Thomas Cromwell Trilogy - buddy read

[Tien]

We aim to finish by July, 28th (approx when our digital borrowings are due)

& try for approx 2 parts per week.

[Dee]

i started today - because i had nothing better to do

[Tien]

I'm pacing myself, 1 chapter a day or something like that. Just read first chapter and enjoyed it, more than I expected :)

[Dee]

i've read4 chapters so far - so technically on book 2 - but they weren't hard reads - i think while its a long book - a chunk of the back matter is going to be historical research etc...but 'm willing to be surprised - each part only has like 3 chapters in it

[Tien]

I read chapter 2 last night lol yes, seems rather short chapters so far but maybe just the beginning? Just the setting up of his humble beginning... I noticed quite a number of years were skipped from him running away from home to his position with (err, I forgot his name... Archbishop something?)

[Dee]

how you doing Tien?

I should finish up book 2 tonight - the middle chapter was a lot longer than i was expecting, so i broke read it over a few days

[Tien]

I did finish book 2 last night.

Yes, that middle chapter also caught me out by the length but you know what the 3rd chapter will also catch you out - but the other way, so short!! ha ha ha -may only take you like 5 mins to read, yep, that short.

I will start book 3 tonight - I wonder now if they're going to be longer chapters or what.

[Tien]

btw, I wasn't sure what Liz had and that plague... I mean sweating?! anyway, I googled, of course... and it seems to be still a mystery even if these days, we speculate a lot about what it could be! How odd, I've never heard of it lol

Then again, medieval is my least read period and in fact, I stay away from it as much as I can. I find the period too distressing to read and here's one reason why!

[Dee]

right?

[Tien]

Just finished ch 2 of book 3 - another long-ish one and followed by a short ch 3, it looks like.

I don't know if it's just me but a lot of the time, I struggle with the perspective (?) There were many times that the 'he' refers not to the male character of the previous sentence but to Cromwell. I don't really know how to explain this. Just that it's confusing the heck out of me and I have to reread many sentences over just to get it right.

[Dee]

i've noticed that too - i guess its all the different people that cromwell is interacting with...i finished up chapter 1 of book 3 last night - will hit chapter 2 today

[Tien]

Just read the short ch 3 of book 3 and took a peek at how long the next few chapters are, looks like we're in for a very long ch 2 of book 4 but only 2-3 pages of ch 3 😅

[Dee]

seems like the plan - i should finish up chapter 2 of book 3 tonight - but if i get caught up maybe chapter 3 too

[Tien]

I'm still going on the 1 chapter per day except I might break up that long ch2 over 2 days then tack on ch 3 on the second day.

I am enjoying it. In short bursts.
I don't know how much research she did but I assume plenty noting all hype & awards but I wondered if Cromwell keeps a diary a such? Or did she speculate on his internal thoughts?

ps: let me know if you're keen to keep going with the trilogy :)

[Dee]

I’m leaning towards yes on trilogy right now but I head out on Saturday so will need to see schedule when I get out to ship

[Tien]

Dee wrote: "I’m leaning towards yes on trilogy right now but I head out on Saturday so will need to see schedule when I get out to ship"

no worries, there may be queues at the library -that's why I brought it up now. In case we need to reserve etc.

So, you're definitely shipping out on Sat?

[Dee]

Yes - well unless my covid test comes back positive - had to have it done before we can get on flights

[Dee]

Books 2/3 are currently available with no holds for me but I’ll keep an eye on them

[Tien]

Dee wrote: "Yes - well unless my covid test comes back positive - had to have it done before we can get on flights"

Good luck! I hope it'll be negative.

[Tien]

Dee wrote: "Books 2/3 are currently available with no holds for me but I’ll keep an eye on them"

I think I should be ok too.

[Tien]

hey, Dee, did you get your test result ok? Are you shipping out?

I've just finished book 4 and looking at pages left, I think I should be finishing by Wed. I'm sort of enjoying it though won't say I love it.

[Dee]

Sitting in the airport now waiting for my flight l! I finished chapter 1 of book 4 but nothing more yet - figure will hit hard on my flight

[Dee]

I like it but not blown away - but like all the awards it won I feel like I’m missing something

[Tien]

Safe flight!

Ditto about the awards etc. Maybe historical accuracy and characters building?

[Dee]

I finished through book 5 on the plane - that book is prob my favorite part so far

[Tien]

I only read ch 1 of book 5 last night. Can't say it's a fave... although I gave in and Googled images for these people last night 😂

will finish book 5 today.

[Dee]

do you want to go ahead and read book 2 when we are done? i'm kind of intrigued enough that i want to

[Tien]

um, I'm not sure actually. I can't wait for this to be over & I hope to finish today. Not sure what changed...

But I can give it a go because not sure if I'd ever read book 2 without the company :p

[Dee]

Lol! I should finish today (Wednesday) - have about 50pgs to go

[Tien]

It is also Wednesday for me... where are you now, Dee? Are you on your ship?

And I think we're around the same spot, possibly... the last 2 chapters of part 6 to go?

[Dee]

In a hotel in Italy - have to do 2 weeks isolation/quarantine before heading to ship

[Tien]

oooh!! Italy! I want to say it must be glorious but since you're stuck in a hotel room, it mustn't be :/

[Dee]

Ok finished up today and it ended on a dead note (literally) with one of the many beheadings in that time period - hehe

[Tien]

oh dear... lol

I read this on my son's tablet which he took to school today so I only get to read at night. I'll finish tonight :)

Are you still keen on book 2? As I said, I'll give it a go ;)

[Tien]

I've finished last night, Dee.

I was expecting some sort of author's note as to how much research was available and which particular part was made to fit (aside from dating conventions) - I wanted to know whether there are lots of diaries / writings available for her to infer Thomas Cromwell as she's depicted him etc. A bit disappointed there was no such note. I don't know my history that well so that'd help.

Let me know about book 2 :)
There was an excerpt (ch 1), I didn't quite read it but I glanced through some parts ;p

[Dee]

Yeah I don’t know a lot about Cromwell - the boylyn’s have been part of other historical fiction books I’ve read but Cromwell has always just been off to the side

How about book 2 start this weekend (Sunday) - same plan as this time?

[Tien]

I've never really wanted to read about this part of history with the Boleyns & Henry VIII etc so I'm mostly lost. I only knew bits that effect Mary & Elizabeth & that's that.

Ok for Sunday.

I'll change the topic to the trilogy ;)

[Dee]

I read Innocent Traitor about lady Jane grey (9 day queen) and it intrigued me

It’s not something that is taught in many history classes unless you seek it out - I have a undergrad in history - I know they offered a history of England course but it was like every 2 years

[Tien]

At the end of Wolf Hall, there were some advertisements of her other books... I don't know why it surprised me for the thought of her having wrote & published other books than this trilogy never occurred to me? But it should've? lol - just my weird wired brain.

btw, I just realised I can't fit this second book anywhere in my JRI! arrgh... but at least, it's shorter and I can fit the 3rd book into prompt 2 (big books)

[Tien]

I borrowed book 2, Dee, and had a quick look at the table of contents. Not sure if I trust the page numbering (with digital & reading on tablet, it changes with fonts & if I turn tablet around) but looks like only 2 parts, 3 chapters each. first chapter short, second chapter a bit longer, and very long chapter 3.

So, maybe split to:
Day 1: Part 1, ch 1 & 2
Day 2: Part 1, ch 3 (1/2 way)
Day 3: Part 1, ch 3 (finish)

And do the same for Part 2?
Too fast? Not sure about page number...

[Dee]

I think I’m going to use at it as a prompt 1 because those literature award winning books are typically not my jam when it comes to reading

[Tien]

I would've too except that I'm completed prompt 1

No, I'm not going to put up my goal... I'm struggling with 6 as it is lol

[Dee]

Son of a bitch! I should have borrowed bringing up the bodies yesterday! Now it’s checked out! I’ll reserve it and you can start hopefully it won’t be too long

[Tien]

Oh no! It's ok, Dee. I can wait for you. It doesn't seem to be as popular here so I have multiple digital copies available across all 3 library networks I'm with 😆

[Dee]

All three copies were available earlier this week!! Now none of them!

[Dee]

Bringing up the bodies came in for me - start Sunday?

[Tien]

Sure thing! Tomorrow it is!

[Dee]

Sounds good!

[Tien]

I started yesterday, Dee... I think I'm halfway through Part 1 (somewhere near the end of Chapter 2).

There's something wrong with the ebook chapters though especially with the page numbers for Part 2 so am just going to have to wing it ;) Atm, I'm thinking approx 70ish pages per day (page numbers also vary... depending on font sizes etc lol so can't say exactly what 70ish pages for me is for you)

Are you still in your hotel room in Italy? Last few days to go?

[Dee]

I read pt1 last night - this one seems to read much quicker

Leave hotel today! Yay!!