Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction discussion

This is the discussion thread for the July 2015 Medieval Group Read book The Master of Verona by David Blixt

I jumped the gun and read this already. I liked it a lot. I really enjoyed the veiled references to other Shakespearean plays and characters. I'm looking forward to reading the next few books in the series.

The author has a theater background. I've read it once but might reread.

I recently finished his 3rd book in the series, . I was lured into it with a sale notice. I probably should have started with the first book - there were so many characters it really confused me. Interesting finish, though.

Eileen wrote: "I recently finished his 3rd book in the series, . I was lured into it with a sale notice. I probably should have started with the first book - there were so many ..."

I think you definitely need to go back to the beginning. Most of the characters are historical, some were created by Shakespeare and some are both historical and used in Shakespearean plays.

Kimber wrote: "Eileen wrote: "I recently finished his 3rd book in the series, . I was lured into it with a sale notice. I probably should have started with the first book - ther..."

Yes, I noticed that!

Eileen wrote: "I recently finished his 3rd book in the series, . I was lured into it with a sale notice. I probably should have started with the first book - there were so many ..."

I agree that this is one of the few series you have to read in numerical order.

Oh I just saw today you are going to read this. Finally a book I already have on my shelf! Though I was gonna start today . But this one is short, and I think I should be able to finish it within a couple of weeks. So, I could maybe join about 1 week after you start.

I'm having a hard time with all the Italian words, names and titles. Sometimes I come across a title and think it is a name.

I think I've identified the heroes but haven't identified the bad guys. A lot of Italian characters?? (I think) or titles??, or names??.

I'll keep reading and hoping it will all clear up.

Keith, I feel your pain! I am reading Here be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman, and I am having a devil of a time pronouncing the Welsh names. She throws plenty of non-essential nouns in this 700+ page book which adds to my misery! How do other people cope with this kind of problem?

Well, I just learn something about pronouncing the language; I find a basic guide then try to learn the highlights. Welsh I tried to learn a little but gave up; I can pronounce it, anyway but can't make a sentence. Italian I learned pronunciation from singing Latin works in choirs. Doesn't Penman have a guide to pronouncing Welsh in her book; other books set in Wales I've read, do have a guide.

Jane wrote: "Well, I just learn something about pronouncing the language; I find a basic guide then try to learn the highlights. Welsh I tried to learn a little but gave up; I can pronounce it, anyway but can'..."

Jane, I thought she did have a guide, too. Maybe check the back of the book? Even so, Welsh names are challenging.

SKP May have a guide that I have not found. Many authors provide that information for which I am grateful. I do
know that a double DD in Welsh is a th sound. Rhys is Rees. I can pronounce English and Romance languages well enough, except French. I'll never own a Hermes scarf or go to the Louvres(SP). My tablet dictionary follows a new (to me) pronunciation guide. Instead of complaining, I could get my old Webster's off the shelf.

Post 180 (page 4) of this thread https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... is the beginning of a conversation about the pronunciation of Welsh sounds.

Linda wrote: "SKP May have a guide that I have not found. Many authors provide that information for which I am grateful. I do
know that a double DD in Welsh is a th sound. Rhys is Rees. I can pronounce Engl..."

DD is a soft th as in the, not hard as in thing.

I am starting this book today. The tiny print on the big pages is going to drive me to invest in bifocals.

That's what I love about my Ereader....Ability to change both Font size and line spacing!

Along with font size and line spacing, I change font type and margin sizes to suit me. I lose reading time playing around with the e-reader's features.

We got my six year old a Kindle fire and I put a book of mine on it. I have to admit, I could get use to it. It is much easier reading on the Kindle fire than my simple Kindle e-reader.

I've finally given up on this book. It just wasn't one I could get into. I read about half and never felt like I wanted to read the next page.

Sorry.

Gretchen wrote: "We got my six year old a Kindle fire and I put a book of mine on it. I have to admit, I could get use to it. It is much easier reading on the Kindle fire than my simple Kindle e-reader."

I had to replace my old one with a Paperwhite and it's very handy, expecially since it can be retroilluminated - I can read during the night without disturbing my husband.

I am finding this book to move much quicker than I thought it would. The first battle between the Veronese and Paduans was well written. Normally I get annoyed with such rapid perspective changes but not the case this time.

Gretchen wrote: "I am finding this book to move much quicker than I thought it would. The first battle between the Veronese and Paduans was well written. Normally I get annoyed with such rapid perspective changes b..."

The author does do a great job describing fight scenes.

If I'm not mistaken, he has choreographed fencing scenes for the theater, such as Hamlet and Laertes, for example.

Finally reached the second part. I've been stuck around page 80 for 5 days. Too much stress from work is not letting me enjoy this.

My mind wondered through the lines of the battle scene thinking about the next step to take on the project I have to finish by the end of next month.

I think I am going to have to send this book back to the library and re-order it. :(
I am not going to get enough time to read it before it's due back on Monday. A potential buyer wants to come look at our house this week. Our house isn't even on the market yet. Too much to do!

Is anyone else still reading this? I'm just into 70% of the book. After a really slow start I managed to move on a little faster on the last week.

Is not really bad, but I don't find most of the story interesting. I still want to know how this is going to end, but I want it to end quick, and still, I can't get past more than 20-30 pages per day. It's pretty tiresome.

Diego wrote: "Is anyone else still reading this? I'm just into 70% of the book. After a really slow start I managed to move on a little faster on the last week.

Is not really bad, but I don't find most of the s..."

I agree Diego, I got about 100 pages on but I struggled to get into the story. I've given up for now and will go back to it some other time.

I thought it really good when I first read it but I wasn't in the mood when I tried to reread.

I also gave up on it, Diego. It seemed to be just a lot of "stuff" that didn't add to the story or plot--if there was one.