pontalba

Oh, yeah, goes on my list! But, can you imagine Sinatra as.......no, I can't even type it!

Snowla, welcome to Nabokovia! I don't think I've heard the adjective "sassy" applied to Lolita before, but it is quite appropriate. She is just that, really. I would recommend any of Nabokov's works actually, but for a next one...perhaps Pnin would be a good choice. It's one of my favorites and parts reflect Nabokov's own past. For a partial biography of Nabokov, I'd say you must read his Speak, Memory.

Oh, I loved Miss Peregrine's! The sequel is coming out, I think next January. I stayed on the fence quite a while before reading it, but finally caved. Glad you enjoyed it poppy.

Have you read the other books of the Cousin's War? Have to say GWTW is one of my all time favorites. I've finished The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory, although it's the first of the Cousin's War series, it's the last one read by me. Now I'm up to date and tapping my toe for the 6th and last! My review is over on my book thread. hint: this was my least favorite... AIE: Whoops! just saw you've read The White Queen on your book thread!

The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory 3/5 I debated on a 3 or 4 star rating, and finally came down to the three star. The historical information is excellent, and Gregory gives wonderful insight into the machinations of the beginnings of the Cousins War. Her research is meticulous, and the list of books she has read in research of this complex time period is mind boggling, and she has put that knowledge to excellent use. The story of Jacquetta of Luxembourg, mother of Elizabeth Woodville, eventual great grandmother to the infamous Henry VIII is entwined with the beginning of the Cousin's War, aka War of the Roses between the House of Lancaster and the House of York. The romantic lens that Gregory used to tell the story dulled somewhat the edginess of the politically tricky and terribly grim times of the tale. She told it as a romance, and while there were certainly romances going on, and they had a telling effect on the events, they were not the crux of the matter. In a way, I'm glad I left this, the first novel of the series, to read last. If I'd read it first I might have given up on the Cousins War series. And that would have been a shame, as the next ones were toned down a bit in that area. Or, at least the romance was more integral to the direction of the events.

Finished Blood Will Tell A Medical Explanation of the Tyranny of Henry VIII by Kyra Cornelius Kramer 3.5/5 Review over yonder.

Blood Will Tell, A Medical Explanation of the Tyranny of Henry VIII by Kyra Cornelius Kramer 3.5./5 An exhaustive study of the possibility, or, in truth, the probability of King Henry VIII of England's blood diseases. The book debunks the old bone of Henry having syphilis, and presents compelling and itemized evidence of his blood being Kell positive, complicated by onset of McLeod syndrome in later life. Kramer's relating of the history of each Henry's wives along with the above suppositions is fascinating, and complete. Recommended for those interested in English history.

I'd put it close to the Reich's books. A few scenes are uncomfortable, but not overly descriptive. Well, one is a bit, but it's over fast and the lead up is more suspenseful. If you like cozies, have you read the Joe Grey series by Shirley Rousseau Murphy? If you like cats, cats that are wisenheimers, and talk, you'll enjoy them.

A well loved, oft used method! I've only read one of Leon's, but enjoyed it, have more on the shelf. Must read.

Uh-Oh. Ah'm in trouble now!

Fantastic list! Ok, I am numbers....... 1, 2 (depends on who is doing the interrupting..), 3, 4 (occasionally), 5 (big Time!), 6, 8 ( I simply 'consider the source'), 9, 10, 12 (but I've hardly ever lent books anyhow, goes against the grain), 13 (ditto), 14 (grrrrr ), 15 ( I still remember crying like a baby at my job at a lawyer's firm at the end of Love Story...I was young!), 16 (again, 'consider the source'), and last, but not least.......17....BIG TIME! Love the illustrations accompanying the items. Oh, regarding your leaving Jane Eyre at your parents house. I blush to admit I have at least 3, maybe 4 copies.....all different versions, of course.

I believe you'll see Margaret in a bit of a different light after reading The Red Queen. Even though I didn't end up liking her, I felt far more sympathy for her view of things by the end of the book. Some of the things she went through were truly horrific. And she did sacrifice a great deal for her beliefs. It is great the way three of the books are written about the same time frame, but told by different side of the bias. Fascinating.

Finished one (of the four)! By the Time You Read This by Giles Blunt. Good mystery, review on my book thread.

By the Time You Read This by Giles Blunt 4/5 Even knowing the "who" about 40-odd% in did not reduce the climbing tension in this smoothly written Canadian police procedural. Blunt weaves a compelling story of murder, abuse of power, love and hate. Detective John Cardinal's wife has suffered with clinical depression, and bi-polar disease for all of their married life. She is an award winning photographer, brilliant in composition. And, surely her disease is pretty much under control with a caring psychiatrist, one that combines drug therapy with talk therapy. She hasn't had a manic episode, or a hospitalization for depression in quite a while. But one night she leaves the house to photograph the coming Harvest Moon from the tallest building in the small town and doesn't return home. Cardinal's journey through his grief, and dogged search for the truth is realistically told, with compassion and truth. This is part of a series. A series I am now very interested in following up on. Highly Recommended.

@willoyd.....this will be the 3rd or 4th Trevor I've tried. Somehow his writing seems to me to be.......so fraught with despair. This one, so far, feels a bit different. /fingers crossed/ LOL, yes...that would help!

We've watched the first three seasons of The Good Wife, really enjoying it. Watched a few episodes of Battlestar Galactica, don't care for it. Watched several episodes of Law & Order, Trial by Jury. The first two were a bit antiseptic, but it improved until we are enjoying it. There is only one season of it though.

Still reading above, very good! Picked up another one to read, Felicia's Journey by William Trevor. I've only read a chapter or so, but it's captured me right away. I have been wary of Trevor, in the past I've found him a bit depressing. Oh, gosh! That is hard, but thankfully August is more than half gone.

Just the sort of thing I'm looking for, thanks!

Great review of the Bond book, Brian. It's really annoying though, the new covers they keep coming out with! I already have two sets of the Fleming/Bond books, you'd think that would be enough!

Oh, of course not, I knew immediately what had happened. That's why I posted as I did.

That was the name I knew it by. incestuous bunch. @willoyd...I was surprised at the fact that Henry VII was the one that came up with the rose symbol. Also, although I'd already found a paperback copy of Dunant's The Birth of Venus at the local Library Sale, this evening I saw a good condition hardback at the local 2nd & Charles used book store. So, I had to buy it! Also picked up a copy of her In the Company of the Courtesan, and...just ordered through Amazon Marketplace a copy of her Mapping the Edge. What a versatile author! Thanks again for the tip willoyd, and frankie. AIE: picked up a copy (finally!) of William Trevor's Felicia's Journey.

I've started a third book, e-book actually. By The Time You Read This by Giles Blunt. Takes place in Canada, the wife of a policeman takes her own life. But did she? Interesting mystery, so far. I'm about a third of the way into it.

Yes, there were, all together, 5 identical posts from a poster calling themselves Becca1993. There may have been more, but I received at least 5 notifications. Thank you Janet, and CB.

Thanks, I'm becoming more and more interested in Dunant! I googled the Cousins War as well, and came up with the same thing. It is an appropriate naming though. Actually, since she is current, and calling it that, it's logical that the hits would all mention her.....I've noticed that in other searches, ones that I know have other roots and meanings, but the current rage subsumes the older meanings/roots. Well, re Elizabeth Woodville, yes, I know the two Elizabeths (mother and daughter)...however, probably mistakenly, in the book The White Queen, they did occasionally refer to the daughter as Elizabeth Woodville. I don't know why. Perhaps as a slur? I think it was when the legitimacy of the marriage of Elizabeth and Edward was being questioned. And yes, Gregory portrays the marriage of Elizabeth and Edward as a great love match.

I love the Ripley series. Especially the next two, Ripley Under Ground and Ripley's Game. There is another film as well starring the amazing and wonderful John Malkovich as Ripley (Ripley's Game). He does a fantastic job on Ripley. A must see. Uneasy is the perfect way to describe those books. Good Review!