Mirror and the Light Hilary Mantel....while I'm waiting

[CountessConstance]

I loved the first two of the Thomas Cromwell books; I cannot remember when I last was so engrossed in a book. It lived (lives) on in my head, in a way that few books do.

So, while I am waiting for the next one (please God, before August, so I can bring it on holidays) is there anything that you've found simultaneously, as stimulating and challenging, and yet a page-turning good read?

Oh, good. Another fan.
I didn't think of re-reading the first two stupid, that seems obvious now that you've said it.

I will definitely reread the first two but not until I know the publication date of the third. I also found myself totally immersed; really looking forward to getting back into them!

I loved Wolf Hall but struggled with Bring up the bodies.
I might try to re-read the and see if I fare better.

Loved them and also can't wait for the new one. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sunne-Splendour-Sharon-Penman-ebook/dp/B008NB2GI2/ref=sr11_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1551647161&sr=8-1&keywords=the+sunne+in+splendour+sharon+penman

the Sunne in Splendour had a similar effect on me. It's about Richard III and I never wanted it to end.

Also Nora Lofts the Townhouse Trilogy, https://www.amazon.co.uk/Town-House-Suffolk-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B00EMM40NK/ref=pdcpp3513/257-8313004-8194062??encoding=UTF8&pdrddi=B00EMM40NK&pdrddr=ae05cbff-3df8-11e9-9b9f-e50f1baa143f&pdrddw=tlq3H&pdrddwg=1WQjh&pfrddp=01704ebe-a86a-4b47-8c36-0f9f5bbc2882&pfrddr=ZWS2Y4S5E92X3896YV7W&psc=1&refRID=ZWS2Y4S5E92X3896YV7W

to PrincessMargaret

Thank you. I'll get the Sunne one, it sounds right up my street.

Has anyone read her "A place of greater safety"?
I might get that also, to tide me over?

Try A Place Of Greater Safety also Mantel French Rev

A place of greater safety is extraordinary.

Thanks Barton and TemporaryPermanent?
I've ordered that one and am looking forward to reading.

She is such an intelligent writer or she makes me feel intelligent while reading.

I downloaded "The Sunne in Splendour" last night (but fell asleep before starting on it).

I lent A Place of Greater Safety to a French friend. She loved it and said that although she had done the French Revolution at school, she learnt such a lot more from the book.

oooh good, eddismairswife

Although, with all of these recommendations, I worry, that it may turn out to be like a madly anticipated film. Never seems as good as the one that you went to, just because your friend wanted to see it.

Hilary Mantel's more contemporary novels are good too - I llked Eight Months on Ghazzah Street especially.

Have you read C J Sansom's Shardlake books? They are set in 16th century England and feature a lawyer, who at the beginning of the series is working for Thomas Cromwell, though it should be said that Cromwell is not a central character.

I’ve attempted A Place of Greater Safety several times, and despite being a devoted HM fan, couldn’t get on with it at all. I love her Beyond Black, though.

A mutual slight acquaintance says that being involved with the RSC production stopped all work on The Mirror and the Light for a long time, her health is currently poor again, and that HM’s mother died. I’m still hoping...

Ooh.. thanks for the heads up. I didn't know there was another one coming. I'll have a look at the others recommended on this thread. I'll second Elkiedee in that the Shardlake series is fantastic.

Oh fab, more recommendations.

I have to be honest and say that it's not so much the period about which she is writing that entrances me, so much her writing, her attention to detail, her use of language, her insights into motivations and manipulations.

I'm sorry to hear that Hilary has lost her mother and had bad health.

I’m also looking forward to the next instalment. I loved Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies and the way she turned perceptions of Cromwell and More on their hand. I went to a Catholic school and More was obviously well-regarded. She made me loath him in the book!

I'm afraid it doesn't look as if The Mirror And The Light will be published this year, though I hope I'm wrong. I saw an article in the new year, listing the top books to be published this year, month by month, and there was no mention of it.

I definitely don’t think so, Clawdy. More’s the pity.

Oh? that's a pity Clawdy.
Though, as above, if Hilary has had a bereavement and been unwell, I can understand.

I think her mother’s death may have been a couple of years ago now — and HM has always had very poor health. (Her memoir is the most infuriating read on the long term failure to diagnose her endometriosis, which is why she doesn’t have children.) She’s said in a number of interviews that she had unusuallly good health for her while working on the Cromwell novels, so I’m hoping that hasn’t ended.

Zoe Oldenburg's 'The Workd is Not Enough' and 'The Cornerstone' are brilliant.

They are set during the 12th century, and are not as political as Wolf Hall, but are well written and the period detail is utterly convincing.

"A Place of Greater Safety" arrived this morning.....what a tome- it's a real doorstopper of a book cant wait to dig in.

But, I've also got "Milkman" on my reading list and I'm not good with "stream of consciousness" books :-/

I'm afraid part of the reason I've never finished it is that I do a lot of reading on public transport and in the bath, and it is like carrying a large family Bible around with you (and hard on the wrists in the bath...)