Finished on 6/22/09:

CASSANDRA & JANE by Jill Pitkeathley, 2008.

This novel tells the story of Jane Austen's life from the POV of her elder sister Cassandra. Lifelong companions, as well as sisters, Cass probably knew Jane better than any other sibling or contemporary. Author manages to convey a sense of Jane's times through her use of language, writing style, and period detail, but doesn't bog down the story. Shows the trials and tribulations of being an unmarried, well educated, middle class sort of female during the English Regency, as well as Jane's struggles to write and have her novels published, and how Jane handled the fame and adoration that came with the notoriety of being a published author. Pitkeathley also touches on the two sisters' love affairs (including the Tom Lefroy episode) and their sometimes prickly relationships with their parents and siblings. A good read based on solid facts.

Finished reading on 6/12/09:

SPELLBOUND BY BEAUTY by Donald Spoto, 2008.
Alfred Hitchcock, a great director, was not very nice to many of the actresses who worked for him, particularly Tippi Hedren and Diane Baker. A worthwhile look at a famous director who had some serious issues in his relationships, especially with women.

Finished on 6/7/09:

WATER FOR ELEPHANTS by Sara Gruen, 2006.
Excellent story about life in the circus during the Great Depression, narrated by Jacob appearing both as an old man and a young man in flashbacks. The story has thought provoking themes involving loyalty, friendship, love and loss, treatment of circus animals, ageing, etc. Jacob, a veterinary student running away from his personal tragedy, joins the circus train and falls in love with Marlena, who is married to August (who is mad as a hatter). All kinds of adventures ensue, involving circus animals, dwarves, fat ladies and other freaks, and assorted workers and performers. Gruen has done huge amounts of research, but overall it's the storytelling that moves this story along a fast clip. Her opening describing the circus stampede and murder quickly draws the reader in. And her depiction of Rosie the elephant and her antics is most memorable. Great book for discussion.

This evening we finished watching the BBC/A & E version of Charles Dickens' "Bleak House", which came out in 2005. Had actually watched it before when shown on TV, but decided to watch again on DVD. Excellent production, put together in 15 segments, the first was one hour, and the rest were each a half hour. One thing we realized, though, was that the DVD trimmed at least one scene that we had seen in the TV broadcast, so that wasn't good. Very much a Dickens story, with good and bad characters, tangled plotlines that involve everyone, with lies and secrets and murder, love and death, illegitimacy, greed, and dark humor. The whole court muddle concerning Jarndyce and Jarndyce case was so interesting in itself. Well cast, with Gillian Anderson playing Lady Dedlock, Anna Maxwell Martin, Patrick Kennedy, Denis Lawson, Charles Dance (great villainous lawyer), and Carey Mulligan playing the principals. And Pauline Collins was wonderful as Miss Flite. Very enjoyable production, and worth watching again.

Finished 5/31/09:

LAVINIA by Ursula K. Le Guin, 2008.
Historical novel about the Latium princess Lavinia who was written about by Vergil in the Aeneid. She married the Trojan invader Aeneas and founded what became the Roman Empire. Well researched and written, although at times I felt it a bit slow. Author does a good job in her descriptions of what life was like in Italy then, its primitiveness, customs, daily life, culture, geography, and different tribes living in close proximity.

Finished 5/24/09:

THE SERPENT'S TALE by Ariana Franklin, 2008.

Second in the series of novels about Vesuvia Adelia Aguilar, the mistress of the art of death, this time concerning the poisoning of Rosamund Clifford, mistress of Henry II. Adelia is drawn into the mystery by her lover Bishop Rowley, and it falls to her to discover the culprit. Was it Eleanor of Aquitaine, Henry's queen, or someone she hired to do the deed? Or someone else? Snowstorms, assorted odd characters all trapped and isolated inside Godstow Abbey, more murders, spies, and intrigue, make for a bizarre and thrilling story.

Finished on 5/11/09:

SHADOW VALLEY by Steven Barnes, 2009.
Novel set in prehistoric Africa, follows tribal wanderings of the Ibandi, led by heroine T'Cori, the Great Sky Woman. It is up to her to lead her peaceful people away from their enemies and into a land of peace and plenty near Mt. Kilimanjaro. Interesting, plenty of violence and action, details of tribal life in Africa 30,000 years ago. A good read, something different for me in terms of time period and locale.