What have you read lately? Showing 251-300 of 1,703

[Misfit]

An interesting book I just started, Penmarric by Susan Howatch. Although the story starts in Cornwall in late 19C, the author's main characters are modeled (not sure if that's the right word) after Henry II, Eleanor and some of their children. Only 100 pages into it but very good so far. She's got two other books where she's worked the Plantagenets into her story, Cashelmara and Wheel of Fortune. I must read the one with John of Gaunt.......

[Barbara]

There isn't a GH group on Goodreads, I agree one of us should start one,as Misfit suggests. For people who are new to her, and only expect the Regency style ones ( as I did at first) some can come as shock as they are much drier , historical -often medieval period ones. I think I remember reading that the Dark Ages were her perosnal favourite as a historian and evey so often she was compelled to write what she saw as a serious book.
She was also amazingly knowledgeble about The Peninsula and Waterloo eras of warfare and The Spanish Bride and an Infamous Army are considered classics in these circles.
The Conqueror and Simon The Coldheart are "serious" medieval ones, I can't of think any others at the moment.
For me, GH is Regency etc, can't re-read them often enough!

[Barbara]

Alice wrote: "Hi Barbara, did you find one? Please send me a link if you do?
thanks"
No I didn't find one Alice, and yes I agree, it would be great if someone does. We shoudl put out a call..

[Nona]

finished Secrect Life of Josephine, not 100% beleivable but a good story. I knew when it was straying and had a hard time finishing it because I couldn't focus. ugh, don't you hate at.

[Sara W]

Oh yeah, I get distracted when books stray from the truth too (even if I try to ignore it). It's almost better if I know absolutely nothing going into the book.

[Nona]

well I'll say Erickson does write 'Historical entertainment' really well, I don't see Josephine the Empress half starved traveling behind an army in the middle of Russia during a blizzard, but hey I'm not a historian.

I've read plunty of Plaidy but have not read any of her Victoria Holt books so I picked up the Devil on Horseback from the library, giving it a try.

[Barbara]

Nona wrote: ............. 'Historical entertainment' ..."
I know just what you mean.
Also, do you find that when you have read a version of a historical figure by an author you love, that author's version becomes the THE one? So that when you read soemone else on that character , you can't help thinking , hmm , that's not how Elizabeth 1 would have handled it, or Alexander the Great would have proceeded...
For me Norah Lofts has the definitive Eleanor of Aquitaine, Mary Renault the definitive Alexander , and SK Penman the definitive Plantagenets

[Nona]

I agree, that happened with Anne Boleyn for me, I read PG, liked it but couldn't see it to be truth, then I read Karen Harpers the Last Boleyn about Mary and Anne and fell in love. I've read Plaidy's since then and still it does not shine like KH's.

this new book I'm reading by Victoria Holt is a really good read, around every turn something is happening and the main character Minella reminds me somewhat of myself. A lovely story all around. I'll predict I will read more of her books.

[[deleted user]]

What is the title of the Victoria Holt?

[Nona]

The Devil on Horseback, I'm surprised I'm enjoying it this much, I just put two more on hold at the library The Captive, the Landower Legacy I was thinking of getting some others but I wanted to get a summary of them before putting them on hold, Judas kiss, the Demon Lover and Kirkland revels.

[Nona]

I'm sorry it was Shadow of the Lynx not Kirkland revels, I got them backwards.

[Misfit]

Nona wrote: "The Devil on Horseback, I'm surprised I'm enjoying it this much, I just put two more on hold at the library The Captive, the Landower Legacy I was thinking of getting some others but I wanted to ge..."

Nona, if you're enjoying Holt and the romantic suspense genre give Daphne DuMaurier (sp?) a whirl. She's very very good.

[Nona]

ahh thanks Misfit. I usually don't relish these romances but so far Holt mixes it nicely so it's not just a bodice-ripper and it's a nice change. I'll have to check out Dumaurier's work.

[Barbara]

Sorry if everybody already knew this but in case anyone doesn't -Victoria Holt is Jean Plaidy's less historical incarnation.

[Misfit]

She sure could pump out the books couldn't she? Wish Penman could do that.....

[Sara W]

Oh yeah, that's one of the reasons I love Plaidy/Holt/Carr! She has SO many books out there. She did write from the 1940s to 1990s though, so she had the time. I wish Penman had that many books (or covered that amount of people).

I also agree with the comments above about how one author's version becomes THE way that historical person would be in my head. My author tends to be Plaidy because I've encountered most historical figures through her first, and since her books tend to match up against the non-fiction I read, I feel I can rely on her portrayals.

[Aimee]

Has anyone read The Virgin Queen's Daughter? I read it yesterday, yes I read the whole thing yesterday, I really enjoyed it. It is a "what if" book, if you like those, you will like this. However, if someone else has read it,or does read it let me know,I want to discuss part of it with someone!!!!

[Nona]

No I haven't Aimee but I know someone who has and they rather enjoyed it from what I remember, I tend to keep clear of Elizabeth I, I don't really care for her, I remember it being about her if I'm correct.


I finished The Devil on Horseback and am now starting VH's The Shadow of the Lynx

[Mandy]

I just finished Falls the Shadow. It was wonderful.
I'm dying to read the Reckoning now, and finish the trilogy.
I started Outlander...I want to read with the group! It's okay...but my heart is in Wales...
I'm giving it another day, and if I still can't stop thinking about my Welsh characters I'm abandoning it. lol

[Laura]

Mandy wrote: "I just finished Falls the Shadow. It was wonderful.
I'm dying to read the Reckoning now, and finish the trilogy.
I started Outlander...I want to read with the group! It's okay...but my heart is i..."

Mandy, after finished Falls teh Shadow, I feel in the same way as you, my heart in Wales...

[Nona]

finished Shadow of the Lynx, ehh. Now reading The Landower Legacy, so far so good and it's more my type the SotL I should finish this by Sunday then I read The Queens Sorrow.

[April]

Wow freaky! I just finished Falls the Shadow last night! Thank goodness The Reckoning came in the mail the other day! I got lucky and found a 1st edition on Ebay!
My heart is in Wales right along with you guy's! I loved Falls the Shadow, but I have to admit that Here be Dragons is still in my top all time spot. Let's see if The Reckoning can knock it out! Llewelyn and Joanna are my all time favorite characters now. It will be hard to do! ;)

[Misfit]

I'm pretty sure I've mentioned this before but just in case. When reading The Reckoning stay off the internet and don't google Llewlleyn and his Eleanor. You will get major spoilers.

[April]

Okay! Thanks for the tip, Misfit! I'll try to stay away!!!

[Sara W]

I just ordered Falls the Shadow (although I haven't had a chance to read Here Be Dragons which is on my shelf). I figure it's best to get now so when I get to Here Be Dragons I can move right into the next book!

[[deleted user]]

Sara, I have had Here Be Dragons for 4 or 5 years now and still haven't gotten to it. I must put it down for my April read. I have way too many books out of the library due to goodreads!!!!

Got to slow down.

[Nona]

SKP welsh triology is truely wonderful, kinda like a weeks vacation out of country. you fall in love with the places, people, cultures and history then you have to come back to reality but you have the memories and emotional connections. Sounds silly but after finishing it I was so depressed it was over that I couldn't read anything for weeks, I googled to find out what happened next...cheesey I know, but thats is just how good SKP is.

I'm finishing up Landower Legacy by VH, next is The Captive (set in Morocco, new to me) after this I'm done reading romances for awhile, back to medieval grit and glory.

[Sara W]

Oh, I know what you mean Nona. I've had that same feeling before with other series I've read (most recent being Harry Potter after the 7th book came out - I never went on any of the fan sites before that, but once I finished that last book I hated the idea that it was over so I hit up a lot of those sites to just try and keep it going).

[[deleted user]]

Who is SKP?

[Susan]

Sharon Kay Penman.

[[deleted user]]

Thanks Susan! I have never read anything by her.

[Susan]

Alice wrote: "Thanks Susan! I have never read anything by her."

She's well worth it. Any of her books can be read alone, but you might enjoy her Welsh trilogy and her trilogy about Henry and Eleanor better if you read them in order. The Sunne in Splendour, about Richard III, is not part of any series. She has also written medieval mysteries, but they don't appeal to me as much as her other books.

[[deleted user]]

Thanks! Bet I would like the Welsh trilogy. I don't find nearly enough books about Wales.

[Sara]

SKP is amazing, my absolute favorite author! Here be dragons is #1 for me. Everyone here must read it. Sunne in splendor is at #2 of her books.
The medieval mysteries also don't interest me much in comparison her standard. Definatly worth it to read everything she has ever written.

[Sara]

I just read the lady elizabeth by Alison Weir and i loved it! Does anyone have any other suggestions from this author?

[Susan]

Sara wrote: "I just read the lady elizabeth by Alison Weir and i loved it! Does anyone have any other suggestions from this author?"

You'd probably like her novel about Lady Jane Grey, Innocent Traitor. Most of Weir's work is nonfiction, but I think she's started to publish a novel every other year. Her most recent biography is of Katherine Swynford--it's been out a while in the UK, and was just published in the US.

[Sara W]

We read Innocent Traitor here as a group (geez, about a year ago at this point), and I think almost everyone loved it. It's a GREAT book!

I also enjoyed Weir's non-fiction books about the children of Henry VIII and the little princes in the tower (although Weir is clearly biased against Richard III).

[Sara]

Sara wrote: "We read Innocent Traitor here as a group (geez, about a year ago at this point), and I think almost everyone loved it. It's a GREAT book!

I also enjoyed Weir's non-fiction books about the child..."

I totally picked up that bias in the lady elizabeth but i couldn't tell if it was just because it was from a tudor point of view. Also, since reading the sunne in splendor, I totally am biased too, only in the other direction lol.

[Tara]

I just started Jane Boleyn by Julia Fox. I was excited to read it, but I'm a bit unhappy with it. Still, it's interesting!

[Mandy]

I want to be in Wales!!!
Outlander is a sad substitution. I'm hurrying through it as quickly as I can so I can get back to SKP and read the Reckoning.
April - I also like Here Be Dragons more than I liked Falls the Shadow - but still LOVED Falls the Shadow.

Penmans writing is incredible. I can't wait to read Sunne in Splendor, now that I know how amazing she is.

[Donna]

I just finished Pope Joan. Since it is set in the 800s there is bound to be a lot more fiction than fact but it was a great story. Moved along very quickly and a number of people who are more familiar with the Middle Ages than me say the description of the general time period is very good.

[Jenn]

Currently reading:





I gave up on

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

Why did you give up on Daughter of York?

[Jenn]

I honestly don't see a romance between Woodville and Margaret. The thread is so tenuous that I could not suspend my disbelief. Also, I really don't think that Charles was as negligent and uncaring as the author portrays him to be; like the Plantagenet's he was trying to secure his domain and war was part of that. I've read a lot of the author's sources and it's not clicking with me. So, I gave up on it.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

Sounds like good reasons to me, Jenn. It obviously wasn't what my mother calls "ringing right."

[Mandy]

I'm half way through The Reckoning, now.
It's one of those things where I'm dying to see how it all ends...
but I don't want it to be over!

I bought The Sunne in Splendor. Can't wait to read it.

Next up is Anya Seton's Katherine!

[Nona]

I know of a few who said Daughter of York was not that great, as of yet I've not attempted it due to they're personal opinions.

[Nona]

I just recieved When Christ and His Saints Slept and ordered Time and Chance and Devils Brood, they should get here within the week. It will be nice to get lost in a really good book again, lately I've read nothing but shallow romances or other such stuff.

[Sera]

I recently purchased The Sunne in Splendor, which will be one of my must reads for 2009. Your comments regarding SKP have made me very curious to get to know her works.

Like Sara, I mainly entered this reading subject area via the Plaidy Tudor books. She really heightened my interest in the subject matter, but I'm curious to get other perspectives. Plus, I loved Worth's take on Richard III, which makes me want to read more about him. I also just checked-out Katherine from the library so this time in history is starting to all come together for me.

[Nona]

isn't it wonderful how one book opens a person up to another and so on till you have a mile high 'to be read' pile.