April 2012 Time Period

It's already time to think about the time period for April. Watching Downton Abbey has me thinking about the Edwardian or World War I eras. Any interest in that time period? Or other suggestions?

Hmmm, difficult. What years does the Edwardian period encompass?

I've got a couple of Victorian-Edwardian mysteries by Robin Paige, where the earlier ones are in the Victorian period and the later ones in the Edwardian, according to the info I have. But I'm not very far into the series yet, so I've probably not reached the Edwardian period yet.

I'm not so interested in a WW I time period, I'd rather have a WW II time period, since I've got a huge stack of books that fit that time period.

Another time period I would like to suggest is Medieval Times. We could keep it broad, meaning 500 AD - 1500 AD, or we could keep it smaller and just do late Middle Ages, 1000 AD - 1500 AD.

The Edwardian era generally refers to the period of Edward VII's reign 1901-1910, although sometimes it's used to refer to any time between the turn of the 20th century and the beginning of WWI in 1914.

Hmm, let's see:

Edwardian Time Period: according the Wikipedia - 1901 - 1910 (sometimes extended to 1912 or even to the start of WW1)

World War I - 1914 - 1918

World War II - 1939 - 1945

Medieval Times: 500 AD - 1500 AD

Late Middle Ages: 1000 AD - 1500 AD

Right now I am leaning toward either WW I or WW II, but any of the above times would work for me.

.

I like to read medieval times and late middle ages. I also read a lot of books set in WWII, currently reading The Book Thief by Markus Zuzak. However I am happy to try new time periods, which is one of the things that attracted me to this group. If we decide on Edwardian or WWI I will have to go on a tag search to find a good one. Or suggestions of really good books for the period would be much appreciated.

I'm currently reading The Book Thief too (as a tandem read with Zoe in the 12-12 group. I think she's going to start a discussion thread if you want to join us). Maybe we should pick something else besides WWII. I need to look through my TBR.

If I had to vote right now I'd go for Medieval Times - not something I am currently reading a book for, but one where I've got plenty of books on my TBR stack for.

I would prefer either the Middle Ages or World War II, but I'm sure I can find something good for any of the periods mentioned!

I think I would be able to find something for any time period we choose. I've done quite a bit of reading for the WWII era lately and I have more lined up for the next few weeks. Setting a a time period other than WWII for April would provide a little variety for my reading, although if that ends up as the majority preference I won't have any trouble finding something to read.

#7. If I can find your discussion thread on The Book Thief I would love to join in. I'm only about 100 pages in at the moment though.

Didn't we do the Medieval Period last year?

We've covered parts of the Medieval era with the Viking period (December 2010) and Crusades (January 2011).

The latest copy of HNR arrived in my letterbox yesterday and there are a couple of reviews for novels set in the time of WWI, just before and after, which I am keen to read. One is The Year After and the other is The Last Summer. I'm sure that by the time I am finished reading the magazine I will have a choice for any time period!

In fact I just checked the library catalogue and The Year After is sitting on the shelf just waiting for me to pick it up.

We've got the Gilded Age for this month, so I think having Edwardian times or WWI is a little too much this soon. I would rather do say, Elizabeth times or Medieval times.

I have a book on my TBR that would fit Medieval.

I have several TBRs for the Medieval era.

Are we ready to vote?

Number 1.

Number 2.

Number 3.

Number 4.

I almost forgot this one:

Number 5.

Did I get them all? Let me know if something needs to be added or changed.

can we vote for more than one?

I think 1 yes vote for now, if we end up with a very close vote between two, maybe we could revote on just those two to get a clear majority.

Looks like Medieval Times (500 AD to 1500 AD) got the most votes with 5.

Late Middle Ages (1000 AD to 1500 AD) was very close with 4.

Should we go with the Medieval Times or does anyone want a vote off?

Why don't we just stick with Medieval Times? Anyone who wants to focus on just the late Middle Ages can still do that within the broader time period.

27> I agree. Medieval Times is broad enough for everyone to find something they'd like to read.

I agree.

It sounds fine with me. I will have no trouble finding books on my shelf that fit in this category. I guess that means I have no valid excuse for buying a new book in April now, nevermind.

Medieval works for me .... and gives me time to try and track down a book to fit.

I think I'm going to go with The Road to Jerusalem by Jan Guillou. I saw Arn: Knight Templar and was inspired to put in on my TBR.

Yay! I'll have an excuse to move The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell to the top of my TBR.

My possible reads include:

The time traveller's guide to medieval England : a handbook for visitors to the fourteenth century by Ian Mortimer (received for Christmas)
Godric by Frederick Buechner
The Quest for Becket's Bones by John R. Butler
Another audiobook from the Cadfael series

I'm going with one of my favorite authors, Elizabeth Chadwick. The Running Vixen is the second in her "Wild Hunt Trilogy". If I can fit it in, I may also get to the third book, The Leopard Unleashed as well.

I could go with Elizabeth Chadwick, or Sharon Kay Penman, or with Outlaw by Angus Donald. I've also got The Sting of Justice by Cora Harrison, or I can go with The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett.

Yeah, plenty of choice...this a larger problem than it first appears.

Ooh, I've got lots of Elizabeth Chadwick and Sharon Kay Penman on my shelves. It might finally be time for me to dust off The Sunne in Splendour.

I have never heard of Elizabeth Chadwick but if all of you fine ladies are reading her than I will surely have to investigate!

Thanks to Library Journal, I found this site earlier today: http://www.crimethrutime.com/ The timeline might be useful for finding books set within a particular time period.

Oh, I have oodles of medieval themed books. But sadly no room for more books on the April Reading List. :(

#39 Oh, interesting site. Thanks!

The Pillars of the Earth is one of my all time favourites! I have also read Outlaw and just picked up Holy Warrior its sequel from the library when I was there yesterday. I tried Lionheart By Sharon Kay Penman but quit after 250 pages, I just couldn't get into it.

I will probably read book 5 in the Bernard Corwell King Alfred series, Death of kings. I will scour the shelves to see what else is there. I have got The Sunne in Splendour also but am a bit wary after Lionheart. However I have heard that her earlier work is very good.

I'll skip this one, but I'm looking forward to June's choice; sometime after 1800!

Found time to search my TBR bookcase and surprisingly came up with a few options for the medieval period:

Everlasting by Kathleen Woodiwiss - 12th century Crusades/romance
The Lion of Venus by Mark Frutkin - 13th century Venice
Keeper of the Crystal Spring by Naoimi Baltuck - Anglo-Saxon period (1066 to 1154)
The Illuminator by Brenda Rickman Vantrease - 14th century

I have checked my bookshelf and I have at least 5 or 6 books that fit this category. Plus I went and bought another on on Wednesday! I should have no trouble with finding book fodder for April. As it takes me a week per book I don't think I will get through them all though.

Here are the titles I found:

The King's Mistress by Emma Campion
The King's Grace by Anne Easter Smith
The lost letters of Aquitaine by Judith Koll Healey
Camelot's Honour by Sarah Zettel
The House of Lanyon by Valerie Anand
Death of Kings by Bernard Cornwell

And I just bought Hawk's Quest by Robert Lyndon.

I don't know how I will choose. If any of you know any of these are really great I will start there.

I'd still like us to do WWI at some time.

#45 - I have The House of Lanyon on my TBR shelves as well, perhaps it is time to dust it off and dig in!

#46 - I love time period of WWI and I am sure we will be reading about it before too long. I think coming off the Gilded Age, it just seemed to close to read right now.

I guess that books on King Arthur would fit into this theme and I have a couple of those on my KOBO.

48> It depends on the book. If King Arthur ever really lived, it would have been around the time of the retreat of the Romans from Britain - around 410 AD. A lot of books about him are therefore set before the Middle Ages begin around 500 AD. But some might be set later.

Thanks samantha-kitty. I am seeing references to King Arthur anywhere from 400 to 600 AD. I'm gonna say it works because I would like to read The Mists of Avalon and a book I received from the Library Things Giveaway last month Yseult: A Tale of Love in the Age of King Arthur.

Oh, do read The Mists of Avalon and let me know what you thought about it. I've been eyeing it for years but am hesitant to pick it up - although I couldn't tell you why exactly.

I have found some other possibilities on my shelves:
King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table - Roger Lancelyn Green
Black Horses for the King - Anne McCaffrey
Merlin Dreams - Peter Dickinson

I have decided to start April with Black Horses for the King by Anne McCaffrey and King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table by Roger Lancelyn Green and read the Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley after that.
I usually read 6 or 8 books at a time but I figure if I read 3 King Arthur books all at once I am liable to get rather confused! I think I can manage two ...

At the moment I'm planning on:

Heresy which was hard to find as the author name on the book is SJ Parris rather than Stephanie Merritt. But I did finally find it at the library.

The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell

Thomas the Rhymer by Ellen Kushner

Not sure if I'll jump in on this one or not. But sounds like some good choices!

I'll definitely be reading A Place Beyond Courage by Elizabeth Chadwick. I have the other books in the Marshals series as well, but I'm not sure if I'll get to them this month. I have to admit that this is my very first Elizabeth Chadwick novel - other people raved about her so much I had to try her!

I am starting with Hawk Quest set in 1072. It is a big read at 650+ pages so I gave myself a head-start and began now. It sounds like it will be a great adventure story visiting many locations and a big sea voyage, and main characters on the run from the authorities. Action ++

Oops, had to do an edit, this book is set in 1072, not 1066 like I originally mentioned, sorry. I had just finished watching something on TV about England in 1066 and must have gotten mixed up.

Anyway I am half way though it but am back to work tomorrow so I guess progress will slow now.

Since I can be a little slow to catch on sometimes, it just now dawned on me that this month's 12 in 12 group read of Gentlemen of the Road also fits this month's medieval time period. It's not too late for anyone who wants to join in! I'm getting ready to start the audio version.

#58 = Carrie, I'm a little slow to catch on as well! I will be joining the group read of Gentlemen of the Road when I get home from my trip, and it also never occured to me that it would fit this time perod!

> 58 I didn't realize that either!

I chose "Dead Man's Ransom" by Ellis Peters for a Medieval mystery read. This was a typical Brother Cadfael mystery; very nearly quit out of sheer boredom. The end had a couple of delightful twists which redeemed it for me. Magdalene character was new to me--she added a fresh and sassy air to the plodding brother.

I have finished Hawk Quest. It was really good. I give it 4 stars actually. It is a great adventure, with a huge sea voyage and land trek, many dangerous elements encountered, some gruesome deaths, and a touch of romance. At 658 pages it was a big read, but very engrossing. I would have no qualms recommending it to anybody who enjoys this genre.

I've started A Place Beyond Courage by Elizabeth Chadwick and I'm loving it! I can see why so many people like Chadwick's books.

I'm also reading Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross. I picked it up for a theme read in another group, but realized it would count for Medieval Times as well, since it's set in the 9th century.

I found The Queen’s Gambit by Stuckart, a slow starter, though once it hit its stride, the mystery was entertaining and complex enough to satisfy.

Dino, a young woman masquerading as a boy so that she can study under Leonardo da Vinci, serves as his assistant inside and outside his workshop. Leonardo's patron, Duke Sforza, charged Leonardo with investigating and uncovering the murderer of the duke's cousin. Palace intrigue complicates and twists everything.

I have completed The Running Vixen by Elizabeth Chadwick, this is the second in her "Wild Hunt" Trilogy and I enjoyed it and now am looking forward to reading the final book in the trilogy. I doubt though that I will be able to fit it in this month.

I listened to Gentlemen of the Road for the 12 in 12 group read and realized that, with a 10th century setting, it also fit this month's time period. It's an adventure tale with some unusual elements, but they work. It didn't hurt that the audio version is narrated by one of my favorite actors, Andre Braugher.

Finished A Place Beyond Courage by Elizabeth Chadwick. I loved, loved, loved this! Highly recommended! Full review here.

I just read your review. It sounds like a good one! I am going to check the library website for it.

#66 - Thanks Carrie, I never thought about Gentlemen of the Road fitting this category! I just started it today.

I have just finished The lost letters of Aquitaine by Judith Koll Healey. A bit of a mystery featuring Princess Alais Capet, the Plantagenet family, and the Knights Templar. Set in the 1200's it fits our April theme nicely.

I finished Gentlemen of the Road by Michael Chabon yesterday. It's set in the 10th century Caucusus Region of Eurasia. It's a short, fun story of two Jewish mercenaries and how they get involved with a young prince of Khazar and try to help him regain the throne.

I read The Marsh King's Daughter by Elizabeth Chadwick, which is set in 13th-century England. I found it entertaining but lacking in depth.

72> I get the feeling with Elizabeth Chadwick that she started out as writing romance novels set in medieval times in her earlier books, then in her later books (like the Marshal series), it's more historical fiction with a little bit of romance. So the later books have more depth.

But that's just my opinion.

@ 73 -- Well, it's good to know that not all her books are created equal! I have The Greatest Knight on my shelves, and I'm hoping to enjoy that one more.

74> I've just read the prequel to The Greatest Knight, which is A Place Beyond Courage, and that was really, really good. Little romance, much history. So that probably counts for The Greatest Knight.

On her website, Elizabeth Chadwick says, "I began my career writing at the more romantic end of the historical fiction genre. While I strove for historical accuracy, my protagonists were imaginary and their stories just stitched onto a historical background with the love story more to the fore. I am still very proud of these books, the first of which - The Wild Hunt - won an award. However they are lighter reading than my later works of biographical fiction." The Marsh King's Daughter is one that she lists as one of the "lighter books." (If you click on the website link, you can see the complete list.)

Thanks, Samantha and HRO! You've both encouraged me to try one of her more history-oriented titles. I have high hopes for The Greatest Knight now!

And I have picked up A Place Beyond Courage from the library

Like Judy (DeltaQueen), I read Gentlemen of the Road as part of a group read over in the 12 in 12 Challenge. A fun rollicking adventure story! I have posted a review on my RTT reading page here: (post 19)

I managed to finish 2 more medieval books yesterday: The Time Traveler's Guide to Medieval England by Ian Mortimer and Godric by Frederick Buechner. I liked them both. The Mortimer book is worth hanging on to as a reference book. I've reviewed Mortimer's book on my thread, but I ran out of steam before I got to Godric. I'll get to it later this week.

Hit a slump and didn't quite make it through The Road to Jerusalem in April. I'll finish it in May though.

Only one for me, but I loved it: The Illuminator by Brenda Rickman Vantrease.

didn't get any this time! :( My timing keeps being off.