fiercebunny (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
fiercebunny) wrote2007-04-11 03:05 am
fiercebunny) wrote2007-04-11 03:05 am
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I haven't really done much reading so far this year. I'm never going to make the 50 book challenge at this rate. In February and March, I've only read four books.
The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler. I heard via![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
cleolinda's lj that they're thinking of making another Phillip Marlowe movie, this time with Clive Owen. Mmmmm, that would be perfect casting. Figured it was time to reread this; still baffled by it. If you haven't read Chandler before, I highly recommend you do so, his prose is made of awesome.
The Constant Princess by Phillipa Gregory. Another one of Gregory's inaccurate Tudor novels. This one, focusing on the young adult life of Catherine of Aragon, is unfortunately more boring than trashy. I did like how Gregory portrays Catherine's strength and how it stemmed from her childhood and parents' influence though. On the other hand, it still really annoys me how inaccurate Gregory is.
Abundance by Sena Jeter Naslund. Of the three fictional books about Marie Antoinette that I've read recently (Versailles, The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette), I liked this one the best. Not quite the prose poem that Versailles attempted to be, it's still nicely written. Naslund credits Antonia Fraser's biography as an influence and it shows.
Innocent Traitor by Alison Weir. Weir's first fictional novel, about Lady Jane Grey. I generally enjoy her biographies (I've read her work on Henry VIII's wife and the one on Elizabeth I) and she does well at fiction too, creating a compelling narrative and a sympathetic character in Lady Jane. Lady Jane's is such a sad story though; cursed with rotten, ambitious parents and a horrid marriage (nothing like Cary Elwes, unfortunately). And she didn't have Elizabeth's wiliness in getting out of tight predicaments. I hope Weir continues to write fiction.
In other news, I went to Hastings and bought a used copy of The Prestige, aka the duelling asshole magicians movie, and a cross stitch magazine that had several cute little patterns of kokeshi dolls. I think I'm going to make one into a needlekeep, although I have to finish my needleroll for the lj swap first.
The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler. I heard via
cleolinda's lj that they're thinking of making another Phillip Marlowe movie, this time with Clive Owen. Mmmmm, that would be perfect casting. Figured it was time to reread this; still baffled by it. If you haven't read Chandler before, I highly recommend you do so, his prose is made of awesome. The Constant Princess by Phillipa Gregory. Another one of Gregory's inaccurate Tudor novels. This one, focusing on the young adult life of Catherine of Aragon, is unfortunately more boring than trashy. I did like how Gregory portrays Catherine's strength and how it stemmed from her childhood and parents' influence though. On the other hand, it still really annoys me how inaccurate Gregory is.
Abundance by Sena Jeter Naslund. Of the three fictional books about Marie Antoinette that I've read recently (Versailles, The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette), I liked this one the best. Not quite the prose poem that Versailles attempted to be, it's still nicely written. Naslund credits Antonia Fraser's biography as an influence and it shows.
Innocent Traitor by Alison Weir. Weir's first fictional novel, about Lady Jane Grey. I generally enjoy her biographies (I've read her work on Henry VIII's wife and the one on Elizabeth I) and she does well at fiction too, creating a compelling narrative and a sympathetic character in Lady Jane. Lady Jane's is such a sad story though; cursed with rotten, ambitious parents and a horrid marriage (nothing like Cary Elwes, unfortunately). And she didn't have Elizabeth's wiliness in getting out of tight predicaments. I hope Weir continues to write fiction.
In other news, I went to Hastings and bought a used copy of The Prestige, aka the duelling asshole magicians movie, and a cross stitch magazine that had several cute little patterns of kokeshi dolls. I think I'm going to make one into a needlekeep, although I have to finish my needleroll for the lj swap first.
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I will be sure to also check out Versailles, the Hidden Diaries... if you find it an even better read.
I love book lists/recommendations; thanks so much for posting!
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Of the three books, I liked Abundance best. Versailles is interesting stylistically. Kathryn Davis uses vignettes, poems, bits of plays to give you an impression of Marie Antoinette's life. If you enjoy stream of consciousness, then it would be worth seeking out. I prefer more plot driven writing though, and The Hidden Diaries kind of works, but it has some doozies when it comes to historical innaccuracies. (MA consults a courtesan for relationship advice, goes on a trip to Denmark with Von Fersen, the Necklace Affaire is left out entirely...) It's fun if you take it for what it is, low calorie pop cult. Abundance falls somewhere between those two: literary, but not experimental, with a well paced plot.
I found the writing very soothing too, but the last sad parts went by so quickly that I read the last quarter all in one go. They pick up very suddenly.