Poetry of Reading

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

by Natasa Djordjevic - 9:58 AM

The Autumn Throne by Elizabeth Chadwick

by Natasa Djordjevic - 8:41 AM

“Perhaps the most important lesson I have learned is to embrace the small pleasures and turn them into lasting memories.”

Like the other two in the series (The Summer Queen and The Winter Crown), The Autumn Throne takes you back in time to medieval England, France, Normandy, Germany, and even the road to Jerusalem. Miss Chadwick’s writing is such that you feel you are there traveling with Eleanor (Alienor), living with her in her prison, listening to her giving orders and commands, watching her rule in her son’s stead. You feel the bleak cold of winter and the simmering heat of summer. The terror of impending war, the sadness of imminent death.

The Autumn Throne begins with Alienor having already served two years of what was to be fifteen years of imprisonment. She had already suffered the indignation of being publicly usurped by her husband’s mistress, and now, adding insult to injury, she has been incarcerated, with few luxuries and little or no company. Over the course of her fifteen years of confinement, she is occasionally summoned by her husband for various reasons - but always because he requires something from her. Occasionally she is given a few luxuries, but always her freedom is curtailed; however, never does she compromise her integrity to please Henry or to earn herself more comforts, and often she is sent back into cold penury because of his anger at her obstinacy. In the end, it brings her cruel imprisonment to an end by the sudden death of Henry, and Richard honors his mother publicly as Queen of England.

Elizabeth Chadwick portrays Henry II as a cold and distant man; a man who never shows weakness and who seems undisturbed at the deaths of his children - and that portrayal is spot on. He seems to have been a man who was afraid to delegate power in case it diluted his own; this is borne out because he was shown to be a reasonably loving and caring father whilst his children were young but treated his sons as rivals once they grew to young adulthood.

Elizabeth Chadwick’s characters are beautifully drawn and developed and she brings the various members of the family and other peripheral characters to brilliant and vibrant life. My particular favorites are Richard and John. Richard, Alienor’s favorite son and the heir to her dominions of Gascony, Aquitaine, and Poitou, is a stunning character, tall and golden, a god amongst men - truly worthy of his nickname of ‘Lion Heart’. In contrast, John is shown from an early age as being a sly troublemaker who wheedles his way into his father’s affections for his gain - but as he is his father’s son, he has no real depth of feeling and cares for few. In the end, he leaves his father alone to die a degrading and undignified death.

Alienor outlived all but one of her sons. In this book, the events leading up to Richard’s death - her frantic race to be by his side - and her dreadful sorrow are palpable and empathetically portrayed by this author who has expertly mixed her vast historical knowledge and research with her immense talent for transporting us into the moment.

A beautiful conclusion to this tale of Alienor of Aquitaine. Rich and vibrant details bring to life the golden years of her life. A powerful novel about a woman who possessed and exercised significant power in a time when most women were treated as little more than chattel and broodmares.

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QUOTES OF THE WEEK

by Natasa Djordjevic - 9:50 AM

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Without a Country by Ayşe Kulin

by Natasa Djordjevic - 10:52 AM

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QUOTES OF THE WEEK

by Natasa Djordjevic - 9:39 AM

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Book Wrap Up December

by Natasa Djordjevic - 11:17 AM

Romancing the Countess by Ashley March (✬✬✬✬)

Romancing the Countess was an emotional read: don’t expect to read it and not to be moved and unsettled, it will shake you up and stir you, but at the end, you’ll close the book with a happy sigh. It is quite an unusual but well executed historical romance.

Schindler's List by Thomas Keneally (✬✬✬✬✬)

This is a fascinating, memorable, but frequently brutal masterpiece of a book. It is an inside story of one of the most terrible times in human history. Keneally tells the story somewhat dispassionately that allows the reader to understand what really happened.

The Parisian by Isabella Hammad (✬✬✬✬)

An interesting story briefly covering the political changes and challenges in the Middle East during the turn from the 19th to 20th century. The geographical changes are briefly covered by following a family’s story across four generations exploring their struggle for recognition, survival, and cultural belonging within the community.

The Baklava Club by Jason Goodwin (✬✬✬✬)

All the Investigator Yashim novels are a treat. A historical mystery needs to be foremost, good ‘history’ with accurate settings and location descriptions and plausible treatments of any real historical figures who may wander into the story. Goodwin is a master at this, to which he adds his obvious love of the food and markets of the late Ottoman empire.

Court of Traitors by V.E. Lynne (✬✬✬✬)

A delightful story that transports you to another time. It’s a story that seems real as Bridget just seems to have a hard life, a victim of the intrigues and dealings of the King’s court, but she is a tough survivor who finds a way to live. Nothing predictable, no happy ending, but Bridget comes through strong. Lovely read!

Days of Splendor, Days of Sorrow by Juliet Grey (✬✬✬✬)

I am enjoying Juliet Grey’s second novel just as thoroughly as her first. Her style of writing draws you into Marie Antoinette’s world, making one feel you truly know the characters. Her combination of historical storytelling and romance makes for irresistible reading.

Crown of Coral and Pearl by Mara Rutherford (✬✬✬)

This story starts with a similar premise: the heroine goes to a foreign land to marry the prince but falls in love with the younger brother. I kept waiting for something, some twist, something that was different but nothing. Everyone is whom they seem. There are no hidden personas, and that was kind of disappointing.

The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff (✬✬✬)

It was interesting to know that British women engaged in these resistance campaigns — good historical fiction. However, I found the ending to be weak and a bit disappointing. It was just an OK book.

A Rogue by Any Other Name by Sarah MacLean (✬✬✬)

While the characters themselves were appealing, the story felt rushed, with characters experiencing radical changes of heart with no lead-up or believable catalyst. Overall a pleasant story, but after the preceding novels, rather a letdown.

When We Left Cuba by Chanel Cleeton (✬✬✬✬)

While I enjoyed “Next Year in Havana” more, this was still an excellent book. Celeron makes one realize the complexities between international powers' good and bad motives.

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QUOTES OF THE WEEK

by Natasa Djordjevic - 10:16 AM

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Victoria by Daisy Goodwin

by Natasa Djordjevic - 10:49 AM

“i am referred to as Alexandrina Victoria. But i do not like the name Alexandrina. From now on i wish to be called Victoria.”

Daisy Goodwin’s book on Queen Victoria was a pleasure to read from the first page to the last. It was very informative describing the history during Victoria’s reign. Her depiction of the characters was strong and made the reader feel that each moment could happen in the way she has told the story.
The theme, beyond the historical facts, is the development of a young woman, still, a teenager when she becomes queen, from an insecure girl to a more confident young woman, determined to resist the influence of her mother’s advisor. She makes mistakes; interferes with the government when she prefers to hold on to “Lord M” as prime minister; she’s often ridiculed by so-called friends and family behind her back, of course. Guided and advised mostly by Melbourne, who sees her perceptiveness and rather a fine mind, she grows in maturity.
I have always been fascinated by the story of Queen Victoria. She is a woman who ruled over a vast empire and influenced world events on a massive scale. So much of history from that period through to today have her fingerprints on them. Her legacy was as a powerful monarch who tried to make the world better. However, the parts that fascinate me the most are her familial connections. She was a woman with a powerful passion and connections with other people. Victoria’s love and loyalty to Albert is the stuff of a very dramatic fairytale. Her relationship with her children and their children is also layered with powerful emotion. What a complex person she was and how lucky we are to have so much historical information about her.
I loved this Intimate look into Queen Victoria’s early life. This was a period of change and growth for her. The reader is privileged to accompany her on this amazing journey. It is undoubtedly worth the read, and I cannot more highly recommend it to others.
We remember the Queen, but how about getting to know the girl that became that Queen?
The very human view on Queen Victoria’s early reign, her rise to the throne, her relationship with Lord Melbourne, the courtship of Prince Albert and eventual marriage to him. For fans of all things royal or someone looking for a good read on a historical character and a woman who defined an age.

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QUOTES OF THE WEEK

by Natasa Djordjevic - 9:43 AM

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The Luxe by Anna Godbersen

by Natasa Djordjevic - 9:03 AM

“I've always believed in savoring the moments. In the end, they are the only things we'll have.”

There’s scandal, secrets, mystery, and jealousy all tied in with the major theme of romance. The characters all have choices to make as to the directions that their lives will take, much of that direction already picked out for them by their families because of their place in society. The book begins with a death and then takes you back to what leads up to that event. The author has written a story within the reach of the period - 1899, New York. Each chapter starts with a posting of some sort, whether it’s a page from a gossip rag, a book of manners, or the newspaper. This sets the events of the chapter and was a very smart idea.

Elizabeth is the perfect 1800s upper society Manhattan girl. She’s elegant and poised and could have any man she wants. Henry Schoonmaker is the man everyone wants, but he is always into trouble and just can’t seem to stay with a girl for any length of time. When Elizabeth and Henry are thrust into a relationship together to save one’s family finances and the other’s reputation. They soon become the most prestigious couple in Manhattan, but are of them truly happy? Some people aren’t so impressed by this star couple, especially Elizabeth’s best friend Penelope, who thought that she was going to marry Henry. Penelope is a girl used to getting what she wants, and she will not let Henry get away from her. It’s just not Penelope that is making life difficult for Elizabeth, it is also the fact that Elizabeth can’t seem to decide on whether to save her family or follow her heart. So many secrets are hidden throughout upper-class Manhattan and are just waiting to be heard. The Luxe is a truly seductive and classy novel, with plenty of gossips to fulfill any girl’s desires!

The characters are really what make The Luxe so great. I related to Diana the most because she is introverted and imaginative, but I felt all the characters were well developed.

Anna Godbersen’s writing is beautiful and transports you to 1899. Her descriptions made me feel like I was immersed in turn-of-the-century New York with her characters.

This novel had everything I like, romance, drama, scandal, backstabbing friends, murder, and mystery. The book always had me in anticipation of what would occur next. It completely pulled me into the story I did not even realize how far along I was! I fell in love with the characters and the plot, definitely one of my new favorite books, very well written.