School psychologist by profession, I am a historian by avocation. Favorite topics include early American history, medieval studies, the Renaissance, religious symbolism and art. I travel as often as possible, especially to England, Italy, and France.
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Looking for a beach or plane read? Like adventure? The Lost Throne fits the bill. A wealthy amateur archaeologist, who entered Russia illegally, is killed, execution style, in St. Petersberg, Russia. His beautiful but brainy assistant, Rachel, calls on Jon Payne and DJ Jones, intrepid ex-MANIACS (special ops guys), to rescue her. At the same time, seven Greek Orthodox monks are beheaded in an all but inaccessible monastery.
Will these two threads merge? You bet they will. Payne and Jones, with the help of that brilliant babe and a hard drinking fisherman, must outwit a Russian assassin, identify and track down an ancient treasure, fight a dozen die-hard Spartans (really!),… Read more
Wish I had a dollar for every Henry VIII movie I've watched. This version of Philippa Gregory's best seller deviates from the book, so I'll review it on its own merits.
What I liked:
The costumes and scenery.
The casting - it's refreshing to watch lesser known actors in such familiar roles.
The portrayal of Henry as less megalomanic and somewhat more human in his relationships with men and women alike.
The portrayal of Anne as every bit the match of any male courtier who schemed and plotted for advancement.
The understated treatment of the execution of Anne Boleyn.
What I did not like:
The weasel-y characterization of George… Read more
Marguerite is 21 when Vincent Van Gogh arrives at her father's door for medical/psychological treatment. Dr. Gachet practices from his home, so Marguerite has ample opportunity to interact with the artist. She is drawn to Vincent, who is enormously talented but emotionally fragile, and in a very short time, they fall in love, in spite of the disapproval of her father and brother. Their romance is the pivot around which this novel revolves.
What works best in this story is the depiction of the plight of women around the turn of the twentieth century. Dr. Gachet, as portrayed here, is an incredibly selfish man with questionable personal and professional ethics. The life of… Read more
Harry Bosch is a realistic, likeable character who grows and changes as the novel progress. Michael Connelly is one of the more literate crime writers working today.
