Don't you love those books that you just can't put down? The ones that you devour in a single sitting? The ones that you anticipate getting back to when you have to put them down?
Katherine Morton is that kind of author for me. I have read her books eagerly and they provide a welcome escape from daily life. Her books combine mystery, tragedy, suspense and romance in just the right combination that keeps you fully immersed in the story. My favourite Morton novel is The Forgotten Garden, a novel that I have recommended to other readers. I love the way she tells the story across several generations, through the voices of various strong female protagonists. I especially love the way she incorporates fairy tales into the novel, using them to help the reader piece the story together. And though I figured out the biggest mystery before it was revealed in the final pages, it did not fail to capture me.
Morton's newest novel, The Distant Hours, delivers another great story of passion and tragedy and family relationships. Elements of the gothic seep into the story, setting an intense pace at times. Again, the story takes place across several generations; a young woman tries to learn more about her mother by visiting the castle where her mother was billeted as a child during World War II. By interviewing the elderly sisters who inhabit the castle, Edie learns about her mother, while also solving an old unsolved mystery. Again, Morton uses stories to set the tone; a haunting children's book is the basis for the mystery of the novel. While she uses the same formulas in each of her novels, the stories are fresh and it feels like you can connect to the many protagonists who each help to unravel the mystery.
I look forward to continued work by Katherine Morton; I only hope that she can continue to incorporate new story lines so that her work does not become simply a tried and true formula.
Showing posts with label Britain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Britain. Show all posts
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Thursday, June 3, 2010
The Tudors
I am a huge fan of historical fiction, particularly when it takes place in Tudor England. I don't know what it is about that particular time period, but I love reading about Henry VIII and his six wives, the reigns of his children Mary, Elizabeth and Edward, and the tragic and short-lived reign of Lady Jane Grey. I find that time period so fascinating. I am also a big fan of the show, The Tudors. That show is alive with the colours and passions of the Tudor court, and while it is not 100% historically accurate, it is a pleasure to watch. Like many who are interested in the Tudor era, I am a fan of Ms. Phillipa Gregory's Tudor novels. I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with Phillipa Gregory- I love her Tudor novels as well as a few others, and I can't stand some of her others. Let me explain by telling you about some of her great ones.
First, the classic. The Other Boelyn Girl wouldn't be so well-known if it wasn't for the poor film rendition. But please, don't judge this book by its movie. It tells the story of Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boelyn through the voice of his former mistress and the mother of two of his illegitimate children. She also happens to be Anne's sister. Mary Boelyn is manipulated into place by her scheming family as Henry's mistress. Although he seems to love her at first, his eyes soon start to wonder and Anne steps in to take her place. Cast aside, Mary watches Anne's triumphant rise to the throne of England, as well as her tragic downfall to the executioner's block. After a lifetime of being manipulated and used, Mary decides to take control of her own life, and perhaps even find real love. The Other Boelyn Girl is a unique account of the tragic Boelyn family, portraying Anne in a desperate and unflattering light. It is a well-researched and highly entertaining novel. Equally as good is The Boelyn Inheritance, which tells the story of Henry VIII's third and fourth Queens, Anne of Cleves and Katherine Howard, as well as Jane Boelyn, sister in law to Anne Boelyn.
In The Queen's Fool, Gregory tells the story of the Tudor court through the eyes of a young girl. Hannah Green is a young Jewish girl, trying to escape the Spanish Inquisition. She finds her way to Edward VI's court where she becomes the court fool, mentored by Will Sommers. She is sent to spy on Mary, and she witnesses Mary's victorious ascension to the throne following the unsuccessful attempt to put Jane Grey on the throne. Hannah is witness to court intrigues and battles, and like Mary Boelyn, she must take control of her own life and find love and a family.
In The Virgin's Lover, Gregory tells the story of a young Elizabeth I as she ascends to the throne and falls passionately in love with Robert Dudley. Robert plots a way to divorce his wife, Amy, and marry the Queen, but when Amy turns up dead under suspicious circumstances, Elizabeth's throne is at risk. Gregory gives her interpretation of a long unsolved mystery, doing so with style.
The Other Queen is another great Tudor novel, narrating the imprisonment and execution of Mary, Queen of Scots by her rival, Elizabeth I. The Constant Princess tells the story of Katherine of Aragon, her short marriage to prince Arthur, his premature death and her marriage to Henry VIII. Gregory even answers the question of the King's Great Matter. Though not a Tudor novel, The White Queen tells the story of Elizabeth Woodville, Queen consort to Edward IV and mother to the tragic Princes in the Tower. A Respectable Trade is another great piece of historical fiction, telling the story of a slave, kidnapped from Africa and sent to England where he falls in love with his unhappy white mistress.
Gregory novels I did not like? The Wideacre trilogy, and The Wise Woman. I found them to be way too graphic, depicting things that made me uncomfortable (like incest). She is a skilled writer, but some of her novels are not for the faint of heart (or stomach)! Fallen Skies was pretty good (set in 1920s England), but it just couldn't compare to her Tudor novels.
So, if you like the Tudor period or just a great piece of historical fiction, try Phillipa Gregory. She is able to capture the intrigues and mysteries of the royal court. Her books will keep you absorbed and they're historically accurate enough that you might even learn something!
First, the classic. The Other Boelyn Girl wouldn't be so well-known if it wasn't for the poor film rendition. But please, don't judge this book by its movie. It tells the story of Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boelyn through the voice of his former mistress and the mother of two of his illegitimate children. She also happens to be Anne's sister. Mary Boelyn is manipulated into place by her scheming family as Henry's mistress. Although he seems to love her at first, his eyes soon start to wonder and Anne steps in to take her place. Cast aside, Mary watches Anne's triumphant rise to the throne of England, as well as her tragic downfall to the executioner's block. After a lifetime of being manipulated and used, Mary decides to take control of her own life, and perhaps even find real love. The Other Boelyn Girl is a unique account of the tragic Boelyn family, portraying Anne in a desperate and unflattering light. It is a well-researched and highly entertaining novel. Equally as good is The Boelyn Inheritance, which tells the story of Henry VIII's third and fourth Queens, Anne of Cleves and Katherine Howard, as well as Jane Boelyn, sister in law to Anne Boelyn.
In The Queen's Fool, Gregory tells the story of the Tudor court through the eyes of a young girl. Hannah Green is a young Jewish girl, trying to escape the Spanish Inquisition. She finds her way to Edward VI's court where she becomes the court fool, mentored by Will Sommers. She is sent to spy on Mary, and she witnesses Mary's victorious ascension to the throne following the unsuccessful attempt to put Jane Grey on the throne. Hannah is witness to court intrigues and battles, and like Mary Boelyn, she must take control of her own life and find love and a family.
In The Virgin's Lover, Gregory tells the story of a young Elizabeth I as she ascends to the throne and falls passionately in love with Robert Dudley. Robert plots a way to divorce his wife, Amy, and marry the Queen, but when Amy turns up dead under suspicious circumstances, Elizabeth's throne is at risk. Gregory gives her interpretation of a long unsolved mystery, doing so with style.
The Other Queen is another great Tudor novel, narrating the imprisonment and execution of Mary, Queen of Scots by her rival, Elizabeth I. The Constant Princess tells the story of Katherine of Aragon, her short marriage to prince Arthur, his premature death and her marriage to Henry VIII. Gregory even answers the question of the King's Great Matter. Though not a Tudor novel, The White Queen tells the story of Elizabeth Woodville, Queen consort to Edward IV and mother to the tragic Princes in the Tower. A Respectable Trade is another great piece of historical fiction, telling the story of a slave, kidnapped from Africa and sent to England where he falls in love with his unhappy white mistress.
Gregory novels I did not like? The Wideacre trilogy, and The Wise Woman. I found them to be way too graphic, depicting things that made me uncomfortable (like incest). She is a skilled writer, but some of her novels are not for the faint of heart (or stomach)! Fallen Skies was pretty good (set in 1920s England), but it just couldn't compare to her Tudor novels.
So, if you like the Tudor period or just a great piece of historical fiction, try Phillipa Gregory. She is able to capture the intrigues and mysteries of the royal court. Her books will keep you absorbed and they're historically accurate enough that you might even learn something!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Father knows best?
In a recent conversation with my parents, I mentioned that I wanted to start reading more classics. While I love many classics, including everything by Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters, I find that I need to be in the right mood to read them. Consequently, I have a long list of authors I would like to try but just haven't gotten around to, such as John Steinbeck and Ernest Hemmingway. My Dad, a big fan of John Steinbeck, recommended an author I had never heard of, a Mr. Nevil Shute. The late Nevil Shute has written several books, many taking place during World War II or on the subject of aviation (Shute was an aeronautical engineer as well as a popular novelist). While I have only read two of his novels at this point, I now consider myself a big fan of Nevil Shute. Here is a little taste of the novels I have read- I hope you'll give him a try too.
On the Beach is perhaps the most well known of Nevil Shute's novels. After a nuclear war has wiped out most of the earth's populations, the few survivors await for the radiation sickness to come. Shute introduces some unforgettable characters in this book who all cope in different ways- a young woman who copes with levity and plenty of alcohol, a young couple with a new baby who plan next year's garden and find respite in day-to-day tasks, and an American submarine captain who finds comfort by pretending that his wife and children are still alive and well, waiting for him to return home. Some characters deal with their coming deaths with grim finality, while others cling to hope. Shute writes in a very straightforward, simple manner. He makes every word count, and the pace carries on despite the sometimes mundane events in the novel. This novel is almost anti-climactic, yet somehow that makes it all the more compelling. I found myself clinging to hope at times, while at other times I was overwhelmed with despair. This is the kind of novel that doesn't let go of you once you have closed its pages- it clings to you and makes you think. Wonderful.
The Pied Piper is a more exciting, suspenseful narrative, yet it is written in the same straightforward, highly readable manner as On the Beach. In this novel, an elderly Briton travels to France for a fishing trip during the Second World War. His vacation is cut short, however, when he learns that the Germans are invading France. He agrees to take two young children back to Britain with him, and he soon finds himself in danger as the country becomes increasingly battle-stricken. As he makes the slow and arduous journey, Mr. Howard finds more children who are in danger, and before long he has quite the collection of children to take care of and bring to safety. The old man deals with declinining health, bombs, Nazis and intrigues. This is a wonderful novel - it is highly readable, and it has an engaging, suspenseful plot.
I'm glad I took my Dad's advice and gave this author a try. I'll be sure to take his advice more often in the future- at least on the subject of books!
On the Beach is perhaps the most well known of Nevil Shute's novels. After a nuclear war has wiped out most of the earth's populations, the few survivors await for the radiation sickness to come. Shute introduces some unforgettable characters in this book who all cope in different ways- a young woman who copes with levity and plenty of alcohol, a young couple with a new baby who plan next year's garden and find respite in day-to-day tasks, and an American submarine captain who finds comfort by pretending that his wife and children are still alive and well, waiting for him to return home. Some characters deal with their coming deaths with grim finality, while others cling to hope. Shute writes in a very straightforward, simple manner. He makes every word count, and the pace carries on despite the sometimes mundane events in the novel. This novel is almost anti-climactic, yet somehow that makes it all the more compelling. I found myself clinging to hope at times, while at other times I was overwhelmed with despair. This is the kind of novel that doesn't let go of you once you have closed its pages- it clings to you and makes you think. Wonderful.
The Pied Piper is a more exciting, suspenseful narrative, yet it is written in the same straightforward, highly readable manner as On the Beach. In this novel, an elderly Briton travels to France for a fishing trip during the Second World War. His vacation is cut short, however, when he learns that the Germans are invading France. He agrees to take two young children back to Britain with him, and he soon finds himself in danger as the country becomes increasingly battle-stricken. As he makes the slow and arduous journey, Mr. Howard finds more children who are in danger, and before long he has quite the collection of children to take care of and bring to safety. The old man deals with declinining health, bombs, Nazis and intrigues. This is a wonderful novel - it is highly readable, and it has an engaging, suspenseful plot.
I'm glad I took my Dad's advice and gave this author a try. I'll be sure to take his advice more often in the future- at least on the subject of books!
Monday, April 12, 2010
Oh Merde!
Merde Happens is the third installment in the highly-addictive Merde series by Stephen Clarke (If you're not familiar with the term merde, you may want to look it up so you can appreciate the humourous titles). This clever and funny series narrates the adventures of Paul West, a Briton living in France. As Paul tries to adapt to the French way of life, he finds himself in many strange and hysterical situations.
In my opinion, Merde Happens is the best of the series thus far. In this novel, Paul finds himself in a financial tight spot and, in desperation, he takes on a dubious job. Wearing a kilt and driving a Mini (painted with a Union Jack of course), Paul travels across the United States in an attempt to persuade Americans to visit his homeland. Add a liberalist French girlfriend, sabotageurs and competitors, Britain-haters, outsourcing to India, and certain racy photos of Paul in a mini-kilt, and you've got a very funny book.
Stephen Clarke gives the French a (little) bit of a break in this novel, poking fun at Americans as only non-Americans can do. Fellow Canadians will enjoy the author's commentary as Paul encounters guns, silicone, super-sized meals, freeways, red necks and patriots. Americans who have the ability to laugh at themselves will enjoy this too. I found myself giggling aloud at several scenes in the book.
I am looking forward to reading the rest of this series, as well as Stephen Clarke's non-fiction title: Talk to the Snail: The Ten Commandments for Understanding the French.
Merde Happens
Talk to the Snail: Ten Commandments for Understanding the French
In my opinion, Merde Happens is the best of the series thus far. In this novel, Paul finds himself in a financial tight spot and, in desperation, he takes on a dubious job. Wearing a kilt and driving a Mini (painted with a Union Jack of course), Paul travels across the United States in an attempt to persuade Americans to visit his homeland. Add a liberalist French girlfriend, sabotageurs and competitors, Britain-haters, outsourcing to India, and certain racy photos of Paul in a mini-kilt, and you've got a very funny book.
Stephen Clarke gives the French a (little) bit of a break in this novel, poking fun at Americans as only non-Americans can do. Fellow Canadians will enjoy the author's commentary as Paul encounters guns, silicone, super-sized meals, freeways, red necks and patriots. Americans who have the ability to laugh at themselves will enjoy this too. I found myself giggling aloud at several scenes in the book.
I am looking forward to reading the rest of this series, as well as Stephen Clarke's non-fiction title: Talk to the Snail: The Ten Commandments for Understanding the French.
Merde Happens Talk to the Snail: Ten Commandments for Understanding the French
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