Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction discussion
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What Are You Reading Right Now? ( Hwæt béon ðu bocrædung?)
Thanks Dawn, that is what I meant...although I understated how many animals are drawing on my time and then there is the actual running everything. :-) Chris mate, I don't know what you are talking about. LOL. I can't work out what you thought I meant! I'm lost.
Simona wrote: "It's true that children are expensive. You spend lots on concealer..."
Children cause that expense? I thought it was getting older *hides the pile of empty concealer containers*
Simona, I hope it will be one of my favorites too.I'm gonna post a review (my thoughts) about this book when I finish it. I'll be off to the countryside for 3 days with no internet whatsoever, so my apology in advance for future ignorance regarding questions/subjects that are addressed to me.
Bye bye!
Laurentiu wrote: "I'll be off to the countryside for 3 days with no internet whatsoever, so..."No Internet? Then we may expect your review pretty soon! ;)
Have a nice weekend.
Dawn wrote: "Tasha wrote: "Dawn, I don't know HOW you do it! ;)"I'm pretty sure having no kids helps. ;)"
yes, that is a big piece of it i'm sure. :)
Terri wrote: "Dawn wrote: "I'm pretty sure having no kids helps. ;)"
I have no kids and it doesn't bloody help me. :)"
well, having a farm and animals is a full-time job as well!
Actually, for me personally, having kids has gotten cheaper...less makeup, less clothing (for me), less expensive upkeep on my end...that is NOT to say on thier end!... ;)
Wow, that's a pretty good average rating for a 1957 book Marina. :)
The Death of Virgil by Hermann Broch. This is going to be on my currents for months. I heard of it in a thread for 'most challenging' but I'm a glutton for punishment. The last days of Virgil. He wants to burn his Aeneid. I like the cover
Tasha wrote: "Actually, for me personally, having kids has gotten cheaper...less makeup, less clothing (for me), less expensive upkeep on my end...that is NOT to say on thier end!... ;)"LOL. I believe they call this 'letting yourself go'. hahaha! :D
hahaha!! yes, but i'm still a bit vain so it's not total disaster over here! ;)
haha! :DThat is good to hear. Just don't start letting your lady moustache grow..or it will all be a lost cause.
Terri wrote: "Thanks Dawn, that is what I meant...although I understated how many animals are drawing on my time and then there is the actual running everything. :-) Chris mate, I don't know what you are talki..."
My bad, somehow I totally misunderstood the conversation and thought you were saying having lots of books demanding to be read was like having demanding children. In my defence I had gone through a rectal examination less than 24 hours before hand and, although everything came up perfectly normal, I think it seriously messed with my mind, amongst other things! Having animals to look after must be just like having demanding kids, lots of them!
HAHAHAHA!!!!!!! A rectal exam hey?? Well I do believe that excuses you for the misunderstanding!! :D(good that you got the all clear)
I am reading
The War I Always Wanted: The Illusion of Glory and the Reality of War: A Screaming Eagle in Afghanistan and Iraq
I've started Kill You Twice by Chelsea Cain, one of my current favourite crime writers. It's the fifth book in the Archie Sheridan/Gretchen Lowell series. the first four books have been fantasic, but only for those who like at least some of their crime novels to be on the grusome side.
Looks like a well rated series Chris, also sounds very disturbing. It has the making of a really good BBC series.....like Wire in the Blood with Robson Green.
I have decided that I'm not in the mood to read
so I took it back to the library and I read
instead. I also started
which has a pretty fascinating story line.And
I'm trying to choose between two I found at the markets yesterday: Kim Stanley Robinson The Years of Rice and Salt, alt-hf where Europe didn't survive the plague and the east runs history, or Jeanne Larsen Silk Road to do with Tang China and its mythology. Knowing me I'll start both.
Not sure what I will read next. I have a big selection lined up to choose from. Decisions, decisions.
I deliberately ran my pile of library books down so nothing would become overdue while I was away. So I am currently stuck on re-reads...hence nothing in my currently reading section on my profile. :p
Was a good plan while it lasted. :)
Terri wrote: "Was a good plan while it lasted. :)"Yeah. Now I'm going nuts and rereading anything on my shelves. :p
I came back just now. My week-end was terrible since I had some accidents in my family and had to go to the hospital twice.I managed to get into
yesterday evening reading the first two chapters. Wasn't what I expected, since I wasn't in the best emotional state, the book seems to have a really slow pace, but the writing is perfect. The way Hadrian thinks about his mortality,achievements, interests... made me contemplate. And the unfortunate thing is that all he said in the 1st chapter about love,night sleep,water,books ettc applies so well to life -"the written meditations of a sick man" as he names the first pages ( the reason I went to hospital is because of my grandfather, who seems to lose his mind; meanwhile the other grandmother is in hospital as well - old age, with internal bleeding-- awful). All I did after was contemplate about life the good and worst that we experience while we live.
A "phrase" that stick into my mind,though Hadrian is against it and believes that the philosophers are wrong "Sleep is the brother of death". It actually isn't whole, but deduced from the text.
Curious about what part is fiction and what is real? Since the way Hadrian speaks is very compelling.
You feel something change in you after reading such a marvelous work. This might be one of the most influential books I've read in my entire life.
Laurentiu wrote: "You feel something change in you after reading such a marvelous work. This might be one of the most influential books I've read in my entire life."Amazing. Thanks for giving us your feelings. - I feel a bit this way about The Death of Virgil, and I'm only on p.50. I've had wild thoughts of it becoming one of my most important books, as in, shove over, Dostoyevsky, you might have found a rival. It's Virgil facing death, not 1st person but very much in his head.
I am re-reading Kerry Greenwood's Unnatural Habits- due to a severe lack of new reading material. This will be rectified shortly.
Laurentiu wrote: "I came back just now. My week-end was terrible since I had some accidents in my family and had to go to the hospital twice..."
Hope everything turned out okay, Laurentiu.
I'm too greedy for my own good. I've started Outlaw, which I find a pleasant read but hasn't pick up the pace, yet; but then I started also Harlequin, that I really like but I feel guilty because I should be reading Outlaw instead...and then I'm re-reading Memories of Hadrian too. So sue me.
Ah, these are the very real dilemmas of the book addict. Take note children, this debilitating addiction is not to be laughed at. Look at the strife it has caused this poor Italian woman.
;)
Terri wrote: Hope everything turned out okay, Laurentiu."
Things are going as well as they can go giving the situation.
I haven't managed to read further, though I had a free day yesterday. Was too exhausted and slept all day long.
Terri wrote: Take note children, this debilitating addiction is not to be laughed at. Look at the strife it has caused this poor Italian woman."
Funny! :))
Laurentiu wrote: "Terri wrote: Hope everything turned out okay, Laurentiu."
Things are going as well as they can go giving the situation.
..."
Whatever it is, I hope the situation does not get worse.
Dawn wrote: "Looks like a well rated series Chris, also sounds very disturbing. It has the making of a really good BBC series.....like Wire in the Blood with Robson Green."Yes it is similar in some ways Dawn and Val Mcdermid is another one of my favourite crime writers, of whom there are many. Someone described her as the crown princess of everyday evil and Chelsea Cain is a bit like an American version, but probably with more of a sense of homour, all be it a very dark sense of humour.
Woo-hoo! Got an ARC of Cornwell's 1356 last night, and am delving in greedily. Cornwell might be famous for his battle scenes, but one underrated asset of his is his humorous touch. There's a scene where rough-and-tough Thomas of Hookton has to hide out for the night with a nun - you'd think you know where this is going with most authors; the nun would of course be hot and there would be a hookup. But no; the nun is a teeny little woman of about ninety, full of acerbic witticisms about politics, religion, and Thomas himself. The scene is priceless.
I am so jealous!!!!!!!!That you are reading the book, but maybe also a little jealous of that nun's night with Thomas of Hookton. :D
I agree, Cornwell does throw out some funny things!
PENNY FOR THE GUY MR. OLIVER by Mike Hogan. It is a first reads. Starting today 11-15-12
Terri wrote: "I am so jealous!!!!!!!!That you are reading the book, but maybe also a little jealous of that nun's night with Thomas of Hookton. :D"
She herself is rather appreciative of that fact, Terri. There's a hilarious line where she and Thomas are playing chess to pass the time (she's fleecing him mercilessly) and one of the younger nuns knocks on the door. Older nun: "Go away, Sister Veronique. I have a man in here with me. A very young, virile man. You see God does indeed answer prayers."
And none of this is any kind of major plot spoiler, btw - just a minor amusing scene.
Just finishedAn Instrument of SlaughterThe second in the series of home front detectives by Marston, which take place in the early 20th century London. As with his other series this book is a fun read as the plot is straightforward and the characters engaging. Not exactly Conan Doyle, but fun. Much along the lines of Oscar Wilde and the Vampire Murders: A Mystery series.
Kate wrote: " Go away, Sister Veronique. I have a man in here with me. A very young, virile man. You see God does indeed answer prayers." ..."I wish he'd answer mine. Oh wait. I am married. Happily. Oh well, a girl can dream. :D
Hi Tommy, here's the link for that book you mentioned, so we can see which one it is. There's a few different books that share that title isn't there?I checked your profile and I think this is the one you mean, :-)
Myths of the Norsemen: From the Eddas and Sagas
My library is getting 1356... the comments have made it sound really interesting ... so I've reserved it. :)
Forgive me for forgetting, Margaret, but have you read the first three starting with Harlequin.Cornwell usually makes his books stand alone so I wouldn't be worried that you won't know what's going on if you have not read the first three.
Terri wrote: "Forgive me for forgetting, Margaret, but have you read the first three starting with Harlequin.Cornwell usually makes his books stand alone so I wouldn't be worried that you won't know what's goin..."
I read Harlequin and enjoyed it. I've read a fair bit of Bernard Cornwell and noticed that the novels in his series tend to be readable as stand alones. Which is why I wasn't put off when I saw it was Book 4. :)
I have just started Bernard Cornwell’s “The Burning Land”. I have read a number of Cornwell’s books and thoroughly enjoy them. I particularly enjoy his continual “harassment” of the church’s beliefs weaknesses. I really enjoy Uhtred, as is obvious, as he is the main character.
Enjoy keeping up on the latest info with what the group is reading.
Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction
Books mentioned in this topic
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Authors mentioned in this topic
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Ken Follett (other topics)
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It's true that children are expensive, you spend lots in concealer.
And Laurentiu,