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 5801: by Gretchen (new)

Gretchen (eab2012) Finally finished Stormbird! Thank you to Darcy for encouraging me to stick with it. It picked up enough at the end to make me curious about Trinity. I still have not finished Wolf Hall but I get closer every day! I have Fire from Heaven waiting for me along with about 15 other library books.


message 5802: by happy (last edited Nov 28, 2014 11:57AM) (new)

happy (happyone) | 2782 comments Gretchen wrote: "Finally finished Stormbird! Thank you to Darcy for encouraging me to stick with it. It picked up enough at the end to make me curious about
I have Fire from Heaven waiting for me along with about 15 other library books.


Glad you stuck it Stormbird

I hate when that happens :) I only have 6 right at the moment, but that can change when ever Mrs. Happy comes home from the library


message 5803: by Gretchen (new)

Gretchen (eab2012) I'm not really sure what inspired me to go overboard on books for December. My six year old is going to be out of school for the good part of the month not to mention all the Christmas concerts and other holiday activities we have to take part in. They might all end up back at the library.


message 5804: by happy (new)

happy (happyone) | 2782 comments Gretchen wrote: "I'm not really sure what inspired me to go overboard on books for December. My six year old is going to be out of school for the good part of the month not to mention all the Christmas concerts and...They might all end up back at the library.
"


That happens to me also - I just put them back on hold :)


message 5805: by Histolicious (last edited Nov 28, 2014 01:25PM) (new)

Histolicious Histolicious Reading Der Fall Moriarty by Anthony Horowitz loving it ... so far :D


message 5806: by Linda (last edited Nov 29, 2014 12:52AM) (new)

Linda (ladylawyer8650) | 1702 comments Armageddon by Leon Uris. WWII is winding down in Europe. The clean-up teams are in several concentration camps scattered throughout Germany, Poland, Austria, and more. Remember many of the atrocities done to inferior races by the Germans were not discovered until near the war's end in Europe. The Nazis rushed to dispose of the evidence of their actions."We did not know," is repeated by the conquered people over and over. I like how Mr.URIs comes back at these people. I never thought much about how the 'clean-up' after any war ended, but through this book I am learning. Unfortunately. The Red Cross is there, and that is an important organization. The protagonist, O'Sullivan, has lost two brothers to the war, directly and directly so he is dealing with detroilling emotions that are new to him.


message 5807: by happy (new)

happy (happyone) | 2782 comments Good Book - one of my two favorite Uris novels


message 5808: by Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila (new)

Margaret (margyw) | 3341 comments Brian wrote: "Reading The Tempest, which is the last book for my Shakespeare class this quarter. I've really enjoyed getting into Shakespeare. I wonder what people's thoughts are on his histories?"

Some are good, but some, like Richard III and Henry VIII are appalling Tudor propaganda.


message 5809: by Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila (last edited Nov 30, 2014 09:14PM) (new)

Margaret (margyw) | 3341 comments Henry VIII has the most sycophantic scene ever seen in a play. The baptism of the infant Princess Elizabeth with all these dreadful "prophecies" of what a great and glorious monarch she will make.

My English teacher (a devoted Shakespearan, I might add) called it "the worst literary suck up of all time."


message 5810: by happy (new)

happy (happyone) | 2782 comments the Utah Shakespeare Festival are doing all the History plays in cronilogical order - I've enjoyed the first 3 they've done (King John, Richard II and Henry IV part 1)

I must admit I don't particularly like reading them, but I do enjoy watching them.


message 5811: by Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila (new)

Margaret (margyw) | 3341 comments I love both, Happy.

When I was in my teens the BBC recorded all of Shakespeare's plays. I still have the image of Derek Jacobi looking like an angel as Richard II.


message 5812: by Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila (last edited Nov 30, 2014 09:41PM) (new)

Margaret (margyw) | 3341 comments The dvds are on my to buy list.

I'm holding out for series 2 of The Hollow Crown. Benedict Cumberbatch as Richard III.

A friend of mine who is a Shakespearean scholar has seen the first season and says they're excellent.


message 5813: by Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila (new)

Margaret (margyw) | 3341 comments Series 2 comprises Henry VI parts 1 and 2, and Richard III.


message 5814: by happy (new)

happy (happyone) | 2782 comments Margaret wrote: "I love both, Happy.

When I was in my teens the BBC recorded all of Shakespeare's plays. I still have the image of Derek Jacobi looking like an angel as Richard II."


I remember that series - IIRC it took them 5 yrs or so to do them all


message 5815: by Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila (new)

Margaret (margyw) | 3341 comments happy wrote: "Margaret wrote: "I love both, Happy.

When I was in my teens the BBC recorded all of Shakespeare's plays. I still have the image of Derek Jacobi looking like an angel as Richard II."

I remember t..."


Yes. And they were all brilliantly cast. John Cleese, of all people, was outstanding as Petrucchio in The Taming of the Shrew.


message 5816: by Eileen (new)

Eileen H I own the hollow crown series, and I think they are amazing. One of my professors in my graduate program recommended them, and are most definitely worth a watch. Especially if you have a hard time reading the plays.


message 5817: by Dawn (new)

Dawn (caveatlector) I'm starting 3 books today:

The Leper's Return by Michael Jecks
The Empty Throne by Bernard Cornwell
&
Flash by L.E. Modesitt Jr.

I should also be starting The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe tomorrow.


message 5818: by C.P. (new)

C.P. Lesley (cplesley) | 564 comments Just finished The Gondola Maker, which I liked a lot. Not sure what I will read next.


message 5819: by Dennis (new)

Dennis | 32 comments Just finished The Old Colts by Glendon Swarthout . A very funny novel about Bat Masterson and Wyatt Earp in their old age.


message 5820: by Jerry (new)

Jerry Bennett | 147 comments Brian wrote: "Speaking of watching, has anyone seen The Hollow Crown about Richard II and the Henry plays on the BBC? I'm curious if it's any good."

Well worth watching Brian. They stick to the Shakespearean scripts closely while making full use of the creativity of film. One scene, shot among sand-dunes, when Richard returns from Ireland with his few remaining followers, was particularly memorable. ("Come, let us sit upon the ground and speak together of the death of kings.") An excellent series, and I look forward to the next ones.


message 5823: by Damian (new)

Damian | 2 comments Just finished The Ankhs: Red Marks The Child (again) by Amira Awaad for the 10th time (roughly).

I love all things Fantasy, so this was really refreshing. It's so different and I there are a whole lot of nuggets that you catch when you re-read. Definitely recommended.


message 5824: by Jane (new)

Jane | 3480 comments Damian wrote: "Just finished The Ankhs: Red Marks The Child (again) by Amira Awaad for the 10th time (roughly).

I love all things Fantasy, so this was really refreshing. It's so ..."


I find that too, when I reread something.


message 5825: by happy (new)

happy (happyone) | 2782 comments just starting this NON FICTION

The Last Valley Dien Bien Phu and the French Defeat in Vietnam by Martin Windrow


message 5826: by Histolicious (new)

Histolicious Histolicious just starting with Lord of the Silver Bow (Troy, #1) by David Gemmell


message 5827: by Dawn (new)

Dawn (caveatlector) That is a good book!!


message 5828: by Mark (new)


message 5829: by C.P. (new)

C.P. Lesley (cplesley) | 564 comments Rereading The Hippopotamus Pool by Elizabeth Peters, just for fun.


message 5830: by Bobby (new)

Bobby (bobbej) | 1375 comments Clash of Eagles by Alan Smale
Hey, I won this one the other day!! Should be getting it soon!


message 5831: by Victor (new)

Victor Bruneski | 124 comments I finished Fatherland by Robert Harris by Robert Harris
It was a great read. My review ===> https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Now I'm reading John Dies at the End (John Dies at the End, #1) by David Wong by David Wong
I loved the movie so the book should be good too.


message 5832: by Linda (new)

Linda (ladylawyer8650) | 1702 comments URIS LEON' ARMAGEDDON (THE B PART OF B/A IS ON HOLIDAY) I just finished this five star book about the Berlin Airlift, reparation of Germany after WWII, the Cold War. I recommend it to all.
Unforeseen by Nick Pirog I have opened one more time.


message 5833: by Lariela (new)

Lariela | 187 comments Currently reading A Christmas Carol and Little Women.


message 5834: by Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila (new)

Margaret (margyw) | 3341 comments It's time I dragged A Christmas Carol up on my Kindle. :)


message 5835: by Kimber (new)

Kimber (kimberlibri) | 785 comments Mark wrote: "Bones Never Lie (Temperance Brennan, #17) by Kathy Reichs"

Temperance Brennan! Love me some 'Bones'. Almost a completely different character than the tv show. This series and Patricia Cornwell's Scarpetta series are my faves in the Crime genre.


message 5836: by Linda (new)

Linda (ladylawyer8650) | 1702 comments I finished Unforeseen by Nick Pirog. The book had a serial killer, a profiler, the FBI and various other law enforcement types. It reminded me of Patricia Cornwell's Scarpetta series in the early days. Pirog's book was a quick read with too much vulgar language. I gave it three stars for its readability. I have started A Poor Wise Man by Mary Roberts Rinehart which is an older book circa WWI. It is a romance novel given four and five stars by die-hard anti-romance history and historical fiction readers.


message 5838: by Shannon Elizabeth (new)

Shannon Elizabeth Heffner (thepinkroseoftexas) | 571 comments Brian wrote: "Speaking of watching, has anyone seen The Hollow Crown about Richard II and the Henry plays on the BBC? I'm curious if it's any good."

The recent miniseries "The Hollow Crown" is so good, my husband (who is by no means a Shakespeare fan) not only watched all four episodes, but decided he needed to know more about the real people behind the plays! Ben Witshaw as Richard II is a breathtaking performance in itself! In case you don't have 30-something dollars to drop on a DVD set, it is available to stream from Amazon Instant Video for $2.99/episode. Absolutely worth every penny!


message 5839: by Shannon Elizabeth (last edited Dec 05, 2014 10:37PM) (new)

Shannon Elizabeth Heffner (thepinkroseoftexas) | 571 comments I just finished Susan Fraser King's Queen Hereafter A Novel of Margaret of Scotland (mixed feeling about that one), and I'm currently reading The Serpent and the Pearl by one of the masters of Roman historical fiction, Kate Quinn. It's absolutely wonderful!


message 5840: by Linda (new)

Linda (ladylawyer8650) | 1702 comments A Poor Wise Man by Mary Rinehart Roberts. I removed the book. With its ratings--all 4 and 5 stars--I should have read the book, but I simply could not get into it. Perhaps later I will read it because I was taught to finish what I start. I am listening to Celtic Women and have startedThe Golden Lynx.


message 5841: by Gretchen (new)

Gretchen (eab2012) Shannon Elizabeth wrote: "I just finished Susan Fraser King's Queen Hereafter A Novel of Margaret of Scotland (mixed feeling about that one), and I'm currently reading [book:The Serpent and th..."

I really like Quinn's Borgia novels but I think her ancient Rome series is much better.


message 5842: by Allison (new)

Allison | 1704 comments About to start The Last of Days by Paul Doherty


message 5843: by Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila (new)

Margaret (margyw) | 3341 comments I quite enjoyed that one, Allie. :)


message 5844: by Louise (new)

Louise | 51 comments Jane wrote: "Soldiers and Ghosts A History of Battle in Classical Antiquity by J.E. Lendon Soldiers and Ghosts: A History of Battle in Classical Antiquity / J.E. Lendon"

Nice choice! I got hold of this book a few years back. Fantastic cover aside, I found it a thought-provoking & very interesting read.


message 5845: by Liza (new)

Liza Perrat (httpwwwgoodreadscomlizaperrat) Linda wrote: "A Poor Wise Man by Mary Rinehart Roberts. I removed the book. With its ratings--all 4 and 5 stars--I should have read the book, but I simply could not get into it. Perhaps later I..."
I really enjoyed The Golden Lynx Here is my review and interview with the author: http://triskelebooks.blogspot.fr/2013...


message 5846: by Liza (new)

Liza Perrat (httpwwwgoodreadscomlizaperrat) I love Jane Davis's novels and am currently really enjoying I Stopped Time


message 5847: by Bobby (new)

Bobby (bobbej) | 1375 comments Allie wrote: "About to start The Last of Days by Paul Doherty"

Just picked it up...along with Soldiers and Ghosts A History of Battle in Classical Antiquity by J.E. Lendon


message 5848: by Allison (last edited Dec 08, 2014 02:23PM) (new)

Allison | 1704 comments I read a whole three pages.... my heads just not in the right place for reading :(
2014 is a book bust.


message 5849: by C.P. (new)

C.P. Lesley (cplesley) | 564 comments I finished rereading The Hippopotamus Pool and am about to start The Winthrop Woman.


message 5850: by Jane (new)


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