Cody Keeble > Recent Status Updates

Ch 53/111 also this book really does get better with each reread. I believe this is the third time I’ve listened? Maybe fourth or at least one being a partial listen. Regardless at least this first half has enough major plot points I’ve enjoyed. And the longest day ever was a breeze- knowing what it is allows the reader to sit and love the day enjoy it w the characters in a way you don’t get to the first read.

Chapter 53/111 Jocasta tells the tale of the Frenchmen’s gold and the death of her girls after Culloden

Will be curious to see how the next two books in the series differ from this first ‘omnibus’ of short stories; are they written in short story form? Or does Howey write them as actual novels? Do we get more in depth character and plot in them? Is his later writing what inspired the show runners to adapt it how they did or is the improvement all their own?

Juliet’s dad getting screen time as a character, thank god for the changes made to Bernard and Simms characters (simms short part in the story actually made me appreciate Commons acting and portrayal lol), getting time with mayor Jahns and deputy marnes and the general fleshing out (of all characters really) of and Juliet gaining full personhood through Rebecca Ferguson. MOST OF ALL: walker being made a woman. Best

Ch 42/82. Wow this will definitely be one of the series I remember for the adaptation being miles better than the books. It’s not bad, but especially this first book having been a collection of short stories later published together definitely changed a lot.

The tv show chose, very well, what parts to expand on from these short stories. For example getting the entire story of Holsten and his wife, Juliet’s dad

Doing the chronological read of Voyager and the Lord John novels and novellas. Read thru ch 13 of Voyager. Now on to Hellfire Club. Then: LJ Private Matter, LJ Succubus, Voyager ch 14-15, LJ Brotherhood of the Blade, LJ Haunted Soldier, 7 Stones: Custom of the Army, LJ Scottish Prisoner, 7S: Plague of Zombies, Voyager ch 16, 7S: Besieged, Voyager to the end 😊 just recording for later use.

Read or listened through chapter 13 or part 3. Now switching to Lord John and the hand of the devils to read the novels and novellas chronologically. Quite excited bcuz all together this will add well over 50 hours of story to voyager 😂 as of these books needed to be longer.

I think if they had stayed at Lallybroch the series would probably read a lot more like Poldark, a more static story. Nampara was Ross and Demelza’s home from the beginning to end, if Lallybroch was the same for Jamie and Claire we’d have Scotland in the background but we’d lose that feeling of adventure we gain by going to France, to war at culloden, the Caribbean, and finally America.

Chapter 31/41. Doesn’t feel like I’ve listened to 75% of the book. I just get lost in the story and having watched the show so many times I can see it play out in my head. Truly the best book to screen adaptation- even if they struggled with the later books and seasons this one they got so so right. We’re at Lallybroch right now so everything is right in the world. If only they could have just stayed there

Chapter 13/41 I love being back in this world. So many iconic moments have already happened. On every reread or even my first read through of the series, im always astounded at how much of this book they managed to get into the first season of the show. While they certainly switch things around out of order and change what they had to soooo much is exactly as was written. IIRC the first 3 books are like this. Happy

4/31 chapters. It’s been a few years since I’ve read the outlander series and as summer comes to an end I’m ready for fall full stop, doing a re-read of the series, especially the first few outlander books should easily trick my brain that it’s already fall 😂. First thing when I started the book this time is how much I love Davina Porter’s narration. Second was how quickly she goes through the stones

Stopped annotating or even highlighting like I normally would and just decided to read it for what it is: a history of the Tudors in narrative form. Enjoying it nonetheless but it’s not really giving me anything new or exciting. Just a general overview of the Tudors from Owen Tudor to, I assume Elizabeth. Considering Edward just died I’ve only got Jane, Mary and Elizabeth left before we see the end of the Tudors

At the end of part one with HVII and MB both dead, it talks of the latter years of HVII reign being quite bad for the realm and brought to mind this punishment being laid on the pair, especially MB as she outlived her son, grew quite arthritic- both of their religiosity probably helps paint their sad ends as punishment. Also ‘Margaret R’ and her overseeing cases as femme sole is quite remarkable.

I saw this book on TikTok- a random person had it on her shelves as she spoke about something else, worth mentioning she also had the Margaret Beaufort book there also; I searched for this book for a year since then finally got it used just this summer. Extremely easy to read and understand. I almost find myself wishing I was reading my standalone biographies on each person as they’re mentioned (MB, HVII, EoY)

A bit more than half way through now. I remember why I enjoyed the series. The added bonus now is I actually understand who many of these characters are. I distinctly remember in one of the previous books the tour de nesle scandal takes place- I had no clue it was a historical event until years later I was learning about it and thought wait I’ve read this before! lol I should go back and reread all these books now

So far it reads like a novel, also helps I’m familiar with much of it. Right now the focus has been on Owen Tudor and Catherine de Valois (whom I should really read more about, I’ll have to find a book about them both) and now largely Margaret Beaufort, Jasper and Henry Tudor. We’re moving fast through Margaret’s life (a small part of Tudor history) and my book about only her looks awfully tempting…

Ch 19/32. It really is the perfect historical romance fiction; without a doubt this book inspired all the authors on my shelves who write about women of the court. Katherine seems so real, her emotions and thoughts getting the best of her especially in the first third of the book when she was younger. Excited to see her grow from the mistress into the duchess over the next third or so. Her sister may be my favorite

I’ve never been more reminded of listening to the audio of Signe Pikes Lost Queen series than I am now. I’m lost in the detail- which is immense and dense with the world. The way she’s created Hilds mind from the narration is a wonder. The poetic verse makes reading it all smooth as butter. I saw many complaints about the detail and sloth like pace of things but to me it’s just time to be in the world

Ok really just started and wow! I chose it thinking it would be light and fun, and it certainly isn’t light; the author has clearly researched everything down to the language being spoken and words used to fit the period. So much so I have a running glossary. The writing itself is poetic or lyrical similar to Signe Pike’s series. The story seems to be slow and intentional and I’d wager will get complex fast.

Now towards the end of the war I’ve made it well past the Edwardian phase of the war and am at the end of the Henrican phase. Bedford is leading the English held French interests. The war is more a battle of attrition. Joan lurks just a few years out and H VI is growing up to replace Charles the Mad as mad king. The wars of the roses are mostly set up. Ahhh the sweet smell of success (mine, in finishing the book!)

I read through so much today- which is bittersweet- no time to sit with the history, but also this is truly a page turner. Picked up today with the Iron King Philippe IV and the Tour de Nesle Affair; Isabella and Mortimer took England for Edward III; captured the Scottish king David II; the fall of the Capetians and rose of Valois; battles of Crecy and Poitiers and the treaty of Bretigny. Now Louis is on the loose…

About 1/3 of the way through part two of seven. Honestly not as into it as I’d hoped. Physical may be the way to go with Dan Jones but I loved that he reads his own books (much like his podcast and tv specials). Maybe it’s bcuz I’m familiar with much of what’s gone on so far; maybe also bcuz Im also getting a condensed Plantagenet history as the intro for Bloody Crowns.

While I’ve been eager to read this book since before it was published (a brand new history of the HYW just as I planned to tackle the period?) I was intimidated by its size (~600 pages) and figured it would be either solidly academic and incredibly dense (much like I assume about sumptions work only his is 5 volumes) or very military heavy. I’m pleased to say I’m really cruising along- a page turner if you will

Wow! The intro was history from the conqueror to Richard lionheart in England and late Carolingian to Capetian beginnings in France. Fun.

Ch 1 drew together the Auld Alliance, William Wallace at falkirk, English supremacy over Scotland (Stone of Scone) and Matins of Bruges/Battle of the Goldspurs as well as Longshanks/Phillipe Augustus gaining a solid focal point for me in history. Loving it so far!

Chapter 7 of 16. Enjoying the book more as it’s gone on but it took me quite a few chapters to accept it’s written entirely in letters surround Augustus and not from his view point or his own letters. I believe he just recently married Livia so if I’m lucky I’ll get a few letters written between her and Agrippa…fingers crossed

Got the rec from TikTok- some history book tok guy who has similar interests as me named it as a great book so I’m giving it a shot- I don’t often have luck with TikTok Recs.

Didn’t realize it was written in letters surrounding the main character….though maybe I should have because Stone by the author is all letters right? Hoping I enjoy it.

Plan is to prep for a dive into Augustus for some non fiction

Barely in, just got started before bed tonight but obviously as a character in English history she comes up a lot so it will be interesting to piece it together for real.

Right off the bat the mention of Anya Seton’s book about her mentioned as influencing Weir- I’ll have to read it after this!

Edward III and Philippa of Hainault- ah more HYW characters I know little of- shame!