LOVE
Monday, February 28, 2011
FTFT#5: "The Red Queen" by Phillipa Gregory
I have a secret to share. I love historical fiction. And I mean LOVE. I mean, get married, have babies, live together forever, LOVE historical fiction.
Sidebar:
So not a great secret, but I was thinking this is a Tammy fact that not many people know. I don't share my literary pursuits with people in my everyday circles, because they will once again look at me like I am insane. No one wants to know that I read two full books this weekend and considered it a highly pleasurable experience. I think even the librarians at the Wayne County Public Library are shocked to see someone coming in a check out books with such regularity that are purely for reading enjoyment. I am not trying to insinuate that my current place of residence is devoid of culture or intellectual pursuits (at least not too much). I have been impressed with the many efforts to improve the cultural experience of this community. There is a small, but thriving community theatre effort and a impressive arts council. However, change takes time and it won't happen if people won't let it. Enough of that....let's talk 15th century England now.
"The Red Queen" is the latest book from Phillipa Gregory, the undisputed Queen of Historical Fiction. If you have been under a literary rock for the last decade, she wrote "The Other Bolelyn Girl". Even though Gregory had been writing excellent novels for many years prior, "The Other Boleyn Girl" catapulted her into the general popular culture spotlight. Though it resulted in a highly anticipated, but ultimately disappointing movie, my appetite for this kind of book and this time period has not diminished. Gregory has kept us satisfied with more and more. What I like most about her work is that she mostly uses a female voice to tell these histories.
For her latest series, she is examining the era right before the Tudor Era known as the War of the Roses. The first book was "The White Queen" about Elizabeth Woodville the beloved queen of Edward IV the York King. "The Red Queen" followed about Tudor matriarch Margaret Beaufort who clawed, schemed and prayed her son's way to the throne.
I enjoyed this book, but not with the passion that I did "The White Queen" or others. Though I knew they were condensing at least 40 years of tumultuous history into one average sized book, it felt rushed. What I liked the most about it was how it parallelled "The White Queen". The events happen at the exact same time. When you read both books, you are truly getting both sides of the story. You want to hate Margaret at the end of the first book and by the end of the second you feel compassion for both women.
Find it on Amazon!
Sidebar:
So not a great secret, but I was thinking this is a Tammy fact that not many people know. I don't share my literary pursuits with people in my everyday circles, because they will once again look at me like I am insane. No one wants to know that I read two full books this weekend and considered it a highly pleasurable experience. I think even the librarians at the Wayne County Public Library are shocked to see someone coming in a check out books with such regularity that are purely for reading enjoyment. I am not trying to insinuate that my current place of residence is devoid of culture or intellectual pursuits (at least not too much). I have been impressed with the many efforts to improve the cultural experience of this community. There is a small, but thriving community theatre effort and a impressive arts council. However, change takes time and it won't happen if people won't let it. Enough of that....let's talk 15th century England now.
"The Red Queen" is the latest book from Phillipa Gregory, the undisputed Queen of Historical Fiction. If you have been under a literary rock for the last decade, she wrote "The Other Bolelyn Girl". Even though Gregory had been writing excellent novels for many years prior, "The Other Boleyn Girl" catapulted her into the general popular culture spotlight. Though it resulted in a highly anticipated, but ultimately disappointing movie, my appetite for this kind of book and this time period has not diminished. Gregory has kept us satisfied with more and more. What I like most about her work is that she mostly uses a female voice to tell these histories.
For her latest series, she is examining the era right before the Tudor Era known as the War of the Roses. The first book was "The White Queen" about Elizabeth Woodville the beloved queen of Edward IV the York King. "The Red Queen" followed about Tudor matriarch Margaret Beaufort who clawed, schemed and prayed her son's way to the throne.
I enjoyed this book, but not with the passion that I did "The White Queen" or others. Though I knew they were condensing at least 40 years of tumultuous history into one average sized book, it felt rushed. What I liked the most about it was how it parallelled "The White Queen". The events happen at the exact same time. When you read both books, you are truly getting both sides of the story. You want to hate Margaret at the end of the first book and by the end of the second you feel compassion for both women.
Find it on Amazon!
FTFT#4: "A Vintage Affair" by Isabel Wolff
No it is not "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest". I wish it was, but I am having trouble getting my hands on a copy. I borrowed the first two from my sister when I was home over Christmas, but she was still reading the third. But never fear I have requested it from my friendly local public library and I hope to have it in my hands before March is out.
So I started one book that I had lying around the house and was very excited about it, and then I made the mistake of going to the library. I always defer to library books over my own personal copies, because I like the excitement of a time limit. Also, if I see something interesting at the library, I must grab it. I cannot guarentee that I will find it again. This has caused me to go home with armfuls of books in the past. I was really bad about that in college and I would keep them all semester because I worked at the circulation desk and would just continually renew them.
So "A Vintage Affair" was an impulse library grab off the 7 Day Shelf. After a month of being seeped in the "Men who Hate Women" theme, I was looking for something light and fluffy. This book was not as light and fluffy as I thought on a first glance, but had a warm, inviting feel with a touching story of loss, grief, and renewal. It was light without being vapid and it was thought-provoking without hurting my brain. It was a quick read that I did not want to put down.
Find it on Amazon!
So I started one book that I had lying around the house and was very excited about it, and then I made the mistake of going to the library. I always defer to library books over my own personal copies, because I like the excitement of a time limit. Also, if I see something interesting at the library, I must grab it. I cannot guarentee that I will find it again. This has caused me to go home with armfuls of books in the past. I was really bad about that in college and I would keep them all semester because I worked at the circulation desk and would just continually renew them.
So "A Vintage Affair" was an impulse library grab off the 7 Day Shelf. After a month of being seeped in the "Men who Hate Women" theme, I was looking for something light and fluffy. This book was not as light and fluffy as I thought on a first glance, but had a warm, inviting feel with a touching story of loss, grief, and renewal. It was light without being vapid and it was thought-provoking without hurting my brain. It was a quick read that I did not want to put down.
Find it on Amazon!
FTFT#3: "The Girl Who Played With Fire" by Steig Larsson
I think I will elaborate a little more on this one.
I wasn't quite sure what to expect on this one, because I felt that they tied up Dragon Tattoo pretty neatly. I have plenty of friends who have read all three books and proclaim their brilliance at every given chance, so I wasn't scared about this next one sucking. I just didn't know where he would be taking us next.
I was surprised to enjoy this book greatly, almost more than Dragon Tattoo. I liked getting more of Lisbeth's history and being able to understand why she is the way she is. I won't elaborate any more than that, so I don't risk spoilers.
When approaching this series, I didn't know what to expect other than the very little I have heard from others. I think it would be helpful for future readers and for those wanting to see the movies to know the books original title. The Swedish title of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" translates to "Men who Hate Women". I wish I had know that going into this experience. This fact doesn't detract from the book nor does it detract from the feel of shock and suspense, it just would have been good to know.
I wasn't quite sure what to expect on this one, because I felt that they tied up Dragon Tattoo pretty neatly. I have plenty of friends who have read all three books and proclaim their brilliance at every given chance, so I wasn't scared about this next one sucking. I just didn't know where he would be taking us next.
I was surprised to enjoy this book greatly, almost more than Dragon Tattoo. I liked getting more of Lisbeth's history and being able to understand why she is the way she is. I won't elaborate any more than that, so I don't risk spoilers.
When approaching this series, I didn't know what to expect other than the very little I have heard from others. I think it would be helpful for future readers and for those wanting to see the movies to know the books original title. The Swedish title of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" translates to "Men who Hate Women". I wish I had know that going into this experience. This fact doesn't detract from the book nor does it detract from the feel of shock and suspense, it just would have been good to know.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
FTFT #2: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
My opinion of this book can be summed up in one phrase. "Every bit as good as everyone says it is."
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