The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery
by
Natasa Djordjevic
- 2:55 PM
“If you can sit in silence with a person for half an hour and yet be entirely comfortable, you and that person can be friends. If you cannot, friends you'll never be and you need not waste time in trying.”
The story is about a young woman who grew up in Canada during the 1900s. At 29 years old, she is considered an old maid by the standards of the time because she is unmarried. Her family is terrible, always caught up in their dramas and worried about what others think of them. They impose insane rules on themselves that they believe to be proper.
Valance is an outcast in her family due to her plain looks and unmarried status. While her family isn't abusive, they constantly remind her of her mistakes and perceived shortcomings. She's miserable and afraid of her family members, unable to live life in the manner she desires.
However, everything changes when she visits a doctor due to chest pains. She learns that she has a year to live, and this news gives her the freedom to do and say whatever she wants. Her family is shocked as she defies them, and their reactions are quite amusing.
This book is about overcoming fears and being true to oneself, and it carries an essential message. The writing is well done, and the characters are interesting and well-drawn. The story starts slowly with detailed descriptions of Valancy's family, but it's so well written that the reader can feel her suffocation. The pace picks up, and the story becomes more exciting as it progresses with unexpected twists and turns.
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
by
Natasa Djordjevic
- 8:19 AM
“Once you've got a task to do, it's better to do it than live with the fear of it.”
The book had an engaging storyline that was fast-paced and absorbing. However, what impressed me the most was the level of detail in the character development written by Abercrombie. The internal dialogue for each main character's thoughts and ideas brought the book to life—the characterization in the book added to its realism. In modern fantasy, most stories have characters that are more rounded and lifelike instead of the stark black/white, good/evil stick figures that were popular in the past. For instance, humans are not completely good or completely evil, they tend to be self-interested and consumed with their needs, desires, priorities, and goals. Abercrombie's genius lies in how he builds each character from the inside out, allowing us to see and recognize each cast member's understanding of themselves and their world, and perceive each person's internal motivations. In short, the characters seem like real people.
Her Last Assassin by Victoria Lamb
by
Natasa Djordjevic
- 10:22 AM
This is a novel about Lucy Morgan, a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth I, her guardian Faithful Goodluck, and William Shakespeare. The Queen is in danger from a Catholic conspiracy that could be originating from within her court or abroad. Goodluck, the loyal spy, is tasked with finding out who is behind the plot. The story is a mix of historical fiction, thriller, and romance, which makes it an exciting read.
The story is told from the perspectives of the four main characters. Lamb skillfully intertwines the stories of each character in their unique voice with excellent characterization. Lucy has many conflicting loyalties and desires, making her life challenging as she is also a black woman living in Elizabethan London. Goodluck is a courageous and resourceful character, but his past conflicts come to the fore and must be resolved. Elizabeth's descent into old age with its attendant fears and losses is poignant but never maudlin. Shakespeare's story within the novel is incredibly moving.
Lamb's descriptive writing is vivid and evocative, transporting the reader deep into the world of the novel. Her prose is always deft and economical, despite being deeply descriptive.
Month of February: Best of Quotes
by
Natasa Djordjevic
- 6:39 AM
Shadow on the Crown Patricia Bracewell
by
Natasa Djordjevic
- 12:38 PM
The book, which is the first of a trilogy, narrates the story of Queen Emma of Normandy, a historical figure who is not very well known. The story is set in the years preceding the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, when the Saxons were at the peak of their power in Britain, but were under constant threat from the Danes who frequently raided their coasts. Emma, who comes from a Norman noble family that has alliances with both the Saxons and the Danes, seeks to raise her family's prestige by maintaining the favor of both kings. To broker peace, young Emma marries the British king, Aethelred, who is a troubled and cruel man. Upon arriving at the court, Emma realizes that her role as queen is not what she had expected, and she must use all her wit and intelligence to survive in a world that is akin to a real-life Game of Thrones.
Shadow on the Crown is a book that captivated me from the very beginning. In my opinion, it perfectly embodies what historical fiction should be. Bracewell excels at creating a vivid and immersive world. Although I wasn't particularly familiar with the Saxons before reading this book, I now feel like I've spent time in their bleak and brutal world and gained a better understanding of what life was like during that era. I think that part of what makes this possible is that Bracewell heavily relies on the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle for her story and uses actual Saxon words throughout the book, which adds a sense of authenticity to the narrative.
The book is not entirely negative, but it doesn't ignore the harsh realities of the time. These include abusive men, disrespectful attitudes towards women, brutal wars, and cruel tactics such as rape. However, Bracewell has succeeded in portraying the Anglo-Saxon people's mindset, where they believed that signs and omens were everywhere and that their fate was predetermined. Death and betrayal were always lurking in the shadows.
Bracewell’s characters are well-crafted in the story. The narrative is told from the perspective of four characters, each with their unique point of view. Emma is a remarkably strong character for her time, without being anachronistic. Her strength is evident not from taking up arms, but from her unwillingness to give up in less-than-perfect circumstances. Emma uses all her wits to stay one step ahead of those who would harm her and, when necessary, she is just as manipulative as the men to achieve her goals. Elgiva, the other female lead, is also a strong character, but her intentions are much darker than Emma's. Aethelred, who is violent and possibly insane, is not out of character for a man who has experienced treachery since childhood and suffered significant losses in his life. His eldest son, Aethelstan, is his opposite, showing that the Saxons were not just men drunk on blood and gore, but living, breathing human beings who cared for one another.
Bracewell carefully selects each word, and the resulting prose is nothing short of poetic. Her talent for creating vivid descriptions of a time almost a millennium in the past is truly masterful, as her writing transports the reader to a world that is vastly different from our own. Her characters are brought to life with witty and well-crafted dialogue, each with their unique voice.
Le Temps Viendra is a novel by Anne Boleyn that beautifully intertwines the stories of two women from different eras. The protagonist is a modern-day woman who is immersed in the 16th-century world of Anne Boleyn and King Henry VIII. The book is well-researched and transports readers back in time, allowing them to visualize the places where Anne and Henry lived and the people who surrounded them.
Sarah Morris's passion for Anne Boleyn is evident in the writing and makes the book captivating. The novel not only explores the life of Anne Boleyn in the 16th century but also introduces readers to the hidden life of a modern-day Anne. Although at first, the shift from the Tudor world to the 21st century might seem jarring, Sarah's writing soon draws readers in, making them equally invested in both women's stories.
