Juliet's Nurse
by Lois Leveen
Old Story, New Twist (7/4/2014)
We all know the story of Romeo and Juliet, or think we do. Juliet's Nurse tells the story of Juliet from the moment of her birth till her death based on the activities of her wet nurse, Angelica. Mid way through chapter one, you will be captivated by the nurse and enter into the story as though you were right by her side. Italian history seeps through the pages and you won;t be able to read fast enough as it wants to take every moment from you. From time to time, the story gets a little bawdy which only adds to the interest of the continuing story.What parents will and won't do for their spouses, children, the poor and relatives. Trying to impress others with wealth is a theme throughout the book. You know how it ends, but getting there is worth sleepless nights reading Lois Leveen's story. Several twists will keep you "bee"holding to the book1
Eighty Days: Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland's History-Making Race Around the World
by Matthew Goodman
Book Club Material (1/6/2013)
I knew after reading the first page that this book was a keeper. And I was right. Not only is the story fascinating, but the historical facts contained within make one aware of how fortunate we are to be able to travel as we do today.
Learning about life, issues, events and travel in the late 1800's is sure to stir the interest of the reader. This factual book reads like a well written novel and holds your interest totally, except for some parts when the author gets too in-depth with the miniscule facts that add nothing to the story.
One might think the author was being paid by the word, but since the story is so spellbinding, you don't realize it until you've finished the chapter. This book tells the modern reader what it was like for journalist, especially female ones, to cope with the editors, foreign countries and travel of yesteryear
Encourage your book club to read and share their thoughts on this book. Questions could include, would you have done it then and would you do it today and which woman did you find yourself cheering on.
But I still think it should have been about 50 pages shorter.
Indiscretion
by Charles Dubow
An Average Book Club Book (10/21/2012)
Indiscretion might make a book club book but the discussion would be boring. It's the same old story about the rich being bored, a world of everything not enough. So gather in a waif, who incidentally is dumb like a fox, to spice up a life that most of us would consider fantastic, and play games with a marriage. Maddy was the most interesting character in the book, as Claire and Harry were just as you would expect them. Unsavory. The narrator must have been a great dream with an excellent imagination. All in all, I would not recommend this book to my book club.