What else are you reading?

[Flatenchilada]

I am certainly NOT of the new generation, but I am new to Dunnett. How I had missed her, I have no clue. I am about to start the seventh book of the House of Niccolo. Each day, I stop reading several times an hour to just ponder the genius of this author. How on earth can a mind produce such a flow of complexity? I am in love.

[Flatenchilada]

Diana wrote: "Jo wrote: "That's the problem with Dunnett - she rather ruins you for any future mediocre historical fiction you might read. Agreed on Mary Renault - the calibre of her writing is tremendous and I'..."
Elizabeth Chadwick is amazing and accurate. I can get lost in her novels. There is a Facebook page named "Historical Novel Society - the place for new historical fiction." Ms. Chadwick frequents that board as do other contemporary writers of historical fiction.

[Flatenchilada]

Eileen wrote: "jrendocrine, what do you think of the narrator for the Niccolo audiobooks? I tried the Lymond audiobooks and simply couldn't bear the narrator for the series, so promptly gave it up as a lost cause."
I have enjoyed the various narrators in the House of Niccolo series. Were there two or three? I don't want to look it up right now. But those audible books have gotten me through lots of tedious house cleaning, walking, and hours of driving.
I appreciate someone's encouragement to skip the audible for the first Lymond book. I only listened to the sample and was furious that anyone would allow that voice to read Dorothy Dunnett. Now I know there is hope after the first book. I still have two books of Niccolo to complete first.

[jrendocrine at least reading is good]

Flatenchilada wrote: "I am certainly NOT of the new generation, but I am new to Dunnett. How I had missed her, I have no clue. I am about to start the seventh book of the House of Niccolo. Each day, I stop reading sever..."

Ha ha, that means we love you too!

[Tug66]

As to the narrator(s) of the Niccolo books, I am listening to Scales of Gold right now and, although I am grateful for a medium that allows me to "read" while mowing the lawn, I am annoyed by him. I think he gets the inflections wrong, particularly for the women and most particularly for Gelis. His Gelis comes across as a wilting flower and it's almost unbearable. I must admit, though, to a more general irritation on my part that most of the audiobooks I've listened to are narrated by men who render the female characters in wheezy falsettos. Still, as we've noted, it gets you through the house cleaning.

[P.E.]

Have you read the Lymond Chronicles? If not, once you do, you'll have to re-read Niccolo. Even Dame Dunnett said one should read Lymond first, then Niccolo, then Lymond again. My problem is I just keep re-reading them both over and over, with the Johnson Johnson mysteries thrown in for good measure. I wish those were on Audible!

[Eileen]

Tug66 wrote: " I think he gets the inflections wrong, particularly for the women and most particularly for Gelis. His Gelis comes across as a wilting flower and it's almost unbearable. I must admit, though, to a more general irritation on my part that most of the audiobooks I've listened to are narrated by men who render the female characters in wheezy falsettos. ..."

Agreed! I really enjoyed this article on the subject: http://bookriot.com/2015/12/02/hey-au...

[P.E.]

Eileen wrote: "Tug66 wrote: " I think he gets the inflections wrong, particularly for the women and most particularly for Gelis. His Gelis comes across as a wilting flower and it's almost unbearable. I must admit..."
It's unfortunate that DD died before the books were recorded. I think she should have been in on the auditions!

[Eileen]

P.E. wrote: "Eileen wrote: "It's unfortunate that DD died before the books were recorded. I think she should have been in on the auditions! "

I have to wonder whether she had any ideas as to casting a film adaptation after the series were published. Even though the actors' ages would be very far off by now, it would be interesting to get a visual! It's a blessing and a shame that she only painted the portrait of one of her characters, and a relatively minor one at that.

[Mary]

I've read -- somewhere -- that DD thought of Leslie Howard and/or Peter O'Toole as coming close to her image of Lymond.

[P.E.]

Eileen wrote: "P.E. wrote: "Eileen wrote: "It's unfortunate that DD died before the books were recorded. I think she should have been in on the auditions! "

I have to wonder whether she had any ideas as to casti..."

She said more than once that she'd always seen Peter O'Toole as Lymond (remember GoK was published in 1961). When he played Lawrence of Arabia, you could almost see it.

[Eileen]

Leslie Howard is my ideal Lymond as well! Peter O'Toole less so, but I see the appeal.

[Flatenchilada]

P.E. wrote: "Have you read the Lymond Chronicles? If not, once you do, you'll have to re-read Niccolo. Even Dame Dunnett said one should read Lymond first, then Niccolo, then Lymond again. My problem is I just ..."

After I read two Niccolos, I did a little research and learned that Lymond was written first and was intended to be read first. Well, I am too invested in the Banco Niccolo and cannot leave until I have read every book. But I am excited about moving on soon.

[Tug66]

I read in the Yahoo Claes group that DD said Colin Firth was the closest to how she envisioned Niccolo. Which is an interesting choice.

[K]

After seeing Aidan Turner in Poldark I think he is a good choice. I'm not so fussed about who plays Lymond as Niccolo is closer to my heart; I came to him first. But as much as I like Colin Firth, just no. Niccolo needs to be able to smoulder, be enraged but silent, be dark as well as deeply loving and funny, be sexy as hell and be very very dodgy. He also needs to be younger. It's a tall order but Aidan could pull it off I think.

[Flatenchilada]

I heart Colin Firth, but he is not an action hero as he proved in Kingsman. Niccolo has to be smart enough to out-think everyone in the known year, win jousts and combat, conquer the elements of Iceland and the Sahara, playful as a child, and be sexy as hell.

Aidan Turner would be a great Niccolo. Have you seen him in Desperate Romantics on Youtube? It's so much fun. As Dante Gabriel Rossetti, he is not brooding like Poldark.

[K]

Aidan in Desperate Romantics, Poldark and as the vampire Mitchell in Being Human show that he is capable of quite a range. There is likely more in there as well. Not physically as big as Niccolo but he could act it.

[Flatenchilada]

I agree, Kim. Aidan has a sense of whimsy that can always come out.....as did Niccolo. Brood, work, fight, love, whimsy, brood love, fight, work, whimsy.
Personally, I picture Turner in lots of parts now. ;)

[Mackay]

Shadowphoenixfire wrote: "Oh, I'm delighted this group and thread exists. I was just despairing that I would never be able to find something as enjoyable and satisfying and well-written as the Lymond Chronicles, so please d..."
Trouble is, nothing is as addictive and satisfying as DD. Maybe "War and Peace."

[Tug66]

P.E. wrote: "I think we'll need a new generation of readers or a huge resurgence of us older ones convincing others to read them. I've converted 5 or 6 people over the last 40 years."

Yes, I agree that we'd need a resurgence, which clearly means that we should all get busy, right?! In my Dunnett reread book group right now, we have 3 long-time Dunnett fans, 2 of us who are relatively recent (last five years) converts, and 2 newcomers. I think a resurgence can and should include reinvigorating the long-time readers. Many of us have invested in the hard copy books, the e-books, AND the audiobooks. That's a fair level of devotion (financially), which should cause some producer somewhere to look at this gold mine, right? I bet we could convince Niccolo of the publishing/production possibilities...

[India]

Just wanted to thank everyone for their recommendations! I'm a newcomer to the Lymond Chronicles and haven't been able to really get into any new books after finishing Checkmate. Now I have something to look forward to.

Although they are not as complex as DD's books, I enjoyed reading some of Isobelle Carmody's books. The Legendsong is my favourite of her series.

[Hobbes]

Loving all the recommendations :)
I'm waiting for the Michael Joseph reissues ( read the ebooks because that was the only format available at reasonable cost, but I want paperbacks for a reread as it’s easier to flip back and forth pages) but can't get a publication date even though they were due Oct 2017... ish.. But, I've bought this month's reissue of King Hereafter and I'm looking forward to reading this Macbeth reimagining.
Thanks to all of the above for recommendations over the last 7 years. x

[P.E.]

Hobbes, last I heard from the Dorothy Dunnett Society, the paperbacks are out in the UK, due this week in Canada, and later this year in the US. I'm lucky enough to have hardbacks off all the Lymond Chronicles (although it took me YEARS to collect them), as well as the House of Nicolo books and King Hereafter. I even have the last two Dolly mysteries in hardback!

As soon as I hear from the Society for the paperback release in the US, I'll try to remember to post it here.

[Hobbes]

Thanks for the information P. E. Looks like the reissue information hasn't been updated on Waterstones database yet. Will check with the shop again shortly. I haven't read the Niccolo books yet and may wait for the reissue paperbacks if they are available early 2018. I intend reading Niccolo and rereading Lymond Chronicles straight after.
Hardbacks... must have cost a small fortune to source. I'm a little jealous :)
Thanks again.

[Hobbes]

The reissues are not available to order yet in UK. And no new information on Penguin UK website either :( I'll keep checking each week.