Welcome to Litsy!

Revelation. C.J. Sansom | C J Sansom

Repost for @dabbe

#ShardlakeSeriesBR #ShardlakeBR

Fascinating discussion today Shardlakians!

Next up: HEARTSTONE

dabbe Thank you! 🤗 1d

27 likes1 comment

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! 🤩

38 likes

#anotheronedone!

#ChunksterChallenge2025
#AllergicToChunksters
@Amiable @julieclair

Revelation. C.J. Sansom | C J Sansom

Amiable Yay! 22h

dabbe @Amiable 💚🩶💚 22h

julieclair Woo hoo!!! 🎉 2h

51 likes3 comments

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_BookNotes, 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. 2d

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 2d

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. 2d

See All 14 Comments

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. 2d

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

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. 2d

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

lil1inblue @dabbe 🎯🎯🎯 2d

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) 1d

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. 1d

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. 24h

dabbe @AnneCecilie Did I ever ask where you're from? I wish things were more secular here. 23h

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. 23h

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? ❣️🇳🇴❣️ 22h

34 likes14 comments

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. 2d

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? 2d

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? 2d

See All 10 Comments

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? 2d

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. 2d

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. 👊🏻 2d

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. 1d

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. 1d

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! 😱 1d

dabbe @Daisey 🎯🎯🎯! 1d

27 likes10 comments

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. 2d

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. 2d

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. 2d

See All 10 Comments

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

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. 2d

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. 2d

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 2d

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

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) 1d

dabbe @AnneCecilie Excellent reminder about the fingerprints. And yes, serial killers have probably been around as long as we humans have. 1d

27 likes10 comments

Revelation. C.J. Sansom | C J Sansom

#ShardlakeSeriesBR #ShardlakeBR

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. 2d

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

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

See All 14 Comments

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

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. 2d

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. 2d

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. 2d

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. 2d

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

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

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 1d

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. 1d

dabbe @AnneCecilie Barak just needs to stop being such an arse! 🤣 1d

dabbe @Daisey I thought so, too. I would have loved to see them get together. I love the character of Ellen, too. 1d

24 likes14 comments

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. 2d

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. 2d

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

See All 14 Comments

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. 🤣 2d

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. 2d

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. 2d

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

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. 2d

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 1d

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. 1d

dabbe @AnneCecilie Agree 💯, though you'd think I would have remembered the “whodunnit“ in each one of these rereads. 🤣 1d

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. 1d

AnneCecilie @dabbe I don‘t remember either, but isn‘t it 10-15 yrs since these were published? 24h

dabbe @AnneCecilie Sounds about right. I guess it's asking my brain a lot to remember the exact killers, right? 🤣 23h

26 likes14 comments

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

52 likes1 stack add

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. 4d

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. 4d

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

#Readaway2024 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES @andrew65
#ShardlakeSeriesBR @dabbe 4d

See All 6 Comments

dabbe Excellent review! Thanks for sharing, and I look forward to our discussion this Friday! 🤩 4d

OutsmartYourShelf @dabbe 😀 4d

DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 4d

31 likes6 comments

Revelation: A Matthew Shardlake Tudor Mystery | C J Sansom

Repost for @dabbe

#ShardlakeSeriesBR #ShardlakeBR

Friendly reminder Shardlakians! See pic above!

dabbe TY! 🤩🤩🤩 4d

29 likes1 comment

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. 5d

jenniferw88 I am still reading these, but at my own pace, so I'll join in when I can! 5d

dabbe @kwmg40 Join in when you can! I hope your trip is for fun! 🤩 4d

See All 8 Comments

dabbe @jenniferw88 Sounds good! I hope you're enjoying it! 🤩 4d

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. 4d

dabbe @lil1inblue They keep getting better, don't they? 🤩 4d

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! 3d

dabbe @kwmg40 Have a blast! 🤩🤗🤩 2d

57 likes1 stack add8 comments

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! 🤩 5d

lil1inblue Samesies! This one really fascinated me. 5d

Deblovestoread So agree about the crushes! 5d

35 likes3 comments

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! 🤩 7d

38 likes1 stack add1 comment

Revelation. C.J. Sansom | C J Sansom

pick

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 🎉🎉🎉 3w

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

25 likes2 comments

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_BookNotes, 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. 1mo

Karisimo I feel for these people who are dealing with religious “rules” and traditions changing on the whim of a king. 1mo

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. 1mo

See All 15 Comments

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. 1mo

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? 😳 1mo

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.😔 1mo

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. 1mo

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) . 1mo

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). 1mo

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!

1mo

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. 1mo

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? 🤞🏻 1mo

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. 😱 1mo

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. 1mo

dabbe @AnneCecilie And how religion just flips on a dime at the whim of a king. 😳 Truly unbelievable! 1mo

38 likes15 comments

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. 1mo

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. 1mo

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. 1mo

See All 11 Comments

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. 1mo

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. 1mo

OutsmartYourShelf @dabbe Yes - head injury, chronic pain, & approaching mortality. That would do it. 1mo

dabbe @OutsmartYourShelf More than enough, right? 1mo

AnneCecilie I completely agree with @dabbe 1mo

dabbe @AnneCecilie 🤩😂😘 1mo

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.“ 4w

dabbe @lil1inblue Excellent point re: the actual meaning of the word itself! 🤩 4w

25 likes11 comments

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 1mo

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. 1mo

LiseWorks Oh, I agree. Women were property at the time. @Butterfinger 1mo

See All 18 Comments

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. 1mo

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! 🤩 1mo

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. 🤩 1mo

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. 🤩 1mo

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.“ 🤬
1mo

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. 1mo

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) 1mo

dabbe @OutsmartYourShelf Wowza. Had to look him up. Thanks for the information, and I agree 💯! 🤩 1mo

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. 1mo

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! 😂 1mo

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. 1mo

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! 😱 1mo

AnneCecilie Me too, I read the the translation when it came out. And I have a feeling that there was something about Piers 1mo

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. 4w

dabbe @lil1inblue Me, too. His parents as well. 4w

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 1mo

Librarybelle One of these days I will catch up! I‘m still on Dark Fire 🤦🏻‍♀️ 1mo

OutsmartYourShelf I'm really enjoying this one so far. 1mo

See All 11 Comments

dabbe @LiseWorks Agree 💯! 1mo

dabbe @Librarybelle No worries. We'll be here! 🤩 1mo

dabbe @OutsmartYourShelf Yay! Me, too! 🤩 1mo

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. 1mo

dabbe @kwmg40 Ooh, I love that when a book just grabs you and won't let go! 🤩 1mo

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 1mo

dabbe @AnneCecilie “Blurry“ is an excellent word to describe the religious landscape during this period. 🤩 1mo

lil1inblue @AnneCecilie I agree! I appreciate that he is willing to look at the history of those that are often overlooked. 4w

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! 😂 🤣 1mo

Mollyanna I am all caught up and ready to discuss. Thanks as always for hosting Denise. 1mo

LiseWorks Let's hope I remember as I read the first half in December lol 1mo

See All 9 Comments

LiseWorks I love that cartoon 1mo

dabbe @Mollyanna YW! And thanks for that! 🤩😂🤗 1mo

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! 🤩😂🤗 1mo

dabbe @LiseWorks Same here, m'dear! 🤩😂🤗 1mo

lil1inblue What a great cartoon! I'm ready for discussion - no cramming needed this month! 😂 1mo

dabbe @lil1inblue 🤩😂🤗 1mo

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 💛🐱💛 1mo

TiredLibrarian It's a great series! 1mo

Ruthiella 😻😻😻 1mo

dabbe Yay! 🖤🐾🖤 1mo

MemoirsForMe 🐈❤️🐈 1mo

58 likes5 comments

Deblovestoread

Revelation. C.J. Sansom | C J Sansom

#WeeklyFavorite

Couldn‘t put it down.

@Read4life

dabbe 🤩🤩🤩 2mo

Read4life 💙📚💙 2mo

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! 🤩😂🤗 2mo

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

dabbe @Cuilin They're good, aren't they? Do you want me to put you on the tag list? 2mo

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. 2mo

67 likes1 stack add4 comments

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. 2mo

dabbe 🤩🤩🤩 2mo

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!!! 2mo

dabbe 🤩🤩🤩 2mo

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! 🩵💙🩵 2mo

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_BookNotes, BookWrym

Deblovestoread Breathing a sigh of relief 😮‍💨 Thanks, Denise! 🩵 2mo

dabbe @Deblovestoread Yay! #metoo! 🤩😂🤗 2mo

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) 2mo

See All 18 Comments

Texreader I may participate now. I‘d love to reread these books 2mo

kwmg40 That sounds good to me, thanks! 2mo

Librarybelle Thank you!!! 2mo

dabbe @Daisey #yahoo! 🤩😂🤗 2mo

dabbe @Texreader We'd love to have you! Let me know if you want to be tagged. 🤩🤗🤩 2mo

dabbe @kwmg40 Yay! 🤩😂🤗 2mo

dabbe @Librarybelle YW! 🤩😂🤗 2mo

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. 2mo

curiouserandcurioser @dabbe Thanks Denise, this really helps!:) 2mo

dabbe @Mollyanna Yay! YW! 🤩😂🤗 2mo

dabbe @curiouserandcurioser YW! 🤩😂🤗 2mo

OutsmartYourShelf Appreciate this as I haven't started it yet! Still trying to complete a few reads for Christmas readathons. 2mo

dabbe @OutsmartYourShelf Yay! 🤩😂🤗 2mo

PurpleyPumpkin I am SO behind on this series! But still hope to catch up. Thanks for the reboot! 2mo

dabbe @PurpleyPumpkin No worries! The discussions will be here when you're ready. 🩶🩵🩶 2mo

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! 2mo

jenniferw88 Haven't even started...! 2mo

Mollyanna I should be caught up by then… 🤞🏻 2mo

See All 8 Comments

Deblovestoread I haven't started either. Will try to catch up 2mo

dabbe @Librarybelle @jenniferw88 @Mollyanna @Devlovestoread ... do we want to postpone until next month due to the holidays? I can easily rearrange the time table. 🤩 2mo

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. 2mo

Mollyanna I‘d be good with postponing. 2mo

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. 🥰 2mo

51 likes8 comments

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

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

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 2mo

dabbe 🤩🤩🤩 2mo

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 🌲🌲🌲 2mo

BookmarkTavern Good job! 2mo

DieAReader 🎉Fantastic! 2mo

dabbe Yay! Me either! 💙❄️💙 2mo

TheSpineView Well done! 2mo

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! 🎉🎉 2mo

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! 💙❄️💙 3mo

27 likes1 comment