Obedience by Jacqueline Yallop

I received a galley of this novel from NetGalley for review. This in no way affected my opinions.


Obedience was short book, but still contained an intense, gripping story.

The story switches back and forth between Nazi occupied France during WWII and France in the present day. The story is also told from a few different perspectives, but the story is mostly about Sister Bernard. The book is about Bernard's short affair with a Nazi solider during the war, and the consequences it caused.

The present day story is of a 93 year old Bernard who, along with two other nuns, are being evacuated from an old rundown convent. We see she still struggles with what happened over sixty years ago.

Even with all the flashbacks to the war, I still felt like we didn't see everything, and this was on purpose, I suspect. After I finished the book, I didn't feel like I had a good grip on that part of the story. And with the present day story, some of the story lines almost felt unfinished, but not in a frustrating way. We are left to fill in the blanks.

A lot of the religious stuff flew over my head, but one of the things I got is that Sister Bernard felt god had been speaking to her, and then he stopped. She spent many a year trying to figure out why he stopped, what she had done, etc. I felt bad for her, but I'm not sure why I felt bad for her – because she thought god had been speaking to her or because she felt abandoned by him. Most of the people she came across in the story seemed to be doing the former.

A well told story, definitely. It was a fast read, but did not lack in quality.

The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood

I've never read The Robber Bridegroom, which inspired this work. From what I've read via summary: The Robber Bridegroom lures three different maidens and 'devours' them, whatever that means. In Atwood's contemporary novel The Robber Bride, she introduces the character of Zenia, who purposely ruins the lives of three friends: Tony, Charis and Roz. Among other things, she tries (and sometimes succeeds) in taking their men.

The way the novel was told was interesting (and sometimes long-winded). We see through the eyes of Tony, Charis and Roz, but never through Zenia's. She remains a mystery until the end.

The novels starts out on the day the three friends see Zenia after years (and thinking that the woman is dead and cremated). We see that day through each of the three women's eyes, what they did leading up to, etc. Then, we find out each of the three women's history with Zenia, how she intertwined herself into each of their lives.

What was masterfully done, is that as the friends (separately) confront Zenia at the end, we still don't know about the woman. We don't know what she's said was true or what was made up. She's an enigma, a sociopath, a compulsive liar. There was absolutely nothing good about the woman.

The characters of Tony, Charis and Roz are interesting. They are all completely different people, but are united because of Zenia. Otherwise, they might never have been friends. They meet often for lunch, having formed a support group of sorts.

They are a bunch of side characters, but they're not as fleshed out. Basically, it's the story of four women. It's about relationships between women, the good, the bad, and the ugly. The Robber Bride is a fascinating portrayal of how one person can come into our lives and completely turn it upside down. It's a great character-driven story. At first, I didn't know if it was going to be worth it, but as I got into the women's backgrounds with Zenia, I became engrossed. I couldn't believe the character of Zenia. I hope I never come across a Zenia in my life.

Top Ten Favorite Historical M/M Romances

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted over at The Broke and the Bookish. This week's Top Ten is a freebie, so for my subject I chose Top Ten Favorite Historical M/M Romances.

I know, I know, where the hell did this come from? I've been reading these for months, now, but have never reviewed them here on the blog. I've reviewed historical gay literature, but never the romances. I use these for enjoyment, and while I might write a few words on goodreads, I'd rather not feel obligated to write up a whole review.

This started as a "oh, this is interesting," to a full-blown obsession after I started getting sick of historical romances that feature heterosexual couples. It's nice to read a well-written romance without having to worry about gender roles and all that. Not to mention, they're great escapism. Now, onto the list!

1. Counterpoint by Ruth Sims - This book is more of a mix of romance and historical fiction, with a twist, of course.
2. One More Soldier by Marie Sexton - Ok, this one broke me. It's about an 18 year old man who has been drafted to Vietnam. During the span of two weeks, before he's shipped off, he's trying to live a whole life. I'm getting choked up just thinking about it. This is more of a novella.
3. Whistling in the Dark by Tamara Allen - This is such a well-written book. It takes place during 1919 New York, and is about two men: one who's trying to keep his shop afloat after the death of his family and the other who left his home in Kansas after being expelled from school for having a relationship with a male teacher. Both are WWI vets, and both are trying to overcome their own demons.
4. The Only Gold by Tamara Allen - I really love this author. This time she writes is 1880s New York. Johan has worked long and hard at his job at a bank, and is expecting a promotion, only to be passed over in favor of a newcomer: Reid. The two clash at first, but that doesn't last long. There's some great action towards the end, too.
5. If It Ain't Love by Tamara Allen - Have I mentioned I love this author? This is a great novella, and the best part about it is: it's free to download. I highly recommend it. Give it a try! Here's one place to download it.
6. The Gentleman and the Rogue by Bonnie Dee and Summer Devon - These two have written five m/m romance together and I've read all except the latest. They write great stuff.
7. Mere Mortals by Erastes - Another great author in the genre. This was an interesting one: a typical gothic romance, except with a gay twist.
8. An Admirer by Megan Derr - Derr is a HUGE favorite, and I'm slowly making my way through her work. I love her stories because they all take place in a fantasy world where their is no discrimination for being gay. This is a novella about a plain young man going to University to become a mage, who discovers letters from a secret admirer in his post box. It's very sweet.
9. Bound by Deception by Ava March - Argh, I only had to pick one March book, so I picked this one, which is the first of a great trilogy. Contains some bdsm, which I'm not into with my romances, but it's really not bad in her books.
10. A Young Man in Paris by Sophia Deri-Brown - A short one, but it's such quality. About two young expatriates in Paris.

Mailbox Monday 01.23.12

Hosted this month by At Home With Books.

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week (checked out library books don’t count, eBooks & audio books do). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.


These are all from NetGalley.

Love and war converge in this lush, epic story of a young woman’s struggle with life and love during and after the Second Empire (1860–1871), an era that was absinthe-soaked, fueled by railway money and prostitution, and transformed by cataclysmic social upheaval.

Eugénie R., born in France’s foie gras country, follows the man she loves to Paris, but soon finds herself marooned, pregnant, and penniless. She gives birth to a daughter she is forced to abandon and spends the next ten years fighting to get her back. An outcast, Eugénie takes to the streets, navigating her way up from ruin and charting the treacherous waters of sexual commerce. Along the way she falls in love with an artist, a woman, and a revolutionary. The capital, the gleaming center of art and civilization in Europe, is enjoying its final years of wanton prosperity before galloping headlong into the Franco-Prussian War. For Eugénie it is a conflicted landscape—grisly, evocative, and addictive. As the gates of the city close against the advancing army, Eugénie must make a decision between past and present—between the people she loves most.

The Unruly Passions of Eugénie R. is a testament to the power of love, friendship, and the art of self-creation.

Release date: March 27th.

It is 1923. Evangeline (Eva) English and her sister Lizzie are missionaries heading for the ancient Silk Road city of Kashgar. Though Lizzie is on fire with her religious calling, Eva’s motives are not quite as noble, but with her green bicycle and a commission from a publisher to write A Lady Cyclist’s Guide to Kashgar, she is ready for adventure.

In present day London, a young woman, Frieda, returns from a long trip abroad to find a man sleeping outside her front door. She gives him a blanket and a pillow, and in the morning finds the bedding neatly folded and an exquisite drawing of a bird with a long feathery tail, some delicate Arabic writing, and a boat made out of a flock of seagulls on her wall. Tayeb, in flight from his Yemeni homeland, befriends Frieda and, when she learns she has inherited the contents of an apartment belonging to a dead woman she has never heard of, they embark on an unexpected journey together.

Released date: May 22nd.

When former infantry officer Laurence Bartram arrives in the village of Easton Deadall, he is struck by the beauty of the place: a crumbling stately home; a centuries-old church; and a work-in-progress memorial to the village's soldiers, almost all of whom died in one heroic battle in 1916.

Now the Great War is over, and the rest of the country is newly alight with hope, but the village remains haunted by tragedy. As does the Easton family: in 1911, five-year-old Kitty Easton disappeared from her bed and has not been seen since; only her fragile mother still believes she is alive. While Laurence is a guest of the Eastons, a young maid in service vanishes--a sinster echo of Kitty's disappearance. And when an unknown woman's body is discovered at the entrance of an ancient underground labyrinth, Laurence is drawn into the shadows where family secrets fester, and more than one life may be at stake.

Sequel to The Return of Captain John Emmett. Release date: June 26th.

The Vintner's Luck by Elizabeth Knox

Basically what we have here is the story of Sobran Jodeau who – as a young man – comes across a male angel named Xas one night in his family's vineyard. Starting the next year in 1809, they meet on the same day, at the same place, every year.

We see the relationship between Sobran and Xas grow, then change, all the while seeing the relationships Sobran has with the people in his life. But who cares about them. The relationship between Sobran and Xas is both beautiful and heartbreaking - the up and the downs. And the downs are dramatic; and the ups are beautiful. The writing is likewise. Such gorgeous descriptions and emotional dialogue.

And I knew the end would be sad. I'm telling you right now, be prepared if you ever set out to read this. Let me put this was: Xas, being an angel, never ages. Xas is always a beautiful young man. Sobran, however, being human, ages. So, think about that for a minute.

I don't know if I'm even making sense right now, but for such a short book, there was so much packed into it. I could have finished it in a day or two, but that wouldn't have been fair. I also think that would have been too much for me because it's such an emotional story. I prefer to have my heart wrung out slowly rather than all at once.

There's nothing for me to even compare this to, so I wouldn't know who to recommend this to. It's part historical fiction, part fantasy, part romance. It can't be classified. It was an incredibly unique, emotionally gripping story that should only be read by eyes that can appreciate it.

Mailbox Monday 01.16.12

Hosted this month by At Home With Books.

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week (checked out library books don’t count, eBooks & audio books do). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

Set in Sicily in the early eighteenth century, The Silent Duchess is the story of Marianna Ucrìa, the daughter of an aristocratic family and the victim of a mysterious childhood trauma that has left her deaf and mute, trapped in a world of silence. Set apart from the world by her disability, Marianna searches for knowledge and fulfillment in a society where women face either forced marriages and endless childbearing or a life of renunciation within the walls of a convent. When she is just thirteen years old, Marianna is forced to marry her own aging uncle. Her status and wealth as a duchess cannot protect her from many of the horrors of that time: she witnesses her mother’s decline due to her addiction to opium and snuff and her father’s cruelly misguided religious piety as he participates in the hanging of a young boy. She watches helplessly as her four-year-old son dies of smallpox and her youngest daughter is married off at the age of twelve. It is not until the death of her “uncle-husband” that Marianna at last gains freedom from her life of subservience: she learns to manage her estates and to love a man as she had never loved her husband, and she also learns of the unspeakable events that led to her lifelong silence. In luminous language that conveys both the keen visual sight and the deep human insight possessed by her remarkable main character, Dacia Maraini captures the splendor and the corruption of Marianna’s world and the strength of her spirit. The Silent Duchess is the timeless story of one woman’s struggle to find her own voice after years of silence.

Bought.

The Winter Palace by Eva Stachniak

I received a galley of this novel from NetGalley for review. This in no way affected my opinions.

This is the first book I've read about Catherine the Great – fiction or non. I watched a documentary about her some years back, but I can barely remember it. So, my knowledge of the woman is dismal.

The book is called The Winter Palace: A Novel of Catherine the Great, but really, it's not. First off, Catherine, or Sophie as she's first called, doesn't appear until a ways into the book. And she doesn't become empress until, oh, 90% in. The book is really about a young Polish woman named Barbara, who is trained in spying for the Empress Elizabeth, and eventually becomes Catherine's friend.

Most of the book takes place during the reign of Empress Elizabeth, and I ended up learning more about her than Catherine. Not complaining, but the title of the book is a misrepresentation, I think.

I liked that the narrator of the book was a Polish woman. I haven't come across a lot of those in historical fiction. We never really got to know her, though. Even though we spend the entire book with her, we never got a look at her real emotions.

Nevertheless, the book was a great look into a time and people that so rarely get represented in this genre. Great Britain? France? Done and done. Russia was a refreshing change. And the drama and intrigue surrounding the imperial family was accurately represented. Cheese and rice, you never knew if you were being overheard or watched. Oh, and that secret hiding place you have for your letters and trinkets? Yeah, not so secret. I would have felt suffocated.

I was satisfied with the ending. And while some parts of the book seemed to drag on and on, I did like it. Recommended to historical fiction fans who want a change.