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Friday, July 31, 2009
Read Your Own Books Challenge Complete
Here is my list with links to my reviews.
1. Plain Jane by Laurien Gardner - Review Here
2. Nefertiti by Michelle Moran - Review Here3. Madame Serpent by Jean Plaidy - Review Here
4. A Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers by Angie Fox - Review Here
5. Innocent Traitor by Alison Weir- Review Here
6. Jane Eyre (Audio Book) - Charlotte Bronte - Review Here
7. The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn - Robin Maxwell - Review Here
8. 1st to Die (Audio Book)- James Patterson - Review Here
9. Eve - Elissa Elliott - Review Here
10. The Heretic Queen - Michelle Moran - Review Here
Challenge completed July 31, 2009.
Copyright © 2009 by The Maiden’s Court
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Just a Short Little Update
I am thinking that I should have a review of The Heretic Queen up on Saturday (hopefully). I am just racing through the pages and I can't believe that I am almost finished (after starting on Sunday and not being a really fast reader)! It's so engrossing! I also have a plane ride tomorrow - so I should be able to finish.
I also think that I will be posting a giveaway sometime in the next week. I just have to make a decision as to what it will be. I will make that decision after I get home and see what I actually have. And hopefully I will have something for Mailbox Monday this week - as some things should have come while I was gone.
Hopefully everyone has a great rest of Thursday and a great Friday - and the next time I post I will be back home again. Yay!
Copyright © 2009 by The Maiden’s Court
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Humane Award!!!
Copyright © 2009 by The Maiden’s Court
Monday, July 27, 2009
Abu Simbel and Nefertari's Burial Chamber (QV66)
Abu Simbel
Abu Simbel is the monument erected by Pharaoh Ramesses II to commemorate himself and his queen Nefertari. The small temple is dedicated to Nefertari and the goddess Hathor. The most interesting fact is that the statues of Ramesses and Nefertari are shown to be the same height - something that almost never happened. This temple fell into disuse and was almost completely covered with sand until its rediscovery in 1817. The temple was relocated between 1964-1968 to a higher cliff to avoid being flooded by the waters from the Aswan Dam. Here is a little, funny video showing a tour of the temple.
QV66
QV66 is the funerary temple for Nefertari. Her tomb is located at the bottom of the North Side of the Valley of the Queens. The paintings in this tomb are some of the most beautiful of all Egyptian art. The scenes represent chapters from the Book of the Dead as well as Nefertari's life and death. Poetry was written on the walls by Ramesses himself. Her tomb was rediscovered in 1904 but the tomb had already been raided and the body was missing - only pieces were found. For many years the tomb was closed to visitors because of the damage to the artwork, but they have underwent a major restoration effort and are now again open to the public. You can take a tour of her tomb at this site.
Copyright © 2009-2011 by The Maiden’s Court
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Little Bit of Egyptian Trivia
In 1974 the mummy of Ramesses II was transported to Paris for preservation measures. He was issued an Egyptian passport with his occupation listed as King (deceased). Upon his arrival in Paris he was given military honors as any King would.
How cool is that?
Copyright © 2009 by The Maiden’s Court
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Book Review: Eve by Elissa Elliott
Genre: Biblical Fiction
Source: Personal Collection
"In this mesmerizing debut novel, Elissa Elliott blends biblical tradition with recorded history to put a powerful new twist on the story of creation’s first family. Here is Eve brought to life as a wife, mother, and woman in a way religion and myth have never allowed. With stunning intimacy, Elliott boldly reimagines Eve’s journey before and after the banishment from Eden, her complex marriage to Adam, her troubled relationship with her daughters, and the tragedy that would overcome her sons Cain and Abel. From a woman’s first awakening to a mother’s innermost hopes and fears, from moments of exquisite tenderness to a climax of shocking violence, Eve explores the very essence of love, womanhood, faith, and humanity."
This book is told from the viewpoints of Eve and her three daughters, Naava, Aya, and Dara (something never mentioned in the Bible). Each of their perspectives gives a unique look at the world around them. Naava is the eldest daughter who does everything to improve her own place in the world, sometimes creating problems for her family at the same time. Aya is the second oldest daughter and she has a deformity to her foot. Despite this condition she is a necessity to the family as she is the cook and the healer. Dara is the youngest, part of a set of twins, and she is used by the family as a go-between for the family and the newcomers. Eve is questioning if God exists because he hasn’t come to them since they were expelled from Eden. These females tell the stories of the men in their lives as well. Cain, the eldest, has a temper and is questioning the presence of God. Abel, the second oldest, does anything to help his family and believes that he can hear the voice of God, which really upsets his older brother. Jacan, Dara’s twin, follows Abel’s lead and is learning the ways of tending to the herds and listening to God. Finally there is Adam. He is the strong, quiet presence – always believing in the presence of God.
This book takes place at three different periods of time. Most of the story takes place in the months leading up to the death of Abel at the hands of Cain. During this time they meet the newcomers to the area and their presence and influence severely disrupts the pattern of the family. Through Eve’s retellings we learn of their life within the Garden of Eden, what led up to their expulsion from that Garden, and their travels to the place where they eventually settle down. The third period of time is very late in life right before Eve’s death. Naava has come back to see Eve before she dies.
I was very interested in reading this book because the early Bible stories are very interesting and create a great backbone for a novel. Elliott does an amazing job of weaving what is written in the Bible with her own story of the family. Her characters are very real and all of them have a distinct personality. As the story was coming to an end I realized that I didn’t want it to end. I wanted to know more about this family and what would happen after Abel’s death. I found that during reading this book I would look things up in the Bible to get an idea of what the back story was. I learned a lot during this process. I now can’t wait to read other books from this genre and can’t wait to see what this author comes out with next.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Biblical Spotlight: Adam
According to the Bible:
- Adam was created by God in his likeness from the Earth
- Eve, his wife, was created from Adam's rib to keep him company
- He was to live in the Garden of Eden and care for all the plants and animals
- The only rule was to not eat the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil
- He and his wife were expelled from the Garden for doing what he was told not to
- He lived to be 930 years old!
I have to say that I have learned a lot from this series of spotlights - I was never really up on my Biblical events. Until tomorrow - when my review will be posted
Copyright © 2009 by The Maiden’s Court
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Booking Through Thursday
Which do you prefer? (Quick answers–we’ll do more detail at some later date)
• Reading something frivolous? Or something serious? – Something Serious
• Paperbacks? Or hardcovers? – Paperbacks all the way!• Fiction? Or Nonfiction? – Ummm, Fiction if I have to choose.• Poetry? Or Prose? – Definitely Prose – I can’t understand Poetry
• Biographies? Or Autobiographies? – Mostly biographies• History? Or Historical Fiction? – Historical Fiction• Series? Or Stand-alones? – Lately stand-alones
• Classics? Or best-sellers? – Best sellers – anyone who has read this blog knows that reading Jane Eyre last month was the first Classic I have read in recent memory
• Lurid, fruity prose? Or straight-forward, basic prose? – A mix of both
• Plots? Or Stream-of-Consciousness? – Plots! I can’t pay attention to stream of consciousness
• Long books? Or Short? – I would rather read a shorter book, but somehow those longer ones draw me to them the most ;)• Illustrated? Or Non-illustrated? – A little illustrated break is always nice from time to time• Borrowed? Or Owned? – Owned – I have this thing about wanting to keep all my books around me – I have the hardest time getting rid of them.• New? Or Used? – New mostly – Something about knowing I am the first one reading them. But I don’t mind used if they are in nice condition.
Copyright © 2009 by The Maiden’s Court
Expand Your Vocabulary
Ok, so I just finished Eve by Elissa Elliott. I only came across 3 words that I didn't know this time, but they were used over and over and over. So here they are.
- Cistern - a reservoir, tank, or container for storing or holding water or other liquid (n).
- Flummoxed - to bewilder; confound; confuse (v).
- Fecundity - The quality or power of producing abundantly; fruitfulness or fertility (n).
Copyright © 2009 by The Maiden’s Court
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Biblical Spotlight: Cain & Abel
Let's start with the basics:
- Cain was the first child of Adam and Eve, while Abel was the second.
- Cain tended to the fields and had a "green thumb", while Abel tended to the flocks
- Cain & Abel both offered up the best of their products and Abel's offering was shown to have more impact than Cain's.
- Cain killed Abel out of anger
Look for one more Biblical Spotlight this week as well as my review of the book this weekend. Understanding the back story of these characters makes a more fulfilling experience with the book.
Copyright © 2009 by The Maiden’s Court
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Quote of the Day
Monday, July 20, 2009
A Well Rounded Challenge
- 2009 Audio Book Challenge - 2nd Chance by James Patterson
- Jean Plaidy Challenge - The Merry Monarch's Wife by Jean Plaidy
- Four Month Challenge - The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran
- 2009 Read & Review Challenge - Rage: The Story of A Sibling Murder by Jerry Langton
- Read Your Own Books Challenge - Eve by Elissa Elliott
Copyright © 2009 by The Maiden’s Court
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Book Blogger Appreciation Week
From September 14-18 2009 there will be the second annual Book Blogger Appreciation Week. This week is designed to celebrate all of us who work so hard to tell each other about the things that we love the most...BOOKS!
During that week there will be giveaways, special posts and blogging themes. You can check out the website and more info here. Don't forget to hit the register button while you are there to have your blog listed and be entered into a contest.
You can also nominate blog for several different categories - I haven't checked that part out yet.
So definitely check this out, I think it will be lots of fun!
Copyright © 2009-2011 by The Maiden’s Court
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Julie Lessman Contest
I received an email yesterday from author Julie Lessman about a contest that she is having and I thought it would be a good idea to share this with all of you in case you were interested.
I don't know if you are all familiar with her books, I have just gotten into them myself - I haven't had the chance to read any of them yet. Her books are set in Boston during World War I focusing on the O'Connor family. Each book focuses on one member of the family. She has three books out right now: A Passion Most Pure, A Passion Redeemed, and A Passion Denied. Check out her website here for more information on her books.
She is currently preparing to write book 2 in the second part of this series. Her contest is to have a character named after you in that book. To be entered into this contest you need to write a review of A Passion Denied and post it on Amazon.com, christianbook.com, barnesandnoble.com or borders.com (links are included to the book). For each review posted you will get 1 point. Those with the most points will be entered into the final drawing!
The contest ends at the end of 2009, so get your entries in!
Copyright © 2009-2011 by The Maiden’s Court
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
2009 Audiobook Challenge
Copyright © 2009-2011 by The Maiden’s Court
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Author Interview with Robin Maxwell
If you would have asked my mother about that, she'd have told you I was a writer from the age of eight. At least, that's when she started collecting everything I wrote, from poems on birthday cards, to my first love story about Bernie the Bagel and Lottie Lox. I had tried my hand at acting in New York City in the mid-`70s, but by the time I moved to L.A. in `76, ideas were starting to flit in and out of my mind. I can date the moment I became a writer to the day I didn't let the odd idea flit OUT of my mind, and instead wrote it down on a scrap of paper. Then I found a manila folder, titled it "ideas" and put my scrap of paper in there. Soon it was full of ideas, some just a title, some a paragraph. It was when I realized that my ideas, fragmentary as they might be, were VALUABLE, deserving of being kept, that I can say that I became a writer.
The first thing I tried was the story of young woman with breast cancer who falls in love with her surgeon, a man named Dr. Finger. I never finished that. I went on to co-write a comedy sketch with a friend who'd worked on the second season of the Robin Williams sitcom "Mork and Mindy." It was called "Jewish Mother" and was about a 30-year-old Jesus living at home with his parents when the three "Wiseguys" who've been lost in the desert for quite some time, finally show up at "Mrs. of Nazareth's" door. I remember there was a joke about what she was cooking - "stuffed hump." I segued into writing comedy screenplays with a girlfriend, Billie Morton, and together we got our first studio deal in 1981 with a movie script for two legendary producers. It was called "Trouble in Toyland," and we're still trying to sell it as of last week. We worked for 15 years writing comedy for all the studios, though nothing of ours was ever produced. Funnily enough, Billie and I are still writing partners, though she now lives in Australia. One of our comedies written 20 years ago this year looks like it's finally going to be produced. And we are just now embarking on our first novel together. Meanwhile in 1985 one of my scripts was made into a Movie of the Week for CBS, called "Passions," and starred Joanne Woodward.
In 1995 I started writing SECRET DIARY OF ANNE BOLEYN (now in its 22nd printing!). This was based on a long, passionate fascination with the woman, whom I believed from my research was deeply misunderstood and horribly vilified. To this day, SECRET DIARY is the most sympathetic portrait of Anne in both literature and film. The rest, as they say, is history.
Do you have a routine when you write? A specific place or time of day?
No, I don't have a routine. Because I have to do so much research for my historical novels, I have to read, read, read - histories and biographies - and surf the web for material. I do that any old time of night or day. I do prefer to write in the morning, after I've eaten a good protein-laden breakfast (which switches my brain on). But I can write morning, noon or night. If the Muse wakes me in the middle of the night I drag myself out of bed and attend her. Once I'm awake I consider these very blessed moments of creativity. I also seem to get my best, most original ideas in that weird time of the morning just before I wake up and the moments just AFTER I wake up. Sometimes I'll only write for a few hours, but most times it's a full 8-hour day. And once in a while, if I'm on a roll, I'll go 12-14 hours.
You have written several books about Tudor England (Mademoiselle Boleyn, Virgin, The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn, Wild Irish, To the Tower Born, and Queen’s Bastard). What about this time period drew you to it?
The simple answer is Anne Boleyn. But once I started writing about her (and doing the necessary research for SECRET DIARY) I was drawn into the characters of Henry VIII, his other wives and his children, especially Elizabeth I. It was just the most outrageous, colorful, passionate, absurd and bloody period in history. And it was in a language I knew. I sort of created an archaic form of English for Anne to write her first-person diary entries in. For the sections on Elizabeth, which were in third-person, it was much more classical in form. When it was time to write my second book, I became fascinated with the rumors (many of them) that Elizabeth and her lover, Robin Dudley, had had an illegitimate son, Arthur Dudley. I really had to scour the libraries (this was before the internet) to find out the facts of Arthur Dudley's life. The result, of course, was THE QUEEN'S BASTARD. Then I wanted to explore Elizabeth's youthful indiscretions with her step-father, Lord Admiral Thomas Seymour - VIRGIN. When I learned about Elizabeth's rival in the later part of her life and reign, the Irish pirate and "Mother of the Irish Rebellion" Grace O'Malley, I just had to write THE WILD IRISH. This is one of my favorite book, and perhaps the closest to being produced as a major motion picture. I adapted my own novel to a screenplay. So keep your fingers crossed!
I got fascinated with the earliest Tudor ancestors for TO THE TOWER BORN, my very original take on the mystery of the lost little princes in the Tower. And to round everything out nicely, three years ago I wrote about Anne Boleyn again, about her and her sister being brought up in the wild and rather lewd French court - MADEMOISELLE BOLEYN. Don't read this one if you're a prude.
Your most recently published book, Signora di Vinci takes place in Renaissance Italy. What about the Renaissance inspired you to move from Tudor England to this period of time and these characters?
I must say, I was nervous about leaving Tudor England, because it had been so rich and colorful. I couldn't imagine a time or place or characters that could top it. But I was so intrigued by the mind of Leonardo da Vinci that when I started researching him and his mother, Caterina (it's her voice and eyes through which readers explore the period) I found that Italy in the 15th century was every bit as fascinating as Tudor England, if not MORE, because this was where the Renaissance was born. In fact, the grandfather of one of my characters in SIGNORA DA VINCI, Lorenzo "The Magnificent" de' Medici's grandfather, Cosimo de' Medici, was the actual man without whom the Renaissance wouldn't have happened AT ALL. He was the one who spent his florins on sending scouts out all over the world to discover the lost manuscripts of ancient Greece and Rome and have them translated. Then he formed a society to study them -- The Platonic Academy. So the movers and shakers of Florence began reading the classics (which became the basis of Renaissance thought). They were toying with some very heretical material as far as the Christian church was concerned -- pagan stuff, Egyptian magic -- all burnable offenses. Put that together with Leonardo and his cross-dressing mother and the Shroud of Turin hoax, and you've got one helluva story. If you want to read some tidbits about these subjects, go to my website http://robinmaxwell.com (the SIGNORA DA VINCI page) and you'll find "Bonus Passport to the 15th Century" pages and you'll get a taste. I've also printed a fabulous recipe on the website that Caterina makes several times in the book -- "grape and olive compote."
Your new book, O, Juliet, comes out next year. What can you tell us about this book? Have you finished writing it yet?
It's finished, and it'll be published in February of 2010. It's the first time an historical fiction novel has ever been written about the Romeo and Juliet story -- the greatest love story ever told. I adored writing it, and because I decided to make both of my protagonists not only Dante freaks, but amateur poets themselves, I was forced to write poetry in both of their voices. Aaaiiigghh!
Here is the cover (it's actually a cover in two parts -- pull back the first flowery one, and you see the lovers. I'd be interested to know if your readers like the cover.
Their love was the stuff of legend. But the legend is only half the story...
Before Juliet Capelletti lie two futures: a traditionally loveless marriage to her father’s business partner, or the fulfillment of her poetic dreams, inspired by the great Dante. Unlike her beloved friend Lucrezia, who looks forward to her arranged marriage into the great Medici dynasty, Juliet has a wild, romantic imagination that takes flight in the privacy of her bedchamber and on her garden balcony.
Her life and destiny are forever changed when Juliet meets Romeo Monticecco, a soulful young man seeking peace between their warring families. A dreamer himself, Romeo is unstoppable, once he determines to capture the heart of the remarkable woman foretold in his stars.
Thank-you Ms. Maxwell for that delightfully detailed interview. What do you all think of the cover for O, Juliet? I think the flowers are beautiful and appropriate. Hope you all enjoyed it.
But somewhere along the line, the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, and women "ahead of their time," became Maxwell's private obsession.
You can visit her at her website for more information at her works.
Copyright © 2009-2011 by The Maiden’s Court
Monday, July 13, 2009
Mailbox Monday #6 & Blog Update
I am excited today because I actually have a couple things that arrived in my mailbox this week!
This week I received:
1.) A Passion Most Pure by Julie Lessman (Purchased from UK Book Depository)
2.) A Passion Redeemed by Julie Lessman (a signed book won at http://www.prairiechickswriteromance.blogspot.com/).
Both of these books are a part of the Daughter's of Boston series. I am looking forward to reading this series.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ok now for the update...
First, I will be out of the state for the next 2 1/2 weeks (starting this Wednesday) because I have to go away to training for my job. I will be in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I will still be around but I might not be posting quite as often.
Second, I should have my Robin Maxwell interview up in the next few days - you will enjoy it!
Have a great day!
Copyright © 2009-2011 by The Maiden’s Court
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Audiobook Review: 1st to Die by James Patterson
Book 1 in the Women's Murder Club Series
Source: Personal Collection
1st to Die is a dazzlingly powerful new thriller by master suspense novelist, James Patterson, the #1 bestselling author of Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider.
Four women-four friends-share a determination to stop a killer who has been stalking newlyweds in San Francisco. Each one holds a piece of the puzzle: Lindsay Boxer is a homicide inspector in the San Francisco Police Department, Claire Washburn is a medical examiner, Jill Bernhardt is an assistant D.A., and Cindy Thomas just started working the crime desk of the San Francisco Chronicle.
But the usual procedures aren't bringing them any closer to stopping the killings. So these women form a Women's Murder Club to collaborate outside the box and pursue the case by sidestepping their bosses and giving one another a hand.
The four women develop intense bonds as they pursue a killer whose crimes have stunned an entire city. Working together, they track down the most terrifying and unexpected killer they have ever encountered-before a shocking conclusion in which everything they knew turns out to be devastatingly wrong. Full of the breathtaking drama and unforgettable emotions for which James Patterson is famous, 1st to Die is the start of a blazingly fast-paced and sensationally entertaining new series of crime thrillers.
I have read a few of James Patterson’s books before from his Alex Cross series but this is my first from the Women’s Murder Club series. I really enjoyed the way he gave each of the 4 women a distinct personality. Time was spent on character development as well as the development of the mystery.
The main character of this book is Lindsay; she is a police inspector with the San Francisco Police Department. She begins investigating a murder of a newly married bride and groom; appearing to be a standard double homicide. This spree escalates as another double homicide turns up with the same situation. Lindsay begins working with her 3 friends, off the record, to try to solve these crimes in conjunction with the official investigation. These women represent all sides of the investigation process: Claire the Medical Examiner, Cindy the Crime Reporter, Jill the Assistant District Attorney, and Lindsay the Police Inspector.
This story takes many twists and turns along the way. Just when you think you know who Bride and Groom Killer is, new evidence comes up and it sends you a completely the opposite way. I was so sure of who it was twice, and fell into the trap they wanted me to fall into. You will never see the ending coming. As soon as the book ended I wanted to begin the next one; unfortunately for me I have to wait until it arrives and I get back from my trip.
★★★★½☆
I really enjoyed listening to this story. The narrator is Suzanne Toren, a prolific audio book narrator. She did an amazing job of creating a different feel for each of the four women in the story.
You can listen to a short sample of this audiobook (links to Audible)
Where to Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | RJ Julia
Also by James Patterson:
James Patterson has penned many mystery/thriller novels, the other books in the Women's Murder Club series include:
2nd Chance [My Review]
3rd Degree [My Review]
4th of July [My Review]
5th Horseman
6th Target
7th Heaven
8th Confession
9th Judgment
10th Anniversary
11th Hour
12th of Never
Unlucky 13
14th Deadly Sin
(To be released in May 2015)
Find James Patterson: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram