Tuesday, 5 January 2016

In 2015 I Mostly Read . . .

So here's the 'reading list' for 2015:

November 2015 - January 2016 - more Tudors, more Dudleys (lots of them this time), in The Uncrowned Kings of England: The Black History of the Dudleys and the Tudor Throne by Derek Wilson. Really interesting coverage of the Dudleys and Tudors from Henry VII to the end of the line - felt quite sorry for the Dudleys in the end!

October / November 2015 - more on the Elizabeth and Dudley theme, with Sarah Gristwood's Elizabeth and Leicester - good coverage of a fascinating relationship.

September / October 2015 - back to the Tudors again withDeath and the Virgin Queen by Chris Skidmore. Really enjoyed this analysis of the relationship between Dudley and Elizabeth, and what really happened to Amy Robsart?

September 2015 - follow up to The Mangle Street Murders(which was going for 99p) The Curse of the House of Foskett. As with its predecessor not the most stunning read, but passed the time for the price . . .

September 2015 - something a little different - Antoine Laurain's The President's Hat, an engaging little number where Francoise Mitterand's hat accidentally changes hands changing each recipient's life for the better along the way. A feel good read.

August 2015 - back to historical biography and Tudor: The Family Story (Leanda de Lisle) - interesting to trace the emergence of the Tudor dynasty from its origins with Owen Tudor, and the even more fascinating life of Margaret Beaufort. You couldn't make it up.

August 2015 - Neil Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane- charming story, and a riveting read, but somehow left me wanting more . . .

July 2015 - new 'Welsh Elf' book (as Martin calls them) -When in Rome the latest Hidden Mysteries - another cracking story.

June/July 2015 - back to Tudor historical biography and The Winter King - excellent biography of Henry VII.

April 2015 - second of the comedian Ian Moore's 'Mod in France' books C'est Modnifique - another amusing offering, and a good read.

March 2015 - Back to historical biography and a book onRasputin - interesting read, fascinating character!

February 2015 - Moved on to a couple of more modern 'romances' with a fantastical edge - Cecilia Ahern's A Place Called Here and The Book of Tomorrow - preferred the first one, the idea that there is a place where the lost things go . . .

February 2015 - Finally read a Neil Gaiman short story I'd downloaded from somewhere ages ago - The Truth is a Cave in the Black Mountains - as ever with Neil Gaiman an intriguing read. Based on references in his reviews ofJonathan Strange then moved on to Lud-in-the-Mist a charming story, juxtaposing the homely and the other. Good stuff.

January 2015 - Excited by the news that the BBC have made a series of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell decided it was time for a re-read. Had forgotten how good a book it is, what a wonderful and detailed mix of the historical and the magical. Looking forward to seeing what they make of it on screen.

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