Series Review: The Grail Quest series by Bernard Cornwell

Another Bernard Cornwell series down! This trilogy, while not as good (in my opinion) as his Arthur trilogy, was absolutely worth reading if you enjoy European historical fiction and/or military historical fiction.

The series, which starts with The Archer's Tale, follows our hero (or anti-hero?) Thomas of Hookton from a small village where he is a priest's bastard son, to a military career as an English archer and leader of men. It continues with Vagabond and wraps up with Heretic. (A fourth book, 1356, is sometimes listed as a fourth book in the series, but from what I can tell is technically a stand alone that features Thomas, but is a separate series of events and does not need to be read as part of the Grail trilogy.)

The trilogy follows historic events and includes life battles, but the primary focus is definitely on the characters, not the bigger events. However, the English longbow and the advantage it gave to English armies is also a major focus; almost like a character in itself.

Cornwell goes into great depth (although not enough to get boring, at least for me!) on the construction and use of the bow, and particularly why it was so lethal and gave such advantage to the warriors that used it. I wasn't really aware of this (military history isn't a particular passion of mine), so I found this really fascinating.

From an illuminated manuscript of 

Jean Froissart's Chronicles dating from the 15th century, 

depicting the Battle of Crécy between the 

English and French in the Hundred Years' War, 1346

While there is plenty of military action mixed in, the main plot of the story is (allegedly) Thomas's search for the Holy Grail, which his father, a mad priest, allegedly possessed. I think there could have been more focus on the Grail and its lore, and on the actual search for it; the first two books were supposedly about his Grail search but focused primarily on his travels and the battles he was involved in. 

However, as mentioned before, some of that history is really interesting. While the book isn't focused on the major historical events going on around Thomas and his companions, it is focused on the details of everyday life for someone like Thomas - an archer in the English army (most of the time). Generally in the historical fiction I have read, the focus is on the big picture events more than those gritty details. Incidentally, this seems to be something Cornwell excels at, as he does it really well in his Arthur trilogy as well. You really feel the detail of the battles and the experiences of the characters, right down to the lice. 

Despite all this, I did feel the first two dragged a bit. Cornwell keeps teasing this great hunt for the Grail... that doesn't come until the third book, for the most part. Then, I felt the ending was a bit pat and predictable. In the end, the Grail quest felt almost as if it was an excuse to write about the time period, rather than the real focus of the story. 

The Attainment: The Vision of the Holy Grail to Sir Galahad, Sir Bors, and Sir Perceval 
Sir Edward Burne-Jones, overall design and figures;
William Morris, overall design and execution;
John Henry Dearle, flowers and decorative details.

However, it was an eminently enjoyable read and I suggest for any fan of Cornwell, this period in history, or military history. I also suggest for the character development; we see Thomas grow from a very green and naive young man to a leader of men, learning the ways of the world and making better choices (including in his romantic life) over the course of the trilogy. This is another thing Cornwell does well; his characters develop over time and are nice and "gray" - even his heroes are not angels. 

Overall, this an excellent look into the time period and the military technology of the time, as well as a good character study of an English archer of this era. 

Stay tuned for reviews of:

• City of Lies
• The Romanovs
• The Sultan's Harem
• The Conqueror Series (series review)

Review: America's First Daughter

For me, America's First Daughter started a little slow, but ended up being well worth reading.

The novel, written by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie, follows the story of Martha "Patsy" Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson's daughter. It takes us from the Virginia colony to Paris and back to the newly formed United States and eventually the White House.

In the first third or so, I was afraid it was going to get bogged down in romance. I don't mind romance in historical fiction; in fact, sometimes it's required if it's an important part of history or its a story that follows families over generations. However, I want it to part of the plot, not the plot. I want it to be romance in historical fiction, not historical fiction in romance. I was a little afraid starting out that this was going to be the latter, but it rebounded later in the story.

Martha Jefferson Randolph

Martha, known as Patsy, was a constant in her father's life, giving her a window into politics and international relations most women of her time would not have had. After her mother dies when she is a child, Patsy resolves to take care of her father, following him to Paris during his time as a diplomat there and eventually serving as his "First Lady" during his time as president.

This book also takes an interesting tack with regard to the relationship between Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings, his slave and mistress. It doesn't gloss over the relationship; indeed, Martha's feelings about it are a central theme of the book. However, since it is from Martha's perspective, it also is presented through the eyes of someone of that era. However, the authors present Martha as in favor of emancipation, so they use that to find ways to work in some of the ethical implications of a master and major proponent of liberty sleeping with his slave. They also manage to work in some discussion of the inequality faced by women in this period, without hitting you over the head with it.

A Philosophic Cock, engraved by James Akin, 1804. 

This political cartoon mocked President Jefferson, 

the strutting rooster, with his concubine 

Sally Hemings (pictured as a hen) – at the same time 

denying her humanity and privacy.

American Antiquarian Society. From Monticello.org

The book also doesn't shy away from Martha's efforts to clean up her father's reputation, either. In fact, the book is laid out for us through Martha's reminiscences as she goes through (and burns) her father's old letters, attempting to sanitize his legacy for the future.

In the end, I think the authors did a good job of capturing the humanity and flaws of the major characters and managed to share a lot of detail I didn't know about, and this is a time period I am very familiar with. In addition, the historical note at the end is well worth reading, as it explains some of the decisions the authors made with regard to how to portray history.

The only thing I might have wished to see more of was Sally herself. We really don't know what is going on in her mind or emotions; we don't know how (outwardly) coercive her relationship with Thomas is, for example. This does make sense in the context in which it is written, though; it is hard to imagine Sally and Martha speaking candidly about these things, and the book is from Martha's perspective.

This might have been a good opportunity for chapters alternating different character perspectives (a plot device I like), which could have been done pretty easily since the chapters are set up as reactions to the letters as Martha reads them. I suppose the flaw in this approach is that any story from Sally's point of view would have to really be conjecture; as least with  Martha we have her public actions to inform any conjecture.

I suppose the trade off for having chapters from Sally's perspective would have been an increase in conjecture and loss of historical accuracy for a more nuanced story. Sadly, often the trade off of historical fiction.

Overall, an interesting look at an interesting woman. A biography of Martha Jefferson Randolph will be going on my list.

Review: The Anatomy of Motive

As promised in my recent list of favorite true crime books, I've just wrapped up The Anatomy of Motive by John Douglas. If you're not familiar with Douglas, he was part of the FBI's Behavioral Sciences Unit for 25 years as a leading expert on criminal personalities and profiling, so his thoughts on criminals are well worth reading if you're interested in the psychology of crime.

I've read several of this books at this point, and can particularly recommend Mindhunter (yes, the one that inspired the Netflix series, which I also recommend) and The Cases That Haunt Us. This one fit nicely in with the others, and really delved deeply into the psychology of why which, as he points out, is what we all want to know anyway.

The Unabomber
forensic sketch

He discusses some famous cases you might expect, including Lee Harvey Oswald, Ted Kaczynski (the Unabomber), and Timothy McVeigh. Incidentally, he has a whole book dedicated to the Unabomber that I really want to read now. I am guessing these cases are probably at least minimally familiar to just about anyone who would pick up this book in the first place, but he also goes beyond what the average person probably knows. He covered more/different details than I was primarily familiar with, anyway. Even with Lee Harvey Oswald, who I was pretty familiar with thanks to Marina and Lee, it was still pretty interesting to get his perspective.

Oklahoma City Bombing

He also discusses some lesser known cases that I am guessing most people aren't familiar with; at least, I wasn't. He also delved into some types of crimes I've not seen him really address before, such as some early airplane hijacking cases and mass shooters, including those involved in work place violence. He gave some really interesting perspectives into these lesser known crimes and criminals, which really kept me hooked.

Some of the broad types of crimes covered by the book include arson, poisoning (specifically product tampering), employee violence, fugitives, and mass shootings. He also wraps up with a "you make the call" chapter that allows you to test out what you've (hopefully) learned from the book with a series of hypothetical cases, which is pretty fun.

Overall, I can recommend for any true crime buff, especially those interested in the more cerebral questions regarding the psychology of crime.

What's next for me? Stay tuned for reviews in the next few weeks of:

1. America's First Daughter
2. City of Lies
3. The Romanovs

My top 10 list for True Crime fans

I haven't finished anything new since my review of Circe, but I am reading a good true crime book (stay tuned for a review, probably next week, of The Anatomy of Motive), and it prompted me to make a list of some of my all-time favorite true crime authors and books.

I. The Stranger Beside Me

If you read nothing else on this list, you've got to read this one. If you have any interest in true crime at all, you can't miss it, especially if the recently released Netflix series on the Ted Bundy tapes piqued your interest.

First, it's written by Ann Rule, who you'll see from the rest of this list is a favorite of mine. And Ted Bundy is certainly a must-read for anyone interested in true crime. However, there's more to it than that.

As with any Rule book, it's thoroughly researched and in depth (it weighs in at a healthy 560 pages). However, what's really fascinating is Rule's personal touch. There was serial killer - uncaught - on the west coast Rule was researching for a book. Meanwhile, she was friends with a charming young man who worked at a crisis hotline with her - Ted Bundy. Her discussion of finding out that her friend was the serial killer she was writing about adds a whole other dimension to the book, as does her in-depth discussion at the end regarding the psychology behind Bundy and others like him.

II. Mindhunter

This is another need-to-read, in my opinion. Written by John Douglas and Mark Olshaker, it discusses the formation and early years of the FBI's behavioral sciences unit and some of the major cases over Douglas's career with the unit. It's, as you may have guessed, part of the inspiration for the Netflix series of the same name - also worth watching. For anyone interested in the criminal mind, with profiles of specific criminal masterminds, this is worth reading.

The only downside on this one is Douglas himself. Let's just say he isn't exactly modest. I don't deny he's certainly earned the chance to be confident, but he comes off - for me - as arrogant and annoying in this first book. However, I think the value of the content outweighs the negative of the narrators personality. And, for what it's worth, he seems to tone that down is his other books.

III. Silent Witnesses

Like Mindhunter, this one covers a variety of cases. However, instead of looking at the psychological aspect of crime, this one discusses the history of forensic technology, looking at the early cases that led to forensic developments from finger-printing to DNA.

This one is a nice quick read and covers many cases you may not have heard of, and I love the history. In addition, it doesn't focus only on United States or even European cases, which is a big positive in my eyes.

IV. Helter Skelter

This is a classic I imagine just about everyone has heard of, but I couldn't make a list of true crime books and not include it. 

First, the Manson murders are a crime unlike most others, and therefore are worth reading about if you're interested in this genre. Furthermore, Bugliosi, who was the prosecutor in the case, gives us a great and thorough insiders view, and the book is engaging. It offers an interesting look at not only the case but also the era. 

As a side note, while I am not adding it to this list per se, I can also recommend his book And the Sea Will Tell.

V. Green River, Running Red

Another Ann Rule, this book gives the Bundy book a run for its money in interest factor and readability. Despite his victim count, Gary Ridgway seems to be lesser-known than many of America's other serial killers, but I personally found him pretty interesting to read about. 

Rule again gives us a solid analysis of the cases Ridgway was involved in, along with a discussion of his psychology and what may have drive him. It also has a similar feel to her Bundy book, which earns it a place on this list.

VI. The Road to Jonestown

Disclaimer: I "read" this one on audio-book, so keep that in mind if you compare my discussion to the others books, as I tend to have a harder time focusing on audio-books. 

The first half of this one was really fascinating; it was pretty chilling to hear about child Jim Jones and his early interactions and manipulations of people. It was also really fascinating to hear his evolution and how he got to be the preacher that people would follow to death. 

On the other hand, the middle-later part of the book bogged down for me. There were so many details about smaller things that just didn't hold my attention as well, although I suspect this is in part because I was listening to it rather than reading it. It was still interesting enough, especially in the beginning, to earn it a place on this list.

VII. Killers of the Flower Moon

I wrote a full review of this one here, but I think it's also worth including on this list. I really enjoyed this one; it really brought a lot to the table. Not only does it address some of the early history of the FBI, which makes it worth reading if you're interested in true crime, but it also highlighted a lesser known period in American history. 

I didn't know anything about this period, and neither did other people I have spoken with. One of the things I really enjoyed about this book was the fact that it really delved into the injustices the Osage people were subjected to even before the murders. This one is well worth a read for anyone interested in true crime or US history.

VIII. If You Really Loved Me

Yes, Ann Rule makes my list again - as you can tell, I really like her books. I'd honestly recommend any of them, but these are my top three favorites. 

Unlike the other two, this one isn't about a serial killer. Fair warning - this one will really tug at your heart strings. It's a really amazing expose on the depth of love a child can have for a parent, and therefore the depth of harm a parent can cause. As with the Bundy and Green River books, Rule delves into the psychology and childhood of the "bad guy" at an impressive level, really giving you a thorough and in-depth understanding of what happened in this case and how a family could go so terribly wrong.

IX. The Princes in the Tower

You're probably going to wonder why this belongs on a true crime list, but bear with me! This one is by one of my favorite historical fiction and non-fiction history, Alison Weir. 

In this one, she delves into the War of the Roses and the mystery of the princes in the Tower of London and who killed them, which is how it makes my true crime list. Sure, it's not your average true crime, but it's one of the western world's great enduring mysteries and I think that makes it worth reading. And anything by Weir is enjoyable. 

I won't give any spoilers, but yes she does give us her conclusion as to who done it, with lots of evidence to back up her argument. In my opinion, this one is worth taking a detour for, even if it's outside your normal reading interests.

X. The Cases That Haunt Us

I'm sneaking another John Douglas onto the list. I found him less annoying in this one, so it's got that going for it. The other reason I enjoyed this one is that it has such a variety. Douglas uses this book to go back into some of history's greatest and most debated cases and gives his perspective as an FBI profiler. He discusses Lizzie Borden, Jack the Ripper, JonBenet Ramsey, the Linbergh kidnapping, the Zodiac Killer, and possibly others I am forgetting. 

This one really spans history, which I enjoyed, but it also spans types of cases from serial killers to kidnappers, which also makes it worth reading. I also appreciate that in the unsolved cases he doesn't say "this is who did it;" he acknowledges that, especially in older cases, it may never be possible to give a definitive answer. Rather, he uses his education and training to say "this is the type of person who did it," and then discusses whether there were any suspects that fit that profile. It offers a really interesting look at some of history's most famous crimes.

BONUS: Marina & Lee

I'm sneaking in a bonus for you. As with some of the others on this list, this isn't necessarily the traditional true crime book. Like Rule's Bundy book, the author actually knew the subject of the book, Lee Harvey Oswald. She met him when he was living in Moscow as a defector. After Oswald was shot, she spent months with his widow Marina discussing Oswald's childhood, their marriage, and the lead up to the Kennedy assassination, offering a level of personal detail I've not seen many other places. 

As with Rule, she delves into the psychology of why Oswald did what he did; in case you can't tell, this is an important part of a good true crime book for me. She discusses his childhood, his family dynamics, and his feelings about Kennedy - which will probably surprise you. She also gives a feeling for what might have prevented the assassination from happening. All in all, I fascinating and well researched look at one of history's most notorious men, and well worth a spot on this list. 

Book Review: Circe

I just finished reading Circe by Madeline Miller for my book club, and I loved it. I was mildly concerned it wouldn't live up to my expectations after The Song of Achilles, but it very much did. Both are written as stand alones, but Circe chronologically comes after Achilles. Song of Achilles tells the story of the Illiad, whereas Circe tells the story of the Odyssey. Odysseus features in both, but most of the other characters from Achilles feature in Circe only by mention or in passing.

Circe tells the story of one of the "monsters" Odysseus meets in his journey home following the Trojan war, form the "monster's" perspective. We follow the witch Circe from her childhood as the goddess daughter of Helios through to her encounters with Odysseus and onward.

I want to avoid spoilers here, so I'll tread carefully. The story goes a long way toward explaining why Circe acted as she did and making her a sympathetic - yet clearly imperfect - character. Miller has a really fascinating way of portraying the gods; at one point in Circe she describes them as being like children, as I recall. She clearly wants the reader to see them as imperfect - even petty - characters. The interactions between Circe and the other gods - and between the other gods themselves - is fascinating. Miller clearly wants us to see that there is a downside to immortality.

Circe, Wright Barker, 1889

Incidentally, Miller has a great website that serves as a companion to her books with a glossary and images of Circe. I definitely recommend checking it out if you're interested in more information on the characters in her novels.

Without giving anything  away, I must say I really loved the ending of Circe. While Miller leaves it somewhat ambiguous, it really fits the Circe she has created for the reader. It really rings true to the Circe we've come to know by the end. In addition, just as with Song of Achilles, Miller really has a way with words. Her imagery is just captivating and the characters she creates are so.... immediate and real, for lack of a better way to describe it.

I cannot speak to how well this cleaves to the original source material, as I only read portions of the Odyssey in college several years ago. I know, I know, this is embarrassing. However, I can say that these more accessible versions of the stories in the Illiad and the Odyssey might be a great way to introduce more reluctant readers to Greek mythology.

Overall, definitely one I'd recommend adding to your reading list if you enjoy either historical fiction or fantasy.

Review: The Princes of Ireland

I've just finished The Princes of Ireland by Edward Rutherfurd, the first in a duology about the history of Ireland. The book starts in the 400s and continues through the early 1500s and the reign of Henry VIII in England. The next book, The Rebels of Ireland, picks up where this one let off.

This book follows Rutherfurd's traditional style, tracing one or more families through the history of a specific place, in this case Dublin. Think James Michener, if you're familiar with his writing. I personally find Rutherfurd a more readable author than Michener, but I think that's really personal opinion. 

As I mentioned, this book starts out in the 400s (AD) when Dublin as a city does not exist; at this point, it's Dubh Linn, which apparently means blackpool. The book starts with an era of clan chiefs and druidism, which I personally find fascinating. I've seen other Rutherfurd fans say this is the least favorite of theirs, but I personally didn't feel that way. (Although, to be fair, I've only read his Russia book, Russka, so far.) 

The book goes on to cover the era of Saint Patrick and the Christianization of Ireland, the coming of the Vikings, and the rule of Brian Boru. It then heads into the long colonization by England with a discussion of the Strongbow era, up to the time of Henry VIII. 

I personally feel the book does a good job of mixing history with story. Rutherfurd allows his characters to sometimes meet and interact with historical figures, and he also manages to weave background historical information throughout the story where needed. However, the primary focus is the characters, with each chapter following a new generation of the families in his tale. He generally finds a quick subtle way to make sure you know who the current characters ancestors were in previous chapters - he often makes use of a gold-rimmed drinking skull for one family, for example. Each chapter follows the loves and struggles of the families during a set period in history, with real historical events and people for a backdrop. He does include a family tree at the beginning to assist you. In the background,we see Dublin itself evolve almost like a character in and of itself, going from the name for a particular crossing to a genuine (and important!) city through the course of the book.

I personally found all of this enjoyable, right through from the mythology of the druids and the old Irish gods, up to the struggle with the English. In a way, I found the bit about Henry VIII particularly interesting - I've read alot about the Tudor period in England, and it was interesting to look at this whole other struggle that is often a footnote in other tales of Henry. To think that he was dealing with this while also trying to get his annulment from Catherine is amazing. 

(Incidentally, if you're interested in more about Henry's struggles with Catherine of Aragon, I can very happily recommend Katherine of Aragon by Alison Weir, the first in a six book series on the wives of Henry VIII. I picked it up on a sort of a whim, and it set off my interest in English history in general and the Tudors specifically.) 

So, overall I definitely recommend this as a board look over the history of Ireland, and I do intend to read (and review) the second book in the duology at some point, though not right away. I also plan to seek out some fiction that looks at some of these specific periods in Irish history more closely; I've already got some by Morgan Llywelyn on my Kindle that will probably do nicely. (To digress yet again with another recommendation, if you like historical fiction about strong women, you'd love Grania, about female pirate Grace O'Malley during Elizabeth I's reign.)

While this took me a while to read, it was well worth the trip.

Review: The Killers of the Flower Moon

I just finished The Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann, which I read for a book club. This book ticked all the boxes for me; it was engaging and kept me reading, I felt for the people involved, and I picked up several more books I want to read from the bibliography.

The subtitle for this book is The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, but it really has so much more than that. The Osage Native American tribe wound up on a chunk of land that was later discovered to be chock full of oil. Through some good lawyering, the Osage's mineral rights were well protected and they became one of the wealthiest populations in the country. (How did I not know any of this before?!?) Human nature being what it is, this naturally led to a lot of jealousy and abuse.... and a spate of murders. And, human nature continuing to be what it is, for various reasons the local investigations stalled and the fledgling FBI became involved. This book is the story of the murders and the FBI investigation.

Mollie Burkart, one of the prime targets of the Osage Reign of Terror,
and her sisters Anna and Minnie. Photo credit: David Grann, from The History Channel.

One of the things I found most fascinating (and saddening) was the discussion of the abuse of the Osage people at the hands of the local whites (and the government). While the Osage rights to the wealth from the new oil fields was protected, the local whites found a work-around; many of the Osage were declared incompetent and given guardians - white men - to "manage" their money for them. Not surprisingly, this led to rampant abuse.

William Hale, a major player
in the Osage Reign of Terror

In an effort to protect the Osage rights the "headrights" to the oil fields could not be sold (although the surface land could be, if I understand correctly), they could only be inherited. Unfortunately, as Grann details in his book, this led to a string of murders in attempts to gain control of the valuable headrights and the payments form them.

J. Edgar Hoover
From the Library of Congress

Grann dives into detail into all of this - and more - in his insightful and sensitive story of what has come to be known as the Osage Reign of Terror. He also discusses some of the beginnings of the FBI, reminding me that I have been meaning to read a biography of J. Edgar Hoover for a while now.

It's clear that Grann did a lot of research for this book, including talking to many victims' family members and digging into archives and original reports as much as possible, making for (it seems) a well documented book. Yet he also manages to write in a way that is really engaging and compelling; at times the book almost reads like a novel. In my opinion, this is narrative non-fiction at its best.

As mentioned, this book really piqued my interest to dig deeper into some of these topics, and I added several books to my TBR list, including:

1. The World's Richest Indian: The Scandal Over Jackson Barnett's Oil Fortune
2. J. Edgar Hoover Goes to the Movies: The FBI & the Origins of Hollywood's Cold War
3. The Human Predator: A Historical Chronicle of Serial Murder and Forensic Investigation
4. The Teapot Dome Scandal: How Big Oil Bought the Harding White House & Tried to Steal the Country
5. Lincoln's Spymaster: Allan Pinkerton, America's First Private Eye
6. Deadly Times: The 1920 Bombing of the Los Angeles Times & America's Forgotten Decade of Terror
7. Hoover's FBI and the Fourth Estate: The Campaign to Control the Press & the Bureau's Image
8. Young J. Edgar: Hoover & the Red Scare

It also prompted me to bump the biography of Hoover that I already have on my Kindle up my list. 

Overall, I can safely say this is one of, if not the best, book I've read so far in 2019. 

Reviews: Chronicles of Narnia

I recently finished a re-read of a major fantasy classic: The Chronicles of Narnia. I seem to be taking on all some serious classics with my reviews lately. While the series by CS Lewis has always been popular, I think it's had a resurgence in recent years with a series of films, and it's generating buzz again now with the news last year that Netflix is going to make TV series! I'd been meaning to re-read the series as I had not read it since childhood, and now seemed like the time.

Maybe the biggest debate around this series is reading order. Publication order, or chronological order?

The original publication of the books is:

1. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
2. Prince Caspian
3. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
4. The Silver Chair
5. The Horse and His Boy
6. The Magician's Nephew
7. The Last Battle 

Chronological order is:

1. The Magician's Nephew
2. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
3. The Horse and His boy
4. Prince Caspian
5. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader 
6. The Silver Chair
7. The Last Battle

The cover of the boxed set
I remember from childhood

Apparently people have strong feelings on this issue. I recently commented on a Facebook threat about it and hooooboy. I personally come down on the side of chronological order, as I like to see events unfold in order and to know the "back story" as I go. However, ultimately, the choice is up to the reader. 

The second most common controversy (is it a controversy?) I see is the allegation that it's a Christian allegory. I remember hearing that as an adult who hadn't read the books in years and thinking "is it? Hmmm... maybe a little." Re-reading it as an adult, I'm reading to acknowledge that it clearly is - especially The Last Battle. However, are most kids going to notice that? Does it disqualify it from being a good book? I don't necessarily think so. You just may be ready to have a conversation about it with your children if it feels necessary/appropriate to your family. 

You might also want to be ready to have discussions about cultural sensitivity and racism, as this book was clearly written in a different time period and doesn't exactly live up to today's standards of political correctness; the Calormenes are a not very sensitive or flattering depiction of Middle Eastern peoples and cultures, and the last book actually uses the phrase "darkies." Again, does this disqualify it from being a good book? Does this mean you shouldn't let your kids read it? Ultimately this is up to each individual family. I write professionally on the issue of intellectual freedom, so I am never going to come down on the side of censoring, but I definitely think parents need to be prepared to talk about it. 

So, is it a good read? I think if you want to see the evolution of fantasy novels and hit all the classics, it has to be on the list. It continues to endure as a classic, and it continues to be popular. Lewis creates a great world, and in the genre of children being pulled into a new magical world, it's hard to beat the yearning it generates - who doesn't want to visit Narnia and meet Aslan? What kid doesn't want to believe he can save the world? Lewis is a master at capitalizing on this, too; he knows how to put his characters in mundane situations readers will recognize - being bullied, being bored at a stuffy relatives house - that make being pulled into Narnia all the more appealing. 

On the other hand, if you're just looking for great fantasy reads, rather than a trip through fantasy history, there are probably more richly developed and immersive worlds out there today, and ones that don't carry the cultural insensitivity this series does. Ultimately, it really depends on what you are looking for and how much the over-handed allegory will bug you.  

Review: To Read or Not to Read? Wheel of Time

Alright, so I am less than 1/3 of the way through this massive series, but as it will be quite a while before I finish the series, and I see a great deal of debate on whether to read the series, I thought I'd post a review of the first few books.  Naturally, since I have a lot of the series left to read, my opinion could change.

One major argument for it - it looks like the television series really is coming, so if you prefer to read the book first (like me), now's the time!

I am not sure I've ever seen a book series with as much debate on whether or not it is worth reading as this one, other than maybe Malazan Book of the Fallen, which is also on my "to read" list. Peopel seem to either love Wheel of Time or hate it; so far, I fall into the "love" category.

Let me address some of the common critiques I see. First, that its a "rip off" of Tolkein. There's definitely some legitimacy to this, at least in the first book. Young man meets mysterious stranger and magic caster, goes off on a great adventure with his companions, while being chased by evil minions of a scary bad guy we don't really see yet. Sound familiar? However, I found this was a lot less true as you go through the books, so if you can bear with it for the first book, I think this particular objection can be overcome.

The second major critique I see is that they're overly wordy and/or that they drag. This is really a personal preference thing, in my opinion. This is definitely in the epic fantasy sub-genre of fantasy, and they're not quick reads. However, I think most people know that going in - it's a long series. Personally, I've yet to feel like it dragged, although I don't think I've hit the books that are traditionally considered the "worst" in this aspect. They're definitely long and heavy on description, but I personally like and expect that in my epic fantasy. If you prefer a more direct, action-paced narrative, I'll admit this might not be the series for you.

There is a similar point I have seen brought up that I have to say is totally correct - there can be some repetitive elements. I can remember reading a review that said that if Nynaeve tugged her braid one more time.... And I must admit, that particular sentence can get annoying. There is also a lot of smoothing of clothes. But to me, while it might be mildly annoying, this is a pretty small complaint.

I've also seen complaints that the characters are boring and one-dimensional. This particular critique I (mostly) disagree with. The characters often do fit fantasy tropes to some extent, but not to such an extent as to ruin the books. There are some cliches that are genuinely annoying - everyone is in love, the men don't understand the women, the women try to control the men, etc. etc. Again, though, I don't feel this ruins the books.

While some of these get more noticeable as the books go on - particularly the gender stereotypes - I also think the characters develop and become more interesting, which out weighs that irritation. It also seems like it's going to avoid some fantasy stereotypes, although it's hard to tell this early on. For example, I don't think Rand - the main character (as much as anyone is the main character) is going to be an all-"white" goody-goody character. That, for me, would be the one thing that would really bring the series down for me, and it doesn't seem like that is going to be the case. 

The primary positive, to me, is the world building. There are so many different cities and peoples, and some really great lore. It's dribbled out slowly, but it's worth reading just for that in my opinion. In the fourth, when we finally see more of the Aiel, it really starts to hit it's stride in this area. They have a pretty fascinating history.

Overall, I am really enjoying it and it will likely go into my pile of things I may even re-read some day. I think it's certainly worth giving a chance - you can always quit if you hate it. However, unless you really hate it, I do think it's worth reading at least through the second one; I think they pick up a lot after the first one. If you enjoy it, you're in for a rare treat!

I'll post another review after a few more books. 

Review: The Conqueror's Wife

Stephanie Thornton does it again, at least for me. I think The Conqueror's Wife was one of her earlier books, but I just got to it, and it's as good as the others. I'll admit it took me a little while to get into it, but once I did I couldn't put it down.

It's Thornton's story of Alexander the Great, but as with her Tiger Queens it is told from the perspectives of others in his life, particularly the women. Each chapter is from the perspective of a different character, which is a narrative approach I love.

Stateira, one of Alexander's wives

All the women around Alexander are strong women in their own way, which in a way feels a little cliched - I doubt they were all badass women, but it makes for a great story. And while they're all (or mostly all) strong, they each have their own approach to life, from his wives Roxana and Stateira, his mother Olympia, his sister Thessolonike, or his sister-in-law the amateur engineer Drypetis, you'll definitely have opinions on these women.

However, my favorite character was Hephaestion, Alexander's best friend and second-in-command (and possibly lover). Without giving any spoilers away, Hephaestion is a great foil for Alexander, and their relationship is really touching. It's also the first time I can recall her using a male narrator, so that was an interesting change of pace as well.

Roxana and Olympias were an interesting contrast to Drypetis and Thessalonike. Roxana and Olympias were clearly the more ruthless half of the coin, while Drypetis and Thessalonike manage to be strong but still show compassion and love.

Alexander and Hephaestion
by Andrea Camassei
17th Century

As usual, this also really peaked my interest in this area of the world and this time period. I'm glad I've already got some other books on my Kindle, and even more on my TBR, that will satisfy that interest. Thornton herself recommends Mary Renault, so I might have to try something by her soon.

It also really piqued my interest in Persian history and culture; I've not ever encountered it before, and it seemed really interesting. While she doesn't get too deeply into the culture, the bits she does touch on - the Gods and the burial rights - definitely was intriguing.

Overall, this definitely confirmed my opinion that Thornton is one of the greats in women's historical fiction, and I hope she continues to write for a long time to come.

Review: Darwin's Ghosts

I finished Darwin's Ghosts by Rebecca Stott last weekend, but I've been so busy I haven't had a chance to review it! Stott's book originally caught my attention in a New York Times review, and a librarian it seemed like something I had to read. I was hoping it would give me some ideas on new approaches to talking to my students about plagiarism, and I think it did.

I loved that Stott addresses right off the bat whether or not Darwin intended to ignore his predecessors - it sounds like he did not. According to Stott, he was intimidated by trying to give credit to all of his predecessors; a feeling most students would identify with, I think. She also discusses his struggle to do so in later editions of his work.

Charles Darwin

Overall this was an interesting look at the evolution of the theory of evolution (see what I did there?), discussing each of Darwin's predecessors in turn. It gave mini biographies of some really interesting thinkers, but it also showed how theories gradually led to a full theory of evolution and how each theorist gradually added to our understanding of the history of species. 

Stott starts with Aristotle and his proteges and their collection of various species. It was really amazing to think about Aristotle prowling around taking fish from fisherman and asking them about their observations of sea creatures. 

Perhaps my favorite chapter was the one on Jahiz, which discusses the "House of Wisdom" and the Golden Age of Baghdad under the Abbasid Empire. I knew that there was a segment of history where the Middle East was far ahead of Europe in terms of culture and science, but I didn't know much about it beyond that, and this chapter really made me want to read more about this period. 

The House of Wisdom during the Islamic Golden Age. In the Public Domain, from Wikimedia Commons.

The book goes on to discuss Leonardo da Vinci, then Trembley and his discovery of the regenerative powers of the polyp (what we learned about in 7th grade biology as the hydra). She again leaves Europe to discuss Benoit de Maillet in Cairo in the early 1700s. I also loved this chapter, which discusses the realization by Maillet and others that parts of the Earth that are now land used to be underwater and the intellectual quest to figure out how that could be. 

Alfred Wallace

Stott then returns to Europe to discuss the Hotel of Philosophers in Paris, with greats such as Diderot and d'Holbach and the creation of the Encyclopedia. She devotes an entire chapter to Erasmus Darwin (Charles' grandfather!), then returns to Paris and the Jardin des Plantes. She also has a chapter devoted to Robert Grant, who knew Charles Darwin, and his fascination with the sea sponge. She wraps up with discussions of Robert Chambers and his Edinburgh Journal, with a final chapter devoted to Alfred Wallace, who arguably reached the same conclusions regarding sexual selection as Darwin before Darwin's theories were made public. (As a side note, I love that she also discusses at length Wallace's research companion, Ali.) 

One of my other favorite parts of this book was the discussion of the intellectual freedom of most of the predecessors of Darwin. She discusses in depth how difficult and dangerous it was for many of these great thinkers to make their theories and their work public; some had to use pseudonyms, others risked imprisonment for speaking out. Intellectual freedom is an area I am really interested in and passionate about, so I loved that she devoted a good chunk of the book to addressing it. 

Overall a really fascinating, intellectual stimulating read - I definitely recommend.