I'm not sure if this is really a docudrama. It is more different voice actors reading historical documents (such as letters and reports) that are struI'm not sure if this is really a docudrama. It is more different voice actors reading historical documents (such as letters and reports) that are strung into a narrative. But I enjoyed it. It covered Mary Queen of Scots and Darnley, Elizabeth and Leicester, the Armada, Mary I's struggles. Nicely done....more
There are parts of this that are really interesting. There are also parts that are little more than shopping lists, so less interesting. Joan of Acre There are parts of this that are really interesting. There are also parts that are little more than shopping lists, so less interesting. Joan of Acre is really the most interesting in some ways as is Mary of Woodstock. In many ways, there is more about the power players as opposed to the women, not surprising give the lack of sources. Still a good read....more
**spoiler alert** 1.5, maybe. I skimmed most of it.
I wanted to like this but.
First Esmee Stewart and Matthew Lennox were not the same person. Esmee St**spoiler alert** 1.5, maybe. I skimmed most of it.
I wanted to like this but.
First Esmee Stewart and Matthew Lennox were not the same person. Esmee Stewart was the favorite of James VI and I, and was possibly his lover. Esmee Stewart was never regent, though he had sway over James (who was proclaimed adult ruler in 1579, I believe). Matthew Stewart was James' grandfather and a regent. This is an easy fact to check. I get it can be confusing - Esmee Stewart is the 1st Duke of Lennox, Matthew Stewart the 4th Earl of Lennox, but seriously check it. So that pissed me off.
But the main issue is that Gibson seems to be using the witchcraft trials to show how society goes after people, largely women. This would be okay if the thesis were actually clearer and if she didn't constantly blur lines. For instance, I might agree that you could argue that the abuse Stormy Daniels got was similar to a witchcraft trial, but if your example of a gay man being given a witchcraft trial for who he is, is in fact Montague Summers, I'm going to side eye you. You are playing Summers occult/witchcraft connections to make a larger point but don't do it well.
Furthermore, and I say this as a person who hates Trump, why include Stormy Daniels? I get that Daniels is there in part because of Trump's constant and false use of "witch hunt" but it also makes the chapter more of an attack on Trump chapter, which I am totally down with but that doesn't quite fit the book. Trial by public opinion maybe, but Stormy Daniels was not on trial, unless you count the defamation case. A better example, one where a woman face real legal danger or damage, would be Amber Heard and the abuse she faced. The book might have been written in responsible to Trump's misuse of the term witch hunt, but still the Daniels chapter is odd. And if I, a Trump hater, notes that and have questions about the inclusion, it's not a good sign.
There were parts I liked, but I wanted more detail. I would have preferred more detail about the trial in Norway, say, than the inclusion of modern examples that may have been influenced by historical witch hunts. In fact, the first half of the book is superior to the second, more modern, half. It's almost like two book sandwiched together.
I will note that the writing really isn't academic. It might be dry for some people, but it is not purely academic writing. ...more
It's not bad, and she conveys her love for the place quite well. It's just not very interesting. It's almost like she is trying to decide to make it aIt's not bad, and she conveys her love for the place quite well. It's just not very interesting. It's almost like she is trying to decide to make it a book or not....more
Another great play by Smith. This delves into the death of Gavin Cato, a young African-American boy in Crown Heights who was killed when a car driven Another great play by Smith. This delves into the death of Gavin Cato, a young African-American boy in Crown Heights who was killed when a car driven by a Jewish man hit him. There was perceived delayed response to Cato and his injured sister. This resulted in protests and riots, one riot resulting in the death of a Jewish student. Smith presents a variety of points of view. ...more
I would say this should be required reading for certain American politicians, but I'm pretty sure that while they are literate, they don't know how toI would say this should be required reading for certain American politicians, but I'm pretty sure that while they are literate, they don't know how to read.
I remember hearing about Amelina's death when it occurred. While I am not familiar with Ukrainian literature in general, when the Russian invasion occurred, I did pay attention to the attack not only on women but the cultural institutions as well. If you know anything about the history of Russia and the Ukraine, you would.
Amelina's book is unfinished, and in its current state, is more a work of profile pieces and short essays as opposed to a straight out diary. Drafts and notes for sections are included, and are easily separated from the finished work by change in font (a good touch). It includes a forward by Atwood, as well as an afterword providing some detail about Amelina's death and the development of the book.
Amelina's writing is powerful and she focuses on women and their response to war. It isn't so much a story of victimhood, though war crimes are dealt with (Amelina was a war crimes recorder/reporter/information gatherer). It is more of women determined to protect their country and fight back as well in a variety of ways.
The book details Amelina's reaction to the outbreak of the full scale invasion, but also includes a brief bit about living with the threat of further invasion (because of the Crimea). It also includes her actions leading up to her working on war crimes, and some of those reports as well. It is a powerful first hand account. ...more
Disclaimer: I received a copy via a Librarything Giveaway
Listening to JD Vance and Marco Rubio lecture Europe about Neo-Nazis is basically the reasonDisclaimer: I received a copy via a Librarything Giveaway
Listening to JD Vance and Marco Rubio lecture Europe about Neo-Nazis is basically the reason why we need more histories of World Wari II. Vicki Olsen’s book is about a group of people in the French Resistance who, among other things, aided downed pilots in Occupied France.
To be fair, Olsen’s style in telling this story isn’t quite to my tastes � I dislike the mix of historical fiction and fiction. It’s true but it is written as a novel. So if you are like me, you should know that going in.
Yet, despite my difference in taste with the book, the book is important simply because in America we really aren’t always told about how much everyday people in Europe risked doing a variety of things, such as shielding pilots from the Nazis.
Olsen focuses on several people, each getting multiple chapters and development, letting the reader see who they were before the start of the war as well as a little into their lives afterwards. What is nice is that Olsen takes the time to show that friendships could exist between various peoples and that the war not only stressed them, but people were forced to make choices. The risks and dangers aren’t hidden or disguised. There are also sections that explain the wider historical events- such as the Phony War and Liberation. The book contains photos so the reader can get a sense of who those people looked like.
In short, Olsen’s book is a good introduction to the French Resistance. ...more
Disclaimer: The publisher of this audio book gave me a free copy in return for a fair and honest review.
I suppose I should note, in all fairness thatDisclaimer: The publisher of this audio book gave me a free copy in return for a fair and honest review.
I suppose I should note, in all fairness that since the book starts with a quote from Michael Wood’s In Search of the Trojan War I knew I was going to like it. I should also note I was reading the second volume in this series before being given this, the first, volume. It is quite easy to read them out of order and not get confused.
Black Ships is one of those books that are going to set some people’s teeth on edge. If you are a purist when it comes to Virgil’s Aeneid or Homer’s Iliad, the chances of you enjoying this book are low. If you don’t mind changes, not only in perspective but in plot sequence, you should enjoy it.
Graham starts her story with the daughter of one of the Trojan women taken by King Nestor at the end of the Trojan War. Gull starts life as the daughter of newly made slave, eventually becoming a priestess in training. Her life radically changes when what remains of her mother’s people come to rescue their women. From there, the story is that of Aeneas� and the founding of the Roman race. This journey takes the small group across the Mediterranean.
Graham’s changes to Virgil and Homer make sense in terms of history, though perhaps not the Romans for Carthage does not make an appearance. Graham explains the reason for this in her afterword and her adaptation of Dido and Carthage into an Egyptian sequence does work very well. Graham does seem aware that she is pushing Gull’s role a bit too much to the forefront, and there are varying reactions from male characters to showcase that Gull is different (and Gull is not an early feminist by any means). It would have been nice if one of Gull’s close friends had been another woman, at least in the latter half of the book, for once Gull joins her people, all her equals are men. Still Gull makes for interesting center to the story. Graham’s use of Gull as a Sybil allows her to bring in fantasy elements, but with a light touch. Additionally, these elements allow Graham to explore the different faiths that were swirling around � and it makes for rather interesting and apt references.
A quick word about Gigi Shane as the narrator. At first, I thought she sounded too much like Siri, but as the book went along I realize that her inflection was intentional to try and capture Gull. It actually worked quite well and upon reflection, seems to be close to that of an actual oracle.
Merged review:
Disclaimer: The publisher of this audio book gave me a free copy in return for a fair and honest review.
I suppose I should note, in all fairness that since the book starts with a quote from Michael Wood’s In Search of the Trojan War I knew I was going to like it. I should also note I was reading the second volume in this series before being given this, the first, volume. It is quite easy to read them out of order and not get confused.
Black Ships is one of those books that are going to set some people’s teeth on edge. If you are a purist when it comes to Virgil’s Aeneid or Homer’s Iliad, the chances of you enjoying this book are low. If you don’t mind changes, not only in perspective but in plot sequence, you should enjoy it.
Graham starts her story with the daughter of one of the Trojan women taken by King Nestor at the end of the Trojan War. Gull starts life as the daughter of newly made slave, eventually becoming a priestess in training. Her life radically changes when what remains of her mother’s people come to rescue their women. From there, the story is that of Aeneas� and the founding of the Roman race. This journey takes the small group across the Mediterranean.
Graham’s changes to Virgil and Homer make sense in terms of history, though perhaps not the Romans for Carthage does not make an appearance. Graham explains the reason for this in her afterword and her adaptation of Dido and Carthage into an Egyptian sequence does work very well. Graham does seem aware that she is pushing Gull’s role a bit too much to the forefront, and there are varying reactions from male characters to showcase that Gull is different (and Gull is not an early feminist by any means). It would have been nice if one of Gull’s close friends had been another woman, at least in the latter half of the book, for once Gull joins her people, all her equals are men. Still Gull makes for interesting center to the story. Graham’s use of Gull as a Sybil allows her to bring in fantasy elements, but with a light touch. Additionally, these elements allow Graham to explore the different faiths that were swirling around � and it makes for rather interesting and apt references.
A quick word about Gigi Shane as the narrator. At first, I thought she sounded too much like Siri, but as the book went along I realize that her inflection was intentional to try and capture Gull. It actually worked quite well and upon reflection, seems to be close to that of an actual oracle....more
The bit about using a soft voice is good, but considering that Cindayella seems to be loud because people were mean to her, I can't say I blame her.The bit about using a soft voice is good, but considering that Cindayella seems to be loud because people were mean to her, I can't say I blame her....more
I will admit I need raise an eyebrow when the phrase "Master Photographer and Master Artist" was used in the byline. Her bio says she won awards, but I will admit I need raise an eyebrow when the phrase "Master Photographer and Master Artist" was used in the byline. Her bio says she won awards, but so have many people, who decides who gets the master title, so yeah, eyebrow went up.
But O'Dea delivered. If you love dogs and children's Christmas stories, this is a nice little book. The photos are beautiful. Story is a riff on The Night Before Christmas (duh) and does it pretty well. Cute use of puppies....more
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