Retro Reads discussion
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The Sunne in Splendour
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April 7, 2021- May 21, 2021 The Sunne in Splendour Group Read- Part 1
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I just dragged out my copy
and was dismayed by the small print!
I shall endeavor to persevere, as I really want to read this again.
I first read it, way back in 1982, when my eyes were stronger and my reading speed was faster!
This was my first paperback copy, which vanished at some point. I suspect it had small print, too; I just didn't notice at the time!
Mod
My copy not too bad - but of course I wear glasses nowadays.
Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Oh no!My copy not too bad - but of course I wear glasses nowadays."
I actually find small print easier to deal with if I take my glasses off! But that means holding the book closer to my face--not easy with this behemoth.
eh, I'll figure out some way to read in comfort... The book is worth the effort!
Barb in Maryland wrote: "Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Oh no!My copy not too bad - but of course I wear glasses nowadays."
I actually find small print easier to deal with if I take my glasses off! But that means holdin..."
I do the same thing with small print, but luckily I bought the ebook awhile ago, so my glasses can stay on.
Barb in Maryland wrote: "I just dragged out my copyand was dismayed by the small print!
I shall endeavor to persevere, as I really want to read this again.
I first read it, way..."
Same here - I picked up a used paperback years ago with this cover and the same teeny tiny print!
I am reading the ebook through Scribd with adjustable fonts
- and a 2013 author’s note, where Penman says she updated some of the dialogue. I have checked back and forth with my paperback, and haven’t noticed any differences. This is my first read of this author, and I am enjoying it very much; I finally have the “who’s who” of the War of the Roses straight! I do take breaks to read other books, though - mainly audiobooks I can listen to while knitting!
I'm joining in with this one too. I haven't been feeling well, and this kind of epic tome is my favorite thing to read when I don't feel good. :-)
You’re all killing me! I have nearly 20 books planned for April (one being massive) and now I am sorely tempted to read this one too.
Very tempted here also.
Veronique wrote: "You’re all killing me! I have nearly 20 books planned for April (one being massive) and now I am sorely tempted to read this one too."Well, the great thing is, you can both always read it later and comment then - I’m just so glad I finally tried a Penman novel. I picked up several at my used book store years ago, always felt guilty when I see them on the shelf. I wanted to readWhen Christ and His Saints Slept because of the Cadfael series - it covers the Stephen/Matilda civil war. I’d heard such great things about this author, and enjoy well-researched, well-written historical fiction - she is amazing, truly brings the characters to life. I’ve read The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey twice or three times, enjoyed the characters, but never really “got it” because the War of the Roses players did not feel real to me; I’ll be into it next time!
Since I’m not terribly familiar with the War of the Roses, I’ve several times found myself attached to, worried about a character - off to google them, find out when/where they died, so I can brace myself...
Feel better soon, Kellie!
Mod
Twenty books - wow! But as Susan says, you can always read later & bump the threads back up with this group.
* * *
Penman is (nearly) straight into the action - & it is already (view spoiler)
Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Veronique wrote: "You’re all killing me! I have nearly 20 books planned for April (one being massive) and now I am sorely tempted to read this one too."Twenty books - wow! But as Susan says, you ..."
Yes! (view spoiler)
Mod
In spite of a large cast of characters (many with very similar names) I am not having any trouble remembering them or following the action.
Names are a big thing. Many have similar ones (the amount of Edmund and Edward!), plus they all have several titles. I recommend writing them down :0)I became obsessed with RichardIII and for a year (or more) eons ago, I read tons about him, the War of the Roses, and around it. Everything and everyone is connected - it’s like a spider web. All very fascinating :0)
Mod
I kept having to look back at my handy family tree in the front of my edition! Invaluable! Also, I used the “look up” feature in my ebook to keep track of who was who, when and where they married, died, etc.I’m in Book Four, since I started back in March, as I knew it would take me quite awhile, but I am amazed at how Penman has kept me enthralled and entertained for 700+ pages! I’ve taken breaks to read other books (generally audiobooks while I knit), but keep coming back to this, and am so impressed that she manages to keep reeling me in with “big events”, a battle, a marriage, a betrayal, a death - it’s a roller coaster, and she keeps it going!
Mod
I am fascinated by Richard's brother George.
Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Penman's writing has a lot of impact for sure.I am fascinated by Richard's brother George."
Me, too - he does stir things up, doesn’t he? Amazing, the “ripple effects” set in motion by the main characters in this novel.
I finally got around to starting this book yesterday, and discovered that Goodreads had booted me off this thread. I am so sick of the machines doing this! So far I am finding it tough to read. I am not a big fan of mayhem.
Way back in the ancient times (i.e. elementary school, circa 1958) I read Song for a Lute, which turned me into a Richardian. Later, in high school, I read Tey's The Daughter of Time. I took a number of courses in English history in university. By the time this book came out (1982), the story was very familiar. Penman's strength is that she brought it all to vivid life for me--I could 'see' the action, 'hear' the conversations.I'm glad that I'm finally getting around to re-reading this...
Barb in Maryland wrote: "Way back in the ancient times (i.e. elementary school, circa 1958) I read Song for a Lute, which turned me into a Richardian. Later, in high school, I read Tey's [book:The Daughter o..."You’re right, Barb, she really is an amazing author, she pulls me in so fully, and keeps me enthralled after 100s of pages. Sometimes I have to step away for a day or so, read something lighter; I don’t think I’m “triggered”, but when I read a big event - a death, betrayal, the effects of one of the character’s obsessive power grabs or hatred, it’s almost overwhelming, brings me down. The last several years have been tough with deaths in the family, personal illness, the pandemic, mental illness of someone dear to me, worry about them - the writing is so powerful, the feeling of impending treachery and doom (knowing what we know about Richard’s fate) so oppressive, I need a break.
Mod
I'm pacing myself as well. I'm reading a children's book with another group & that is helping to keep a balance.
Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Sorry you are experiencing so much bad news, Susan.I'm pacing myself as well. I'm reading a children's book with another group & that is helping to keep a balance."
Thanks, Carol, you are so kind! I skimmed the last 100 pages or so to finish this evening, I couldn’t resist. I started listening to another audiobook, also, a lighter mystery - that should brighten my mood (view spoiler)
I'm in Chapter 25 of the first book--George (Duke of Clarence)'s reunion with his mother, the fabulous Cecily, Duchess of York. Oh, George!(view spoiler)
Barb in Maryland wrote: "I'm in Chapter 25 of the first book--George (Duke of Clarence)'s reunion with his mother, the fabulous Cecily, Duchess of York. Oh, George![spoilers removed]"
Yes, I was impressed by her throughout- even when she wasn’t present, I couldn’t help thinking “oooh, ma mere will not be pleased!”
Barb in Maryland wrote: "I'm in Chapter 25 of the first book--George (Duke of Clarence)'s reunion with his mother, the fabulous Cecily, Duchess of York. Oh, George![spoilers removed]"
That scene broke my heart, (view spoiler)
Mod
Edward must have deeply regretted (view spoiler)
Finally made it through part 1 yesterday, all 374 pages of it. I am finding it absorbing but all the treachery and gore are exhausting. And I wish the author would stop using the word “do” in every sentence. I get that she’s trying to lend a period tone, but wish she had used more of the tools in the period-tone toolbox. It’s getting distracting for me.
Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "I flew through a sizable chunk yesterday but I am still only up to Chapter 21!Edward must have deeply regretted [spoilers removed]"
Yes, and (view spoiler)
Abigail wrote: "Finally made it through part 1 yesterday, all 374 pages of it. I am finding it absorbing but all the treachery and gore are exhausting. And I wish the author would stop using the word “do” in every..."Maybe that’s one of the dialogue changes she made in the newer edition I read - I did (see what I did there?!😉) notice all the “doing”, but it wasn’t distracting! Yes, I had to take breaks, read other books with beginnings, middles and ends, or I felt I’d lose my mind (the political treachery is a bit too timely, hundreds of years later...🤦🏻♀️)
LOL! I think it’s just my copy editor’s impulse at work. There’s a trigger in my mind that shouts at me to pick up a pencil and delete that intrusive word, which breaks my concentration. So far I’ve resisted the temptation and have restricted myself to fixing all the “loathe”s in parts 2 and 3 that ought to be “loath”s.
Drat the silent e at the end!
Abigail wrote: "LOL! I think it’s just my copy editor’s impulse at work. There’s a trigger in my mind that shouts at me to pick up a pencil and delete that intrusive word, which breaks my concentration. So far I’v..."Hah! Abigail, I never noticed the spelling gaffes with loathe/loath. I knew which word was meant by context and just kept on going! If I'm completely immersed in the story my brain ignores any number of minor editing errors.
You’re lucky, Barb! I have never been able to close that censorious eye because if I did, I would miss too much when proofreading for pay.
I believe the loathe is actually British and period appropriate. I've seen it spelled that way in several period British novels. And when I looked it up it came up as British slang. Not sure though. I read some low Scotch dialect work last year and that really made me look at old English/middle English differently. I could just be mixing it up in my mind.
I believe that loth and loath are both acceptable ways of spelling the word that means “reluctant” while loathe means “despise.” The word is so widely misspelled, like mantel (shelf over fireplace) vs. mantle (cloak), that some dictionaries, being more descriptive than prescriptive, have taken to including such misspellings as acceptable variants. But I am more prescriptive than descriptive.And don’t get me started on using candelabra as a singular noun!
Mod
The description of (view spoiler) was so authentic feeling. I'm in awe of Penman's ability to take us with her!
Retro Reads
Books mentioned in this topic
Song for a Lute (other topics)Song for a Lute (other topics)
The Daughter of Time (other topics)
She-Wolves: The Women Who Ruled England Before Elizabeth (other topics)
The Daughter of Time (other topics)
More...
There isn't an index on my copy, but it looks like there are four parts. I'm going to give each part it's on thread, plus a spoiler & final conclusions thread at the end. Please no open spoilers as this is a big book & we will all be reading at our own pace.
I made a brief start last night & enjoying & am intrigued so far. Penman really jumps right into the story!