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What are you reading? April 2012

For discussions of historical fiction. Threads that do not relate to historical fiction should be started in the Chat forum or elsewhere on the forum, depending on the topic.
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Madeleine
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Currently reading: "Mania" by L J Ross
Preferred HF: Plantagenets, Victorian, crime, dual time-frame
Location: Essex/London

Post by Madeleine » Sun April 22nd, 2012, 5:31 pm

[quote=""annis""]
I do have a taste for mysteries in this style - Fred Vargas, Kate Atkinson and so on...[/quote]

I like Atkinson's Jackson Brodie series, they've done a very good TV version with Jason Isaacs in the title role, have they been shown over there yet?

I've just bought some Fred Vargas books, which ones do you like best?
Currently reading "Mania" by L J Ross

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Berengaria
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Location: northern Vancouver Island, BC Canada

Post by Berengaria » Mon April 23rd, 2012, 1:59 am

I've been reading The Sixth Queen by Suzannah Dunn, a new writer for me. Quite like her writing style!
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“No entertainment is so cheap as reading, nor any pleasure so lasting. She will not want new fashions nor regret the loss of expensive diversions or variety of company if she can be amused with an author in her closet.” ~Lady Montagu

princess
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Location: Scotland

Post by princess » Mon April 23rd, 2012, 11:26 am

[quote=""Ash""]Princess, I just started Catherine the Great, the Robert Massie bio. I may read what you are reading next, could be interesting.[/quote]

Having finished the book, I definitely recommend it. It covers her arrival in Russia to her ascension to the throne ( I think the author is planning/writing a sequel). I think I'll have to do a bit more "serious" reading on Catherine so I know where I'm at :)
Currently reading: The Poisoned Pilgrim: A Hangman's Daughter Tale by Oliver Potzsch

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Brenna
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Post by Brenna » Mon April 23rd, 2012, 2:40 pm

Reading Susan's The Stolen Crown. Already noticed a few inaccuracies that were probably just missed in the editing, but are kind biggies (John of Gaunt for example was not the 2nd son of Edward III but the third son). Still a good story if I can get everyone straight.
Brenna

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fljustice
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Post by fljustice » Mon April 23rd, 2012, 3:52 pm

Coming out of vacation on a roll. Finished The Sekhmet Bed, started The Hunger Games on the Nook (great for reading one-handed!) and will start a NF ARC The King's Mistresses: The Liberated Lives of Marie Mancini, Princess Colona, and Her Sister Hortense, Duchess Mazarin by Elizabeth C Goldsmith.
Faith L. Justice, Author Website
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annis
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Post by annis » Tue April 24th, 2012, 12:26 am

Posted by Madeline
I like Atkinson's Jackson Brodie series, they've done a very good TV version with Jason Isaacs in the title role, have they been shown over there yet?

I've just bought some Fred Vargas books, which ones do you like best?
The Jackson Brodie series have been playing on TV here, but unfortunately I didn't notice till too late- hopefully they will come around again and I'll be more onto it next time :)

I'va only read Fred Vargas' Adamsberg series, though will track down the Three Evangelistas at some stage. Vargas' translator is very much in tune with her work, always a significant factor when reading books in translation.

Vargas shares with my some of my other favourites, Colin Cotterill and Kate Atkinson, a style of mystery which I find particularly appealing - a bit of an anarchic quality, with engaging, quirky characters, plotlines with tricky twists and turns and unexpected links, humour and solutions often dependent on the subliminal and intuitive rather than the totally empirical. A strong sense of history and connection to the past s also a common factor. Vargas' Adamsberg stories have their basis in folktale of the dark, archetypical sort, and her archaeological background is often apparent as well.
Last edited by annis on Tue April 24th, 2012, 8:18 pm, edited 3 times in total.

DanielAWillis
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Heroes of Olympus series

Post by DanielAWillis » Tue April 24th, 2012, 1:46 pm

I am still in brain candy mode and needed something light and fun after reading the Hunger Games Series. So, I am now reading the Heroes of Olympus series from Rick Riordan. I'm about half way through the first book, The Lost Hero.

I really enjoyed Riordan's Percy Jackson series (although was disappointed with the Lightning Thief movie). Ever since I was a kid I enjoyed the stories of the Greek Gods and having a series bring them into the 21st century has been a blast.

The Heroes of Olympus is a serquel series to Percy Jackson, and seems to center on Jason, a son of Zeus. But there is a lot of discussion about the differences between Greek and Roman gods, and I expect Jason will turn out to be a son of Jupiter instead of Zeus. His two co-horts in the first book are a daughter of Aphrodite and a son of Hephaestus. This book also introduces many of the minor gods, such as Boreas, god of the north wind, etc.

Only two books of the series have been released so far. I am looking forward to rest as they come out.
Daniel A. Willis
Author: Chronicle of the Mages series
www.DanielAWillis.com

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princess garnet
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Post by princess garnet » Tue April 24th, 2012, 7:57 pm

Desiree by Annemarie Selinko
King Harry's Sister by Michael Glenne (NF)
The preface reminded me of the 1st chapter of Plaidy's Thistle and the Rose. An old biography about Margaret Tudor (1st published 1952)--it's reading like a novel.

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fljustice
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Post by fljustice » Wed April 25th, 2012, 2:40 pm

Finished The Hunger Games and got hooked. Downloaded the two sequels and started Catching Fire. Having a broken wrist is hell on writing but great for reading! ;)
Faith L. Justice, Author Website
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Nefret
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Favourite HF book: Welsh Princes trilogy
Preferred HF: The Middle Ages (England), New Kingdom Egypt, Medieval France
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Post by Nefret » Wed April 25th, 2012, 6:49 pm

A History of God by Karen Armstrong
Into battle we ride with Gods by our side
We are strong and not afraid to die
We have an urge to kill and our lust for blood has to be fulfilled
WE´LL FIGHT TILL THE END! And send our enemies straight to Hell!
- "Into Battle"
{Ensiferum}

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