Yes, another Tudor book

LADY JANE GREY: A TUDOR MYSTERY by Eric Ives, 2009.
Tudor history expert Ives takes on the story of the tragedy of Jane Grey and the 1553 crisis surrounding the English throne in this biography. Well written and researched, the author has thoroughly sifted through the available sources and evidence and presents a factual, interesting narrative of her life. He covers all the main events: birth, her place in the line of succession, Jane's brilliant education, her life with Thomas Seymour as his ward, including her brief time with her mentor Katherine Parr, her nearly fanatical Protestantism, her marriage to Guildford Dudley, the political intrigues which brought her to the throne, and the aftermath of Mary Tudor's coming to power. He avoids sentimentalizing Jane's life, and portrays her not traditionally as a victim of those around her (like Northumberland and her parents), but as a determined young woman who has a terrible situation thrust upon her and tries to make the best of it until she is removed from the throne, imprisoned, and within months executed. His portrayals of all the multiple well known characters involved in Jane's short life are well done and accurate: her parents, the power hungry Northumberland, the Catholic Mary Tudor, Edward VI, who struggled on his deathbed to rewrite history, the powerful but flawed Duke of Somerset, etc. At times, I admit I found the narrative dragged a bit, maybe a little too much detail, but overall, Ives has done an outstanding job of scholarship in presenting a compelling look at the tragedy that was Lady Jane's life. Definitely recommended for any who are interested in the Tudor period, and especially in Lady Jane Grey.

THE SERVANTS' QUARTERS by Lynn Freed, 2009.
A slight story, set in South Africa after World War II. Interesting and strange little story that concerns a young Jewish girl living with her mother, sister and comatose father down the hill from the Harding mansion. Cressida and her family are invited to live in the mansion's servants' quarters when they have to leave their home, and George Harding, a former RAF pilot who was injured and disfigured during the war, takes an interest in the intelligent and precocious girl. Eventually, she is hired by Harding to serve as a companion to his elderly mother and for his nephew and he appoints himself her mentor; however, his interest in her changes over the ensuing years. And as Cressida matures, her interest in Mr. Harding develops as well. Issues of class, status, and race add a sense of time and place to the story, and the author uses elements of Jane Eyre and Beauty and the Beast to good effect throughout. Well written and a pleasant read.

MURDER ON THE CLIFFS by Joanna Challis, 2009.
A pleasant little mystery set on the coast of Cornwall in 1921, a young woman is found dead on the beach by none other than the visiting Daphne du Maurier. She also discovers a lovely young girl near the body as well, young Lianne Hartley, whose handsome brother, David, was to marry the victim. The Hartleys are local gentry, and occupy an Elizabethan mansion high on the cliffs known as Padthaway (can anyone say Manderley?). Daphne, before she knows it, is deeply involved with the mystery of Victoria Bastion's death (murder, it turns out) and with the Hartley family with all their bizarre personalities and odd servants. Secrets and clues abound, and everyone is not what they seem in this tidy little mystery. While it is an interesting device to have Daphne du Maurier as a sort of detective, Challis' descriptions of the Cornwall area are nicely done, and Daphne's musings about ideas for writing novels are clever, I cannot say this was any more than adequately satisfying. It was a fine cozy mystery, no more, no less, and I'd recommend it as that. Will I read more in the series? Not sure about that.

I watched "The Ghost Writer" the other night on DVD and found it quite entertaining. Based on a book by Robert Harris (which I haven't read) and directed by Roman Polanski, it boasts a top knotch cast: Pierce Brosnan, Evan McGregor, Olivia Williams, and Kim Cattrall. The story, a bit convoluted and sometimes murky, concerns a former British prime minister, Adam Lang (Brosnan), who is writing his memoirs using a ghost writer. The writer is found dead under mysterious circumstances, and McGregor's character, a ghost writer, is chosen to work with Lang to finish the memoir. Unfortunately, McGregor is thrust into an environment of dark secrets and those who wish to keep those secrets under wraps, and as he becomes more involved in the lives of Lang and his wife, Ruth, and uncovers information concerning Lang's past and about the previous ghost writer who died, his own life is endangered. A human rights scandal involving Lang suddenly becomes public: that Lang was connected with the kidnapping and torturing of four terrorists while Prime Minister; the pressure becomes more urgent to finish the memoir and keep up appearances. And that's just the beginning...Polanski does a good job with keeping the viewer guessing and building suspense in layers, as there are twists and turns and the characters' actions at times are totally bizarre. McGregor's character is interesting enough to keep watching as he puzzles things out, Olivia Williams is superb as the acidic and intelligent wife with her own dark secret, and Kim Cattrall doing a sort of British accent is decently watchable. As for the ending of the film, it hits you right between the eyes with no warning at all. A very Hitchcockian sort of film overall, and it indeed kept me glued to my seat. If you like Hitchcock, political thrillers, or suspense films, this is definitely worth the time.

Another book on the Tudors?

THE TUDORS: The Complete Story of England's Most Notorious Dynasty by G.J. Meyer, 2010.
An excellently written, fresh look at the five monarchs of England known as the Tudors. In a single volume, the author provides an enlightening, myth-debunking, enthralling narrative that covers all the Tudors from the founder of the dynasty, Henry VII, to the last of them, the glorious Elizabeth I. Great description but not so overloaded with detail that the reader gets bogged down, Meyer makes good use of his sources and recent scholarship on this era of English history. All the sinners and saints, statesmen, lovers, victims, the wives of Henry VIII, the Lady Jane Grey episode, Mary I's fatal Spanish marriage, the boy king Edward who wanted a second Protestant Reformation in England--it's all here and done up in very readable and entertaining style. One complaint I read recently was that the author presents too many bad (negative) aspects of these monarchs; I disagree, his goal is to de-romanticize them and make them more human. There were also complaints of events/issues/important figures being left out, but honestly, it's a survey type book, and some things have to be left out. The subtitle is misleading in that sense. I found the book well worth reading, and I would recommend it even for Tudor addicts who think they know all there is to know about them, and even though the length (600+ pages) could be off-putting, I would recommend it to anyone who wants a good general introduction to the Tudors, their lives, and that period of English history.

A KINGDOM STRANGE: The Brief and Tragic History of the Lost Colony of Roanoke by James Horn, 2010.

Excellently researched and smoothly written, this reads almost like a novel. Why did dozens of English men, women, and children leave England and voyage to a remote area of the New World? Why was Sir Walter Raleigh so interested in establishing a colony there? And why did it fail? What happened there that caused the disappearance of so many people, never to be explained? Horn does a great job of piecing together the story of the "Lost Colony" from contemporary records and writings, examining and re-examining, and he puts forth his own theory of why the settlement was made and what happened to those Roanoke Island settlers in 1587. Full of great details of seafaring and pirating, Spanish attacks, life at sea and in the new land of Virginia, Indian relations, and intrigues involving Raleigh and others within Queen Elizabeth's court, Horn packs it all in, but does so in a way not to overwhelm the reader. A nicely done, very readable account of one the truly great mysteries in American history.

ISAAC'S STORM by Erik Larson, 1999.
After reading this nonfiction work, I realized why I had put off reading it for so long: I'm just not that interested in the history of weather forecasting. The National Weather Service was still relatively new in 1900 and they weren't taken very seriously, which created all kinds of issues with the government. But there was too much of it for my taste, especially the politcal infighting, plus I just didn't find Isaac Cline a very sympathetic character overall. There are those readers who would get into that sort of detail. For myself, I felt the pace didn't pick up until the narrative became more about the storm itself. The hurricane hit Galveston, Texas, on Sept. 8, 1900--Larson provides wonderfully vivid descriptions of what the hurricane did, the almost total devastation of the city, the number of deaths, the interwoven vignettes of various people and what happened to them, and then the whole aftermath of the storm. Some enthralling reading here: Clara Barton arrived with the Red Cross, people came looking for loved ones gone missing, gawkers came in on trains to see the spectacle of ruin, workers going through enormously high mounds of wreckage, the wholesale burials and burnings of over 6,000 bodies, unusual discoveries, etc. Was it worth my time and effort? Yes, I'm not sorry I read it, I found it enjoyable as a whole, but I was much more interested in the storm itself and the effects of it as opposed to the political maneuverings and intrigues and feuds within the bureau before the monster storm struck Galveston.

Vampires and Cannibals and Siblings, oh my!

DEXTER IS DELICIOUS by Jeff Lindsay, 2010.
I stayed up till almost midnight finishing this fifth instalment in the Dexter series. This one finds Dexter learning to be a new father to Lily Anne, plus dealing with the return of his psychopathic killer brother Brian and helping his sister Sergeant Deborah Morganwith a horrific case involving murdered victims being eaten and finding a missing teenage girl who could be next on the menu. Loaded with Dexter's dark humor, with enough sex and violence to keep the story moving at a fast pace, this is enjoyable and thrilling. Dexter is such an interesting character in this novel, with his attempts to change himself for Lily Anne, to give up his listening to the his Dark Passenger, and to lead a more human life with Rita and their family. Events conspire against him all through the book, and it doesn't help matters at all that near the end of the book his frustrated sister makes a request that startles even Dexter. The very premise of this series has intrigued me from the beginning, and Lindsay has kept my interest up with each succeeding adventure. I find them generally suspenseful, humorous, exciting, and totally entertaining. With plenty of unresolved issues at the end of this story, I'm looking forward to the next chapter in Dexter's life.

THE HORSE IN VIRGINIA by Julie A. Campbell, 2010.

Excellently put together coffee table style book about the history of the horse in Virginia. The first horses came on ship to Jamestown in 1609 and ended up being eaten along with dogs, rats, and practically anything else that could be found, during the "Starving Time," that horrendous winter of 1609-10. After the colony was more established, more horses arrived and flourished. Campbell divides her book into time periods, with plenty of wonderful illustrations. Lots of good material here on Civil War horses, and more modern horses like Secretariat, as well as horse racing history in the Commonwealth. It's a good browsing book, not as in-depth perhaps as some would like. I found it pleasant to dip into, enjoyed my favorite parts of it, and skimmed the others. If you are interested in a brief history with beautifully done photos and historical illustrations, then this will serve you well. Campbell gives a good bibliography of sources, too, for further reading.

HONOLULU by Alan Brennert, 2009.
With a well written, smoothly flowing narrative, Brennert's second novel depicts the lives of four Korean "picture brides" who journey to Hawaii in 1914 to marry men they have never met. Regret (so named by her parents because daughters in Korea were considered unimportant enough for formal names) is the main character of the story. A somewhat feisty and independent girl, she is determined to obtain an education (not usual for girls in Korea) and make a different and better life for herself. A sympathetic relative helps her learn to read in secret. Then, seeing a chance to help her family financially and escape from her strict father, Regret and her childhood friend Sunny decide to make the journey to the island paradise of Hawaii to marry wealthy and handsome men who will give them good lives. All they have are photographs of the men they will marry. On the steamship they meet more girls--Beauty, Wise Pearl, and Jade Moon--all of whom become part of Regret's (now called Jin) circle. When they reach Honolulu, Sunny changes her mind and takes the return ship back to Korea; the other girls are quickly married off to their suitors--none of whom are what they expected. Disappointment, bitterness, backbreaking work, illness, horrific abuse, childbirth, disease, and violence becomes part of their lives, but they are resilient, smart, determined, plucky, and fiercely loyal, and these young girls create a support system which eventually enables them each to find happiness. Brennert follows these women through their triumphs and tragedies, ending the main story in 1937, but includes a 1957 afterword to further tie up loose ends. He is excellent with his historical details about Hawaii, Korea, the various customs and foods and clothes, politics, living conditions in the city and on the plantations, etc., all portrayed realistically and shockingly at times. He weaves through his narrative the stories of the real people who became the characters Charlie Chan and Sadie Thompson, and involves his fictional characters in the sensational scandal concerning rape and lynching known as the Massie case. He includes the racial issues of the time concerning Koreans, Japanese and Hawaiians, the problems of the government, prostitution, workers' strikes, etc., in convincing and interesting ways. Jin is a sympathetic  and believable heroine, and if some of the storylines' resolutions seem a bit too pat, it is still an enjoyable piece of fiction. I would say that it isn't as compelling or as emotionally involving as Moloka'i, his previous book, but a good tale nonetheless.

THE THREE MISS MARGARETS by Louise Shaffer, 2003.
If you enjoy the likes of Fannie Flagg, this may appeal to you. Set in a small town in southern Georgia, the  main part of the story involves a dark secret buried for years. Laurel Selene McCready, a white trash reporter for the local paper, starts digging around after meeting an out of town writer working on a book concerning a former resident, Vashti Johnson. Miss Peggy, Dr. Maggie, and Miss Li'l Bit, who have known each other for years, are solid citizens of Charles Valley, Georgia, and thirty years before, they helped do a terrible thing--they hid the truth about a murder in order to protect someone close to them. In so doing, however, other lives were affected in various ways. When Laurel starts poking around and asking questions, old memories are stirred up and loyalties tested. These women must decide whether it's the right time to reveal the truth about what happened. Enjoyable, suspenseful, with plenty of quirky characters, strong regional flavor, and humor. It's partly a mystery, but it's mostly about friendship, loyalty, righting wrongs, and forgiveness.

FRAGMENT by Warren Fahy, 2009.
I just finished this last night. A fast moving adventure suspense thriller similar to the novels of Michael Crichton. Paper thin characters, but lots of action and violence. Plot concerns an unexplored island in the South Pacific where the ecological system has developed completely and evolved undisturbed for millions of years. The island is remote and only has one way in--and of course, humans eventually discover it. First up is the cast and crew of a TV reality show called "SeaLife", with horrendously bloody results. Next in are the U.S. government and navy, with boatloads of scientists and state of the art equipment. What they find are nightmarish creatures and "plants" that exist in an "everything is food" environment, where all have evolved into animals with many and very startling characteristics and parts--multiple limbs and eyes and brains, abilities to mate in the womb and give birth continuously, are always in motion, and everything eats everything--including each other. When it is realized that these creatures have no natural enemies and no introduced predators can control them and the risk of their escape is too great, it is decided that the island must be destroyed. Meanwhile, it is discovered that salt water repels the attacks of the animals, earthquakes begin, fissures open, and the island is thrown into more chaos. Then, a benign, intelligent life form is found, and it becomes a race against time by a small group of people to save this creature at all costs before the island habitat is totally destroyed. Read this for the excitement and creativeness, I enjoyed the whole environment in chaos thing with weird animals and plants, good page turner with plenty of suspense, but a bit of a letdown toward the end. A really fast read, though.

THE LITTLE STRANGER by Sarah Waters, 2009.
I stayed up past midnight the other night reading this, as I just had to know how it ended. Set in post-World War II English countryside, the story involves a crumbling estate and its owners, the Ayers family. The narrator of the story is Dr. Faraday, a middle aged local GP who has been fascinated with Hundreds Hall since he was a young boy and visited there. The current family consists of the lovely and delicate Angela, her spinster daughter Caroline, and her war scarred son Roderick, and they are struggling with changes in society, have sold off most of their land, have only one full time servant to wait on them, and are strapped for cash. Dr. Faraday becomes involved with the family when he is called to Hundreds to treat their servant, Betty, who is having some trouble adjusting to life at Hundreds. After a disastrous dinner party in which a young guest is seriously injured by the family dog, Faraday finds himself drawn to Hundreds and becomes a frequent visitor. Over time, he comes to realize, as the Ayers do as well, that something isn't quite right in the old Georgian mansion, that the strange creaks and tappings and the series of "accidents" are being caused by something that is dark and menacing. As their lives intertwine, each of them experiences genuine fear and horror over the sinister events at Hundreds Hall. A wonderfully compelling gothic story, full of quiet, unnerving incidents, interesting characters, and a great eerie atmosphere. Waters is a good storyteller and manages to pull the reader in fairly easily and keep those pages turning. If you have enjoyed novels like The Turn of the Screw or Rebecca or The Haunting of Hill House, that are full of creepiness and give you goosebumps, this has a lot of the same elements. I found it quite enthralling, and I am still thinking about it...

A PARCHMENT OF LEAVES, by Silas House, 2002.

Recommended by a friend and colleague, I found this novel to be a very moving and somewhat haunting story set in the Appalachian region of Kentucky during World War I. It involves a young man, Saul Sullivan, who is looking for work near Redbud Camp, and falls on sight for Vine, a young Cherokee girl who lives there. Even though his mother, the tiny but strong-willed Esme, is against the idea of mixed marriage, the two are wed and come to live on God's Creek, Saul's homeplace. There, Esme and Aaron, Saul's younger brother, take to Vine very quickly (and she to them) and they form a close family unit. However, Vine has a bad feeling about Aaron, as she realizes over time that his admiration of her turns to an obsession. When Aaron leaves home for an extended period and then returns with a bride of his own, when Saul is forced to do war work in another county for nearly a year, and Vine's parents are forced to move to North Carolina, relationships change and conditions deteriorate within the family until disastrous violence erupts and Vine is forced to live with a terrible secret. Only months after Saul comes home for good  and Esme has died is she able to finally unburden herself by forgiving others as well as herself.
The author has a wonderful writing style--you can hear the birdcalls and smell the mountain air when reading this book. It's poignant and evocative, filled with rich historical details of life in rural Kentucky during the early years of the last century, especially how women lived and worked, gave birth, loved, and died. His characters are real: the hardworking and stable Saul, who loves Vine and his family; the matriarchal and kind Esme; dreamy, bitter, and self absorbed Aaron; the tough talking and funny midwife Serena; Aaron's wife, Aidia, who so much resembles Vine and suffers for it; and Vine herself, patient, loving, faithful, haunted, determined to be true to herself, one who loves nature and her people, yet has to be separated from her people and see her old home destroyed. The novel deals with so many things: the idea of Cherokee culture being slowly destroyed from within by the older people refusing to talk about it as well as from outside forces, lumbering in the mountains and the making of turpentine for the war effort, the isolation of the hollers, religion in the characters' lives, issues of race. The author's use of accurate dialect and his descriptive passages of things natural add so much to the feel of the story, too. One of my favorite lines is "Maybe the trees were God." Overall, an emotional, thoughtful  and beautifully written novel. Highly recommend it.

DOUBLE BIND by Chris Bohjalian, 2007.
Excellently written novel that intertwines the homeless, bipolar disorder, and a mystery involving Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan (from The Great Gatsby). Set mainly in Vermont, the story moves back and forth from the 1920s to present day, and involves Laurel Estabrook, a social worker at a homeless shelter with a horrifyingly violent incident in her past, and an elderly, mentally ill homeless man, Bobbie Crocker, who has a box of photos that he won't let anyone see. After Bobbie's sudden death, the truth about him comes out: before he was homeless, he was a successful photographer who worked with subjects like Eartha Kitt and Robert Frost. Laurel, in looking through the photos, becomes fascinated with Bobbie's life and is convinced that there is a dark secret behind the photos. As she tries to fit the pieces of Bobbie's life together, she becomes aware that it is connecting with her own troubled past, and that someone desperately wants to keep that connection hidden. Interesting characters, an imaginative tie-in to a classic novel, beautiful Vermont scenery, vivid language, suspense enough to keep the story moving at a good clip, and a twist at the end that I didn't see coming. This is a really good page-turner.

Viewed "Doubt" during the past weekend, and I found it so engrossing and unexpectedly intense that I watched it again last night. Set at a Catholic school in the Bronx in 1964, the story concerns the vague suspicions and dislike of the school's principal, Sister Aloysius, towards the church's pastor, Father Flynn. She urges the other sisters to be on the lookout for anything that doesn't seem quite right. Sister James, a young and idealistic teacher, reports what she has observed concerning the 12 year old Donald Miller, and sets in motion the chain of events that follow for the rest of the picture. Meryl Streep is excellent as Sister Aloysius, determined, inflexible, and oh so right in her own mind about the doubts she has concerning Father Flynn; Philip Seymour Hoffman provides a wonderful performance as the pastor under attack; and Amy Adams is superb as the somewhat innocent and trusting Sister James.Viola Davis, even though her time on the screen is brief, makes her pivotal character of Mrs. Miller very real. A movie about right and wrong and trust and doubt, very thought provoking and well acted throughout. It just blew me away. One of the best pictures I've seen in quite a long time.

Watched "Sherlock Holmes" over this past weekend with my wife and family. Actually my wife and I viewed it twice, as we wanted to catch stuff that we missed the first time around. Wicked fun, cool effects, convoluted and intense storyline, and interesting characters--Sherlock and Dr. Watson, as portrayed here by Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law, are not the literary creations that most of us are familiar with. However, Downey and Law are an intriguing pair, with much witty banter and bickering throughout the movie, as they wend their way through a literally explosive case involving human sacrifice, magic, poison, multiple murders, a secret society, politics and a strange plot to take over the world. With boatloads of action, tremendously skillful fighting, and plenty of humorous repartee amongst the cast, the movie moves mostly at breakneck speed, and you don't really care if some things make sense or not, or if there are holes in the story. Rachel McAdams as the naughty undercover girl Irene Adler (who's being manipulated by the unseen Moriarty) and Mark Strong as the villainously evil Lord Blackwood are excellent in their roles, and it's fun to watch them interplay with Holmes and Watson. This film is a wild ride through Victorian London, with all its grimy back alleys and glittering restaurants and old cemeteries and magnificent halls of government, and replete with heroes and villains and damsels in distress, so hang on and enjoy this wonderfully entertaining picture.

Finished last night:  THE KING'S MISTRESS by Emma Campion, 2010.

I was very interested in the subject of this novel, Alice Perrers, as she has gone down in English history as one of the most villainous of women, and I was curious as to how the author would treat her story. Alice Perrers was the mistress of English king Edward III towards the end of his life, and she gained a reputation for being a greedy, manipulative harlot who tore the rings off the fingers of the dead king before he was even cold and then fled for her life. Campion manages to provide a fairly credible story for Alice, especially her life up to the time she becomes a member of Queen Philippa's retinue and is noticed by Edward III. Although the idea that Philippa encouraged and approved of Alice's relationship with the king a little hard to take, I found Alice's argument "When had I a choice to be other than I was?" to be an interesting viewpoint, and it was useful as a recurring point throughout the novel. Risen from the ranks of the merchant class, Alice grew in power and prestige, but at the same time made enemies who cruelly brought her down later. Campion portrays Alice as a strong character, determined to rule her own life, which included acquiring property and wealth and providing for her children, but she also shows how Alice was repeatedly manipulated at court by powerful people like John of Gaunt, Edward the Black Prince, Joan of Kent, and even Edward III himself, to forward their own agendas. Even when she tried to do what was right it usually turned out to be wrong for herself. Campion gives lots of period details concerning court life during the 14th century, political machinations, trade, customs, daily life among the merchant class, financial transactions, and fashions. At times the detail almost overwhelms. The secrets concerning Alice's first husband's family and the dowager Queen Isabella I found very intriguing and was glad for the bit of suspense; I also thought the relationship that Alice had with Geoffrey Chaucer a nice touch, as well as Alice being acquainted with Katherine deRoet, the young girl who would later become Katherine Swynford, the mistress and then wife of John of Gaunt. Campion writes well and has definitely done her research. Fans of Anya Seton's Katherine would probably enjoy this novel as well.

Poldark Lives!

Recently re-watched the PBS series "Poldark" on DVD. First released in 1975, it came out on VHS a number of years ago, and now on DVD. Based on the first four novels of a 13 book series by Winston Graham and set in Cornwall, the main plotlines concern the characters of Capt. Ross Poldark, his cousin Francis Poldark, the ignorant waif Demelza, and the beautiful but shallow Elizabeth Chynoweth. Beginning in 1783, with Ross returning home from his service in the American Revolution to Cornwall (after being thought dead) to find his father dead, his home Nampara in a neglected state, his copper mines about to close, and his fiancee Elizabeth about to marry his cousin Francis, the story moves forward at a fairly good clip, involving more characters and storylines. There are 16 episodes in the first series; a second series was filmed as well--based on the next three books. And yes, while there are soap opera elements to the stories, the episodes remain close to the original novels, and the focus remains mostly on Ross and Demelza, two wonderfully drawn creations: Ross is a brooding, unruly sort of character, a heroic type who cares deeply for people and wants to do right, but gets himself into trouble because he can also be inflexible in his attitude. Demelza is a more free spirited type, smart and unafraid to share her thoughts, who doesn't understand why everyone can't learn to live together in peace. Other interesting characters include Verity Poldark and her longing for another life outside of Trenwith; George Warleggan, wealthy and socially inferior to the Poldarks and with a terrible jealous streak, continually makes trouble which creates a feud that runs through the entire TV and book series; Dr. Enys, young idealistic physician, whose lust for a miner's wife leads to tragedy; Francis and Elizabeth, whose marriage is an unhappy union for various reasons, all of which lead back to Ross; heiress Caroline Penvenen of Killewarren, who becames fascinated with Enys; Jud and Prudie, Ross' servants, who are poor but tough locals, and who provide some of the humor in these stories. I remember these stories with pleasure and enjoyed viewing them again. I read the novels years ago after viewing the TV series, and Graham's books are wonderfully done, with colorful, vivid characters and plenty of historical details, covering the gamut of human emotion and interaction: drama and heartache and inspiration and happiness and love and hate and loss, and even details on copper mining in Cornwall during the late 18th century. PBS did an excellent job of adapting and producing the series from the novels, and it has held up very well since 1975. If you've never viewed the TV series before (or even if you did years ago), the episodes are worth another look. And the books are well worth reading.You will be quickly drawn into the lives of these characters and enjoy the wonderful storytelling!

Yesterday I finished "I AM MURDERED": GEORGE WYTHE, THOMAS JEFFERSON, AND THE KILLING THAT SHOCKED A NEW NATION by Bruce Chadwick, 2009.

I wish I could say that I really enjoyed this work, but I was rather disappointed. This nonfiction book is an account of the murder of George Wythe, 80 year old Virginia born statesman at his home in Richmond, Va., in 1806. He was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, for years the only law professor of the College of William and Mary, teacher and mentor of men like Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, and Henry Clay. He was respected, admired, and beloved by all who knew him. On May 25, 1806, Judge Wythe, his black housekeeper Lydia Broadnax, and his protege Michael Brown were all poisoned with arsenic-laced coffee. Broadnax survived, Brown died after a week, and Wythe lingered for two weeks until he expired. The judge insisted several times on his deathbed that he had been poisoned, but his doctors insisted he had not, and their later bungled autopsy on his corpse didn't help matters. A sensational and tragic event,Wythe's grandnephew, George Wythe Sweeney, who was a ne'er do well gambler and profligate and lived with him in his house on Shockoe Hill, was accused of the murders, tried, and acquitted, much to the consternation of the community at large. As Sweeney and Brown were Wythe's co-heirs to his large estate and the cash-strapped Sweeney had already forged checks, the public generally believed he had committed the murders in order to get the entire estate. The only witnesses to Sweeney's actions (Broadnax for one, who realized that she saw him put the arsenic in the coffee pot) were not allowed to testify as they were blacks. So an outdated legal code, issues of slavery and race, as well as the issue of non-existent laws pertaining to state banks added to the problems. As far as the actual case goes, it was presented in an interesting way, but so much of the book seemed like padding or unnecessary information: I did not need to know the details of each of the doctors' and lawyers' lives, nor did I need to know the entire history of forensics or arsenic or so much on Richmond's history. It was simply too much and overwhelmed the actual events. As one reviewer noted, this would probably have made a very interesting article, but it made for a rather shallow book. It just wasn't as good a read as I hoped.

Just finished reading THE KITCHEN HOUSE by Kathleen Grissom, 2010.

A truly absorbing and interesting story set in southside Virginia during the period 1791-1810. Lavinia, a 7 year old Irish girl, has survived the Atlantic crossing but  her parents died and she has been separated from her surviving brother. The owner of Tall Oaks, Captain James Pyke, brings her to work there as an indentured servant. Lavinia is placed in the kitchen house under the care of Belle, who is the master's illegitimate daughter and light enough to pass for white. Lavinia bonds with the family in the kitchen house: Mama Mae, Papa George, Dory, Fanny, Beattie, and Ben, and she becomes intertwined with their lives; she is less concerned with the white family in the big house. The captain is often absent for months at a time, the mistress is usually in an opium fog, and their son Marshall is less than kind. Over time, however, she is taken in by the Pykes; Lavinia comes to care for Captain James, helps Miss Martha, and comes to an understanding with Marshall. Belle, for her part, is offered freedom by her father, but refuses it; the kitchen house is her home, the plantation's people are her family. Even later, when she is cruelly abused by the Pykes' overseer Rankin (a truly nasty character) and by Marshall, she's determined to stay. But when Lavinia, who ends up straddling both worlds and is forced to choose between them and unknowingly entangles Belle, events are set in motion that ultimately lead to tragedy for all the people at Tall Oaks. This is a story of race and boundaries; violence and cruelty and madness; goodness and love; loyalty and forgiveness; lust and betrayal. Grissom writes well, emotionally involving the reader with the characters, making you feel their pain and anguish and triumph, giving a storyline that moves along and creates suspense. Her use of two unusual narrators, Lavinia and Belle, and her main themes of history repeating itself and isolation are interesting and effectively presented. It also begs the question of just who is enslaved and who is free? Not your typical Southern plantation life novel.

Watched "Blind Side" last night on DVD. I'm no big fan of Sandra Bullock, but she was very good in this movie as the mom who takes in a basically homeless black boy known as "Big Mike" and makes him a part of her family. Inspirational and thought-provoking, the story concerns wealthy and sharp-tongued Lee Ann Tuohy(Bullock's character) and her family adapting to this rather large, quiet young man who has kept a gentle and calm attitude about himself all through the hard knocks of his life. He's accepted along with another boy into a Christian school in the hopes of both educating him as well as getting him onto the football team. His knowledge is limited, but it's quickly proven that he isn't stupid, simply that he needs extra help to catch up. Kathy Bates plays his tutor, and she is good in the role. Ray McKinnon has a nice part as the football coach who has to take some heat from Bullock's character. The movie delves into the emotional conflicts and reactions of the various characters to this Sphinx-like boy. Conflicts are caused over his living with this wealthy white family who are huge Ole Miss fans. Lee Ann's friends are clueless, other students spread rumors, issues are raised about Mike's background, and a huge question is raised over his choosing Ole Miss as the school he wants to attend and play ball for over other good offers. An enjoyable movie, good story, excellent casting, and it raises good questions about issues of responsibility and accountability,what is truly important in our lives, and what motivates us to be the people we are. Bullock totally deserves the Oscar she won for this role.

Watched "The Young Victoria" the other night, and really enjoyed it. Emily Blunt was well cast as the young monarch, so sheltered by her overprotective mother and her mother's ambitious comptroller, that she had only the barest knowledge of the outside world. Forced to go down stairs holding someone's hand from the time she was a child and to share her mother's rooms, she was still doing it at 18. Her domineering mother, the Duchess of Kent, kept her well away from what she considered the loose court of King William IV; she was a virtual captive at Kensington Palace.Young and inexperienced when she became Queen, she was determined to rule over those who had control over her life. She is helped by Lord Melbourne, her Prime Minister (Paul Bettany), but then becomes far too dependent on him, which creates friction in her government. After she meets Albert, she draws strength and courage from his love for her, and after they marry, she eventually realizes his worth as an equal partner in running the country. Blunt is good, portraying Victoria as a young, vibrant, enthusiastic and untried monarch--a much different picture than what most people have of Queen Victoria. She not only shows Victoria as an intelligent thinker with true concern for the working class and the poor, but also lets her show emotions and flaws. Miranda Richardson as the Duchess is excellent; she only wanted the best for her child, but at the same time she meant to keep her under her thumb. Mark Strong as Sir John Conroy is appropriately grasping and menacing. Rupert Friend does a credible job as Albert (he even resembles the real Albert), the minor German prince who Victoria marries and who helps her mature into the queen they knew she had the capacity to be. Lavish costumes and sets provide a feel for the time, and the script really moves the story along at a good pace. It's not a long film, and it feels shorter than it actually is. While I'm not totally convinced of its accuracy in all aspects (this is Hollywood after all), it is an entertaining enough movie that gives a good and positive portrayal of an English monarch that is generally thought of as old, dumpy and dressed in perpetual black (which she was like that, only much later). Engrossing, beautifully filmed, well directed and acted, it really provides a good picture of Victoria early in her reign.

THE QUEEN'S PAWN by Christy English, 2010.

Well written first novel by this author. In 1169, Princess Alais of France is sent to England at age nine to be brought up in the court of Eleanor of Aquitaine until it is time for Alais' marriage to Richard, son of Eleanor and King Henry II. The innocent Alais is taken in by Eleanor, and they grow to love one another, and Alais falls for Richard as well. She knows that she is a pawn on the political chessboard, and that her marriage to Richard is to keep peace between England and France. The fact that Alais' father, King Louis VII, was once married to Queen Eleanor and divorced her, adds a spicy element. By 1172, Eleanor has taught Alais well, providing her with the skills necessary to play the power game as a woman in a man's world. Suddenly finding herself shockingly betrayed by both Richard and Eleanor, Alais is determined to chart her own future, involving the King and becoming a threat to the Queen herself. Their love for each other could be destroyed by dark secrets, lies, rivalry, political machinations, and revenge. I found this somewhat reminiscent of Goldman's The Lion in Winter in terms of language and politics and general personal loyalties and betrayals. The whole love/hate thing permeates the book.There is more of a romantic element present, but it didn't bother me. I thought the author captured her characters, most of whom were real people, very well, with all their various traits, emotions, and flaws. Set mainly in the castles of Windsor and Winchester, English provides ample historical details that add color to the story. Having the story told by Alais and Eleanor in alternating chapters was an interesting choice, as it enabled the reader to view some events from two different viewpoints, plus allowed the characters to develop more. It is always interesting to me to read a good story about an historical personage that not much has been written about. Recommended.

CLEOPATRA'S DAUGHTER by Michelle Moran, 2009.

I practically gobbled this down, it read so quickly. I am a big fan of novels about ancient Rome (I, Claudius is still my favorite), plus having enjoyed Moran's other novels set in ancient Egypt, I expected this to be good too, and I wasn't disappointed. Beginning with Rome's takeover of Alexandria and Egypt, the deaths of Antony and Cleopatra and Octavian's taking their orphaned children, Alexander, Selene, and Ptolemy to Rome, she spins a fascinating story of their lives in ancient Rome. Little Ptolemy dies en route, but ten year old twins Alexander and Selene, once in Rome, are placed under the care of Octavian's sister, the caring Octavia. Once married to the twins' father, Antony, she is a kind and compassionate woman who loves children, and she has a houseful--her own, plus assorted others at various times from former spouses and relatives. As the twins are educated and they mature in Octavia's household, they learn the ways of Roman society, its customs and attitudes and ideas, especially what is valued and not valued. I thoroughly enjoyed Moran's portrayals of the young people, with their various feelings, foibles and problems: Tiberius, Marcellus, Julia, Antonia, Claudia, and Juba, all of whom played important parts in the lives of Alexander and Selene. And the more mature and familiar characters of Octavia, Livia, Agrippa, and Octavian/Augustus are every bit as colorful and real. Especially liked the scenes between Octavia and the acidic Livia. Moran brings all these characters and others to life very vividly, as well as providing wonderfully descriptive passages of Roman life, in all its glory and horror. The whole slavery issue and the practice of disposing of unwanted children made for interesting and awful reading. Told from mostly from Selene's point of view, there is plenty of action, period detail, and enough juicy dialogue to keep the narrative moving right along. Overall, a very well told story, smoothly written, and a great read.

THE HITTITE by Ben Bova, 2010.

I just finished this yesterday. Being a Trojan War fan, I decided I'd give it a try. I was familiar with Ben Bova as a scifi author, but had never read any of his books, as I'm not really a fan of that genre. This novel is about the Trojan War, but told from the point of view of an outsider, a Hittite soldier, Lukka, who after the Hittite king is murdered and the empire at Hattusas is in chaos, discovers his wife and two young sons have been stolen away and taken to the west. He and others in his troop follow the trail, participate in various ambushes, and end up in the Achaian camp outside of the walls of Troy. The story is at times very familiar, with the usual Greek and Trojan cast: Odysseos, Agamemnon, Hector, Paris, and Helen. Bova makes the character of Lukka to be an unsung hero of the war, a capable and articulate soldier who makes logical and reasonable suggestions for battle strategy, builds a siege tower (which becomes the basis for the great horse), serves as a messenger for both sides, and is present for almost every important event. There is plenty of battle action, assorted violence, and gore, and enough period detail for setting the story, but it's a pretty shallow novel. Some of the language was jarringly modern.The author puts his own spin on some of the more well known episodes of the story, and offers up different reasons for some characters' actions. And the conclusion, which involves Helen and Lukka, totally turned me off. Mostly, I felt as though I was reading a movie script, and honestly, the cover reminds me of a movie poster. Was it a waste? Not completely. But there are certainly better novels out there about Troy than this. Whom The Gods Would Destroy by Richard Powell, Song of Troy by Colleen McCullough, and War at Troy by Lindsay Clarke are three I would recommend over this one.

PRIVATE LIFE by Jane Smiley, 2010.

After having my interest in it piqued by several reviews, I picked this up as I walked past the new book shelf in my library one day to read. I remember enjoying A Thousand Acres very much as a rich and satisfying story based on King Lear. The basic story in this novel concerns a young woman, Margaret Mayfield, born and bred in post-Civil War Missouri, who is taught in all ways by her mother Lavinia to be a good wife, and is at 27 an old maid with no real prospects for a husband. Into her life comes Captain Andrew Jackson Jefferson Early, an astronomer who needs a wife. At the urging and manipulation of their mothers, the two marry, move to California, where he is posted to a San Francisco-area island to be in charge of the navy's observatory, and Margaret sets about making a life for them. His devotion to the study of science takes over his life, leaving little room for Margaret, who slowly realizes that everything is about Andrew and his professional and private needs and she must support him in every way by cooking and cleaning and typing his manuscripts, etc. Their lives change somewhat as they suffer the loss of a child, as they age, as they contend with new ideas and things like automobiles, and deal with important national issues and crises--the San Francisco earthquake, World War I, Pearl Harbor, the Japanese-American internments, and find their loyalties are tested. Margaret, so hopeful of having a fulfilling life as a wife and mother, eventually has to accept that her life is not what she would have wanted for herself. This story just somehow never quite involved me very much--lots of appropriate details and impressions of life during the period of post-Civil War to World War II, several interesting and likable characters, like Mrs. Lear and her sons, the Kimura family, and so on, but the two main characters just seemed rather one note: Andrew is hugely egotistical and often unpleasant; Margaret is at times almost disturbingly placid and accepting of everything. If Smiley's point was to show how a marriage can start out so promising and then over time descend into a sort of nothingness and emptiness, then she succeeded, as I felt very little for either Margaret or Andrew by the book's end. I have no complaint about Smiley's writing, as she's very readable; I guess it just wasn't a very enjoyable story for me and in the end not very satisfying.

RETURN FROM TROY by Lindsay Clarke, 2005.

For some reason, I read War at Troy several years ago, but neglected to go ahead and read this sequel as well. I finally borrowed it and was totally enthralled. Picking up with the horrible sacking of Troy, Clarke does an excellent job of following the various survivors of the carnage and relating the various threads of their stories through the next ten years. It's all here: Menelaus and beautiful Helen, the woman who caused so much strife and agony; ambitious Agamemnon and Cassandra's fates at the hands of vengeful Clytaemnestra; Penelope's patient waiting for her husband's return amid the growing menace in her palace; Odysseus's son Telemachus's coming of age and his rage over his father's long absence; and Odysseus's many adventures in foreign parts as he journeys throughout the Mediterranean, trying to find the path that leads him home. Their stories are so familiar, and yet the author presents them in a fresh way that is enjoyable and entertaining. His apt descriptions of life in the ancient world, including daily routines, the war with the Dorian invaders, slavery, idol worship, terrific tempests, etc. all add color to the multiple stories. Well written and well told, if you enjoy stories of the Trojan War and what happened after, this is quite worthwhile reading.

Finished late last night: FIGURES IN SILK by Vanora Bennett, 2009.
Fine, smoothly written narrative, with plenty of period details, set during the period after the Wars of the Roses. The story concerns the Lambert sisters, Isabel and Jane, each of whom becomes the mistress of a king. Jane, who marries and divorces Will Shore, becomes the mistress of King Edward IV. Isabel becomes unknowingly acquainted with Richard of Gloucester, just before her marriage to Thomas Claver. Later, they meet again under other circumstances, and she eventually becomes Richard's mistress. The majority of the story follows Isabel, who, after her husband's untimely demise, chooses to apprentice herself to her mother-in-law, the hard-nosed silkwoman Alice Claver. Isabel has ambitions to break the Lombards' hold on the silk making industry in England and to found her own silk making house. To that end, she establishes connections and forms a network which eventually leads her to ask King Edward for the funds and assistance to set her plans in motion.When Edward dies suddenly, leaving the English throne to his young son, and England is thrown into the turmoil of Richard III, Isabel's life changes dramatically and completely, as does Jane's. I enjoyed Bennett's previous book Portrait of an Unknown Woman very much, but found this novel to be rather slow going and almost tedious in spots. In my opinion, Jane was the more interesting character, and I would have liked more of her story. I did enjoy Bennett's portrayals, however brief, of both Elizabeth Woodville and young Elizabeth of York. A good read, just not as good as I had hoped it would be.

LOVING FRANK by Nancy Horan, 2007.

A beautifully written novel about the scandalous love affair between the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright and Mamah Borthwick Cheney, which shocked and dismayed the Chicago-Oak Park area, as both were married when they began their affair. Covering the years 1907-1914, Horan easily draws the reader into the lives of her characters and gets him involved. After the initial shock and several years' separation, Mamah's husband Edwin divorced her and then remarried, and Mamah and Frank, whose wife Catherine refused to divorce him, lived in Europe. They live together off and on, each return to the States, live in Japan during a job Frank has there, and eventually settle at Frank's creative dream home--a fabulous, nature-inspired house, Taleisin, in Wisconsin. Horan does a wonderful job of dramatizing the many doubts and worries the couple encountered in themselves and each other: financial woes, emotional problems, issues with each set of children, Mamah's determination to use her knowledge and education to make her own mark, Frank's self-centeredness, Mamah's ruined relations with her beloved sister Lizzie and the anguish each felt about living their lives in the manner they chose. Horan's writing style is graceful, beautifully descriptive, and flows smoothly. Her portrayals of Mamah and Frank are realistic and thought-provoking and complex. Overall, it's a fascinating, engrossing read about two very passionate people who found each other and created a lurid scandal by wanting to be together, the tough choices they were forced to make in order to do so, and the terrible tragedy that befell them both. A tremendously worthwhile read. I highly recommend it.

Was a remake really necessary?

I went to see the remake of "Clash of the Titans" the other weekend. After viewing it, I'm not sure why anyone felt it necessary to do a remake, except that it gave the film maker the chance to do some awesome special effects. Basically, the story is the same as the 1981 movie: young Perseus must go on a quest for the head of Medusa, which is needed to turn the Kraken into stone before he eats Andromeda and destroys mankind in the bargain. Don't get me wrong, the first movie did its part to mess up the whole Perseus myth; this film absolutely muddies it up even worse. Many changes have been made from the original film, most of which were unnecessary and disappointing. The addition of Io was totally pointless, and her storyline destroys the end of the movie. In the original movie, there was more interaction between Zeus and several of the other gods, including Poseidon, Hera, and Athena; here, Zeus and Hades are the only gods utilized very much, and in fact, the picture becomes nearly a showdown between the two, with Perseus in the middle. The little mechanical owl from the first film is used as a throwaway bit in this movie; Perseus doesn't want to use the magical sword given him by Zeus; the huge scorpions have multiplied and are used as transportation; the old philosopher character is gone; the three Gray Ladies(Stygian witches) are monsters instead of old women with only one eye between them; Perseus is the only character with a buzz cut--why?; the whole legend of Danae has been changed--now it is her husband rather than her father who puts her and her child into a chest and casts it into the sea and in this film Danae perishes; you never get to see the entire Kraken as in the first film; the love story between Perseus and Andromeda is gone, and so on. On the plus side, although I enjoyed Ray Harryhausen's special effects in the original, the effects in this movie are quite good. I really liked what they did with Medusa, especially keeping her face beautiful (except when putting the eyes on you) and having her laughing as she chased the characters; and the winged horses were great, especially Pegasus, although why he was referred to as "the" Pegasus and made black, I'll never understand--another unnecessary change. Overall, the only reason to see this movie would be for the effects, as the story is definitely lacking from both the original Greek myth and the original movie. If you saw the 1981 film, don't bother with this one unless you are really into special effects. If you must see it, wait for it to come out as a DVD rental.

RETURN OF THE SHADE by Bevis Longstreth, 2009.

An interesting, if not very involving, novel set in ancient Persia after the time of King Xerxes. The story concerns Parysatis, daughter, wife, and mother of Persian monarchs. Evidently, she has been given a bad rep by Greek historians, and in this novel, she comes back from the dead to tell her version of the story. It's a story that includes rape, murder, palace intrigue, torture, unrequited love, and sexual abandon in the glittering Courts at Susa, Persepolis, and Babylon. The cast of characters includes monarchs, queens, concubines, generals, and eunuchs, all jockeying for enormous power and prestige, and all willing to do anything to get them. The author includes fine descriptions of Persian life and customs, but unfortunately, none of the characters are very sympathetic or likeable, nor do you much care about any of them. Many seem rather one note and cardboard-like. The only exception is Parysatis herself, who is somewhat more developed, but not totally three dimensional. I found this novel to be full of information and it really piqued my interest in the Achaemenid dynasty, but I was really disappointed in the rather lifeless writing style and lack of character development. It could have been an exciting and fully realized historical at the hands of someone else or with a lot more work by this writer.

DELILAH by India Edghill, 2009.

Like her previous novels, Queenmaker and Wisdom's Daughter, Edghill takes a Biblical story and expands on it to create a fully absorbing and satisfying read. In this case, she uses the Old Testament story of Samson and Delilah, weaving an entirely plausible backstory for the characters as well as keeping the basic story in view. Beautiful and graceful Delilah is raised as a dancer-priestess to the goddess Atargatis in the Philistine city of Ascalon. She falls for Samson, the Hebrew judge and reluctant warrior-hero who is considered an enemy by the Philistines, as soon as she sees him, but the evil High Priestess has plans for them both. Plots and schemes separate them physically but not in their hearts, and when events finally bring them together, it's with the knowledge that love can last even in death. Excellent storytelling, accurate description, and I enjoyed the way the author actually includes connections to her earlier books. If you enjoy Biblical based fiction, this will satisfy.

THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows, 2008.

I had been meaning to read this, but had just put it off. Don't know why, just got buried under other books I wanted to read more. It's an excellently crafted story done in letters, between a British woman writer and a group of people on the Island of Guernsey, concerning their lives during the German Occupation of the island during World War II. As the story is set in 1946, the memories are fresh, and thus there's more of an impact. Author Juliet Ashton is contacted by a man, Dawsey Adams, who owns one of her discarded books, and the correspondence takes off from there: she, looking for another subject for a book, becomes intrigued by some of his references to the Literary Society and wants to know more. Dawsey recommends she correspond with others on the island. So she exchanges letters with others in the society and over time the story is fleshed out through these letters. Juliet is drawn into their varied lives comes to know them intimately--their likes, dislikes, what they read, how they feel, etc., and eventually she decides to visit Guernsey to meet them all in person. Her visit becomes a time of self discovery for Juliet, as she meets the folks she has come to know only through their letters. There is kind Amelia Maugery, fisherman Eben Ramsey and his grandson Eli, Isola Pribby (who makes potions), the pretender John Booker, Will Thisby, who concocts potato peel pie for the group, and young Kit McKenna, an orphan; all of whom have their own stories, plus pieces of the main story. Central to the novel is the story of Elizabeth McKenna, a friend to many on Guernsey, who is taken away by the Germans to Ravensbruck, and who hasn't returned yet. Part of Juliet's discoveries on the island concern Elizabeth and her whereabouts and what they learn about Elizabeth's fate changes all of these characters' lives forever. A very moving and fascinating book, well drawn characters good and bad, interesting story and setting, lots of genuine warmth and humor, and about finding connections. A very worthwhile read.

ANGELOLOGY by Danielle Trussoni, 2010.

When I read several reviews of this, I was really interested: intriguing premise, some history, a quest, action, and interesting characters. And while I did enjoy the story, unfortunately, it felt as though the pace was off. The whole middle section, which was a flashback, seemed somewhat slow and heavy. The last third of the book was very enjoyable; however, the ending left me a bit dissatisfied. In a nutshell, the novel concerns the Nephilim (offspring of angels and humans, mentioned in Genesis) and angelologists (scholars who study and track angels), and the ancient (and continuing) conflicts between them. For the Nephilim are not very nice--they are beautiful, powerful, monstrous creatures whose total desire is to subvert humans to evil and encourage war and oppression. They have infiltrated high levels of society and are deadly, but their power is weakening due to a mysterious debilitating condition they aren't able to cure, and this has led them to search for Orpheus' lyre, an instrument that is supposed to possess unimaginable power, and the angelologists are in all-out battle mode to stop them. The main character, Sister Evangeline of the St. Rose Convent, a young woman with many questions about her past, is drawn into this situation by a researcher who is unknowingly working for one of the Nephilim. As the story unfolds and Evangeline discovers more about her past and realizes what her role in the current events really is, the pressure is on and the situation crucial. I found the writing and pacing be rather uneven in spots, very smooth and exciting in parts but slow in much of it. I liked the story on the whole, but perhaps it would have been better if it had been more tightly written and faster paced.

Feel good movie

I watched "Akeela and the Bee" last evening. Even though it was released in 2006, and been on TV mulitiple times, I had not seen it before. I enjoyed it quite a bit. The story concerns an 11 year old middle schooler (Keke Palmer), whose father had been killed when she was 6, and whose mother (Angela Bassett) works constantly with no time for Akeela or the rest of her children. A teacher realizes Akeela has a talent for spelling, encourages her, and invites a professor friend (Laurence Fishburne) to see her in action in a local bee. Fishburne's character is impressed, agrees to coach her for the district bee, which if she wins, she would have a chance at the national bee in Washington, D.C. School problems, home issues, peer pressures, and emotional upheaval are all a part of the story--and the problems are not just Akeela's: her mother, her friend Georgia, her fellow competitors, and even the professor all have their own griefs and needs and hurts. But, as this is an inspirational, feel good movie, Akeela ties them all together in her quest for the national championship and everyone learns something about themselves and each other and life in general. Palmer is really effective as Akeela,  she does an excellent job as a kid who knows she's different but tries to hide it in order to fit into school, and it's interesting to watch her mature in her outlook as she works with Fishburne's professor toward her goal; and Bassett does a very credible job as the tough talking mom trying to hold things together for her family but somehow missing the boat on this gift her child has. Agreeable entertainment with a positive message.

THE SISTERS WHO WOULD BE QUEEN by Leanda de Lisle, 2008.

Historian de Lisle's account of the Grey sisters: Jane, Katherine, and Mary, Tudor descendants with a strong claim to the English throne. Probably everyone knows the story of the tragic Lady Jane Grey, the "Nine Days Queen", either from history or from the film "Lady Jane", but many may not be familiar with her sisters. Descended from Henry VII, they were great-nieces of Henry VIII through his sister Mary, who was married to Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk. As such, their very existence was disturbing and troublesome. Their cousin, fanatically Protestant Edward I, made Protestant Jane his heir (instead of his sisters Mary and Elizabeth) in hopes that she would continue his plans for reforming England. A coup placed her on the throne, and after her short reign and execution at the age of 16 at the hands of Queen Mary, her two sisters were kept close at court. Katherine, lovely and somewhat flighty, managed to contract a secret marriage with Edward Seymour (nephew of Henry VIII's third wife), and have two sons by him, which made her a very real threat to Elizabeth I, who was both unmarried and childless. Forced to separate from her husband and older child and kept under house arrest, Katherine pretty much starved herself to death by the age of 28. Mary, the last sister, made her own secret marriage, was discovered and paid a sad price as well. Their story is one of greed and power, manipulation, religious unrest, loss of personal freedom, bloodthirsty plots, very little happiness, and terrible destinies. De Lisle provides new interpretations on Jane's story, gives new information on her sisters, and interweaves their lives against the unsettled era of the Tudors, including the stories of other potential rivals for the throne like Mary Queen of Scots, the Countess of Lennox, and the Earl of Huntington, as well as another cousin of the Greys', Lady Margaret Clifford. While I found that I didn't always agree on her interpretations of things, it was still an interesting book on the Tudor era and it was good to read a more full account on the other two Grey sisters.

THE QUEEN'S GOVERNESS by Karen Harper, 2010.

I have liked most any of Harper's books that I've read; especially enjoyed her Tudor mystery series. This particular novel is a standalone title, and I was intrigued that she chose the character of Elizabeth I's old governess, Kat Ashley, as the main voice for the story.

Born Katherine Champernowne, Kat grows up in a household in Devon run by her father's second wife. Mourning her dead mother, Kat doesn't get along with her stepmother. By happy circumstance, she's noticed by the visiting royal councilor Thomas Cromwell, who arranges for her to live with and further her education with distant relatives. In return, Cromwell eventually brings her to court and wishes for her to be his "eyes and ears" around Anne Boleyn. The grateful Kat, over time, becomes sympathetic to Queen Anne, is trusted by her, and later by the doomed queen's request is given charge over the young Elizabeth.

Harper creates an interesting story around Kat: how she meets and eventually marries John Ashley, a relative of the Boleyn family; her relations with Tom Seymour, Princess Mary, Cromwell, and Robert Dudley, among others; the terrifying plots, gruesome executions and stays in the Tower; the religious issues of the day; the many intrigues and power plays surrounding the Tudor court. Many of the episodes about Elizabeth and Mary are familiar, but seeing them from Kat Ashley's viewpoint gives a fresh perspective. A smooth narrative, excellent details that don't overwhelm, and a good pace make this a satisfying read about the Tudor era.

Finished last night:

WOLF HALL by Hilary Mantel, 2009.

English author Mantel has written a huge, sprawling story concerning Thomas Cromwell, who rose to prominence under Henry VIII during the time of the king's "Great Matter." Henry wished to divorce his wife Katharine of Aragon after 20 years of marriage and then marry the captivating Anne Boleyn. Looming in the background, foreground, and everywhere, was Henry's desire and need for a male heir.

The author has done a terrific job with describing how Cromwell, son of a brutish blacksmith, manages to escape his dreadful childhood, spends years abroad, returns to England and becomes Cardinal Wolsey's go-to guy. After Wolsey's fall, Cromwell continues his rise to power, and finds that he is living a life beyond his wildest expectations. Cromwell, charming, knowledgeable, enigmatic, opportunistic, ambitious, and an enormously successful strategist, becomes crucial in Henry's and Anne's intertwined lives. She does well with making him a well rounded person, showing him as a kind and loving family man, as well as the courtly manipulator he was.

This is a hugely entertaining book, filled with larger than life characters and events, and Mantel's writing truly makes the era come to life. Political machinations, judicial murders, religious upheaval and persecution and executions, threats from rival claimants for the throne, wars, plague, etc. are all part of the story. I found her portrayals of Queen Katharine, Mary Tudor, Cardinal Wolsey, Elizabeth Barton, Hans Holbein and others very credible. The tragedy of Sir Thomas More was an interesting and moving section, and it was amazing what she was able to do to make so many characters stand out and be memorable: Mary Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Lady Rochford, and Bishop Gardiner, among so many others.

My only complaint about this novel is that it was very difficult and at times frustrating to keep track of who was saying what to whom. It took too much time to figure that out, and as a result, made for a slow read. Other than that, I found it a fresh take on an often written about episode in history. Kudos to Mantel for choosing to tell the story using Cromwell as the main voice and creating a different perspective on this Tudor period.

When the moon is full...

I went to see "Wolfman" the other night with a friend of mine. Our wives don't particularly care for creepy/scary/gory/horror type movies, so occasionally we'll go out together and see one. We were curious about this, and neither of us was disappointed. Reviewers were not overly thrilled with it, but we enjoyed the special effects, the overall creepy atmosphere, the story was fine, and Anthony Hopkins and Benicio Del Toro as the tormented father and son involved in the mystery did quite well in their roles. Emily Blunt as the fiancee of Del Toro's brutally murdered brother is quite interesting and easy to look at. Hugo Weaving was good as the detective sent from London to investigate the series of murders at Blackmoor. And casting Geraldine Chaplin as the gypsy woman Maleva was a good choice--cool to see her in a film again. Del Toro plays an American who is called back home when his brother is killed and becomes involved in discovering the cause of all these local murders. Visions from childhood, his father's distant attitude, and his attraction to Gwen (Blunt) add to the suspense. While it was easy to guess the secret of the Talbot family of Talbot Hall, it still made for a thrilling picture. Lots of little surprises to make one jump or flinch and plenty of blood and gore--for me almost too much. This movie really was more like a remake of the original "Wolfman" and I definitely liked it more than "An American Werewolf in London". My movie pal and I both agreed it was worthwhile, and I would recommend it at least as a decent rental.

Just finished this yesterday: SOUTH OF BROAD by Pat Conroy, 2009.

Conroy is not a writer whose books I necessarily seek out. In fact, the only book of his I had read before this one was Prince of Tides, and that was many years ago... I was drawn to this one mainly because it's set in Charleston, South Carolina, an historic city I've visited several times over the years and am very fond of.

Most of South of Broad's action takes place in Charleston, and Conroy does an excellent job in his descriptions of the city, his use of real place names, etc. I could feel myself walking down Meeting Street, stepping into St. Michael's Church, and strolling along the Battery. The story involves a group of teens who meet the summer before their senior year in 1969 and who become lifelong friends, and continues 20 years later, in 1989, when they are adults and following their various paths. The two time periods/stories move back and forth through the book. Leo King, isolated and lonely, struggling to heal himself, is the heart of this group, which includes the glamorous just-come-to-town Sheba Poe and her brother Trevor; the damaged orphans Niles and Starla Whitehead; Ike Jefferson, Leo's football training partner and son of the new black coach; Betty Roberts, a sassy black orphan; the old Charleston money kids Molly Huger and Chad Rutledge and his sister Fraser. These kids become a close-knit group, whose lives remain intertwined as their circle widens. They survive issues of integration, loyalty, love, parental authority, prejudice, depression, alcoholism, acceptance, and multiple tragedies, some becoming stronger and some ruining their lives. These kids are troubled as teens, and they become more messed up as adults. Conroy piles on plenty of old secrets and scandals, supplies chilling horror when the Poes' insane father shows up, and uses Hurricane Hugo to set some things right in their world. While at times Conroy's characters seem a little too old and wise (especially as teenagers), they are interesting and well defined, full of emotion and energy. His writing is just wonderful, with plenty of wit and humor, as well as solemness and elegance and grace. Full of enthusiasm, beauty, wildness, cruelty, social graces and customs, emotional turbulence and the power of love and redemption, this novel really is thought provoking and moving. It was a very worthwhile read for me.

THE HELP by Kathryn Stockett, 2009.

Even though snow is falling outside as I finish this, it was easy to feel the heat and humidity of a Mississippi summer while reading this book. Stockett's debut novel concerns three women (one white, two black) living in Jackson, Mississippi, in 1962. Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan is 22, an Ole Miss graduate, who is living back at home and who yearns for something meaningful in her life. She wishes her maid (caregiver) Constantine were around to give her support and comfort, but she has disappeared and no one will tell her what happened...Skeeter also realizes that life in the South between the races is not as it should be and wants to help somehow. Aibilene is a black maid, wise and dignified and kind, who has raised 16 white children as her own, and loves her current charge Mae Mobley enough to teach her a better way to live even though it could cost her everything and continues to mourn her only child--killed on his job while white coworkers looked on. Sassy and smart Minny is a great cook but doesn't know when to shut up and keeps losing jobs, but is loyal and true to her friends. These three determined females come together to work on a secret project that could start a movement and change everything in their town. In the process they learn much about each other and what it means to be black and white and female in the South, about barriers, about lines that can't be crossed and how to gain the courage to try. At times heartbreaking and sometimes funny, the author portrays life during that time and place honestly and painfully, with all the moonlight and magnolias and scars of slavery and racial prejudice and hatred on both sides.

Stockett knows how to write well, her language and dialogue are spot on, her descriptive passages are well done, and her characters seem real. She is able to portray both black and white characters equally well. She knows the South of the Sixties and what it was like growing up with a black servant. It all comes together as a very appealing and readable story and in the hands of a good screenwriter, it would make an excellent movie. As someone who grew up in the South during this period with a black caregiver, I found it really resonated with me in some small ways, and I think it will be one of those books that will continue to linger in my memory years from now.

THE SUGAR QUEEN by Sarah Addison Allen, 2008.

A nice, light piece by the author of Garden Spells, this story concerns three youngish women, living in a small North Carolina town, who are tied together by secrets and lies: Josey, who lives with her mother as basically an unpaid servant, keeps a hidden closet full of sugary junk food for herself and dreams of escape; Chloe, who owns and operates the best sandwich shop in town, is in the throes of a breakup and is hounded by books that appear whenever she needs them; and Della Lee, a tough talking waitress with a heart of gold who is fleeing an abusive relationship and hiding out in Josey's closet. Murder, abusive behavior, illicit affairs, forbidden love, and blooming romances all play a part in the plot, and these characters' lives intersect when secrets are slowly revealed and all comes to light in somewhat surprising ways. Full of small town quirkiness, recognizable and interesting characters, humor, and a little bit of magic, it's a pleasant and charming read.

I enjoy watching the old 90's sitcom "Home Improvement" (thank goodness for cable), and I like Tim Allen's humor on that show, so I decided to check out his first book, DON'T STAND TOO CLOSE TO A NAKED MAN (1994). I don't read a lot of strictly humor books, so this was something different for me. I decided that while I really like his show, reading an entire book of his humor was just a bit much. Maybe that's the way I'd feel about reading any comic's book of humor. Anyway, Allen's humor is good on TV, where he's interacting with other characters and it's in small doses. It just didn't come off as funny on the printed page--at least, it didn't give me consistent chuckles while reading it.

I decided I would watch the theatrical version of "Brideshead Revisited" (2008), after putting it off a while. I had viewed the original PBS series (from 1981) a short while back, and enjoyed it quite a bit--made when Jeremy Irons and Anthony Andrews were so young and John Gielgud was still actively working. I had read that this movie version did not stand up so well next to the PBS version, but I like Emma Thompson and thought I'd give it a shot. Well, next to PBS's miniseries, the film came off as pretty shallow. Of course, a film cannot accomplish as much as a miniseries can, but this film didn't have much character development or motivation, seemed rather murky at times, somewhat disjointed, and not very involving. Didn't draw me into very well. Emma Thompson as the brittle and very Catholic Lady Marchmain and Matthew Goode as the ambitious Charles Ryder were about the best things in the film; Michael Gambon was not very good, or Ben Whishaw or Hayley Atwell. In terms of chemistry, the only ones who had much chemistry together were Goode and Whishaw and Goode and Thompson. Sometimes the dialogue was a bit dull, which made the whole movie go rather slowly. Andrew Davies has certainly done better scripts than this (a little too much concentration on the gay thing for me and the whole Catholic/atheist issue seemed very shallow). Beautiful location shooting (Castle Howard in England, which was used for the original, too), very gorgeous sets, but not much depth here. Not terrible, but not consistently good or very enthralling.

THE PHYSICK BOOK OF DELIVERANCE DANE by Katherine Howe, 2009.

The second adult novel about the Salem witch trials I've read in a year's time, the other being THE HERETIC'S DAUGHTER. This one is also written by a descendant of someone tried for witchcraft at Salem in 1692.

There are two storylines in this novel: one concerns Deliverance Dane, a real person who lived in the Salem area during 1692, and was accused of witchcraft. Deliverance is a practitioner of herbal medicine, with deep knowledge of herbs and healing power. She possesses a book, however--called at various times a receipt book, recipe book, physick book--that contains rare information about remedies and such, but also something more--actual spells. She uses her magical powers for healing, but unfortunately a patient (a child) dies under her care and years later this incident comes back to haunt her when she is accused of witchery and murder and thrown into prison to await trial and certain execution. Her daughter Mercy is left with the responsibility of keeping the physick book safe and flees to Marblehead.

The second storyline is set in modern day Cambridge, and concerns Connie Goodwin, a graduate student in history at Harvard, who is commissioned by her absent mother to clean out and get her grandmother's old home in Marblehead ready to put on the market. While she's looking through some old books in the house, a small key drops out of an old Bible; the key contains a scrap of paper with the name "Deliverance Dane" on it. Connie becomes determined to find out who this woman was; during her search, she discovers the fact that Deliverance once owned a physick book. Recognizing its research value gives Connie great impetus to discover its whereabouts. If such a rare item could be located, it could definitely add prestige to Connie's career. But someone else is most anxious that Connie find the book as well, and is willing to use any means to lay hands on it.

Smooth narrative, likeable characters, easy transition between stories, good details about the trials, some humor and romance with a small bit of menace thrown in. Not as intense or detailed as THE HERETIC'S DAUGHTER, but enjoyable in its own way.

ARK OF FIRE by C.M. Palov, 2009.
Finished this up last night; good read that kept me turning pages. Story concerns a young and beautiful photographer, Edie Miller, who witnesses a murder and the theft of an important artifact called the Stones of Fire. She is hunted down herself but saved by a tall and blond former British Secret Service agent/scholar/author named Caedmon Aisquith, who of course becomes involved with the girl as well as the crime. They discover that a fanatical organization has stolen the aforementioned artifact and are tracking down the companion piece--the famed Ark of the Covenant, with the express purpose of bringing about Armageddon. Clues fall into place, leading them across continents, the body count is high, and time is running out. Definitely feels like a Dan Brown/James Bond/Indiana Jones sort of adventure. Knowing that, it's a fun and fast read, a good book to take along to the airport, beach or on a vacation.

BOOMSDAY, by Christopher Buckley, 2007.
Uproariously funny political satire involving the crisis of retiring Baby Boomers. Cassandra Devine, a frustrated Washington spin doctor is infuriated by the excesses of what she calls America's "Ungreatest generation" and the Social Security debt. She calls for a solution on her blog: the government should offer incentives to those baby boomers willing to kill themselves by age 75. Her proposal catches fire with millions of citizens, and with politician Randolph Jepperson IV, who is looking for the youth vote for his bid for the presidency. Their opposition includes the current president, a pro-life preacher who may have killed his own mother, and hordes of baby boomers who are offended by the attacks on their golf courses. Buckley writes with great tongue in cheek humor, I have not laughed so much while reading a book in ages. His characters are broadly written but often ring true, the dialogue is witty and biting, the situations comic. I'm not a huge fan of satire, or political novels, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. A great change of pace for me.