101 Books to Read Before You Die discussion

Post your thoughts on the first half of The Daughter of Time here.

Why are we getting the fifth book in what appears to be a series? Why doesn't the list start with the first book?

So far, I have not found a copy to borrow and I don't intend on buying it, so I am not sure if I will participate in this discussion.

Irene wrote: "Why are we getting the fifth book in what appears to be a series? Why doesn't the list start with the first book?"

I believe the books in the series are stand alone reads with common characters similar to other mystery series (Sherlock Holmes etc.). This particular mystery novel appears to be very well regarded. The book is widely available. I purchased a $3 Kindle copy from Amazon.ca.

I started this yesterday and am enjoying it! It's actually quite humerous in parts; I love the author's writing.

I started this book the other day, and reading the description, I wasn't sure if I'd like it or not. This book has completely sucked me into the story! I found it very interesting and last night it had me looking up Richard III to read more about him before I get too far into the book.

I am thinking, in my opinion this book is a dud and is not worthy of inclusion on the list. It may be somewhat well written but there seems to something of a back story with the main characters which isn't explained. Then there is the massive amount of genealogy necessary to explain the historical story. Every chapter introduces a new batch of characters which somehow the reader is assumed to know. Without an interest in early English monarchy, the book seems exhausting. However I am only half finished & will check some historical notes to help my confusion.

My copy of the book references these Wiki articles as historical background. These may be helpful in keeping the characters & story straight.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princes_...

I, too, am having a hard time getting into it because of my lack of knowledge of the history. I got a little from , but not enough. I'll have to check out those Wikis.

I have read the first 8 chapters and am enjoying the experience. I wish I knew more about the actual history aroun King Richard to evaluate the speculation. But, despite that, I am enjoying the writing and the story. Amazing that, for a book set exclusively in a hospital bed (so far) with a guy thinking about some long ago bit of history, it can be so engaging.

A friend gave me her copy of the book and said it's one of her favorite books and is anxious to hear what I think about it. That's why I nominated it for this months's read and, so far, I really like it!

Irene wrote: "I have read the first 8 chapters and am enjoying the experience. I wish I knew more about the actual history aroun King Richard to evaluate the speculation. But, despite that, I am enjoying the w..."

That's exactly how I felt when I was reading it. For such a simple setting, the book just was able to pull me into the story of Richard III. While reading it, and even after I finished I had read a lot about Richard III, Henry VII and the Princes. Very interesting bit of history. I knew absolutely nothing about it going in to the book but found it fascinating and loved it!

I love how it also makes you think about the history you've been taught in school. Maybe it didn't happen exactly as written in the books. Tonypandy?

The only thing I didn't like about it was to me it seemed a little difficult to follow some of the dialogue at times. I sometimes got confused as to who was talking between Brent and Grant, and would have to read it over, but that could have been just my problem. Overall, I loved it though!

So, if you did more reading on the period and the monarch's, what do you think of the history piece? I have not finished, so I don't know if it pretends to solve any mystery, but, if so, do you agree with the conclusions? I think it is interesting to read this just as I read that Richard III's DNA is supposed to be sequenced (from that skeliton found under that parking lot).

I have not read so much that I know all the history of it, just my opinions on what I have read.

The book makes him out to be almost saintly. I don't doubt that he loved his family and was loyal to his brother to the end. He seemed to be liked by the people at times and I definitely don't think he was the monster they made him out to be. The victors write the history, so we'll never know what really happened to the princes but Richard III does seem to have a good reason to be rid of them. I have to wonder what happened to them and why nobody ever saw them after that summer though.

Henry VII had reasons to want them dead as well, so if they were still alive he'd have a motive to get rid of them also. But who can say if they were still alive when he defeated Richard at Bosworth.

I have not made up my mind either way as to who I think did it. I don't think either side can make a clear case for who did it, but I just find the whole story fascinating. It's one of those mysteries that I don't think will ever be solved. Maybe that's why I liked the book so much and found the extra reading so interesting.

I had to take it back to the library and haven't gotten it back yet, but I'm hoping it's there this weekend so I can get started. Looks like we have some mixed opinions on it, which always makes it more interesting, in my opinion :)

I was wondering about the 5th in the series as well, but it does appear to be stand-alone, from what I understand. I'm looking forward to see if I fall into the "it's interesting" or "it's meh" camp.

I started it yesterday and I am 10% done. I am not sure whether i am liking it or not... I have just reached the part where Grant meets the Richard III's photograph...
I didnt like the narration till now... was too fast and names were too confusing :(

I've got this to listen to in the car, narrated by Derek Jacobi, so should be a good listen.
The story of the Princes in the tower is such an iconic story of English history that I can't remember ever not knowing about it. And while I would love to know the answer, I'm sure we'll never actually know what happened. Too many possible suspects, too many tangled loyalties and ambition to make it an easy puzzle to solve.

So I had put this aside, thinking it didn't look that interesting. Boy, was I wrong! I have been completely enjoying this story. I knew only as much about Richard III as I've picked up in pieces of various documentaries, which was basically what Grant said in the beginning: Oh, the guy that killed the two boys and buried them in the tower, right?

Renee, I love what you said about it making you question what you learn in history. American history for example is chock full of the wrongs of the British monarchy and how Americans were being oppressed, etc, but the books leave out a lot of key information about what "massacres" really weren't and about how the British were paying for a lot of American benefits, etc. History is written by the victors, as they say.

Mike, I have to agree, I'm not sure why this book is included in this list. I am quite enjoying it and now fully intend to read more by Tey (which is a pen name for Elizabeth MacKintosh, apparently), I certainly wouldn't call it life altering literature.