The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory

 

This month I've chosen The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory.

This is the story of Katherine of Aragon from a child until she begins to suspect Henry VIII of having an affair with Anne Boleyn.

Philippa Gregory shows us what it is like for a young girl who has been brought up to be a princess. We get insights too into the Spain of Isabella and Ferdinand and how the Spanish royals enjoyed the delights of the Alhambra Place after the Moors had been chased away.

We see a young woman who falls in love with the young husband of her arranged marriage.  We witness her grief when that young man dies prematurely.

We gain some understanding of how Henry became the way that he was. He was never meant to be king. That should have been his older brother Arthur, to whom Katherine was first married.

Because of Gregory's skilful writing we gain useful insight into this brave young woman.

An interesting issue arises. Can Muslims, Jews and Christians live together in peace and harmony? Katherine believes ardently that Christianity is the true faith but admires the culture, science and education of the Muslims. The Jews too have their qualities.

They win one war but then there could be another and yet another. Isn't it peace they should be working towards?

Some modern day questions arise here for us.

We all know the story doesn't end well for Katherine. Gregory really helps us to see it from the young queen's point of view.        

Find your copy here  

Note, this is an affiliate link and a small portion of what you pay, at no extra cost to you,  may go to Bridge House Publishing. 

 

Ruth by Elizabeth Gaskell

 

This month I've chosen Ruth by Elizabeth Gaskell.  

Is this a book way ahead of its time? It contains the richness of plot that all the 21^st century gurus say we must have, including two rather nasty things happening just before it ends.  The characters are believable and rounded.

Yes, it's a classic and the print is rather small. Yes, there is a lot of description.  There is also a lot of head-hopping. Novelists had not yet mastered the discipline of a constant close third person narrative. Elizabeth Gaskell jumps into the text frequently.

The story is at once harrowing and promising of hope.  Ruth is a fallen woman and there was not much sympathy for such as her then. Yet she takes on a brave task and her illegitimate son may be proud of her, not ashamed.   

I'm now tempted to read more by this insightful novelist. 

This particular text was very well annotated which made the whole process even more rewarding. 

Find you copy here

Note, this is an affiliate link and a small portion of what you pay, at no extra cost to you,  may go to Bridge House Publishing.   

The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan

 

This month I choose The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan.  

Two engaging stories weave together and finally make sense of each other at the end.

It’s a story full of coincidences and improbabilities. There is even a ghost and a couple of love stories. There are mysteries aplenty too. Why was a biscuit tin containing someone’s ashes left on a train? Why is the ghost so angry? How will Laura ever be able to return all of the objects that her former boss found?

Yet it all works beautifully and makes for a very pleasant read.

Anthony Perdew, the original collector of the objects, was a short story writer and interwoven in the text are some of his stories about the objects - many of which actually come very close to the truth.

The characters are charming and in my view well-rounded and believable.

Ruth Hogan keeps you engaged as she outlines the tasks for The Keeper of Lost Things.  

Find your copy here  

Note, this is an affiliate link and a small portion of what you pay, at no extra cost to you,  may go to Bridge House Publishing.