Happy Wednesday!
My chosen quote today is by the great Joss Whedon, the creator of so many of my favourite TV shows and films. The current one that I am watching being the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series.
Joss Whedon
The Chateau of Briis: A Lesson in Love by Alison Weir
About the author
Alison Weir was born in 1951 and is a British writer of history books, and latterly historical novels, mostly in the form of biographies about British Royalty.
Blurb
1515 – Dressed in wine-coloured satin, with her dark hair worn loose, a young Anne Boleyn attends a great ball at the French court. The palace is exquisitely decorated for the occasion, and the hall is full with lords and ladies – the dancing has begun. Anne adores watching the game of courtly love play out before her eyes, though she is not expecting to be thrown into it herself. But moments later, a charming young man named Philippe du Moulin approaches to ask for her hand in the dance. And before she can resist, so begins Anne’s first lesson in love.
Review
Another short story from the Six Tudor Queens series and I must admit I really enjoyed this one. It was somewhat more satisfying than The Tower is Full of Ghosts Today as that just left me feeling a bit frustrated with the story.
This is a wonderful little story but it was a little emotional rollercoaster. Anne Boleyn has her first lesson in love in this story and although it is only something Weir has made up it would explain a great deal about Anne Boleyn’s character. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her at times.
This little glimpse into Anne’s life in the French court is wonderful and full of detail. I throughly enjoyed it but again found it was very short, just a few extra pages and I would have been happier but it is a perfect little novella to read between Anne Boleyn: A King’s Obsession and Jane Seymour: The Haunted Queen. I have given this story 4 out of 5 Dragons.
The Tower is Full of Ghosts Today by Alison Weir
About the author
Alison Weir was born in 1951 and is a British writer of history books, and latterly historical novels, mostly in the form of biographies about British Royalty.
Blurb
Jo, historian and long-term admirer of Anne Boleyn, takes a group on a guided tour of the Tower of London, to walk in the shoes of her Tudor heroine. But as she becomes enthralled by the historical accuracy of her tour guide and the dramatic setting that she has come to love, something spectral is lurking in the shadows . . .
Review
I am sure I have read this little story before but I don’t know where from as I have never owned it. I do not mind though as I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this little story again.
I have always been fascinated by the history of the Tower of London and have often thought it is probably the home to many ghosts so this little story is right up my street.
This little story centres around a tour group who Jo is in charge of and she books a special tour guide to take them all around the Tower. This tour guide is dressed up like Anne Boleyn and looks incredible, everyone is impressed. As the tour progresses though a spectral figure is spotted in another group.
I really enjoyed this story but it was just too short! Seven pages just wasn’t enough. I was begging Weir to make it longer but sadly no. I loved the detail in this story, the detail of the Anne Boleyn lookalike tour guide’s dress was fantastically described and had me hooked. I can sadly only give this short story 3 out of 5 Dragons because it was just too short for me.
First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?
Hello!
I haven’t done one of these for a few weeks so I thought I would have a go this evening.
Remember, the answer is below the cats. Good luck!
“You’ve got to say this for desperation: it makes you much more open-minded. I really can see some positives in this flat. The technicolour mould on the kitchen wall will scrub off, at least in the short term. The filthy mattress can be replaced fairly cheaply. And you could definitely make the argument that the mushrooms growing behind the toilet are introducing a fresh, outdoorsy feel to the place.”
And the answer is…
How did you do? I hope to read this book very soon.
Happy Reading
Happy Friday!
Around this time of year lilies start to flower and although I’m highly allergic to lilies I do love water lilies and look forward to seeing them flower in our pond. So I have chosen a poem about lilies for this week.
Little White Lily
Little white Lily
Sat by a stone,
Drooping and waiting
Till the sun shone.
Little white Lily
Sunshine has fed;
Little white Lily
Is lifting her head.
Little white Lily
Said: ‘It is good:
Little white Lily’s
Clothing and fool!
Little white Lily
Drest like a bride!
Shining with whiteness,
And crowned beside!’
Little white Lily
Droopeth in pain,
Waiting and waiting
For the wet rain.
Little white Lily
Holdeth her cup;
Rain is fast falling,
And filling it up.
Little white Lily
Said: ‘Good again,
When I am thirsty
To have nice rain!
Now I am stronger,
Now I am cool;
Heat cannot burn me,
My veins are so full!’
Little white Lily
Smells very sweet:
On her head sunshine,
Rain at her feet.
‘Thanks to the sunshine!
Thanks to the rain!
Little white Lily
Is happy again!’
George MacDonald
Happy Reading!
Another Thursday has arrived and so it is time for me to do my This and That Thursday post.
So this week hasn’t been that busy and I haven’t touched my new jigsaw sadly but I’ve still tried to keep busy.
Music
I’ve started getting into my piano practice again. The piano is my nemesis, no matter how hard I try I just can’t progress and get my grade 6 complete. This leads to me getting frustrated and ceasing to practice. So I’m aiming for 30mins a day but not just grade stuff I’m playing fun stuff that will still push my playing in the hope I don’t abandon the instrument again. I have also started working on grade 2 ukulele which is proving to be a good challenge, I’m currently working on Ziggy Stardust which is really fun trying to play on a ukulele.
Wedding Anniversary
Yesterday was our wedding anniversary and to celebrate we went for a walk by the church where we got married and then had a lovely meal which involved pizza and champagne. It was a lovely quiet day and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Tudors
I have started a Tudor course on Future Learn and I love it so far. It is mainly done by Dr Suzannah Lipscomb and it is very informative. Should keep me busy for a few weeks. I highly recommend Future Lear. The courses are excellently done and massively enjoyable to do.
So that is my week. Hopefully the piano playing will continue to get better.
WWW Wednesday is a meme hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words.
The rules are answer the questions below and share a link to your blog in the comments section of Sam’s blog.
Happy Wednesday!
I am very happy because yet again I have another week where I can take part in this meme because I have read and finished some books this week. I hope my fellow book bloggers have also had a good reading week.
What I am Currently Reading
This wasn’t my intended next read but it arrived in the post and I started the first few pages and became hooked. It is so far a brilliant read and very emotional in places.
What I have Recently Finished Reading
I finished The Lantern Men earlier this week and then read the two E-Shorts by Alison Weir in preparation for reading the next book in the Six Tudor Queens series.
What I will read next
I said that I would read this next on last week’s post but I promise this will be my next read.
So that is my WWW Wednesday for this week. Please drop me a comment with any thoughts of the books I have listed and of course if you have also taken part in WWW Wednesday please leave your link and I will head over for a visit.
Happy Wednesday!
We are halfway through the week! Another week that is racing by.
My chosen quote today is by Walt Disney (1901-1966) who created the wonderful Mickey Mouse amongst other fantastic characters.
Walt Disney
I hope the rest of your week is full of good books and a snuggly corner to read them in.
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish and now hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl. For more info please check out Jana’s blog.
Hello everyone!
I hope this blog post finds everyone well. This weeks post is about books that make you smile and I will be honest I have a lot of books that make me smile but I promise I will try to keep it to just ten choices.
1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
I simply love this book and each time I read it I discover something new to smile about. I love Mrs Bennet’s random outburst, Mr Bennet’s comments about his wife, and of course the ridiculous Lydia and Kitty.
2. Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett
I will be honest I could list all the Discworld novels as books that make me smile but I have chosen this one because I simply love it.
3. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling
This is my favourite Harry Potter book and it is because we meet Bill and Charlie Weasley and get to experience a bit more of the life of the Weasley family. It just makes me smile to read about such a wonderful family.
4. Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot
This little book is a little book of magic for me, I absolutely love the poems and just smile from ear to ear when I read it.
5. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Another book I have read over and over again over the years and can never get enough of. I just adore the love and friendships between the four sisters and seeing how they grow up and Jo March was always my favourite.
6. Going Postal by Terry Pratchett
Ok, I did say only one discworld novel but I couldn’t help myself. This is the first book with Moist Van Lipwig and it contains Golems who are just brilliant. This is a definite laugh out loud book.
7. Matilda by Roald Dahl
My favourite Roald Dahl book of all time. I love the story of Matilda, a young girl completely different from her family defying all the odds.
8. The Martian by Andy Weir
I read this book after I had seen the film and I must admit I much prefer the book even though I love the film. There are such amazing lines in this book that you can’t help but laugh at.
9. Cat Out Of Hell by Lynne Truss
I bought this book because it intrigued me and I must admit I loved reading it even if it was completely different to what I was expecting.
10. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
As you can see by the tatty cover this book has been read loads of times. It is my comfort blanket that I read often and it always makes me smile.
So, there is my Top Ten Tuesday. Please drop a comment with your Top Ten Tuesday and I will head over for a visit.
Happy Reading.
The Lantern Men by Elly Griffiths
About the author
Elly Griffiths was born in London and began her career in publishing, she then turned to writing full time. In 2016 she won the CWA Dagger in the Library for her work. Griffiths lives in Brighton with her family and the cat Gus.
Blurb
Everything has changed for Dr Ruth Galloway.
She has a new job, home and partner, and is no longer North Norfolk police’s resident forensic archaeologist. That is, until convicted murderer Amyas March offers to make DCI Nelson a deal. Nelson was always sure that March killed more women than he was charged with. Now March confirms this, and offers to show Nelson where the other bodies are buried – but only if Ruth will do the digging.
Curious, but wary, Ruth agrees. March tells Ruth that he killed four more women and that their bodies are buried near a village bordering the fens, said to be haunted by the Lantern Men, mysterious figures holding lights that lure travellers to their deaths.
Is Amyas March himself a lantern man, luring Ruth back to Norfolk? What is his plan, and why is she so crucial to it? And are the killings really over?
Review
Firstly, I will be honest and say that I am a Dr Ruth Galloway addict. I haven’t read all of the books yet but I try and buy a new book as a treat to myself as often as possible. This one is book 12 in the series and was a massive surprise to me because it has moved on quite a bit from book 11. Ruth now has a new job, a new house and is now with a new partner. This was quite a shock for me after where book 11 left Ruth but a nice surprise.
Ruth is her usual self in the book and now she has what appears to be the dream life but as you read it you can’t help but wonder if she is really happy?
Nelson is trying to solve a murder case where the suspect March is already in prison but will not admit to being guilty of the murders. He later agrees to tell Nelson where other bodies are if he talks to Ruth. Ruth agrees which leads to Ruth and Nelson working a case together again.
As the case developed I must admit I did not see the end result coming and it was a massive surprise how it turned out. What didn’t surprise me was what happened at the very end of the book.
One of my favourite characters in the Dr Galloway series is Cathbad and I must admit I would have liked to have seen a bit more of him in the book. I always love a Cathbad ritual of some kind and sadly that was lacking in the book.
Overall, I absolutely loved this book and could not put it down. I give this book 5 out of 5 Dragons and highly recommend it to all crime and thriller fans.
Purchase Links
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