Since I have no memory whatsoever, and haven't had motivation/time to really post, I guess I should start back into it - thanks largely to actual time to read, and a pretty decent used bookstore.

Last week's lunchtime fare was Dissolution by C.J. Sampson. More Tudor history, but a mystery! This takes place shortly after Queen Jane Seymour's death, during Cromwell's attempt to dissolve the monasteries. The main character is a commissioner working for Cromwell who's been sent to investigate the murder of another commissioner at a monastery under investigation.

This week: The Music of the Spheres by Elizabeth Redfern. This one snagged my attention because who doesn't love getting books for $0.75? The location is England, 1795. The air is rife with the aftereffects of the French Revolution, and the story circles around a killer whose victims are always young and red-haired females. There's quite a lot of astronomical information in the book - since there's a group of astronomers that seem to be the center of the plot. So far, so good. It's a fun read.

Other vaguely recent discoveries, authorwise - Steven Saylor. More historical mysteries, although these are set in Rome. I've enjoyed the two I've picked up.

Phillipa Gregory's continuing to write excellent books - her latest is The Constant Princess, concerning Catherine of Aragon's first years in England. It's a different spin on her marriage with Arthur, and I really enjoyed it too.

Change in plan: currently reading A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray.

So far, it's going down the gothic lit checklist, and is a very interesting read. I'm wondering if the author had a conscious use of Gemma's red hair, or if it's just all those Victorian deviants sneaking in.

Supernatural - check
Maiden in peril - check
Checkered past - depends on how you look at it
Forbidding edifice - check (in the form of the finishing school)

No Byronic hero just yet, but I'm sure there will be one, and chances are very good that he'll have a checkered past as well.

To begin soon....

Well, I have a stack of books beside my desk, and need some motivation to read them, so if you'd be interested in chittering about any of these, please let me know, and we'll revive literatae.

Neverwhere, Neil Gaiman
A Presumption of Death, Jill Paton Walsh & Dorothy L. Sayers
Vittorio the Vampire, Anne Rice
Lost, Gregory Maguire
Tudor Women, Alison Plowden
The Virgin's Lover, Phillipa Gregory (no, it's not some cheesy romance - Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley, courtesy of the author of The Other Boleyn Girl

I just ordered "The Wives of Henry VIII" by Antonia Fraser, so I will be recieving and reading it shortly, and I can't wait to discuss it with you guys!!

I am a complete Tudor History fan, reading everything from fictious Philippa Gregory to factual David Starkey and Allison Weir. But I hope, through this community to be introduced to tons of other amazing works of literature!

Though nobody has posted here since July 10th, I'll hold out hope somebody comes and finds it!!

-Kat

tanz_fanatika suggested that I join up--is there still time for me to jump in on the Wives, or should I wait for the next one?

Welcome to Literatae - a community of highly-opinionated and voracious book-consumers. Okay, so some of us aren't that opinionated or that voracious, but we do love discussing what we read.

I'm Jen (or Syn or synique, since remembering real life names can be difficult on the internet) and I am the executive operative of this mission. Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to come along with a literature freak and some other fairly normal people on a random quest of authors' and publishers' glory.

Items that will likely aid this mission: a bit of free time in which to devour chosen books, a willingness to discuss what you've read, and your choice of a library card, a Waldenbooks'/Barnes & Noble/insert your favorite bookstore's name here frequent buyer/discount card.

Your rendezvous with other operatives will be at this local and possibly in a to-be-disclosed IRC channel for live discussion. However, contingent upon your acceptance of this mission, Headquarters makes certain requests regarding your behavior towards other operatives. First of all, behave with some semblance of courtesy towards your fellow operatives. Secondly, immaturity beyond reasonable bounds will not be tolerated. We can all act like adults, preferably rational and reasonable ones. Flaming will absolutely NOT be tolerated - joking is fine, but being a mean-spirited jackass about someone's opinion is not. Other requests will be posted as HQ deems necessary. Your executive operative reserves the right to remove/ban any operative from this mission with HQ's approval for any violation of operating procedure. In addition, other operatives may request the removal/ban of a fellow operative for violations, but their request to HQ must be accompanied by actual evidence of such violations.

Participation in operative discussion is not required, but highly encouraged. For those who feel limited in such capacity, your executive operative as well as any chief operative may post points to ponder for each selected target. Operatives whose book suggestions are pursued by the team will be given chief op status temporarily for that portion of the mission.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail your executive operative. This message will self destruct in five seconds. Good luck.