Read 100 books -- 10 HISTORICAL

COMPLETE

The Secret Rooms: A True Gothic Mystery by Catherine Bailey
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Fans of Downton Abbey are primed to relish this story of a young Duke-to-be in the throes of WWI. Our hero was the "lost boy" of the family, leading an unhappy childhood and an unsatisfying young-adulthood.

The author had originally planned on writing an entirely different book but unearthed some puzzling breaks in the excessively documented lives of this family and this man in particular. I'm surprised the family allowed her to continue digging into their files and publish her findings.

Her promise of "gothic mystery" is unrealized. While I was fascinated with the life and lifestyle portrayed, I found the book to be tedious overall. I couldn't bring myself to care as much as she did about this person, this family, or this place.

The 100th anniversary of WWI is bound to draw more readers to this expose of many key figures, battles, and strategies.

Early Mormonism and the Magic World View by D. Michael Quinn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Though reading this is akin to slugging one's way through a dissertation, I found it to be fascinating. I prefer looking at history through the eyes of the particular time period being addressed rather than through contemporary mores and opinions. Many thanks to the author for his extensive research and voluminous documentation.

Lady Audley's Secret by Mary Elizabeth Braddon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Written by a female author in 1862, this detective novel was first serialized and then published in three volumes, taking the reading public of the day by storm (or so says the introduction of the Dover edition I read).

Replete with likable and loathsome characters, assumptions, surprises, unrequited love, romance, and some editorializing -- reading this is akin to stepping into a time machine with a box of chocolates.

The Fields of Home by Ralph Moody
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Most people who read this book have probably already read "Little Britches" in which Ralph Moody introduces himself and his hurried journey into manhood. In this installment his mother doesn't know what to do with Ralph as he turns 15 and finally decides to ship him up to Maine to spend a year with her father. Ralph is not keen about this and entertains thoughts of going back out west on his own.

Ralph decides to stay with his grandpa -- at least for a day. A day turns into a week turns into a month turns into a year. There are many ups and downs as Ralph navigates his grandfather's tenacious grip on doing things his way. Ralph enjoys the thrill of first love, tries his hand at cooking, and comes to terms with a horse with Attitude.

There is plenty of "how to" and "what-not-to-do" interwoven in this narrative for those who may want to try a little farming.

I enjoyed the audio recording read by Cameron Beierle -- very well done!

The Virginian: A Horseman of the Plains by Owen Wister
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

If you enjoy books where CHARACTER is the main event of the story, LANDSCAPE falls next in importance and ACTION lags way back in third place you are apt to love this story.

Told alternately from a third-person narrative observer point of view and the omniscient point of view you come to know the main character who is referred to only as "The Virginian" -- his Wyoming moniker and the woman who he singles out for his attention.

More a picture of the time and place than a love story, "The Virginian" is the quintessential "Marlboro Man". He has absolute integrity, he is a keen observer, he is a skilled marksman, he is a step ahead of any of his associates, he is handsome and nearly always conducts himself in a gentlemanly manner. He is almost too good to be true. Yet the school teacher from Vermont is slow to recognize these qualities.

Woven into the story are questions, observations, and challenges regarding ethics, human nature, and political correctness which nudge it into the company of 'the classic novel'.

Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ by Lew Wallace
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Who is Ben Hur and why would he be important?

Ben Hur is the flip side of the coin to Jesus Christ -- born to a life of privilege and fame, whereas Jesus was born into abject poverty and anonymity. Hur's story begins with a "threshold moment" where he parts way with his childhood Roman friend by asserting his loyalty to his Jewish faith and people. Shortly thereafter Hur haplessly loosens a roof tile while watching a parade which narrowly misses a Roman celebrity. An accusation of this being an attempted assassination is trumped up as a guise for seizing the property and holdings of the family is quickly resolved into Hur's death sentence to galley slave and his mother and sister being sealed into a prison cell already contaminated with leprosy to die a slow and painful death.

Hur's sentence inadvertently prepares him for righting these wrongs. His character and honor somehow set him apart and his absolute integrity redirects him once again to a life of privilege and celebrity -- this time as the adopted son of a prominent Roman. Hur has two driving passions -- to prepare himself to fight oppressive Rome on behalf of his people and to find his mother and sister and reinstate them into their home and rightful station.

Behind the scenes are faithful servants and associates whose efforts will be inseparable from the success Hur eventually realizes and the ultimate trajectory of his life.

Hur's life is interwoven with that of Jesus Christ, crossing his path as a convict and later during his ministry becoming a witness to Christ's works and even figuring into the realization of Hur's hopes, dreams, and impact upon history.

Hur's chief character flaw is his susceptibility to the flattery and allure of a fem fatale who is fronting for his malefactor.

If you think you've "done Ben-Hur" by watching the movie think again. Sadly, the movie takes artistic liberty that does little justice to the events that are so clearly and carefully described in the book and does more to rob one of the messages and experience than draw one to them. There is so much more to EVERYTHING in the story than the movie portrays or even hints at. And yet, I for one probably never would have known of this book had it not been for the film. I am indebted to the film's capacity to lend staying power to the work.

This book is amazing. I find myself lacking words to describe its panoramic essence. Lew Wallace was somehow able to transport me back into the time and place of this epic story. I fear it never would have been published today as it does not instantly plunge the reader into action and adventure (although as the story moves along there is plenty of that).

What I love about this book...
the story
the writing
the characters
the language
everything

1939: The Making of Six Great Films from Hollywood�s Greatest Year by Chuck F. Adams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lots of read-out-loud stuff to share with anyone who happens to walk through the room. Right from the "Author's Note" at the book's beginning I was hooked. "When I was twelve years old, going to the movies was a Saturday afternoon ritual that my friends and I observed with an almost religious fervor."

He not only tells about the making of the films but the making of the books as well. Wow -- special features in a book! I learned about the authors, the book's (or story's) journey to publication, the directors, the studios, the stars, the casting, the shooting, the editing, the premiers, and even "the rest of the story" about the stars and so forth. Yep, it's a trivia smorgasbord. Lots of b&w photos, too.

Did you know that GWTW (Gone With the Wind) cost nearly $4million -- the most expensive film made up to that date -- but it brought in nearly 3x's that amount in its 3-year-long first run and over $40,000,000 to date?

The writing style is chatty and very engaging. So glad it came across my radar. At just 250 pages it's easy to read in a few sittings.

True Grit by Charles Portis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A plucky fourteen year old girl sets out to ensure that her father's murderer is brought to justice. She engages the services of U.S. Marshal "Rooster" Cogburn, the toughest one she can find. A good deal of the charm of the book is hearing Mattie negotiate her terms with everyone with whom she has business. She is as sharp as a tack and tough as nails.

Another engaging aspect of the book is hearing Rooster's escapades. The Civil War was in the very recent past and there were strong prejudices regarding who one fought with and how one fought. Rooster had ridden with Quantrill's Raiders and had also relieved the U.S. Government of a considerable amount of money before he turned Marshal.

The tension mounts as Mattie tails Rooster and a Texas Ranger who has joined Rooster and who expects to collect a sizable ransom for the capture of this Tom Chaney who shot her unarmed father. They encounter Lucky Ned Pepper's gang who has just robbed a train and then worse yet, Mattie falls into their hands.

The most gripping part of the book is at the end, and lest I hazard "spoilers" I will say that "the situation was hopeless", involving rattlers, bats, corpses, broken limbs, and more.

I would never have read this book had it not been for the library "community read" program. I am so glad it provided me the opportunity to meet and appreciate Mattie Ross and explore the true meaning of "grit".

I very much enjoyed the audio edition, performed by Donna Tartt.

Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Payson Prentiss
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

My best guess is I can thank GOODREADS for recommending this to me. Set in the 1840's, the main character is surprisingly like today's teenage girl. Normally I avoid novels written in journal format, but in this case it moved the story along as no other method would have. You will follow her from her teen years to her middle age, when the journal is filled.

I'm sure that the observations on religion in one's life were startling and refreshing at the time this was written and even today offers much to contemplate.

Emily Fox-Seton: Being the Making of a Marchioness and The Methods of Lady Walderhurst by Frances Hodgson Burnett
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Here's a Cinderella story set in Edwardian era England. Emily is almost too good to be true, but she is very likable and one cheers for her. Because of her good fortune she falls prey to some scheming persons who wish her great harm.

The film "The Making of a Lady" (2012) is based on this story and is as beguiling as it is gripping. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2293276/

I listened to the audio edition of this book with my husband and he quite enjoyed it! He liked the author's examination of marriage through the several examples served up in this story.