October 2017: The Winter Palace by Eva Stachniak

We will be meeting at Chandra's house on Thursday, October 5th, at 7:30pm, with discussion to start at 8:00 sharp.

The Winter Palace, Eva Stachniak

Discussion Questions

1. Did you like the book?  Why or why not?

2. The novel starts with a quotation from a letter the future Catherine the Great wrote to the British Ambassador, Sir Hanbury-Williams: "Three people who never leave her room, and who do not know about one another, inform me of what is going on, and will not fail to acquaint me when the crucial moment arrives." What does this sentence tell us about the future empress of Russia?

3. Varvara is an immigrant to Russia. She is an outsider in many other ways, a tradesman’s daughter among aristocrats, a Roman Catholic among Orthodox Christians, a Polish wife of a Russian officer. How does she cope with the need to belong? How much is she willing to sacrifice for a sense of home?

4. Catherine too is an immigrant. In the 17th century Russia, keen on developing its national identity, her Prussian blood is suspect. How does Catherine cope with xenophobia? How does she turn it to her advantage?

5. Much of the novel is about power. The characters crave it, gain it, lose it. How are the principal female characters Varvara, Catherine, and Elizabeth defined by their understanding of what power is? What in their background made them think that their definition of power is the right one?

6. Why is power so important to these three women? What do they wish to do with it? How much are they willing to sacrifice for it? And, when they finally have it, what do they actually do?

7. Motherhood is another pivotal issue in the novel. Elizabeth wishes to be a surrogate mother to her nephew, Peter, and later to Catherine’s son Paul. Catherine and Varvara give birth to their own children. What does motherhood mean to each of them? How does it transform them? Why?

8. Darya and Paul are two children whose birth we witness in the novel. How do their childhoods differ? What is expected of them? What emotional future do you envisage for them and why?

9. The Russian court is the backdrop of the novel. Historical sources confirm that spying was commonplace there. How does being a spy affect Varvara? How does having spies affect Elizabeth and Catherine? How does being watched affect the lives of the courtiers?

10. Peter the Great has transformed Russia. Is his presence felt in the novel? In what ways? What is your sense of Russia under Elizabeth and later under Catherine? Why does the country feel snubbed by the rest of Europe? How do Catherine and Elizabeth play to this sense of rejection? What are their visions for Russia? Do they really differ that much?

11. Toward the end of the novel Catherine decides to reassess her own needs as an empress and her obligations as a friend and lover. Is she justified in this decision? How does she do it? What are Varvara’s expectations of their friendship and what is Catherine’s assessment of it?

12. The novel ends when the reign of Catherine II has just begun. How much has Catherine sacrificed for her position? Is it possible to predict from her behavior as Grand Duchess what kind of a ruler is she going to be? What are her best qualities? Her worst?

13. The novel ends with the image of Varvara beginning to tell Darya the story of her life in Russia. How much do you think she will tell her child? What will she keep to herself? Why?

14.  Would you recommend the book?  Why or why not?

Menu for the evening:

Soup:  Yurma (fish and meat combo)
            Borscht (perhaps the beef variant?)

Bread:  Russian bread (white)
             Borodinski bread (dark rye)

Meat:    Beef and Cabbage pie
             Plov (chicken and rice casserole)

Dessert: Blini
              Rugelach    
              Plum Veriniki

Drinks: will be taken care of by Chandra :)

Brandwashed -- Martin Lindstrom

Meeting details:  We will be meeting on Wednesday, August 19th at Chandra's house at 7:30.  Email me for directions if you need them.


Discussion questions:

1. Did you enjoy the book?  Why or why not?
2. Do you have any strong childhood “smell memories”?  As you think about these memories, do they have any specific brand associations?
3. How strongly do you believe advertising and branding affects us “in utero”?  Does Lindstrom adequately take into consideration the continuing association with these brands that children would experience even after birth (eg. his parents’ bossa nova preferences, children whose parents smoked during pregnancy – and likely carried on smoking during the baby’s childhood)?
4. Emotions are strong players in the world of branding, and fear is one such emotion that companies often exploit.  What are some buzz words that companies use to play on our fears and convince us to buy their products?  How do they work?
5. Why is fear such a powerful factor when it comes to advertising and promotion?  Why are women (especially new mothers) so particularly susceptible to fear-based advertising?
6. How do advertisers manipulate users by taking advantage of, and even helping to create, brand obsessions and addictions?
7. How do advertisers use “symbolics” to manipulate us?  Can you think of some concrete examples you have experienced?
8. Before reading this book, would you ever have thought of the Arabian horse as a sexual creature?  Were you surprised to read how strongly the use of this animal in a car’s design and branding  affected the success of the car?
9. Do you have a Zhu Zhu hamster in your house?  Do you feel manipulated now that you know to what lengths the makers went to market their product and make it so desirable to you/your children?
10. What tools do advertisers use to convince us that we need something?  What personal qualities do advertisers try to manipulate in the viewer?
11. How much do celebrity endorsements impact your purchasing decisions?
12. “…our brains are prone to forming mental shortcuts…known as somatic markers, that link cues from our physical world to specific emotional states… Shrewd companies are able to actually plant these somatic markers in our minds by creating associations between some positive emotion and their product.” (pg.183)  Think of Lindstrom’s examples of the goji berry and acai; what subconscious connections might consumers make about the geographical origin of these “superberries” (Himalayas, Brazilian rainforest) and how that would relate to their effectiveness?  Can you think of any other branding examples that employ this strategy?
13. Have you been startled to find advertisements on the the web that seem specifically geared to you?  Do you appreciate this, or does it feel like an intrusion into your privacy?
14. Would you recommend this book to others?  To whom, and why?

Menu: Appetizers from scratch -- avoid the use of brand ingredients!

1.  Melon, Mozzarella, and Prosciutto Skewers
             http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/melon-mozzarella-prosciutto-skewers
2. Lemon-Caper Parmesan Potato Salad Bites
             http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/lemon-potato-salad-bites
3. Stuffed Celery
             http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/stuffed-celery-1
4.  Sweet and Spicy Nut and Pretzel Mix  (no Rice Chex!!)
             http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/sweet-spicy-nut-pretzel-mix
5.  Cumin-Roasted Cashews
             http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/cumin-roasted-cashews
6.  Endive Stuffed with Goat Cheese and Walnuts  -- CHANDRA
             http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/endive-stuffed-with-goat-cheese-walnuts
7.  Mini Bacon Quiches
             http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/mini-bacon-quiches
8.  Chocolate Bruschetta
             http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/chocolate-bruschetta-0

The Doppler Effect...

We had a good turnout for our February couples' night, with five couples in attendance, and we had a fun evening together discussing Doppler.  (And the value of a post secondary education.  But we won't get into that here.) :P


 Feelings about the book were mixed, ranging from those who loved it to those who thought it was a complete waste of time, with a few "neutrals" in between.  Several of us found that it took a few chapters to really get into the book, and one reader did not even bother to continue past chapter one. :)


Although most of us could sympathize with the attraction of sometimes leaving all our responsibilities and cares behind, and living in the woods, we did not approve of Doppler's choices.  We felt he was extremely selfish, and his actions of desertion and theft were unjustified.  We did find it amusing that despite his insistence that he was leaving everything behind, he pitched his tent just a few yards off the main trail, and then proceeded to complain when others entered his sanctum.


We could not come to a consensus regarding Bongo's role in the book; some felt that he was merely a pet, while others felt that he was almost a replacement child for Doppler.  Either way, it was weird that Doppler carried on conversations with an unresponsive moose.


Most of us found the ending unsatisfying, as there was no resolution, simply the note "to be continued".


Very few of us would recommend this book to a friend.

February 2014: Doppler by Erlend Loe

We will be meeting at Pete & Chandra's on Friday, February 7th for our 3rd annual "Couples' Night" book club meeting.  The meeting will begin at 7:30pm. 

Discussion questions for Doppler

1.  Did you enjoy the book?  Why or why not?
2. Were you engaged immediately, or did it take you a while to "get into it"? How did you feel reading it—amused, sad, disturbed, confused, bored...?
3. Why did Doppler leave his family like he did?  What was his motivation?  Were his actions justified?
4. Describe the dynamics between Doppler and his father; his daughter; his wife.
5. Do you admire or disapprove of Doppler’s decision to live in the forest?
6. Did Doppler change by the end of the book?   Did he learn something about himself and how the world works?
7. What role does Bongo play in the book?
8. “According to the moose calendar, he’s on the cusp of becoming a teenager, I would guess. This is a sensitive and defiant period, and we have many long discussions about it. Bongo leaves the tent in a temper several times, but happily he always comes back.”  How strange is it that Doppler is engaging in regular conversation with a moose?  Do you think he possibly suffered a mental injury when he fell from his bike?
9. Did any passages strike you as insightful, even profound?
10. “One problem with people is that as soon as they fill a space it’s them you see and not the space. Large, desolate landscapes stop being large, desolate landscapes once they have people in them. They define what the eye sees. And the human eye is almost always directed at other humans. In this way an illusion is created that humans are more important than those things on earth which are not human. It’s a sick illusion.”  Discuss.
11. Is the ending satisfying? If so, why? If not, why not...and how would you change it?
12. Would you recommend this book to a friend?

The menu will be comprised of typical Norwegian dishes, including some foods specifically mentioned by or enjoyed by Doppler:


Milk, coffee, tea -- Chandra


Salad -- http://www.food.com/recipe/summer-sunshine-on-a-salad-plate-319425
Purresuppe -- http://www.food.com/recipe/purresuppe-leek-soup-425383 - Tessa
Sandwiches -- http://www.food.com/recipe/smoked-salmon-and-chopped-egg-sandwiches-424095


Smordampete Nypoteter (potatoes)-- http://www.food.com/recipe/butter-steamed-new-potatoes-smordampete-nypoteter-504455
Mashed Rutabaga -- http://www.food.com/recipe/mashed-rutabaga-norway-234799 - Stephanie


Moose/venison meatballs with lingonberry sauce -- Chandra
Norwegian Pork Chops -- http://www.food.com/recipe/norwegian-pork-chops-with-caraway-apples-235490


Lingonberry cake -- http://www.food.com/recipe/norwegian-lingonberry-cake-with-streusel-topping-427588  (you can find lingonberries at Ikea)
Toblerone chocolates

Charles Haddon Spurgeon and Novels

Pete and I read an interesting devotional a few days ago, which I wanted to share here.  It certainly gives food for thought, especially if we consider that the Internet and social media are probably equivalent to the rage that novels were at the time of this writing.  Do we make it a point to find a good balance between our time of entertainment (be it reading, web surfing, tv, etc.) and our time spent developing our relationship with God?  I know I am was certainly convicted upon reading this!

This is from a sermon preached on February 13th, 1859:

When all this had ended, the Israelites who were there went out to the towns of Judah, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. They destroyed the high places ("groves" in the KJV) and the altars throughout Judah and Benjamin and in Ephraim and Manasseh. After they had destroyed all of them, the Israelites returned to their own towns and to their own property.  
          2 Chron. 31:1

"There are many books that are to be so esteemed by the Christian man, that they must be cut down like the groves of trees, not because they are bad in themselves, but because there the false gods are worshipped.  Novel-reading is the rage of the present day.  I go to a railway bookstall, and I cannot see a book that I can read; I get one, and it is all trash.  I search to find something that would be really valuable, but I am told, "It would not sell here."  The fact is, nothing will sell but that which is light, and frothy, and frivolous; so every traveler is compelled to consume such as that, unless he carry something better with him.  Do I, therefore, say that the Christian man must condemn all reading of fiction and novels?  No, I do not, but I do say that the mass of popular books published under the name of light literature, is to be eschewed and cut down, for the simple reason that the moral of it is not that of piety and goodness; the tendency of the reading is not to bring the Christian towards heaven, but rather to retard and impede him in his good course.  I lift up my axe against many a work that I cannot condemn, if I look at it abstractedly in itself, but which must come down, because I recollect how much of my own precious time I wasted in such trivial reading, how many years in which I might have had fellowship with Christ have been cast away, whilst I have been foolishly indulging a vicious taste for the romantic and the frivolous.  No, there are many things which are not wrong in themselves, but which nevertheless must be given up by the true Christian, because they have had, and do have, association with things positively wrong.  Just as the groves must be cut down -- not because there can be a sin in trees, but because the trees have been associated with the worship of idols."

Life of Pi

Imagine losing your whole family in a shipwreck, and being stranded on a lifeboat with a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan and a 450 pound Bengal tiger.  It would certainly make for an interesting trip, don't you think? 

Piscine "Pi" Patel promises to tell us a story that will make us believe in God.  The premise of this promise is that the story -- survival at sea with a tiger for 227 days -- contains so many fantastical elements, that it must be accepted only on faith.  For certainly, Pi could not have survived and experienced so many fascinating things if it were not for miracles that God wrought for him. 

To be sure, this is not meant to be a Christian book, as the main character is a Muslim, Roman Catholic, and a Christian, all bundled into one.  But the story is well-written and a fascinating read...several times I would ask Pete (my very own walking encyclopedia), "Did you know such-and-such?"..."Is this-and-such possible?", and so on.

Of course, now that this is a movie, I'll have to watch it as well, perhaps even in 3D.  Although I understand from reviews that I might not be happy with the ending.  *sigh*

Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister (Gregory Maguire)

This was a wonderful Value Village find that I thoroughly enjoyed.  Imagine my excitement just now, as I searched online for an image of the book cover, and discovered that there is a movie based on the book!  I'll be watching that soon...

Truthfully, the title is what caught my eye as I perused the shelves, earning the nasty cricked-neck-syndrome we complained about at last week's meeting. :)  A quick read of the story synopsis on the back cover indicated that this book approaches the ages-old Cinderella story from a completely different angle...that of one of the stepsisters. 

Has anyone ever read The True Story of the Three Little Pigs? If you haven't, I highly recommend it for your children.  It is told from the perspective of the poor, downtrodden, completely mis-interpreted wolf, who was nothing short of abused by these obnoxious and rude pigs.  A similar treatment of Cinderella is what I expected to find between the covers of this book, but I was completely mistaken.

I don't want to say too much, and give away the story, but suffice it to say that the sisters all get along quite well, the stepsisters are friendly girls, and even the stepmother is not too horrid.  It is a completely different take on the fairy tale, and ends with a lovely twist that took me completely by surprise...and trust me, it is not often that an author is able to surprise me with an unexpected ending. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and would heartily recommend it to anyone.

The Painted Girls (Cathy Marie Buchanan)

Yes, I know we're discussing this book in the summer, so I won't give you any spoilers.  I will only say that it is a lovely mix of well-researched history liberally sprinkled with inventive licence.  Of course, being set nearly in my favourite epoque (this is post-revolution France, close enough to be an automatic win), and my favourite genre (historical fiction), it was pretty easy for this to be a winner for me.  I hope the rest of you will enjoy it as I did!

Note re: blog comments

I (and some other group members) have indicated an interest in being able to subscribe to comments on the blog, so that they will be emailed directly to us, since we tend to forget to go to the blog itself to look for comments.  I did some research and have discovered, unfortunately, that this is not really possible.  Or more specifically, it is possible, but you must subscribe to each individual post.  Under the post, go to the comments, then select "subscribe to comments by email", and you should be emailed all comments that are made on that specific post

Infidel (Ayaan Hirsi Ali)

I found this book at Costco and took it down south with us.  I wondered if it might be pretty heavy reading for the beach, but I quite enjoyed it.  Ayaan tells the story of her oppressive upbringing in a strict Muslim family, surviving civil war, moves to four different Muslim countries, female circumcision, repeated beatings by family members, and a forced marriage.  Ayaan escaped to Holland (I enjoyed reading about her experiences there, and some people/places/groups that she mentions were familiar to me), where she eventually became involved in politics.  Following threats and attempts on her life, she finally settled in the United States.

I was concerned when I opened the book, and it began with an 8-page foreword by self-proclaimed "anti-theist" Christopher Hitchens, praising Ayaan for not only defying her Muslim upbringing, but for coming to realize the ridiculousness of religion as a whole and throwing off the shackles of belief in any deity.  This worried me that the book might become a diatribe against God, but the concern was unfounded.  Yes, Ayaan does, unfortunately, renounce all religion and belief in God, but it is not done with the passion and vitriol that Hitchens undoubtedly would have wished.

This was a fascinating look into life under Muslim rule, was well-written, and a worthwhile read.

Factory Girls meeting highlights

With several ladies not able to make it to the meeting, we had a smallish group of just six...which was fine, because that meant more yummy food for us! :)

All of us enjoyed the book to varying degrees.  The majority of us found the writing style, due to the author's journalistic background, very disjointed, which did not always make for enjoyable reading.  We were surprised to discover that as a whole, the migrants liked their lives and their work; we had envisioned a book detailing the terrible working conditions and poor wages and so on, much like The Jungle, but we found this not to be the case at all.  We wondered if the author had entered into the story with the same expectation, and was as surprised as us at her discoveries.  We did note, however, that the unhappy migrants and the harsh factories would have been far less likely to talk with the author, and so we questioned the reliability of the data, as it might not give us the "whole picture".

Some of us enjoyed the story of the author's own family, while others felt like it didn't really belong in the book.  We were all surprised by the way that the migrants behaved when they returned home, mostly sitting around the house and watching TV.  We determined that if the communist government would allow the broadcast of more western shows in English, at least the time spent watching TV would not be completely wasted, as they could learn some English from it.  :)

November 2012: Factory Girls by Leslie T. Chang

We will be meeting at Chandra's house (1431 Wilson Street W, Ancaster...NEW phone # 905-304-9059) on Thursday, November 8th.  Doors open at 7:30, discussion to begin at 8:00 sharp.

Please sign up for a menu item by commenting on this post, and Chandra will update the menu in the post as items are claimed.

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Discussion Questions

1.  Did you enjoy the book?  Why or why not?

2.  The way a non-fiction book is written can impact a reader’s enjoyment and understanding of it.  What did you think of the way Chang wrote this book?  Did the writing catch your interest, or make you lose interest in what could otherwise have been an interesting subject?  Did you like the way Chang used her own family’s story as the pivot point?

3.  How did Chang’s family compare to the modern day migrant?  Similarities?  Differences?

4.  Why do you think Chang avoided exploring her own family history?  In the end, how does she feel about her history?

5.  Chang refers often to the “Chinese character”.  What is it?  What do you think would be the general reaction if a non-Chinese author suggested that some of these events were caused by the “Chinese character”?  Is Chang a racist?

6.  Did the book make you more aware of and knowledgeable about the issue of factory workers in China?  Did you have any earlier opinions on this topic that have been changed by the reading of this book?

7.  What were some of the migrants’ biggest concerns?  Which of these were positive developments and which were negative?

8.  How did migration change the power structure in the family?  Can you think of other situations that might change this power structure?

9.  Migrancy also changed the power structure between men and women.  Use one of the migrant girl’s stories as an example of how men and women relate differently.

10. Which migrant’s story did you enjoy the most or feel most connected to?  Why?

11.  Did any specific passages strike you as significant/interesting/profound/amusing/ illuminating/disturbing/sad?

12.  Many of the migrants deal with the difficulties of their situation by learning to rely only on themselves.  Do you think this is an effective coping strategy?  What else could they have done?

13.  How do the migrants feel about home when they are away?  What about when they return?

14.  How would you have handled being a migrant, or would you have been one of the few who stay home?

15. What have you learned from reading this book?  Has it broadened your perspective about a difficult societal and/or ethical issue?

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Suggested Menu

Noodle soup  (Sherrie)

Stir-fried veggies (we have an electric wok here)   (Amanda)

Pork Fried Rice   (Tanya)  http://chinese.food.com/recipe/pork-fried-rice-32151

Braised fish   (use a firm white-fleshed fish, such as halibut, pickerel or striped bass)      

                              http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOSbUkcleUA

White rice (steamed?) for with the braised fish

Boiled eggs   (Karen)

Steamed Chocolate Pound cake  (pound cake is traditionally steamed in China)  (Alisha)  (Tessa)

     http://vivianpangkitchen.blogspot.ca/2012/06/cocoa-condensed-milk-pound-cake-steam.html

Fruit smoothies  (we have a very good blender here for these)   (Melissa)

Memoirs of Pontius Pilate by James R. Mills

I nearly forgot about this book!

Not something that I would normally search out, this book caught my eye when I saw it displayed near the Michelle Moran books I was looking for.  It was very small and looked like an easy read, and I was intrigued by the concept of a book depicting the story of Christ from the perspective of his "political opponent" (as the book describes Pilate).  I determined to set the book aside if the content was in any way disrespectful or sacrilegious, and set about reading it.

Although I can't speak to the authenticity of the characters (Pilate comes across as a benign elderly statesman, gentle husband, etc.; but then again, he is the author, so would we really expect him to portray himself as a brutal despot??), I must say that I was very intrigued by the different perspective on Christ's life and times.  "Pilate" tells the story of the destruction of a town that rebelled against Rome during Christ's childhood, and this town was apparently within very short walking distance from Nazareth, so Christ would have been witness to the destruction wrought by the Roman army.  "Pilate" also gives some insight into the political situation in Israel, and explains that the ruling party, the Sanhedrin, did not have any legal political authority in the area of Galilee and other regions that Christ primarily ministered in, and he implies that this lack of Sanhedrin authority may be why Jesus spent the majority of His ministry in these areas.

Although a lot of the historical and political facts are based on thorough research, the very  premise of this book calls for a lot of conjecture, but overall it was an interesting and enlightening read, and it gave me a new appreciation for and some understanding of the geographical, political, and social environment in which Jesus lived His life.

An interesting read.

Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran

Another winning book by Michelle Moran, this novel tells the story of Selene and Alexandre, the twin children of Cleopatra and Marc Antony.  Upon their parents' deaths, they are taken to Rome, where they are adopted by Octavia, sister of Emperor Octavian(later known as Caesar Augustus, of Luke 2:1 fame).

Once in Rome, Selene and Alexandre quickly befriend several members of Octavian’s household, including Octavian’s heir, Marcellus, and Gallia, a proud enslaved princess. Moran creates a word in which we get to experience all kind of domestic life and social conventions in imperial Rome, with a mix of historical and fictional figures.  Juba, the prince of Numidia, is appointed to guard over Selene and her friends but his role becomes more substantial toward the end of the novel.

Giving us a fascinating glimpse into life in imperial Rome, this is another historically accurate page-turner that will captivate you from beginning to end.

Highly recommended.

The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran

Following close on the heels of Nefertiti, this book tells the story of Nefertari, the daughter of Mutnodjmet, sister of Nefertiti (and the narrator of Nefertiti). Raised in the palace after the death of her family in a tragic palace fire, Nefertari is a dear friend to the crown prince, Ramesses. However, she is always shrouded with the shame of her aunt's disgrace as a heretic, and finds it nearly impossible to come out from under this disgrace. nDeeply in love with the prince, she uses intrigue and romantic whiles to win her way into marriage...but can she manipulate the hearts of the people to turn toward her so that she can win the coveted position of Chief wife, or would such a move cause rebellion?

As can be expected from Michelle Moran, this is another meticulously researched book that is a fascinating read from cover to cover.

Highly recommended.

Nefertiti by Michelle Moran

Yay, another historical fiction by my new favourite author!   Nefertiti was Michelle Moran's debut book, and it is another incredibly well-researched and fascinatingly well-written read. 

Written from the point of view of Nefertiti's sister, we are given an intimate look into the lives of Pharaoh Amunhotep (later Akhenaten) and Queen Nefertiti (later Pharaoh Neferneferuaten-Nefertiti).  Amunhotep and Nefertiti were the first Egyptian royals to have themselves portrayed realistically in art, as all previous royals had been portrayed identically, as tradition dictated how a pharoah was "supposed to" look.  Amunhotep and Nefertiti threw Egypt into turmoil when they denounced the gods of the people and instead promoted the worship of Aten alone.

In previous books on the subject, I have read that there is debate about the possibility of Amunhotep having been influenced by the Israelite belief in the "One God", and that God may have been the One whom he meant to worship when he spoke of "Aten".  This novel does not present this idea, but rather suggests that Pharaoh promoted the worship of Aten and raised himself up at Aten's representative solely for the purposes of collecting all the riches of the empire for himself. 

Another fascinating read, and highly recommended.

Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution by Michelle Moran

Another Coscto find for our vacation, and I loved it! My favourite genre is historical fiction, and my favourite period of history is the French revolution.  So an historical fiction about the French Revolution??? Utter bliss!

This novel is extremely well researched and tells the story of the French revolution from the perspective of Marie Tussaud, now famous for her wax museums. Although I was familiar with her name (only as a wax artist), I had absolutely no idea of how intimately she was involved in the French Revolution. Her stepfather was intimately involved with the movers and shakers of the Revolution (Robespierre, Danton, Lafayette, etc.), with them regularly attending "salons" in their home. Yet, during the height of the tension leading up to the Revolution, Marie was also a private sculpting tutor to the sister of King Louis XIV, and spent much time visiting the palace and living in the princess's private residence. So Marie was intimately involved with both sides of the situation, and was pulled in both directions while skillfully straddling the political fence.

There were very few people of status who survived the revolution, regardless of which side of the debate they were on, and for Marie to have not only survived, but to have gone on to worldwide success, is a truly fascinating story. Fantastically researched and fascinatingly written, this was a page-turner that was thrilling from beginning to end (and made me go straight to the library for the rest of her books!).

Highly recommend.

The Winter Palace by Eva Stachntak

I'm really starting to love Costco's book table!  I'm typically a library person rather than a book buyer, but lately I've found some gems at Costco that I haven't been able to resist.  When we went on vacation in February, I made sure to stock up on good books, and this was definitely one of my favourites.  Of course, since historical fition is my absolute favourite genre, it's pretty hard for me not to love a book like this. :)

The Winter Palace tells the story of the rise to power of Catherine the Great, Grand Czarina of Russia.  Filled with enthralling tales of court intrigue, spying, deception, punishment, and political assignations, this book is very well written and an exciting read.  Highly recommend!

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

This book was kindly left at the book-recycling desk on the beach last week, and since I had heard it mentioned more than once (I was not then aware that it has been made into a movie both in Europe and in North America), I decided to give it a try. It was a good read, well-written, and captivating. It's not particularly thought-provoking, being more of a straight-forward escapist novel, but it was certainly enjoyable. In a nutshell, an investigative reporter is hired to find the truth about the murder of a young girl 30 years earlier, and he ends up needing the help of "the girl with the dragon tattoo", a top-notch 25 year old private investigator who has a very troubled past.

I have no objection to the language in the book, and can't recall any swearing or cursing. The main character is not a Christian and is somewhat concerned about his teenage daughter's interest in religion, resolving to talk with her about it "later", but he is not overtly anti-Christian, and there are no real anti-Christian or anti-church sentiments espoused in the book. In fact, in spite of the character's stated lack of belief, some Bible texts are pivotal to the solving of the case, and this makes me wonder whether the author struggled with his thoughts regarding religion. There's no shortage of sexual freedom in this book, as relationships begin and end with impunity, but there are no descriptive encounters, just an acknowledgement of their occurence.

What I found really fascinating was my research on the author. Stieg Larsson was an investigative reporter in Sweden who faced death threats often, and had to take many measures to keep him and his life partner safe. You can read his interesting life story here. He died at age 50 of a heart attack, after having to climb seven flights of stairs at work due to the elevator being out of service (I'm guessing physical fitness wasn't at the top of his priority list?). This book and its two sequels are his only novels, and he had only just delivered all three manuscripts for print when he died, so all three works were published posthumously.

Paths of Glory by Jeffrey Archer

From Jeffery Archer's website:

This is the story of a man who loved two women, and one of them killed him.

Some people have dreams that are so outrageous that if they were to achieve them, their place in history would be guaranteed. Francis Drake, Robert Scott, Percy Fawcett, Charles Lindbergh, Amy Johnson, Sir Edmund Hillary and Neil Armstrong are among such individuals.

But what if one man had such a dream, and when he’d achieved it, there was no proof that he had fulfilled his ambition?

Paths of Glory is the story of such a man. But not until you've turned the last page of this extraordinary novel, will you be able to decide if George Mallory should be added to this list of legends, because if he were, another name would have to be removed.

This is an enjoyable historical fiction novel, following the life of George Mallory, a mountain climber who was determined to conquer the "other woman", Mount Everest. Did he make it? Was he, in fact, the first person to ascend to the top? A well-written and interesting read.