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9:43 pm
August 12, 2009
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I’m taking a break from history and re-reading some of those marvelous sci-fi books about the Dragonriders of Pern. I think I read those first 20 years ago and they’re just as much fun this time around!
"Don't knock at death's door.
Ring the bell and run. He hates that."
6:48 am
June 5, 2010
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Impish_Impulse said:
I’m taking a break from history and re-reading some of those marvelous sci-fi books about the Dragonriders of Pern. I think I read those first 20 years ago and they’re just as much fun this time around!
I read the first few books in the series back in the late Seventies and just loved them! Have a great read — you’re bringing back some wonderful memories!
PS: Have you read any of the books in the Temeraire series by Naomi Novak? It’s about dragons having been raised in various nations and used chiefly for battle down through the centuries (I keep thinking someone mentioned them being at the battle of the Spanish Armada, but I’m not sure right this second). The series is about the dragon Temeraire and his British captain during the Napoleonic Wars.
Henry: Mistress Anne, will you teach the king of England how they dance in the French court?
Anne: There is nothing that France can teach England, your majesty.
King Henry VIII: Well said. Well said.
– Anne of the Thousand Days (1969)
11:38 am
August 12, 2009
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No! I’ll have to look for them. Thanks for the tip.
"Don't knock at death's door.
Ring the bell and run. He hates that."
11:38 am
August 12, 2009
Offline
No! I’ll have to look for them. Thanks for the tip.
"Don't knock at death's door.
Ring the bell and run. He hates that."
11:39 am
August 12, 2009
Offline
No! I’ll have to look for them. Thanks for the tip.
"Don't knock at death's door.
Ring the bell and run. He hates that."
11:39 am
August 12, 2009
Offline
No! I’ll have to look for them. Thanks for the tip.
"Don't knock at death's door.
Ring the bell and run. He hates that."
2:40 pm
January 9, 2010
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I’ve read Alison Weir’s ‘Isabella: She-Wolf of France, Queen of England’ and found it very informative and a great place to start on reading more on the period.
DuchessofBrittany – have you read ‘The Pope and the Heretic’ by Michael White which chronicles the life of Giordano Bruno? If not then check it out ‘cos its a terrific read!
At the moment I’m reading ‘The Hacienda – How Not To Run A Club’ by Peter Hook of Joy Division/New Order fame – Joy Division being one of my all-time favourite bands (along with the Smiths, the Beatles and the Stone Roses). I’m also going through ‘The Love Letters of Henry Vlll to Anne Boleyn’ which finally arrived from Amazon a couple of days ago. Yay! 
5:53 pm
August 3, 2010
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Right now I’m re-reading and re-annotating (yes, I annotate, but only the biography I love most a.k.a this one!) The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn by Eric Ives. I firmly believe it is the best book to have for an Anne fan, and if I could only have one book I’d choose it! 🙂
Everyone here has gotten me interested in Isabella the She-Wolf. What do you think of it?
"Grumble all you like, this is how it's going to be"
10:25 pm
January 9, 2010
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That’s one of the things I like about Alison Weir; her writing style is easy to follow – especially good if you’re a newcomer to the period she’s writing about! Though sometimes she can put too much emphasis on a particular source…. 
But I enjoyed ‘Isabella: She -Wolf’ – it was the first time I’d read anything about her or Edward II, though I had a rough idea of the of the events of Edwards reign/deposition/murder. And that’s another thing – Weir makes us wonder if things happened the way the history books have told us; though I haven’t read any further about Isabella or Edward II (yet!) to agree or disagree with her conclusions!
7:20 am
June 5, 2010
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Bella44 said:
That’s one of the things I like about Alison Weir; her writing style is easy to follow – especially good if you’re a newcomer to the period she’s writing about! Though sometimes she can put too much emphasis on a particular source….
But I enjoyed ‘Isabella: She -Wolf’ – it was the first time I’d read anything about her or Edward II, though I had a rough idea of the of the events of Edwards reign/deposition/murder. And that’s another thing – Weir makes us wonder if things happened the way the history books have told us; though I haven’t read any further about Isabella or Edward II (yet!) to agree or disagree with her conclusions!
I’m tempted to tackle that one AND I now have Ian Mortimer’s The Perfect King on my Amazon wish list, which is his nearly 600 page biography of Edward III (seems he’s written books on Edward I, Edward II, Isabella’s lover Roger Mortimer, and Henry IV, as well as a time traveler’s guide to Medieval England that I can’t wait to tackle).
Bella44 — you mentioned Weir making “us wonder if things happened the way the history books have told us…” I was reading over the 5-star reviews from The Perfect King and ran across one that mentioned one of Mr. Mortimer’s suppositions — one that had me going 
I’ll just quote what they said and leave it at that, but this alone makes me eager to read Mortimer’s book….
As a student of this period, I’m familiar with a great deal of the subject matter, but I confess to being enlightened on more than a few matters. I’m a bit concerned however about his assertion that Edward II, this Edward’s father did NOT die as traditionally thought, murdered, but rather later as a private gentleman living in Europe. He makes a convincing case, but I am planning to research other historians’ opinions on the validity of his claim. In any event, there is much to recommend in this and other works by this author.
Henry: Mistress Anne, will you teach the king of England how they dance in the French court?
Anne: There is nothing that France can teach England, your majesty.
King Henry VIII: Well said. Well said.
– Anne of the Thousand Days (1969)
10:04 am
February 24, 2010
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Queen Isabella, by Allison Weir is a great read.
As to Edward II”s escape to Europe, I have read this before. Considering some of the stories of his demise in England, it is no wonder some said he escaped. It is a nicer thought than the story with the red hot poker!
I am reading Elizabeth and Leicester, Power, Passion, Politics, by Sarah Gristwood.
10:57 am
June 5, 2010
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Sharon said:
Queen Isabella, by Allison Weir is a great read.
As to Edward II”s escape to Europe, I have read this before. Considering some of the stories of his demise in England, it is no wonder some said he escaped. It is a nicer thought than the story with the red hot poker!
I am reading Elizabeth and Leicester, Power, Passion, Politics, by Sarah Gristwood.
I think almost anything would be preferable to a red hot poker!!!
Oooo…the Gristwood book sounds interesting.
And me? I’m currently reading — for inspiration for my Tudor Christmas party — “Medieval Celebrations: How to Plan Holidays, Weddings and Feasts with Recipes, Customs, Costumes, Decorations, Songs, Dances and Games” and “Apples of Gold in Settings of Silver” which is about twelve legendary dinner parties, beginning with a Cluny Abbey feast day through a 20th century party. (Now I just need a lakeside setting for fireworks LOL).
Henry: Mistress Anne, will you teach the king of England how they dance in the French court?
Anne: There is nothing that France can teach England, your majesty.
King Henry VIII: Well said. Well said.
– Anne of the Thousand Days (1969)
11:37 am
February 24, 2010
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Where do you live and can I come? How exciting that sounds.
4:41 pm
June 5, 2010
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Sharon said:
Where do you live and can I come? How exciting that sounds.
Kentucky
And while Louisville is on the river, I doubt the city would let me use it for my own private fireworks!
I’ve been planning my Tudor Christmas for months now so just hoping it all works out. I’ve never done a themed Christmas party befofre but if this turns out the way I want, then it’ll become a tradition.
Henry: Mistress Anne, will you teach the king of England how they dance in the French court?
Anne: There is nothing that France can teach England, your majesty.
King Henry VIII: Well said. Well said.
– Anne of the Thousand Days (1969)
8:37 pm
November 18, 2010
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TinaII2None said:
Bella44 said:
Oh I am a HUGE Doctor Who fan! And I know the episode with Queen Victoria, but remember thinking it didn't make any sense in the end, something to do with the chronology and of her life and her children – but its been a while since I've seen it! BTW, what do you think of Matt Smith as the new Dr Who? Personally, I think he's brilliant – not sure yet if I like him better than David Tennant but only time will tell!
And my brothers would be very keen on the Winston Churchill idea – they're both WW2 history buffs and seem to spend a heck of a lot of time playing computer games about Nazi zombies….
Bella:
I remember the Victoria episode — had something to do with werewolves, and I know the Doctor joked about you never seeing the current royal family out on full moons or something like that. It's been ages since I've seen it as well. Haven't seen the Matt Stone Doctor yet — I don't have cable or satellite so I have to wait for the eps to hit DVD, but filling David Tennant's shoes is going to be HARD!
Churchill's one of my heroes…I'm a WW2 history buff too (as well as those naughty Tudors) and I think there was some B-movie years ago about Nazi zombies too LOL
I know this has nothing to do with books and goes back to Doctor Who — but does anyone remember the Shakespeare episode? I remember that Elizabeth made a cameo at the end and was VERY upset with the Doctor (we're not sure why though). I had NO idea until much later that she was played by Angela Pleasance, who was Catherine Howard in the old The Six Wives of Henry VIII series with Keith Michell!
TinaII2None said:
Bella44 said:
Oh I am a HUGE Doctor Who fan! And I know the episode with Queen Victoria, but remember thinking it didn't make any sense in the end, something to do with the chronology and of her life and her children – but its been a while since I've seen it! BTW, what do you think of Matt Smith as the new Dr Who? Personally, I think he's brilliant – not sure yet if I like him better than David Tennant but only time will tell!
And my brothers would be very keen on the Winston Churchill idea – they're both WW2 history buffs and seem to spend a heck of a lot of time playing computer games about Nazi zombies….
Bella:
I remember the Victoria episode — had something to do with werewolves, and I know the Doctor joked about you never seeing the current royal family out on full moons or something like that. It's been ages since I've seen it as well. Haven't seen the Matt Stone Doctor yet — I don't have cable or satellite so I have to wait for the eps to hit DVD, but filling David Tennant's shoes is going to be HARD!
Churchill's one of my heroes…I'm a WW2 history buff too (as well as those naughty Tudors) and I think there was some B-movie years ago about Nazi zombies too LOL
I know this has nothing to do with books and goes back to Doctor Who — but does anyone remember the Shakespeare episode? I remember that Elizabeth made a cameo at the end and was VERY upset with the Doctor (we're not sure why though). I had NO idea until much later that she was played by Angela Pleasance, who was Catherine Howard in the old The Six Wives of Henry VIII series with Keith Michell!
IN the 2-parter when DT leaves(The End of Time), he mentions going back to see what happened. In ” Amy's Choice”, the Dreamlord says “Has he ever told you about Elizabeth the First? At least…she thought she was the first!”
It's always bunnies.
8:48 pm
November 18, 2010
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I've just finished a book about Vimy Ridge. Several Darkover books and 2 Dragonrider of Pern novels. Pride, Prejudice and Zombies.
I'm reading HP and the Deathly Hallows.Will be going to see that movie soon..
I'm about to re-read WolfHall and Ives Life and Death of AB.
Next on the list is Mobilisng Minerva and Rosie's Mom, both about pre-WWI and WWi women and work.
I should have time before Christmas to re-read CHE Morland Dynasty and some Pratchett.
Then I have huge amounts of new books on order, mainly recommendations from here.
It's always bunnies.
2:36 pm
August 12, 2009
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I'm reading Pride and Prejudice and Zombies right now, too!
"Don't knock at death's door.
Ring the bell and run. He hates that."
11:36 am
February 24, 2010
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I'm reading The King's Mistress, by, Emma Campion. About Edward III and his mistress Alice Perrers.
7:10 pm
August 3, 2010
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Pride and Prejudice and Zombies! I mean to read it (and I've meant to read it for a few months now…) How is it? And what about The King's Mistress? Haven't heard of it before. I'm reading about four different books right now, because I started with Julia Fox's book on Jane Boleyn and, ummm, find it very very hard to finish!! (And I almost never stop halfway through…this is saying something) I'm also re-reading my personal favorite Tudor nonfic book, The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn by Eric Ives. And finishing up Lady in the Tower, and re-reading for about the millionth time the last Harry Potter since the movie just came out–I am a Harry Potter fanatic! 🙂 But 3 out of four are Tudor-related books, typical of me!
"Grumble all you like, this is how it's going to be"
9:57 pm
January 9, 2010
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Four books at once – boy, am I a slow reader compared to you, Boleynfan! I can only one at once, otherwise I tend to get too distracted! Today I'm re-reading 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' for the millionth time. One of my favourite stories ever.
