Eleanor of Aquitaine and the Four Kings

Eleanor of Aquitaine and the Four Kings

Amy Kelly

This was a very informative biography of Eleanor of Aquitaine, who ruled in France and England during the 12th Century, thanks to two marriages. She also bore two kings of England, Richard-the-Lionhearted, and King John.

I don't believe I've ever read the facts behind these two legendary kings, nor had I ever read anything of Eleanor.

I appreciated the research that so obviously went into this book, and I also appreciated the readable style.

This book has caused me to become more interested in the Middle Ages.

The Wilder Shores of Love

The Wilder Shores of Love

Lesley Blanch

This book is a compilation of four mini-bios of women who lived from the 18th Century to the very early 20th Century. The thread that weaves these women's stories together is that their hearts and lives were inexorably bound to the Near East, and all bucked convention in one way or another.

As a biography, it was written far too subjectively to be very good. The author made too many conjectures about her subjects' motives and about the states of their minds without very strong supporting evidence.

On the other hand, I loved this book, which read more like historical fiction, to me. I must admit, here, to a guilty-pleasure weakness for romantic exoticism, and this was thoroughly satisfying on that level. It's also always satisfying to read about and root for women who were strong enough to live lives outside the narrow confines of the role of women from earlier eras.

Chasing Vermeer

Chasing Vermeer

Blue Balliett

This was a book for tweens.

Coincidences, patterns, and art all come in to play when an original Vermeer painting is stolen.

Petra and Calder forge a friendship when they are each mysteriously drawn to the painting, and when it goes missing, they are drawn to find it.

Calder's pentaminoes, Petra's mysterious book Lo!, and their wonderfully creative teacher Ms. Hussey help them to see patterns emerge from things that others dismiss as incidental. However, they find that it becomes difficult to distinguish real patterns from imagined.

Will they be able to find the painting in time? Is Ms. Hussey involved in its disappearance? Is she in danger? Are they?

This book with its mystery, secret codes, and problem solving was a fun way to spend a morning!

Hamlet

Hamlet

William Shakespeare

This is probably the most famous play in the world. It is so well-known that I don't think I need to outline the plot.

I can see why this play, and Shakespeare, have wowed audiences and readers through the ages.

I find my reactions to the bard's work quite interesting. I don't know if I've gained in literary maturity, or if his writing is so uneven. In either case, while I've certainly enjoyed his works in the past, it isn't until I read Richard III recently that I understood why Shakespeare has been considered so great, so far above any other playwright since his time. I've certianly enjoyed his work, previously, but I had thought him slightly over-rated. Now I know that I was so wrong!

In any case, I'm now a confirmed fan of The Bard, and look forward to reading more of his work!

Hamlet

Hamlet

William Shakespeare

This is probably the most famous play in the world. It is so well-known that I don't think I need to outline the plot.

I can see why this play, and Shakespeare, have wowed audiences and readers through the ages.

I find my reactions to the bard's work quite interesting. I don't know if I've gained in literary maturity, or if his writing is so uneven. In either case, while I've certainly enjoyed his works in the past, it isn't until I read Richard III recently that I understood why Shakespeare has been considered so great, so far above any other playwright since his time. I've certianly enjoyed his work, previously, but I had thought him slightly over-rated. Now I know that I was so wrong!

In any case, I'm now a confirmed fan of The Bard, and look forward to reading more of his work!

Nisa: The Life and Words of a !Kung Woman

Nisa: The Life and Words of a !Kung Woman

Marjorie Shostack

Marjorie Shostak was an anthropologist studying the women of the !Kung hunter-gatherers on the edge of the Kalahari in the 1960's and 1970's.

This book is the result of her interviews with one of those women, Nisa It is Nisa's life story as told to Marjorie in conversations that took place over a period of many years, left off, to be taken up again during Marjorie's next visit.

What I liked best about this book is that the translation seemed to me to capture Nisa's voice and the rhythms of African oral storytelling tradition.

It was also an interesting study, and sad to see how the way of life of the !Kung, and all of the San people have changed so dramatically.

The House at Riverton

The House at Riverton

Kate Morton

90-yr-old Grace was once in service with the Hartford family at Riverton. Her life is deeply entwined with the family, especailly with the independent Hannah and her glittering, butterfly sister, Emmeline.

Out of loyalty, Grace has kept the family's secrets, including the secret of what really happened on the fateful night that a poet died at Riverton.

Now, many decades later, a film producer who is making a film about Riverton approaches Grace, which prompts her to reminisce about her days with the family. Riverton is now open to tourists, and the family has long since passed, but Grace saves the last, deeply held, dark secret until she nears the very end of her life.

Morton is a wonderful storyteller. I was swooped up and carried away on the wings of this tale.

Not that there weren't a few flaws. For instance, the denouement was signalled far to early and too obviously. The storytelling was so fabulous, though, who cares?

I loved this book!