I frequently wanted to put this book down and was uncomfortable throughout. The rapes made me uncomfortable, as did the descriptive passages of childbI frequently wanted to put this book down and was uncomfortable throughout. The rapes made me uncomfortable, as did the descriptive passages of childbirth. Life was hard, and it wasn't comfortable to read about. I also can say that I think the gratuitous sex scenes were just that, there really wasn't a place for them in this novel, they added nothing. That said, I can appreciate that this was based on a real woman's life as a midwife in a small town with it's camaraderie, it's struggles, it's petty gossip, and it's characters. ...more
What an interesting and intricate story! Firstly, Oliver Cromwell’s London isn’t a place I’ve visited often but this story brings its turbulent politiWhat an interesting and intricate story! Firstly, Oliver Cromwell’s London isn’t a place I’ve visited often but this story brings its turbulent political times to life. Secondly, this mystery is approached not in the slow uncovering of a mystery but rather in the revealing of seemingly unrelated facts and events and characters. I will definitely revisit this author’s work ! ...more
Ah steel your heart before you plunge into this dark tale, which was (unfortunately) based on a true story. The misfortune of children and the evil heAh steel your heart before you plunge into this dark tale, which was (unfortunately) based on a true story. The misfortune of children and the evil hearts of men combine to bring a sorry tale in history and to bring to light a true story of shipwreck that I had not heard of before. 5 stars for the character depth of the the two main children of the book: Mayken and Gil ("made of pale skin and red hair and thrifted clothes”) and for the honorable mentions of Imke, Mayken's loving nursemaid and the little kitchen boy. This book is full of monsters - as is history in general, but always alongside the monsters are bright stars and heros. ...more
A long read, but an excellent and detailed piece of historical fiction. For it's historical relevance, I'd give it 4.5 stars, but for readability? It'A long read, but an excellent and detailed piece of historical fiction. For it's historical relevance, I'd give it 4.5 stars, but for readability? It's a bit exhausting. It's like getting up and being knocked down 42 times. That said, this was Elizabeth Winthrop's life, and it was a hard one. Compliments to Anya Seton for really giving a taste for the horrors of living in colonial America and this really does touch on many aspects of our history that don't get taught in the schools. I'm a huge fan of Anya Seton, and I'd recommend this book to any true history buff, especially for those interested in early British puritan colonies, with the added interest of how involved the Dutch were in early settlements (I should have known this, but that memory must have flew out my left ear years ago). Overall, despite it's length and chronicling hardship after hardship? It still gets 4 stars. ...more
Wow, smack dab in the middle of the Matthew Shardlake series. What a fabulous series for people who enjoy great historic fiction! In this installment,Wow, smack dab in the middle of the Matthew Shardlake series. What a fabulous series for people who enjoy great historic fiction! In this installment, we enjoy interaction with such people as the doomed Katherine Howard, the manipulative and greedy Sir Richard Rich, Archbishop Cranmer and even Henry Tudor himself. For myself, I enjoy a historic novel that educates while it entertains. Sovereign takes us to the impoverished city of York (it's true! I did the research and it was INDEED impoverished during the time period that the novel is set, despite it's being a wealthy and prosperous community prior to, due to a combination of the dissolution, the recession, and other factors. There are too many threads to bring out, but here I learned about the "Legend of the Mouldwarp" and the exhaustive details involved in a royal progress. 5 luminous stars for this book!!!!...more
I don't know why this would ever be reviewed at less than 4 stars, I feel compelled to give it 5 full stars.
Set in Bristol, England at the end of the I don't know why this would ever be reviewed at less than 4 stars, I feel compelled to give it 5 full stars.
Set in Bristol, England at the end of the 18th century, during the French Revolution, we are introduced to the cast of characters in Helen Dumore's memorable book, of small people with great ideas.
I don't know if I've ever read a book that has such a deep character study on the protagonist, Lizzie, and her supporting players. In my opinion, her writing is nothing short of a wonder in the way that I connected, viscerally, with the characters and storyline she has so masterfully created.
Her mother dies giving birth and the scene is set us for us meticulously. Lizzie's busy numbness of grief, the smells of blood, and infection. I am transported into a room I would never wish to be in, but how could I not admire such writing?
Also of worthy note, Lizzie takes her mother's child, Thomas, to care for him on her own after the wet nurse he is given into the care of, neglects him and he "fails to thrive" in addition to developing scabs and infections due to "being left in his own dirt" in the care of an 8 year old child. The feeling that was imparted to me as a reader was tender, miraculous even. I have no children, and I am not maternal, and yet, while reading this book I felt so connected to this baby. He was not idealized , and the author even uses descriptives such as smelling like sour milk and urine, but when she speaks of his eyes searching for her and of how his "damp" body snuggles into her, mewling, I feel the ache of his absence in my own arms.
Lizzie is married to a builder, one her family does not like, and there is a sense of oppression, sexual obsession, and dread in the relationship between them. In gothic style, these feelings build one upon another, until even the house and the cliff it sit's atop, become beautiful yet gloomy harbingers of an unnamed doom.
In the afterword, Ms. Dunsmore notes that, at the end of the writing of this book ,she discovered she was very ill, and that she really did feel her characters and their lives more deeply than any other writing experience she had previously. During it's writing she was diagnosed with cancer, subsequently dying. While I have not read her other writings, I can say that it is clear that she poured herself, body and soul, into this book. If you are a fan of historic fiction, with a twist of gothic, I urge you to read this book, and I hope that you enjoy it ever bit as much as I did....more
I really enjoy this series, set in Tudor England and featuring the hump backed lawyer, Matthew Shardlake. Looking forward to reading book three in theI really enjoy this series, set in Tudor England and featuring the hump backed lawyer, Matthew Shardlake. Looking forward to reading book three in the series. Part murder mystery/part historical fiction - I’ll give this 4.5 stars for being well written, with a wide host of characters including Cromwell and the Duke of Norfolk. It’s a brutal time in history, and one I’ve read much about. From the prisons to the abuses of power, historical fiction lovers will appreciate CJ Sansom. ...more
I liked the subject matter, two lesser known queens of HenryVIII, Anne of Cleve and Katharine Howard. We are given a (fic3.75 stars, rounded up to 4.
I liked the subject matter, two lesser known queens of HenryVIII, Anne of Cleve and Katharine Howard. We are given a (fictionalization) perspective from Anne, Katherine, and Jane Boleyn, and their relationships to, and with, each other. The traditional view of Howard being a tart that was not the brightest light, was given, and heck, she was executed at 16. Not that her choices or what she may or may not have done had anything to do with her death. Henry was a maniac. He was an obese and unpredictable maniac that had a leg with a festering wound that stunk so bad that it perfumed the air around him like a cat box. I don’t think anyone in their right mind would have run towards THAT. By the way, his father was a maniac as well. They all were. Is that why we constantly revisit this horror story? Another good read by Philippa, not her best, but worth the read. ...more
Wow. This was supposed to be inspired by a true story of a milliner and her daughter, so if anybody reading this knows that case, I would be intriguedWow. This was supposed to be inspired by a true story of a milliner and her daughter, so if anybody reading this knows that case, I would be intrigued to learn more. I read the last bit of the last chapter twice to be sure I understood. Or didn’t understand. I shan’t breathe a word more about the ending.
I love a good Gothic, and this was a good Gothic taking you way down the dirty seams of the Victorian England that nobody wants to remember. Get ready for an atmospheric novel so thick you’ll be choking on coal dust and feeling lice crawl on your own scalp - well, after circumstances improve for one of our protagonists.
Narrated by two women, one awaiting trial for murder, and one a gently bred lady, fascinated by phrenology and attending to corporal acts of mercy in memory of her dead mother (visiting prisoners ).
This is almost a full 5 star read ~ only docked a bit due to some parts that seemed to drag. Purcell is a master. Amazing storytelling, one of m favorites for the year. Alternate title: The Poison Thread ...more
If you’re looking for a mawkish melodrama trying it’s best to be gothic, this book is for you. It has a couple of intimate scenes that had me cringingIf you’re looking for a mawkish melodrama trying it’s best to be gothic, this book is for you. It has a couple of intimate scenes that had me cringing, I do see others appreciation of it, and if I could edit about half of it completely out, it could be readable. The idea behind the book is good but this was a miss for me. ...more
Departing from what has been widely said about this lovely novel, set in Victorian England, I saw it from an entirely different perspective from most Departing from what has been widely said about this lovely novel, set in Victorian England, I saw it from an entirely different perspective from most reviews (that I’ve read). Many see it from a feminist view, but I find that to be shortchanging it. This book told a story to me of how life bends us, bruises us, how our relationships change due to loss, disappointments, expectations, and death and how we are shaped by these self same relationships ~ which lead us, in time, to more realizations, disillusionment, and our own buoyancy (or our lack of it).
I couldn’t connect until I was about 40% through and I whined the entire time, despite Perry’s gorgeous writing. The bleakness was hard for me. 3.75 stars. Rounded up for her use of words like notes of music. ...more
Sadly, I must give this book the meh of 3 stars. Interesting idea for a story, with not much character development. Love story fell flat and too many Sadly, I must give this book the meh of 3 stars. Interesting idea for a story, with not much character development. Love story fell flat and too many sophomoric moments that gave me a bit of inward eye rolling. Still...I was able to stay with it through the end, where everything was neatly tied up. ...more
A solid 4 stars for this gritty historical novel, set in London, mostly taking place within the home of a Huguenot weaver. By gritty, I mean people acA solid 4 stars for this gritty historical novel, set in London, mostly taking place within the home of a Huguenot weaver. By gritty, I mean people acting (for the most part) as they do. Most people are not heroes. People disappoint and betray, and do terrible to each other in the name of pride, envy, or the love of money. I think sometimes in my reading, and in my life, I hope for heroism, but it is not here. This is like watching a deconstruction. ...more
I REALLY loved learning about Lady Lucy Apsley, née St John, through this historic fiction by her descendant, Elizabeth St. John. 4.5 stars for bringiI REALLY loved learning about Lady Lucy Apsley, née St John, through this historic fiction by her descendant, Elizabeth St. John. 4.5 stars for bringing her to life through her writings, in letters, and her recipes for physics and medicines. While Lucy never had the ambition to succeed at the court of James I, or to achieve wealth through a marriage of her families making, she had a love of service to the suffering, the plants and medicinal uses available through them, and the beauty nature offered. Lucy’s sister was Barbara Villiers, a sibling who would be a thorn, ripping and tearing the fabric of Lucy’s life through her schemes and ambition. You will come across many names you know, Sir Walter Raleigh himself wrote in her book of recipes. ...more
I’m in quite a binge of Heyer reading. There is something very addictive about the characters and storyline of her books. It’s all tied up very neatlyI’m in quite a binge of Heyer reading. There is something very addictive about the characters and storyline of her books. It’s all tied up very neatly with bows and a passionate kiss between engaged and intended or (in this case) husband and wife. The men are always passionate and powerfully built. Squeaky clean romances with lots of tangled adventure along the way. Really a lot of fun. This specific book was not one of my favorites of hers but I do adore her writing (I’ve been gobbling down one of her books a day it’s getting rather expensive - especially when you add to it my search online of more Heyer vintage books)and am absolutely glad I read it - 3.75 stars for a fun book and all characters are quirky and fun - well flushed out and a delightful peek into 18th century dress. ...more
I’ve hit the jackpot on good books lately and the reading community on Goodreads gets that credit.
Imagine that you had a book that was a hybrid of PoI’ve hit the jackpot on good books lately and the reading community on Goodreads gets that credit.
Imagine that you had a book that was a hybrid of Poe, Dumaurier and something earth shatteringly romantic while being unpredictable that all the time you have a terrible dread that something is going to go very wrong.
Dragonwyck was written in the 1940’s and it was positioned as a love story. I’m not one to give spoilers but I found the characters and storyline to be so well developed that I was fascinated by them. I found this book to be of a certain genre, then morphing into another and then entirely another. Of course the movie made from this book starred Vincent Price - are you feeling its atmosphere yet?
Set in the mid 19th century Seton weaves in many historical details that I might otherwise have never known about, together with well known political figures and writers (I shall not say who- you will have to find out for yourself.
I love these Victorian mysteries starring the wonderful Lady Darby and set at the border of England and Scotland.
There is a lovely romance that movesI love these Victorian mysteries starring the wonderful Lady Darby and set at the border of England and Scotland.
There is a lovely romance that moves with the slowness that is appropriate for the Victorian culture and lots of tidbits about the culture within the book...more
One thing I like about Raybourn is that she usually has more than one mystery to solve in the book. I enjoy the feeling that one is untying the knots.One thing I like about Raybourn is that she usually has more than one mystery to solve in the book. I enjoy the feeling that one is untying the knots. Now, I usually enjoy a period piece because there are little nuggets of knowledge and learning but I learn nothing in these books - just enjoy being transported away to be Lady Julia Grey for a day or two - I’m young, I’m beautiful, I’m noble, smart, and independent. I’m wealthy and I have this enigmatic and powerful love interest.
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