What Are You Reading? January 2013

Lisa · Post by **Lisa** » Wed January 23rd, 2013, 10:41 am

I'm doing another clear-out of books to go to the charity shop, and as I hate to leave a book unfinished, I've been trying to finish Philippa Gregory's The White Queen and The Red Queen before giving them away. I previously got through about 1/4 of the former and 1/2 of the latter. I don't think I'm going to manage though, the repetitive first-person narratives are just annoying me too much.

emr · Post by **emr** » Wed January 23rd, 2013, 1:22 pm

[quote=""Berengaria""]Sounds interesting! Let me know how the read goes!

[/quote]

I liked The Restorer. Already ordered book 2. It may be full of topics like the ghost child, spiders, tunnels and vaults but the bits explaining the symbology of grave decoration are very interesting. And it has a relationship already starting, you don't have to wait to book 23 for some romance...

Now reading Semper Fidelis by Ruth Downie.

annis · Post by **annis** » Wed January 23rd, 2013, 4:43 pm

Posted by Brenna

I just finished The Imperial Scandal by Teresa Grant. Now I have no idea what to get into. I am in a book rut and would welcome suggestions. It looks like fictional choices during the Hanover era are scarce, so perhaps some historical fantasy or time slip would be nice. Any recommendations??

If you feel in the mood for a timeslip, I thought River of Destiny, Barbara Erskine's latest, pretty good.

Currently reading Voyageurs by Margaret Elphinstone. I was taken with her Sea Road, and thought I'd give some of her other novels a go.

fljustice · Post by **fljustice** » Wed January 23rd, 2013, 5:07 pm

Finished Hawk of May, an Arthur story by Gillian Bradshaw. It was okay, but not her best. I found out after I finished that it was her first book, which explains the slightly simplistic writing and plot. Haven't decided what I'm moving onto yet.

Ash · Post by **Ash** » Thu January 24th, 2013, 1:30 am

I am reading a fascinating biography - Marmee and Louisa. Its the story of Louisa May Alcott and her relationship with her mother, and their lives. But its also about the Abolition movement, the beginnings of the women's movement, transcendentalism and the plight of wives who have egotistical, arrogant and lazy husbands. There is much here I knew, at least about Louisa, but I knew little of her mother, and nothing of how awful her marriage was. I certainly understand why Louisa never married - she was scarred for life! Its also a fascinating look at how her career in writing developed; the author does a nice job of interjecting Alcotts stories into the times that they were written - rather than analizing them (which other biographers have done) she sets them in the context of Louisas life and the world around her. Fascinating and moving and education all at the same time! Its making me want to reread her books all over again (as well as all the short stories I never read)

Lisa · Post by **Lisa** » Thu January 24th, 2013, 10:09 am

Gave up on The White Queen and The Red Queen - life's too short - and started King's Fool by Margaret Campbell Barnes instead.

Brenna · Post by **Brenna** » Thu January 24th, 2013, 2:57 pm

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

If you feel in the mood for a timeslip, I thought River of Destiny, Barbara Erskine's latest, pretty good.

[/quote]

I actually read that last year and enjoyed it! Thank you for the suggestion though.

Still reading The Island of Swans. I can already see where this story is going and I have a feeling the author is really going to drag it out.

Ludmilla · Post by **Ludmilla** » Thu January 24th, 2013, 3:34 pm

Have spent the month so far reading Bujold's Vorkosigan Saga. Just finished the omnibus, Miles in Love, which leaves me with just four more novels to go in the series. I think I'm going to take a break and read Guy Gavriel Kay's Under Heaven. I believe a follow-up to this is coming out in April (River of Stars).

annis · Post by **annis** » Thu January 24th, 2013, 4:47 pm

Posted by Ludmilla

I believe a follow-up to this is coming out in April (River of Stars).

I'll look forward to that. I love that phrase from Li-Bai's poem, "I watch the long road of the River of Stars".

Pasky · Post by **Pasky** » Thu January 24th, 2013, 9:33 pm

Just started reading 'The English Patient.' I saw the film years ago and always thought I'd want to read the novel. It's been slow going so far. I thought I'd be instantly swept away by the romance.

Also reading 'Religion for Atheists,' by Alain de Botton. Read a review by David Brooks in the NY Times last summer and I thought it sounded intriguing. A recent conversation with a friend about religion prompted me to download it.

Finally, I downloaded and sampled George Saunders because of the hullabaloo he's generating. I guess post-modern is not my cup-a-tea.

Historical Fiction Online

What Are You Reading? January 2013

A few things I'm reading...