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A Place of Greater Safety
A Place of Greater Safety: A Novel | Hilary Mantel
Set during the French Revolution, this "riveting historical novel" ("The New Yorker") is the story of three young provincials who together helped destroy a way of life and, in the process, destroyed themselves.
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KimM
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Pickpick

Written by the author for Wolf Hall, etc, it's a story of the French Revolution

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Buechersuechtling
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Mehso-so

I am so relieved that this is over. The more it proceeded the less it served my mood.

I liked how this audioplay was realised. But I had huge problems understanding the context – even though I frequently stopped to read about the background.

What I take out of it is: intrigue. And that men do much to keep their powers by saying it‘s “for the cause”.
A pity that woman didn‘t play a more important role, most were quite witty.

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Buechersuechtling
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I asked my significant other what he knows about the French Revolution. He answered: “storm of the Bastille, had off to the King.”

Which perfectly sums up my own knowledge. And now it‘s official: I must be stupid. I didn‘t know the whole “event” took so long and that it‘s all was so complicated. I‘d say I‘m done with 2/3 of the audiobook but I doubt that in the end I will have understood/remembered more than 1/3.

But it‘s interesting. 😆

Ruthiella What surprised me about the French Revolution when reading this book was how radical it was. Much more so than the American Revolution which kept women disenfranchised and Africans enslaved. 4y
18 likes1 comment
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Buechersuechtling
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Q: How stupid can a girl be❓
A: Very stupid.

I borrowed this audioplay because I read “Danton” and thought it‘s about the friendship of the “Three Musketeers”. Well, let‘s have a look again: It‘s about 3 important men of the French Revolution. 🤭 Oops.

But so far it‘s very interesting even though it‘s absolutely necessary to listen to it in as few settings as possible because it‘s very, complicated due to the very large character cast.

18 likes1 stack add
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CallMeIshmael
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I have an addiction with big big books

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rabbitprincess
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When Madame de Lamballe appeared in A Place of Greater Safety, this Kate Beaton comic immediately popped into my head. http://www.harkavagrant.com/index.php?id=273

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rabbitprincess
Pickpick

This bad boy took me nearly 2 months to finish. It is rich in detail and tells a wide-ranging story in a variety of ways. By the end I was exhausted, and perhaps not quite as enthusiastic as I'd been at the start, but I'm glad to have tackled it and now want to read more about the French Revolution.

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rabbitprincess

"[Camille] had very much the air of a man who has just written an editorial, and is worrying about what the typesetter will do to it. There was the time he'd referred to Marat as 'an apostle of liberty' and it had come out as 'an apostate of liberty'. Marat had arrived in the office, foaming with rage...."

Swe_Eva 😂 5y
rabbitprincess @Swe_Eva And this is how I learned what apostate meant 😂 5y
Swe_Eva @rabbitprincess 🤣🤣🤣 5y
27 likes3 comments
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rabbitprincess
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"I wonder why I ever bothered with sex, [Camille] thought; there's nothing in this breathing world so gratifying as an artfully placed semicolon."
?

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rabbitprincess
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This book is set during the French Revolution. I also just found a bookmark inside it, at the beginning, so obviously I had this book in the on-deck pile and then put it back for whatever reason. I think that's a sign to try again!
#HeyJune #Revolution

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gossamerchild
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It is actually too chilly today for a #bookandbeachtowel shot, so I'm using my #bookandblanketswap blanket instead 😁. This book is... Fascinating and confusing.

#readingresolutions @jess7

jillannjohn I read this years ago but don‘t really remember it. Don‘t know where my copy of it is either. 😳 6y
gossamerchild @jillannjohn I can see how it might not be that memorable. I'm enjoying it, but there are so. Many. People. 6y
56 likes2 comments
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gossamerchild
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Bwahahaha! Sometimes it does feel like babies are judging us 🤣🤣. I'm worried about reading a 750 page book for one of my #bookclubs , but I was excited to find out about a Hilary Mantel book I didn't know existed.

#amreading

MayJasper That quote made me laugh out loud 👏 6y
gossamerchild @MayJasper I know, right? 😁 6y
43 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Moray_Reads
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I ventured out into the snow to stock up on essentials but it looks like Edinburgh is a milk-free zone at the moment. So I settled for bizarrely-flavoured chocolate instead (cactus and marigold!). Just the thing for a door-stopper historical fiction on the French Revolution, right? 🤔

Ms.Story Oh yes, the great Edinburgh milk shortage! Heard that Tesco @ Holy Corner was due a delivery at 11 this morning. Was lucky to find some there yesterday 😊 6y
Moray_Reads @Ms.Story We still have a half pint I managed to snag on Thursday so we should be okay, I don't use much milk in any case. I think the chocolate is a reasonable substitute 😉 6y
Itchyfeetreader Looking forward to review of the chocolate! Stay safe! 6y
See All 11 Comments
AlaMich Cactus and marigold??! One does what one must, I suppose...😉 6y
lucylovestoread Fingers crossed you get a delivery soon! One of our neighbours improvised and came back from the shops, on his tractor, with almond milk and focaccia instead of milk and bread 😁😂 6y
Moray_Reads @lucyinedinburgh that's closer than I got! It seems tractors are the only way to go right now 🤣🚜❄️⛷️ 6y
lucylovestoread @Moray_Reads There are some benefits to being in the country! The snow plough made it out to us today so hopefully we can get out on day 5 😁 How has it been for you? Are you fairly central in town? 6y
Moray_Reads @lucyinedinburgh I'm only in Bruntsfield so I'm not too bad, we certainly haven't been snowed in as such and they've done a good job of clearing the pavements. I suppose we just need to wait for travel to get back to normal so deliveries can get through and people can get to work safely! 6y
lucylovestoread @Moray_Reads We used to be in Morningside before we moved, such a great area! I hear Starbucks at holy corner is open and doing a roaring trade 😁 6y
Moray_Reads @lucyinedinburgh maybe they're the ones getting all the milk! 6y
65 likes1 stack add11 comments
review
thegreentealibrarian
Mehso-so

It was a bit dry, lacking some magic.
But I'm not sure I'm being fair. I read Wolf Hall and thought that was spectacular. Also, I compared this book to The Gods Are Thirsty by Tanith Lee which I adored and repeatedly read and adore. So I don't know if I'd have the same opinion if I'd read this one first.

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Libby1
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My heart goes out to all those affected by hurricanes, tropical storms, and wild fires in recent months.

Today we are battening down the hatches in #NorthernIreland preparing for Ophelia. We aren‘t used to extreme weather here, and all schools and many workplaces are closed.

If we have to be indoors I hope to get some extra reading done!

NI people are dealing with it with their typical sense of humour (see photo). I hope everyone stays safe!

DivaDiane Stay safe! 7y
mom2bugnbee Be safe! 7y
hermyknee Stay safe and enjoy some good reading 💕 7y
See All 27 Comments
Mdargusch I hope you stay safe! And have enough light to read by! 7y
Izai.Amorim Stay safe! 7y
Notafraidofwords Stay safe ! 7y
IamIamIam Oh no, stay as safe as you can! 7y
Captivatedbybooks Sending prayers your way stay safe 7y
batsy Stay safe. 7y
Lcsmcat Stay safe! 7y
Angitron Be safe! 7y
aprilpohren Stay safe! 7y
eanderson Stay safe! Will be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers! 7y
Cathythoughts Stay safe. The wind is wild here in the south. Electricity gone. Take care 7y
drokka I was on NI (County Coleraine) in May 2011 when there were 80m/hr winds, and the people quickly adapted to the weather with the same kind of humour then. Keep you and yours safe, this is likely to be a bit different. 7y
AmyG Wow. In Ireland. Be safe! Hope, on the upside, you get losts of reading done! 7y
Anna40 Stay safe! 7y
Cinfhen Sending prayers & love 🙏🏻💗 7y
MicheleinPhilly HAHA! That photo is 😂. But seriously, stay safe! 7y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa Stay safe, and so sorry you are getting your first Hurricane. 7y
quietlycuriouskate Stay safe! 🙏 7y
Nebklvr Stay safe 7y
Bklover Hope all goes well. Stay safe! 7y
rockpools Take care! And hope you can enjoy the extra reading time. 7y
cariashley That pic is amazing. Stay safe!!! 7y
TriciaO Sent up a prayer for you. Take care! 7y
104 likes27 comments
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BethM
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Thinking of and praying for my Litsy family in the path of Irma as I go to bed. Please do all you can to keep you and yours (pets too!) safe. Check in if and when you can. 💗your extended Litsy family.

monkeygirlsmama Yes, prayers for all in the expected path! 🙏 7y
43 likes1 comment
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SharonSmith
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Pickpick

This is a great book but i found it needed absolute commitment to fully understand it. Its focus is on the French Revolution and all the key characters are there (Danton, Desmoulins, Robespierre). And whilst it follows a traditional linear narrative, the key moments, such as the storming of the Bastille etc, are referred to after the event. I would certainly recommend it but its not a beach read.

andrew61 It's one I've always wanted to read so good to see a positive review. 7y
DebReads4fun Welcome to Litsy! 7y
RaimeyGallant Welcome to Litsy! If you check one post down on my profile, you'll find next month's Litsy games, some of them anyway... #LitsyWelcomeWagon (edited) 7y
FantasyChick Welcome to Litsy!!!!!!! 7y
18 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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peggyriley
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Before the year ends I want to get to grips with the stacks of TBRs all over the house. Here's one in the bedroom. What to keep to read - and what to pass on?

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Libby1
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#publishedinthe1990s
#photoadaynov16
@RealLifeReading

I haven't tackled this behemoth about the French Revolution yet.

Yet another book by Hilary Mantel where (I assume) a lot of people lose their heads. 😳

LeahBergen I really want to read this! 7y
Libby1 If you get to it before I do, @LeahBergen , I'll be interested to see what you think. 7y
charl08 Never got through it. So Long! 7y
42 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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KellyTurner
Bailedbailed

I've tried really hard with this book, promise. I loved Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies, but just couldn't get into this one. There are so many characters, and the constant jumping between them makes reading it quite complicated. I don't think it helps that I didnt have time to read it in big chunks. This isn't a book to dip in and out of: it demands your full attention.

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KellyTurner
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After a crazy weekend of work, I'm looking forward to three days off and the chance to tackle this! #HilaryMantel #BelatedBankHolidayWeekend

CharlotteK Oooooooh! So exciting looking forward to hearing about it. There is a long interview with her which is fascinating on YouTube will try to find it & Facebook you x 8y
KellyTurner That would be great! Thank you! 8y
3 likes2 comments
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strandbookstore
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Pickpick

Happy Bastille Day! 🇫🇷 Today we are reading Mantel's 1992 novel about some of the French Revolution's principle actors. Beautifully written, delving deep into history with sophisticated prose, she explores a broadly historical event from the intimate and personal, idealistic and flawed.

Darthdad Thanks for posting this I'm fascinated by this whole period of French history up through the end of the Napoleonic era. Looking forward to reading this. 8y
Sydsavvy She rocked my world with this one. Peace and love to the French 💔💔💔 8y
TheBooknester This one just went on my TBR! 8y
118 likes59 stack adds3 comments
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Yamich49
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Lazy Sunday reading. This one is good so far but a slow read for me. Maybe because I keep getting distracted by other books. 🙃 Really interesting characters and build up to the French Revolution.

5 likes1 stack add
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Yamich49
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And like everything else in my life, it all comes back to Hamilton. ? I got a jolt when I first saw the mention of "Marquis de Lafayette" - had to sing it in my head in Hamilton's voice. Of course the book is about the French Revolution - I should have expected to see him mentioned.

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Yamich49
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CURRENTLY READING. This description on the back drew me in. A bisexual woman who is engaged with one woman and in love with another? Sign me up! Unfortunately, I started it before realizing that Camille is a guy. LOL. Still very interesting so far.

4 likes1 stack add