The Imposter Bride is one of those stories that I hesitate to write about in case I give away too much of the plot of the book. Set in post-war Montreal, it is the story of Lily Azerov who arrives to marry a man she has never met. He rejects her on sight, and his brother offers to marry her instead. But Lily is not the woman she claims to be. Her past in Europe begins to catch up with her and the new life she is trying to build in Canada.
This book was so well written. I did not know the answers to the mystery of Lily until the end of the story. I immediately recommended this book to my Mom as a possible book club selection for her group. I loved it and would love to read more of Richler's work.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Friday, January 4, 2013
The Kingmakers Daughter by Philippa Gregory
Poor Anne Neville, daughter of Richard, Earl of Warwick, the Kingmaker - one of the most hated characters in English history. She was used as a pawn in her father's game of power in the War of the Roses, also known as the cousins war. Her sister Isabel was married off to George, Duke of Clarence in her father's bid to get George on the throne. When that didn't work out, he switched sides from York to Lancaster, marrying Anne off to Edward of Westminster (son of Henry VI and Margaret of Angou), hoping Edward would displace King Edward and take the throne for himself. (Confused yet? There are many Edwards, Richards, Henrys, Annes, Margarets and Elizabeths in this time in history).
Both Warwick (her father) and Edward (her husband) were defeated and killed in battle. Her mother abandoned her and claimed sanctuary at an Abbey. Her only protection was Margaret of Angou (whom she referred to as the Bad Queen). Anne was taken in by her sister Isabel and husband George, who held her not quite captive, but not quite free either. They wanted legal control of all of her inheritance.
Anne did escape their captivity (though the official historical facts of where she went remains a mystery) and married Richard, Duke of York (later Richard III), brother to Edward VI and George, Duke of Clarence.
Yes, it's a confusing history but a very interesting one. I'd never much thought of Anne before, just the quiet, pale wife of Richard III, who lived in the North and was sickly. There is much more to her and her history than that and I'm glad for Philippa Gregory's take on that.
I quite enjoyed this book and am enjoying the Cousin's War series much more than the Tudor series.
In publication order the books go:
1) The White Queen - 2009
2) The Red Queen - 2010
3) The Lady of the Rivers - 2011
4) The Kingmakers Daughter - 2012
5) The White Princess - TBA
6) The Last Rose? - TBA
In chronological order the books go:
1)The Lady of the Rivers
2)The White Queen
3) The Red Queen
4) The Kingmakers Daughter
5) The White Princess
The Last Rose?
Both Warwick (her father) and Edward (her husband) were defeated and killed in battle. Her mother abandoned her and claimed sanctuary at an Abbey. Her only protection was Margaret of Angou (whom she referred to as the Bad Queen). Anne was taken in by her sister Isabel and husband George, who held her not quite captive, but not quite free either. They wanted legal control of all of her inheritance.
Anne did escape their captivity (though the official historical facts of where she went remains a mystery) and married Richard, Duke of York (later Richard III), brother to Edward VI and George, Duke of Clarence.
Yes, it's a confusing history but a very interesting one. I'd never much thought of Anne before, just the quiet, pale wife of Richard III, who lived in the North and was sickly. There is much more to her and her history than that and I'm glad for Philippa Gregory's take on that.
I quite enjoyed this book and am enjoying the Cousin's War series much more than the Tudor series.
In publication order the books go:
1) The White Queen - 2009
2) The Red Queen - 2010
3) The Lady of the Rivers - 2011
4) The Kingmakers Daughter - 2012
5) The White Princess - TBA
6) The Last Rose? - TBA
In chronological order the books go:
1)The Lady of the Rivers
2)The White Queen
3) The Red Queen
4) The Kingmakers Daughter
5) The White Princess
The Last Rose?
Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory
Jaquetta, Duchess of Bedford was a character from Philippa Gregory's previous "Cousins War" books that interested me the most. Ms. Gregory doesn't write her series in chronological order. Jaquetta was the mother of Elizabeth Warwick (wife of Edward IV), who in turn was mother to Elizabeth of York (wife of Henry VII, mother to Henry VIII). She intregued me for several reasons. the first being that her first husband was a Duke, much older than she, their marriage meant to strengthen ties between England and Luxembourg. Her second husband was Sir Richard Woodville, the Duke's chamberlain. They fell in love and had a secret marriage without permission of the king. Jaquetta went on to serve in the court of Margaret of Angou and was a prominent Lancastrian at the beginning of the War of the Roses.
I really enjoyed this book. It didn't disappoint. I find Philippa Gregory's books to be hit or miss, this one lands at the top of her offerings for me. It was well written about an interesting character in an intriguing time in history. I am quite looking forward to her 5th book in this series, the White Princess about Elizabeth of York, I find that that is the missing piece of the story.
I really enjoyed this book. It didn't disappoint. I find Philippa Gregory's books to be hit or miss, this one lands at the top of her offerings for me. It was well written about an interesting character in an intriguing time in history. I am quite looking forward to her 5th book in this series, the White Princess about Elizabeth of York, I find that that is the missing piece of the story.
Rebel Heart by Moira Young
I really looked forward to this book after enjoying Blood Red Road as much as I did and it didn't disappoint. I was back in the world I loved so much in a few pages. It was so enjoyable to revisit this world and these characters. Ms. Young is a gifted author and I hope more people discover and enjoy this trilogy she is writing. I fully look forward to her next offering.
This book (while still action packed) found another, more emotional side to Saba, which I wasn't expecting.
Of all the dystopian fiction that is out there right now, this is by far my favorite series. My only complaint is the wait I have until the next book is out!
This book (while still action packed) found another, more emotional side to Saba, which I wasn't expecting.
Of all the dystopian fiction that is out there right now, this is by far my favorite series. My only complaint is the wait I have until the next book is out!
The Kill Order by James Dashner
This book was the prequel to the Maze Runner series. None of your known characters are in this one (with a few exceptions of mini flashbacks that hint of Thomas and Theresa). The new main characters are Mark, Trina and Alec. This starts where the Flare began. And I just found it repetitive, confusing and full of zombie disgustingness. It doesn't really answer any of the questions remaining left over from the Maze Runner books. It is full of flashbacks. A lot of this book is depressing and violent. I had a difficult time getting through to finishing.
The Death Cure by James Dashner
The Death Cure was the final book in the Maze Runner Trilogy. I did continue reading the series, but I found it increasingly difficult to do so. I finished it mostly because I wanted the answers that began Thomas's journey to the Glade. As with The Scorch Trials, I found this increasinly violent and depressing. I'm sure those who are into the Zombie stuff that's popular now wouldn't find this nearly as gross to read as I did, but I really did find it gross and had a difficult time finishing.
The Scorch Trials by James Dashner
The Scorch Trials is the sequel to the Maze Runner. Once I started the mystery of the Maze Runner, I knew I would be reading the sequel. Dashner leaves the Maze Runner leaving a lot of unanswered questions and I really just wanted to know the back story of what was happening. I didn't like this book as much as the Maze Runner, in fact I found the Maze Runner to be the best of the 4 books in the series.
The story was still interesting, following the Gladers in life after the Glade. I just found it increasingly violent and depressing. I know people who have really loved this series, it just wasn't for me.
The story was still interesting, following the Gladers in life after the Glade. I just found it increasingly violent and depressing. I know people who have really loved this series, it just wasn't for me.
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