Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction discussion

Jeanne inspired this thread in The Crusades thread.
I thought we really should have a What Are You Reading thread as most groups do.

Jeanne asked in the Crusader thread:
So, what are some of you reading lately?

Jeanne, I am reading Lord of the Silver Bow by David Gemmell right now. It is quite good.

Conn Iggulden It is very good!

Bernie - I really, really like Conn Iggulden's books (especially the Genghis series) but haven't made it to Conqueror!

Ireney - don't think I'm up for adoption quite yet!;)

Terri - you mean I instigated something? Actually, that thread seems like a good idea!

I haven't read Iggulden's Rome series yet either, although I own the first and it is waiting patiently for me.

Hey Jeanne
With this group my Christmas want list is about 2 pages long! I think I will quit my job, have my family take care of me and will just hang out at the library. LOL!

Sounds like a good plan! But what about the ski season?

I started reading A Place Called Armageddon by C.C. Humphreys, which is set in 1453. The focus of the novel are the dying throes of the Byzantine Empire, which culminated with the conquest of Constantinople by Ottoman Turks. I've always been interested in the Ottoman Empire, and the struggle between it and (Western) Christian Europe, and this novel came rated quite highly. We'll see. However, all of the books I have read about Ottomans tends to be told from the Western point of view, unfortunately. It would be nice to get a perspective from the other side.

On the subject of sharing current reads, please do not hesitate to add any relevant historical fiction you are in the process of enjoying (or not) to the group's "Currently Reading" bookshelf! If you need help learning how this is done, just say the word.

ib.

Ireney wrote: "On the subject of sharing current reads, please do not hesitate to add any relevant historical fiction you are in the process of enjoying (or not) to the group's "Currently Reading" bookshelf! If you need help learning how this is done, just say the word.
."

I might take you up on that offer as I am not far off starting Michael Jecks series....

I was going to read this book in January, but I have bumped Stephen Lawhead's book Byzantium back to January and slotted The Last Templar in now.

Terri wrote: "Sounds like a good plan! But what about the ski season?"

Ski season! It was 12c yesterday, normaly -1 - 0c at this time of year! Almost went for a bikr ride.

I had heard this.
I know someone who wants Colorado to turn it on pretty soon or it is going ruin their annual holiday. :)

They had to move the pro ski season around because of lack of snow in Europe.

Hmm, interesting. Over here in Australia, where it is summer, they are saying the La Nina has deepened and we are to expect strong rainfall events throughout Summer and Spring including many cyclones.
We had similar last year, but they don't know yet if it will be as bad this year.
And parts of Africa are have record breaking drought.

Weather is haywire all over by the sounds.

I am reading cornwell's ARTHUR series. On Thursday and Friday I read THE LORD'S OF THE NORTH? Mr. Cornwell's historical fiction books are much better than his 'boat' books. If you have reed both, boat and hf, you will know what I mean. The common point between them is that the "stars" of these books are lacking in passion. However, in the hf, that lack is appropriate and indicates a style of storytelling that I like.

Ireney wrote: "I started reading A Place Called Armageddon by C.C. Humphreys, which is set in 1453. The focus of the novel are the dying throes of the Byzantine Empire, which culmi..."

Word

Oh...hahahaha!...I thought you were being all "Word, bro". But you weren't.

I have started, The Last Templar. Only 10 pages in though.

No Bro, just wanted insight on how to use the group's bookshelf to add as Ireney mentioned.

Sounds like lots of good reading going on but I'm too busy getting ready for visitors/Christmas and it won't let up even after Christmas. Winter in Tucson, Arizona is a very busy time! Everyone seems to want to be here all at once!

Ah, I envy those of you who can get to the slopes. In my heyday I was a good skier (and sailor) but no longer - especially in Tucson, even though we do have a couple of ski areas here due to the mountains (getting a little long in the tooth for all of that now). ;)

Speaking of strange weather - In Tucson summer is our monsoon season but we are getting LOTS of rain for the past couple of weeks. I have to keep reminding myself that this is a desert!

Bernie - what do you mean by "word"?

The desert must be looking splendid though, Jeanne, with all that rain. :)

And in case bernie has logged off. Bernie said word in relation to what Ireney said. If you check the full post of Ireney's (the post that Bernie quoted) you'll be up to speed. :)

Bernie, to add a book.

1. Go to the Groups bookshelf >>>>>>over there in the side column click on bookshelf.

2. Write your book title in the 'add book' search bar.

3. Your results will come up. When you see the one you want, click 'add to group'

4. And the pop up screen will come up for you to fill in.

5. Fill in pop up box and make sure to click currently reading in that pop up box for it to show at the top of the main page if you'd like.

Terri - Right now it just looks like a wet desert but come spring it should really look fabulous with all the cacti in bloom. They should be blooming "mighty fine" with all this rain!

Got the bit about "word"! Also learned a bit about adding the books....

Thanks!

Feel free to add some photos of the desert in bloom to the groups photos when it happens. :)

It is easy to do and is just like adding photos to your profile. Just look for 'photos' in the right hand column >>>>>> over there.

Thank You Terri

You are welcome Bernie

About to fiinish WATER FOR ELEPHANTS. Read THE WINTER KING and LORDS OF THE NORTH (Cornwell) last week. Think I will be reading cookie recipes today -- IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME, and on the 27th it will be IGGULDEN TIME! His latest in the Conqueror series will be available that date--from Barnes and Noble and on my Nook Color. I only wish this Nook was turbo charged and had spell check. For those of you who have not read Mr. Iggulden's Emperor series, you need to do so and soon. He, being the authhor, spins Julius, Brutus et seq in a new and different light and in unexpected heroism and myrth. Happy Holidays and Happy Reading. Ireney, if you have not been good this year Santa may give you a bagful of ashes and N----.lol

Oh, this is a great thread. I love finding out what everyone is reading.

I'm in the middle of Troy: Fall of Kings. It is fabulous, though for those of you who don't know I'm a huge David Gemmell fan and I love all his books.

I do too, Dawn. We seem to be getting downright giddy today. Could it be Christmas? I can hardly wait. Feel like child waiting on Santa this year because I will get gift certificates for books. I am going to get THE DEVIL'S BROOD by Sharon Kay Penman. TROY:FALL OF KINGS is on that list also. We are members of a group of shared interests in literature. Through our interactions friendships grow. At this time of year when strangers greet strangers, is it not more likely that friends known only by name , connected only by the internet, would express themselves in a more personable manner? That is the last sermon I preach this year, I promise. Change of subject: Someone stole the use of my son's debit card. We live in Mississippi. The card was used twice in California. Ten dollars at a motel and fifty at a plumbing warehouse business. When my son tried to use the card yesterday, he learned that it was on hold. I did not think something like that could happen to us. So, all of you please be careful using your electronic transactions, unless you happen to be in that kind of business!lol

@Linda - This has been happening in the SF Bay Area too. Someone monkeyed with the card readers in the self-checkout lanes at a couple dozen Lucky grocery stores, and many people had money taken out of their bank accounts and had to cancel their accounts and reopen them. Really horrible.

Thank you for telling me about that. My husband and son several theories as to how this happened. We have all been warned about these crimes, but there is no way to be absolutely protected. I just hope the law tries their best to catch and prosecute the people who did that in the Lucky grocery stores.

Sara Gruen
One of the few books that I have given 5 stars. Excellent read, and the movie wasn't bad either.

As I read Sara Gruen's WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, I thought about comparrisions and contrasts, geriatrics, the Great Depression, stories about my own grandmothers who lived to be 99 and 95. After the last three pages those thoughts flew away. A wonderful book! Thank you Miss Gruen.

Dawn! I forgot to ask. How was Vegas? Did you end up marrying to a showgirl (or showboy as I think there are lots of both aren't there) and waking up wedged between two Elvis'?

Vegas was great, we spent more time in Death Valley than on the Strip. I didn't find anyone I wanted to marry, even if I'd been drinking I like to think I would have better taste! :)
I did see three Elvis's but not close enough to wake up next to, I also saw the shortest Buzz Lightyear, the laziest Spiderman and many headless Minnie and Mickey's.
I took 886 pictures of bright lights and brown desert rocks, ate too much fast food, had Starbucks every morning as it was right beside the elevator on the way out and walked miles of desert and concrete.

Now it's back to reality......... :(

Wow, that is a lot of sensory overload for you.

And 886 photos!!!!! Holy cow. You do love yourself some lights and rocks. :)

Dawn wrote: " I didn't find anyone I wanted to marry, even if I'd been drinking I like to think I would have better taste! :)"

But isn't that the point of Vegas? It is where people go to do distasteful things?

It's more about the new camera.........

And as far I could see, Vegas is the place people go to get drunk or still be drunk at 8 in the morning :) I would totally get married in Vegas, just not to some weird person I met there. Married by Elvis in a little chapel dressed up in some cool costume. Would be great wedding photos! :D

hahaha! I would renew my vows in Vegas. :D

MERRY CHRISTMAS, (or whatever it is you celebrate at this time of year), TO YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!! :D

And the same to you!

:)

Yeah to statutory holidays that make this a 4 day weekend for me!! Merry Christmas!!

P.S. Terri, I just noticed that the title of this discussion doesn't actually make any sense, "What are reading right now?" needs a 'you'. :)

Oh, how can I have missed that? hahaha! Thanks, mate.
Enjoy your 4 day weekend!

Merry Christmas to all. I am off to this great nations capital for a few days and will catch up with everybody before the new year. Cheers.

Cheers, Bernie. Safe travels!

Hope everyone had a great Xmas!

Gee it has been quiet in here these last few weeks. :)

I have been reading a few non historical fiction so haven't really had anything to say.

Still plan on reading Blood Eye as soon as I finish the book I am currently on.

Man, hard to get back into Goodreads Group mode after the exhausting holiday season. :\

Know what you mean! I reviewed some of our comments above and am shocked that I was pumped up two weeks ago but have taken to my bed since 1-2-2012. I am reading Mr. Iggulden's latest-KUBLAI KHAN- so I have been entertained and tired. Happy New Year and good health to all. I have missed the group so much!

It sure does take some time to recover from the festive season and New Year's Eve celebrations.

I'm still reading Troy: Fall of Kings but I have started a few other books as well.

The Happy Return by C.S. Forester
Coin of Carthage by Bryher
Gallows Thief by Bernard Cornwell
and
The Witch of the Palo Duro by Mardi Oakley Medawar

I really have to finish books before I start new ones. The only one I don't like and probably won't finish is Coin of Carthage. The others could take awhile to finish, one is my gym book, one is my "just in case I need it, it's in my purse" book, one is my before bed book and two are on the end table by my chair in case TV is boring.
Now I sound crazy......lol

No, you don't sound crazy. Well you might, just a little; but if you are, then I am too. I would wager that ALL of us have stashes of books in the most unusual places. Do you keep booklights too? And extra batteries just in case?