Suggestions and poll for May-August 2008

[Elspeth]

Originally Posted by LadyCat

The reviews (for Royal Physicians Visit) were all over the place but most seemed favorable. However, I think I'll move it to the bottom of the wish list after reading your review. And thank you for sharing it with me.

As for the Princess Margaret book by Tim Heald. B&N doesn't have it, BAM doesn't either. And it takes 4 to 7 weeks for shipping via Amazon (sometimes it ships sooner but you never know with them). Borders on line is via Amazon but I'm hoping it is on the shelf at the local Borders. If not, well, I guess I'll be reading it in 4-7 weeks.

Cat

I ordered mine from the Amazon Marketplace Sellers programme at Amazon.co.uk. They have it in stock at Amazon.co.uk if you don't want to buy a used copy. If you're signed up for Amazon.com, you should be able to buy from the British Amazon.

There are also second-hand copies available from Amazon.com, and they'd ship a lot faster than 4-7 weeks.

[ysbel]

Now for a historical read, this novel based on the premise of Henry VIII's autobiography does indeed look interesting. I read some snippets standing up in a book store.

Amazon.com: The Autobiography of Henry VIII: With Notes by His Fool, Will Somers: Margaret George: Books

[LadyCat]

Originally Posted by ysbel

Now for a historical read, this novel based on the premise of Henry VIII's autobiography does indeed look interesting. I read some snippets standing up in a book store.

Amazon.com: The Autobiography of Henry VIII: With Notes by His Fool, Will Somers: Margaret George: Books

Sounds like an interesting read and, if the first page is anything to go by, it should be quite entertaining as well. I thought this might also be a good one to consider. It will probably be more of a Reader's Digest of these 5 queens but they lead such vastly different and interesting lives.

Barnes*&*Noble.com - Books: Born to Rule, by Julia P. Gelardi, Paperback

Cat

[LadyCat]

Originally Posted by Elspeth

I ordered mine from the Amazon Marketplace Sellers programme at Amazon.co.uk. They have it in stock at Amazon.co.uk if you don't want to buy a used copy. If you're signed up for Amazon.com, you should be able to buy from the British Amazon.

There are also second-hand copies available from Amazon.com, and they'd ship a lot faster than 4-7 weeks.

Thanks Elspeth. I'll check my local Borders tomorrow - though I must admit I'm not too hopeful they will have it in stock. If n success in that quarter I'll order it used from Amazon and keep my fingers crossed.

Cat

[Russophile]

A couple Greg King's I've wanted to get to:
The Duchess of Windsor, the Uncommon Life of Wallis Simpson and
The Mad King: The Life and Times of Ludwig II of Bavaria.

If I can, I will try to persuade him to come post on this forum about his books if we do a book of the month. But he's so darned busy!!!

[ysbel]

It looks like a lot of people are ordering Amazon.com: Princess Margaret: Tim Heald: Books.

[Elspeth]

I've read his Duchess of Windsor book and really liked it. I'd be interested in having that be a book club selection for one month because it's a different perspective on Wallis.

[Elspeth]

We have a list of about five people who've expressed interest in Tim Heald's Princess Margaret book. Are there any other people to add to the list?

[Elspeth]

Originally Posted by LadyCat

Sounds like an interesting read and, if the first page is anything to go by, it should be quite entertaining as well. I thought this might also be a good one to consider. It will probably be more of a Reader's Digest of these 5 queens but they lead such vastly different and interesting lives.

Barnes*&*Noble.com - Books: Born to Rule, by Julia P. Gelardi, Paperback

Cat

"Born To Rule" isn't really a Readers Digest sort of experience because it goes to some lengths to compare the experiences of the five cousins as well as tell their individual stories. I'd recommend it.

And I didn't mean to put you off The Royal Physician's Visit; I guess I was just surprised how much twisted religious fervour there was at the Danish court back then, considering that we tend to see Denmark as a bastion of common sense and tolerance these days. I was rather horrified at some of what I was reading, but it was because the actual situation there was horrifying, not because the book itself was a problem. You tend to think of the birth of the Enlightenment as a positive step in the history of Europe, but it was really interesting to read about how hard a birth it was in some countries.

[sirhon11234]

Here are two suggestions:

Princess Masako: Prisoner of the Chrysanthemum Throne

A Royal Duty

[tinkerbell1948]

Yep I'm happy to buy this book

[Elspeth]

I ordered it second hand from an Amazon bookseller in England, so it should hopefully arrive sometime in the next week or two.

[TheTruth]

In the Diana books, I'd suggest Bradford's biography which is fairly unbiased. The Diana Chronicles by Tina Brown is a book you should consider. It contains a great amount of sources and it's a really different way to learn about Diana.

For Queen Elizabeth II, I've read a tremendous biography by Marc Roche, Elizabeth II, La dernière Reine (Elizabeth II, the last Queen). Very interesting but unfortunately it has only been published in French.

[sirhon11234]

For the Diana books, Ever After by Anne Edwards.

[Russophile]

Originally Posted by Elspeth

We have a list of about five people who've expressed interest in Tim Heald's Princess Margaret book. Are there any other people to add to the list?

That's a good start. Maybe after this Month, or slate it for April, you can take the suggestions offered and make a poll??

[LadyCat]

Originally Posted by Elspeth

"Born To Rule" isn't really a Readers Digest sort of experience because it goes to some lengths to compare the experiences of the five cousins as well as tell their individual stories. I'd recommend it.

And I didn't mean to put you off The Royal Physician's Visit; I guess I was just surprised how much twisted religious fervour there was at the Danish court back then, considering that we tend to see Denmark as a bastion of common sense and tolerance these days. I was rather horrified at some of what I was reading, but it was because the actual situation there was horrifying, not because the book itself was a problem. You tend to think of the birth of the Enlightenment as a positive step in the history of Europe, but it was really interesting to read about how hard a birth it was in some countries.

Elspeth, we may have to exclude you from the book club -- seems you've read just about everything published already.

Don't worry that you put me off reading RPV and thanks for the further insight into the book. It sounds fascinating and I do plan to order it.

Cat

[Elspeth]

Russophile and LadyCat have told me they're also interested.

[iowabelle]

For those of you with a bent for "ancient" history, I stumbled across a biography of Anne Boleyn's sister-in-law, the infamous Lady Rochford who figured in so many Tudor scandals. I was flipping through it in Barnes & Noble and thought it sounded very interesting -- a glimpse at a figure who keeps popping up (rather like a malevolent Forrest Gump) but who seems to fly under most biographers' radars.

[ysbel]

We merged the two book club threads so as not to drive members crazy.

First of what we'll take Russophile's suggestion and start a poll so you can vote on the books you'd like to read. We'll set the poll so you can vote on more than one book. Whoever could only read one book?

We're hoping that you won't be too embarassed for other members to know what book you voted for. (We figured at least that if you were willing to take part in a book club, you wouldn't be TOO embarassed to let other people know the books you're interested in.) But it will help us coordinate the club.

If you have some more book suggestions then by all means post them here in the thread and we'll add them to the poll.

I'm looking forward to this Royal Book Club. I think it will be a lot of fun.

[Elspeth]

Here's a book that was recommended to me by Roslyn and which I've nearly finished: The Marlborough House Set by Anita Leslie, granddaughter of one of the members of this group of aristocrats who were friendly with Edward VII during his years as Prince of Wales and later as King.

Amazon.com: The Marlborough House set: Anita Leslie: Books