Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction discussion
General Discussions
>
What Are You Reading Right Now? ( Hwæt béon ðu bocrædung?)
The Wild Irish is starting to get a bit tedious. I'm struggling between taking it back to the library and finishing the book. I did complete all four books in the Gregory Maguire Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West series, even though I only enjoyed the first book. I don't know. I much preferred The Princes of Ireland and The Rebels of Ireland.
Linda wrote: "Seeing David's comment on Sarum: The Novel of England, I remembered liking the book but not remembering why. After re-reading my review, I remember why. It was the characters and the..."Sarum got me started on Rutherfurd's work. I'm currently reading New York. I had a lot of trouble with Russka and I hear many people gave up on Paris. Loved London.
Ace wrote: "Andrew wrote: "I admit to loving his books, especially the Forest, London and the Irish sagas. Currently reading "Paris" whichI like except for the fact the chapters aren;t in time sequence. I have..."I'm reading New York and loving it. Couldn't get into Russka.
Laureen wrote: "Sunny wrote: "Just started "New York" by Edward Rutherfurd. I love his writing!"Just wondering Sunny, are some of Rutherfurd's books better than others? I see a lot of people admiring his writin..."
Laureen, I love long books. Yes, some of his books are better than others. I didn't care for Russka and I'm told Paris is a strain. But Sarum is fascinating.
Much like Michner, you have to be in it for the long haul. He likes to start from scratch. I happen to love the maps and family lines. I understand cities and countries much better after reading his books.
Finished The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. and continuing on with Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe - book #2 in the trilogy.
Sunny wrote: "Laureen wrote: "Sunny wrote: "Just started "New York" by Edward Rutherfurd. I love his writing!"Just wondering Sunny, are some of Rutherfurd's books better than others? I see a lot of people adm..."
I liked all of Sarum: The Novel of England and Russka: The Novel of Russia when he got to medieval Russia up to and including the nineteenth century. Anything before or after bored me.
Thank you Sunny. I have Sarum on my "to read" list and now I will leave it their. I have always loved long novels but I have started reading ones around 300-500 pages because me reading list is so long and I wNt to experience other writers. However, I love Michener so will give another Rutherfurd book a go. Only fair. I didn't dislike London; I just felt it dragged which is not a good sign when reading a large tome.
I agree on the similarities in writing styles between Mr. Michener and Mr. Rutherfurd. The reader has to be in it for the long haul because some of their books are as long as a tractor truck rig hauling piggy back trailers. I plan to read another Rutherfurd book after my book account is replenished, so your comments are helpful to me. I want to read Michener'sPoland because I am reading Leon Uris'Mila 18 which covers only WWII Poland. I want the full history from Michener, but, if he starts off with the ice age, it will be a slippery long haul.
Loved the first part of Sarum but I haven't finished it. I just got tired almost halfway through the book. I'm sure I'll pick it up again someday but it does make me wary of reading anything else by Rutherford. Might change my mind after sifting through a few of you guys reviews. :D
Kimber wrote: "Loved the first part of Sarum but I haven't finished it. I just got tired almost halfway through the book. I'm sure I'll pick it up again someday but it does make me wary of reading anything else b..."Thanks for your post Kimber. It is what I suspected I would feel. I think I will attack the rest of my reading list first.
Laureen wrote: "Kimber wrote: "Loved the first part of Sarum but I haven't finished it. I just got tired almost halfway through the book. I'm sure I'll pick it up again someday but it does make me wary of reading ..."You mean after the 1674 other books in your TBR, that shouldn't take too long LOL.
I have Sarum on the shelf too, but since I'm only 1/3 through Paris it could be waiting a while.Meanwhile I'm also reading another in my beloved Falco series - Alexandria - and it seems to be one of the better ones. I do like a little humor with my historical fiction.
Alexandria
I just finished an advanced copy of The Sisters of Versailles. It was awful. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Gretchen wrote: "I just finished an advanced copy of The Sisters of Versailles. It was awful. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
I enjoyed reading your updates though lol.
Ace wrote: "Laureen wrote: "Kimber wrote: "Loved the first part of Sarum but I haven't finished it. I just got tired almost halfway through the book. I'm sure I'll pick it up again someday but it does make me ..."Yeah, and at age 66, and still working 7days a week, I haven't hot a hope in hell. But I still love to add books to my reading list. There are only so many of them that I can find in our local library system. That keeps me real.
Laureen wrote: "Ace wrote: "Laureen wrote: "Kimber wrote: "Loved the first part of Sarum but I haven't finished it. I just got tired almost halfway through the book. I'm sure I'll pick it up again someday but it d..."Hehe! yes, I have 698 in my TBR. At present my reading rate (not yet proven, so it's more of a goal) is a book a week. That means in 2029 I should be all caught up!
I am finishing off A Street Cat Named Bob: How One Man and His Cat Found Hope on the Streets (non-fiction) before I get back into A Little Life.Hurry up Bernard, I am hanging out for some Uhtred!!!!!
Allie wrote: "Gretchen wrote: "I just finished an advanced copy of The Sisters of Versailles. It was awful. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
I enjoyed reading your updates thou..."
If it hadn't been an advanced copy, I would never have made it through the book. I had this sense of obligation that pushed me to the end. I definitely won't be picking up the other two books in the trilogy.
Ace wrote: "Laureen wrote: "Ace wrote: "Laureen wrote: "Kimber wrote: "Loved the first part of Sarum but I haven't finished it. I just got tired almost halfway through the book. I'm sure I'll pick it up again ..."Haven't you forgotten something Ace? You will probably add a lot more books to your to-read list by 2029.
I'm reading
AnnihilationIt's classed as SF but I'm not really seeing it. I think it's more horror based on the creepy factor going on. Good book though.
How are you enjoying the series Gretchen?
Dawn wrote: "How are you enjoying the series Gretchen?"Maisie Dobbs is rapidly climbing my list of favorite literary heroines. I think the books are intelligently written and of course the psychology major in me is drawn to some of her methods. This is the library book I am reading that has the writing in it.
Finished off the trilogy about Josephine Bonaparte - The Josephine Bonaparte Collection: The Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B., Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe, and the Last Great Dance on Earth. Here is my review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Gretchen wrote: "Maisie Dobbs is rapidly climbing my list of favorite literary heroines. I think the books are intelligently written and of course the psycho..."I really love this series too. They have been mostly 4 star reads for me.
Kimberly, good job! I read the LAST GREAT DANCE ON EARTH (four or five stars), but none of the others. I found myself admiring Josephine and losing respect for Napoleon.I am reading The Good Lawyer by Thomas Benigno. It is a fairly good read so far.
I have not read any of the Maisie Dobbs novels, but I am getting recommendations to do so often. do I need to start at the beginning...will it matter?
Yes, it will matter. It is possible to read them out of order but I don't think they will be as good.
Thank you. Just what I needed to know.Who is the author? Name of book 1?
I agree with Dawn in that you could read them out of order but I think you will get more from the books of you read them in order so you can experience Maisie develop. Personally I am enjoying watching her struggle with the changing roles of women in society if only because it makes me appreciate the choices I have today.
Gretchen wrote: "Dawn wrote: "How are you enjoying the series Gretchen?"Maisie Dobbs is rapidly climbing my list of favorite literary heroines. I think the books are intelligently written and of course the psycho..."
12 more books added to TBR!!! Need to get off GR for the rest of the day!
Just started
Only a couple of chapters but so far looks good.
That's one of the first HF series I read. I like the first couple a lot better than the later entries in the series. Read them all though
I startet with
the book drive me nuts ...
I didn't like that one much, he's no Richard Sharpe, that's for sure.
Dawn wrote: "I didn't like that one much, he's no Richard Sharpe, that's for sure."Yeah right, I'd been wondering about that!!
Just finished
The Song of Achilles, which I didn't have high hopes for but it's actually a really good story. I've started
A Canticle for Leibowitz and thoroughly enjoying it.
Dawn wrote: "Just finished The Song of Achilles, which I didn't have high hopes for but it's actually a really good story. I loved this one ...
Currently reading Tin Sky by Ben Pastor. I picked up on her as The Water Thief was a monthly choice, but is not available on Amazon Kindle in the UK. So I thought I would try one that was on Kindle first, and I think its very good - really intriguing. Upshot - read more of the Martin Bora stories on Kindle and order the Water Thief from my local bookshop.
Nadine wrote: "Dawn wrote: "Just finished The Song of Achilles, which I didn't have high hopes for but it's actually a really good story. I loved this o..."
I tried it once, couldn't get into it but later on I did read it through and 5*****ed it.
Jane wrote: "Nadine wrote: "Dawn wrote: "Just finished The Song of Achilles, which I didn't have high hopes for but it's actually a really good story. ..."
That's encouraging Jane. I'm only a little way into it and so far it's fine.
Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction
Books mentioned in this topic
M*A*S*H: A Novel About Three Army Doctors (other topics)A Court of Betrayal (other topics)
Imperium (other topics)
The Handfasted Wife (other topics)
The Swan-Daughter (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Robert Harris (other topics)Carol McGrath (other topics)
Carol McGrath (other topics)
Carol McGrath (other topics)
Ken Follett (other topics)
More...
I am still reading Mila 18 by Leon Uris. For some reason, I am not clicking along at my usual Uris clicking rate. Probably it is due to interruptions into my reading time. Here comes the man with the ice pack to wrap my foot--Interruption Number One for today.