MedievalHistory

The Last Duel: A True Story of Crime, Scandal, and Trial by Combat in Medieval France | Eric Jager

If any of you don‘t know, @catiewithac is the most generous Litten. Thanks so much for this birthday package. It felt comforting/distracting after a terrible inaugural week. It was fun to open up every little thing - and I loved that the puzzle was from NPR/Invisibilia 😊. Lastly - great wrapping! (For those who can‘t see the little glass vial is matchsticks and says Burn Candles, Not Books)

dabbe 🤩🤩🤩 6d

sarahbarnes Happy Birthday! ♥️ 6d

AmyG Happy Birthday! 6d

Mollyanna That is wonderful! Happy birthday 🎂 6d

catiewithac I‘m so glad you liked it! Take care 🫂❤️ 6d

47 likes5 comments

BookmarkTavern

Queens Consort: England's Medieval Queens from Eleanor of Aquitaine to Elizabeth of York | Lisa Hilton

so-so

A fascinating work exploring the queens of Medieval England from Matilda of Flanders through to Elizabeth of York.

Very interesting! Dense, and I would have appreciated it more dipping in and out instead of reading it straight through. The best part though is the conclusion which examines the historical queens through the fictional lenses of Beowulf and Mallory‘s Arthurian saga. 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑

BookmarkTavern #Roll100 @PuddleJumper (edited) 3w

AnnCrystal Your kitty cat blends into your blanket 🤩💕😻🐾💝. 3w

Ruthiella Yes, it‘s hard to tell where the cat ends and the blanket begins! 😻😹 3w

PuddleJumper 😻😻 3w

76 likes1 stack add4 comments

bibliothecarivs

Going to Church in Medieval England | Nicholas Orme

p. 25: 'By the eleventh century... the church congregation formed a similar grouping to that of its members' everyday lives. One often began, continued, and ended one's spiritual life in the local church. One went there with one's neighbors. Most churches would grow in size in later times, but the essential parish church community had now been created.'

6 likes

bibliothecarivs

Going to Church in Medieval England | Nicholas Orme

Started. Looking forward very much to learning what church was like for my ancestors. Recommended to me by Tudor historian Norman Jones.

#UniteAgainstBookBans and #LetUtahRead

5 likes1 stack add

BarbaraBB

Tournament | David Crouch

#ToB25 makes me so greedy. So many books on that longlist appeal to me and so many Littens recommend them… I can‘t resist and bought these seven. For now! And I already had 8 more on my TBR-shelves so that makes 15 🤦🏻‍♀️

The shortlist always follows way too soon after the announcement of the longlist so I‘ll never read them in time but hey, maybe they all end up on the shortlist 😉

Megabooks, Hooked_on_books, squirrelbrain

Megabooks I just finished Good Material and really enjoyed it! 2mo

BarbaraBB @Megabooks Cindy loved it too so I have high hopes! I bought Model Home because of you too! And I am now reading this one, not sure what to think of it yet

Colored Television

2mo

squirrelbrain We‘ve picked pretty similar books to read! 2mo

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Megabooks I got Wolf, too thanks to Cindy! 2mo

sarahbarnes A few of these are on my list at the library too! 2mo

Hooked_on_books I‘ve been wildly trying to acquire as many books as I can from the list, too. 😂 We all understand each other! 2mo

BarbaraBB @Megabooks Couldn‘t resist that one either after her love for it! 2mo

BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_books I love that. No one in real life understands! (edited) 2mo

Suet624 It‘s a book frenzy! 2mo

BarbaraBB @Suet624 It is, FOMO all over 🤦🏻‍♀️ 2mo

AshleyHoss820 So many of these books have been on my GR TBR too! 😍 2mo

67 likes11 comments

squirrelbrain

Tournament | David Crouch

The books that I bought from the #ToBlonglist all arrived over the past few days. 😊 Plus, today, I got both books that I applied for on NetGalley, Lazarus Man and Model Home so I‘m thrilled about that!

Just need to find some time to read now - too much work as usual. Even audio isn‘t working - over 2 hours of driving a day but colleagues seem to think it‘s acceptable to ring for a ‘chat‘, as if I don‘t have 15 books to get through! 🙄

squirrelbrain See, Holly @Hooked_on_books - we‘re both as bad as each other! 🤪 2mo

AnneCecilie Looking forward to your thoughts on The History of Sound. Read somewhere that it‘s being turned into a movie featuring Paul Mescal and that piqued my interest 2mo

Hooked_on_books I love it! I managed to pick up Poor Deer and History of Sound as ebooks from the library. I also bought Lesser Ruins (and Short War), and they‘re on the way. And Bury Your Dead is on hold for me in print from the library. I‘ve read Yr Dead. I‘ll be interested to see what you think. I thought it was an interesting idea but it didn‘t completely work for me. 2mo

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squirrelbrain I think @BarbaraBB felt the same way as you about Yr Dead, @Hooked_on_books - I bought a used copy for Qd or Qe as I didn‘t have particularly high expectations. Same with The Material, although they both look almost new. 2mo

squirrelbrain @AnneCecilie - I saw that too, somewhere! And there was a pretty good review of the book in the UK press this past weekend. (After I‘d already ordered it, so I was relieved! ) 2mo

vlwelser Colleagues are problematic. I had to take a con call on the train yesterday. They should know that's reading time 2mo

AnneCecilie That‘s even better. I‘ve seen any reviews. Norwegian press doesn‘t do reviews until a book is translated into Norwegian, if even then. After reading some very spoilery reviews online, I don‘t read them anymore 2mo

BarbaraBB Great haul! I bought 7 while I still have many of them sitting on my shelves too, so no way ‘ll finish them before the shortlist will he announced - which is always way too soon! I‘ll share my purchases too! 2mo

squirrelbrain @vlwelser - I shouldn‘t have complained - just got stuck in a traffic queue for an hour and a half on the way home…. 🙄 Listened to plenty of my book though…. 2mo

squirrelbrain @AnneCecilie - I‘ll let you know how it is when (if!) I get to it. 2mo

squirrelbrain Looking forward to seeing your haul @BarbaraBB - I didn‘t order 2 more books yesterday, definitely not! 🤪 2mo

BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain Which ones did you definitely not order 😉?! 2mo

squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB - definitely not Liars, or The Book Censor‘s Library! 🤪 2mo

BarbaraBB Good choice not to order them 😂. I read Book Censor, it‘s very good, and Liars is patiently waiting on my shelves! 2mo

squirrelbrain Can you believe bookshop.org cancelled my order for Book Censor today?! @BarbaraBB I think there must be a problem here in the UK as it‘s not even available on Amazon. 🤷‍♀️ 2mo

BarbaraBB I bought it in a Dutch online store and had a look but they are no longer selling in it either. Maybe it‘s been banned 😉 2mo

Suet624 @AnneCecilie it‘s the first story in the book that‘s being turned into the movie. The book overall is fantastic. 2mo

Megabooks Cuckoo is really strange. Finished this morning and still thinking about it. 2mo

Megabooks That‘s a lovely stack too!! 2mo

squirrelbrain I‘m kind of looking forward to it, Meg, as I‘m sure it will be way out of my comfort zone. I did eventually bail on Manhunt though, when it was on the list. 😬 2mo

64 likes20 comments

ChaoticMissAdventures

Tournament | David Crouch

I am considering getting into TOB. It looks like it is 16 books from the previous year. I have been really confused about this event because they use pretty much the same symbol as the French Rugby team 😂

If you participate can you tell me what guy you into it and how much you participate? I read the website looks like random people are judges and 16 books are placed in brackets which the judges select a winner from.

ImperfectCJ There are two events each year, the main ToB in March and Camp ToB in the summer. During the main event, as I understand it, the judges are authors. During the summer event, it's just discussions led by fairly random people (I led one last August, and I'm fairly random). We usually have a shadow ToB on Litsy, which @BarbaraBB spearheads, I think. I usually try to read from the longlist and then try to complete the shortlist. 2mo

ImperfectCJ I hope I'm not making up any of this. @Megabooks and @squirrelbrain are also involved a lot, if I remember correctly, but I cannot remember the hashtags to search and confirm, so hopefully others will correct my mistakes. 2mo

Megabooks I'll chime in about what we do here on Litsy. So the ToB folks come up with a longlist, and we all get really excited(!) and start reading amazing books. Then about three weeks later they come out with the shortlist and those are seeded into brackets similar to the March Madness US NCAA basketball brackets. Most years @Barbarabb has taken their brackets and had Littens vote on the brackets the ToB chose and then we all have fun discussing 2mo

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Megabooks their votes versus our votes etc. On the real ToB website they have judges (often famous authors) judge the battles and have side commentary, too. Last year, we were collectively so disappointed by the ones the official ToB chose, Barbara, @squirrelbrain and I ran a full parallel ToB where we made our own brackets (based on Littens input) then ran a whole separate ToB here. It remains to be seen whether we'll do that full parallel 2mo

Megabooks ToB this year, but for now, we're just all having fun pursuing the longlist and over spending on books! 2mo

ImperfectCJ @Megabooks Thank you so much for chiming in! I will enthusiastically second the "we all get really excited." I really have no idea why I get so into ToB as compared to other book events...maybe it's how accessible it is? It feels like we (the readers) are invited to participate as equals in a way that we aren't with other competitions (or "competitions," since ToB is kind of tongue-in-cheek). 2mo

Bookwormjillk I like ToB because the books tend to be a little offbeat and it doesn‘t take itself too seriously. 2mo

Ruthiella What I love is the transparency of the judgment and the commentary on the official website. You don‘t get that with other book prizes. The parallel ToB that @BarbaraBB @Megabooks and @squirrelbrain often organize on Litsy is also great because there is usually fantastic discussion and insight. It can make m understand better why I liked or even dislike a book. 2mo

Megabooks @ImperfectCJ @Bookwormjillk @Ruthiella I love what you‘ve all said. ToB often picks a wide variety of offbeat books - some well known and others I have never heard of often in translation or from small presses. And it does have a very transparent and participatory vibe. It‘s just plain the most fun of any award! 2mo

ChaoticMissAdventures @megabooks @ImperfectCJ @Bookwormjillk @Ruthiella Thank you all so much!! I am thinking I am going to need a lot of distractions this year, and ToB dropping the same time the Women's Prize is a lot. Maybe the perfect amount. I guess I can read a few men in March/April I was honestly offended 😂 to see that Chain Gang All Stars didn't get past the fist round this year in ToB I love that book so much, it would be amazing to talk/defend book to people 2mo

Megabooks Yes! There are some short list completists 🙋🏻‍♀️, but even more people join on the books that interest them the most. There are no “rules” for participating on litsy. We just try to have the most fun possible! Very low key on participating but very engaging discussions too! 2mo

BarbaraBB @ChaoticMissAdventures all said above makes me excited for another tournament! @Megabooks has explained it all: it‘s very low key and we read great books. And I am with @Ruthiella that our discussions add so much to the books. The shortlist will be dropped shortly so there‘s still a lot of time to read the 16 finalists - if you want. The tournament starts in March.if you‘re interested, we can tag you to keep you posted about our Litsy tob? (edited) 2mo

ChaoticMissAdventures @BarbaraBB I would love to be tagged! Thank you so much. I am excited for all the distractions to come! 2mo

squirrelbrain I‘m late to the party today so there‘s nothing else I can add to others‘ comments. I‘m sure you‘ll love it if you join in - it feels like you‘re a ToB-type of reader! ☺️ 2mo

ChaoticMissAdventures @squirrelbrain give me a random list of books and I will read them! 😂. And I love that we get to talk about them, I always get more out of books with group discussions. 2mo

25 likes15 comments

squirrelbrain

Tournament | David Crouch

Give me a list and I go a little crazy…. 🤪

These are the books from the ToB longlist that I want to read and can hold of. I bought 8 😳 and the rest are through various library systems, digital or physical.

I also really want to read Colored Television but it‘s not cheap here, plus I‘ve put in requests on NetGalley for Model Home and Lazarus Man.

Send help….. 🤓🤪😳

Leniverse Ooh, I haven't looked at that list yet. Not sure I should 😅 3mo

Leniverse Ok, I looked. 🙈 Several were already on my radar, but I've added three that I hadn't heard of before to my tbr. The Book Censor's Library, The Invisible Hotel, and Lesser Ruins. In total I have read 11, have 5 more, and would like to read another 8-16 😅 3mo

sarahbarnes So many of these are on my want to read list, too! I just threw together a quick list on my phone…20 books. 😆 I‘ll see which ones I can get from the library and go from there! 3mo

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BarbaraBB I think I have my Christmas gift for you, if you want it!

Colored Television

3mo

BarbaraBB And you are incredible! All those books! Love it! One day you‘ll be a longlist completist 🙌🏽 3mo

Megabooks I almost made a spreadsheet, and it made me think of you! 💙💙 I hope you get approved for Model Home because I really enjoyed it! 3mo

Cathythoughts Great list. Thanks Helen. 3mo

squirrelbrain I bought Lesser Ruins and can get Invisible Hotel from the library, so I‘ll let you know… @Leniverse 3mo

squirrelbrain Aw, thank you! @BarbaraBB 🥰 3mo

squirrelbrain The only problem with making a spreadsheet Meg @Megabooks is you end up buying too many books! 3mo

Deblovestoread All your TOB posts are fantastic! 💜 3mo

Chelsea.Poole These lists always make me abandon all reading plans and pick up unexpected books. Which almost always helps me discover something I wouldn‘t have otherwise, so I use that as my excuse! 🤓 3mo

Ruthiella I‘m afraid you are beyond help! 😜 Here‘s hoping you get your hands on a reasonably priced copy of

Colored Television

3mo

squirrelbrain @Deblovestoread 😊❤️ 3mo

squirrelbrain @Chelsea.Poole - I love this list because the books are not mainstream (most of them) and they‘re often much more diverse than the heavily promoted books. Yes, there are some duds on occasion, but more often we find some gems. 3mo

squirrelbrain LOL @Ruthiella 🤣 3mo

Avanders 🤩🤩 3mo

sarahbarnes I‘m on a long library hold list for Colored Television. This is a fun list! The joys of the TOB long list - such a treasure trove. 📚 2mo

squirrelbrain It‘s the best list, I think! @sarahbarnes 2mo

Suet624 @Chelsea.Poole The TOB has consistently had me reading fantastic books I‘d never have known about otherwise. 🥳 2mo

65 likes20 comments

squirrelbrain

Tournament | David Crouch

This is going to have to be two posts…. Too many books to fit on one picture. 😬

These are the books on the ToB list that I already own and want to read.

Next, the rather extensive list of the other books from the longlist that I want to read.

Bookwormjillk I love the cover of Wolf At The Table 3mo

Ruthiella I‘ve only read the Khong title and it didn‘t work for me, but I‘m definitely an outlier. I will for sure pick up Extinction of Irena Rey, even if it doesn‘t make the shortlist. I‘m super intrigued. (edited) 3mo

squirrelbrain I‘m reading the Khong now @Ruthiella - part one was fairly standard fare but I‘ve just moved onto the part with Nick and it seems to be developing in a different direction…. 🤔 3mo

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squirrelbrain @Bookwormjillk - I do too! That one was rumoured for the Booker so I got it on audio then. 3mo

Caroline2 Oh I have Husbands, Extinction and Wedding too 😃 👍 looking forward to hearing what ya think. 2mo

squirrelbrain @Caroline2 - I finished The Wedding People last week and loved it - in fact I nearly bought it for your birthday! Irena Rey is meh, with about 10 minutes to go on audio. 2mo

Caroline2 Oh good to know. I read You are here last week and loved it. I‘ll wait for Irene then 😂 2mo

58 likes7 comments

squirrelbrain

Tournament | David Crouch

Taking my cue from @BarbaraBB these are the ToB longlisted books that I‘ve read, in some kind of order of favourites first.

I also bailed on Glorious Exploits and hibernated Intermezzo as it wasn‘t working on audio. I‘m not going to buy it and I‘m currently on a VERY long waiting list at the library so not sure when I‘ll get to finish it.

Next I‘ll post the books that I want to read…

Sorry if I‘ve forgotten to tag anyone!

BkClubCare, Flaneurette, Megabooks, Suet624, Bookwormjillk, Chelsea.Poole

BkClubCare I am using #ToB2025_LongList but as I type that I wonder if I have the right year… ugh. Will fix if not right? (Maybe just #ToB_LongList or even w/o the hard to find underscore space 🙄 #ToBLongList ?) Tagging is always a challenge 🏷️ 3mo

squirrelbrain @BkClubCare - they definitely call it 2025 so you‘re OK there! But #ToBlonglist is just fine I think - the shorter the better! 3mo

squirrelbrain @sarahbarnes - forgot to tag you - sorry! 😔 3mo

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sarahbarnes Thank you! I‘m interested in a few on your finished list that I‘m in line at the library for, too. 😊 3mo

Megabooks Man, I looked yesterday, and it wasn‘t there! I‘ll have to look through it today. Great graphic, Helen! 3mo

Megabooks Can you drop the link here? I can‘t find it. 3mo

BkClubCare @Megabooks https://www.tournamentofbooks.com/the-year-in-fiction-2024 3mo

BkClubCare @squirrelbrain - yep, adding to my posts… 😊 3mo

Megabooks @BkClubCare Thank you! I eventually got on my laptop and found it. 3mo

Ruthiella I am most interested in your number one

The Safekeep

3mo

66 likes10 comments

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