Wanda's comments
Wanda's comments from the European Royalty group.
Note: Wanda is no longer a member of this group.
(showing 1-20 of 30)
How about Shadow of the Wind -- The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. It's set in Barcelona after the Spanish Civil War and it involves a mysterious book.
Or, The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon by Richard Zimler - Inquisition-time Lisbon comes alive.
I hope these meet the nominating criteria. I have not availability of either; but I did see that The Last Kabbalist is available from Amazon for $5.75 (US). And, I know the Shadow of the Wind is widely available. (The prequel to Shadow is coming soon.) If not, that's okay. I will just think of others.
Bettie (Goodreads Reader!) wrote: "Wanda wrote: "Bettie (Goodreads Reader!) wrote: "So - how about The Welsh Girl instead"O..."
But still a good book nonetheless.
Bettie (Goodreads Reader!) wrote: "So - how about The Welsh Girl instead"Oh, Bettie - that one is good, too! Can I second yours and still second Susanna's?
Susanna wrote: "Maisie Dobbs, by Jacqueline Winspear."Maisie Dobbs is wonderful! I second your suggestion, Susanna!
Robin wrote: "Wanda wrote: "Sera wrote: "Robin wrote: "I am just about finished with Plaidy's "Katherine of Aragon." I've actually enjoyed her take on Katherine throughout the three volumes. I have Anne Easter S..."
Thank you, Robin. I am anxious to start Anne Easter Smith's books - are they all stand-alones or must they be read in order to make sense?
Sera wrote: "Robin wrote: "I am just about finished with Plaidy's "Katherine of Aragon." I've actually enjoyed her take on Katherine throughout the three volumes. I have Anne Easter Smith's "The King's Grace" w..."
Hi, Sera. I also have Anne Easter Smith's books waiting for me -- will you share your thoughts once you have finished your reading of The King's Grace? Thanks.
I will be finishing The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister tonight. I can honestly say that I loved this book. Now, I pretty much love all the books I read - don't find fault/hate with too many (except PG and Nefertiti by MM - yuck!). This was a fast, easy, sentimental read. Each character receives his/her own chapter and we learn about their struggles and how it relates to others in the cooking class. Others on Goodreads have provided their review of the book - I am not very good at that yet; but, I am learning. I can tell you that I loved the book and will re-read it again in the future. It's the kind of book you give to your best girlfriend. To me, it was well-written, sentimental (again) (I cried yesterday over lunch reading about Isabelle). If you get the chance, just, please give it a try.
I bought mine at a used book store and it is so old that the pages are tinged pink/orange. Fortunately, the type is not that teeny tiny type - it is large enough to read comfortably and so I cannot wait to start it this weekend. If anyone has trouble getting one in their hands, let me know and I would be happy to go back to the store to see if she has others and mail it to you. No trouble at all!
Nona wrote: "SKP contacted me through email to ask if I wanted some old first editions she had laying around and we emailed back and forth a few times and I asked her if it was true she said that it did occur, ..."
Nona, you are such the lucky duck. I would probably pee myself if SKP ever so much as contacted me and then wanted to give me a book. I treasure her books like gold - I love them so much. I even pack them in my car when we move so they do not get misplaced. Lucky duck, you!
Robin wrote: "Hi! I'm new here as well and found this as I was browsing the group links. :)
Name: Robin
Where you're from: Dacula, GA
Where you live now: Loganville, GA
Birthday: June 19
Family: my hubby, ..."
Hi, Robin. Welcome to the group. We have a Loganville in PA, too. It is about 5 miles from where I am sitting in my kitchen in York, PA. Soon, I will be driving through your area on my way to Columbus/Ft. Benning (our big move). Welcome!
Nikki wrote: "Wanda wrote: "Nikki wrote: "Here Be Dragons is definitely the best in the Welsh Trilogy. I just love how S. Penman can weave such a vivid depiction of Medieval life while staying fairly true to ac..."
I know you were not condoning Llywelyn's behavior, Nikki. I hope my response did not come across in an aggresive way. If it did, I apologize. But I know what you mean about Will - didn't you just want to smack Will and say "What are you crazy? Find another place for that, you ninny!" Perhaps he thought overmuch of himself in the love department?! Thanks so much for writing back, Nikki.
Tanzanite wrote: "The books in the Plaidy trilogy have been reissued in the UK and you can get free shipping from The Book Depository (they ship pretty quickly). There is also The Queen's Cross by Lawrence Schoonov..."
Thank you, Tanzanite. I have ordered the Plaidy trilogy from Amazon - it should arrive one day this week. I will look into the others at Amazon, too. Thank you so very much for the great suggestions.
Marsaleigh wrote: "I agree! but do you think she wore the pants because the king was weak or because she so strong willed?
I have to admit that there have been times when I wanted to climb in to a book just long ..."
I think she was very strong-willed. Her daughter, Katharine, certainly took after her. To me, King Ferdinand was king simply because society dictated that he be "king." I just wish there were more writings and books to tell us of this time. When we read about Columbus and his journey, it is always referred to as "Queen Isabella and Columbus" and then, oh, yeah, King Ferdinand, too. I just imagine that she ran circles around him. I only hope it was true and she was a very strong woman!
Nikki wrote: "Here Be Dragons is definitely the best in the Welsh Trilogy. I just love how S. Penman can weave such a vivid depiction of Medieval life while staying fairly true to actual historical events and p..."
Nikki, why were you angry with Joanna for her alleged affair? Llywelyn continued to sleep with Christyn (sp?) during the early part of his marriage with Joanna. Joanna knew this and just chinned up and swallowed it. Maybe she just wanted to "test drive" some other model for comparison's sake. Or, maybe she really did not have a sexual relationship with de Braose at all - maybe it was all conjecture and not as it seemed. But, Llywelyn locked her up and removed her from society and then in the end took her back. But, I wonder if he loved her so much why it took him so long to forgive her? I don't doubt that he loved her, I just wonder why it took so long to forgive her?
Marsaleigh wrote: "This is rather random but If you could climb into the book and go back in time and inside the story, would you? who would you be? who would you be with?"
I would love to climb into a book and become Queen Isabella. I have always believed she wore the pants in the family - not King Ferdinand. I would love to meet her.
I love all these choices. I came up with A Tale of Two Cities; but, we have all read it before. I would love any of the titles offered by Misfit or Sara.
**wiping tears**, **patting book,** **big sigh.** Thanks for picking my favorite book!
Babies are born. "Lines in the sand" are being drawn. Affairs of the heart are complicating matters. Even after having read this before, I continue to find this story amazing. I know I will cry at the ending (I always do!) and even though I know how it ends, I don't want it to end.
Sara wrote: "The book slowed down for me a bit after John died, but the ending with Joanna and William was insane! This is why I love history and historical fiction! Real life people did crazy stupid things, ..."Aha! A fellow PG disliker.
Amy wrote: "What do you think of Llewelyn? "
Amy, I like Llewelyn a lot. He seems fair, honest and yet strong and ruthless at the same time. I am sure that he had to be all of those things in order to survive. It is his strength in character which appeals to me - like, when he does not bed Joanna because he knows she is too much of a child yet to understand and handle all that it entails. Of course, it does not help that he has another woman on the side. It's not like he is missing anything by waiting for Joanna. But, I absolutely love what Joanna does when she finds out about the other woman. I won't say anything else in case you have not gotten that far - it's a whopper!
