A Nice Cup of Tea and a Sit Down discussion

I was wondering what everyone was reading right now. Since the main focus of this site is books, I'm guessing we're all terminal bookworms, to varying degrees. :D

I never seem to be able to read just one book at a time, so I've usually got at least two, if not three, books going at any one time. Right now, I am reading two: I, Elizabeth by Rosalind Miles and True Compass, Ted Kennedy's memoir. I've only just begun both of them, so I can't say much about either, except that I am enjoying the writing style of both authors. I've always been fascinated by the Tudors (and their predecessors, the Plantagenets), although Elizabeth has sparked the least interest of the group with me. Maybe because so much about her is already known; I'd prefer the less-known characters and stories. Although this is historical fiction, I am hoping to find a more human Elizabeth than what is generally portrayed.

As for True Compass, Sen. Kennedy was my Senator, so I have a little more personal interest in this. I know most of the public stories, but he's beginning with the more personal things of what it was like to grow up in that family. I'm finding it rather interesting.

Next up on the list is a trio of historical fiction revolving around women connected to the Plantagenets (I told you I love them) by Anne Easter Smith. Woohoo! for autumn and more time to curl up and read! :D

I have just finished The Whole Day Through by Patrick Gayle which I really enjoyed, he also wrote Notes on an Exhibition. He's easy to read but keeps you hooked.
I have just started True Murder by Yaba Badoe a Ghanian writer.It's a good start, i'm only on pg 36 but i'm enjoying it so far.

I finished True Compass fairly quickly. It was a good read, but I don't know that I'll come back to it anytime soon.

Ended up tossing I, Elizabeth back into the TBR pile. I was enjoying it, but I ended up grabbing The White Queen by Philippa Gregory at the grocery store (evil idea of them... having books right there when I'm supposed to be thinking about what dinner will be for the week!), and found that trying to read about Elizabeth and her great-grandparents at the same time was a bit too much for my ickle brain. I finished Gregory a couple nights ago, and it was an all right story, but I guess I've never really fallen in love with her, so I just can't gush.

Decided to stick with the Plantagenets for now, so I've started Daughter of York by Smith, which is about Edward IV's sister Margaret. She's being portrayed as a spunky and a bit fiesty, so it's entertaining. I'll read the other books by her before moving forward to the Tudors and Elizabeth again, although I might slip something a little lighter and non-British in to break things up. We'll see how it goes.

I'm currently reading One Hundred Years of Solitude and I think I'm enjoying it although I'm still a bit confused what the hell it's all about, which is not necessarily a good sign but I'm sure it'll all become clear as I go along (I'm only on page 82 at the mo).

Also reading a health and safety related book but I have to for work so not got much to say on that one, although some of it is seriously obvious!

Finished One Hundred Years of Solitude, now on American Psycho, which I'm really enjoying so far, Paisley From Demagogue to Democrat?, which has been rather insightful so far and Green Power which is a environmental thriller and is really good so far.

As you can see Erin, I'm like you and can't read just one book at a time lol :-)

Hehe, I actually have slowed my reading down considerably, as I am currently in the middle of NaNo. It is funny to see the reactions of some people when they ask what you are reading and you rattle off two or three titles, isn't it? :)

I've often looked at One Hundred Years of Solitude, but haven't picked it up yet. I really should put it on my Want List at some point.

Although reading time has been scarce, I am almost finished with Daughter of York. It's fairly fictionalized, but rather enjoyable. I like the style and am looking forward to reading the next two books in the... well, I'm not sure you'd call them a series or trilogy, but they are related. Anyway, I'll probably get back up to speed once December hits and I am not constantly being dragged back to my keyboard to figure out what troubles my teenage wizard is getting into. ;)

Happy reading!

Mine seems to have picked up now my survey work has eased off, probably because I'm in a lot more now and it's so miserable outside I don't fancy doing anything else other than sit down with a cuppa and a good book :-D

It was a pretty good book, the names and timeline got a bit confusing as there's a lot of overlap and no clear timeline to the story but it's certaintly worth a read.

Is Daughter of York any good, I'm quite into my historical fiction at the moment and there's so many around I'm a bit spoilt for choice. Oh dear are they a bit of an internet terror lol ;-)

Sam wrote: "Finished One Hundred Years of Solitude, now on American Psycho, which I'm really enjoying so far, Paisley From Demagogue to Democrat?, which has been rather insightful ..."

I'd be interested to know your thoughts on "100 Years..." Currently reading Love in the Time of Cholera and absolutely enamoured with the way he writes.

kafkAbbas wrote: "Sam wrote: "Finished One Hundred Years of Solitude, now on American Psycho, which I'm really enjoying so far, Paisley From Demagogue to Democrat?, which has been rather..."

I did enjoy it once I got to grips with the repeating names and the slightly weird timeline. It was a beautifully written books and I really enjoyed how he concentrated on all the characters involved rather than just one or two. I kind of have mixed feelings about it really but it was definitely worth a read.

How are you enoying Love in the Time of Cholera?

Similar to yours, this is again non-chronological and I can only assume the way he repeats the characters full names is just a feature of Spanish lit not present in ours.

There was one small part about midway through the book where it got a little dull, but otherwise it's fantastic. Again, he fleshes out all of the characters very well which I enjoyed.

Currently on for 4* I'd say, if that also helps

Hmmm, I might give that one a go as well then. I found I do enjoy his work once I get used to his style of writing and, like you say, using the characters full name each time. Like you I do like how he builds on all of the characters rather than just one or two.

Sam wrote: Is Daughter of York any good, I'm quite into my historical fiction at the moment and there's so many around I'm a bit spoilt for choice. Oh dear are they a bit of an internet terror lol ;-)

I did enjoy the book. The style is fairly easygoing, so it doesn't really drag much. As I said, things are somewhat fictionalized, such as a romance between Margaret and Anthony Woodville (although, I could see how such a thing might happen. He's always seemed like a rather charming and dashing man to me. :) ), and a few details on Margaret's marriage with Charles of Burgundy (I know he wasn't the sweetest of fellows, but I'm not sure if things were quite as painted here). All that aside, it was a fun story.

Now I'm on to A Rose for the Crown, which is about Kate Haute, the mistress of Richard III, and mother to his two illegitimate children. Never having bought the idea of Richard as a monster (Shakespeare wrote during the Tudor reign, after all), I think this might be interesting.

Worth giving it a go then Erin, will have to look out for it next time I hit the library.

Looking forward to seeing how you find A Rose for the Crown, might give me even more to look out for :)

Sam, I finished A Rose for the Crown the other day. That one went much faster and I enjoyed it more than the first. It's somewhat imagined, as the actual mother of Richard's children is not known, but it's told in a believable and entertaining way. In some ways, it reminded me a bit of Katherine by Anya Seton, a story about Katherine Swynford and John of Gaunt (who were Richard's great-grandparents on his mother's side).

I'm just beginning The King's Grace, which is about Edward IV's illegitimate daughter Grace Plantagenet. We'll see what I think of it. After that, I may leave the Medieval period and visit another era. :)

Worth keeping a look out for it then Erin, glad to hear it was in keeping with the facts as much as possible. I always hate it when they leave something out or add something in that you know is wrong, just to make the story better.

I'll look forward to hearing how you get on with The King's Grace :-)

The King's Grace is going a bit slowly, but I'm hoping it will pick up a bit once I get into it.

It also seems that I am in the mood to supplement some of my fiction with fact. :) I was in Borders tonight (a dangerous thing, to be sure!) and picked up two biographies: Richard the Third by Paul Murray Kendall and Eleanor of Aquitaine Queen of the Troubadours by Jean Markale. I've started with Richard, as he is possibly my favorite of the Plantagenets.

I'm definitely going to have to find something "fluffy" to read next, after all this time in the 15th-century! :)

Hope it does pick up for you. And it is a slightly dangerous thing, I had the same problem last weekend as my nan (grandmother) gave me a voucher for WHSmith where I got one chart paperback free when I bought another one, I was in there for ages trying to choose just two eventually decided on The Prophecy by Chris Kuzneski and The Magicians by Lev Grossman. Can't wait to get round to reading them (got quite a to read pile at the mo lol)

Nice choices. :) The Lev Grossman one sounded slightly familiar, so I just looked it up. I might have to give that a try. Thanks for the unintentional enabling! ;p

Last week was "reading week" at University, so we didn't have any lectures. I set myself the challenge of reading 3 books, but I must admit I have failed, as it's already saturday and I'm only half way through the 2nd one!!. I finished "The exception" by Christian Jurgenssen, which took me a while to start liking it, then I couldn't put it down and then I was very disappointed at it!!!. The book I'm reading now is "Fatal Voyage" by Kathy Reichs, as I love thrillers and I "allow myself" to read one when I finished a book I didn't like much ;o). The 3rd book of my challenge is "Slaughterhouse 5" by Kurt Vonnegut, so I guess that's next on my TBR pile.
I think that I didn't complete my challenge because I only "discovered" this site this week and I've spent more time on it that reading the books!!!!!

Welcome, Deni. :)

It is easy to get distracted by all the shinies here instead of actually reading, isn't it? I've been using it as my Procrastination Station all month when I should be working on my NaNo project. :D