Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction discussion

Our Group Read for the month of December is Hangman Blind by Cassandra Clark.

Still waiting for a copy to come in at my library.

I'm in - I read this a few years back because I love medieval history and have a strong connection with York - which features in the novel. I spent my teenage years there, went to university there and still have family living in the city. I intend to re-read it and am really interested in what you all think.

I totally spaced out that December was coming. I needed seven and some odd inches of snow on my doorstep to remind me. I have a copy ordered from the library. It should be here in a week or so.

I'm having real difficulty finding the book. Neither my favorite used book store nor my library have it.

Just picked up my copy tonight. I shall commence reading this weekend.

I just picked up a copy from the library, so I will be reading it soon.

It's been a while since I've had the time to join in a group read, but this book piqued my interest. I did manage to find it used on Amazon and it arrived last week. The first few pages have been very good. I'll add more after I've read more.

Good idea, Catherine. I'll try that... although Amazon is always my last choice

Amazon isn't generally my first stop for used books. Should I be saying that on this site? I usually do Barnes and Noble if I can or Half Priced Books. Half Priced Books can be problematic for me. The other day I was getting books for my girls for Christmas. The seller I was buying from had so many books I wanted, I ended up ordering 20 books from them. I justify so many books by saying I only spent $25. And the girls did get books.

I use Amazon because it's fast and convenient for me. With my life so busy I really need just one stop shopping. I'd love to be able to go to different sites and I do cringe a little every time I use Amazon, but right now it's what working.

Catherine wrote: "I use Amazon because it's fast and convenient for me. With my life so busy I really need just one stop shopping. I'd love to be able to go to different sites and I do cringe a little every time I u..."

Mr. Gretchen uses Amazon for everything. Whenever I mention I'm looking to buy something "Did you check how much it costs on Amazon?" No. I want to go to Target and look. That's a whole other thread.

I use alternatives to the Big A. They get enough business without me. If no one has a book except them I just do without.

May wrote: "I'm having real difficulty finding the book. Neither my favorite used book store nor my library have it."

Have you checked Amazon, May? I found a good 2nd-hand copy there, very cheaply.

Liza wrote: "May wrote: "I'm having real difficulty finding the book. Neither my favorite used book store nor my library have it."

Have you checked Amazon, May? I found a good 2nd-hand copy there, very cheaply."

Ah ok, I see your (and others) Amazon comments below... quite understand and can relate!

Liza wrote: "Liza wrote: "May wrote: "I'm having real difficulty finding the book. Neither my favorite used book store nor my library have it."

Have you checked Amazon, May? I found a good 2nd-hand copy there,..."

Even Amazon doesn't have all the books I would like to read. I have found this great second hand book shop in my suburb that sells quality author novels, many pre2000, that are no longer available and not in public Libraries. I just have to find the time to print my "to read" list and visit this shop, very inexpensive.

Laureen wrote: "Liza wrote: "Liza wrote: "May wrote: "I'm having real difficulty finding the book. Neither my favorite used book store nor my library have it."

Have you checked Amazon, May? I found a good 2nd-han..."
What a great find, Laureen! If you know them well enough, could you suggest you give them your print-out of TBR books and they let you know if it comes into the shop?

What a wonderful idea. Thank you Liza.

Yes, I did find it in Amazon. Bought it for my Kindle. Reading HANGMAN BLIND while traveling. Enjoying it so far.

BTW - love Liza's idea!!

Laureen wrote: "Liza wrote: "Liza wrote: "May wrote: "I'm having real difficulty finding the book. Neither my favorite used book store nor my library have it."

Have you checked Amazon, May? I found a good 2nd-han..."
One of the problems i have is that there are no used book shops in my area. I would have to travel for 1 1/2 - 2 hrs to find one and i just don't have time to do that. Maybe that's what i should do in my next life is open a used book store. :)

May wrote: "BTW - love Liza's idea!!"

BTW May. I just discovered we are the same age! I'm a Pisces. What is your star sign. Just wondering who of us is older.

Catherine wrote: "Laureen wrote: "Liza wrote: "Liza wrote: "May wrote: "I'm having real difficulty finding the book. Neither my favorite used book store nor my library have it."

Have you checked Amazon, May? I foun..."
That sounds like the perfect idea, Catherine, especially if there are none around you already. I have the same problem: living in a small French village, that's about the last thing I'd find here!

Laureen, I was born on the cusp of Aries & Taurus. Your question made me smile... have not had this conversation in a long time!!

Liza, I live in a small French village too and have had a right palaver getting the book because... I gave it away in a clear-out :( I checked the village second-hand bookshop (which is an impossible task!) but it sold (so somebody found it in a small French village second-hand bookshop ...) then I found it's not available as a kindle here :( and I had to buy it again online!!

So, now I've started re-reading, I'm feeling the same comfort about the historical background I did first time round. When I feel the writer knows her history, I relax and get into the story. I like the quick way the author sets out the big picture and the local picture in the two prologues and I'm definitely interested in a nun who sets off alone on a journey (would they have done that? I like the idea!) I especially like the stout stave and two trained dogs as company. Good start. Now I need to find out where Swyne is, having only just seen the bit that says where the journey starts.

Jean wrote: "Liza, I live in a small French village too and have had a right palaver getting the book because... I gave it away in a clear-out :( I checked the village second-hand bookshop (which is an impossib..."
Aw another French villager, nice to hear from you, Jean! Glad you finally found the book. I've started reading, and not been able to get into it... but my mind's been on other things and I haven't been able to relax enough lately to get into the book, but I will persevere!

How funny to meet you here Liza - we live about 2 hours from each other in France!

Yes, my brain's fried too. It makes me realise how tiring it is to take in details of a historical period I don't know (and clearly don't remember from reading it last time!) I shall take it slowly!

Jean wrote: "How funny to meet you here Liza - we live about 2 hours from each other in France!

Yes, my brain's fried too. It makes me realise how tiring it is to take in details of a historical period I don't..."
Small world isn't it, Jean? Sent you a pm!

Finished HANGMAN BLIND & thoroughly enjoyed it. I think I need to read Book 1 and then follow the series. It was a perfect vacation read!

May wrote: "Finished HANGMAN BLIND & thoroughly enjoyed it. I think I need to read Book 1 and then follow the series. It was a perfect vacation read!"
Do you think it's still worth reading book 2, May, if one has not read book 1? Just that I'm having trouble getting into it!

I agree, wish Book 1 had been the December selection. However, once I had time to just sit still & read, I was engaged.
I will track down the other books in the series.

Hope it gets better for you... soon.

I thought 'Hangman Blind' was Book1????? Are we reading the same book?

It seems there are currently six books in this series.
https://www.goodreads.com/series/4594...

You are right. I'm sorry... I thought when I ordered it it said Book 2

No worries - at least we're into the same book :)

I'm about 100 pages into this book and I'm feeling kind of blah. (view spoiler)[ Even with the attempted murder, there just doesn't seem to be a lot going on. (hide spoiler)] I am constantly going back to the blurb on the book jacket to remind myself what's suppose to be going on. I'm going to give it 50 more pages to see if things big up.

Gretchen wrote: "I'm about 100 pages into this book and I'm feeling kind of blah. [spoilers removed] I am constantly going back to the blurb on the book jacket to remind myself what's suppose to be going on. I'm go..."
I felt the same, Gretchen, and gave up at about 100 pages. Just couldn't get into it.

Good to know it's not just me.

I'm about halfway through & starting to enjoy it more than I did at first, but figured that might have been because I was reading it rather sporadically while finishing up a couple of other books. I should be able to focused on this one for the next couple of days.

I had to throw in the towel on this book. I read to about 150 pages and I just couldn't get into it. I had no desire to reach the mystery's conclusion which was a pretty big sign that I should just give it up. Learning that it's alright to not finish books is something I have to work on. This book proves I'm making progress.
Hildegaard fell kind of flat for me. I much prefer Prioress Eleanor from the Medieval Mystery books by Priscilla Royal if I'm reading about nuns.

I have just been introduced to medieval mysteries by CJ Sansom: a hunchback attorney rather than a nun is the narrator and protagonist. I'm already looking for Book 2. Might be a better match...

I have already read all of the Shardlake books except the most recent one which is sitting on a shelf screaming at me to be read. I need more uninterrupted time before I start.

Are they as good as suggested??

Yes!

Ok! I'm in!!

May wrote: "Are they as good as suggested??"
I'll second that!

Looks like I chose the wrong book to get back into group reads :)

Sansom is wonderful. He's a historian who doesn't write history - he writes an absorbing detective novel set in the past. I think some historians who write novels can be a bit wooden as novelists; just as some non-historians who write historical fiction can be so irritating with getting the history all wrong - and not caring. A writer who has the history AND the quality story is the perfect balance. Yes, Sansom has it all, in my book. And key episodes in history are part of the story - I love that.

The search for Book 2 is on... Thank you for the feedback.

Gretchen wrote: "I'm about 100 pages into this book and I'm feeling kind of blah. [spoilers removed] I am constantly going back to the blurb on the book jacket to remind myself what's suppose to be going on. I'm go..."

It's January 2nd and I'm still on page 101. It's been rough going and this is a historical period I usually love. I'm going to finish because it's on my reading list for the Seasonal Challenge, but I won't be in a hurry to read any more of this series.

Jean wrote: "Looks like I chose the wrong book to get back into group reads :)

Sansom is wonderful. He's a historian who doesn't write history - he writes an absorbing detective novel set in the past. I think..."
Sounds like I'll have to try those, Jean!