Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction discussion
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What Are You Reading Right Now? ( Hwæt béon ðu bocrædung?)
I am reading FINAL MISSION ZION by Mr. Driskell. If anyone has read this book, let me know. The book has a lot of characters chasing a lot of characters, and I need help to get these ducks in a row. My Goodreads and E-mail are acting up, so I have been unable to get in touch with the group. I blame it on Cyber shopping.
Added a Peter May series to my tbr, thanks!!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Started book one of the Harry Hole series I keep hearing about.
I am halfway through "The Circle of Ceridwen" book one. Good read so far. It is refreshing to read about life in Dark Ages England from a woman's point of view.
I've read the whole series. Octavia Randolph's depiction of the ninth century is very compelling... and entertaining!
Just finished The Fallen by David Durham. Interesting take on Spartacus.
Just finished The Flame Bearer by B Cornwell.
I'm on to Poldark #2, Demelza. I hope I like it. For some reason I'm afraid I won't but I don't know why... 🤞
This series is growing on me. I’m nearly finished w JEREMY POLDARK and already looking for Book 4. I have not been watching the PBS series, so my pleasure in the novels stands alone... quite successfully!!
The Poldark novels were like catnip for me. 😊
I found Jeremy Poldark
at the library’s bookstore yesterday! Looks brand new and cost me .50 cents! Now I just need books 1 and 2 lol.
I am joining the other POLDARK fans. I started DEMELZA today.
I read where May is a POLDARK fan without watching the series on PBS. My PBS is currently doing a fjnd raiser which will last forever--so I am POLDARK deprived.
Be careful ordering POLDARK books from B&N--even paying full price I nearly bought the Spanish version of DEMELZA today. Laura Tenfkngers and Allie I see are enjoying these books. Rafael, I hope you enjoy QUO VADIS.
I finished FINAL MISSION today. I gave it three stars because the author gave yhd plot away in the first part of the book. It was definitely worth the read.
I just finished Demelza (Poldark #2). I gave it 4 stars because I had a couple of gripes, but I still enjoyed it a lot. I'm ready to crack open Jeremy Poldark (#3) as soon as I can get my hands on it!Here's my review if you'd like to have a look:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Just finished
and that was a long, tedious road, I’ll tell you. It’s 60% into the book before the war starts! The first half I was sooooooooooooooo bored. I first picked this up in May/June and could not bring myself to pick it back up again until now. I’m on a “tidy up and complete all those books lying around in various states” phase. Cleaning up the shelves before 2019 is here. Start fresh and all that.
The only reason this book is getting 2 stars from me is because I did actually start to like it once the Trojan War came into play. But dash it all if it didn’t take a long while to get there!!!
Next up to finish out will be
another one where it’s taken me 6 months to read. Also I’m reading
for a buddy read. I’ve about 150ish pages left but I think everyone else has kind of stalled out ☹️
I loved The Thornbirds! Bummer your buddies have petered out...
Allie wrote: "Just finished and that was a long, tedious road, I’ll tell you. It’s 60% into the book before the war starts! The first half I was sooooooooooooooo bored..."
I had the same problem with that book...
Alice wrote: "Allie wrote: "Just finished and that was a long, tedious road, I’ll tell you. It’s 60% into the book before the war starts! The first half I was sooooooo..."
I read both The Song of Achilles and Circe. I quite enjoyed Miller's first book but was disappointed with her Circe.
Alice wrote: "Allie wrote: "Just finished and that was a long, tedious road, I’ll tell you. It’s 60% into the book before the war starts! The first half I was sooooooo..."
Gave up on Song of Achilles not even half way....i rarely take that route.
Reading Shirley Jackson's
. Still haunted by her
that i read 50 years ago.
Bobby wrote: "Alice wrote: "Allie wrote: "Just finished and that was a long, tedious road, I’ll tell you. It’s 60% into the book before the war starts! The first half ..."
I really liked song of Achilles but gave up on Circe. Not even enough pp. to count it in my total. Can't see all the hype around it.
Well, I’m reading The Archer’s Tale by Bernard Cromwell and am really enjoying it. He is quite some writer.
Alice wrote: "Allie wrote: "Just finished and that was a long, tedious road, I’ll tell you. It’s 60% into the book before the war starts! The first half I was sooooooo..."
Thank you!! Everyone else on GR is obsessed with it and gave 5 stars.....I’m like “what book are you all reading....” lol.
Jane wrote: "Bobby wrote: "Alice wrote: "Allie wrote: "Just finished and that was a long, tedious road, I’ll tell you. It’s 60% into the book before the war starts! T..."
Oh no. Another group of mine is supposed to read
in January... I was thinking of trying it.... or maybe I’m happy now that the library’s wait list is from here to China 😄
Laura Tenfingers wrote: "I loved The Thornbirds! Bummer your buddies have petered out..."A couple of the ladies were rereading it so it’s not high priority. One girl lagged behind and now the buddy read extended into next month. I just don’t really see it going anywhere. At this point, I’m reading it just to get it done.
I'm currently plowing through #3 of Ken Follett's Century Trilogy - its over 1000 pgs.
The time frame is from 1961-1989 (the life of the Berlin Wall).
So far all the major events of the early 60's are in the storyline - the Freedom rides/Bull Connor's Bringham Ala's Public Safety Commissioner's turning the dogs and water canons on MLK's marchers in the American South, the creation of the Berlin Wall, the Cuban Missle Crisis, MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech, the British Rock music scene amoung others.
The pictures he draws of the Kennedy Brothers is not particularly flattering, but probably realistic concerning the Politics of the Civil Rights movement.
I'm enjoying it and hope to have it finished this week. I'm about half way done and it is still in 1963. It seems weird to have things in my memory classed as historical fiction - I can't be that old:)
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yes I can :D
The one I'm reading now is nearly 1000 pp. long: Der König der purpurnen Stadt [King of the purple city]. I chose it because the title drew me in. Turns out it's London in the 14th century, King Edward III and story of a cloth merchant.
Robert wrote: "The Religion by Tim Willocks as recommended by Terri. 5 stars so far. Can’t believe it sat on my bookshelf for two to three years. It is a great tale so far."The Religion
The Archer’s Tale by Bernard Cornwell.
Robert wrote: "The Religion by Tim Willocks as recommended by Terri. 5 stars so far. Can’t believe it sat on my bookshelf for two to three years. It is a great tale so far."Finally!
Marilyn wrote: "The Archer’s Tale by Bernard Cornwell."The Archer's Tale
Thanks Bobby for helping me add links for those using the app who cannot do links.
Finished
which took me half this year to do. Any royal family’s history outside of England is just not my thing, I guess. Have started
for a mystery group here on GR. I’m only 20 pages in and the family has “taken tea” about 5 times already 😋
I'm currently reading
This book is so beautifully written. Madeline Miller's use of words and thoughts...I love it. It has an intimate way, a magic about it and a fantastic ability to really draw you in...it certainly has my attention. I'm almost half through and I'm already planning to re-read!
Mystic wrote: "I'm currently reading This book is so beautifully written. Madeline Miller's use of words and thoughts...I love it. It has an intimate way, a magic about it and a fantas..."
I agree Mystic.
Welcome to the group.
I had to eventually bite the bullet and purchase a copy of The Religion. I told Mr Ace it was a Christmas present for him 😂😂 I can't wait to see what all the fuss is about.
Ace wrote: "I had to eventually bite the bullet and purchase a copy of The Religion. I told Mr Ace it was a Christmas present for him 😂😂 I can't wait to see what all the fuss is about."I Liked it [*** worth] but don't see why all the hoop-la.
War of the Wolf finally! I was waiting for the perfect time when I could focus on it. But all the build up made me afraid of disappointment as always happens...and as always my worries are completely dispelled. 120 pages in and I'm loving it! It's like I forget what a brilliant writer Cornwell is and worry that the next book I read won't live up to his usual standards...then I start reading and can barely force myself to stop. The man is brilliant and Uhtred is one bad ass old man lol
Finished War of the Wolf today. Maaaannn oh man what a ride! Bernard you never disappoint! The last half of the book was especially intense. Also the sorcerous banter had me in tears of laughter. Next time I need to insult someone I'll lead with "Thou turd of Satan! I curse you!" *Points viciously* "May cockroaches shit on your tongue!" 🤣🤣 Those were some mighty fighting words I must say!Also loved how Cornwell seemed so into the sagas, Eddas and old English poems in this one. Some fun shout outs. Loved that Egil Skallagrimmson's ugly mug made an appearance! This book felt especially saga-like with the elements brought into it.
I'm reading The Scarlet Lion.
I've enjoyed several books by Chadwick & this is the third about William Marshall. My only quibble is the cover. Every time I pick it up, I wonder, ''Who picked this & what were they thinking?" The book is about William Marshall, not whoever is this young lady on the cover. His wife does play a major role but she's considerably older than the character depicted here. Of course, I'm enjoying the book anyway, but believe if I had chosen the book for the cover & not because I'm a fan of Elizabeth Chadwick, I would have been disappointed.Oh,well, Happy New Year!
^I love that series! The first two books earned themselves my RARE five stars.
Patricia wrote: "I'm reading The Scarlet Lion. I've enjoyed several books by Chadwick & this is the third about William Marshall. My only quibble is the cover. Eve..."Excellent series of book. Elizabeth Chadwick is a wonderful historian and her writing is beautiful
I finished Ken Follett's Edge of EternityMeh, I think it is a weak 4 star read and he has done much better in the past.
This is a wide ranging novel with major characters at almost every major event from 1961 through 1989 with an epilogue at Pres Obama's election night victory. Unlike the 2nd novel in the series, Mr. Follett provides legitimate reasons for his characters being at those events. Some of those events include the Freedom Bus rides in the American South, The Berlin Wall going up, a draftee Infantryman in Viet Nam, the Soviet Invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, the British Music scene of the 60's and 70's, U.S involvement in the Middle East (esp Lebenon), both Bobby Kennedy's and Martin Luther King's assassinations.
It is a good enough read, but his politics (left wing) are all through it. I can't think of a single character with right wing political views that is in any way admirable. All of the heros hold left wing views.'' He also seems to feel the the USSR would have imploded with out any containment efforts from the West.
In addition, all of the presidents from Johnson on were "war criminals" for both actions in Viet Nam and later in Central America and the Middle East. The Kennedy Brothers while not labeled War Criminals, they are raked over the coals for their actions (or lack there-of) on Civil Rights in the 60s
All in all a 3.75 star read rounded up for GR.
Currently reading
It's a NF look at close air support in WW II Europe through the eyes of the 365th FG
Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction
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Authors mentioned in this topic
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Ken Follett (other topics)
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agreed about Peter May!