Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction discussion

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General Discussions > What Are You Reading Right Now? ( Hwæt béon ðu bocrædung?)

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message 5451: by Allison (last edited Sep 17, 2014 10:11AM) (new)

Allison | 1704 comments Pamela wrote: "Just read A Broken World: Letters, Diaries and Memories of the Great War. Interesting non- fiction anthology.






Ooooh. Right up my alley. Added! Thanks Pamela :)



message 5452: by Gretchen (new)

Gretchen (eab2012) I have come to the end of published Shardlake novels with Heartstone. Sad day. I started Sashenka instead of the group read winner this month.


message 5453: by Pamela (new)

Pamela (bibliohound) Allie wrote: "
Ooooh. Right up my alley. Added! Thanks Pamela :)"


Hope you enjoy it Allie. It's arranged by theme rather than chronologically and has some unusual contributions.


message 5454: by Allison (new)

Allison | 1704 comments Sounds really good!


message 5455: by happy (new)

happy (happyone) | 2782 comments finished Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History - excellent, Larson writes very readable history

Currently reading Robert Harris' new one

An Officer and a Spy by Robert Harris

It about the Dryfus affair in 1890's France


message 5456: by Kimber (new)

Kimber (kimberlibri) | 785 comments Reading The Fatal Crown by Ellen Jones about the civil war between Stephen of Blois and Empress Maud. I haven't read much about this despite my fondness for the Angevins. Should be interesting.


message 5457: by Darcy (new)

Darcy (drokka) | 2675 comments Ah. The First British Civil War. I've added that to my TBR. There aren't many books on the conflict, but I find it intriguing because it wasn't about religion, rather gender.


message 5458: by Kimber (new)

Kimber (kimberlibri) | 785 comments Darcy wrote: "Ah. The First British Civil War. I've added that to my TBR. There aren't many books on the conflict, but I find it intriguing because it wasn't about religion, rather gender."

If you know of any others please enlighten me. So far so good but I can see a leaning towards romance in this one (Maud and Stephen attracted to each other) and I'm hoping it doesn't go much further. I'll let you know what I thought when I finish.


message 5459: by Darcy (new)

Darcy (drokka) | 2675 comments Stephen and Maud attracted to each other?!?!
I don't even know how to respond to that in written form. But you can imagine that eye-rolls and twitches are only the beginning.


message 5460: by Allison (last edited Sep 17, 2014 06:38PM) (new)

Allison | 1704 comments Kimber wrote: "Reading The Fatal Crown by Ellen Jones about the civil war between Stephen of Blois and Empress Maud. I haven't read much about this despite my fondness for the Angevins. Should be i..."

I just bought that on my Kindle. Of course the other two books in the trilogy couldn't also have been on sale :/


message 5461: by Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila (new)

Margaret (margyw) | 3341 comments Darcy wrote: "Stephen and Maud attracted to each other?!?!
I don't even know how to respond to that in written form. But you can imagine that eye-rolls and twitches are only the beginning."


The first novelist to use that idea was Jean Plaidy.

There is quite literally no evidence to suggest Stephen and Matilda (as she was properly known) were lovers.

There is more evidence for a close relationship (not sexual) with her bastard half brother, Robert.


message 5462: by Gretchen (last edited Sep 18, 2014 06:26AM) (new)

Gretchen (eab2012) When Christ and His Saints Slept remains the book by which I judge all other Stephen/Matilda fiction. I added Fatal Crown to my tbr list because the different perspective interests me but I'm going into it as a skeptic. When would Stephen and Matilda have time to form any kind of relationship? They were too busy running away from each other or spending time in different countries.


message 5464: by Darcy (new)

Darcy (drokka) | 2675 comments Margaret wrote: "The first novelist to use that idea was Jean Plaidy."

How very disappointing. Was she also the first to use Maud over Matilda as well? I believe the names were interchangeable in the tele version of Pillars of the Earth. I saw that whenever it came out, and don't recall if it was that or a re-inacted documentary where I first heard Maud used.


message 5465: by Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila (new)

Margaret (margyw) | 3341 comments Matilda's mother was also named Matilda (though her original name was Edith). The diminutive "Maud" was used for the daughter, probably up until she left England.


message 5466: by Darcy (new)

Darcy (drokka) | 2675 comments Ah. Good to know. I didn't realise Maud was a diminutive of Matilda. Always learning :)


message 5467: by Darcy (new)

Darcy (drokka) | 2675 comments So, reading the October Medieval poll loser The Seventh Son by Reay Tannahill The Seventh Son and Time's Anvil England, Archaeology and the Imagination by Richard Morris Time's Anvil: England, Archaeology and the Imagination


message 5468: by Kimber (new)

Kimber (kimberlibri) | 785 comments Darcy wrote: "Margaret wrote: "The first novelist to use that idea was Jean Plaidy."

How very disappointing. Was she also the first to use Maud over Matilda as well? I believe the names were interchangeable in ..."


Well it starts when the Emperor dies and King Henry calls Maud back from Germany. So they do have a small amount of time to get to know each other. There is a big *R* scene and then she's off to Geoffrey of Anjou (who is not portrayed in a good light whatsoever). Now that they're on opposite sides of the crown I'm hoping all the sexual tension is done with and the fighting can begin but I'm not too hopeful.


message 5469: by Sandra (new)

Sandra | 32 comments I am reading Stepping Out by Lila Hope-Simpson by Lila Hope-Simpson and really having fun with it.


message 5470: by Kimber (new)

Kimber (kimberlibri) | 785 comments Kimber wrote: "Darcy wrote: "Margaret wrote: "The first novelist to use that idea was Jean Plaidy."

I'm hoping all the sexual tension is done with and the fighting can begin but I'm not too hopeful.
"


Now I'm just ignoring all the sex. *sigh*


message 5471: by Gretchen (new)

Gretchen (eab2012) You are making me re-think my decision to add that book to my tbr list.


message 5472: by Darcy (new)

Darcy (drokka) | 2675 comments *giggles* at both your comments


message 5473: by Andy (new)

Andy | 1510 comments A book recomm I asked for what must be ages ago now on A&M, thought best I get around to it despite the very small text :) could be a long journey with Panthers in the Sky Panther in the Sky by James Alexander Thom


message 5474: by Kimber (new)

Kimber (kimberlibri) | 785 comments Finished The Fatal Crown and now reading The Man Who Was Thursday by G.K. Chesterson. I'm not very far into it but I'm bowled over by the gorgeous prose. Here is a description of one of the characters:

"His dark red hair parted in the middle was literally like a woman's, and curved into the slow curls of a virgin in a pre-Raphaelite picture. From within this almost saintly oval, however, his face projected suddenly broad and brutal, the chin carried forward with a look of cockney contempt. This combination at once tickled and terrified the nerves of a neurotic population. He seemed like a walking blasphemy, a blend of the angel and the ape."


*sighs dreamily*


message 5475: by Gretchen (new)

Gretchen (eab2012) In case you were wondering, that's how all red heads should be described.


message 5476: by Linda (new)

Linda (ladylawyer8650) | 1702 comments I went to Read Any Book.com to reread Wolf Hall free online. I could not find it at that site. I have started Sarum: The Novel of England instead.


message 5477: by Kimber (new)

Kimber (kimberlibri) | 785 comments Gretchen wrote: "In case you were wondering, that's how all red heads should be described."

Hey! I'm a red head! I hope I'm not broad and brutal and part ape ;)


message 5478: by Gretchen (new)

Gretchen (eab2012) Just the boys. Everyone knows red headed girls are the best!


message 5479: by Kimber (new)

Kimber (kimberlibri) | 785 comments Gretchen wrote: "Just the boys. Everyone knows red headed girls are the best!"

Okay..forgiven. Have you seen the Red Hots photography and film project? Rebranding red headed males. They even have a calendar and a FB page.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/art...


message 5480: by Victor (new)

Victor Bruneski | 124 comments Just read Black Ajax by George MacDonald Fraser by George MacDonald Fraser. Like always, I am impressed how GMF brings to life the history in his fiction.
My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Now I'm readying Professor Moriarty The Hound of the D'Urbervilles by Kim Newman by Kim Newman


message 5481: by Chris (last edited Sep 20, 2014 11:16PM) (new)

Chris  | 419 comments Picked up a copy of Bernard Cornwell's new book on Waterloo yesterday, can't wait to get into it when I finish The Baklava Club.


message 5482: by Linda (new)

Linda (ladylawyer8650) | 1702 comments Victor wrote: "Just read Black Ajax by George MacDonald Fraser by George MacDonald Fraser. Like always, I am impressed how GMF brings to life the history in his fiction.
My review https://www.goodreads.co..."


Great review!

I have red hair. One son has red hair, too. The down part about having red hair is the white skin that never tans and pale eyelashes and brows


message 5483: by Jane (new)


message 5484: by Sandra (new)

Sandra | 32 comments Just started Zulu Hart (George Hart #1) by Saul David by Saul David. The Zulu War is a new topic for me.


message 5485: by Mark (new)


message 5486: by Pamela (new)

Pamela (bibliohound) As I enjoyed Harlequin so much, I'm now reading Vagabond Vagabond (The Grail Quest, #2) by Bernard Cornwell


message 5488: by Bobby (new)

Bobby (bobbej) | 1375 comments Sandra wrote: "Just started Zulu Hart (George Hart #1) by Saul David by Saul David. The Zulu War is a new topic for me."

I enjoy reading of the Boer Wars. Especially The Boer War by Thomas Pakenham . So when I saw your post I immediately purchased it. Thanks for the heads up.


message 5490: by Victor (new)

Victor Bruneski | 124 comments Linda wrote: "Victor wrote: "Just read Black Ajax by George MacDonald Fraser by George MacDonald Fraser. Like always, I am impressed how GMF brings to life the history in his fiction.
My review https://w..."


Thanks :)


message 5491: by Leila (new)

Leila | 5 comments Linda wrote: "I went to Read Any Book.com to reread Wolf Hall free online. I could not find it at that site. I have started Sarum: The Novel of England instead."

Great book Linda though a long one!


message 5492: by Leila (new)

Leila | 5 comments Reading "The Splintered Kingdom" by James Aitcheson and just beginning "Hawk Quest" by Robert Lyndon.


message 5494: by Leila (new)

Leila | 5 comments Not sure I understand?


message 5495: by Darcy (new)

Darcy (drokka) | 2675 comments One of the group rules is to link any books not mentioned in the last four posts.
Here's the link to tips on how to link a book, or if speaking in generalities, the author. https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Now, if you're using the mobile app, then just let us know and someone will link the book/author for you. :)


message 5496: by Mark (last edited Sep 23, 2014 06:24AM) (new)

Mark | 1885 comments Leila wrote: "Not sure I understand?"

If you post a book or an author, the group requests that you do it as a link, like darcy has done for you in her post.

if you dont know how or your using some thing which let use the add book/author link just say in your post that you cant and one of us will do it for you.

as darcy says. ;)


message 5497: by Leila (new)

Leila | 5 comments I think I see what you mean now after reading how to do this so thank you both Darcy and Mark for your help. Next time I will hopefully do it correctly. Forgive a rather ancient old lady for not reading the rules properly.


message 5498: by Darcy (new)

Darcy (drokka) | 2675 comments No worries :)


message 5499: by Lucy (new)

Lucy | 13 comments Just finished Sansom's Dark Fire, which I thought was meh. The sense of period was not as strong as I would have liked. Before that I finished Hild, which I LOVED.


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