Duchessina - Carolyn Meyer

"No one, not even the awful Alessandro,  had ever spoken to me so harshly. I flung myself on the narrow bed, weeping. Aunt Clarissa's advice came back to me: "No matter what they say to you, remember who you are - a Medici!" But what good did it do to remember that now, in this place where we were hated?"

Duchessina - Carolyn Meyer

 

 

I was eager to start another book by Carolyn Meyer. I truly enjoyed Doomed Queen Anne and I hoped this book would be as good. And it was!

 

I love the way she writes. It is not written like a history book, as though it is fact after fact and just boring information. It is really interesting and if I hadn't known better I could've said it was a fictional story. The language is easy and present day, and that's half a good book there!

 

The story focuses on Catherine de Medici, a descendant of the great Cosimo de Medici and Lorenzo the Magnificent. Although her ancestor's were great rulers of Italy and highly honoured, the hatred for the Medici is growing. Catherine grows up without her parents, facing many troubles and obstacles. It is very interesting.

 

I briefly touched on Catherine de Medici in school, and I mean briefly, so it was nice to read about the events that were true and learning more about the events of her life.

 

The book is also a little sad. Mostly because it is history, and you can't re-write history. There was a romance that didn't work, and we were all rooting for it to somehow work... but it doesn't. Then she marries someone and that hardly works. The author said it best at the end: "history has never been kind to Catherine de Medici" 

 

The ending was partially satisfying. She begins her life as Queen of France. The book follows the events that led up to her crowning in France... but that's just it. It ends with her beginning her reign. It feels like there should be a Part 2, where we see her life as Queen of France.

 

All in all this book was great, maybe not as great as Carolyn Meyer's other books, but still above average. I enjoyed it. It was funny, sad and demonstrated true friendship. A perfect book for young girls.

 

 

 

 

 

Spy for The Night Riders - Dave & Neta Jackson

Martin Luther turned to the emperor and said, " Your Majesty, unless I am shown from the Scriptures that I have mistakes, I am neither able nor willing to revoke even one word of what I have written. Here I stand; God help me, I cannot do otherwise."

- Spy for The Night Riders, Dave & Neta Jackson

 

 

Finally, a book about Martin Luther! He is, for some reason, a huge role model to me. So really, I'd like any book involving him in any way, but this was actually really good - whether or not you're a Martin Luther fan.

 

It was a historical fiction that was more focused on the made-up parts of it. The main character isn't Martin Luther, either. Instead it's his servant (more like helper), Karl. So Karl kind of has his own story and things that go on, but all things that would affect Luther. All the adult characters were real, all others were taken from the author's imagination. The story begins from the time Luther's name is posted on the Wittenberg church as a heretic, to the his disguise in a castle as Junker George. We see the trial at Worms and other historical as well as fictional events. I do think this book would've been a little better if it begun earlier. Maybe around the time he posted his famous ninety-five theses. (However, that's probably only my opinion because I watched a movie and it made the posting of his theses this incredibly dramatic and intriguing event.)

 

It was an easy, fun and educational read. I enjoyed seeing the events I knew were true first hand from Karl. It was also interesting to follow the made-up events. Although, I would say that this book wouldn't be best if  you had no clue who Martin Luther was or the events of his life, because it is not written to be a biography. It was, however, a great book after I had learned about Martin Luther. That way, I didn't get fact and fiction mixed up.

 

At the end there was a short biography, which was cool. I just find it cool after reading a historical fiction to read about events that you know are factual, and actually did happen. It feels more honest, I suppose.

 

I really don't know what else to say about this book, other than that it was the perfect book for kids, youth, and adults alike. Very enjoyable.

 

 



In Praise of Folly - Desiderius Erasmus

"And now, let him that will compare the benefits they receive by me.... as if there were any difference between perishing and being another thing! But I restore the same man to the best and happiest part of his life"

-In Praise of Folly, Desiderius Erasmus

 

This book was really awful. I was glad when it was done. Maybe someone else would have a different opinion, but it was poor.

 

The book was written from the perspective of Folly, as though she were a real woman. So, the book is everything that Folly praises. Such as rowdy living, little self-control, living for happiness.. etc.

Because of this, the book had the same flow all throughout the 71 long pages. No part was more exciting than the other. There was no thrill, no excitement, no suspense. Zilch. Nada. Since it was like that from beginning to end, I felt like I was always waiting for the book to get into the good part. But it just didn't.

 

The word choice wasn't so great either. Certain words and phrases were used so often I grew to hate hearing them. 'Add to this', 'subtleties',  and 'on the contrary' are the some I felt were used too often. I really should've counted how many times Erasmus used those phrases... because you wouldn't fully grasp my point without a proper number. It would probably be like me using the word 'actually' for anything and everything in every paragraph. It's not that the phrases or words were used incorrectly, though, they were just used way too often.

 

Another thing that irked me, although this may just be a pet-peeve, was that Folly would say something, then be like "did I say? oh I meant..." For example, "... of men that overcharge the Roman See - I mistook, I meant honour - might beg their bread."  Why couldn't she just say honour in the first place?

 

I found it interesting that Erasmus dedicated the book to Sir Thomas More. They were good friends, and apparently Erasmus was Thomas's favorite author. Although I wonder what he thought of this book. I personally loved Utopia, so I thought maybe Erasmus would have the same style of writing as Sir Thomas More in  In The Praise Of Folly. I was wrong. It was not the same at all. I would say the book itself was foolish.

 

If I had to pick one good thing, it would be that we learned a little about what the times were like then.  Since he is poking fun at man's foolishness we briefly see what the church was teaching, how philosophers acted, and the like. I would have likely enjoyed it more if there were more insights of that time.

 

I think maybe if this was written in modern times it would be funny. Most of the things he talked about that were foolish then, are just not happening today. So we don't really  get the full impact, because people don't act that way anymore.  

 

I'm betting this book was a hit in its time, everything was relevant and happening in present-day. The language would've been easier to understand, and maybe it even had comic book-like humor. I just don't think In Praise of Folly is a book that stands, or will stand, the test of time.

 

 

 

 

 

 



Crazy Jacob - Jim Ware

Jesus. He could not get that name out of his mind. Over and over, it pushed its way to the top of his brain as he prepared to launch his newly finished boat on the waters of Kinneret. Again and again, Stephen's words replayed themselves in his memory: "stories about happenings of that very sort" ... "on the the other side of the lake" ... "cured of a fever" ... "a man named Jesus"....

-Crazy Jacob, Jim Ware

 

 

 

This book was phe-nom-e-nal. Oh, wow I loved it. Seriously, just woah.

 

The book is inspired by a biblical  story of a demon-possessed man. There is no record of the actual mans name, so the author used Jacob as his name. There's actually not much biblical information about the man himself, other than his healing by the grace of Jesus. So, much of the book is made up. Jacob is a Jewish man in the boat business. Although he is Jewish, he freely believes in any god or spirit. Which eventually opened him up to demon-possession. The main character, however, is Jacob's son, Andrew. We see how much Andrew loves his father and tries to find someone who will help him. He had heard about a man named Jesus, but instead he tried seeing a witch. When that didn't work, Jesus was his last hope.

 

I heard the story when I was younger and it really scared me, but now that I'm a teenager I figured I could use a book with a chilling theme. It wasn't too scary, most macho people would say it's not. It's probably not scary if you have no imagination. But, I do, so I didn't let my mind vividly picture the scenes.  

 

I loved this book because the way Jesus was portrayed. He was portrayed beautifully, the way I'm sure He is. Jim Ware perfectly captured Him the best he could with human words. I loved it. Only a short part of the book is Jesus actually there, instead of just being talked or thought about, but the few chapters that He was present with Andrew and his family was wonderful. I wasn't scared to let my imagination vividly picture the scenes there.

 

This was written for a younger audience. (8-12), but I think anyone and everyone should read it. It's light, short, and easy to read. But nevertheless, it has a powerful impact.  I really don't know how to explain it in just the right way, because it's wonderful.