Read Scotland discussion

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Has anyone here read the Flashman books by George MacDonald Fraser? I'm thinking about reading them, particularly because I've enjoyed all his other works, but I would be interested to hear your thoughts anyway.

Happy New Year everyone!

Elliot wrote: "Has anyone here read the Flashman books by George MacDonald Fraser? I'm thinking about reading them, particularly because I've enjoyed all his other works, but I would be interested ..."

I've been tempted by the Flashman books (almost borrowed one from the library) but I've not read any of his other work, so for the moment they are on my wish list as I really need to clear the backlog on my shelves!

Elliot, Tracy -Hello, I read the first five and stopped, it's a big series.

What I liked- excellent historical fiction, you really learn history as you go through the books. I seem to remember a critic saying, "If you're not careful, you might learn something" . I liked the character's anti-hero status- he's a complete rogue, a coward, and couldn't care less about who he abandon's to his fate, while he steals the glory of others. The covers are brilliant.

What I didn't enjoy so much- there are footnotes on almost every second page. They fill in the history, but also detract from reading, constantly pulling you out of the story. The morals and stereotypes, even for a rakish anti-hero, are way out-of-step, and I mean way beyond being PC. I stopped reading the books after a gratuitous rape scene in book five that just completely jarred with me and put me off reading the rest of the series. The books were released late 60's and into the 70's; I don't believe the books would find a publisher nowadays.

Thanks for the insight, RJ. What you mentioned is one of the reasons why I'm a little reluctant to read them. I'm sure I'll give them a try eventually, but maybe I can skip a scene, here or there.

Also, your book sounds very interesting. I'll have to give a try!

Elliot,

The books were goods reads, but extremely chauvinistic, to a degree where to modern eyes it just made you wince every now and then.

Thanks for adding my book to your reading list, I hope you enjoy it.

I got asked for book recommendations for novels set in Jura. I cannot think of anything at the moment. Anyone got any ideas?

I don't know off the top of my head anything set in Jura, but George Orwell famously (or maybe not so famously!) spent much of the last 2 or 3 years of his life living there, and where he wrote 1984.

Melanie wrote: "I got asked for book recommendations for novels set in Jura. I cannot think of anything at the moment. Anyone got any ideas?"
I enjoyed Burning Down George Orwell's House by Andrew Ervin. Here's a link to the NYT review https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/31/bo...

Lorna wrote: "Melanie wrote: "I got asked for book recommendations for novels set in Jura. I cannot think of anything at the moment. Anyone got any ideas?"
I enjoyed [book:Burning Down George Orwell's House|2288..."

Thank you Lorna :)

Has anyone read the Robert Louis Stevenson books The Black Arrow or The Master of Ballantrae?