European Royalty discussion

How many European Royalty books do you think you can read this summer (June 1, 2014 - August 31, 2014)? Set your own personal goal and join the challenge (located towards the top of the group's main page)!

Feel free to discuss the books you plan to read this summer (or are reading) in this thread.

If other people seem interested in reading the same book, you're more than welcome to set up an informal buddy read thread as well. Just start a new thread and in the "topic" area, put "Buddy Read: [Title of Book]". For a folder, select "E.R. Seasonal Reading Challenges".

In the "comment" section, perhaps include:

*Title of book

*Author

*Date you plan to start reading the book (or would like to start discussing the book)

*A sentence or two about the book or why you want to read it (could help get other people interested in reading the book with you)

I hope you'll be able to join the challenge! Since you're setting your own personal goal, any amount of books you pick is fine (no amount is too small or too big).

Hmm, I think I could try this one. Six books might be manageable. I'm guessing that books can be either fiction or nonfiction?

I'm going to be reading 2 books for this challenge.The first being
I already posted in the other thread but I thought I would also include it on this one.

Rebecca wrote: "Hmm, I think I could try this one. Six books might be manageable. I'm guessing that books can be either fiction or nonfiction?"

Yes, fiction or non-fiction is fine! Sorry for a super late reply - I must have missed this comment earlier.

I'm hoping to start Her Highness, the Traitor by Susan Higginbotham as soon as I finish a non-European Royalty book I'm reading. I've been wanting to read it since it came out and just never got around to it (sadly that's the case with SO many books on my TBR shelf!).

What are other people reading? Are there any new books coming out this summer that people are excited to pick up?

Sara w your book sounds interesting
Let us know how it is
I'm going to take the challenge of 6 books
I'm about to start
Days of splendor days of sorrow
The 2nd book in juliet grey's Marie Antoinette trilogy and then I'll read the 3rd, which I believe is confessions of Marie Antoinette
Enjoy your summer reading

I just started reading Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. I have heard amazing things about it, but am having trouble getting into it. We will have to see how I feel later.

I am also hoping to read Portrait of an Unknown Woman by Vanora Bennett, My Lady of Cleves: A Novel of Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves by Margaret Campbell Barnes and The Autobiography of Henry VIII: With Notes by His Fool, Will Somers by Margaret George.

I hope I get to them all and don't get distracted.

I had a hard time getting into wolf hall as well

I finally got past the overuse of "he", but now I find myself uninterested. It seems to drag. At the rate I usually read, I should be almost done with this one. Instead I just keep avoiding it. It's sad, I really wanted to like it.

Me too but I finally gave up
Too many good books to be reading instead

I'm going to endeavor, before Summer's gone, to finish reading "Peter the Great" by Robert K. Massie.

To date, I'm a little more than past the halfway point of the book. I'm learning so much fascinating stuff about Peter, who was both an enlightened and brutal ruler. A modernizer yet very much an autocrat. This is a book that the reader has to wade through, far from being a short and easy sprint. Notwithstanding that, Peter the Great is a worthwhile book.

Nice challenge, it'll keep me focused this summer ;-).
I'm going to try 5 books. I'm currently reading
N. Gemini Sasson so this fits in perfect. I'll find more to add.

Hi everyone! I've committed to reading 5 books this summer and once I finish at least one of the two non-European Royalty books I'm reading now, I'm going to dive into the royalty-rich TBR pile ;). One book that has been on my shelf FOR AGES is The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette so I think I'll be starting with that. Anyone know of any exciting new releases coming out this summer (I'm following Sara W's line of questioning here :))?

Caitlin wrote: "I finally got past the overuse of "he", but now I find myself uninterested. It seems to drag. At the rate I usually read, I should be almost done with this one. Instead I just keep avoiding it. It'..."

I enjoyed Wolf Hall (once I got used to the "he"s and overall writing style - that threw me off in the beginning as well), but I can definitely understand how it's not for everyone. I want to try Bring Up the Bodies but it's pretty far down my TBR pile at this point.

KOMET wrote: "I'm going to endeavor, before Summer's gone, to finish reading "Peter the Great" by Robert K. Massie.

To date, I'm a little more than past the halfway point of the..."

This is on my "Need to Finish" shelf. What I read has been great and interesting (I think I'm about halfway through as well), but I agree that it's a book that needs a slow and steady approach because there is just so much information. I haven't read anything about Peter before this book, so that might be causing me to go slower as well (I just don't have any base knowledge to work off of and sometimes the Russian names can be hard for me to keep track of).

Sara W wrote:

This is on my "Need to Finish" shelf. What I read has been great and interesting (I think I'm about halfway through as well), but I agree that it's a book that needs a slow and steady approach because there is just so much information. I haven't read anything about Peter before this book, so that might be causing me to go slower as well (I just don't have any base knowledge to work off of and sometimes the Russian names can be hard for me to keep track of).
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Sara,

I came to this book with essentially the same knowledge base about Peter that you had. I was a fan of Massie's other book about Czar Nicholas II & Alexandra (which I read when I was 15), so I was keen to get a firm footing on Peter's life and reign. As for the Russian names, I let them go over my tongue slowly when I read them out in my mind. It helps. :)

I'm going to commit to 5 for the summer challenge... I am currently reading a couple of non-royal fiction, but will get started ASAP. I think my first royal one will be Sister Queens by Sophie Perinot. Looking forward to this! :)

Read "Nicholas & Alexandra" many years ago. And the sequel he wrote after the bodies were found. Both were very good. Currently reading "The Fall of Anne Boleyn" by Claire Ridgway. Also her "On This Day in Tudor History", but this is not really a read along book. More something to dip into now and then.

Now that I've finished the novel I was reading, The Boleyn King is readily available on my Kindle, so I think I'll read that as my first book for this challenge. Anyone else who wants to join in a buddy read can feel free to let me know. I hope you all meet your summer reading goals!

I'm reading my 2nd book
By sue monk Kidd
The invention of wings
So far so good
It takes place on early 1800's in the south

Oh, Rivkah, I've enjoyed Sue Monk Kidd's other novels so I'd like to know what you think of The Invention of Wings :-)

Ok
I'll keep you posted

MaryKate wrote: "Now that I've finished the novel I was reading, The Boleyn King is readily available on my Kindle, so I think I'll read that as my first book for this challenge. Anyone else who wants to join in a ..."

I read The Boleyn King a few months ago and enjoyed it. I don't think I've read an alternative history book before (if that's what it's considered), so it was pretty interesting to consider all the "what ifs".

Sara W wrote: "MaryKate wrote: "Now that I've finished the novel I was reading, The Boleyn King is readily available on my Kindle, so I think I'll read that as my first book for this challenge. Anyone else who wa..."

Sara, I think you're right about that--I've also never read alternative history either and I think considering the "what ifs" is what's keeping me so interested. Plus, it's a very quick and enjoyable read. I also believe it's a trilogy (correct me if I'm wrong), so it'll be interesting to see how the author ends this novel to lead into the next one!

Marykate
Just finished sue monk kidds new book
Invention of Wings
I give it 4 plus stars
One of best books I have ever read
Rivkah

Rivkah wrote: "Marykate
Just finished sue monk kidds new book
Invention of Wings
I give it 4 plus stars
One of best books I have ever read
Rivkah"

Rivkah, that's great! I'll definitely check it out now :) Thanks for letting me know!

I'm starting with:

By Catrine Clay. I thought it was topical in another sense with it being the centenary of the First World War

I am a big Romanov history fan, and I read this book. I think you will enjoy it.

Finally finished Her Highness, the Traitor by Susan Higginbotham and enjoyed it.

It was nice to see a different take on Frances Grey, Jane Grey, Guilford Dudley, etc. as compared to, say, Innocent Traitor by Alison Weir (which I liked a lot as well). Frances especially was much more mellow than I've seen her portrayed (definitely not a power hungry she-wolf), and Jane was a bit callous towards the feelings of others. I know there are a few other books out there about Jane and/or her sisters, and I'd be interested to pick them up.

I'm working on my first Elizabeth Chadwick novel, Lady of the English. It's EXCELLENT! I also got two other books for this challenge out of the library, so I'm excited to start those.

Just finished Marie Antoinnette trilogy by Last name of gray
They were excellent
Gave a great insight into the real person

So far I have finished Lady of Hay, The Agincourt bride, and the Fortune Hunter. They were all different time periods but I enjoyed them all. I am just starting the Tudor Secret by CW Gortner and hope to squeeze one more in by August 31 so I can finish the challenge:)

Angie wrote: "So far I have finished Lady of Hay, The Agincourt bride, and the Fortune Hunter. They were all different time periods but I enjoyed them all. I am just starting the Tudor Secret by CW Gortner and h..."

Angie, how was The Agincourt Bride? I'd also love to read that!

So far, I've only finished 3 books towards my 5 book goal :(. I think 5 may have been too ambitious for me! I've read The Boleyn King and The Boleyn Deceit, now I'm trying to get my hands on The Boleyn Reckoning to maybe try and finish 4 ER books by August 31. I also read my first Elizabeth Chadwick novel--Lady of the English. I absolutely loved it :)

I read by .
I thought it gave a fascinating insight to a life spent in waiting. It highlighted the easily forgotten part King Edward VII played in galvanising relations between Britain and France at a critical time in history. I thought the book also portrayed Queen Alexandra in a complimentary light. Especially in regards to her attitude towards her husbands adultery.
A king and his consort whose short reign surley deserves more credit.

I only got through 1 of 3 for this challenge (in my defense I just had my first baby in July!). Hopefully I'll be able to hit 3 for the Fall challenge.

Christopher wrote: "I read by .
I thought it gave a fascinating insight to a life spent in waiting. It..."

This looks really interesting! I need to get out of my Tudor/Plantagenet rut.

MaryKate wrote: "Angie wrote: "So far I have finished Lady of Hay, The Agincourt bride, and the Fortune Hunter. They were all different time periods but I enjoyed them all. I am just starting the Tudor Secret by CW..."

Mary Kate,
I really enjoyed parts of the Agincourt Bride! You can tell lots of research went in to the book and I liked that. My only problem was the character of Mette, the beloved wet nurse. That just seemed a bit far fetched for me so it discolored my overall like of the book. If you are ok with her being the main narrator then you will most likely enjoy the book a lot! I just got the Boleyn King and am so excited to try! It's such a thought provoking idea. I have that Elizabeth Chadwick book on my to read list as well! I've never read any of hers yet, but that one sounds exceptional. I will have to move it up on my list to read.

I did complete The Tudor Secret for my 4th book, and I finished book 5 for the challenge this morning--just about 8 hrs late! :/ I read Her Highness the Traitor by Susan Higginbotham and really enjoyed it. Probably liked it the most of all 5 books I read for the challenge. I've read many books about Lady Jane Grey, and have liked them all. She's one Tudor character that I still really enjoy reading about. This book gave a different spin to several of the main players personalities than vie read before in other books. It was refreshing to read. I also really liked that the author have a very detailed historical note at the end. I love that, and the author always receives "bonus points" in my eyes for a good one.

Angie wrote: "MaryKate wrote: "Angie wrote: "So far I have finished Lady of Hay, The Agincourt bride, and the Fortune Hunter. They were all different time periods but I enjoyed them all. I am just starting the T..."

I agree about the author's note (both for this particular book and loving them in general)!

Angie wrote: "MaryKate wrote: "Angie wrote: "So far I have finished Lady of Hay, The Agincourt bride, and the Fortune Hunter. They were all different time periods but I enjoyed them all. I am just starting the T..."

I think I may have to move The Agincourt Bride up on my list as well :). I finished the last book in the Boleyn King trilogy, The Boleyn Reckoning, just the other day, bringing my count for this challenge to 4 books. Ah well, I tried!

I too just finished the traitor by Higginbotham
And now reading her book the stolen crown which is also excellent

Finished stolen crown now reading the Traitors Wife by higginbotham
Great writer

Always enjoy Higginbotham and have a few more on my TBR Kindle pile. Also have The Agincourt Bride waiting for me there. I think I posted 5 for the Summer challenge and, without looking it up, think I made it.
Always finding more historical fiction/non-fiction books to read. What a pleasure!