Having listened to the other books in Ken Follett's series about life in the early centuries England I knew I was in for a fascinating look at a time that little has been written about and I was delighted to learn that the same narrator who has done many of his books recorded this book as well. His books are an investment due to their large volume but the story flows as easily as the river that runs by the little village in the book. His characters are true to the time period yet we can identify with their joy and sorrow, their temptations and good deeds. This saga begins in a little village with a wise young man who longs to be a builder and a young woman coming from Normandy to wed the town alderman in an arranged marriage that she hopes is being made for love. England is in danger from Viking raiders from afar but some of their local problems are universal such as political scheming, skimming of the profits, bandits and a reluctance to try something new. Follett has the gift of writing about everyday life and people we don't know but feel like we could all the while teaching us about an interesting period of history. For those of you who have not read his other series - this is the perfect one to start with and for his many fans - this is the one you have been waiting for. While this may not be for young listeners it makes for a very long enjoyable car ride.
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Historian H.W. Brands can see subtle connections in history that others miss and puts them together in a very readable story. In this book he picks apart two prominent figures in the years before the onset of the Civil War. While both John Brown and Abraham Lincoln despised the idea and practice of slavery they dealt with it in very different ways. John Brown gathered around himself violent and rebellious men and stormed Harper's Ferry actively kidnapping slaves from their owners while Lincoln kept looking for compromise and a peaceful political movement to stop the spread to other territories and then take care of the Southern states and abolish it forever. Spread throughout the book are anecdotes about the private lives of both these men and the political climate at the time. In these days of social unrest, racial inequality and a passionate presidential race it is interesting to look back and see that our current situation has much in common with our past. Lovers of history and politics of our past will find much to learn in this book. 4 stars
Another historical stunner from Elizabeth Wein that speaks to both young adults and adult audiences. Elizabeth Wein has blended a tale of wartime terror, spies and the total mix of ethnic and economic backgrounds that made up the RAF flyers and volunteers. Jamie is leading a ragtag group of pilots flying massive boats patrolling the skies above Scotland to Norway. When they get back they like to relax at a local boarding house/pub run by Mrs. Campbell and assisted by a women volunteers there to help the RAF. Mrs. Campbell's elderly aunt and her caregiver, Louisa are also staying at the house. They all share a pint, a song and a spin around the dance floor to relieve the stress of the war but after a young German pilot arrives delivering a precious message decoder their lives take a much more dangerous but intriguing turn. He mistakes Louisa as his contact and she begins decoding German messages that will keep the British flyers out of harms way. This is a fascinating look at the enigma machine and how everyday people showed unbelievable bravery. It portrays the war with all the terror and extreme bravery highlighting an unusual mix of backgrounds all fighting for the same country. If you think this is a book about cultural differences you would be right. If you think this is a book about the haves and have nots you would also be right. What is totally unexpected is the preconceptions that Ivy has about wealth and the life she thinks she wants and how it all ends up. Ivy is a very complicated character that really doesn't follow a tight moral compass. There are the people who are helping her achieve her dreams (if she can figure out what they are) and the people she feels more comfortable with but she sees as holding her back. Another interesting dichotomy is Ivy's Chinese/American family and her life crush Gideon's family. WHITE IVY is an emotional roller coaster with wiggly wheels. There is much to discuss here for book clubs and readers of class and race clashes such as LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE. 4 stars |
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