48 Hour Readathon--Starting Line

I am starting the 48 Hour Read-a-thon now. I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to be reading--yet. But I've got a library loot to post next, which I just have to do before I start reading. So expect somewhat frequent updating this weekend!

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

The White Queen

The White Queen by Philippa Gregory. 2009. Simon & Schuster. 432 pages.

My father is Sir Richard Woodville, Baron Rivers, an English nobleman, a landholder, and a supporter of the true Kings of England, the Lancastrian line. My mother descends from the Dukes of Burgandy and so carries the watery blood of the goddess Melusina, who founded their royal house with her entranced ducal lover, and can still be met a times of extreme trouble, crying a warning over the castle rooftops when the son and heir is dying and the family doomed. Or so they say, those who believe in such things.

It took me quite a while to read The White Queen. This historical fiction novel is about Elizabeth, the wife of Edward IV, and the mother of the fallen princes, Edward and Richard. (Of course, she is also the mother of Elizabeth, the princess who finds herself engaged to Henry Tudor, England's would-be-savior.) No one can say for sure what happened to the two princes. Is Richard III, their uncle, a murderer? Did he murder his two young nephews? Did he need to murder these two to secure the crown? Or were there other players involved in this mystery? Whose royal claims to the throne were most aided most by these deaths?

This mystery is fascinating. And the second half of the novel--for the most part--focuses on these years. The years after Edward IV's death. The years that saw Elizabeth, the queen, hiding in sanctuary with (most) of her children. These were emotionally and politically turbulent years. Everything being so uncertain. Not knowing who to trust.

But that is only part of the story. The first half deals with Elizabeth's marriage. A marriage that began in secrecy. A marriage that helped contribute (for better or worse) to England's political topsy-turviness.

I was (pleasantly) surprised at how clean this Gregory novel was. I've read some of the author's previous works and was ready for just about anything.

I didn't always love this one. At times I found it a bit boring, a bit dry. But I'm glad I stuck with it. Because the second half really picked up. And it was worth it for that alone.

I would recommend this one for those interested in this time period.

The Red Queen, another in The Cousins' War series, will be released this August.

See also: The Tudor Rose: A Novel of Elizabeth of York by Margaret Campbell Barnes, Richard III by William Shakespeare, The Stolen Crown by Susan Higginbotham, Sent by Margaret Peterson Haddix.


© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Birthmarked (YA)

Birthmarked. Caragh M. O'Brien. 2010. March 2010. Roaring Brook Press. 368 pages.

In the dim hovel, the mother clenched her body into one final, straining push, and the baby slithered out into Gaia's ready hands.

Gaia is a young woman training to be a midwife just like her mother before her. When Birthmarked opens, Gaia is attending her first birth. For the first time, she'll be the midwife--not just the apprentice. What Gaia doesn't know is that at the very time she's attending this birth, her parents are being arrested by the Enclave. When she returns home, when she learns this truth, her life is forever changed.

Birthmarked is an emotional read. Or at least I found it to be so! In the first chapter, Gaia helps a woman deliver a baby--a girl--only to take that baby away from its distraught mother. This newborn babe will never know its mother, for she is one of the babies being "advanced" that month. Gaia sees this as just the way things are. Some babies are advanced, others aren't. It's just a given that a couple will lose some of its children to the Enclave. They should just be grateful, right? Because life in the Enclave is better than life on the outside, right? That's how it appears on the Tvaltar anyway. And what reason would the Enclave have for lying?

After Gaia learns of the arrest, she's in a vulnerable position. She's forced into questioning everything. She has to reflect on her life--on her past, on everything she knows about her parents--and to begin contemplating her future. Should she continue to serve the Enclave? Should she continue to hand over babies even if the monthly quota goes up? Should she cooperate with the Enclave? Even if it means incriminating her parents?

I am fascinated by futuristic books, dystopias especially. I enjoyed this one. I would recommend it!

Other reviews: Presenting Lenore, There's A Book, What Book Is That?, Reading Rocks, Steph Su Reads, The Reading Zone, Kids Lit, One Librarian's Book Reviews, Bloggin' Bout Books.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Sisters Red (YA)

Sisters Red. Jackson Pearce. 2010. June 2010. Little, Brown. 328 pages.

He's following me.

Scarlett and Rosie are sisters with more than a few secrets. Sisters with a (relatively) unique mission in life. To fight, fight, fight. To rid the world--well, maybe not the whole world, but their community at least--of Fenris (werewolves). You might say their introduction to this real world--the world of monsters--was quite brutal, both girls witnessed the death of their grandmother--Oma March--and this attack left Scarlett scarred inside and out. Joining them in their mission is a young guy (one that Rosie finds oh-so-dreamy), Silas. He comes from a long line of woodsmen.

But though these three fight together as a team--and are quite close in many ways--some things are changing, for better or worse. Silas and Rosie, well, they are changing. And Scarlett may have to deal with that.

I liked having both Rosie and Scarlett as narrators. When I was reading Rosie's chapters, I felt connected with her. I loved her. I could completely sympathize with her. See things from her perspective, see her side of things. Her need for her life to be more than just fighting, to be more than just battling evil. Her love for Silas. When I was reading Scarlett's chapters, I felt connected with her. I could see things from her side. Her passion--her obsession--to do anything and everything to protect people from the Fenris threat. The world may not know it's in danger--but for Scarlett, it's all too real. She can't forget for a moment, for a day, that she has a responsibility to protect others. She's a driven young woman, strong and powerful in many ways. And I have to respect that. Scarlett's choices are her own. Rosie's choices are her own. These two sisters love each other deeply, need each other deeply. But they want (and need) different things from life.

I thought Sisters Red was well-written. I would definitely recommend this one.

What do you think of the cover? I really liked this one. Though I must admit (a bit sheepishly) that it took me a few days to see the wolf on the cover!

Other reviews: A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy, Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf, Sarah's Random Musings, Tales of the Ravenous Reader, I Just Wanna Sit Here And Read, Extreme Reader, Bookworming in the 21st Century,

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Mercury (YA)

Mercury. Hope Larson. 2010. April 2010. Simon & Schuster. 234 pages.

Mercury mostly left me feeling confused. I'm not sure I'm the right audience for this one, for this graphic novel. The ending puzzled me a bit--am I the only one? (Maybe I just need someone to explain it to me. I don't think it's meant to be so ambiguous. I think I just missed something along the way.) (And I'm not sure I understand the cover either.)

Mercury is set in Nova Scotia. There are two parallel stories unfolding for readers. One story set in 1859, the other set in the present day (2009). Our modern-day heroine is Tara Fraser--a teen girl who is unhappy and feeling a bit out of sorts. Her mom has left her with another family while she tries to find a new job, a new situation--their home burned down, you see. Josey Fraser is our other narrator. Her story has its own ups and downs. It all begins when a stranger with a "gift" (the gift of finding gold) comes to stay. His name is Asa Curry. And for better or worse Josey is drawn to this man...

I would say both stories are about young girls coming of age. The illustrations are in black and white.

While this one wasn't exactly for me, I do think it can be appreciated by other readers.

Other reviews: Reading Rants!, Stuff As Dreams Are Made On...,


© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews