Marrying Mozart by Stephanie Cowell tells the story of young Mozart's relationships with the four Weber sisters beginning in 1777 Manheim, Germany. The Weber family follows the patriarch's direction in the appreciation of and vocation in music. They host musical nights every Thursday at their home, and it is on such a night that the family… Continue reading Review: Marrying Mozart by Stephanie Cowell
I don't know how I didn't discover Beverly Swerling until now, but wow--Shadowbrook was right up my alley! Scouring Amazon for 18th Century fiction paid off! Shadowbrook takes place during the Seven Years War (French and Indian War), and for anyone who doesn't know, I have an obsession with the Daniel Day-Lewis version of… Continue reading Review: Shadowbrook by Beverly Swerling
Where the Light Falls by Allison and Owen Pataki (her brother) follows a solider and a lawyer during the tumult of the French Revolution. I was a big fan of Allison's The Traitor's Wife, so I was eager to dive into this new story of the French Revolution. I don't believe Owen has written anything… Continue reading Review: Where The Light Falls by Allison and Owen Pataki
The Passion of Artemisia tells the story of real life 17th century Italian painter Artemisia Gentileschi. I first learned about Artemisia in an Art History class in college, and was instantly fascinated by her. It's hard not to be, as it was rare for a woman during that time to paint for money and for powerful… Continue reading Review: The Passion of Artemisia by Susan Vreeland
Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood tells the true story of 19th century alleged murderess Grace Marks. At age 15/16, Grace Marks was convicted of killing her employer and his mistress with a fellow member of "the help", James McDermott. Grace's trial was highly publicized across Canada, the US, and Europe (she was an Amanda Knox… Continue reading Review: Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead tells the story of 15 year old Cora, who runs away from a Georgia Plantation to obtain her freedom. Whitehead never actually tells us the date, but it is before the Civil War...California is mentioned a few times, and CA received statehood in 1850, so we can assume… Continue reading Review: The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
A More Perfect Union by Jodi Daynard is the third book in the Midwife trilogy, and follows the mixed race son (Johnny) of Eliza Bolyston and Johnny Watkins. The book opens in 1794, some 15 years after the events of books 1 and 2. Johnny Watkins, "passing as white", returns to Boston from the… Continue reading Review: A More Perfect Union
Our Own Country by Jodi Daynard is the second book in the Midwife series, taking place concurrently with The Midwife's Revolt. As I'd hoped, this installment does indeed fill in the gaps of Eliza's story that Midwife was lacking. Both books could have been spliced together, I think, so that the reader could experience the picture… Continue reading Review: Our Own Country by Jodi Daynard
When I wrote the first two parts of my Am Rev series, one of my main motivators was simply writing a story I wanted to read. I've found that fiction about the American Revolution is surprisingly lacking in volume, so whenever I do find any--especially with women as the central characters--I jump at the chance… Continue reading Review: The Midwife’s Revolt by Jodi Daynard
The Aftermath by Rhidian Brook depicts a time and place not often depicted in literature: post-WWII Germany--specifically, Hamburg in 1946. The Aftermath tells the story of a British officer, his wife, and their young son sharing a requisitioned home with a German man and his teenaged daughter. This situation proves ripe for drama and clashing relationships… Continue reading Review: The Aftermath by Rhidian Brook
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