CW1Reader2011's Reading List

[CW1Reader2011]

Here's what I've been reading, so far, in 2011.
Jan 2011

"The Source" by James A. Michener.:):)
"Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell" By Susanna Clarke:)

Feb 2011
"Niccolo Rising" by D. Dunnett ( still reading ).:):)


To be continued!!

I finished "Niccolo Rising", then went on to "The Game of Kings" ( The Lymond Chronicles ).
They were both terrific and I will be getting the next 2 books in the "Niccolo" series, tomorrow from the O.C. Library.

Went to the local Foodtown, where they have a "book swap", and picked up "The Forest" by Rutherfurd and "When Christ & His Saints Slept" by S. K. Penman. Then we went to our local Borders Store ( which is closing, soon). and bought "Time & Chance" and E. Pargeter's "Brothers of Gwynedd". I'm a "BOOK-Freak". I wont finish all I have on my TBR pile until 3000 A.D.

(Just like the rest of u, I take it.)

[EC2]

Ye Gods CW, are you on a chunkster challenge?!! :eek::D

In the long ago I read and finished the Michener and the Dunnett. Gave up on Strange and Norrel.

[CW1Reader2011]

Ye Gods CW, are you on a chunkster challenge?!! :eek::D

In the long ago I read and finished the Michener and the Dunnett. Gave up on Strange and Norrel.

I also have "Devil's Brood", which I read a year or so ago, I now have the complete set and will re-read them in order. It was that book that led me to your powerful book "The Greatest Knight".:o:o You have a way with making those people of the 12th Century alive in our minds. Eleanor, Henry II, Henry (the young king ), Richard , John and William Marshall literally leap off the pages.

Thanks for keeping the 12th century, alive !!

[CW1Reader2011]

It's Sunday night, Feb 27th. I'm 2/3 of the way through the 2nd Niccolo book.
It will be finished tomorrow. I guarantee it!!

Then, it will be "The Race of Scorpions" (book 3), to start March 2011.

When Ms Dunnett wrote her mystery books did she write under a pseudonym?
I can't find anything under D. Dunnett in mysteries. Are they published in the U.S.??
thx for ur help, in advance.
CW1

[MLE]

This from Wikipedia:
This series of mystery novels was written over a long period, starting when she was writing the Lymond Chronicles, with the final book published prior to the first House of Niccolò book. In the Johnson Johnson series, the date of publication is not the same as the order in the series. Each book is set in the time it is written, and some series plotlines were not resolved. Dunnett left a very brief outline sketch of an 8th Johnson novel with her papers.
The Dolly of the titles refers to Johnson Johnson's yacht (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yacht).


Dolly & the Bird of Paradise (later retitled Tropical Issue) (1983)
Dolly & the Singing Bird (later retitled Rum Affair) (aka The Photogenic Soprano) (1968)
Dolly & the Cookie Bird (later retitled Ibiza Surprise) (aka Murder in the Round) (1970)
Dolly & the Doctor Bird (later retitled Operation Nassau) (aka Match for a Murderer) (1971)
Dolly & the Starry Bird (later retitled Roman Nights) (aka Murder in Focus) (1973)
Dolly & the Nanny Bird (later retitled Split Code) (1976)
Moroccan Traffic (published in the US as Send a Fax to the Kasbah) (1991)

You might try looking under their alternate titles, of which there seem to be a few.

[CW1Reader2011]

Hi MLE;

I thought she had a few mysteries, but couldn't find them on Amazon.
Just saw the "Lymond Chronicles" & "House of Niccolo" Series.
Thought she wrote them under pseudonym [I]"Who" Dunnett[I][/I:D:D:D:D.

I just finished the second of the Niccolo books.

She has me Hook, Line & Sinker.

I start the third book, tomorrow.

Cheerio!!

[CW1Reader2011]

Dear friends,
It is March 10th and I finished the 3rd book of "The House of Niccolo" series by Dorothy Dunnett. It was a little slow going, getting into this one. However , by perservering, I stayed the course and saw Niccolo through the many adversities and triumphs of his stay on Cyprus & Rhodes. Many characters and plot-lines keep the reader interested and going on. The local Library is holding the next 2 books in this series and I'll get them tomorrow.

I was going to go back to the "Lymond" series, but will finish this series,first.
Someone said on a thread or review on Amazon that it would be better to read this one first as it would be a help in understanding Lymond's travails, and histories of Europe at that time.
BTY, Was Francis Crawford ( Lymond ) a descendant of Simon de St. Pol ( or Niccolo)?? Ms Dunnett is a crafty writer. It could have been an interesting
convolution of consequences, if it were.

Talk to u all, soon!
CW1

[CW1Reader2011]

Just got back from the Library with the next two books of "The House of Niccolo" series. I now have 1100 pages of reading left in March before I return books on Apr. 1st. ( and that's no April fools' joke !! ):). Three more to go, after those. Then it's back to Lymond.

Oh well!!
In between i'll do my taxes!! :(:(

I'll be back!

[CW1Reader2011]

Hi again!
It's March 19th and I finished "Scales of Gold" ( the 4th book ), an hour ago.
My wife & I are going out tonight. I guess I'll start reading the 5th book "The Unicorn Hunt", tomorrow or Monday.
As usual, Ms Dunnett led Nicholas on a mighty chase through a new setting, the African wilderness. "The plot is thickening".
Talk to u soon.

[Misfit]

I haven't read the Nicollo books, but I enjoyed the Lymond ones very much.

[CW1Reader2011]

Hi "Ms Misfit"'

Thx for imput. I read 'Game of Kings" before I got into Niccolo's Series.
I'm just abt finished the 5th book( of Niccolo). I think I'll take a break and read some of the "TBR" stack I keep accumulating. Oh hum!:o:o
I have NOT done my taxes, yet . I've been so engrossed in these books.
My wife & I had to go out and buy a new Electric range, also.

Life, life, life...
it goes on & on.

bi 4 now!:

[CW1Reader2011]

It's April 10th. I just finished Jeff Shaara's
great book about the American Revolution
"The Glorious Cause". It's the 2nd part of the story , which began in "The Rise to Rebellion". The first book I read a year or so, ago. Then I read Shaara's book about WWI " To The Last Man", six months ago. Now I finished the story of the revolutionary war. THis one starts soon after the signing of the Declaration of Independence until the Yorktown surrender of General Cornwallis.

OK! I took a break from the "Niccolo" series. I'll get back to it soon. (Five books in 2 months is a bit much to absorb).

I think I will re-read "Sarum", next. ( Edward Rutherfurd's, best).

I'm heading for "merry, olde England", metaphorically.

talk, soon.
by for now. :):)

[CW1Reader2011]

Hi everyone.
I'm still reading "Sarum". We have been v-e-r-r-y busy in April, what with 3 concerts we had to rehearse for( Church Choir & 2 other Choruses ), plus a 4 day trip to North Carolina. Plus I also got a couple of "video games" which have distracted me to no end. Anyway, I will finish Sarum, shortly! I'm in the 1500's, reading about "Bloody Mary's effect on Salisbury's residents. Just 5 centuries left to the finish.

May u all have a good spring. I know many have not had one with all the floods and tornados, so far. But things will improve.
BTW, my wife and I loved the Royal Wedding..It was "smashing!!

Talk soon
Bi Bi.

[Susan]

I read Sarum years ago (very much enjoyed it!) and have always intended to re-read it because in the meantime I have visited Salisbury Cathedral and Stonehenge. One of these days...

[CW1Reader2011]

Hi folks,

I finally finished "Sarum", last week ( May 14th ). I have since taken a slight hiatus from HF (into SF ). I finished Dan SImmons "Illium", very stunning re-telling of "The Iliad/ In Search of Lost Time/ The Tempest". It had as many literary allusions as Dorothy Dunnetts' books. "Olympos" is my next project before I return to my other HF books on my TBR list.

have a gud Memorial Day weekend.

Chow!! (sic)

CW1Reader

[CW1Reader2011]

It's June 19th, I've just finished another SF book Gene Wolfe's "The Litany of the Long Sun". I'm still taking that hiatus from Historical Fiction after having read "Illium" & "Olympos" by Dan Simmons. I keep on buying more & more books but my reading has slowed as the heat of summer has hit central NJ.
Maybe I'll go back to D. Dunnett's "Niccolo" series, soon. Any suiggestions from fellow readers??

Talk soon!
:D:D:D

[Telynor]

If you enjoy Dan Simmons, I really do recommend his book, The Terror, a HF set in the Franklin Expedition to the Arctic in the 1840's. Very good, and very creepy.

[CW1Reader2011]

Telynor,
Thx for info, I have this book on my TBR pile, somewhere!! I'm now back to HF for a bit, after a rather long leap into SF. I read Gene Wolfes "Litany for a Long Sun" He's one of the best writers in this genre. I've since read two of the twenty books written by "Ellis Peters" (aka Edith Parteger), Cadfael Chronicles. I was at a "flea market", again!! Their were 14 of the Cadfael books for sale for a quarter a piece. I hemmed and hawed about buying so many more books that I put it away for awhile as my wife and I explored what else was for sale. After awhile I went to the lounge and waited. The Librarian of the clubhouse came out and put some books on the "free for the taking" shelf. Lo and behold, the Cadfael books were there. I grabbed them.
That was the "best buy" of the day!!

My wife and I took a train trip up to Niagara Falls, Ontario and met her sister & nephew for a belated birthday celebration. I read 2 of them on the trip.

Now, it's July 28th and I'm reading S.K. Penman's "The Sunne in Splendour", I read this about 8-9 years ago. I'm only 100 pages into it, (Edward 4th ) just became King. Not so much about Richard III, yet. He is still a child. It is a different world where men and women were treated in a brutal and inhumane way.

Got to go, big things are happening between York & Lancaster. BTW, are we living through this again, in DC??

Bi 4 now