Books 38 and 39 (public entry)
Two more I've read recently:
38. Alison Plowden, Tudor Women: Queens and Commoners (4/5)
This book is a brief biography of some of the important women in the Tudor period, such as Elizabeth Woodville, Henry VIII’s wives, Lady Jane Grey, Mary and Elizabeth. It also talks about marriage, education and attitudes towards women. However, I felt that the title was a little misleading as there wasn’t much coverage of ‘commoners’ as the title suggested; the life of Elizabethan women is given a brief overview in an epilogue at the end (it’s not even a numbered chapter). While this is a good introductory book to significant women of the period, I didn’t feel that it told me anything new (but then, I am a history student and the Tudors are one of my favourite periods to study, so perhaps that’s why). It wasn’t particularly indepth, but is a quick read, making a good starting point for those wishing to know more about the women of this period. While a lot of it is speculation (we can’t know for sure how they felt) the author does portray them all in a sympathetic light and it seemed reasonably historically accurate with lots of quotes from contemporary sources, and, after all, a lot of the situations women faced in the 1400 and 1500s are much the same as women do now - I’m sure many can relate to Catherine of Aragon seeing her husband being ‘taken’ from her by a younger, ‘newer’ model (Anne Boleyn), and Mary’s resentment of Henry’s treatment of her mother during this time.
39. Peter Benchley, Jaws (5/5)
This was lent to me by Adam one night before bed, so I’d have something to read if I couldn’t sleep or got up before him. He’d never read it before but thought I might like it. The back page of his copy said that after the first five pages you’d be hooked - so, in the morning, I thought I’d give it a go, and ended up reading 40 pages before I realised the time and thought I’d go downstairs.
This is quite a short book, and although I’ve not seen the film before, I really enjoyed it. It’s really easy to get into, and is really interesting - it doesn’t attempt to make the shark out to be anything more than just a fish, with no personification, which I liked. Peter Benchley also makes all the characters seem very real, with backgrounds and livelihoods and feelings; despite the book essentially focusing around the shark attacks, this is only a small part of the book. I’d definitely recommend this, it was quite a page turner and I couldn’t put it down. It’s graphic in places (during the attacks) but no more than is necessary (and if you’ve seen the film, I’m sure you expect it). Really addictive, and the writer keeps you guessing until the very end!
Currently reading: Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier (among others)
38. Alison Plowden, Tudor Women: Queens and Commoners (4/5)
This book is a brief biography of some of the important women in the Tudor period, such as Elizabeth Woodville, Henry VIII’s wives, Lady Jane Grey, Mary and Elizabeth. It also talks about marriage, education and attitudes towards women. However, I felt that the title was a little misleading as there wasn’t much coverage of ‘commoners’ as the title suggested; the life of Elizabethan women is given a brief overview in an epilogue at the end (it’s not even a numbered chapter). While this is a good introductory book to significant women of the period, I didn’t feel that it told me anything new (but then, I am a history student and the Tudors are one of my favourite periods to study, so perhaps that’s why). It wasn’t particularly indepth, but is a quick read, making a good starting point for those wishing to know more about the women of this period. While a lot of it is speculation (we can’t know for sure how they felt) the author does portray them all in a sympathetic light and it seemed reasonably historically accurate with lots of quotes from contemporary sources, and, after all, a lot of the situations women faced in the 1400 and 1500s are much the same as women do now - I’m sure many can relate to Catherine of Aragon seeing her husband being ‘taken’ from her by a younger, ‘newer’ model (Anne Boleyn), and Mary’s resentment of Henry’s treatment of her mother during this time.
39. Peter Benchley, Jaws (5/5)
This was lent to me by Adam one night before bed, so I’d have something to read if I couldn’t sleep or got up before him. He’d never read it before but thought I might like it. The back page of his copy said that after the first five pages you’d be hooked - so, in the morning, I thought I’d give it a go, and ended up reading 40 pages before I realised the time and thought I’d go downstairs.
This is quite a short book, and although I’ve not seen the film before, I really enjoyed it. It’s really easy to get into, and is really interesting - it doesn’t attempt to make the shark out to be anything more than just a fish, with no personification, which I liked. Peter Benchley also makes all the characters seem very real, with backgrounds and livelihoods and feelings; despite the book essentially focusing around the shark attacks, this is only a small part of the book. I’d definitely recommend this, it was quite a page turner and I couldn’t put it down. It’s graphic in places (during the attacks) but no more than is necessary (and if you’ve seen the film, I’m sure you expect it). Really addictive, and the writer keeps you guessing until the very end!
Currently reading: Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier (among others)