Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction discussion
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What Are You Reading Right Now? ( Hwæt béon ðu bocrædung?)
Terri wrote: "I hope that you won't be imbibing too much instead of reading. You need those brain cells. (And I don't mean that as an insult! LOL! I mean you need all the brain cells you have for the act of re..."
LMAO. Alcohol isn't high on my agenda. Mini-golf is, though. :D
HA! :] I have never played mini golf.
James wrote: "...in my opinion one of the very best historical fiction books dealing with the middle ages, Time Of The Unicorn by Barbara Jeffres, an Australian author who passed mostly unnoticed but deserved wide acclaim"Thanks, James, I've taken note. Great books go neglected. Pity - since it's out of print - it isn't alive in digital, at least. I'm in Australia, I might luck on it.
(Or is this a Random Thought?)It's only November, but I'm thinking about my top histfics this year. Those I read this year, that is, not date published.
Top 3 are stacking up as:
1st Port Royal
It beats the Edith Pargeter by a nose. I saw similarities of style: the expatiation on people's thoughts, that we called 19thC-esque in the Pargeter group read.
2nd A Bloody Field by Shrewsbury
3rd Last of the Amazons
3rd because, although this subject is dearest to me, the ones above are written better.
Like to see others' lists.
Hmmm..I need to think about this one. A Bloody Field by Shrewsbury is definitely on my list. I am probably going to have to put Crowbone on my list too.
I shall chew this over....
Okay I have thought about it.1st A Bloody Field by Shrewsbury
2nd Crowbone
3rd is a tie. I could not make up mind between these two.
Sworn Sword
Rome: The Emperor's Spy
Hey, I love to coincide on Bloody Field.
Just finished 1356 1356And now am readingFlaggermusmannenIn English as well as getting ready to start Jeri WestersonNewest book The blood Lance, which is another of her medieval noir opuses starring Crispin Guest.
Bryn wrote: "Hey, I love to coincide on Bloody Field.":D
That sure was a great book. Not everyone's cup of tea, but definitely mine.
My position 1, A Bloody Field will stay the same. As for the other positions...still got a couple months left in the year, so my list of top 3 this year could change.
Carol,What did you think of 1356?
Chris F wrote: "Deborah wrote: "I had just finished Byzantium 
So what did I do but start Byzantium!
I agree! there is plenty of room for diversity in reading. Different people different tastes and reading tastes change throughout a persons life anyway. It's all good.
Terri wrote: "I must get to those Carlos Ruiz Zafón one day."One of my favorite authors, and his first book
is one of the best books Ive ever read.
Hmmm, top 3......that's a good question. If I stick to straight HF with no mystery, I think these are mine:1) Gallows Thief by Bernard Cornwell
2) Oathsworn Series by Robert Low I can't pick a favorite of these books and I read them all this year, so I'm picking them all as #2.
3) Sharpe's Eagle by Bernard Cornwell
My runners up were Rome: The Emperor's Spy and Spartacus: The Gladiator.
With an honorable mention to Fall of Kings because I don't really think of it as HF but more fantasy or even alternate history.
Hey Teri. Sorry to be late responding but had to go to work. 1356 was a good book and very typical of B Cornwell. It is the continuing story ot Thomas of Hookton, go awing on the time of the battle of Potiers. The battle scenes are great, the plot a bit light, and the characters predictable. Worth the read, but I would not burn down bridges to get it. Since you are a bigger fan of Uthred, you will like it, but not love it.
Hi Carol,I really liked the first three books in the Grail series. Not as much as the Saxon series sure, but I found the Grail series fun and easy going. I can't wait to read 1356. I just have to wait for the cheaper paperback to be released next year before I can read it.
Hey Teri, hope you get to read it and enjoy. Have you read any of Edward Marston. He recently started a new series of mystery books that take place in the early 1900's that are pretty good A Bespoke Murder. He also has series that take place in the MA. I also am trying out a new Bernard Knight series about a coroner (his own profession) called Dead in the Dog. Also just got his prequel to his MA coroner series called Crowner's Crusade so my plate is rather full for the next week or two. I am still entrenched in my Nordic police procedurals as well.
Carol wrote: "Hey Teri, hope you get to read it and enjoy. Have you read any of Edward Marston. He recently started a new series of mystery books that take place in the early 1900's that are pretty good A Besp..."I'll have to keep an eye out for the new Marston:) I rather liked Knight's corner in Wales series and hope he continues it.
Carol wrote: "Just finished 1356 1356And now am readingFlaggermusmannenIn English as well as getting ready to start Jeri WestersonNewest book The blood Lance, which is another of her medieval noir opuses starrin..."Carol, I'm just getting into Westerson's Crispin Guest series myself. Which one do you like best?
Carol wrote: "Hey Teri, hope you get to read it and enjoy. Have you read any of Edward Marston. He recently started a new series of mystery books that take place in the early 1900's that are pretty good A Besp..."No I haven't gotten to Marston yet. I want to with the The Wolves of Savernake but my library does not have it and the only copies I can buy have awful covers.
Sherry wrote: "Carol, I'm just getting into Westerson's Crispin Guest series myself. Which one do you like best? ..."Hard for me to know what to make of this Crispin series. The first book, Veil of Lies shows only two GR friends rating it so far. Carol gave it 5 I think, and Simona (also a member of A&M) gave it 1 star.
I have enjoyed all of that series so far, altho they kinda need to be read in order. The Crispin character is the usual noir type, noble who is flawed, but full of derring do. He gets more rounded out in each book and the stories are good. He has a slew ,of interesting sidekicks who flit in and out of the novels. They are all entertaining and easy reads.
Just finishedBaudolino which was great. Hilarious at times, sad in other times, but almost never could you tell when Buadilino was telling the truth or lying. Now starting Death and the Running Patterer.
I should read Death and the Running Patterer as it is set in my country. I have always been put off by the ratings. Let me know what you think of it, Ben.(I do not think this series has ben added to the appropriate era folder yet...I shall do that now).
Outlaw I am halfway through! It is fast easy read. Because OUTLAW is moving along so quickly, I am watching CONTANTINE on tv tonight. I hope the movie is about the REAL Constantine. Plus, I am keeping up with our presidential election via TV on all news channels.OUTLAW reads very much like WAR AND PEACE. The read is unexpectedly smooth.
If its the movie Constintine with Keenu Reeves, then no its not about that constantine, its a fraudulant protrayel of the Arch Angle Constintine.
Benjamin wrote: "If its the movie Constintine with Keenu Reeves, then no its not about that constantine, its a fraudulant protrayel of the Arch Angle Constintine."Well, shoot! "Keenu an angle." I see enough of that watching the body politic.
Finally broke down and bought The Light Bearer for my kindle. Neither of my libraries that I use had it in stock. Only about a 1/3 of the way through, but I am enjoying it.
That's good to know, I've had that one on my bookshelves for quite awhile.
Brandy wrote: "Finally broke down and bought The Light Bearer for my kindle..."That's an old favourite. I still love it.
As per usual I am reading way too many books at the same time.I have restarted
by Sean Thomas Russell, I switched from paper to CD and the book is really good.I decided on
as my second China Miéville book, so far so good. 
by George R.R. Martin is a little difficult because I read the first book so many years ago but still good.I am waiting for
to come back from the library as I couldn't renew it.And
by Jason Goodwin as my current non-fiction book.
Dawn wrote: "As per usual I am reading way too many books at the same time..."I call this heroic.
I want to buy
but I am in doubt if I should take a hardcover edition or a paperback. It will be my present for Saint Nicholas. Suggestions? ( I got the money,but I'm kind of greedy)
Splash out.I went cheap, and ended up with a paperback about six inches high, with that cheapo look... worth about as much as I paid for it. The book deserves better.
Then I'm gonna buy it! Heard so many positive things about this book and I am certain that I won't be disappointed, plus that we are reading it here next month. Thanks for the final push! Needed someone to approve. To be on topic, tomorrow I'll start Memoirs Of Hadrian byMarguerite Yourcenar
Laurentiu wrote: "Then I'm gonna buy it!..."Gee, I'm glad that worked!
-I've meant to read Memoirs of Hadrian for most of my life, so let us know.
I'm one of those that LOVED Gates of Fire so I'm quite sure you will be very happy with your purchase, Laurentiu!
Tasha wrote: "Dawn, I don't know HOW you do it! ;)"I'm pretty sure having no kids helps. ;)
Laurentiu,You made a very good choice. Has to be hardback all the way if it is a gift for yourself. As Bryn said, the paperback is too small.
I bought Gates of Fire as a paperback last year and I was very disappointed with the size. I think all the paperbacks of Gates are small. The hardback is the only decent size.
Gates of Fire is one of my favourite historical fiction books. I really hope everyone enjoys it. It is quite special.
The book is studied in the US military and (quote) is on the Commandant of the Marine Corps' Reading list. It is taught at West Point and Annapolis and at the Marine Corps Basic School at Quantico at Virginia Military Institute and at Brophy College Preparatory.
Of course, if members don't enjoy it I understand. Just because it is my favourite, that does not mean that everyone else will love it too. :)
Dawn wrote: "I'm pretty sure having no kids helps. ;)"
I have no kids and it doesn't bloody help me. :)
In your defense you have a farm, I have a cushy government job. :)And I've given up all other pastimes, all I do is read, work and sleep!
I suppose this is true. It is like having demanding children. :) Over a hundred of them. lol.
Terri wrote: "I suppose this is true. It is like having demanding children. :) Over a hundred of them. lol."Sorry Terri, I have to disagree there. Having a bookcase full of books is my escape when the demanding children, either those at school or our own two delights, are in bed or doing other things. These are demands I look forward to.
Thank you everybody! I am pretty sure I'm gonna like it also, so I'm not worried about that. As I can see, only one hardcover edition is available
.
Chris F wrote: "Sorry Terri, I have to disagree there. Having a bookcase full of books is my escape whe..."I think Terri meant that the farm animals were like a hundred demanding children.... :)
Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction
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(And I don't mean that as an insult! LOL! I mean you need all the brain cells you have for the act of reading lots of books forever more).