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Revelation. C.J. Sansom | C J Sansom

Repost for @dabbe

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Fascinating discussion today Shardlakians!

Next up: HEARTSTONE

dabbe Thank you! 🤗 2mo

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Revelation. C.J. Sansom | C J Sansom

#ShardlakeSeriesBR #ShardlakeBR @LItsyEvents

Fascinating discussion today, Shardlakians!

Next up: HEARTSTONE. The events of this novel take place in the summer of 1545. Shardlake and Barak travel to Portsmouth on a legal case given to them by an old servant of Queen Catherine Parr. The book also concerns preparations for the Battle of the Solent and the King's warship, the MARY ROSE. Elizabeth I makes an appearance or two, too! 🤩

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Revelation. C.J. Sansom | C J Sansom

Amiable Yay! 2mo

dabbe @Amiable 💚🩶💚 2mo

julieclair Woo hoo!!! 🎉 2mo

dabbe @julieclair 💚🩶💚 2mo

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Revelation. C.J. Sansom | C J Sansom

#ShardlakeSeriesBR #ShardlakeBR

Thoughts, Shardlakians?

Daisey, Cuilin, Amiable, PurpleyPumpkin, Texreader, AnneCecilie, Gissy, Centique, OutsmartYourShelf, jenniferw88, Deblovestoread, Librarybelle, batsy, Chrissyreadit, kwmg40, Mollyanna, curiouserandcurioser, dabbe, Fr3NcHtOaSt, RaeLovesToRead, bthegood, lil1inblue, PageShifter, LiseWorks, The_Book_Ninja, Karisimo, Cheryl_Russell, BookWrym

OutsmartYourShelf Back then, people in England had the 'comfort' of thinking that hardships were part of God's plan & that the afterlife would make up for any suffering on earth. I have a hard time reconciling in my mind a God that loves humankind but would allow His worshippers to suffer excruciating deaths in His name. The death for treason was horrific whilst being burned at the stake would be bad enough. 2mo

OutsmartYourShelf “they confuse their own needs, for certainty or power, with God's voice speaking to them.“ We know that Henry VIII was one of these.

Also how many others over the centuries (even talking 20th century with the cult leaders) have claimed to have had the truth revealed to them by God, & somehow it involves them being in charge, getting rich, &/or having many lovers. Really odd that🤔 /s 2mo

LiseWorks The greatest wars were about religion. I remember a priest telling me that members of the Congregation should not read the Bible because they can't understand it. I have read my Bible since I was given one in grade 5 ( when they used to give Bibles in school). I was so shocked. This was in 1981. How ignorant of that man telling me a woman that I could not read a book or understand it. No wonder ordinary people were kept in the dark. 2mo

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dabbe @OutsmartYourShelf Excellent thoughts. The more I see the horrors unleashed in this world, the harder it is for me to believe. And just saying “God works in mysterious ways“ is NOT an answer to the amount of suffering that goes on. If God gets credit for all the good that happens (I see a person praising God for winning a game), he also gets the blame for the bad. Otherwise, we're living in chaos, which is what I do believe to be true. 2mo

dabbe @LiseWorks Beyond ignorant. Aggrandizingly arrogant IMHO. 2mo

lil1inblue This was a wonderful quote. It was a confusing, uncertain era, where things changed based on who was whispering in the king's ear that day. Those in power used religion as a way to maintain control or to gain power. They manipulated "god's word" to fit their ends. Meanwhile, the general population was left confused and afraid. And fear and confusion are often the seeds for extreme behavior. 2mo

dabbe @lil1inblue You're more easily led, too, if you're afraid and think you have nowhere to turn to. 2mo

lil1inblue @dabbe 🎯🎯🎯 2mo

AnneCecilie The Tudor time along with many others just proves to me all the wrongs that have been done in the name of religion and that extremism in any form is never a good thing. (edited) 2mo

dabbe @AnneCecilie Too many wrongs to name. And whose religion is the right one? Why do we have to persecute in the name of our religion? These thoughts have led me to become an agnostic. 2mo

AnneCecilie @dabbe I‘m not sure what I am, but I love in a very secular society so it doesn‘t really matter. I have enough distance to it to see that religion isn‘t all good. 2mo

dabbe @AnneCecilie Did I ever ask where you're from? I wish things were more secular here. 2mo

AnneCecilie @dabbe I‘m from Norway. Religion isn‘t a big thing here. There‘s a very low percentage that visits the church during the year. I hade to google and it says that each Norwegian on average visits the church 0,59 times during a year. I would think that most of these visits are during Christmas and Easter. 2mo

dabbe @AnneCecilie You live in the most beautiful of countries! I was lucky enough to visit there back in 1990. My 1st husband's submarine was stationed there after breaking through the ice at the Arctic Circle. We spent most of our time in Bergen, and it's one of my five favorite places on this planet! The people were the friendliest folks, too. Where do you live? ❣️🇳🇴❣️ 2mo

kwmg40 I love what this quotation says about humility. It seems that, so many centuries later, the mix of politics, religion, power and economics can still cause a lot of upheaval in the world. 2mo

dabbe @kwmg40 Agree 💯. Imagine where we'd be if more leaders were more humble. 2mo

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Revelation. C.J. Sansom | C J Sansom

#ShardlakeSeriesBR #ShardlakeBR

Thoughts, Shardlakians?

OutsmartYourShelf It must have been a very confusing & dangerous time to live in. Henry VIII 'reforms' the Church, ripping away what has been a constant for centuries, & then as he gets older he starts walking it back in some ways.

The constant changing of those in power or favour - one minute you are high in the King's favour, the next your head is on a block. For the masses, there is the spectre of torture & execution for doing/saying the wrong thing. 2mo

LiseWorks Being in London for a lot of people was in poverty. I would have lived in the country. The king was mad at the end. Being sick was not helping. His drs didn't know how to treat his leg. Can you imagine how much pain he was in? 2mo

dabbe @OutsmartYourShelf I can't even imagine living in such uncertain times. Everyone had to be walking around constantly looking behind them. Who could like like that? 2mo

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dabbe @OutsmartYourShelf I'd probably want to live far enough away, too, to avoid getting caught doing anything wrong. But who knew what that was since it changed on a daily basis? 2mo

lil1inblue The religious extremism and fanaticism really struck me, perhaps because there are echoes of those themes in our current times. Sansom seems to show that much of the extremism is the result of fear and uncertainty, which I can't help but compare to today, as well. 2mo

dabbe @lil1inblue Agree 💯. And unfortunately, too many politicians and people in power know just how to stoke your fears and make you worry. At least we don't have to worry about getting our heads stuck on a pike, though, so there's that. 👊🏻 2mo

AnneCecilie This most have been a hard time to live in. Especially for the common person where religious beliefs changes constantly and you can‘t expect to get justice if someone thinks you‘re doing anything wrong. It highlights know your friends because you must always be careful of who you say what to. 2mo

Daisey @lil1inblue I also was more struck by the aspects of religious extremism when I read it this second time compared to several years ago because of how I see more of it in our current world now as well. 2mo

dabbe @AnneCecilie IKR? One day they're Catholic, the next Protestant, the next who the heck knows? All on the king's whim, God's supposed representative on earth. What a representative! 😱 2mo

dabbe @Daisey 🎯🎯🎯! 2mo

kwmg40 It does come across as a very chaotic time. I found interesting the way politics mixed with religion and how ordinary people's lives were changed as different religious factions gained and regained power. 2mo

dabbe @kwmg40 And it could change in a heartbeat! Today we're Catholic; oh, no we're not. Yikes! 2mo

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Revelation. C.J. Sansom | C J Sansom

#ShardlakeSeriesBR #ShardlakeBR

Thoughts, Shardlakians?

OutsmartYourShelf I think a serial killer is classified as someone who kills more than 3 victims in separate killings. If someone killed several people at once, in one 'hit' as it were, I wouldn't consider them a serial killer.

The popular image is of a clever, fiendish killer who plans out their kills. The jury is still out on whether Jack the Ripper was clever or insane & remarkably lucky to get away with the murders. 2mo

LiseWorks Bedlam reminded me that the medical community did not have a clue about mental health. When a lot of people are killed by one person at the same time, it's called a mass killing. Jack the Ripper was a serial killer. Something happened to him because those killings stopped, and that's why he was never caught. 2mo

dabbe @OutsmartYourShelf Agree 💯. If a person kills a bunch of people at once, I'd probably consider them a mass murderer but not necessarily a serial killer. RE: Jack the Ripper, it's hard to say. I guess I'd call him clever in his choosing of marginalized women that no one cared about. 2mo

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dabbe @LiseWorks One of the greatest serial killer mysteries of all time! 2mo

lil1inblue What makes a person insane is such a great question. Adam Kite was trying to deal with something he didn't understand Ellen is agoraphobic, but is utterly competent when she's inside. 2mo

lil1inblue It seems as though many of these people just had differences people didn't know how to deal with, so they locked them away. 2mo

dabbe @lil1inblue 🎯! Who gets to decide? The doctors? The families who can't deal with you? Guy knew that Adam just needed love and the right touch. I can't believe the horrors that have been unleashed in this world all in the name of someone's so-called religion. #ranttime 2mo

dabbe @lil1inblue I just wrote that before reading this! So true! 🎯 2mo

AnneCecilie Insanity seems to be when someone behaves differently than what society excepts/ wants. At this time, I would guess it was enough if the man of the family said someone was insane, to get them locked up. A serial killer is someone who kills on numerous occasions. I‘m going to assume that they have “always” existed, but in times before fingerprints, DNA and other technologies it was easier to get away. (edited) 2mo

dabbe @AnneCecilie Excellent reminder about the fingerprints. And yes, serial killers have probably been around as long as we humans have. 2mo

kwmg40 I found Sansom's exploration of mental illness and his investigation into the motivations of the serial killer really interesting. I've read many novels that had scenes in or references to Bedlam, but this novel has made me want to learn more about its history. 2mo

dabbe @kwmg40 Me, too, though I'm afraid it would depress the hell out of me. What an intense time period to live in--especially if you're in an asylum! 2mo

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Revelation. C.J. Sansom | C J Sansom

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Thoughts, Shardlakians?

OutsmartYourShelf I liked Ellen, & having taken a peek at the synopsis for the next book it seems we may learn more about her story.

I think Barak & Tamasin will get back together by the end of the next book. 2mo

LiseWorks I think the loss of a baby really affects the marriage of Barack and tamarin. But Barack is really being an ass. 2mo

dabbe @OutsmartYourShelf I really cared for Ellen and want to learn her backstory and hopefully see her completely free. Agree 💯 re: Barak and Tamasin. 🤞🏻 2mo

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dabbe @LiseWorks Or as he would say it: ARSE!!! 🤣 Takes one to know one, Barak! 2mo

Mollyanna I agree with everyone. I like Ellen and would like to see more of her in the future. I hope Barak and Tamasin reunite, but I appreciated Tamasin for standing up for herself. I feel bad about Dolores, Shardlake sure can‘t catch a break in the love department. 2mo

lil1inblue @OutsmartYourShelf Totally agree on both points. I'm intrigued by Ellen's character. I'm a little annoyed with Barak, but I want him to shape up for Tamasin. 2mo

lil1inblue Guy's storyline in this one was both interesting and a bit heartbreaking. I'm curious to see how he fares in the next book. 2mo

dabbe @Mollyanna I hope we see more of Ellen, too. I think Dorothy is gone, so I hope there's love for Shardlake somewhere in the future. 2mo

dabbe @lil1inblue That boy needs to man up! 🤣 2mo

dabbe @lil1inblue He's a fave of mine. Just heartbreaking to see what happened to him and to witness how lonely he is. 😔 2mo

AnneCecilie That Dorothy went to stay close to her son wasn‘t a huge surprise. I felt sad for Ellen after learning parts of her story. I‘m glad Adam overcome his religious insanity, but did this really happen? I wouldn‘t be surprised if it did considering the times. I feel sorry for Barak and Tamasin for the loss of their baby. This shows that everyone deals with grief in different ways & some are more destructive that others. I hope they get back together 2mo

Daisey I pretty much agree with all the previous comments. I did think the potential love of Shardlake & Dorothy was better and still incredibly realistic than his interests in previous books. I also really enjoyed Ellen‘s story. 2mo

dabbe @AnneCecilie Barak just needs to stop being such an arse! 🤣 2mo

dabbe @Daisey I thought so, too. I would have loved to see them get together. I love the character of Ellen, too. 2mo

kwmg40 I find myself getting more invested in the lives of Barak, Tamasin and Guy, and it seems that we may see more of Ellen as well. I also find Catherine Parr an interesting character and wonder how accurately Sansom's depiction matches what we know of her in real life. 2mo

dabbe @kwmg40 Parr is my favorite of the SIX. I do remember that we'll be seeing more of her in the next book(s). 🤩 2mo

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Revelation. C.J. Sansom | C J Sansom

#ShardlakeSeriesBR #ShardlakeBR

Thoughts, Shardlakians?

OutsmartYourShelf I liked this one. I think it builds on the previous books as we have seen Shardlake's growing disenchantment with religious reform (maybe religion in general) & in this book, doubters like him are being targeted. 2mo

LiseWorks All I know is that the more I read these books, the more I know I would not like to be in these times. The medical profession was really bad, the religion beliefs were so attacked. Every high person was blackmailing someone for higher power. 2mo

dabbe @OutsmartYourShelf I wouldn't call him an agnostic yet, but it seems as if he's headed in that direction. 2mo

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dabbe @LiseWorks 🎯! I used to think it'd be so romantic during that time period. WTH was I thinking? 😱 Can you imagine even going on a walk around your city and seeing people's heads hanging from bridges? At least our political turmoil hasn't let us to that ... yet. 🤣 2mo

Mollyanna I enjoyed this one. I think we are really seeing the evolution of Shardlake and Barak, just as you would watch friends or relatives grow. Sansom does a great job of portraying the true tension of the time. 2mo

lil1inblue The religious fervor in this one seeme to be a culmination of the uncertainty of the time, which has also been building throughout the series. We also see how all of these tragedies are affecting both Shardlake and Barak personally. 2mo

dabbe @Mollyanna 🎯! Their relationship reminds me of Holmes & Watson in a way. Such a great duo!🤩 2mo

dabbe @lil1inblue I truly can't imagine living in such a tumultuous time period. But then I think of religion and other countries who are suffering today. 😔 No wonder I'm not religious anymore. 2mo

AnneCecilie I like each book better than the last and think that‘s because we get to know the characters better. And that‘s something I like. Since this is a reread I think I‘m focusing less on the mystery this time around and more on the time Shardlake and Barak are living in. I wouldn‘t want to live in the Tudor times 2mo

Daisey I really loved Dark Fire, partly because it‘s what first got me started on this series years ago, but the mystery and the connections to Revelation in this one were truly fantastic and thought provoking. It ties into the historical aspects of the religious turmoil so well. 2mo

dabbe @AnneCecilie Agree 💯, though you'd think I would have remembered the “whodunnit“ in each one of these rereads. 🤣 2mo

dabbe @Daisey DARK FIRE was truly original, wasn't it? As we dive into each book, we go deeper into this tumultuous time period. It's still my favorite time period, too, no matter how horrific. 2mo

AnneCecilie @dabbe I don‘t remember either, but isn‘t it 10-15 yrs since these were published? 2mo

dabbe @AnneCecilie Sounds about right. I guess it's asking my brain a lot to remember the exact killers, right? 🤣 2mo

kwmg40 I really liked this one. It had the elements of a good serial-killer mystery: the suspense and tension as Shardlake races to find the killer before the next murder, and the attempts to understand the mind of the serial killer. The usual excellent character development and the interesting historical details were there too. 2mo

dabbe @kwmg40 I thought it was fascinating how they were all trying to interpret/understand the nature of a serial killer and what causes insanity. 2mo

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Revelation. C.J. Sansom | C J Sansom

pick

This is #4 in the Matthew Shardlake series, set in 1543 during the final years of Henry VIII's reign. Shardlake, a “hunchback“ (not my words) lawyer grapples with personal struggles while navigating the volatile religious and political landscape of Tudor England. When a close friend is brutally murdered, Shardlake is drawn into a chilling investigation that leads him to uncover a series of killings inspired by the Book of Revelation.
#ShardlakeBR

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OutsmartYourShelf

Revelation. C.J. Sansom | C J Sansom

pick

England, 1543 - Henry VIII is aiming to marry his sixth (& final) wife, Lady Catherine Parr, recently widowed, but perhaps too sympathetic to Reformists for a king who has drifted back towards Catholicism in his old age. The line between acceptable & unacceptable religious practice grows ever thinner & innocent people are being caught in the backlash.

OutsmartYourShelf Meanwhile Shardlake, has been asked to defend a teenage boy who is in danger of being labelled a religious fanatic & is currently being held in the infamous Bedlam hospital for the insane. After an old friend of Shardlake's is murdered, he finds himself also drawn into the hunt for the murderer as it seems that Shardlake's friend was not the only victim. 3mo

OutsmartYourShelf The killer is obsessed with the Book of Revelation & is punishing those deemed to have backslid on their faith.

This fourth book in the series was an easier read for me with few instances of the brutal treatment of animals. Here the focus is on the clash of religious doctrines & practice & how this created a climate of fear & mistrust amongst the population. Say the wrong thing to the wrong person & you could have soon found yourself condemned. 3mo

OutsmartYourShelf All in all, I really liked this one but it went on for just a shade too long for me so
4🌟

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4054423907
Read 29th Jan - 26th Feb 2025

#Readaway2025 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES @andrew65
#ShardlakeSeriesBR @dabbe (edited) 3mo

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dabbe Excellent review! Thanks for sharing, and I look forward to our discussion this Friday! 🤩 3mo

OutsmartYourShelf @dabbe 😀 3mo

DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 3mo

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Revelation: A Matthew Shardlake Tudor Mystery | C J Sansom

Repost for @dabbe

#ShardlakeSeriesBR #ShardlakeBR

Friendly reminder Shardlakians! See pic above!

dabbe TY! 🤩🤩🤩 3mo

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Revelation. C.J. Sansom | C J Sansom

#ShardlakeSeriesBR #ShardlakeBR @LitsyEvents

Friendly reminder, Shardlakians! See pic above! Happy almost 🐪 Day, too!

kwmg40 Looking forward to the discussion, though I may join a bit late, as I‘ll be out of town this weekend. 3mo

jenniferw88 I am still reading these, but at my own pace, so I'll join in when I can! 3mo

dabbe @kwmg40 Join in when you can! I hope your trip is for fun! 🤩 3mo

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dabbe @jenniferw88 Sounds good! I hope you're enjoying it! 🤩 3mo

lil1inblue Looking forward to the discussion on this one. I know I keep saying each new book is my new favorite, but this one really did tickle my brain. 3mo

dabbe @lil1inblue They keep getting better, don't they? 🤩 3mo

kwmg40 @dabbe Yes, it's a short trip to nearby Toronto to visit cousins, and then I'll be back to join in the discussion! 2mo

dabbe @kwmg40 Have a blast! 🤩🤗🤩 2mo

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lil1inblue

Revelation: A Matthew Shardlake Tudor Mystery | C J Sansom

pick

I found this installment of the Shardlake series to be quite timely. In the US, at least, I think many of the themes resonate today, particularly fanaticism and the struggle for power. The uncertainty of the period is also quite familiar.

My one quibble is the repetitive nature of Shardlake's crushes - I'd like to see some fresh plot lines in Shardlake's romantic life.

#shardlakeseriesbr @dabbe

dabbe I'd love to see him happy with somebody, though! Looking forward to our discussion! 🤩 3mo

lil1inblue Samesies! This one really fascinated me. 3mo

Deblovestoread So agree about the crushes! 3mo

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kwmg40

Revelation. C.J. Sansom | C J Sansom

pick

I loved this 4th Shardlake book, as I have every book in the series so far. Shardlake hunts for a serial killer motivated by religious fanaticism. This is a page-turning mystery/thriller in an interesting historical context.

#ShardlakeBR @dabbe
#52bookclub25 (Genre One: Set in Spring – historical fiction)
#gottacatchemall (Comfey: character in the medical field) @PuddleJumper

dabbe Can't wait for our discussion! 🤩 3mo

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Revelation. C.J. Sansom | C J Sansom

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Finished today. Sorry, #ShardlakeansBuddyRead, I had to finish it. But I can't wait for the discussion at the end of Feb @dabbe #SeriesLove25 @Andrew65 @TheSpineView #Read2025 @DieAReader

DieAReader 🎉🎉🎉 3mo

dabbe I'm finding it hard to put down, too! 🤩 3mo

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Revelation. C.J. Sansom | C J Sansom

#ShardlakeSeriesBR #ShardlakeBR

The discussion for the 2nd half of the book will be on 2/28/25.

Thoughts, Shardlakians?

Daisey, Cuilin, PurpleyPumpkin, Texreader, AnneCecilie, Gissy, Centique, OutsmartYourShelf, jenniferw88, Deblovestoread, Librarybelle, batsy, Chrissyreadit, kwmg40, Mollyanna, curiouserandcurioser, dabbe, Fr3NcHtOaSt, RaeLovesToRead, bthegood, lil1inblue, PageShifter, LiseWorks, The_Book_Ninja, Karisimo, Cheryl_Russell, BookWrym

LiseWorks I would not like to live in these times at all. The people in charge are greedy, insane and are willing to kill anyone for power. The Monarch does not really have a say. Everyone doesn't trust, and they all lurk in the dark. 3mo

Karisimo I feel for these people who are dealing with religious “rules” and traditions changing on the whim of a king. 3mo

OutsmartYourShelf I feel for anyone living in those times who had a mental health problem. Very likely to either be denounced as being 'possessed' & killed or stuck away in a place like Bedlam. 3mo

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dabbe @LiseWorks I can't even imagine what it would be like to walk on London Bridge and see all the heads on poles--especially for people once in favor with the king--like Cromwell. Maybe 2025 ain't so bad--even with our current horrific leader. 3mo

dabbe @Karisimo IKR? It's like one day you're Catholic, oops, no, now you're Protestant, oops, no, back to Catholic. What the heck? 😳 3mo

dabbe @OutsmartYourShelf To still use the word “bedlam“ today to mean “wild uproar and confusion“ from the original place kind of says it all, doesn't it? I really feel for Adam Kite and his family.😔 3mo

OutsmartYourShelf @dabbe I think it underscores that for Henry VIII (whether he wanted to admit it or not) the core issue wasn't so much the form of worship but the seat of power. If it was truly the religious side of things, he wouldn't have part walked it back as he did. 3mo

dabbe Some characters set apart by isolation and loneliness: Shardlake (as a lawyer often at odds with the powerful figures he has to encounter), Guy Malton (as a healer and outsider due to his nationality having to work on the margins of society), Adam Kite (whose religious mania confines him to Bedlam), and Tamasin (whose gender limits her opportunities by forcing her to remain at home and deal with the loss of her child while Barak is elsewhere) . 3mo

dabbe @OutsmartYourShelf Get Catherine of Aragon out of my way to allow me to marry good ol' Anne ... whatever it takes. He pretty much stayed Catholic even though he changed the religion so he could divorce Cat. What a scumbag (imho). 3mo

OutsmartYourShelf @dabbe Oh I could give Barak a good kick up the backside for how he's acting. Even if he is not out with other women, making Tamasin wonder where he is & what he is doing - I expected better from him. Grief makes people act out in funny ways but no wonder she is angry with him.

I hope Guy is not ill. He has to walk about a lot here & there for Shardlake in this book & at all times of the day & night!

3mo

kwmg40 I really like how Sansom explores all the themes you mentioned in this post, especially the attitudes toward and understanding of mental illness at that time. 3mo

dabbe @OutsmartYourShelf To use his favorite word, Barak is an ARSE! He needs to man up and learn that it takes two to make a marriage work. Hopefully, Shardlake will kick his butt. And Guy ... he just has to be okay, right? 🤞🏻 3mo

dabbe @kwmg40 The description of the rooms at Bedlam where these poor people have to stay are almost as bad as the cells at the Tower of London. Just horrific. 😱 3mo

AnneCecilie I‘m just happy that I live today and not in the Tudor area. The Tudor area was not a place for be for the poor and powerless which after all is what most people are. What comes across in this book is the confusion of all the religious back and forth, people hardly dare believe anything anymore. 3mo

dabbe @AnneCecilie And how religion just flips on a dime at the whim of a king. 😳 Truly unbelievable! 3mo

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Revelation. C.J. Sansom | C J Sansom

#ShardlakeSeriesBR #ShardlakeBR

The discussion for the 2nd half of the book will be on 2/28/25.

Thoughts, Shardlakians?

LiseWorks The king had syphilis and that disease brings on madness. 3mo

OutsmartYourShelf @LiseWorks That is one theory but not proven as far as I am aware. Personally I tend to believe the head injury he suffered whilst jousting (the fall which was said to cause Anne to miscarry) altered his personality. After that he was more cruel & mean-tempered. 3mo

dabbe @OutsmartYourShelf @LiseWorks ... and I'd add to that that he was in incredible pain most of the time due to his infected ulcerous leg and furious that he could no longer be the athletic self he once was. These issues might also have contributed to his later despicableness. 3mo

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dabbe To me, Roger‘s murder in the churchyard is a richly symbolic act that sets the tone for the novel‘s exploration of religion, violence, and judgment. It underscores the killer‘s fanaticism, the corruption of sacred spaces, and the pervasive fear of divine retribution that characterizes the Reformation era. This event is the critical starting point for Shardlake‘s investigation and the novel‘s broader themes. 3mo

dabbe The title REVELATION itself is symbolic, as the story revolves around a killer who uses the apocalyptic visions from the Book of Revelation as inspiration for their murders. The Book of Revelation symbolizes fear, chaos, and the end times, reflecting the anxieties of 16th-century England during the Reformation, when many believed the world was nearing its end. 3mo

OutsmartYourShelf @dabbe Yes - head injury, chronic pain, & approaching mortality. That would do it. 3mo

dabbe @OutsmartYourShelf More than enough, right? 3mo

AnneCecilie I completely agree with @dabbe 3mo

dabbe @AnneCecilie 🤩😂😘 3mo

lil1inblue @dabbe Yes! I appreciate how Sansom weaves this theme throughout the multiple plot lines that are occurring. I also like how the title can work many ways - as reference to the Book of Revelation, but also the meaning of “the making known of something that was previously secret or unknown.“ 3mo

dabbe @lil1inblue Excellent point re: the actual meaning of the word itself! 🤩 3mo

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Revelation. C.J. Sansom | C J Sansom

#ShardlakeSeriesBR #ShardlakeBR

The discussion for the 2nd half of the book will be on 2/28/25.

Thoughts, Shardlakians?

LiseWorks I feel sorry for any young girl that He king is after now that he is old 3mo

Butterfinger @LiseWorks it makes me angry toward the men who pushed the girls toward the king. Sorry, I am not part of the discussion, but I had been reading your comments. 3mo

LiseWorks Oh, I agree. Women were property at the time. @Butterfinger 3mo

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OutsmartYourShelf Piers - something shady about him.
Cranmer - seems a bit more human this time. Not so remote.
Catherine Parr - always felt sorry for her. Married to two old men (Latimer & then the King) & when she finally is able to marry the man she loves, disaster strikes. 3mo

dabbe @Butterfinger No need to be sorry; chime in whenever you want! And if you'd like me to tag you, I'd be happy to! 🤩 3mo

dabbe @OutsmartYourShelf Excellent points. What a tragic life she had! She's my favorite of all of the wives for many reasons, which I'll wait to share because she'll be in the books more and more. 🤩 3mo

dabbe @LiseWorks As a child I always thought how romantic it would have been to have been a princess/queen in Tudor times--even to dastardly Henry. Then I actually learned more about the time period. 😳 And now I am thrilled to be my 2020s free womanly self. 🤩 3mo

dabbe Even Shardlake comments on the worthlessness of women: “A terrible thought occurred to me. Dorothy, like Roger, like me, was a lapsed radical. I told myself not to be so foolish; none of those murdered had been connected to each other and there was surely no reason why he should change his pattern and go after Dorothy. And she was a woman, whose opinions counted for less.“ 🤬
3mo

dabbe Adam Kite is a deeply troubled and enigmatic character whose religious mania and psychological struggles play a significant role in the novel‘s exploration of faith, madness, and the human condition. His fanaticism symbolizes the darker side of the Reformation, where intense religious fervor could lead to psychological breakdowns. His vulnerability also makes him a sympathetic figure, even as his behavior becomes increasingly erratic. 3mo

OutsmartYourShelf @dabbe Yes, & women were then also subdivided. When Shardlake looks up Strodyr, he notes that no-one really cared that much when he killed prostitutes, only when he started killing 'respectable' women. Shades of the Yorkshire Ripper there. (edited) 3mo

dabbe @OutsmartYourShelf Wowza. Had to look him up. Thanks for the information, and I agree 💯! 🤩 3mo

kwmg40 I find the characters of Piers and Thomas Seymour interesting. They are definitely not likeable people but I'm eager to see what roles they end up playing in the story. 3mo

dabbe @kwmg40 They definitely seem to be on the darker side in the 1st half of the book ... another reason to keep on wanting to read! 😂 3mo

AnneCecilie Piers seems a little shady. Thomas Seymour doesn‘t come off that well and I feel isn‘t the smartest one. I just feel sad about Adam, but I hope we learn what happened to make him pray so much. 3mo

dabbe @AnneCecilie Piers's insolence is what gets me. And I hope things with Adam turn out well. I've read it before (years ago) and can't remember! 😱 3mo

AnneCecilie Me too, I read the the translation when it came out. And I have a feeling that there was something about Piers 3mo

lil1inblue @dabbe I'm so intrigued by Adam's character. I feel like there is more to the story, and I'm anxious to see what has led to his fanaticism. 3mo

dabbe @lil1inblue Me, too. His parents as well. 3mo

25 likes18 comments

Revelation. C.J. Sansom | C J Sansom

#ShardlakeSeriesBR #ShardlakeBR
Wow! It's been two months since our last discussion! Forgive me if these questions are a bit open-ended. Now that we're in Book #4, it just seemed better than to rehash ideas we've already talked about before.
The discussion for the 2nd half of the book will be on 2/28/25.

Thoughts, Shardlakians?

LiseWorks I think these books are getting better with each book 3mo

Librarybelle One of these days I will catch up! I‘m still on Dark Fire 🤦🏻‍♀️ 3mo

OutsmartYourShelf I'm really enjoying this one so far. 3mo

See All 11 Comments

dabbe @LiseWorks Agree 💯! 3mo

dabbe @Librarybelle No worries. We'll be here! 🤩 3mo

dabbe @OutsmartYourShelf Yay! Me, too! 🤩 3mo

kwmg40 I'm enjoying this one so far. With the serial killings, it feels darker and more of a thriller than the previous books. I'm finding it hard to put down. 3mo

dabbe @kwmg40 Ooh, I love that when a book just grabs you and won't let go! 🤩 3mo

AnneCecilie I‘m agreeing with both @LiseWorks and @kwmg40 I also feel that Sansom is showing us different aspects of the Turdor area. In the last book the prison system, in this one the treatment of the mentally ill. And as the religious landscape gets blurrier, it‘s harder to navigate 3mo

dabbe @AnneCecilie “Blurry“ is an excellent word to describe the religious landscape during this period. 🤩 3mo

lil1inblue @AnneCecilie I agree! I appreciate that he is willing to look at the history of those that are often overlooked. 3mo

26 likes11 comments

Revelation. C.J. Sansom | C J Sansom

#shardlakebr #shardlakebuddyread #shardlakeseriesbr @LitsyEvents

Looking forward to Friday's discussion, Shardlakians! 🤩

Daisey Just saying . . . I teach middle school! The comic is great! 😂 🤣 3mo

Mollyanna I am all caught up and ready to discuss. Thanks as always for hosting Denise. 3mo

LiseWorks Let's hope I remember as I read the first half in December lol 3mo

See All 9 Comments

LiseWorks I love that cartoon 3mo

dabbe @Mollyanna YW! And thanks for that! 🤩😂🤗 3mo

dabbe @Daisey I did, too! I moved to high school at the end of my career to get a so-called break from all the middle-school madness! 🤩😂🤗 3mo

dabbe @LiseWorks Same here, m'dear! 🤩😂🤗 3mo

lil1inblue What a great cartoon! I'm ready for discussion - no cramming needed this month! 😂 3mo

dabbe @lil1inblue 🤩😂🤗 3mo

58 likes1 stack add9 comments

Daisey

Revelation. C.J. Sansom | C J Sansom

I finished chapter 24 of Revelation tonight, but now I don‘t want to stop. I might be a bit further by the discussion next week.

#ShardlakeBR

tpixie 💛🐱💛 4mo

TiredLibrarian It's a great series! 4mo

Ruthiella 😻😻😻 4mo

dabbe Yay! 🖤🐾🖤 4mo

MemoirsForMe 🐈❤️🐈 4mo

58 likes5 comments

Deblovestoread

Revelation. C.J. Sansom | C J Sansom

#WeeklyFavorite

Couldn‘t put it down.

@Read4life

dabbe 🤩🤩🤩 4mo

Read4life 💙📚💙 4mo

53 likes2 comments

Deblovestoread

Revelation: A Matthew Shardlake Tudor Mystery | C J Sansom

pick

The 4th in the Matthew Shardlake series and my favorite so far. I intended to only read the January section but was drawn in and couldn‘t stop. I have lots of thoughts and hope I can remember them when time to discuss. 4.5 🌟. @dabbe

#BookedinTime #TheTudors @Cuilin

dabbe I hope I can, too! 🤩😂🤗 4mo

Cuilin 🎉 I just read book one and ready to start book 2 and may even catch up. 😮 @dabbe 4mo

dabbe @Cuilin They're good, aren't they? Do you want me to put you on the tag list? 4mo

Cuilin @dabbe yes please. They remind me of another historical mystery series I read years ago though I can‘t remember which one. Maybe Cadfael? I‘m not sure. 4mo

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Daisey

Revelation. C.J. Sansom | C J Sansom

I‘m finally settling in to start this next Shardlake novel with supper this evening.

#ShardlakeBR #ReadAndEat

Butterfinger I enjoyed the show. I have the series on my tbr. 4mo

dabbe 🤩🤩🤩 4mo

59 likes2 comments

Karisimo

Revelation. C.J. Sansom | C J Sansom

These #ShardlakeBR books keep coming up on my #bookspin list! I failed to start it last month, but I'll be sure to get it in now! My #doublespin is a middle grade book I'm looking forward to reading!

@TheAromaofBooks you're so right, now my year can truly begin! 😉

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Enjoy!! I LOVE the cover for Sylvia Doe!!! 4mo

dabbe 🤩🤩🤩 4mo

33 likes2 comments

Revelation. C.J. Sansom | C J Sansom

Repost for @dabbe

#ShardlakeSeriesBR #ShardlakeBR

REBOOT! Based on the fact that we're all a bit behind and because of the holidays, I moved everything back a month. Above is the revised schedule.

Next discussion date will be for the 1st half of REVELATION, chapters 1-24, on 1/31/25. Hopefully, that gives us all a little more breathing room.

See original post at https://www.litsy.com/web/post/2822098

dabbe Thanks for posting! 🩵💙🩵 4mo

36 likes1 stack add1 comment

Revelation. C.J. Sansom | C J Sansom

#ShardlakeSeriesBR #ShardlakeBR @LitsyEvents

REBOOT! Based on the fact that we're all a bit behind and because of the holidays, I moved everything back a month. Above is the revised schedule.

Next discussion date will be for the 1st half of REVELATION, chapters 1-24, on 1/31/25. Hopefully, that gives us all a little more breathing room. I'm really enjoying this one and hope you are, too! 🤩

Daisey, PurpleyPumpkin, Texreader, AnneCecilie, Gissy, Centique, OutsmartYourShelf, jenniferw88, Deblovestoread, Librarybelle, batsy, Chrissyreadit, kwmg40, Mollyanna, curiouserandcurioser, dabbe, Fr3NcHtOaSt, RaeLovesToRead, bthegood, lil1inblue, PageShifter, LiseWorks, The_Book_Ninja, Karisimo, Cheryl_Russell, BookWrym

Deblovestoread Breathing a sigh of relief 😮‍💨 Thanks, Denise! 🩵 4mo

dabbe @Deblovestoread Yay! #metoo! 🤩😂🤗 4mo

Daisey I didn‘t comment the other day, but as another person who hasn‘t had a chance to start yet I very much appreciate more time to get caught up before discussion. (edited) 4mo

See All 18 Comments

Texreader I may participate now. I‘d love to reread these books 4mo

kwmg40 That sounds good to me, thanks! 4mo

Librarybelle Thank you!!! 4mo

dabbe @Daisey #yahoo! 🤩😂🤗 4mo

dabbe @Texreader We'd love to have you! Let me know if you want to be tagged. 🤩🤗🤩 4mo

dabbe @kwmg40 Yay! 🤩😂🤗 4mo

dabbe @Librarybelle YW! 🤩😂🤗 4mo

Mollyanna Thank you! I am really enjoying what I‘ve read so far and will really be able to enjoy it and savor it now. 4mo

curiouserandcurioser @dabbe Thanks Denise, this really helps!:) 4mo

dabbe @Mollyanna Yay! YW! 🤩😂🤗 4mo

dabbe @curiouserandcurioser YW! 🤩😂🤗 4mo

OutsmartYourShelf Appreciate this as I haven't started it yet! Still trying to complete a few reads for Christmas readathons. 4mo

dabbe @OutsmartYourShelf Yay! 🤩😂🤗 4mo

PurpleyPumpkin I am SO behind on this series! But still hope to catch up. Thanks for the reboot! 4mo

dabbe @PurpleyPumpkin No worries! The discussions will be here when you're ready. 🩶🩵🩶 4mo

46 likes18 comments

Revelation: A Matthew Shardlake Tudor Mystery | C J Sansom

repost for @dabbe:

#shardlakebr #shardlakebuddyread #shardlakeseriesbr

Looking forward to Monday's discussion, Shardlakians! 🤩

30 likes

Revelation. C.J. Sansom | C J Sansom

#shardlakebr #shardlakebuddyread #shardlakeseriesbr
@LitsyEvents

Looking forward to Monday's discussion, Shardlakians! 🤩

Librarybelle I‘m still behind! 5mo

jenniferw88 Haven't even started...! 5mo

Mollyanna I should be caught up by then… 🤞🏻 5mo

See All 8 Comments

Deblovestoread I haven't started either. Will try to catch up 5mo

dabbe @Librarybelle @jenniferw88 @Mollyanna @Devlovestoread ... do we want to postpone until next month due to the holidays? I can easily rearrange the time table. 🤩 5mo

Librarybelle Personally, that works well for me. I‘m still reading Dark Fire (not the book‘s fault, just I‘m that behind on various reading obligations), but I am happy to go along with the rest of the group‘s decision. 5mo

Mollyanna I‘d be good with postponing. 5mo

lil1inblue I'm catching up this weekend! I got caught up in my holiday reads. 😉 It's going quickly, though, so I think I'll make it. But if we need to postpone discussion, I'm good with it. 🥰 4mo

51 likes8 comments

#WinterGames24 #HolidayBookDragons #ISpyBingoDec #ChristmasAtoZ @StayCurious @Texreader @TheAromaofBooks

Revelation: A Shardlake Novel 4 | C. J. Sansom

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 5mo

dabbe 🤩🤩🤩 5mo

18 likes2 comments

Revelation: A Shardlake Novel 4 | C. J. Sansom

#WinterGames24 #HolidayBookDragons #ShardlakeansBuddyRead #Adventathon #SeriesLove23 #SnikerdoodleSpiritReadathon #ReadAway24 #WinterSolticeReadathon Even though we are to read 1/2 this book this month I thought I would count the hours read for the Games and pts. So far, I am intrigued and can't wait for the discussion at the end of this month. @dabbe @Andrew65 @TheSpineView @BookmarkTavern @Bookwormjillk @DieAReader @StayCurious

Bookwormjillk 🌲🌲🌲 5mo

BookmarkTavern Good job! 5mo

DieAReader 🎉Fantastic! 5mo

dabbe Yay! Me either! 💙❄️💙 5mo

TheSpineView Well done! 5mo

25 likes5 comments

Revelation: A Shardlake Novel 4 | C. J. Sansom

#WinterGames24 #HolidayBookDragons There are a few Readathons going on this weekend. #Adventathon #SnickerDoodleSpiritReadathon #WinterSolticeReadathon. I'll be working on these two books and maybe start another. @StayCurious @BookmarkTavern @Bookwormjillk

BookmarkTavern Yay! 🎉🎉 5mo

23 likes1 comment

Revelation. C.J. Sansom | C J Sansom

Repost for @dabbe

The Shardlake Series buddy read is moving on to REVELATION. Any reading for this book in December counts toward #wintergames2024 readathon points if you're participating!

#ShardlakeSeriesBR #Shardlake #ShardlakeBR

See original post at https://www.litsy.com/web/post/2812530

dabbe Thanks for posting! 💙❄️💙 5mo

27 likes1 comment