What Are You Reading Right Now? ( Hwæt béon ðu bocrædung?) Showing 8,851-8,900 of 10,106

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Yeah. I can often work out where a plot is going and who did it, but NEVER with Ian Rankin's books.

[happy]

I finished Blood Forest - not bad, a weak 4 stars for me (3.5-3.75 so I rounded up).

currently reading a biography/campaign book on the US General "Mad" Anthony Wayne who defeated the Indians at Fallen Timbers and with that basically secured the Ohio/Northwest Territory (present day Midwest) for the US.

Unlikely General: "Mad" Anthony Wayne and the Battle for America

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Finn wrote: "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 t..."

Now there's a series I haven't seen mentioned for a while. Years actually. The Stockwin series.

[Adrian]

Margaret wrote: "Yeah. I can often work out where a plot is going and who did it, but NEVER with Ian Rankin's books."

Ian Rankin huh? As a plot crafter myself I pretty much always know where a writer is going with something - nothing is ever accidental after all. Absolutely love it when someone can fool me with a book or movie but genuinely can't remember the last time it happened. May have to check out this Rankin fellow.

[May]

Marilyn, are you enjoying the Romanov Empress? It is on my TR list. Love Gortner’s writing & research! Looking forward to your feedback!!

[Jane]

May wrote: "Marilyn, are you enjoying the Romanov Empress? It is on my TR list. Love Gortner’s writing & research! Looking forward to your feedback!!"

The Romanov Empress

[Marilyn]

May, yes. So far, so good. Hope you enjoy it as well.

[Jerry]

Adrian wrote: "Margaret wrote: "Yeah. I can often work out where a plot is going and who did it, but NEVER with Ian Rankin's books."

Ian Rankin huh? As a plot crafter myself I pretty much always know where a wri..."

Adrian wrote: "Margaret wrote: "Yeah. I can often work out where a plot is going and who did it, but NEVER with Ian Rankin's books."

Ian Rankin huh? As a plot crafter myself I pretty much always know where a wri..."

Adrian wrote: "Margaret wrote: "Yeah. I can often work out B.B. where a plot is going and who did it, but NEVER with Ian Rankin's books."

Ian Rankin huh? As a plot crafter myself I pretty much always know where a wri..."

Excellent series of crime novels set in Edinburgh. Try Stuart McBride as well, with his Logan McCrea novels set in Aberdeen. Both are good plot crafters.

[Anirudh]

Currently readingThe Quincunx & We, the Drowned. Neither are medieval fiction but are historical fiction and quite captivating so far!

[Bobby]

The road to walden

[Marilyn]

Finished The Romanov Empress. Like Jane says, 3 stars. Next up, The Forgotten Soldier by Guy Sajer.

[happy]

I just finished a NF look at "Mad" Anthony Wayne - Unlikely General: "Mad" Anthony Wayne and the Battle for America -
He was a Revolutionary War General who took over the US Army in the Northwest Territory after it was all but destroyed in 1791 and won the Battle of Fallen Timbers that secured the area north of the Ohio River for the US and forced the British to give up their Forts and bases in the area - including Detroit.

Lots of interesting information, but IMO badly organized. the author keeps skipping around in the time line. One paragraph she will be talking about Ohio in 1791, the next about Wayne's participation in the Invasion of Canada in 1775. The following paragraph has him at Yorktown - drove me nuts! I dropped the rating because of that - 3 stars

Currently reading


Also NF - it is the stories of the men who escorted the body of the US Unknown Soldier back from France in 1921

[Bobby]

Just finished ...well THAT was different!

[Tamara]

Bobby wrote: "Just finished ...well THAT was different!"

What did you think of it, Bobby? I read it in February. I thought it was quite good, but I would have liked to have seen some evidence of women supporting each other instead of always aligning themselves with men and children.

[Allison]

Thanks, Happy, for posting just added it to my tbr :)

[Bobby]

Tamara wrote: "Bobby wrote: "Just finished ...well THAT was different!"

What did you think of it, Bobby? I read it in February. I thought it was quite good, but I would have liked..."
I liked it Tamara and the theory of the demise of the 12 maidens was well could constructed. Also thought it clever that Penelope knew it was Ulysses but let him think he was in a master disguise! I gave it 4 stars!

[Allison]

Reading which is a little different for me. I tend to stick to England in my Historical reading. Part of this is in England but during Henry III’s reign which I know nothing about.

[Laura Tenfingers]

Allie wrote: "Reading which is a little different for me. I tend to stick to England in my Historical reading. Part of this is in England but during Henry III’s reig..."

I'm curious to hear what you think of it. I don't know much about Henry III either and also stick to England but would like to branch out .

[Tamara]

Bobby wrote: "Tamara wrote: "Bobby wrote: "Just finished ...well THAT was different!"

What did you think of it, Bobby? I read it in February. I thought it was quite good, but I w..."

I gave it 4 stars, too.

I recently read Emily Wilson's Translation of The Odyssey. She refers to the maidens as "slaves," suggesting they had no choice but to obey the suitors since they were the ones in control.

[Marilyn]

Finished The Forgotten Soldier by Guy Sajer, WWII about a German soldier fighting on the Russian front. Very profound. Now for a change of pace: The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas (Pere). Really, I have never read it before.

[happy]

I just started #10 of Jeri Westerson's Crispin Guest medieval mystery series



Crispin Guest is a disgraced Knight (he got involved in a conspiracy to put John of Gaunt on the throne - before the series starts) turned "finder". I've liked previous books in the series - set in Richard II's reign - Henry Bolingbrook (Henry IV), Richard and even John of Gaunt show up as a supporting character from time to time in the series.

[Allison]

Laura wrote: "Allie wrote: "Reading which is a little different for me. I tend to stick to England in my Historical reading. Part of this is in England but during He..."

Not thinking too much of it, Laura.

The author writes like you already know what’s going on. Two characters will be talking and then someone says something and it’s a completely different character who you don’t know, and hasn’t entered into the story yet. But there he or she is! Like you’re already supposed to know they’re there! I’m not fond of her writing...

And Henry III is certainly in it but as a minor character. So I haven’t gained much insight into him or his court other than like most of the Plantagenets, he had a temper.

[Allison]

Marilyn wrote: "Finished The Forgotten Soldier by Guy Sajer, WWII about a German soldier fighting on the Russian front. Very profound. Now for a change of pace: The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas (Pere). Real..."

I haven’t read that one yet either 😫

[Laura Tenfingers]

That's too bad Allie... I'll keep my eyes peeled for something better about that time period.

[happy]

Laura wrote: "That's too bad Allie... I'll keep my eyes peeled for something better about that time period."

If you haven't read it, Sharon Kay Penman's

Falls the Shadow covers that period

It is really good, one of my top 3 Penman novels

Henry III is a major supporting supporting character. The main characters are Simon De Montfort (who led the Baron's revolt against Henry) and the Henry's heir, Prince Edward, later Edward I, who was attempting to reinstate royal power.

[happy]

Marilyn wrote: "Finished The Forgotten Soldier by Guy Sajer, WWII about a German soldier fighting on the Russian front. Very profound. Now for a change of pace: The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas (Pere). Real..."

Really, Really good book - bit of a controversy about it (Just how much is true) though

[Marilyn]

Yes, happy, I read about the controversy. It was still a good read.

[happy]

I finished Season of Blood - nice little mystery. Crispin gets involved in a murder mystery when a Cicstern(SP) monk shows up at his door step with a dagger in his back and a stolen relic (a vial of Christ's blood) for him to keep safe. 4 stars

Currently reading James Aitcheson's



Set in 1070's Northumberland as William I completes his pacification of his newly won kingdom.

[May]

I recently finished The Harrowing. I look forward to your thoughts...

[Marilyn]

Just finished Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian. Four stars.

[C.P.]

About 1/4 of the way through and enjoying The Greenest Branch by P.K. Adams about Hildegard of Bingen (book 1 of 2, I believe).

And trying to figure out how to juggle Ross Poldark for you guys, Frenchman's Creek for another GR group where I have been less than participatory this year, and The Locksmith's Daughter, a book about Walsingham's England that looks fascinating but is almost 600 pages!

[happy]

I finished The Harrowing. Good read! In this novel Mr. Aitchensen tells the story of William's subduing the North, know as the Harrowing hence the title, from the Saxon/English side. His previous 3 novels have been from the Norman point of view.

The format harkens back to the Canterbury Tales. The 5 main characters, in order of appearance - a lady, her maid, a warrior, a priest and a minstrel, meet up while fleeing the Normans and each has a big secret. Over the course of 8 days the secrets all come out.

I think this is a 4+ star read and highly recommend it.

Currently reading Ron Chernow's recent biography of US Civil War General and 18th President of the US, Ulysses S. Grant. Titled coincidently

Grant

[Marilyn]

I cannot read The Harrowing until they decide to publish it in ebook format. They will, tho, just a matter of time. Meanwhile, I have read Chernow’s Grant and enjoyed it. I also read Grant’s autobiography and I liked it a wee bit better. The best autobiography IMO was William Tecumseh Sherman. It was straight out and simple; no old-fashioned 19th century prose. Just like the man himself.

[Marilyn]

I am lost deeply in reading Ian Rankin’s who-done,it’s. I finish one book and quickly dive into the next. Currently, I just started The Falls. I think this must be the fourth or fifth book of his that I’m reading. For variety’s sake I must tear myself away after I finish it though.

[Tamara]

I just finished Laurus by Eugene Vodolazkin.

Next I plan to delve into Robert Low's The White Raven. I read #1 and 2 in the series a while back. All the recent chat about Robert Low reminded me I had to tackle #3 in the series.

[Bobby]

A real page turner....we are very good friends with the author’s mom!

[Alice]

I am finally getting around to reading by Madeline Miller. I know it is well rated by many. I am enjoying it so far.

[Tamara]

Alice wrote: "I am finally getting around to reading by Madeline Miller. I know it is well rated by many. I am enjoying it so far."

I thought it was much better than her latest book, Circe.

[May]

I have it on my Kindle. Looking forward to reading it soon. Looking forward to your review!

[Allison]

Alice wrote: "I am finally getting around to reading by Madeline Miller. I know it is well rated by many. I am enjoying it so far."

I got maybe halfway. I was so bored!!!

[Alice]

Allie wrote: "Alice wrote: "I am finally getting around to reading by Madeline Miller. I know it is well rated by many. I am enjoying it so far."

I got maybe halfway. I..."

I finished it and liked the first half much better than the second half seemed like she just rushed the second half to fulfill his mother's prophecy. 3 stars out of 5

[happy]

If anyone is interested, I typed up my thoughts on The Harrowing

As I said above, It's Canterbury Talesesque and in some ways that breaks up the flow of the story. Never-the-less a fantastic read. Unlike his previous novels, Aitcheson tells the story the Norman consolidation of there hold on England for the Saxon POV.

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

also posted in the Norman and Saxon threads

[Tamara]

Finished Cassandra: A Novel and Four Essays by Christa Wolf. I posted my review in the Classical Antiquity thread.

I'm currently reading The White Raven by Robert Low. Enjoying it so far although it's a bit of a challenge to keep track of all the characters. This is book 3 in the series.

[Tamara]

I finished Robert Low's The White Raven, book 3 in the Oathsworn series. I'm loving the series and am thankful to all for telling me about it. I never would have thought I'd enjoy reading a novel about macho male, chest-thumping Vikings. But it's been eye-opening and quite a thrill.

I posted my review in the Robert Low thread.

[May]

Just finished THE BLOODY GROUND! Incredible detail of the Battle of Antietam. I occasionally had to put the book down to take a breath; the back and forth furor was overwhelming. So glad to learn that there is a Book 5 coming!!!
The Bloody Ground

[Marilyn]

Poor May! It sounds like this one really got to you. I had that happen to me when I read this book about a weak Roman garrison against the Germans (forgot the tribe at the moment). Anyway, the Romans lost and I was so upset I couldn’t read for about three days. Was it Eagles in the Snow?

Anyway, I just finished reading about King John by Marc Morris. Morris is an excellent writer but King John really was a treacherous lout and no one misses him!

[Bobby]

[May]

Yes, Marilyn, I had a similar experience reading EAGLE IN THE SNOW, which remains a long time favorite!!

[Linda]

I am reading SUMMER STORM. I think Muller is the author. The book is very good and may still be either free or a dollar from Bookbub

[happy]

I finished Chernow's biography of Grant while down at the USF



Fantastic read - I five starred it. If you have a couple/three weeks to kill, a must read.

For those that don't know, he is generally rated one of the worst U.S. presidents. My estimation of him really went up after finishing this. His fight to secure civil rights for the recently freed slaves and defeat the KKK is really well done and not well known.

After seeing Othello, I was really struck at just how much an Othello like character he was. He was a definite military hero and his trust in his subordinates in spite of all the evidence against them, esp as President, nearly destroyed him.

Currently reading a newish biography of Nikola Tesla