November 2010: What Are You Reading?

EC2 · Post by **EC2** » Mon November 15th, 2010, 1:39 pm

Reading wise I'm busy with research stuff at the moment and not getting stuck into anything much although I have several on the TBR. I'm reading Ralph Turner's biography of Eleanor of Aquitaine, and I guess you could call a lot of that fiction!

sweetpotatoboy · Post by **sweetpotatoboy** » Mon November 15th, 2010, 2:17 pm

About 60 pages into 'Dissolution' by CJ Sansom. So far I'm quite underwhelmed and not sure what all the fuss is about.

EC2 · Post by **EC2** » Mon November 15th, 2010, 2:38 pm

[quote=""sweetpotatoboy""]About 60 pages into 'Dissolution' by CJ Sansom. So far I'm quite underwhelmed and not sure what all the fuss is about.
[/quote]

IMO this is the weakest novel in the series and he had yet to hit his stride, so bear with it. Self and DH read it a few years ago and both thought it was only just on the better side of average and got silly near the end. We liked it enough to read the next though, and both felt it improved considerably. We began reading these from the library but he's now an autobuy author.
Bottom line, don't judge him on Dissolution on its own. Try the later ones; they're much better.

sweetpotatoboy · Post by **sweetpotatoboy** » Mon November 15th, 2010, 5:14 pm

[quote=""EC2""]IMO this is the weakest novel in the series and he had yet to hit his stride, so bear with it. [...]

Bottom line, don't judge him on Dissolution on its own. Try the later ones; they're much better.[/quote]

Ah, thanks for that. It's perfectly readable so far. I just wasn't getting anything special that warranted all the heaps of praise I'd heard.
I had already bought all of the first four books over the years as they came out, anticipating I would love them...

SonjaMarie · Post by **SonjaMarie** » Mon November 15th, 2010, 7:21 pm

I've finished reading "Eyes of Fire" by Heather Graham (370pgs, 1995). While I enjoyed the mystery aspect the story, the 2 main characters annoyed the heck out of me! The dialogue was very repetitious when they were arguing.

SM

Madeleine · Post by **Madeleine** » Mon November 15th, 2010, 8:08 pm

[quote=""sweetpotatoboy""]Ah, thanks for that. It's perfectly readable so far. I just wasn't getting anything special that warranted all the heaps of praise I'd heard.
I had already bought all of the first four books over the years as they came out, anticipating I would love them...[/quote]

I enjoyed Dissolution but Dark Fire is much better, and I'm told each one improves on the previous book! Think of Dissolution as an introduction to the series.

Miss Moppet · Post by **Miss Moppet** » Mon November 15th, 2010, 8:34 pm

[quote=""Telynor""]here's the Electric dress that appeared at a NY ball in the 1880's.

And go here to see a photo of the surviving dress:
http://thedreamstress.com/2010/10/1880s ... 721_img_2/[/quote]

That gown is in extraordinary condition considering it's well over a hundred years old. It must have been kept well away from any natural light!

cw gortner · Post by **cw gortner** » Mon November 15th, 2010, 8:49 pm

[quote=""Madeleine""]I enjoyed Dissolution but Dark Fire is much better, and I'm told each one improves on the previous book! Think of Dissolution as an introduction to the series.[/quote]

Dark Fire and Revelation are my favorites in the series thus far; I just got the latest one, Heartstone, and am going to savor it as my Xmas read.

Amanda · Post by **Amanda** » Mon November 15th, 2010, 8:57 pm

I'm reading Clean: The Unsanitised History of Washing by Katherine Ashenburg

SonjaMarie · Post by **SonjaMarie** » Mon November 15th, 2010, 9:32 pm

I've finished "American on Purpose: The Improbable Adventures of an Unlikely Patriot" by Craig Ferguson (278pgs, 2009).

Craig is the Scottish born host of "The Late Late Show". He discusses his life, his alcoholism and drug taking (sober since '92), his ups and downs in show business and love, and a wide variety of other things, very interesting book.

SM