Book Review: Cleopatra's Daughter

Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran

Description: This is the story of Cleopatra and Mark Antony's children told from the perspective of their daughter Selene. She has been captured by Octavian and taken back to Rome. She is forced from Egypt to live in a new land. Neither a slave, not a freed person she doesn't know where she is to go next. Meanwhile in Rome there is a rebellion going on with the slaves. Can she survive the political minefield that is going on?

Thoughts: I haven't spent a lot of time reading about Roman history because it tends to be told from a dry perspective. But I love Rome (I was there a few years back). It is beautiful and the history is amazing. For me this book was the perfect foil for the backdrop of Rome. It was intriguing telling a story that I hadn't heard a million times before (I didn't even know that Selene had existed). I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone who likes historical fiction!

What genre would you consider this?
Historical Fiction

Overall:

Mr. Touchdown

Mr. Touchdown by Lydia Phillips

What was this book about?

Eddie Russell and three other African American children are picked to join in the desegregation process. They are to go to the local “white” school. It is a tough place to be. No one really knows what to do or how to act. They are hated and harassed by many – and the danger to them is not minimal. It is a brave thing to do – but more then anything what they want is to belong.

Several of the other teens – like Nancy Martin will stick up for what they belive is right. Some of the teachers will also. For Eddie – he wants nothing more then to play football. And when given the opportunity he will show the community who he really is.

What did you think about the book?

This book was very, very good! I have to admit that this period of history was not one that I was alive through. It wasn’t one I studied (with the exception of a few paragraphs in a history book in high school). It was one that I had heard about – but nothing really touched me or made me think about that period of time and the people that were part of the movement.

This book had me thinking. It had me empathizing with many of the characters. To think that it wasn’t really that long ago that all of this was going on really has to make you think.

I think that anyone should read this – teens and adults. It makes you think and appreciate where you are in life.

What genre would you consider this?
Fiction

Overall:

Question for You!
Do you think you could have been brave enough to stand up for what was right?

The Heretic’s Daughter

The Heretic’s Daughter by Kathleen Kent

What was this book about?

Martha Carrier is a mother to three boys and two girls. She isn’t what Sarah Carrier wished she had in a mother. She seems to be strict and mean – not giving Sarah the love and attention that she so desires. But things for Sarah are not as they seem to be. While her mother may seem harsh – she is also one to stand up for ideals.

Told from Sarah’s point of you – this book follows Sarah, Martha, and the rest of the family through a devastating period of time – the Salem Witch Trials. Their friends, neighbors, and even they are being prosecuted for being witches. How do you hold on to your ideals of truth and justice when it could mean death for you and all your loved ones?

What did you think about the book?

I read the Crucible in high school but other then that have neither thought that much about the Salem Witch Trials or read much. But after this book I have to say I would be interested in seeing what was out there. (And I will most likely read the prequel to this book that Kathleen Kent is working on).

For me a huge part of the appeal is that Kathleen Kent is a 10th generation descendent of Martha Carrier. So this is in some ways her story as well. While much of it is fiction (as Kathleen really doesn’t know all that happened) it is also incredibly detailed and accurate.

It makes you so angry to think that any sort of personal grudge could be used against someone as witchcraft. Could you imagine if that happened in today’s day in age? Instead of high school bullies – children could be getting their friends arrested over the slightest argument – if they were willing to lie.

This time period is an interesting one in American history and I was definitely excited to read a book about it.

What genre would you consider this?
Historical Fiction

Overall:

Question for You!
Do you have a family story that relates to history? I have always been intrigued by history and how it relates to my family (but am sad to say I know of no stories that relate my ancestors to some great historical event).

The Other Queen

The Other Queen by Phillippa Gregory

What was this book about?

Mary Queen of Scots is now a prisoner in Elizabeth’s country. She could be crowned Queen and is Elizabeth’s heir so Elizabeth just doesn’t know what to do.

The story is told from Mary’s perspective as well as her captors/the people she is a house guest of – George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury and his wife Bess. Each has a different perspective on what should happen to Mary. Add into that the normal court intrigue and you know it will not be as easy as it should be.

What did you think about the book?

When I find out that Phillippa Gregory has a new Historical Fiction book coming I get excited. I wait all year for a book like this and hope that it feeds my addiction to both the time period and the history during that time. I have read all of her books – even her really early works that I found a little disturbing.

So while I was really really excited to see this book come out. Once I started reading it – I almost had to make myself continue. I just didn’t find this book exciting enough. The three characters who tell the story from their point of view aren’t that intriguing. I just wanted more.

Is it a bad book? No. Do I know how it is going to turn out? Well yes – it is history – if Mary was able to overtake Elizabeth then she wouldn’t have been Queen Elizabeth for all those years. The thing that appeals to me about these sorts of books is “making the world real” for me. Making me feel like I really was a part of their thoughts and actions. Like I understood why they made the decisions that they did. Of course I know there is some digression from the real truth – as well as the fact that this is a story we can’t really know what they were thinking.

So if you are looking for a historical fiction book to pick up this isn’t the worst (many of them can be overly dry and fact ridden) but it wasn’t my favorite either.

What genre would you consider this?
Historical Fiction

Overall:


Question for you:
Is there a Historical Fiction author that you love? Books? I would love some suggestions.

The Queen’s Husband

The Queen’s Husband by Jean Plaidy

What was this book about?

Victoria was only 18 when she became Queen of England. And she ruled for many years. One of the most interesting stories about Victoria is how she found her husband Prince Albert and their story of love. Albert was her cousin and was forced to deal with much of the intrigue any royal house would have.

Together they had nine children and did many things for the English people. Read it all here.

What did you think about the book?

If you ever liked the stories of Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert you would love Jean Plaidy and this book. While giving you a great perspective on her life and Albert’s both before and after their marriage it also is not dry. You aren’t reading fact after fact after fact, at the same time you feel like this isn’t all made up. That it is an accurate reading of what was going on in their lives.


What genre would you consider this?
Historical Fiction

Overall:

The Lady Elizabeth

The Lady Elizabeth by Alison Weir

What was this book about?

Elizabeth, the daughter of Henry VIII, starts out life as a princess. But court intrigue, and her fathers wish to have a son soon changes that. She becomes Lady Elizabeth, a bastard child. Her mother is killed and she lives in fear for her life everyday.

Alison Weir tells the story of Elizabeth from her days as a small child until she ascends to the throne. No one really knows some of the truth of Elizabeth’s life, we can only hypothesize. Yet this book does it’s best to put you in her place.

What did you like/dislike about the book?

I generally love the history of Elizabeth I. She is an interesting character in that we know a lot about her, but don’t necessarily no the truth of the whole story. This book tells her story in a way that can keep you interested, move forward quickly, and not bore you with too many facts. Is there anything “new” in this story. Not really. So for me who has read many, many books about Elizabeth – it was just another recap of her life.

What genre would you consider this?

Historical Fiction

Overall: B

Daughter of York

Daughter of York by Anne Easter Smith

What was this book about?
Edward has overtaken his cousin and become king of England. His sister Margaret has now become a pawn in the political marriage game. You follow Margaret and her ladies-in-waiting throughout many years. Including her waiting for marriage, her marriage, the deaths of friends, others overtaking her country.

What was your favorite part about this book?
I enjoyed the look at Richard the most. Richard is a likable character in this novel where as in many others he isn’t that likable. He would be the uncle who locked his nephews in the Tower of London where they disappeared (and many think he killed them). This is in no way covered in this book – but interesting to see a different perspective on him – from his loving sister.

What was your least favorite part about this book?
At the end the author speaks about the “truth” in this book. I found it disappointing that most of the book and characters were false. I realize you can’t know everything about every person in history, but the thing I like most about historical fiction is that you can imagine what really happened in that point in time as opposed to just making up random things.

What genre would you consider this?
Historical Fiction

Overall: C+, interesting and a not-so-dry read.

Spoilers: I was really disappointed to find out that both her confidant and lover were not real at all and that any connection was just reaching.