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What Are You Reading Right Now? ( Hwæt béon ðu bocrædung?)
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Linda
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Jun 23, 2015 03:29AM
Margaret of Anjou by Conn Iggulden. This is my ssecond start because I am in a reading slump. The slump caught me unawares and pitched me to the classic comedy and drama video/movie section. Everybody watch BORN YESTERDAY with Judy Holliday, Broderick Crawford, and William Holden. Laughter is good for the soul.
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Kimber wrote: "Allie wrote: "^^I like the Pink Carnation series. Usually not my kind of read but they're fun and mindless. If you can get past the heroine in the first book, the rest of the girls aren't nearly as..."hahaha. You're welcome :)
It almost put me off continuing on with the series!
Linda wrote: "Margaret of Anjou by Conn Iggulden. This is my ssecond start because I am in a reading slump. The slump caught me unawares and pitched me to the classic comedy and drama video/mo..."Ms. Happy brought this home from the library for me today :) It is a couple of reads down the stack though
I just started Steven Saylor's
I had it out once before, but somebody wanted to read in before I got to it - so it had to go back to the library :(
I just finished an interesting NF read
It has an academic feel and is a little dry, but it's fascinating look at what happens to NFL players once they leave the game - not just the money aspect, but the problems they have in general and more importantly - why.
happy wrote: I just finished an interesting NF readIs There Life After Football? Surviving the NFL by James A. Holstein
It has an academic feel and is a little dry, but it's fascinating look at what happens to NFL players once they leave the game - not just the money aspect, but the problems they have in general and more importantly - why.
Does this in any way talk about the prevalence of brain damage in ex-football players and the impact that has on their lives? I've forgotten the specific name they have for the injury but I know that more than one ex-player has committed suicide because of it.
Kimber wrote: "happy wrote: I just finished an interesting NF readIs There Life After Football? Surviving the NFL by James A. Holstein
It has an academic feel and is a little dry, but it's fascinating look at ..."
They do, but the health effects of football is just one part of the story. In addtiton to head trauma, They also talk about what high level football does to other parts of the body, knees, hips, backs etc and the long term health effect in general football has on the players. The percentage of 50 yr old ex NFL players that have artificial hips/knees is amazing. The story of Jim Otto is just awful. He has has had something like 70 surgeries on his knees, hips, back and shoulders including multiple knee replacements on both knees. He eventually lost a leg to the effects of playing in the NFL
However, the main focus is the culture of football and how elite athletes are coddled from a very young age and are protected from the demands of society. The authors refer to it as living in a a bubble. They focus on what happens when football players leave that bubble and have to live as a regular member of society.
One of the co-authors, George Koonce, played middle linebacker in the NFL for 9 yrs and has his gone on to earn his PHD. Many of the ancedotes quoted are his story.
ParisUnlike Rutherford books I have read based in London, the New Forest and Dublin, this book is not chronologically written. It still retains the Rutherford style of tracing fictional family lineages from the ancient to the (relatively) modern, however the sequences are broken up, so that it begins in the nineteenth century and suddenly the reader is plunged back into the middle ages.
Andrew wrote: "ParisUnlike Rutherford books I have read based in London, the New Forest and Dublin, this book is not chronologically written. It still retains the Ruther..."
Waiting for the review.....
Andrew wrote: "ParisUnlike Rutherford books I have read based in London, the New Forest and Dublin, this book is not chronologically written. It still retains the Ruther..."
I also just finished this, 3 stars from me. The jumping around didn't add any value for me, just a lot of unnecessary confusion.
I am enjoying the book, but like you I don't see any advantage in the back and forth through time. It is such an overused style these days. I just finished the Narrow Road to the Deep North (Richard Flanagan) and it jumped around so much I didn't know what was going on 1/2 the time!
A Plague on Both Your Houses- I was told it would be good for those who liked the Shardlake novels. So far it's a fine read but not comparable to Shardlake. Just my opinion. Still working on The Passionate Brood. Barnes just doesn't make the Devil's Brood as enchanting as Anne of Cleves or Will Sommers.
Andrew wrote: "I am enjoying the book, but like you I don't see any advantage in the back and forth through time. It is such an overused style these days. I just finished the Narrow Road to the Deep North (Richar..."Oh dear, I have a narrow road to the deep north coming up soon...
AceIt's not a light read by any means, but I would still give it a shot!
Andrew wrote: "AceIt's not a light read by any means, but I would still give it a shot!"
Thanks Andrew. The older I get the less stubborn I have become about finishing books, so if I find it too tedious, I will stop.
Gretchen wrote: "A Plague on Both Your Houses- I was told it would be good for those who liked the Shardlake novels. So far it's a fine read but not comparable to Shardlake. Just my opinion. Still wo..."
Passionate Brood is my least favorite book by Barnes. I just didn't feel it was as deep, either in character development or in historical fact, as My Lady of Cleves or King's Fool. I actually abandoned ship on that one.
Désirée by Annemarie Selinko. I've had this book on my TBR list forever and finally got around to picking it up. Probably about 20% into it, and while it is well written and entertaining, nothing can hold a candle to Sandra Gulland's Josephine B. trilogy. But the author very clearly did her homework for this novel, which is always great when reading historical fiction.
Shannon Elizabeth wrote: "Gretchen wrote: "A Plague on Both Your Houses- I was told it would be good for those who liked the Shardlake novels. So far it's a fine read but not comparable to Shardlake. Just my op..."I managed to stick it out but I didn't care for it. The previous books I read were just so charming and there was none of that charm this time.
I have just finished Holy Spy by Rory Clements. The publisher's blurb also claims these books (featuring John Shakespeare - elder brother of Will and chief intelligencer for Sir Francis Walsingham) are as good as Shardlake, but that should be seen as nothing but spin. This wasn't even the best of the Shakespeare books in my opinion, and was nowhere close to Shardlake. Have just started Stormbird. I'm reserving judgement so far. I must try and catch up on the group reads for July and August.
I fînished Margaret of Anjou by Conn Iggulden. I gave the book five stars when I reviewed it on Goodreads. To date, I am all 'read up' on Mr. Iggulden's books. I started Sharon K. Penman's Here be Dragons today.
Linda wrote: "I fînished Margaret of Anjou by Conn Iggulden. I gave the book five stars when I reviewed it on Goodreads. To date, I am all 'read up' on Mr. Iggulden's books. I started Sharon K..."One of my favorite Penman books! I'm at about page 100 of Margret of Anjou - I'm enjoying it, but I don't think it's as good as his Mongol books
Good man, Happy, regarding Mr. Iggulden's Mongol books and this particular Penman book. Some say HERE BE DRAGONS is less convoluted than her other books. Convoluted or not, she can flat out write! Happy 4th!
Love, love, love Penman. I'm just finishing up Conn Iggulden's Stormbird. Not sure I'll give it 5 stars, but I liked it a lot.
Linda wrote: "I fînished Margaret of Anjou by Conn Iggulden. I gave the book five stars when I reviewed it on Goodreads. To date, I am all 'read up' on Mr. Iggulden's books. I started Sharon K..."Oh, how I loved Here be Dragons! Enjoy!
I've been meaning to read Here be Dragons for ages and all this talk of it has made me bump it up in priority.I'll be starting Eagles at War by Ben Kane today as I've just finished Circling the Sun last night *4 stars, but it was a bit heavy on the romance so really a 3.5
Finished The Passionate Brood and A Plague on Both Your Houses while hanging out on the boat this weekend. SHHH!! Don't tell the library I had books on the boat.Started The Rhetoric of Death on the drive home yesterday.
I started
yesterday. BUT I am torn. I love Shakespears Story and enjoyed reading
but I think Shylocks daughter wont be that good or good at all Oo
Jerry wrote: "I have just finished Holy Spy by Rory Clements. The publisher's blurb also claims these books (featuring John Shakespeare - elder brother of Will and chief intellig..."Oh thank you! I had no idea that this series continued. Added :)
I finished Iggulden's 
I can see where the title comes from - Margret is the main protaganist. I liked it - a little slow in spots, covers the start of the War of the Roses, including the Percy/Neville feud, the 1st Battle of St. Albans, the "Battle" of Ludlow castle and culmintates with the Battle of Wakefield where Richard of York loses is head.
For me it was a four star read - I'll post a more complete review later.
currently reading this newish NF look at the WWII Battle of the Bulge
I finished
couldn´t recommend it ...
Nadine wrote: "I finished couldn´t recommend it ..."Glad someone else feels like I do. I felt lonely; it got so many glowing reviews. Seems like there aren't too many bucking the tide....
Jane wrote: "Nadine wrote: "I finished couldn´t recommend it ..."Glad someone else feels like I do. I felt lonely; it got so many glowing reviews. Seems like there aren't..."
Were'nt my cup o tea either
Glad someone else feels like I do. I felt lonely; it got so many glowing reviews. Seems like there aren't..."
YEAH!
I wanted to like it. In Germany it has such a shiny Cover
instalove. The main part of HF in Germany is the typical "Damsel in distress"-stuff ... and god damnit ... I dont like it, it´s the same story over and over again.
When I found this one I was just like: OMFG YES. Penhaligon (the publisher) take my money now *throws € at them*
The first 80p. where ... hard.
I dont get into the book/story ... and this was just sad. I LOVE fiction like that. All blood & gore & fighting & MEN (seriously womenfolk in HF is not my cup of tea (and I´m a woman myself)
But this book ... I never connected with the charakters and the plot was okay ... but I know better plots, with better charakters.
So so sad.
The book doesnt go well in Germany. I received a ARC via the publisher and see all the other reviews. I rated it 2.5 (3*) but there are many people who rated it 1-2 stars.
And I´m afraid, that will lead to more Damsel in distress HF in Germany ... :D
Glad someone else feels like I do. I felt lonely; it got so many glowing reviews. Seems like there aren't..."I wanted to try a novel in German to practice what I learned years ago and have mostly forgotten. I have one originally in German, but am oh so sloooooooooooowly making my way, with language dictionary in hand, through German translation of Medicus by Ruth Downie: German title: Tod einer Sklavin--but with picture of Helen of Troy on the cover. :) I own both. @Nadine: it's a mystery set in Roman Britain.
Jane wrote: "Glad someone else feels like I do. I felt lonely; it got so many glowing reviews. Seems like there aren't..."I wanted to try a novel in German to practice what I learned years ago and have mostl..."
You really have to wonder who is designing these book covers. I realize the publishing industry isn't what it used to be, but Helen of Troy?
Inane, I know. I thought it was weird and found the name of the picture somewhere. I also dislike the ones with statues and the ones with headless women.The heroine of Medicus WAS a blonde. But the hero never carried her off like that.
you're welcome - so far it has been a very interesting read.
Jane wrote: "
The Pict by Jack Dixon."I have that book on my shelf/stack but haven't read it yet. I'm interested to see if you like it.
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