The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory

Title: The Constant Princess
Author: Philippa Gregory
Genre: Historical Fiction

Synopsis: Catarina, Infanta of Spain, always knew she would marry Prince Arthur Tudor of England and become Princess of Wales. This novel chronicles the life of Catarina, better known as Katherine of Aragon. Join her as she learns how to be an English princess and eventually the Queen and wife of the most infamous monarch in English history.

My Thoughts
At this point, you all know my love of Philippa Gregory. Most of what is written about Katherine of Aragon focuses on later in her life when Henry is splitting from the Catholic Church in order to divorce her. It was so refreshing to read about her young life and her short marriage to Arthur. This novel goes back and forth within each chapter from a third person omniscient perspective and the first person present account of Katherine herself.  The way Gregory addresses Katherine's claim that her marriage to Arthur was not consummated so that she could be betrothed to Henry inspired. 
The development of her character after she faces loss and poverty is done so well, she retains her core values but learns from her experiences. Gregory also focuses on how Katherine uses her influence as Queen in order to pursue her own agenda by emphasizing the traits she acquired from her warrior mother. This culminates when she protects England while Henry is away at war and named her as Queen Regent in his absence.
 As always,  this and the many other novels from Gregory's Tudor and Plantagenet series that I have read are highly recommended. 
As I have fewer of these novels left to read, I am also looking forward to her new series The Order of Darkness which will explore other countries during the Middle Ages using completely fictional characters.



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Child of the River by Irma Joubert

Title: Child of the River
Author: Irma Joubert
Genre: Historical Fiction

Synopsis: Translated from the author's native Afrikaans, Child of the River follows the life of Persomi, a young woman raised in a family of poor sharecroppers on the Fourie farm at the outbreak of WWII. Her strong relationship with her older brother, Gerbrand, and members of the Fourie family are her only connection to the outside world.
 Her teacher and members of the community see her intellectual promise and help her to go on to secondary school where she can escape her home life. As she grows older, Persomi sees the many injustices and strong racism in her country and works to help those who are discriminated against. 
It is difficult for her to see herself as more than a poor sharecropper's daughter, even when she has become educated and began her own job. Starting a relationship with a member of a prosperous family has Persomi questioning where she really belongs.

My Thoughts
I have read many books set during WWII but most of them are from the European or American perspective. I love getting to understand how people in South Africa were affected by the war and learning what was transpiring socially and politically at the time. 
Racial discrimination and social status are major themes and are presented in a way that allows the reader to understand why the characters would react the way that they do while still clearly expressing the author's point of view. This book is different than what I have been reading recently and I am so glad that I picked it up. So much happens in this novel, but it never feels disjointed. The ending feels a bit contrived, but overall it is an enjoyable read!


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Eco-friendly Book Buying

When I 'discovered' Discover books, I was excited to learn that they were selling used books in good condition in an effort to keep them out of landfills. They also donate children's books to communities that are in need. The books that are too damaged to donate or resell are recycled appropriately.

You can find pretty much any book you are looking for just by searching on their site. It is much less expensive than purchasing them new and the shipping is FREE! 

One option they have is to buy a mystery box of 10 adult books for $8.00. I decided to give it a shot, so once I receive the books, I will tell you what I got and then read and review each one. ( I still have 2 reviews to post here before those arrive, haha!) Click here for a coupon!

The Wicked City by Beatriz Williams

Title: The Wicked City
Author: Beatriz Williams
Genre: Historical Fiction

Synopsis: "When she discovers her husband cheating, Ella Hawthorne impulsively moves out of their SoHo loft and into a small apartment in an old Greenwich Village building. Her surprisingly attractive new neighbor, Hector, warns her to stay out of the basement at night. Tenants have reported strange noises after midnight—laughter, clinking glasses, jazz piano—even though the space has been empty for decades. Back in the Roaring Twenties, the place hid a speakeasy.
In 1924, Geneva "Gin" Kelly, a smart-mouthed flapper from the hills of western Maryland, is a regular at this Village hideaway known as the Christopher Club. Caught up in a raid, Gin becomes entangled with Prohibition enforcement agent Oliver Anson, who persuades her to help him catch her stepfather Duke Kelly, one of Appalachia’s most notorious bootleggers." - GoodReads.com

My Thoughts

There is a lot going on in this novel, thus the reason I had to borrow the official synopsis instead of writing my own, I could not sum it up any better. At first, I didn't realize that Ella was not living during 1924. Then the author described her as having left her husband, going for a run, and wearing a scrunchy. After that I went back to the beginning of the chapter to realize the scene had been set in 1998, makes much more sense.
Once I had oriented myself it was easy to differentiate which chapters were about Ella, and which were about Gin. The author had to stretch a bit to show how their lives were intertwined decades apart, but it doesn't feel totally forced.
The whole haunted basement thing is a little bizarre. It doesn't really play a major role at all and the story could have been complete even if it had been removed. Beyond hearing a few creepy sounds, nothing really happens in Ella's time that makes it relevant.
Overall, it is a fun quick read, nothing earthshattering, but has enough suspense to keep the reader engaged.
If you want more books by this author, I suggest you pick up A Certain Age, it was one that I enjoyed even more!

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The Fifth Avenue Artists Society by Joy Callaway

Title: The Fifth Avenue Artists Society
Author: Joy Callaway
Genre: Historical Fiction

Synopsis: Joy Callaway's debut novel tells a fictionalized version of a family story passed down through generations. The Loftins are a family of artists struggling to keep their Bronx home in the 1890s. Virginia Loftin wants nothing more than to be taken seriously as a writer and to marry her childhood friend Charlie. When Charlie proposes to another woman because of her wealth, Virginia (Ginny) is crushed and puts everything into writing a novel based on their love. To help her move on and share her work, Ginny's brother, Franklin, takes her to the home of a friend who hosts an Artists Society that actually allows women to attend and share their ideas. The friendships they make at The Society lead the Loftin's into a world unlike their own, and when tragedy strikes it threatens to tear their family apart.

My Thoughts
This book was nothing like I expected it to be, in the best way possible. I thought it was going to be a coming of age story for a young woman who realizes there is more to life than the man who proposed to someone else, but it was that and much more. It really reached into the complexity of family life of the upper middle class in the late 19th century; the epic battle between unconditional love and doing what is best for the family.
This novel also explores the art scene emerging in New York at the time as well as questionable medical practice that was then considered “state the art.” 
This story has twists and turns and the shock factor that can only be found in a story that has bits of truth and has been embellished over time as it was passed from generation to generation. It is so cool to read a story that has been in the author's family for so many years.
I really enjoyed reading this novel, I think it is unique in a way that allows it to resonate with many different readers.

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The Last Tudor by Philippa Gregory

Title: The Last Tudor
Author: Philippa Gregory
Genre: Historical Fiction

Synopsis: The late King Henry VIII's teenaged son, Edward VI, has died and left the inheritance of the crown in uncertainty with many possible heirs, all women. Many think it should pass to one of Henry's daughters, Mary or Elizabeth, but both of them had gone in and out of favor during his tumultuous reign. But the Dudley and Grey families had another idea. They wanted to pass over Henry's daughters in favor of the teenaged granddaughters of his youngest sister, Jane, Katherine, and Mary Grey. Putting the eldest, Jane, on the throne with her equally young husband changes everything for the Grey family, and not for the better. Henry's daughters will not be overlooked and they will never let the Grey girls forget it.

My Thoughts
I have never disliked a novel that I have read by Philippa Gregory, and this is no exception. The novel is broken into three 'books' each one written in the first person present-tense perspective of one of the Grey sisters. We hear from them in the order of their birth, the first book from Jane, the second from Katherine, and the third from Mary.
If you are looking for something light and uplifting, this novel is not a good choice for you. If you are interested in war over succession, the difficulties of inheriting and ruling as a woman in the 16th century, or the passive aggression of Queen Elizabeth I's jealousy, then you will be pleased. Don't get me wrong, there are scenes that depict joy and fun, but ultimately the Grey family does not prosper after they attempt to take the throne.
Gregory does an impeccable job, as usual, gathering information about lesser-known women of the time and giving them a voice. Jane Grey is well known and studied because of her stint as the "9 days queen" and her Protestant writings. Her sisters both have much less written about them and Gregory gives them equal, if not more, space in the novel. Interestingly, Mary Grey is documented as being a Little Person, standing at less than 4'4" and was so little is known about her that she doesn't even appear in the specialist histories of little people. 
Gregory also writes that The Last Tudor may be her last novel about the Tudors as she moves on to new projects. While I find that disappointing, she has written about so many of the important women of the time that she may have exhausted many historical resources and important female figures that there is nothing left to write.

If you are intrigued by the Tudors, British Royal history, or untold stories of women in history, then this book is for you!

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White Collar Girl by Renee Rosen

Title: White Collar Girl
Author: Renee Rosen
Genre: Historical Fiction

Synopsis: Jordan Walsh wants to be a reporter, but as a woman in 1950's Chicago she is going to have to write some fluff pieces and really fight to work her way up. With her family falling apart after the death of her brother Jordan wants to prove to everyone that she is just as good a reporter as her late brother and her retired father. When she gets information from a confidential source she will let nothing, not even personal relationships, get in the way of her first big break.

My Thoughts

What I like most about this novel is that it is not just about Jordan at the newspaper and the prejudice against women reporters that keep her writing the "White Collar Girl" column. While that is the main focus of the novel it also delves into what loss can do to a small, close family unit and the desperation that causes each of its members. There are also multiple romantic relationships depicted in this novel, but they are flawed like the people in them. There is also an element of mystery that goes along with several of the stories Jordan works to report, which keeps the reader engaged and provides an element of suspense.

If you are looking for a fast and interesting read focused on the many types of relationships in the human experience, newspapers in the 1950s, and women breaking free of traditional roles, then this book is for you!



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To see more from the author, visit the website linked above