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This is the second book in Cornwell’s Grail series. One reason I love Cornwell’s historical fiction is that his writing is so visual. His descriptions of fortifications and battles are so vivid, I feel like I can see a 3-D hologram of the battle fields of La Roche-Derrien – where the ditches and pallisades were and where the noble were hiding in the mill. Cornwell’s characters are three dimensional too. I can’t wait to follow Thomas of Hookton into the next book in the series. ]]>
Hannah Ropes was the chief nurse at Union Hospital in Washington DC. For a short time she supervised Louisa May Alcott who also served as a nurse at that hospital. Ropes’ diary and letters make clear how long her days were and how difficult the work was tending to an endless stream of wounded soldiers arriving by cart or on foot. I wonder how long I would have lasted working 18 hours a day with limited supplies and even severely limited food for the patients. At least there was adequate brandy or milk punch to be given out to the patients. These letters and diary entries are a treasure for anyone interested in the history of nursing and in women’s history. ]]>
Jessica
read and liked
Matt Brant's
review of Civil War Nurse: The Diary and Letters of Hannah Ropes:
"Ropes was an upright Abolitionist that became even tougher in Bleeding Kansas before the Civil War. Her passionate Christianity and understanding of feminine virtues provided her with the vigor to bring comfort to hundreds of boys and men wounded aft...more "
"Ropes was an upright Abolitionist that became even tougher in Bleeding Kansas before the Civil War. Her passionate Christianity and understanding of feminine virtues provided her with the vigor to bring comfort to hundreds of boys and men wounded aft...more "
Damn! It would be nice to be able to write like Anne Lamott. This book taught me that beautiful writing like hers isn’t at all easy. In fact, Lamott makes it clear that the writing process can be painful. I do love the idea of allowing yourself to write crappy first drafts and then rewriting and rewriting until you have something that flows.
I don’t think I’m going to chuck my day job to start work on a novel any time soon but Anne Lamott’s map for the creative process is an inspiring guide. Her map and her warnings to look out for hazards like the inner critic or getting bogged down in envy and comparisons are valuable for anyone who strives to live a creative life.
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I just completed the 25.7 Cindy's task with a one-word, two-word, and a three-word title. I read Slammerkin by Emma Donaghue, American Gods by Neil Gaiman, and The Archer's Tale by Bernard Cornwell.
Three great books. I loved this three-fer task!
That brings my total to 70 + 25 = 95. ]]>
Jessica
read and liked
Mo's
review of The Collected Poems of W.B. Yeats:
"He's conceited. He's an elitist. He's sexist. He's more than a little crazy. But he's also a genius so we'll forgive him all that.
That's what my Yeats teacher told me anyways! "
"He's conceited. He's an elitist. He's sexist. He's more than a little crazy. But he's also a genius so we'll forgive him all that.
That's what my Yeats teacher told me anyways! "
bookshelves: currently-reading
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