Fall 2014 Reading Challenge

[Sara W]

How many European Royalty books do you think you can read this fall (September 1, 2014 - November 30, 2014)? Set your own personal goal and join the challenge (located towards the top of the group's main page)!

Feel free to discuss the books you plan to read this fall (or are reading) in this thread.

If other people seem interested in reading the same book, you're more than welcome to set up an informal buddy read thread as well. Just start a new thread and in the "topic" area, put "Buddy Read: [Title of Book]". For a folder, select "E.R. Seasonal Reading Challenges".

In the "comment" section, perhaps include:

*Title of book

*Author

*Date you plan to start reading the book (or would like to start discussing the book)

*A sentence or two about the book or why you want to read it (could help get other people interested in reading the book with you)

I hope you'll be able to join the challenge! Since you're setting your own personal goal, any amount of books you pick is fine (no amount is too small or too big).

[Sara W]

I am determined to reach my (modest) goal this quarter! I'm currently reading by Leanda de Lisle. It's my second Jane Grey book in a row, but it seems fresh because there is so much in here about her sisters that I didn't know. I'm hoping to knock out a novel or two once I finish this non-fiction book.

[Rivkah]

I am finishing up my last
The traitors wife by Higgenbitham
Not enjoying as much as her other books
Maybe I shouldn't have read 3 in a row

[KOMET]

Over the past year, I've developed an interest in the English Civil War, which led (for a time) to the abolition of the monarchy in England. One book I've begun to read is "The King's Revenge: Charles II and the Greatest Manhunt in British History", which deals with the trial and execution of Charles I in 1649 and the subsequent efforts of his son, Charles II, to bring his father's executioners to justice following the Restoration.

[Sara W]

Rivkah wrote: "I am finishing up my last
The traitors wife by Higgenbitham
Not enjoying as much as her other books
Maybe I shouldn't have read 3 in a row"

I'm guilty of doing that same thing (either by author or by topic), and yeah, I think sometimes it can be overkill! I'm tempted to start , but I just read two books on Jane Grey and her family (the last one had quite a bit about Elizabeth), so I'm wondering if I should throw something else in just to change it up a bit.

[Christopher]

I have decided to start with Queen Victoria: A Life of Contradictions by . It follows from reading Ridley's book on Edward VII. I was interested by the relationship between mother and son/Queen and Prince. I thought this one might give me an insight into the character that shaped the relationship.

[Susan]

My goal is to read Stormbird by Conn Iggulden by the end of the year. I bought it at an author signing event earlier this summer but haven't gotten to it yet.


I also have several books by Susan Higginbotham to read, but I don't know if I'll get to them this fall. My 10 year old daughter is filling up to TBR pile with Rick Riordan titles.

[Sara W]

I'm onto my second book Becoming Queen Victoria: The Tragic Death of Princess Charlotte and the Unexpected Rise of Britain's Greatest Monarch . I haven't read much about the Hanoverians and I've read even less about Victoria, so it's been a pretty interesting and informative read. It's crazy how George III had so many children and yet so few legitimate grandchildren/heirs.

[Christopher]

Just starting my second book: Queen Victoria: A Portrait by Giles St. Aubyn.
I was impressed by the dual personality portrayed in the Matthew Dennison book and it left me wanting to know more about the life of this monarch. I thought I would start with this.