‘The result of my own visit to Greece and the impact of that wonderful country on a mind steeped in the classics. ‘My Brother Michael’ was my love affair with Greece.’ - Mary Stewart Camilla Haven had broken with Philip her fiancée of six years, and now at twenty-five years of age, she had come … Continue reading My Brother Michael by Mary Stewart (1959)
History
Wildfire at Midnight by Mary Stewart (1956)
Gianetta, named after her disreputable great-grandmother, Gianetta Fox who was once the rage of London, had just finished school and completed a course for mannequins. At a showing where she modelled an historical dress, she met Nicholas Drury, a successful author with a caustic tongue, who at 29 years of age was ten years her … Continue reading Wildfire at Midnight by Mary Stewart (1956)
Reading, Thinking, & Domesticity #6
It's been a while since I've written one of these posts. I always find it difficult to come up with a title unless I'm writing an obvious 'book review' as I like to go off on tangents. So 'Reading, Thinking, & Domesticity' it is as it is a bit of everything. I've been listening to … Continue reading Reading, Thinking, & Domesticity #6
The Rape of Nanking by Iris Chang
Between December 1937 and January 1938, the Japanese Imperial Army seized the Chinese city of Nanking (now Nanjing) and in a period of only six weeks carried out one of the most brutal massacres in the history of war. It is estimated that the number of Chinese killed in this massacre could have been more … Continue reading The Rape of Nanking by Iris Chang
Assignment in Brittany by Helen MacInnes (1942)
'Her purpose always was to strike at authoritarian governments. In the genre of highly literate suspense she is considered unrivaled.' Assignment in Brittany is Helen MacInnes’ second book and was published early in World War II not long after the Battle of Dunkirk. It is set in Brittany and captures the bleak atmosphere that must … Continue reading Assignment in Brittany by Helen MacInnes (1942)
Quo Vadis: A Tale in the Time of Nero by Henryk Sienkiewicz (1896)
Quo Vadis is, as its subtitle implies, a work of historical fiction set in Ancient Rome during Nero’s reign. It is the love story and spiritual journey of a young couple - Marcus Vinicius, a Roman tribune from a patrician family, and Lygia, daughter of a Lygian barbarian chief, held as hostage in Rome. It … Continue reading Quo Vadis: A Tale in the Time of Nero by Henryk Sienkiewicz (1896)
Madam, Will You Talk? by Mary Stewart (1955)
Mary Stewart is my most recent new author discovery, and what a delightful author she is! Madam, Will You Talk? was her first book and it is a cracker. Set in Southern France, it is a suspenseful story that doesn’t waste any time in plunging the reader into murder and mystery. When I wrote that … Continue reading Madam, Will You Talk? by Mary Stewart (1955)
Read Along – some comments/discussion
How are you going with For the Family’s Sake?I’ve been putting together a blog post on Chapter 3 but I know a couple of you are still waiting for the book to arrive, and as the first two chapters touch on many important issues (not to mention temptations into all sorts of rabbit trails as … Continue reading Read Along – some comments/discussion
It’s Friday #5
We're on to the final book in James Herriot's memoirs, Every Living Thing. I started reading his series of books...I don't know when, but it was years ago, and this is the final one. Today we read about a cat which sounded a bit like our boy: '...he was always there, seated upright and majestic … Continue reading It’s Friday #5
Blood Feud by Rosemary Sutcliff (1976)
Rosemary Sutcliff is considered to be one of the finest writers of historical novels for children but her writing is appealing for adult readers as well. As she herself said, “I write for children aged 8 to 88.” This ability to appeal to a wide age range is obvious in Blood Feud. I was listening … Continue reading Blood Feud by Rosemary Sutcliff (1976)
journey & destination 