Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction discussion
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What Are You Reading Right Now? ( Hwæt béon ðu bocrædung?)
I have finished reading Monster Hunter International
Gave it 3 stars. Was a lot of fun in parts, but the writing was too juvenile for me.
I have now started Khubilai Khan's Lost Fleet: In Search of a Legendary Armada
I've been busy lately, I've finished
The Gun Seller (didn't like),
The Whale Road (fantastic), The Borgias and Their Enemies: 1431-1519
(also fantastic),
The Prince (awesome) and am currently reading
Stand into Danger
*squee!* You loved The Whale Road. I am pumped about that. Being my fave series (in a tie with BCs Saxon series) I enjoy seeing others like it.
:) About halfway in I was hooked. It's both the same and completely different than Cornwell's. I've got the second one The Wolf Sea ordered from the library already.
The first 100 pages are a bit slow and confusing. I wasn't really into it and then by halfway I was in love with Robert Low's humour and characters.From memory, it got good (view spoiler)
I agree, from there I upped it from a 2 star to a 3 star book but still thought there were better Viking books around. About the time (view spoiler) I figured it was a really good book and about as good as the Saxon series.
I don't remember a specific point that changed my mind but that was a really good part.
Loved the Beserker part. My favourite part of the first book.
I am rereading Gore Vidal's BURR.Burr
A fine book that gives you another angle to that mythological/historical period known as the American Revolution. Yes, it's from the perspective of the controversial Aaron Burr.
Hi Shannon, Coincidentally, Chris (a fellow member of this group) sent me a Goodreads book recommendation for the Gore Vidal book Julian this week.
I have never read anything by him before.
How are you doing the picture insert? I am jealous. ;)
I've never heard of Gore Vidal before but I'm interested. I'll have to see what I can find.And Shannon.........when you use the 'add book/author' link...scroll down and pick cover, you'll get the pretty pictures. :)
I'm reading John Adams:
John Adams
David McCullough can write, and he puts history together in a way that reads like a novel while being informative (the way history should be written).
I had trouble reading his 1776
1776
For some reason I couldn't finish it. I think I found it slow paced (!?!). Anyhow, I stopped reading it. Considering that I plowed through Battles and Leaders of the Civil War
Battles and Leaders of the Civil War Being for the Most Part Contributions by Union and Confederate Officers (Volume 2); Based Upon "The
That's saying a lot.
John Adams
David McCullough can write, and he puts history together in a way that reads like a novel while being informative (the way history should be written).
I had trouble reading his 1776
1776
For some reason I couldn't finish it. I think I found it slow paced (!?!). Anyhow, I stopped reading it. Considering that I plowed through Battles and Leaders of the Civil War
Battles and Leaders of the Civil War Being for the Most Part Contributions by Union and Confederate Officers (Volume 2); Based Upon "The
That's saying a lot.
That IS saying a lot, Diana. hahaha! :D
Sorry Shannon, I logged off before I saw your post.
Yep Dawn has the crux of it there.
I do it a different way though..but maybe it is too technical for some. I don't want to confuse anybody...buuuttt too late, I am going to share.
....when I punch in the book title and get the results. I hit 'add' twice. That way two links appear in my comment.
I write cover next to book in the link of one.
One will be [book: etc etc and the other I write cover in so it looks like this.. [bookcover: etc etc
Because the title details are exactly the same either way, I find it easier to write in book cover myself. I am weird like that. :\
Make sense everyone? :D
Terri wrote: "Sorry Shannon, I logged off before I saw your post.
Yep Dawn has the crux of it there.
I do it a different way though..but maybe it is too technical for some. I don't want to confuse anybody...b..."
Yes, that makes perfect sense. Well, to me anyway... :)
Good! I tried not to confound you all too much. :D
Just finished The Demolished Man. Am now starting Corrag and Sing You Home. Fell a bit behind on my library stash!!
Okay then let me try the Burr cover title again. ;)
Thanks, Dawn.(Terri): you just weren't there for me when I needed you. :D
Hey Shannon. :-) Do mean Diana...??...or me? I was the one who was not around to answer your bookcover question. :D lol
I am reading THE GUARDIANS OF STAVKA by Robert Egby. I cannot find the book on Goodreads. It is a novel about pre-revolution Russia. It is a Smashwords book sent for me to read and review. Mr. Scott Bury was trying to send me the entire book BONES OF THE EARTH. I could not access the link to his offer. Everyone in A&M who read the prequel may get a copy of the entire book. Let me know so I can let Mr. Bury know my answers to his e-mail were, "Yes, yes, and Thank you!"
I don't know don't know who Scott Bury is, Linda. Can you add links please?
Woops, change that to you, Terri. :D
Mr. Bury, Thank you for finding me. Using this Nook to communicate and guess I flagged and deleted myself.
Linda wrote: "Mr. Bury, Thank you for finding me. Using this Nook to communicate and guess I flagged and deleted myself."I think you deleted your review of my book, too. Did you change your mind?
Hi! I recently finished Lionheart. Sharon Kay Penman is very much a favorite of mine and got me much more interested in the MA. I am currently reading Elizabeth Chadwick The Scarlet Lion in hard copy and A Dance With Dragons on Kindle library loan.I'm looking forward to finding more authors here that will interest me. Quite a few comments I've seen here refer to works currently on by TBR list so I think I'm in the right place!
Scott wrote: "Linda wrote: "Mr. Bury, Thank you for finding me. Using this Nook to communicate and guess I flagged and deleted myself."No. I loved your book. I have to go swim now, but as soon I get back I will find the review. I am so sorry.
I think you deleted your review of my book, too. Did you change your ..."
Welcome Susan, we hope your TBR list expands considerably and we love suggestions. Jump into any conversation, we're always happy for fresh opinions. :)
Dawn wrote: "Welcome Susan, we hope your TBR list expands considerably and we love suggestions. Jump into any conversation, we're always happy for fresh opinions. :)"Thanks!
Penman is one of the best living novelists for Medieval Europe. I found her Welsh trilogy to be a notch or two above the Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine trilogy. The SUNNE IN THE SPLENDOUR was quite good as well but it was a stand alone novel focusing on a misunderstood and vilified Richard III.Lately her novels have put information dumps over story and/or failed to blend them well enough.
She also has an investigation series which is very different in writing style. I never got into those so much.
THE BONES OF THE EARTH by Mr. Scott BuryMr. Bury, I wrote a review on January 24, 2012.
I edited the review today, March 29, 3012. It did not get 'saved' either time. This must be a problem with my Nook. They say the site has moved and left no forwarding address. I apologize to you and to Terri. I will find some place to post , save or do whatever I can to make this right. Any promises
for a free book that I made on your behalf are to be ignored.
Shannon wrote: "Woops, change that to you, Terri. :D"That's more like it. :D
Susan wrote: "Hi! I recently finished Lionheart. Sharon Kay Penman is very much a favorite of mine and got me much more interested in the MA. I am currently reading [author:Elizabe..."Hi Susan. You absolutey HAVE found the right group. :-)
Enjoy, and don't be shy, you are welcome, as is everyone, in any discussion.
There are no closed discussions around here. If you see two people having a discussion feel free to jump into it. Everyone's input is valued around here. :-)
Have enjoyed Sharon Kay Penman for years. I really like timeline type of writing. Any input on Dorothy (?) Dunnett novels? Saw a mention of her but haven't read any of her books.
I have some Dorothy Dunnett books that I was given a million years ago and never got around to reading. I have heard her books are a bit 'romancy'.
Hi to the new folks. I have never read Dorothy Dunnett. Elizabeth Chadwick I like. As far as historical fiction goes, Penman is the best.
Terri, This has not been my best day. I think I followed you in reading Mr. James Hockey's THE AXE THE SHIELD AND THE TRITON. I wish I had remembered that earlier today. I cannot get the "add book/author" thing to work. I have saved the instructions and will get it worked out. Not today though.
The Axe the Shield and the TritonHere you go Linda. :-)
Yes, you did follow me on the James Hockey book. It was a nice surprise that book. I quite enjoyed it.
Shannon wrote: "Penman is one of the best living novelists for Medieval Europe. I found her Welsh trilogy to be a notch or two above the Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine trilogy. The SUNNE IN THE SPLENDOUR was qu..."It is generally known that Ms Penman is an excellent researcher. THE SUNNE IN SPLENDOR showed King Richard as a man who loved, cared deeply for his kingdom, and did not kill the boys in the tower. Do you think he would have traded his kingdom for a horse.
Shannon wrote: "Penman is one of the best living novelists for Medieval Europe. I found her Welsh trilogy to be a notch or two above the Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine trilogy. The SUNNE IN THE SPLENDOUR was qu..."
@ Shannon:
If you are interested in Richard III, and if you have not read it, Josephine Tey's book, The Daughter of Time is one of the most excellently done debunkings of the Tudor smear campaign against Richard III that was ever written.
It is a tour de force, well worth reading. And when you consider that all the action takes place in a hospital room, it is even more astonishing.
So sayeth the distant descendant of a German mercenary who came to England in the train of the man who came to be known as Henry VII. Dang! He was on the wrong side!
The Daughter of Time
@ Shannon:
If you are interested in Richard III, and if you have not read it, Josephine Tey's book, The Daughter of Time is one of the most excellently done debunkings of the Tudor smear campaign against Richard III that was ever written.
It is a tour de force, well worth reading. And when you consider that all the action takes place in a hospital room, it is even more astonishing.
So sayeth the distant descendant of a German mercenary who came to England in the train of the man who came to be known as Henry VII. Dang! He was on the wrong side!
The Daughter of Time
Diana,You may have missed it, but a fellow member posted an interesting post to you in the Meet & Greet thread. I only mention it in case you haven't been back to that thread to see. :-)
(Bobby): I think I tried reading Dunnet's A GAME OF KINGS but the writing style felt "slow" to me. I may give her another chance when I'm in the mood. I read Penman for getting a feel of the era and 
when I want more of a military feel for the period. His Saxon series for the most part are superlative works if you want to get a feel for Anglo-Saxon England without feeling you have to read a boring History book.
(Linda): Suuuure, trade the kingdom for a horse. ;)
(Diana): Thanks. I'll check it out.
Oh! Did someone say Saxon Series? *love*
Terri wrote: "Diana,
You may have missed it, but a fellow member posted an interesting post to you in the Meet & Greet thread. I only mention it in case you haven't been back to that thread to see. :-)"
Thank you, Terri - I definitely had missed it. Greatly appreciated (I wouldn't have wanted to ignore such a pleasant post).
Now I'm off to pick up twigs from my yard (windstorms hit my area) and then plant a weeping cherry... Hm. Should I bring my laptop, do you think? ;-)
You may have missed it, but a fellow member posted an interesting post to you in the Meet & Greet thread. I only mention it in case you haven't been back to that thread to see. :-)"
Thank you, Terri - I definitely had missed it. Greatly appreciated (I wouldn't have wanted to ignore such a pleasant post).
Now I'm off to pick up twigs from my yard (windstorms hit my area) and then plant a weeping cherry... Hm. Should I bring my laptop, do you think? ;-)
You're welcome. I thought you might like to catch that post. :-) I have always wanted to plant a weeping cherry. They are so beautiful, but being a subtropical region those kinds of trees are not easy to source. Not many nurseries around here carry much of a range of blossom trees. Enjoy!
Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction
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I am so glad you were intrigued because the author is Steven Pressfield. Thank you, thank you and thank you! I tried every combination of Michael, Steven, Stephen with Press-something. Steven Pressfield is too good a writer to forget his name. Most likely I was trying to find author Steven Pressfield on Nook while watching Sally Pressman in ARMY WIVES on TV. Such forgetfulness surely has nothing to do with the fact that I have more years behind me than I have before me.