Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction discussion
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What Are You Reading Right Now? ( Hwæt béon ðu bocrædung?)
I finished The Martian. I thought it was excellent! Considering my history with best sellers, I did not see that coming. Mr. Gretchen stole it from me. I think he was starting to get annoyed with my frequent giggle outbursts. He needed to see what the big deal was. I'm moving on to SPQR I: The King's Gambit
and
A Land Divided
Gretchen wrote: "I finished The Martian. I thought it was excellent! Considering my history with best sellers, I did not see that coming. Mr. Gretchen stole it from me. I think he was starting to ge..."I knew it....outside your comfort zone but well worth the journey. Well done, Gretchen!
Bobby wrote: "Gretchen wrote: "I finished The Martian. I thought it was excellent! Considering my history with best sellers, I did not see that coming. Mr. Gretchen stole it from me. I think he w..."Thanks! Mr. Gretchen thinks this will lead me down a path to raiding his vast collection of Star Wars books. Not happening.
Gretchen wrote: "Bobby wrote: "Gretchen wrote: "I finished The Martian. I thought it was excellent! Considering my history with best sellers, I did not see that coming. Mr. Gretchen stole it from me..."I'm with YOU on that one, Gretchen. Ranks right up there with Star Trek book series!!
Started Warriors of the Storm! What am I going to do when there is no more Uhtred?!?! I'm trying not to think about it right now.I'm also reading The Sword of Summer because my little brother started it and he thinks he's going to finish before me.
I finished Warriors of the StormSolid addition to the series - rated it 4 stars
Currently reading a short biography of my favorite classical composer - Beethoven. The local symphony performed all 9 of his symphonies this season.
Beethoven
Jane wrote: "
Dictator / Robert Harris"This just showed up on my hold list at the library. It hasn't arrived yet, but at least it's on order :)
happy wrote: "Jane wrote: "
Dictator / Robert Harris"This just showed up on my hold list at the library. It hasn't arrived yet, but at least it's on or..."
I've only read 2 chapters so far, but it's very good! The story is told by Cicero's secretary, a slave named Tiro. Tiro really lived. According to the foreword, we still use remnants of the shorthand system Tiro invented -- &, etc., i.e., e.g.
Jane wrote: "happy wrote: "Jane wrote: "
Dictator / Robert Harris"This just showed up on my hold list at the library. It hasn't arrived yet, but at le..."
Jane - I've been looking forward to this too! If it gets a thumbs up from you, it has to be great!
Just got my copy of LORD Of The SILVER BOW for the February read. I am looking forward to starting it.
I finished the Beethoven bio, Beethoven inspite of the fact it is really short, only 134 pages I did learn a few things. I am starting
Justinian’s Flea: Plague, Empire, and the Birth of Europe
Kimber wrote: "Gretchen wrote: "A Morbid Taste for Bones
and
Requiem in Vienna"YaY Cadfael!"
I'm all out of Medieval Mystery books so I need to find another monk to read about.
happy wrote: "I am starting Justinian’s Flea: Plague, Empire,, and the birth of Europe..."I've been wanting to read that for awhile. I'll be interested in how you're liking it!
I just started Royal Flush: The Story of Minette by Margaret Irwin. It may be old (first published in 1932), but it's aged very well. Not every book gets that honor. It's great so far. I love the bawdy Stuarts/Bourbons. They always make for great stories.
happy wrote: "I finished the Beethoven bio, Beethoven inspite of the fact it is really short, only 134 pages I did learn a few things..."Adding it, thanks!
Allie wrote: "happy wrote: "I finished the Beethoven bio, Beethoven inspite of the fact it is really short, only 134 pages I did learn a few things..."Adding it, thanks!"
It's got an intersting format - lavishly illustrated, but the illustrations are scattered through out the book. Also there are insets with quotes from various people that are a different color print, kind of like foot notes.
I didn't know Beethoven actually studied with Hayden when he first went to Vienna.
happy wrote: "Allie wrote: "happy wrote: "I finished the Beethoven bio, Beethoven inspite of the fact it is really short, only 134 pages I did learn a few things..."Adding it, thanks!"
It's got ..."
Very cool! Since they were so short, I ended up adding about 20 other books in the Life & Times series it was a part of :)
I just finished This Is Where It Ends
by Marieke Nijkamp.Umm. Wow. It's YA. It's short. It's hard to read. It's pretty brutal. I finished it in one go. Started last night around 11 pm when I finished another book and thought, "It's early..I have time to start another." Didn't put it down until I done at 3 am.
The whole thing takes place over the 45 minutes of a single suspect school shooting told from the first person perspective of 4 people who are inside the school and close ~in good ways and bad~ to the shooter.
So far it's pretty controversial. I'm holding out on my opinion until I have some time to absorb what I read. Either way it's not a pretty, feel good kind of book. Reviewers either LOVE it ~4 and 5 stars~ or HATE it One star or less. Lot's of visceral, knee-jerk reactions out there as well as some rating the writing and not the emotion and vice versa. If you decide to give it a go let me know what you think.
Kimber wrote: "I just finished This Is Where It Ends
by Marieke Nijkamp.Umm. Wow. It's YA. It's short. It's hard to read. It's pretty b..."
I think I'll stay clear -- it sounds like it's way too depressing for me.
Started LORD of the SILVER BOW. Enjoying it already!! Need a snow day so I can curl up & just read!!
Kimber wrote: "I just finished This Is Where It Ends
by Marieke Nijkamp.Umm. Wow. It's YA. It's short. It's hard to read. It's pretty b..."
Gonna give it a try Kimber!! Will let you know.
Jane wrote: "Kimber wrote: "I just finished This Is Where It Ends
by Marieke Nijkamp.Umm. Wow. It's YA. It's short. It's hard to read..."
It is depressing for sure. I wasn't thrilled with the writing but the emotion...talk about a punch in the gut.
Let me know what you think Bobby. One thing I'll say..it definitely does not glorify the shooter or make excuses for his behaviour. Definitely a plus for a book marketed to teens.
I'm listening to The Goldfinch. It's one of those bestseller type books everyone knows I love. I'm not really sure why I do this to myself.
Gretchen wrote: "I'm listening to The Goldfinch. It's one of those bestseller type books everyone knows I love. I'm not really sure why I do this to myself."I was really torn by that book. The beginning especially irritated me, and plenty of parts seemed like the author was making condescending remarks about people in fly over country.
Ultimately, by the end of the book, I was glad I read it. Nothing I can recall reading before made me appreciate the way an orphan feels - bereft of any anchor in life when still a child - the way this book did. It wasn't a great book, but it was a good book.
I have two big painting projects I want to do this weekend. I figure listening to 700 pages should help me through it.
Started
Pilgrimage by Lucy K. Pick. The author is great at adding the details that make life in the 12th century come to life.
May wrote: "Started LORD of the SILVER BOW. Enjoying it already!! Need a snow day so I can curl up & just read!!"I'm starting this tomorrow on my holiday to Cambodia. It's Chinese New Year on Monday-Wednesday, so I have a mega mega long weekend.
Are you enjoying it?
As luck would have it, Bill saw it on the table and started reading. He is absolutely enjoying it!! So, I am waiting my turn...
Haha, Mr Ace does the same to me.Gretchen I'm also planning to read the Goldfinch so please let us know what you think :)
I was unable to get into "The Goldfinch". Tried several times & finally gave up. Returned the book and moved on to the next one in the pile.
May wrote: "I was unable to get into "The Goldfinch". Tried several times & finally gave up. Returned the book and moved on to the next one in the pile."I think it's a good thing I'm listening to it rather than reading it. The sheer amount of detail is already equal parts overwhelming and annoying.
^^I went the audio route with The Goldfinch too. Listening was torture enough, who knows how long actually reading it would have taken me!!
Allie wrote: "^^I went the audio route with The Goldfinch too. Listening was torture enough, who knows how long actually reading it would have taken me!!"I read it. It was okay. It almost seems like the author is trying to hard to write a book that can't be placed at a specific time. One part mentions Harry Potter, then another makes it sound like it takes place in the early Nineties, then the main character owns and uses a cellphone...so back and forth and back and forth. It drove me batty. Also...it just never seemed to go anywhere, nothing was ever concluded, there was no closure with any of the characters. Guess i should have just said it wasn't my cup o' tea and left it at that :D
It's starting to feel like the author is just showing off. "Oh, look at me! I know big words! See how I can use them!" Her details have details. I am only 3/4 through my painting so I will push on.
I finished Justinian’s Flea: Plague, Empire, and the Birth of Europe - decent overview of Justinian reign and does go a little bit into the role the bubonic plague played into the later stages of it. I would rate it 3.75 so I rounded upCurrently ready David Poyer's latest Dan Lenson Novel
Tipping Point
Gretchen wrote: "It's starting to feel like the author is just showing off. "Oh, look at me! I know big words! See how I can use them!" Her details have details. I am only 3/4 through my painting so I will push on."That too Gretchen! :D
I'm working my way through the historical fiction list in The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Ultimate Reading List. I have already read King and Goddess
and now I'm moving on to
The Winter Mantle.I also happened to stumble across a copy of Here Comes the King
while we were cleaning out my grandma's stuff this weekend so I had to start reading it.
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...






Luckily I have also still to read some of the standalones, Redcoat, Stormchild, Scoundrel, Wildtrack, Sea Lord.
Then I will have nothing left :(