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Discussion of The Lymond Chronicles and The House of Niccolo

Welcome to Lymond's Chess Board
A Shamrocks & Stones forum for discussion of The Lymond Chronicles and The House of Niccolo by Dorothy Dunnett.

Please post with respect.
Beware of spoilers! Put spoilers "inside" your reply, Thanks!

The Lymond Chronicles
The Game of Kings
Queen's Play
The Disorderly Knights
Pawn in Frankincense
The Ringed Castle
Checkmate

The House of Niccolo
Niccolo Rising
The Spring of the Ram
Race of Scorpions
Scales of Gold
The Unicorn Hunt
To Lie With Lions
Caprice and Rondo
Gemini

S&S Book Discussion Board S&S Pub Shamrocks & Stones Website S&S Bairns' Bookshelf

-- celtgirl (), 08:36:37 02/24/09 Tue [7]

Last edited by author: Tue February 24, 2009 08:40:50 Edited 1 time.
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Replies:
- Sorry, I accidentally posted something here, I meant to post over at the BDB. (NT) -- celtgirl, 08:41:21 02/24/09 Tue
- I'll use this space to ask a question about Eloise....can anyone point me to a physical description of her in GofK????? Thanks. (NT) -- Peggy, 11:36:33 02/25/09 Wed
  - I used the 'Search Inside the Book' option with 'Game of Kings' on Amazon, Peggy. There's about six references to Eloise, but none refer to her appearance. That's not to say it isn't there, just that I can't find it.>>> -- celtgirl, 14:25:05 02/25/09 Wed
    - When did they turn on the search inside option for these books? Dangitall, last time I tried it wasn't available! Thanks Cindy. (NT) -- PeggyB, 14:26:11 02/25/09 Wed
      - I don't know- today is the first time I've used it! :) (NT) -- celtgirl, 14:32:16 02/25/09 Wed
  - Peggy, I don't recall a physical description of Eloise. >>>>> -- Sallie, 18:27:36 02/25/09 Wed
Introduction of a Newbie (Who’s been lurking for years….) I rambled a bit so I’ll put this inside. -- Lynne, 13:22:26 01/29/09 Thu [25]
Where to start?
I wandered here several years ago. It’s hard for me to actually remember what brought me here. I know I had read Exit Unicorns (I think I first saw it in Surrey) and probably came over from a LOL site recommendation. (I used to participate there many moons ago.) But my main website haunt is the Compuserve Books and Writers site. I’m an active member under a slightly different name but it has helped me in learning loads of stuff about writing.
One of the things Diana says about the best way on how to learn about writing is to read….read…read. So I’ve been…reading a lot. (Like I needed an excuse to read!) I read Outlander (about seven years ago now) and was floored by the character she created…Jamie.
Anyway…for a couple of years I’ve had Dunnetts’ Game of Kings on my tbr shelf. I wanted so desperately to read the series and learn about not only the ‘good’ story that is must be, but about the character of Lymond , whom I had read repeatedly that he is considered one of the greatest all time characters. I wanted basically, to see what all the fuss was about. I’m in awe of the devotion fans of her books have to Dunnetts characters after all these years. Wow, I bet there’s stuff here for me to learn…thinks I.
I stalled out on GoK…three or four times! I even got past the 100 page mark and still didn’t get a good grip on what the heck was happening. I was so disgruntled. I was so confused.
So about the time you wonderful gals were discussing Queen’s Play I searched your archives and painstakingly copied and pasted the discussion of GoK…without reading a bit of it, as not so spoil anything. Talk about discipline! I started reading it again…
Anyway while I was at it I did the same for the Queens Play and Disorderly Knights. I didn’t’ want it to scroll off before I got to it. Well I am glad to say with your help by reading the Gok discussion…I not only got through it …but loved it. I continued onto Queen’s Play …but by the time I read The Disorderly Knights…l lost my ‘notes’ and had to read it cold turkey. (As the discussion scrolled off by then.) But with all the previous prepping, I was able to get the gist of the story and by the time I was getting into reading Pawn…you gals were just finishing up your discussion…but again thanks to you all, it made my reading experience much more rewarding!
I’m pleased and proud to say I’m in the act of reading The Ringed Castle right along with your discussion. (I thought I’d never catch up.) I’m still at time barely able to catch what’s going on the many levels…But I’m loving the series and look forward to reading the rest…and them onto the Niccolo series. (I can’t wait to see his character develop too.)
Btw I’ve also now read both of Cyndi’s books and loved them.
I feel like you all are a great bunch of ladies and even though you don’t know me (yet) I feel like I’ve known you for awhile now.
I can’t thank you all enough for helping me understand and appreciate these wonderful books.

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Replies:
Reposting for Susie, HON spoiler -- PeggyB, 12:15:25 01/27/09 Tue [6]
Inside first reply due to reported spoiler.

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Replies:
- Unicorn and Gelis>>>>> -- susiej, 08:42:17 01/27/09 Tue >>>>> -- PeggyB (reposted for susie), 12:16:48 01/27/09 Tue
  - This is so funny, susie, because if you scroll down you will see my post about this very thing and my very similar feelings! (NT) -- FranS, 12:22:22 01/27/09 Tue
- Susie>>>> -- celtgirl, 12:55:41 01/27/09 Tue
- I was furious too for a long time, but was persuaded to think differently... eventually. (NT) -- E, 14:02:38 01/27/09 Tue
- well, i am reading caprice and rondo and so far my opinion hasnt changed one bit, I'm with you! (NT) -- Annabel, 10:51:48 01/28/09 Wed
To Lie With Lions......... -- FranS, 20:13:40 12/10/08 Wed [15]
I have rarely been as angry and disgusted with a character as I am with one in this book ! What a #@%&**%!! I'm not quite half way and those who have read this may remember which one I'm referring to. My BP is up. This series has sealed my choice of DD as my all-time favorite author.

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Replies:
- I just finished Scales! >>>>> -- susiej, 07:14:11 12/15/08 Mon
  - This was probably my favorite book in the whole series, even though it ended as it did. Don't worry - the truth is out there. =) (NT) -- Elaine, 18:55:41 12/15/08 Mon
  - I have suspicions about Jordan being his father also, and maybe Anselm. Gelis has a burr under her saddle and doesn't know how to let go! She was the fat, younger sister and must have been very jealous of Katelina, but this depth of deceipt and vengence is jaw-dropping. This one is my favorite so far too. (NT) -- FranS, 13:05:26 12/16/08 Tue
- Fran, could you refresh my memory as to which character you're talking about? (NT) -- cg, 09:30:11 12/15/08 Mon
  - Maybe Nicholas himself? (NT) -- E, 19:00:39 12/15/08 Mon
    - I finished the book last night, so now I know why you suggested him......mercy. (NT) -- FranS, 09:24:10 12/18/08 Thu
  - Don't look, susie!>>>>> -- FranS, 13:16:55 12/16/08 Tue
    - Congrats on the ten years cancer free, Fran- that is a great moment to celebrate! Now on to Nicholas>>>> -- cg, 17:39:17 12/19/08 Fri
      - Oh, and I wanted to add>>> -- cg, 17:53:05 12/19/08 Fri
        
        Yes, it's sad to lose that and see him change. I think maybe she's using Kathi as the eyes of the reader, to try to see beneath the veneer he wears so frequently. (NT) -- FranS, 22:04:51 12/19/08 Fri
        
        Fran>>> -- cg, 07:14:40 12/20/08 Sat
        
        Yes, I do understand what you mean. They are kindred spirits. (NT) -- FranS, 11:37:15 12/20/08 Sat
- COming to this late but here is my theory:>>>> -- ANnabel, 10:17:57 12/28/08 Sun
  - Anabel>>>>>>> -- FranS, 12:21:05 01/27/09 Tue
The Ringed Castle -- PeggyB, 11:11:59 12/31/08 Wed [1]

We will be discussing the Ringed Castle on the Book Discussion Board, January 11 to February 21.

Discussion schedule is posted on the Book Discussion Board (CLICK HERE).

Thanks to everyone involved is organizing this discussion!

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Unicorn Hunt -- PeggyB (), 11:37:50 12/28/08 Sun [10]
Reposting for Annabel, inside the first reply.

(I didn't read the post, but apparently it has a spoiler)

Last edited by author: Sun December 28, 2008 11:39:28 Edited 1 time.
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Replies:
- In here >>>>>>>>>> -- PeggyB (reposting for Annabel), 11:38:36 12/28/08 Sun
  - Well, I know because I've read all the books>>> -- celtgirl, 11:58:27 12/28/08 Sun
    - Grrrrrrr! (NT) -- Annabel, 12:06:33 12/28/08 Sun
      - Annabel>>> -- celtgirl, 12:35:07 12/28/08 Sun
        
        Oh man ! I knew I was missing stuff ! (NT) -- FranS, 12:43:58 12/28/08 Sun
        
        Fran>>> -- celtgirl, 14:37:42 12/28/08 Sun
        
        Hmmm........... That's the way I'm reading it too, but I have started using a highlighter for the more revelatory comments (when I recognize them!). I've requested the first one on cd from interlibrary loan and am hoping to be able to enjoy them that way too while the series is still fresh. (NT) -- FranS, 17:04:06 12/28/08 Sun
- Thanks you so much it wouldnt let me edit! (NT) -- Annabel, 11:49:31 12/28/08 Sun
  - Not a problem. You can only edit if you were logged in to Voy when you made the original post, and only the author of the post can edit it (that's why I simply deleted and reposted it). (NT) -- PeggyB (), 12:14:31 12/28/08 Sun
adoration -- mary e. springhorn (slightly alarmed), 17:30:31 12/18/08 Thu [10]
I fear that I tread, clumsy-footed, and American (for my sins) upon your finely-threaded chat site. Mea culpa. I admit to being enthralled by Dorothy Dunnett for some years. I am re-reading the Lymond Chronicles and have found that a second reading, with all the salient facts in hand, is very enlightening. I will keep my insights to myself. However, I pause to admire you, all in sundry. I await your offerings, like small shrimp, pearled to my ear.

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The Lymond Chronicles are:

The Game of Kings

Queen's Play

The Disorderly Knights

Pawn in Frankincense

The Ringed Castle

Checkmate

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