Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction discussion

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General Discussions > What Are You Reading Right Now? ( Hwæt béon ðu bocrædung?)

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message 2851: by C.P. (new)

C.P. Lesley (cplesley) | 564 comments Finished Imperial Lady (historical fantasy, heavy on the history), which I really liked. My review is here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/....


message 2852: by Jane (last edited Aug 05, 2013 04:22PM) (new)

Jane | 3480 comments The Far Shore just came in the mail today -- very fast as it came from the U.K. I'll finish the one I have started, The Kingmaking, join the groupread on The Winter King and save Far Shore for later in the month.


message 2853: by Jane (last edited Aug 05, 2013 04:36PM) (new)

Jane | 3480 comments Terri wrote: "Hi Candace,
Even I, who loves my Vikings, has to break them up. I would struggle too if I read Blood Eye straight after The Last Kingdom."


That's why I try to vary my genres and time periods, also lighter books, then heavier books. I don't know how two King Arthurs back-to-back will work. I still love my Romans but one right after the other...?


message 2854: by Bryn (new)

Bryn Hammond (brynhammond) | 1505 comments C.P. wrote: "Finished Imperial Lady (historical fantasy, heavy on the history)..."

It's got Hsiung-nu in it?
Like you: how did this escape me? I have oodles of old Andre Norton.


message 2855: by C.P. (new)

C.P. Lesley (cplesley) | 564 comments Bryn wrote: "It's got Hsiung-nu in it? Like you: how did this escape me? I have oodles of old Andre Norton."

It sure does, and she's done a good job with them, too. Shamanesses, white tigers, cups made from an enemy's skull, koumiss, mutton stew, the lot. It's a sympathetic portrayal, though, mostly free of clichés (the antagonist is unambiguously nasty, but he's the only one).

My copy also cost 1¢, which even with the $3.99 shipping was very reasonable. Not sure if that translates to Aussie prices, though. The big A seems to see you guys as pigeons for plucking.

Hope you can find it. You'll like it, I suspect.


message 2856: by Bryn (new)

Bryn Hammond (brynhammond) | 1505 comments I've been trying hard to find an affordable last quarter-hour. If only I didn't live in Australia, C.P. -- it's that postage... Must Get.


message 2857: by Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd (new)

Terri | 19576 comments Oh yeah. The postage to us here in Oz is killer. It is one of the two drawbacks to being at the bottom of the planet.
One is the expensive postage
Two is it takes so bloody long on a plane to fly anywhere else, or to get back here from anywhere else....oh...unless it is New Zealand, but that doesn't count. :-)


message 2858: by Elaine (new)

Elaine Smith | 17 comments I just finished Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple which isn't historical but I also just finished The Last Kingdom. I've started The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce and The Winter King, which I intend to finish first so I can join the August discussion. I'm also rereading A Distant Mirror The Calamitous 14th Century by Barbara W. Tuchman which is nonfiction, but like others here, I like to mix things up.


message 2859: by C.P. (new)

C.P. Lesley (cplesley) | 564 comments Bryn wrote: "I've been trying hard to find an affordable last quarter-hour. If only I didn't live in Australia, C.P. -- it's that postage... Must Get."

:-(

Good luck!


message 2860: by Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd (new)

Terri | 19576 comments Elaine wrote: " I'm also rereading A Distant Mirror The Calamitous 14th Century which is nonfiction, but like others here, I like to mix things up. .."

You got that right. We all like to mix things up around here. Most of us have very eclectic tastes. :)


message 2861: by Jane (new)

Jane | 3480 comments Yup, good adjective! :)


message 2862: by happy (new)

happy (happyone) | 2782 comments Starting the prequel to Bernard Knight's Crowner John series

Crowner's Crusade by Bernard Knight


message 2863: by Lariela (new)

Lariela | 187 comments Marina wrote: "Inferno (Robert Langdon, #4) by Dan Brown

Of all his work, I've a feeling this one will be a favourite..."


Does that include Dante's work?


message 2864: by Bobby (new)

Bobby (bobbej) | 1375 comments Absolutely loved

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce


message 2865: by Lisa (new)

Lisa | 728 comments Daughter of the Forest (The Sevenwaters Trilogy, #1) by Juliet Marillier it's not exactly historical, but it is medieval, with no shortage of Picts and Britons. Very well written


message 2866: by Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd (new)

Terri | 19576 comments Don't worry Lisa, this thread doesn't have to be historical. It is for whatever you happen to be reading. :-)


message 2867: by Lariela (new)

Lariela | 187 comments Lisa wrote: "Daughter of the Forest (The Sevenwaters Trilogy, #1) by Juliet Marillier it's not exactly historical, but it is medieval, with no shortage of Picts and Britons. Very well written"

Good book. (Why are all the foreign book covers better?)


message 2868: by Jane (last edited Aug 06, 2013 05:06AM) (new)

Jane | 3480 comments If anything goes in what we're reading, I'm also reading The Wandering Unicorn, the author's take on the fairy Melusine. It's certainly different and the author's style takes a bit getting used to. Melusine is narrating her story and is a *bit* verbose.
And, how can she remember so many proper names? :)


message 2869: by Jane (last edited Aug 06, 2013 01:39PM) (new)

Jane | 3480 comments I just got what looks to be fascinating reading in the mail--histfic: different setting -- Eclipse of the Crescent Moon by Géza Gárdonyi, the siege of Eger castle in Hungary in 1552 against the Turks. I'll start this AFTER present reading and what I have lined up: The Winter King THEN The Far Shore


message 2870: by Lariela (new)

Lariela | 187 comments Now reading Lady of the English by Elizabeth Chadwick. It's my traveling book now.


message 2871: by Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd (last edited Aug 06, 2013 03:16PM) (new)

Terri | 19576 comments Jane wrote: "I just got what looks to be fascinating reading in the mail--histfic: different setting -- Eclipse of the Crescent Moon by Géza Gárdonyi, the siege of Eger castle in Hungary in 1552 against the Tu..."

Oooo. That looks good. What a shame about that cover. Makes it look like a comic book. Is it children's fiction? I see it is required reading in Hungarian schools but it doesn't say what age group.


message 2872: by Jane (new)

Jane | 3480 comments I really won't know until I start reading.
From the dust jacket: "... a convincing blend of history and fiction and has become a Hungarian literary classic and a firm favourite with adults and children alike."
It was written in 1901.
The cover doesn't look quite like a comic book if you see it in person. It's a pastel colored line drawing with shading.
I thought the subject matter was very unusual; I don't think you find much on Hungarian history in English translation.


message 2873: by Lisa (new)

Lisa | 728 comments I'm just glad I finally figured out how to post the cover, lol. I am usually computer retarded, but am trying to get better, to get the most out of this site. I could have posted a cover of the Macquarie dictionary and still felt accomplished, bahahahaa. Don't mind me long day!


message 2874: by Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd (new)

Terri | 19576 comments Lisa wrote: "I'm just glad I finally figured out how to post the cover, lol. I am usually computer retarded, but am trying to get better, to get the most out of this site. I could have posted a cover of the Mac..."

Ah. Small victories. :D


message 2875: by Bobby (new)

Bobby (bobbej) | 1375 comments Worth Dying For (The Bruce Trilogy, #2) by N. Gemini Sasson

Second in the trilogy and really enjoying it so far.


message 2876: by C.P. (new)

C.P. Lesley (cplesley) | 564 comments Life After Life and Hadji Murad. The first is more interesting, although the Chechen sections in the second are good.


message 2877: by [deleted user] (new)

Marina wrote: "Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell

It's one of my all time favourites and I've never read it in English before..."


That book is eerily prophetic.


message 2878: by Nate (new)


message 2879: by Nate (new)

Nate | 416 comments Terri wrote: "Jane wrote: "I just got what looks to be fascinating reading in the mail--histfic: different setting -- Eclipse of the Crescent Moon by Géza Gárdonyi, the siege of Eger castle in Hungary in 1552 a..."

And what's wrong with comic books? ;)


message 2880: by Jane (new)

Jane | 3480 comments I do think the cover is clever -- colored pastels that complement each other.


message 2881: by [deleted user] (new)

Dang Nate! That's some serious multi-tasking right there.


message 2882: by Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd (last edited Aug 07, 2013 10:12PM) (new)

Terri | 19576 comments Nate wrote: " And what's wrong with comic books? ;) ..."

Hey whoa. *backs off* I no mean nothing by it mister.

I just don't like my books to look like comic book is all.


message 2883: by Nate (new)

Nate | 416 comments Derek wrote: "Dang Nate! That's some serious multi-tasking right there."

I usually never read more than one or two at a time but two of those are short story collections and one is a collection of uber-short comics. Killer Angels is the only single extended work which takes it way easier on my brain.


message 2884: by [deleted user] (new)

Nate wrote: "Derek wrote: "Dang Nate! That's some serious multi-tasking right there."

I usually never read more than one or two at a time but two of those are short story collections and one is a collection of..."


Heard that. I won't worry about your head exploding then.


message 2885: by Jane (new)

Jane | 3480 comments Yes, and many of the expressions have been adopted in our language, e.g., Big Brother, and there are others.

There are some of the same concepts and themes in the Russian dystopian science fiction novel, which predated 1984 by some 27 years, We byYevgeny Zamyatin.


message 2886: by Jane (last edited Aug 07, 2013 10:22PM) (new)

Jane | 3480 comments Nate wrote: "Terri wrote: "Jane wrote: "I just got what looks to be fascinating reading in the mail--histfic: different setting -- Eclipse of the Crescent Moon by Géza Gárdonyi, the siege of Eger castle in Hun..."

You have to have the book in hand and see it in person; this GR reproduction is not the best.


message 2887: by Jane (new)

Jane | 3480 comments It was great! It should be known better. Wow, I admire you. You can read it in the original language!


message 2889: by Jane (new)

Jane | 3480 comments When I was getting up this morning, I happened to think of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. That cover is similar--color line drawing with shading. Oz was written a few years earlier [1900] than Eclipse of the Crescent Moon. That form of bookcover art must have been the style back then.


message 2890: by happy (new)

happy (happyone) | 2782 comments Starting on Kate Sedley's latest Roger the Chapman mystery

The Christmas Wassail by Kate Sedley


message 2891: by Jane (new)

Jane | 3480 comments Am still continuing with The Winter King
for the group read, BUT I'm finding two King Arthurs back-to-back are too much at one time. I'm breaking this up with Two Lives and a Dream, Marguerite Yourcenar's Renaissance novellas.


message 2892: by Paul (last edited Aug 09, 2013 07:17AM) (new)

Paul Bennett (hooverbkreviews) | 51 comments Warlord by Angus Donald - 4th book in his Outlaw series...also reading a draft copy of The Priest's Tale by SJA Turney - you guys are in for a treat when it comes out :-)


message 2893: by Darcy (new)

Darcy (drokka) | 2675 comments Adding Paul's books: Warlord and I assume you mean The Thief's Tale


message 2894: by Carol (new)

Carol (ladygyn) | 304 comments About to trySun Storm another author in the Nordic Noir genre


message 2895: by Bobby (new)

Bobby (bobbej) | 1375 comments The Pianist in the Dark A Novel by Michele Halberstadt

Looks like an interesting short read.


message 2897: by Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd (last edited Aug 09, 2013 04:37PM) (new)

Terri | 19576 comments Paul wrote: "Warlord by Angus Donald - 4th book in his Outlaw series...also reading a draft copy of The Priest's Tale by SJA Turney - you guys are in for a treat when it comes out :-)"

Hi Paul,
Please try and add a link to a book or author if the book or author has not been mentioned in the last four posts.
It's a rule around here.:-)
We try not to jump on people with the rule in their first post if they have no links, in the hopes they will see that others are doing it and realise it is what we do around here, but when a member keeps posting without any links we kind of have to mention the rule.
Here are instructions on how to add book/author and why it is a rule.
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/8...
People generally don't look up to see what book you are talking about if there is no link.


message 2898: by Jane (new)

Jane | 3480 comments Just started The Book of God and Physics: A Novel of the Voynich Mystery by Enrique Joven. Looks to be similar to The Da Vinci Code but several steps above in quality.


message 2899: by Jane (new)

Jane | 3480 comments John wrote: "just finished A Victor of Salamis; A Tale of the Days of Xerxes, Leonidas, and Themistocles i really enjoy it"

There are others by William Stearns Davis online.
Thank you for telling me about this one.


message 2900: by John (new)

John Warren | 33 comments yes and there cheap i bought that one for 2.99 and it was well worth in my opinion and ur very welcome


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