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#ShardlakeBR
#chapters1-26

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, BookWrym

OutsmartYourShelf An intriguing read so far. The uncertainty with the back & forth of Henry's religious changes leaves everyone caught between the two factions, & the fear of saying the wrong thing or being seen with the wrong person & being denounced & dragged off to the Tower must have been unbearable. 4w

lil1inblue I like this one so far. It does have a different tone than the last books. Shardlake seems more somber and melancholy, while those around him are more settled and content. I agree with @OutsmartYourShelf - the uncertainty and volatility of the time must have been just awful. 4w

AnneCecilie I‘m liking this one. It shows the times and how most people have reached a point where they‘re like “I believe as the King wants”. But I wish there was more Barak and Guy (edited) 4w

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dabbe @OutsmartYourShelf @lil1inblue @AnneCecilie So much political intrigue in this one! We actually get inside Whitehall and see the machinations of court. I agree with all of you re: feeling the torment and having to sway whichever way the king sways--it reminds me of how I feel in this country right now with a wannabe king creating as much turmoil as he can. At least we don't have the Tower ... yet. 4w

LiseWorks This book shows how families went against each other just for power. This religious fight between the catholics and Protestants is so ridiculous. I know that God himself is gagging over this. 4w

AnneCecilie I‘m in Europe so I don‘t feel it the same way as you do, but it is creating a lot of uncertainty 4w

dabbe @LiseWorks My views tend to lean towards Shardlake's: I doubt all religions, so the Catholic-Protestant battle reeks of ridiculousness IMHO. 4w

dabbe @AnneCecilie Most definitively. 4w

Deblovestoread Definitely those in power swinging the religion cudgel. The terror of burning would be horrific so of course your words should hold the party line and if your actions do not you risk everything. I like the court machinations in this one. 4w

dabbe @Deblovestoread It's fascinating, isn't it? 4w

kwmg40 I'm a bit behind in my reading, and I've just started this one. Will return to these questions when I'm farther along! 3w

dabbe @kwmg40 🤩 3w

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dabbe

Dissolution: A Shardlake Novel | C. J. Sansom

#ShardlakeSeriesBR #Chapters1-16 @dabbe

Thoughts, Shardlakians?

Daisey, PurpleyPumpkin, AnneCecilie, Gissy, OutsmartYourShelf, jenniferw88, Deblovestoread, Librarybelle, batsy, kwmg40, Mollyanna, curiouserandcurioser, RaeLovesToRead, bthegood, lil1inblue, PageShifter, LiseWorks, The_Book_Ninja, Karisimo, BookWrym

LiseWorks I've always loved this Era. Even as a teen king Henry Vlll always fascinated me. The deceit of each character just to get ahead. The torture in order to get to what they thought was the truth. The fighting just over religious beliefs. The lies and the fall from grace was incredibly bad. 12mo

Karisimo The pacing/style of the investigation and the character of Shardlake reminded me so much of Louise Penny‘s Inspector Gamache series which I love! 12mo

The_Book_Ninja I‘ve not read a book like this since I read a few of the Sorrowful Mysteries of Brother Athelstan. There‘s an Athelstan in this book, I wondered if it‘s an homage🤷🏻 12mo

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Deblovestoread I‘m really enjoying this. I recently read a biography of Anne Boleyn and this feels like a continuation of that in a way. 12mo

OutsmartYourShelf The Tudor period is my second favourite time period to read about (first is Imperial Rome) whether fiction or nonfiction.

It's quite slow in parts but it feels a bit like a cross between P.C. Doherty's 'Hugh Corbett' series & Ellis Peters' 'Cadfael' (although both were set in earlier time periods.) I liked both of these series so it bodes well. 12mo

dabbe @LiseWorks I love this era, too. I've always been fascinated by his six wives and what happened to them. And those dresses! I always thought I would have loved to have lived during this period--until I learned how awful it really was--especially if you weren't wealthy. 12mo

dabbe @Karisimo I've only read one Gamache (which I loved); I need to read more! 🤩 12mo

dabbe @The_Book_Ninja Definitely could be since the Sorrowful books came first. I also think there was a real Brother Athelstan, too. 12mo

dabbe @Deblovestoread Yay! I'm loving rereading it, too. I forgot so much, so it's like I'm reading it for the first time! 🤩 12mo

dabbe @OutsmartYourShelf I've not heard of the series you've mentioned. I'll have to look into them and add them to my never-ending TBR! 🤩 12mo

AnneCecilie For me this is a reread, but this first book was read approx. 15 yrs ago. So I know I love it, but I don‘t remember much. I love Sansom‘s eye for historical detail and showing us how this period was like. 12mo

dabbe @AnneCecilie It's a reread for me, too, and about as many years ago! I'm rereading it like it's the first time because I've also forgotten quite a bit. 12mo

kwmg40 Since I'd read this first book not too long ago, I decided not to reread, so I'm a bit fuzzy on the details, but I wanted to follow the discussions. I love reading about the Tudor era, and it's nice to read a book set in this time period where the main character is not a member of the royalty. It gives a different perspective from many of the Tudor-era books I've read in the past. 12mo

Librarybelle Finally finished last month‘s reading! I have a fascination with the Tudor era and will read anything I can find. This is my first time reading Sansom, and I am really liking this. It‘s a really good behind-the-scenes look at the changes in Henry VIII‘s reign. I came to this knowing the violence and the unstableness of the era, and Sansom does well highlighting these elements and the brutality. Shardlake is quick to temper but very insightful. 12mo

dabbe @Librarybelle I love his flawed character--and his brilliance! 🤩 12mo

lil1inblue I'm a little late, but I finally caught up on my reading! I'm glad my previous curiosity (obsession?) with this era is paying off so far - I haven't needed to do any context research. I do appreciate that this isn't about the usual royal drama. Also, I am fascinated by the relationship between Shardlake and Mark. The change between them as the story evolves is very interesting. 12mo

lil1inblue @Librarybelle It's my first introduction to Sansom, too. I'm loving it! 12mo

dabbe @lil1inblue And both of their interest in Alice! Perhaps a threesome-love-triangle in the middle of a decapitated murder? Yowza! 😱 12mo

dabbe @lil1inblue Yay! 🤩🤗😀 12mo

Mollyanna So I finally got caught up. I am loving this novel. Sansom does such a wonderful job of immersing you in the time and setting. It has The Name of the Rose vibes. 12mo

dabbe @Mollyanna You just gave me another book to add to my TBR! Glad you're loving it so far. 🤩🤗😀 12mo

Mollyanna I hope you enjoy it. 12mo

lil1inblue @Mollyanna Definitely going to check that book out! 12mo

lil1inblue @dabbe I like how the conflict allows us to see another perhaps less likeable side to Shardlake's character, too. 12mo

dabbe @lil1inblue We like our heroes to be flawed, don't we? Even when they're detectives! 🤩 12mo

dabbe @Mollyanna I'm sure I will! 🤩 12mo

Mollyanna The movie is also decent. It stars Sean Connery and a very young Christian Slater. @dabbe @lil1inblue I think the fact that they are flawed shows the human experience of our detectives. It helps to relate to them. 12mo

dabbe @Mollyanna So true! That's one of the traits of a hero (according to Joseph Campbell's monomyth). I taught a Hero's Quest unit to all of my students, whether standard or honors. It is the essential building block of all stories. And our heroes have to be flawed--otherwise we can't related to them. Sometimes a perfect hero might work (James Bond, perhaps), but very rarely. 12mo

lil1inblue @Mollyanna So true! 12mo

BookWrym I am all caught up to this point. First time reading enjoying it so far. Interesting that Shardlake as an agent of Cromwell is the hero when typically he would be a villain. Love that Shardlake has a disability and that it is not just used to make him seem different I appreciate the comments about pain and needing to rest. 12mo

dabbe @BookWrym Great points. I also think Shardlake is showing some signs of being dissatisfied with the the Reformation and Cromwell's machinations, so maybe that could be why he's the hero. 12mo

PageShifter I am really enjoying this. I love the setting & atmosphere. Even though I'll start to feel frustrated because I don't see any hint of who might be the murderer. 10mo

dabbe @PageShifter I'm glad you're liking it! And don't feel bad--you're in excellent company with all of us! 🤩😂🤗 10mo

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