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

Awesome Author Challenge, Quarantine

In early December of 2009, I participated in a Christmas Reading Challenge. At the time I thought "what better way to get ready for the Christmas Season than to be inspired by wonderful literature", unfortunately, as you all may have guessed I'm heavily attracted to murder mysteries. So too many of the books I read for this challenge was such, not so Christmas Like. I did however manage to read "the Magi", which was the only "seasonally appropriate" choice. So now that we are heavily into Lent, I thought I'd try to make up for my shortcomings with the Christmas Challenge. I'm participating in a number of reading challenges this 2010 and I am so amazed at the authors I knew nothing about. So...


Alyce from "at home with books" is the hostess for this challenge.

My choice was "Quarantine", Jim Crace. This was a recommendation by Nise, from the A-Z Wednesday Gang. (I think).



My thoughts:
I liked that the writing style set each chapter clearly and coordinated it with each character, and the happenings at the moment. The next chapter would give a view of the same occurrence from the perspective of another character, very easy to read and follow. I often find myself making a web to keep characters straight, but here there were only a few, and their placement was clear.

I'm going to assume from the back cover, that the intended main character was Jesus, but in all reality Musa was an equally prominent character. What did I like about Musa, well nothing, he's the guy who makes it easy to hate him, and yet he's amazing. Jesus' character on the other hand, to me was a new look. I need not tell you I love Jesus, but his portrayal in this novel was unusual.

I felt that Jesus, the intended main character, was vulnerable, I love the fact that the author emphasizes his humanity and then reminds us of his magnificence. Even the evil Musa realizes his significance.

Each of the characters in the book have their own strengths in securing our attention.I was drawn to compassion for the Miri, Musa's wife. To be horrified by his actions towards Marta, and Shim, surprised by the abilities of "the badu", and the endurance of Aphas the elderly, sick Jew, and yet surprised at their naivety, or perhaps I should say at Musa's skills as a salesman/merchant.

Each of the "Quarantined" rely so heavily upon each other it is amazing that they really come from different worlds beyond the desert. Marta, who would normally have stoned the likes of Miri, wants to take her in and be her sister. Shim also a higher class than the badu, relies on him for his safety from Musa. Aphas, quite probably a man of some importance in his own town, is equal to the others. It is amazing how the desert levels out the classes.

I found the ending curious, and surprising, and yet I knew there could not have been a different one.
I'd love to pass this book on to one of the priests I know, just to see the reaction, It's a little contemporary for Catholics.
I recommend this book to those who wonder what the world was like back then, and who like me need a little drink at the fountain of faith.

I'd like to thank Nise for her recommendation of this book, I can't seem to find her review, (quite probably it was someone else, sorry if it is, please correct me.)

I borrowed this copy from my local library, and am looking forward to reading yet another of the this authors works.

2010 Reading Resolutions Challenge Update

Jenny Loves to Read posted an update on our New Years Resolution. I'm thrilled with my progress in my reading challenges, I've done a little of everything. About the only challenge that is coming slowly is the 345 challenge. I think the most enjoyable part is the fact that my young son is so enjoying discussing these books with me, and in awe that his mother reads. Don't know who he thought taught him, and enforced Silent Sunday's.* All my godchildren are readers as well, and I'm working on their offspring. The only challenge I'm not doing well with is my walking, I've been ill and just haven't kept up with the 2 miles a day challenge. But, you know the old saying, "no matter how long winter is, Spring is sure to follow,". Check out everyone else's progress and post about yours at Jenny Loves to Read.
* Silent Sunday's are Sundays that we unplugged all devices, including I Pod, computers, T.V., Gameboys etc. And READ. My husband, their father, often worked nights and Sunday's were always a challenge to keep quiet. I got the idea from a favorite movie. The Trouble with Angels.

Awesome Author Challenge #2

Welcome to the Awesome Author Challenge!

The idea behind this challenge is to read works by authors who have been recommended to you time and again, but you haven't gotten around to reading them yet. These are the authors that everyone else tells you are awesome, thus the "Awesome Author Challenge" title.

My first posting for this challenge is a little strange. I read Leslie Pietrzyk's blog on a regular basis, I stumbled upon it during my search for creative writing tips. I obviously enjoy it. Leslie recommended a book that I thought would be an interesting read for this challenge, and then I thought I need to read her book to get a better glimpse of her tastes. So I hunted it out at the local library and finished it this week.

I also used this book for Teaser Tuesday
"This time I mean it, I'm really going to fall apart," So we stayed ready, expecting a bing bang--a noisy, messy, interesting thing with yelling and hyperventilating and maybe even fainting. I never thought falling apart would be like this, that she simply dissolved. Pg. 5






Leslie Pietrzyk is the author of two novels: Pears on a Willow Tree (Avon) and A Year and a Day (William Morrow). Her short stories have appeared in a number of journals, including The Iowa Review, Sun Magazine, New England Review, TriQuarterly, and Shenandoah


My thoughts:

I loved it! It kept me interested from the first paragraph, I found myself taking public transit "the scenic routes" to give me more time to finish it. I found the characters easy to believe, you could have a wacky aunt, (like me) and jock brother, a perfect friend with perfect family and the main character Alice is really well described and she's believable. I felt her pain, and understood her mom, I knew what Aunt Aggy was feeling, and even though the town I grew up in was not nearly as small, I could believe the gossip and how quickly things spread. I even quite identified with the references to the draft. The only question I have is why isn't this book on a best sellers list? I really recommend it and I will certainly search out Leslie's other book and her anthologies.

This is my second book towards completion of the Awesome Author Challenge




If you haven't yet entered, please read my One World One Heart posting and enter your name there to win one of my giveaways. And if you have already entered, good luck!