Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction discussion
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What Are You Reading Right Now? ( Hwæt béon ðu bocrædung?)
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Dawn
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Oct 24, 2016 08:42AM
I started Wicked Autumn by G.M. Malliet this morning. This is a new series and new author for me, it's a little more modern than I usually like my mysteries so it will be interesting to see how it goes.
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Msjodi777 wrote: "Started listening to One Drop of Blood last nite, and got sucked right in... not crazy about the narrator, but the story is pretty good... Just my kind of reading. Oh, and I'm readi..."
I loved The Confessions of Catherine de Medici!
I've enjoyed it. I thought the last one was the weakest of the series. I hope it doesn't go the way of Lindsey Davis Falco series and it's follow on.
happy wrote: "I've enjoyed it. I thought the last one was the weakest of the series. I hope it doesn't go the way of Lindsey Davis Falco series and it's follow on."I thought I was the only person unhappy with the Falco series. Even else I know seemed content. I didn't like the way Lindsey took Falco and Petro in the last book.
I'm reading Oscar Wilde's The Happy Prince and Other Tales - will be "off-genre" for a while, as I'll be reading Chinese classics while I'm in Hong Kong :)
The Happy Prince is one story guaranteed to make me cry. I get to "Bring me the two most valuable things in the city..." and I lose it.
Started reading The Odyssey. This is one I will definitely be listening to and reading on the kindle. One of the best parts of the audiobook is that somebody else pronounces the names for me, but I also like being able to see what is going on sometimes to get things straight in my mind. My best friend and I are taking an online course on "Greek and Roman Mythology," but I'm not quite sure it is named properly, as we will be reading Homer, Virgil, Ovid, and Hesiod as well as some of the Greek plays. I suppose that these can show some of the mythology, but am a bit put off by the fact that we won't be studying the different myths themselves. Still, don't want to go in with any pre-determined ideas, so I'm trying to keep an open mind... I am however looking forward to rereading The Odyssey and Aenid, and to finally getting around to reading some of those plays, so all is not a total loss. <><
I'd say it's not properly named. Hesiod has nothing to do with mythology. He's known for "Works and Days", which from memory is a poem about an argument with his brother over their father's Will.Virgil's Aeneid is propaganda for Augustus, and pretty blatant about it.
What Ovid are you reading? I'm betting on Metamorphosis, rather than Ars Amora.
The Odyssey and the Illiad cover fairly heavy mythic territory, as do many of the Greek plays. I hope they do Euripides "The Bacchae". It's the most powerful work on fate and hubris.
Greek and Roman Literature would be a better name for the course, though.
Dawn wrote: "Sherry wrote: "Just finished Antonia Hodgson's new MURDER AT FOUNTAINS ABBEY, which I picked up at the Historical Novel Conf. last month. (I guess it's not in GR's database yet.) R..."You're absolutely right, Dawn. Next time I'll be sure to get the title right before I praise a book! (Sorry, Antonia.)
Msjodi777 wrote: "Started reading The Odyssey. This is one I will definitely be listening to and reading on the kindle. One of the best parts of the audiobook is that somebody else pronounces the names f..."Which translation did you end up going with? I just listened to Ian McKellen read the Robert Fagles version of The Odyssey and was left underwhelmed. Not with Ian McKellen but with the story.
I also highly recommend reading The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood when you're done, it's short and a nice breath of female perspective to The Odyssey story.
Margaret wrote: "Virgil's Aeneid is propaganda for Augustus, and pretty blatant about it...."That is what makes it so great. :)
I loved the Robert Fagles translation of The Odyssey (I haven't read any other version though) and look forward to reading his version of The Iliad.
Margaret wrote: "I'd say it's not properly named. Hesiod has nothing to do with mythology. He's known for "Works and Days", which from memory is a poem about an argument with his brother over their father's Will...."
Margaret, you forgot Theogony? It is about the greek mythology, isn't?
Rafael wrote: "Margaret wrote: "I'd say it's not properly named. Hesiod has nothing to do with mythology. He's known for "Works and Days", which from memory is a poem about an argument with his brother over their..."True, but not as well used in classics courses as "Works and Days".
I'm an old stick in the mud. My favourite translations of The Odyssey, and the Iliad are still those by Robert Graves.
happy wrote: "I've enjoyed it. I thought the last one was the weakest of the series. I hope it doesn't go the way of Lindsey Davis Falco series and it's follow on."I agree; I do prefer Ruso in the army.
Margaret wrote: "Rafael wrote: "Margaret wrote: "I'd say it's not properly named. Hesiod has nothing to do with mythology. He's known for "Works and Days", which from memory is a poem about an argument with his bro..."I don't know that much about Hesiod, but am taking a Presocratic Philosophy class and the discussion about Hesiod is that he is considered primarily a poet more inspired by religion and is not a "real" philosopher. Theogony was the most quoted example. Now I feel like I shall have to try Works and Days to figure things out for myself. I shall also check the Graves' Iliad and Odyssey.
Oh I almost forgot! Am reading "Mischiefs and Miseries" fiction about the first years of Jamestown, emphasis on Capt. John Smith. He is near the top of "people from history that I would most like to meet!
Not doing much HF reading, or any reading at all at the moment :( but I did finish
the other day. Bloody gory! ****thumbs up***
Started reading The Queen's Man yesterday, and am really liking it. It is a bit jarring, though to go from The Confessions of Catherine de Medici to this one. I have to keep remembering what all was going on in this time period, because I was so immersed in the later time period with the other book.... there are no protestants in this time period! LOL <><
Jane wrote: "happy wrote: "I've enjoyed it. I thought the last one was the weakest of the series. I hope it doesn't go the way of Lindsey Davis Falco series and it's follow on."I agree; I do prefer Ruso in th..."
He's out of the army and living in Rome in this one and regretting his decision :)
I've just started Sweetness in the Belly by Camilla Gibb. It's a Canadian literature book that is turning out to be very good.
Just started a book called "Needle in the Blood" about the creation of the Bayeaux Tapestry and think it will be quite good. I have a penchant for Hastings and the Godwinsons and "The Conqueror" anyway. It has always fascinated me how Harold fought the battle on the Scottish border and won and then marched the English forces south immediately to confront the Normans, and almost won. Anyhow, this seems to be a good book so I have my fingers crossed it remains so.
Link for Lynne's book, The Needle in the Blood. (We still do this right? When someone can't add it themselves? I know the app sucks for adding links.)
Lynne wrote: "Just started a book called "Needle in the Blood" about the creation of the Bayeaux Tapestry and think it will be quite good. I have a penchant for Hastings and the Godwinsons and "The Conqueror" an..."Looks really interesting Lynne. Its 70metres long!
Dawn wrote: "Link for Lynne's book, The Needle in the Blood. (We still do this right? When someone can't add it themselves? I know the app sucks for adding links.)"
Thanks for the link. How did you do that?
Ace wrote: "Lynne wrote: "Just started a book called "Needle in the Blood" about the creation of the Bayeaux Tapestry and think it will be quite good. I have a penchant for Hastings and the Godwinsons and "The..."I am ignorant of your measurement! (We Americans are ignorant when it comes to a lot of things--Note our election!) Have no fear--I shall use it as an opportunity to translate and expand my horizons! Thanks Ace!
Lynne wrote: "Thanks for the link. How did you do that?..."At the top of the comment box there is a little link called add book/author, if you click on that it lets you search for the book, when you find the one you want just hit the add button on the right of the book and it will add a link to your post.
Terri has a how-to guide here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... and you can try it out in that thread to if you want to practice.
Ace wrote: "Yeah we do Dawn thanks."Ah, good. I always look them up for myself anyway so figured I would add it.
I saw the Bayeux Tapestry in '08 - It was relatively inexpensive about 7.5 euros. Can't take pictures though. It looks like it could have been stitched yesterday!In keeping the with thread topic - I finished Vita Brevis. Fun read, decent mystery. This one is set in Rome itself
Currently reading
Non fiction look at the treatment of Cancer.
Lynne wrote: "Ace wrote: "Lynne wrote: "Just started a book called "Needle in the Blood" about the creation of the Bayeaux Tapestry and think it will be quite good. I have a penchant for Hastings and the Godwins..."Well I had no idea what the bayeaux tapestry was, so I checked it out on the wiki https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayeu...
@happy, is the whole tapestry on display in the museum?
I'm not touching your election Lynne, but I read your interesting bio... Do you think the medical marijuana laws will change afterwards?
Ace wrote: "Lynne wrote: "Ace wrote: "Lynne wrote: "Just started a book called "Needle in the Blood" about the creation of the Bayeaux Tapestry and think it will be quite good. I have a penchant for Hastings a..."Yes it is. It is in a darkened room behind glass. You can rent a device that tells you the story of what is being depicted. In some spots the top and bottom borders of the tapestry are telling a different story than what is going on in the main panels - in a couple of places its a bit risqué :), which surprised me considering who had it made.
You mean the Bishop Odo? You could add it to his list of naughtiness lol. Aren't the clerics the worst offenders in history?If I go back to France I will add the tapestry museum to my itinerary!
Ace wrote: "I'm not touching your election Lynne, but I read your interesting bio... Do you think the medical marijuana laws will change afterwards?"I live in Colorado and marijuana is legal here, period. Since it became legal, the number of overdoses on prescription pain meds has dropped dramatically. Also, the schools have tons more money! I think I heard that around 20 states will be voting on either legalizing weed altogether (like in CO) or at least legalizing it medically.
And in keeping with the book topic---my book features Bishop Odo rather sympathetically. I will try to find out more about him to see how accurate the book may be.
Ace wrote: "You mean the Bishop Odo? You could add it to his list of naughtiness lol. Aren't the clerics the worst offenders in history?If I go back to France I will add the tapestry museum to my itinerary!"
Yep that's the guy :)
You really need to - My brother and I went to Normandy to see the D-Day beaches AND the tapestry. He said there was a copy of the tapestry at Battle Abbey - without the naughty bits, but I didn't have time to visit Hastings.
I had a busy weekend and started a few more books. A Question of Honor by Charles Todd, another Bess Crawford WWI mystery. I'm still really enjoying the series.
Flag in Exile, the next Honor Harrington book.
and
The Coquette by Hannah Webster Foster, I'm not sure why this one is even on my TBR but it looks pretty good so we'll see how it goes.
I finished The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer - great read! Its a look at Cancer and how the understanding of how it starts and grows and its treatment have evolved over the years. The author is a practicing oncologist and interweaves the stories of some of his patients with bigger story.Started reading this older biography (CC 1964)
Dawn wrote: "I had a busy weekend and started a few more books. A Question of Honor by Charles Todd, another Bess Crawford WWI mystery. I'm still really enjoying the series.
[bo..."
Glad to see I am not the only one who starts "a few" new books at a time. One never knows which will be winners and which won't!
happy wrote: "I finished The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer - great read! Its a look at Cancer and how the understanding of how it starts and grows and its treatment have evolved o..."That's a fascinating book! The same author, Siddhartha Mukherjee, has written another work along the same lines, "The Gene: An Intimate History," which I'm planning to read sometime soon. Here:
The Gene: An Intimate History
ARK
A. Roy wrote: "happy wrote: "I finished The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer - great read! Its a look at Cancer and how the understanding of how it starts and grows and its treatment ..."Just what I need! Another good popular science writer to add to the list. I guess I should say thanks, huh! I do love good science that even I can understand.
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