Suggestions and poll for May-August 2008

[ysbel]

Would any of you be interested in a Royal book club?

The club could read different books about the royals each month and discuss. It wouldn't necessarily have to be about Charles and Diana - just any royal.

[selrahc4]

Originally Posted by ysbel

Would any of you be interested in a Royal book club?

The club could read different books about the royals each month and discuss. It wouldn't necessarily have to be about Charles and Diana - just any royal.

That sounds interesting.

[Russophile]

Originally Posted by ysbel

Would any of you be interested in a Royal book club?

The club could read different books about the each month and discuss. It wouldn't necessarily have to be about Charles and Diana - just any royal.

What a hoot! Like Oprah's but about Royalty! I'm game!
This will make me more rounded with royals, I would guess because I see there are lots and lots of others out there that are just as interesting. Could we vote on the books? Like this month's choice: Poll: Diana, Caroline of Monaco, Princess Matsuko, etc.

[jcbcode99]

I LOVE the idea. How do we get it started? And, what book is first??

[tinkerbell1948]

Actually that is a good idea!

I didn't buy or read the second Morton book, I thought "Enough is enough"

Now I'm curious as I didn't realise that Diana edited the first book to make Charles seem even more of a villian (not starting a discussion here LOL just making a comment)

[Fabulous Fake]

Originally Posted by ysbel

Would any of you be interested in a Royal book club?

The club could read different books about the royals each month and discuss. It wouldn't necessarily have to be about Charles and Diana - just any royal.

Yes please.

Count me in on that.

[ysbel]

Its good to see so many people interested in a book club.

Why don't some of you come up with some book recommendations for the book club?

[ysbel]

Well I'll be the first one. I would love to read this book about George V, Nicholas II, and Kaiser Wilhelm during WWI!

Amazon.com: King, Kaiser, Tsar: Three Royal Cousins Who Led the World to War: Catrine Clay: Books

[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

[britgrl]

DIDN'T Anita Leslie's grangmother have a relationship with the Duke of Connaught?

[HRH Kerry]

A couple of good choices. I've only read Born to Rule. Pretty good read but can be a tad confusing jumping back and forth with the different characters.

[ysbel]

Thanks for the feedback Kerry. Oh and if you have some books that you still want to read, then we'd love to hear your suggestions.

[Polly]

I've selected quite a few, and could happily read most of them. My first choice would be The Royal Physician's Visit, though I'm comfortable with whatever is selected.

I didn't realise that historical fiction could be included, which I think an excellent idea.

[Polly]

Thinking of historical novels, I have two favourites which immediately spring to mind, viz:

The Daughter of Time, Josephine Tey, is a much-acclaimed detective story. Written in the early 50s, it won a number of awards, particularly for its contribution to serious historical enquiry and discourse. It's an eminently readable novel which endeavours to acquit Richard III of the murder of his little nephews, and to many students of the era, including myself, succeeds. This award-winning novel is an excellent example of just how the historical record can be distorted for political advantage.

The second is Georgette Heyer's Royal Escape. Heyer is an engaging and deceptively light writer, but one of her Regency novels An Infamous Army, premised on the Battle of Waterloo, has actually been studied in some military academies due to the excellence of its depiction of military strategy.

Royal Escape concerns the defeat and flight of Charles II from England after the defeat in the Battle of Worcester in 1651. It's an intriguingly royal and suspenseful read.

I read both of these books as a teenager and delighted in them. I've read them both again, once or twice, as an adult, and their charms have not diminished.

Perhaps they could be included in some future list when the current suggestions have been exhausted?

[Elspeth]

I suggested to ysbel that each year we might designate a couple of months for a particular type of book. So maybe we can look at having a historical novel sometime later this year and run a separate vote for it.

I grew up on the Jean Plaidy and Georgette Heyer novels, so I totally sympathise with your desire to see these sorts of books represented! I also like the Sharon Kay Penman books but they might be rather long for a club. The Sunne in Splendour is her version of rehabilitating Richard III, although she pins the murders on a different culprit from the one fingered by Josephine Tey.

[candygirl_68]

that's a great idea Elspeth!

i know this book is not on the list, but i just read it recently and thought it might interest some of you, it's called:
Leap of faith: memoirs of an unexpected life by Queen Noor.
it's just a wonderful book!

[ysbel]

Originally Posted by Elspeth

I suggested to ysbel that each year we might designate a couple of months for a particular type of book. So maybe we can look at having a historical novel sometime later this year and run a separate vote for it.

I grew up on the Jean Plaidy and Georgette Heyer novels, so I totally sympathise with your desire to see these sorts of books represented! I also like the Sharon Kay Penman books but they might be rather long for a club. The Sunne in Splendour is her version of rehabilitating Richard III, although she pins the murders on a different culprit from the one fingered by Josephine Tey.

For certain long books we can give a longer time to read. So for example, instead of one month, we can take two months to read certain books.

[candygirl_68]

Originally Posted by ysbel

For certain long books we can give a longer time to read. So for example, instead of one month, we can take two months to read certain books.

you are right! sometimes one month might be too short!
we should have two or three months to read!
by the way, thanks again for that wonderful idea with the TRF book club!

[ysbel]

We're glad you like the suggestion. I, for one, look forward to reading books I may not have thought of.

We're looking at having threads and chat sessions where members can discuss the books. With the threads we have the option of starting the thread after everyone has finished the book or we could start the threads when people begin the book so that people can talk about the book as their reading. It changes the discussion a bit. The first scenario will be the members all discussing a book they have all read to its conclusion; the second scenario will be members sharing their impressions of a book while they are reading.

Either one is doable.