What Are You Reading Right Now? ( Hwæt béon ðu bocrædung?) Showing 2,301-2,350 of 10,105

[Benjamin]

Bobby wrote: "Have waiting for me at my library."

Got it waiting on my kindle to read with you guys next month!

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Awesome. Looks like Pompeii will be a popular read in May.
I hope will be too!

[Jane]

Right now I'm reading and the other books in that tetalogy--Boudica and the Roman Invasion of Britain and its aftermath. The hf aspect is good, but I don't know whether it's suitable to recommend to this group because of the fantasy component. Because of that mixture with hf, the first book bothered me but now I just suspend my belief.
Some of the character development is quite good.

[Betty]

1259 on Silk Road by Colin Falconer. It took me two weeks to finally get it to transfer to my Kindle (instructions are the bane of the technologically-challenged), so I plan to enjoy it to the max!

[Bobby]

Taking on the challenge of I've had it for awhile.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Jane wrote: "Right now I'm reading and the other books in that tetalogy--Boudica and the Roman Invasion of Britain and its aftermath. The hf aspect is good, but I don't k..."

I tend to agree on your fantasy views here, Jane. The series was mentioned in the Roman thread in the early days of the group, but I was always at ill ease with telling people that the Manda Scott Boudica series is historical fiction.
It really is more in the sub genre of historical fantasy. It is one of the main reason I started but never finished the Boudica series.

However, if you can decide to go on with the other Manda Scott (M.C. Scott) series. The Rome one that a few of us have been talking about lately, the author has gotten away from that heavy 'dreamer' fantasy. They are more straight historical fiction. M.C. Scott

[Dawn]

I started Mercury's Rise by Ann Parker
It's pretty good so far.

[Simona]

Betty wrote: "1259 on Silk Road by Colin Falconer. It took me two weeks to finally get it to transfer to my Kindle (instructions are the bane of the technologically-challenged), so I plan to enjoy it to the max!"

Terry Pratchett wrote to beware of any appliance which instructions manual weights more than the thing itself. Now they cheat putting instructions online...

[Linda]

When We Were Gods: A Novel of Cleopatra by Colin Falconer. One third through, started yesterday, it is a good read.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

We've got you hooked on Colin Falconer after our Silk Road group read, haven't we Linda.
This is the kind of response I hope to get when I select the group reads. To help people find new favourite authors or books that inspire them. :-)

[Jane]

Terri wrote: "Jane wrote: "Right now I'm reading and the other books in that tetralogy--Boudica and the Roman Invasion of Britain and its aftermath. The hf aspect is good, ..."

That series sounds interesting, so I'll have to look into it. The library doesn't have it...darn it!
What interests me most about the 'Dreaming' series is following Boudicca's brother, Bán [aka Valerius].

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

I found Ban the most interesting too. I used to prefer to stay with his scenes.

[Jane]

Terri wrote: "I haven't read Iggulden's Rome series yet either, although I own the first and it is waiting patiently for me."

The Genghis series doesn't interest me, but I thought I'd try Rome series to get a sense of Iggulden's style since I've never read any of his.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

I'll be interested in what you think of his Rome book one.

[Dawn]

I finished The Bellini Card by Jason Goodwin and am now listening to Mercury's Rise by Ann Parker

And I started Hawk Quest by Robert Lyndon.

[Linda]

Yes, you did get me hooked on Mr. Falconer. Your David Liss choice was good too. I have met some of the best authors I know through this group and Goodreads. I will be in the May group read courtesy of Monica.

[Jane]

While waiting for the May group read to begin, I'm reading . I've read Part 1. The book is excellent so far. I'm also waiting for the 4th part of the Boudica Dreaming series to come in at the library.

[Patrick]

am half way in Ben Kane's hannibal enemy of rome

[Dawn]

If you feel a need to discuss Hannibal: Enemy of Rome sometime Patrick...the group read thread from March is always open http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...

[Chris]

Jane wrote: "While waiting for the May group read to begin, I'm reading . I've read Part 1. The book is excellent so far. I'm also waiting for the 4th part of the B..."

It has been so long since I read this series I'd forgotten about them in our discussions on her other work. Thanks for reminding me.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Oh yes, thankyou for bringing up that Heaven Tree book. I didn't know it existed and I will definitely try it.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

While I wait for the group read to start I am reading the third instalment in M.C. Scott's rocking good Rome series.

Rome: The Eagle of the Twelfth

[Sandra]

Terri wrote: "Oh yes, thankyou for bringing up that Heaven Tree book. I didn't know it existed and I will definitely try it."

You will love the Heaven Tree books. I read them years ago and have never forgotten them.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Sounds great. Cannot wait to find them and read them.
I keep watching for her historical fiction (not her mystery stuff) to come on sale at bookstores, because I want to own them.

[Dawn]

I finished The Fifth Servant by Kenneth Wishnia and started Conspiracies of Rome by Richard Blake

[Eileen]

Marina wrote: "Finished . Need a day to recover.
My next read will probably be The Kingmaker's Daughter."

I am almost finished with it. Hilary Mandel is an amazing writer. I don't know if her perspective on Thomas Cromwell is accurate, but I definitely think differently about him now.

[Gentian]

Just finished Antoine Vannernow looking for my next read

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

That's a good way to put it, Marina.
Not accurate. Plausible.

Why didn't you come up with that short, succinct gem in the historical accuracy thread. :-)

[Linda]

Sedition by Tom Abrahams. Started yesterday. It is ok for the first 100 pages.

[Bobby]

Intriguing first 200 pages.

[happy]

Just starting the latest Dewey Lambdin



It is the latest entry in his series. The series is a Napoleonic British Naval series ala Alexander Kent or Hortio Hornblower, but a step down in quality. That said I've enjoyed most of them.

[Darcy]

Along with a few previously mentioned books, I'm starting the not-so-strictly historical fiction

[Jane]

Terri, you asked me my opinion on Iggulden's Emperor: Gates of Rome

I liked it. It's purely escapist, so save it for when you're in the mood for escapism. Iggulden played absolute havoc with history -- Caesar and Brutus boyhood friends, now come on! -- and pure adventure. It's very readable, author's style not bad, and was a page-turner.

[happy]

He does play fast and loose with history, thats for sure!

[Jane]

I'll probably read others in the series, as I have time and when I'm in an escapist mood and want something extremely light.

[Jane]

Sandra wrote: "Terri wrote: "Oh yes, thankyou for bringing up that Heaven Tree book. I didn't know it existed and I will definitely try it."

You will love the Heaven Tree books. I read them years ago and have n..."

I finished them and they were some of the best hf I've ever read.

[Sharon Toler]

I am reading The Hangman's Daughter. It has kept me interested so far. Unique, engaging historical fiction is hard to find.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Sharon wrote: "I am reading The Hangman's Daughter. It has kept me interested so far. Unique, engaging historical fiction is hard to find."

Very true, Sharon.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Jane wrote: "Terri, you asked me my opinion on Iggulden's Emperor: Gates of Rome

I liked it. It's purely escapist, so save it for when you're in the mood for escapism. Igg..."


I think this is why I have put this book off for as long as I have. I don't find Iggulden the greatest writer and he relies heavily on b grade action to impress... (I thought he was pretty good in the first two books of his Khan series, but I read then a long time ago when I was first starting out in the historical fiction genre.....wasn't much into the rest of that series)...and that's why I have avoided book one in his Rome series. Worried it is not something I would like these days.

[Anne]

Brandenburg finished this one Sunday. Now have startedThe Romanov Conspiracy Glenn Meade is fast becomming one of my favorite thriller writers. He uses historical events to write his books.

[Jane]

Terri wrote: "Jane wrote: "Terri, you asked me my opinion on Iggulden's Emperor: Gates of Rome

I liked it. It's purely escapist, so save it for when you're in the mood for e..."

You have to be in a particular mood for escapism; it was kind of pulpy. I have 4 criteria for what I consider a good book:
1. quality of writing, including descriptive passages
2. good, interesting story
3. characterization and character development, with sympathetic characters
4. for hf: at least historically PLAUSIBLE, and you learn something of the period. 'Author's note' and/or bibliography a plus.
Iggulden got a C for #1 and B or B+ for #2. I wasn't able to rate my other two criteria.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Haha. That's great, Jane. :-) Love to see that much thoughts going into a rating.
What did you end up rating it? I don't think you said.

[Jane]

No, I didn't. I rated it a 2. But to my mind, it could be a 2.5.

If you ever look at my goodreads books I've rated, the 4 and 5 stars meet or surpass my criteria; [of course everything is subjective]. You can see I've really got an eclectic selection, except my 'favorites' are mostly [but not all] hf from a particular ancient period... :)

[Nate]

I just started Shogun: A Novel of Japan. It already seems like, at least for me, one of those books that grips you immediately.

[Bobby]

One of my favorites and the TV version with Richard Chamberlain was above average as well.

[Nate]

I saw that they made a TV version, I'll have to check that out after I finish the book.

[Chris]

I'm currently 80 pages into this one Devil's Charge and enjoying it so far. I'll be interested to see if I feel let down by this one as you did Terri, after the first one in the series was so good.

[Michael]

Nate wrote: "I just started Shogun: A Novel of Japan. It already seems like, at least for me, one of those books that grips you immediately."

A fantastic book by a writer at the very top of his game. The rest of his series was excellent, too. If you like his style, you should try Nightrunners of Bengal and The Ravi Lancers by John Masters. different eras, different locations, but very similar styles.
Nightrunners of BengalThe Ravi Lancers,

[[deleted user]]

Shōgun is definitely one of my favorite books of all time.

[Jane]

I've just been reading by Alfred Duggan.
It's definitely unusual -- the story of Roman Emperor Elagabalus, one of Rome's most outlandish and bizarre rulers, in the 3rd century AD. Elagabalus really was historically that unbelievable--Nero or Commodus had nothing on him. The purported memoirs of one of his Praetorians tells his biography. I love Duggan's wry cynicism and snatches of dry and sardonic humor.