Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction discussion
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What Are You Reading Right Now? ( Hwæt béon ðu bocrædung?)
Linda wrote: "No, you don't sound crazy. Well you might, just a little; but if you are, then I am too. I would wager that ALL of us have stashes of books in the most unusual places. Do you keep booklights too?..."No booklights but I do keep a flashlight in my purse so that would work in a pinch.
sarg wrote: "Dawn wrote: "I'm still reading Troy: Fall of Kings but I have started a few other books as well.The Happy Return by C.S. Forester
Coin of Carthage b..."
I haven't gotten very far with the Hornblower series but even from the first couple of chapters I know I'm gonna love them, it's very good writing.
I am starting WOLF HALL. There have been mixed reviews, more pro than con.
I will. I am reading a preview of Mr. Schwartz's IN THE SHADOW OF BABYLON? The preview is good, and readers have been very positive. Well, more than positive, quite good.
Yes, do let us know how you get on with Wolf Hall, Linda.
Bernard CornwellI forgot that I bought this book last year. Give this a read while waiting for the kid to finish the latest Uhtred.
Let us know what you make of it when you're done. I don't know if I'd read it, if it is my sort of thing, but it is Cornwell and I can't completely say I'll never read it. :)
The reviews have not been that favorable but I don't put that much credit in reviews unless of course it comes from this forum. Having travelled in the area that this novel is depicted, there is so much history and having read a few novels of the revolutionary war and this being a Cornwell, I figure it can't be that bad.
I'd go along with that. It can't be that bad. the man knows what he is doing after all.
I'm going to be reading Byzantium as of tonight. I have a buddy read with a friend of another book (In a Sunburned Country starting approx' Feb 1). So I shall read Byzantium until that begins and then put it aside for a while.
Finished “The Living Wood” by Louis de WholThe story of Saint Helena mother of Constantine
The book covers the period of about 272 to 363 AD in Britain, Gaul, Rome and Jerusalem..
Helena convinces Her Husband Constantius to stop the persecution of the Christians in Britain while he is Tribune. And then her son Constantine to accept Christianity during his conquest of the Roman Empire. As his succed in his conquest he then makes Christianity the religion of the realm .
Helena then goes to Jerusalem to find the Cross that Christ was crucified on.
As a Catholic I found the book interesting but unless you are into saints and Catholicism you might not be.
Think I will clear my mind with a short easy read like a western or detective mystery
The Living Wood: A Novel About St. Helena
Terri wrote: "I'm going to be reading Byzantium as of tonight. I have a buddy read with a friend of another book (In a Sunburned Country starting approx' Feb 1). So I shall read Byzantium..."I think I'll join you with Byzantium ... I just finished 1453: The Holy War for Constantinople and the Clash of Islam and the West, and since I didn't want the Byzantine Empire to die just yet, I was planning to read a few more fiction and non-fiction titles on the subject. Byzantium is a good choice.
ib.
Ireney wrote: "Terri wrote: "I'm going to be reading Byzantium as of tonight. I have a buddy read with a friend of another book (In a Sunburned Country starting approx' Feb 1). So I shall ..."Doh! Maybe not. I just learned that Byzantium is not available in the superior electronic form ... I will have to wait a few days for it to arrive in that obsolete format of old.
!@#$%^&* paper books >8P
ib.
hahahaha! What a trick to play on you.Ahhh, that eReader, she is a cruel mistress.
Great to have you along for the buddy read though. I shall add your name to the 'currently reading' on our main page.
Linda wrote: "I will. I am reading a preview of Mr. Schwartz's IN THE SHADOW OF BABYLON? The preview is good, and readers have been very positive. Well, more than positive, quite good."I recommend it - I started a thread on it in this forum.
This be that thread.http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/7...
p.s I think that is where Linda first came across it. In that thread.
I have In The Shadow of Babylon on my to read list. I appreciate your reclommendation C.B. I tapped the thread and was appalled by my grammar and spelling. The lack of grammar and spell check on my Nook I really miss. Is this where I say, "See you on the thread?" I can hear the laughter from Australia to Canada at that question.
No laughter. :) Too tired from being out in the rain working on fences.
Do you have sheep? This not the place to tell you this, but I like the new group name.
Nope, no sheep, only cattle.I like the new group name too. Much classier.
I am now reading;
In a Sunburned Country
It is well done. Bill Bryson is a clever and amusing writer.
It is the first book I have read by him. I don't think it will be my last either.
I am still reading THE PALE HORSEMAN by Bernard Cornwell. I finished WOLF HALL last week and felt relieved to have done with it. Most reviewers gave it four to five stars, but one reviewer gave it one star saying she could not wrap her mind around it. We were of like minds. I did not see Cromwell in a better light after reading the book. What I did see was the continued struggle between the Pope and the Crown.
I know many people who didn't like Wolf Hall, Linda. You are not alone. :)
Thanks, TerriThat is always good to hear.
Taking a break from historical fiction after completing THE PALE HORSEMAN by Bernard Cornwell on 1-28-2012. I picked up ENTANGLED which will take me to the beautiful wine country in California. My husband was born in Orinda and I have been to the area. It is breathtakingly beautiful. Right, Vicki? The Pacific is the deepest blue, the sky so clear and the hills are golden.
That is a beautiful part of California, I go to Vallejo all the time and San Fran is a great city. Must have been a wonderful place to grow up. I love it when it's all fogged in and everything looks ghostlike.
Chris, I haven't read that book and the review is very limited. I will try to find an answer. I have read the history of Donner's Pass and the Gold Rush of '49 and the San Fransico fire. Did Michener write CALIFORNIA? Most anything I have read about California has centered around that Bowl of Beauty (I made up that moniker). Group, help me answer Chris' question.
I think of Napa Valley as a bowl of beauty. BIRD OF ANOTHER HEAVEN and PROUD BREED I want to read. The PROUD BREED is a historical romance with outstanding reviews. Thank you for bringing them to my attention. I cannot remember the name of the Donner Pass book or the SF fire book or their authors, but I will keep at it. Shoot, I wish I could remember the titles and authors of those books. I like Goodreads because it urges me to keep a record and write a review. Thanks again.
Linda,was the Donner party book this one? It is quite a popular one on the Donner party.
Desperate Passage: The Donner Party's Perilous Journey West
I must have been curious about cannibalism because I read a book about the airplane crash in the Andes Mountains too. I now have a little research to do, which I love. There is a resort at Donner Pass, and we had dinner there. I remember that the floor was not level at all. It had a pretty good slant to it. It just now strikes me that maybe that was not a good place for an eating establishment.
Terri wrote: "Linda,was the Donner party book this one? It is quite a popular one on the Donner party.
[book:Desperate Passage: T..."
No that book is too new. I know the one I read was a historical romance written probably in the 1980's. Thank you for trying to help me.
You're welcome, Linda.If it was historical romance...I probably can't help you then. lol :)
Tonight, I am starting a book by one of my favourite authors. 
The Marsh Arabs
(after that I will be back reading our groups Buddy Read; Byzantium by Stephen R. Lawhead)
Terri wrote: "You're welcome, Linda.If it was historical romance...I probably can't help you then. lol :)"
But you tried, and that is what counts!
Thanks Linda. :) You're great.
Just started The Winter King by Cornwell. Great so far.
I just finished reading Wastelands: Stories of the Apocalypse, an anthology of short stories contemplating various apocalyptic or post-apocalyptic scenarios. It was not bad ... some stories certainly better than others ... still, I recommend it to anyone interested in post-apocalyptic themes. It's been on my reading list for some time, and now that I've been waiting for Byzantium to arrive, it was a perfect time to check it out. Alas, I finished it earlier than anticipated and Byzantium is still not here ... if anything, Wastelands: Stories of the Apocalypse is a quick read >8)ib.
I have finished
,
,
and
and am currently reading
,
and
.I also have another dozen books from the library sitting on my end table. Thankfully some of them look to be quick reads and I should be able to finish them before returning them, as long as I get to renew them a couple times.
Love the new avatar, dawn! :DI will be interested in what you thought of Dissolution, Dawn. Shall keep an eye out for your review.
:) It was time for a change and I thought me and the General Lee would be a good picture. I'm just picking pictures from my Facebook profile album.So far I am 80 pages into Dissolution and I really like it.
Where are your Daisy shorts?
HA, I'll leave those to other, more exhibitionist girls!
Oh, right, I thought maybe..we... could...never mind..*puts Daisy shorts back in the cupboard*
I started HISTORY OF THE DONNER PARTY by Charles McClashan a day or two ago. This book is straight history, short and riveting. The facts of this book occurred in 1846-47.
CB wrote: "Just started The Winter King by Cornwell. Great so far."I loved that book. I read it out of order, but it stood alone just fine./
You read them out of order, Linda? I'm curious, in which order did you read them?
Terri, I am trying to find the right place to answer your question about the order in which I read thde WARLORD CHRONICLES? I read THE WINTER KING last. After your question I hit reply and this is where the Nook led me. I say that to say it is not my fault if I am in the wrong place. It is the Nook's fault. Catch you later, going to swim at the Health Plex.
Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction
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Authors mentioned in this topic
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The Happy Return by C.S. Forester
Coin of Carthage by [author:Bryher..."
Read Most of Hornblower series by Forester. Many years ago and have reread them a couple of times sense. Like his style of writing. Just finished Cornwells Gallows thief. The beginning about the hanging was dramatic. Also like Cornwells Utreds. Cornwells "Sharpe's Series is similar to The Hornblower books of Forrester.