Edward Rutherfurd

I'm really enjoying this so far. I wouldn't call it a good 'story' because every new chapter focuses on a descendent of the character in the previous chapter - which may have been 400 years earlier, so it doesn't have the continuity of plot or character development that I love. BUT - this is a great book to read for the history of London. It's really fascinating to consider how old it is and the upheavals it's gone through. The other part I love is the word development. It explains how many of our common English words came into being.

FINALLY! I had to lay this aside so many times but have finally finished. I really enjoyed this for the historical element.… (more)

The second time I listened to this, I liked it much better. I often don't read the summary on the packaging of a book, so was taken by surprise the first time I listened, when a new story began, the first story having ended a bit tragically.
It turns out this is a collection of interconnected short stories touching on major events through Irish history. This edition is an abridgment--I usually prefer unabridged versions, and probably would with this one as well, but if you have a fondness for Ireland, I'm sure you'd enjoy this either way.… (more)