What Are You Reading? July 2012

Vanessa · Post by **Vanessa** » Wed July 11th, 2012, 9:38 pm

Jamrach's Menagerie by Carol Birch

Tanzanite · Post by **Tanzanite** » Wed July 11th, 2012, 9:40 pm

About half way through The Lute Player by Norah Lofts. The plot is a little slow at times, but overall, it's not bad so far.

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Wed July 11th, 2012, 10:34 pm

[quote=""rockygirl""]Did you watch the movie? Even when I did, I couldn't answer that.

Good to know about the Norse series.

The Kane Chronicles (Egyptian gods) lasted only three books.[/quote]

Yes, I've seen the film and Chiron was a pretty big guy!

annis · Post by **annis** » Thu July 12th, 2012, 8:37 am

Very appropriately, as it happens, Tom Holt's Olympiad.. Holt's historical novels set in ancient Greece are sadly underrated- he has a wonderfully wry, satirical yet empathetic touch with history as seen from the POV of the ordinary man. History's great events as tragi-comedy - witty and moving stuff.

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Fri July 13th, 2012, 1:16 pm

"The Lost Hero" by Rick Riordan, this one brings the Roman gods into the picture.

Ash · Post by **Ash** » Fri July 13th, 2012, 6:36 pm

Finished reading a biography of Irene Nemirovsky, the author of Suite Francaise among other books and stories. An amazing story of her life, her career, and her death at Auschwitz. ISome parts of the book were more interesting than others - I quite liked reading about her escape from the revolution in Russia, and growing up in Paris, and the pre war times . Some parts tho about publishing the books and the issues that came up, not so much. But it is a very comprehensive book, and the ending, well - even tho I knew what happened, I was crying by the last page. If you liked he book or know anything about her, you might be interested in reding this.

Madeleine · Post by **Madeleine** » Fri July 13th, 2012, 7:21 pm

I'm just about to start Death comes to Pemberley by P D James.

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Sat July 14th, 2012, 2:06 am

[quote=""annis""]Very appropriately, as it happens, Tom Holt's Olympiad.. Holt's historical novels set in ancient Greece are sadly underrated- he has a wonderfully wry, satirical yet empathetic touch with history as seen from the POV of the ordinary man. History's great events as tragi-comedy - witty and moving stuff.[/quote]

You caught my interest. I just got this for my Kindle and I think I will have to change my signature as it seems appropriate to be reading this book as the Olympics approach. Thomas Cromwell may have to be a bit more patient for me to return to London.

annis · Post by **annis** » Sat July 14th, 2012, 3:13 am

I hope you enjoy it, Susan. It is very much a satire about how history is shaped by the cultural perceptions and selective memories of those who record it (either in oral tradition or through the written word), and how in fact events seen later as being of great significance are often at the time the result of random happenstance (or perhaps the whim of the gods) rather than planning. (Actually the muddle surrounding the current Games might be a case in point - maybe Zeus, Lord of the Sky and God of Rain, is having a bit of fun?

) Holt's Olympiad is less about the possible beginnings of the Olympic games than the journey taken through the holdings and towns of ancient Greece in order to persuade men to take part in the proposed highly radical "games-without-a-funeral". If you enjoy authors like Ben Elton you'll very likely take to Tom Holt.

emr · Post by **emr** » Sat July 14th, 2012, 7:17 am

Contemporary mystery: The Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Adler-Olsen. Quite good so far...