What Are You Reading Right Now? ( Hwæt béon ðu bocrædung?) Showing 9,701-9,750 of 10,106

[May]

I’m reading a WWII non-fiction: A WOMAN OF NO IMPORTANCE by Sonia Purnell. It is the story of Virginia Hall, an American, who helped the Brits establish Resistance networks in Vichy France. Incredible read!!

[Michelle]

Let me know how it goes, Marilyn!

[Marilyn]

Will do. So, now I’m reading Lamentaion by Swanson; The Anglo-Saxons by Marc Morris; Hollywood Moon by Joseph Wambaugh; and The Fallen Angel by Daniel Silva whose books I never tire of. 🤪

[Laurel]

I'm here. Currently reading a biography of Daniel Boone. And The Valley by Helen Bryan, the first of a family saga trilogy about the orphaned daughter of an impoverished viscount, whose only property is in Virginia. So she sets off for the New World to claim it...

Reading some other things too, but they aren't historical.

[Jerry]

I have recently finished Robert Low’s Scottish border trilogy, set in Tudor times around the death of Henry XIII and the accession of Edward VI. I thought they were a good set of stories, although I know both the era and the area pretty well. American readers may struggle with some of the dialect, but I would certainly recommend them.

[Jackie]

Currently reading World Without End by Ken Follett. Pillars was one of my all time faves so this is a long-overdue read for me.

[Dawn]

I have actually been reading a few historical fiction books lately.

The Cellist of Sarajevo isn't quite as old as we normally read here but this is set during the siege in 1992. One of those more personal stories, vs. an overall view of the situation. It follows the lives of a few people during about a month. I didn't really like it, but it is well written.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is set in ancient China. Which I have found a difficult period to find HF in. This book was too self centered, or I guess the character was too self centered and I didn't like her enough for me to dislike the whole thing.

I finished the last Uhtred book War Lord, good but not as good as the earlier books. I thought book 9 was the last really good one.

An Irish Hostage is the latest Bess Crawford mystery set after WWI. There is quite a bit about the Irish uprising of 1916 and how bitter the Irish still are a couple years later. One of the better books in the series.

[Dawn]

And I am currently in the middle of a couple more.

The Battle of Kadesh is the third book in a 5 book series on Ramses II. I liked the first book, disliked the second, so it has taken me awhile to get back to the series.

Murder in a Mill Town is the second in a series about an Irish governess in 1868 Boston. Loved the first book and the second is also really good.

[Michelle]

Avenger of Rome was outstanding, and very upsetting! Heck of a good series. I am reading a light fantasy comedy before delving into the next.

[Dawn]

And moving on to more books, I have started Sharpe's Prey because it is about time I actually finished this series, especially with a new book coming out.

Also started Billy Boyle, the first in a WWII mystery series. My Dad says I will like it so I found the first book at the library.

[Michelle]

Dawn wrote: "And moving on to more books, I have started Sharpe's Prey because it is about time I actually finished this series, especially with a new book coming out.

Also started [book:Billy B..."

I adore the Sharpe series!!

[Dawn]

I am also a long time fan of Sharpe. Found the Sean Bean movies before I found the books.

[Michelle]

I’ve never seen it. One day I will!

[May]

Never got into Sharpe… still working on finishing other series!!

[Michelle]

The Sharpe series was the first of Bernard Cornwell's that I had read.

[Marilyn]

I’ve done Sharpe, too. Wish he could come with something more like Uhtred. Not the same but different. Maybe he’s hit a dry spell. Oh well. Waiting, waiting. waiting…

[Elizabeth]

I know I am suuuuper late to this particular party, but I just started Company of Liars by Karen Maitland and I am really enjoying it!

[Michelle]

I'm about to start Sword of Rome. Yay!!

[Dawn]

'Company of Liars' is a great book. I hope you like it.

[Dawn]

Michelle wrote: "I'm about to start Sword of Rome. Yay!!"

I never tried any of Douglas Jackson's books. Maybe I'll have to hunt him out sometime.

[Michelle]

He's an excellent author, Dawn!

[Marilyn]

I enjoyed reading him, too!

[Henry]

I'm just finishing Matthew Harffy's Bernicia Chronicles. A stunning series, a vision of Anglo-Saxon England that is as believable and as stirring as that of Bernard Cornwall. Highly recommended. He's just starting a new series also.

[Michaela]

Finally reading something by Sharon Kay Penman: Here Be Dragons - fantastic book!

[Dawn]

Finished Caveat Emptor, 4 book in the Medicus series. Back in Britain. Liked it but thought the end was overly dramatic.

[Allison]

Michaela wrote: "Finally reading something by Sharon Kay Penman: Here Be Dragons - fantastic book!"

❤️❤️❤️

[Betsy]

I have only read some of Sharon Kay Penman's Justin de Quincy medieval mysteries. I was irresistibly drawn to them by the beautiful covers. Must read some of her more famous works sometime.

[Jim]

Hi all.
I’m halfway through Camelot by Giles Kristian. It’s a sequel to Lancelot, and both are excellent.
It’s quite a different take on the Arthurian legend to anything I’ve read before, very dark. It’s also very clever with very three dimensional characters. I read Cornwell’s Warlord series years ago and very much enjoyed it, but I think this is better.

[happy]

I finally finished Nottingham

Really different take on the Robin Hood legend. There is no real villain. At the same time no real hero either. All the characters are trying to do the best that they can in the situation they find themselves. All the characters in the legend are there, Robin (of course), Maid Marion, Little John, Will Scarlet, a couple of different Sheriffs. There motives are well illustrated as how the situations the characters find themselves affect there actions.

The history is a bit fast a loose (view spoiler)[Potatoes are mentioned a couple of times, as well as Richard I using body doubles. Prince Johns personality doesn't really jibe with what I've read either. (hide spoiler)]

Still I enjoyed it and will read the follow on. Solid 4 star read

Also put in the High Middle Ages Thread

I also finished a NF book that might interest some here



The is the story of the "First Global Manhunt" In 1693 a man by the name of Henry Every was able to steal of the most heavily armed and fastest ships a float. He used that ship to commit an act of Piracy in the Indian Ocean that is still one of the most successful - in terms of the value stolen, over $20 Million in todays money. In the same incident, one of the Mughals female relatives (just who is not certain) was "ill used" by the pirates. The Emperor who wasn't high on the British in India anyway almost shut the British East India Company down. The resulted in the British Gov't to initiate a world wide search for Every and his crew. At the same time the EIC came to an agreement with the Emperor to Police the India Ocean in his name. Which according to the author led to the EIC to eventually conquoring the subcontinent.

(view spoiler)[the Gov't never found Every - he just disappears from history. They did find 7 of his crew, who where hung. (hide spoiler)]

Currently reading Marc Morris's new book



This is the real history behind Bernard Cornwell's Saxon Shores series.

[Marilyn]

Re-reading Tombland by CJ Samson.

[Michaela]

Marilyn wrote: "Re-reading Tombland by CJ Samson."

Oh, that´s on my list!

[Dawn]

I have lately finished quite a few books:

The Code of the Woosters, the TV shows are better.
The Imperfectionists, Details the lives of people in a newspaper from it's start to finish, over 50 years or so. Didn't like it much.
The Russländer, Mennonites in Russia around WWI, written like a memoir. Thought it was fabulous.
Larry's Party, a man life from 1977 - 1997. Did not enjoy.

[Henry]

I'm reading Roma. Quite engrossed so far, though it lacks some of the detail of setting that I loved in his Gordianus series.

[Dawn]

Yes, I thought that the scope of the work left little time for characters or details.

[Michelle]

I have been rotating three different series, one excellent fantasy, one light romantic fantasy, and Verrens. So now that it's his turn, I just began Scourge of Rome: (Gaius Valerius Verrens 6)

[happy]

I finished The Anglo-Saxons: The Making of England: 410-1066

A bit more academic feel than some of his other works, but still a pretty informative and pleasant read. The book covers the time between the Roman withdrawl from Britain in roughly 400 AD to William's conquest in 1066. All the major characters are discussed, even a short bit on King Arthur - he says their is just one brief mention of a character who the Arthur myth could be based on.

Most of the narrative is about Alfred the Great and his descendents. One interesting tidbit of info - Alfred was not refered to as "The Great" until long after his death, Professor Morris ends the book with a look at Harold and William. The actual Battle of Hastings does not get much ink. On the whole a really good look at how England came to be. 4 stars

Currently reading Ben Kane's latest

Crusader: The second thrilling instalment in the Lionheart series

This is the second book of a proposed Trilogy on Richard I. So far it has been all about the 3rd Crusade.

[happy]

I finished "Crusader". Like all of Dr. Kane's books a very enjoyable read. The scope of this entry is Richard's experiences during the 3rd Crusade. The novel covers Richard's preparations for the attempt to retake Jerusalem through his departure from the Holy Land.

As with the first volume of trilogy, it is told through the eyes of the Irish knight Rufus (a fictional character) - a member of Richard's personal group of knights.

As far as I can tell, the history is pretty solid. What is related happened when the author says it happened. The Battles of Ashur and Joppa are vividly told. The heat and its affects on the men form Northern Europe are also well done.

About the only problem I have with the novel is the love story. Rufus has an affair with Richard's sister Joanna - the dowger queen of Sicily. While fairly discretely written (nothing too explicit as far a sex scenes go) I found it a touch unblievable. That said I do know that such things happened. The rumors about Edward IV's parentage for example.

With everything - I think this is a solid 4 star read and I am anxiously awaiting book 3 in the series. also posted in the Ben Kane and Crusades threads

I am currently reading Paul Doherty latest Hugh Corbett mystery - set in early 1300 England

Mother Midnight

[Marilyn]

Thanks for the tip about Paul Doherty. I love medieval mysteries.

I was reading Robert Massey’s “Peter the Great” but I was having trouble getting through it so I bookmarked it and put it away. He won a Pulitzer Prize for it in 1980. I didn’t know that when I started it. I think what got me was his mention of the Soviet government (which is no longer) and his mention of Leningrad which is now St Petersburg and was before the 1918 revolution. In short, it was dated. I lost interest.

My current read is Jeff Shaara’s “The Eagle’s Claw” about
The Battle of Midway.

[happy]

Marilyn wrote: "Thanks for the tip about Paul Doherty. I love medieval mysteries.

I was reading Robert Massey’s “Peter the Great” but I was having trouble getting through it so I bookmarked it and put it away. H..."
You are very welcome!

I really liked The Eagle's Claw: A Novel of the Battle of Midway. Then again, I've liked everything Shaara has written. I doesn't matter which war he is writing about :)

[Michelle]

I just finished a light fantasy, and now I need some Douglas Jackson in my life 😉 I'm starting Saviour of Rome: tonight.

[Bobby]

The Overstory

[Michelle]

I finished Saviour of Rome:. That ending. I'm still upset. I'm going to take a brief commercial break before I start the next in the series.

[S.Baqer]

Agincourt by Bernard Cornwell

[Anita]

Night of the Lightbringer by Peter Tremayne

[Dawn]

I finally finished The Mark of the Angel, it had such a slow start that it took me a bit to get into.
The Prefect was a really good SF thriller detective story.
Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men had it's own distinct biases but interesting nonetheless.
The Custodian of Paradise was not near as good good as the first book, too much drama.
Low Town was a decent urban style fantasy, pretty dark, but good.

[Mark]

Dawn wrote: "I finally finished The Mark of the Angel, it had such a slow start that it took me a bit to get into.
The Prefect was a really good SF thriller detective story.
[book:I..."

Low town is a fantastic series.

[Michelle]

I started Glory of Rome last night, despite the fact that I'm still angry with the author after the last book 🤐

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

I'm currently reading My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin. This is a reread for me. I love this book.

My Brilliant Career

[Christopher]

I just started The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller earlier today. Only a few chapters in but definitely enjoying it so far...

[Michelle]

Finished Glory of Rome, which was outstanding! Before I read the next, I'm re-reading The Crown Conspiracy.