so-soThis story sounded great - Robert Merivel rises into King Charles II favour until he is no longer in favour and is cast out - however I found this really quite hard work (along Wolf Hall lines). It‘s not all doom and gloom, there was an amusing bawdiness throughout, you will love to hate Merivel, and the second half, whereby Merivel‘s life takes a different path, was really interesting and moving. However overall I found this a bit of a slog.
pickProbably better on stage than on the page, this was a farcical romp that would be better-liked if Shakespeare hadn‘t done it better. But the hero gets the girl, the villains get tricked, and it ends with the above philosophy. #readyourkobo @CBee
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"When you love men, the world quickly becometh yours: and yourself become a greater treasure than the world is. For all their persons are your treasures, and all the things in Heaven and Earth that serve them, are yours. For those are the riches of Love, which minister to its Object."
-Thomas Traherne, "Centuries of Meditations"
Do you ever find yourself standing in front of your bookshelves, wondering what to read next, and your eyes land on a book that you‘ve had for years? That happened to me with this one and it‘s so good!
Ursula Flight is a young girl in Restoration England, married off to a bit of a gruesome older husband, who wants to write and see the theatre and act and do so much more with her life. Her narrative voice is quirky and absolutely delightful.
so-soFirst book of #Gladstones25 finished (although it was my current read before I got here!)
@julesG @scripturient @BarbaraBB @MicheleinPhilly @RaeLovesToRead @rockpools @TrishB @squirrelbrain @Oryx @Leniverse
so-so3/5
In this Little Mermaid retelling, Clara is the daughter of a wealthy Dutch merchant. She meets Maurits, a man who is clearly lying about who he is, but Clara is drawn into his world of magic.
I loved the folklore of the book and the author's note about the folklore specific to Friesland. I also appreciated the environmental message, even if it was a little repetitive. However, I found the main characters frustratingly naive.
#netgalley
In honor of Labor Day, I wanted to get your input on choosing a longer book. I get restless easily, and even if I like the book, I get tired of being in the same world if it takes me too long. But every now and then, I like going down the rabbit hole of a longer work, especially if it's a little weird. These 3 have been on my list for awhile: are any of these favorites of yours? Or did any disappoint, even if you usually like the author?
pick5 Stars • In Merivel: A Man of His Time by Rose Tremain, sequel to Restoration, aging physician Robert Merivel faces a midlife crisis in 17th-century England. Struggling with financial woes and a quest for purpose, he fails at Louis XIV‘s court, navigates personal losses, and deepens ties with his daughter and King Charles II. The novel blends humor and pathos, exploring mortality and redemption.
#Merivel #RoseTremain #17Century #France
