Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

I've been waiting for someone to do a Crusades thread. lol...and I got impatient. :)

I haven't read a great deal of fiction on the various Crusades.
Of the ones I have read this was my favourite.
I gave it 4 stars. The Crusader.

I added that book to my tbr a couple weeks ago, Lee. At the time it was not easy to find on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ, though I see now it came up in a search.
The only way I found it the other week was with the isbn.
I think you can 'look inside it' and read excerpts on Amazon. I read some at the time.

Terri wrote: "I added that book to my tbr a couple weeks ago, Lee. At the time it was not easy to find on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ, though I see now it came up in a search.
The only way I found it the other week was with the ..."

Thanks, I subscribe to the RSS of that review site, so came across it a few weeks ago and flagged it follow it up. Haven't done so yet though. Reading excerpts may be interesting. My current policy is to flag reviews then check back a few months later, read them again and see how they're faring on GoodReads. Far too many books without some kind of filtering.

Hmm. I haven't read into that period yet. Looking forward to Robyn Young's books. Meanwhile, my own take on it will be out in 2013. Terrible times, but great for novels!

Haven't read much about the Crusades, although was always a little interested in that theme.

A while back, I had read two books of the Templar Trilogy by Jack Whyte, but my reception of it was lukewarm ... I could not get into it. Perhaps it was the time between the releases of volumes, or the fact that each novel focused on different sets of characters. Even though I do have the 3rd volume on my shelf, I haven't been in a hurry to get to it. I think I just need to start again and read them back to back; I've learned I do not like to start a series that hasn't been completed ... the wait between releases really breaks the continuity and the atmosphere for me!



ib.

I haven't read any of Robyn Young's books as yet.
In a bookstore a whiles back, I picked up the first in the Jack Whyte trilogy and it didn't connect with me. I can't remember if it was the flow of the writing I didn't like or the style of the writing. Can't recall, but something put me off.

Lee wrote: "Far too many books without some kind of filtering. ."

You are completely right. I filter as hard as I can. Sometimes, that means good books slip passed me, but I generally rediscover them one day.
If my library doesn't have a book and I may have to buy it, (and the author is new to me) I always, always read excerpts. If I can't find an excerpt then I don't buy the book.

Ok, this is my specialty
Ireney-Don't bother with the third volume in Mr.Whyte's trilogy. It was one of the most boring and unspectacular books that I have read. I believe it was one of the lowest reviews I have ever given.

Terri- Robyn Young's trilogy is one of the best that I have read. Highly recommend. I have her new book and series in my ereader loaded and ready.

One of the BEST Templar series that I have read is the series by Jan Guillou. Strongly recommend if you are a Templar nut as I am. I have a full Templar tattoo on my arm. Always been fascinated.

Wow, you really do get into the Templars.
Have you seen the movie, Arn: The Templar Knight? It is a quiet foreign movie in English. Not a Hollywood flamboyance fest.
I have never had a huge thing for the Templars.

Arn: The Templar Knight.

The trailer

Terri wrote: "Wow, you really do get into the Templars.
Have you seen the movie, Arn: The Templar Knight? It is a quiet foreign movie in English. Not a Hollywood flamboyance fest.
I have never had a huge thing ..."

Arn is the character in The Guillou novels. No every Templar movie I have seen does not come close with my imaginary Templar Knight. ;)

Have you watched the movie though? Or do you mean that you haven't watched it because it can't live up to the book.

It was supposed to be a trilogy of movies (based on the books), but I think they have only made the first two.

Terri wrote: "Have you watched the movie though? Or do you mean that you haven't watched it because it can't live up to the book.

It was supposed to be a trilogy of movies (based on the books), but I think they..."

Sorry, no, have not seen the movie.

Nice movie if you can find it, or both of them. :)

Not sure what it's like, but after J.R. mentioned H. Rider Haggard on another thread, I found this:

The Brethren

I'm brand new to this group, so help me out here if I'm not in the right place, okay?

Usually I'm a fan of books with a good amount of action and I read mysteries and HF and history. Well, I kind of "stumbled" upon the books by a relatively new author: Angus Donald. He has shot right to the top of my favorite authors list. The subject: Robin Hood as you've never imagined. The books are called The Outlaw Chronicles and the titles are: Outlaw, Holy Warrior and King's Man (Warlord comes out this summer). In the last two books, Robin is involved in the Crusades, rescuing King Richard, etc. Action packed page turners that read more like thrillers and are definitely not for the faint hearted.

I've read my share about the Crusades but nothing quite like this and these books are not just about the Crusades: "Angus Donald leads you into the familiar forests of Medieval England...and then all hell breaks loose!" We've got blood soaked battlefields, assassins, you name it and narrated by a very unusual voice - Alan a Dale.

As you can see, I love these books and anxiously await the next release - can't rave about them enough!

lol...you do indeed love these books, Jeanne. Maybe you should be paid to plug them. :)

Have you got some links of books and book covers for us, Jeanne?
If you are unsure of how to do that, just click on the add book/author link at the top of the post.

And welcome to the group, Jeanne. :)

Well, Terri I did that and all it gave me was what you see. What am I doing wrong?

Nope, not getting paid to plug his books but wouldn't it be nice since I'm retired? Yep, you've got an "older woman" here who just loves all that action!

Thanks for the welcome. Also thanks in advance for any advice as to how to correctly use that feature.:(

You're welcome. :)
I see you aren't doing anything wrong now with the links though. You have the covers up. Now I can see them.

The first one in that series, Outlaw, that bookcover I have seen around. I have never picked it up and read any of it, though the cover does catch my eye.

Oh! it worked! Now let's see if I can get links....

-





Not the most compact links, I know but......

Oh that's alright, just the covers or the book link on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ is fine. That's my fault. :) I didn't explain.
But thanks for the Amazon links anyway. I am going to look at them right now to see what people on Amazon are saying about them

Rates very well on Amazon.

And checking the Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ reviews it can go either way by the looks. Some do like Outlaw and some don't.
Sounds like one of 'those books'. You either love it or hate it. :)

Terri - I'm very excited to have found this group. I usually run a historical mystery challenge on Paperbackswap each year and the types of HF that I saw described on this discussion forum sounded perfect for me. (I'm not a romance kind of HF reader.)

Well, sounds like you have found the right group. Romance definitely takes a back seat here. lol.

I'd be interested to hear if you have read some the historical mystery/crime solving books that are mentioned in this group.
Let me find the thread links.....I'll be back...

Here:
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/7...

and then Michael Jecks books which are mentioned in this thread....or maybe it was another thread.

I've read all of the C J Sansom Matthew Shardlake series and I loved them. Wolf Hall - not for me and I was glad I hadn't bothered. It didn't go over very well on Paperbackswap either.

Some other historical mysteries I've really liked are:
Martin Stephen's Henry Gresham series, the first is Desperate Remedy and I think there are 4 or 5 in that series.

Rory Clements' John Shakespeare series, starting with Martyr

P C Doherty's Hugh Corbett series -

Conn Iggulden's Genghis series - not crime solving

To name just a few. I've only put one book link in each, but you've probably read these.

Oh and Ariana Franklin's Mistress of the Art of Death series - great! Sad to say, I haven't read Michael Jecks although a couple of his books are on my shelf.

Jeanne wrote: "Oh and Ariana Franklin's Mistress of the Art of Death series - great! .."

Really? I didn't like her books at all. She seemed popular with most women though. Just not this one. lol

Must be the (retired)nurse in me! ;)

hahaha! Yeah, that could be it. :D

Welcome to the group Jeanne!

I've been just catching up on your exchanges with Terri ... but Robin Hood in the crusades? That really is Robin Hood as I've never imagined >8)

ib.

You've got it! This author has quite an imagination but makes it all believable and quite entertaining! Several of my HF reading friends have read these and are now ordering them for family members who read HF.

Wish someone in MY family read HF - it would make gift giving very easy! :(

Thanks for the welcome!

Hi Jeanne, if you want of send any of those HF gifts my way, I'd be happy to read them. :D

Ha, I'll keep you in mind, Dawn!

Yes, please add me to your list as well! I am willing to be adopted into your family, if that's what it takes ...

ib.

lol. :)

Hmmm hubby might have to have a say about that adoption business. ;)
So, what are some of you reading lately?

Jeanne, your question inspired me to set up a thread called What Are You Reading Right Now. :) If you would like to check it out, I have answered over there...:)
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/7...

I don't even remember reserving this book online from my library, but it has just come in.
I doubt I'll be able to get to it this month, unfortunately.
(We mentioned this book earlier in this thread, that's why I brought it up) :)


Silk Road

Hi Jeanne, I want to be adopted too. It sounds like we would all sell our souls to get into your library!

I've got Silk Road out from the library and am hoping to fit it in during March.

I thought I would join you but my library doesn't have the book. :(

It sounds good though so if you end up liking it I might search for it elsewhere.

Oh that is a shame your library doesn't have it. Maybe it is because it is a fairly new release?
Would be nice to have company on it as I am not sure what to expect.
Mind you, there is the possibility that I can't fit it in.
I have a few books to fit into the first half of March and am doing a buddy read of Monster Hunter International (saw you had read it) mid March. From there I am open, but I know MHI is a long book and I don't know how long it will take me to read.

There is *gasp* a romance in Silk Road I am pretty sure. O_O
Not a romance book though. I think it is just one of the storylines, but, wel, even a slight whiff of romance can be offputting for me. :-)

Some of the reviews mention the romance but at least one of them says it's not a historical romance. Surprised me that you were going to read it after I read the summary that mentioned the romance. :)

I loved MHI, I think I 3 starred it 'cause how can I give it more when I consider the books that I rated higher.......but for the type of book it is.....fantastic. Lucky for me one of the guys at work had them all and he lent them to me, I think I even read the third one before he did.

I just figured out why I can't get it. It's not released here until May 1.

Oh..loved it? See I regard 3 star as borderline fail. If I only just like a book, but could take it or leave it, I give it 3 and consider it a fail.
4 I really liked it and 5 I loved it. 2 I didn't like it, 1 I absolutelt hate it. :-)

I was cautious when I saw your 3 star and I have to admit. I read the first chapter or so the other wek to get a taste and found the writing quite bad. I haven't made up my mind whether that will bother me in this one as it had that graphic novel/comic book feel.

Very much a comic book/campy feel to it but I loved them because of that. Our rating sounds about the same except for the 3 star, I consider these books good but not good enough to own, unlike 4 and 5 stars. I'll keep reading a 3 star author and/or series and enjoy them but would never rave about them.

These weren't a good enough quality book to give more than a three star but I loved them anyway. Does that make sense?

Terri wrote: "Oh..loved it? See I regard 3 star as borderline fail. If I only just like a book, but could take it or leave it, I give it 3 and consider it a fail.
4 I really liked it and 5 I loved it. 2 I didn'..."

No!? That explains some of your comments to me on my reviews. I'm actually having a conversation elsewhere with someone about how irritating it is when people use the GR ratings in their own way. One of the things that first attracted me to this site over others was that providing guidelines should mean that everyone's ratings are comparable: 3 stars means "I like it" - no reason to necessarily explain 'dropping two stars', it simply never earned them.

Lee, when I ask you, or anyone else, why they drop two stars it isn't to annoy them. Most of the time it is just being friendly and coversational. Chatting about their rating.
For some books it is to find out what was it about the book that meant it 'never earned the extra star or stars'. If a person doesn't mention it in the review how am I supposed to know?
I don't use ratings in 'my own way' I use it exactly the same as everyone else. The problem is, everyone has different interpretations on what precisely just liking a book means to them. That is just people being different, not carbon copies of each other.
That is what I like about Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ. That people can have a different definition of what a 3 star 'I liked it' rating means to them and not feel like that is annoying.

I am the same Dawn. I will never give 3 stars to a book I won't finish. And I can continue with a series that I am rating 3 stars consistently.

An example of this is the Gail Carriger series. It has never appealed to me much and never got under my skin in a good way, for obvious reasons (romance explosion), but bizarrely, I like them enough to stay up to date with the series.