Maggie O‘Farrell writes beautifully expressive lines throughout the book. Pages 217-233 are profoundly moving and hard… to forget. Pages 140-151 illustrates how The Plague traveled from one place to, in this case, specifically Stratford, England. The dominoes all had to fall into place to facilitate The Spread. And, the historical research is solid. ✔️

“My mother belongs to Africa. England was part of her story, but who she became was despite England. I want Africa to know her best.”
—Victoria Matilda Davies Randle, daughter of Princess Aina of the Egbado in Okeadon, aka: Princess Sarah Forbes Bonetta Davies, Goddaughter of Queen Victoria of Great Britain. (I won this in a Goodreads Giveaway hence its “uncorrected proof” status. It‘s due to be published soon.)

The main character visits Oxburgh Hall & “tours” the “priest hole.”The hole was “built” 400+ yrs ago at a time of “a flowering of culture against a backdrop of religious suppression,torture,&disease..”〰️”400 yrs from now, is this how Anne Frank‘s attic would be viewed?After…the trauma had faded,would the attic evolve into something fun for kids to see because it was gruesome, the horrifying truth rewritten to make the site more visitor-friendly?”

“I knew that one of the biggest roadblocks to understanding history was the false notion that the individuals of the past were more or less like us, thought like us, and would do only things we would do.” —Hannah Larson (main character) p.276

Against overwhelming odds, including political restrictions about actually engaging the enemy, the Marines triumphed over Al Qaeda in the Triad region in Iraq 2006-7. The book focuses on the 2nd Battalion/3rd Marine Regiment.They stood for those who could not stand for themselves when AQ was making its last stand in the Haditha area.The Marines established “enduring freedom” for the locals at great expense to themselves. Heroes🇺🇸

Some of my favorite authors participated in this project to tell the story of the French Revolution via the feminine perspective. The individual chapters paint a broad stroke showing women‘s involvement in the revolution and its subsequent nation-making. Amazingly, these writers weave the fabric of these women‘s experiences so skillfully that most readers probably won‘t notice the switch from one storyteller to another. Worthwhile & intriguing.

Just finished Pam Jenoff‘s “The Orphan‘s Tale.” One of the minor characters said, “We cannot change who we are. Sooner or later we will all have to face ourselves.” To me, this rings true. What say you?

May Alcott,younger sister of author,Louisa May Alcott,was, much to May‘s dismay, the model for Amy March in her sister‘s classic, “Little Women”.This story focuses on May but involves Louisa since the sisters‘ lives were interwoven. May evolves into a renowned artist at a time when that career path was atypical for women.Hooper‘s precise descriptions show how artists experience the world that the rest of us live in but cannot “see.” Revelatory.

Eliza Schuyler Hamilton was my kind of girl. She played a pivotal role in the founding of the U. S. She states,”I was SOMEONE before I met Alexander Hamilton.” This is well-researched & it could be argued that she earned founder status in her own right. Her chronicle is a Who‘s Who of the N.Y. frontier,the Revolution,and the first yrs. of the new republic. Thanks to the authors,Eliza commands the narrative & hers is a voice that should be heard.

“Don‘t you want to be alive before you die?”
—Madame Manec
WWII French Resistance

An intriguing tale.The concept/theory of genetic memory plays a large role in the story development. I didn‘t know much about “The ‘O8”. Did the French conspire to ensure this invasion‘s failure? A question that eludes a definitive answer, but, yet, is so much fun to debate.The author did “fool” me in a couple of instances, & while I‘m used to Louise Penny doing this, I was pleasantly surprised by Susanna Kearsley‘s skills at doing similarly!

The storyline revolves around the 1915 sinking of the Lusitania by a German U-boat. The history seems solid and the characters strike me as realistic portrayals. I‘m not a fan of “romance” novels, yet love/relationships are a part of the human experience and the inclusion of such in this story is genuine, in my opinion. When it came time to put the bookmark in, I found that I wanted to skip-out on responsibility and just keep reading! 👍🏻

Sarah Wineman of the LATimes wrote, “The temptation is to scarf LP‘s books like potato chips but it‘s ever wise to savor each bite...” Sums up my feelings exactly. I force myself to slow down and jot notes attempting to figure out “who did it,” along with many other things her writing makes me ponder. She‘s getting to be my fav author.

I committed the mortal sin of reading Louise Penny‘s last book before her first! ? And, I am so sequential that it‘s put me OVER the edge so I‘m now dedicated to reading the series in order! ??‍♀️? Typically, I‘m into historical fiction but I want to live in 3 Pines! I want to hang out with Armand Gamache to learn his life lessons (even at this late date ?)and to be his sidekick as he tracks the guilty in the Sûreté du Quebec!!

“Peter was right. She either believed in God, or she didn‘t. Either was OK. But she could no longer say she believed in God and act otherwise.” P.77 I think “believers” run into this quandary when misfortune strikes. I know I do. 🤔🤷🏻‍♀️

The dialogue constructed for Aurore Dupin Dudevant, aka, George Sand, seems connected to her views/personal philosophy, and, thus strikes me as authentic. I can “hear” GS saying the words as I read so this adds credibility to the portrayal, in my opinion. The author has done significant research so as to provide an astute/discerning portrait of GS.

Insightful portrayal of Aurore Dupin Dudevant, aka George Sand. The author is well-versed regarding GS‘s sentiments about writing/life. Like most, GS developed her views based on experiences. Unlike many, she followed-through to initiate personal change. Having some financial resources facilitated her ability to live per her moral compass. I don‘t embrace all aspects of her philosophy, but I admire her commitment to gender equality.

“What possessed people to believe Hitler? How do you ‘know,‘ yet, acquiesce? What of those who resisted and were caught? What about their families?” This book illumines the answers. It also addresses what post-war Germany was like. Surviving in the midst of destruction is mind boggling to those of us who haven‘t experienced such. And, in the aftermath, do these survivors have the right to ever be happy? Or...forgiven? By each other? By us?

“What justifies a murder? Can right be achieved through wrong?” The victim of this particular murder was to be Hitler. Does knowing the identity of the intended victim affect your answers? Hmm...🤔

I just finished this “travelogue” through Dante‘s poem. It definitely enhances meaning for today‘s reader. I rated it “So-So,” because there are so many cantos in the three segments of the poem. Mr. G. was succinct in his explanations, but, if you are inclined to “jump in” the Inferno, you‘ve got to make it through Purgatorio before reaching Paradiso!!! 🤦🏻‍♀️ All praise to the author, but perseverance & a lot of wine 🍷 is required!!!

Here‘s an “exchange” between William T. Sherman and his adjutant, Henry Hitchcock. The Chicago Times, reported an account “that was quite detailed, including our direction of march,& offered names of the senior officers down to division commanders,” H. says. S:”I hate them. They have no courage, no discipline, no integrity. They lie when it suits them. And,commit treason, as well....You cannot carry on a war with a free press!” Was S. right?

This is the fourth in the Civil War series. The books focus on Shiloh, Vicksburg, Chattanooga, and now Sherman is “marching to the sea,” to Savannah. Writing dialogue for historical characters must be challenging, but I think Jeff Shaara pulls it off realistically. (Gotta love the Mark Twain bookmarks! He‘s usually spot-on!)

“Don‘t believe everything you think.”

“Sneak home and pray you‘ll never know the hell where youth and laughter go.”

As I read, I jotted page #s so as to revisit descriptions, dialogues,etc. On p.179, a stained glass church window becomes a clue. WWI soldiers are depicted & under the window it says “They Were Our Children.” And then the list. No ranks. Just names. In death they were equal. As a history major,I regret that most know little about The Great War.This image “stays” with me even now that I finished the story.

I just started this today...I‘m only a few pages in, but I “think” I‘m intrigued.

Here‘s the new book I‘m starting tonight! And, my new bookmark, courtesy of Mark Twain! Plus, apple-cinnamon tea! I believe I‘m ready to read!