Book Review: The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey

 

Inspector Grant's recuperating in the hospital from an injury during the line of duty. He's bored out of his mind and becomes enamored with a picture of Richard the III and if the story was true that he killed his two young nephews. Grant involves everyone in his mystery from the medical staff to his friends while he reads everything he can about Richard. Along the way he uncovers the historical facts are tonypandy - historical events that were well-accepted but not reported accurately - in books like Sir Thomas More which Grant discovers were all hearsay since More was too young at the time of the event. Fascinating story and I will never think of history in the same way again.

Dusty, historical fiction, 206 

January Reading Wrap Up

 

It's book week 5 in our 52 Books Quest as we head into February. I am so proud of myself. I'll admit it, I'm a bookaholic and made it through January without out buying any new books.   Nor did I read any ebooks. I read only physical books have had on the shelves, forever and a day it seems like, for the  month of January.  May not seem like that big of a deal, but given that last year I forsake physical books in favor of ebooks, it is.  I have absolutely no desire to read ebooks at the moment. Let's see how long that lasts. Right now I'm concentrating on reading all the wonderful physical books and enjoying myself.   

 

All Shall Be Well (#2 Kincaid and Duncan) - Deborah Crombie (Police Procedural, 268)

Three Body Problem - Cixin Liu (Science Fiction, 416) 

Ghostbusters 1 and 2 novelization - Richard Mueller/Ed Naha (Audiobook)

Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay - Michael Chabon (Historical Fiction, 1930's, 684)

Devlin Diary #2 Clair Duncan - Christie Phillips (HF murder mystery, 1672/2008, 427)

Wolf Hall #1 WH Trilogy - Hilary Mantel (HF, 1500's,  604)

Eternal - Lisa Scottoline (HF Italy, 1937-57, 465)

Made to Kill - Adam Christopher (Science fiction, 1965, 234)

Super Powered Year One - Drew Hayes (Science Fiction, 730)

The top two I enjoyed the most are Wolf Hall and Super Powered Year One. 

I completed nine books which according to Goodreads is 3847 pages. Four science fiction, four historical fiction, and one police procedural.  Six were dusty books of which two were repeat authors. One new release and one new to me author sent to me by a friend. Plus one audiobook which was James choice. And I managed to review each one as soon as I finished reading.  Not too shabby.  

Book Review: Eternal by Lisa Scottoline

 

I've read many books about WWII but never one concentrating on Italy, Mussolini, fascism and how he treated the Jewish Italians.  Lisa Scottoline's Eternal, left me wanting to know more, a deeper dive into the historical aspects.

"Elisabetta, Marco, and Sandro grow up as the best of friends despite their differences. Elisabetta is a feisty beauty who dreams of becoming a novelist; Marco the brash and athletic son in a family of professional cyclists; and Sandro a Jewish mathematics prodigy, kind-hearted and thoughtful, the son of a lawyer and a doctor. Their friendship blossoms to love, with both Sandro and Marco hoping to win Elisabetta's heart. But in the autumn of 1937, all of that begins to change as Mussolini asserts his power, aligning Italy's Fascists with Hitler's Nazis and altering the very laws that govern Rome. In time, everything that the three hold dear--their families, their homes, and their connection to one another--is tested in ways they never could have imagined."

 The story revolved around three young high school students who were best friends and seemed way more mature than their years. Understandably they had to grow up fast, take responsibility due to the circumstances of the war. Despite the length it was a quick read, alternating between Elisabetta, Marco, and Sandro, interspersed by other points of view when needed. I have a few nitpicks with actions and ideas that went unexplained or seemed left undone, ignored, or took place too quickly. Overall it is an engaging story which I think was geared more towards a young adult audience.

Alphabet, New Release, Historical Fiction, 1937 - 1957, Italy,  465

Book Review: Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

 

I finished Wolf Hall which was not a book to speed through. I read it in small sips during breakfast, often times staying a little bit longer at the table to stay with the story for just a few minutes more. I was reminded today why I should have taken the time to annotate.  James is taking an online English composition class and we were watching videos on annotation which made so much sense I was kicking myself.  The story was so complex and while reading there were phrases and images that struck me or quotes I wanted to save of Cromwell’s wit, reactions of his family, his thoughts pebbled throughout from childhood to adulthood and I only copied a couple at the beginning. Things like:

‘quick as a needle, she darts at him.’

“He will never tell the cardinal about Mary Boleyn, though the impulse will arise. Wolsey might laugh, he might be scandalized. He has to muggle him the content, without the context.”

Lesson learned. I enjoyed my front row seat into the life and times of Thomas Cromwell, his interactions with both friend and foe, and all the machinations with the court. I’m sure I’ll reread it again in the years to come.

Dusty, Historical Fiction,  1500's, England, 604

Book Review: The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay

 

I finished Michael Chabon's Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay which left me with a book hangover and the feeling of having read and excuse the pun, an amazing, yet exhausting adventure. 

"Joe Kavalier, a young Jewish artist who has also been trained in the art of Houdini-esque escape, has just smuggled himself out of Nazi-invaded Prague and landed in New York City. His Brooklyn cousin Sammy Clay is looking for a partner to create heroes, stories, and art for the latest novelty to hit America - the comic book. Drawing on their own fears and dreams, Kavalier and Clay create the Escapist, the Monitor, and Luna Moth, inspired by the beautiful Rosa Saks, who will become linked by powerful ties to both men."

Years ago I would probably have disliked this book because of Chabon's writing style. Today I appreciate and understand it, and especially like how he emulated Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried with the vivid writing and lists of thoughts, things, people, ideas. The details drew me into the story and planted me right there with each one of the characters.  Each character, affected by their heritage, their families, the people around them, the war with Germany.   

The timeline, from the 1930's through 1950's, told a story of survival, revenge, acceptance, humor, obsession, grief, and love, and hard work. Now that I think about it, all the stages of grief. Since  my son is into comic books, enjoyed the artistry and thought that went into making them.  I cheered for their victories and booed their losses, and the people who took advantage of them.  And I'll be pondering the mysticism and symbolism of the Golem from beginning to end for a while.  Would you believe that through out the whole dang second half of the book, I held on to hope Kavilier's brother was still alive out there someplace and would make an appearance at some point.  

I thoroughly enjoyed the story and look forward to reading Chabon's Yiddish Policemen's Union.

Alphabet, Dusty, Jewish historical fiction, Prague, Antarctic, New York, 684