Mailbox Monday

It's time once again for Mailbox Monday, a weekly meme created for bloggers to share the books that arrived in their home over the previous week.  Mailbox Monday is a travelling meme and is being hosted in the month of October by its originator, Marcia at Mailbox Monday.   I haven't participated in this meme in a couple of months, even though I've received lots of books in my mailbox during this period, but I received some great books this week and wanted to share.

All books were my own purchases -- unless otherwise indicated, all synopses courtesy of chapters.indigo.ca


Mistress of the Sea by Jenny Barden  (synopsis courtesy of amazon.co.uk)

Plymouth 1570; Ellyn Cooksley fears for her elderly father's health when he declares his intention to sail with Drake on an expedition he has been backing. Already yearning for escape from the loveless marriage planned for her, Ellyn boards the expedition ship as a stowaway.

Also aboard the Swan is Will Doonan, Ellyn's charming but socially inferior neighbour. Will has courted Ellyn playfully without any real hope of winning her, but when she is discovered aboard ship, dressed in the garb of a cabin boy, he is furious.

To Will's mind, Drake's secret plot to attack the Spanish bullion supply in the New World is a means to the kind of wealth with which he might win a girl like Ellyn, but first and foremost it is an opportunity to avenge his brother Kit, taken hostage and likely tortured to death by the Spanish. For the sake of the mission he supports Drake's plan to abandon Ellyn and her father on an island in the Caribbean until their mission is completed. But will love prove more important than revenge or gold?

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

The Great Recession has shuffled Clay Jannon out of his life as a San Francisco web-design drone, and serendipity, sheer curiosity and the ability to climb a ladder like a monkey have landed him a new gig working the night shift at Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore. But after just a few days on the job, Clay begins to realize that this store is even more curious than the name suggests. There are only a few customers, but they come in repeatedly and never seem to actually buy anything, instead checking out impossibly obscure volumes from strange corners of the store, all according to some elaborate, long-standing arrangement with gnomic Mr. Penumbra. The store must be a front for something larger, Clay concludes, and soon he has embarked on a complex analysis of the customers behaviour and roped his friends into helping him figure out just what's going on. But once they bring their findings to Mr. Penumbra, they discover the secrets extend far beyond the walls of the bookstore.

With irresistible brio and dazzling intelligence, Robin Sloan has crafted a literary adventure story for the 21st century. Evoking both the fairy tale charm of Haruki Murakami and the enthusiastic novel-of-ideas wizardry of Neal Stephenson or a young Umberto Eco, but with a unique and feisty sensibility that's rare to the world of literary fiction, Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore is exactly what it sounds like: an establishment you have to enter and will never want to leave, a modern-day cabinet of wonders ready to give a jolt of energy to every curious reader, no matter what the time of day. 

The Renegade by Jack Whyte

The Renegade is a blazing, brilliant, new historical adventure in Jack Whyte's Guardians series. Packed with action, heroism, and vibrant historical detail, The Renegade recounts the life of Scotland's greatest medieval king, Robert the Bruce. Bruce was one of the most famous warriors of his generation, eventually leading Scotland during the Wars of Scottish Independence against the Kingdom of England, most famously at the bloody Battle of Bannockburn. Today in Scotland, Bruce is revered as a national hero, but during his lifetime, the rebellious leader and guerrilla tactician was a thorn in Edward Plantagenet's side, earning himself the nickname the Renegade.

Set in the 14th century, The Guardians series features three extraordinary guardians of medieval Scotland, the greatest heroes the country ever produced. The exploits and escapades, high ideals, and fierce patriotism of William Wallace, Robert the Bruce, and Sir James Douglas are the stuff of legends, and the soul and substance of these epic novels.

Cavalier Queen by Fiona Mountain

It was Charles I's love for his Queen Henrietta Maria which plummeted England into the darkness of the Civil Wars, but it was the love and loyalty of another man that sustained her through days of betrayal, destitution and death.

Tall and brave, Harry Jermyn is captivated by the witty French princess, just fourteen years old when she sails with him to Dover, queen of a land she has never seen, of a people whose language she cannot speak, who despise her for her faith -- and wife of a king she has never met.

Charles grows to love her but rebellion and the threat of execution force her into exile and into the arms of Harry, who risks his life for her sake. Together they work for the royalist cause, pawning the crown jewels, securing men and arms and returning to England to lead an army south.

As England is torn apart, Henrietta's heart is torn between the two men she loves, between duty and illicit passion. The subject of dangerous gossip and public scandal, she is powerless to calm the storm which will lead to tragedy.

What did you get in your mailbox this week?

100 Follower Giveaway!

In honour of my reaching the 100 follower milestone here at Confessions of an Avid Reader, I'm hosting a giveaway as a thank you.  The winner will receive their choice of one book from The Book Depository (valued at no more than $20 Canadian).   

Contest Details:

(1) You must follow this blog via Google Friend Connect (new followers are welcome);
(2) You must live in a country to where The Book Depository ships.
(3) To enter simply leave a comment with your email address.
(4) The contest will remain open until 11:59pm (EST) on October 17th, 2012.  
(5) The winner will be selected using random.org -- I will contact the winner via email to obtain required details (book selection, mailing address).

Good luck! 

Book Review: Becoming Marie Antoinette by Juliet Grey

Why must it be me? I wondered. When I am so clearly inadequate to my destiny?

Raised alongside her numerous brothers and sisters by the formidable empress of Austria, ten-year-old Maria Antonia knew that her idyllic existence would one day be sacrificed to her mother's political ambitions. What she never anticipated was that the day in question would come so soon.

Before she can journey from sunlit picnics with her sisters in Vienna to the glitter, glamour, and gossip of Versailles, Antonia must change everything about herself in order to be accepted as dauphine of France and the wife of the awkward teenage boy who will one day be Louis XVI. Yet nothing can prepare her for the ingenuity and influence it will take to become queen.

Filled with smart history, treacherous rivalries, lavish clothes, and sparkling jewels, Becoming Marie Antoinette will utterly captivate fiction and history lovers alike.

Synopsis courtesy of chapters.indigo.ca

My Review

3 Stars

Becoming Marie Antoinette, the first novel in a planned trilogy about the infamous French Queen, follows the life of the title character from her late childhood in her native Austria to the day of her accession to the French throne as the consort Louis XVI.  

It is evident right from outset that a significant amount of research went into the writing of this novel, and that the author took great care to ensure historical accuracy.  This research, in combination with Juliet Grey's often eloquent prose, results in the Austrian and French courts coming vividly to life for the reader.  It also serves to highlight the incredible differences between life in an Austrian palace and that of life at Versailles.  Indeed, the presentation of life at Versailles in particular is one of the novel's greatest strengths.  Another strength is Grey's sympathetic  characterization of Marie Antoinette, who is portrayed as a charming young woman who, in spite of years of preparation for her role as dauphine, is quite unprepared for life within the Bourbon court.   I also enjoyed the brief glimpses into the mind of Empress Maria Therese of Austria, which were showcased through the letters she wrote to her daughter. 

While acknowledging that many of the reviews I have read for this novel have found little if anything to criticize, I had a number of issues with it.  While I generally prefer detailed works of historical fiction to more cursory novels, I don't overly enjoy books that contain exhaustive amounts of detail that add little to a story.  Unfortunately, Becoming Marie Antoinette is an example of a novel containing too much detail.   In fact, there were several instances were it seemed Grey was simply trying to fit in every last piece of her research (the scene in which Marie Antoinette is having her braces affixed immediately comes to mind).   As a result, even though I liked Grey's writing style, this book failed to captivate me.   I think the book would have been better if Grey had spent more time detailing the goings on of the day and less on extensive accounts of what the characters were wearing or how they arranged their hair.   It is my hope that the second novel in the trilogy (Days of Splendor, Days of Sorrow -- check back here on October 24th to read my review) will better suit my tastes. 

Recommended to fans of historical fiction interested in the early life of Marie Antoinette and those who enjoy considerable historical detail. 

Note: This novel comes from my own personal collection.

Top Ten Tuesday: Older Books I Don't Want People To Forget About

It's time for Top Ten Tuesdays, a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and Bookish that features a different book/reading theme each week.   This week's topic is:

TOP TEN 'OLDER' BOOKS I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO FORGET ABOUT

For purposes of this post I've defined 'older' books as those first published at least 15 years ago. 

(1) The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman.   First published in 1982, this novel, which is about the Wars of the Roses and the reigns of Edward IV and Richard III, is one of the best works of historical fiction I've had the pleasure of reading.   I consider this one a must read for fans of the historical fiction genre. 

(2) The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough.   This popular novel was originally published in 1977.  I read this one as a teenager and it remains a favourite of mine to this day.  

(3) John Jakes' North and South Trilogy (North & South, Love & War, Heaven & Hell).  This three volume series follows the lives and loves of two families (one from the North and one from the South) in the years before, during and after the U.S. Civil War.   This trilogy was first published between 1981 and 1987.  







(4) Patriot Games by Tom Clancy.   I'm a big fan of espionage thrillers and Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan books are among my favourites in this genre.   Patriot Games, published in 1987, is the best of the bunch. 








(5) Child of the Phoenix by Barbara Erskine.   Although Barbara Erskine is perhaps best known for her time great slip novels such as Lady of Hay, I think this one, which features a 13th century Welsh princess as the heroine, is her best.  First published in 1992. 








(6) My Lady of Cleves by Margaret Campbell Barnes.   First published in 1946, this is the only work of historical fiction I've read that features Henry VIII's fourth wife, Anne of Cleves, as the central focus of the book.   Anyone interested in Tudor historical fiction should definitely give this one a try. 







(7) Katherine by Anya Seton.   This novel is another fine example of historical fiction at its best.   Full of rich historical detail, this novel tells the story of Katherine Swynford and John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster.  







 

(8) Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh by Robert C. O'Brien.   Originally published in 1971, this is one of my favourite books from childhood.   









(9) Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson.   This is another childhood favourite of mine, and one of the first books I remember having an strong emotional reaction to.   I hope this book remains a favourite for kids for years to come.  First published in 1977.







(10) Judy Blume's Fudge books (Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, SuperFudge, Fudge-A-Mania and Double Fudge).  I'm happy to see Blume's Fudge books still grace the shelves of my local bookstore years after they were first published (the first novel was published in 1972).  








What older books do you hope people don't forget about? 

Book Review: Birds of a Feather by Jacqueline Winspear

Jacqueline Winspear's marvelous and inspired debut, Maisie Dobbs, won her fans from coast to coast and raised her intuitive, intelligent, and resourceful heroine to the ranks of literature's favorite sleuths. Birds of a Feather finds Maisie Dobbs on another dangerously intriguing adventure in London "between the wars." It is the spring of 1930, and Maisie has been hired to find a runaway heiress. But what seems a simple case at the outset soon becomes increasingly complicated when three of the heiress's old friends are found dead. Is there a connection between the woman's mysterious disappearance and the murders? Who would want to kill three seemingly respectable young women? As Maisie investigates, she discovers that the answers lie in the unforgettable agony of the Great War.

Synopsis courtesy of Chapters.indigo.ca

My Review

3 Stars

Birds of a Feather is the second novel in Jacqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobbs mystery series.  Set in late 1920s England, the series features a young private detective, Maisie Dobbs, as the heroine.   In this novel Maisie is recruited by a wealthy businessman to locate his runaway daughter.   While the case initially seems straightforward, it soon becomes complicated by the deaths of three former school friends of the runaway woman.   While it seems that the three deaths are unrelated, Maisie investigates them in the hopes they will help solve her case.  What she uncovers leads her back to events of the Great War, which turns her case into one much larger than that of simply locating a runaway woman.

While the mystery component of the series' first novel (titled Maisie Dobbs) wasn't all that mysterious, nor was it the focal point of the book (click here to read my review), in Birds of a Feather the mystery serves as the foundation for the story.  Winspear does a good job of subtlety linking Maisie's case to that of the deaths of three women so that the connection between them does not become obvious until the novel's conclusion.  Winspear also excels, much like she did in her first novel, at illustrating the impact of the lingering effects of the Great War on those whose lived through it.   Ultimately, however, I didn't enjoy Birds of Feather nearly as much as I did the first novel in the series.   My lack of enthusiasm for this book comes down to the simple fact that for much of the novel Maisie, who is clearly an intelligent and independent woman, comes across as cold and detached.   While this is understandable given everything Maisie has been through, it makes it quite difficult for the reader to connect with the heroine.  This begins to change towards the novel's end, which makes me hopeful that Maisie will continue to grow as the series progresses, but not enough to improve my rating.  Nevertheless, I will continue with this series. 

Recommended to fans of the first Maisie Dobbs novel, as well as to those interested in reading books set in the period between the two World Wars.

Note: The novel comes from my own personal collection. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Series I Haven't Finished

It's time for Top Ten Tuesdays, a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and Bookish that features a different book/reading theme each week.   This week's topic is:

Top Ten Series You Haven't Finished 

I love series, but admit that there are several series on my shelves that I still haven't gotten around to finishing.   Here are the ones that immediately come to mind (the cover images are the first book of each series):

(1) The Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon.   I loved the first four books in this series, but found the fifth one didn't live up to my expectations.   I stopped reading the sixth book after 200 pages and haven't bothering to try it again.  Even though I have the seventh book sitting on my shelf, I don't know that I'll ever finish this series (which has yet to be completed).   It's been close to fifteen years since I first started reading this series and my reading tastes have changed quite a bit since then.   As a result, this series no longer holds the same appeal for me.




(2) Sara Donati's Wilderness Series.   This series is very similar to Gabaldon's Outlander series, and it is for much the same reason that I don't know that I'll ever finish this one.   Loved the first few books, but was not as keen on the later books in the series.   I have the last two novels sitting on my shelves, but I have a feeling they'll remain unread for a long time to come.

(3) John Jakes Kent Family Chronicles.   As I absolutely love John Jakes' North & South trilogy I gave his Kent Family Chronicles a try in the hopes I would find it just as engaging.   While I liked the first book, The Bastard, I didn't enjoy it enough to continue with the series.






 
(4) Lian Hearn's Tales of the Otori series.  I thoroughly enjoyed the first two books in this series and have the remaining books sitting on my shelf to read.  I fully intend to finish this one, and have no excuse for not having done so earlier.  

(5) Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin series.   I love this 20-book series set mainly on the high seas during the Napoleonic Wars and featuring a British Naval Officer and his surgeon/spy best friend.  I've read the first 16 books but have put off going any further since I know that once I finish the final four books there will be no new material featuring Captain Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin for me to read. 





(6) Jack Whyte's Camulod Chronicles.   I read the first book (The Skystone) in this Arthurian series a few years back.   I enjoyed it so much that I immediately went out and bought the rest of the series.   Guess what?  I still haven't read any of them.  The fact I haven't finished is a reflection of the fact that I get easily distracted by new books and push older ones further and further down my tbr pile.   I do plan to finish this series!






(7) Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next series.   I thought the first two Thursday Next books (The Eyre Affair and Lost in a Good Book) were great fun to read, but had much difficulty with the third one (The Well of Lost Plots).   I haven't tried book four (Something Rotten) mainly because I'm afraid it will be too much like book three.   I'll get through this series eventually.






(8) Lauren Willig's Pink Carnation Series.   This series is great fun, but I have to be in the right mood to read the books associated with it.  Since I haven't felt like reading light, fluffy historical fiction/ modern-day chick lit lately, the last two books in this series remain on my shelves unread.  I will read them one of these days.






(9) Conn Iggulden's Emperor series.   The first two books in this series set in ancient Rome and featuring Julius Cesar are pretty good, but I just don't care enough for the characters to continue with this one.








(10) Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series.   I've read the first five novels in this epic fantasy series.  With the exception of the series' final novel, which is due to be released next year, I have all the books on my shelves.   The fact I've not read past book five is not a reflection of the quality of the series, which I think is very well done, but rather a result of the fact that each of the books is about 1000 pages long!  I just haven't felt like devoting a significant chunk of my reading time to this series recently.    I will probably get back to this series late this year or early next.

   

Reading Slumps, etc.

Happy Sunday!  As fall has finally arrived, I'm hoping the cooler weather and changing colours will also coincide with the release of some exceptional books.  You see, I've been in somewhat of a reading slump lately.   With a couple of exceptions (notably the first two novels in Micheal Sullivan's awesome Riyria Revelations fantasy trilogy), nothing that I've read over the past few months has blown me away, and I'm craving a book I can completely lose myself in.   Has anyone else experienced a reading slump lately?  If so, what book broke you out of it? 

I'm hoping my slump will end this coming week, which will see the release of J.K. Rowling's anticipated first novel for adults, The Casual Vacancy.   In addition, October will bring the release of Kate Morton's latest book, The Secret Keeper.  To say I'm looking forward to reading both of these novels is an understatement.   Is anyone else planning to read these?   Are there any other upcoming releases on your must read list?

In other news, I'm going make a big effort in the weeks ahead to pay more attention to my blog, which, despite my best intentions, I admit to having somewhat neglected lately.  As such, in the next couple of weeks I plan to post reviews for the following books:

• Birds of a Feather by Jacqueline Winspear
• Tears of Pearl by Tasha Alexander
• Becoming Marie Antoinette by Juliet Grey

In addition, thanks in large part to my participation in the Historical Fiction Blog Hop, I have hit and surpassed the 100 followers mark!  As a thanks I will soon be hosting a 100 Follower Giveaway.   Stay tuned for more details.