European Royalty discussion
European Royalty Discussions
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What have you read lately?
Susanna wrote: "What's it called, Donald?"Mary Queen of Scots
I agree that Alison Weir is good, and her books are really interesting and easy to read. You could also try Carolly Erickson. I liked David Starkey's book on Elizabeth during her youth as well. All of these authors have non-fiction books, and Weir and Erickson have written novels also.
I am completely obsessed with SKP - sorry to be late to this party! I've read the Wales trilogy, Sunne in Splendour (my absolute fav!) and the first book in the Eleanor of Aquitaine series. They were ALL fantastic. She is absolutely my favorite author in the genre.
Emily, I am slso obsessed by SKP. You must read Time&Chance and Devil´s Brood, which is totally....breathless!!! I also read the Prince of Darkness, an historical mystery also very nice.
Sorry, I haven't posted in here for the longest time, but am getting back in the mix!I couldn't find the appropriate thread to ask, but do we consider any of the Ancient Rome books (Emperors and such) to be European Royalty? I enjoy Tudor history most, but have recently ventured into Ancient Roman history as well.
I just finished Roma: A Novel of Ancient Rome and will be starting either Margeret George's Memoirs of Cleopatra soon (I ADORED her Autobiography of Henry VIII) or the Josaphine Bonaparte series.
Any recommendations?
I am working my way slowly through Memoirs of Cleopatra. I actually love it - but it's WAY too heavy for the subway, which is where I do most of my reading. We do all kinds of royal reading in this group (as well as non-royal historical reading in the other reading section). The monthly readings are themed, so it just depends on what theme we end up doing. This is so that we got away from reading all-Tudor all the time. :) I also hear the Josephine Bonaparte series is great, but haven't read them yet. I really loved Roman Blood: A Novel of Ancient Rome by Steve Saylor, but it's more mystery than anything else. If you're into it, I definitely recommend!
Tisha wrote: "Sorry, I haven't posted in here for the longest time but am getting back in the mix!I couldn't find the appropriate thread to ask, but do we consider any of the Ancient Rome books (empires and ..."
Try
The Twelve Caesars - I loved it!
Emily wrote: "I really loved Roman Blood: A Novel of Ancient Rome by Steve Saylor, but it's more mystery than anything else. If you're into it, I definitely recommend! "After my first dabble with Steven Saylor, I have every intention of reading his Roma sub Rosa series that you mentioned above! I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the first one!
Thanks for the recommendation, Bettie. I added it to my shelf!
I think there's a Roman royalty section here.I read Roma last year and enjoyed it - but my favorite in the class is still probably I, Claudius, by Robert Graves.
Saylor's Roma Sub Rosa series is a fun read, too.
I think there is a Roman royalty book shelf at the very least. Ancient Rome definitely can be discussed here (in either the European Royalty threads or the "Other Discussions" thread which has general history threads in it). Feel free to make a Ancient Rome thread if you want.
Yes I'm late to the game, too! I have been working my way to SKP's books and here I am! I started Here be Dragons yesterday. It was my son's third birthday so I only made it to page 40. I'm already hooked and have already shed a tear. Her writing is beautiful. If her other books are as good as these first 40 pages I'm hopping right on the SKP bandwagon!
April wrote: "Yes I'm late to the game, too! I have been working my way to SKP's books and here I am! I started [b:Here be Dragons|77449|Here be Dragons|Sharon Kay Penman|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170900..."April, wellcome to the SKP´s fans club!!
Oh my goodness Laura! I can't put the book down! I have to put it out of my sight or I get nothing done! LOLIt's amazing how she brings so many characters in but somehow she does it so that I remember them all! I'm totally hooked!
And it is just the beginning of the Welsh trilogy´....
I really like Carolly Eriskson also! I remember reading her books on Queen Victoria, Catherine the Great and Tsarina Alexandra (3 different books) quite awhile ago, but they must have made a good impression as I still remember them fondly. She has written both non-fiction and historical fiction in a way that I found to be really accessible.
You might check out some of her work...
Great Catherine: The Life of Catherine the Great Empress of Russia
is one title I can recommend without reservation.
Happy Reading!
I am about half way thru Sex with the Queen and think it was recommended here but not sure. (so many books are recommended to me on goodreads I have no chance of keeping up) One thing you can know for sure its certainly not boring and can be shocking.
Krista, we read the Catherine the Great book as a group here, and we loved it. It was long, but definitely worth it.We've also read Weir's Innocent Traitor, which is a novel about Lady Jane Grey. I thought that that book was even better than the Catherine one.
I have Mary Queen of Scots - has anyone else read it yet?
Although not European royalty, but American history based, I am through 250 pages of Goodwin's Team of Rivals. It's the book to which current pundits refer when discussing Obama's cabinet selections. The book is excellent. It is super long, but very readable and interesting. I realized how little I really know about Lincoln, but what I have read so far, makes me realize how unique of an individual he really is. To me, his is the epitome of self-reliance and individual achievement, the original conservative values in this country.
Hi Sera: Thanks for the additional info that the group has read the Catherine the Great book. I'm fairly new to Good Reads, and this is the first group I've joined. How do I find out what books the group has read together in the past? I'd hate to keep recommending books that have already been read.
I LOVED the Team of Rivals! I also liked Doris Kearns Goodwin's book about the Kennedys. Thanks for the tip, I'll have to check out the book about Lady Jane Grey. I may have read it because I went through quite an Englih History reading phase awhile ago, but maybe I missed this one. I'm always looking for good history books. (Historical fiction, or non-fiction)
I did follow the thread about the
"Here Be Dragon" author and have added that to my growing TBR shelf! Thanks!!
I finished Here be Dragons last night.sigh.
I just finished my review - which was actually fairly long - yet I feel almost speechless about this book. I loved it so much I don't even know how to convey my feelings for it. LOL! Aren't I the saddest reader you've ever met?
I started The Kitchen Boy today. Thank goodness it's already so good (only a couple pages in!) or else I don't know how I'd ever stop thinking about Llewelyn and Joanna!
I have Falls the Shadow on hold at the library. They have only 2 copies and both are checked out. Interesting.
Sera, I have Mary, Queen of Scots at home but haven't cracked it open yet. I have so many books on my list who knows when I'll get to it!So many books, so little time.
I think this group has a "read with group" category in the books read section.And yes, Team of Rivals is excellent, and I would recommend it highly.
I am wondering if my Norah Lofts group would like to do a "read with group". That sounds like a good idea.
Krista, if you go to the main page of this group and scroll down to either of the monthly group read threads (european royalty one and/or history one), the first thread under each one of those topics will list the books we have read as a group. Susanna's right too that we have a read-with-group shelf in the bookshelves of this group that list the books as well.Alice, you should bring up the idea of a group read with your Norah Lofts group. When I started this group, I never thought about doing a group read at all, but a couple of us thought it would be fun and *presto* now we have two group reads a month! It is a lot of fun.
Thanks Sara! I meant to do that earlier but forgot what I was doing....I appreciate your reminder.
I started Falls the Shadow last night - it's just as good as Here Be Dragons so far!After this series I'm going to read Sunne in Splendor, I've heard such good things about it and SKP is amazing.
Falls the Shadow is breathless...enjoy it!!
finished Charity Girl by Georgette Heyer and am now reading Carrolly Erickson Josephine, I see why she calls her latest works historical entertainment.
Nona wrote: "finished Charity Girl by Georgette Heyer and am now reading Carrolly Erickson Josephine, I see why she calls her latest works historical entertainment."LOL, I've heard some interesting comments about her Josephine books.
yeah I'm not an Josephine/Bonaparte expert but I'ld guess it to be 10% history, 75% whimsical storytelling and 15% romance. I will say she tells an interesting story though, Josephine just arrived in Paris and is reading Tarot cards to some of the Ton attending an Teather party.Before she left for Paris she 'Laid' with a boy servant on the beach in broad daylight and discovered she was made to love and be loved....lol!
Oh dear I might have to read that just for the fun of throwing it against the wall :)
yes it might be a wall banger bt at least you'll laugh doing it.
Remember that we may nominate only 100 books!! Lol
Laura, only 100? That's better than what Amazon gives me for one list. I'm getting very close to having to start Wall Bangers IIBTW, for those who don't know what we're talking about, please feel free to stop by my List and vote for your favorites or to add some of your own,
http://www.goodreads.com/list/user_vo...
The Wolf and the Dove, I liked that one for a romantic read, then again I loved Devils Desire too so maybe I like some of those cheesy romances.
Nona, have you tried reading that since you started reading Chadwick? The Wolf and the Dove was so way off base in how it represented the period that it hit the wall several times. The most beautiful noblewoman in 1066 England at 18 and she's not married? That's just for starters and let me add I do like Woodiwiss' books just not that one.
how odd thats the only Woodiwiss I like that I can remember. I have read it since starting Chadwick, however it was after Lords of White Castle and Winter Mantle but I still enjoyed it, maybe not acurate but hey whats the term...brain candy right? I'm glad I read your list though cause I noticed a few were on my amazon wish list that have now been removed.
Woodiwiss is definitely brain candy, that's for sure, but usually good fun. I do better with her when it's in a period I know nothing about :)Glad you dropped by the list, but don't always take my word for it. If I'm ever not sure, that's what the library books are for. Don't cost you anything and easier to bail on.
99% of the time your tastes are pretty close to mine so when you wall bang one chances are I'll do the same so sometimes it's better to take the precaution and avoid but it's only if there is a doubt in my mind to begin with.
Mandy wrote: "Thanks for the reviews of Falls the Shadow and The Reckoning! ..."
I have to tear myself away from all my Norah Lofts re-reading and get back to Penman.I;ve been gone too long...
Misfit wrote: "Nona wrote: "finished Charity Girl by Georgette Heyer ..."Oh what bliss, intelligent people talking about Georgette Heyer. I have loved her for years, but really only as a guilty secret, because so many people in the acdemic world where I worked , regard her on a level with Barbara Cartland and suchlike.
I think GH is a superb writer, clever and light and funny. 'The Grand Sophy', 'Faro's Daughter ' and "A Civil Contract' are my favourites I think.
Is there a GH group on Goodreads? I must go and look immediately!!
Charity Girl is my first GH read although I have four more on my book shelf that I bought ages ago and never got around to reading. The titles are Arebella, Frederica, The Conqueror and Simon the Cold Heart. I keep saving Arebella and Frederica for when I'm in the slumps and need a witty read but after CG I might start them after my next book (it's library loan).The end of Charity Girl threw me for a loop, I kept thinking Charity and Desmond would end up together but the relationship never fully developed then Hetta and him finally did the expected in the last chapter out of the blue.
Charity Girl is my first GH read although I have four more on my book shelf that I bought ages ago and never got around to reading. The titles are Arebella, Frederica, The Conqueror and Simon the Cold Heart. I keep saving Arebella and Frederica for when I'm in the slumps and need a witty read but after CG I might start them after my next book (it's library loan).The end of Charity Girl threw me for a loop, I kept thinking Charity and Desmond would end up together but the relationship never fully developed then Hetta and him finally did the expected in the last chapter out of the blue.
Charity Girl is my first GH read although I have four more on my book shelf that I bought ages ago and never got around to reading. The titles are Arebella, Frederica, The Conqueror and Simon the Cold Heart. I keep saving Arebella and Frederica for when I'm in the slumps and need a witty read but after CG I might start them after my next book (it's library loan).The end of Charity Girl threw me for a loop, I kept thinking Charity and Desmond would end up together but the relationship never fully developed then Hetta and him finally did the expected in the last chapter out of the blue.
"Is there a GH group on Goodreads? I must go and look immediately!!"Well if there isn't you can always start one :)
I tried GH once, but it wasn't a regency but the one about the Conquerer. May just be me and/or my mind set at the time but it was quite dry and I bailed. I want to try one of her regencies but haven't got around to it yet. Regencies aren't my main "cuppa" fiction and I have to be in the right mood..
well CG was my first for Regency and first for a Heyer I must say it was new and interesting but I will read more, I keep thinking Cotilion should be a good read but it only had three or four stars when I went to buy so I got something else.
I only discovered Heyer recently, but I am really enjoying her books. My favorites so far are Frederica, The Unknown Ajax, and Venetia. I haven't run across a bad one yet. They are fast, fun reads with great dialogue.
I recall really liking Cotillion.
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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Laura,
Thanks for the recommendation!
Here Be Dragons just gets better and better. I am so impressed by the writing - I laugh, I cry...SKP is a fabulous find!