Under Fire-red Sky by Geraldine McCaughrean

 

This month I've chosen Under Fire-red Sky by Geraldine McCaughrean

Four hildn escp bin evacuated duding War II. This isn't one of McCaugherean's usual feel-good stories; it is much more or brutal. In every paragraph something bad happens. This gives a real sense of what it might be like living in a war zone.  Perhaps a warning about the times we're in now.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Under-Fire-Red-Sky-Geraldine-McCaughrean/dp/1836040776/ref=sr_1_1?crid=AXMA5XLO7CHB&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Ssq6flPGUu2

Giveaway  

Love and romance can be tough for a compulsive fibber
Archie has quite a reputation as a practised fibber. Normally his lies are harmless but as time goes by they begin to get him into more and more trouble. They lose him his girlfriend, and bizarrely, his hearing as his ears begin to react in a very strange way every time he is less than truthful. Giving honest opinions isn’t enough. Deep truth is called for. But finding that isn’t easy. Some truths are very hard to face. Then numbers become interesting, too.
Fibbin’ Archie, is, however, more than the story of a disenchanted young man. It is also a writing experiment based on a fascinating number series (Fibonacci!) It is a piece of experimental writing, a humorous story of love and sex, an examination of social issues affecting young adults and a story of coming of age. 

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 

 

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.