What Are You Reading Right Now? ( Hwæt béon ðu bocrædung?) Showing 9,151-9,200 of 10,106

[Marilyn]

Currently reading “The Lost Man” by Jane Harper. A mystery set in the Australian Outback. The writer is Australian.

[Andrew]

Tamara wrote: "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..."

Love a bit of magic. Great review, Tamara. Sounds like a good read!

[Jane]

The Noise of War: A Tale of Ancient Rome by Vincent B. Davis II.
Continuation of story of Sertorius, Late Roman Republic.

[Bobby]

The Stars Are Fire Not my normal fare but holding my attention.

[happy]

I'm currently reading a newish biography of one of the signers of the US' Declaration of Independence, Benjamen Rush



Fascinating man - a medical doctor who was also heavily involved with "Patriot" politics, an abolitionist who owned a slave. was involved with some heavy power politics with medical service of the Continental Army. At the age of 29 he married a 16 yr old. He and his wife had several children die before the age of 3. While not a teetotaler, he abhorred the use of spirituous (distilled) liquors. He was also an early proponent of a more kindly treatment of the mentally ill. He was also opposed to the shaming of convicts.

I haven't gotten there yet, but he was also instrumental in the reconciliation of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson in the late 18 teens and early 20s

[Tamara]

Andrew wrote: "Love a bit of magic. Great review, Tamara. Sounds like a good read!.."

Thanks, Andrew. It really was a great read. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

[May]

Ok, Happy, I’m intrigued!!! Look forward to your review!!

[happy]

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..."

If you're interested, here is the presentation Mr. Roberts gave at the National Churchill Library last year

https://www.c-span.org/video/?453858-...

[Tara]

Tamara wrote: "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..."

I really enjoyed that one too, so much so I also read Bellman and Black and the 13th Tale. To be honest I enjoyed the other two even more....

If you really like magical realism try Morgan Llywelyn. She is amazing and deep.

[Tamara]

Tara wrote: "Tamara wrote: "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 an..."

Tara, I've read and enjoyed the 13th Tale. I've put Bellman & Black on my TBR. I've not heard of Morgan Llywelyn, but I'll check her out. Thanks for the tip.

[happy]

I'm currently reading #3 of David Wishart's Marcus Corvinus series

Sejanus

In this one the Augusta Livia ropes our hero into investigating "The Wort"'s right had man - TWO years after she dies and he returns to Rome for his father's funeral after a lengthy stay in Athens (keeping his head down)

[happy]

I fished Sejanus - fun, relaxing read. Set about ten yrs after the previous book (Germanicus). Marcus has returned to Rome for his fathers funeral. It is the height of Sejanus power and he get dragged into a plot to clip Sejanus wings by none other than the Augusta Livia - who has been dead for 2 yrs. Lots of twists and turns as our hero tries to get the goods on Sejanus while at the same time keeping his head on his shoulders. "The Wort", the Emperor Tiberius actually makes an appearance. - 4 star read for what it is.

I seem to be on a biography kick these days - I started a newish biography of Henry VIII's minister and Hilary Mantel subject, Thomas Cromwell

[happy]

I finally finished Jeri Westerson's The Deepest Grave. I didn't like it as much as the previous entries in the series. I thought it started a bit slow. I did like the ending though.

The main mystery concerns the dead leaving there graved and wandering around. A local parish priest hires Guest to put the rumor to rest. After many twists and turns he does - (view spoiler)[the parish priest is a thief and a murdered and was staging the "walking dead" to keep people away from the chapel at night (hide spoiler)]

As with others in the series, this one has a relic that may or may not have special powers. The abbot of Westminster plays a major supporting role in this one.

Because of it's slow start - this is a strong 3 star read for me.

I started Simon Scarrow's



It's been on my nook for awhile. It's about the 16th century siege of Malta

[happy]

I finally finished Jeri Westerson's The Deepest Grave

I think is probably the weakest in the series. I had a hard time getting into it. That said I really liked the ending. The basic plot as a local priest hiring Guest to find out why corpses in his graveyard go wandering at night. There at lot of twists and turn and the Abbot of Westminster Abbey plays a fairly major supporting role. As with most of Ms. Westerson's novels a religious relic plays a fairly major role and might or might not have special powers.

I thought it was a strong 3 star read due to the beginning of the novel.

I've had Simon Scarrow's



on my nook for a while - so I'm reading that.

The backdrop is the Siege of Malta in the 1500s

[Ace]

Bobby wrote: "
Really getting into this. Horrifying Black Plague!"
I just finished this one bobby, it was terrific and now I'm starting book 2!
The Last Hours
The Turn of Midnight
by Minette Walters

[Bobby]

Thanks Ace!

[Tamara]

I finished Akhenaten: Dweller in Truth by Naguib Mahfouz. Akhenaten is the Egyptian pharaoh credited with being the first monotheist. The book is an easy, quick read with an interesting structure. It illustrates how people's prejudices and predilections influence their perceptions.

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

(Also posted in the Ancient Egypt thread)

[happy]

I just started a new biography of ACW Gen'l Rob't E. Lee's father, the Revolutionary War Cavalry CDR - Light Horse Harry Lee

[Ace]

I have started reading The Wolf and the Watchman by Niklas Natt och Dag which is a swedish book translated into English just recently. Its pretty gruesome but compelling reading if you are into crime/mystery.

[Andrew]

Poison by Sara Poole. I read this after watching the Borges series, couldn't get enough.

[Allison]

Added that to my tbr. Thanks, Andrew.

[Andrew]

That should be Borgia series by the way, Borges is different altogether.
I enjoyed "Poison" but it is just the first in a series.

[Bobby]

The Red-Haired Woman translated from Turkish.

[Linda]

A Strange Beginning by Greta Curran Browne
I just finished Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. I rated it five stars. It is in hindsight a disturbing book.

[Ace]

Linda wrote: "
I just finished Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. I rated it five stars. It is in hindsight a disturbing book."

Yes, disturbing. Your rating is much higher than mine - it was all a bit far fetched (to me).

[Bobby]

Linda wrote: "A Strange Beginning by Greta Curran Browne
I just finished Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. I rated it five stars. It is in hindsight a disturbing book."

I just received a copy of Where the Crawdads Sing signed by the author. Gift for the wee wife!

[Linda]

Bobby, Now aren't you sweet!

[Linda]

O'Hara's Choice by Leon Uris is the book I am reading today.

[Diego]

Started this a week ago:

The Leopards of Normandy: Devil: Leopards of Normandy 1 by David Churchill

First on a trilogy that starts with the life of Robert of Normandy, father of William the Bastard a.k.a the Conqueror.

It was a random find at an Oxfam, and so far it turns out to be really well written. Apparently the author writes under two other pseudonyms, though these are the only [medieval] historical novels he's published so far.

[Bobby]

A Journal of the Plague Year
About half way through and it’s unbelievable how people then tried to stem the flood of deaths. One that stands out is blocking people in their homes and hiring “Watchmen” to make sure they didn’t get out!

[May]

A TEST OF WILLS by Charles Todd

[Allison]

Here you go, May!

by Charles Todd

[happy]

I just started the second volume of Margaret George's set on the Emperor Nero



It starts right where the first volume left off - the Great Fire of Rome.

[Marilyn]

Born to Rule by Julia P. Gelardi. It gives a more personal history of these women than you would normally find without getting too down into “the weeds”. Queen Victoria had five granddaughters who became queens: Alexandra of Russia; Marie of Roumania; Sophie of Greece; Maud of Norway; and Victoria Eugenia, known to her family as Ena who became Queen of Spain. Both Alexandra and Ena were carriers of the blood disease hemophilia which they passed on to their sons affecting their country’s and the world’s history.

[May]

I have read several of this series, out of order. When BookBubs offered the 1st one: A TEST OF WILLS, I decided to go back. So very glad that I did! This was an awesome read & sets up the relationship of Ian Rutledge & Hamish brilliantly!

[Leona]

Marilyn wrote: "Born to Rule by Julia P. Gelardi. It gives a more personal history of these women than you would normally find without getting too down into “the weeds”. Queen Victoria had five granddaughters who ..."

I will check on this one.

[C.P.]

After more books about WWII than I ever wanted to tackle (a few fabulous, many not so), I just finished The Woman in the White Kimono by Ana Johns. It's set after the war, and it looks at the women who bore children to US servicemen. Absolutely fabulous.

10,000 babies born, of whom barely 1,000 survived. I had no idea, until I read this book. But the main reason to look for it is that the writing is just gorgeous. I don't say this often, but I couldn't put it down.

[Tamara]

I finished All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, winner of the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
A WWII story. Riveting. Impressive research. Beautiful writing.
My five star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Also posted in WWII thread

[Sherry]

I just finished Giles Kristian's Lancelot and was blown away. His strong, fresh look at Arthurian Britain is absolutely compelling and, IMHO, makes this his best novel yet. My review, for any who are interested, is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Marilyn]

Finished “Born to Rule” by Julia P Gelardi. Now reading “Company Commander” by Charles B MacDonald, a WWII veteran. This book was written in 1947 as result of his experiences fighting on the front in Germany. It was been thru 35 printings and has held me spellbound from page one. It’s very different from the usual memoir.

[Linda]

In the last week I have finished O'HARA'S CHOICE by Mr. Leon Uris (5/5 stars) and ANOTHER WOMAN'S HUSBAND by Ms. Gill Paul (4/5 stars). Both books were a bit off the beaten path so I felt right at home reading them. I am reading a 'lawyer' book, INCONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE, at present. It is a catchy story.

[happy]

That is one of my favorite books on WWII and just what it means to be a commander.

I finished Margaret George's second novel on Nero



The two book set really paints a picture that is 180 degrees out from the standard understanding of the man.

This on covers the last 4 yrs his life - from the Great Fire of Rome to his death. Ms George paints his as hard working, very concerned with the common (plebian) class, one who actually has talent as a writer and actor.

In her writing on the Great Fire, Nero is shown actually being with the fire crews as they are attempting to control the blaze. His construction of the Golden House is portrayed as being both as his place of residence and as a public park, open to all.

The author takes the position that his desire to be an artist, both acting and writing poetry, is offensive to the aristocracy and the Military and leads to his downfall and eventual death.

It is probably a bit romancy for this group.

Well written and researched - just about every thing one would want in a good novel - solid 4 stars.
also posted in the Rome thread)

Currently reading NF
by James Holland

[Allison]

Sherry wrote: "I just finished Giles Kristian's Lancelot and was blown away. His strong, fresh look at Arthurian Britain is absolutely compelling and, IMHO, makes this his best novel yet. My revie..."

Thanks! I would really like to get to this book someday.

[Linda]

I am reading CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE. Sorry about the earlier mistake in title.

[Bobby]

Linda wrote: "I am reading CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE. Sorry about the earlier mistake in title."

Conclusive Evidence: A Novel

[Bobby]

Reading The Mongoliad: Book One Better than i thought.

[happy]

I got an pre publication copy of P.T. Deutermann's new WW II novel - Publication date is October.



He is one of my favorite WWII authors. I about 1/3 of the way through, and it hasn't disappointed.

Starting at Pearl Harbor, the novel follows a young Dauntless pilot on the USS Enterprise. Right now I'm at the Invasion of Guadalcanal.

[Andrew]

happy wrote: "I got an pre publication copy of P.T. Deutermann's new WW II novel - Publication date is October.



He is one of my favorite WWII authors. I..."

Looks interesting, Happy. I'll look out for it. Not fiction, but have you ever read Rick Atkinson's "An Army at Dawn"? It recounts the story of the US Tunisian Campaign. It is very well done and you don't tend to find as much written about the North African theater from the US perspective.

[Linda]

I am reading In Farleigh Field by Rhys Bowen. My big reading project has been rereads of Leon Uris' books. Mitla Pass , the latest of my journey, was exceptional.

[Marilyn]

I have that lined up as my next read.