When Are You Now? (continued)

I'm in Oklahome in 1912 in The Old BUzzard Had it Coming--a murder mystery with a great title.

quartzite, I posted a link to this thread on the old one.

I am in England, 1662. Robert Merivel just married the mistress of Charles II. I'm reading Restoration by Rose Tremain.

And I'm flying across time to England in the 1850s as Margaret Hale adjusts to life in a northern industrial town in Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South.

In sixteenth century Holland with Dorothy Dunnett's Niccolo Rising. Dunnett has many enthusiastic fans, so I stuck with this novel despite finding it frustratingly hard to follow for the first third of the book or so - there is a list of characters at the beginning with over 100 characters on it. Most of them seem to appear in the first few pages - I'm exaggerating, of course, but it was impossible for me to keep the multitudes of characters straight during the early part of the book. However, once I got to around chapter 18 or 19, it hooked me. I'm reading avidly now, and understand why Dunnett's fans like her so much. Her main character is extremely likeable, a unique individual, and perpetually on the verge of getting into a situation so risky he will be unable to extricate himself. And Dunnett is also very witty. The book is full of sly humor.

I am such a fan. The first book I read was vol. 3 of the Lymond series (The Disorderly Knights. After that I wanted to read them all. You don't need to read them in sequence, each volume is a story in itself. You are right, Margad, Dunnett is great!

I was in 1840's Ireland and then travelled to Ontario Canada past and present in Jane Urquhart's Away.

I was switching between 21st century Massachusetts and 14th century Europe (France and England) while reading Ann Benson's The Physician's Tale. An enjoyable summer read if you are into themes around bioterrorism and historical events like the black plague.

Switching between 1990's USA and WWII Germany in Those Who Save US by Jenna Blum

After being in 1862 Virginia with Sweetsmoke by David Fuller, I've gone back in time to 1665-1666 England with Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks.

I finished reading Niccolo Rising and have posted a review at www.HistoricalNovels.info. It cost me a good night's sleep the other night - just couldn't stop reading until I turned the last page. Talbin, what did you think of Sweetsmoke? The author has a very energetic publicist, but they don't seem to be sending out review copies.

>10 margad: margad: I enjoyed Sweetsmoke - I thought it was a nicely written first novel. (My review is here.) I got it through the LT ER program, and they seem eager for feedback. I'm surprised they wouldn't send out a review copy for you.

I've been meaning to start The Lymond Chronicles by Dunnett - good to see the Niccolo series is good.

I have recently enjoyed reading Jacqueline Winspeare's series about the adventures of her hero Maisie Dobbs. This puts me in the late 20s and early 30s, when my grandparents and parents were in the thick of things. Later, in the 40s and 50s, I was desperate to know more about their times. I still remember the stories they told.

Thanks, Talbin - good review. Perhaps they had used up their review copies by the time their publicist contacted me. I am an LT early reviewer and have been snagging a lot of review books this way, but missed out on Sweetsmoke. I'll have to add it to my TBR list.

Finally made it around to The Fire and am currently hanging out in 1820 with Lord Byron.

± 1905 in the USA with young Upton Sinclair in the biography Radical Innocent: Upton Sinclair by Anthony Arthur.

Mid-1800's in Fingersmith by Sarah Waters. A great book so far.

1920s China in Everything under the sky

1096 Constantinople with the pilgrims from Arras of Northern France in Heirs of the Kingdom by Zoe Oldenbourg.

I'm in 1937 Poland with Alan Furst's The Spies of Warsaw.

Mid-1950's Barcelona in Shadow of the Wind

I'm in the 5th century BCE with Cyrus Spitama in Gore Vidal's Creation. Before that, in the late 800s CE with Alfred, Uthred, and Ragnar in Bernard Cornwell's Sword Song.

Right now I am in 1864 during the Battle of Franklin, in The Widow of the South by Robert Hicks.

Over the weekend I was in 1755 England of The Grenadillo Box. Right now I am now in present with Those Faraday Girls.

1960 Kilanga (Congo)--Barbara Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible. I am soooo loving this book! She makes you feel as if you are right there.

I'm in England in the year 1502.
I'm reading The Virgin Widow by Jean Plaidy.

I'm in the American colonies in the mid-18th century and I'm The Midwife of Blue Ridge.

In France... 1778 i think.. It's The Secret Life of Josephine by Carolly Erickson.

I am in Russia in 1917 in Blood Red Snow White by Marcus Sedgwick

I am in Philadephia 1793 in the Yellow Fever Plague...YA book Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson

#29 - I read that book! Liked it.

Jamestown, Virginia 1611 in Season of Promise by Patricia Hermes. I read all three Jamestown books and enjoyed them. They also went quickly since they're kids books.

I'm in England in 1914-1924 or so in The House at Riverton by Kate Morton, which, incidentally, is being sold at B&N for 50% off and members save an extra 10%, so the hardcover is cheaper than a trade paperback would be.

I'm now in 14th century Norway, with Kristin Lavransdatter -- for the groupread.

I've just returned from the Pazzi conspiracy in Florence during the Italian Renaissance. It also deals with the painting of Sandro Botticelli's Primavera.

I'm in Victorian London with The Dark Lantern.

SarahHope, how do you like The House at Riverton. Personally, I'm a huge fan (I even went to Amazon UK--I'm in the US and bought her latest book. Amazon UK is an addiction for me).

20: Shadow of the Wind is also an excellent book.

Kasthu, I really enjoyed it. Morton writes beautifully, and I love her kind of story--one with secrets, an estate, and a sort of gothic feel. I'll definitely get her next book, but I'll probably wait until it comes out next April.

I am in 1769, North Carolina near Wilmington with Diana Gabaldon's wonderful fourth installment in the Outlander series, Drums of Autumn.

I'm on a tobacco plantation in Virginia during the American Civil War with Sweetsmoke.

I'm still in Victorian England, but reading a different book: Girl in a Blue Dress.

I'm in 1660 Amsterdam hanging out with Cornelia who is struggling with the fact that I am Rembrandt's Daughter.

WWI England, at Craiglockhart - Pat Barker's Regeneration.

I'm in England, around the year 410 in The Eagle's Brood by Jack Whyte.

Europe during WWII in Alan Furst's Dark Voyage.

Victorian England in Tasha Alexander's A Poisoned Season.

Norway, 1400's, with Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset.

Bouncing back and forth between the 1790's and 1970's with The Eight by Katherine Neville.

I'm on the American frontier in 1881 with Sarah Agnes Prine in These is my Words.

I'm in the very young country of America, trying to figure out the connection between the Bank of the United States and the Whiskey Rebels.

I'm in 76 a.d. with Marcus Didius Falco in Rome during Saturnalia. I love Lindsey Davis.

I am currently flipping between 1440 France and modern day San Francisco in Ann Benson's Thief of Souls, with a theme around investigations into missing children in both centuries. An excellent read!

I'm now in London in 1886-1887 in Deanna Raybourn's Silent in the Grave--I'm not too far in, but enjoying it thus far.

52: Great book, isn't it?

I'm now in New York in 1857 having a seance with The Spiritualist.

52: Great book, isn't it?

I'm now in New York in 1857 having a seance with The Spiritualist.

I'm in the U.S. near the outbreak of WWI in The River, By Moonlight and in England (and perhaps Scotland) in the 16th century with The Other Queen.

I'm running away from a dastardly murderer and trying to find long-lost family and a clever (psychic) Gypsy boy during the French Revolution in The Red Necklace.

I'm in 1157, England the court of Henry II in Time and Chance.

In Khazaria in 950 AD with Zelikman and Amram, the Gentlemen of the Road, as written by Michael Chabon.

I just got through Ancient Egypt in Michelle Moran's Nefertiti - great book!

My review, in case you're interested

In London in 1890, I'm reading Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters. I think I like Fingersmith (the only other book by Sarah Waters I've read so far) better, but I've still got 50 pages to go, who knows...

By night I am in 19th century, post-revolutionary France Count of Monte Cristo and loving it. The atmosphere in Paris is plush, the characters are elegant and the hero so sinster and sexy, I think I will curl up in bed forever!

But by day, while I appear to be driving a little Renault around the roadworks of Edinburgh, I am transported to 18th century England Pride and Prejudice, fine country houses, balls, whist, wit and wonderful Mr Darcy by CD audio tape.

I've jumped back in time, and I'm chasing smugglers in 1795 England in The Blackstone Key

I'm attempting to save the fields from burning while the resentment of the neighbors simmers in 1692 Massachusetts. They call me The Heretic's Daughter, and I have the sneaking suspicion the Salem Witch Trials are about to sweep up my mom...

I'm stalking Jack the Ripper as Bram Stoker as he recounts his experiences in The Dracula Dossier.

And I don't know why touchstones won't allow me to choose the correct book.

I am with the militia on the eve of the Battle of Alamance, in The Fiery Cross.

I am with two young boys in Germany during The Holocaust with The Boy In The Striped Pajamas, by John Boyne.

I'm in 1792 rereading The Scarlet Pimpernel.

Still on my Victorian England kick with The Glass of Time.

I'm currently in 1936 trailing around after Wally Simpson as she chases the new King, Edward VIII in Gone With The Windsors by Laurie Graham.

67 - looking forward to seeing the movie of this. Have to check when it is coming out.

I'm somewhere in the 12th century with Henry Plantagenet and Eleanor of Aquitaine. Henry is just now realizing that his fathering turned his children into a Devil's Brood.

71 - IMDB says that the movie is due out before Thanksgiving this year. It stars David Thewlis (Professor Lupin from the Harry Potter movies) as the Father. I'm looking forward to it as well. Such a haunting story.

Devourer,

If you like that book you MUST see the movie "The Lion in Winter", about Henry II and his wife (whom he locked up in a castle for trying to overthrow him) and their sons (who wait for the king's death and fight him all the while) who get together for that ultimate family holiday, Christmas. There's a decent new version with Patrick Stewart (from Star Trek) and Glenn Close, but the original has Peter O'Toole, Katharine Hepburn, Anthony Hopkins, and Timothy Dalton, not to mention a great John Barry score. It was originally a play, and you can usually find it in bookstores in the drama section--the author is named James Goldman, he's the brother of William Goldman, the screenwriter of The Princess Diaries, Marathon Man, All the King's Men, and some others. It's SUCH great dialogue, veering from comedy to pathos with ease. Sample quote:

Henry II: Well! What shall we hang, the holly, or each other?

Prince John: He's got a knife!
Eleanor: Of course he has a knife, he always has a knife, we all have knives! It's 1183 and we're barbarians! How clear we make it. Oh, my piglets, we are the origins of war: not history's forces, nor the times, nor justice, nor the lack of it, nor causes, nor religions, nor ideas, nor kinds of government, nor any other thing. We are the killers. We breed wars. We carry it like syphilis inside. Dead bodies rot in field and stream because the living ones are rotten. For the love of God, can't we love one another just a little - that's how peace begins. We have so much to love each other for. We have such possibilities, my children. We could change the world.

Now I'm back in the 16th century with The Other Queen.

>74 uncultured:,

I'll have to look for that.

#74 and 76 - I'll chime in The Lion in the Winter is a great movie - a must see with Hepburn and O'Toole. Another great movie is Becket, seeing O'Toole play the young Henry II and Richard Burton as Thomas Becket - another one based on a play. O'Toole is fantastic in both roles and rare to see an actor play the same person (a king no less!) in two amazing roles as the younger Harry and the elder.

Hello everyone, I am new to this. I am currently in 1875 riding with the Cheyenne Indians across the American West in the Jim Fergus novel One Thousand White Women, The Journal of May Dodd and, I might add, enjoying every minute of it!

Currently in 11th century France and England with queen Maude and William the Conqueror

Welcome, DeltaQueen50! LT is full of great people and the group threads are so much fun.

Ancient Egypt with a very ambitious Nefertiti.

Love The Lion in Winter too!

Ancient Egypt with a very ambitious Nefertiti.

Love The Lion in Winter too!

I'm in 1791 Australia plotting an Escape from Botany Bay ! (touchstone not working - it's a fictionalized version of the true story of Mary Bryant - by Gerald and Loretta Hausman)

Now I'm in 1172 Normandy and England as Henry II tries to control his Devil's Brood.

I'm in 1889 in Crete, were things are steaming up to an uprising against the Turks, in Nikos Kazantzakis' Freedom or Death. What a beautiful novel is this. The way Kazantzakis presents his characters is unsurpassed.

I'm in 950 in Gentleman of the Road.

14th century Norway, Kristin Lavransdatter

79AD in Pompeii

Aboard a ship (late 19th or earley 20th Century) east of the Suez Canal in Joseph Conrads The Shadow-Line

I'm in Victorian England. Reading Anne Perry's A Breach of Promise.

I'm in 1553 London, England in The Queen's Fool.

How are you liking The Queen's Fool? I kinda liked it :)

#92 - So far so good, I'm only on page 50, so it's the very beginning, but better than I thought it would be. I'm curious to see how Hannah fares with Queen Mary's court which I guess is soon, since the ailing Edward is still coughing away.

I was pleasantly surprised by it when I bought it a while ago. I only bought it because it had the name "Hannah" in it, and I collect books with my name. I hope you like it :)

#94 - I wondered about that (your name!). She's now with Queen Mary, I like this so far, better than The Virgin's Lover, though I do enjoy reading about Robert Dudley again.

In Poland, during WWII, The Girl In the Green Sweater by Krystyna Chiger.

#95 ktleyed

Just to jump in, I'm pleased you're enjoying The Queen's Fool and I think that as Gregory goes, the earlier in her writing career the book was written, the better it is likely to be! I've certainly found that the last couple have been below standard, and if memory serves then The Queen's Fool was written before The Virgin's Lover

#97 - lunacat - I agree, her later books were not as good, I really didn't like The Boleyn Inheritence one bit, though I did enjoy The Other Boleyn Girl and the one on Katharine of Aragon. I haven't read her latest yet, The Other Queen I think it is?

#98 ktleyed

Yeah, it is The Other Queen, and I found it her worst yet so I guess that she is at least following the trend for the books getting worse!! I made it all the way through, and came away with an interest of Bess of Hardwick who comes out as the most interesting character of the book, but it lacked detail, storyline and depth of character.

I think worth reading, if only to glean some general historical knowledge of the people involved if you don't have it already, or you want to have read the 'Gregory Set' but other than that, don't expect anything from it.

I am about to enter 1471 England as I pick up Figures in Silk.

In the midst of a violent thunderstorm and bushfire, with our old pals Jamie and Claire, and Roger somewhere else in The Fiery Cross.

Also in Armana with Nefertiti awaiting the birth of her third child.

I'm trying to outrun the plague in 14th century England in the Company of Liars.

London, 16th century in the Dutch translation of The armourer's house by Rosemary Sutcliff

Most recently in England, 12th Century with Brunin and Hawise in Shadows and Strongholds

Am now looking round for my next read!

Good choice, #102! I really loved that book.

I'm now in 110 B.C with The First Man in Rome......so far so good!

1666 England in Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks

Surviving cholera in the 1830s in The Dress Lodger

Still in Victorian England reading Jane Eyre now

#107 KathiJ

I keep seeing Year of Wonders mentioned around here, but I haven't been able to find it secondhand, and was wondering whether it is worth buying new? How good are you finding it?

I am in 1867, Lyme, England in The French Lieutenant's Woman.

1327, Italy in The name of the rose by Umberto Eco.

#110 - I got my copy of Year of Wonders from the library. So far, I am really enjoying it. Caught my interest from the first page. I also have "March" by Brooks also. So I need to read fast before they are due back at the library.

Elizabethan England in A Constant Heart.

early 18th century Venice with Vivaldi and The Four Seasons.

England, 1666 with the plague in Year of Wonders

lunacat, I'm almost thru with the same book. Really enjoying it. When I am done I am going to read "March" also by Brooks.

Civil War, 1894 The Widow of the South. Just started it but it's getting good really fast

now I'm in England at the turn of the 20th century

I'm in London in the 1660s, reading a conspiracy of violence

Just left 1666 England in Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks and now entering the American Civil War with "March" also by Brooks.

I'm in c. 1350 BC with Nefertiti.

1719 London in A Conspiracy of Paper by David Liss .

April 14, 1865 and the assassination of President Lincoln. Finished Assassin's Accomplice, Booth, Manhunt, Acquaintance with Darkness and Good Brother/Bad Brother.

I'm in 12th Century England with Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth - Philip has just become Prior.

Robert A. Mosher

I am in 1866 Oxford with Charles Lenox trying to solve a mysterious death in The September Society.

Now I'm in 1170s Normandy, France, and England with The Greatest Knight.

#127--How is The September Society so far? I'm just now reading A Beautiful Blue Death and enjoying it pretty well, so I imagine I'll buy the second book as well.

Just got back from London, 1887-88-ish with Lady Julia Grey in Silent in the Sanctuary. I'm headed now to 1921 London with A Monstrous Regiment of Women.

What a fun thread this is! Much to add to my wishlist here...

#129 - I am 190 pages into The September Society and enjoying it. I like Charles Finch's writing style as it makes for an easy bedtime read and reminds me of the Albert Campion series by Margery Allingham. I especially like the detailed descriptions of Oxford and the various colleges... it makes me feel like I am there. I have already added A Beautiful Blue Death to my TBR pile.

130: I LOVE the Lady Julia series! Raybourn has a new one coming out in March, which I'm super-excited about. I may not even request an ARC, just wait until the book comes out and buy it, that's how much I love Raybourn's writing.

I'm in England in 1348 in Company of Liars.

I'm in France in 1346 with The Lords of Vaumartin. I've just survived the battle of Crecy!!

I am in Utrecht, the Netherlands in the year of disaster (1672) in Stad in de storm by Thea Beckman

I am in the year 1519 as Cortes lands in the new world as seen through the eyes of a young slave girl in Night Of Sorrows by Frances Sherwood. Only on page 44 as of yet, but I think it's going to be pretty good.

Just a quick note to say how much I enjoy reading everyone's postings and how my book wish list is now up in the 500's - so many books I want to read and so little time!

I am in Renaissance Venice in The Book of Unholy Mischief and also in Industrial Age Milton in North and South.

#137--I read North and South earlier this year and loved it--I hope you like it too!

137: How are you liking/ not liking The Book of Unholy Mischief? I'll be interested to read it when it comes out.

138 - I saw the BBC series a couple of months ago. So I am liking reading the book, but having the visuals in my head too.

139 - So far, I am enjoying the descriptions. She describes a lot about food, the kitchen in the Doge's palace being the centre of the book atm. There is a mysterious book - which is still very mysterious so far. So I am still intrigued as to were its going!

140--I held off on watching the series until after I'd finished the book, but I thought the series was excellent--it captured the book very well, I thought. And that Richard Armitage is easy on the eyes . . . quite dreamy really.

1743 Scotland in Outlander.

Again I am in the Netherlands, Enkhuizen, in the year of disaster (1672) in De zomer van de staartstar by Alet Schouten

Mid-19th century England, France, and New York in All This, and Heaven Too, by Rachel Field.

Still in mid-19th-century England (see a pattern here?) watching the adventures of George Phillips as he takes down The Minutes of the Lazarus Club.

Now I'm alternating between 1970s New York and 1790s France in The Eight.

It's the summer of 1898, and I am in Yellowstone Park with a scientific expedition, studying the western flora and fauna in Letters From Yellowstone by Diane Smith. I am sure there is a romance brewing!

I'm in England in 1876 in The Glass of Time.

I just left Malta in 1565 after reading The Sword and the Scimitar by David Ball. "A sweeping historical epic set against the backdrop of the desperate conflict between Christian Europe and the Islamic Ottoman Empire." All in the name of God... Now I am in England on the frozen Thames River - it has frozen 40 times between 1142 to 1895. Helen Humphreys provides short vignettes for each time it froze in The Frozen Thames. It is a lovely little book, approx. 5" x 6" with beautiful illustrations.

I'm in thirteenth century England in Falls the Shadow by Sharon Kay Penman. Reading it for the second time after many years.

Now I'm alternating between the Boer War in 1900 and England post-WWI in A Matter of Justice.

In England in 1631. I'm rereading a book I read only last year--it's already a favourite, Conceit, by Mary Novik. What's got me going again is that it's just been chosen by AbeBooks for its Canadian Books of the Year ("the top ten hottest new Canadian books"). I wrote a short review of it a while ago, and just wrote another one lamenting the lack of men's book clubs at which meaty books like this could be discussed with friends.

I'm in late-19th century India in The Far Pavilions.

153 - The Far Pavilions is one of my all time favorites! Have you read The Shadow Of The Moon also by M.M. Kaye - also very good.

I am in Paris in 1803 reading about The Secret History Of The Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig.

I'm in Tokyo in 1690 with The Concubine's Tattoo.

I'm at some point during the reign of Domitian in Gladiatrix.

I'm in 1889 England with The Seance

Now I'm in 1580s Stratford and London with Shakespeare and Mistress Shakespeare.

>158 Kasthu:,

I just left there a few days ago. How are you liking it?

I actually like it a lot! Much better than The Last Boleyn.

Ooh, I forgot The Last Boleyn was Harper's. That's probably good, because I was 'eh' about that one, and I'm quite happy that I requested Mistress Shakespeare.

I'm flitting between the modern day and various parts of the 19th century, mostly in Utah for both, in The 19th Wife.

In Regency England with Georgette Heyer's Venetia.

Just got back from mid-1800's U.S. Civil War South in The Gates of Trevalyan, by Jacquelyn Cook. Take a look at my review here

I'm in 1800's Dakota (now south Dakota) USA with "Sister to the Sioux: the Memoirs of Elaine Goodale Eastman 1885-91"edited by Kay Graber.
"...A woman ahead of her time...a unique and facinating chapter...of the West (Western US)...
...a distinct adventure in the...1880s for...a 'properly brought up' girl to open a day school in a...Soiux village and to enter into village activites.'

I'm in a split-time kind of thing: 1460s Flanders in Niccolo Rising and 1860s England in Drood.

Just finished Devil's Brood. Was great spending the past few months with Henry II and his tumultuous family, and don't really want to leave them.

167: Wasn't that a fantastic book? One of Penman's best, I think.

Yes, I really did feel for everyone - I think this one was called "a story with no villians", because you can see the motives of every side. It's the first time I ever actually felt bad for Henry II. Can hardly wait for the next book.

169: I felt the same way: Sharon Kay Penman really gets her reader into the heads of her characters. Her next book is apparently going to be about Richard I; I'm looking forward to it, too!

I'm trying to survive the plague in Year of Wonder. I think it's really excellent writing. I've blown through it in two days and now I'm trying to stretch out the last pages..

Did anyone dislike Loving Frank? I read it over the summer and was very disappointed but everyone else that I know thought that it was good. I'm just wondering if there was something that I missed.

I am in the England of Henry VIII reading The Last Wife of Henry VIII. I noted it has received mixed reviews.

>162 Unreachableshelf:: Finished The 19th Wife a few days ago. It drags in some parts, I think I only rated it 2-stars.

I am now reading a memoir called Behind Enemy Lines by Marthe Cohn. Ms. Cohn tells the story of her Jewish family during the Nazi occupation of France. I'm only a fourth of the way into it, but never before have I put down a book so I can sob over a scene. The writing is so evocative, I feel the prickles of fear with the author. Apparently, Ms. Cohn became a spy in Nazi Germany, but I'm not at that part yet. I had heard good things about the book, and so far, my expectations have been more than met.

After reading some non-fiction, I have bounced back into historical fiction. Right now I am in 1818 Paris, France with Vidocq, founder and chief of the French Sûreté, following the mystery of the death of dauphin Louis-Charles in The Black Tower by Louis Bayard.

I'm in Normandy and England in the 1160s in The Greatest Knight by Elizabeth Chadwick, and loving it! I heard about it from someone here on Library Thing and asked Santa if he would put it in my stocking....

I am in England in the 1700s reading An Incidence of the Fingerpost.

I have just started King of Thieves by Michael Jecks. The series has now reached Queen Isabella's visit to France to mediate between the Edward 2 and her brother the King of France. Sometime shortly she must take up with Mortimer as he's now on the loose in France. The next on the list is the Susanna Gregory's Poisoner of Westminster, which is the latest in the Chaloner series set in Restoration London. Thank heaven for the library, so I can read the new books as they come out

I am now in circa 1900 America with The Seamstress of Hollywood Boulevard by Erin McGraw, following Nell as she leaves behind a dreary farm life in Kansas to start a new life in Los Angeles.....

I'm in the early 1800s in magical England in Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell.

I'm in Ancient Sparta with Helen of Troy, by Margaret George.

Now I'm in 1930s London in Bleeding Heart Square.

I'm in the early 1930's in Peru in House of the Spirits

I'm in England in 1355 with Margaret of Ashford in A Vision of Light by Judith Merkle Riley.

In late 12th and early 13th century England with The Scarlet Lion.

I'm in the custody of George Talbot and Bess of Hardwick at Tutbury Castle in spring of 1569. Can anybody guess what I'm reading?

I'm guessing The Other Queen?

Meanwhile, I'm in the court of the Grand Duchess Elisavyeta in Russia in the early 1900s, courtesy of Robert Alexander and The Romanov Bride.

I am just starting The Mosaic of Shadows by Tom Harper
It is set in Constantinople, Byzantine Empire (Turkey) in 1096. The POV is hunting an assassin who is trying to kill the Emperor Alexios, and the first Crusade is camped outside the walls and no one knows if its there to fight the Turkish army, or to sack the city.

I am in France, starting in the late 20's and going on into WWII years. French/ British race drivers become Resistence/Spies in Early One Morning by Robert Ryan. A good read.

> 187:
I looked up The Romanov Bride and it looks very interesting. I will have to add it to my Wish-notebook. Let us know how you like it.

Re: The Romanov Bride
The book does look interesting. I was looking at the book page, and it says at the bottom in the summary: 'The next in the trilogy' - So what was the first book ? It doesn't have anything listed in the series field.

#187 did you read the first one ?

Actually The Romanov Bride is the last in the trilogy. The Kitchen Boy is first and Rasputin's Daughter is next.

I'm triping from Vienna to Hungary and back again about the time of the younger Strauss in Embers.

Landed in Algiers in 1790 reading The Eight

I'm now in 1880s Yorkshire in Silent on the Moor

>192 pmarshall::
Thanks for the info on the trilogy! I'm a stickler for reading series in order.

>190 profilerSR:,191,192

I just happened to find The Romanov Bride at the library -- there was nothing on the book indicating it was part of a series, so I brought it home to read. (I'm a stickler about series order, too!) Honestly, I wouldn't have known it was part of a series had I not looked up the author's website last night.

I've been enjoying the book, and find it a pretty quick read. I didn't know much about the Romanov's before this, and had never heard of Elisavyeta Romanov. She's a fascinating person!

Cheers!

#195, Kasthu~~Is Silent on the Moor available, yet, or did you get an ARC?

I just started Ex-Libris by Ross King, so I am in the seventeenth century. So far, I have been to London, Dorsetshire and Prague.

198: It's an ARC.

I am in 1792 England and France. Bernard Cornwell and his The Fallen Angels is my current read. Those revolutionary zealot scenes are not as tame as Charles Dickens and A Tale of Two Cities

I am in 1692 Andover, Massachusetts with Sarah Carrier in The Heretic's Daughter.

I'm in the early 1900's with Mamah (Maymah) Cheney who has just fallen in love with the charismatic Frank Lloyd Wright. I'm reading Loving Frank by Nancy Horan. I've just begun but I like it already. Look for my review. M

Now I'm in the 1860s with The Observations

Just came back from the battle of Trafalgar on the back of Temeraire the Dragon.
What fun seeing it from the English point of view, chuckled a lot.

#204 - Kasthu - The Observations sound interesting - another one for my wish list!

I am in Liverpool in the 1830's reading about child prostituion (which hopefully she escapes from) in The Linnet Bird by Linda Holeman.

Enjoying a hot cuppa in seventeenth century Amsterdam with The Coffee Trader, by David Liss.

I'm in 1870-80's Russia with "Anna Karinina", just finished part 4.

I just finished The Virgin Queen's Daughter by Ella March Chase. She took me back to 1554 in London. I thought the book was very good by a first time author. Remember in fiction anything is possible.

I'm in 1690 in Maryland in A Mercy.

I'm in Ango-Saxon England, reading An Involuntary King by Nan Hawthorne.

Steven
http://steventill.com

12th century Normandy and England. Re-reading "When Christ and His Saints Slept" by Sharon Penman. Will proceed to re-read "Time and Chance" before sinking my teeth into "Devil's Brood". Love the period, love the author!!!

I am still slogging through The Mosaic of Shadows by Tom Harper. Its almost 500 pages, and not badly written, but it is slow, and a bit YA.

The author drags out everything, and the characters are doing the sames things a lot. The tone of the writing seems a bit juvenile. I also have not had a lot of time to read this past week, and this book is easy to put down and hard to pick up.

212: Isn't Penman awesome! Devil's Brood is definitely the kind of book where you're going to want to set aside time especially for it, it's that good. Have you ever read anything by Elizabeth Chadwick? Her novels about William Marshal, The Greatest Knight and The Scarlet Lion are quite good as well.

I've moved from The Observations to Harriet and Isabella, a novel about Harriet Beecher Stowe and her sister, Isabella Beecher Hooker, during the time that their brother Henry went through an infamous trial for adultery in the 1870s. It's set in the neighborhood I used to live in, which is why I initially picked it up, but I really like the book so far.

I'm in Maine in 1959 with The Funeral Makers by Cathie Pelletier

No, I haven't read Elizabeth Chadwick, but if she's anything like Penman I'll definitely give it a go as I find the period utterly fascinating. Yes, Penman is fantastic, I love her sense of humor and the way she manages to make her characters come alive. "Here Be Dragons" is probably my all time favourite. Have read my copy to pieces....

I'm in the summer of 1661 with the team of architects, painters and gardners of the young Sun King Louis XIV, in La Fontainière du Roy. The construction of Versailles has just begun.

I think this is going to be expensive business.

It's December 1914, and I'm in London with The General, by CS Forester. I suspect we'll soon be on our way back to the trenches, I expect for about another four years or so.

I'm also in Restoration England with The Black Pearl, by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles.

In Tarragona, Spain, 1492 with a "sofer" who has just bought a beautifully illustrated Haggadah from a young fugitive from the south, to give to his nephew as a present on his wedding day. People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

I'm not quite as far back or far away as most. . . I'm in the American South, right now I think somewhere around 1900, listening to a wheelchair bound incredibly old, incredibly irreverent lady tell her story in Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All. Large book -- moves very rapidly. Fascinating.

It's 1875 in Utah where the Mormons have established polygamy as a way to Heaven. David Ebershoff's The 19th Wife is a facinating piece of American history.

I have finally finished The Mosaic of Shadows and get to leave 1095 Constantinople. It wasn't a bad book, it just didn't grab me and was too long and too slow.

I am now going to 1912 Brooklyn with A Tree Grows in Brooklyn .

This is a great thread. Several books mentioned here are making it on to my to be purchased list...

#2234 FicusFan

Everyone should go to Brooklyn with A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. It remains one of my favourite books ever and I'm determined that the whole world should read it!!

16th century England, soon after the death of Anne Boleyn. A frightening time to be a Catholic woman taking her vows as a nun. After her abbey is torched, Alys' life takes a decidedly sharp turn away from Catholocism as she finds herself apprenticed to a wise woman and practising less than godly spells to achieve her desires.

I am just 4 chapters into The Wise Woman by Philippa Gregory. Forgive me if there is a lack of a clickable title there, but I haven't yet ever used the touchstone thing.

Also in 17th century Amsterdam with Miguel Lienzo, The Coffee Trader.

#226 Lunacat

I am not enthused. It sounds boring from the description, and I am not fond of the near past. Only reading it for a RL book group. Actually looking for an excuse to ditch it and read something else. Of course, who knows once I start maybe I will love it.

#229

I hope you do love it, but I understand if you don't. Not every book is for every person! But when my mum suggested it to me I don't think I was enthused either, but I fell in love with it. It really is beautifully written, and the characters that make up the story are wonderful. It makes me want to go and reread it now!!

I am in St Petersburg in the 1840s with Netochka Nezvanova. It's extremely cold and miserable. But the writing is fantastic.

I'm in Germany during WWII with The Book Thief

Simply amazing!

I'm in 14th Century Germany with The Gargoyle. This is simply a book to be loved.

I not only enjoyed A Tree Grows in Brooklyn but I thought it was a book that could appeal to all ages. It was tender, touching, and on point with its descriptions of poverty-stricken lives. It is a timeless tale and for that I give it props. I hope to be able to tell a story someday that lasts forever. Poverty, love, disappointment, reach across the years, and this book is a case in point.

I'm in Virginia and it is roughly set in the here and now, but the story involves historical re-enactments of the Civil War by the community, so I thought it belonged here. I'm reading The Mammoth Cheese and so far I am enjoying it a great deal, filled as it is with quirky characters and seemingly hopeless situations.

I am in the north of england, outside of York in 1818, three years after the glorious victory at Waterloo. It was advised in the Heyer group that I reread Venetia having no memory of the plotline...

# 234: mmignano11
I not only enjoyed A Tree Grows in Brooklyn but I thought it was a book that could appeal to all ages. It was tender, touching, and on point with its descriptions of poverty-stricken lives.

I actually find it annoying, and over done (poverty). Its as if you have a character with a terminal disease and every scene with the character goes on and on about the character being sick. You just want him to die already.

I just have no interest in page after page of nasty meals, how they are made, how much it costs, and what they have to do to buy it. Just shut up and eat the potato and spare me the details. Some is OK, to give the flavor of their poverty, but I don't want to feel that I am living in a country music song, just waiting for someone to shoot the dog.

I don't hate the book, but I have no interest in reading it and am only about 40 pages in.

I am in 1739 in central Spain, reading Jan Potocki's The Manuscript Found In Saragossa.

I'm in Wessex, England, sometime in the 1840's in Far From the Madding Crowd.

#237

Maybe its different if you are the one living in poverty, or with the disease. I personally feel that if I were either struggling to find pennies for the next meal, or dealing with a disease that I was dying of, it would be forefront in my mind and I might say quite a lot of it.

What I'm trying to say is that I think talking about it like that is one of the reasons the book felt so real to me. Its hard to focus or think of anything else when you are starving and don't know when you will eat again, so it is logical that memories of food, and wanting to convey what you were eating would be important.

I have moved into the part that talks about the parents. I like that a bit better, so maybe its Francie I don't like. My book group met tonight and I didn't finish in time. I have other things I have to read, so I may bag this book on Saturday.

I'm now witnessing the Battle of Hastings in Needle in the Blood, by Sarah Bower--and enjoying myself immensely.

I'm taking a detour from "Anna Karinina"s Russia to post WWII central Texas in "Horseman, Pass By" by Larry McMurtry

Finished with Northern England of 1818 in Venetia and have gone further back in time to Amsterdam in 1659. David Liss and his Coffee Trader

Already by page two the vivid imagery of the Dam is captivating. What excellence writing.

It is 1897 and I have left London for Africa with Robert Wallis to try and start a coffee plantation in The Various Flavours of Coffee. What a fantastic book!

I'm moving around between England, France, and Germany in the 1920's-40's in Richard Temple.

Early 1800's middle of Missouri, kind of interesting to see how my part of the world was developed.

Modern day Istanbul, Turkey with Graveyard Eyes.

I have put A Tree Grows in Brooklyn down.

England in the War of the Roses, with The Founding of the Morland Dynasty, by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles

I am in London during the 1760's reading Slammerkin by Emma Donoghue. Wow this book did grab me right away and draw in into the story. Thanks to Margad for encouraging me to move this book up to the top of my TBR pile. This is the second book I've read this year dealing with the subject of young girls being forced into prostitution as a way to survive, so few options for women in those days. Donoghue's writing is both colorful and moving, and I know I am going to enjoy the next few days with this book!

250: Oh, Slammerkin is awesome! Glad to see you're enjoying it. One of her other books, Life Mask is less good, but good nonetheless, and I also loved The Sealed Letter, another book about women who have very few options in their lives. Highly recommended.

Thanks Kasthu for the recommendations. I have read Life Mask, enjoyed it, but not as much as Slammerkin. I will definitely be looking for The Sealed Letter now.

14th century England in Katherine.

I am now in 1914 with a mystery in Zugzwang.

Modern day Iraq, with non-fiction House to House by David Bellavia. The story of the battle for Fallujah. I am reading it for a RL book group.

1942, Francophone neighbourhood of Montreal, in The Fat Woman Next Door is Pregnant.

I read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn when i was probably 12 yo. I'm gonna have to revisit it again cuz so many of the LTers have been talking about it lately. I really enjoyed it & much later when Angel's Ashes came out while reading it i was much reminded of A tree Grows in Brooklyn. 8^)

I am in the Mughal Empire (India) during the 1760's with The Twentieth Wife. I just started it this morning, but I can tell that it is going to be story to get totally lost in. And this is just the first part, there is a sequal called The Feast of Roses.

I came back to Australia in the heat of Jan-March 1836 to travel with "Charles Darwin: An Australian Selection" day by day reading from his diary as we bumped along in a buggy behind a horse from Sydney to Bathurst and then sailed down to Tasmania in the HMS Beagle. Mr Darwin's was quite a writer On the Origin of the Species was a best seller not just for revealing ground breaking discoveries. 2009 is 200 years from his birth and 150 years since On the Origin of the Species was first published.

Now, with a scoundrel and a whiff of Perfume, I'm following my nose around Paris in about 1750. Keeps me on track with reading from the 1001 list.

I'm in the court of Henry VII in Tudor England, Henry VIII is around 10 years old in, The Autobiography of Henry VIII by Margaret George, I'm loving it so far!

I'm also in Tudor England, but later. "Bloody" Mary is about to take power in Jean Plaidy's Queen of This Realm, a novel about Elizabeth.

#260

ktleyed, I'm glad you're enjoying it as it is going to be read this year (hopefully) and I'm looking forward to it.

and #261 lunalovebook, I've added Queen of This Realm

I'm in 1680s and present-day Venice in The Glassblower of Murano.

Now in 14th century York with The Lady Chapel, by Candace Robb.

Starting a new thread as this one is getting long.

If only one could take all the touchstones into the next thread...

I've spent the last few months in the early 1900s in Ireland - reading memoirs about the era. But my most recent actual historical fiction is Boyne's Boy In The Striped Pajamas. It might be simply written but I found it very powerful - especially the end.

In the 1100s in Shrewsbury, Wales w/Brother Cadfael-reading An Excellent Mystery by Ellis Peters. 8^)

I'm sitting in a convent in France in 1601 with Ophelia who is having a baby by the fireplace in Ophelia by Lisa Klein.