November is Near!

Coffee? Check. Characters? Check. Loads of research on 1st Century AD Pompeii? Check. Intrigue and infidelity among the elite? Double check. Plot outline? I better be finishing that...

Oh my goodness! The month I've been waiting for since December 1st of last year is finally looming nearer than ever! GreenEyedGirl is my username if you happen to frequent the NaNo forums. ;) November 1st at midnight, I'll be typing away (hopefully into the wee hours of the morning). And to think that Day Savings is kindly bestowing an extra hour to all of us insane NaNo-ers out there!

I'm quite looking forward to this hectic month. Yes, I have a BIG research paper to write. Yes, I have Latin and Psychology homework and tests up the wazzooo. Yes, I will probably have a short story, poem, or chapters of a novel to read every night from one of my two English classes. And yes, I will continue to read whatever book my nose is currently stuck in. On top of all that academia, I'll be striving to church out a novel composed of at least 50k words! (Last year I won with a little over 54k.) Oh, and I'll try to maintain my relationships with my boyfriend, friends, and family amid all the literary abandon! Heh.

You can still sign up tomorrow! Last year I signed up in the last few hours of Halloween---so don't think it's too late!

Amore.

Ribbon Red

(above image: Red ribbon by OctoberCurse)

That red ribbon is awfully lovely, is it not? Young Mary Saunders would've agreed with you. Mary lived in 18th-Century London and truly would have done anything for such a beautiful piece of scarlet ribbon.

I'm currently about half-way through Emma Donoghue's Slammerkin. It's been a long time since I've read a piece of historical fiction that wasn't written in 1st-person---but I'm really enjoying this romp through old London with all its "cullies" and "cunnies". (Excuse my terrible language, but I've been hanging out in the wrong parts of London for a few weeks, thanks to Donoghue.)

The word slammerkin is defined as a loose dress or a loose woman... and the novel "Slammerkin" is about both. It is the story of Mary Saunder's lust for lovely attire, adventures in prostitution, and desire for liberty in one of history's most dreary times for women.

I'll let you know when I finish!

Amore.

The Gilded Chamber by Rebecca Kohn

A well known Biblical figure to whom the book Esther owes its name comes to life in Rebecca Kohn's novel "The Gilded Chamber." While the Bible tells the story of how the Jewish queen saves the life of her people, there is still much left a mystery. What brought Esther to Persia? What exactly took her from her betrothed cousin and brought her to the king? What was life like in the harem? Did she have friends? Who were her enemies? Questions like this have always remained in my mind after hearing the Biblical account of Esther. Kohn, through the voice of that heroic queen, answers them for me.

"The story of Esther---whose mesmerizing beauty was matched only by her clear-eyed wisdom---has inspired women for centuries. Now her suspenseful tale comes to life throgh the eyes of a contemporary woman, debut novelist Rebecca Kohn. Capturing the passionate longings and political danger that have made Ester's legacy so timeless, 'The Gilded Chamber' blends meticulous research with gripping storytelling to transport us to an ancient time in the far-flung Persian Empire.

Orphaned and terrified, Esther journeys across the River Tigris to start a new life with her cousin---a man well positioned in the court, and to whom she is betrothed. Her transformation from girl to woman unfolds against a lavish backdrop of the royal court and harem, rife with intrigue and daring alliances. Esther wins much of what she seeks: the heart of a king, and the deliverance of her people. But her rise to the role of queen is not without a price; she must turn her back on all that she ever wanted, and give her body to a man she can never love.

In a haunting, unflinching voice, 'The Gilded Chamber' illuminates an epic dilemma between the yearnings of a woman's heart and the obligations imposed on her by fate. In Esther's case, choice makes history---and unforgettable reading."
(From the front inside jacket cover.)

I absolutely fell in love with this book. Up until this novel, all of the historical fiction I'd read had taken place in Europe or America. I must say that it was an exciting journey into the ancient Persian Empire. And Kohn truly transported me there. (Like I always say: the best historical fiction offers a means of time-travel.) I reveled in Kohn's descriptions of the luxurious palace quarters, exquisite clothing, plush rugs, lush gardens, ornate sculptures, and all the fragrances that permeated the atmosphere. Her details regarding characters brought them to life; I knew how each character looked, smelled, dressed, walked, talked---and in such intimate ways.

The story begins in a heart-wrenching way as Esther is orphaned---her father was killed and mother died in childbirth. She is so vulnerable and so heartbroken, but she clings with a child's hope and optimism to living with her cousin, marrying him, being his wife, and bearing him children. All of her dreams are ripped out from beneath her when all of the kingdom's beautiful oung virgins are forced into the king's harem. It's a horrifying and tear-jerking ordeal, not only for Esther, but for the other young women. And so begins her journey toward the king's heart. As a modern young woman, it is hard to understand Esther's motives and what she must have been going through. But as a reader, I became absorbed into the harem, too. And I understood why Esther had to strive to please the king. (Those that didn't were forced to become dancing girls or even worse: sent off to the soldiers.)

My favorite part about the novel was the glimpse into the harems. I think Kohn constructed a very believable harem setting. It was more of a prison than anything. Eunuchs guarded the women. The women were groomed and bathed and perfumed and beautified to look like goddesses. There were pregnancies and abortions. There was sadness, envy, and delight. There were women who found pleasure in other women. And there was drug-laced wine that dulled the women into submission. It was not at all glamorous and not at all a place a girl wanted to end up. And yet out of this place, Esther rose to become queen.

I also love Kohn's portrayal of characters besides Esther. The king is handsome and strong, but has his weaknesses when it comes to wine. The former queen Vashti is simultaneously intriguing, breathtakingly beautiful, and absolutely terrifying. From the eunuchs and harem women to the royal family and their trusted attendants---each character is multi-dimensional with their own strengths and weaknesses. I think that's what really kept me guessing throughout the entire story: wondering what so-and-so was going to do next.

The book was very suspenseful. Even knowing the eventual outcome, I still found myself wondering what was happening next. There times of such high intensity that I could hardly bear to turn the page, but could not wait to. I read this book everywhere I went. My nose was stuck in it on my way to class on the bus. I read it while I ate at lunch and supper. I read it in my room. I carried it with me from building to building. I absolutely could not put it down and it has inspired me to look for more novels that focus on the women of ancient Persia, and of harems in particular.

This is a lush, gorgeous, captivating re-telling of the Biblical story of Esther and I highly recommend it. I might also add that the story has an ending to look forward to. It definitely took me by surprise.

Amore.

Awol in the Fall

Oh, dear. It really has been too long since I've been here at the blog. You see, school has got me quite bogged down. Midterms swooped in and nearly knocked me off my feet. And now I have psychology projects, Latin tests, lots of literature reading, and a big research paper... not the mention the looming finals that occur shortly into December.

I did finish "The Gilded Chamber" and loved it. I promise to post a review as soon as I have the ample time to sit down and write it. I also just started "Slammerkin." Oh, and it's less than a week now until National Novel Writing Month! There's still plenty of time to sign up, so get your booty over to NaNoWriMo.org and make the vow to churn out a 50k word novel in thirty days.

I'm slightly cringing at the thought of November. With classes, homework, Thanksgiving, books to read, and a 50,000-word novel to write...it's going to be one hectic month of all-nighters, delicious food, reading on the bus (because it's the only time I have time) and literary abandon! Even though I'd really like a part-time job right now, I suppose this is a good month to be thankful that I don't have that to add onto my plate.

I apologize for neglecting the blog(s). As much as I like to dilly-dally around here, I must force myself to remember that there are other more important things that come first: like my education. So while I'm oh-so-very tempted to spend more time than I should blogging away, I must go now and do laundry. (Because clean clothes come before blogging, too.)

Soonly.

Amore.

Up Next: Queen Esther

(above image: "Queen Esther" oil on canvas by Edwin Long via indovic)

So... since I just finished "Pilate's Wife" by Antoinette May, it is time to pick up another historical fiction novel. The next book I'll be sticking my nose in shall be "The Gilded Chamber: A Novel of Queen Esther" by Rebecca Kohn.

A little bit about her: Esther was born as Hadassah. She was a Jewish prophet, wife of Ahasuerus (Xerxes I), and queen of the Perisan Empire. She saved the Jews from oppression and is the namesake of the Biblical book Esther.

Two reviews from the back cover of the book:

"Queen Esther, savior of her people, becomes a living, breathing presence. . . .The Gilded Chamber is a world unto itself and one well worth entering." ~Margaret George, Author of Marie, Called Magdalene

"Rebecca Kohn takes us into places that the Old Testament never dreamed of . . . A triumph of historical imagination and a must-read for lovers--and lovers of Jewish history." ~Steven Pressfield, Author of The Gate of Fire

Amore.

30 Days & Nights of Literary Abandon | NaNoWriMo 2009

Oh, how wonderfully close November is! Yes, it is that time of year again. NaNoWriMo is fast approaching. What is NaNoWriMo, you ask? NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month. Beginning on November 1st and continuing til the very end of November 30, participants around the world write and type their way to completing a 50,000 word novel. I know, I know. That does sound terribly daunting. I was terrified when I signed up at about 11:45 pm on October 31st of last year. I had no idea what I was getting into! But with some alone time, classical music, the encouragement of fellow NaNo writers, and a LOT of coffee... I managed to win my first year with over 54,000 words. Yeah, that's right... I made it to 50k and kept on going! I surprised and impressed not only my family and friends, but myself.

I'm really looking forward to NaNo '09 because it's going to be a whole new experience for me this year. Last year I was going to school near my hometown at a community college, living at home and writing in my inspiring bedroom, working part-time, and had never consumed coffee in my life. Oh, and I only knew one other person participating in NaNoWriMo. This year I'm at a new school, having transferred to Iowa State University. I'll be writing in my not-so-inspiring dorm, but I'm going to use October to decorate it and make it as inspiring as possible. (My surroundings really effect my writing.) I have no job, but loads more homework and lots of papers to write in November. I'm a pro at making delicious, strong coffee. And there are people in the surrounding area that get together and have write-ins, which is soooo exciting!

There's no cost to signing up. There's no penalty if you don't make it to 50k. And there are no prizes if you do. But the satisfaction of composing your own 50,000 word story is truly amazing. Yeah, it'll probably consist primarily of crap... but that's what editing and re-writing is for. So head on over, sign up, and get ready to write your novel this year.

Oh, and if you'd rather sit back and watch my NaNo progress, I should have a widget on the right-hand sidebar of this blog around the start of November. You and I'll will be reminded constantly of my (hopefully speedily growing) wordcount throughout the month.

Amore.

Pilate's Wife by Antoinette May

She was married to one of the 1st Century AD's most well-known men, a man whose name continues to be uttered in churches throughout the world. Yet nothing is known of her. No biography exists. And her entire existence is based upon a sole verse in the New Testament.

While Pilate was sitting in the judgment hall, his wife sent him a message: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, because in a dream last night, I suffered much on account of him."
Matthew 27:19

Antoinette May, author and journalist, takes hold of the quietly mentioned wife of Pilate and runs with the idea. "Pilate's Wife" is the story of a young Roman woman's life---her hopes and dreams, her heartbreaks and losses, her romances, her ambitions, her struggles with religion, and her astounding resilience.

A daughter of privilege in the most powerful empire the world has ever known, Claudia has a unique and disturbing "gift": her dreams have an uncanny way of coming true. As a rebellious child seated beside the tyrannical Roman Emperor Tiberius, she first spies the powerful gladiator who will ultimately be her one true passion. Yet it is the ambitious magistrate Pontius Pilate who intrigues the impressionable young woman she becomes, and Claudia finds her way into his arms by means of a mysterious ancient magic. Pilate is her grand destiny, leading her to Judaea and plunging her into a seething cauldron of open rebellion. But following her friend Miriam of Magdala's confession of her ecstatic love for a charismatic religious radical, Claudia begins to experience terrifying visions—horrific premonitions of war, injustice, untold devastation and damnation . . . and the crucifixion of a divine martyr whom she must do everything in her power to save.
(Synopsis from the front inside jacket cover.)

I finished this book two nights ago and still cannot stop thinking of it. I'm a fanatic for the 1st Century AD Roman empire, so the historical richness of this book was utterly enthralling. Antoinette May does a brilliant job of whisking the reader away into that vast, powerful empire. The best kind of historical fiction allows the reader to time travel to another place and era. This book does just that. I got lost in it, feeling as though I were a Roman, too. I could hear the melodies of the lyres, smell the delectable banquet meals, and feel the light ripples of a silken tunica against my body. May's descriptions are captivating.

Claudia is now one of my favorite novel heroines. The story begins with her as a young, naive, and rebellious child. She has visions that come true and views such visions as more of a curse than a blessing. As she grows up, Claudia becomes a worshipper of Isis and falls in love with and marries Pontius Pilate. But the life of an elite Roman woman is not all luxury and happiness, for Claudia experiences a world of pain and heartbreak as a cruel emperor and his mother wreak havoc on many of Claudia's loved ones---her uncle, her parents, her sister. Though Claudia's rebellious nature remains a part of her throughout her life, her wisdom and strength grows with each trying experience Rome throws at her.

What really impressed me about novel besides the history and the heroine is how the story spans the entire empire and so many religions. The reader gets to travel with Claudia to Gaul, barbarian lands, Alexandria, Rome, Antioch, Pompeii, Herculaneum, Jerusalem, and other prime locales of the time period. Claudia's father is a follower of Mithras. Her mother and aunt devote themselves to the traditional Roman deities, including Juno. Her sister becomes a servant of Vesta. Claudia, herself, secretly joins the cult of the Egyptian goddess Isis. And prominent Christian figures such as Miriam of Magdala (Mary Magdalene), Jesus of Nazareth, and Jesus' mother Mary all come alive as characters in the story.

From Sunday school lessons and textbooks, the name Pontius Pilate calls to mind a cold, heartless governor who sentenced Christ to the cross and then carelessly washed his hands of the ordeal. I love the point of view of this novel, though the eyes of the woman who stood by Pilate even when he had hurt her, even when he had been unfaithful to her, and even when he had every right to divorce her. She dreamt of the crucifixion before it played out. She heard the words, "Suffered under Pontius Pilate" repeated over and over again. She knew that despite any good her husband had done in his political career, his name would be forever marred by the upcoming execution. And still, Claudia knew that what was about to happen was bigger than she and Pilate. They were about to part of something that would affect history and religion for centuries and centuries to follow.

This novel really has everything that makes for a beautiful, exciting, and emotional coming-of-age tale: history, adventure, romance, magic, religion, mythology, suspense, horror, and a strong female hero. I laughed. I winced. I swooned. And a few times, I cried.

I absolutely loved this book!

Amore.

Reading Survey

1. What author do you own the most books by?

Nobody really. I have so many books and they're all by different authors. I can only think of a handful of writers that I have more than one book by.

2. What book do you own the most copies of?

I don't. I only have one copy of each book I own.

3. Did it bother you that both those questions ended with prepositions?

Not really. Surveys are allowed to be so casual.

4. What fictional character are you secretly in love with?

Definitely Sena Jeter Naslund's portrayal of Count Axel von Fersen in "Abundance". I was swooning each time he walked into the scene.

5. What book have you read the most times in your life?

When I was little I read "Where the Wild Things Are" more times than I can count. However, now that I've grown up I really only read books once. There are many plays I've read multiple times, though.

6. What was your favorite book when you were ten years old?

Heh, probably "Where the Wild Things Are". I can't wait for the movie!

7. What is the worst book you’ve read?

Oh, there are several. "Robinson Crusoe," "Lord of the Flies," and "1984" are the ones that I hated most.

8. What is the best book you’ve read in the past year?

Without a doubt Sena Jeter Naslund's "Abundance". It's epically beautiful.

9. If you could force everyone you tagged to read one book, what would it be?

Hmmm... either "Abundance" because it was so captivating or "Perfume" because it was such a different type of store---so haunting, so strange, so intriguing.

10. Who deserves to win the next Nobel Prize for literature?

I'm not sure.

11. What book would you most like to see made into a movie?

"Pilate's Wife," "The Birth of Venus", and "The Royal Physician's Visit" would all make excellent movies!

12. What book would you least like to see made into a movie?

"Lord of the Flies". Ugh.

13. Describe your weirdest dream involving a writer, book, or literary character.

I haven't really had any weird dreams, but I have these super frustrating dreams sometimes about writing. I'll dream that I came up with a groundbreaking plot idea for my story or was writing the most wonderful novel... then I wake up and can't remember any of what I was writing in my dream. :(

14. What is the most lowbrow book you’ve read as an adult?

Nothing comes to mind.

15. What is the most difficult book you’ve ever read?

"Love in the Time of Cholera". I was excited about it. I gave it a try. I tried really hard. The writing was beautiful, but I just wasn't hooked in the first few pages or even the first couple chapters. If a story can't reel me in, I quit.

16. What is the most obscure Shakespeare play you’ve seen?

I don't know about obscure, but I saw an adaptation of "The Taming of the Shrew" set in 1950s America. It was ok. I reeeeally want to see a production of Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar" though.

17. Do you prefer the French or the Russians?

I'm drawn more to French things.

18. Roth or Updike?

I am acquainted with both, but I don't know either one enough to have a preference.

19. David Sedaris or Dave Eggers? ~

Same answer as above.

20. Shakespeare, Milton, or Chaucer?

Shakespeare---I do love him despite believing the real Shakespeare was Edward de Vere. Yes, I went there. :P

21. Austen or Eliot?

Same answer as 18 and 19.

22. What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading?

High school. I didn't read much for enjoyment.

23. What is your favorite novel?

I have a new favorite: "Abundance". :)

24. Play?

Oh, man! Theatre was my life in high school, so there are many many plays that I love for various reasons. "Our Town," "Miss Julie," "Twelfth Night," "Chapter Two," and sooo many more.

25. Poem?

"Ode on a Grecian Urn" and "Ode to Psyche" by John Keats are my all-time favorites.

26. Essay?

Nothing is coming to mind.

27. Short story?

"The Story of an Hour," "The Yellow Wall-Paper," "Daisy Miller," and lots of Edgar Allen Poe stories.

28. Work of non-fiction?

"The Complete Pompeii".

29. Who is your favorite writer?

I honestly don't really have a "favorite". I have ones that I love and enjoy, but no overall favorite.

30. Who is the most overrated writer alive today?

I'll have to think about this one.

31. What is your desert island book?

"Abundance". I'd read it again.

32. And … what are you reading right now?

"Pilate's Wife" by Antoinette May.

I tag anyone who wishes to take the time to do this. :)

Abundance by Sena Jeter Naslund

I have a new favorite book. "Abundance" by Sena Jeter Naslund swept me off my feet from the beginning and kept me coming back for more each day. Each time I picked up the novel, I felt like I was truly being transported back in time to the extravagant court of Versailles.

The novel opens with Marie Antoinette as an adolescent about to marry Louis-Auguste, the dauphin of France. It ends with her terrible death at the guillotine. And in between her arrival in France and execution, the reader becomes intimately close to the dauphine and eventual queen of France. My heart broke for her as she tried to be sweet and lovely and perfect for her husband, but year after year passed that the marriage went unconsummated. I became fond of the friends she became fond of. I rejoiced when she became a mother and I mourned for her losses. I fell in love with Count Axel von Fersen. I came to admire Marie Antoinette in every way for her strength and courage in the turmoil of the revolution. And, finally, I wept for her final days of loneliness and her cruel execution.

Not since reading Jane Eyre back in the 8th grade have I felt so intimately connected to a novel's character. Such intimacy is much owed to the fact that the novel does span her entire life. Each time I turned the page, I grew closer and closer to the historical figure. I came to know her as the friend, sister, daughter, mother, and lover she was. She was so much more than a ruinous queen that textbooks have made her out to be.

I know that there are many novels out there that center around Marie Antoinette, but this is the only one I have read and will probably read for quite awhile. Sena Jeter Naslund's epic was so well researched and detailed. Many of the letters and spoken words in the novel were historically authentic. I believe she depicted Marie as accurately as a 21st Century writer can---as a kind, spiritual, romantic, and beautiful girl who happened to become queen. And oh, I loved how Naslund depicted the relationship between Marie Antoinette and Count Fersen. It is popular belief that the two were lovers, but Naslund depicts them as the closest of friends while leaving room for the possibility of romance. She leaves so much of it up to the imagination so that the reader can decide whether the two ever did or didn't fall into a romantic, adulterous affair. (Personally, being so smitten with Fersen myself, I hope they did.)

The book gripped me from the beginning and had in me in tears during the final chapters. When it ended, I felt a sudden sadness in my heart. Sadness that I would no longer be returning to Versailles. Sadness that the book was over. And most of all, sadness for how Marie's life ended and how she has been the scapegoat of the revolution for centuries.

I highly, highly recommend this book. I loved it so much that I might actually read it again someday, which is a rarity for me. It is intriguing, historical accurate, and a surprisingly fast read despite the physical length of the book. (It looks like it would take forever to read, but it's one of those books you can't put down and end up reading in a record amount of time!)

One last thing I would like to note about the book is the way it is written. Naslund wrote it in first person present tense, which I didn't even notice until I was about a quarter of the way into it. I believe that this is the first novel I've ever read that was written in this pov and tense combination. A lot of readers and writers I've spoken to say that writing in first person present tense is difficult both to read and write. I found that this was not the case. For me, this is the style of writing that comes most naturally. And as for reading it, I felt like I was actually there with Marie every step of the way in her eventful life. It drew me further into the story and it was as if the events were playing out exactly at the moment I read each word. Beautiful language, stunning storyline.

Amore.