pickThis was good, although I have to keep reading more about French history—I‘m not as familiar with it as I am with English and Scottish history, so it‘s harder to keep track of all the Henris and Louis and it makes my reading slower.
14 likes
The Rival Queens: Catherine de' Medici, Her Daughter Marguerite de Valois, and the Betrayal that Ignited a Kingdom | 
pickThis was good, although I have to keep reading more about French history—I‘m not as familiar with it as I am with English and Scottish history, so it‘s harder to keep track of all the Henris and Louis and it makes my reading slower.
pickA very interesting book! The de Medici and Valois families were the cream of the crop (of Italy and France respectively), and made so much drama in 16th century France ! I love the authors footnotes- full of wit and charm. Margot was the feminist of the 16th century. Despite having horrible and conniving parents and brothers, still held firmly to her beliefs. Definitely give it a read!
Its Fair Day and a student and staff holiday. 42 degrees and freezing rain and even before that I knew I was not going out today. 100 pages left in this one! SOOO GOOD !
Going to try to finish this one today- it‘s been a crazy Saturday : The Storm/ taking cover/ Tornado took out a good chunk of my morning, and haven‘t been able to be productive today. I haven‘t been able to read at all this week because I have been gone from 6am-8pm everyday and am too tired to read any later. 💙Also here are to two happy pups delighted not to be taking cover in the bathroom
💙💙It was a slow month of reading, thanks to the 600 page tome of The Forest. Also, for some reason, I wasn‘t able to finish about 3 books and bailed this month- super picky or just Blah? Who knows. Spinning Silver is now my second favorite of this year. 💙💙Also, no judgement about half of the books being Children‘s Books- some people say it doesn‘t count, but I‘m a Children‘s librarian, so that‘s part of my job 😜
pickThis was the perfect audiobook title for me - great personalities, intrigue, an extraordinary historical period, religious wars, a parade of kings, queens, duchesses; assassinations, money, sex, dynastic politics. Catherine de Medici has dominated a period that has seen several of her sons living, dying and mismanaging France.
This is more about the Huguenot wars than the women in the title. Highly recommend to history buffs. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
pickI've been in the mood for history lately and really enjoyed this one about mother and daughter queens in Renaissance France. Catherine and Marguerite were two intelligent but very different women navigating a dangerous political landscape. Although they were rivals, they both struggled with the same issues such as being mistreated in their loveless marriages. I wonder what they could have accomplished today in a time of greater equality.
I actually have the copy in my hand and it's beautiful. There are copies of the actual paintings of the Medicis. Renaissance literature is my absolute favorite. I will have to buy another copy for myself.
I'm getting ready to pick up this interesting historical fiction novel as a present for my aunt. I really want to read it. Isn't that the struggle of a bibliophile? Buying books for others but realizing that you want to read it?
Way overstimulated & swooning in Waterstone's in Piccadilly Circus--Europe's largest bookstore. The YA & children's section was amazing. 👑Rival Queens was the ONE book I allowed myself to buy.
pickNancy Goldstone has written a suspenseful, exciting account of the lives of Catherine de Medici and Marguerite de Valois, two of France's most interesting and captivating queens. This book does what history books so rarely do--it made history relevant and exciting for a modern reader.
The footnote to this line: "The town in Belgium was called Spa. And you thought history was irrelevant." The cheeky footnotes in this book are hilarious.
