Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction discussion

Mostly I read non fiction on Xenophon and the Ten Thousand. I am yet to read a historical fiction.

I often see the books by Michael Curtis Ford around online but have never seen one in the flesh. No-one seems to rave about them either. Not that they DON'T rave about them, they just don't get much mention anywhere.

I have always liked the look of this one.

The Ten Thousand: A Novel of Ancient Greece

MCF is one of my fave authors along with Pressfield and Shaara

I was only talking to a mate today about this author. Wondering why he isn't read much or well known.

ive read all of MCF some twice hes very smooth and moves along nicely if you have ever been curious about hannibal you should tryPride of Carthage also Scarrow has anice trilogy on Napoleon

I have read Pride of Carthage. Great book.

I don't read Scarrow though.........*makes a sour face*

perhaps if he had more chip and daleish covers??

Darrell wrote: "perhaps if he had more chip and daleish covers??"

Huh? I remember Chip and Dale from when I was a kid....confused at what you mean though.
It kind of felt like you made an offhand remark about my taste in books.....if that was what it was...have you even seen my profile?
I don't read too many books with cartoonish covers, quite the opposite.

Careful Darrell, our fearless moderator is very proud of her (if I might say, impecible) taste in books. :)

Her view on Scarrow is from a conversation she had with him on the content of his books, not anything to do with asthetics!

oops,my most profound apologies.no dis intended

That's cool. As Dawn says, I don't have a problem with the covers, I just don't like his writing style and he doesn't like that I don't like his writing style.

Now, MCF, I dig his covers. That is why they keep catching my eye.

Oh and by the way...big shout out to the sublime Ms Dawn for saying I have impeccable taste in books!
You go alright in that department to, madam. :D

lol Your Welcome

*takes a bow*

And thank you ever so much.. :)

:-) lol!

This is good to know, Ryan. I keep waiting for more feedback on these Ford books, so it is good to get your perspective.

I own four MCF books, though I've only read The Last King . I enjoyed it, and am frustrated that my TBR pile is so big. I'll get to the others here soon.

Cripes, join the club. :( My tbr is frightening me. Tbr I own and tbr I need to buy or borrow.
I think I have only one MCF on my tbr. I am going to struggle even finding a space to read that one! Plus my library doesn't have any MCF. That makes my chances of reading him anytime soon rather slim because I'll have to buy it.

I've always been a slow reader. That, combined with my ever-growing TBR pile, triggered my first New Years resolution in years. I've dedicated 2012 to being a faster reader. I've been trying some new techniques, and I've doubled my speed. It's so nice. Now it will only take 10 years to read my currently owned TBR (and it will only grow). :)

I'm late in the conversation here, I know. But, DO read MCF's books, especially The Ten Thousand, which is my favourite. He has a great voice and poetic way of telling a story. He is a nice guy too, having offered me some great writer's advice a few years back.

Thanks, Adam. You've sold me. I actually own the book. All I need now is time.

Justin wrote: "Thanks, Adam. You've sold me. I actually own the book. All I need now is time."

Ah yes, Time. Far too little of it. It really is a great read, that one.
Cheers!

Justin wrote: "I've always been a slow reader. That, combined with my ever-growing TBR pile, triggered my first New Years resolution in years. I've dedicated 2012 to being a faster reader. I've been trying some n..."
What’s wrong with being a slow reader? I am also a slow reader but I remember what I read. I know many readers that are much faster but when they are asked later what they read, they have forgotten it. I do most of my reading for pleasure but I still feel that I gain something else from it; I gain knowledge. Those fast readers that forget what they read, I think lose in the long run.

Thom wrote: "Justin wrote: "I've always been a slow reader. That, combined with my ever-growing TBR pile, triggered my first New Years resolution in years. I've dedicated 2012 to being a faster reader. I've bee..."

Nothing is wrong with being a slow reader, unless you're someone like me with weak impulse control and you tend to buy every third book you stumble across. I can only justify those purchases (and my ambitious Amazon wish list) if I actually read them. :)

Regarding reading comprehension, I've found that if anything my comprehension is better, since I'm more focused. The techniques I'm using deal more with training myself not to sound out each word mentally as I read, keeping my eyes from back-tracking, and getting myself in a focused state.

Some of the things you describe fit me to a tee. I often sound out each word (but that could be because I read in various languages) and with the wrong reading conditions (TV or popular music on)I am often forced to back-track.

I find I really have to concentrate with the faster reading techniques too. I don't find my comprehension or memory of books changes whether I'm faster or slower either but my memory is dreadful at the best of times, that's why all my reviews include a synopsis of the story....I need it to remember them by. :)

Justin, you just named a bunch of my issues. When I am reading too slow I find those are the problems. Backtracking especially. And sounding out the words.
I find the other two culprits are dialogue, reading dialogue with the pauses and tone that one would say dialogue in real life, and punctuation. Stopping for commas and fullstops etc.
When I am in form for some speed reading, my biggest succeses come from reading straight through punctuation, and giving the words no tone.

Hi Thom,
I find that when I read too slow I have less memory for the book than when I speed read. I have no idea why this is so. It sounds strange, but there it is. :-)

I'm greedy, so I read quickly - but if the book is good, I read it several times, and after the first one I savour it better. There isn't the right way. Reading is one of the great pleasures of life, so enjoy it! Quickly, slowly, coming back....I suggest you to look for "The 10 rights of readers" by Daniel Pennac on the Net. (I've got them in my Notebook, but they're in French)

Here they are:

1) The right to not read,

2) The right to skip pages,

3) The right to not finish a book,

4) The right to reread,

5) The right to read anything,

6) The right to "Bovary-ism," a textually-transmitted disease,

7) The right to read anywhere,

8) The right to sample and steal ("grappiller")

9) The right to read out-loud, and,

10) The right to be silent.

I especially like point number 3. :)

I'd have to say that is my personal favourite too, Dawn!

Yes, 3 is the best, and one I've only recently adopted. That's why I added an 'abandoned' shelf to my book list.

Thanks for the update, Ryan. Is that it now? Have you read them all?

Enjoy the Genghis series. I liked them all, and Conqueror the best. The series seems to get better with each installment.

Justin wrote: "Enjoy the Genghis series. I liked them all, and Conqueror the best. The series seems to get better with each installment."

Agreed, I thought it was much better than his Julius Cesar series

happy wrote: "Agreed, I thought it was much better than his Julius Cesar..."

I haven't tried that series yet. I've still got Scarrow and Sidebottom to finish up **cannot reach ... summit ... of to-be-read pile...**.

Conn Iggulden I have read all of the Conqueror and Genghis series. The horse in GENGHIS was one of the many things that intriqued me. I have tried to find a connection between that horse and the Spanish mustang. I am involved in a movement to rescue the Spanish mustang from extinction. The Genghis horse and the Spanish mustang are so similar in size, make, endurance, etc. The Turkish horse had similar qualities. If anyone has similar interests, please let me know. CONQUEROR was phenomenal reading. GENGHIS took me places I had never been before.

Hi Linda,
You may have better luck in the Conn Iggulden thread. Your post seems like something that would be of benefit to that discussion. :-)
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/6...

You are right.

Great! I stumbled upon Conn Iggulden by chance. Good stumble!

Terri wrote: "Mostly I read non fiction on Xenophon and the Ten Thousand. I am yet to read a historical fiction.

I often see the books by Michael Curtis Ford around online but have never seen one in the flesh. ..."

I enjoyed this one very much. In fact, it led me to read the original Xenophon Anabasis-- Victorian English so difficult reading. I got my son a copy of the Ten Thousand for Christmas last year. Luckily our public library has 4 books by Michael Curtis Ford

You are lucky. He is an author I really want to try, only my library has none of his works.

I've liked what I've read of his

I've read The Ten Thousand, Gods and Generals, and The Last King. Not my favorites, but not bad either. I think of the three I like The Last King the most. What I do like about the books is that he writes about events that are not as well known as some others that Authors have written about over and over again.

These seem to be regular donations to the sell bin at our book wholesaler but I read all MCF when I was younger and still own the copies. He was the 'gateway drug' for my enfatuation with Historical Fiction. Read most of his when I was in High School.

I'll be reading The Ten Thousand as part of the list I'm currently reading through, the "36 best novels set in ancient Greece" according to a historical novels website. I am on the 9th book, and MCF's is like in the late 20s, so it will be a while, but when I get there, I'll get back here too.

Welcome to share your thoughts on his book once you get to it, Devon.