Tag Archives: Shardlake

Books

A year is along time for a book

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This time last year, I had found the Ian Fleming ‘Bond’ novels, as well as Sue Grafton’s ‘Alphabet’ series. The festive season, saw me stuck to the e-reader because of them. I have two of the Fleming Canon left, and with Grafton, I am on ‘Q is for Quarry’. I am putting of the Fleming books, as I can see myself being sad at them ending. This was somewhat heightened, when I watched ‘SkyFall’ for the third time, as well as few of the Pierce Brosnan ones. It’s Christmas, it’s not the same without Bond is some shape for form. I don’t remember there being a single Bond movie on last year, if you don’t have Sky. Positively spoiled this year. Then the new Bond movie was announced, and I couldn’t help but feel a bit smug. I know about S.P.E.C.T.R.E! I have always liked Bond is some way, the face of Bond was just a happy bonus. Reading the original novelisation does add to the depth of the franchise. You start to appreciate the nuances to a very complex character.

With Sue Grafton, I have found myself a bit stuck. I have got as far as Q, but I can’t seem to push myself forwards and through the book. The book does have a slight columbo, seventies feel to it. Yes, I know, it’s set in the 80’s. But I think it straddles the two decades, and there is a dusty quarry involved. I would quite like to get through to the end of the series. It’s not a bad series, some books are good, at breakneck speed. Others are a bit of an amble through the countryside when it is raining.

The ‘cousins at war’ series by Phillipa Gregory is also somewhat stuck. There had been the television series, I didn’t watch it. Sort of put me off really. The way that the book was written, it was as though the book was instructions how to film it.

History has featured a little too. Two books about The Plantagenets, one by Derek wilson, the second by Dan Jones, were very easy to read. Informative and quite accessible. That said, Lucy Wolsey featured recently. In the summer, having gone to Hampton Court, I read ‘Henry VIII: King and Court’ by Alison Weir.

For counselling, I finally got around to reading ‘Counselling for toads’. A very good, character rich description of Transactional Analysis. The one big book, that i was waiting for, was of course the return of Shardlake in ‘Lamentation’. Glad I waited, and I will probably read some of it’s predecessors.

There have been a few addtions made. I have succumbed, and got the first two of the Fire and Ice saga. As well as bernard Cromwells  Warriors series, and some one called D.K. Wilson. Oh, I tried to make a start on ‘The Godfather’. I have read the first chapter, and it’s hard. it’s very difficult, with lots of detail.

NaBloPoMo

#NaBloPoMo: Tower of London trip, years ago

Many moons ago, I was lucky enough to take a trip to London and do the touristy thing. I still do go to London, but just not as much with the sight seeing. The one trip that I wanted to make, and would like to make again is to the Tower.

In rather liking the Tudor court, you can’t really escape the Tower. Especially as there were lot of unhappy endings that happened there. Since Her Majesty keeps her shiny stuff there, even more reason to see it.

The Norman fortress is striking, a proper robust castle. Leaves the likes of Warwick well and truly in the dust. Really is a proper castle. I walked passed traitors gate, and stood there to take the picture. I could imagine Anne Boleyn seeing that gate-I doubt it was labelled in her time-and imagine her thinking oh dear. That was the point of no return. To see that gate, meant you were rather done for.

So walking past St.Peter’s chapel, you see the are where a scaffold would have been created. I remember there being a glass pillow next to the sign. I cannot imagine, the horror of those executions, the sheer public spectacle of it all. Thankfully, Her Majesty doesn’t have that power any more. I can’t imagine her signing the Act of Attainder over her cornflakes.

Reading the ‘Shardlake’ series, the Tower features prominently. Even describes the menageries. And walking around, you do wander how they kept the lions safe. That would be altogether rather scary. You have to sample both the Tower, and also Hampton Court, to get a better idea of the Tudor court. Wandering around there, and at Hampton court, you can imagine the daily life within the two places. These weren’t just protection facilities, they were homes. They are epic edifices, and I’d recommend going to both. If you take a look at the website for http://www.hrp.org.uk/ that has a lot of useful information on there. I also recommend Kensington palace. That was another day trip. Checked out the dresses that were on show at the time. Plus, you get to see all the Queen Victoria stuff. To think that she and I are the same height, four foot eleven. Though I do have half an inch on her, to be fair. She was tiny! And there is a rather nice garden there.

When you see the size of the Kitchen’s at Hampton Court, you realise how Henry might have got so big.

Recently, the tower was home to the poppy art installation. Sadly, I haven’t been able to go see it. I do hope to visit the tower again, and even Hampton court.

Books

Still going with Shardlake: Lamentation

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I like Shardlake, I really do, and I eagerly awaited ‘Lamentation’ til it was available on my e-reader on Diwali Day. Seriously. I had been clock watching, counting down the days. The time awaiting this next instalment has passed slowly. I even re-read ‘Heartstone’ so that I would be up to speed. I didn’t want to miss the transition and not know what was happening.

Naturally, I did actually read a few chapters on Diwali night, I just had to. I am still going. According to my e-reader, I have three hours left to read. Which is fine, I am roughly half way through the fifty odd chapters. I cannot get through them quick enough, and real life does get in the way of sitting down with a cup of tea to flick the e-pages.

Matthew Shardlake rides again, battling through the minefield that is the Tudor Court. I won’t, by way of courtesy, give away the plot lines. I don’t think that this fair, readers should have their own impetus to make their way through the texts. One thing is for sure, I personally prefer Shardlake, to the the italian fella concocted by S.J,Parris. I read ‘Heresy’ just to see what other alternatives there were to Sansom and Shardlake. Parris is certainly easier to read. But not as good. In my mind, there was no contest. That said, i do plan to make way through the rest of the Parris series. There is even the Rory Clemens books to read too.

Going back Shardlake though. We have the beastly Richard Rich there still. Whenever I read that man’s name, I want to boo-his. He’s a piece of work, and torments Matthew no end. Can’t stand the man. Walsingham, the man who aided Elizabeth I makes his mark, and I cannot read him without thinking of Geoffrey Rush. And Burley, is of course Lord Attenborough. These images help to keep it alive. I am not sure, though. About Matthew Shardlake. For years, Sir Kenneth Branagh has been touted as being Shardlake. As much as I try, i cannot out the face to the character. Even with Barak, and the new guy Nicholas. Skelly, I am sure its whasis name David Bradley, good old Mr.Filch from Harry Potter. And Tamasin, Mrs.barak, Would be Dr.Watson’s wife. Then there is Guy, the moor. The Physician. I am waiting, for him to have a more meatier, heavier presence in ‘Lamentation’. I would like him to have a more prominent role. If say the series was a TV show, you’d want Guy now to be part of the main cast. I’m sure he would ask for a pay rise and a better contract in becoming so. I still can’t see his face though, and when reading Parris, it was a though her Italian was Guy.

As mentioned, I still have a lot of reading to do. I couldn’t say at this stage, what the ending might be. I still want to slap Richard Rich though. Still have a burning question or a few burning questions, Shardlake is now up to Queen Katherine Parr, the last of Henry VIII’s wives. What happens next? We have Edward, mary, Elizabeth. Will Shardlake be drawn into the next set of sovereigns, as thunder rolls around the throne.  With Walsingham, perhaps he will, Edward has yet to feature, in this story as far as I have read it.

Who knows?!