I began the book today.  Not too far in but so far very good.  It's one of those older hf books that hooks you into the story and people right away and gives a great sense of time and place.  Just wonderfng, can anyone suggest a nonfiction book about life in medieval England that might be a good companion book?  I would like to see illustrations of everyday life - clothing, homes, etc.  I wouldn't rule out a well-done children's book!

Genie, I agree with you completely. The narration got a little slow and the story wasn't progressing much at all.

However, I love Brother Gregory with all his conflicts and faults; and I enjoy this structure of going back and forth between the story and the people doing the writing/narrating. Reminds me the Arthur trilogy by Bernard Cornwell. 

And, I'm enough ahead that I can confidently tell you that it gets better! Margaret picks up the pace and gets to the actual business of telling her story.

Kelly

I've had the most frustrating morning.  My computer automatically upgraded to IE10 during the night.  Apparently there's an incompatibility issue with the forum format here at PBS.  Luckily, there was a member on the help line who was able to give me detailed instructions for over riding this but after many tries, no luck!  So I switched to Firefox and, voila!  It's wonderful that there are people here at the swap who are willing to take the time to trouble shoot these problems.

Genie requested to step down as moderator for this months read-along so I volunteered to do it in her place.  So....I'm anxious to hear what everybody thinks about chapters 1-3.  So far I am enjoying the book.  I like the structure of Margaret using a scribe to re-tell her life story and also the back and forth between her and Gregory.  There's lots of historical detail about everyday life in the middle ages that I am enjoying.  I'm curious about Lewis' understanding that the plague was carried by the furs he had bought.  I thought that people of the time were wildly superstitious about the origins of the plague - blaming everything from the wrath of God to Jews poisoning the wells.  Would love to have clarification from those of you in the know!

@Donna, I had the same experience, but I use Google Chrome too, so I just switched to it. For those with Windows 7 or 8 and do not want their browsers to auto-update, go to the Help menu in the browser and select About Internet Explorer. Then uncheck the box, Install new versions automatically.

Carry on with the discussion!

Thanks, Genie. 

I was completely squicked out by the flea games and the lecture about why bathing is bad for you at the very beginning of the book. I immediately started feeling itchy and wanted to take a shower.

I always forget that the Middle Ages were a really dirty, sweaty, smelly time to be alive.

Laura, The flea game was a little difficult for me to read as well ... and that the children were so nonchalant about it! The times, they have-a changed!

The flea game and comments about bathing struck me, too - wanting to be too clean was seen as sin of vanity.   Also the description of the one room dwelling with the whole family sleeping in one bed at one end and straw for livestock at the other!

Husband #1 is officially an ass.

He is!  And unfortuanately so was dear old dad. The men aren't coming off very well in this book so far.

I just downloaded mine from library this morning. Hope to get started soon.

I just started, 3% in. Slow start for me as well. I'll be a captive audience for a fee hours while I get the gray washed out of my hair, but at least with the kindle I will have backup options if it doesn't improve.

Shelley, I'm glad you are enjoying the book.  I liked Margaret, too.  She handles Gregory pretty well to get what she wants, don't you think?  Being a smart woman in that society seems a little like maneuvering a land mine. 

Donna, I agree.  Margaret's handling of Brother Gregory is genius!  She really observes him and makes dead on observations (rarely voiced out loud, of course) on his psyche.  If only he knew how much she has him figured out.