What Are You Reading Right Now? ( Hwæt béon ðu bocrædung?) Showing 6,351-6,400 of 10,106

[Jerry]

Well, I have managed to finish the two books of the month from this group, Plague Land and The End of Sparta. I found the second one really hard going. I haven't posted a review yet, but I will in the next day or so. I also managed Scipio Rising and The Three Generals: Book Two of the Scipio Africanus Trilogy, just because I am interested in that era of history.

[Jane]

Dawn wrote: "I am currently reading:


The Aeneid which to my complete surprise I love. Robert Fagles does a great translation and it's essentially an adventure stor..."

Dawn, I think propaganda was Virgil's intent in the The Aeneid. I have the Fagles translation too, and it's excellent.

I'm guessing the author intended Ransom as just a novella, since it zeroes in on that particular incident only.

[Thomas]

The Pale Horseman Going to read The Pale Horseman. For some odd reason I always have a hard time getting into the Saxon books. So I'll try to read the series again.

[Dawn]

Jane, my understanding of The Aeneid is that is was written as propaganda for the Julio-Claudian dynasty. So I was absolutely expecting the add ins but they are very amusing sometimes and I can't help but laugh.

As for Ransom, I think I was expecting a bigger story. Or a more expanded story. I know the book is little but until I opened it up I didn't realize that it could have fit into a much smaller book.

[Jane]

Virgil wasn't terribly subtle, was he? :)

[Dawn]

Not at all subtle. I guess he didn't want whichever emperor was reading it to miss the references! :)

[Jane]

There's a wonderful scene in Tabula Rasa, that Ruso & Tilla series I like so much, where the couple are at a British dinner party. (view spoiler)[ All the guests are told to give a story of their ancestors. Ruso decides to tell the story of the Aeneid. His other Roman friends there help him with lines he's forgotten and when he gets to the Dido & Aeneas section, he quickly makes up a happy ending, that Aeneas met and married a beautiful native--of course Ruso has Tilla in his mind. (hide spoiler)] I thought this episode was really inspired!

[Dawn]

I haven't read that one yet, I'll have something to look forward to when I get to it. It's always better when you are familiar with the source material.

[Jane]

Since we've been discussing The Aeneid, what I mentioned is an incident involving the Aeneid.

[Dawn]

Oh, I read the spoiler. I should clarify as my comment is very cryptic I see now, I meant it would be good to read the book Tabula Rusa after having read The Aeneid as I would know the source of the story. :)

[Teanka]

I finished The End of Sparta and am happy that I did, it was a very informative book. I started to read Ransom and it's very well written and very short but I didn't manage to finish it before the Easter and today I'm traveling and taking just my kindle with me so it will have to wait till I come back, unfortunately.

Jerry wrote: "I also managed Scipio Rising and The Three Generals: Book Two of the Scipio Africanus Trilogy, just because I am interested in that era of history. "

I am too, thanks for the tip. My favourite trilogy about Scipio Africanus and Hannibal unfortunately wasn't translated into English (not yet? these are new books). I'm talking about Africanus: el hijo del Cónsul and the 2 following installments by Santiago Posteguillo. They remind me most of the late Coleen McCullough 's Master of Rome series, in that they are very long and detailed in descriptions. The kind of HF I like the most. But I've added Scipio Rising to my TBR book pile.

[Tomas]

i just started on the icelandic sagas. and it's a joy to read

[Dawn]

I am looking forward to the Easter long weekend, I might be able to catch up on my Reading Challenge!

I've started a few more books:

Gun, With Occasional Music So far I'm not impressed. It's a futuristic hard boiled detective story but I'm finding it all cliches and nothing special. Considering there is a gun toting kangaroo in the story that is saying something.

Divisadero I'm only a chapter in but it has stellar writing and I'm hopeful of a great story as well.

The End of Sparta Finally started this which means I should be able to catch up on the group read thread soon.

[Bobby]

[Linda]

Claudius the God and His Wife Messalina by Robert Graves. I am deep into the third chapter, and so far the story is about Herod.

[Dawn]

Hmm, I still have to read that one. Hope it's good Linda.

[Aneela]

Finished The Plantagenets, which I loved. Now starting The Night Circus. Curious to see if it meets the hype.

[Dawn]

I thought it met the hype, it was quirky and cool.

[Bobby]

Wow and wow!! This is an unbelievably well written sci-fi novel. Suspense and realism with a dash of occasional humor. Reading it every chance I get...haven't said something like this about a book for awhile.

[happy]

I just finished The Most Dangerous Man in America: The Making of Douglas MacArthur - a look at the relationship between MacA and FDR and MacA's WW II record

Currently reading



at NF look at Elizabeth I's court

[Dawn]

I do love a long weekend,I have started:


The Borgias: The Hidden History I'm already a fan of this authors work and this book looks to be just as good as his others.

Am I Disturbing You?: A Novel This is an odd little book but quite compelling. Read as part of my foray into Canadian Literature.

The Epic of Gilgamesh The oldest book in the world and so far a bit raunchy.

[Catherine]

Bobby wrote: "
Wow and wow!! This is an unbelievably well written sci-fi novel. Suspense and realism with a dash of occasional humor. Reading it every chance I get...haven't said ..."

Loved that book too!! It really is a great book.

[Kimber]

Catherine wrote: "Bobby wrote: "
Wow and wow!! This is an unbelievably well written sci-fi novel. Suspense and realism with a dash of occasional humor. Reading it every chance I get....."

Bought it just off this reaction. Looking forward to giving it a read. :D

[Jane]

The Siege Winter

[Dawn]

I've finished off some more books:


Poirot's Early Cases
A Doll's House
The Wild Duck
The Lady from the Sea

And started:

Madame Bovary

[Gretchen]

Finished His Majesty's Hope

Started Ransom

[Jane]

The Long Fall by Penelope Wilcock

[Dawn]

And just because I thought I should start more books, I am reading The Aeneid again but with the Fitzgerald translation instead of Fagles.

[Dawn]

I love the cover for the Edwin book, it's really dramatic.

[Jane]

Martha wrote: "Dawn wrote: "I love the cover for the Edwin book, it's really dramatic."

I know it is so dramatic."

In my review, I believe I called attention to the cover especially.

[Aneela]

Bobby wrote: "
Wow and wow!! This is an unbelievably well written sci-fi novel. Suspense and realism with a dash of occasional humor. Reading it every chance I get...haven't said ..."

Borrowed this from my Library today. Really looking forward to it :)

[Gretchen]

I finished Ransom. It was a rather short book. I think I only logged a little over two hours of reading time on it.
I started The Prime Minister's Secret Agent today. On page one Ian Fleming makes an appearance! I think Ian Fleming is kind of a big deal. I now feel the need to watch Chitty Chitty Bang Bang with the girls tonight and put in some 007 when they go to bed.

[Victor]

Just finished by Victor Davis Hanson I struggle to finish it, but at least I did!
My review ===> https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Now I'm reading by F. Paul Wilson which is sort of historical horror I guess.

[Linda]

Claudius the God and His Wife Messalina by Robert Graves started oh so slowly. By page fifty, I was ready to trash the book. By page 100 the tide turned. I am reading punctuated sentences, and things seem to be getting better for the reader.

[Gretchen]

Death of Kings It suddenly hits me, there's only two Uhtred books after this one. I just parted with Gordianus. I don't know if I can loose Uhtred too. Life's rough.

[Jane]

Gretchen wrote: "Death of Kings It suddenly hits me, there's only two Uhtred books after this one. I just parted with Gordianus. I don't know if I can loose Uhtred too. Life's rough."

$$ to donuts he'll be back.

[Jane]

Dark North

[Mark]

City of Stairs and Guards! Guards!

[Gretchen]

Jane wrote: "Gretchen wrote: "Death of Kings It suddenly hits me, there's only two Uhtred books after this one. I just parted with Gordianus. I don't know if I can loose Uhtred too. Life's rough..."

Gordianus keeps returning in prequels to Roman Blood. I can't imagine Uhtred is any different. I curious to see what Cornwell is currently working on.

[Dawn]

Mark wrote: "City of Stairs and Guards! Guards!"

Good choices,

I'm interested to see what you think of City of Stairs.

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Jane wrote: " Dark North"

I've got that one at home. Picked it up at a book fair last year.

[Mark]

Dawn wrote: "Mark wrote: "City of Stairs and Guards! Guards!"

Good choices,

I'm interested to see what you think of City of Stairs."

Theres a lot of love for that book in my goodreads friends. A touch of pressure. Lols

[Dawn]

I know how you feel. :)

[Andy]

So eagerly awaited I actually went out & BOUGHT shiny new.....

[happy]

Jane wrote: " Dark North"

I liked it

[Jane]

I'm liking it so far. Unusual protagonist and unusual time period: Septimius Severus [wasn't he from Africa like the hero?]

[Dawn]

In a fit of indecision I've started 5 new books in one day:


The Age of Innocence
Thérèse Raquin
Homesick
The Trade
Like a Mighty Army

[happy]

I finished The Queen's Bed: An Intimate History of Elizabeth's Court. It was so-so, I gave it three stars. I'm starting my Jeri Westerson marathon.

I've got three of her books on ILL, so they have to be read :)







The library had



so I didn't have to ILL it. That one is also sitting on the horizontal book shelf :)

[Teanka]

Dawn wrote: "In a fit of indecision I've started 5 new books in one day:


Haha Dawn, your list looks impressive!
I know how you feel, however this time I managed to restrain myself and only started reading a Chinese SF novel, . I hope also to read as it's so short.

I also enjoyed , by the way. I'm looking forward to Bennett's next book , .

[Dawn]

We have to wait awhile for Bennett's next book, and then I shall have to wait even longer for the library...