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6/14/2011

Tooze Day


I'm reading a book called "The White Queen" by Philippa Gregory. It's historical fiction. A skeleton of real events fleshed out with the author's ideas of what might have transpired on a personal level.

I won't rehash my motives for picking up this book. But I will say how glad I am I did. The book is fascinating.

I find I like "Historical Fiction" a lot. I read "Labyrinth" by Kate Mosse, and found it memorable. I read "Agincourt" by Bernard Cornwell and found myself transfixed. If it wasn't for Jasper Fforde, I probably wouldn't have read anything else in the last few years that I felt I REALLY liked. By the way, if you haven't read Jasper Fforde, you're missing a really bizarre and inventive mind. And an amazing writer. His 'Thursday Next' books are brilliant, and his treatment of childhood fairy tales in the series built around Detective Inspector Jack Spratt (Yes, THAT Jack Spratt) is funny and very, VERY inventive. BUT. Be warned. His books (although they ARE stand-alone) make more sense if you read them in order within the series. Otherwise, I promise you a small measure of confusion.

Anyway, I just thought I'd share.

Ndinombethe.

7 comments:

Brandie said...

I have not read White Queen, but many of her other books and LOVE them. I have a Fforde audio book that I haven't gotten around to listening too yet, but I guess I should bump that up on my to do list!

Shadow said...

i'm also reading a 'new' author at the moment, but for the life of me i can't remember the name... how've you been, louceel?

Nan Sheppard said...

"The Constant Princess" is good too, about Katherine of Aragon. I didn't realise she was Isabella and Ferdinand's daughter! Amazing story. But I'm glad it's all in the past, eh? :)

Grandmother Mary said...

I've read and enjoyed most of Gregory's books. I'll pick up this one.Historical novels have been my absolute favorites for a long time. All time fav- "Mists of Avalon" by M.Z. Bradley. Tells the Authurian legend from the point of view of the women involved. It changed my life.

Bama Cheryl said...

Just finished The White Queen last night. You might also like Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks (Pulitzer Prize winner)-- a different era of history (1600s in Boston, Martha's Vineyard) but a really interesting book, also using a scant record of facts along with an imaginative and historically accurate narrative.

Tara R. said...

I've read other Philippa Gregory books too and find them fascinating. I need to check out this one from the library. The Fforde books sound really interesting too.

HalfAsstic.com said...

Oh, good! Reading fodder!
Lou, have you ever read any of Michelle Moran's stuff? Right now I am reading "Neferitti" and before that it was "Cleopatra's Daughter". Her stuff isn't all based, necessarily, on ancient Egypt, I just haven't gotten to the others yet and I enjoyed Cleo's daughter so much I just thought I'd continue in that vein.