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nickartrip102's reviews
750 reviews
Henry VIII: The King and His Court by Alison Weir
informative
slow-paced
3.5
After reading a lovely volume about the final years of Henry VII’s reign it was time to finally move on to the son. Like a lot of people, I discovered my love of history getting swept away in the story of Henry VIII and his six wives (I also believe a shirtless Jonathan Rhys Meyers has a large part to play in that) but in recent years as I’ve further extended this interest I’ve developed a bit of Tudor fatigue. I’ve gotten so accustomed to visions of Henry as the tyrant and villain that I’ve lost touch with the early years of Henry VIII’s reign when he was viewed as something entirely different, a bit of a new hope and the ushering in of a new era following the final, darker years of Henry VII’s reign. I kept this in mind as I made my way through Henry VIII: The King and His Court by Alison Weir, which worked surprisingly well since the book begins with his ascent to the throne.
I think I should have paid more attention to this book’s subtitle, as Weir provides a pretty extensive account of Henry’s court. I mostly enjoyed this aspect of the text. Weir explores all of the different roles in the household, the various courtiers, the art of the era, sports, music, etc. Most historical biographies also provide similar context, but not quite as exhaustively. I found this really useful, it certainly helped to immerse myself in the era as I read. I did, however, sometimes find myself struggling to push through certain chapters, eager for the reappearance of the core subject. There are certain instances when information in the text isn’t delivered in a chronological order but rather through thematic association, making things a bit confusing at times, but I was able to shake that off.
Another perk of this book is that it doesn’t heavily emphasize his wives (well, apart from Anne Boleyn, but the impact of that marriage is a bit difficult to ignore) since Weir has an entire volume dedicated to them. It seemed to me that Henry VIII: The King and His Court was more enjoyable in the first half, where I was able to learn quite a bit about Henry pre-Anne Boleyn. While I do think there a few instances of some bias shining through, I always return to Weir’s work because it is accessible and (usually) compulsively readable which is exactly what this book delivered.
I think I should have paid more attention to this book’s subtitle, as Weir provides a pretty extensive account of Henry’s court. I mostly enjoyed this aspect of the text. Weir explores all of the different roles in the household, the various courtiers, the art of the era, sports, music, etc. Most historical biographies also provide similar context, but not quite as exhaustively. I found this really useful, it certainly helped to immerse myself in the era as I read. I did, however, sometimes find myself struggling to push through certain chapters, eager for the reappearance of the core subject. There are certain instances when information in the text isn’t delivered in a chronological order but rather through thematic association, making things a bit confusing at times, but I was able to shake that off.
Another perk of this book is that it doesn’t heavily emphasize his wives (well, apart from Anne Boleyn, but the impact of that marriage is a bit difficult to ignore) since Weir has an entire volume dedicated to them. It seemed to me that Henry VIII: The King and His Court was more enjoyable in the first half, where I was able to learn quite a bit about Henry pre-Anne Boleyn. While I do think there a few instances of some bias shining through, I always return to Weir’s work because it is accessible and (usually) compulsively readable which is exactly what this book delivered.
Right Beside You by Tucker Shaw
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I requested and received an eARC of Right Beside You by Tucker Shaw via NetGalley. Eddie has just graduated high school and isn't sure what to do next. When he receives a request from his great aunt Cookie that he come to New York City and care for her, Eddie jumps at the opportunity for a change in his life. As he settles in, Cookie gifts him a vintage polaroid camera and asks him to take photos of cherished places that she is no longer able to visit. When he uses the camera, however, he finds himself transported back in time to the New York City of the early 20th century. As Eddie discovers more about himself and history (including the handsome Francis) he finds himself torn between the past and the present.
Eddie is such a wonderful protagonist and there so many things about his character that I really grew to appreciate throughout the story. Little things, like the reason behind the falling out with his best friend, his anxiety, the way he uses his imagination to center himself, made him feel very real and familiar to me. I found Right Beside You interesting before the more fantastical parts of story kicked in, but once they did I was even more excited about following Eddie on his journey. The struggle between the past and present may physically take the form of Francis (the whimsical and sweet boy from the past) and Theo (the caring and evidently striking fellow from the bakery where Eddie buys Cookie’s opera cake) but the book doesn’t get hung up on romance and has many important messages.
From the moment Cookie appeared on the page I found her to be a complete delight. Shaw is fantastic at creating vivid and memorable characters and Cookie is a shining example. I got a kick out of all of her wonderful references and the stories she told. Albert is another terrific character, and although the affection developed more slowly I really enjoyed his role in the novel and gaining a better understanding of him. Right Beside You has all of the right elements. A little romance, a little magic, and a lot of emotion go a long way. I’m not sure when or how it happened, but I do know that it didn’t take me very long to become invested in this story. In his book, Shaw writes a beautiful love letter to queer culture, history, and New York City that mesmerized me.
Eddie is such a wonderful protagonist and there so many things about his character that I really grew to appreciate throughout the story. Little things, like the reason behind the falling out with his best friend, his anxiety, the way he uses his imagination to center himself, made him feel very real and familiar to me. I found Right Beside You interesting before the more fantastical parts of story kicked in, but once they did I was even more excited about following Eddie on his journey. The struggle between the past and present may physically take the form of Francis (the whimsical and sweet boy from the past) and Theo (the caring and evidently striking fellow from the bakery where Eddie buys Cookie’s opera cake) but the book doesn’t get hung up on romance and has many important messages.
From the moment Cookie appeared on the page I found her to be a complete delight. Shaw is fantastic at creating vivid and memorable characters and Cookie is a shining example. I got a kick out of all of her wonderful references and the stories she told. Albert is another terrific character, and although the affection developed more slowly I really enjoyed his role in the novel and gaining a better understanding of him. Right Beside You has all of the right elements. A little romance, a little magic, and a lot of emotion go a long way. I’m not sure when or how it happened, but I do know that it didn’t take me very long to become invested in this story. In his book, Shaw writes a beautiful love letter to queer culture, history, and New York City that mesmerized me.
Fox: A Novel by Joyce Carol Oates
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Tonight on Dateline, Oates does Lolita
Who's afraid of Joyce Carol Oates? Me, of course. I read the novel Blonde over the course of a few months after several attempts at diving into it. It was beautifully written, but also forcefully, and necessarily, depressing. When I saw her latest novel, Fox , on NetGalley I instantly requested it and was pleased when I was approved to read it. Who is Francis Fox? A charming new teacher who beguiles his students, their parents, and his colleagues. Mr. Fox is less taken with his new community, but then he's always had his favorites: those prepubescent girls brought up in fatherless homes. When two brothers discover parts of his body strewn about the woods the community must begin to ask exactly who Francis Fox was and what might have happened to him
Like with much of her other work, Oates’ writing in Fox is alluring, exacting, and quite repetitive. I found that I didn’t necessarily mind the repetition in some sections, because it felt like it served a thematic purpose and in some instances presented an alternative perspective of some events in the novel. Francis Fox (our Humbert Humbert) is both seductive and utterly repellant. I was entranced as the spotlight shifted between characters and how they relate to one another on the page. Oates masterfully crafts several character sketches and I was often excited to explore a particular point of view. Middle-aged detectives, spinsterish administrators and twelve-year-old girls are all convincingly written and imbued the story with some humanity, something that is desperately needed after sharing space with a character like Fox.
At over 600 pages, this novel was one I circled several times before finally committing to reading it. The length is certainly navigable, but sometimes Oates’ prose can be daunting, jarring to adjust to as she makes revelations that land like gut punches in her distinct style. The content of the novel, as you can imagine from the synopsis, is quite dark but Fox is difficult to put down. I think because of the apprehensive way that I have approached some of Oates’ other works I wasn’t entirely expecting this book to be the page turner that it ended up being. Yes, there is a central mystery to the novel that held me captive, but Fox shines equally bright when it is exploring complicated family dynamics, trauma, and the morally ambiguous decision making driving its characters.
Who's afraid of Joyce Carol Oates? Me, of course. I read the novel Blonde over the course of a few months after several attempts at diving into it. It was beautifully written, but also forcefully, and necessarily, depressing. When I saw her latest novel, Fox , on NetGalley I instantly requested it and was pleased when I was approved to read it. Who is Francis Fox? A charming new teacher who beguiles his students, their parents, and his colleagues. Mr. Fox is less taken with his new community, but then he's always had his favorites: those prepubescent girls brought up in fatherless homes. When two brothers discover parts of his body strewn about the woods the community must begin to ask exactly who Francis Fox was and what might have happened to him
Like with much of her other work, Oates’ writing in Fox is alluring, exacting, and quite repetitive. I found that I didn’t necessarily mind the repetition in some sections, because it felt like it served a thematic purpose and in some instances presented an alternative perspective of some events in the novel. Francis Fox (our Humbert Humbert) is both seductive and utterly repellant. I was entranced as the spotlight shifted between characters and how they relate to one another on the page. Oates masterfully crafts several character sketches and I was often excited to explore a particular point of view. Middle-aged detectives, spinsterish administrators and twelve-year-old girls are all convincingly written and imbued the story with some humanity, something that is desperately needed after sharing space with a character like Fox.
At over 600 pages, this novel was one I circled several times before finally committing to reading it. The length is certainly navigable, but sometimes Oates’ prose can be daunting, jarring to adjust to as she makes revelations that land like gut punches in her distinct style. The content of the novel, as you can imagine from the synopsis, is quite dark but Fox is difficult to put down. I think because of the apprehensive way that I have approached some of Oates’ other works I wasn’t entirely expecting this book to be the page turner that it ended up being. Yes, there is a central mystery to the novel that held me captive, but Fox shines equally bright when it is exploring complicated family dynamics, trauma, and the morally ambiguous decision making driving its characters.
Charles II's Portuguese Queen: The Legacy of Catherine of Braganza by Susan Abernethy
informative
medium-paced
4.5
I requested and received an eARC of Charles II’s Portuguese Queen: The Legacy of Catherine of Braganza by Susan Abernethy via NetGalley. I thought I had left the Stuarts behind for a while after 2024, but when I saw this title about Charles II’s consort I couldn’t resist. I couldn’t tell you much about Catherine of Braganza specifically other than the fact that she and and Charles were unable to produce an heir and that she helped to popularize drinking tea. In the opening to her text, Abernethy reinforces the idea of Catherine as the “forgotten queen,” emphasizing that she largely been overlooked in history in favor of her husband, the Merry Monarch, and his long list of lovers. <i>Charles II’s Portuguese Queen: The Legacy of Catherine of Braganza</i> pulls forgotten consort out of the shadows and sheds light on her own life and contributions to history and culture.
There isn’t much known about Catherine of of Braganza’s early life, but the first few chapters of the book familiarize the reader with Portuguese history and the rise of the Braganza dynasty, which I found to be very helpful. My knowledge of Portuguese history is quite limited and it really helped me to understand what was at stake in the marriage alliance between England and Portugal and where exactly Catherine fell in all of that. Abernethy provides a succinct overview of the most pertinent details that was both accessible and entertaining to read and this is a quality that never diminished as I made my way through Catherine’s adult life.
I haven't often considered what life at court must have been like for Catherine, but Abernethy's book has certainly forced me to reconsider her. She was ill prepared for her new life in England and it's impossible not to feel sympathy for her. Confronted with circumstances that weren't quite what she imagined, Catherine faltered but managed to to course correct and adapt. Abernethy does a wonderful job of detailing all of the difficulties Catherine would have been forced to navigate and creates a captivating portrait of a very fascinating woman. I left Charles II’s Portuguese Queen: The Legacy of Catherine of Braganza with the sense that I had a better understanding of the consort and a greater appreciation for her role in history.
Pages I Never Wrote by Marco Donati
3.0
*spoilers included
I really wanted to love this book. Luke and Nate were a good pairing and I loved that this story showcased disability and intimacy issues. The story, however, fell apart for me during the cruelty during the fight after the final club scene. Conflict is necessary, of course, but this particular moment felt cruel, particularly considering Luke's intimacy issues. I was willing to forgive this, but the later assault scene that brings us to the conclusion felt forced and awkward.
The text needed closer editing but it was a good read. The final act stopped me from loving this story, but it was still overall a thoroughly enjoyable read.
I really wanted to love this book. Luke and Nate were a good pairing and I loved that this story showcased disability and intimacy issues. The story, however, fell apart for me during the cruelty during the fight after the final club scene. Conflict is necessary, of course, but this particular moment felt cruel, particularly considering Luke's intimacy issues. I was willing to forgive this, but the later assault scene that brings us to the conclusion felt forced and awkward.
The text needed closer editing but it was a good read. The final act stopped me from loving this story, but it was still overall a thoroughly enjoyable read.
Bonds of Brass by Emily Skrutskie
5.0
This was the queer space opera I didn't know I needed. Not typically a genre I would be interested in, but this novel was action packed and well plotted. I cannot wait for the next installment!