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Buddy Read:Adora By Bertrice Small
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Hi there! I don't know if I can wait until June. I got this book through an interlibrary loan and I only have it for a few weeks in May. Why don't I do this. I'll read it and fill out the discussions, but I'll wait until June to post it. How's that? :D
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Oh that's too bad Willowfaerie,I thought you had bought it. I know Wendy cant do it till very end of May or begining of June? And I was trying to make it at the end of the group read(in case others want to join in) You go ahead and read and you can be a "lurker" when we read and join in...how's that?
Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~* wrote: "Willowfaerie wrote: "Hi there! I don't know if I can wait until June. I got this book through an inter library loan and I only have it for a few weeks in May. Why don't I do this. I'll read i..."That sounds great! :D
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The violet eyes..ok..who have you ever seen with purple eyes? Then when she is first with Prince Murad for a 13 year old she sure is "sexually aware" as one might be 16 instead..Hmmm..maybe BS was like this at 13? I sure wasnt..hmmm.
Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~* wrote: "Ok..is it just me? but Im finding it hard to buy into Adora so far as a character. Well maybe its the authors fault and not Adora's. First when she has her at age 4,she portrays her at more of a 13..."Yes, Adora is born with an inner wisdom that defies her age…a true paragon. LOL
So no, it isn't just you. I think Adora is way too mature for her age. It's kind of a shame too, since it doesn't give her much room to grow.
Since they always say Elizabeth Taylor has violet eyes, I figured that Adora looks like Elizabeth Taylor. And I really think it now with the lovely costumes she's always decked out in. I keep thinking of Cleopatra.
The cone shaped breasts cracked me up. LOL
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Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~* wrote: "Did you find at the begining of the story it was hard keeping everyone straight? Who belongs to who? Maybe its the names,I had to keep flipping back."I may have done that once or twice. There are lots of family members that are introduced right away who disappear and then you never see them again. Being the geek that I am, I had to look everybody up to see what the true history was. It’s not that I always expect a book to follow the true history (after all, it’s a fiction book) but I always want to check it out. :)
I know this is going to sound crazy, but I was disappointed in the beginning because there wasn’t a deeper description of Constantinople and the culture. Byzantium has always held a certain mystique for me, like a fabled lost city. I remember as an art student seeing beautiful mosaics from that time period, so I would have loved to have seen the city before the Turks assimilated it. Going by Karla’s excellent review, I get the feeling Small used so much description in her first book The Kadin that she didn’t bother so much with this book. She certainly goes into lots of description when Adora goes to Mesembria though.
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Did you find Adora's and Murad's devotion of love to each other a little too soon? They are telling each other how much they "love" each other,but have only met. I found I was cheated here..need some build up to that kinda of thing.
Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~* wrote: "No I agree Willowfaerie,I found the lack of discription of the Country & culture at the begining would have drew me in more,so tell me are any of the characters real that you looked up? (III do tha..."I don’t always have to look up the history, but I’m rather fascinated with the Ottoman Empire.
Theodora Maria Cantakouzene did exist. She was the daughter of John VI Cantakouzene and Irene Asanina and she married the Sultan Orhan I in 1346. She was 14 and he was about 65.
I’m not sure Small does Orhan I justice. He was a pretty amazing ruler. He started up the Janissaries, the Sultan’s elite, kick-ass guard and instead of executing his brother when he came to power, he offered him half the throne. His brother wouldn’t take it, so he made him his Grand Vizier. Under Orhan I, the Ottoman Empire flourished. Historians feel he pretty much put policies into motion that allowed the Turks to invade Constantinople later on.
Personally, I feel the wedding night between Orhan and Adora was a bit over the top, and that Orhan most likely didn’t treat her so shabbily. The Turks sort of get bashed a bit in old romance books.
Orhan and Theodora had two sons, Ibrahim and Halil, and since they had two sons instead of just one, I get the feeling old Orhan must have been fond of her. Halil was kidnapped by pirates in 1357 and Orhan paid 30,000 ducats as ransom. Both of Theodora’s sons were executed though when Murad I came to power. This was the standard procedure in the Ottoman Empire. When the Sultan came to power, he would have all his brothers and half brothers killed so that way they could never overthrow him, thus preventing civil war. I believe the form of execution was strangulation with a silken cord. I’m sure that once this happened, Theodora didn’t cozy up with Murad.
Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~* wrote: "Well Helena's quite the daughter heh? Then again the father John is not much better..begining of the book lets you think he loves Adora the best among his daughters,yet sells her off to an old Sult..."I have to laugh, because Helena has turned out to be my favorite character. She's just so devious.
I can understand why she'd hate Adora too. It would get old having everyone tell you over and over again how wonderful and brilliant your sister is, and how you just suck. LOL
Murad is my least favorite character. He's such a putz. But I will shut up. I don't want to give anything away. LOL
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Wow..you really did your research! :) So interesting too! I rather like the "fact" version better,I already feel like Im not going to like Murad. Those historical facts will make this a more intersting read, so thanks for that. Its funny John's wife Zoe in the book dies bearing twin sons that were deformed and attached,the author uses this same "death-theme" in her book the Innocent. Im just at the part where it is to be her "wedding" night so III let you know my thoughts on that.Can you imagine,that you would have to kill your brothers/half brothers just to have that power? Well then some of John's motives make sense now. Did you find some sentences didnt make sense? Like page 56-"Humph," sniffed Iris."The only snake wriggled out of that one fast enough." Huh? And a lot of "there" should have been "they"
Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~* wrote: "Willowfaerie wrote: "Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~* wrote: "No I agree Willowfaerie,I found the lack of discription of the Country & culture at the begining would have drew me in more,so tell me are an..."Yes, I've noticed a few typos myself, and I actually don't notice stuff like that. My mind sort of glosses over them, so if I see three or four, there's got to be a lot. LOL
The wedding night is way out there. LOL
I'm sure it's the reason that this book has readers giving Adora one star and calling it 'Disgusting!'
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Ok..forwarned!Do I need to make sure I dont have a snack while reading? Ha-Ha :D
Ok..forwarned!Do I need to make sure I dont have a snack while reading? Ha-Ha :DOh yes, let me know what you think. LOL
Mmmm...I shall have to go check out The Innocent.
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LOLOL He must be a beefy six-year-old. Of course, they’re really not very nice to the slaves, are they? I remember this scene, when Iris was sick and throwing up on the ship. The storm blew the window in, and Iris woke up crying, “Allah preserve us! We’re sinking!”
Theadora whirled about and yanked the slave woman to her feet, slapping her as hard as she could. “Be quiet you foolish woman! We are not sinking! The storm has blown the window in that is all.”
Huh? She slapped her as hard as she could? Isn’t that a little harsh? Wouldn’t it have been kinder to just go, “Iris, relax…it’s just the window.” LOL
Of course, while I chuckled at this rather excessive action, Adora's gruff treatment of the slaves is probably more historically accurate than if she were kind.
She isn't quite the paragan I thought she was, is she? LOL
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Of course, they’re really not very nice to the slaves, are they? I remember this scene, when Iris was sick and throwing up on the ship. The storm blew th..."
Didnt get much reading done today,so Im probably entering into this part and finding a new side of Adora me thinks? Hmmm...
Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~* wrote: "Willowfaerie wrote: "LOLOL He must be a beefy six-year-old. Of course, they’re really not very nice to the slaves, are they? I remember this scene, when Iris was sick and throwing up on the shi..."
Ooh, Sandi, I'm sorry. I thought you had already passed that scene. Alright, I'm going to shut up now. I don't want to give anything away.
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ROFL! Is he saying that Adora has sad breasts? LOLI do believe Alexander spends most of his time telling 'Beauty' how beautiful and intelligent she is. And Adora's like, 'Yeah, I know.' *fluttering her violet eyes* LOLOL
Alright, she doesn't really say that, but you know she's thinking it. LOL
I have finished, but I will wait until you are done before I post my review. :D
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Oh that's ok..you post it if you want,Im reading it slowly in case Wendy jumps in here. III just not look at it till Im done.
Okay, I will go ahead and post it. I feel like I may have been a bit harsh with Adora.
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Hmmmm..I dont know about that,she seems to be getting rather "snarky" just about now.
Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~* wrote: "Willowfaerie wrote: "Okay, I will go ahead and post it. I feel like I may have been a bit harsh with Adora."Hmmmm..I dont know about that,she seems to be getting rather "snarky" just about now."
LOL Now you have me curious as to where you're at. I'm dying to talk about this with you. :D
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Hmmmm..I dont know about that,she seems to be getti..."
I just stopped at where she went to John for help.Now goes into Adora & Alexander? So Im guessing he's coming back into the picture here.Dont know if I can take more of the "my beauty" stuff LOL!
Edit: (got sidetracked by idol) :(
Oh yes, this is where Murad is a douche, but she still loves him. LOL
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Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~* wrote: "Ok Willowfaerie,I think I can answer #6 above already..I would change that Alexander stops calling her "beauty" having trouble getting threw this part:("If it helps any, the Alexander part is pretty short. Adora is very happy with him, so you know it can't last forever. :D
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If it h..."
Yeah..just went threw it,sad though :( But oh man, is Adora's sister ever a piece of work..you like her? Who need's such a "loving" sister..glad she's not mine!
I know, I'm not supposed to like the villian. Helena is an unapologetic, psycho, slut bitch. I thought she was kind of cool though. After all, Helena totally outmaneuvers and outsmarts her sister. Adora never sees it coming. Not to mention, Helena totally gets away with it. How often do you see that? And unlike Adora, Helena’s not just a love bunny of men. She goes after what she wants and takes whomever lover she wants. She’s a wheeler and dealer in the game. I think she was one of the more interesting characters in the book.You must admit, Helena did save you from having to read Alexander calling Adora ‘beauty’ one more time. :D
You know, the real Helena had nine children with Emperor John. They must have been very fond of each other.
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Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~* wrote: "Yes that is a point in Helena's favor LOL!"Hey thanks Sandi for buddy reading this with me. :D
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Hey thanks Sandi for buddy reading this with me. :D"
Thank you Willowfaerie! If ever you want to do another with me, I would be happy to :D
Bodice Ripper Readers Anonymous
Books mentioned in this topic
The Kadin (other topics)Adora (other topics)
Author Bertrice Small comes to us with another breathtaking tale of passion,history and suspense.
Prince Murad was captivated the moment he saw her.
Adora with her mahogany hair and violet eyes.Their young love flowered,but Orkhan grand Turk of the Empire claimed Adora for his bride,tearing her from her young love.Destiny will carry them to other lands and other loves,but they went meant only for each other. Will they be reunited at last?
DISCUSSIONS:
1) What did you think of the plot/story line?
2) What was your favorite/least favorite part?
3) Who was your favorite/least favorite character?
4) What would you liked to have seen happen instead?
5) Which scene did you feel was OTT or not needed for the story? Which ones dragged or held you on to your seat?
6) Anything you would have written differently or changed?
PLEASE USE *SPOILER* TAGS WHEN REVEALING KEY PLOT ELEMENTS.
BUDDY READERS: SANDI,WILLOWFAERIE,WENDY
Anyone else that would like to join in please do so!
Date to start: June 15 (if this works for all)
or to be arranged.