Show me 5 Saturday

Don't you just love this image. And in this case you can tell a book by it's cover.

Welcome to my post on Show me 5 Saturday this meme is a concept of That's a Novel Idea, but currently hosted by Find Your Next Book Here.


1. The Book I read: The Constant Princess, Phillipa Gregory

2 words to describe the book: Historical Fiction

3. Setting where the book took place & characters I met.
The book took place in the house of Tudor, England, that should be houses of Tudor, they seem to move around a fair bit. I love Katherine, or Catalina as I prefer to call her, she was a Spanish princess betrothed to Aurthur the prince of England upon Aurthur's death she was cast off for reasons I shall not get into, (you need to read about this) and later became the wife of Henry, Aurthur's brother. The character of Aurthur was quite endearing, however I love the build up of Henry. Great character development, but Catalina blew me away. way to go Phillipa.

4 things I liked or disliked about the book:
I liked the interpretation of historical characters, the intimate details of their personalities, and certainly their rationalizations for their behavior appropriate or otherwise.

I liked the scene setting.

I liked the intimacy of the style of writing. It was a glimpse into the diary of a very real person.

I liked the whole book. It was easy to read, not too emotional for me, but still difficult to put down. I found myself taking the next train, just so I could go on reading, because you know when you get home you must make supper.

I disliked the place of women in this time, we have come a long way.

5 stars or less for my rating. Once again I'm leaning to 4.99999 since I'm still reading this series for my 3 4 5 challenge, but I must say so far I like this princess the best.

The Whys and Wheres. I got this book at our book swap at my painting group. I'm so glad there is someone with more $ than me and like the books I like.

Show me 5 Saturday

The book I read was Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe, Sandra Gulland.


2 Words to describe the book: historical romance?

3. Characters in this book are: Josephine Bonaparte, Napoleon, and their friends/family and enemies. All taking place during Napoleon's "taking over the world" adventures.

4. Things I liked/disliked about the book.
I liked the style of writing of this trilogy. It is written of course from Josephine's perspective, in her "diary" sort of format. Easy to read, and difficult to put down.
I liked that even though this could be a stand alone book, the author often talks of characters or incidents that happened in the previous book, she clears it up for the reader with *references or explanations or definitions, so one is easily carried throughout the story line. Not making me say, "who was that again?"
I like how Napoleon is not referred to as the short General anywhere. I knew very little of Napoleon when I started this series, and I always picture him as John Belushi (from Saturday Night Live). Boy am I aging myself with that statement, I couldn't even find a you tube video to link in here. Gulland makes it easy to like him.
I liked the Gulland's portrayal of Josephine as a caring individual, not just the wife of a conquer'.

5 Stars or Less for my rating: I'm going to refrain from giving a rating on this one, as it is part of a trilogy, I'm anxious to finish up and then I'll let you know how the whole shbang rates, I'm thinking a 4.9999.

The Whys and Wheres, I'd read the first of this trilogy, when my friends Leslie and Carmi discussed this trilogy by Sandra Gulland. I so enjoyed reading the first book, The Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. that when it came time to take a 3 4 5 Challenge, this was my choice. I got this particular copy from my local library. I am trying very hard to keep the book shelves to a minimum.

Not much reading happening for me this weekend, I MUST wash floors. Enjoy yours though. this meme is a concept of That's A Novel Idea but presently hosted by Find Your Next Book Here