Poetry of Reading: April 2020

Longbourn by Jo Baker

by Natasa Djordjevic - 4:20 PM

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QUOTES OF THE WEEK

by Natasa Djordjevic - 7:30 AM

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I Was Anastasia by Ariel Lawhon

by Natasa Djordjevic - 9:18 AM

“She has been many things through the years, but helpless is not one of them.”

Anastasia Romanov, the youngest daughter, and the fourth child of the last tsar of Russia, Nicholas II, and his wife, Alexandra, was long rumored to have somehow survived the ruthless and grisly death by firing squad her family of seven and four servants suffered at the hands of a group of Bolsheviks on July 17, 1918, in a dank cellar in a merchant’s house in Ekaterinburg, Russia where they had been imprisoned. The woman who claimed for decades to be Anastasia assumed the name of Anna Anderson. She spent her entire life, until she died in 1984, trying to convince the world that she was Grand Duchess Anastasia.

Even if you know the history, this book is still worth every hour of your time to read. Author Ariel Lawhon has ingeniously structured this novel in a way I have never seen. The story alternates chapters between Anastasia and Anna, but Anastasia’s story moves forward in time, while Anna’s moves backward—until the two converge. It is brilliant, and the effect is powerful, if not haunting. The story builds and builds and builds, and suddenly you cannot stop reading because it becomes that captivating! And this still holds even if you know your history, so don’t let that stop you from reading this deftly written and multilayered novel.

I enjoyed this keep-you-guessing format. The novel reads with a much faster pace than your typical historical fiction but with the familiar genre of a large and complex cast and wonderful scenery description. The characters are well-done with thoughtful complexity and I enjoyed watching Anna’s/Anastasia’s development into whom she becomes over time. The events in the protagonist’s life are well-researched and harbor the true darkness found in honest historical accounts.

The ending of the story made the whole book worth every word that was written - it was outstanding. It was hard to put the book down until I got to the very end because I just had to know what happened. The author took liberties with some of these historical events (she mentions this at the end of the book) and she turns it into a gripping tale. Even though the author added elements to the story, the timeline and most of the events remain true to the historical facts, which I appreciated.

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QUOTES OF THE WEEK

by Natasa Djordjevic - 8:03 AM

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The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer

by Natasa Djordjevic - 7:25 AM

“That's what I love about reading: one tiny thing will interest you in a book, and that tiny thing will lead you to another book, and another bit there will lead you onto a third book. It's geometrically progressive - all with no end in sight, and for no other reason than sheer enjoyment.”

With Europe just coming out of WWII, Juliet Ashton is looking for something to write about. She receives a letter from someone on Guernsey who belonged to The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society during the occupation. From there Juliet corresponds with several members of the society. Eventually, she goes to Guernsey to meet the people she has been corresponding with and not only falls in love with them but also with Guernsey itself. Written in letter form, Juliet corresponds with several members of the society and with her editor about what happened on Guernsey during the occupation. When Juliet arrives on Guernsey, she is at a loss of how she wants to write her book, but eventually, she finds her purpose and her goal and a new life for herself.

I loved the story. It pulled me in, and I’m now a part of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Because it was written as letters, the style differed from the currently expected norm. No dialog; no real-time action. But it takes only a few pages to get past that and enjoy the story. I liked that it was all presented in the form of handwritten letters between characters. It was more challenging at first to keep track of who was who, but once it was clear, the story flowed nicely. It made me want to visit the Channel Islands as it told of the hardships of those who experienced the German invasion of Europe firsthand.

Each of the characters was so individual, some were just nasty like the island busybody, some were hilarious and some like Elizabeth is inspiring and heartbreaking at the same time. While you are horrified by what these characters had to endure during the war, you will cheer them at the same time for their fortitude and resilience.

I highly recommend this special novel! There aren’t words enough to describe what a special experience reading this novel was to me. You’re just going to experience it for yourself.

My Rating:

✬✬✬✬✬

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QUOTES OF THE WEEK

by Natasa Djordjevic - 9:06 AM

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The Forever Queen by Helen Hollick

by Natasa Djordjevic - 8:51 AM

“One day, lad, your eyes will light upon a woman, and you will never forget that glint in her eye, that toss of her head, or sway of her hips. You will dream of her, whether you are asleep of awake. She will possess your mind, and your body will be on fire for her. Nothing will ever erase the linger of her scent in your nostrils, the touch of her hand on your body, the feel of her flesh beneath your fingers.
When you find a woman to love, Cnut, your life changes forever.”

The Forever Queen centers on the story of Emma of Normandy and her turbulent life as reigning Queen of England during the last days of the Viking invasions. And not only does she hold this dubious honor once, but twice as she has the distinction of being married to two of England’s kinds - one the heir to the throne and the other a violent invader.

Hollick begins Emma’s life on the day of her arrival to war-torn and ill-run but famously wealthy England to be the young bride of Aethelred (known to history as ‘the unready’). Emma is painfully young when she begins her marriage to Aethelred - who though perfectly intelligent is incapable of effectively dealing with the Viking threat, which continues to make him look weaker in the eyes of his nobles.

As she makes herself a place in England, with the birth of her children and the gathering around her of her loyal bodyguard and friends, Emma’s frustration with Aethelred comes to a fever pitch as she watches with her own eyes as the Vikings march their way unmolested through England and back to Denmark. She then knows if she is to save anything she must take control of her destiny and that of England’s.

Hollick illuminates this shadowy part of England’s history wonderfully and is an expert in depicting all those who had such an impact on European politics and royalty. The great lengths she went to in researching the life and times of this indomitable queen are evident throughout, and with Hollick’s creative style of writing make this prodigious story of tragedy and triumph, doubt and certainty, love and hate a fantastic read.

The pages are full of fascinating imagery and I easily fell in love with Emma’s spirit as portrayed by Hollick. She is loving and courageous, but at the same time, she can be ill-tempered and spiteful, making it seem that we now know Emma as she must have been over a thousand years ago. The reader grasps at relationships and friends just as Emma might have done in her uncertain beginning and mourn the losses just the same. Further, the relationship between Emma and Cnut takes on a much different picture than the politically expedient one commonly portrayed, which is extremely refreshing.

The story is difficult to read but not because of any lack of writing skill, but it is just the opposite. Hollick portrays tragedies such as the St Brice’s Day massacre so vividly the sorrow and anger can easily be felt by the reader. And I think that is part of her great skill as a writer.

The times were violent. Threats came from both inside the country and out but Emma survives to remain Queen to two Kings, mother to two more and remains in history as the aunt to one of the greatest men in English history - William the Conqueror. She is one of the few women of this time to have had a biography written. And, despite the historical record having very little information about Queen Emma (aside from the Encomium Emmæ Reginæ, a “spin” biography commissioned by Emma to give credence to her son’s claim to the thrown), Hollick sees past the male monarchs of the time and find the unsung tale of Emma “Ælgifu” of England. I find her to be a fascinating and yet at the same time horrifying woman. She did what she had to do to survive and hold on to power for her sons.

My Rating:

✬✬✬✬✬

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QUOTES OF THE WEEK

by Natasa Djordjevic - 8:06 AM

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March Book Wrap Up

by Natasa Djordjevic - 8:36 AM

The Secret Wife of King George IV by Diane Haeger (✬✬✬✬)

Diane Haeger is a talented author, with an ability to create characters that are believable and larger than life. I especially liked her take on Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire. Most historians paint her as this wonderfully independent woman, but Haeger brings out a different side of Georgiana that made for a great read. Anyone who likes historical fiction or historical romance will enjoy this novel.

The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan (✬✬)

This sentimentalism isn’t my cup of tea. Throw in ghosts, fate, and sprinkle around some short essays about things in the “lost” collection and I am ready to put a book down.

Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah (✬✬✬✬)

Kristin Hannah has an extraordinary gift in her ability to create voluminous historical details with significant relationships in the present. In Winter Garden, she sets out pieces of a puzzle that grows in various dimensions with her characters and their individual and intersecting worlds. She truly takes one on a voyage throughout the world, into the past, and back to home. Kristin allows readers to have fragments of insight along the way without revealing the next steps on the journey. While this is fiction, one understands that real people did, in fact, experience horrible circumstances and yet survived.

Pompeii by Robert Harris (✬✬✬✬)

After reading this book, I can assure you that Robert Harris did so much research to tell this incredible tale. He includes things that one would think only historians would ever dream of knowing and writes the story beautifully. After reading this novel, honestly want to hop on a plane and visit Pompeii. It also made me interested in history, and despite the semi-predictable ending, I would definitely recommend this book to people of all ages.

Sarah Smiles by Sean-Paul Thomas (✬✬✬✬✬)

This story absorbed me in from the beginning and I found myself not wanting to put it down until I had finished the last page. This is a book that takes you on an adventure with the characters, and I grow to care about many of them, especially with the main character Sarah who was a breath of fresh air.

This is a book that touched my heart and brought back a lot of my school day memories and adventures. I highly recommend it.

A Boy Made of Blocks by Keith Stuart (✬✬✬)

This book is based on a true story, and I give the author credit for the descriptions of dealing with an autistic child, the challenges, etc. I am also very glad that Alex found a way to connect with his son, and with the huge strides, Sam made through Minecraft. But heartwarming? Not so much, at least for me.

Murder on Thames by Matthew Costello (✬✬✬)

There were a lot of things I liked about the book. I do like both Sarah and Jack and think there is some potential for further fun. Some villagers, especially the two old dears who run the local toll bridge, are quite delightful. It was not a page-turner from beginning to end.

The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett (✬✬✬✬✬)

I love Terry Pratchett! He has a wonderful way with words and brings a humorous touch to many themes in this follow-up to the debut of his Discworld series. The light-hearted style to deep thoughts and a well thought out world. These stories always make me smile and are great page-turners.

The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett (✬✬✬✬✬)

After the first chapter, I wasn’t sure about the book. I did not understand what was going on. But then it flowed for me and getting to know Rincewind the wizard, Twoflower the tourist, the barbarian, the lay of the land on Discworld, I was thoroughly entertained. A fast, fun read, I am looking forward to reading more in the series!

Waiting for Doggo by Mark Mills (✬✬)

I wanted to like this book, but it was way too thin in every aspect. The storyline was just so-so, but at least Doggo was cute. At no point was I worried or upset or thrilled by the characters. The dog eventually plays an important role, but like everything else in the book, it is simply narrated. I wish the author had spent more time on Doggo. I think he could have been a highly humorous addition to the narrative.

The Paris Winter by Imogen Robertson (✬✬✬✬)

The novel describes accurately the beginning of the “Belle Époque” bringing vividly to life through the characters, the start of feminism, the recognition of the talented woman painters their hardship to find a place among the starting of the impressionists and art nouveau an interesting and intelligent historical fiction.

True Colors by Kristin Hannah (✬✬✬✬)

This novel is satisfying in so many ways. The characters are fully developed and their interactions are believable and realistic—relationships have ups and downs and Ms. Hannah has depicted these in great detail. Each sister has unique and different characteristics, like most siblings. The descriptions of the sceneries are another treat; very well done. The story has poignancy, tension, twists, and hope. It’s a page-turner and deeply satisfying.

Mischling by Affinity Konar (✬✬✬✬)

A very difficult story to read due to content. The story centers about two girls — twins — chosen by Mengele in Auschwitz to be part of his “Zoo.” They and the other twins experience things we never will know of. The writing, pacing and the desire for the twins to reconnect drives this book forward so I was never inspired to quit reading even when the reading of the tortures they endured. This is a fictional account, but it is based on truth -- the things Dr. Mengele did at Auschwitz.

Beauty Sleep: A Retelling of "Sleeping Beauty" by Cameron Dokey (✬✬✬✬✬)

This is a very fun retelling of Sleeping Beauty. Very different and original. I loved it and thought the writing was well done and fun to read.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (✬✬✬)

The Golden Age of Hollywood is such rich source material and there were so many important topics raised, domestic abuse, family neglect, LGBT issues, and sexism but sadly this book glossed over all of them, skimming rather than providing any depth. I didn’t feel emotionally invested in any of the characters and the switching of characters' perspectives was unnecessary and jarring. It could have been so good - unfortunately fell flat.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (✬✬✬)

This was a pretty nice story. Not so great as some reviews say, but not bad either. I’ve read worse than this. It was well written, the language was rich, and the plot went on with little of a struggle. What I also liked was this dark, steampunk atmosphere of the world, spiced up nicely with magic. Characters were interesting, but considering their level of skills, I found them a bit too young to be realistic.

Holy Fools by Joanne Harris (✬✬)

The plot of this novel is fairly original, and the beginning seemed promising. Where it failed, was on the actual execution of the plot, and motivation of characters. The whole plot just seems unlikely. Things happen without explanation, and it is hard to believe how these people got from what they used to be to what they are. Another problem is that this book did not give me the feel of the time period.

The Strange Journey of Alice Pendelbury by Marc Levy (✬✬✬✬)

This book holds a lovely story that encompasses several elements which make it an interesting read. The plot and characters include romance, adventure, mystery, travel and history. The reader gets a glimpse of post-war life in London and learns some history about the Armenian genocide of the early 20th century. The descriptions of both locations in London and Turkey are colorful and vivid, which readers will appreciate.

The Garlic Ballads by Mo Yan (✬✬✬✬)

The Garlic Ballads is about rural China in the mid-198o’s and to a large degree it could be about the middle age. Life is cruel, the officials are corrupt, many of the characters are barbaric and the conditions are primitive. It is well written and an eye opener.

To Marry the Duke by Julianne MacLean (✬✬✬)

This book was just an ok read for me. The heroine was a little too perfect in every way, and the hero was just cruel most of the time and then nice and then cruel again it got a little tedious but overall it was ok. The other characters in the book were a little one-dimensional for me and the heros excuse for not wanting to love. I would have hoped the author would have come up with something a little better because after I finished the book I still could believe that was all there was to it.

The Last Telegram by Liz Trenow (✬✬✬✬)

This is an entertaining tale told in the first person by Lily Verner, starting near the end of her life and taking us back in time to just before World War II breaks out in Europe. Lily’s family has for generations owned and operated a silk weaving mill in the English countryside. With the war gearing up, their mill makes contracts with the government to weave the silk used for pilots’ parachutes. This is a war story and a love story, and both kept me turning pages well into the night. You will not be disappointed.

Hadrian's Wall by William Dietrich (✬✬✬✬)

William Dietrich is a great storyteller. The historical setting for the book took place during a period where there are few facts to go on, but using an array of believable characters and plenty of action, mixed with enough of what we know about that period of Roman-held Britain, Dietrich has written a very entertaining book.