Poetry of Reading: June 2022

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

by Natasa Djordjevic - 4:17 PM

Queen By Right by Anne Easter Smith

by Natasa Djordjevic - 8:45 AM

Queen By Right is a fictional tale weaved together with lots of historical details that tells us the life story of Cecily of York, mother of two kings. It felt like the telling of a family saga to me and I loved it! Queen By Right takes us to the mid-1400s a time when women had no say in things. As a woman, you were expected to obey your husband in all things and to be seen but not heard. Yet even as a young girl, Cecily, who had been indulged in greatly by her father, was very outspoken and headstrong. Cecily meets Richard, Duke of York, when she is nine and he is thirteen. Her family takes him in as a ward and later he and Cecily are promised to each other. The unusual thing is that they were able to grow together from a young; they weren’t just thrown into a marriage. They enjoyed hunting, riding, and just talking.

I was so drawn to the character of Cecily. The way the author portrays her in this novel invites the reader into Cecily’s life and makes you care about her. Cecily’s life was not easy, even though she and Richard loved each other so much. She lost children, which were very trying times for both her and Richard. Yet she always moved forward for the good of her family and her love for her husband. While many men felt women should not offer their opinions, Richard always engaged his wife in talk. He discussed with her what was going on and valued her opinions.

Then there was also all the political strife in terms of the court of Henry VI and Richard’s position there, and ultimately the position that he wanted to hold there. Over the years, Richard and others become less than impressed with how Henry VI ruled his empire. He seems to be a weak king given to bouts of craziness and it appears his Queen and council make more decisions than he does. Eventually, this leads to Richard forming an army to overturn Henry VI, and what follows is much tumult over the years for both Richard and Cecily. Towards the end, Richard makes many decisions that Cecily doesn’t believe in, but she supports her husband as she has always promised to do. Her main purpose through it all was to protect and love her children.

It is very well written, and the story is fascinating. The storyline is very well put together, and I never felt bored while reading the book. Every page kept me going until the end.

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QUOTES OF THE WEEK

by Natasa Djordjevic - 3:11 PM

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Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson

by Natasa Djordjevic - 8:36 AM

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QUOTES OF THE WEEK

by Natasa Djordjevic - 3:03 PM

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May Book Wrap Up

by Natasa Djordjevic - 2:48 PM

Beyond the Highland Mist by Karen Marie Moning (✷✷)

If you are looking for a very formulaic romance novel, you will not be disappointed. If you need strong characterization and logical plot points, look elsewhere.

The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate (✷✷✷)

I liked the premise of the book but found the alternating chapters depicting original characters and periods difficult to adapt to. It wasn’t until the last chapter that the author pulled it all together.

The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy (✷✷✷)

The book is very well written. However, I found most of the story line completely unbelievable and actually had to force myself to finish it.

Beach Music by Pat Conroy (✷✷✷)

The book reads like several books as it goes from one time in his life to another. Each is great reading, but to me at least, the change in time and location makes me lose the flow of the narration. The book is good, just difficult to follow the flow.

The Ambitious Madame Bonaparte by Ruth Hull Chatlien (✷✷✷)

Interesting fictional bio of a little know Napolean connection to the United States. The story became tedious and could have been greatly shortened.

The Huntress by Kate Quinn (✷✷✷)

I often read historical fiction on WWII/ Holocaust, and this was just OK, and the plot seemed predictable; the denouement was unlikely. The most interesting element was learning about female Russian fighter pilots.

Lady Clementine by Marie Benedict (✷✷✷✷)

Clementine is a strong historical figure I knew nothing about. I appreciate the author’s insight and research that gives a powerful woman her right and shows the hoops that some people have to jump through for the higher good.

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston (✷✷✷✷)

This was a well-written novel regarding the challenging life of a young black woman in the early part of the 19th century. It portrayed the main character as a very strong-willed, hardworking woman who met the demands thrown upon her regarding her status in life.

Winter's Fire by Giles Kristian (✷✷✷✷)

I liked this book better than the first. However the first book sets the plot for the series and is very enjoyable. This book moves better and is non stop excitement.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See (✷✷✷✷)

It was a sad, yet fulfilling, true and honest, yet fictional story. A truly moving story about the hardships of being a woman in nineteenth-century China.

The Samurai's Garden by Gail Tsukiyama (✷✷✷✷)

An absolutely stunning book both literally and conceptually. The characters are memorable and the scenery as detailed by the author draws you into a garden of breathtaking words.