What Are You Reading? June 2011.

javagirl · Post by **javagirl** » Tue June 21st, 2011, 3:06 am

Started Mark Helprin's Winter's Tale but gave up about 1/4 of the way in - just not my "cup of tea".

Feeling like I needed a "sure thing", I decided on C J Sansom's Sovereign, the 3rd in the Matthew Shardlake series. I read the first two a while ago and loved them.

Brenna · Post by **Brenna** » Tue June 21st, 2011, 12:17 pm

So I finished Sins of the House of Borgia and have to say the last 100 pages were probably the best part of the book. Now it's onto Helen Hollick's 3rd Arthur book Shadow of the King. I hate reading the last books (and sometimes don't) in any Arthur series because I know what's going to happen and it kills me I can't warn him in time! Anyone else suffer from this problem?

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Tue June 21st, 2011, 2:21 pm

[quote=""Brenna""]So I finished Sins of the House of Borgia and have to say the last 100 pages were probably the best part of the book. Now it's onto Helen Hollick's 3rd Arthur book Shadow of the King. I hate reading the last books (and sometimes don't) in any Arthur series because I know what's going to happen and it kills me I can't warn him in time! Anyone else suffer from this problem?[/quote]

Similar to reading books on R3. You know the end won't change but still we hope in vain.

I'm reading The Immigrants by Howard Fast, plus Angelique is my treadmill book of the week. Probably from the size of it, my treadmill book for two weeks.

sweetpotatoboy · Post by **sweetpotatoboy** » Tue June 21st, 2011, 3:58 pm

[quote=""Brenna""]I hate reading the last books (and sometimes don't) in any Arthur series because I know what's going to happen and it kills me I can't warn him in time! Anyone else suffer from this problem?[/quote]

I wouldn't say I hate it, but the trepidation is certainly there.
But, for now, that's one of the enjoyments of historical fiction, in cases where you know the rough outline of the story already. You know what's coming and what's in line for each of the main characters; you just want to see how it gets there each time and what the author does with the story.

Similarly, with authors like Trollope. He signals quite clearly at the beginning of many of his novels who's going to come out of it all right. It's just how he gets there that's enthralling.

And PS. I love Hollick's Arthur books. (I see Helen regularly at our HNS London monthly meetings, by the way.)

Brenna · Post by **Brenna** » Tue June 21st, 2011, 4:19 pm

[quote=""sweetpotatoboy""]And PS. I love Hollick's Arthur books. (I see Helen regularly at our HNS London monthly meetings, by the way.)[/quote]

I love her books as well! I really like her take on Arthur's story; I don't even miss Merlin! The story is just so real, hence my trepidation.

Berengaria · Post by **Berengaria** » Tue June 21st, 2011, 10:11 pm

[quote=""Vanessa""]A bit off-topic. I have a book to post to Canada via BookMooch. I took it to the post office today, only to be told to delay sending it due to the strike there. Does anyone know when it will end or it is ongoing until an agreement is reached?[/quote]
The government is putting together a "back to work" order in the House today, and, hopefully, the post will be up and running next week.

BrianPK · Post by **BrianPK** » Tue June 21st, 2011, 11:28 pm

I'm reading two books at the moment,Colonial America -A History by R.Middleton and, of course, my stable diet of N.Tranter, James the Fifth Trilogy
I don't know a whole lot about the Colonial period except for the Pilgrims landing and then the lead up to Independence.I find it a very interesting read.
My last HF novel was Chain of Destiny by N.Tranter- about James IV who married Margaret Tudor (Henry VIII's sister. This marriage would ultimately lead to their great grandson James VI and I becoming King of Great Britain). A very enjoyable read even if I knew he would die at the Flodden field ( actually the last king in Britain to die in battle). I decided to carry on with the James V Trilogy even though I read it only a year ago.But it was and is an excellent read.

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Wed June 22nd, 2011, 1:35 am

The Secret Lion by C.W. Gortner...I know Chris has revised this book as The Tudor Lion, but this one has been sitting on my shelf for a while so I am reading it.

SonjaMarie · Post by **SonjaMarie** » Wed June 22nd, 2011, 2:05 am

I've finished "The Secret History of Georgian London" by Dan Cruickshank (595pgs, 2010)*. A very compelling look at the sex industry and the associated aspects of it. Black and white images through out and sections of coloured images as well.

SM

Vanessa · Post by **Vanessa** » Wed June 22nd, 2011, 8:25 am

[quote=""Berengaria""]The government is putting together a "back to work" order in the House today, and, hopefully, the post will be up and running next week.[/quote]

Thanks for the info, Berengaria. I'll hang fire until next week then.