Tuesday, December 02, 2014

SHORT BOOK REVIEW



THE QUEEN'S PROMISE
LYN ANDREWS




I must confess that this novel was purchased solely on it's subject matter.  I have never previously read anything by this author and am led to believe that this is her first in the Historical fiction genre.
Considering that it's a reasonable enough effort and an enjoyable read.

I would imagine that most admirers of the late British Queen will read almost anything with her name or image on it.  I am as guilty of that as anyone else  i'm not ashamed to admit.

The novels real focus is not, however, solely based upon Anne.  She is, obviously, a principal character but it's more on the life of Henry Percy and the author's fictional character Will Chatton who becomes the Earl's manservant and friend. 

The author's writing style has some irritating faults as does the novel in general - 

1.  She spends way to much time and appears to have an unhealthy obsession with what her characters are wearing.  It seems that every other page there is a lengthy and very dull full description of her characters outfits.

2.  I found Chattons meteoric rise from servant to a prosperous businessman somewhat hard to believe although i did generally like the character.

3.  Some of the language she uses is also a little difficult to comprehend.  Does the author really believe that two people, in the comfort of their own homes, had private conversations in such a formal manner?

4.  The ending is very, very rushed.  It almost seems as if Ms.Andrews simply got fed up and rushed off the last few chapters just to be finished with it.

It may seem that i'm being a little harsh which is not my intention.  I did enjoy it but it's nothing special.  I won't read it again and would find it difficult to fully recommend. 

It's stunningly average in every possible way.   

Wednesday, August 06, 2014

ON ANNE BOLEYN

Those that know me will know that my lifelong obsession with Anne shows no sign of dimming even after all these years.
I never tire of reading her story time after time after time.  It's still as new to me now as it was about 40 years ago when i first heard it.
Nevertheless, i still do get irritated once and awhile when there is a new book or a documentary that gets it wrong.

Recently, a new book cover boasted of the story of the 'infamous' Queen of England.  Now, obviously,   the Queen of England thing is wrong but if i had a pound for how many times supposed 'Historians' got that one wrong i'd be a multi millionaire by now.  She was the Queen of England, Wales, The Island of Ireland, parts of Scotland, Parts of France etc etc which, if truth be told is a bit of a mouthful to say or write every time and many writers use England as a convenience. It's still wrong though.
I did email the author to ask her just how and in what way she considered Anne to be infamous but she declined to reply unfortunately.

I also disagree strongly that Anne was Mary Boleyn's younger sister.  The truth is that there is no solid evidence left now to prove or disprove it either way but for me what evidence there actually is points very strongly to the exact opposite.
We know very little of Mary Boleyn.  What we do know is that, in Tudor times, the first born was usually the only one in wealthy families that received a substantial education.  Therefore, it only makes sense that if Mary was the first born they it would have been she who received grooming and education.  We know that Mary didn't and the evidence shows that she was uneducated and a rather frivolous individual.  Anne was the daughter who was sent to France and Austria to receive a first class education. It only stands to common sense then that Anne was indeed the elder daughter.  We'll probably never know for 100% certainty that that was the case but you know it makes sense?

I'm also drawn back to a comment on an old school report of mine from when i was about 13.  I had a horrible History teacher who's name i've long forgotten.  On this report she wrote 'Kenneth is experiencing difficulty and clearly has no interest in this subject'.  If only she had taken the time, then, to realise that it was the only subject that i had any interest in.  An interest whose flame still burns brightly over 40 years later.

Friday, August 01, 2014

THAT OLE BLACK DOG AGAIN....

Sometimes he hides in the background only to rear his unwanted head just when you least expect him.
Most days he's there but some days he's more visible than others.
Today's been one of those days.  There he is front, left and centre.  Even a few episodes of The Waltons didn't help.
The loneliness is hard to get around.  On days like this when you don't see or speak to another member of the human race.  No enthusiasm even for EFUK and i always find some enthusiasm for that somewhere.
So what to do about it?  Not a lot unfortunately.
As a old shrink used to say 'Nobody can click there fingers and give you a life'.
How true is that.
I often wonder what i've actually done to deserve this?
Who knows?
Who cares?

Saturday, January 18, 2014

ON FACEBOOK.....AND LAURA ROBSON.


I watch ladies tennis.  I like ladies tennis.
Not for the reason you might imagine that they are a lot of really hot ladies tennis players and they wear skimpy outfits.  That helps but it's not that difficult to find footage of hot ladies wearing skimpy outfits if that's the sort of the thing you are interested in?

The men's game leaves me cold.  It's all about power.  The harder the serve the shorter the game.  It's different for the ladies.

My favourite is our own Laura Robson.  She's done very well over the last few years and it's been great to watch her progression.  On and off the court she behaves impeccably, never does anything even remotely controversial and appears to be a sports star that can be looked up to as an example.

I follow Laura on Facebook.  It's a depressing experience.
She frequently gives us, her fans, a brief glimpse into her private life.  Show's us how her training is going and does her best to provide a little bit of news and commentary on things she is interested in and passionate about.

Laura's page shows some of the true negative side of Facebook and the whole social media thing in general.
Yes, she's an attractive girl but every single time she posts something there is a deluge of crude, sexual comments posted by many who seemingly get some sort of a thrill out of that sort of thing.
You can probably imagine the sort of thing i mean without having to repeat any of it.

It's sad that some people live such pathetic lives that they would do such a thing.
It's not big and it's not clever.
Not by a very long way.