Welcome to Litsy!

I liked this book enough that it‘s tough to review here. There is just too much I want to talk about. Shakespeare, Richard II, king at 10, riding out amongst the mob of the Peasants Revolt in 1381, his disinterest in his country, and quest for absolute power. Henry IV, who usurped the throne, was his cousin, the same age, and loyal until he felt threatened. Also - Richard was never insane. An awesome book on the Women‘s Prize longlist.

I really liked this one. I may like it better than her other book. 2 cousins grow up in separate countries and face different challenges.

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A darker, more cynical version of one of Streatfeild's “shoes“ stories, in which an exceptionally beautiful girl achieves success and adoration without having a spark of human kindness in her soul. The title is a biting commentary on what society values in women. A pick because it's entertaining and has a fascinating “illicit“ relationship in it, but be warned, it's deeply sad.

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Random book from our home library:

📖 Warwick Castle [souvenir guide - not in Litsy]

I have lots of souvenir guides to places in the UK that I've never visited. I believe I even have two different editions of this one. Have I mentioned that I'm an Anglophile bibliophile?

p. 271: 'It was better to award a light penance that would one day put someone into purgatory to endure further punishment there, than to assign a heavy one that would not be done and might send the defaulter to hell.'

That's not what I expected from medieval confessors. Unfortunately, Orme doesn't cite his source for this attitude.

On to the section about Holy Week, which is obviously timely.

Having read and loved Meet Me at the Museum, I was already prepared to love this novel. The same gentle style of writing draws you in like a warm blanket. It‘s not that tough issues aren‘t tackled. They are, but matter of factly. This is about 3 women who bond together through a narrowboat and each needing a fresh start. Their personal growth and growing friendship lead to the book‘s hope filled conclusion. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Blame it on an upcoming trip to London, but this royal history about Richard II & Henry IV from the Women's Prize Nonfiction Longlist piqued my interest. Also helped that I've read the Shakespeare plays about these kings. At 20+ hours, it was a commitment. My interest waned near the end. But I was immersed for the first 3/4. War, intrigue, rebellion. Nothing was stable for long. Castor is THOROUGH & has a soft spot for Henry IV & his father 👇

Random book from our home library:

📖 Great Tales from English History, Vol. 1: The Truth About King Arthur, Lady Godiva, Richard the Lionheart, and More by Robert Lacey, illustrated by Fred van Deelen ★★★★★

While listening to this one, I put together this kit and just had to show it to you all. I think it came out great!

I have mixed feelings about this one. I do think it‘s well written, but I also know I am not the audience for it. I knew nothing about these men and felt some sort of prior knowledge was imperative to fully enjoying this book. I never would have made it through the print; the audio was well done.