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It's May, what are you reading?

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.
Carla
Compulsive Reader
Posts: 965
Joined: August 2008
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Post by Carla » Sat May 10th, 2014, 10:55 am

[quote=""LadyB""]I really enjoyed The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency, I think I will pick up others in the series.

I'm now reading A Wheel of Stars by Laura Gilmour Bennett. A time-travel historical romance set in the Languedoc region of France, it's perfect reading for me at the moment because I will be visiting friends in Toulouse and Carcassonne in a few weeks' time (and I've already read and loved EC's Daughters of the Grail).[/quote]

I really enjoyed The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency, too. Lovely warm-hearted feeling about it.
Re time-travel in the Languedoc, have you read Labyrinth by Kate Mosse? It's set in the Languedoc area and the historical part of the plot is set in the Albigensian Crusade against the Cathars.
PATHS OF EXILE - love, war, honour and betrayal in Anglo-Saxon Northumbria
Editor's Choice, Historical Novels Review, August 2009
Now available as e-book on Amazon Kindleand in Kindle, Epub (Nook, Sony Reader), Palm and other formats on Smashwords
Website: http://www.carlanayland.org
Blog: http://carlanayland.blogspot.com

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fljustice
Bibliophile
Posts: 1995
Joined: March 2010
Location: Brooklyn, NY
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Post by fljustice » Sat May 10th, 2014, 3:35 pm

[quote=""marklord""]I am reading Latro in the Mist by Gene Wolfe - it's an omnibus edition of two novels - Solider in the Mist and Solider of Arete. A must for anyone interested in Ancient Greece and Greek mythology. I really like Wolfe's fantasy and science fiction so when I realised he has also done some historical fantasy I jumped at the change to read it.

Wolfe's books aren't exactly page-turners. The writing can be awkward at times, but if you read them carefully and slowly they're very rewarding.[/quote]

I very much enjoyed that one. For those unfamiliar with the story line, the main character has a brain injury as a result of battle and can only remember things for about 24 hours--BUT he can see and talk to gods and demigods. He keeps a journal so he can keep track of his life while he searches for a cure. It makes for a very unreliable narrator, but a fascinating read. Wolfe wrote a third book Soldier of Sidon taking Latro to Egypt, but I haven't read that one yet.
Faith L. Justice, Author Website
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Susan
Bibliomaniac
Posts: 3746
Joined: August 2008
Location: New Jersey, USA

Post by Susan » Sat May 10th, 2014, 5:46 pm

The Dark Enquiry by Deanna Raybourn...back to Lady Julia
~Susan~
~Unofficial Royalty~
Royal news updated daily, information and discussion about royalty past and present
http://www.unofficialroyalty.com/

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Lisa
Bibliophile
Posts: 1153
Joined: August 2012
Favourite HF book: Here Be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman
Preferred HF: Any time period/location. Timeslip, usually prefer female POV. Also love Gothic melodrama.
Location: Northeast Scotland

Post by Lisa » Sat May 10th, 2014, 5:54 pm

[quote=""Carla""]I really enjoyed The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency, too. Lovely warm-hearted feeling about it.
Re time-travel in the Languedoc, have you read Labyrinth by Kate Mosse? It's set in the Languedoc area and the historical part of the plot is set in the Albigensian Crusade against the Cathars.[/quote]

I haven't read Labyrinth, but I'm now wishing I'd chosen it instead of Wheel of Stars! I'm about 3/4 through now but it's been a struggle tbh, slow plot, unrealistic love stories and characters. What's keeping me going are the descriptions of the landscape, which do make it sound very appealing. If I have time though I might get Labyrinth in before my trip.

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emr
Compulsive Reader
Posts: 840
Joined: January 2009
Location: Castilla

Post by emr » Mon May 12th, 2014, 7:46 pm

Irène by Pierre Lemaitre
"So many books, so little time."
— Frank Zappa

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Prof.Hirata
Scribbler
Posts: 15
Joined: October 2013

Action for a change

Post by Prof.Hirata » Mon May 12th, 2014, 10:12 pm

I had a lame attack on Bernard Cornwell. Tried his Stonehenge and The Winter King from The Warlord Chronicles. Being a true lover of history and Arthuriana I couldn't get through a dozen pages of each. Sank in slow and viscid narration with unclear ends.
Turned to action for a change and swallowed Pacific Vortex by Clive Cussler from his Dirk Pitt series. Now following the line with Mediterranian Caper .
Last edited by Prof.Hirata on Tue May 13th, 2014, 8:50 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Nefret
Bibliomaniac
Posts: 2994
Joined: February 2009
Favourite HF book: Welsh Princes trilogy
Preferred HF: The Middle Ages (England), New Kingdom Egypt, Medieval France
Location: Temple of Isis

Post by Nefret » Tue May 13th, 2014, 6:26 am

I couldn't really get into the Warlord Chronicles either, perhaps the Saxon Chronicles instead.
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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Prof.Hirata
Scribbler
Posts: 15
Joined: October 2013

Post by Prof.Hirata » Tue May 13th, 2014, 9:05 am

[quote=""Nefret""]I couldn't really get into the Warlord Chronicles either, perhaps the Saxon Chronicles instead.[/quote]

I had the same vague idea. Maybe I will have another go in the future.
I am glad to know, Nefret, that we were born on the same day. Welcome to the 8-October Club! :D

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sweetpotatoboy
Bibliophile
Posts: 1641
Joined: August 2008
Location: London, UK

Post by sweetpotatoboy » Tue May 13th, 2014, 10:15 pm

I started We Need to Talk about Kevin for a book group, but may bail on it. I don't like the narrator's voice.
True, I'm only 4% in, but my heart's not in it.

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Vanessa
Bibliomaniac
Posts: 4378
Joined: August 2008
Currently reading: The Farm at the Edge of the World by Sarah Vaughan
Interest in HF: The first historical novel I read was Katherine by Anya Seton and this sparked off my interest in this genre.
Favourite HF book: Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell!
Preferred HF: Any
Location: North Yorkshire, UK

Post by Vanessa » Wed May 14th, 2014, 8:44 am

I found 'Kevin' quite a gripping story but it's not what I would call an enjoyable book, more horrifying!
currently reading: My Books on Goodreads

Books are mirrors, you only see in them what you already have inside you ~ The Shadow of the Wind

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