The Memoirs of Cleopatra by Margaret George

Bestselling novelist Margaret George brings to life the glittering kingdom of Cleopatra, Queen of the Nile, in this luch, sweeping, and richly detailed saga. Told in Cleopatra's own voice, this is a mesmerizing tale of ambition, passion, and betrayl, which begins when the twenty-year-old queen seeks out the most powerful man in the world, Julius Caesar, and does not end until, having survived the assassination of Caesar and the defeat of the second man she loves, Marc Antony, she plots her own death rather than be paraded in triumph through the streets of Rome.


Most of all, in its richness and authenticity, it is an irresistible story that reveals why Margaret George's work has been widely acclaimed as "the best kind of historical novel, one the reader can't wait to get lost in." (San Francisco Chronicle).

Paperback, 957 pages

Published May 15th 1998 by St. Martin's Griffin (first published April 15th 1997)

Audio Book - 49 hours, 55 minutes

Whew I finally finished this book, what a ride it was, almost 50 hours long.  This book has traveled

with me to Rome and even Egypt and back to Canada again.  I sat and crocheted an afghan, did housework

and had many a walks with my new puppy.  I was sad to see it end.  Donada Peters did a wonderful job of

reading this book,  from the POV of Cleopatra.  


This book started when Cleopatra was a child, it highlited the family history of the Ptolemy's. 
There was romance (of course with Julius Ceasar and Marc Anthony), battles, adventures and just a 
really good story.  By the end of the book I really felt like I knew Cleopatra, the author had such a way of writing 
that I felt like it was actually Cleopatra writing this herself, quite memorizing actually.


There were so many quotes in this book that spoke to me and I just have a share some.


“I loved him so, even his past was precious to me. I found myself kissing each mark, thinking, I would have had it never happen, I would wish it away, taking him further and further back to a time when he had known no disappointments, no battles, no wounds, as I erased each one. To make him again like Caesarion. Yet if we take the past away from those we love - even to protect them - do we not steal their very selves?” 


“Oh, he was just angry, we tell ourselves when someone blurts out something he later apologizes for. But a word, once spoken, lingers forever; to keep peace we pretend to forget, but we never do. Strange that a spoken word can have such lasting power when words carved on stone monuments vanish in spite of all our efforts to preserve them. What we would lose persists, lodged in our minds, and what we would keep is lost to water, moths, moss.” 


“But marrying within one's own family can get monotonous. One has heard all the same family stories, knows all the jokes and all the same recipes. No novelty.


“Things do not happen, we must make them happen” 

The Ice Cream Girls by Dorothy Koomson

As teenagers Poppy Carlisle and Serena Gorringe were the only witnesses to a tragic event. Amid heated public debate, the two seemingly glamorous teens were dubbed ‘The Ice Cream Girls’ by the press and were dealt with by the courts. 

Years later, having led very different lives, Poppy is keen to set the record straight about what really happened, while married mother-of-two Serena wants no one in her present to find out about her past. But some secrets will not stay buried – and if theirs is revealed, everything will become a living hell all over again...

Paperback, 468 pages

Published July 22nd 2010 by Sphere (first published February 18th 2010)

After hearing good reviews about this book I purchased it without looking at the cover, at least I am pretty sure because I don't think I would have bought it with that cover.  To me it just looked a little too chick lit and I don't read a lot of chick lit. Which it is not, at least by my definition of chick lit.


I recently joined a group on Goodreads called TBR - to be read.  The idea of the group is that once a month you are paired with another member.  You go through her list of TBR books, compare it to yours, pick a book that you have read (and given a 3 star or more rating to) and that person then has the next month to read that book.


This was my January book and I needed the push to read this one.   I have to say this book had me after a couple chapters.  Each chapter was from the POV of either Serena or Poppy.  Each chapter ended with me wanting to read 'just one another chapter'.  I didn't always feel the emotion that should have been there, but the story was good and I enjoyed it.  More could be said but no  spoilers here.  The ended was something I expected, but also didn't.   I have thought about this book a week later and thinking how each girl was in their own prison since even before that day in 1988.

2nd Annual Dreaming of Books Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the 2nd Annual Dreaming of Books Giveaway Hop

This hop runs from January 13th to 18th

Recently I discovered a new author, Elizabeth Peters.   The first book in her Eygptian Series is called Crocodile on the Sandbank.  I loved her witty personality, the humor that laced through this book always brought a smile to my face if not a downright chuckle. Yes parts of the story were predictable, but it was still a fun read.  I have already read the first couple of pages from the next in the series and I had a hard time stopping (and laughing).

Amelia Peabody, that indomitable product of the Victorian age, embarks on her debut Egyptian adventure armed with unshakable self-confidence, a journal to record her thoughts, and, of course, a sturdy umbrella. On her way to Cairo, Amelia rescues young Evelyn Barton-Forbes, who has been abandoned by her scoundrel lover. Together the two women sail up the Nile to an archeological site run by the Emerson brothers -- the irascible but dashing Radcliffe and the amiable Walter. Soon their little party is increased by one -- one mummy, that is, and a singularly lively example of the species. Strange visitations, suspicious accidents, and a botched kidnapping convince Amelia that there is a plot afoot to harm Evelyn. Now Amelia finds herself up against an unknown enemy -- and perilous forces that threaten to make her first Egyptian trip also her last...

If you would like to win this book I will make it very simple for you.  Just leave me a comment and tell me about a new favorite author of yours.   How easy is that!  If you've got this book already, I will send another in the series or just let you decide and will purchase something of similar value (up to $10).

Be sure to click on the Giveaway Icon for a complete list of all those taking part in this Hop.

The winner will have this book shipped from The Book Depository.  Winner will received an email from me on January 19th.  Good luck :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler

It's 1996, and Josh and Emma have been neighbors their whole lives. They've been best friends almost as long - at least, up until last November, when Josh did something that changed everything. Things have been weird between them ever since, but when Josh's family gets a free AOL CD in the mail,his mom makes him bring it over so that Emma can install it on her new computer. When they sign on, they're automatically logged onto their Facebook pages. But Facebook hasn't been invented yet. And they're looking at themselves fifteen years in the future. 
By refreshing their pages, they learn that making different decisions now will affect the outcome of their lives later. And as they grapple with the ups and downs of what their futures hold, they're forced to confront what they're doing right - and wrong - in the present.




Jay Asher wrote 13 Reasons Why, which I LOVED, read it in a day.  Having read some reviews for this book I had mixed feelings going into it.  It was a spur of the moment purchase (and my last for 2011).  Reading the backcover I thought what an original story line, imagine being able to peek at Facebook 15 years in the future, what fun that could be, though I suppose it could be depressing too.


It didn't take long to read, I kept wanted to read just to see what was going to happen.   The book is divided into chapters from the POV of either Emma or Josh which made it quite interesting.  Parts of the story were predictable (why Emma and Josh had a falling out),  parts of it were thought provoking , how the simplest act or thought ripples through time and changes the future.


A very interesting read, I would give it 4 stars and will once I figure out how to add the star ratings to this blog.


  

Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory

Jacquetta, daughter of the Count of Luxembourg and kinswoman to half the royalty of Europe, was married to the great Englishman John, Duke of Bedford, uncle to Henry VI. Widowed at the age of nineteen she took the extraordinary risk of marrying a gentleman of her house-hold for love, and then carved out a life for herself as Queen Margaret of Anjou's close friend and a Lancaster supporter - until the day that her daughter Elizabeth Woodville fell in love and married the rival king Edward IV. Of all the little-known but important women of the period, her dramatic story is the most neglected. With her links to Melusina, and to the founder of the house of Luxembourg, together with her reputation for making magic, she is the most haunting of heroines.


Philippa Gregory's book The Other Boyeln Girl was the book that started my love for Historical Fiction, I just loved that book along with 2 others in that series.  I looked forward to her new series The War of the Rose also known as the Cousins War with high hopes.
  
This is book 3 in the  series.  The Red Queen was about Elizabeth Woodville, so we did see her mother in this one.  The White Queen was about Margaret Beaufort.  


So now we turn to Jacquetta, mother of Elizabeth Woodville.  The book started off so nicely, there was Joan of Arc, her ties to Melusina and what I thought was a great beginning.  Everything flowed together so nicely, I looked forward to reading more.   There was her marriage to John, Duke of Bedford, widowhood and then falling in love with Richard Woodville.  About half way through I felt it started to slow down somewhat.  The friendship between the Queen and Jacquetta didn't seem genuine to me, I actually found the Queen to be somewhat spoiled, but that is my opinion, and she very well might have been.  There was baby after baby (seriously I lost count as to how many there were and I found myself wondering what her body looked like after all those pregnancies).


It was still an interesting story, not as good as The Other Boleyn Girl and I am glad to have read it.

These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf

When teenager Allison Glenn is sent to prison for a heinous crime, she leaves behind her reputation as Linden Falls' golden girl forever. Her parents deny the existence of their once-perfect child. Her former friends exult her downfall. Her sister, Brynn, faces whispered rumors every day in the hallways of their small Iowa high school. It's Brynn—shy, quiet Brynn—who carries the burden of what really happened that night. All she wants is to forget Allison and the past that haunts her.

But then Allison is released to a halfway house, and is more determined than ever to speak with her estranged sister. Now their legacy of secrets is focused on one little boy. And if the truth is revealed, the consequences will be unimaginable for the adoptive mother who loves him, the girl who tried to protect him and the two sisters who hold the key to all that is hidden.

Paperback, 337 pages

Published January 18th 2011 by Mira

library copy

Sometimes you just need a break from Historical Fiction, this book was my break.

I am trying to come up with words to describe this book, but I can't. It took all of 3 days to read it. I was drawn in right away, it had emotion, it had mystery and surprises. Given the subject matter it sounds strange (sadistic even) to say I enjoyed this book, but I did.

Heather Gudenkauf is a new author to me and I will read more of her works.

Daughters of Rome By Kate Quinn

A.D. 69. Nero is dead. 


The Roman Empire is up for the taking. With bloodshed spilling out of the palace and into the streets of Rome, chaos has become the status quo. The Year of Four Emperors will change everything—especially the lives of two sisters with a very personal stake in the outcome…. 


Elegant and ambitious, Cornelia embodies the essence of the perfect Roman wife. She lives to one day see her loyal husband as Emperor. Her sister, Marcella, is more withdrawn, content to witness history rather than make it. Even so, Marcella has her share of distinguished suitors, from a cutthroat contender for the throne to a politician’s son who swears that someday he will be Emperor. 


But when a bloody coup turns their world upside down, Cornelia and Marcella—along with their cousins, one a collector of husbands and lovers, the other a horse-mad beauty with no interest in romance—must maneuver carefully just to stay alive. As Cornelia tries to pick up the pieces of her shattered dreams, Marcella discovers a hidden talent for influencing the most powerful men in Rome. In the end, though, there can only be one Emperor … and one Empress.

I am a follower of Kate Quinn's blog, if you're not you should be, she is a hoot.  In one of her posting a reader was complaining about this book and how it was confusing because the story was about 4 girls all named Cornelia.  As a mother of 4 sons I could relate, there were plenty of days where I got confused too (and I didn't name them the same), so starting this book I was a little nervous.  

From the opening prologue this book grabbed me and really didn't let go.  I was able to tell one Cornelia from the other (nicknames did help alot).  Each Cornelia had a distinct personality and lifestyle and I got to each of them quite well.  Diana (Cornelia #4) was my favorite, she just knew exactly what she wanted, didn't care what anyone thought, just did her own thing.   But in the end she was always there for her family (loved the way she put an end to one wedding ceremony).

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Hardcover, 387 pages

Published September 13th 2011 by Doubleday (first published September 1st 2011)

Read this on by Kobo App via Toshiba Tablet

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night. But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands. True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per­formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

Before this book was released it seemed everywhere I looked there it was. Reading review blogs, there it was. I received emails from Amazon and Chapters about this book. This book that was so amazing, that it was the new Harry Potter. Its not a good thing to read raving reviews, it puts one expectations way too high.

What did I really think of this book? Well, I did enjoy it. I loved the writing style, the sentences just took on a life of there own that matched the time period and story line. Does that make sense? I guess maybe you will have to read the book to understand.

The story was original, but I can't say that I absolutely loved it. I really enjoyed it, I connected more with some of the secondary characters more so. I will definitely read more by this author, after all things can only get better

Innocent Traitor by Alison Weir

In her first historical novel, popular royal biographer Alison Weir cunningly places the short-lived Lady Jane Grey (1537-54) at the heart of a fiction with haunting similitude. Real personages, including Henry VIII, Prince Edward, and the ill-fated Anne Boleyn, people this tale of religious strife and court intrigues. An auspicious fiction debut.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I am not sure if was because it was audio, but I got to know each character so well. Each chapter was from a different persons point of view, which had a different narrator. I liked that, though some voices were close to others. I was distracted a bunch of times by some swallowing, but not enough to take away from the story.

My heart ached for Jane and what happened to here. My first HF by Alsion Weir (and I guess her debut fiction book) and I will definitely be reading/listening to more.

Game of Thrones by George RR Martin

Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

Paperback, 694 pages

Published February 22nd 2011 by Bantam

From the cover:

Here is the first volume in George R. R. Martin's magnificent cycle of novels that includes A Clash of Kings and A Storm of Swords. As a whole, this series comprises a genuine masterpiece of modern fantasy, bringing together the best the genre has to offer. Magic, mystery, intrigue, romance, and adventure fill these pages and transport us to a world unlike any we have ever experienced. Already hailed as a classic, George R. R. Martin's stunning series is destined to stand as one of the great achievements of imaginative fiction.

A GAME OF THRONES

Long ago, in a time forgotten, a preternatural event threw the seasons out of balance. In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes to the north of Winterfell, sinister and supernatural forces are massing beyond the kingdom's protective Wall. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the land they were born to. Sweeping from a land of brutal cold to a distant summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, here is a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens.

Here an enigmatic band of warriors bear swords of no human metal; a tribe of fierce wildlings carry men off into madness; a cruel young dragon prince barters his sister to win back his throne; and a determined woman undertakes the most treacherous of journeys. Amid plots and counterplots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, the fate of the Starks, their allies, and their enemies hangs perilously in the balance, as each endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.

My Thoughts:

My son The Illiterate Scribe, has been after me to read this book for a while now. Fantasy is not my favorite genre these days, Historical Fiction is. I didn't jump when he said read (I am remembering The Wheel of Time, huge books, intense plots, a huge pile of characters plus lots and lots of fantasy). But when I saw Kate Quinn (Mistress of Rome author) gush about this series, well what could I say, if Kate (Historical Fiction author) loved it, comparing it to the War of the Roses, well then I would give it a try.

I have to say that I am glad that I did. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There were quite a few names that I will never remember and at some points wondered which side they were on. But all in all it was a great read. I loved the chapter names (each a character rather then a number), I got to know each of the main characters, I have my favorites and those I dislike too. What really impressed me was how the storyline just seemed to flow smoothly, I didn't find anything that was disjointed or distracting either. I didn't always like the way the story went, but could see the reasons why things happened.

I am almost finished the HBO series now. I really felt they did a great job of casting the characters, they matched the personalities nicely and I can't wait to read the next book so that I can watch Season 2 as it is televised.

*****