Mademoiselle Boleyn by Robin Maxwell

From the publisher:

"When young Anne Boleyn is sent to the French court with her father and sister, Mary, she thinks she's in for an innocent adventure. But when the ambitious ambassador Thomas Boleyn leads them into the highly sophisticated and sexually permissive court of Francois I, Anne quickly learns that she and her sister are merely pawns for their father's own political purpose. Mary becomes mistress to the outrageous French king and is ultimately seduced into his dangerous world by the luxuries of the court. But Anne will have a different fate...

Anne is younger, more clever, and stronger-willed than her sister, and with the guidance of powerful allies and such unlikely friends as Leonardo da Vinci, she learns how to navigate the challenges, passions, and betrayals of the court. And as she grows into a beautiful woman, Anne undergoes her own awakening, each daring exploit taking her one step closer to the life that is her destiny."

My thoughts:

Robin Maxwell creates an interesting portrait of the much maligned Anne Boleyn. My background knowledge of Anne is limited to what most people know about the infamous second wife of King Henry VIII, but this account (embellished with literary liberties) introduces us to the future queen as a young and impressionable girl. Anne's early experiences at court began as an attendant to the pious French Queen Claude, and it was here that Anne encountered a host of individuals (ranging from laundry maids, artists, and the Kings of France and England) that would influence her religious and philosophical beliefs, views on women's independence, as well as her views of relationships and marriage. Anne found the decadence of the French court shocking and disturbing, and she suffered deeply as her sister, Mary, was forced into degrading situations with the people of the court of Francois I.

Described as darkly beautiful and intelligent, this fictional story paints a much more sympathetic picture of Anne Boleyn. She was clever, popular, hopeful for a future of happiness with a young love, and completely unaware of her true destiny in history. A very poignant tale when one knows there can be no happy ending for her.

Title: Mademoiselle Boleyn
Author: Robin Maxwell
New American Library
2007
355 pages
genre: historical fiction

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

From the publisher:
"In nineteenth-century China, in a remote Hunan county, a girl named Lily, at the tender age of seven, is paired with a laotong, or "old same," in an emotional match that will last a lifetime. The laotong, Snow Flower, introduces herself by sending Lily a silk fan on which she has written a poem in nu shu, a unique language that Chinese women created in order to communicate in secret, away from the influence of men. As the years pass, Lily and Snow Flower send messages on the fan and compose stories on handkerchiefs, reaching out of isolation to share their hopes, dreams, and accomplishments. They both endure the agony of footbinding and together reflect upon their arranged marriages, shared loneliness, and the joys and tragedies of motherhood. The two find solace, developing a bond that keeps their spirits alive. But when a misunderstanding arises, their deep friendship suddenly threatens to tear apart."

My thoughts:
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan absolutely took my breath away. Words such as enlightening, powerful, haunting, and heartbreaking come to mind as I search for ways to describe Lisa See's novel of life's journey for two young girls in 19th century China.

With our modern views of equality, self-worth, motherhood and parenting, and relationships with men, it was very difficult to read about the treatment of females in a Confucian society and their inevitable destinies.(There was a saying, "Marrying a daughter is like throwing out water.") As Lily, the narrator, states,

"Whether you are rich or poor, emporer or slave, the domestic sphere is
for women and the outside sphere is for men. Women should not pass beyond
the inner chambers in their thoughts or in their actions...When a girl,
obey your father; when a wife, obey your husband; when a widow, obey your
son." (p. 24)

In order to have any hope of a marriage, young girls at the tender age of six or seven years of age, began the agonizing and tortuous process of footbinding. While I had a vague knowledge of footbinding and the associated pain, I was completely unprepared for the true process and the concept of "mother love."

"A true lady lets no ugliness into her life....Only through pain will you
have beauty. Only through suffering will you find peace. I wrap, I bind,
you will have the reward." (p. 50)

It was enlightening to me to learn that girls with unbound feet, or "big footed" as they were called, were viewed with contempt and destined for pitiful futures. Small, delicate feet (only a few centimeters long!) that had been bound were called beautiful "golden lilies" and were proof of a young girl's personal discipline and the ability to bear pain during future childbirth (with the hopes of producing the highly prized sons); it was also proof of her obedience to her family, and, most importantly to men, considered to be very sensual.

In order to rise above the long, excruciating days of footbinding and obedience, the females, who remained secluded in chambers, spent their days singing, chanting, telling stories, and embroidering beautiful images and nu shu. I found the concept of the secret language of nu shu to be fascinating. Girls would embroider fabrics or use ink on fans with nu shu, a written language known only to women as a way to secretly communicate with each other. It is through one of these fans that the reader is introduced to Snow Flower, a lovely young girl from another village. Traditionally, girls are paired with a laotong, as a partner for friendship and guidance. As I learned through the journey of Snow Flower and Lily, a laotong's relationship was deeply emotional and spiritual and as committed as any marriage between a husband and wife.

Beautifully written with prose that is as lovely as a delicate silk fan, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is a memorable tale that I highly recommend. Book clubs will find a wealth of topics to discuss and debate here, as well. I am looking forward to reading more of Lisa See's beautiful prose in Peony in Love.

Title: Snow flower and the Secret Fan
Author: Lisa See
Publisher: Random House
269 pages
genre: fiction

The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Alison Weir

from the publisher:

"Henry VIII is perhaps England's most infamous monarch, especially when it comes to matters of the heart. He was married to six distinctly different women, and in this richly detailed and meticulously researched history, these remarkable, often misunderstood queens come to life once again: Katherine of Aragon, stubborn and devoutly Catholic; Anne Boleyn, proud and fiercely ambitious; Jane Seymour, deceptively strong-willed; Anne of Cleves, unappealing and uncomplaining; Katherine Howard, young and foolish; and finally, Katherine Parr, brave, practical, and intelligent. Their full histories and personalities emerge at last, giving voices to the six extraordinary women who left their distinctive marks on the English throne and thereby changed the course of British history."

my thoughts:

I selected this collective biography of the wives of Henry VIII in order to brush up on my knowledge of Tudor history. One of my reading goals for 2010 is to explore the historical fiction series of the Tudor wives by Jean Plaidy, so I wanted a scholarly source to use as a reference book. I never intended to read it cover to cover, but once I settled in with the saga of Katherine of Aragon, it began to read like a novel and I couldn't put it down.

Weir's fascinating and meticulous research is based on biographies, letters, diaries, archives of diplomatic papers, church documents, as well as a host of other sources and presents a balanced view of each of the women who captured the King's attention. As Weir states in her introduction,

"What were they really like, those six wives? Because of the nature of the source
material for the reign, nearly all of which has a political or religious bias,
a writer could come up with very different assessments of each of them,
all of which might be equally valid. But this would be abdicating some of the
responsibilities of an historian, whose function is to piece together the
surviving evidence and arrive at a workable conclusion. What follows are the
conclusions I have reached after many years of research into the subject,
conclusions that, on the weight of the evidence, must be as realistic as
anything can be after a lapse of 450 years." (p. 2)

Weir weaves an interesting tapestry of the life and times for royal women during this period, giving vivid descriptions of fashions, customs, education, entertainment, arranged marriages, dowries, and royal customs; the glittering pagentry and privilege of being a royal wife is contrasted with the harsh reality: the absolute necessity of producing a male heir to continue the dynasty. The political and religious ramifications of this fact makes Henry VIII's reign so unique in history.

Perhaps as important as producing a male heir, in the midst of plagues, wars, political intrigues, church politics, and the hardships of childbearing and affairs of the king, the royal wife was expected to set a high moral standard for court and become "a model of wifely dignity and virtue."

The Six Wives of Henry VIII is a fascinating exploration of one of English history's most intriguing monarchs and the women who captured his heart.

Title: The Six Wives of Henry VIII
Author: Alison Weir
Publisher: Grove Press
genre: biography; nonfiction
1991
643 pages

The Rest Falls Away by Colleen Gleason

Book #1 in The Gardella Vampire Chronicles

from the publisher:

"Beneath the glitter of dazzling nineteenth-century London Society lurks a bloodthirsty evil....

Vampires have always lived among them, quietly attacking unsuspecting debutantes and dandified lords as well as hackney drivers and Bond Street milliners. If not for the Vampire slayers of the Gardella family, these immortal creatures would have long ago taken over the world.

In every generation, a Gardella is called to accept the family legacy, and this time, Victoria Gardella Grantworth is chosen, on the eve of her debut, to carry the stake. But as she moves between the crush of ballrooms and dangerous moonlit streets, Victoria's heart is torn between London's most eligible bachelor, the Marquess of Rockley, and her duty. And when she comes face to face with the most powerful vampire in history, Victoria must ultimately make a choice between obligation and love...."

My thoughts:

I'm always on the lookout for an interesting twist on the Regency/Victorian-era novel, and The Rest Falls Away by Colleen Gleason has a unique combination of vampires, Regency-era romance, and magic.

The heroine, Victoria, is not your typical debutant; naturally, she's beautiful and refined by day and the perfect match for the handsome Marquess of Rockley; by night, she's ruthless and trained in martial arts -- the vampire huntress (or Venator, as she is called). She willingly accepts her destiny as the next generation of Venators...until she realizes that living a double life has become too difficult and dangerous for the one man she truly comes to love. Lilith, the Queen of the Vampires, desires an ancient magic book that is in Victoria's possession, and she will stop at nothing to gain the book and the powerful spells contained therein. A surprising and unexpected ending left me speechless.

A quick, fun read with promise, I hope, to develop further in the series the mysterious character of Maximilian, master vampire executioner, and Sebastian, the proprietor of the Silver Chalice, and their relationship/partnership with Victoria.

Title: The Rest Falls Away: The Gardella Vampire Chronicles
Author: Collee Gleason
Publisher:Penguin Group
347 pages
genre: paranormal romance

What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew by Daniel Pool

What is your Victorian literature IQ? Ready to take a little quiz just for fun? Here we go!

l. What do Ombre, Loo, Pope Joan, and Piquet have in common?

2. Where would you likely find an epergne in a Victorian home?
a. in the bedroom
b. in the dining room
c. in the study

3. Where would you live if you had the most fashionable address in Victorian London?
a. St. Giles
b. Covent Garden
c. Mayfair

4. If someone called you a tosspot, it meant
a. you are tart-tongued and sassy
b. you drank too much
c. you are the lowest housemaid

5. Most ladies' mourning clothes were made from what fabric?
a. silk
b. velvet
c. bombazine

6. True or False:
In going up a flight of stairs, the gentleman always precedes the lady.

7. True or False:
It is inappropriate for a lady to wear pearls or diamonds in the morning.

8. True or False:
A lady is always introduced to a gentleman -- never the other way around.

9. Can you name famous homes in literature that contains the following
words? grange, hall, house, park

l0. What is the proper way to address....
the king or queen?
the monarch's spouse, children, siblings?
nephews, nieces, and cousins of the sovereign?


**************

So, how well did you do? Here are the answers:

1. They are all card games.
2. An epergne was a gaudy table decoration to hold food or flowers on a dining table.
3. Park Lane, the most coveted address, was in fashionable and wealthy Mayfair.
4. b - you drink too much
5. c - bombazine because it did not shine
6. True
7. True
8. False -- A genleman is always introduced to the lady; it is considered an honor to be introduced to the lady.
9. Thrushcross Grange in Wuthering Heights; Thornfield Hall in Jane Eyre; Netherfield House in Pride and Prejudice; Mansfield Park
10. Your Majesty; Your Royal Highness; Your Highness


This is a fun, entertaining social history for anyone who enjoys reading the works of Dickens, the Brontes, Austen, and other nineteenth-century novelists, or for anyone who is interested in nineteenth-century English life.

I purchased this reference book as part of the Everything Austen challenge, and it really does enrich the reading experience of Victorian-era novels. It is very readable and filled with fun and interesting aspects of everyday matters such as dinner parties, country house visiting, sex and marriage, social etiquette, society and the "season," medicine and disease, death and mourning, transportation, the taxonomy of maids, currency, holidays, and of host of other curious topics. It contains a helpful glossary of terms and a useful bibliography for further exploration. Lots of fun!

Title: What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew: From Fox-Hunting to Whist--the Facts of Daily Life in 19th Century England
Author: Daniel Pool
genre: nonfiction
416 pages
Simon and Schuster, Inc.
1993

Tears of Pearl by Tasha Alexander

from the publisher:

"Even before Emily steps off the Orient Express in beautiful and decadent Constantinople, she's embroiled in intrigue and treachery. The brutal death of a concubine in the sultan's palace allows her first foray into investigating a crime as an official agent of the British Empire -- because only a woman can be given access to the forbidden world of the harem. There, she quickly discovers that its mysterious, sheltered walls offer no protection from a ruthless murder."

my thoughts:

Tears of Pearl is the fourth installment of Tasha Alexander's Victorian mystery/romance series, and we find the ever-elegant couple, Emily and Colin Hargreaves, embarking on their honeymoon in exotic Turkey. The Orient Express has barely left the station when the mischief and mayhem begins.

For those who may not have read Alexander's previous novels, Tears could easily be a stand-alone read as the author neatly recaps characters and details and quickly brings the reader up-to-date. Despite the lavish setting and aura of mystery and intrigue of a sultan's harem, however, this newest mystery offering fell a little flat and had me losing my way with some forgettable characters. The writing just didn't have the same clarity as her previous novels. I was no where near as enchanted with Lady Emily and her escapades as I was with the first three novels. On a positive note, I did enjoy that the couple was at long last experiencing marital bliss, and the further development of Emily's character as she contemplates indepedence versus providing a future heir added another dimension to the story.
A light, quick mystery with an exotic setting -- easy afternoon read.

What I really loved (and highly recommend) are Tasha Alexander's photos from the research she pursued in writing Tears of Pearl. She has posted a glorious display of photos of the palaces of Constantinople, inside views of the rooms which housed the concubines, and the beautiful scenery around the palaces. I viewed this photo gallery prior to reading Tears, and it really helped bring to life the sultan's world. Click here to visit this fascinating photo gallery.

Title: Tears of Pearl
Author: Tasha Alexander
Minotaur Books
306 pp.
2009
genre: historical mystery/romance

The Witching Hour by Anne Rice

From the publisher:

"On the veranda of a great New Orleans house, now faded, a mute and fragile woman sits rocking. And The Witching Hour begins......"

My thoughts:

Like J.K. Rowling and Diana Gabaldon, Anne Rice has that magic touch that just draws me into another world, another era, where, like a wizard, she mixes up an intoxicating brew of witchcraft lore, wicked tragedy, and gothic romance. We are introduced to the great dynasty of the Mayfair witches beginning in the seventeenth century Scottish Highlands, and follow four generations through Europe, the lavish Maye Faire plantation in Port-au-Prince, Saint-Domingue, to a decaying antebellum mansion in New Orleans and present-day San Francisco. Each generation is haunted and tormented by the powerful and seductive being, Lasher. Beginning with the beautiful Suzanne, the Queen of the May Fair in Scotland, and ending in the present-day with Dr. Rowan Mayfair, renowned nuerosurgeon and healer, will they be able to break the evil spell that binds them tragically to Lasher?

I first read The Witching Hour in 1990 when it was first published and absolutely loved it for its rich, historically accurate depiction of life in New Orleans. I often wonder if readers who were not born and raised here would notice the wealth of details Anne Rice includes in her writings, from architectural depictions, accents, street names, pronunciations, neighborhoods, schools and churches, cultural celebrations and traditions, social commentaries...things that are unique to our city but completely ordinary in our way of life. She is a master of seamlessly weaving historical detail and plot.

On this second reading, I noticed interesting details that are also part of the Outlander series that I so enjoy reading. The second part of the novel is devoted to the history of the Mayfair witches as documented in files by the secret Talamasca organization....their motto is, "We watch.....and we are always here." For example, in describing the origin of the Mayfair witches and their connection to Lasher, we learn that it all began in a circle of standing stones while celebrating an ancient pagan feast:

p. 293
"To which they explained that the people of Highland villages were most attached still to the old customs, and that on the eve of May 1 they built great bonfires in the open grass, these being lighted only from the needfire, and they danced all night about the bonfires, making merry."
p. 311
"Out into the field we went, feeling for the stones before us, and finding the very middle of the circle and standing stock-still in it to feel the wind...I heard the humming as she held my hand; then in a circle we danced together, making small circles round and round as we did. Louder she hummed and then the Latin words she spoke to call the demon, and then flinging out her arms she cried to him to come."

Her writing is enthralling, guaranteed to make you go deep into yourself and examine your own values and truths....highly recommended!

Title: The Witching Hour
Author: Anne Rice
genre: fiction
pages: 1038
publisher: Random House
1990

Ransome's Honor by Kaye Dacus

from the publisher:

"When young Julia Witherington doesn't receive the proposal for marriage she expects from William Ransome, she determines to never forgive him. They go their separate ways--she returns to her family's Caribbean plantation, and he returns to the Royal Navy.

Now, twelve years later, Julia is about to receive a substantial inheritance, including her beloved plantation. When unscrupulous relatives try to gain the inheritance by forcing her into a marriage, she turns to the only eligible man to whom her father, Admiral Sir Edward Witherington, will not object--his most trusted captain and the man who broke her heart, William Ransome. Julia offers William her thirty-thousand pound dowry to feign marriage for one year, but then something she could never have imagined happens. She starts to fall in love with him again.

Can two people overcome their hurt, reconcile their conflicting desires and find a way to be happy together? Duty and honor, faith and love are intertwined in this intriguing tale from the Regency era."

my thoughts:

This was a simple, sweet Regency-era romance that was perfect for a quick, relaxing read. Having first learned of Kaye Dacus on the book blog, Jane Austen's World, I decided to add Ransome's Honor as part of my Jane Austen challenge since the plot is in the tradition of Austen's book, Persuasion. I enjoyed the character of Julia Whiterington, a strong, intelligent, umarried young woman of her times, determined to find her place in society which views women over twenty-five as spinsters. I was hoping the plot would take the reader to her plantation in the Caribbean for a little "spice" in the plot, but it appears you must wait for the planned sequels, Ransome's Crossing and Ransome's Quest to be written.

For those who enjoy Christian fiction and romances and stories of duty, honor, and faith, Ransome's Honor is sure to please.

The Aviary Gate by Katie Hickman

from the publisher:

"Constantinople, 1599. Paul Pindar, a secretary to the English ambassador, thinks he has lost his love, Celia, in a shipwreck. Now, two years later, clues begin to emerge that she may be hidden among the ranks of the slaves in the Sultan's harem. But how can he be sure? And can they be reunited? With a secret rebellion rising within the Sultan's palace, danger surrounds the lovers. A lush tale of treacherous secrets, forbidden love, and murder in the Ottoman palace. The Aviary Gate is exotic historical fiction at its very best."

My thoughts:

I received The Aviary Gate by Katie Hickman as an ARC from Bloomsbury publishers and was fascinated by the setting of the book: the mysterious, secretive, and sensual world of a sixteenth century harem.

It was quite an eye-opening experience learning of the hierarchy of the Sultan's women slaves and concubines, as well as palace protocol (eyes downcast, silence and submission, isolation), and the rituals of perfuming and adorning the body for the Sultan's pleasure.

The story alternates between the present day and 1599 as Elizabeth Stavely, a university doctoral student, researches captivity narratives and discovers a fragment of parchment with a clue that indicates that an English woman may have been captured at sea and brought to the Ottoman palace. As she travels to Instanbul to continue her search through archives to attempt to discover the fate of Celia, the narrative flashes back to Celia's tale of separation from the man she planned to marry and her experiences during a time of rebellion and intrigue in the Sultan's harem. Elizabeth hopes that her research will answer several questions: Did Paul Pindar have knowledge of Celia's captivity? Was Celia able to escape from the palace and pass through the Aviary Gate? Was she reunited with Paul Pindar?

The present day story, unfortunately, includes details of Elizabeth's own romantic troubles which detracted from the story. I skimmed through these sections and concentrated on the research developments which were much more intriguing. There were several weak points in this novel; some characters were not fleshed out enough, and the story does not neatly tie up all the threads of the plot. Overall, though, it was an interesting journey with a message that sometimes the past tries to speak to us to bring stories to light.

Title: The Aviary Gate
Author: Katie Hickman
Publisher: Bloomsbury
2009
340 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction

Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler

From the publisher:

"After nursing a broken engagement with Jane Austen novels and Absolut, Courtney Stone wakes up and finds herself not in her Los Angeles bedroom or even in her own body, but inside the bedchamber of a woman in Regency England. Who but an Austen addict like herself could concoct such a fantasy?"

My thoughts:

I believe this is the type of book that readers will have polar opposite reactions -- you're either going to love it or find it full of flaws. I want to say that I thought the premise of the book was truly interesting -- what a fascinating concept to have a twenty-first century modern woman (Courtney Stone) wake up and discover that she is inhabiting the body of a Regency era maiden (Jane Mansfield - yes, really) who has just suffered a head injury during a horse riding accident. As Courtney slowly gains consciousness, she believes she is living in some type of dream state as her surroundings are obviously not modern. When time passes and she realizes that this is not a dream-state, that she has somehow experienced a type of time travel, she tentatively takes her place in the household and attempts to play the role of the daughter, hoping that somehow she will discover how she managed to be in Regency England and if it is possible to return to her former life.

What was truly difficult to understand was the snide and rude behavior of the protagonist. When in her own time, Courtney turned to the writings of Jane Austen for pleasure and comfort and considers herself a Jane Austen addict. If that were true, she would have had an underlying understanding of the expectations of society and the vastly different cultural traditions and norms. Instead, as she takes part in the Mansfield household and interacts with family friends, she is forever making inane and flip comments about women's rights, the role of men and women in society, servants' rights, and other ridiculous remarks. I suppose these were meant to be witty, but it made the character so contentious that it completely detracted from what could have been a great storyline. There are also several situations and references that I can only describe as crude and tasteless. While Courtney's journey of self-discovery does lead her to a greater level of maturity at the end, the reader does not completely learn the mystery of the time travel. I assume it is necessary to read the next book, Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict (which is the parallel experience of Jane Mansfield finding herself in Courtney's twenty-first century world) in order to learn how and why the time travel occurs.

I wish I had a more positive view of the book, but I have to call 'em like I see 'em, and this is one that I had too many issues with to recommend. It had the potential to be a fun and interesting read, but somehow it totally missed the mark.

Title: Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict
Author: Laurie Viera Rigler
2008
Publisher: Plume
293 pages

The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte by Syrie James

From the publisher:

"Though poor, plain, and unconnected, Charlotte Bronte possesses a deeply passionate side which she reveals only in her writings--creating Jane Eyre and other novels that stand among literature's most beloved works. Living a secluded life in the wilds of Yorkshire with her sisters Emily and Anne, their drug-addicted brother, and an eccentric father who is going blind, Charlotte Bronte dreams of a real love story as fiery as the one she creates.

But it is in the pages of her diary where Charlotte exposes her deepest feelings and desires--and the truth about her life, its triumphs and shattering disappointments, her family, the inspiration behind her work, her scandalous secret passion for the man she can never have, and her intense, dramatic relationship with the man she comes to love, the enigmatic Arthur Bell Nicholls."

My thoughts:

Charlotte Bronte is an author who is near and dear to my heart. I first read Jane Eyre when I was eleven years old and became absolutely fascinated with gothic romances. It remains one of my most beloved novels to this day, and if you ask anyone in the family why my daughter's middle name is "Jane," they will tell you truthfully, "She's named after Jane Eyre."

I was delighted to read The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte as Syrie James is successful in capturing the authentic voice and spirit of Charlotte Bronte. Many aspects of Charlotte's life are well-documented in preserved letters to her family and friends, and James used the contents of these letters and other biographical research as the basis for these fictional diaries.

In these diaries you will learn of the trials and tribulations of the Bronte children -- growing up motherless and poor as the children of a strict clergyman, they often escaped into a fantasy world and wrote stories and poems from an early age. Each sibling secretly hoped to one day become a published author, and it was their gift of writing that gave them such joy and sense of accomplishment. Charlotte, particularly, was quiet but independent, and often bristled at societal limitations placed on women. Intending to open their own school, Emily and Charlotte travel to Belgium for intensive study, and it is here that Charlotte meets a professor who will have a profound impact on the course of her life and her emergence as a novelist.

The purpose of the diary, though, is the exploration of her heart; the effects of the tragic loss of so many she loved, her relationship with the curate, Arthur Bell Nicholls, and the personal fulfillment this unlikely relationship ultimately brings to Charlotte's too-short life.

Highly recommended for fans of Jane Eyre.

Title: The Secret Dairies of Charlotte Bronte
Author: Syrie James
Publisher: HarperCollins
2009
454 pages

Second Sight by Amanda Quick

Late in the reign of Queen Victoria...

"The skeleton lay on an elaborately carved and gilded bed in the center of the ancient laboratory that had become the alchemist's tomb.

The two-hundred-year-old bones were still draped in tattered robes that had been fashioned of what had surely been the most costly silks and velvets. Gloves and slippers embroidered with gold and silver thread shrouded the bones of the hands and feet, giving an eerie appearance of flesh and blood."
p. l, Second Sight by Amanda Quick

My thoughts:

This was an unusual novel, combining elements of mystery and the paranormal in the Victorian era. The heroine of the story, Venetia Milton, is a victim of circumstances. Forced to support her siblings due to her parents' death, her father's scandalous past, and their financial advisor's duplicity, she tries to earn a living as a photographer. She is resigned to the fact that marriage is not an option for a working woman with scandalous family secrets. In addition, Venetia has a few secrets of her own to hide...she has psychic abilities and can perceive an individual's aura.

Good fortune and financial success arrive when she is hired by the mysterious organization, the Arcane Society, to photograph a collection of the society's ancient artifacts. The photographic fee is substantial and society member, Gabriel Jones, is young, handsome, and all alone in the crumbling mansion. During her week- long assignment photographing the secret artifacts, Venetia develops of plan of seduction...she believes the encounter, while being enjoyable, will remain their secret and they will both move on when the assignment is completed.

While enjoying their night of seduction, they are interrupted as intruders attempt to break into the house. Venetia is dragged through a secret tunnel by Gabriel and sent to safety far away from the Arcane Society's mansion. She watches in horror as the mansion goes up in flames.

Saddened by the news that Gabriel Jones has died in the fire, Venetia decides to use the significant fee she received from the society to relocate her family, open her own fashionable portrait studio, and assume the identity of "Mrs. Jones." A widow maintains respectability and much more freedom in Victorian society, and Venetia enjoys her independence. She didn't consider that someone would stop at nothing to obtain the secrets of the society. By assuming the identity of a society member's widow, she has unwittingly put herself in grave danger.

Imagine her surprise when her best-laid plans go awry.

"There was nothing like having a dead husband return from the grave to ruin a fine spring morning."

This was a light, quick read, and it kept me turning the pages. The romance aspect, I thought, was flat and lacked depth and dimension, but the elements of suspense were interesting. This is a series which reveals more of the society's secrets in each installment and I'm anticipating continuing with the series.

4 stars = very good; worth reading

Title: Second Sight
Author: Amanda Quick
2006
301 pages
genre: paranormal mystery

The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly

From the publisher:

"East London, 1888 -- a city apart. A place of shadow and light where thieves, whores, and dreamers mingle, where children play in the cobbled streets by day and a killer stalks at night, where bright hopes meet the darkest truths. Here, by the whispering waters of the Thames, Fiona Finnegan, a worker in a tea factory, hopes to own a shop one day, together with her lifelong love, Joe Bristow, a costermonger's son. With nothing but their faith in each other to spur them on, Fiona and Joe struggle, save, and sacrifice to achieve their dreams.

But Fiona's life is shattered when the actions of a dark and brutal man take from her nearly everything--and everyone--she holds dear...."

My thoughts:

The Tea Rose is a sweeping saga featuring star-crossed young lovers Fiona and Joe in Whitechapel during Jack the Ripper's reign of terror. Hopes and dreams, tragedy, terror, suspense, love and loss, revenge, good fortune and triumph are the threads that weave this tale of the indomitable heroine, Fiona Finnegan. I enjoy big, chunky historical novels, and this one takes you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions as she travels from London to New York in her struggle to survive and overcome the adversity in her life. The novel needed some editing as I thought it ran a little long in parts and could have been more concise, but the period details were interesting and the twists and turns of the plot lines were compelling. The reader is a little battle weary by the ending, but it is worth it to stay until the bitter end. Do I love it enough to read the sequel, The Winter Rose? Probably not -- this will be a stand alone book for me. Can't quite put my finger on it, but it lacked that special quality that would have made this otherwise
interesting story a 5 star read. If you've read it, what are your thoughts?

Title: The Tea Rose
Author: Jennifer Donnelly
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
2007
557 pages

4 stars = Very Good; worth reading

Jane Austen - The World of Her Novels by Deirdre Le Faye

I have a confession to make -- I didn't always have a fascination with Jane Austen and her writings. Except for one dismal attempt at writing a term paper in high school comparing and contrasting Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility, I didn't know anything else about her work. (I received a "B" on my paper, and all I can say was that the teacher must have been in a very generous mood when grading it.) I was a much bigger fan of the Brontes, and I've read all of the works of Emily, Charlotte, and Anne Bronte.

I think it is wonderful now that reading and studying Jane Austen's work and her world has become popular, and many websites, blogs, movies, handbooks and reference books on Regency times abound. I have added this reference book, Jane Austen: The World of Her Novels by Deirdre Le Faye, to my library to enrich the books that I am reading for the Everything Austen Challenge.

The book is divided into two major sections:

Part I - The World of Jane Austen

Discusses topics such as her family, royalty, social ranks, transportation, masculine occupations, male education and military life, feminine occupations, fashion, cultural pursuits, social life, homes and domestic interiors, and other tidbits of information that gives the reader a glimpse into everyday living during this time in history.

Part II - The Novels

All of Austen's major writings are discussed with a synopsis of each, a list of characters, with interesting background information added (portraits and pictures of what some characters may have looked like, and etchings and photos of homes that may have influenced her writings.) Austen's writing process is also included as she discussed her methods often in personal letters.


This is a wonderful resource for the serious student of Jane Austen's work. Very readable and filled with great photos and maps. (My favorite photograph is of Austen's little writing table with her tiny spectacles placed on top of one of her letters which is housed in the British Library.)

Title: Jane Austen: The World of Her Novels
Author: Deirdre Le Faye
Publisher: Frances Lincoln Limited (London)
2002
320 pages/paperback
nonfiction/reference

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

"I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some secret sort of homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers."

from The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society


My thoughts:

Have you ever had a book that when you finished reading it, you couldn't wait to recommend it to everyone you know? As soon as I finished this beautiful little treasure, I knew this would be something that I could confidently and whole-heartedly recommend to all my friends and family members that are book lovers, regardless of their genre preference. It is a book that celebrates literature, the value of friendships that sustain us during hardships, the strength of the human spirit, and the power of human kindness.

The novel is written as a series of letters among friends and acquaintances of WWII journalist Juliet Ashton. What begins as a coincidence (a Guernsey resident has a book of the writings of Charles Lamb that once belonged to Juliet, and her name and address are on the inside cover), turns into a life-changing experience as she begins corresponding with the quirky inhabitants of the Guernsey Island. She learns of their plight during the German occupation, and discovers that their Literary Society literally saved their lives and evolved into a way to come together to survive the hardships of war and German occupation. Knowing that she must visit the Channel Island herself to meet the residents and write a book of their experiences, she travels from London to Guernsey, and is forever changed.

Written in a style that is both witty and poignant, you will find that this is a book that will stay in your heart and mind for a long time.

5 stars = Loved it! Highly recommended!

Title: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Authors: Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
2008
Genre: Fiction
290 pages

The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen by Syrie James

From the publisher:

"Many rumors abound about a mysterious gentleman said to be the love of Jane's life-- finally, the truth may have been found..."

From p. 1, The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen by Syrie James:

"A workman recently employed to repair the roof of the manor house, in an attempt to trap an errant family of mice, discovered an old seaman's chest bricked up behind a wall in a far corner of the immense, rambling attic. The chest, to the befuddlement of the entire work crew, was filled with what appeared to be old manuscripts..."

My thoughts on the book:

Written as a "true" account of a very private experience for Jane Austen, the reader is given a glimpse into the quiet world of Austen as she finds pleasure in simple family life and reading and writing her beloved novels. Syrie James was successful,I think, in capturing the voice and spirit of Jane Austen, and she was true to known historical facts in Austen's life. The places she lived, family members and events, and the details of her early writing efforts are documented facts and are included in this fictitious memoir. It is a bittersweet story of love and loss, as we all know it must end that way, but it is written in a way that is respectful of the author's integrity.

Given that Jane was a private person and kept her writings mostly for her family's amusement (novels were a new concept and were viewed with disdain), it is perfectly understandable that at some point she gave up on the idea of being a published author when her first efforts at publication resulted in rejection. She felt her works were incomplete and needed revisions.

Enter Mr. Ashford, a man who despite his wealth and status, comes to know and appreciate Jane for all her special qualities and completely supports her writing efforts. As Jane's relationship takes twists and turns, she experiences emotions which will bring new depth and energy to her writings, First Impressions and Sense and Sensibility.

A very good read, poignant with vintage charm, and would work well as a young adult novel -- if I was still in the literature classroom, this would definitely be in my class library. I am looking forward to reading her newest release, The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte.

Click here for the author's website and more information about her books. Be sure to visit the photo section that highlights the major places discussed in the book. Very interesting!



Title: The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen
Author: Syrie James
Publisher: HarperCollins
2008
303 pages

A Fatal Waltz by Tasha Alexander

Book description from the publisher:

"At her friend Ivy's behest, Lady Emily Ashton reluctantly agrees to attend a party at a sprawling English country estate of a man she finds odious.

But the despised Lord Fortescue is not to be her greatest problem.

Kristiana von Lange, an Austrian countess once linked romantically with Emily's fiance', the debonair Colin Hargreaves, is a guest also. And a tedious evening turns deadly when their host is found murdered, and his protege', Robert Brandon--Ivy's husband--is arrested for the crime.

Determined to right a terrible wrong, Emily embarks on a quest that will lead her from London's glittering ballrooms to Vienna's sordid backstreets--and into a game of wits with a norotious anarchist. But putting Colin in deadly peril may be the price for exoneraing Robert--forcing the intrepid Emily to bargain with her nemesis, the Countess von Lange, for the life of her fiance'."


My thoughts:

A Fatal Waltz by Tasha Alexander is the third book in the Victorian-era mystery series centering around the love story and adventures of Lady Emily Ashton and Colin Hargreaves. I was very impressed wth the elegant writing style in And Only to Deceive and A Poisoned Season, and the third installment is a well-crafted story as well.

The plot takes Lady Ashton outside of London to Vienna...and while she has her share of meetings with European royalty and opulent balls, she plunges into the underground world of assassins, anarchists, and dangerous liasons that could have fatal consequences. It is necessary to suspend disbelief here and just go with the story, even though it seems highly improbable that would-be terrorists and assasins would meet an English woman who is investigating their covert operations.

The most intriguing conflict of the story is the interaction between the beautiful Kristiana, the Countess von Lange, who was Colin Hargreave's former love interest and Emily. She is a political confidante of her government and shares professional secrets with Colin -- and knows she has a power that Lady Ashton can never have. The tension and rivalry between the two women is a high-class cat fight -- it kept me turning the pages to see how this would all play out!

Another charming adventure from Tasha Alexander.


4 stars = very good, worth reading

Title: A Fatal Waltz
Author: Tasha Alexander
Publisher: Harper Paperbacks
2008
303 pages

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe

Book description from the publisher:

"Harvard graduate student Connie Goodwin needs to spend her summer doing research for her doctoral dissertation. But when her mother asks her to handle the sale of Connie's grandmother's abandoned home near Salem, she can't refuse. As she is drawn deeper into the mysteries of the family house, Connie discovers an ancient key within a seventeenth century Bible. The key contains a yellowing fragment of parchment with a name written
upon it: Deliverance Dane. This discovery launches Connie on a quest --
to find out who this woman was and to unearth a rare artifact of singular
power: a physick book, its pages a secret repository for lost knowledge.
As the pieces of Deliverance's harrowing story begin to fall into place, Connie is haunted by visions of the long-ago witch trials, and she begins to fear that she is more tied to Salem's dark past than she could have ever imagined."


My thoughts:

Having read many reviews of this novel with widely differing opinions, I was anxious to read The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane to determine if both the high praise and criticisms were warranted. As usual, I found a comfortable place in the middle ground as there were several aspects of the book which were very interesting and enjoyable, and, like some books, it had its share of flaws.

Alternating the narrative between the modern day (1991) and interludes in the past (1681-late 1700's), the story opens as Connie Goodwin, a candidate for her doctoral degree program in history, must begin the process of determining the topic of her dissertation. Her advisor and mentor, Professor Chilton, insists that she must take a bold new direction in her research and find a unique primary source to explore. Revisiting the same, over-used archives of history just won't do for his protege'. He has ambitions for himself and for his student's career.

When Connie inherits the burden of getting her grandmother's run-down home in Marblehead cleaned and ready to be put on the market, a discovery leads her to the perfect path to explore for her studies...a key inside of a bible. Tucked inside the key is a tiny piece of parchment with the words Deliverance Dane. What is the significance of this artifact, and what is it doing in her grandmother's home?

The story moves very quickly and easily between the past and the present, and I was immediately drawn in. As Connie begins her quest through the archives, the reader is treated to a well-researched picture of the lives of healing women in the Puritan community.(Since the present day year is 1991, all of the searches are done without the use of the internet or technology.) The strength of the novel lies in the "interludes" or flashbacks to the lives of the women who are later accused of practicing witchcraft. The most compelling part of the story is Connie's efforts to learn the identity of Deliverance Dane, and also to solve the puzzle of the physick book: was it a journal, a book of home remedies, a grimoire....? Does it still exist? What if the women who were accused of withcraft actually did practice magic... or have paranormal powers?

The weaker part of the plot is in the developments which take place in the present. A romantic interest is introduced, and although the character plays a role in the ending, the relationship was uninteresting and uninspiring and I skimmed over these parts. The villain is easy to spot and the motive is fairly obvious, so breezing through these sections will get the reader to the heart of the story: the quest for the physick book, the contents, and its impact on several generations of New England women.

Katherine Howe's passion for history and her ability to paint a picture of the past made this book a worthwhile read and made up for any flaws in the modern day plot. Her Postscript, "Real Witches, Real Life" adds her own personal twist to the story, as she is a descendant of two women who were accused of witchcraft. Overall, an interesting read.

4 stars = very good; worth reading

Title: The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane
Author: Katherine Howe
Publisher: Hyperion/NY
2009
371 pages

Silent on the Moor by Deanna Raybourn

Book description from the publisher:


"In Grimsgrave Hall, enigmatic Nicholas Brisbane has inherited a ruined estate, replete with uncanny tenants and one unwanted houseguest: Lady Julia Grey.
Despite his admonitions to stay away, Lady Julia arrives in Yorkshire to find Brisbane as remote and maddeningly attractive as ever. Cloistered together, they share the moldering house with the proud but impoverished remnants of an ancient family: the sort that keeps their bloodline pure and their secrets close. Lady Allenby and her daughters, dependent upon Brisbane and devastated by their fall in society, seem adrift on the moor winds, powerless to change their fortunes. But poison does not discriminate between classes. A mystery unfolds from the rotten heart of Grimsgrave...."

My thoughts:


I couldn't wait to read the third and latest installment of the Lady Julia Grey Victorian-era romantic mystery, Silent on the Moor. Deanna Raybourn sets the stage in a crumbling mansion on the Yorkshire moors, and this time, Lady Julia is determined to confront Nicholas Brisbane and settle the question of their personal relationship once and for all -- do they have a future together as equal partners, or will they allow the societal constraints of their time to keep them apart? Their relationship, maddeningly, has been "two steps forward and ten steps backward" in the previous two books, so I was absolutely expecting a resolution to this matter, one way or the other.

Along with the problem of sorting through the difficulties of their personal relatiosnship, Lady Julia and Brisbane become involved in another deadly mystery...someone wants Brisbane dead, and any one of the strange inhabitants of Grimsgrave could be the culprit. Julia makes a horrifying discovery while attempting to help Brisbane set things to order in the house, and together they uncover a wicked Allenby family secret.


This was such a great read, and I'm completely satisfied with the conclusion of this book. Brisbane was finally able to approach Lady Julia as an equal, and in their world, it was an absolute necessity that they be on equal ground. I was laughing and crying at the end, and for me, it just doesn't get any better than that! I highly recommend this series by Deanna Raybourn to anyone who enjoys a mix of elements in their reading -- there is a nice blend of period details, mystery and suspense, romantic tension, humor, atmospheric settings, and nods to many of the classics...you'll see subtle references to Poe, the Brontes, and all of her chapters begin with a Shakespearean quote. A real treat!

Title: Silent on the Moor
Author: Deanna Raybourn
Publisher: MIRA books
2009
465 pages

5 stars = Loved it! Highly recommended

Into the Wilderness by Sara Donati

Book description from the publisher:

"Weaving a tapestry of fact and fiction, Sara Donati's epic novel sweeps us into another time and place...and into a breathtaking story of love and survival in a land of savage beauty.

It is December of 1792. Elizabeth Middleton leaves her comfortable English estate to join her family in a remote New York mountain village. It is a place unlike any she has ever experienced. And she meets a man unlike any she has ever encountered -- a white man dressed like a Native American: Nathaniel Bonner, known to the Mohawk people as Between-Two-Lives. Determined to provide schooling for all the children of the village, Elizabeth soon finds herself locked in conflict with the local slave owners as well as with her own family. Interweaving the fate of the Mohawk Nation with the destiny of two lovers, Sara Donati's compelling novel creates a complex, profound, passionate portrait of an emerging America."


My thoughts:

I love big, fat historical sagas and Into the Wilderness transports the reader to the beauty and wilderness of America in 1792. Sara Donati's story includes characters from The Last of the Mohicans, and Outlander fans will find cameo appearances of some beloved characters, as well. She writes in a very straightforward style, easily blending historical details and the struggles of the relationship between two people from very different worlds. It is interesting that Donati chose to make her heroine an older woman (Elizabeth is 29 years old at the start of the novel), but she sometimes comes across as a much younger girl. However, she is an indepedent person with a committment to her ideals and right from the start establishes her own identity. There is obvious opposition to the relationship between Elizabeth and Nathaniel, and you can't help but cheer them on in the face of prejudice and adversity.

A very enjoyable read, but there is a point I would like to make: there are many reviews and references that compare Diana Gabaldon's writing to this novel. While Gabaldon is quoted on the cover and her characters do have a small part in the story, there really is no comparison. Diana's writing is much more complex and multi-layered with elements of many different genres; Sara Donati's writing is well researched and she is a talented storyteller, but the two styles are distinctly different. A good read for those who enjoy early American history.

4/5

Title: Into the Wilderness
Author: Sara Donati
Publisher: Bantam Dell
2008
876 pages
genre: historical fiction