Christina reads through time

Even though I'm already participating in several challenges, I couldn't resist this one! I like the idea of focusing on a particular time period or theme each month, and I think it will be easy to incorporate what I read for this challenge into my other challenges as well.

Right now I'm thinking about what to read for July. Would Atlas Shrugged count for the "freedom" theme? It appears to deal with the theme of individualism vs. government control, which certainly has implications for freedom. So I think I will commit and say that I'm reading Atlas Shrugged for July. :)

Welcome to the challenge, christina! I think that when it comes to what qualifies, you are the best judge! It's been years since I read that, so I can't help you much anyway.

I've never read it, so I'm not 100% sure where it will take me, but I think that freedom will be at least peripherally involved. :) I'll just define the theme broadly!

I think that Freedom is very broad so that it doesn't necessarily have to pertain to physical freedom it could be social or economic or as you say about your book individualism vs. government control. I say, go for it!

Thanks, cyderry! :)

Also, I've pretty much decided to read The Killer Angels for August.

Changed my mind about my "freedom" read. As mentioned in the July thread, I'm going to put Atlas Shrugged on the back burner for now and read Marie Antoinette by Hilaire Belloc instead. It contains a lot of detail about the French Revolution, so I think it counts toward the freedom theme. Plus, it fits under my "Story of Their Lives" category for the 1010 Challenge, so it's a win-win!

July: Marie Antoinette by Hilaire Belloc (FREEDOM)

This biography of Marie Antoinette, originally published in 1909, covers the entire life of the notorious French queen, but it focuses primarily on her interactions with the French court and her effect on the French populace. Belloc portrays her as an uneducated, ignorant girl who simply didn't comprehend the intricacies of the French court and didn't understand how negatively her naïve behavior would be perceived. Of course, the book also deals with the French Revolution as a whole, and Belloc analyses in minute detail the causes of the discontent in France and Marie Antoinette’s role in them. Ultimately, the book sets forth Belloc’s thesis that the French Revolution was a crisis necessary to revitalize a quickly decaying Europe.

This book is definitely not for the casual reader. Belloc’s style is academic and extremely dry; moreover, he has a very strong point of view that animates almost every page of his book. He takes the long view of history and is very interested in the ideological changes that made the French Revolution possible. Additionally, he is not (nor does he try to be) objective about the people and events he describes: he makes moral judgments about everyone and everything, which I actually found quite interesting. Nowadays historians strive for objectivity and attempt to describe past events without bias, or at least that’s the ideal. Apparently, such was not the case in 1909, and it was very interesting to see Belloc’s different approach. Nevertheless, I found this book a difficult read and would not recommend it.

Christina, your description of this book, and the name of the author, rings bells in my mind. When I was in college -- which was many, many years ago -- I took a seminar class on the French Revolution and I wonder if this was one of the books I used for my research about Marie Antoinette. If so, I didn't read the whole book, though!

Hmmmm...
Academic book for a fun read - My goodness - I thought I was the only one around here that did that.

8 :: Ivy, if you didn't finish the whole book, trust me, you weren't missing much! :)

9 :: I'll admit I don't often read academic nonfiction for fun...I like stories too much! But sometimes I do like to read about people, events, or time periods that hold a lot of interest for me. Plus, since I really enjoy historical fiction, sometimes I need/want to beef up on the settings in which my favorite novels are based!

Looks like September's theme will be monarchs! That works for me, since I have a biography category for the 1010. I'll probably read John Guy's Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary Stuart, which has been on my TBR list for a while.

I still haven't started my August read, The Killer Angels, but I definitely think I can get to it before the end of the month! I'm looking forward to reading it for the first time.

Right now it looks like October's theme will be the 1930s! If so, I'd like to read Cheerful Weather for the Wedding by Julia Strachey, which was published in 1932. It's been on my shelves for a little while now, and I've been dying to read it!

OK, I officially started The Killer Angels today for the Civil War period. Six days left in August...I think I'll make it! :)

August: The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara (AMERICAN CIVIL WAR)

This novel is a fictionalized account of the Battle of Gettysburg, which many scholars believe was the pivotal battle of the Civil War. Using primary sources and sticking as closely to the historical facts as possible, Shaara reconstructs the events before and during the battle through the eyes of its most important participants, including Generals Lee and Longstreet. He describes the armies’ relative positions, their various problems and internal conflicts, and their movements in battle; but he also manages to show the hearts and minds of the fighting men. The soldiers ask themselves how to maintain their honor in battle, why they are willing to fight, and what the war is really about.

When I realized that this entire book was about one battle, I thought it was going to be dry and boring. As it turned out, I was wrong: this novel is a moving and fascinating read. Even the discussion of tactics and positions is much more interesting than I expected. I was grateful for the maps interspersed throughout the text, which showed the positions and movements of the various troops. One of my favorite things about this book is that Shaara doesn’t really choose sides: he simply describes the facts. The resulting picture is one of some heroism and glory, but also of cowardice, stupidity, and senseless loss. The commanders on both sides are portrayed sympathetically, but I definitely respected Longstreet (Confederacy) and Buford (Union) the most.

This novel made me realize that the outcome of Gettysburg could so easily have been different; if Lee had followed Longstreet’s tactical advice, the South could conceivably have won. I also learned some interesting historical facts, such as that Pickett’s Charge lost a greater percentage of men than the Charge of the Light Brigade. I’m glad that I finally read this book, and I would recommend it to anyone, even people (like me) who have no particular interest in the Civil War. It is definitely not to be missed.

Dang, another book to add to the investigation of the Civil War. :)

I read that one a few years ago and really loved it. I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to read.

I was definitely surprised by how much I enjoyed it -- and it does read very quickly! Not like a textbook at all, despite having a ton of historical information in it.

Okay, already... I've ordered it from the library.

**now, let's see wherw ill fit this book in?**

19 -- Haha, sorry if I pressured you! Hope you like it.

I've started Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary Stuart by John Guy for September's "royalty" theme. It's good so far, though I've only read the prologue!

September: Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary Stuart by John Guy (ROYALTY)

This biography of Mary, Queen of Scots, presents a fairly sympathetic account of her life, including her upbringing in France, her accession to the throne of Scotland, her frequent conflicts with her nobles and with England, and her eventual imprisonment and death. The book also paints a picture of the larger political situation in Western Europe, particularly the religious conflicts and allegiances that affected relationships between Spain, France, England, and Scotland. The author attempts to dispel the widely held notion that Mary and Elizabeth of England were rival queens or complete opposites; rather, he claims that Mary was usually an astute ruler, who simply inherited an untenable situation with her Scottish nobles.

Although it took me a long time to read this book, I largely found it fascinating. I had learned a little bit about Renaissance Europe in school, but mostly from the perspective of the “major players” of England, France, and Spain. It was interesting to get another perspective on the era that went in-depth into the political turmoil in Scotland. I also think that the author did a good job with the style and tone: there were several occasions where he inserted his own opinion or conjecture about what happened, but it was easy to tell where he was doing this. The book appears to be accurate in its portrayal of the facts, although I was troubled by the lack of footnotes. (There is an appendix where Guy talks about the sources that he used in each chapter, but he doesn’t provide footnotes linking specific text to specific sources.) I also think that his interpretation of certain events – particularly those surrounding Darnley’s assassination – is a bit biased in favor of Mary. Overall, though, I definitely think this biography is a good choice for those who want to learn more about Mary Stuart.

October is nearly here -- hooray! I'm definitely excited to start my 1930s read, Cheerful Weather for the Wedding, which has been on my shelf for ages.

Also, I was in the bookstore today, and The Lieutenant by Kate Grenville happened to catch my eye...it looks like it might fit within November's "exploration and discovery" theme! Too bad it doesn't really fit with any of my other challenges, haha.

October: Cheerful Weather for the Wedding by Julia Strachey (1930s)

In this novella, originally published in 1932, Dolly Thatcham is getting married. The story begins with the whole household in confusion as it prepares for the big event. On the surface, all the commotion seems perfectly normal, but it soon becomes clear that most of the characters aren’t happy about this wedding – including the bride. While Dolly’s clueless mother bustles around issuing contradictory orders to the servants, Dolly experiences overwhelming and confusing emotions about her impending marriage. Everything is complicated by the presence of Joseph Patten, one of Dolly’s former suitors, who may or may not still be in love with her.

Two things you should know about this novel before deciding to read it: (1) it’s very short, just over 100 pages; and (2) it is not a stereotypical romantic comedy. There are several comedic moments, but the overall tone of the story is quite bleak. All the characters seem isolated and incapable of true communication with each other. Furthermore, none of them are particularly likeable; my favorite was Dolly’s sister Kitty, but she’s not one of the principal actors in the story. The whole books is more of a scene than a novel; all the events take place over the course of a single day, and the characters’ internal struggles are much more important than the few external events. All this is making it sound like I didn’t enjoy the book, but I actually did like it. It’s easy to read because of its length, but it’s definitely not a fluff book. I enjoyed the biting satire and was impressed by the writing. So, even though this wasn’t exactly a feel-good read, I liked it overall and would definitely read it again.

I got my November read, The Lieutenant by Kate Grenville, from the library the other day. I'm excited to read it next month...hopefully I'll get to it before the month gets away from me!

November's been an incredibly busy month, and I still haven't managed to read The Lieutenant (though I still have a copy checked out from the library!). Odds are I won't be able to get to it this month, unfortunately. However, I'll be back for December's "Viking" read!

I know what you mean, I've managed to get through one book for this Challenge in November but doubt if I will get through my second which is waiting at the library for me to pick up. I don't know where this month has gone - I can only imagine how quickly December is going to pass!

Ahh, December! The year is flying by!

So I was planning to read Juliet Marillier's Wolfskin for December's Viking theme...but now I'm not sure I have the energy to do it! I'm sure I'll love the book, but I'm a bit burned out on challenges after making it through the 1010! I'm enjoying a few last days of pressure-free reading before 2011 begins, so I think I'll sit this month out and return refreshed in January!

Despite slacking on this challenge for a couple of months, I'm preparing to dive back in with my January read! It will be Roselynde by Roberta Gellis, which fits perfectly within the Crusades time period. I'm already super excited to see that Llewelyn (of Sharon Kay Penman fame) will be a character!

Finally managed to finish a book for this challenge! I'm glad to be back in the saddle again! :)

January 2011: Roselynde by Roberta Gellis (CRUSADES)

Lady Alinor Devaux is seemingly one of the luckiest women in the world: not only is she young, beautiful, and extremely wealthy, but she also wields a great deal of control over her life. She commands the loyalty of her vassals and runs her many estates virtually unaided. However, Alinor is such a magnificent matrimonial prize that the King has decided to place a warden over her. The warden will administer her lands and protect her from nobles who might try to seize her (or her property) by force. Alinor is strongly opposed to this plan; but when the noble (and older) Sir Simon Lemagne takes up his duties, the two of them quickly fall in love. Alinor and Simon’s romance soon encounters many obstacles, especially when Simon’s duty compels him to follow King Richard the Lionheart on Crusade. Can their love survive the cataclysmic power struggles raging throughout Europe?

I started this book somewhat reluctantly; although I’d read that Roberta Gellis is a respected name in historical romance, I feared that this novel would be nothing more than a bodice-ripper. Thankfully, I was totally wrong; this book impressed me with its attention to historical detail and its compelling description of the major figures of the time period, such as Eleanor of Aquitaine and her sons Richard and John. Much of the novel centers around King Richard’s campaigns in Cyprus and the Holy Land, which were fascinating to read about. I didn’t quite see the need for such detailed descriptions of the battle scenes, but that’s a minor complaint. Overall, I liked this novel a lot and would recommend it to fans of Sharon Kay Penman, Elizabeth Chadwick, or Anya Seton’s Katherine. There are several more books in the series, and I’m seriously considering reading them all!

I'm excited about my February reads! I'm planning to read several books this month that would fit under the umbrella of "love and marriage"...first up is The Orchid Affair by Lauren Willig. Small confession: I actually started this book yesterday, but I only read the prologue, so I'm still going to count it for February!

It looks like the March time period is the 1940s, so I'll most likely be reading A House in the Country by Jocelyn Playfair (published in 1944) next month.

February 2011: The Orchid Affair by Lauren Willig (LOVE AND MARRIAGE)

Laura Grey has spent 16 of her 32 years as a governess, and she’s tired of dealing with unmanageable children and supercilious employers. Therefore, she decides to attend the Selwick Spy School and become a secret agent for the Pink Carnation. Her first assignment is to spy on André Jaouen, second-in-command to Napoleon’s minister of police. To her chagrin, she must pose as a governess to Jaouen’s two children; but her mission soon becomes very exciting when she discovers information about a French plot to dethrone Napoleon and restore the monarchy. As Laura tries to find out more about the plot, she also finds herself learning more about her employer – and becoming attracted to him in the process. But what is André hiding, and whose side is he really on?

I really enjoy the Pink Carnation books, and this one is no exception. I’m a sucker for the combination of the Napoleonic era, espionage, and romance; this installment also includes several bohemian artists and a traveling theater troupe. It’s a fun, quick read that never takes itself too seriously, and I enjoyed the lighthearted tone throughout. I loved the characters of Laura and André, who both have compelling backstories that go a long way toward explaining their present personalities. I wish the relationship between them had deepened a bit more; they seem to go from employer/employee to lovers very suddenly, and I’m not quite sure why the change occurs. While the romance was superficially satisfying, I wanted more depth. I still enjoyed the book, and I’ll continue with the series, but this was not my favorite romance in the bunch.

(Edited to fix touchstone.)

February 2011: Now and Not Yet by Jennifer A. Marshall (LOVE AND MARRIAGE)

This is a book geared toward a very specific demographic: Christian women in their 20s through 40s who are currently single but who hope to be married someday. The book starts by discussing the cultural changes that have resulted in women marrying later in life. Unlike in previous generations, where young people got married right out of college (or even high school), young people today often remain single into their 30s and beyond. For young women who hope to marry, this period of singleness can often be confusing and stressful. Marshall’s main point in this book is that, instead of viewing singleness as an obstacle on the way to wedded bliss, young women should focus on developing their talents, deepening their relationship with God, and finding contentment no matter what their marital status.

My cousin recommended this book to me since I’m a member of its target demographic: I’m in my 20s and single, but I’d like to get married someday. Marshall spoke with several women to get their stories and perspectives on being single in today’s world, and I could definitely identify with many of their stories. I appreciated the message that singleness should be viewed as an opportunity rather than an obstacle. While the book doesn’t offer a lot of practical suggestions for how to lead a full life as a single person, I was inspired to think about my own goals and desires in life. I realized that most of these goals can definitely be accomplished while I’m single, which caused me to think about how I can start achieving them. So overall, I’m glad I read this book, and it’s motivated me to make some positive changes in my life.

I'm starting A House in the Country today...it was published in 1944 and deals with World War II, so it's perfect for the March time period!

Edited to fix touchstone.

March 2011: A House in the Country by Jocelyn Playfair (1940s)

This novel, set in the spring and summer of 1942, tells the stories of several individuals whose lives have been radically altered by war. Cressida Chance has been left in possession of Brede Manor, a beautiful estate in the English countryside. Since so many people have lost their homes due to the war, she offers them refuge at Brede by renting out rooms. The characters who stay at Brede find some solace in their hostess’ kindness, and they share many conversations about how the war is changing everything they know. Meanwhile, Cressida herself muses about the consequences of the war and pines for the man she loves, who is currently stranded in a lifeboat somewhere in the Atlantic.

This book’s lovely prose made a big impression on me; it’s absolutely beautifully written with many quotable lines and paragraphs. Ultimately, the novel is quite philosophical in tone, with different characters individually musing about the meaning of life for pages at a time. Normally this would bother me, but I think Playfair handles the intellectual content well. What makes this novel so fascinating is that Playfair wrote it while World War II was still going on; the Allied victory was by no means certain, and she was actually living through a situation similar to the one she describes in the book. For this reason, the characters’ fears and emotions felt very present and believable to me. While the novel doesn’t have a traditionally happy ending, it manages to be uplifting in spite of the suffering it describes. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who wants to get a sense of what the war was really like to someone who lived through it.

Nice review of the Playfair book! And my wishlist expands again!

@37 -- Thanks! LT is very, very dangerous to my TBR list as well.

April 2011: Christendom Awake: On Reenergizing the Church in Culture by Aidan Nichols, O.P. (RELIGION IN HISTORY)

This nonfiction work by a Catholic priest examines some of the most pressing problems facing the Church in the modern world. From the degradation of the liturgy to the devaluing of human life, Fr. Nichols discusses major cultural developments that are antithetical to a Christian worldview and speculates about how to resolve these problems.

I was privileged to have Fr. Nichols as a professor when he guest-taught a theology course at my college. I have a great respect for his intellect and the quality of his scholarship. However, I have to say that this book is extremely dull! The writing style is very dry and obviously geared toward academics rather than ordinary readers. Most of the chapters were not particularly interesting to me; also, because so many topics are addressed, few points are argued in enough detail to be convincing. Overall, I was disappointed in this book, and I find that I don’t have much else to say about it.

May 2011: A Sundial in a Grave: 1610 by Mary Gentle (RENAISSANCE)

This novel presents itself as a true story, the memoirs of a Renaissance spy and duelist named Valentin Rochefort. Valentin begins the year 1610 in France, but when he accidentally assassinates King Henri IV, he’s forced to flee the country. Along the way, he joins forces with Dariole, a boy with rapier skills to rival his own, and a Japanese ambassador to the English court. The three of them travel to England together, where Valentin is roped into another assassination plot, this time against King James I. Now Valentin must outwit the would-be conspirators and save the king – even though his chief adversary is a mathematical genius who claims to be able to predict the future.

The plot of this book is exciting, and the book itself ought to be exciting, but for some reason I never really got into it. First of all, I didn’t like the cutesy introduction by the “translator” (actually the author) about how she found this old manuscript that sheds a new light on history. I was also put off by the detailed description of certain unusual sexual practices. However, the story itself was interesting enough that I stuck with it. The pacing of the novel is strangely slow, though, given how many action scenes there are (lots of duels and such). I did enjoy the Renaissance setting, but overall I feel like this book was a really promising idea whose execution fell flat.

June 2011: Game of Patience by Susanne Alleyn (REGIME CHANGE)

This book isn't technically set during a regime change, but it's sandwiched between two big ones -- the French Revolution and the rise of Napoleon -- so I'm counting it for this month's theme.

In the newly Republican Paris of 1796, Aristide Ravel is an informer who, although he doesn’t have an official position with the government, sometimes assists the police with their investigations. His friend Brasseur, a local police commissaire, brings him into a puzzling mystery: a well-off man named Louis Saint-Ange and a beautiful young woman named Célie Montereau have both been found murdered in Saint-Ange’s rooms. Aristide first investigates any possible connections between the two victims, discovering a few disreputable secrets. He then deduces that Célie’s fiancé, Philippe Aubry, might have had the motive and opportunity to commit the murders; but conflicting evidence causes Aristide to wonder whether he’s really found the right man.

This is an extremely well-done mystery with many complex layers. I thought I knew where the mystery was heading, but I turned out to be completely wrong: the novel subverts many of the normal conventions of the mystery genre (I won’t be specific, to avoid spoilers). One twist near the end, in particular, was both shocking and heartbreaking. I also loved the setting of this novel; there are plenty of books set during the French Revolution, but I haven’t seen many set after the Terror in the new Republic of France. The Revolution clearly affects the characters’ behavior in this book, though, especially the police officers’ concerns about providing justice to accused criminals. I must say that I didn’t particularly love this book, but I did find it impressive, and I’d recommend it to anyone who likes the French Revolutionary period.

July 2011: The Moon-Spinners by Mary Stewart (1960s)

Nicola Ferris, an employee of the British embassy in Greece, decides to take a holiday in Crete, in the tiny coastal village of Agios Georgios. On her way there, she takes a long walk through the countryside and stumbles upon a wounded Englishman and his Greek guide. Shocked and dismayed by the Englishman’s condition, Nicola does everything she can to help the two men, and eventually she learns that he is harboring dangerous secrets. He tells Nicola to leave and forget about his affairs, but of course she ends up becoming more deeply involved. As Nicola slowly uncovers a sinister plot masterminded by a gang of thugs, her knowledge places her in grave danger.

I always enjoy Mary Stewart’s novels of romantic suspense, and this one is certainly true to type. There’s a beautiful girl, a mysterious man, a gorgeous and exotic setting, and a dangerous criminal plot at work. I was a bit disappointed in the romance, simply because it wasn’t as prominent as I’d hoped. While the ending between Nicola and her man was satisfying, I wish I’d seen more of their journey to get there. I was also sorry to find that there’s really no mystery in this book. The plot is suspenseful enough, but there’s never any real doubt as to who the bad guys are. In a lot of Stewart’s novels, there’s a shocking twist halfway through that places the events of the book in a whole new light; but no such twist occurs here. I enjoyed this book, simply because it’s a Mary Stewart novel, but it’s not one of my favorites by her.

I remember, although vaguely, the movie that was made based on this book. It starred Haley Mills and was hyped as one of her first "grown-up" roles. I also remember, more clearly, her male co-star had all of us girls in a tizzy - we thought he was gorgeous.

I recently watched the movie with Haley Mills. I loved the setting, but the story could have been better. Haley Mills wasn't really suited for the role.

@ 43, 44 -- I definitely want to track down this movie! I've just added it to my Netflix queue...I'll be interested to see the Disney/Hayley Mills take on this book. :)

August 2011: Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson (TRANSPORTATION)

Amy Curry’s father just died in a car accident, and this tragedy has shattered her entire family. Now her brother’s in rehab, her mom’s decided to relocate the family all the way across the country, and Amy’s been left alone in California to finish her junior year. When summer arrives, Amy has to join her mother in Connecticut, but she can’t bring herself to get behind the wheel. Enter Roger Sullivan, the son of a family friend, who agrees to drive Amy on her cross-country road trip. As Amy and Roger hit the road, they decide to make a small deviation from their planned itinerary; but soon their “little detour” turns into a full-fledged adventure, and they form a close bond while exploring parts of America they never thought they’d see. But can they each survive the damage from their pasts and find a way to move forward?

This book surprised me, in a very good way. I was expecting a fun, fluffy, romantic novel, but it’s really more about Amy’s figurative (as well as literal) journey as she learns to cope with her father’s death. I was impressed with how well Matson described the grief and isolation that Amy feels, as well as the negative effects of the tragedy on her entire family. I also liked how the road trip is described in such meticulous detail; Matson has actually been on this trip herself, and it shows in her knowledge of the local restaurants, road signs, and landscapes. The book definitely made me want to go on a road trip of my own! Most of all, I enjoyed watching Amy and Roger’s relationship slowly unfold, and I think Matson took it to just the right place. I wouldn’t mind reading a sequel, though! I’d definitely recommend this book as a strong YA offering, and I’ll be looking out for more books by Matson.

August 2011: Two-way Street by Lauren Barnholdt (TRANSPORTATION)

Courtney has just been dumped by her first boyfriend, Jordan, who is apparently now dating some other girl he met on Myspace. To make matters worse, she’s going to be stuck in a car with him for three days: while they were dating, they’d made a plan to drive to college together since they’re attending the same school. Even though they’ve now broken up, the trip is still on, and Courtney has to pretend that she’s completely unaffected by Jordan and his new girlfriend. Little doe she now that Jordan also feels terrible about their breakup, and that he’s hiding the real reason why he ended the relationship.

Despite having just read Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour, apparently I had to read another book about teenagers who fall in love in the course of a road trip – one was not enough! The focus of this novel isn’t really the road trip, though; it’s much more about the drama between Courtney and Jordan as the true obstacles surrounding their relationship become clear. The chapters in this novel alternate between Courtney’s and Jordan’s points of view, and the narrative also skips around in time. Some chapters are set in the present, during the road trip, while others are set in the past, showing how Courtney and Jordan’s relationship first began and evolved. I liked being able to learn the initial love story as well as the story of how they eventually reconcile (come on, that’s not a spoiler). There was a little too much angsty teen drama for my taste, but I can’t deny that the book is a real page-turner! So I liked this novel overall, but I think I prefer Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour.

September 2011: Lavinia by Ursula K. Le Guin (ANCIENT WORLD)

This novel takes its inspiration from Virgil’s Aeneid, the epic poem recounting how Aeneas set sail after the Trojan War and eventually arrived in Italy to found what would become the Roman Empire. In the original poem, Lavinia is a character only mentioned in passing as Aeneas’ eventual wife, and she has no dialogue whatsoever. By contrast, this book is narrated by Lavinia and gives her version of the events at the end of the Aeneid, as well as telling the story of her childhood in Latium, her marriage to Aeneas, and her eventual fate.

I was intrigued by the premise of this novel, especially the idea of giving a voice to a previously voiceless character. I also took Latin in high school and had to translate a fair portion of the Aeneid for class, so it was interesting to review that material from a new perspective. My favorite parts of the book were the depictions of daily life in Italy at the time, as well as the foreshadowing of the founding of Rome. However, I don’t think the book is particularly successful as a novel; Lavinia just wasn’t a compelling character for me, and the secondary characters were even less interesting. This is not a bad book by any means, but I think I’ll be sticking to Le Guin’s sci fi and fantasy.

This is not a bad book by any means, but I think I’ll be sticking to Le Guin’s sci fi and fantasy.

Until I hit that point in your review I was pondering the whole concept of Le Guin writing a novel inspired by Virgil's Aeneid and ended up reading your review twice!

@ 49 -- Yeah, it was an intriguing pairing for me too! But I don't think the execution lived up to the premise, unfortunately.

October 2011: Selected Tales of Edgar Allan Poe (SPOOKY/GOTHIC/HORRIFIC/UNEXPLAINED MYSTERIES)

This anthology of Poe stories contains many of his most famous stories, as well as a number of lesser-known tales. I read the Thorndike Large Print Edition (since it was the only one available at my library), which Includes the following: “The Assignation”; “Ligeia”; “The Fall of the House of Usher”; “The Man of the Crowd”; “The Murders in the Rue Morgue”; “Never Bet the Devil Your Head. A Tale with a Moral”; “The Masque of the Red Death”; “The Pit and the Pendulum”; “The Tell-Tale Heart”; “The Black Cat”; “The Premature Burial”; “The Purloined Letter”; “The Imp of the Perverse”; “The System of Dr. Tarr and Prof. Fether”; “The Sphinx”; and “The Cask of Amontillado.”

These stories, as you might expect, all deal with horrors such as ghosts, demons, torture chambers, murders, and madmen. Most of them seemed to have no point other than to shock and frighten their audience, and many of them succeeded in being truly creepy. Some of my favorite stories were “The Masque of the Red Death” (in which a medieval-esque castle is terrorized by a plague), “The Cask of Amontillado” (a man buries his nemesis alive), and “The System of Dr. Tarr and Prof. Fether” (a traveler visits an insane asylum). I also really enjoyed the stories featuring the detective C. Auguste Dupin, mostly because the plots were so intricate as to defy belief. It’s fun to compare them to the Sherlock Holmes stories! I would recommend these stories to anyone looking for some good old-fashioned gothic horror.

Nice to see a fellow "Masque of the Red Death" fan. That's always been one of favorites.

October 2011: Dracula by Bram Stoker (SPOOKY/GOTHIC/HORRIFIC/UNEXPLAINED MYSTERIES)

In this epistolary novel, the letters and diaries of several characters are combined to tell the story of the mysterious and evil Count Dracula. Jonathan Harker, a solicitor’s clerk, is summoned to Dracula’s castle in Transylvania to assist him in the purchase of an estate in England. The count seems friendly enough, but Jonathan’s suspicions are roused by Dracula’s superhuman strength, his strange power over wolves, and his refusal ever to eat in Jonathan’s company. Meanwhile, Jonathan’s fiancée Mina is visiting her friend Lucy in a small English town, when Lucy suddenly begins to waste away from a strange illness. Jonathan, Mina, and their small group of friends – including the renowned Dutch doctor Van Helsing – eventually discover the horrifying truth about Count Dracula and devise a plan to destroy him.

This book has become so ingrained in popular culture that it’s hard to read it with fresh eyes. We all know what Dracula is, so the book’s painstaking buildup of suspense is largely wasted on modern readers. One of my biggest complaints was how slowly the book moved; I couldn’t help getting frustrated by the characters’ obtuseness in not discovering Dracula’s secret earlier. This isn’t the book’s fault, of course, as the plot was probably quite innovative and shocking when it first came out. I won’t even get into the sexism and xenophobia displayed throughout the book, as I’m sure there have been thousands of dissertations already written on the subject. I do think the book was well-written and entertaining, but it’s very much a product of its time. I’m glad to have read this book so that I can compare it to modern takes on the vampire myth, but I didn’t terribly enjoy it otherwise.

October 2011: The Tale of Halcyon Crane by Wendy Webb (SPOOKY/GOTHIC/HORRIFIC/UNEXPLAINED MYSTERIES)

Hallie James’s life is fairly normal, living on the Puget Sound in Washington State and caring for her Alzheimer’s-stricken father. Then she receives a mysterious package from Grand Manitou, a tiny island in the Great Lakes, informing her that her mother has recently died. Hallie is shocked by the news, having believed all her life that her mother died in a car accident when Hallie was a child. She travels to Grand Manitou Island to put her mother’s affairs in order and learns that a dark tragedy overshadows her family’s history. The longer she stays on the island, the more Hallie discovers about her family’s disturbing history. Eventually, she becomes convinced that she is being literally haunted by the ghosts of her past.

Though this book isn’t exactly what I was expecting, I enjoyed many things about it. The setting is very unique, and I had fun imagining what life would be like in a town that still uses horses and carriages as the primary mode of transportation. I also found the novel very readable; the plot moves along at a good pace, and the prose never gets in the way of the story. I didn’t connect particularly well to Hallie as a main character, which is especially unfortunate because the novel is written in first person. I also wasn’t sold on the eerie/gothic elements of the story, mostly because I didn’t feel any sense of suspense or horror. The book could have been so much more interesting if, for example, doubts were raised as to Hallie’s sanity. At any rate, this novel is a decent light read with some supernatural elements, but it’s not particularly spooky.

November 2011: Lady Chatterley's Lover by D. H. Lawrence (1920s)

This novel, originally censored in the United States, tells the story of Lady Constance Chatterley’s illicit affair with her husband’s gamekeeper. Connie’s husband has returned from World War I paralyzed from the waist down, and he has thus lost the ability to sire an heir for his estate. Therefore, he encourages Connie to sleep with another man in order to get pregnant, planning to adopt the child as his own. However, Connie is not stimulated by her husband’s intellectual, upper-class friends; only by bridging the gap between the classes is she able to find physical fulfillment.

Considering that this book was condemned in its time for obscenity, the adult scenes aren’t particularly racy, especially by today’s standards. (No, I didn’t read this book for that reason, but it’s certainly interesting to see how public standards of morality have changed over the years!) I was reminded of something one of my literature professors once said: most literature is about sex, except when it’s actually about sex, and then it’s really about power. This book definitely supports that idea, because Connie’s affair with the gamekeeper is really just an excuse for Lawrence to complain about England’s industrialization and disparity between social classes. He advocates a sort of vague return to nature, in opposition to the hyper-intellectual and mechanical tendencies of his era. Because this novel is primarily a social polemic and not a story, I didn’t particularly enjoy it. The transcript of its 1959 obscenity trial, which is included in the back of the Modern Library edition, was by far the most interesting part of the book, in my opinion.

November 2011: Greenery Street by Denis Mackail (1920s)

This novel, both written and set in the 1920s, centers around the fictional Greenery Street in London, where newlyweds Felicity and Ian Foster have just bought a house. The book has no plot to speak of; rather, it chronicles the first year of the Fosters’ marriage in a lighthearted and affectionate manner. Ian and Felicity struggle with daily finances, irritating neighbors, unmanageable servants, and occasional arguments between themselves. However, their mutual love and boundless optimism seem to carry them through all their difficulties.

As with the other Persephone books I’ve read this year, I enjoyed this book very much as a light and charming read. Ian and Felicity aren’t the brightest people in the world, but they still remain lovable throughout all their muddles and mix-ups. Though their problems are often self-inflicted and a bit silly, these characters are always well-meaning and goodhearted, which makes them fun to read about. The authorial voice often intrudes into this novel, which may bother some people – Mackail does get a bit cute at times – but I didn’t mind it at all. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to dive into the frivolous side of the 1920s.

Decenber 2011: Murder for Christmas by Thomas Godfrey, ed. (HOLIDAYS)

This collection of short stories seeks to put readers in the Christmas spirit by offering "26 tales of seasonal malice." Most of the stories are mysteries, involving everything from murder to jewel theft, kidnapping to highway robbery. There are also a few suspenseful thrillers, a couple of comic tales, and even a ghost story or two. The collection predominantly includes works by extremely famous authors, including Agatha Christie, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Rex Stout, Ellery Queen, G. K. Chesterton, Woody Allen, and Charles Dickens. Interspersed throughout the stories are cartoons by illustrator Gahan Wilson, introductions to each story by editor Thomas Godfrey, and the occasional brain teaser.

I picked up this book because I couldn't resist a collection of mystery stories that contained so many authors that I love. By and large, I really enjoyed these stories, especially those of the murder-at-an-English-country-house variety. (What can I say, I'm a diehard Agatha Christie fan!) I was also able to expand my horizons quite a bit: for example, I'd never read anything by Rex Stout before, and now I'm interested in giving his Nero Wolfe books a try. I was also impressed by the Ellery Queen and Georges Simenon installments, and I look forward to reading some more of their works. All in all, while I liked some stories more than others, I can't remember any that I really disliked. I think this book would be a wonderful Christmas gift for any mystery lover, especially someone who enjoys the "classics" of the genre.

January 2012: Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne (NUMBER IN THE TITLE)

Eccentric Englishman Phileas Fogg lives his life according to a precise, mathematically-arranged routine. He has no family, no close friends, and no particular source of employment; instead, he spends the majority of his days reading newspapers and playing whist at the Reform Club. However, his life changes radically when he bets some acquaintances at the club that he can travel around the world in 80 days. After wagering £20,000 that he will complete the journey in time, Mr. Fogg sets off with his French servant Passepartout for a tour around the world – but they encounter a variety of obstacles which may prevent them from completing their journey.

This is a book that really needs to be accepted for what it is – a slightly ridiculous adventure story about a race against time. Phileas Fogg is one of the central characters in the novel, yet he remains largely mysterious to the reader; all we know about him is that he is eccentric and always remains calm in the face of adversity. Passepartout is a little more fleshed out, though, and in fact he could really be considered the book’s true protagonist. There are, of course, several descriptions of various “natives” that make us 21st-century readers flinch, but I think Verne is also a little subversive in his depiction of the 19th-century English jingoistic spirit. In sum, while the character development is minimal, this is an enthralling adventure yarn that I found to be quite a fun read!

N.B. There is absolutely no travel by hot air balloon in this novel. For some reason, I believed there would be – I think popular culture somehow got the notion into my head. So if you are expecting lots of balloon-related hijinks, you will be disappointed. But the book is still definitely worth a read!

Yesterday I watched the first of 3 episodes of Around the World in Eighty Days on Netflix, with Pierce Brosnan as Phileas Fogg and Eric Idle as Passepartout. This one has a hot air balloon. I think the film with David Niven also has a hot air balloon. I guess the cinematographers thought it would look good on film....

I'm sure it does look good on film! And it would have been a cool idea for Verne to use...but he didn't! I was really surprised, given all the balloons in movie versions of this book.

January 2012: 1066: The Year of the Conquest by David Howarth (NUMBER IN THE TITLE)

As the title suggests, this relatively short nonfiction work describes life in England in the year 1066, both before and after the invasion of William, Duke of Normandy. The year began with the death of King Edward III of England, whom Howarth describes in some depth. He then shows the difficulties the English faced in selecting a new king, since Edward had not clearly announced a successor. Howarth discusses how Harold came to be the next English king and reveals the quarrel that erupted between him and Duke William of Normandy, both of whom believed they had the rightful claim to the throne. Overall, the book seeks to give the average reader a general idea of the causes and immediate consequences of the Norman conquest.

I was recommended this book by a friend who studied medieval history in college and who vouched for its respectability. I found it a very readable and interesting account of the Norman conquest and the major players involved. It doesn't look like a scholarly work in the contemporary sense; there aren't many footnotes or endnotes, and Howarth simply lists his sources in a very short bibliography at the end of the book. However, all of his sources are original documents from the time period, and he very clearly tells the reader when he is guessing about something. So I was convinced of the author's overall trustworthiness, and I also really enjoyed the book. I feel like I learned a lot about the Norman conquest, and I had no idea that King Harold could easily have defeated William the Conqueror if just a few things had turned out differently. I would definitely recommend this book as an overview of the Norman conquest, and it would be a great read for lovers of medieval history as well.

That is a period in history in which I'm woefully uneducated. Sounds like a great book for helping me get an inkling. Nice review! And on to the wishlist!

@ 62 -- I hope you enjoy it! I don't know much about the time period either, but I think it's pretty fascinating.

Hmm, I was hoping to participate in the February time period (the Gilded Age), but I'm not sure I have anything in my immediate queue that would qualify. I might have to sit this month out, unfortunately. Hopefully I'll find something good for the medicine/illness/healing theme in March, though!

We are still only in the first half of February so you never know.... you may come across something for the theme before the month is out!

Good point, Lori...maybe I'll be able to squeeze something in after all. I just feel like the time is flying by so quickly!

...And Lori has been proven correct; I'm reading Edith Wharton's The Buccaneers for February!

February 2012: The Buccaneers by Edith Wharton (THE GILDED AGE)

This novel of manners set in the late 19th-century explores the various consequences to individuals when social worlds collide. The main characters are a group of young American women who, although pretty and rich, are unsuccessful in American society because they come from “new money.” Eventually Laura Testvalley, governess to the two St. George girls, suggests that they travel to England for a London Season: to the English, their relaxed manners will have the charm of novelty, and the girls will be more likely to make advantageous marriages. Despite the girls’ success in England, however, Nan St. George yearns for more than money and status, and she must eventually choose between true love and the demands of society.

When I started this book, I was a bit afraid it would drag, but I quickly became fascinated by the society Wharton conjures up, and I was intrigued by the intertwining stories of all the various characters. I found Nan St. George’s story particularly compelling, and while some of her choices frustrated me, I was definitely hoping for a happy ending for her. So the major drawback to this novel is that Wharton never finished it! She did write a summary of the entire plot, so we know where she ultimately intended to go, but unfortunately we don’t get to see the entire story unfold in Wharton’s own words. Even the part that she did write is somewhat unpolished: for example, although Nan seems to be the intended heroine, Laura Testvalley continually intrudes as a potential protagonist in her own right.

I read the movie tie-in version of this book (there was a BBC production in the ‘90s), in which Wharton’s manuscript was “completed” by Angela Mackworth-Young, who based her version of the story on the movie’s script. I had originally intended to read the Mackworth-Young ending, because Wharton’s portion really left me hanging – but after reading a few chapters, I had to give up. Mackworth-Young may be a decent writer, but she falls far short of Wharton’s standards, and I just couldn’t bring myself to read her version of the novel’s ending; I’d rather imagine my own! I really liked Wharton’s story, though, and I’m sorry that she didn’t live to finish what was shaping up to be an excellent novel.

April 2012: The Marsh King's Daughter by Elizabeth Chadwick (MEDIEVAL TIMES)

In 13th-century England, Miriel is frustrated at the lack of choices available to her as a young, unmarried woman. Her cruel stepfather frequently abuses her, and after one particularly vicious argument he decides that she must leave his household. He arranges for Miriel to go to a nearby convent, where she must take vows and live out the rest of her days as a cloistered nun. Horrified, Miriel tries to resist but is sent to the convent anyway. An opportunity to escape arises when a young sailor, Nicholas de Caen, is found close to death in a field near the convent. Miriel nurses him back to health and then follows him when he leaves the convent. Miriel and Nicholas soon find themselves drawn to each other, but they part on bad terms. When they meet again several years later, they will have to contend against both a ruthless killer and their illicit passion for each other.

I’ve only read one other book by Elizabeth Chadwick, Lords of the White Castle, and I remember really enjoying it. So my expectations were high, but I ended up being somewhat disappointed with this novel. I think most of my problem was with Miriel’s character. The reader is clearly supposed to sympathize with her and see her as a strong, feisty woman who bravely takes on the world. However, I found her overly abrasive and bratty rather than endearing. I also didn’t quite buy the romance between her and Nicholas; after being separated for years, they seem to fall in love awfully quickly. The chief villain in the book is also completely over-the-top and seems to have no redeeming qualities whatsoever. In general, while the book is definitely a page-turner, I just don’t think it has very much substance. I would recommend lovers of medieval historical fiction to try Sharon Kay Penman instead.

May 2012: The War Against Miss Winter by Kathryn Miller Haines (HISTORICAL MYSTERY/CRIME)

Rosie Winter is a down-and-out actress trying to make it in 1942 New York. Though she currently lives in a boarding house along with her best friend Jayne, she’ll soon be kicked out since she hasn’t booked a job in months. In order to make ends meet, Rosie has been moonlighting as a secretary with a private detective agency. However, she is forced to do some detecting of her own when she finds her boss dead in his office. The police think it’s a suicide, but Rosie believes it could be murder. Her subsequent investigations reveal that an incredibly significant play has gone missing, and several parties with dubious motives are on its trail. But can Rosie find a murderer and pursue her acting career, all without being killed herself?

The first thing about this book to catch my eye was Rosie’s noir-style narration. Her glib, cynical tone immediately got me in the mood for a darkly humorous mystery full of tough-talking dames and mafia thugs with hearts of gold. Fortunately, the book delivers all that and more. Rosie’s no-nonsense demeanor masks some internal vulnerability, but she never lets that get in the way of doing her job. I don’t know that I’d call her likeable – she’s a bit prickly for that – but she’s definitely a compelling character to read about. I also liked the book’s approach to its World War II setting. I find that most books set in this time period end up being all about the war. Here, it’s not exploited for any kind of emotional payoff; it’s merely the grim backdrop to Rosie’s everyday life.

Finally, I have to say that this is one of the best-plotted mysteries I have ever read. At first I was worried that there were too many distractions from the main issue of finding the murderer. There are some (seeming) detours into Rosie’s romantic background, her acting career, and her best friend Jayne’s romantic turmoil. But all my fears proved completely groundless as I was treated to one of the most dramatic reveals I’ve ever encountered. Even if I hadn’t enjoyed the setting or the characters, the last few chapters alone would have made the entire book worth it. I will definitely be tracking down the rest of this series to see where Rosie and her friends will go from here!

I've had my eye on The War Against Miss Winter for a while. Your excellent review has pushed it much higher on the wish list.

@ 71 -- I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

September 2012: Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson (SEASONS)

Seventeen-year-old Taylor is used to running away from her problems; after all, she’s been doing it for as long as she can remember, storming out of the house whenever she got into an argument with a parent or sibling. But when she learns that her father is dying of pancreatic cancer, she knows that this is a problem she can’t escape by running away. Instead, she and her family decide to spend one last summer at their lake house in the Poconos, where they used to spend every summer vacation when Taylor was little. At first Taylor dreads the trip, but eventually she begins to come to terms with her father’s illness. She also mends fences with her ex-best friend, her first love (who’s all grown up and cuter than ever), and her parents and siblings, learning that it’s still not too late to give or receive a second chance.

I really liked Matson’s previous novel, Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour, so I was happy to find a copy of this one at the public library. While this book is just as well-written as Amy & Roger, it deals with the tough subject of a parent’s death in a much more direct way; while Amy’s father was already dead at the beginning of Amy & Roger, in this novel we experience Taylor’s dad’s illness right alongside the characters. For this reason, the romance, while it does exist, is not really central to the book. Rather, the main focus is Taylor’s relationship with her parents and her brother and sister, which I personally loved. Taylor’s family is reasonably close — at least, they all get along most of the time — but the tragedy of her father’s sickness makes them realize how much they’ve been taking each other for granted. They grow closer to each other as a result of their shared fear and grief. This is a very sad book in some places — I cried copiously, as per usual — but ultimately it has an uplifting message. I’d definitely recommend this book to fans of YA.

October 2012: Death in Zanzibar by M.M. Kaye (1950s)

Dany Ashton has lived a fairly sheltered life with her Aunt Henrietta in rural England, but she dreams of travel and adventure. So when she has the opportunity to visit her mother and stepfather in Zanzibar, she jumps at the chance. However, before she even gets on the plane to leave England, mysterious events conspire to throw obstacles in her path. Her room is searched, her passport is stolen -- and the family solicitor, whom Dany had visited earlier in the day to pick up a document for her stepfather, is murdered. Dany nevertheless manages to get to Zanzibar, but more sinister occurrences follow her. When a member of her stepfather's house party dies, seemingly by accident, Dany can't help suspecting that it might be murder -- and that her own life may also be in danger.

I have really enjoyed all the "Death in..." books, but I think this one is my new favorite. I liked that there isn't a lot of tedious exposition at the beginning of the story; rather, Dany is immediately plunged into a mystery and a possible romance, so I was paying attention right away. It was also interesting to read about 1950s Zanzibar from a British perspective. Kaye describes it as an idyllic region fairly removed from politics, yet communism and Cold War ideology are beginning to creep into the area. Kaye is also fairly evenhanded in her portrayal of the native Africans, though certain turns of phrase are harsh on 21st-century ears. If you like the basic premise of "girl travels to exotic location and becomes embroiled in danger and romance," you'll probably enjoy this book. Recommended, especially for armchair travelers!

November 2012: The Girl Who Played Go by Shan Sa (ASIA)

This novel is set in a place and time that I have very little knowledge of, Manchuria in the 1930s. The two narrators are a Chinese schoolgirl whose passion for the game of go makes her unique and a Japanese soldier who has come to China with Japan’s invading army. The soldier muses on the nature of war and his victorious country’s relationship with the conquered Chinese. The girl, on the other hand, is more concerned with her widening romantic experience and the problems of daily life. But when the two characters meet over a game of go, the consequences will be far-reaching and devastating for them both.

What I liked most about this book is that it opened a window for me into another culture and way of life. I mistakenly thought the book would be more about Japan’s military movements in World War II, but instead it deals with an earlier conflict that I knew nothing about. But while the setting was unique, the problems the soldier faces in this book are universal: What is courage? What are the possible justifications, if any, for waging war? What are the circumstances under which a soldier can or should disobey orders? I found the soldier a more compelling character overall than the Chinese girl. She’s very shallow and frivolous for much of the novel, and while she does eventually change, it happened too late for me to care much about her. I also didn’t feel the emotional impact of the ending the way I think I was supposed to. Overall, I enjoyed this novel, but I wouldn’t race to pick up another book by this author.

December 2012: The Leavenworth Case by Anna Katharine Green (VICTORIAN ERA)

In this early American detective novel, young lawyer Everett Raymond is shocked to discover that a longtime client of his firm, Horatio Leavenworth, has been shot dead in his New York home. Since the firm’s senior partner is ill, Mr. Raymond takes on the responsibility of visiting the bereaved family, which consists of two beautiful nieces, a private secretary, and the servants. He also attends the inquest, where the evidence points to one of the nieces, Eleanore Leavenworth, as the guilty party. But Mr. Raymond, struck by Eleanore’s beauty and grace, is convinced of her innocence. He decides to clear her name by collaborating with the police detective in charge of the case, Ebenezer Gryce. But his investigation unearths a shocking secret about the Leavenworth family that may have dire consequences for the family as well as for the murder investigation.

This book is a mystery novel written in the 19th century; that’s pretty much all you need to know to decide whether or not you’ll enjoy it. I thought it was an entertaining and quick read. Despite the flowery language, the book moves quite quickly, with the shocking news of Mr. Leavenworth’s murder being revealed on the first page. The plot is engaging and inventive, especially for its time (the book predates Sherlock Holmes by several years). The characters, on the other hand, are a bit dull and ill-formed. Mr. Raymond, the narrator, could basically be anybody; and the Leavenworth women have few characteristics, at least for the first half of the book, other than being extremely beautiful. So if you’re looking for a deep psychological study, this book probably isn’t for you. But I still found it fun and entertaining, and I’d consider reading more of Green’s work.

January 2013: Dead Men Don't Ski by Patricia Moyes (COLD WAR ERA)

Inspector Henry Tibbett and his wife Emmy are looking forward to a relaxing ski holiday in the Alpine town of Santa Chiara, Italy. However, Henry has also been asked to keep his eyes peeled for information relating to an international smuggling ring that might be headquartered in the area. Though reluctant to spoil his holiday with work, Henry can’t help but notice that several of his fellow vacationers have secrets to hide. Then one of the other guests at his hotel, Fritz Hauser, is found murdered on the ski lift. As Henry helps the local police to investigate, he soon learns that Hauser was involved in the smuggling ring — and that several of the hotel guests had good reasons for wanting him dead.

I think this book could best be described as a “traveling” English country house mystery. All the key elements are there — unlikable murder victim, plenty of suspects, an unusual crime scene which demands very precise alibis from everyone — but it happens to take place in a ski villa rather than an English country house. Since I love the genre, I found a lot to enjoy in this book. I especially enjoyed the subtle deviations from the standard mystery formula: for example, two of the characters are a hearty English colonel and his domineering wife, yet there’s more to both of them that meets the eye. Also, the “foreigners” in classic mystery novels always seem to be there as mere background, but here they were truly fleshed-out characters with actual relevance to the plot. I believe this is the first book in a series featuring Tibbett, and I’d gladly read more. Definitely recommended for classic mystery fans!

I've really neglected the RTT challenge this year, but I'm thrilled to report that I can finally add another book to this thread!

October 2013: Doc by Mary Doria Russell (BIOGRAPHICAL FICTION AND NONFICTION)

This is a novel about the legendary Doc Holliday, known to history for his involvement in the infamous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona. But this book isn't about that particular historical event; rather, it's about who Doc Holliday really was, or at least who he might have been. It starts with John Henry Holliday's childhood in Georgia: how he survived the aftermath of the Civil War and Sherman's march; how he loved music and the finer things in life; and how he was profoundly affected by his mother's death. It describes how he became ill with the disease that eventually killed him, and how his health forced him to seek a more arid climate out West. Finally, it depicts his life in Dodge City, Kansas, and the friendships and relationships he formed there, particularly with Kate Harony -- an educated, passionate, and temperamental whore -- and with a taciturn lawman named Wyatt Earp.

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, and this book is a perfect example of why. It brings the Wild West to life in an extremely vivid way, particularly the struggles of a frontier town in an era where the law offered very little protection to its citizens. I was fascinated by the political machinations at work in Dodge, where social issues like prostitution and Prohibition were intimately entangled with the local economy, and where political elections were often decided over a hand of cards. The characters in this book are as well-depicted as the setting: I felt like I truly got to know Doc and Wyatt, what made them tick, and how they managed to rise above their time while also being defined by it. They are both admirable characters, but Russell doesn't shy away from describing their very real flaws. Overall, this book transported me to another time, and I absolutely loved it. Definitely one of my top reads of the year!

First Quarter 2014: Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn (19TH CENTURY EXCLUDING NORTH AMERICA)

Lady Honoria Smythe-Smith is desperate to be married. Though she is part of a large, affectionate family, things have been very quiet in her parents' house ever since her brother Daniel fled England after seriously wounding a man in a duel. Honoria longs to start her own family and once again feel surrounded by love; and as an added bonus, once she is married, she'll no longer have to perform at the Smythe-Smiths' infamous musicales. Meanwhile, Marcus Holroyd, the Earl of Chatteris, is Daniel's best friend and has always felt more at home with the Smythe-Smiths than with his own distant family. Marcus and Honoria have always been friendly, but when a sprained ankle and a dangerous illness throw them together, they both begin to suspect that their relationship is deepening into something more.

I basically picked up this book for two reasons: 1) It shares a title with a really great Cure song, and 2) I'm a sucker for ridiculous British surnames. Fortunately, I ended up enjoying it quite a bit! Marcus is a delightful hero; he comes across as proud and brooding, but only because he feels shy and socially awkward (shades of Mr. Darcy!). And Honoria is a sweet girl with just enough humor to keep her from being insipid. Somewhat unusually for a Regency romance, most of this book doesn't take place during the London Season; rather, Honoria spends a good portion of it nursing Marcus back to health from a life-threatening fever. Some might find the sickroom scenes tedious, but to me they underscored why Marcus and Honoria make such a great pair. All in all, I'd definitely recommend this light, quick read to fans of Regency romances, and I'll probably pick up something else by Julia Quinn in the future.

Thank you for your review of Doc. I will definitely need to pick that one up this coming year.

@ 80 -- I hope you enjoy it!

79 > I've read Julia Quin's The Bridgertons series, which was where we first met the Smythe-Smiths' girls, albeit as minor characters. I'm definitely going to have to check out this series. If you're going to pick up any more of Julia Quinn's books, I highly recommend the Bridgertons series, starting with The Duke and I.

Good to know, Samantha_kathy! I will put The Duke and I on my TBR list.

I have reserved Doc at my local library.

Yay! Hope you like it, Roro8!

February 2014: The Spanish Bride by Georgette Heyer (NAPOLEONIC WARS)

Brigade-Major Harry Smith is a Rifleman in Wellington's army, fighting Napoleon's forces in Spain and Portugal. He participates in the Siege of Badajos, a long and drawn-out battle that results in plunder, rape, and violence when the allied British and Portuguese soldiers finally conquer the town. As Harry tries to maintain order and discipline, he is approached by two Spanish women who are seeking protection from the carnage within the city. As soon as he lays eyes on the younger of the women, Juana, he falls instantly in love with her, and she with him. Against the advice of Harry's comrades, they marry immediately, and Juana accompanies her husband throughout the rest of the Peninsular campaign. As she "follows the drum" and experiences life as a soldier, she demonstrates the courage and fiery temperament that make her a perfect match for Harry. Together, the Smiths witness history as they eventually see Napoleon's final defeat at Waterloo.

I am a huge fan of Georgette Heyer's Regency romances, but I found that I had to approach this book with entirely different expectations. Although the novel features two young, passionate lovers, it is much more about military history than it is about romance. Harry and Juana Smith were actual historical figures, and Heyer got most of her information from Harry's journals, as well as from other comtemporary accounts including Wellington's own dispatches. As a result, there is a lot of great historical detail in the book, but not a lot of plot or character development. While Harry and Juana are very vivid characters, their journey is not the focus of the book. I think the trick to enjoying The Spanish Bride is viewing it as a work of military history with a few romantic touches. If you approach it that way, you'll find it very readable and entertaining. But if you go into it expecting a tale of romance and suspense with the Napoleonic Wars as a backdrop, you'll find it extremely dull! So overall, I'd recommend this book if you're interested in the time period, but you have to adjust your expectations.

March 2014: The Complaint of the Dove by Hannah March (EDUCATION)

In 1760s England, private tutor Robert Fairfax is charged with escorting his pupil, Matthew Hemsley, to London for a bit of town polish. But Fairfax is apprehensive: how can he introduce Matthew to the worldly, sophisticated atmosphere of London while at the same time protecting him from bad influences? Unfortunately, during their very first trip to the theater, Matthew instantly falls in love with the beautiful and popular actress Lucy Dove. Though she is a sweet and talented girl, her profession is most unsuitable, so Fairfax hopes that Matthew's infatuation is only temporary. But Matthew gets into even bigger trouble when Lucy is murdered shortly afterwards, and he is found at the crime scene under very suspicious circumstances. When Matthew is actually arrested for the murder, Fairfax knows it is his duty to clear his pupil's name -- which means launching an investigation to discover the real killer.

I discovered this series by accident at a library book sale where the second and third books were available for 25 cents each, so of course I had to track down the first book as well! I was intrigued by the concept of a Georgian mystery, since I haven't seen many novels set in that era (especially compared to the much more popular 19th century!). Fortunately (or perhaps unfortunately, given the magnitude of my TBR list already), I've discovered a new mystery series to enjoy! I loved the period detail: the crush of theatergoers more interested in each other than in what's happening onstage; the elaborate wigs, patches, and high heels worn by aristocratic men and women alike; the rudimentary knowledge of medicine, including the ingestion of mercury as a cure for venereal disease. It's a fascinating time period, and March really brings the era to life. I also liked Robert Fairfax as a sleuth, and I look forward to seeing how his complex character will develop in subsequent books. Overall, I'd definitely recommend this book to fans of historical mysteries!

The Complaint of the Dove sounds like a good one.

I definitely liked it a lot!

I know it's really late, but I finally got around to reviewing my April 2014 book!

April 2014: The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman (15TH CENTURY)

When most people think of Richard III, they picture a hunchbacked villain who was obsessed with being king and who murdered the princes in the Tower as a result. But in this novel, the last Plantagenet king is portrayed in a very different light: Richard (or Dickon, as most characters call him) is noble and loyal to a fault, and these good traits are ultimately what cause his downfall. The novel begins with Dickon's childhood, when his father, the Duke of York, is killed in the war against the Lancastrian Henry VI. Dickon's oldest brother Edward subsequently takes his father's place in leading the Yorkist faction against Henry; eventually, he is crowned as Edward IV, and Dickon becomes one of his most trusted advisers and most skilled battle commanders. But as Edward obtains more and more power, Dickon becomes disillusioned with his brother's morally questionable choices, and the struggle of brother against brother mirrors the broader conflict between York and Lancaster.

As always, in this book Sharon Kay Penman manages to bring the Middle Ages to life. I always enjoy her vivid descriptions of daily life during this period, as well as her depictions of medieval religion, warfare, and politics. This book in particular is a fascinating political study, showing that the cutthroat nature of modern politics is rooted in a long tradition. I also like the fact that this novel approaches Richard III from a countercultural perspective. While I don't know enough about the subject to judge whether Penman's interpretation is justified, it makes sense to me that Henry Tudor (who acceded to the throne after Richard's death) would want to do everything in his power to discredit his predecessor. It's always important to remember that history is written by the victors! All in all, I heartily recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Richard III, the War of the Roses, or the Middle Ages in general.

May 2014: Borrower of the Night by Elizabeth Peters (ART)

This novel introduces Vicky Bliss, a confident, no-nonsense art historian and professor at a small Midwestern university. She and her colleague/boyfriend Tony stumble across a clue to a lost work by Tilman Riemenschneider, a 16th-century German woodcarver. They decide to embark on a friendly competition to see who can discover the artifact first -- a competition Vicky is determined to win. She sets off immediately for the supposed location of the artifact, Castle Drachenstein in Rothenburg, Germany. Unfortunately, Tony is hot on her trail, along with several other parties interested in recovering the lost masterwork. As Vicky and her competitors begin their search, they soon realize that something is amiss at Castle Drachenstein, and the root of the trouble lies in the distant past. Is the castle being haunted by the ghost of a former countess, or is there a less supernatural explanation for the danger Vicky finds herself in?

I've read and enjoyed the first few books in the Amelia Peabody series, so I was interested to try this series as well. Overall, I thought it was a fun read and a pretty decent mystery. The emphasis wasn't so much on the "whodunit" aspect of things; rather, the novel focuses on the suspense and danger evoked by the gothic setting. In that respect, I was reminded a lot of Mary Stewart's novels (which I also really enjoy), and the archaelogical aspect of the plot called to mind "Indiana Jones." I also liked reading about Vicky, whose sassy comments and progressive (in the 1970s) views always seemed to stir up trouble. I didn't always like or agree with her, but she was consistently amusing! Overall, I found this book a fun read and will definitely be picking up the sequels at some point.

>91 christina_reads: I missed this when I read the book a few years ago, but the name of the Castle seems to be a combination of "Dracula" and "Frankenstein". I think that was intentional!

>92 cbl_tn: Haha, yup, that wouldn't surprise me! :) In German it literally translates to "dragon stone," which is also suitably gothic/creepy.

June 2014: No Bed for Bacon by Caryl Brahms & S.J. Simon (ELIZABETHAN)

In this hilarious send-up of the Elizabethan era -- or rather, the Elizabethan era as perceived by popular culture -- Sir Francis Bacon is desperate to obtain a bed that Queen Elizabeth has slept in during one of her royal progresses. He wants it to be an heirloom for his family, as he knows the bed's value will only increase through the years. Sir Walter Raleigh's attention is divided between his new cloak, which he hopes will be the envy of everyone at Elizabeth's court (especially that dandy, the Earl of Essex), and his upcoming introduction of the potato to England. Meanwhile, Sir Francis Drake is grumbling about the fact that he hasn't been able to do any really good pirating in years; theater owner Philip Henslowe will do anything in his power to shut down his rival, Burbage; and Shakespeare is trying to work on a new play, Love's Labour's Wunne, but he keeps getting distracted by the problem of how to spell his own name. Add a little romance, an overly ambitious watchman, and some reminiscing about the glory days of the Armada, and the stage is set for high comedy with a few history lessons thrown in.

I didn't know it until I read the introduction, but this book is actually part of the basis for the Academy Award-winning movie "Shakespeare in Love." But while the movie focuses almost entirely on the romance between Shakespeare and the noble Lady Viola, in the book it's just one of many plots involving the most famous figures of the Elizabethan age. If you know anything about the era or are interested in learning more, I highly recommend this book! It's pure farce, so there isn't much "plot" to speak of, but the jokes are more than funny enough to make up for that! One of my favorites was an exchange between Shakespeare and Bacon about some plot element of Shakespeare's play that Bacon didn't like. Shakespeare responds with great indignation, "Master Bacon, do I write my plays or do you?" Then there's this internal monologue from a Puritan who seeks to shut down the theater: "People had no right to enjoy themselves. He was going to stop them. His cause was a just one and he knew it. He was enjoying himself." So if you like Shakespeare and don't mind a little (or a lot of) silliness, you should definitely check out this book!

Finally catching up with this group a little bit! I didn't read anything for July's food theme, but here's the review for my August book:

August 2014: Somewhere in France by Jennifer Robson (WORLD WAR I)

Lady Elizabeth Neville-Ashford, known to friends and family as Lilly, has always felt stifled by her privileged upbringing. Though she'd like to go to university and embark on a career, it seems her only task in life will be to snare a rich, titled husband. Unfortunately, the only man to catch her eye is Robbie Frasier, a promising young surgeon whom her parents consider quite unsuitable. But with the outbreak of World War I, Lilly suddenly has access to a variety of new opportunities. Hoping to help with the war effort, she learns how to drive and eventually applies to the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, where she becomes an ambulance driver. Meanwhile, she carries on a clandestine correspondence with Robbie, who is working in a field hospital in France. When she and her colleagues are offered a chance to transport injured soldiers from the front lines, Lilly jumps at the chance to be reunited with Robbie. But will the tragic violence of this war ultimately separate them forever?

I picked up this book because I wanted to read something set in World War I for the centennial, but I wasn't in the mood for something incredibly dark or depressing. Unfortunately, this book goes too far in the other direction; it's a light, pleasant romance, but the World War I setting is a mere backdrop. I don't need to read about the horrors of war in graphic detail, but I do want to feel that the characters are in real danger, that they must struggle against real obstacles, and that the war has left some kind of mark on them. Instead, even the descriptions of what Robbie sees on his makeshift operating table are bland, evoking no emotional response whatsoever. Part of the problem is that Lilly and Robbie are both such clichés: she is the naive and enthusiastic upper-class heroine, while he is the overprotective self-made hero. I just didn't really care about either character, so I wasn't invested in their romance at all. I was more interested in the secondary characters, Lilly's brother Edward and her friend Charlotte -- I'd love to read the story of their romance! Overall, this book isn't a bad read, but it is completely and utterly forgettable.

September 2014: The Mark of the Midnight Manzanilla by Lauren Willig (SERIES AND SEQUELS)

In the autumn of 1806, a popular novel called The Convent of Orsino (written by none other than Miss Gwen!) has sparked a vampire craze in fashionable society. Rumors swirl around one man in particular -- Lucien, Duke of Belliston -- whose long absence from society is seen as evidence that he is a creature of the night. Practical, outspoken Sally Fitzhugh is determined to prove this rumor false, so she seeks out an acquaintance with the duke. For Lucien, the rumor escalates from inconvenient to dangerous when a young woman is murdered at a society ball, with what appear to be fang marks on her throat. Lucien and Sally quickly realize that someone is framing Lucien for the murder, so together they decide to find the real killer. Is it someone with a personal grudge against Lucien, or could the nefarious French spy known as the Black Tulip be at work again? The more time Lucien and Sally spend together, the more they are drawn to each other; but before they can be together, they must defeat a cunning killer.

This 11th novel in the Pink Carnation series once again combines romance, historical fiction, and a touch of intrigue for a very enjoyable read. I wasn't totally enthused about the plot of this installment beforehand, since vampires aren't really my thing, but fortunately they're not a big part of the story. I also didn't completely warm up to Lucien or Sally, both of whom seem like types rather than characters...Sally in particular just seems like a younger version of Miss Gwen. But there's still an awful lot to enjoy in this book! I was pleasantly surprised by the resolution of the mystery, which is quite clever and hangs together well. And as always, I adore the light, tongue-in-cheek tone of the series; it doesn't take itself too seriously and aims to be entertaining above all else. I should mention that the contemporary story takes some significant steps forward in this installment, with Eloise facing important decisions both personally and professionally. So I'm really looking forward to the next (and last!) Pink Carnation novel, which will finally tell the story of the Carnation herself!

October 2014: The Neruda Case by Roberto Ampuero (1970s)

Cayetano Brulé, one of the most respected private investigators in Valparaíso, is on his way to meet a prospective client when he stops at a restaurant for lunch. When he opens the menu, he sees a photograph of Pablo Neruda and immediately recalls his first case as a detective, in which his client was the Nobel laureate himself. Suddenly it's 1973, and Cayetano (a Cuban by birth) is somewhat adrift in his adopted homeland of Chile. At a political party with his wife, Cayetano meets Neruda for the first time, and they soon strike up a conversation. Later, Neruda invites Cayetano to his home and makes a surprising request: he wants Cayetano to find a missing person, a doctor whom Neruda knew many years ago. Cayetano's search takes him to Mexico City, Havana, and even East Berlin, and he eventually learns that Neruda's desire to find the doctor is not as straightforward as it seems. Meanwhile, Chile is also experiencing a period of upheaval, as Salvador Allende's Marxist government is succeeded by the dictatorship of Pinochet.

This novel attempts to do many different things, with mixed results. As a mystery, I think it falls flat; there is no real urgency to Cayetano's search, and the results of his investigation ultimately don't matter very much to the story. The book is more successful at painting a portrait of Pablo Neruda at the end of his life. I feel like I got a sense of his personality and his importance to Chile as a political figure. Best of all, this book does a wonderful job of depicting the political situation in Chile at the time and relating it to the wider issue of global politics. It's no coincidence that Cayetano mostly visits Communist countries, in an era dominated by the Cold War and the ideological conflicts between socialism and capitalism. The novel is definitely not neutral on this subject; both Cayetano and Neruda favor Allende's government, while Cayetano condemns his wife's more radical Communism. Overall, I was fascinated by the setting much more than I was by the story. So I'm glad I read this book, but I won't be seeking out any more installments of the series.