Location: The Tudors Wiki Discussion Forum

Discussion: The Book Read Starts Today Dissolution by C.J.SansomIReported This is a featured thread

Category: Discussion Forum / General Discussion
Showing 1 - 18 of 18  |  Show  posts at a time
royalfalcon
royalfalcon
The Book Read Starts now Dissolution by C.J.Sansom
Sep 12 2011, 7:09 AM EDT | Post edited: Sep 12 2011, 8:01 AM EDT
We can start reading the above named book now. I think if we give ourselves a month to complete it, that should be acceptable hopefully for most people. There are 32 chapters in this book, I suggest that we try to read 8 per week. We can raise points at any time during this period. I hope that this is clear, please let me know if there are any problems. LOL I declare the book read officially open 1  out of 1 found this valuable. Do you?    
Kittywake09
Kittywake09
1. RE: The Book Read Starts now Dissolution by C.J.Sansom
Sep 12 2011, 3:06 PM EDT | Post edited: Sep 12 2011, 3:06 PM EDT
Thanks for the thread royalfalcon will get my copy out tonight and start reading. Brilliant CJ Sansom. Do you find this valuable?    
royalfalcon
royalfalcon
2. RE: The Book Read Starts now Dissolution by C.J.Sansom
Sep 13 2011, 12:47 PM EDT | Post edited: Sep 13 2011, 12:47 PM EDT
Thanks Anne LOL it looks like it will be just you and me at the moment. Do you find this valuable?    
HeverRose
HeverRose
3. RE: The Book Read Starts now Dissolution by C.J.Sansom
Sep 14 2011, 11:47 AM EDT | Post edited: Sep 14 2011, 11:48 AM EDT
I finished the first three chapters yesterday evening.

Here are a few questions to start discussion . If any of our fellow readers wish to post some questions for consideration, please do.

1. Chapter One: What is the significance of the talking bird?
2. Chapter Two: What do you think of the representation of Thomas Cromwell? is he a villain? is he a man of honor? How does he compare with other representations of Cromwell that you know of, or with his reputation in history? How does Shardlake feel about him?

3. What kind of person is Matthew Shardlake? How do you come to your conclusions?

4. Two books are mentioned in Chapter Three: The Prince by Machiavelli and Utopia by Thomas More. Why is the author including allusions to these books here? What do they tell us about the world we are reading about?


I will post more questions for the subsequent chapters as I read them. Do you find this valuable?    
freya9
freya9
4. RE: The Book Read Starts now Dissolution by C.J.Sansom
Sep 14 2011, 3:37 PM EDT | Post edited: Sep 14 2011, 3:37 PM EDT
1) Shardlake points out that the bird is not intellegent it is just unthinkingly repeating what it has heard. Perhaps this is sly reference to the latin mass.

2) So far it seems a fairly even handed representation. He is shown as someone who is strong and driven. Shardlake seems to have been closer to him in the past and there is a suggestion later that he thinks he may be becoming too strict.

3) Matthew Shardlake is an intellegent man who knows how to use his power. Although he promotes a confident, no nonsense persona he is sensitive about his deformity. There is a part of the book where he wrongly thinks that a monk is mocking him that is very telling. (I don't want to say to much for those who haven't got that far).

4) Idealism versus realism (or cynicism). The book deals with clashing beliefs. The reformers see themselves as idealists and the Monks as corrupt, the Monks see themselves as holy and the reformers as destructive. Do you find this valuable?    
henry's7thwife
henry's7thwife
5. RE: The Book Read Starts now Dissolution by C.J.Sansom
Sep 15 2011, 2:39 PM EDT | Post edited: Sep 15 2011, 2:39 PM EDT
"4. Two books are mentioned in Chapter Three: The Prince by Machiavelli and Utopia by Thomas More. Why is the author including allusions to these books here? What do they tell us about the world we are reading about?

"
These two books are as different from chalk to cheese. I think that since Shardlake was a reformer, this was an attempt to demarcate the two worlds, Utopia representing the idealist world of tradition (since tradition is always idealist), and the brave new world of political reforms represented by The Prince.

Machiavelli was a strong proponent of the monarchy and recommended using all means available to make the populace toe the line. Thomas Cromwell is believed to have been influenced by The Prince when he sought to help Henry become Supreme Head of the Church, so it is possible the author was referring to that. 1  out of 1 found this valuable. Do you?    
henry's7thwife
henry's7thwife
6. RE: The Book Read Starts now Dissolution by C.J.Sansom
Sep 15 2011, 2:46 PM EDT | Post edited: Sep 15 2011, 2:46 PM EDT
What did you all think of Brother Jerome? Did he arouse your sympathy for the torture meted out to him or did he disgust you by his fanatical beliefs? 1  out of 1 found this valuable. Do you?    
freya9
freya9
7. RE: The Book Read Starts now Dissolution by C.J.Sansom
Sep 16 2011, 2:28 PM EDT | Post edited: Sep 16 2011, 2:28 PM EDT
I felt sorry for him although I don't like him. Compared to what happened to the other monks he was lucky but he seems more angry on his own behalf than theirs. Perhaps that will change as the book progresses. 1  out of 1 found this valuable. Do you?    
HeverRose
HeverRose
8. RE: The Book Read Starts now Dissolution by C.J.Sansom
Sep 18 2011, 1:20 PM EDT | Post edited: Sep 18 2011, 1:20 PM EDT
"What did you all think of Brother Jerome? Did he arouse your sympathy for the torture meted out to him or did he disgust you by his fanatical beliefs?
"
The novel on the whole does not have much sympathy with the monks and the monestaries.

So far he is the one monk presented that has a true vocation and because of that he did not take the oath and was tortured.

 Do you find this valuable?    
henry's7thwife
henry's7thwife
9. RE: The Book Read Starts now Dissolution by C.J.Sansom
Sep 19 2011, 11:55 AM EDT | Post edited: Sep 19 2011, 11:55 AM EDT
*Raises hand* I have completed the book! I am FIRST!

Now that I have gloated ... I must say I loved the book, though it was blatantly false in the historical bits. It is an amazing example of how the political changes that we are all so aware of and discuss so often affected people in the far flung areas of the country. Do you find this valuable?    
HeverRose
HeverRose
10. RE: The Book Read Starts now Dissolution by C.J.Sansom
Sep 19 2011, 12:32 PM EDT | Post edited: Sep 19 2011, 12:32 PM EDT
Congratulations Kav. That is very good.

I am plodding through it. I Am enjoying it, mainly because I like Shardlake, but in general I prefer stories about families. I wish Shardlake had a wife he bantered with.. That would make it more fun for me.

Too many silly men and monks in this book, but it is a good book to discuss. I am not complaining. 1  out of 1 found this valuable. Do you?    
royalfalcon
royalfalcon
11. RE: The Book Read Starts now Dissolution by C.J.Sansom
Sep 19 2011, 2:13 PM EDT | Post edited: Sep 19 2011, 2:13 PM EDT
Congratulations Kav. Sorry I have not been joining in so far. I had to study for some tours at Hampton Court that took place yesterday. I am now free to give it more attention. I have already read the book once as I received it from my good friend Anne (Kittywake) as part of world book night earlier in the year. I enjoyed it so much I have read the whole Shardlake series. I think the writer is brilliant and he really takes you back into 16th century England. LOL you can almost smell it.. I find Shardlake a man of integrity; He has normal human failings. He is ultra sensitive about his disability, understandably if people made fun of him and taunted him about his hunchback. He is a man I find easy to like, one who is basically a very decent human being and also a man with a razor sharp brain.. Do you find this valuable?    
freya9
freya9
12. RE: The Book Read Starts now Dissolution by C.J.Sansom
Sep 19 2011, 4:51 PM EDT | Post edited: Sep 19 2011, 4:52 PM EDT
There was so much prejudice in Tudor times it's no wonder he's a bit touchy. Even Jerome who has been crippled himself through torture calls him a hunchback to his face. 1  out of 1 found this valuable. Do you?    
henry's7thwife
henry's7thwife
13. RE: The Book Read Starts now Dissolution by C.J.Sansom
Sep 20 2011, 8:05 AM EDT | Post edited: Sep 20 2011, 8:05 AM EDT
Yes, Jerome aroused the worst feelings in me. Seriously, the man was as fanatic as any I have come across. Handicapped people, mentally or physically were seen to be cursed by god, according to the church. It was no wonder that Anne Boleyn was rumoured to have six fingers, because that would automatically make her a witch (or worse, cursed) *rolls eyes*.

But back to Jerome, he was a typical example of why the reformers wanted the church to be brought down, imo. Shardlake even mentions it at one point on how life would be better if it were not for these superstitions. For example, wearing a hair shirt over his wounds, knowing it was harmful. Utter stupidity!

And did anyone else shrink in distaste at the description of the shrivelled hand? Urgh! Do you find this valuable?    
freya9
freya9
14. RE: The Book Read Starts now Dissolution by C.J.Sansom
Sep 20 2011, 3:01 PM EDT | Post edited: Sep 20 2011, 3:02 PM EDT
Yes, and didn't the Abbot refer to it as the hand of Barabbas ? I was thinking how could it be his hand he was the one set free. Do you find this valuable?    
lettice
lettice
15. RE: The Book Read Starts now Dissolution by C.J.Sansom
Sep 24 2011, 7:37 PM EDT | Post edited: Sep 24 2011, 7:37 PM EDT
"Congratulations Kav. Sorry I have not been joining in so far. I had to study for some tours at Hampton Court that took place yesterday. I am now free to give it more attention. I have already read the book once as I received it from my good friend Anne (Kittywake) as part of world book night earlier in the year. I enjoyed it so much I have read the whole Shardlake series. I think the writer is brilliant and he really takes you back into 16th century England. LOL you can almost smell it.. I find Shardlake a man of integrity; He has normal human failings. He is ultra sensitive about his disability, understandably if people made fun of him and taunted him about his hunchback. He is a man I find easy to like, one who is basically a very decent human being and also a man with a razor sharp brain.. "
I started reading the book a few days ago. I am interested in the reactions of people in that era towards a person with an obvious physical disability. Cromwell has looked beyond that & is looking at the man's ability rather than hid disability. I have never read the Shardlake series: it's a first for me. Do you find this valuable?    
royalfalcon
royalfalcon
16. RE: The Book Read Starts now Dissolution by C.J.Sansom
Sep 25 2011, 6:04 AM EDT | Post edited: Sep 25 2011, 6:04 AM EDT
Lettice I think C.J.Sansom really catches the flavour of Tudor England. He takes you beyond the court and out amongst the ordinary people and you see how they lived their lives in the 16th century. Do you find this valuable?    
lettice
lettice
17. RE: The Book Read Starts now Dissolution by C.J.Sansom
Sep 25 2011, 8:49 AM EDT | Post edited: Sep 25 2011, 8:49 AM EDT
"Lettice I think C.J.Sansom really catches the flavour of Tudor England. He takes you beyond the court and out amongst the ordinary people and you see how they lived their lives in the 16th century."
I quite agree from what I read so far. The author's words do put that era to life. 2  out of 2 found this valuable. Do you?