinating. Having just read Nicholas and Alexandra it becomes evident that the intermarriages of Europe's royal families have a huge impact on the historical trajectories of the countries.

[Jennifer]

Finished The Other Queen -- disappointing. Where was her editor??? Starting Mistress of the Sun.

[Rio (Lynne)]

The Sisters Who Would Be Queen: The Tragedy of Katherine, Mary and Lady Jane Grey

When this was suggested for me I didn't realize it was non-fiction. Not my preference, but so far this is a very entertaining read. This book would be a good club read and is great for discussions.

[Gemma]

I have that one on my tbr!!

[Sara W]

Tanya wrote: "Sara,
I bought Lines of Succession in London in 1992, and you're the first person I've ever heard mention that book. Because I love both history and genealogy I find it fascinating. Having just r..."

I love flipping through this book! It is definitely fascinating, and I love the photo on the cover.

[Jennifer]

Reading Victoria Victorious: The Story of Queen Victoria which is a first-person story of queen Victoria's life. I think Plaidy wrote another three, and maybe four, third-person novels about Victoria so she certainly made the most of all the research she did!

[Miss Melly]

Rio (Lynne) wrote: "The Sisters Who Would Be Queen: The Tragedy of Katherine, Mary and Lady Jane Grey

When this was suggested for me I didn't realize it was non-fiction. Not my preference, but so far..."

I couldn't get into this either - but I recently read Three Maids for a Crown: A Novel of the Grey Sisters which I really enjoyed

[Gemma]

Just finished The Lady of the Rivers. It was an ok read. Some blatent errors in some of the characters historical factual evidence, but not a bad read.

Did like the supernatural spin Gregory took on some of the known facts.

[Sharon]

I have been lurking here for a couple of years to get reading recommendations. So I thought perhaps it was time to join the conversation.
I am currently reading the new biography by Allison Weir on Mary Boleyn. It is quite interesting so far. In her intro she talks about Philippa Gregory's book, The Other Boleyn Girl. I was surprised to read that she thought the book was historically inaccurate. While I know it was fiction, I was still surprised that she found much of the history off. She comments how readers get historical fiction confused with historical fact. Quite interesting to read her opinions.
I am just at the beginning of Mary's story and so far it has been background information on the Boleyn family. I am enjoying it!

[Mandy]

Sharon - welcome to the conversation!
Allison Weir is not one of my favorite authors - she seems so self important! The book you're describing actually sounds kind of interesting, though...I may have to check it out! I almost hate myself for it, but I do still LOVE the story of Henry and Mary and Anne...it's all so soap-opera-ish! I really liked TOGB, historical inaccuracies and all :)

Gem - I've got The Lady of the Rivers on hold at my library. It will be a while before I get it, but I don't mind waiting. It's not one I need to purchase, kwim? I've liked the supernatural twist PG has employed so far in the series, too. It's nice to hear someone else does as well - most people seem to HATE it!

I've been neglectful of HF lately, but I'm excited to read the new Massie group read we've got coming up about Catherine the Great - I've heard wonderful things about it!

[Rio (Lynne)]

Sharon wrote: "I have been lurking here for a couple of years to get reading recommendations. So I thought perhaps it was time to join the conversation.
I am currently reading the new biography by Allison Weir..."

Sharon I just finished that one and enjoyed Weir confirming what I believe about Mary to be true. I know TOBG was very popular, but Karen Harper's The Last Boleyn is more on the same page as Weir's findings.
Mandy, haven't seen your name pop up in awhile. I didn't hate the supernatural stuff with PG, but The Lady of The Rivers was over the top. She added unicorns and crap. It was ridiculous. I was very disappointed.

[Gemma]

I have that biography on my kindle. i'm really intrested in the boleyns. need to push this up my tbr pile

[Kim]

I just finished The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory, I enjoyed it, it is the first book I've enjoyed from her in quite a while.

Now I'm starting Mary Boleyn, by Alison Weir.

[Kim]

Christy wrote: "I really enjoyed Becoming Marie Antoinette...I was drawn in by the voice of Marie A, and really felt for her. I am looking forward to the next two books in this trilogy."

You might also enjoy The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette by Carolly Erickson, I thought it was a really good book.

[Robin]

Jennifer wrote: "Reading Victoria Victorious: The Story of Queen Victoria which is a first-person story of queen Victoria's life. I ..."

I really enjoyed that one but I haven't read her third-person books on Victoria.

[Marie Z]

I just finished "At The Mercy Of The Queen" by Anne Clinard Barnhill and am just about finished with Mary Boleyn: Mistress of Kings" by Alison Weir. Both books are fresh and have unique points of view. 5 stars for each!

[Brett]

I'm currently reading some American history:

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

How is it, Brett?

[Jennifer]

Just finished Mistress of the Sun . I liked it but nowhere near as much as the Josephine trilogy and I'm not sure why. Might be that Louise isn't as dynamic a character as Josephine. Or that she views life through a prism that I have a harder time resonating with than the one Josephine saw through. Good book, but Josephine is still far and away my favorite.

[Emelie]

I've just finished reading and , about King Henry and his many women.

I don't know what I'll read next. Maybe something about Elizabeth 1 or Catherine the Great.

[MichelleCH]

The Sunne in Splendour - Amazing!

[Sara W]

MichelleCH wrote: "The Sunne in Splendour - Amazing!"

I definitely agree! We read it a couple of years ago as a group and it was outstanding. Penman is awesome!

[Jennifer]

I'm reading Royal Sisters: The Story of the Daughters of James II which is more irritating than enjoyable. I've read her other books about these characters and they annoyed me to. I just can't warm up to the Stuarts. But I promised myself I'd finish out all my plaidy so I'm slogging forth.

[Destiny]

I am going back and forth between easy to read novels and The Wars of the Roses

[Marie Z]

I've recently read 'Mary Boleyn"by Alison Weir, "The Scarlet Contessa: A Novel of the Italian Renaissance by Jeanne Kalogridis followed up with 'The Tigress of Forli: Caternia Sfzorfa"by Elizabeth Lev, and "Three Maids For A Crown" by Ella March Chase
am now reading "LionHeart" by Sharon Kay Penman

[Jennifer]

I feel like I've been reading the same three books for an age! Finally finished one of them-- Royal Sisters: The Story of the Daughters of James II and dear god, what a slog. I'm enjoying the other two more-- much more. Swan Peak , which I'm about three-quarters through and will probably finish today, and Running Blind which I'm probably close to halfway through. I still have about ten books to make my 300 for the year so I need to get cracking!

[MichelleCH]

Marie Z. wrote: "I've recently read 'Mary Boleyn"by Alison Weir, "The Scarlet Contessa: A Novel of the Italian Renaissance by Jeanne Kalogridis followed up with 'The Tigress of Forli: Caternia Sfzorfa"by Elizabeth ..."
Would love to hear what you think of
Lionheart