What Are You Reading? December 2011

SonjaMarie · Post by **SonjaMarie** » Sun December 18th, 2011, 2:57 am

These are the books I've read since the beginning of the month:
"Working IX to V: Orgy Planners, Funeral Clowns, and Other Prized Professions of the Ancient World" by Vicki León (310pgs, 2007) (12/2)* - Fascinating look at various jobs, though mostly done by slaves.
"The Murder Guide to Great Britain - 100 Bizarre & Gruesome Murders" by Brian Lane (635pgs, 1993) (12/2)* - Some of the murders weren't very bizarre or very gruesome.
"Dead Guilty: Diane Fallon Forensic Investigation #2" by Beverly Connor (389pgs, 2004) (12/2) - Even better the first one.
"Secret Britain: The Hidden Bits of Our History" by Justin Pollard (304pgs, 2009) (12/8)* - Very interesting, amusing.
"Capetian France 987-1328" by Elizabeth M. Hallam (331pgs, 1980, 1986ed) (12/12)* - Very scholarly, boring at times.
"The People's Queen: A Novel of Alice Perrers & Geoffrey Chaucer" by Vanora Bennett (542pgs, 2011) (12/13)* - Good book. I don't know enough about either to know how many liberties she took, except for some of the more obvious ones.
"What the Butler Saw: Two Hundred and Fifty Years of the Servent Problem" by E.S. Turner (298pgs, 1962orig, 2001ed) (12/17)*
"A Day in the Life of Ancient Rome" by Alberto Angela (365pgs, 2009) (12/17)* - Really interesting book at what went on in Ancient Rome during 115, Trajan's reign.

SM

annis · Post by **annis** » Sun December 18th, 2011, 3:56 am

The Apothecary's Daughter, by Charlotte Betts, a recently published debut novel set in Restoration London - both the Plague and the Great Fire of London feature. An engaging and readable historical novel with romantic elements. I believe the author is working on a sequel which I'd certainly look for.

PS Would someone please come up with a good genre label for historical novels with romance which are not in the bodice-ripper style we associate with the term "historical romance"?

emr · Post by **emr** » Sun December 18th, 2011, 9:12 am

On Goodreads I have two shelves for those: historical-romance and romance-historical. I know it's not perfect...

Reading Iron Ties by Ann Parker

Madeleine · Post by **Madeleine** » Sun December 18th, 2011, 12:17 pm

[quote=""annis""]The Apothecary's Daughter, by Charlotte Betts, a recently published debut novel set in Restoration London - both the Plague and the Great Fire of London feature. An engaging and readable historical novel with romantic elements. I believe the author is working on a sequel which I'd certainly look for.[/quote]

That sounds good, Annis - gorgeous cover! And only 6 months between hb and pb publication. It's on my wishlist.

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Sun December 18th, 2011, 2:09 pm

PS Would someone please come up with a good genre label for historical novels with romance which are not in the bodice-ripper style we associate with the term "historical romance"?

I so wish we get get these classified as two different genres in the market place at large. I use shelves at Goodreads like EMR does, but I'm still tinkering with them.

Currently reading Mercury's Rise by Ann Parker, the newest in her Silver Rush mysteries.

Ash · Post by **Ash** » Sun December 18th, 2011, 4:46 pm

Finally getting around to reading Forest Lover by Sue Vreeland. I bought this at Powells a few years back when I was traveling through the northwest, and its been sitting on my TBR shelf since. I never knew anything about Emma Carr, and am now kicking myself for not seeing her displays at the Vancouver Gallery or at the Emma Carr house in Victoria (darn it, looks like I'll need to make another trip there). Really liking this book, and the more I am seeing of her work online, the more I like what I see. Fascinating stuff!

SCW · Post by **SCW** » Mon December 19th, 2011, 10:15 am

I've got Outpost of Occupation by Barry Turner (Nonfiction about Channel Islands being occupied
The Shifting Fog by Kate Morton

Brenna · Post by **Brenna** » Mon December 19th, 2011, 9:21 pm

[quote=""SCW""]The Shifting Fog by Kate Morton[/quote]

Is that a new book for her?? Should I get really excited????!!!

Attempting to read DD's The Game of Kings. I don't know what to make of it. I'm not sure I really understand what is going on...I'll keep plugging through since everyone says the 2nd book is better.

Vanessa · Post by **Vanessa** » Mon December 19th, 2011, 10:42 pm

I believe The Shifting Fog is another title for The House at Riverton. It could be its original title which was changed - I'm not sure. It's one and the same book anyway.

EC2 · Post by **EC2** » Mon December 19th, 2011, 11:33 pm

Non historical at the moment. I am busy reading everything I can get my hands on by Charlaine Harris. She's addictive!
I think The Wordsmith's Tale will be next up though when I get back to HF