tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post4586395955269349065..comments2024-03-12T06:01:22.059-05:00Comments on Reading the Past: A Canadian historical fiction showcase, part 2Sarah Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13340312953393474963noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-13339726912787288132011-09-03T06:01:49.061-05:002011-09-03T06:01:49.061-05:00Thank you for telling us about these books; the on...Thank you for telling us about these books; the only one of them I've heard of is "The Winter Palace."<br />Luckily the book I most want to read (The Virgin Cure) is being published in the U.S. Sadly, it's hardcover; no Kindle release listed yet, either.Taranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-37354483813414582632011-09-01T09:30:48.541-05:002011-09-01T09:30:48.541-05:00Yay, I love Canada! I almost moved there a few ye...Yay, I love Canada! I almost moved there a few years ago...<br /><br />Good picks!Lavenderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18175484410155749145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-90474077238065446042011-08-31T12:39:21.787-05:002011-08-31T12:39:21.787-05:00Amazon's giving it a fair try. Can't say ...Amazon's giving it a fair try. Can't say I'm happy about that. Whether the sale is allowed to proceed in the UK is still pending.Sarah Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13340312953393474963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-85455998825526930172011-08-31T12:17:22.973-05:002011-08-31T12:17:22.973-05:00I've heard that Book Depository is in the proc...I've heard that Book Depository is in the process of being bought by Amazon.<br /><br />Sarah other LibrarianAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-48284604967228830602011-08-29T20:44:29.266-05:002011-08-29T20:44:29.266-05:00I bought Stachniak's first novel from Bookclos...I bought Stachniak's first novel from Bookcloseouts too. Wouldn't have come across it otherwise. One of these days I will read it. A friend from the Winnipeg area's told me about the McNally & Robinson bookstore there. I've never been to one, though I've been to many a Chapters store in Toronto and London (yep, the big evil chain). I did a ton of shopping there. Not cheap!<br /><br />Annis, thanks so much for that link. Adam Williams is another novelist whose books I ought to read! (Unfortunately Book Depository cancelled my order for his latest, and I didn't get it elsewhere yet...) What a great story, and I like the ending of his piece, too. "The story is all."Sarah Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13340312953393474963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-23606445227184489182011-08-29T18:01:08.336-05:002011-08-29T18:01:08.336-05:00"Byzantium" is the story of the legendar..."Byzantium" is the story of the legendary 11th century Viking warrior-king, Harold Hardrada, and focuses on the time he spent as captain of the Varangian guard in Byzantium. It's written in the grand, romantic epic style, but a warning for those who don't like violence- given the time and place, there's plenty of it!<br /><br />Harald was part of a culture which believed that fame - the story of a man's bold and brave deeds -were all that would be left of him after his death. Adam Williams gives a wonderful account of how Harald made sure his deeds would be recorded accurately in his blog post called <a href="http://www.adam-williams.net/literary-speeches/history-and-a-good-story" rel="nofollow">History and a Good Story</a>- go to the end of the post.<br /><br />Here's an extract:<br />"Apparently, even as he was wielding an axe at Stamford Bridge, seeing his army die around him, he had behind him a scribe – and as he was fighting what he knew was his last battle he was composing verses about his own death, because he wanted to get the record straight. Lopping off heads, he composed a stanza, and then had the scribe repeat it back to him. He thought it infelicitous and composed another (this as he was plucking arrows from his pectorals). Now THERE is a dedicated historical novelist!"Annishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02367569632016734415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-15306261484294323012011-08-29T15:15:08.716-05:002011-08-29T15:15:08.716-05:00I read THE DUCHESS OF MILAN - fascinating, but a v...I read THE DUCHESS OF MILAN - fascinating, but a very violent period in history.<br /><br />I have one of Eva Stacniak's earlier novels which I got from BookCloseouts based on the life of a Polish countess - interesting part of 18th century history.<br /><br />And I remember going to Winnipeg's McNally and Robinson bookstore in pre-Amazon days and being amazed at the wealth of Canadian (i.e. non-USA) titles which I could browse. More grist for my reading mill! Plus, at that time Joanna Trollope had a year lag between the UK and the USA so I was able to get some of her titles.<br /><br />Sarah Other LibrarianAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-33642389033325997342011-08-28T15:01:47.775-05:002011-08-28T15:01:47.775-05:00Will do :)Will do :)Tesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15636189059910920978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-49178993629128623372011-08-28T13:10:08.905-05:002011-08-28T13:10:08.905-05:00If you read any of them before I do, let me know w...If you read any of them before I do, let me know what you think - most of these won't be appearing in the US so I'll have to buy them if I want them.Sarah Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13340312953393474963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-89850349853111456972011-08-28T11:40:25.623-05:002011-08-28T11:40:25.623-05:00I LOVED Duchess of Milan...will have to look for t...I LOVED Duchess of Milan...will have to look for the new one. Thanks for the heads up on the other Canadian HF...a couple have already hit the library shelves :)Tesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15636189059910920978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-77507555995448079732011-08-28T08:38:19.694-05:002011-08-28T08:38:19.694-05:00Thanks, Vicki, and glad to hear there'll be a ...Thanks, Vicki, and glad to hear there'll be a 3rd one. I'll note it for next time!Sarah Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13340312953393474963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-49709306686241101202011-08-28T07:14:48.585-05:002011-08-28T07:14:48.585-05:00Still a while yet until Spring but Gold Mountain, ...Still a while yet until Spring but Gold Mountain, the third in the Klondike Gold Rush series by Vicki Delany, will be released by Dundurn in May. In the meanwhile, the first two books, Gold Digger and Gold Fever, are available.Vicki Delanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01106480550553972177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-50363442025033160692011-08-27T21:23:58.564-05:002011-08-27T21:23:58.564-05:00Annis, it was definitely exciting to see a new one...Annis, it was definitely exciting to see a new one from him at last. I still haven't read Byzantium but will move it up on your recommendation! Duchess of Milan would be an ideal choice for reprinting in this age of Italian Renaissance fever :)<br /><br />Melissa - glad to hear it, and thanks! I reviewed The Birth House way back when and am looking forward to the new one. I'll wait for the US release for it but will be getting some of the others direct from Canada.<br /><br />Daphne - if you haven't read Duchess of Milan, it's well worth it. It's of my favorite novels about the period.Sarah Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13340312953393474963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-18390399623403957622011-08-27T19:54:47.863-05:002011-08-27T19:54:47.863-05:00I really want to read The Winter Palace! I've...I really want to read The Winter Palace! I've heard of The Duchess of Milan so I might have to check it out.Daphnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12838072651419264066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-6169490006848880992011-08-27T19:48:33.485-05:002011-08-27T19:48:33.485-05:00Thanks for the post, Sarah!
As a Canadian I'...Thanks for the post, Sarah! <br /><br />As a Canadian I'm always on the lookout for historical fiction set in Canada. Your posts are an immense help to me in this regard. I'll definitely be checking out Ami McKay's latest, as well as the new Wayne Johnson and Pauline Holdstock novels. Even though their novels aren't set in Canada, Helen Humphreys and Eva Stacniak upcoming releases are definitely on my wish list.Melissa @ Confessions of an Avid Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03320886752332455903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-76545034888372248282011-08-27T19:46:20.167-05:002011-08-27T19:46:20.167-05:00Thanks, Sarah - there are some great looking read...Thanks, Sarah - there are some great looking reads here to add to theTBR wishlist :) And how cool to hear that Michael Ennis has come up with another novel after all this time- "Duchess of Milan" and "Byzantium" are on my list of ever-green favourites.Annishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02367569632016734415noreply@blogger.com