European Royalty discussion

Hey everyone! Our December 15 - January 15 European Royalty Group Read will be:

Three Maids for a Crown: A Novel of the Grey Sisters



by Ella March Chase




We will start the discussion on DECEMBER 15TH.

We'll do the discussion threads broken up by chapters like all the other times, but I figure this thread can be used by those frustrated with amazon's delivery slowness (or your library's slowness) or for any other reason. Just don't discuss the book in any detail here! (General "I'm a couple chapters in and I like it" comments are fine, but we'll start the real discussion threads on DECEMBER 15th.) For those of you just joining us, you can look through the previous threads in this Monthly Group Read section to see how we did it before because the process will be the same (there's also a thread just like this thread for the other books we've read together).

I'm excited that I'll be joining in this month! Will be my first time.

recently finished this book - loved it. You are all in for a great read

Brett wrote: "I'm excited that I'll be joining in this month! Will be my first time."

Glad you'll be joining the read! It's great seeing a lot of new people participating!

I love this book! I can't wait to talk about it with you guys...

Sounds like a good book. I love royal families from around the time of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. Sorry I joined the group and haven't joined the discussion so far but I am going to be an active member starting now.

I love that this book tells the story of Lady Jane's sisters too...it is such a good one...

I just finished this and was very pleased with it. Here is my review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Looking forward to seeing what you think!

Destiny wrote: "Sounds like a good book. I love royal families from around the time of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. Sorry I joined the group and haven't joined the discussion so far but I am going to be an active ..."

Ha ha, no worries! I think there are a lot people who join the group and even read the group books but don't participate in the discussions. We're certainly happy to have more active members though! :)

I'm new as well. Since I am an avid reader of historical fiction (and pretty much anything from the Tudors to Renaissance Popes and artists to early America), I thought this group would be a good one for me. I have read the first few chapters of this book, and while I am very familiar with the story of Jane Grey, I too love that this book includes the perspectives of her sisters. Looking forward to reading everyone's comments. Thanks for letting me join.

Jeffrey wrote: "I'm new as well. Since I am an avid reader of historical fiction (and pretty much anything from the Tudors to Renaissance Popes and artists to early America), I thought this group would be a good o..."

That's one of my favorite things about this novel, Jeffrey...the fact that I got to know Katherine and Mary, two girls who I had never even heard of before. I really enjoyed seeing Lady Jane's story through their eyes, as well as their own.

Christy wrote: "Jeffrey wrote: "I'm new as well. Since I am an avid reader of historical fiction (and pretty much anything from the Tudors to Renaissance Popes and artists to early America), I thought this group w..."

Ms. English, do you mean that you weren't well-versed on the sisters or you truly haven't even heard about them? I am only asking because based on your knowledge of royal history; I find that to be surprising.

Samantha wrote: "I'm new as well. Since I am an avid reader of historical fiction (and pretty much anything from the Tudors to Renaissance Popes and artists to early America), I thought this group would be a good o..."

Welcome! The more the merrier!

I'm new to the group and this is my first book with all of you. I'm so glad I found this group! I love this time period and I want to learn more. I'm only about 60 pages in but I'm enjoying it so far. Once my finals are over I'll really get into it. Mary is my favorite character so far :)

Jenny wrote: "I'm new to the group and this is my first book with all of you. I'm so glad I found this group! I love this time period and I want to learn more. I'm only about 60 pages in but I'm enjoying it so f..."

I love Mary too! She just never gives up. An unlikely but loveable heroine :)

Orsolya wrote: "Christy wrote: "Jeffrey wrote: "I'm new as well. Since I am an avid reader of historical fiction (and pretty much anything from the Tudors to Renaissance Popes and artists to early America), I thou..."

I am embarrassed to say that I had never heard about them...isn't that crazy? I am not nearly as familiar with Tudor history as I am with Plantagenet. i must say though that I love learning something new every time I pick up another novel...

Jenny wrote: "I'm new to the group and this is my first book with all of you. I'm so glad I found this group! I love this time period and I want to learn more. I'm only about 60 pages in but I'm enjoying it so f..."


I also really enjoyed Mary in this book. She really comes into her own as the book progresses.

Christy wrote: "Orsolya wrote: "Christy wrote: "Jeffrey wrote: "I'm new as well. Since I am an avid reader of historical fiction (and pretty much anything from the Tudors to Renaissance Popes and artists to early ..."

I can understand that. Although I would say I am knowledgable about both Plantagenet and Tudor; I think I'm a bit more educated on the Tudor realm (although I LOVE reading about both). But that is great that even as an author, you are still learning. I like to hear/see that people are open to new information and topics. :)

Orsolya wrote: "Christy wrote: "Orsolya wrote: "Christy wrote: "Jeffrey wrote: "I'm new as well. Since I am an avid reader of historical fiction (and pretty much anything from the Tudors to Renaissance Popes and a..."

I think learning is one of the most enjoyable things about writing and reading historical fiction. I am always happy to learn something new, which happens a lot even re: the Plantagenet era. There is just so much to learn...I love always being a student. :)

Christy wrote: "Orsolya wrote: "Christy wrote: "Orsolya wrote: "Christy wrote: "Jeffrey wrote: "I'm new as well. Since I am an avid reader of historical fiction (and pretty much anything from the Tudors to Renaiss..."

That's admirable! I have read interviews with some authors who think they are the official source on a topic and don't explore anymore or don't admit when they come across new information. It's unfortunate.

Orsolya wrote: "Christy wrote: "Orsolya wrote: "Christy wrote: "Orsolya wrote: "Christy wrote: "Jeffrey wrote: "I'm new as well. Since I am an avid reader of historical fiction (and pretty much anything from the T..."

I feel that I am always learning...and tthat is part of the reason I love writing so much. It keeps me learning and growing as a person as well as an artist. We historical writers in some ways are speaking for the dead, so we try to do our best for them. That is what I loved best about Three Maids for a Crown...Ella March Chase really gives the dead a voice.

"We historical writers in some ways are speaking for the dead, so we try to do our best for them. "

Bravo!

Jenny wrote: "I'm new to the group and this is my first book with all of you. I'm so glad I found this group! I love this time period and I want to learn more. I'm only about 60 pages in but I'm enjoying it so f..."

Welcome to the group and welcome to your first read with us! It's awesome to have so many new people participating lately (of course we appreciate our older members as well!).

I read this book earlier this year and absolutely loved it! I am anxious to hear what you guys think.

Orsolya wrote: ""We historical writers in some ways are speaking for the dead, so we try to do our best for them. "

Bravo!"

Thanks Orsolya...:) I do love those dead...I guess we all do, or we wouldn't be reading this genre :)

Alex wrote: "I read this book earlier this year and absolutely loved it! I am anxious to hear what you guys think."

I loved it too! :)

Christy wrote: "Orsolya wrote: ""We historical writers in some ways are speaking for the dead, so we try to do our best for them. "

Bravo!"

Thanks Orsolya...:) I do love those dead...I guess we all do, or we wou..."

Exactly! It is very fascinating, to say the least!

Each historical novel I read makes me glad I am not a woman from earlier times, but this one in particular does in such a heartbreaking way. I can't even imagine how cornered Jane felt, though I admired her snatching at what little bit of freedom she could when she had the chance (those of you who have read up until she is "offered" the crown will know what I mean).

Samantha wrote: "Each historical novel I read makes me glad I am not a woman from earlier times, but this one in particular does in such a heartbreaking way. I can't even imagine how cornered Jane felt, though I ad..."

We can only imagine how difficult it must have been to be a pawn in a family's quest for land and title gain during the arranged marriage market. I can only compare it in modern times to my friends who are Middle Eastern and whose parents insist on arranged marriages. I have a female friend living in London in particular, who at 28 years of age, has parents insisting on an arranged marriage (she is Indian). She is near a nervous breakdown, right now. Her parents were arranged and are "passing it down" to her.

Orsolya wrote: "Samantha wrote: "Each historical novel I read makes me glad I am not a woman from earlier times, but this one in particular does in such a heartbreaking way. I can't even imagine how cornered Jane ..."

Orsolya, I am so sorry for your friend. I know that arranged marriages are often wonderfully successful, but I would have been horrified to be told at the age of 28 that my life had been decided for me. I am thinking of your friend and her family with love and light.

Samantha, what you mention is one of the most compelling things about historical fiction for me. I love watching how modern writers delve into the personal lives and thoughts of those women, exploring how they managed to survive and sometimes overcome the circumstances of their lives. Pawns indeed...

Christy wrote: "Orsolya wrote: "Samantha wrote: "Each historical novel I read makes me glad I am not a woman from earlier times, but this one in particular does in such a heartbreaking way. I can't even imagine ho..."

Thanks Christy. I worry for her because she is anxiety-ridden and near the point where she wants "run away" (for lack of better description) and lose contact with her parents. I don't wish this on her, as I haven't spoken to my own mother in years (for other reasons, not arranged marriages) and my father died when I was only 4 years old so I don't want her to also be parentless, at any age. I have another Muslim friend whose marriage was arranged and it was very successful. She is very much in love and they now have their first child together.

As for what you told Samantha, I agree. The psyche of these women and their reactions is the best part of female historical studies (for me).