What Are You Reading Right Now? ( Hwæt béon ðu bocrædung?) Showing 9,201-9,250 of 10,106

[happy]

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..."

I finished this one - good read

My thoughts if anyone is interested

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

also posted in the WW II thread

[happy]

Linda wrote: "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."

Leon Uris was one of my favorites when I was younger. Battle Cry and Armageddon: A Novel of Berlin are definitely my favorites

I've just started #19 in Paul Doherty Bro Athelstan mystery series

[Linda]

Orphan' Mission by Rachel Wesson

[Linda]

Orphan's Train Escape. By Rachel Wesson

[Bobby]

[Bobby]

Linda wrote: "Orphan's Train Escape. By Rachel Wesson"

[Allison]

I’m halfway through

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

happy wrote: "Linda wrote: "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 exce..."

I enjoyed that one, Happy. I'm waiting on the next Hugh Corbett from the library.

[Tamara]

I finished The Egyptian by Mika Waltari, a 1940s international best seller. The setting is ancient Egypt at the time of Pharaoh Akhnaton. It is told in the first person point of view of Sinuhe, Akhnaton's physician. The book is long but well worth reading. Waltari's research is impressive. He paints a compelling portrait of life in ancient Egypt at a time of political upheaval.

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

Also posted in Ancient Egypt thread

[Jane]

Tamara wrote: "I finished The Egyptian by Mika Waltari, a 1940s international best seller. The setting is ancient Egypt at the time of Pharaoh Akhnaton. It is told in the first person ..."

I agree. Others of Waltari's are worth reading.

[Tamara]

Jane wrote: "I agree. Others of Waltari's are worth reading..."

I plan to read more of his novels because I was really impressed with his extensive research.

[happy]

Andrew wrote: "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 W..."

Andrew, Sorry I didn't answer you question, but yes I have read Mr. Akinson's book, An Army at Dawn: The War in North Africa, 1942-1943. IMnsHO is one of the best books on the US Army in WWII around. Be sure not to miss the other two volumes of his Trilogy

The Day of Battle: The War in Sicily and Italy, 1943-1944

The Guns at Last Light: The War in Western Europe, 1944-1945

All three books are 5 star reads.

I've enjoyed everything I've read of his.

I finished #13 of Steven Saylor's Gordinus the Finder series



Good read - surprisingly the mystery does not center on just who killed Caesar, but a rather obscure, to modern readers, poet - Cinna. The events of the Ides of March do provide the background for the story and the murder of Cinna actually takes place quite late in the novel, at Caesar's funeral.

A word of warning for those who stomachs are rather queezy - the murders are rather graphically depicted and there is an very unsavory subplot, involving incest. Still its a solid 4 star read.

I'm currently reading a newish ( published in January 2019) NF look at the early Plantagenet kings - Henry II, his sons and grandson

The Restless Kings: Henry II, His Sons and the Wars for the Plantagenet Crown

[happy]

I finished Restless Kings - meh. I thought it was a weak 4 star read. Pretty standard telling of the Henry II and his sons story. About the only new take was that when he put his mind to it, John really wan't a bad commander. His main problem was that the told so many people so many different stories and that his promise was not worth the breath it was given with, nobody trusted him.

By the end of his reign He had lost almost all of England's possessions in France, not just Normandy.

Currently reading a non fiction look at the American recapture of Manila in WW II



I'm almost finished and I think it will be a 5 star read for GR. It is extremely graphic though. Scott tells just what the Japanese Defenders did to the civilian population in stomach turning detail. The Germans on the Eastern Front had nothing on the Japanese!

On the HF front, I'm also reading Michael Jeck's latest Tudor Mystery



Pretty entertaining - Blackjack still has no clue :)

[Allison]

Forgot to post while I was reading I loved the first book....this, meh. Back and forth fighting. Lancaster moves on York and then York moves on Lancaster. Now it’s Lancaster’s turn again. I mean, I know it’s history, but book 1 had more story and heart to it. I’ll continue onto book 3 though because I do rather like Conn Iggulden’s writing.

[C.P.]

I've been so busy reading this summer that I haven't had time to post! Just finished The Sea Queen and The Golden Wolf, in preparation for an interview with the author, Linnea Hartsuyker.

Also recently read The Summer Country by Lauren Willig (slavery and emancipation in 19th-century Barbados); Silent Water by P.K. Adams (murder mystery set in 16th-century Poland, which will be out August 6; and The Girl Puzzle: A Story of Nellie Bly by Kate Braithwaite—all of which I loved.

Now starting The Chocolate Maker's Wife by Karen Brooks (17th-century England).

[Linda]

Before the Rain Falls by Camille de Maio is shaping up to be a good read.

[Adrian]

Allie wrote: "Forgot to post while I was reading I loved the first book....this, meh. Back and forth fighting. Lancaster moves on York and then York moves on Lancaster. Now it’s Lanc..."

Seems to be par for the course with Conn Iggulden. I really enjoyed the first book in the Mongol series but the others left me cold - as though he'd thrown all his passion and ideas into book 1 and simply couldn't find the invention to maintain it. I persisted to the end of the series but had no interest in anything further - your post seems to vindicate me.

[Linda]

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult is the book I started yesterday. I will read to the end, but I
am not carried away by this book.

I am shocked, yes, shocked, I say, that someone did not like all the Conn Iggulden books in the Mongol series. Lol
Oh, to be reading Conn Iggulden rather than Jodi Picoult!

[Nev]

The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey- finished and reviewed it. A satisfying read!

Just started A fine balance by Rohinton Mistry - got me on page 1. Not a mystery per se, but a look at the Indian melange, and a good story so far.

[Ace]

Nev wrote: "
Just started A fine balance by Rohinton Mistry - got me on page 1. "

Nev, this is one of the best books I have ever read.

[Bobby]

The Widows of Malabar Hill
And
A Fine Balance

[Lariela]

I'm reading Cleopatra's Shadows by Emily Holleman.

[Jaime]

I am reading The Luck of Huemac.

[May]

I’m starting MISS KOPP JUST WONT QUIT tonight. Love this series for light, engaging HF!!

[Marilyn]

I just finished “A Fire Sparkling” by Julianne MacLean. It’s a romance set in London during WWII (not a graphic one) but good one that leaves you with a few sniffles at the end. Really enjoyed it. I have been reading a lot about WWII but needed to lighten up a little.

[Marilyn]

I didn’t write the above very well. Let’s try again. “A Fire Sparkling” by Julianne MacLean. Thriller, suspense, mystery set during WWII. Has many five stars to which I add my own.

[Linda]

I have been getting some good bargains from Bookbub on books about WW II. The books have been good reads.

[Laura Tenfingers]

Bobby wrote: "The Widows of Malabar Hill
And
A Fine Balance"

Oh wow, A fine balance is so brutal and simultaneously so amazing!
I'm kind of scared to read anything else by him...

[Laura Tenfingers]

Ace wrote: "Nev wrote: "
Just started A fine balance by Rohinton Mistry - got me on page 1. "
Nev, this is one of the best books I have ever read."

In total agreement Ace! Have you read any of his other books?

[Adrian]

Linda wrote: "Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult is the book I started yesterday. I will read to the end, but I
am not carried away by this book.

I am shocked, yes, shocked, I say, that someone did ..."

It's a shame too as I am deeply fascinated by the Wars of the Roses (and contemplating my own take on it having done 1066). I just find Iggulden a tad...shallow, I suppose. I couldn't get into his characters after book 1 of the Mongol series. A deep exploration of character, for me, is the whole reason to do HF...to try and get an insight into the minds of different epochs. That, and a rattling yarn.

[Linda]

I did not like the Wars of the Roses series by Iggulden as much as I liked his Conqueror and Empire series. Could it be that Genghis was a bit shallow in human relationships and Iggulden portrayed him as such? In the end, what I think about his books will matter very little! Lol

[Adrian]

Genocidal megalomaniacs are many things, but never shallow. Iggulden may have had a grip on the history but (to my mind) didn't come near explaining or illuminating the man. Genghis Khan would be one hell of a challenge but I don't think Iggulden had the cojones to unleash the id within his imagination - which is what you'd have to do to try and get inside the medieval Mongol mind. Just one step up from Christian Jacq for me...

[C.P.]

Have moved on to The Lost Daughter by Gill Paul after finishing The Chocolate Maker's Wife by Karen Brooks.

Not sure I can recommend either wholeheartedly, especially to this group. I like the first better than the second, but the idea that Grand Duchess Tatiana and Grand Duchess Maria (Romanov) both escaped the Bolshevik assassins is improbable to the point of absurd.

As for The Chocolate Maker's Wife, I instinctively reject titles that define Heroine X as no more than some guy's wife/daughter/widow, etc. In the 21st century, really? C'mon, folks!

But the book is, on the whole, good. You just really, really have to love historical detail. It gets off to a slow start because of the inundation of detail (I say this as a historian!). But if you can get past that, it's an interesting story.

[happy]

I'm currently reading or have recently read 3 NF looks and the Angevin Kings of England, Henry II and his sons

The first is



A short overview of reigns Henry II, Richard I and John. I thought is was a little disjointed and the author's time line is a bit hard to follow. I think this is a weak 4 star read

Second is Dan Jones' look at how the Magna Carta came to be and its effects both then and now



Also rather short at just over 200 pages. I thought it was good overview of a document so fundamental to western democracies. Solid 4 stars - I'll type my more complete thoughts as I get the time.

He traces how John really didn't do anything new in taxation, but was much better at it than his father and brother, which is a bit suprising:) As for his relations with his nobles, he was much worse at handling them than either his father or his brother.

Currently reading Thomas Asbridge's biography of the "Greatest" Medieval knight - William Marshall. He served 5 crowned Kings of England: Henry II through to Henry III with the Young King Henry (who was crowned, but never reigned) thrown in.

[Marilyn]

Just started “Snow and Steel” by Peter Caddick-Adams, an historical account of The Battle of the Bulge during the winter of 1944-1945.

[happy]

I've also read it. Great book for me it was a 5 star read - I think it might just become the "Go To" book on Battle of the Bulge

[Jane]

C.P. wrote: "Have moved on to The Lost Daughter by Gill Paul after finishing The Chocolate Maker's Wife by Karen Brooks.

Not sure I can recommen..."

I read CHOCOLATE MAKER'S…. too and although positive review I thought the title too bland. The marketing dept. could [and should have] have come up with something more original.

[Jane]

Reading Carnuntum im Banne Saturns: Ein Fall für Spurius Pomponius 3 by Lukasch Peter.

Vol 3 of an enjoyable German-language mystery series set in time of Marcus Aurelius.

[Sherry]

Jane (and other A&Mers), have you read Household Gods by Judith Tarr and Harry Sidebottom? Most of it takes place in Carnuntum when Marcus Aurelius is there. A modern-day woman prays to ancient Roman gods to escape her stressful life, and is transmigrated into the body of a ca. 175 AD tavernkeeper in Carnuntum. Her reaction to unexpected Roman customs is amusing and sometimes eye-opening.

I know some members don't care for time travel, but this story is exceptional.

[C.P.]

Jane wrote: "C.P. wrote: "Have moved on to The Lost Daughter by Gill Paul after finishing The Chocolate Maker's Wife by Karen Brooks.

Not sure I..."

Agreed, Jane!

[Marilyn]

Currently, I’m reading Snow and Steel by Peter Caddick-Adams, about the Battle of the Bulge. I like time travel stories if done well and yours sounds interesting.

[Jane]

Sherry wrote: "Jane (and other A&Mers), have you read Household Gods by Judith Tarr and Harry Sidebottom? Most of it takes place in Carnuntum when Marcus Aurelius is there. A modern-day woman prays ..."

Yes, I did and it was good. I'm not really "into" time travel, but this WAS an exception.

[Geri]

Hello. I don't know if anyone else noticed but the two authors of Household Gods are Judith Tarr and Harry Turtledove, not Harry Sidebottom. I enjoy Harry Turtledove and Judith Tarr but I've not read any books by Harry Sidebottom - any recommendations?

[happy]

Turtledove is very prolific in the Alt History genre

I really enjoyed his


a series of short stories set in an era where Mohamed is a Christian Saint



Spain wins the Amada battles and occupies England during Elizabeth's reign

[Tim]

Geri wrote: " I enjoy Harry Turtledove and Judith Tarr but I've not read any books by Harry Sidebottom - any recommendations?..."

Harry Sidebottom is one of the best authours who write about Rome IMO. I find some books in that genre tend to portray Roman Legionaries a bit like modern British Squaddies but Sidebottom goes to some lengths to avoid that. The Wolves of the North is a good read if you like Roman militaria but I also found "The Last Hour" a really good thriller.

[Linda]

I am starting Verdicts of History by Thomas Fleming. I finished When I Was Yours by Lizzie Page an hour ago.

[Sherry]

Geri wrote: "Hello. I don't know if anyone else noticed but the two authors of Household Gods are Judith Tarr and Harry Turtledove, not Harry Sidebottom. I enjoy Harry Turtledove and Judith Tarr b..."

Thanks for the catch, Geri! You're right, of course. My fault for not doublechecking.

[Jane]

Geri wrote: "Hello. I don't know if anyone else noticed but the two authors of Household Gods are Judith Tarr and Harry Turtledove, not Harry Sidebottom. I enjoy Harry Turtledove and Judith Tarr b..."
Thanks for pointing this out; I missed it too.

[Lariela]

I just started Pearl in the Sand by Tessa Afshar.

[happy]

I've started reading the latest Crispin Guest novel