Harlequin by Bernard Cornwall. The first in a trilogy about The Hundred Years War,it takes a while to get going but it's well worth staying with it.
Besides my passion for reading crime novels I am also a "history nerd". Actually I bought 2 books from the "Spiegel Verlag" ( "Der Spiegel" is a well known German weekly (news)magazine). It's about some era in the history of both our countries. First one is: "Das Reich der Deutschen - Wie wir eine Nation wurden" (The Empire of the Germans - How we became a nation) It's mainly about the first German Reich/Empire ( Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation) which lasted approx. 900 years until its end in 1806 (The 2nd Reich, Kaiserreich, lasted then only from 1871-1918 and the 3rd Reich lasted only 12 (thank god for that)) 2nd book is "Englands Krone - Die britische Monarchie im Wandel der Zeit" (Englands Crown - The british monarchy in the change of times) edit: As for crime novels: Actually I read the "Sister Fidelma mysteries" by Peter Tremayne (pseudonym of Peter Berresford Ellis, a british historian) about Sister Fidelma who is both an "dalaigh" (an advocate of the 5 Kingdoms of Éireann) as well as a Celtic nun. She solves crimes in the 7th century in Ireland together with the Saxon monk Eadulf. Irelands laws of the 7th century were very modern for the dark age btw. Very well described by Tremayne. No wonder, as mentioned, he's a historian. Sister Fidelma mysteries - Wikipedia
Exceptional writing. Needed a bit more concentration (or a bit of recapping) compared to my normal "couple of chapters before sleep" reading these days. More of a holiday read. Thought provoking and well worth the effort. Probably preferred it to Remains of The Day. Wasn't engaged enough to try any of his other offerings
Did you finish this? I was reading this around the same time as you and I thought it was fantastic. I'm currently reading the latest in Robert Galbraith 's (JK Rowling's) Cormoran Strike Crime series 'The Running Grave.' I'm about halfway through the book and not enjoying it as much as it's predecessors but still a decent read this far.
I did finish it yeah. I thought it was outstanding. As @Habbinalan said, very thought provoking. Great read and probably shot up my list of favorite books. Also recently finished Richard Osman's The Thursday Murder Club. It was a fun read albeit probably a little silly in some places. Currently reading Piranesi now. Very intriguing premise but it does take some work remember the names of the rooms!
I'm just finishing Lonesome Dove (843 pages) by Larry McMurtry. Just discovered him and he's rather good. He's immersed in and writes the best Western/Cowboy novels you'll find. Lonesome Dove won the 1986 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Most of his books (and there are loads) seem to have been adapted for films and or TV series and have won lots of Oscars & Emmys. He also co-wrote the screenplay to convert Annie Proulx's Brokeback Mountain to a film. Chronologically, the Lonesome Dove series has Dead Man's Walk and Commanche Moon as prequels with Streets of Laredo (which I read first by mistake) as the final part of the tale but they were written and published out of sequence. Probably worth reading in the right order but it hasn't spoilt my enjoyment because the quality of writing is fantastic. A pair of retired captains in the Texas Rangers team up with fellow former Rangers to put together a cattle herd on the Texas/Mexico border and drive them to Montanna. Set a few years after the height of the slaughter of buffalo herds and battles with Commanches, Kiowa and Apaches, some fantastic characters, amazing landscapes and the essence of Ranger/cowboy culture are captured in a plot that deals with unrequited love, friendship, getting old and different ways to die. The writing is up there with Cormac McCarthy (one of my favourite writers) but much less apocalyptic and more intimate.
Hmm ... so many very grown up books talked about in here that I feel like I've shamed myself out of the thread I created My reading type these days is more what your other half is reading and it's spice heavy, plot wise they're bound for a Happy Ever After (eventually) although the road there won't be easy. I've done 2 ALPHA edits in January so far for Authors who have new books being released in March (one of which is the debut novel written by one of my best friends - A Dark Mafia Why Chose and the interrogation scene including an inventive use of a G-Clamp made my eyebrows shoot up into my hairline - it seems my friend has a very dark side indeed) an ARC read for a 3rd author who's book comes out on the 25th of this month. Just starting another ARC for an author being released in a couple of weeks too In between the pre publish stuff I've got through 6 books in what I understand to be an 8 book series just to keep me ticking over
Lion Of Macedon by David Gemmell. The first of 2 fantasy novels about Alexander The Great which i hadn't read for about 15 years it's so good it's hard to put down.
The Hobbit by J R R Tolkien. I hadn't read this in years but found it in a charity shop for £1 and am really enjoying it, i first had to to read this at school and we had to take turns in reading parts out to the rest of the class and the teacher often picked me to be Gollum the evil bitch.
A short while back I did an ARC (Advance Reading Copy) for an Australian Author who does kids books who's branched out into teen fantasy with a book thats coming out on May 1st - Think Harry Potter but in this they really do bump uglies I got up this morning to find a signed copy of his cover artwork in my inbox - just a nice thought and a thank you and it's really made me smile So here you are - anyone who likes fantasy or has a teenager who might this is an absoloutly shameless plug for Mick's book launch Alina Rose’s fiercest battle isn’t with her promiscuous alter ego, Machina,but against the darkness within herself—a darkness that's about to spill over into the real world. When Alina hits the local club to shake off her Taco Bell shift—a job she classifies as legalized torture—the last thing she expects is her life to flip from fryers to fireballs. But when a handsome stranger reveals she’s not an ordinary nineteen-year-old, but a demon, everything she thought she knew about herself is turned on its head. She lacks the clichéd horns and tail, but her powers can bring any man to his knees. After an elemental battle to secure her passage, Alina steps into Astaroth Academy, a prestigious school for demons. Cradled in a mountainous region, the academy boasts grand chateaux and vast, party-filled gardens. Here, Alina seeks a way to permanently silence Machina once and for all. But a brazen other self isn’t her only concern. Aran May, the brooding captain of the Flag Fall team, is as appealing as he is untouchable. As their forbidden desire intensifies, Alina uncovers a sinister plot that threatens not only her stay at the academy, but her very life. The stakes are higher than ever, and in a world where lies are the norm, trust is the ultimate gamble. Making peace with Machina isn’t just an option—it’s everything.
Read a couple of short ones recently to get out of a reading slump. The Old Man and The Sea - Ernest Hemingway. I understand it's importance, especially to American literature, but this didn't really resonate with me all that much tbh. Was a bit of a slog despite being 90 pages or so. I'd give it 2.5/5. Small Things Like These - Claire Keegan. Enjoyed this one more. Very easy read. Would recommend it to people who like historic fiction. Follows Bill Furlong, a coal merchant, who makes a discovery one day on a delivery that forces him to confront his past and the present. Story of heroism, empathy and silent compliance. 3.8/5.
The Tattooist Of Auschwitz by Heather Morris. I know there is a new tv series based on this but i would rather read the book which is absolutely heartbreaking at times and it lifted my spirit in others,i can't praise this book enough it's just so well written and makes you think about man's inhumanity to man.
Just started reading this. The author (a Christian) is the former Assistant Secretary for Threat Prevention in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at the Trump administration. She explores the forces within American society that have encouraged the radicalization of white supremacist and far right terrorists. A very interesting read so far. If anyone's interested to hear directly from her:
Started to read Jack Higgins Sean Dillon's character over again, up to the 4th book now and will plod along until I have read them all again.
The Shadow Of The Gods (The Bloodsworn) by John Gwynne. The first in a trilogy of fantasy novels set in a Norse inspired world with magic,bloody battles and otherworldly creatures it's a brilliant read from one of my favourite fantasy authors.
Finished The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. Similar to the brilliant Circe, this is also her take on the Greek classics. This time focusing on the Trojan War and specifically the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus. It is beautifully written. It's a beautiful and tragic love story. Definitely one of my favourite reads and MIller has quickly become my favourite author despite having just 2 novels. Easy 5/5 for me. Would highly recommend for those who enjoy historical fiction and romance. Started The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro too. Around 70 pages in so far. Enjoying it but it hasn't gripped me as much as Never Let Me Go did so far.
