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 4151: by Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila (new)

Margaret (margyw) | 3341 comments Sceadugenga wrote: "I'm currently struggling to finish Odinn's Child by Tim Severin. I would have put it down earlier but it's become a battle of will to finish it. It's not badly written, it's just such a flatliner, ..."

That was one book I couldn't finish.


message 4152: by Simona (new)

Simona | 1453 comments I'm reading The Golem and the Jinni. I started it without any particular expectation, but it is really well written.


message 4153: by Allison (new)

Allison | 1704 comments Simona wrote: "I'm reading The Golem and the Jinni. I started it without any particular expectation, but it is really well written."

EVERYONE'S been talking about that book!


message 4154: by Jane (new)

Jane | 3480 comments Allie wrote: "Simona wrote: "I'm reading The Golem and the Jinni. I started it without any particular expectation, but it is really well written."

EVERYONE'S been talking about that book!"


I'm always a little chary about reading ones with a lot of buzz...


message 4155: by Allison (new)

Allison | 1704 comments Me too usually. This one in particular sounds a little cray-cray.


message 4156: by Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila (new)

Margaret (margyw) | 3341 comments Simona wrote: "I'm reading The Golem and the Jinni. I started it without any particular expectation, but it is really well written."

Mmm. Looks interesting and my library has it, so I've reserved it.


message 4157: by Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd (new)

Terri | 19576 comments Sceadugenga wrote: "I'm currently struggling to finish Odinn's Child by Tim Severin. I would have put it down earlier but it's become a battle of will to finish it. It's not badly written, it's just such a flatliner, ..."

Hi Joe,
yeah, I'm with you on this. I think one of my major problems with the book is the lack of dialogue.


message 4158: by Bryn (new)

Bryn Hammond (brynhammond) | 1505 comments The Year of the French on an Irish uprising, with revolutionary French help, in 1798 and A Safe Conduct on a Children's (or peasants'?) Revolt late 15thC Germany. Both revolting but I like them.


message 4159: by Linda (new)

Linda (ladylawyer8650) | 1702 comments The Amber Treasure by Richard Denning set in 5th century in no man's land, the British isle. Read first the Author's Note at the end of the book.


message 4160: by Jane (new)

Jane | 3480 comments Bryn wrote: "The Year of the French on an Irish uprising, with revolutionary French help, in 1798 and A Safe Conduct on a Children's (or peasants'?) Revolt late 15thC Germany. Both ..."

Have read a few pp. into A Safe Conduct, not enamoured so far, so shall put it away for later. Doesn't grab my interet at the outset the way the other Peter Vansittarts I've read.


message 4161: by Erica (new)

Erica | 77 comments Linda wrote: "The Amber Treasure by Richard Denning set in 5th century in no man's land, the British isle. Read first the Author's Note at the end of the book."

This one looks promising, Linda. I just saw that the kindle version is free on Amazon. Thanks.


message 4162: by Jane (new)

Jane | 3480 comments I'll have to buy paperback sometime in future.


message 4163: by Erica (new)

Erica | 77 comments I just finished Death of Kings and about to start reading The Orphan Master's Son.


message 4164: by Bobby (last edited Feb 10, 2014 05:42PM) (new)

Bobby (bobbej) | 1375 comments Thank You For Your Service by David Finkel

This has been a tough, emotional read for me. I know its not Ancient and Medieval Historical Fiction but thought I would drop it's title anyway. Also reading

The Wallace Letter


message 4165: by Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd (new)

Terri | 19576 comments Bobby wrote: "Thank You For Your Service by David Finkel

This has been a tough, emotional read for me. I know its not Ancient and Medieval Historical Fiction but thought I would drop it's title anyway. Al..."


It is no prob to drop its title. The 'What Are You Reading Now' thread is for whatever books members are reading. Irrespective of genre. :)


message 4166: by Jane (new)

Jane | 3480 comments Since I'm nearly finished with my current reading, I've just started Lumen (Captain Martin Bora, #1) by Ben Pastor Lumen / Ben Pastor.


message 4167: by Linda (new)

Linda (ladylawyer8650) | 1702 comments That free version made it look real good to me too! Richard Denning has excellent reviews. Enjoy!


message 4168: by Gretchen (new)

Gretchen (eab2012) I'm re-reading the Harry Potter books for about the millionth time. Sometimes when life gets chaotic, there's something comforting about Harry and his friends. I'm also reading Winter King by Thomas Penn but that's nonfiction and requires significantly more time and effort. I have a five year old and a set of twins who are nearly two so I don't get a lot of time to focus on "heavy" reading. If anyone needs children's book suggestions, however, we go through about eight books a day and have found some pretty good ones about Valentine's Day.


message 4169: by Allison (new)

Allison | 1704 comments I have the Winter King: Henry VII and the Dawn of Tudor England on my tbr, have heard nothing but good about it. I bought my nephew a ton of books for Xmas and now for his Valentine's day present :) I have to babysit him that night so it looks like he's gonna be Auntie's date lol.


message 4170: by happy (last edited Feb 12, 2014 04:29AM) (new)

happy (happyone) | 2782 comments FWIW - I thought Winter King was very good. It humanized Henry VII for me (amoung other things)


message 4171: by Bobby (new)

Bobby (bobbej) | 1375 comments Terri wrote: "Bobby wrote: "Thank You For Your Service by David Finkel

This has been a tough, emotional read for me. I know its not Ancient and Medieval Historical Fiction but thought I would drop it's ti..."


Thanks Terri.


message 4172: by Suzanne (new)

Suzanne (suzanne_d) | 34 comments I've just introduced myself on the meet and greet thread so I thought I'd better add something here too!

After finishing a George R. R. Martin binge over January, I'm ready for something with no dragons. I've just embarked on HHhH and I'm finding it enthralling despite not being a great fan of 20th century or WWI/WWII fiction. I don't think it will be everyone's cup of tea, though, as it interweaves the historical story with the author's story about researching and writing the book.

I'm off to the beach for a week next week (yay!) and will be taking The Pagan Lord and Warriors with me. I've been saving up The Pagan Lord for some uninterrupted reading time.

One non-fiction book I've read recently which I'd recommend to those who like the late Roman and early medieval period was The Restoration of Rome: Barbarian Popes and Imperial Pretenders. It's very readable as well as (despite?) being rigorously researched.


message 4173: by Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd (new)

Terri | 19576 comments Suzanne wrote: "

After finishing a George R. R. Martin binge over January, I'm ready for something with no d..."


Ah ha. My fellow mod, Dawn, read HHhH late last year. Will be interested in what you make of it. Dawn wasn't a fan, but diverse opinions are always the best. :)

Have great fun at the beach next week! (although I hope we'll get to chat around group plenty before you go).


message 4174: by Jane (new)

Jane | 3480 comments Andy wrote: "Yer not wrong there yous too! quality is Joe

Jus finished Pagan lord meself, i did a review of which i think i'm in the minority, not totally sold on it in truth."


I'm not attracted to it in the least; I'll leave Uhtred where I left him in the book previous. Certain aspects of his personality I just couldn't take; I couldn't identify with him at all.


message 4175: by Gretchen (new)

Gretchen (eab2012) happy wrote: "FWIW - I thought Winter King was very good. It humanized Henry VII for me (amoung other things)"

I just finished Winter King last night after about six months of trying. It never takes me that long to read anything. Kids, I tell ya! Winter King did an excellent job of presenting Henry VII as a person and not just some villainous king. I have never really thought of Henry VII as any sort of villain. He was really more a victim of circumstance and those circumstances didn't always lend themselves to positive results. He was unfortunately sandwiched between two kings who bring about very strong feelings and opinions in people (whether justified or not) when mentioned (Richard III and Henry's son, Henry VIII). One of biggest things I took away from Penn's book involved Henry's relationship and feelings towards his queen, Elizabeth. I do think (regardless of what current popular FICTION novels suggest) the two grew to love each other and his death really did have a significant impact on the rest of Henry's life.


message 4176: by Laurentiu (last edited Feb 12, 2014 12:54PM) (new)

Laurentiu Lazar (laur1989) | 82 comments I have started The Three Legions by Gregory Solon. 60 pages in and I like it.


message 4177: by Bobby (new)

Bobby (bobbej) | 1375 comments Winter's Tale by Mark Helprin


Trying to finish 700+ pages before the movie comes out.


message 4178: by Jane (new)

Jane | 3480 comments Laurentiu wrote: "I have started The Three Legions by Gregory Solon. 60 pages in and I like it."

It's one of my very favorites!! I think Solon did a good job considering back then when he wrote the book we didn't know as much as we do today. No one knew the location of the battlefield, even.


message 4179: by Darcy (new)

Darcy (drokka) | 2675 comments I'm putting everything aside for An Officer and a Spy. I made the mistake of reading the first page and suddenly I recall how much I like Harris's writing style.


message 4180: by Suzanne (new)

Suzanne (suzanne_d) | 34 comments Darcy wrote: "I'm putting everything aside for An Officer and a Spy. I made the mistake of reading the first page and suddenly I recall how much I like Harris's writing style."

Oooh, I'd somehow managed to miss that that had come out, I must keep an eye out for it. I'm a fan of his too, and anyone who is interested in historical research as well as historical fiction should read his non-fiction work Selling Hitler Selling Hitler by Robert Harris as it's written very much in his fictional style and thoroughly entertaining.


message 4181: by Darcy (new)

Darcy (drokka) | 2675 comments Thanks for that Suzanne. I had no idea he'd done a non-fiction. See, you're already fitting in like a pro, making other people's TBRs grow :)


message 4182: by happy (new)

happy (happyone) | 2782 comments Darcy wrote: "I'm putting everything aside for An Officer and a Spy. I made the mistake of reading the first page and suddenly I recall how much I like Harris's writing style."

I'm eagerly awaiting the library to get it in. It's on order.


message 4183: by Linda (new)

Linda (ladylawyer8650) | 1702 comments Just finished and reviewed on Goodreads Richard Denning's 3047025The Amber Treasure. It was a good read. It took a while to read because I kept running to the window to either look for or watch the snow. My Kindle connection (ASUS) is still being repaired. The company shoud print in large letters in a conspicuous place THESE THINGS WILL BREAK IF YOU DROP THEM ON CONCRETE.


message 4184: by Jane (new)

Jane | 3480 comments Linda wrote: "Just finished and reviewed on Goodreads Richard Denning's 3047025The Amber Treasure. It was a good read. It took a while to read because I kept running to the window to e..."

Isn't there some kind of owner's manual you get with them when they're new? They probably don't print what you said, in large friendly letters, though. :)


message 4185: by Jon (new)

Jon Darcy wrote: "I'm putting everything aside for An Officer and a Spy. I made the mistake of reading the first page and suddenly I recall how much I like Harris's writing style."

You won't be disappointed Darcy, it's an excellent book.


message 4186: by Suzanne (new)

Suzanne (suzanne_d) | 34 comments Well, I finished HHhH and have posted a review - I'm still not sure whether my long-term view of the book will fall more on the positive than the negative, as I found it very polarising. While I did like the meta-fiction approach, I would have enjoyed in much more if the author hadn't been so insufferably smug and hypocritical at such regular intervals...


message 4187: by Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd (new)

Terri | 19576 comments Thanks for posting your review and opinion, Suzanne. I am yet to feel an urge to read it, as yours is yet another lukewarm response to it.
I won't be in a hurry to read it. Not when there are more 'its okay' than 'it was great'. :)


message 4188: by Jane (new)

Jane | 3480 comments Started historical mystery The Cybelene Conspiracy by Albert Noyer The Cybelene Conspiracy: Surgeon Getorius and his wife Arcadia, a medica-in-training 440 AD Ravenna. Seems like it will read quickly.


message 4189: by Dawn (new)

Dawn (caveatlector) That looks like it may be interesting Jane.


message 4190: by Betty (new)

Betty (betty30554) Just posted my review of Constantinopolis by James D. Shipman. I am thinking this will be one of my favs for the year.


message 4191: by Betty (last edited Feb 14, 2014 07:20PM) (new)

Betty (betty30554) Dawn wrote: "Derek wrote: "That's all?"

Well, no! But I thought it was too long already. :)

There a couple more I've finished and another I've restarted and a few more I'm thinking of starting....."


LOL! Dawn, you amaze me. How many books did you end up reading last year, anyway? After I passed my goal, I became lax about posting. I'm pretty sure I won't read as many this year - provided I don't do something as idiotic as breaking my kneecap again.


message 4192: by Dawn (new)

Dawn (caveatlector) I love reading and they are a good way to keep my mind off work. :)
I read an even 200 books last year! Am hoping to do the same again this year but we'll see how it goes!

And thank you Betty, you have reminded me that I have a new list to post here!


message 4193: by Dawn (new)

Dawn (caveatlector) I have finished Centurion by Simon Scarrow and Rome: The Eagle of the Twelfth by M.C. Scott. I need to take a small break from Roman fiction now.

So I'm starting The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower, #1) by Stephen King The Gunslinger by Stephen King, The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan, The Damascened Blade (Joe Sandilands, #3) by Barbara Cleverly The Damascened Blade by Barbara Cleverly and Towards Zero (Superintendent Battle #5) by Agatha Christie Towards Zero by Agatha Christie this weekend.....

and I have these out from the library: Blood Song (Raven's Shadow, #1) by Anthony Ryan Blood & Beauty The Borgias by Sarah Dunant The Sword of Damascus (Aelric, #4) by Richard Blake The Ghosts of Athens (Aelric, #5) by Richard Blake


message 4194: by [deleted user] (new)

I sincerely hope you'll one day donate your brain for research, Dawn. ;)


message 4195: by Dawn (new)

Dawn (caveatlector) Jane will be a better candidate, she probably even remembers what she reads. Unlike me! :)


message 4196: by Simona (new)

Simona | 1453 comments Derek wrote: "I sincerely hope you'll one day donate your brain for research, Dawn. ;)"

Yep, but I'd keep it for a while. Pretty difficult to read without it...


message 4197: by Mark (new)

Mark | 1885 comments Oh boy, enjoy bloodsong dawn.


message 4198: by Dawn (new)

Dawn (caveatlector) Good point Simona! :D


message 4199: by Jane (new)

Jane | 3480 comments Dawn wrote: "Jane will be a better candidate, she probably even remembers what she reads. Unlike me! :)"

Not always. Ones I love I reread and pick up more each time. Much I read [mostly from library] I just remember bits and pieces. :)


message 4200: by Dawn (new)

Dawn (caveatlector) Oh well, that makes me feel much better. :)

5***** books I remember quite well but most of the others I only remember a little bit. The middle of the road books fair the worst though.


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