Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction discussion

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General Discussions > What Are You Reading Right Now? ( Hwæt béon ðu bocrædung?)

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message 7751: by happy (last edited Dec 05, 2016 03:22PM) (new)

happy (happyone) | 2782 comments Finished Devil's Seal - not bad 3.75 stars if GR allowed - round up to 4. It is set against Rome's attempt to gain supremacy of the Western Churches in general and the Irish Church specifically. The main problem I had was the constant use Irish vocabulary that was distracting for me and made following the story a wee bit difficult.

I'm currently reading a NF look at the beginnings of the Folger Shakespeare library.

The Millionaire and the Bard Henry Folger’s Obsessive Hunt for Shakespeare’s First Folio by Andrea Mays


message 7752: by May (new)

May (mayzie) | 968 comments Loved that book, Happy!! As an avid reader & past English teacher, I loved the back story and intrigue of the Folio's. Getting to that Library is high on my bucket list!! Enjoy!


message 7753: by happy (new)

happy (happyone) | 2782 comments I saw the author on BookTV and had to read it!

https://www.c-span.org/video/?416995-...


message 7754: by Alice (new)

Alice Poon (alice_poon) Finished a fantastic historical fantasy novel The Book and the Sword (read in Chinese). This was a reread after half a century and the magic was still there! My 5 star review:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


message 7755: by Rafael (last edited Dec 07, 2016 12:33PM) (new)

Rafael da Silva (morfindel) | 152 comments I am reading a brazilian edition of a non-fiction book about mummies, The Mummy Congress: Science, Obsession, and the Everlasting Dead by Heather Pringle. Some subjects in this book would provide a lot of subjects for speculative authors in historical fiction.


message 7756: by Lynne (new)

Lynne Pennington (bluemoonladylynne) | 54 comments Just finished "Morbid Taste for Bones" by Ellis Peters. Loved it!


message 7757: by C.P. (new)

C.P. Lesley (cplesley) | 564 comments Recently finished The Flame Bearer and Waterloo, both of which I loved. Currently reading Loitering With Intent for another group and enjoying it.


message 7758: by Lynne (new)

Lynne Pennington (bluemoonladylynne) | 54 comments Flame and Waterloo are both on my shelf and TBR list! Sounds like they are both good continuations of a couple of great series.


message 7759: by Dawn (new)

Dawn (caveatlector) I'm still waiting for the library to send me The Flame Bearer and someday I'm going to get back to reading the rest of the Sharpe books.


message 7760: by Ace (new)


message 7761: by Gretchen (new)

Gretchen (eab2012) Ace wrote: "I'm reading The Serpent and the Pearl by Kate Quinn"

Have the next novel on stand-by.


message 7762: by Ace (new)

Ace (aceonroam) | 19 comments Gretchen wrote: "Ace wrote: "I'm reading The Serpent and the Pearl by Kate Quinn"

Have the next novel on stand-by."

Loving it!


message 7763: by Alice (new)

Alice Poon (alice_poon) I wonder how The Serpent and the Pearl compares with Sarah Dunant's Blood & Beauty: The Borgias? I loved the latter!


message 7764: by Marilyn (new)

Marilyn (mbk1857) | 415 comments I am buried deep in the Poldark novels. I think I'm on No 7, The Angry Tide: A Novel of Cornwall. I haven't read back to back sequels since. Cornwell's Uhtred novels. Winston Graham's characterizations are so moving. Highly recommend this series to all. Also, while the TV series is very good, it's impossible to touch on all the variables of a character or situation.


message 7765: by Gretchen (new)

Gretchen (eab2012) Alice wrote: "I wonder how The Serpent and the Pearl compares with Sarah Dunant's Blood & Beauty: The Borgias? I loved the latter!"

Quinn's Pearl had just a little more scandal and drama (than already present in the Borgia house). Some might suggest Dunant's was a little dry in comparison but I thought they were both excellent reads.


message 7766: by Alice (last edited Dec 12, 2016 11:00AM) (new)

Alice Poon (alice_poon) Thanks for the tip Gretchen! I, for one, didn't think Blood & Beauty was dry at all! It would seem to me that Dunant was trying to adhere to historical facts.


message 7767: by Lariela (new)

Lariela | 187 comments I'm reading When Christ and His Saints Slept When Christ and His Saints Slept (Henry II & Eleanor of Aquitaine, #1) by Sharon Kay Penman by Sharon Kay Penman.


message 7768: by Marilyn (new)

Marilyn (mbk1857) | 415 comments Oh, that was so good!


message 7769: by Allison (new)

Allison | 1704 comments Lariela wrote: "I'm reading When Christ and His Saints SleptWhen Christ and His Saints Slept (Henry II & Eleanor of Aquitaine, #1) by Sharon Kay Penman by Sharon Kay Penman."

I'm making a point of reading this in 2017.


message 7770: by C.P. (new)

C.P. Lesley (cplesley) | 564 comments Currently reading The Bookseller's Tale. I really like her Christoval Alvarez series, and so far this one is just as good.


message 7771: by Lariela (new)

Lariela | 187 comments Allie wrote: "Lariela wrote: "I'm reading When Christ and His Saints SleptWhen Christ and His Saints Slept (Henry II & Eleanor of Aquitaine, #1) by Sharon Kay Penman by Sharon Kay Penman."

I'm making a point of reading this in 2017."


That series now has five books. It's my plan to read them all in order.


message 7772: by happy (new)

happy (happyone) | 2782 comments Lariela wrote: "I'm reading When Christ and His Saints SleptWhen Christ and His Saints Slept (Henry II & Eleanor of Aquitaine, #1) by Sharon Kay Penman by Sharon Kay Penman."

That was one of the first Penman I read - great book!


message 7773: by Alice (new)

Alice Poon (alice_poon) I'm reading Sarah Dunant's In the Company of the Courtesan. It grabs me right away!


message 7774: by Carol (last edited Dec 13, 2016 07:13PM) (new)

Carol (carolfromnc) I'm reading Strange Tide by Christopher Fowler. Like all of his Bryant & May books, it is littered with fascinating, well-researched historical facts about London.


message 7775: by happy (last edited Dec 13, 2016 06:26PM) (new)

happy (happyone) | 2782 comments I finished The Millionaire and the Bard: Henry Folger’s Obsessive Hunt for Shakespeare’s First Folio

Good look at how Shakespeare became SHAKESPEARE and the obsessive collecting of Shakespearian artifacts including more than 70 copies of First Folio, by Henry Folger, led to the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington DC.

His collection was so vast some of it still hasn't been properly catalogued after more than 70 yrs after the opening of the library.

I'll post more complete summary of my thoughts when I get the time.

Highly recommended for anyone who likes Shakespeare.

Currently reading

Tank Men The Human Story of Tanks at War by Robert Kershaw

Non fiction look at armored combat in WW I and WW II.


message 7776: by Ace (new)

Ace (aceonroam) | 19 comments Allie wrote: "Lariela wrote: "I'm reading When Christ and His Saints SleptWhen Christ and His Saints Slept (Henry II & Eleanor of Aquitaine, #1) by Sharon Kay Penman by Sharon Kay Penman."

I'm making a point of reading this in 2017."


I'm also making a point to read Sharon Kay Penman during 2017. Not sure where to start, she's written so many!


message 7777: by Pamela (last edited Dec 14, 2016 12:10AM) (new)

Pamela (bibliohound) Finally got round to reading The Silver Pigs The Silver Pigs (Marcus Didius Falco, #1) by Lindsey Davis . Nice easy read, am about half way through.


message 7778: by happy (new)

happy (happyone) | 2782 comments Ace wrote: "Allie wrote: "Lariela wrote: "I'm reading When Christ and His Saints SleptWhen Christ and His Saints Slept (Henry II & Eleanor of Aquitaine, #1) by Sharon Kay Penman by Sharon Kay Penman."

I'm making a point of reading this ..."


My two favorites of hers are When Christ... and The Sunne in Splendour, however Sunne is a bit dated. IMO she hasn't written a bad book so you couldstart anywhere.


message 7779: by Ace (new)

Ace (aceonroam) | 19 comments Thanks Happy, I have the Welsh Princes series on my tablet, so I am going to start with those three next year. I have very high expectations already and am following the authors blog here on GR which I love. I feel so bad that I have not gotten around to reading any of her novels yet!
Here be Dragons
Falls the Shadow
The Reckoning


message 7780: by Alice (new)

Alice Poon (alice_poon) The Sunne in Splendour is high on my to-read list. It will be my first Penman novel!


message 7781: by Lynne (new)

Lynne Pennington (bluemoonladylynne) | 54 comments I have all of hers on the shelf and have yet to begin on them. I tend to wait until an author dies or finishes a series before I start it. Is that dumb or what?!


message 7782: by Alice (last edited Dec 14, 2016 11:40AM) (new)

Alice Poon (alice_poon) I have never been a fan of series and tend to prefer standalones, especially epics!


message 7783: by Gretchen (new)

Gretchen (eab2012) Lariela wrote: "Allie wrote: "Lariela wrote: "I'm reading When Christ and His Saints SleptWhen Christ and His Saints Slept (Henry II & Eleanor of Aquitaine, #1) by Sharon Kay Penman by Sharon Kay Penman."

I'm making a point of reading this ..."


There's suppose to be a sixth coming soon but she has been hampered by some health issues.


message 7784: by Allison (new)

Allison | 1704 comments Alice wrote: "The Sunne in Splendour is high on my to-read list. It will be my first Penman novel!"

The first book of hers I read. LOVED it. I have only given out a handful of 5 stars and this happens to be one of those books :)


message 7785: by Allison (new)

Allison | 1704 comments I wait for series to be done too, Lynne.


message 7786: by Alice (new)

Alice Poon (alice_poon) Good to know Allie! Thanks.


message 7787: by Ace (new)

Ace (aceonroam) | 19 comments Alice wrote: "The Sunne in Splendour is high on my to-read list. It will be my first Penman novel!"

Since it's a standalone, I might add this one to my 2017 reading list, you've all talked me into it!!!


message 7788: by Alice (new)

Alice Poon (alice_poon) : )


message 7789: by Sherry (last edited Dec 15, 2016 12:09PM) (new)

Sherry | 145 comments Currently reading Pax Romana by Adrian Goldsworthy. It's a very readable history that addresses the common modern perception of the Roman Empire as aggressive and acquisitive, bent on subjugating the rest of the world to its will. 'Tain't necessarily so, Goldsworthy says.


message 7790: by happy (last edited Dec 19, 2016 03:30PM) (new)

happy (happyone) | 2782 comments I just start Mr. Cornwell's latest in the Saxon Stories Series

The Flame Bearer (The Saxon Stories, #10) by Bernard Cornwell


message 7791: by Jane (new)

Jane | 3480 comments I'm rereading The Sower of the Seeds of Dreams.
Am reading The Bull of Mithros: one of Anne Zouroudi's Seven Deadly Sins mysteries, set in modern Greece.


message 7792: by Jane (new)

Jane | 3480 comments Jane wrote: "I'm rereading The Sower of the Seeds of Dreams / Bill Page
Am reading The Bull of Mithros: one of Anne Zouroudi's Seven Deadly Sins mysteries, set in modern Gr..."



message 7793: by Lynne (new)

Lynne Pennington (bluemoonladylynne) | 54 comments Jane wrote: "I'm rereading The Sower of the Seeds of Dreams.
Am reading The Bull of Mithros: one of Anne Zouroudi's Seven Deadly Sins mysteries, set in modern Gr..."


New author for me but looks like something I might like. Will be watching to see how you like it.


message 7794: by Ace (new)

Ace (aceonroam) | 19 comments happy wrote: "I just start Mr. Cornwell's latest in the Saxon Stories Series

The Flame Bearer (The Saxon Stories, #10) by Bernard Cornwell"


Yay! I'm excited for you...


message 7795: by Dean (new)

Dean Morgan | 2 comments I am reading Julius Caesar's "Conquest of Gaul." Though not fiction, I think this book applies, as it gives a lot of context to other historical fiction works I've read. A lot of the historical fiction I read references Rome's conflicts with the barbarians, and in a lot of historical fiction books set in Medieval Europe (especially Britannia, like in Cornwell's "Winter King Saga," "Saxon Chronicles," or Goodwin's "Firelord" and "Sherwood"), the towns are referenced by not just their English names, but also their old Roman names (such as Bath, aka, "Aquae Sulis"). Anyway, this short work by Julius Caesar has been a fascinating read, with tons of descriptive battles, witnessed first hand by Caesar himself. Again, this gives some real insight into reading historical fiction set in the ancient and Medieval era, giving me the opportunity to analyze how a modern author describes a battle scene, and comparing this to a real battle as described by an eye witness. I highly recommend this book. The Conquest of Gaul


message 7796: by Lynne (new)

Lynne Pennington (bluemoonladylynne) | 54 comments Dean wrote: "I am reading Julius Caesar's "Conquest of Gaul." Though not fiction, I think this book applies, as it gives a lot of context to other historical fiction works I've read. A lot of the historical fic..."

I read it years ago and recently have started teaching myself Latin (no small thing for someone 65!) to try to read it in Latin. It has been on my "bucket list" so I had better get on it. I remember liking it very much and thinking that Caesar was a very flexible guy. Not many generals write that well.


message 7797: by Alice (new)

Alice Poon (alice_poon) My short review of the Chinese classic The Art of War:-

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


message 7798: by Bobby (last edited Dec 22, 2016 10:32PM) (new)

Bobby (bobbej) | 1375 comments Been gone for quite a while but back and reading a book i won in q Giveaway...."God Carlos" by Anthony Winkler.


message 7799: by Ace (new)

Ace (aceonroam) | 19 comments Bobby wrote: "Been gone for quite a while but back and reading a book i won in q Giveaway...."God Carlos" by Anthony Winklet."

Hi Bobby welcome back. I see you just rated Dark Matter 5 stars, I have it from Amazon and am anxious to get started on it!


message 7800: by happy (new)

happy (happyone) | 2782 comments I finished The Flame Bearer

Solid, but not great. I did read it in 2 days so it is a page turner.


Currently reading a NF look at the final two yrs of WW II in the Pacific.

The Fleet at Flood Tide America at Total War in the Pacific, 1944-1945 by James D. Hornfischer


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