What Are You Reading Right Now? ( Hwæt béon ðu bocrædung?) Showing 9,101-9,150 of 10,105

[happy]

I've started two - one "real IE dead trees" and one on my nook

The library book is a newish biography of the author of my favorite story as toddler (so I'm told) "The Tale of Peter Rabbit", Beatrix Potter



and for the nook, the latest Crispin Guest mystery



While not HF, I finally typed up my thoughts on John Julius Norwich's final book. He passed away about time it was released



My thoughts

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

[Jane]

Die Tatarin byIny Lorentz


Tatars and Russians at time of Peter the Great: 18th cent.

[happy]

I finished the bio of Beatrix Potter - not bad, but short. The author spends more than half of the 200 pages on her childhood and the affect it had on her writing. 3.25 stars rounded down for GR

Mrs Happy brought



home for me, and I've started it and am about 100 pages in. So far pretty good. For those who have read it, it set in the time between the Battle of Themopolye and Alexander the Great about some Greek Mercenaries in the employ of one the claimant of the Persian crown.

[C.P.]

Just finished The Black Ascot by the mother-son team that publishes as Charles Todd. Really enjoyed it, and the best part is that it's about book 20 in an existing series.

It's featured on my blog today, but GR should pick up the thread tomorrow.

[happy]

I finished The Falcon of Sparta

Good read - four stars. I don't think it is as good as his Wars of the Roses series, but an entertaining way to spend a few hours never-the-less.

For those who don't know, the novel is based on the writings of the Athenian Philosopher/General, Xenophon. He recounts the misfortunes of about 10K Greek mercenaries who back the wrong side in a Persian Civil War and their escape.

Currently reading Sir Antony Beevor's new NF book on the Battle of Arnhem

[C.P.]

Currently reading The White Mirror by Elsa Hart, book 2 in a series that I absolutely love.

Book 1, Jade Dragon Mountain, I also read recently (meaning within the last month).

[Allison]

^Just added JDM to my tbr, thanks :)

[C.P.]

Somewhat against my initial prejudices, I have started The Familiars by Stacey Halls. A debut novel about witchcraft trials in early 17th-century England—and quite fascinating.

[happy]

I finished Arnhem: The Battle for the Bridges, 1944. Excellent account of the "Bridge Too Far" battle. Sir Antony tells the story from all view points - German, Dutch, and British/American - 5 star read for me

I also finished John Julius Norwich's



I found it to be a fascinating look at the first half of the 16th Century and its four major monarchs. Rather short - about 260 pages, it is breezy and chatty. I thought it was a 4 star read

I'm back to HF, currently reading Susanna Gregory's latest Matthew Bartholomew mystery (#23 in the series)

[Allison]

I have quite a bit of Antony Beevor's books in my tbr but for some reason not that one. Added it. Thanks, Happy!

[happy]

Welcome - He is definitely one of the two or three best WW II historians writing today. Max Hastings and Andrew Roberts being the others

[Allison]

Lots of his books in my tbr too!

[happy]

I finally typed up my thoughts on The Falcon of Sparta

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

Once again a solid 4 star read, but not quite up to his Wars of the Roses series.

I don't know enough about the history to venture an opinion on the historical accuracy. He has had some problems with that in the past.

also posted in the Conn Iggulden, Classic Antiquity and Sep 2018 Group Read threads

[Steven]

What are your opinion about the saga Tom Swan from Christian Cameron, I'm loving this saga

[Jane]

Anubis: A Desert Novel by Ibrahim al-Koni

[Tamara]

Finished Warlight by Michael Ondaatje.

An incredible novel about 1945 post-war London. Ondaatje does a phenomenal job of evoking a haunting atmosphere where nothing is quite what it seems. He explores the process by which shards of memory are pieced together to make sense of the past.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
(also posted in the Modern Age thread)

[happy]

I'm currently reading Margaret George's

[Andrew]

happy wrote: "I'm currently reading Margaret George's

"

Interesting. Let us know what you think.

[Diego]

I'm about to finish Gai Jin: A Novel Of Japan by James Clavell

My copy of Killer of Men just arrived and is next in queue. I bought it as I noticed it was in the March read poll. Tbh this is the second time I pick the monthly group book, and it's been a while since the first one, so I don't remember how is it that you follow these readings. I haven't find the post to discuss this month group read, when do you actually start this? It's almost April!

[happy]

Andrew wrote: "happy wrote: "I'm currently reading Margaret George's

"

Interesting. Let us know what you think."

It's been interesting so far. When the Title says Young Nero - it means it! The novel starts with a 6 yrs old Nero. So far it has been told mainly from Nero's 1st Person POV. I'm up to he point where Claudius has been murdered and he has come to power.

[Laura Tenfingers]

Diego wrote: "I'm about to finish Gai Jin: A Novel Of Japan by James Clavell

My copy of Killer of Men just arrived and is ..."

@Diego, how is Gai-Jin? I loved the first two books Shōgun and Tai-Pan but couldn't get in to Gai-Jin. I'm hoping to give it another go though.

[Diego]

Laura Tenfingers wrote: "@Diego, how is Gai-Jin? I loved the first two books Shōgun and Tai-Pan but couldn't get in to Gai-Jin. I'm hoping to give it another go though. "

Sorry to say this, but don't waste your time. It's 1500+ pages of nothing. After a good start nothing interesting ever happens until the page 1200-something. I read Shogun around 15 years ago, I don't remember too much now, but I do remember I loved that book, and couldn't put it down. Sadly this book I only finished for pride.

I couldn't care less for any of the characters, specially the Japanese.Unlike Shogun, there was nothing interesting about their stories in this one. At least Clavell's style is easy to read, but the plot drags too much in this one, IF there is any plot at all.

All the bad reviews you see about this one are actually true. Disappointing. 2 out of 5.

[Laura Tenfingers]

Diego wrote: "Laura Tenfingers wrote: "@Diego, how is Gai-Jin? I loved the first two books Shōgun and Tai-Pan but couldn't get in to Gai-Jin. I'm hoping to give it another go though. "

Sorry to say this, but do..."

Sorry to hear that Diego, but thanks for your opinion! I'll steer clear and maybe try the following one in the series...

[Ace]

Diego wrote: "
My copy of Killer of Men just arrived and is next in queue. I bought it as I noticed it was in the March read poll. Tbh this is the second time I pick the monthly group book, and it's been a while since the first one, so I don't remember how is it that you follow these readings. I haven't find the post to discuss this month group read, when do you actually start this? It's almost April! ..."

Diego, the March book for group reading is a repeat read from a few years back and has already got a discussion folder here..

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...

And more specifically, here..
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Maybe you can kick off the discussion there so that we can retain all of the previous comments. I remember some discussion around this. I will ask Terri or Margaret to update the homepage to reflect this.

Cool?

[Ace]

Diego wrote: "I'm about to finish Gai Jin: A Novel Of Japan by James Clavell ..."

Wow, that's a great achievement, especially since you're not that happy with the book. I surely would have abondoned it a few hundred pages in...

[Diego]

Ace wrote: "Diego, the March book for group reading is a repeat read from a few years back and has already got a discussion folder here.."

Oh I knew it! When I saw that book cover I was thinking "Didn't they read this before?"

But don't worry about updating threads for me, I'm more of a passive forum guy, I read threads but barely write. I'll just follow up is someone else starts a discussion. Thank you :)

[Diego]

Ace wrote: "Wow, that's a great achievement, especially since you're not that happy with the book. I surely would have abondoned it a few hundred pages in..."

I still had faith in Clavell as Shogun is one of my favorite books. I figured out, this is a 1500 pages book, it has to kick off somewhere. After 700 pages I just said, well, I got this far, let's just finish this anyway.

My expectations were different. I somehow thought the plot will lead and cover up to the Meiji restoration and modernization of Japan. But everything happened only between two events in 1862-1863.

[Ace]

Diego wrote: "Ace wrote: "Diego, the March book for group reading is a repeat read from a few years back and has already got a discussion folder here.."

Oh I knew it! When I saw that book cover I was thinking "..."

I'm glad you mentioned it because I actually bought this one on Kindle as my library didn't have a copy. My husband read it first and it has slipped my mind, so I will try to get to it in the next couple of weeks. I have plenty of reading time coming up!

[Shell]

I'm very new here and was looking to see what the April book would be, but can't find it. If there is one, I'd love to know, so I can get it ready. I'm very excited to be a part of the group thanks. I haven't read much in this time period and am looking forward to learning whilst having fun.

[Shell]

At the moment I'm reading The Wolf and the Watchman by Niklas Natt och Dag.
It's a mystery set in 1793 Sweden. I'm thoroughly enjoying it, though it's rather gory.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

[Diego]

Shell wrote: "At the moment I'm reading The Wolf and the Watchman by Niklas Natt och Dag.
It's a mystery set in 1793 Sweden. I'm thoroughly enjoying it, though it's rather gory.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/sh..."

Interesting...I'm adding that to my wish list. Need more gory/horror historical fiction.

[Allison]

Started both of these this morning and they’re great so far:

[happy]

I liked the Weir's book. I haven't read the other one

[C.P.]

Just finished Sister Pelagia and the Black Monk, which was okay. Starting City of Ink by Elsa Hart, which as I mentioned elsewhere is #3 in a series I just love.

[happy]

happy wrote: "I'm currently reading Margaret George's

"

I finished this last night. It ends with the Great Fire of Rome. The second volume is moving up the TBR list :)

It's a generally favorable look at one of Rome's most notorious Emperors. Ms. George depicts him as hard working and one who generally takes his job seriously. In addition to the Fire, some of the events included in the novel are Bodiccia's revolt and Nero's reaction, the power politics in the Imperial Family - his mother is depicted as a power mad witch (or maybe a word the rhymes:))

The novel is told first person, with Nero himself being the main narrator, but his first love, Acte, has a few brief interludes. As well at the poisoner, Locasta.

All in all a 4 star read.

I'll post a more thorough review when I get the time.

I'm really not sure of what to read next. Ms Happy has brought several books home from the library to choose from :D

[Andrew]

Bobby wrote: "
Really getting into this. Horrifying Black Plague!"

Agreed--hard for us today to imagine the horror. If you want to go deeper into the history, I found John Hatcher's "The Black Death: A Personal History" a fascinating and unique work. As for other plague novels, I enjoyed Year of Wonders. There are lots of good ones out there, though.

[Ace]

Andrew wrote: "Bobby wrote: "
Really getting into this. Horrifying Black Plague!"

Agreed--hard for us today to imagine the horror. If you want to go deeper into the history, I ..."

I have this out from the library and will be reading it soon.

[Laureen]

Ace wrote: "Andrew wrote: "Bobby wrote: "
Really getting into this. Horrifying Black Plague!"

A good book Ace. I am now listening to Ken Follett's World without End (audio book) which also covers the plague. It is a long story but well worth it. World Without Endi

[Linda]

Poland by James Michener is the book I am reading and enjoying at present.

[Marilyn]

I am reading the latest biography on Winston Churchill by Andrew Roberts. Reading? More like buried. It’s over a 1000 ages. Still, it’s interesting. Looking forward to the part about WWII.

[Allison]

Linda wrote: "Poland by James Michener is the book I am reading and enjoying at present."

I’m GOING to get to that this year!

[Linda]

I got it from Bookbub a week ago for two dollars. That was a steal.
I am at 60 per cent and have loved the read.

[Tamara]

I read The Red Collar: A Novel by Jean-Christophe Rufin. A poignant novella with a simple story line and few characters about the indelible scars of war on people and animals. It takes place in 1919 and focuses on a military prisoner and his dog.

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

Also posted in the Inter War and World War II thread.

[happy]

I just finished the Susanna Gregory's latest Thomas Chaloner Mystery - set in Restoration England



Fun read - set in the immediate aftermath of the 1665 outbreak of plague in London, the plot is an attempt on Charles II during the rememberence of his fathers execution.

[Marilyn]

Finished reading “Churchill” by Andrew Roberts. Had everything from A-Z. 1000 pgs. A real brick. Good thing I had my Kindle. Anyway, I found it very interesting, especially as an American, being educated in the parliamentary system. Sometimes, I wish we had the same system rather than having to wait four years to get rid of whatever yokel is in office.

[Jane]

Marilyn wrote: "Finished reading “Churchill” by Andrew Roberts. Had everything from A-Z. 1000 pgs. A real brick. Good thing I had my Kindle. Anyway, I found it very interesting, especially as an American, being ed..."

Agreed, with your last part. Just speculating but I wonder if one reason we have the system we do is that the Founding Fathers didn't want anything that reminded them of England. I think that's true of Christmas customs.

[May]

Reading BOTTICELLI’S MUSE by Doran Blume

[Marilyn]

Jane, agreed. I credit Prince Albert with bringing about a rapprochement between our two countries.

[Jane]

Marilyn wrote: "Jane, agreed. I credit Prince Albert with bringing about a rapprochement between our two countries."

Yes, I agree, he brought the Christmas tree custom from Germany and we adopted it.

[Tamara]

I know this is a historical fiction group and you're not into magical realism, but I thought some of you might enjoy this because of the way she evokes the atmosphere of a village and the local inn along the River Thames.

The novel is Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield. It takes place in 1887. It's got a a touch of magical realism, but it's not so much that it would turn you off. Setterfield is a gifted writer who does an amazing job of immersing you in time and place.

The novel flooded me with wonderful memories of my childhood. A tributary of the River Thames flowed at the bottom of the garden in the home where I grew up. I used to love getting on the canoe and going down the river. But that's not the only reason I loved the book. It's just a great story that is well told.

My 5 star review in case any of you are interested: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...