What are you reading?

EC2 · Post by **EC2** » Tue September 9th, 2008, 7:52 pm

Labyrinth was a DNF for me. The heroine was of the Too Stupid To Live variety - IMO and the medieval parts were completely wrong re tone and research. They might as well have been modern day people in fancy dress. But that's just my opinion. Millions of people have bought this novel. I borrowed it from the library thank goodness!

whitelady3 · Post by **whitelady3** » Tue September 9th, 2008, 9:38 pm

I've finished In the Company of the Courtesan and now I'll pick up the North and South trilogy by John Jakes.

sweetpotatoboy · Post by **sweetpotatoboy** » Tue September 9th, 2008, 9:48 pm

[quote=""JaneConsumer""]I bagged An Arrow's Flight by Mark Merlis. It's touted as a new HF style, but it shouted anachronism from page 1 to me.[/quote]

I've read that one (though my copy was published as Pyrrhus, but it's the same book). It is certainly unusual but I found it was worth sticking with. It's definitely not a historical novel as such and shouldn't be described as such. It's quite inventive - taking the story of Achilles' son Pyrrhus also known as Neoptolemus but in part telling it as a modern-day gay novel. You're never really sure which world you're inhabiting, that of ancient Greece or that of a modern-day gay resort. Pyrrhus is part ancient Greek prince, part go-go boy/hustler.
Unusual, but I found it entertaining. But it certainly wouldn't be for everyone.

JaneConsumer · Post by **JaneConsumer** » Tue September 9th, 2008, 11:03 pm

I've read that one (though my copy was published as Pyrrhus, but it's the same book). It is certainly unusual but I found it was worth sticking with.

I'll agree it's unusual. I just couldn't get past Pyrrhus gyrating on the counter top of the bar while his roommate alternated between pining for him and realizing he was pining for him. Just not my cup of tea.

I still don't understand why it's marketed as historical fiction. If there's a subliminal message of a sort that ties the names of the characters to their counterparts in history, it was lost on me.

Kailana · Post by **Kailana** » Tue September 9th, 2008, 11:53 pm

I am having the worst luck with historical fiction this year! I keep picking them up and putting them down because they are not capturing my attention. It's terrible! I think I need a good battle novel... Something that starts with a lot of action... It is just no the year for me and historical fiction it seems.

Judith · Post by **Judith** » Wed September 10th, 2008, 12:24 am

Currently reading Smoke Screen by Sandra Brown. Waiting patiently for next Tuesday so I can go get The Heretic Queen.

SonjaMarie · Post by **SonjaMarie** » Wed September 10th, 2008, 2:27 am

Sigh, I was trying to read "Mr Darcy Presents His Bride" by Helen Halstead, but I just couldn't get into it! This is the first P&P sequel that just didn't hold my attention. So I guess it's being "wallbanged" which is a shame cause I had been wanting to read it for awhile, what a pity!

SM

Ash · Post by **Ash** » Wed September 10th, 2008, 4:35 am

My copy of Olivia and Jai just arrived; yikes this thing is huge! Not sure I'll be reading it quite yet, looks like a long weekend kinda read!

Right now Im re-reading The Proud Tower by Barbara Tuchman, her non-fiction look at the 20 years before WWI, and what lead up to that war. I first read it with little knowledge about WWI, and now that I have more, its interesting to reread and pick up on things I missed. Im wanting to read the next Marshall book by EC, so I may just wait till it shows up before starting something else.

Carine · Post by **Carine** » Wed September 10th, 2008, 5:54 am

I'm reading Dublin by Edward Rutherfurd at the moment. Sometimes it's good and sometimes less good ...

Lady of the Forest · Post by **Lady of the Forest** » Wed September 10th, 2008, 7:18 am

Just about to finnish Water For Elephants. I have found it to be really very interesting and captivating. It is a good book.