For Pete's sake, HF Lovers!  You know I read the Saxon Chronicles, fell in love with Uhtred and am now eagerly awaiting the next installment, which I believe is scheduled to be released this year.  I thought I was going to let it go. I figured I wouldn't love anything Cornwell written more than the Saxon Chronicles.  To be honest. the Sharpe series didn't interest me when I read some of the synopsis (not sure how you make that world plural, sorry!) of those books. 

Then you guys nominate and pick a Cornwell book for the February BOM.  Okay, I'll give it a go.  Ordered it for $.01 from the Amazon Marketplace.  But, me thinks, that'll be it. 

Now on another thread here (maybe the "What Are You Reading In January") there is some BC discussion.  I start thinking of BC.  Then out of nowhere, a book of his here catches my eye, Heretic.  Sounds good.  I like me some Holy Grail stuff.  I note, however, it is no. 3 in yet another series, "The Grail Quest."  Okay, better check out the rest of the series.  Before I knew what I was doing, I had ordered the first two books in the series from a PBS member. AAARRGHHH! 

What have I done????  I had at one time thought about making a goal to read all of BC's books, but figured, no.  I need to branch out.  Now, I see, I am sucked back in.  This is going to seriously hamper my 2009 HF Challenge.  I don't have a BC book listed anywhere on my TBR books for the Challenge.  I don't think I could fit them into any category.  Maybe I'll bag the Bonus Challenge of reading a 1000+ page book and make my own personal bonus challenge to read the complete Grail Quest series.

So, not that I'm interested, but tell me what your favorite BC book or series is.  LOL!

How fun to find another Uhtred fan! My uncle recommended Bernard Cornwell to me years ago & I started w/ Stonehenge (have you read it? It could be a challenge response to "new to you" time period perhaps?).

I've read a few of the Sharpe books - and enjoyed them and the Grail Quest Series - LOVED them!

But the Saxon Chronicles are the best!!! Very well done & completely fascinating. So then my mother read the Saxon Chronicles (her introduction to BC ... and what a way to get started!) She also was completely enthralled w/ Uhtred and his various adventures. In fact, for Christmas she asked for (and received) a Thor amulet which she wears nearly every day ... and thus, now leads a protected life!

So, yes ... we can fully empathize w/ the angst you have over your Bernard Cornwell addiction. (Another idea for fitting in a BC book for the book challenge could be one of the earlier Sharpe books that cover specific battles in India ... ???)

When one has this kind of an issue, I believe the best solution is to just embrace it and say, "ahhh, well ... we likes what we likes ... "

:-D

Kelly

I like the Grail and Arthurian ones pretty much equally--I am actually currently reading Excalibur, the third Arthurian one, though I've got less than a hundred pages left now. I haven't started the Saxon series yet but I do have four of them here, waiting.

I live in an apartment and have limited space, so over the past few years, my Keeper shelf has shrunk considerably--especially since joining PBS. But Bernard Cornwell is one author I collect in hardcover and won't trade off.

I tried reading a couple of his Sharpe novels and I didn't really like those--they just aren't in a time period I like and they seem somehow "different" than his other works, so there's not much danger of me reading all those.

By the way, do be sure to wishlist his newest novel, Agincourt (or Azincourt, if you get the UK version.) :-D

Cheryl

Shelley I grabbed Heretic first not realizing it was the third one too so of course I had to get the other ones.  I got Vagabond in the January Reminder Swap on the games forum.  If no one orders me Archer's Tale in that swap I'll be getting that one when the swap is done.  Look on the bright side- at least you can come here and receive some support from your fellow HF addicts :)

Dear PBS Team,

I am writing today about a developing problem in the Historical Fiction Forum. One of our members, Shelley, has developed what we believe to be is an unhealthy fixation with author Bernard Cornwell, or, more specifically, Uhtred. We believe that this could lead to serious problems for PBS and Shelley should be stopped for her own good. We're pretty sure that she has a stalkerish personality and will probably be following poor Mr. Cornwell around, while wearing her PBS t-shirt, and demanding that he write more books about Uhtred. As you know, this could be very damaging for the reputation of PBS.

It's time for Shelley to be stopped. Perhaps a bit of programming is in order that can ban Shelley from requesting any Cornwell books. We wouldn't like to see Shelley spiral down into the Uhtred abyss any more than she already has.

Thank you for your help!

   The H/F Forum members

Hi Shelley: 

I also highly recommend the "Grail" series.  I have Agincourt on order from Amazon too,  You are in good company (I hope!)

Gasp!!!  Valli, did you seriously organize an intervention for me?????  The nerve!!!  LOL! 

LOL!  I may need it.  If BC doesn't have the latest Uhtred installment out on time, there will be trouble!  (Fortunately for him, I don't know the projected release date for this book, so he probably has nothing to worry about.) 

To the rest of you enablers (apparently Valli didn't get everyone here to participate in the intervention!) -

Cheryl  M - Ahhh, I will be wishlisting that book ASAP!  Why, oh, why, did you have to mention that?? Shame on you!

Cheryl R - Well, actually YOU mentioned the newest BC first.  Shame on you as well!  Valli will be so angry with you!  ;)

Kelly - Stonehenge is on my bookshelf crying for me to read it.  Bless your mother for loving Uhtred as much as I do - maybe more.  I don't have a Thor amulet!! 

Holly - Thank you for your support!

LOL ...

I'm kind of one of those "sure bet" kind of gals ... Valli, what are our *real* chances of a successful intervention here?!? I'm thinking it's a lost cause and all we can realistically do is try to keep her from any harm to self or others ...

LOL, Kelly! I think you may be right. It seems my intervention is doomed to failure.

Read on, Shelley! :-D

Shelley,

I dug up this thread to tell you something sure to brighten your day ... I asked my daughter yesterday if she had finished the Saxon Chronicles (she is in Maryland at grad school & her pleasure-reading time is limited).

"Oh, yes," she gushed. And so I asked her what she thought of Uhtred.

"I love him. He's the best. I think I love him more than Jamie."

High praise indeed!!

:-D

Kelly

Heard on A&E's Intervention show last night: "Hello, my name is Shelley and I am addicted to Uthred...."

I have been collecting the Saxon Chronicles but don't have them all yet, and I won't start reading a series until I have them all....but now I am itching to start anyway to see what all the fuss is about! I'm a BC--gasp----virgin.

Colleen!!! Absolutely laughing out loud!

You are quite right to wait until you have all four books gathered up before you start this series - it is definitely a series to read back to back!

Kelly

Can't wait to hear from Shelley ... LOL ...

Oh, I see how it is.  I rant about my crush for Uhtred and suddenly everybody loves him!  LOL!  I'm glad your daughter enjoyed the books, Kelly!

Colleen - Yes, you must absolutely de-flower your BC virgin self with the Saxon Chronicles!  No doubt you will fall for Uhtred too.  Sigh.

Speaking of Uhtred, I'm thinking the next installment of his tale is due out possibly this fall.  Ooooh, I'll have something to look forward to when summer is over.

I actually am probably about to get kicked out of the HF group, but I am underwhelmed by Bernard Cornwell, and I have read the first of the Saxon Chronicles.

Well, Mimi. Hat's off for your bravery in making such a public confession!!!  :-D

I guess, as with all authors, it's an "eye of the beholder" kind of thing. I have really, really enjoyed everything I have read by BC - from his stand alone novels, to his trilogies, to his Sharpe series. But, how boring it would be if we all liked the same thing.

I'm sure your seat at the HF table is safe  ... :-)

Kelly

Mimi - Yes, kudos for having the strength to stand up to this rabid BC mob and say, "eh."  LOL!  No worries.  We can't all like the same things!

Oh, I think you all have let Mimi off the hook a bit too easily. Mimi is tough; she can stand a bit of flogging! Three slaps with a wet noodle for Mimi! Who's with me?! :-D

I'm finding that I really enjoy H/F written by men. I think it's because I enjoy action more than reading about emotions and relationships.

Shelley, When is the next Uhtred book scheduled to be released?  I suppose I could go look for myself, but I figured you'd know the exact date by heart. Now, knowing the exact date of the release does not necessarily mean you have a problem, but if you also know the date of the British and Canadian releases, we'll have to reconsider the whole intervention thing. ;-)

Yea!!!!  Valli's back.  I put out an APB for you - check out the "Whatever Happened To . . ." thread, girl! 

Obviously I'm not the BC fan that I thought.  I believe the next Saxon Chronicles installment is due out in October, but I could be wrong.  I'll check BC's site later and report back. 

Bwhahahahahaha! I'm so excited to see you, I'll stand for three slaps with a wet noodle :)

Hey Shelley- Our hero Uhtred has another saga coming out in the US in 2010 called The Burning Land.

I totally flunked out of Bernard Cornwell.  I put the first vol. of The Saxon Chronicles on my rental queue and it came immediately, which was much sooner than anticipated.

Maybe it's partly that I haven't been in the mood for tackling anything very challenging but I just couldn't get into this book.  I read nearly 40 pages and looked at the end and it seemed to continue about the same.  Since it was holding up the rentals, I sent it back.  Perhaps I will give it another try some time in the future.  There didn't seem to be any reason why I should feel this way, all the Amazon reviews were positive.  Even with a popular book, I can generally find someone who thinks like me if I dislike it!  It was probably just bad timing but I think his writing style may take me awhile to get into.

I found the thread, Shelley! I don't know how I missed it, lol.

Mimi, with a little red sauce and some garlic bread, getting slapped with noodles could be great! I might be thinking that because I'm so hungry right now. Sphagetti...Mmmmm...

Obviously, Diana will need to get the noodle treatment too. :-D

I loved the Saxon books, anxiously awaiting the next also.  I just started on the War Lords series.  YAY!

Oh, and in case anyone is looking... i just posted The Pale Horseman and The Last Kingdom to my bookshelf.  :D

Well, my coworker was sighing over Jamie and I saved up my audio book credits so I could get it free and sent it back.  I couldn't get through the second side of the first tape!  She loved those books, her whole family loved those books, I liked the premise, but I couldn't stand the book.

I will give Cornwell another go when I'm not as tired though.

Another convert here. Blame it on this thread. Never knew I'd want to read the blow-by-blow descriptions of 14th century battles, but the man can tell a story.

Really enjoyed The Archer's Tale and am now reading Vagabond. I do love finding series that are complete.