Merissa (14194 KP) rated Landscape of a Marriage in Books
Aug 2, 2021 (Updated Jul 17, 2023)
Instead of focusing on the man himself, we follow his wife, Mary, and see their life through her eyes. They had good times and, undeniably, bad times too. Mary fell in love with her husband of convenience, and he, with her. That led them to a life of adventure and hardship, love and loss.
This was a great read, full of freeze-frame moments, stuck in time. The emotions come across clearly and help move this character-driven story forward. Some of the real-life events were glossed over slightly and I would have liked to have known more, but then, was Mary involved in them anyway?
I will admit to getting lost in the times given. I relied on Mary to tell me that Marion had grown, or that John was now forty-one, as there was no way I would remember from just seeing dates at the beginning of each chapter.
This was a historical fiction novel that I enjoyed and have no hesitation in recommending.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Aug 2, 2021
The Ghana Reader: History, Culture, Politics
Kwasi Konadu and Clifford C. Campbell
Book
Covering 500 years of Ghana's history, The Ghana Reader provides a multitude of historical,...
From Puritanism to Postmodernism: A History of American Literature
Richard Ruland and Malcolm Bradbury
Book
Widely acknowledged as a contemporary classic that has introduced thousands of readers to American...
The Wake
Book
A post-apocalyptic novel set in 1066 - unlike anything else you will read this year...Everyone knows...
Erika (17789 KP) rated The Gallows Pole in Books
Dec 2, 2020 (Updated Dec 2, 2020)
I love historical fiction most of the time, and when I opened up this book, I was worried. It was written in the vernacular. It only took me about a chapter to get into it. The story is about clipping coins, which has always fascinated me. I live in a state that's very much 'stick it to the man', so I could relate to the attitude of the characters.
Obviously, it was predictable, and you knew how it had to end, it is based in historical fact, after all... and the title happens to be The Gallows Pole. The novel really benefits from the fact that the author moved to the area this took place in, and did all of his research there. It resulted in an amazing novel. I can't wait to read something else from this author.
Untrue till Death
10.0
Rate It
Book
Join Mercurius in another mysterious investigation! Perfect for fans of Andrew Taylor, C J Sansom, S...
Historical fiction
The Drowned City
9.0
Rate It
Book
Gunpowder and treason changed England forever. But the tides are turning and revenge runs deep in...
Historical fiction Jacobean England Gunpowder Plot
The Household
9.0
Rate It
Book
Inspired by real historical figures and events . . . NOT ALL WHO ARE FALLEN WANT TO BE SAVED ...
Historical fiction
The Empire's Bladesmen: Forbidden Relics
Book
Captain Shao Lian, a battle-hardened veteran of the Ming Dynasty’s imperial army, had become a...
historical fiction historical fantasy
ClareR (6256 KP) rated The Queen’s Rival in Books
Dec 16, 2022
I liked the way this was set out: from the letters between characters, to the fictional England’s Chronicle (which had some great sarcastic comments).
Cecile Neville, Duchess of York, was Edward IV and Richard III’s mother. She lived through some pretty turbulent times, and must have feared for her own and the lives of her children on several occasions. But she always remained true to her husband and their belief that they were the true rulers of the realm. What a time to have lived!
The emotions were so well conveyed, the historical information so well explained, and it never felt like a history lesson. Just a really great read!