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What are you reading November 2017?
- 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
Re: What are you reading November 2017?
I've just read that and really enjoyed it, Vanessa, she was a fascinating woman. I didn't know much about her earlier life so it's a bit of an eye-opener, I think you'll like it.
Currently reading "Mania" by L J Ross
- princess garnet
- Bibliophile
- Posts: 1797
- Joined: August 2008
- Location: Maryland
Re: What are you reading November 2017?
Death in St. Petersburg by Tasha Alexander
In the 12th and latest installment of the Lady Emily mystery series, Emily and Colin are in St. Petersburg. It's 1900 and Nicholas II is relatively new to the imperial Russian throne.
In the 12th and latest installment of the Lady Emily mystery series, Emily and Colin are in St. Petersburg. It's 1900 and Nicholas II is relatively new to the imperial Russian throne.
- 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
Re: What are you reading November 2017?
I'm trying to get that book but none of the shops have it, so will probably order it.
Currently reading "Mania" by L J Ross
- 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
Re: What are you reading November 2017?
Madeleine wrote:I'm trying to get that book but none of the shops have it, so will probably order it.
Have you tried the Book Depository? Sometimes a bit cheaper on there.
https://www.bookdepository.com
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
Books are mirrors, you only see in them what you already have inside you ~ The Shadow of the Wind
- 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
Re: What are you reading November 2017?
Ive been listening to one of the Great Courses, 'The History of Medieval England from King Arthur to the Tudor Conquest. It's quite a different view from the usual pieces on the individual kings, most of which I'm pretty familiar with. Jennifer Paxton, the historian who teaches the course, not only covers the political goings-on, but the general condition and wealth of the country. Her summation is quite interesting: what makes a 'good' king is not the qualities that we, in our secure world, have come to consider admirable. From the standpoint of the good of the common man, a successful ruler is ruthless and stays on top of his barons, so that the country does not suffer from civil war.
Turns out the the 'War of the Roses' didn't bother the wealth and stability of England much--although it was VERY hard on the ruling class. Nothing like the devastation suffered under Stephen and Matilda. And yes, John was horrible all the way down to the serf level.
Edward I, who broke his word to the mobles regularly, threw out the Jews and was horrible to the Scots and the Welsh, actually did a stellar job of improving the lot of the general Englishman.
And the Black Death ushered in a change for the better at the lower levels of English society--a change to which we may owe our present representative government. When there aren't enough at the bottom, the top has got to give. A lot.
Quite an interesting course.
Turns out the the 'War of the Roses' didn't bother the wealth and stability of England much--although it was VERY hard on the ruling class. Nothing like the devastation suffered under Stephen and Matilda. And yes, John was horrible all the way down to the serf level.
Edward I, who broke his word to the mobles regularly, threw out the Jews and was horrible to the Scots and the Welsh, actually did a stellar job of improving the lot of the general Englishman.
And the Black Death ushered in a change for the better at the lower levels of English society--a change to which we may owe our present representative government. When there aren't enough at the bottom, the top has got to give. A lot.
Quite an interesting course.
- red805
- Avid Reader
- Posts: 303
- Joined: August 2008
- Preferred HF: I like a series the best - more to look forward to after one book ends. Masters of Rome, The Century Trilogy, & the Outlander series are some of my favorites.
- Location: Southern California
Re: What are you reading November 2017?
Emily, I love some of those Great Courses. I like the one on the Tudors also. And the Vikings course was excellent, as were the ones I listened to on Egyptian history. I'll have to pull out some of the old ones & give them another listen. Thanks for the reminder!MLE (Emily Cotton) wrote:Ive been listening to one of the Great Courses, 'The History of Medieval England from King Arthur to the Tudor Conquest.
- 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
Re: What are you reading November 2017?
Yes, full price at the moment though!Vanessa wrote:Madeleine wrote:I'm trying to get that book but none of the shops have it, so will probably order it.
Have you tried the Book Depository? Sometimes a bit cheaper on there.
https://www.bookdepository.com
Reading another Agatha Raisin book for some light relief, "Pushing up Daisies" - murder on the allotments!
Currently reading "Mania" by L J Ross
Re: What are you reading November 2017?
Challenge to Arms by Jennifer Blake. Just what I needed for a book slump. 19C Louisiana. Gorgeous stepback.
At home with a good book and the cat...
...is the only place I want to be
...is the only place I want to be
- 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
Re: What are you reading November 2017?
I've just started "Hotel du Lac" by Anita Brookner, and "The Mistletoe Murders" by P D James - 4 short stories.
Currently reading "Mania" by L J Ross