What Are You Reading Right Now? ( Hwæt béon ðu bocrædung?) Showing 8,801-8,850 of 10,106

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

I have never read a page of her books, but I did watch seadon 1 of the tv show. I didn't enjoy it enough to follow it passed season 1.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Jane wrote: "started Magpie Murders / Anthony Horowitz

quite a change from the latest I read."


Looks to rate well by reviewers, Jane.

[Jane]

Terri wrote: "Jane wrote: "started Magpie Murders / Anthony Horowitz

quite a change from the latest I read."


Looks to rate well by reviewers,..."

I'm not one for mysteries on the whole as a genre, but this one was unique.

[Bobby]

This book is written by the daughter of a good friend of ours, Lin Sue Cooney, who used to be the news anchor for the NBC affiliate here in Arizona.

[Jane]

Bobby wrote: "
This book is written by the daughter of a good friend of ours, Lin Sue Cooney, who used to be the news anchor for the NBC affiliate here in Arizona."

I'm on hold at the library for this one.

[Clifford]

I recently signed up for a trial of Kindle Unlimited, and while I've been frustrated at the slim pickings in the Historical Fiction category, I'm very glad to have stumbled upon The Blood of Kings series by K. M. Ashman. I've listened to the trilogy and am currently listening to The Warrior Princess

I'm very glad I am listening to them as well, as whatever I made up in my head, it would not have been anywhere close to the correct Welsh pronunciations ;-)

[happy]

happy wrote: "I haven't been updating my reading journey as often as I should

Like always, I read a lot of NF history in addition to HF

Currently I'm reading Simon Sebag Montefiore's look at Stalin

..."

I finished the Stalin Bio - very good read - 4+ stars. I thought it was a fairly even handed look at one of the Great Monsters of the 20th Century and maybe all time. He killed 20 million of his own citizens, transported 28 million more and terrified everyone in gov't, yet could be a kindly uncle figure to the children of his inner circle growing up around him.

It was a good look at how he ran gov't, his personal involvement with both the Ukrainian famine and the Great terror of the '30s as well as his relationships with both Soviet and international figures-esp FDR and Churchill during the war.

Currently reading Ruth Downie's latest Roman Britain mystery



This one is set in Aquae Sulis (Bath)

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Clifford wrote: "I recently signed up for a trial of Kindle Unlimited, and while I've been frustrated at the slim pickings in the Historical Fiction category, I'm very glad to have stumbled upon The Blood of Kings ..."

Welsh names are tough! I am fine with all else, ie Saxon, but Welsh. I am hopeless.

[Jane]

Terri wrote: "Clifford wrote: "I recently signed up for a trial of Kindle Unlimited, and while I've been frustrated at the slim pickings in the Historical Fiction category, I'm very glad to have stumbled upon Th..."

I did teach myself Welsh pronunciation at least; it's very regular once you get a hang of the system. I still can't make even a simple sentence in Welsh; I have learnt only a few words. BTW, I did enjoy the Blood of Kings series.

[happy]

I finished Memento Mori over the weekend.

I didn't like it as much as some of the others in the series. Still it was worth the time to read.

I thought the plot was a little to convoluted. This time Ruso and Tilla are trying solve the murder of one of Ruso's medical colleagues from the Army wife in what is now Bath.

As always well researched. However, it just didn't grab me as some of the others in the series. My rating is a weak 4 star or a strong 3.

I'm currently reading the second volume of James Holland's purposed WW II non fiction trilogy

[Marilyn]

I just finished Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar. Jeez, the man was a butcher! I think he killed more people than the Nazis and the Mafia put together. Anyway, I am now reading Gorky Park by Martin Cruz Smith, a book made into a movie which I missed back in the 80’s. The story is completely fresh to me.

[Lily]

1984 by George Orwell and The Crystal Cave
I am loving both of them.
1984 is scary in its predictions for the future.
The Crystal Cave is very entertaining for anyone who likes to read about Merlin and the Arthurian times.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Crystal Cave seems quite well loved. I haven't read it. I like my Arthurian stories to be free of fantasy. But it is a much admired book, that's for sure.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Marilyn wrote: "I just finished Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar. Jeez, the man was a butcher! I think he killed more people than the Nazis and the Mafia put together. Anyway, I am now reading Gorky Park by Marti..."

I thought the Gorky Park movie was great. Saw it back in the 80's. I think from memory, the movie followed the book quite closely. But then it has also been a long time since I read the book. lol.

[Marilyn]

I wonder if I could find it on YouTube?

[Laura Tenfingers]

I loved Gorky Park way back when.. but didn't know there was a movie! I've been itching to reread it. Going to look for the movie now!

[Andy]

It is very good, Lee Marvin excellent as always & a cameo role by Alexai Sayle, that famous Scouse comedian from back in the day

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

I thought Wiiliam Hurt (William? I always get the two Hurts mixed up) was great in Gorky Park.

It would not surprise me if the movie was on you tube.

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Simona wrote: "Terri wrote: "Gave up after book 5?? Crumbs... how many are there in that series?"

I read the 8 published till now - not the spin offs. I really liked the first, the third, maybe the fifth? (I don..."

I didn't like the Outlander books, but loved the Lord John Grey spin offs.

[Laura Tenfingers]

happy wrote: "I actually enjoyed the first three - before Ms. Gabaldon moved the series to Colonial America."

I also liked the first three but got stuck on the 4th when they got to America and I dnf... nothing happened! for 500 pages! and I was still only half way through the book!! and overall too much my booty call for my taste, but Jamie is such a hottie that I admit to having fun during the first three... *blushes and hides her face in shame*

Margaret wrote: "I didn't like the Outlander books, but loved the Lord John Grey spin offs."

I enjoyed the Lord John novellas more than expected. Pretty fun.

[Marilyn]

I loved Gorky Park. Now I’m reading #2, Polar Star. Very good!

[Simona]

"Red Square" is also good....and I loved "The Black Rose", and "Los Alamos". Sorry but from my smartphone I seem unable to add links.

[Marilyn]

I can’t add the link either from my iPhone or iPad. If you add the author along with the title, I think it’s acceptable. I failed to do that with regards my current read. It’s Polar Star by Martin Cruz Smith. It’s a great who-done-it and I look forward to his subsequent novels. It’s getting closer to the disolvement of the Soviet Union.

[Simona]

You are right, Marylin. The other books I mentioned in my previous post are also by Martin Cruz Smith.

[Tamara]

This may be too recent to qualify as historical fiction, but I thought some of you might be interested.

I just finished July's People by Nadine Gordimer. It is about South Africa in the 1980s as apartheid begins to crumble. In order to survive, a white family has to escape to the village of their servant of 15 years. Gordimer explores the shift in the balance of power between the Smales family, and their servant, July. It is a short book, but it packs a heavy punch.

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

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Anything goes in this thread, Tamara. Any era and setting. Fiction or Non. :)

[Tamara]

Terri wrote: "Anything goes in this thread, Tamara. Any era and setting. Fiction or Non. :)"

good to know. thanks.

[NekroRider]

Still reading the Traitor Son Cycle by Miles Cameron. Have about 160 pages left to go in the 4th book, A Plague of Swords Not finished this one but really loving it. The series took a bit of a downturn with the second book but the 3rd and 4th have both been very strong.

[Renata]

NekroRider wrote: "Still reading the Traitor Son Cycle by Miles Cameron. Have about 160 pages left to go in the 4th book, A Plague of Swords Not finished this one but really loving it. The series took..."

Agree with that assessment. The Red Knight is an all time favorite of mine. The series finishes with a bang. I’m eagerly awaiting Sword of Justice by his alter ego ;)

[Laura Tenfingers]

NekroRider wrote: "Still reading the Traitor Son Cycle by Miles Cameron. Have about 160 pages left to go in the 4th book, A Plague of Swords Not finished this one but really loving it. The series took..."

Good to hear the 3rd and 4th have been strong. I loved The Red Knight and while I still enjoyed The Fell Sword, it wasn't quite as awesome as the first. I just got The Dread Wyrm from the library.

[Bobby]

and

[NekroRider]

Renata wrote: "Agree with that assessment. The Red Knight is an all time favorite of mine. The series finishes with a bang. I’m eagerly awaiting Sword of Justice by his alter ego ;)"

Yeah I still need to read his actual historical fiction stuff. Hoping to get to the Long War series at some point in the near future. So much on my to-read list right now lol

Laura wrote: "Good to hear the 3rd and 4th have been strong. I loved The Red Knight and while I still enjoyed The Fell Sword, it wasn't quite as awesome as the first. I just got The Dread Wyrm from the library. NekroRider wrote: "Still reading the Traitor Son Cycle by Miles Cameron. Have about 160 pages left to go in the 4th book, A Plague of Swords Not finished this one but really loving ..."

Yeah The Fell Sword was the weakest in the series imo. To me two of its biggest flaws were that the first half of the book is kind of slow and a bit messy, and also the constant PoV shifts get to be way too much for my tastes. Especially the first half it feels like he's just bouncing around all over the place every few paragraphs. Once the events at Yule hit I found it got a bit tighter and more focused from then on.

The Dread Wyrm and Plague of Swords are both way more focused and organised than The Fell Sword and have more action. I prefer them because you get to stick with a particular group of characters, and especially the Red Company, for large sections of the book instead of the constant jumping around of the second book.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

It must make it even worse with all the povs to not have chapters. Or, are there chapters? Can't remember if we have already talked about it.

The hist fic Chivalry Series doesn't have chaps and it is annoying.

[Jane]

Terri wrote: "It must make it even worse with all the povs to not have chapters. Or, are there chapters? Can't remember if we have already talked about it.

The hist fic Chivalry Series doesn't have chaps and it..."

Does it at least have breaks where it'll switch from one bit of action to another? I find those are helpful.

[NekroRider]

Terri wrote: "
Terri | 18655 comments
It must make it even worse with all the povs to not have chapters. Or, are there chapters? Can't remember if we have already talked about it.

The hist fic Chivalry Series doesn't have chaps and it is annoying."

Most of his books have very long chapters with specific PoV/region subsections but they often bleed into each other (so sometimes even when the subsection is supposed to be for a certain character it can suddenly veer off to another character without any kind of subsection "heading" for that other character). Honestly with the second book, The Fell Sword, I didn't really even understand why he even chose to have chapters since they were just kind of arbitrarily put there like "here's chapter 1 etc." but no indication of why the chapter starts/ends there other than that he decided to have chapters, if that makes sense (maybe I'm not explaining it properly).

I actually liked it a lot better the way he did it Plague of Swords because he just decided to do "parts" in different cities r regions that focused on a particular character or group of characters, and he didn't bother with the arbitrary subsections or chapters of the previous books. Personally that worked better for me because then I knew, ok he's focusing on this character or group of characters for the next 100 pages or whatever. Personally that focus worked better for me than just a weird clusterf**k of PoVs half way across the world from each other lol

All in all, even though I generally dislike books with so many PoVs for the most part he somehow makes it work (with exception of the second book as mentioned before)...I think he gets better at narrowing down all the character PoVs in later books.

Btw, what's it like his Chivalry series? Is it just no chapters at all in the whole book, or are there any kind of sections?

[Marilyn]

I just finished Red Square by Martin Cruz Smith, another in the Arcady Renko series. I found it spellbinding. Next I think I’ll read Bernard Cornwell’s Waterloo.

[Laura Tenfingers]

@NekroRider re The Red Knight

I was also bummed that in The Fell Sword we didn't see as much of the Red Knight as in the first book.

I don't mind PoV changes... but I did have favorite PoVs in these books and in a perfect book I love reading all the PoV equally.

[Laura Tenfingers]

Marilyn wrote: "I just finished Red Square by Martin Cruz Smith, another in the Arcady Renko series. I found it spellbinding. Next I think I’ll read Bernard Cornwell’s Waterloo."

I read Gorky Park as a teenager and vivdly remember loving it! Seeing you mention it here brought it to mind and sure enough, I ran into it at the library yesterday. Hope to get to it soon. I haven't read anything else by him.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

At least his hist fantasy has Chapters!
No, the Chivalry series has no Chapters at all. It has breaks but breaks aren't enough for me.

I like Chapters. Miss them when they aren't there. No Chapters (even with breaks) means the book reads with a longwinded rambling feel.
I like the momentum Chapters give as they tend to start on a new scene and finish on a note of suspense or drama.

By the sounds of it, Red Knight series isn't doing this with its Chapters.

[Lariela]

I just started Succession by Livi Michael.

[Bobby]

Just finished and thoroughly enjoyed it. His research of the time is to be applauded. I felt that i was getting a history lesson along with a riveting tale.

[Tamara]

I didn't know which thread to put this in, so based on Terri's advice of "any era and setting," I thought i'd put it here.

I read Slave Old Man by Patrick Chamoiseau about an elderly slave's escape from a plantation in Martinique.

It's a very unusual book--more akin to lyric poetry than straightforward narrative. The slave's journey is archetypal and the rain forest where he is chased by his master and master's vicious dog assumes mythic proportions. I enjoyed it and recommend it but only if you like being swept up by a lyrical prose that is both mesmerizing and exhilarating.

My review in case anyone's interested.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[happy]

I'm currently reading last month's read



For those who don't remember - it's a grunt's eye view of maybe Rome's greatest strategic disaster and maybe it's second greatest tactical defeat

[Laura Tenfingers]

I just finished Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, holy mackerel, that was outstanding!
I've had a couple of months with no historical fiction books in my life and I'm missing my favourite genre. I'm going to start Watch the Lady by Elizabeth Fremantle.

[Finn]

I am reading the latest Julian Stockwin Kydd installment - the Iberian Flame. It is not technically ancient or medieval as it's Napoleonic naval history, but it is fantastic! After this I want to (finally) read Christian Cameron's Tyrant series, as I really enjoyed his Killer of Men series.

[Jane]

Rereading Cathedral of the Sea by Ildefonso Falcones.

[Laura Tenfingers]

Jane wrote: "Rereading Cathedral of the Sea by Ildefonso Falcones."

Ooooh, I really enjoyed that! I'm originally from Barcelona ❤️

[Marilyn]

Just started The Romanov Empress by CW Gortner about Nicholas II mother Dagmar who survived the Russian Revolution. Also finished Rather Be a Devil by Ian Rankin, the best who-done-it I have read in a long, long time.

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Rather Be the Devil was excellent. I read that about a week ago.

[Marilyn]

Yes, those books that are so good are hard to let go of.