Golden Hill opens in 1746 Manhattan and follows the mysterious and enigmatic Mr. Smith. Smith keeps both the characters and reader guessing his motives and identity, as he arrives in New York with a voucher for a sum of money larger than anyone of his age and station should have. It is important to… Continue reading Review: Golden Hill: A Novel of Old New York by Francis Spufford
Slammerkin tells the story of teenaged Mary Saunders in 18th century London, who resorts to a life of selling her body in an effort to move past her working class, poverty stricken upbringing. The first thing I want to say is that Emma Donoghue is such a talented writer. I hadn't read anything by… Continue reading Review: Slammerkin by Emma Donoghue
The Terror by Dan Simmons tells the bleak, brutal tale of the doomed 1845 Franklin Expedition in which the HMS Terror and HMS Erebus sought to traverse the Northwest Passage. While historically we know that all those on the expedition perished likely from starvation, exposure, scurvy, cannibalism, etc, Simmons offers a horror/supernatural twist to… Continue reading Review: The Terror by Dan Simmons
Enchantress of Numbers tells the true story of [Augusta] Ada Byron King, the daughter of the famous poet, growing up in the shadow of the famous father she never knew. I admit I did not know much about Ada or Byron historically, so it was certainly interesting to read how liberal and pioneering Ada and… Continue reading Review: Enchantress of Numbers by Jennifer Chiaverini
A Place Called Freedom by Ken Follett is a fast-paced story spanning 18th century Scotland, London, and Virginia. We follow Mack McAsh and Lizzie Hallim, both strong-willed, independent people from differing socioeconomic classes. Mack has been born to the harsh life of coal mining; young men often yolked to a mine and landlord for life… Continue reading Review: A Place Called Freedom by Ken Follett
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
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
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
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