Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction discussion
General Discussions
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What Are You Reading Right Now? ( Hwæt béon ðu bocrædung?)
Laureen wrote: "Ace wrote: "Alice wrote: "I tried Crime and Punishment and found it not to my liking. Tolstoy is by far my favorite Russian author! ..."I think I was put off by the 6 part TV show of War and Peac..."
What if we hate it??? Let me get through Karamazov first and see. Did you read that one too?
Ace wrote: "Laureen wrote: "Ace wrote: "Alice wrote: "I tried Crime and Punishment and found it not to my liking. Tolstoy is by far my favorite Russian author! ..."I think I was put off by the 6 part TV show..."
Yes. At the time, I was in love with Russian Lit. I didn't much like Tolstoy. A bit too romantic for my taste. BK was very good but a bit long. I loved C&P because it opened up so many morel issues and helped my young brain to grow up a little. It also got me into serious reading. I grew up without books in our house!
I love Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground and have read it several times. I have also read Crime and Punishment a number of times throughout the decades and loved it, as well. But I read it again recently and didn't enjoy it as much. I just found too many holes in it. Raskolnikov, the protagonist, began to get on my nerves. And I found myself increasingly incensed at the treatment of the female characters.
Hmmm. Tamara, Laureen, I'll have to think about whether I want to read it. The last time I saw it being read was on Wallace and Gromit, the one where Gromit is in bed reading Dogstoyevski!
I'm only around 30 pages in, but I'm currently reading The History of Bees. It's meant to be a kind of dystopian/post-apocalypse/historical fiction/possibly sci-fi? mash-up that follows three story lines: One in 19th century England, one in 2000s US and one in 2098 Sechuan, China. It looks at the importance of bees to so many aspects of our world, and imagines a world where continued use of pesticides and other harmful environmental practices results in the disappearance of pollinators entirely.
NekroRider wrote: "I'm only around 30 pages in, but I'm currently reading The History of Bees. It's meant to be a kind of dystopian/post-apocalypse/historical fiction/possibly sci-fi? mash-up that fol..."I'll be reading this one soon too NekroRider, it's available on my Overdrive collection.
I read Memoirs of Hadrian by Marguerite Yourcenar, historical fiction told in the voice of the Roman Emperor Hadrian. It is an amazing book. Yourcenar manages to make Hadrian's voice sound so authentic, it is as if we are listening to an old man recollecting his past.I'll post my review in the appropriate thread.
I'm on a David Liss kick right now -- enjoying his novels about intertwined morals and economic/religious developments in the 1700s. Most are set in London, but I just finished his excellent The Day of Atonement, which takes place in Lisbon during the Inquisition.
Sherry wrote: "I'm on a David Liss kick right now -- enjoying his novels about intertwined morals and economic/religious developments in the 1700s. Most are set in London, but I just finished his e..."Added to my to Read list this afternoon. Thanks, Sherry.
Adrian wrote: "Have recently started Dreaming the Eagle. It's a VERY slow burner but I don't mind that as long as the story kicks in eventually - I do like a good ambience established and depth of ..."Getting towards the end of this but it's been a struggle. I normally read very quickly but have put this down for days at a time and read just about anything else - even IKEA instructions rather than go back to it. It has its moments but not enough of them for my taste. And I don't really care about the main character who in history is someone who has always intrigued me. Can't see myself continuing with the series.
I started #3 in Gordon Doherty's Legionary series
Our hero and his legion has been transferred from Thrace to the Persian Frontier to try and find a copy of the treaty that was signed after Julian the Apostate's debacle against Persia a generation earlier.
So far it's been a quick read.
I'm also reading this NF look at the Ukrainian Famine of the 1920's and again in the 1930s
Finished
recently. A rather cold and calculating Lady Jane Grey in this one.Listening to
on audiobook. I know next to nothing about Apartheid. Don’t even remember learning about it in school!
Terri wrote: "I haven't read Iggulden's Rome series yet either, although I own the first and it is waiting patiently for me."I highly recommend Iggulden's Rome series. He does take liberties with his history a bit, so I always read the historical note at the end to find out whether people really died in the way/time he described, etc. :) But he's one of my favorite authors and an inspiration. Have you read his War of the Roses series?
As a landscaper living in Canada, winter is when I have time to read (and write, though I took this winter off). We don't do a lot of landscaping when there's several feet of snow, surprisingly. :) So far this winter I've read several of Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe series (love his Warlord series as well), and the entire Iggulden "Wars of the the Roses" series. I'm reading Bro. Cadael's Penance by Ellis Peters right now...mystery, but with a historical setting. I enjoy the combination, though purists might think that's anathema. :)
Pfft, you live on the wrong side of the country Nathan. You can almost work year round as a landscaper here in the Fraser Valley! I love Brother Cadfael. The TV series is also really good if you're interested. I will forever think of Cadfael as Derek Jacobi.
Reading The Terror
which has been in my wish list for a very long time, and decided to pick it up quickly before the AMC series launches by the end of this month. Hope I can make it in time, is quite long (700+ pages)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnN7A...
Quite a few Cadfael lovers here actually. I'm up to book 3, Monks Hood?
Ace wrote: "Quite a few Cadfael lovers here actually. I'm up to book 3, Monks Hood?"I thought the tv series so good, I read only several of the books. I too visualize Derek Jacobi as Cadfael in my mind's eye; I can't imagine anyone else.
Jane,I agree with picturing Cadfael as portrayed in the PBS series. However, that enhances my pleasure as I read the books. Looking for Book 6 at the moment.
Finished Doctor Zhivago. 4.5 stars. I found it more satisfying than the movie, which I loved.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Dawn wrote: "Pfft, you live on the wrong side of the country Nathan. You can almost work year round as a landscaper here in the Fraser Valley! I love Brother Cadfael. The TV series is also really good if you'..."
But then I wouldn't have an excuse to read and write four months out of the year! ;)
And absolutely, my parents, me and my brother used to watch the Cadfael series on a tiny little TV screen in our apartment building's guest suite because we didn't have a TV of our own (probably why I grew up to love reading so much). We'd pop popcorn and huddle around this little 14-inch screen. Some of my favorite memories! :)
Dawn wrote: "Pfft, you live on the wrong side of the country Nathan. You can almost work year round as a landscaper here in the Fraser Valley! I love Brother Cadfael. The TV series is also really good if you'..."
Same here, Sir Derek IS Bro Cadfael!
Alice wrote: "Finished Doctor Zhivago. 4.5 stars. I found it more satisfying than the movie, which I loved.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
I need to read this, I've wanted to read it but never did get around to it!
I think you'll like it, Ace. My only nit-picking is that there are many sub-plots with lots of characters (and long names!), but in the end they all tie together.
Alice wrote: "I think you'll like it, Ace. My only nit-picking is that there are many sub-plots with lots of characters (and long names!), but in the end they all tie together."I'm ok with that if I know before hand and can write down who's who as I go. Thanks for the warning :)
Alice wrote: "I think you'll like it, Ace. My only nit-picking is that there are many sub-plots with lots of characters (and long names!), but in the end they all tie together."Oh TIE together...
For a moment I thought you were talking about some Russian Hamlet!
Diego wrote: "Reading The Terror which has been in my wish list for a very long time, and decided to pick it up quickly before the AMC series launches by the end of this m..."Sounds like a cross between Alien and the Tsavo Maneaters. :)
Terri wrote: "Diego wrote: "Reading The Terror which has been in my wish list for a very long time, and decided to pick it up quickly before the AMC series launches by the..."Really enjoyed
. Looking forward to the series!
A bit of non fiction Domesday Book: Boldon Book and County Of Conflict: Northumberland From Conquest To Civil War
I'm starting Ben Kane's 
It's an ILL, but I have 'til 4 Apr to have it read. The second volume of the series is also by my bedside. It is also an ILL, but I have 'til Apr 8 to have it read. That should keep me busy for the next couple of weeks :)
I am reading Napoleon: A Life by Andrew Roberts. It’s a whopper, 986 pages, but very engaging. I didn’t know until after I started reading it but it has got a lot of excellent reviews. So far, I don’t feel bogged down.
I picked up Colleen McCullogh's The First Man in Rome last night on a bit of a whim, and at almost 100 pages in, I'm really enjoying it! The length is a little bit daunting, but hopefully the remaining 1,000 pages are just as good as what I've read so far.
Finally finished Dreaming the Eagle. It had its moments but I'm in no hurry to read the rest of the series. Am now re-reading something I read 20 years ago The Black RoseIn terms of period detail it's absolutely outstanding.
Marilyn wrote: "I am reading Napoleon: A Life by Andrew Roberts. It’s a whopper, 986 pages, but very engaging. I didn’t know until after I started reading it but it has got a lot of excellent reviews. So far, I do..."Good Book - I read it a couple of yrs ago. Roberts is a very good historian and I think a pretty good writer.
Megan wrote: "hopefully the remaining 1,000 pages are just as good as what I've read so far. "
Hopefully :)
Megan wrote: "I picked up Colleen McCullogh's The First Man in Rome last night on a bit of a whim, and at almost 100 pages in, I'm really enjoying it! The length is a little bit daunting, but hopef..."That's been on my list for a while. I've only read The Thorn Birds by her, which I loved. Hope you like it.
Laura wrote: "Megan wrote: "I picked up Colleen McCullogh's The First Man in Rome last night on a bit of a whim, and at almost 100 pages in, I'm really enjoying it! The length is a little bit daunt..."Thanks, Laura! 😊
Finished
recently. Not ancient or medieval but still historical :)And
which has some historical bits.
I am about to start Lisa See's
. I usually prefer my historical fiction to be a lot older than what occurs in her books, but after reading
, which was excellent, I'm willing to give it a try.
happy wrote: "I'm starting Ben Kane's It's an ILL, but I have 'til 4 Apr to have it read. The second volume of the series is also by my bedside. It is also ..."
I finished Eagles at war - good book. Dr. Kane presents a different Varus than is common in novels on Teutoburg Forest. His Varus is a competent commander and a good governor. His main fault is that he won't believe intel that doesn't agree with his preconceived notions (Armenius is a good and loyal Roman). The battle itself is roughly the last third of the book. I'll write up a my thoughts in more detail as I get the time.
I'm on to the next book in the series
happy wrote: "happy wrote: "I'm starting Ben Kane's It's an ILL, but I have 'til 4 Apr to have it read. The second volume of the series is also by my bedsid..."
Happy, I always enjoy different authors' conceptions of this battle and of its participants' personalities and motivations.
I think you'll enjoy the rest of the trilogy.
Adrian wrote: "Am now re-reading something I read 20 years ago The Black RoseIn terms of..."
About half way through this - didn't realise before it was published in 1945 and written by a chap born in 1885. Like Conan Doyle it's one of those books that is itself a historical document - reflecting the values of the epoch in which it was generated. Some people would find the English characters' attitudes to eastern European and Asiatic races highly offensive. It also seems to have dropped a little in standard after the main characters left England.
Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Robert Harris (other topics)Carol McGrath (other topics)
Carol McGrath (other topics)
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Ken Follett (other topics)
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I think I was put off by the 6 part TV show of War and Peace, which had..."
C & P remains my favourite book Ace but, like you, I was a teen. Perhaps we should read it again.