Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction discussion
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What Are You Reading Right Now? ( Hwæt béon ðu bocrædung?)
Just finished
Not only is it funny, but rich in historic detail. My review is here => https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...Just started
for the book club.
The WiFi is working good tonight. ..finally! Still this whole tablet thing is not as simple as a laptop. But I'm back home tomorrow, where I will catch up properly. I will let you know about Prince of Fools Alicia. It's very good so far but I'm only a couple chapters in so far.
Done with The Cuckoo's Calling. If you care, you can find my decidedly lukewarm review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... Honestly, if you want a good mystery by a real unknown, try Behind Closed Doors or The Charter.July is for The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and The Grand Sophy for group reads, plus a quick revisit to The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas in preparation for my interview with his translator. Those three should take me through the middle of the month, at which time I can return to figuring out what's happening 'round here. ;-)
Gretchen wrote: "It was a good thing my girls and I decided to take the wagon to the library today. Between the books they picked out and the books that came in for me, we had it nearly full! It made for an interes..."Take the wagon....haha. I so just had a Little House on the Prairie image in my head. lol.
Some days I think we need a wagon that size for our trips to the library. Random Little House on the Prairie fact, Walnut Grove where the Ingalls family lived once upon a time, is only about an hour and a half from the town I live in.
Ah. What a coincidence! That's a cool random fact.Is it all built out under housing development now?
It's a pretty small town (like most towns in Minnesota). I believe it is pretty much just a tourist draw now. They have a Laura Ingalls Wilder festival every year. I always wanted to go when I was younger but since my three siblings had no interest, we never went. I would love to take my own girls there someday after they are old enough to understand what it's all about.
If I'm ever in Minnesota, I'll go with you Gretchen! I don't know anyone else who would go with me either :( I LOVED those books when I was younger and still reread them now. I have the complete set but they are in such bad shape from the many years of rereads :/
I put so much effort into saving my childhood books and wouldn't ya know it, I cannot tell you what happened to my Little House books to save my life! I had a really nice hardcover set too. Sad. My girls will just have to be content with the four other totes of books I saved.
Mine are paperback. Too many years of being folded over, pages coming loose :/
I finished The Schoolmaster's Daughter for another group's group read. Did I use the word group enough? It was a fitting novel for the coming weekend as it was about Boston during the early part of the American Revolution but I ended the book feeling unimpressed and slightly insulted. I'm interested in knowing if anyone else has read or plans to read the novel.
finished #2 (actually #6 in the series)of my Edward Marston railway dective series marathon :)
The Silver Locomotive MysteryStarted #3 - which is #8 in the series
Blood on the Line
Gretchen wrote: "I finished The Schoolmaster's Daughter for another group's group read. Did I use the word group enough? It was a fitting novel for the coming weekend as it was about Boston during t..."
You have me curious, Gretchen. I have not read that one. What about it left you slightly insulted?
You have me curious, Gretchen. I have not read that one. What about it left you slightly insulted?
Derek, here's my review of the book https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...The very last spoiler is where I talk about what I found slightly insulting. It is entirely possible I'm being a little dramatic in my interpretation but at the time it was how I felt. I am not sure if you will understand my feelings without having read the book.
Gretchen wrote: "Derek, here's my review of the book https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The very last spoiler is where I talk about what I found slightly insulting. It is entirely possible I'm being a ..."
Thanks Gretchen. I can certainly see why that kind of thing would come off as insulting, and you're right, I'd have to read it myself to get a complete understanding of what you're saying. Thanks for the feedback & great review. :)
The very last spoiler is where I talk about what I found slightly insulting. It is entirely possible I'm being a ..."
Thanks Gretchen. I can certainly see why that kind of thing would come off as insulting, and you're right, I'd have to read it myself to get a complete understanding of what you're saying. Thanks for the feedback & great review. :)
Every once in a while I have to be reminded how much I enjoy Grisham. Can't put this down!
Bobby, did I hear you mention John Grisham and that he is a Mississippi boy? I think he stays in Virginia, but his yellow house still stands outside of Oxford, MS. If I have already told the story I am about to tell, ignore it. My older son went into the landscaping business after college. After a year of mowing Mr. Grisham's yard, he quit that business and went to law school. Mr. Grisham wrote my son's letter of recommendation to the law school.
I finished Blood on the Line. It is not really a murder mystery - the murderers are revealed in the opening scene. The mystery is more on why is Inspector Colbeck ( the main detective in the series) so determined that he be the one to catch them. It was a fun read for a holiday weekend.I am taking a break from Mr. Marston and I am currently reading the story of a local gentleman who awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on Iwo Jima
Now I'm reading a bit of sci fi...
and
.This while I finish up with my ancient Greece reads. Have to have balance in my reading. :)
I really liked The city and the city, very cool concept and story.
I started and finished
Genghis: Birth of an Empire by Conn IgguldenI think I can officially give up on any future Iggulden books. Him and I just don't have that spark. :)
Linda wrote: "Bobby, did I hear you mention John Grisham and that he is a Mississippi boy? I think he stays in Virginia, but his yellow house still stands outside of Oxford, MS. If I have already told the stor..."That is a great story Linda! I, too, have seen his house when I was working a University of Mississippi football game a couple of years ago. Also saw William Faulkner's house in Oxford as well. Did your son finish Law school and become a partner of Grisham?? LOL
Dawn wrote: "I started and finished Genghis: Birth of an Empire by Conn IgguldenI think I can officially give up on any future Igg..."
I just read that too and I loved it. What didn't work for you?
Probably the biggest issue for me is that I don't like coming of age stories. But I also don't have a particular interest in societies without cities and the writing is just okay for me.
Dawn wrote: "Probably the biggest issue for me is that I don't like coming of age stories. But I also don't have a particular interest in societies without cities and the writing is just okay for me."
I liked that aspect, the coming of age. It was a very different coming of age and I love reading about how a kid becomes the adult they do. But I can see how that doesn't work for some people.
My son practices law in Tupelo. I don't think Mr. Grisham took to practicing the law very much. lol You have the most exciting job imaginable! ll
Just finished Isabella: Braveheart of FranceWas terribly disappointed.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Oh no! I did pay money for that! Granted, it was only a couple bucks on kindle but still. Poopsicles!!
Allie wrote: "Oh no! I did pay money for that! Granted, it was only a couple bucks on kindle but still. Poopsicles!!"Oh dear.
Margaret wrote: "Just finished Isabella: Braveheart of FranceWas terribly disappointed.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
But I have a whole 99 cents into that book on my kindle!?!? Oh well. It's so far down my tbr list, I will have recouped my 99 cents somewhere.
Hit the jackpot at Goodwill today! They had books with blue tags 10 for $1.99 Between my girls and I, we came home with 50 books. I have a feeling my husband isn't going to be impressed when he stumbles upon the box I'm hiding them in.
Margaret wrote: "Just finished Isabella: Braveheart of FranceWas terribly disappointed.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
I read that one around the beginning of the year...right when I really started reading the historical fiction genre (yes - i'm a newbie!) and I actually had to reread the description to remind myself which one it was. I do remember that it felt disjointed and that the flow wasn't great but at the time I really had no idea who or what I was reading about (i.e. the three stars). Thinking back to it I would definitely agree that Falconer didn't do his best work here. Without knowing anything about Piers I came to the conclusion that he was an overtly feminine, prissy-biatch and really didn't merit his place in Edward III's life. It's not a bad read...it's just that it could have been So much better!
Alicja wrote: "Dawn wrote: "I started and finished Genghis: Birth of an Empire by Conn IgguldenI think I can officially give up on a..."
I have that one (bought and paid for) on my 'to read' bookshelf at home. Will let y'all know if I end up on Team Dawn or Team Alijca regarding Mr. Igguldun :)
Kimber wrote: "Margaret wrote: "Just finished Isabella: Braveheart of FranceWas terribly disappointed.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
I read that one a..."
Trust me. It's a bad read. Falconer manages to reduces Piers Gaveston to a mere cipher. Piers Gaveston was one of the most interesting non-Royals in England's history. His brief spell as Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland was probably the most prosperous. He wasn't afraid of a fight and he dealt honestly with the Irish. They had a great respect for him. More than they would have for the prissy little catamite Falconer painted him as.
Wow, MargaretYou really, really didn't like it.
I guess it drops on my TBR list
happy wrote: "Wow, MargaretYou really, really didn't like it.
I guess it drops on my TBR list"
I had another Colin Falconer on my TBR list. I've yet to remove it, but the book has gone, unread, into a box to be donated to charity.
Of course this has nothing to do with the course on Richard III....hehe
The Wars of the Roses
The Wars of the Roses 1455-1485
Towton 1461: England's bloodiest battle
I am all of one chapter in, and I already love it. So, I'm hoping that the rest of it is as good!
Dawn wrote: "I am all of one chapter in, and I already love it. So, I'm hoping that the rest of it is as good!"It is. :D As is the second book Claudius the God: And His Wife, Messalina
Margaret wrote: "happy wrote: "Wow, MargaretYou really, really didn't like it.
I guess it drops on my TBR list"
I had another Colin Falconer on my TBR list. I've yet to remove it, but the book has gone, unread..."
I hope all of Falconer's works aren't going in the bin based on one read. I haven't read a lot of him but I have read others and don't remember the same 'feel' I had when I finished Isabella.
I took Sue's suggestion and am already involved and enjoying The Autobiography of Henry VIII: With Notes by His Fool, Will Somers
.
Terri wrote: "I have only read one of his and I can vouch for that one. :)Silk Road"
I get the feeling that his recent stuff is being self published, which is something of an indication that no self respecting publishing house wants him any more.
Kimber wrote: "I took Sue's suggestion and am already involved and enjoying The Autobiography of Henry VIII: With Notes by His Fool, Will Somers [bookcover:The Autobiography of Henry VIII: With Notes..."I am currently reading that for a group read in another group
Margaret wrote: "Terri wrote: "I have only read one of his and I can vouch for that one. :)Silk Road"
I get the feeling that his recent stuff is being self published, which is something of an indi..."
haha! Boy oh boy. Topical. :D
Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction
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I understand your sentiments there, Lisa. I really liked The Ill-Made Knight, but Shōgun is one of my all time favorites. It would put any other book on my back burner.