A Book Review: The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory

The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I love historical fiction. Some of what Philippa Gregory pulled into this book is true, most fiction...which she clearly states at the end of the book in her author's note. I am actually glad she chose to put that at the end. It didn't cloud up my enjoyment of the book.

It humors me the number of ladies that a queen had to have to help her get through her daily activities. Like dressing, and changing her dress 2 or 3 times per day. Having all these ladies and maids in waiting proved to be detrimental to several queens in this story. The queens just didn't live up the the great King Henry's expectations. Which were unbelievable when you consider his age, failing health, and size. I would have been inclined to find a younger suitor like was done in this book.

Take it for what it is....historical fiction.....and have fun with it. I did, even though it took me a month to read, I really enjoyed it and look forward to the other Philippa Gregory books I have on my shelf.

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I didn't realize that the next book I randomly picked was on my random reading challenge with Caribou's Mom, but I'll still mark it off my list. Random.org didn't pick it randomly for me but I did so it's gotta count....right. I love Maeve Binchey! Nights of Rain and Stars....hopefully it won't take me a month to read like The Boleyn Inheritance did.

Here is my list:
1. Peaches by Jodi Lynn Anderson
2. Nights of Rain and Stars by Maeve Binchy
3. One Mississippi by Mark Childress
4. The Smoke Jumper by Nicholas Evans
5. Good Family by Terry Gamble
6. Between Georgia by Joshilyn Jackson
7. Best Intentions by Emily Listfield
8. In Search of Eden by Linda Nichols
9. Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell
10. The Lunch-Box Chronicles by Marion Winik
11. Table for Five by Susan Wiggs
12. The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar

Our summer is off to a swinging start. One trip to the ER under our belt. [ONLY] One day spent at the city's pool. Rabbits bought for 4H. Kitchen and dinning room painted...up next living room. The oldest step-daughter has a job.

Lots of lazy days ahead. We have a mini-vacation planned for the end of July and some camping trips. Hopefully July and August go slower than June has. :)

Book Review: I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb

I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was a great book about the lives of twin boys. Dominick and Thomas Birdsey. Thomas is schizophrenic, and after their mother's death from cancer Dominick is left to deal with Thomas and his treatment and their cruel step-father Ray. This book relives the boys' childhood and that of their grandfather Domenico Tempesta.

Through their grandfather's history, which was left in journal format, Dominick begins to piece part of his life together. At first I didn't like the grandfather's story but found myself quickly liking his story as well as Dominick and Thomas' present day story.

Even though this is a longer book, it was hard to put down making it easy to get through. After reading this book I would like to read more by Wally Lamb.

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My next book will be a part of my Random Reading Challenge brought to us by Caribou's Mom. The challenge is to use random.org, or some such site to randomly chose our next book for us.

Here is my list:
1. Peaches by Jodi Lynn Anderson
2. Nights of Rain and Stars by Maeve Binchy
3. One Mississippi by Mark Childress
4. The Smoke Jumper by Nicholas Evans
5. Good Family by Terry Gamble
6. Between Georgia by Joshilyn Jackson
7. Best Intentions by Emily Listfield
8. In Search of Eden by Linda Nichols
9. Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell
10. The Lunch-Box Chronicles by Marion Winik
11. Table for Five by Susan Wiggs
12. The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar

Random.org came up with #1 Peaches by Jodi Lynn Anderson.

Random Reading Challenge

Challenge Dates: August 1, 2009 – July 31, 2010

Hosted by Caribousmom

Are you stuck in a rut? Do you always find yourself reading from set lists or feeling committed to reading one book while another book screams at you from your TBR mountain? Has your reading become completely scheduled? If so, the Random Reading Challenge may be just the thing to put the spontaneity back into your reading.

For this challenge, readers will be choosing books randomly from their TBR stacks. You may select one of three levels of participation:

Level I: Read six books.

Level II: Read nine books

Level III: Read twelve books

1. NO lists are allowed.
   
2. Sign up at any time during the challenge period using Mr. Linky.
   
3. Book reviews are not required but there is a place to link up your reviews if you write them.
4. Books are selected one at a time using the following procedure:

• Randomly select any number of books from either your physical OR your virtual TBR pile (no “cherry picking” allowed)
• Assign a number to each book based on how many books you selected (ie: if you selected 14 books, assign each book a number from 1 through 14; if you selected 28 books, assign each book a number from 1 through 28…you get the idea)
• Go to THIS SITE and use the TRUE RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR located in the upper right hand corner of the page to randomly select the book you will read. NO CHEATING – whatever the random number generator generates is the book you must read!
• Each time you select a book for the challenge, you will use this procedure. You many select different books each time, choose a different amount of books each time, etc…have fun, mix it up, keep it random.

I always have such a hard time deciding which book to read next that I thought this would be a fun challenge. And since we have until next July to complete the challenge I went with Level III. I know daring, I'm just like that. Here are the 12 books I have randomly selected (with a little help by Superman Simon) from my to be read shelf.

1. Peaches by Jodi Lynn Anderson
2. Nights of Rain and Stars by Maeve Binchy
3. One Mississippi by Mark Childress
4. The Smoke Jumper by Nicholas Evans
5. Good Family by Terry Gamble
6. Between Georgia by Joshilyn Jackson
7. Best Intentions by Emily Listfield
8. In Search of Eden by Linda Nichols
9. Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell
10. The Lunch-Box Chronicles by Marion Winik
11. Table for Five by Susan Wiggs
12. The Space Between us by Thrity Umrigar

And up first is #8. In Search of Eden by Linda Nichols.