What are you reading August 2011?

javagirl · Post by **javagirl** » Fri August 12th, 2011, 3:45 am

Finished Vanished by Joseph Finder. Mostly fun and interesting, though I found the ending not that satisfying.

Just started Shogun so it will probably be a long while before I post my next one.

thalia · Post by **thalia** » Fri August 12th, 2011, 7:08 am

Hello, this is my first contribution to the forum. I have picked up 'The Virgin Widow' by Anne O'Brien and realised how little I know about Anne Neville and would like to read more. Please can you recommend any other books relating the Neville family. Thanks Thalia

annis · Post by **annis** » Fri August 12th, 2011, 7:09 am

A Place Called Armageddon by CC Humphreys, a historical adventure about the Fall of Constantinople to the Turks in 1453. The best novel Humphreys has written to date, IMO, well-researched and fast-paced, with plenty of action and intrigue. I've been wishing I hadn't just re-read Mika Waltari'sDark Angel, though, as comparisons are inevitable and the two novels echo each other in places- not too surprising when both authors probably used the same contemporary chronicles as source material. Humphreys' is a fresh, modern version which will make the dramatic story of this pivotal event accessible for today's readers, though for my money Waltari's haunting story captures the late medieval mindset more authentically.

Also reading the marvellous A Monster Calls, by Patrick Ness, a story for children/teens which gets to the heart of dealing with the unbearable situation of a parent dying of cancer. Powerful and moving.

Vanessa · Post by **Vanessa** » Fri August 12th, 2011, 10:29 am

[quote=""thalia""]Hello, this is my first contribution to the forum. I have picked up 'The Virgin Widow' by Anne O'Brien and realised how little I know about Anne Neville and would like to read more. Please can you recommend any other books relating the Neville family. Thanks Thalia[/quote]

August's book of the month is Queen by Right by Anne Easter Smith, which is about Cecily Neville, mother of Edward IV and Richard III. I'm enjoying it so far.

Ash · Post by **Ash** » Fri August 12th, 2011, 12:37 pm

Welcome, thalia! The War of the Roses is not my time period, but I know you'll have lots of suggestions from others here.

Just received A Place of Greater Safety by Hilary Mantel. This will be my weekend read.

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Fri August 12th, 2011, 12:48 pm

[quote=""thalia""]Hello, this is my first contribution to the forum. I have picked up 'The Virgin Widow' by Anne O'Brien and realised how little I know about Anne Neville and would like to read more. Please can you recommend any other books relating the Neville family. Thanks Thalia[/quote]

Hi Thalia and welcome. The only other book I can think of that focuses mainly on Anne is Jan Westcott's Set her on her Throne. Hard to find and felt like it was written for younger readers.

I'm currently reading the first of the Angelique books.

EC2 · Post by **EC2** » Fri August 12th, 2011, 2:13 pm

[quote=""Misfit""]

I'm currently reading the first of the Angelique books.[/quote]

Definitely one for my TBR. I read them long, long, long ago when still in my teens. Would love to re-read them now.

I have just finished Neil Gaiman's Stardust - wonderful and could be read as a kind of fantasy historical.
Also reading James Forrester's The Roots of Betrayal. His hero is even tougher than Daniel Craig's James Bond when it comes to recovering from serious beatings to man parts!

Madeleine · Post by **Madeleine** » Fri August 12th, 2011, 2:29 pm

[quote=""EC2""]Definitely one for my TBR. I read them long, long, long ago when still in my teens. Would love to re-read them now.

I have just finished Neil Gaiman's Stardust - wonderful and could be read as a kind of fantasy historical.
Also reading James Forrester's The Roots of Betrayal. His hero is even tougher than Daniel Craig's James Bond when it comes to recovering from serious beatings to man parts![/quote]

I'm reading the new Jack Reacher book by Lee Child - another very tough guy! Just read they're filming one of the earlier books with er, Tom Cruise, in the lead, even though JR is 6 foot 5 tall in the books!

boswellbaxter · Post by **boswellbaxter** » Fri August 12th, 2011, 2:48 pm

[quote=""thalia""]Hello, this is my first contribution to the forum. I have picked up 'The Virgin Widow' by Anne O'Brien and realised how little I know about Anne Neville and would like to read more. Please can you recommend any other books relating the Neville family. Thanks Thalia[/quote]

If you're looking for nonfiction, Michael Hicks has written a biographical study of Anne Neville, as well as a biography of her father entitled Warwick the Kingmaker. Anthony Pollard also has a book about Warwick, again entitled Warwick the Kingmaker.

There's a lot about Anne herself in J. Laynesmith's The Last Medieval Queens.

A friend of mine has a blog about the Nevilles you might enjoy:

http://nevillfeast.wordpress.com/

For fiction, someone mentioned Queen by Right about Cecilly Neville. Jean Plaidy has written The Reluctant Queen about Anne Neville, and Misfit mentioned Set Her on the Throne. I didn't have any problem finding it used on Amazon a few years ago, and it wasn't expensive.

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Fri August 12th, 2011, 2:57 pm

[quote=""EC2""]Definitely one for my TBR. I read them long, long, long ago when still in my teens. Would love to re-read them now.

I have just finished Neil Gaiman's Stardust - wonderful and could be read as a kind of fantasy historical.
Also reading James Forrester's The Roots of Betrayal. His hero is even tougher than Daniel Craig's James Bond when it comes to recovering from serious beatings to man parts![/quote]

It took me a while to get the entire series via swaps and I was down to book #1 and Michele sprang for it so we can both read them. She won't tell me how much she paid for it though

Historical Fiction Online

What are you reading August 2011?

Suggestions please