Stickied What are you reading right now?

[Jockney]

Halfway through A People's History of the United States, by Howard Zinn.

A potted history of the United States (a little over five centuries covered by only six hundred pages), from Columbus to Dubya. Zinn gives primacy to the experiences of the colonised and the oppressed, which is what drew me to this potted history instead of the countless others. The problem is, I'm reading it straight off the back of CLR James's detailed account of the San Domingo slave revolt/Haitian independence, which admittedly had a narrower focus but equally draws mainly upon primary sources from French archives and had a genuinely fresh analytical frame (Liberty, Equality, Fraternity as a larger Atlantic question). APHotUS has a broader purview but it doesn't feel particularly coherent, mainly because every period is presented as being fairly discrete; part of a larger genesis of the nation only in terms of theme and system, but without really connecting strongly what was happening in the Americas with what was happening elsewhere.

 

[mowgli]

The Tudor Trilogy by Tony Riches.
The first book is called Owen after the man who took up with Catherine the widow of Henry V in 1422.The next 2 books entitled Jasper and Henry are about the war of the roses with the 3rd book ending in 1509. More politics than action but the books had me gripped from the start.

 

[Dirk]

Actually I am beginning the Witcher Series by Andrzej Sapkowski (again).
Situated in middle aged Poland about the Witcher (in German: Hexer) Geralt von Riva.
Have begun the series years ago with the first 2 books but stopped it (can't explain why) . Later I played the Witcher 3 Video-Game and I really loved it. Now I want to begin again with the books (first because the story of the Game begins way ahead of the original books so that you don't know the background story of some of the characters and second, the main reason for reading the whole series now: Netflix is planning to make a series about the Witcher. Although it's early stages here I want to read the books before....otherwise, I know me, when I read the books after the series is shown I normally have the actor of the witcher in the series in my mind

I am beginning with the first book which contains 5 short novels of Geralt von Riva Saga: It's called: The Last Wish (in German: Der letzte Wunsch). I am reading the German Version (faster reading for me )

Here are the UK and the German Cover of the book:

 

[SALTIRE]

Can't wait for The Witcher to come out on Netflix, hope they do a stellar job with it as it deserves a good series.

Started The Thirteen Gun Salute, the last two books in this series have been excellent.

 

[mowgli]

The Harrowing by James Aitcheson.
Set 2 years after Hastings with the English rebellion over The Normans head north and kill every living thing and destroy fields used for crops. This book starts off with 5 people who meet on the road fleeing from the violence, a lady,her maid,a priest,a minstel and a warrior with the 2nd half telling each of the characters stories. I'm loving this book as Aitchenson is a brilliant author and i've read his trilogy on the aftermath of Hastings as seen through the eyes of a Norman knight Tancred which were just as good.

 

[mistermagic]

Since finishing the Minier book, I read a Bernie Gunther novel (German policeman before, during and after WWII) by Philip Kerr. It wasn't great mainly due to the scenery (Gunther is now a hotel concierge on the French Riviera, not exactly solving WWII crimes). Started a book by an Icelandic author which I picked up at Reykjavik airport (Last Rituals by Yrsa Sigurdardottir). It started a bit bland but new elements are happening and it makes for an interesting plot (a lawyer investigate the murder of a German student in Reykjavik).

 

[Techno Natch]

For fans of the first law trilogy. https://www.joeabercrombie.com/2017/05/30/progress-report-may-17/

 

[Oaf]

Ah cool. I loved The First Law trilogy but still haven't actually gotten around to reading any of the other books written by him yet... should probably get around to that. But it's good to know that a proper sequel trilogy type thing is on the way!

 

[Techno Natch]

They are all worth a read although I didn't enjoy the short stories release he did as much. His young adult books are also worth reading.

Is Logan in wars? :O

 

[Habbinalan]

Since finishing the Minier book, I read a Bernie Gunther novel (German policeman before, during and after WWII) by Philip Kerr. It wasn't great mainly due to the scenery (Gunther is now a hotel concierge on the French Riviera, not exactly solving WWII crimes). Started a book by an Icelandic author which I picked up at Reykjavik airport (Last Rituals by Yrsa Sigurdardottir). It started a bit bland but new elements are happening and it makes for an interesting plot (a lawyer investigate the murder of a German student in Reykjavik).

Got hooked on Icelandic crime novels after watching and reading Jar City. Enjoyed all of Yrsa Sigurdardottir's offerings but her plots and writing are a bit less bleak and edgy than Arnuldur Indriðason, who I really rate.

 

[mowgli]

Sorrow Hill by C.R.May.
The first in a trilogy of novels based on the Anglo Saxon poem of Beowulf. Finding it fairl.y slow so far but it seems it's all coming together now all the characters relationships with each other have been explained.

 

[Dirk]

Sorrow Hill by C.R.May.
The first in a trilogy of novels based on the Anglo Saxon poem of Beowulf. Finding it fairl.y slow so far but it seems it's all coming together now all the characters relationships with each other have been explained.

Keep me informed about this , mowgli. (Anglo) Saxon legends are always interesting for me.

btwe: I once read that the original "Beowulf" epic poem was written in the language of the Angeln (Anglos) a german tribe that later formed together with another german tribe, the Saxons, the Anglo-Saxons.

 

[mowgli]

Keep me informed about this , mowgli. (Anglo) Saxon legends are always interesting for me.

btwe: I once read that the original "Beowulf" epic poem was written in the language of the Angeln (Anglos) a german tribe that later formed together with another german tribe, the Saxons, the Anglo-Saxons.

I'll PM you when i finish reading it mate and let you know what i think.

 

[Oaf]

They are all worth a read although I didn't enjoy the short stories release he did as much. His young adult books are also worth reading.

Is Logan in wars? :O

I was really thinking about sticking Logan and Glokta into the last wars game... but I'm never entirely sure about characters from books because I don't know how many people will have heard of them. Roland from The Dark Tower came close to making it in there as well, but I was only about half way through the series then so I didn't want to put him in without knowing everything about him first.

 

[Veggie Legs]

They are all worth a read although I didn't enjoy the short stories release he did as much. His young adult books are also worth reading.

Is that Sharp Ends? Got that for my birthday recently but I haven't read it yet. I'm not normally a short story fan but I had high hopes for this.

I was really thinking about sticking Logan and Glokta into the last wars game... but I'm never entirely sure about characters from books because I don't know how many people will have heard of them. Roland from The Dark Tower came close to making it in there as well, but I was only about half way through the series then so I didn't want to put him in without knowing everything about him first.

Doesn't that apply to characters from other sources too? I had no idea who half the characters in 1FF Wars were but it wasn't a problem.

 

[Techno Natch]

Yeah think so VL. I should give it a go really as I wasn't in the mood and for it at the time. Let us know what you think when you read it.

 

[Oaf]

Is that Sharp Ends? Got that for my birthday recently but I haven't read it yet. I'm not normally a short story fan but I had high hopes for this.


Doesn't that apply to characters from other sources too? I had no idea who half the characters in 1FF Wars were but it wasn't a problem.

Yes, I suppose it is. I mean, I guess the only person who really knew who every single character in the game was is myself... even now with SUTSS running it there are a boat load of people I've never heard of! I dunno. I think I'm just naturally inclined to feel as if people are more likely to have watched any given movie or played any given game than to have read a book.

 

[Techno Natch]

Black Dow would have deserved a place too. I'm going to have a re-read of those books soon I think.

Currently reading a book on Catherine the Great's life which is really good. It's long though and now I've been paid I just want to finish it and get the second book of the dark tower series.

 

[Techno Natch]

Anyone had any luck using an audio book on here?To remain focused I have to close my eyes which quickly means I full asleep.

 

[Dirk]

Anyone had any luck using an audio book on here?To remain focused I have to close my eyes which quickly means I full asleep.

Could be me writing this

 

[mowgli]

The Grim Company by Luke Scull.
First in a trilogy of fantasy novels i borrowed of a friend,to be honest i've been unimpressed so far but she's told me to stick with it as it improves with some massive bloody battles. I've still yet to find a fantasy author that comes even close to David Gemmell.

 

[Abertawe]

This thread.

 

[mowgli]

The Serpent Sword - The Bernicia Chronicles by Matthew Harffey.
The first of 4 novels starting from AD 633 about a 16 year old lad Beobrand who leaves his home in Kent to Follow his older brother Octa who was murdered before Beobrand arrived,he has to fight for the king of Bebbanburg in Northumbria and find his brothers killer. Well written and full of vicious battles it won't take me long to finish these novels,i had never heard of Harffey before but found the first one in a charity shop and halfway through decided to order the next 3 from Amazon.

 

[Veggie Legs]

Anyone had any luck using an audio book on here?To remain focused I have to close my eyes which quickly means I full asleep.

I listen to audiobooks a lot when I'm driving. Can't do it any other time though, it's too easy to lose concentration.

 

[Techno Natch]

I just canceled my free trial as I couldn't get to grips with it.

Reading a book about Catherine the Great at the moment and enjoying it.

 

[Dirk]

The Serpent Sword - The Bernicia Chronicles by Matthew Harffey.
The first of 4 novels starting from AD 633 about a 16 year old lad Beobrand who leaves his home in Kent to Follow his older brother Octa who was murdered before Beobrand arrived,he has to fight for the king of Bebbanburg in Northumbria and find his brothers killer. Well written and full of vicious battles it won't take me long to finish these novels,i had never heard of Harffey before but found the first one in a charity shop and halfway through decided to order the next 3 from Amazon.

Bebbanburg? Is this in any way related to (or inspired by) Bernard Cornwell's Uthred Saga? Anyway the setting seems to be one for me.

edit:
btw: mowgli: Sorrow Hill isn't yet published in German, unfortunately.

 

[mowgli]

Bebbanburg? Is this in any way related to (or inspired by) Bernard Cornwell's Uthred Saga? Anyway the setting seems to be one for me.

edit:
btw: mowgli: Sorrow Hill isn't yet published in German, unfortunately.

It's 3 centuries before Uhtred's tale mate but yes it's the same castle.
Can you not buy Sorrow Hill from somewhere like Amazon or from C.R.May's website http;//cliffordmay.com?

 

[Dirk]

It's 3 centuries before Uhtred's tale mate but yes it's the same castle.

I know and maybe it was a bit "clumsy" expressed. I wanted to know if the author (in your opinion) was (a bit) inspired by the Uthred Saga by Bernard Cornwell. Can't be a prequel but setting the story in Bebbanburg is (maybe) a hint of the "inspiration"?

Can you not buy Sorrow Hill from somewhere like Amazon or from C.R.May's website http;//cliffordmay.com?

Of course I can. Even from amazon.de in Germany. But only in English and not in a translated version in German. Although I understand nearly all in English, it is way more comfortable for me to read a book in my native language. Normally they publish good selling UK or US Books soon in German, too.

 

[mowgli]

Harffy was born up that way mate and the subject has interested him from a young age,i would say it has the makings of being even better than the Uhtred series if the other books stay true to form. I've just found out there's a 5th book but it won't be out until April next year.

 

[Techno Natch]

Apparently the Dark tower movie is awful.