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 5501: by Kimber (new)

Kimber (kimberlibri) | 785 comments Beyond the Cliffs of Kerry for some light reading.

Funny you posted HoundedDawn...
That was the subject of an 'Unsolved' thread on my 'Searching for a book' group. Wish I'd looked at your list earlier.


message 5502: by happy (last edited Sep 24, 2014 01:55PM) (new)

happy (happyone) | 2782 comments Finished

An Officer and a Spy by Robert Harris

Excellent! Right now I have it as a 4 star, but I'm debating on rating it a 5.

It is the story of the Dreyfus case told form the POV of the officer that blew the whistle.

currently reading

How Far from Austerlitz? Napoleon 1805-1815 by Alistair Horne -it's non fiction


message 5503: by Darcy (new)


message 5504: by Carol (new)

Carol (ladygyn) | 304 comments Finished upDeath du Jourand The Water's Edge and now reading Silence. On a bit of a crime writer spree. Waiting for a good medieval novel to grab my attention


message 5505: by Kimber (new)

Kimber (kimberlibri) | 785 comments Gave up on the Cliffs of Kerry. I didn't really give it a chance. I could just tell I wasn't in the mood for it. Reading Isabeau: A Novel of Queen Isabella and Sir Roger Mortimer. Skips over the early years and mostly concentrates on the time of Edward II & Hugh Despenser's 'reign'.


message 5506: by Allison (new)

Allison | 1704 comments I have that on my Kindle Kimber - hope its good!


Still reading Blood & Beauty The Borgias by Sarah Dunant I keep reading and reading and reading... I'm only on page 139!! This is so long, waahhhhhhh. I have so much coming up for October, I may have to set it aside :/


message 5507: by Kimber (new)

Kimber (kimberlibri) | 785 comments It was certainly smooth reading. Finished it last night and moved on to The King Must Die, Book II of II in the series.


message 5508: by Pamela (last edited Sep 29, 2014 12:13AM) (new)

Pamela (bibliohound) Finished Vagabond and am now launching into Wolf Hall and also Ruso and the Disappearing Dancing Girls which I saw recommended here as Medicus (I have the uk version)


message 5509: by Darcy (new)

Darcy (drokka) | 2675 comments Despite best efforts, I haven't really been able to read much of anything. That new job I got in March went stale up until 2 weeks ago and now it's a case of having more work than I know what to do with. And because of changes I'm not even on the bus much for a bit (they're having to find me a desk).


message 5510: by Dawn (new)

Dawn (caveatlector) It's so rude when work gets in the way of our obsessions!

Hopefully it all sorts itself out soon and you can get back to the important things in life. :)


message 5511: by Darcy (new)

Darcy (drokka) | 2675 comments I'm in full agreement! I knew this job would require more of my time, so I should probably consider the last few months as a fortunate accident. But yeah, once I get a real feel for it, I'm hoping it will settle some.


message 5512: by Kimber (new)

Kimber (kimberlibri) | 785 comments I left the Plantagenets and headed over to Rudolf II's Holy Roman Empire with The Bloodletter's Daughter by Linda Lafferty. I know nothing about this time period or location so it was an interesting read. If anyone else has suggestions for books about Prague, Vienna etc. in pretty much any pre-1900 period (although I like the Medieval times the most) please share.
Since I haven't found anything else related I'm clearing out my TBR and tackling John Jakes' North and South. Not my usual time period but I watched Roadhouse last night with Patrick Swayze and that made me think about his other roles that I loved him in...one being Orry Main in the televised mini-series based on the novel. I think I was around 10 or so when it came out and I was obsessed with it! Sorry - rambling. I'm on a lot of medication for a viral throat thingy and I"m kinda loopy :o


message 5513: by Mark (new)


message 5514: by Histolicious (new)

Histolicious Histolicious Just started with Die Frauen der Tafelrunde by Kylie Fitzpatrick


message 5515: by Dawn (new)

Dawn (caveatlector) I have a couple HF books out from the library but I keep getting sidetracked by other genres. I've finished The Sittaford Mystery by Agatha Christie The Sittaford Mystery by Agatha Christie & Anil's Ghost by Michael Ondaatje Anil's Ghost by Michael Ondaatje
I'm currently reading Third Girl (Hercule Poirot, #35) by Agatha Christie Third Girl by Agatha Christie, Unless by Carol Shields Unless by Carol Shields & The In-Between World of Vikram Lall by M.G. Vassanji The In-Between World of Vikram Lall by M.G. Vassanji


message 5516: by Victor (new)

Victor Bruneski | 124 comments Just finished Professor Moriarty The Hound of the D'Urbervilles by Kim Newman by Kim Newman. Great read if you are a fan of Sherlock Holmes and have read the original stories.
My review ===> https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Now i'm reading Druids by Morgan Llywelyn by Morgan Llywelyn


message 5517: by Jane (last edited Oct 02, 2014 10:53AM) (new)

Jane | 3480 comments Letters from Melite by Michael J. Sant Letters from Melite / Michael J. Sant :
epistolary novel on Byzantine Empire [9th-12 centuries A.D.] about which I know very little.


message 5518: by Sandra (new)

Sandra | 32 comments I am reading The Long Way Home (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #10) by Louise Penny by Louise Penny. I have read all her books and each is better than the last.


message 5519: by Dawn (new)

Dawn (caveatlector) Those are the ones set in Quebec right?? I keep hearing about them but haven't tried one yet.


message 5520: by Sandra (new)

Sandra | 32 comments Dawn wrote: "Those are the ones set in Quebec right?? I keep hearing about them but haven't tried one yet."

You should try them. I think it is a unique series and Quebec is a wonderful setting. There are 10 in the series now and they should be read in order.


message 5521: by Darcy (new)

Darcy (drokka) | 2675 comments Dawn wrote: "Those are the ones set in Quebec right?? I keep hearing about them but haven't tried one yet."

I believe the first one was made into a tele show, and the dude that plays Inspector Linley (in same titled mysteries) plays the Gamache character.


message 5522: by Kevin (new)

Kevin (kevincawley) Currently reading The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell on MP3 in the car, Tides of War by Steven Pressfield at home, and Paddle Your Own Canoe: One Man's Fundamentals for Delicious Living by Nick Offerman on breaks at work.

Up next is The Winter King, also by Bernard Cornwell, because it's already checked out of the library, and I'm hoping I can continue The Saxon Tales in the car.


message 5523: by Jane (new)

Jane | 3480 comments The Praise Singer by Mary Renault The Praise Singer / Mary Renault
A reread. Simonides, the ancient Greek lyric poet


message 5524: by Jane (new)

Jane | 3480 comments Kimber wrote: "I left the Plantagenets and headed over to Rudolf II's Holy Roman Empire with The Bloodletter's Daughter by Linda Lafferty. I know nothing about this time period or location so it w..."

I don't know whether you like plays or not but the catalyst for the action is set during Rudolph II's time; Makropoulos Secret by Karel Čapek Makropoulos Secret / Karel Čapek


message 5525: by Sandra (new)

Sandra | 32 comments Darcy wrote: "Dawn wrote: "Those are the ones set in Quebec right?? I keep hearing about them but haven't tried one yet."

I believe the first one was made into a tele show, and the dude that plays Inspector Lin..."


Please do not judge the books by that TV show. It was truly awful.


message 5526: by Dawn (new)

Dawn (caveatlector) I remember the TV show now, it was truly awful. I don't understand how Nathaniel Parker could be so bad in anything or why they cast a Brit for that matter??


message 5527: by Allison (new)

Allison | 1704 comments Sandra wrote: "I am reading The Long Way Home (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #10) by Louise Penny by Louise Penny. I have read all her books and each is better than the last."

Thanks! I'm gonna check them out now :)


message 5528: by Allison (new)

Allison | 1704 comments Hahaha. I clicked on it and discovered I already had them in my tbr. Man I have good taste :D


message 5529: by Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila (new)

Margaret (margyw) | 3341 comments Jane wrote: "The Praise Singer by Mary Renault The Praise Singer / Mary Renault
A reread. Simonides, the ancient Greek lyric poet"


One of my favourite books. :)


message 5530: by Darcy (new)

Darcy (drokka) | 2675 comments Sandra wrote: "Darcy wrote: "Dawn wrote: "Those are the ones set in Quebec right?? I keep hearing about them but haven't tried one yet."

I believe the first one was made into a tele show, and the dude that plays..."


No worries. I'd been well warned that shows were horrid and hardly reflective of the books. :)


message 5532: by happy (last edited Oct 06, 2014 12:03AM) (new)

happy (happyone) | 2782 comments It is hard for me to think of a WW II novel as historical fiction but it meets the 50 yrs rule. I am starting P.T. Deutermann's new one about the destroyers on radar picket duty during the invasion of Okinawa

Sentinels of Fire A Novel by P.T. Deutermann


message 5533: by Kimber (new)

Kimber (kimberlibri) | 785 comments I'm the same way Happy. I'm on the second novel of John Jakes Civil War trilogy Love and War Love and War (North and South, #2) by John Jakes . Unfortunately I made a really bonehead move. I purchased all three on the kindle at the same time and when I went to start the second I wasn't really paying attention. I read the prologue thinking, "Wow. There are some major spoilers in here. I guess they're going to do the whole second novel as kind of a flashback..." Yes. You guessed it. I read the prologue and the first chapter of the third book instead of the second so now I know everything that happens to the characters in the one I'm reading...just not how. *sighs*


message 5534: by Jim (new)

Jim (jimmaclachlan) Oh, I hate that, Kimber! I often use Calibre to change the title with a number since I've done that several times, too. If I can't or the series is too long, I make a text file & keep it in the folder with the other books.


message 5535: by Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd (new)

Terri | 19576 comments Kevin wrote: "Currently reading The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell on MP3 in the car, Tides of War by Steven Pressfield at home, and [book:Paddle Your Own C..."

You have excellent taste, Kevin. :)


message 5536: by Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd (new)

Terri | 19576 comments Jim wrote: "Oh, I hate that, Kimber! I often use Calibre to change the title with a number since I've done that several times, too. If I can't or the series is too long, I make a text file & keep it in the f..."

That's a good idea, Jim! Change out the title for a number. Nice bit of advice.


message 5537: by Linda (new)

Linda (ladylawyer8650) | 1702 comments Re-reading CODE TO ZERO by Ken Follett. Sorry about the book/author feature. Nook does not allow it.


message 5538: by Darcy (new)

Darcy (drokka) | 2675 comments Code to Zero

No worries Linda. We know your tablet is simply not up to the job. ;)

If people tell us that's the reason they can't link, no problem here.


message 5539: by Linda (new)

Linda (ladylawyer8650) | 1702 comments Code to ZeroKen FollettThanks, Darcy. You always come through for me. Using NOOK and ASUS together nearly makes a perfect product. For readers as frugal as I am, CODE TO ZERO is free online. I think I like this Ken Follett best. I didn't get sidetracked by the numerical code.


message 5540: by Gretchen (new)

Gretchen (eab2012) I finished The House of the Vestals. I am reading the Gordianus novels in their chronological order, instead of their published order. For anyone interested in reading the entire series, I recommend going in the published order (Goodreads has them listed in the published order. Saylor has them listed in chronological order on his website.) Reading them in chronological order may ruin a few things in later books unless you skip over Saylor's introduction and author's notes. I love Gordianus more and more with every story I read. My next mission is to finally finish Sashenka so I can start Wolf Hall. I am very excited to discuss Wolf Hall with this group of people.


message 5541: by Millie (new)

Millie Thom (milliethom) | 8 comments Last week (whilst on holiday) I finished reading both The Bloodletter's Daughter by Linda Lafferty and Death on Blackheath by Anne Perry. I've just put up the two reviews. I'm just about to start reading Wolf Hall, and hoping I'll like it better than the last time I tried it! It has such good ratings and reviews, I think I must have been half asleep at the time, because I found the style heavy going. Here's hoping I get a bit further into it this time. I'll let you know some time soon.


message 5543: by Jane (new)

Jane | 3480 comments Warrior in Bronze: Agamemnon pre-Trojan War

Arrow Music: poetry on classical themes; imagist

Will start soon Eromenos : Antinous.


message 5544: by Kimber (new)

Kimber (kimberlibri) | 785 comments Millie wrote: "Last week (whilst on holiday) I finished reading both The Bloodletter's Daughter by Linda Lafferty and Death on Blackheath by Anne Perry. I've just put up the two reviews. I'm just about to start r..."

I just finished The Bloodletter's Daughter myself. I love that period of history and am looking for more. I even started a thread to find more historical fiction from around this time....
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...


message 5545: by Jane (last edited Oct 06, 2014 01:41PM) (new)

Jane | 3480 comments Arrow Music took not much time.
So I have begun The Three-Arched Bridge . I read this about 10 years ago or so, but it has stuck with me.


message 5546: by happy (new)

happy (happyone) | 2782 comments I finished Sentinels of Fire: A Novel - good read! In his authors note, Capt Deutermann said his father commaned a destroyer division off Okinawa, and that he never spoke of the experience for the rest of his life - it was just to painful. I think this book explains why. In spite of a couple of minor factual error this is a 4+ star read. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in WW II.

Currently reading

1812 War with America by Jon Latimer

This is non fiction


message 5547: by Gretchen (new)

Gretchen (eab2012) I finally finished Sashenka. That book kind of became a chore. I plan on starting Wolf Hall. I didn't think it was going to be a good idea to start it last night during football. I have also started The Last Kingdom. I am going to see where all the fuss about Uhtred comes from.


message 5548: by Linda (new)

Linda (ladylawyer8650) | 1702 comments Laura Rose's The Passion of Marie Romanov. I started it at three a.m. today. I want to like it. The tsaravitsa (sp) is Alix from Sarum: The Novel of England. I picked up Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. Jamesbut one of my twinplets thought granny had no business reading erotic prose and hid it under the electronic pile of autumn leaves where the hedgehogs and Margaret were hiding. (See yesterday's Random Thoughts). Anyway, people on a TV talk show yesterday got onto FIFTY SHADES OF GREY, and, after hearing their consensus, I returned it to the hedgehogs.


message 5549: by Linda (new)

Linda (ladylawyer8650) | 1702 comments Happy, I put Sentinels of Fire: A Novel on my to read list. My father was Navy in Pacific when WWII ended. He never talked about those final days, not even to his brothers or son who all did their duty in the military whether in war or peace. I don't think men or women today feel a duty to serve their country like they used to. Did Viet Nam change us?


message 5550: by Paul (new)

Paul (paulie72) | 5 comments Just finishing up The Archer's Tale by Bernard Cornwell -- loving it. Already have Vagabond on deck.


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