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The Sunday Salon


Yesterday was my birthday, and my cousin’s birthday is coming up in a few days, so my family and I went down to Maryland to go to Medieval Times (banquet and jousting). It was sort of a surprise for me, and not as tacky as I thought it was going to be at first. Not much in the way of historical verisimilitude, but an entertaining show nonetheless.

My week in reading has been thus:
The Tiger in the Smoke, by Margery Allingham
The Old Man and Me, by Elaine Dundy (finally got around to reading this LTER selection. Hated it so much that I don’t think my review of it will appear here).
The Making of a Marchioness, by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Now I’m reading Wolf Hall, by Hilary Mantel, a novel about Thomas Cromwell. The novel focuses, so far (150 pages in) on Henry VIII’s divorce proceedings; but for a novel that’s so much about the king, he doesn’t actually have a speaking role. The prose also isn’t what I expected, but I’m enjoying the novel. It’s a story that history lovers know well, but Hilary Mantel puts a unique spin on it—it’s not told in a straightforward story but rather unpeels the way an onion does. It’s coming out here in the US on October 13; I’ll have my full review up around that time.

Comments

Daphne said…
I have a review copy of Wolf Hall on it's way. I"m looking forward to reading it!
Ceri said…
Ooh, Medieval Times - I wish they had it hear. Happy Birthday for yesterday. :-D I hope you enjoyed it.
Meghan said…
Ooh, I've never been to Medieval Times! I have always wanted to go though. I hope Wolf Hall is good, I have a copy coming my way.

Meghan @ Medieval Bookworm
Unknown said…
I went to a medieval times dinner a long time ago and thought it was a fun experience. I also have a copy of Wolf Hall coming - can't wait to read it.
Anonymous said…
I love anything tudor-ish so this sounds good!
- Aimee
www.myflutteringheart.blogspot.com
Gwendolyn B. said…
Well, Happy Birthdayish!
Ted said…
Happy Birthday!! Did you see the interviews w/ Hilary Mantel on 5th Estate? I think you would enjoy them.
S. Krishna said…
Happy (late) birthday! I haven't been to Medieval Times before but have heard good things.

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