What Are You Reading? October 2012

J.D. Oswald · Post by **J.D. Oswald** » Mon October 8th, 2012, 2:02 pm

Instruments of Darkness by Imogen Robertson, a crime novel set in C18th London and Sussex.

I'm also dipping into Jane Austen's Guide to Modern Life's Dilemmas by Rebecca Smith. This book was launched last weekend at Jane Austen's House Museum in Chawton, Hampshire. The author is Jane Austen's great-great-great-great-great niece!

fljustice · Post by **fljustice** » Mon October 8th, 2012, 3:48 pm

[quote=""David Hill""]I've just started Imperium, by Robert Harris, which is about Cicero and ancient Rome. I'm at page 100 and thoroughly enjoying the book.[/quote]

I really liked that one (review here), but haven't got around to the sequels. So many good books, so little time!

Shaddix1980 · Post by **Shaddix1980** » Mon October 8th, 2012, 4:07 pm

I'm waiting for Simon Scarrow's new book to come out. I haven't read anything that wasn't part of his Cato series.

Telynor · Post by **Telynor** » Mon October 8th, 2012, 4:10 pm

Another vote for Imperium here. I've had the sequel languishing on my Mt. TBR for ages, and still haven't read it yet. Sigh.

Now reading Blood Will Tell: A Medical Explanation of the Tyranny of Henry VIII by Kyra Cornelius Kramer. Very good so far, and very informative. Not to mention a whole new idea of what may have been Henry's problem.

For fiction, it's The Round House by Louise Erdrich.

EC2 · Post by **EC2** » Mon October 8th, 2012, 7:35 pm

I've just finished John Saturnall's Feast by Lawrence Norfolk - my best HF read of the year so far. It is multi-layered and allegorical and although you can take the narrative as a story and think no more of it, there is so much going on underneath. The food imagery sometimes reminds a bit of Nigella Lawson's style of writing, but that's no bad thing. Should have been on the Booker list this one.

MLE (Emily Cotton) · Post by **MLE (Emily Cotton)** » Mon October 8th, 2012, 8:06 pm

[quote=""Telynor""]Another vote for Imperium here. I've had the sequel languishing on my Mt. TBR for ages, and still haven't read it yet. Sigh.

Now reading Blood Will Tell: A Medical Explanation of the Tyranny of Henry VIII by Kyra Cornelius Kramer. Very good so far, and very informative. Not to mention a whole new idea of what may have been Henry's problem.

For fiction, it's The Round House by Louise Erdrich.[/quote]
a NEW new idea? Not the usual syphilis, or he hit his head in (pick your joust); or diabetes?
Does it take into account that his behavior was consistently changeable and vengeful even in his twenties? I'm researching his naval achievements, and the letters he sent his admirals in the 1514 attack on Brest were pretty bizarre.

annis · Post by **annis** » Mon October 8th, 2012, 9:34 pm

Posted by Misfit

Just starting Fields of Battle by Kate Alexander. WWII, French resistance. It looks like Alexander has written several historical novels, and from the spelling I'd guess they weren't first published in the US. Anyone familiar with her? Annis?

I've seen her books around over the years, Misfit, but haven't actually read any. Kate Alexander was a pseudonym for British author of romantic fiction, Tilly Armstrong, who died a couple of years ago. She wrote under at least one other nom de plume.

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Mon October 8th, 2012, 11:33 pm

[quote=""annis""]Posted by Misfit

I've seen her books around over the years, Misfit, but haven't actually read any. Kate Alexander was a pseudonym for British author of romantic fiction, Tilly Armstrong, who died a couple of years ago. She wrote under at least one other nom de plume.[/quote]

I knew you'd have something for me. Thank you.

MLE (Emily Cotton) · Post by **MLE (Emily Cotton)** » Tue October 9th, 2012, 3:26 am

I'm reading Hawk Quest. Quite a tome, but it keeps the story going!

Madeleine · Post by **Madeleine** » Tue October 9th, 2012, 8:47 am

I've just started "The Haunting" by Alan Titchmarsh, dual-time narrative set partly in the 19th century, and partly in 2010.