Goodreads Ireland discussion

I couldn't see a thread to sit this in but I get the following Historical Fiction web mag from Heron Books (part of Quercus) and I've found the first two issues to be really good. So anyone interested the issues are saved as follows some really good articles in both-
http://tumblr.us2.list-manage.com/tra...

http://gallery.mailchimp.com/34e6ce52...

No worries. I read a few of the books and authors mentioned in them and it gives good insight into books. I love the take a punt section.

Thanks for sharing the newsletters, Paul. I'm partial to a bit of historical fiction myself, so will keep an eye out for future newsletters. Susan is a big CJ Sansom fan, so may be interested in the snippet about him. I have to read 'Star of the Sea', which I know is well thought of on here, and I see mentioned in the second newsletter. I'm also going to look into the Charles B Smith book from the Take a Punt section of the second one.

The first interview in the second edition is with James Heneage and I just finished his debut book last month set around Greece and The Ottoman empire before the fall of Byzantium. Good book. I read one of the take a punt books, by Snorri Kristjannson as well and it was brilliant. I'm big fan of Bernard Cornwells non Sharpe stuff as well so goid to see an interview. I'll post future editions for those interested.

I havent tried them but they sound interesting, reading about a chancer and coward as the main character could be fun

Thank you, Paul. I love historical fiction and Allan is right as usual. I love CJ Sansom. I liked that Bernard Cornwell even mentions Sansom's character, Matthew Shardlake. I also like Cornwell's series centered around Alfred the Great. I don't like his American Revolution stories as much.
This was a very interesting emagazine.

I love the Alfred the Great Series. A new one is out at Christmas :-) I loved his Stonehenge book and the Thomas of Hookton books as well.
I havent read CJ Sansom yet but I have Dominion on my shelves to read soon.

Sounds great Gerry.,I might have to dip into the series now.

Paul, I'd definitely recommend Dominion-I know Susan has been put off by how long the book is, but I thought it was excellent. I've since read and enjoyed Dissolution and Winter in Madrid by the same author.

Cheers Allan. Its a bit of a long one but it sounds so good thats not a problem.

Poor Allan. I have really nagged him into Sansom. I love the Matthew Shardlake series. He is a hunchbacked lawyer during Henry VIII's time. The first book, Dissolution, is him helping to dissolve a monastery. Trelawn might really like it as she likes mysteries too.
I will get to Dissolution, I promise. I also have Sons and Goldfinch to read.

Susan, is it The Son by Phillip Meyer that you've got to read, or another book? If it is the Meyer book, you're in for a treat-it was one of my favourites from last year.

@Susan. You haven't read Dissolution? I read the copy you bought me and it was excellent.

I think Susan meant Dominion, Declan-I'd say she could nearly recite Dissolution from memory!

Very likely, Allan. I was really surprised to see that.

That's what I get for posting late at night. Mistake after mistake. Yes, I met Dominion. And, yes, Allan, I did mean The Son which I bought on a Christmas Amazon sale. I promise no more posting after midnight.

Aww but its fun posting late ;-) we all make mistakes in our posts so don't.

Meant to say dont worry. See what I mean ;-)

I always feel that if that's the worse thing that happens to me, I am in good shape. :)

http://histfictionist.us8.list-manage...
Third magazine of the Historical Fictionista at above download.
Conn Iggulden who I know Susan at least reads is interviewed.

Thanks for sharing that, Paul. I enjoyed the Conn Iggulden interview and agreed with his pick of Genghis Khan as the number one military commander. I can't believe he has another novel ready to come out. That last one had some heft so he must write pretty fast.

He seems to manage quite a bit all right . I think in one calendar year he managed four books a few years back.

I would compare him to Bernard Cornwell. He makes historical fiction come to life. I never thought I would be interested in Genghis Khan but I couldn't enough.

I agree. The Genghis Khan series was fantastic and drew me right in. I lost nights of sleep because I couldn't stop reading them.
The Emperor series in Rome is really well written but if historicak innacuraccies annoy you avoid them.

Hes definitely british.He has some Irish link but i can't remember is it a parent or grandparent

It is worth it ☺

You might already know about this but there's a Goodreads list on Irish historical fiction I came across a few days ago (a bit slow!) at this address: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4...

It seems to cover quite a broad scope of books/subjects.

Wow, there are a lot of Morgan Llewelyn books on the list. Has anybody read this author?

I read a book by both morgan llewellyn and michael scott called 19 Railway Street when I was about 10 and loved it.

We were only talking about that on Friday ☺

I read 1916: A Novel of the Irish Rebellionand Grania: She-King of the Irish Seas Lion of Ireland and really liked them.I believed 1916: A Novel of the Irish Rebellion was a BOM pick awhile that not everyone liked but at some point I would like to continue with the series . I would also like to reread Grania: She-King of the Irish Seas

I notice that there are a few middling reviews by GRI members on the 1916 book. Aspects of 1916 come into our current Quarterly read, and the recent novel, Fallen by Lia Mills is also set at the time. I'll read the latter, then possibly think about this one...

I gave it 3 stars but I did like it.I should mention it was a reread and I think I liked it better the first time.I am reading Fallen and so far it's good.

I tried The Last Prince of Ireland https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4... (about the flight of O'Sullivan Beare) which I thought was good. Also tried Finn mac Cool, 1916 and Grania: She King of Ireland which I didn't really like but that was a few years ago now.

I was listening to the latest Open Book podcast earlier while doing some work about the house, and when I heard a piece about this book, I thought that Susan and some others in the group might find it interesting.

It's called The Brethren, and is the first of a 13 volume series, massively regarded in France, to be released in English. The review seems to pretty favourable, and the radio piece was also singing the series' praises.

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014...

Thanks, Allan. It does sound like a book that I would like.

That sounds brilliant . Might have to check it out

Sounds fascinating, Allan. Thank you.

Issue 5 of the Historical Fictionist Magazine for those interested. A few nice exerts and coming soons in this issue
http://histfictionist.us8.list-manage...

This is interesting. Thanks Paul for your sharing.

I see your reading the blind assassin Hannah, how are you enjoying it? The handmaids tale went down quite well when we did it as a monthly read

I read The Penelopiad recently. It tell penelopes story while homer was off on his oddessy. Very funny, in a dark way of course.