On my TO BE READ list
(update) Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West
by Blaine Harden
If even 1/10th of this account is true....
What a great injustice to humanity. It reads more like a news report (the author is a journalist) and could have packed a more powerful punch if presented differently.
(update) Below Stairs: The Classic Kitchen Maid's Memoir
by Margaret Powell
Sorry, but this was a pretty boring account of a coming of age story. Some of the vignettes were interesting but I found the writing poor (did she dictate this without any editing??) and her thoughts "scattered" at best.
The Rebel Wife: A Novel
by Taylor M Polites
Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend
by Susan Orlean
A FEW THOUGHTS ON BOOKS I'VE RECENTLY ENJOYED
The Vanishing Point by Mary Sharratt
The story takes place mostly in colonial America (Chesapeake area) during the late 1600s. It's historical fiction, romance, and "dark" mystery all rolled into one. It follows two sisters, devoted but very different. The elder travels to primitive Maryland first for the arranged marriage to "unseen, unknown" cousin. Her younger sister follows after their physician father dies, learns on arrival of the untimely death of said sister, falls in love with the young widower and then the story jumps from present to past and back again. The author changes voice and time with each chapter flawlessly. I found it well written, well researched historically, and a real page turner.
POMPEII Author: Robert Harris
(update) Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West
by Blaine Harden
If even 1/10th of this account is true....
What a great injustice to humanity. It reads more like a news report (the author is a journalist) and could have packed a more powerful punch if presented differently.
(update) Below Stairs: The Classic Kitchen Maid's Memoir
by Margaret Powell
Sorry, but this was a pretty boring account of a coming of age story. Some of the vignettes were interesting but I found the writing poor (did she dictate this without any editing??) and her thoughts "scattered" at best.
The Rebel Wife: A Novel
by Taylor M Polites
Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend
by Susan Orlean
A FEW THOUGHTS ON BOOKS I'VE RECENTLY ENJOYED
The Vanishing Point by Mary Sharratt
POMPEII Author: Robert Harris
I enjoyed how Robert Harris was able to weave his story around the
Vesuvius eruption of 79AD. He did the necessary research of this
dramatic event and made it an effortless read, I couldn't wait to turn
each page. We follow engineer Marcus Attilius as he takes over the job
of Aquarius, making him responsible for the large aqueduct that brings
water into the nine cities around the Bay of Naples. He must find out
why it's suddenly not working and is expected by the powers above to
rectify the matter posthaste. Along the way, we are introduced to honest
civilians, learned scholars, everyday thugs, prostitutes, a
dysfunctional family, and even a blind workman. We also gain insight
into the workings of the city's government.. "politics" hasn't changed
much.
I've visited the Pompeii archeological site and listened to the guides. This book adds the human element and riveting descriptions. Plus,it creates a powerfully suspenseful story despite the fact we already know the ending
The Winter Rose(Tea Rose, book2)
I've visited the Pompeii archeological site and listened to the guides. This book adds the human element and riveting descriptions. Plus,it creates a powerfully suspenseful story despite the fact we already know the ending
The Winter Rose(Tea Rose, book2)
Author: Jennifer Donnelly
Superb! I love her writing... Ms Donnelly wowed me with this.
Her historical details (medical and political) made this a real page
turner for me. The storyline, early 1900s young female doctor trying to
do good in the poorest part of London, branched off in many directions
but the writing is so good it was smooth, uncomplicated reading. She
brings it all together so effortlessly. I will truly miss these
multidimensional characters she has created.
Reading The Tea Rose first makes it an enjoyable continuation on one level but is not necessary as each can stand alone.
Garden Spells
Garden Spells
Author: Sarah Addison Allen
I'd describe it as a novel of magical fantasy set in contemporary realism.
Two
sisters reconnect, one a gardening introvert whose "persuasive" ways
with herbs and flowers made for interesting results and fun reading, and
the other, a rebellious teen now grown and with her own child, looking
to escape an abusive relationship. Their relationship with each other
develops and moves forward in this story of misunderstandings,
forgiveness, love, and trust.
Two secondary characters I loved... an old aunt with the perpetual need to gift small, "seemingly useless" items to individuals and the old apple tree in the back of the garden....can't explain more without spoilers.
A quick read that I highly recommend.
Two secondary characters I loved... an old aunt with the perpetual need to gift small, "seemingly useless" items to individuals and the old apple tree in the back of the garden....can't explain more without spoilers.
A quick read that I highly recommend.
FYI I suggested this book to 4 co-workers. All have loved it and gone on to recommend it to others.
I also enjoyed The Peach Keeper by this author.
Castles in the Air: The Restoration Adventures of Two Young Optimists and A Crumbling Old Mansion Author:
"Restoring the sixteenth-century Gwydir Castle" on the back of this book caught my interest as I've so enjoyed reading Sharon Kay Penman's Welsh HF books.
There's a romantic aura to the idea of actually buying and restoring a "crumbling old stone mansion". Also, it brought back memories of my first house that required a significant amount of remodeling. Although my husband and I did knock down a wall with sledge hammers and do most of the other work ourselves it in no way compared to this historical undertaking (we're talking about 40 rooms here). I mention this only because if you've done some DIY projects, you'll be amazed at their accomplishment. In America, I've no doubt these "ruins" would have been razed decades (if not centuries) ago, such was the disrepair.
In northern Wales, this young couple faced squatters, bats, and rodents. They found skeletons, reported ghosts, and met some incredible challenges from nature. There were chapters where I thought, "this is where I would have bailed out". Judy Corbett writes her narrative as if she's sitting opposite you sharing a cup of tea. Every component of the restoration is fascinating. Her description of bone-chilling damp cold had me pulling up the comforter and I felt her exhaustion after 18-hour days of toil and grit. There's humor when fund raising needs bring paying visitors, the suspense of a surprising deal with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and even a sojourn with royalty. I'm glad she decided to share the "adventure". One negative...I craved more detail, most chapters were disappointingly too short.
The plus... they have a website describing the rooms they rent, weddings they host, and a general history of the former occupants.
http://www.gwydircastle.co.uk/home.htm
Lady of the English Author:Elizabeth Chadwick Knowing the general story from reading other accounts of this turbulent time period I expected, and accepted, that I might find parts of Ms Chadwick's novel a bit boring. I could not have been more wrong. Her account weaves the life stories of Empress Matilda (young widow of Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor and daughter/only direct heir of England's King Henry I) with that of her father's much younger second wife and Queen, Adelizer. I didn't especially like Matilda but Chadwick's research gives the reader an insightful understanding of this strongly motivated medieval woman. During the 12th century, she and cousin Stephen vie for the right to rule England and Normandy. The ensuing 19 year civil war was a time of extreme hardship and strife, with political intrigue and treachery so rampant some players changed sides three times.
I found Adelizer's story told more of the everyday occurrences and quietly powerful role of an educated queen/wife/mother within the strict rules set during this period.
Chadwick's expertise also lies in her ability to bring to life these historical characters via details of clothing, food, arranged marriages, childbirth, castle life, battles, sieges, and "behind the scene" double-crosses without sounding like a textbook or historical "romance" novel.
This author never disappoints me.
Visit HER WEBSITE to read about her use of Akashic readings when researching medieval history.
I got hooked on the "Game of Thrones" series on HBO in 2011 and put author George R. R. Martin (who wrote the Fire and Ice books on which the series is based) on my to be read list. Seems like, I'm not the only one. I just read my favorite author's blog and she addresses this exact subject.
To anyone who loves HF but hasn't ventured over to a little "fantasy" I recommend you read her post.
Season 2 started April 2012.
Season 2 started April 2012.
Castles in the Air: The Restoration Adventures of Two Young Optimists and A Crumbling Old Mansion Author:
"Restoring the sixteenth-century Gwydir Castle" on the back of this book caught my interest as I've so enjoyed reading Sharon Kay Penman's Welsh HF books.
There's a romantic aura to the idea of actually buying and restoring a "crumbling old stone mansion". Also, it brought back memories of my first house that required a significant amount of remodeling. Although my husband and I did knock down a wall with sledge hammers and do most of the other work ourselves it in no way compared to this historical undertaking (we're talking about 40 rooms here). I mention this only because if you've done some DIY projects, you'll be amazed at their accomplishment. In America, I've no doubt these "ruins" would have been razed decades (if not centuries) ago, such was the disrepair.
In northern Wales, this young couple faced squatters, bats, and rodents. They found skeletons, reported ghosts, and met some incredible challenges from nature. There were chapters where I thought, "this is where I would have bailed out". Judy Corbett writes her narrative as if she's sitting opposite you sharing a cup of tea. Every component of the restoration is fascinating. Her description of bone-chilling damp cold had me pulling up the comforter and I felt her exhaustion after 18-hour days of toil and grit. There's humor when fund raising needs bring paying visitors, the suspense of a surprising deal with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and even a sojourn with royalty. I'm glad she decided to share the "adventure". One negative...I craved more detail, most chapters were disappointingly too short.
The plus... they have a website describing the rooms they rent, weddings they host, and a general history of the former occupants.
http://www.gwydircastle.co.uk/home.htm
Lady of the English Author:Elizabeth Chadwick Knowing the general story from reading other accounts of this turbulent time period I expected, and accepted, that I might find parts of Ms Chadwick's novel a bit boring. I could not have been more wrong. Her account weaves the life stories of Empress Matilda (young widow of Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor and daughter/only direct heir of England's King Henry I) with that of her father's much younger second wife and Queen, Adelizer. I didn't especially like Matilda but Chadwick's research gives the reader an insightful understanding of this strongly motivated medieval woman. During the 12th century, she and cousin Stephen vie for the right to rule England and Normandy. The ensuing 19 year civil war was a time of extreme hardship and strife, with political intrigue and treachery so rampant some players changed sides three times.
I found Adelizer's story told more of the everyday occurrences and quietly powerful role of an educated queen/wife/mother within the strict rules set during this period.
Chadwick's expertise also lies in her ability to bring to life these historical characters via details of clothing, food, arranged marriages, childbirth, castle life, battles, sieges, and "behind the scene" double-crosses without sounding like a textbook or historical "romance" novel.
This author never disappoints me.
Visit HER WEBSITE to read about her use of Akashic readings when researching medieval history.
There are many little ways to enlarge your child's world. Love of books is the best of all
― Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
― Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
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