What Are You Reading? April 2013

EC2 · Post by **EC2** » Tue April 23rd, 2013, 2:48 pm

Given up on The Ides of April by Lyndsey Davis. It's not that bad, but I'd guessed the baddy, guessed the goody and guessed the ending well before half way and there was just something missing. The prose is still competent but it doesn't have the same twinkle as Falco at its best. The DH read it before me and liked it, but without enthusing. So I'm now pondering what to read next and filling in with a book on medieval spices.

sweetpotatoboy · Post by **sweetpotatoboy** » Tue April 23rd, 2013, 3:48 pm

[quote=""Vanessa""]Let me know what you think, SPB - I enjoyed it.[/quote]

This refers to "The Bone Thief" by V. M. Whitworth, which I finished yesterday. We discussed it at my book group last night.

Of the 16 of us there, half were very negative about it, focusing on the implausibilities in plot and character. The other half acknowledged many of these weaknesses but still enjoyed the book (in some cases, very much) for what it is: a rollicking, light adventure story with a sweet, charming lead character and merry band of companions who somehow escape all the worst predicaments just in the nick of time. They (including me!) also appreciated the somewhat unusual setting (just after Alfred the Great) and the picture it portrayed of an England in transformation.

Vanessa · Post by **Vanessa** » Wed April 24th, 2013, 9:17 am

Yes, The Bone Thief is more of a romp. I liked Wulfgar - think that's his name!

Brenna · Post by **Brenna** » Wed April 24th, 2013, 2:42 pm

Finished Dean's The Golden Prince last night and just couldn't must much enthusiasm for it. Now on to the Girl on the Cliff by Lucinda Riley

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Wed April 24th, 2013, 2:51 pm

[quote=""Brenna""]Finished Dean's The Golden Prince last night and just couldn't must much enthusiasm for it. Now on to the Girl on the Cliff by Lucinda Riley[/quote]

IIRC, those character show up in Dean's book on Wallis, which I read last year. That was pretty underwhelming.

Still working on Moondragon by Noel Vreeland Carter. Really top notch gothic. Like Victoria Holt, but better, the heroine's got a backbone. A long-lost ancient Chinese treasure, an exotic Chinese mansion in Ireland, a ghost and more.

Vanessa · Post by **Vanessa** » Thu April 25th, 2013, 10:18 am

Moondragon sounds intriguing, Misfit. Unfortunately the only UK copies are quite expensive.

Madeleine · Post by **Madeleine** » Thu April 25th, 2013, 10:37 am

[quote=""Vanessa""]Moondragon sounds intriguing, Misfit. Unfortunately the only UK copies are quite expensive.[/quote]

I was going to look that one up too, I had a feeling it might be a difficult, or expensive, book though

Thanks for the tip Vanessa. I'm intrigued by the thought of a Chinese mansion in Ireland!

EC2 · Post by **EC2** » Thu April 25th, 2013, 11:26 am

Now reading Runelight - fantasy with Norse gods theme, by Joanne Harris

boswellbaxter · Post by **boswellbaxter** » Thu April 25th, 2013, 12:23 pm

Susan Bordo's The Creation of Anne Boleyn (NF).

annis · Post by **annis** » Thu April 25th, 2013, 5:41 pm

Cassandra. This is another in Kerry Greenwood's Delphic Women trilogy, reinterpretations of ancient Greek myths. I read Medea recently and immediatetely statrted hunting down the others. They're really good - don't know why I've never come across them before, but they appear to be in the process of being reissued.

Interesting to compare this one with Marion Zimmer Bradley's Firebrand - both have feminist leanings, being written in the '80s and '90s, though Greenwood has a more playful touch.