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'My Top Ten Summer Reads: Shardlake, Genghis, Sharpe and more' blog discussion

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  • MSE_Martin
    MSE_Martin Posts: 8,272 Money Saving Expert
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    babshe wrote: »
    Martin,
    There are four Shardlakes: (in order) Dissolution, Dark Fire, Sovereign and Revelation. I can see why Errata found them dull: they can be a really slow burn at times. But Sansom has clearly done the research and the result is, IHMO, stunning historical storytelling. Definitely not for under 12s, Matilda33.


    Thanks for this - dont worry I've read them all.

    However I asked a member of the team to upload the blog and find and link all the book titles for me - and I can't persuade him into historic novels (he's got much mroe high brow taste)
    Martin Lewis, Money Saving Expert.
    Please note, answers don't constitute financial advice, it is based on generalised journalistic research. Always ensure any decision is made with regards to your own individual circumstance.
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  • I'm pleased to see you're an unashamed fan of historical novels - it is my favourite genre too, for pure escapism there's no better than history and fantasy. I find that friends and colleagues look down on my reading choice (all the while reading Mills and Boon type novels I wouldn't be seen dead with, naturally).

    Just finished Cornwall's Azincourt - terrific stuff! Also loved Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall - took a bit of getting into, first 25 pages or so, but then it just flew by; amazing book and can't wait until the next. And finally, Sharon Penman's The Sunne in Splendour for a romantic take on the Richard III story.

    Shardlake - on my Amazon wishlist! Just waiting for a voucher from Valued Opinions... my last 50p should clear any day!
    Target Cash Net Worth: £25K by January 2012
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  • Purpletopaz
    Purpletopaz Posts: 205 Forumite
    edited 13 July 2010 at 11:16PM
    Oh I may have a look at some of these, I have just read all ten true blood - charlaine harris and loved them, now trying some fantasy type books which I have never read before I will def look at the otherworld series, and Hilaery Mantals wolf Hall

    i bought the sharpe series for my son from the the book people he loves sharpe though hes abit older than 12 LOL. 12 books 14.99 very good value
    Thanks for the ideas!
  • michellew_2
    michellew_2 Posts: 1,298 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Shardlake - I got into by accident by picking up a book on holiday in a cheap book store ( then went and paid full for other 3 lol ) Another out later this year I think I read somewhere.
    My old history teacher recomended Wilbur Smith to us when we were doing our O Level ( yup I'm an oldie ;)) and it really helped us get a feel for the goings on in South Africa and a life long love of historical novels - ended up me and dad fighting over new books when they came out.
    Would definitely recomend Edward Rutherford HERE too - London, Dublin etc follow a group of families through the centuries - big meaty books but I love them.
    Happy with any wins this year :A
  • alsy01
    alsy01 Posts: 4 Newbie
    I read the Shardlake series after you mentioned it in your blog - I've read them all now and can't wait for the fifth book to arrive in September.
  • CHATTY_j
    CHATTY_j Posts: 44 Forumite
    Try the Robert Harris series about Cicero

    there will be 3 - 2 published so far Imperium and Lustrum.
  • katiepoppycat
    katiepoppycat Posts: 1,669 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    if you like Cornwell's sharpe, try his king arthur trilogy - superb. I'd love to see it filmed. And his Harlequin series - hundred years war, archery, and grail mystery. I got Azincourt, but I think I've got too much knowledge of the period as I didn't enjoy as much as the harlequin books - a little bit derivative maybe?

    And for historic historic fiction, try conan doyle's 'the white company'!
  • Good taste Martin! I've been wanting to read Shardlake, and have already read Kelley Armstrong's books and the Black Magician trilogy (but not the new prequel). Canavan's Lord of the Five trilogy is also good.

    If you like medieval history you might enjoy The Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England - it's written like a Rough Guide but for medieval England. The author is a proper historian (unfortunately I can't remember his name - Ian something maybe?) and it went down very well as a Christmas present for my medieval history geek boyfriend.

    Also if you're prepared to go a bit later and don't mind non-fiction, Antonia Fraser's The Gunpowder Plot: Terror and Faith in 1605 is excellent.

    And I'm assuming you've already read Wolf Hall? It's good, but not as good as all the hype says it is. Try to go in with no expectations and you might not be as disappointed as I was. That's not to say it's bad by any means - it isn't - but I was expecting this major game-changing novel and it isn't that at all.
    Matilda33 wrote: »
    Can anyone tell me whether any of Martin's recommendations would be suitable for older children?
    I'm looking for some new stuff for my 12 year old son to read. he loves historical adventures.

    The Black Magician trilogy is probably OK for that age group.
    camaj wrote: »
    Forget sports cars or a young girlfriend, the first sign you're middle aged is a new found interest in "History"!

    If that's true then I've been middle aged since I was about ten, as I can vividly remember writing about what it might have been like to be in the Persian and Spartan armies at the Battle of Thermopylae.
    "A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge." - Tyrion Lannister
    Married my best friend 1st November 2014
    Loose = the opposite of tight (eg "These trousers feel a little loose")
    Lose = the opposite of find/gain (eg "I'm going to lose weight this year")
  • ScarletBea
    ScarletBea Posts: 2,921 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    And finally, Sharon Penman's The Sunne in Splendour for a romantic take on the Richard III story.

    Oh for goodness sake, why 'romantic'? There's nothing 'romantic' about Sharon Penman's books, and you're just putting people off. She's one of the best historical fiction authors for me, with lots of attention to detail, together with Margaret George and Edward Rutherfurd (can't believe noone mentioned him!!!).
    Being brave is going after your dreams head on
  • Little_Vics
    Little_Vics Posts: 1,516 Forumite
    I'm reading Phillippa Gregory's The White Queen at the moment - set in the time of the War of the Roses.
    If you like books that make you think a bit and consider some ethics, Jodi Picoult is to be recommended - particularly her latest 'House Rules' which is about a lad with autism who gets arrested for murder. Fascinating, and really opened my eyes.
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