August 2010, what are you reading

[LoobyG]

[quote=""Michy""]Elizabeth Taylor supposedly has violet eyes, although I've always thought that was just hype. They're more likely a dark blue, and if there's any "violet" it's probably thanks to the help of colored contacts. [/quote]

Ahh maybe Catherine's father was the inventor of special 15th century prototype contact lenses! Or, her eyes were very dark blue lol, ta Michy

[cw gortner]

Finally finished Empire over the weekend; it was quite entertaining, but, as so often happens to me with multi-generation sagas, I kept forgetting stuff that had happened beforehand. I think FL Justice on our forum posted an excellent review and I agree: Saylor doesn't develop his female characters enough, though women exerted considerable power in ancient Rome, and there was a little too much telling of past events, while characters sat around admiring sculptures. But Saylor is a marvelous craftsman, and this book is huge, covering a lot of territory, so these are small quibbles in an otherwise impressive feat.

To Defy A King is next on my list and I'm very excited to read it, but I'm taking a few days' pause to read my page proofs for The Tudor Secret, which are due back to my editor by 9/13.

[fljustice]

[quote=""cw gortner""] I think FL Justice on our forum posted an excellent review and I agree: Saylor doesn't develop his female characters enough, though women exerted considerable power in ancient Rome, and there was a little too much telling of past events, while characters sat around admiring sculptures. But Saylor is a marvelous craftsman, and this book is huge, covering a lot of territory, so these are small quibbles in an otherwise impressive feat.[/quote]

Thanks for the thumbs up, CW! For those interested, the full review is posted at my blog.

[Lucy Pick]

[quote=""Michy""]Elizabeth Taylor supposedly has violet eyes, although I've always thought that was just hype. They're more likely a dark blue, and if there's any "violet" it's probably thanks to the help of colored contacts. [/quote]

Actually, I know a woman who met Elizabeth Taylor when she was a youngish girl, and violet eyes are all fact! I think coloured contacts are a fairly recent invention anyway?

[Berengaria]

[quote=""Lucy Pick""]I just finished Far to Go by my very own cousin, Alison Pick. It's about a Jewish family in Czechoslovakia in 1938 and 1939, and the way their descendants try to figure out what happened to them. Loved it! And I'm so proud...
It will be out in the States in a few months.[/quote]
I have added this book to my own list. You would like Susan Fromberg Schaeffer's Anya, a somewhat fictionalized true story about a woman who was lucky to survive the Holocaust. I always want to read these novels, because my father was one of the pilots who flew out survivors of Bergen-Belsen. His story about this time was one that kept us kids riveted.

[sweetpotatoboy]

Not HF but just started Maybe The Moon by Armistead Maupin. A re-read from many years ago.

[SonjaMarie]

I've finished "Love Bites: Vampyres of Hollywood Book #2" by Adrienne Barbeau (322pgs, 2010)*. Another great book in what I hope will be a long series.

Even though my left eye is bothering me because of the tiny piece of metal that was removed yesterday, I was so close to the end of the book I decided to finish it.

SM

[Lucy Pick]

[quote=""Berengaria""]I have added this book to my own list. You would like Susan Fromberg Schaeffer's Anya, a somewhat fictionalized true story about a woman who was lucky to survive the Holocaust. I always want to read these novels, because my father was one of the pilots who flew out survivors of Bergen-Belsen. His story about this time was one that kept us kids riveted.[/quote]

I loved Schaeffer's book about medieval Japan, Snow Fox, and I have been wondering what of hers to read next. Thanks for the tip!

[Tanzanite]

Started In the Shadow of Lady Jane by Edward Charles.

[Amanda]

Started Hugh and Bess by Susan Higginbotham.