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Penman's Progress...

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Paul
Newbie
Posts: 3
Joined: May 2015

Penman's Progress...

Post by Paul » Mon July 6th, 2015, 8:22 pm

Hello all and good evening! Sorry if this isn't the right place to ask but I'm just after some good HF recommendations. Having read Lady of the Rivers at the insistence of my wife, I proceeded to devour all of PG's books followed by CJ Sansom's, Mantel's (WH and BUTB......A place of greater safety just looks too monstrous though!) and then, after initially thinking they were too massive, tried a Penman .......smitten!!! Now everything I read gets compared to her books (wrong I know) and I'm desperate to find some books on a par with hers. Didn't get on with Company of Liars but loved Cornwell's Azincourt (different kind of novel I know) So just looking for books that you all love and adore as much as I adore SKP's. Apologies for the over abundance of full stops and exclamation marks :D

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Mythica
Bibliophile
Posts: 1095
Joined: November 2010
Preferred HF: European and American (mostly pre-20th century)
Location: Colorado
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Post by Mythica » Tue July 7th, 2015, 12:01 am

I like Helen Hollick and think her books are similar to SKP.

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MLE (Emily Cotton)
Bibliomaniac
Posts: 3566
Joined: August 2008
Interest in HF: started in childhood with the classics, which, IMHO are HF even if they were contemporary when written.
Favourite HF book: Prince of Foxes, by Samuel Shellabarger
Preferred HF: Currently prefer 1600 and earlier, but I'll read anything that keeps me turning the page.
Location: California Bay Area

Post by MLE (Emily Cotton) » Tue July 7th, 2015, 4:07 am

Welcome to the forum, Paul! Somewhere far back in the posts there is a thread of 'your ten favorite HF novels'. Just go over them and compare the other novels on lists that include SKP. Have you tried Elizabeth Chadwick? Or Elizabeth Loupas?
I don't think Sansom is on many, but only because most of his novels are pretty recent. I'd certainly add the Shardlake series to my list!

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Madeleine
Bibliomaniac
Posts: 5860
Joined: August 2008
Currently reading: "Mania" by L J Ross
Preferred HF: Plantagenets, Victorian, crime, dual time-frame
Location: Essex/London

Post by Madeleine » Tue July 7th, 2015, 8:54 am

Hi Paul and welcome.

I'll second the recommendation for Elizabeth Chadwick if you like that era.

Do you have a favourite era that you're particularly interested in?
Currently reading "Mania" by L J Ross

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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 » Tue July 7th, 2015, 9:24 am

Hi and welcome, Paul!

I think we all understand here how it's hard to compare books after you've read Sharon Penman.

I second the Elizabeth Chadwick nomination, and will add that the two Susan Higginbotham novels that I've read (The Traitor's Wife and Hugh and Bess) had that 'epic', well-written feel for me that you get with Penman.

ETA: There's Margaret George as well, most find her a hit or a miss. I've read Elizabeth I and The Autobiography of Henry VIII and enjoyed both.

Edward Rutherfurd is also a hit or a miss, but I liked Dublin: Foundation and Ireland: Awakening and want to read more.

I liked Nancy Bilyeau's Joanna Stafford books too (although I haven't read the third yet) - not suite in the same vein as Penman as they're thrillers, but they are good reads.

Susanna Kearsley also writes damn good books. Again different from Penman's as they're paranormal timeslips.

I could go on...
Last edited by Lisa on Tue July 7th, 2015, 9:39 am, edited 1 time in total.

Ash
Bibliomaniac
Posts: 2475
Joined: August 2008
Location: Arizona, USA

Post by Ash » Wed July 8th, 2015, 2:48 pm

[QUOTENow everything I read gets compared to her books (wrong I know)][/QUOTE]

Hee nothing wrong with that at all, welcome to our world! Yes to Chadwick, and don't be scared off with Place of Greater Safety - its a challenging read but really well worth it (can't wait for Mantel's next book!) Also try Legacy, by Suzanne Kay, probably the best book I've ever read about Eliz I.

Paul
Newbie
Posts: 3
Joined: May 2015

Post by Paul » Sat July 11th, 2015, 5:20 pm

Thank you so much everyone...my to read list just ballooned!!1 Now just to find a job where you get paid to read!!!

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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

Re:

Post by Lisa » Sun July 12th, 2015, 12:42 pm

Paul wrote:Thank you so much everyone...my to read list just ballooned!!1 Now just to find a job where you get paid to read!!!
Become an editor ;)

Paul
Newbie
Posts: 3
Joined: May 2015

Re: Penman's Progress...

Post by Paul » Sun July 12th, 2015, 6:20 pm

Mmmm....can't even proof read my own posts.....missed that spurious "1" that slipped in on my last one!

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FredQ
Technical Librarian
Posts: 192
Joined: October 2014
Currently reading: The Templars, Two Kings and a Pope
Interest in HF: I like how HF can fill in the gaps where we don't have enough information.
Preferred HF: Everything about the Knights Templars
Location: Northeast Scotland

Re: Penman's Progress...

Post by FredQ » Sun July 12th, 2015, 8:36 pm

Paul wrote:Mmmm....can't even proof read my own posts.....missed that spurious "1" that slipped in on my last one!
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