This book captivated me. I neglected all optional aspects of life when there was a chance to read on. I find books about Vietnam deeply impact me to thThis book captivated me. I neglected all optional aspects of life when there was a chance to read on. I find books about Vietnam deeply impact me to the point that I want to avoid them. Yet even though the truths in this story are every bit as difficult as other narratives, there was a layer of humanity, personal morality and growth, as well as love for country, friends, family and partners that kept me glued to the pages hoping for peace and healing. The ending is so moving. I thought Kristen Hannah did a beautiful job shining a light on all that was happening in those years at home and in Vietnam. Wow....more
Worth reading to be introduced to Dorothy Horstman, a scientist who's hunch about how polio transported through the body, was correct and frustratinglWorth reading to be introduced to Dorothy Horstman, a scientist who's hunch about how polio transported through the body, was correct and frustratingly dismissed for years as her male colleagues jockied for the glory that would come with being the doctor to crack polio. It is also fascinating to find out which country contributed to the citizens of the United States being willing to try a second vaccine after the first one had actually given people polio. The subject is so interesting and Horstman deserves to be a household name for her contributions, work ethic and genuine concern for the children catching polio. Unfortunately each chapter is a slight fast forward in time and I found so many disruptions kept me from absorbing as much of the information as I would have liked as almost every chapter required some reorientation....more
This one is tough to rate. There is so much to admire, first the interesting ambition of giving the perspective of three of the Mitford sisters and keThis one is tough to rate. There is so much to admire, first the interesting ambition of giving the perspective of three of the Mitford sisters and keeping it on one timeline and seeing how their similarly strongheaded drives takes them on different paths. It also takes commitment as an author, I would think, to want to get in to the mind of a woman who absolutely worshiped Hitler. Spending time in that space is uncomfortable as a reader, I can't imagine what that was like as the creator. But......these are such strange and interesting women and there is very little about how they got to be who they were. That makes sense in a certain way- there is only so much a reasonably long novel can hold, but I if I wished there had been more of a lead up to their adult selves, I was truly disappointed with the way the book just seemed to stop. That was a bit jarring. ...more
I love this series and can't say enough good things about it: the character of the queen, the reason she becomes embroiled in this case, the view intoI love this series and can't say enough good things about it: the character of the queen, the reason she becomes embroiled in this case, the view into palace life and the various court and police personalities are so well done. There is a sense of fun in these mysteries but they are not silly. Queen Elizabeth has a life of incredible privelege and obligation with many rules around her days and conduct. There are people who serve her but see her only through a certain lense. They underestimate the problem solving abilities of an old woman, even one who through her rule has kept herself deeply informed of global issues for decade. The mystery, the characters, the corgis, a sprinkling of Prince Phillip- this is good stuff!...more
Quinn is so talented, able to significantly switch not just the historical focus of her novels but also the pacing and tone. The Diamond Eye unfolds mQuinn is so talented, able to significantly switch not just the historical focus of her novels but also the pacing and tone. The Diamond Eye unfolds much more slowly than The Night Witch, but ultimately it is a gift to step into the life of Lyudmila Pavilichenko. The pajama tailoring scene with Eleanor Roosevelt is one of my favorite reading moments of recent memory: a kind revealing of both personalities and a real turning point for Lyudmila. The wonder of this scene only works embedded in the whole of the novel which shows Lyudmila's willingness to leave behind her academic life and take on active duty in order to protect her country for her son. ...more
I would love to create true effervesence the way Michelle Gable does in her character exchanges between two different women and their friends, one livI would love to create true effervesence the way Michelle Gable does in her character exchanges between two different women and their friends, one living now, one during WWII. Kate Cabot is a stalled writer visiting England to get a break from her life. She has always been fascinated by Nancy Mitford and begins pursuing the rumor that Nancy had written an unpublished autobiography. We get to know Nancy through her own story line as well as letters and bits of writing. Both women are independent yet extremely impacted by their families. Both are surrounded by strong, interesting, funny people. Usually with historical fiction, I feel I've learned some truth, and, while I was introduced to the Mitfords, I'm a little unclear on where the history and fiction intertwine. ...more
I had no idea that a group of women, all Smith college alumns, somehow got permission to be in France during World War 1 with the thought of helping FI had no idea that a group of women, all Smith college alumns, somehow got permission to be in France during World War 1 with the thought of helping French villagers whose homes and lives were wiped out (and were still being attacked) by the Germans. This would be an interesting story at any time, but in an era where most states did not have voting rights for women, the fact that they got there alone is a pretty big feat. They are a group of women with no war time experience in the middle of a country in chaos. The logistics of how to procure hens, what to do when the trucks they ordered were shipped in parts, how to set up any kind of endeavor meant to assist the French in helping themselves are all very daunting. However, what makes this such a special story are the women themselves, all coming with different skill sets and different ideals driving them. In a way, this is a wonderful coming of age story because what adult woman has not had to reckon with her own foibles, to feel the immense power of female relationships, to want to belong but not think she does, to step away from familial definitions of the world and decide her path? Five stars for capturing experiences so common yet profoundly important for women, and placing it in a story that also honors the trials of people only decades removed from us....more
Loading...
