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Donna Davis's Reviews > Joan
Joan
by
by
Donna Davis's review
bookshelves: fiction-adult, feminist-literature, historical-fiction, net-galley, arc-random-house-other, n-galley-invitation, blogged, reviewed
Jul 22, 2022
bookshelves: fiction-adult, feminist-literature, historical-fiction, net-galley, arc-random-house-other, n-galley-invitation, blogged, reviewed
“Once you lift a sword, it is hard to put down again.�
I’ve been curious about Joan of Arc for a long time. I love military history, and as a feminist, I also love that Joan was responsible for leading French victories centuries before women were permitted to serve in the military of any major power. When I saw that Katherine J. Chen had written a “secular reimagining of the epic life of Joan of Arc…a feminist celebration of one remarkable—and remarkably real—woman who left an indelible mark on history,� I was all in.
My thanks go to Net Galley and Random House for the invitation to read and review. This book is for sale now.
In her end notes, Chen tells us that Joan’s biographers tend to leave out her difficult home life, with a violent, angry father that hates Joan from the moment she draws breath; he has wagered heavily on her being male, and she’s failed him. Chen sees it as a major factor in Joan’s development as a warrior.
When Joan leaves home, after her beloved uncle leaves and her elder sister, her one true friend within the family, commits suicide after she is raped by English soldiers, she expects to labor for her bread, which is nothing new to her. But ultimately, she wants to get word to the Dauphin, the heir to the throne, who is in hiding: she knows how to win this war.
I absolutely love the version of Joan that Chen develops, and my only frustration is in not knowing what aspects of Joan’s life she has had to invent, and which are historically accepted as truth. She tells us that Joan’s biographers would have her praying constantly, and that they depict Joan as little more than a totem that they carry to battle, a sort of human version of a lucky rabbit’s foot. And then I wonder even more: what facts are undisputed? Of course the Church would depict Joan as hugely religious, given that she has been beautified as a saint. Did she actually influence the battle plans? This part is frustrating to me. Had more information been provided, this would be a five star review.
In any case, the battle scenes are riveting, and Joan’s character is unforgettable. I look forward to seeing what Chen writes next.
Recommended to all that love the genre.
I’ve been curious about Joan of Arc for a long time. I love military history, and as a feminist, I also love that Joan was responsible for leading French victories centuries before women were permitted to serve in the military of any major power. When I saw that Katherine J. Chen had written a “secular reimagining of the epic life of Joan of Arc…a feminist celebration of one remarkable—and remarkably real—woman who left an indelible mark on history,� I was all in.
My thanks go to Net Galley and Random House for the invitation to read and review. This book is for sale now.
In her end notes, Chen tells us that Joan’s biographers tend to leave out her difficult home life, with a violent, angry father that hates Joan from the moment she draws breath; he has wagered heavily on her being male, and she’s failed him. Chen sees it as a major factor in Joan’s development as a warrior.
When Joan leaves home, after her beloved uncle leaves and her elder sister, her one true friend within the family, commits suicide after she is raped by English soldiers, she expects to labor for her bread, which is nothing new to her. But ultimately, she wants to get word to the Dauphin, the heir to the throne, who is in hiding: she knows how to win this war.
I absolutely love the version of Joan that Chen develops, and my only frustration is in not knowing what aspects of Joan’s life she has had to invent, and which are historically accepted as truth. She tells us that Joan’s biographers would have her praying constantly, and that they depict Joan as little more than a totem that they carry to battle, a sort of human version of a lucky rabbit’s foot. And then I wonder even more: what facts are undisputed? Of course the Church would depict Joan as hugely religious, given that she has been beautified as a saint. Did she actually influence the battle plans? This part is frustrating to me. Had more information been provided, this would be a five star review.
In any case, the battle scenes are riveting, and Joan’s character is unforgettable. I look forward to seeing what Chen writes next.
Recommended to all that love the genre.
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Reading Progress
April 17, 2022
– Shelved
April 17, 2022
– Shelved as:
to-read
April 17, 2022
– Shelved as:
fiction-adult
April 17, 2022
– Shelved as:
feminist-literature
April 17, 2022
– Shelved as:
historical-fiction
April 17, 2022
– Shelved as:
net-galley
May 4, 2022
– Shelved as:
arc-random-house-other
May 4, 2022
– Shelved as:
n-galley-invitation
June 10, 2022
–
Started Reading
June 11, 2022
–
7.0%
"Wow, a LOT of background info up front, and looks important, too! I would never, ever want this as audio-only."
June 20, 2022
–
12.0%
"Childhood, and her father is the most prosperous in their village, with the only stone house, next to the church. But her father doesn't love her. She was supposed to be another son; he'd wagered on it, and her sister is beautiful while she herself is definitely not. She's strong, brave, and spends most of her time helping other families so they'll let her hang out. A boy dies in a cruel children's game; she grieves."
June 21, 2022
–
12.0%
"Agincourt; the stones; the daisies. There are about a bazillion choice quotes between about 15-17%. Never read Chen before, but she's on my radar now."
June 23, 2022
–
27.0%
"Joan's father has a gambling problem, and she materializes in the middle of a taut meeting in which the man from Maxey would not doubt have been murdered. For the first time, she stays with another family, one in which the parents love their children, and she is amazed."
July 11, 2022
–
37.0%
"Soldiers raped Catherine, and she kills herself. Uncle hits the road again, and there's this brilliant moment when Jacques turns his mindless hatred on Joan, and now she is bigger and stronger, a head taller, and she picks him up by the collar and moves him out of her way. He throws her out the next morning, but with $ at least. There's a wonderful quote for this, and an even juicier one when she prays for vengeance."
July 11, 2022
–
40.0%
"Working in the kitchen to feed French troops; she runs afoul of Sir Robert, who tries to humiliate her again, only to be defeated by her again."
July 13, 2022
–
51.0%
"She is presented to the Dauphin, and then she's tested in a variety of brutal ways that would filter out most contenders, but Joan grew up in her father's house; he abandoned her in faraway woods when she was five years old, so having these assholes ditch her at 17 is a nuisance, and it makes for sore feet, but terrifying? Not so much."
July 14, 2022
–
57.0%
"Yolanda of Aragon, the Dauphin's mother, sees Joan and instructs her to him to send her (Joan) to Orleans to save the day. There are some glorious quotes here. I would love to know what is truth and what is fiction, but either way, I love this novel."
July 20, 2022
–
70.0%
"Everybody loves Joan. She's getting presents from royals near and far, and she doesn't even have to kneel when the Dauphin comes in. They are friends.
Of course, history tells us that it's all going to shit pretty soon."
Of course, history tells us that it's all going to shit pretty soon."
July 22, 2022
–
77.0%
"Joan persuades the Dauphin to take back two more cities; the first is not so much, as far as I can tell, but the second is Paris. Ah, poor Joan."
July 22, 2022
–
Finished Reading
July 26, 2022
– Shelved as:
blogged
July 26, 2022
– Shelved as:
reviewed
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Dan wrote: "I've studied a bit about (St) Joan of Arc. I've always been fascinated by the story and, like you, wonder where the facts end and the fiction begins. Sadly, the records seem too muddled by fables, ..."Thank you for the information as well as the kind words. This story gave me a morale boost. I wish every word of Chen's rendition was true.
Wonderful review Donna, I'm glad you enjoyed this one!!
Wonderful review, Donna! Completely get where you are coming from. In a fact+fiction book, I too like to know the truth and the creative inputs. Nevertheless, this sounds like a very interesting book. Glad you mostly enjoyed it. :)
Excellent review Donna. I can see myself being a little frustrated too not being able to exactly tell between the real and fictional but this sounds well worth the read all the same
I listened to this audiobook after being recommended by a friend. To be honest, I knew very little about Joan. I really enjoyed the book and perspective of the author, and your review. Though I know it’s fictional history, it rings true.
Keri wrote: "I listened to this audiobook after being recommended by a friend. To be honest, I knew very little about Joan. I really enjoyed the book and perspective of the author, and your review. Though I kno..."Thank you, Keri, and yeah, it does, doesn't it?
That said, I'll read Chen's book because I've never come across a serious, secular presentation before. All previous books have seemed to have an axe, of one kind of another, to grind.
Thanks, as usual, for your straightforward and enticing review.