Bookish - Summer Reading (so far)
Take a gander at what I’ve been reading so far, this summer. If you like historical fiction, fiction, and strong women, you may enjoy these.
loved it
Isabella Stewart Gardner comes alive in this book. You’ll get a glimpse into her eccentric, bold life, 19th-century Boston and her relationships with the artists of her day. Her contributions to the city’s art culture remains to this day. She was truly ahead of her time. I’ve been to Boston and fell in love with that city so I could relate a bit to the setting. I love art and could appreciate that theme running through the book.
liked it
I’ve read every book Marie Benedict has written and this one did not disappoint. It tells the story of Rosalind Franklin and her incredible contribution to the discovery of DNA. As in all of Benedict’s books, women are revealed as strong, intelligent, important, brave people who make enormous positive impacts on our world. The story takes place in Paris and London, for the most part. I could relate, having been to both cities. I’ve never been overly interested in science and some of the vocabulary slowed me down a bit but overall, I went away admiring Franklin, greatly.
liked it
Although this is not an historical fiction book per se, the setting and historical aspects of it make it seem true. Beanland does draw on some of her ancestors’ experiences for her characters. It takes place mainly in Atlantic City in the 1930’s. I’ve never been there and don’t particularly have a desire to visit. Themes of racial discrimination and class division, as well as pre-WW11, Nazi terror in Europe are woven throughout the story. The women are inspiring and brave!
loved it
It always amazes me how the same author can write two different books and I will like one more than the other. This was the case with this second book by Beanland. It takes place in pre-Civil War Virginia. The themes of racial and class discrimination echo the themes in her book above. A theatre plays a main part, and since I love the theatre, it struck a chord. The character I was rooting for had a happy ending, so I preferred this story to the above-mentioned one.
loved it
You had me at Cornwall. Although its not considered historical fiction, it’s a page-turner for me. It’s set in Cornwall and London England…two of my favorite places on earth. It paints a vivid picture of the aristocracy, its demise, class prejudice, the greed of a hedge-fund manager and how one family is connected to all of it. I was happy with the ending.
when your jammie pants match your book cover
I must be drawn to this shade.