Ranking Polk

Ranking the Presidents of the United States can be a very complex endeavor – however the Siena Research Institute does it every few years or so. Their most recent results came out in 2010. They typically survey a large number of historians and politicos and ask them to rate the presidents on 20 different categories on a scale of 1 to 5. They then weigh these categories to come up with the overall result and compare.

I’m sure that many of you don’t know too much about James K. Polk and I believe that is the same for the vast majority of the population. However, I have a feeling that he might actually rank toward the high end in many of the categories. Let’s see!

Background (family, education, experience): 17th
Party Leadership: 9th
Communication Ability (speaking, writing): 13th
Relationship with Congress: 12th
Court Appointments: 21st
Handling of US Economy: 15th
Luck: 7th
Ability to Compromise: 23rd
Willing to Take Risks: 7th
Executive Appointments: 16th
Overall Ability: 17th
Imagination: 14th
Domestic Accomplishments: 11th
Integrity: 24th
Executive Ability: 9th
Foreign Policy Accomplishments: 8th
Leadership Ability: 10th
Intelligence: 20th
Avoid Crucial Mistakes: 9th
Your Present Overall View: 11th

Overall Ranking: 12^th

I am relatively happy with these rankings for President Polk. Would you be surprised to know that pretty much since they started ranking presidents in the mid 1900’s Polk has always been in the top 12? I find this interesting especially because he is one of those who are frequently overlooked. He is often overshadowed because he is sandwiched between the looming Civil War Presidents and the prior big name Presidents. Many people don’t even know very much at all about the Mexican-American War. I like this quote from The Daily Beast, “Polk is easily our least-known consequential president”.

I think he ranks relatively highly in Domestic Accomplishments and Foreign Policy Accomplishments because he accomplished the things he set out to do upon his election. He expanded the United States to the Pacific Ocean through a war with Mexico (and subsequent treaties/deals), reduced the tariff (economics), and re-established the treasury (economics/domestics). His ability to compromise is rather low because, well, he didn’t compromise well. He stood by what he believed and didn’t budge much. I think his ranking for luck is based on his becoming president when he was really running as someone’s vice president at that point (he had aspirations for the presidency, but didn’t expect to get it yet).

Polk is one of my favorite presidents, probably ranked 2^nd or 3^rd for me. Do you know anything about Polk? If so, where would you place him?

Data obtained from the 2010 Siena Research Institute's 5th Presidential Expert Poll. 2010.

“The Overlooked President”, Newsweek’s The Daily Beast, Nov. 12, 2009, http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2009/11/12/the-overlooked-president.html.

 

Copyright © 2013 by The Maiden’s Court

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Book Review: Polk: The Man Who Transformed the Presidency and America by Walter Borneman

Polk: The Man Who Transformed the Presidency and America
by Walter R. Borneman
Unabridged, 13 hr. 13 min.
Recorded Books
Alan Nebelthau (Narrator)
April 8, 2008
★★★★☆

Genre: Non-Fiction, Biography

Source: Borrowed audiobook from my library

“In Polk, Walter R. Borneman gives us the first complete and authoritative biography of a president often overshadowed in image but seldom outdone in accomplishment. James K. Polk occupied the White House for only four years, from 1845 to 1849, but he plotted and attained a formidable agenda: He fought for and won tariff reductions, reestablished an independent Treasury, and, most notably, brought Texas into the Union, bluffed Great Britain out of the lion’s share of Oregon, and wrested California and much of the Southwest from Mexico. On reflection, these successes seem even more impressive, given the contentious political environment of the time.

In this unprecedented, long-overdue warts-and-all look at Polk’s life and career, we have a portrait of an expansionist president and decisive statesman who redefined the country he led, and we are reminded anew of the true meaning of presidential accomplishment and resolve.”

I must confess that Polk was not someone that I remember learning about in school, but he came to my attention rather recently when doing some research on various First Ladies, and in particular, Sarah Polk. There is also a song my fiancé likes to sing about Polk which keeps him in my mind too, but more on that later this week. So as I endeavored to read about all the presidents, and I was organizing who I wanted to read about, I put Polk toward the top of my list.

I can’t even begin to explain how much this book taught me – not only about Polk himself and his method of politics, but the mindset of the time and his contemporaries. At times this felt beneficial and other times completely overwhelming. The author spends ample time on the political atmosphere surrounding all the presidents from John Quincy Adams up through Polk, giving the reader a solid understanding of just what Polk was walking into as President. The author also had a good source of insight into the President as Polk kept a diary of the days in office. Central to understanding many of Polk’s decisions is understanding the politics of Andrew Jackson, Polk’s political mentor. I do somewhat think that the author needed to bulk up the narrative a little bit seeing as Polk dies within 6 months of leaving office; there was less physical time that needed to be told about his life.

Whether I agree with Polk’s political philosophy or not (which isn’t the issue here), I admit that I admire the man for the fact that he campaigned on a platform, succeeded on making those 4 platform issues happen during his presidential term, and then decided not to run again because he did everything he felt his duty called him for. That is something the majority of the other presidents cannot say.

With regard to time spent on the First Lady, I have to give some kudos to the author. From what I know there is only one, very short, biography on Sarah Polk, so he didn’t have much to work with here – but he covered what I consider to be all of the important points and paints her as important to the President.

★★★★☆

I thought that the narrator did a commendable job with this book. The most important thing in my opinion about narrating a non-fiction is to not let it feel boring with all of the facts. Nebelthau keep it interesting and has a great speaking voice.

Author Walter Borneman also has written several other books including: The Admirals: Nimitz, Halsey, Leahy, and King—the Five-Star Admirals Who Won the War at Sea, 1812: The War That Forged a Nation, The French and Indian War: Deciding the Fate of North America, Alaska: Saga of a Bold Land, and Rival Rails: The Race to Build America's Greatest Transcontinental Railroad. You can visit the author’s website for additional information about the book.

You can also watch a discussion with the author about this book – it was a feature on Book TV in 2008 (it wasn’t embeddable so you will have to go to the Book TV link).

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• Practically Historical
• The Skoalarian

Here are some choices for purchasing the book: Amazon, B&N, RJ Julia (my fav indie bookstore).

 

Copyright © 2013 by The Maiden’s Court

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Book Review: The Little Bride by Anna Solomon

The Little Bride by Anna Solomon
Paperback, 320 pages
Riverhead Trade
September 6, 2011
★★★½☆☆

Genre: Historical Fiction

Source: Received from author for review

When 16-year-old Minna Losk journeys from Odessa to America as a mail-order bride, she dreams of a young, wealthy husband, a handsome townhouse, and freedom from physical labor and pogroms. But her husband Max turns out to be twice her age, rigidly Orthodox, and living in a one-room sod hut in South Dakota with his two teenage sons. The country is desolate, the work treacherous. Most troubling, Minna finds herself increasingly attracted to her older stepson. As a brutal winter closes in, the family's limits are tested, and Minna, drawing on strengths she barely knows she has, is forced to confront her despair, as well as her desire.

I was really interested in this book because of two things: the concept of mail-order brides and the theme of settling the West. The book did pull through on both of these promises; however I found I was very disconnected with the book. Let me explain.

First, what I liked. The early portion of the novel, when Minna, is still in Odessa, was probably the most interesting to me. I didn’t know anything about the real concept of mail-order brides – you only typically hear people speaking jokingly about them. In this novel, Minna, is trying to escape from the familial and societal hard times she is facing and makes the choice that trying to get to America is what she needs to do. We experience what it was like to go through the physical examination to determine if Minna meets the needs to the man looking to marry her. Here, you feel her fear of answering “incorrectly” and being excluded from being chosen. You also are privy to her hopes and fears regarding a better life. I even enjoyed the packed-in-a-sardine-can boat trip to America. The Western experience was also very enlightening. To see just how hard it was to cut you way into a small parcel of semi-successful land was so inspiring.

I did however have some issues with the book – mostly because it was slow moving. There were many times where it felt like it was just dragging on and the story wasn’t moving forward. It was more of a character driven novel rather than an events driven novel. It is building the Western American immigrant experience – particularly focusing on the Jewish immigrant experience. I realized that I would have NEVER survived out there. By the end of the novel – I found that I didn’t really like Minna. She seemed like a complainer and I didn’t like the choices she made toward the end of the book. Overall, it was something I learned from, but maybe wouldn’t choose to read again.

This is author Anna Solomon’s debut novel. You can visit her website or blog for additional information about the book. The website provides really nice add on information about The Little Bride – you can explore the different aspects of Minna’s trip or check out the reader’s guide.

You can also watch the book trailer below.

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• 2 Read or Not 2 Read
• Candace’s Book Blog

Here are some choices for purchasing the book: Amazon, B&N, RJ Julia (my fav indie bookstore).

 

Copyright © 2013 by The Maiden’s Court

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Book Review: A Break with Charity by Ann Rinaldi

A Break with Charity by Ann Rinaldi
Great Episodes Series

Unabridged, 7 hr. 13 min.
AudioGo
Laura Hicks (Narrator)
May 1, 2013
★★★★½☆

Genre: Historical Fiction, YA

Source: Received download from the publisher as part of Audiobook Jukebox Solid Gold Reviewer Program

“Susanna desperately wants to join the circle of girls who meet every week at the parsonage. What she doesn't realize is that the girls are about to set off a torrent of false accusations leading to the imprisonment and execution of countless innocent people. Susanna faces a painful choice. Should she keep quiet and let the witch-hunt panic continue, or should she "break charity" with the group--and risk having her own family members named as witches?”

This was my second go-around with this book – the first time I read it I was in my early teens – and I remembered loving the book, but didn’t remember much about the book other than that.

As a part of her Great Episodes series, this book deals with a segment of history that was very important – in this case, the Salem witch trials.

Rinaldi chooses a protagonist who is sort of situated just outside the circle of drama. Susanna isn’t one of the girls who call out witches, she isn’t one of those who is called out, however this drama does envelop her. It was nice to see someone who wasn’t one of the “afflicted girls” for once. It gives a different side to the story – a outsiders perspective.

Unlike many YA HF novels, there isn’t a love story/triangle here. The history isn’t just used as a background event, it really digs in, but still keeps it engaging and interesting for the younger set. One of the author’s strengths is keeping the story appropriate for a young audience, but still readable/enjoyable for the adult set.

I certainly want to read more of Rinaldi’s books, and I’m hoping that more of them continue to be released on audio.

★★★★½☆

The narrator on this audio production did a great job at portraying the characters differently and making them distinct personas. For once, the narration didn’t sound ridiculous when she would voice male characters. I would listen to her narrating another novel.

Author Ann Rinaldi also has written many, many other YA historical fiction novels. You can find a complete listing of her novels on Rinaldi’s website.

My reviews of other books by this author:

• The Fifth of March

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• Leafing Through Life
• The Bookworm’s Library

Here are some choices for purchasing the book: Amazon, B&N, RJ Julia (my fav indie bookstore).

 

Copyright © 2013 by The Maiden’s Court

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Book Review: Z by Therese Anne Fowler

Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler
E-book (kindle), 384 pages
St. Martin’s Press
March 26, 2013
★★★★☆

Genre: Historical Fiction

Source: Received for review from publisher via Netgalley request

“When beautiful, reckless Southern belle Zelda Sayre meets F. Scott Fitzgerald at a country club dance in 1918, she is seventeen years old and he is a young army lieutenant stationed in Alabama. Before long, the “ungettable” Zelda has fallen for him despite his unsuitability: Scott isn’t wealthy or prominent or even a Southerner, and keeps insisting, absurdly, that his writing will bring him both fortune and fame. Her father is deeply unimpressed. But after Scott sells his first novel, This Side of Paradise, to Scribner’s, Zelda optimistically boards a train north, to marry him in the vestry of St. Patrick’s Cathedral and take the rest as it comes.

Everything seems new and possible. Troubles, at first, seem to fade like morning mist. But not even Jay Gatsby’s parties go on forever. Who is Zelda, other than the wife of a famous—sometimes infamous—husband? How can she forge her own identity while fighting her demons and Scott’s, too? With brilliant insight and imagination, Therese Anne Fowler brings us Zelda’s irresistible story as she herself might have told it.”

I have to say that I was interested in this book from the first time I had heard about it. Zelda Fitzgerald was someone that I had heard mentioned on the periphery of my literature classes, but wasn’t someone that I knew much about beyond that she had some sort of mental issue. As with most historical figures – especially women – I have learned to expect that there is more than what is typically reported. This novel certainly explored the lesser known side of Zelda and showed her as a real person.

This story is told by Zelda looking back on her life after Scott passed away. Written this way, we get all of her hopes, fears, dreams, and a sense of who she was beyond the stylized flapper of the “lost generation”. While I didn’t always agree with the things she did, you could understand her motivations for the things she did. I also could really draw parallels between Zelda and Scott and Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchannan – which is the only Fitzgerald book I have read so far (although I intend to rectify that soon. This book also furthered my dislike of Earnest Hemingway – more than just disliking his writing.

I have always loved the time period in which this book is set and Fowler really evoked the wild lifestyle that the Fitzgerald’s and company engaged in: the drinking, the partying, and the carefree, entitled life. We spend time in Alabama, Paris, New York, Michigan, among other locales and each felt real and distinct.

I think the one thing that kept me from loving this book was the earlier chapters of Zelda’s life in Alabama. I felt that maybe there was too much time spent there and nothing really happened. I know that it was meant to show the stark difference between her early life and later life. It was just a little boring.

This is the author’s first published novel. You can visit Therese’s website for additional information about the book. If you would like to preview the story before reading it, why not try out this excerpt of the book? If you want to check out an audio preview, try this out.

You can also watch the book trailer below.

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• Reading the Past
• Clear Eyes, Full Shelves

Here are some choices for purchasing the book: Amazon, B&N, RJ Julia (my fav indie bookstore).

 

Copyright © 2013 by The Maiden’s Court

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Book Review: City of Hope by Kate Kerrigan

City of Hope by Kate Kerrigan
ARC, Paperback, 355 pages
William Morrow Paperbacks
June 25, 2013
★★★½☆☆

Genre: Historical Fiction

Source: Received from publisher for review as part of TLC Book Tours

An uplifting, inspiring and heartwarming story of a woman truly ahead of her time, City of Hope is the heart-rending but inspiring follow-up to Ellis Island

It is the 1930s and when her beloved husband, John, suddenly dies, young Ellie Hogan decides to leave Ireland and return to New York. She hopes that the city's vibrancy will distract her from her grief. But the Depression has rendered the city unrecognizable-gone is the energy and atmosphere of fun that Ellie fell in love with ten years before.

Plunging headfirst into a new life, Ellie pours all her passion and energy into running a home and refuge for the homeless. In return they give her the kind of love, support and friendship she needs to try and overcome her grief. Until, one day, someone she thought she'd never see again steps through her door. It seems that even the Atlantic isn't big enough to prevent the tragedies of the past from catching up with her.

City of Hope is the follow up to Ellis Island released in 2009. Again we see Ellie leaving Ireland behind to move to the Big City in America. Again we deal with some culture shock, but in a slightly different way that before because this time around Ellie is coming over as a wealthy woman to a Depression Era New York City. When we first begin to meet characters that we met in the first book I began to worry that it was going to be a sort of re-hash of the first book- however again I was surprised by the fact that I ended up getting a story I didn’t expect.

There is a LARGE cast of characters here – and while you may not remember who is who exactly, you get the feel of the large community that Ellie creates around her. Some characters came and went too abruptly for me to really connect with them or care about what ended up happening to them, but there were certainly those you could care about and connect with. Having such a diverse cast (diverse in SO many ways) allows there to be something for almost any reader. But Ellie is a hard character to read – I thought I knew where she was going but was disappointed with her choices toward the end of the book. I felt like everything had been leading up to this big decision and established the reader’s commitment to that decision and then she does a complete turn-around at the end – I’m not really sure she grew as a person after all of that. I don’t know that I was disappointed with her choice, per se, but more so with her wishy-washy-ness and how I felt that there was character development that didn’t really do much for me. I was actually really into Ellie’s story until about the last two chapters.

I enjoyed the new view on the Depression. Normally you see people really down on their luck, and you do see that here, but they actually try to find ways to build themselves out of it and the way they did so was interesting. The author creates a unique feel to the environment that they are living in.

The one thing I found hard to buy into was that Ellie has this endless supply of money from businesses that she built up in Ireland – but I didn’t really feel it was believable. How did what was considered a lot of money in a rural community in Ireland in pre 1930 equate to lots of wealth in New York City (even during the Depression the kinds of things she was buying would still have been expensive comparatively)?

I enjoyed the book, but wouldn’t say I loved it. I will likely read the upcoming third book because I want to know where her “big decision” ends up taking her – but I was sort of hoping it was going to resolve itself in book two.

Author Kate Kerrigan also has written Ellis Island and the third book in the series will be upcoming, Land of Dreams. Outside the series, Kerrigan has written Recipes for a Perfect Marriage. You can visit Kate Kerrigan’s website for additional information about the book. If you would like to preview the story before reading it, why not try out this excerpt of the book?

My reviews of other books by this author:

• Ellis Island

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• Tina’s Book Reviews
• Books in the City

You can check out the rest of the stops on the TLC Book Tour for City of Hope (I am the last stop I think).

 

Here are some choices for purchasing the book: Amazon, B&N, RJ Julia (my fav indie bookstore). 

 

Copyright © 2013 by The Maiden’s Court

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Saratoga Battlefield–A Virtual Tour

One of the most pivotal battles of the American Revolution was the Battle of Saratoga. Not only was the outcome of this battle the deciding factor for France’s entry into the war on the side of the Americans, but it was a battle that wouldn’t have been won without the creative ingenuity of General Benedict Arnold. It was during the storming of the redoubts that Arnold suffered a leg injury that would keep him out of commission for a while before he switched sides.

Saratoga is one of those places that are so close by, yet I haven’t had the chance to get there – I am hoping to rectify that soon. In the meantime, I wanted to take you on a little virtual tour of Saratoga, should you decide to go, or if you don’t you can at least get a taste of it.

Saratoga encompasses four separate places to visit – the Battlefield and Visitor Center, Schuyler House, Saratoga Monument, and Victory Woods. The Battlefield, Visitor Center, and Victory Woods are open year round, while the Monument and Schuyler House are open regularly from Memorial to Labor Day and then a little more sporadically after that. You can check out hours of operations here and directions to the park here.

You will first stop at the Visitor Center to get some introductory information, pay your entrance fee, and visit the gift shop. The Battlefield offers a self-guided tour with optional audio tie in. A full tour with time to stop at each monument takes about 1.5-2 hours. One of the stops on the tour (#7) not to be missed is the “boot monument” which is an unlabeled memorial to Benedict Arnold’s accomplishments at the Battle of Saratoga. However the monument’s inscription could allude to no-one else “In memory of the most brilliant soldier of the Continental army, who was desperately wounded on this spot, winning for his countrymen the decisive battle of the American Revolution, and for himself the rank of Major General”.

Benedict Arnold’s Boot Monument

You can take a Virtual Tour of the Battlefield here.

The second stop of the four is Schuyler House. Schuyler House is the home of American General Philip Schuyler. There is a free guided tour provided here which is about 45 minutes in length.

The Home of General Schuyler

The Saratoga Monument commemorates the generals of the American side of the Battle. There are 4 niches on the monument, one for General Gates, General Schuyler, General Morgan, and an empty niche that would have been for General Arnold. There is a guided ranger tour provided at the Monument. Plan to spend about 30 minutes at the monument.

Saratoga Monument

You can take a Virtual Tour of the Monument here.

From the Monument you should head off to the Victory Woods. Victory Woods is the site of the last encampment of General John Burgoyne before he surrendered to the Americans. You can reach the Woods with a 15 minute walk from the Monument. There is a ½ mile interpretive trail through the woods detailing what happened there.

Now you are totally prepared for your trip to one of the foremost sites of the American Revolution! Hope you enjoyed this brief introduction.

A couple last notes:

• Pack a lunch in you plan on being there all day – there don’t appear to be any food stands from what I have read.
• Entrance fee is $5.00 per car
• You can access the park map here
• There are different events held here throughout the year – check out this handy calendar of events

 

Copyright © 2013 by The Maiden’s Court

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Book Review: The Notorious Benedict Arnold by Steve Sheinkin

The Notorious Benedict Arnold by Steve Sheinkin
Unabridged, 6 hr. 51 min.
Listening Library
Mark Bramhall (Narrator)
July 12, 2012
★★★★☆

Genre: Non-Fiction, Biography, YA

Source: Downloaded the audio from my local library

“Most people know that Benedict Arnold was America’s first, most notorious traitor. Few know that he was also one of its greatest war heroes. This accessible biography introduces young readers to the real Arnold: reckless, heroic, and driven. Packed with first-person accounts, astonishing battle scenes, and surprising twists, this is a gripping and true adventure tale.”

Like most people, I grew up knowing pretty much only one thing about Benedict Arnold – that he was a traitor to the Americans during the Revolution. I didn’t even know that he was from Connecticut (about 2 towns away from where I grew up)! However, in most cases, there is typically a deeper story there – and that is what Sheinkin gives us in The Notorious Benedict Arnold. By the time I reached the end of the book I had an entirely new viewpoint on the man. Yes, he is still a traitor, but he was an amazing soldier for the Americans before his turn and a confluence of events led him to change sides. I can admire the man for the things that he did before become a traitor (and although I knew it was coming, I was disappointed when he switched alliegances).

This was one of those non-fictions that really felt more like a novel. The pages carried you from event to event and it felt like you were right there within the action while still giving you enough background information. Sheinkin turns the paper cut-out traitor into a real man of flesh and blood. I also learned quite a bit about British spy-master, John Andre. I always knew that he was ultimately executed by the Americans for spying, but I couldn’t believe how dumb he was about it – he violated all of the basic tenants of espionage at war and that cost him his life.

I didn’t know until putting this review together that this book is a non-fiction book for young adults. I wouldn’t have been able to tell you that by just reading the book. I imagine that the fast-paced, storytelling nature of the book would really entice a young reader who picked it up, but it is quite a valuable book for adults as well. I would recommend this to any student who is taking a US history class, high school or adult, as it really gives you a side of the story you don’t hear about elsewhere.

There was a strong afterword/author’s note at the end of the book which I very much appreciated. I also found his theory for the boot monument intriguing – more about that later.

★★★★☆

The narrator did an excellent job of keeping the story moving and was quite entertaining to listen to.

Steve Sheinkin also has written several other books including:
Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World's Most Dangerous Weapon and Lincoln’s Grave Robbers which would appeal to adults as well as Two Miserable Presidents: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About the Civil War, King George: What Was His Problem?: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About the American Revolution, and Which Way to the Wild West?: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About Westward Expansion which would appeal to children (illustrated). You can visit the author’s website for additional information about the book. If you would like to preview the story before reading it, try listening to the author reading an excerpt of the book?

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• The Non-Traditional Librarian
• CrossCountryReading

Here are some choices for purchasing the book: Amazon, B&N, RJ Julia (my fav indie bookstore).

 

Copyright © 2013 by The Maiden’s Court

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Book Review: Roses by Leila Meacham

Roses by Leila Meacham
Unabridged, 18 hr. 1 min.
Random House Audio
Coleen Marlo (Narrator)
December 18, 2009
★★★★★

Genre: Historical Fiction, Family Saga

Source: Downloaded audio from my local library

“Spanning the 20th century, the story of Roses takes place in a small East Texas town against the backdrop of the powerful timber and cotton industries, industries controlled by the scions of the town's founding families. Cotton tycoon Mary Toliver and timber magnate Percy Warwick should have married but unwisely did not, and now must deal with the deceit, secrets, and tragedies of their choice and the loss of what might have been--not just for themselves but for their children, and children's children. With expert, unabashed, big-canvas storytelling, Roses covers a hundred years, three generations of Texans and the explosive combination of passion for work and longing for love..”

I had put off reading this book for a long time, despite all the glowing reviews I had seen from friends and the personal recommendations made to me. This was purely because of the length of the book – which is over 600 pages – and it sat on my shelf for probably a good year or so. When I found that my library had it on audio book, I decided that was the way to go and set off on this grand adventure. Let me tell you now – I loved every minute of it – even when I had tears in my eyes!

This is one of those multi-generational family saga novels – so there are a bunch of characters and a lot of time to cover. This novel runs from the very early days of the 1900’s – I want to say 1907? – up through the 1980’s. A lot happens during that time, both externally and internally within the family. While the story focuses primarily on what happens to these families – Warwicks, Tolivers, and DuMonts – we also see the bigger picture movements of the USA in terms of how it affects the families (Prohibition, WWI, WWI, Korean War etc). I can comfortably say that A LOT happens in these pages – and there are so many twists and turns!

This was an emotional read for me in so many ways. I am not typically an emotional reader, but you almost cannot avoid it in this book – something will hit you. There were times I was brought to tears (several in fact), times when I was so mad at what one of the character’s did, and other times (less so) where I was very happy. Because of the emotionality of this book, I put it down several times. Mary and Percy’s relationship really got to me. When there was something good that happened to them, I would put the book down for a day or two in order to savor the happy times, because I knew something would happen to them to tear it down (I mean, the back cover blurb tells right off that they don’t end up married). When something tragic happened (and a lot was tragic), I would again put the book down because it was just too much. It took me over a month to listen to 18 hours of this book because of all the times I put it down.

The characters were so well written and each was very distinct and different. I was in love with Percy Warwick throughout the entire novel. Even though he made mistakes like the rest of the cast (and like everyone else in life) he was a very good man – and handsome to boot! Mary at times frustrated me – often – but I can understand the desire to remain connected to your familial roots when they run as deep as the Tolivers.

Most of the first half of the novel is told through flashbacks primarily through the eyes of Mary and Percy, but you occasionally get treated to another viewpoint. The latter half of the book focuses on how the decisions made in the past (seen through the flashbacks) will affect the later generations – particularly Mary’s grand-niece, Rachel, and Percy’s grandson, Matthew. It was so atmospheric and there was some great dialogue. I also loved how the use of roses was tied through the story and was important to the history of these families. While the use of the roses might appear a little ridiculous, I thought that it was cool and would love it if my family used roses this way – although I would then have to stop liking pink roses!

The cover is GORGOUS (as are the other covers of her books).

★★★★★

The audio production was fantastic. The narrator had a great southern style manner of speaking and it really helped placing you square in the middle of plantation life. She brought the characters to life and gave each a distinct voice.

Author Leila Meacham also has written Tumbleweeds and the to-be-released prequel to Roses titled Somerset.

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• Burton Book Review
• A Novel Menagerie

Here are some choices for purchasing the book: Amazon, B&N, RJ Julia (my fav indie bookstore).

 

Copyright © 2013 by The Maiden’s Court

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Book Review: Jack Absolute by C.C. Humphreys

Jack Absolute by C. C. Humphreys
Book 1 in the Jack Absolute series
ARC, E-book (kindle), 288 pages
Sourcebooks Landmark
May 7, 2013
★★★★☆

Genre: Historical Fiction, Adventure

Source: Received via Netgalley from publisher for review

“In 1777 Jack Absolute, the charming lover in Sheridan's comedy The Rivals, is famous throughout London. However, this notoriety comes as something of a shock to the real Jack Absolute when he arrives in England after four months at sea. But there's barely time for outrage before he finds himself dueling for his life. Even worse, as soon as he's won the duel he's forced to flee London by the quickest means possible, becoming a spy in America's war of Independence.

Thus we meet Jack Absolute - rogue, duelist, charmer and Captain in the Light Dragoons. From the field of honor in London through the pivotal battle of Saratoga to a hunt for a double agent in wintry Philadelphia, this novel marks the impressive debut of this new series.”

Many of you know that I love reading a good novel (or non-fiction for that matter) set during the times of the American Revolution. I think that this is such a pinnacle moment for the country and so many of the heroes of America were created during this time that it is fascinating to read about. I have read many novels set during this time period and all have been from a colonial viewpoint – until now. Jack Absolute takes the reader on an adventure through the rebellion with the titular character at the helm – the thing is…he’s a spy in the British army.

Now, being an American, I was a little nervous about reading a book on such a pivotal moment in our history, from the perspective of the other side of the battle lines. However, Humphreys makes is easier to identify with Jack in that (like many of the time) he agrees with the colonists in many ways, however he still holds for the Crown. There are moments when Jack has to make up his mind about events transpiring and how committed he is to the cause he is fighting for. I felt that the events were given fairly level handling considering the perspective that we are living it through.

There was never a dull moment here, right from the first pages. It is certainly an adventure novel and the pages just keep turning. Whereas sometimes attention paid to action decreases the attention paid to the character development, this does not happen here. I found myself vacillating again with my regards for General Benedict Arnold and Major John Andre. I also have to admit that the author kept me guessing as to the identity of the spies in question. I had no idea until almost the end. There is defiantly the feel of “when we next meet our heroes” as this book closes – almost as you would the end of a television serial – which was a fun moment. It sort of leaves you hanging on without feeling like a cliff hanger. I can’t wait to meet Jack again.

Author C.C. Humphreys also has written two other books in the Jack Absolute series (that I hope are going to be re-released by Sourcebooks like this one was) The Blooding of Jack Absolute (#2) and Absolute Honor (#3). He also has written several other historical fictions including: Vlad: The Last Confession, A Place Called Armageddon, The French Executioner, and Blood Ties. You can visit the author’s website or blog for additional information about the book.

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• A Bookish Affair
• A Library of My Own

Here are some choices for purchasing the book: Amazon, B&N, RJ Julia (my fav indie bookstore).

 

Copyright © 2013 by The Maiden’s Court

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Book Review: The Hour of Peril by Daniel Stashower

The Hour of Peril: The Secret Plot to Murder Lincoln Before the Civil War by Daniel Stashower
Unabridged, 13 hr. 45 min.
Macmillan Audio
Edoardo Ballerini (Narrator)
January 29, 2013
★★★★☆

Genre: Non-Fiction

Source: Received from the publisher for review

Daniel Stashower, the two-time Edgar award–winning author of The Beautiful Cigar Girl, uncovers the riveting true story of the “Baltimore Plot,” an audacious conspiracy to assassinate Abraham Lincoln on the eve of the Civil War in The Hour of Peril.

In February of 1861, just days before he assumed the presidency, Abraham Lincoln faced a “clear and fully-matured” threat of assassination as he traveled by train from Springfield to Washington for his inauguration. Over a period of thirteen days the legendary detective Allan Pinkerton worked feverishly to detect and thwart the plot, assisted by a captivating young widow named Kate Warne, America’s first female private eye.

As Lincoln’s train rolled inexorably toward “the seat of danger,” Pinkerton struggled to unravel the ever-changing details of the murder plot, even as he contended with the intractability of Lincoln and his advisors, who refused to believe that the danger was real. With time running out Pinkerton took a desperate gamble, staking Lincoln’s life—and the future of the nation—on a “perilous feint” that seemed to offer the only chance that Lincoln would survive to become president.  Shrouded in secrecy—and, later, mired in controversy—the story of the “Baltimore Plot” is one of the great untold tales of the Civil War era, and Stashower has crafted this spellbinding historical narrative with the pace and urgency of a race-against-the-clock thriller.

With the life of Abraham Lincoln being one of the most written about presidential biographies, I was surprised to learn about the “Baltimore Plot” to murder the president before he could be inaugurated. In Lincoln by David Herbert Donald there were a few lines of mention about this plot, but that was it. This book details the whole story, from the lead up, to the plot action, to the resolution.

Besides enlightening the reader to this little known, but very important, aspect of Civil War history we learn about the growth of the railroads and the evolution of the private investigation business. I was fascinated by the story of Allan Pinkerton. I had heard of him with regard to “the Pinkertons” as strike breakers – but interestingly enough, that wasn’t Allan Pinkerton, but relatives after he was deceased. I loved hearing how he came to the United States, built himself up, and created his private detection agency.

This was a fast paced narrative and not boring in the slightest. I appreciated the look at a new angle of Lincoln’s story.

★★★★☆

The narration was well done and engaging. The narration kept the plot moving. Otherwise, the audio production was a standard production.

Author Daniel Stashower also has written several other books including: The Beautiful Cigar Girl, Teller of Tales, The Boy Genius and the Mogul among others. You can visit Stashower’s website for additional information about the book. If you would like to preview the story before reading it, why not try listening to this excerpt of the book?

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• Rooftop Reviews
• Book Hog

 

Copyright © 2013 by The Maiden’s Court

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Book Review: Fever by Mary Beth Keane

Fever by Mary Beth Keane
Unabridged, 9 hr. 53 min.
Simon & Schuster Audio
Candace Thaxton (Narrator)
March 12, 2013
★★★★½☆

Genre: Historical fiction

Source: Audio download received from publisher for review

“On the eve of the twentieth century, Mary Mallon emigrated from Ireland at age fifteen to make her way in New York City. Brave, headstrong, and dreaming of being a cook, she fought to climb up from the lowest rung of the domestic-service ladder. Canny and enterprising, she worked her way to the kitchen, and discovered in herself the true talent of a chef. Sought after by New York aristocracy, and with an independence rare for a woman of the time, she seemed to have achieved the life she’d aimed for when she arrived in Castle Garden. Then one determined “medical engineer” noticed that she left a trail of disease wherever she cooked, and identified her as an “asymptomatic carrier” of Typhoid Fever. With this seemingly preposterous theory, he made Mallon a hunted woman.

The Department of Health sent Mallon to North Brother Island, where she was kept in isolation from 1907 to 1910, then released under the condition that she never work as a cook again. Yet for Mary—proud of her former status and passionate about cooking—the alternatives were abhorrent. She defied the edict.

Bringing early-twentieth-century New York alive—the neighborhoods, the bars, the park carved out of upper Manhattan, the boat traffic, the mansions and sweatshops and emerging skyscrapers—Fever is an ambitious retelling of a forgotten life. In the imagination of Mary Beth Keane, Mary Mallon becomes a fiercely compelling, dramatic, vexing, sympathetic, uncompromising, and unforgettable heroine.”

I was drawn to this book the moment I heard it was about Mary Mallon, or Typhoid Mary. I didn’t know much about the woman at all, but from the propaganda I had heard about her, I was sure that she was getting something of a bad rap. I hoped that Keane would bring us a version of what Mallon might have been like as a real person – and that is exactly what we get from this book. Mary Mallon is presented to the reader as a woman who doesn’t understand the medical significance of being a healthy carrier and just wants to be able to live a regular life. She feels persecuted, hunted, treated unfairly, but isn’t the evil, intentional disease spreading devil that she was presented as by the media. She is such a believable character as it is easy to imagine that many people wouldn’t understand how someone could be a healthy carrier who spreads disease in her path.

Mary and her cohorts show us what it was like to be of the working class in New York City around the turn of the century. We see the dirty underbelly of the city and what those conditions led to: disease epidemics, the Triangle Fire, etc. These were some interesting scenes. I really, morosely, appreciated the first-person view of the Triangle Fire disaster. This has always been a topic of interest for me and I would love to know if this is something that Mary Mallon actually witnessed.

Keane does a great job of setting up the scenery for us – whether it is North Brother Island, New York City, or the backwoods of Minnesota. She has a way of showing much more than telling. These are vivid scenes which make the events seem all the more real.

I would have loved to have had a historical note included in the book. As there is so much information about Mary that has been tainted by propaganda and what is actually known about her is somewhat sparse, I would have loved to know what was real and what was the author’s imagination. I had the chance to listen to a book talk with the author last week and will be including some of what I found out in a post later this week.

★★★★★

The narration here was so wonderfully done. The narrator fit well into the role of Mary Mallon as she had an Irish accent that brought her even more to life. She also had a great pace to her reading and kept the plot interesting and moving.

Author Mary Beth Keane also has written The Walking People. You can visit her website for additional information about the book.

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• Book Muster Down Under
• Bippity, Boppity, Book

 

Copyright © 2013 by The Maiden’s Court

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Book Review: Battleship by Dorothy Ours

Battleship: A Daring Heiress, A Teenage Jockey, and America’s Horse by Dorothy Ours
E-book, 368 pages
St. Martin’s Press
April 30, 2013
★★★½☆☆

Genre: Non-Fiction, Biography, Sports History

Source: Received through Netgalley from the publisher for review

“The youngest jockey, the smallest horse, and an American heiress. Together, near Liverpool, England, they made a leap of faith on a spring day in 1938: overriding the teenage jockey’s father, trusting the boy and the horse that the British nicknamed “The American Pony” to handle a race course that newspapers called “Suicide Lane.” As a result, Battleship became the first American horse to win England’s monumental, century-old Grand National steeplechase—the smallest National winner ever. At age seventeen, British jockey Bruce Hobbs became the race's youngest winner.

Hobbs started life with an advantage: his father, Reginald, was a superb professional horseman. But Reg Hobbs also made extreme demands, putting Bruce in situations that horrified the boy’s mother and sometimes terrified the child.  Bruce had to decide just how brave he could stand to be.

On the other side of the Atlantic, the enigmatic Marion duPont grew up at the estate now known as James Madison’s Montpelier—the refuge of America’s “Father of the Constitution.”  Rejecting her chance to be a debutante, denied a corporate role because of her gender, Marion chose a pursuit where horses spoke for her.  She would be pulled beyond her own control by Battleship and leave her film star husband, Randolph Scott, to see this quest to its end. With its reach from Lindbergh’s transatlantic flight to Cary Grant’s Hollywood, Battleship’s story is an epic true adventure.”

This book might not have originally caught my attention except for the fact that I recognized the horse’s name from my visit to Montpelier last year and the visit left such a lasting impression on me that I immediately had to read this book that was connected to it. I loved horses as a kid, did some riding in my teen years, and before my love of historical fiction came my love for horse-themed novels. This book takes the whole horse experience that I loved to read about as a kid and made the people and animals real.

The narrative starts out with three distinct threads – one following Marion DuPont (horse lover, owner, socialite), one following the Hobbs men (the father Reginald and son Bruce who were horse trainers and jockeys respectively), and one following an unknown, Battleship (the horse at the center of the book). Through these threads you can watch the perfect storm come together as these three eventually are brought to each other and reach for the stars. You get a little bit of everything: the life of a wealth socialite in the early 1900’s, a little Hollywood glitz and glamour, and are immersed in everything horse related. Even with my knowledge about horses, I did look up quite a few things.

For the most part I think that the author did a good job of carrying off two very different types of stories – a story of both human and animal lives – and each was just as interesting as the other. I did find some strange elements – for instance, somehow the author brings references to Charles Lindberg into the story but I didn’t find that there was any purpose to it. I also thought that the ending wrapped up much too quickly following the competition at Aintree. It was one of those plot maps with a very long exposition, quick climax, and then even faster resolution. I would have liked to know a little more how they spent their days following the competition.

I would recommend this book to anyone who has a love for horses and also loves the story of an underdog. Stay tuned for some Battleship related posts later this week, including a story relating my personal connection to this book and a particular passage from it that grabbed me.

Author Dorothy Ours also has written Man O’ War: A Legend Like Lightening, who was Battleship’s father. You can visit Dorothy’s website for additional information about the book. If you would like to preview the story before reading it, why not try out this excerpt of the book?

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• A Book and A Review

 

 

Copyright © 2013 by The Maiden’s Court

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New Book Alert: Defiant Heart

Defiant Heart
By Marty Steere
Paperback/Kindle E-Book, 386 pages
Penfield Publications
ISBN: 9780985401443
April 5, 2013 (ebook), April 15, 2013 (pb)

Book Blurb:

Set against the backdrop of small town America on the eve of World War II, it features two extraordinary characters and one unforgettable love story. 

In the spring of 1941, young Jon Meyer’s family dies in a tragic accident, and he is sent to live in a small Indiana town.  He arrives to find himself unwanted and shunned. 

Mary Dahlgren is the mayor’s daughter.  A pretty girl, she could have the pick of the boys in town, including Vernon King, the star of the vaunted high school basketball team.  To the chagrin of her friends, though, Mary has always been more interested in books than boys.  That is, until she meets Jon. 

But Jon and Mary are kept apart by an insidious campaign orchestrated by Mary’s father, who perceives their relationship a threat to his political aspirations, and Vernon, to whom Jon is a rival for Mary’s affections.  For months Jon is subjected to a painful ostracism.  Then, just when the young man’s earnestness and perseverance begin to win over many of the townsfolk, and it appears that love may conquer all, tragedy strikes. 

As the country is caught up in war, so too are the young lovers swept up in events beyond their control, leaving both fighting for their very lives.  If, against the odds, they are to be together, each will need to find the strength, the courage and the resourcefulness that beat only in a defiant heart. 

Defiant Heart releases today in paperback.  This is Marty’s second novel.  The first, Sea of Crises, was published last year to excellent reviews.  Kirkus Reviews calls Sea of Crises a “stellar thriller that handily juggles its formulaic elements to achieve near-perfect liftoff.”  Publishers Weekly declares “Steere’s assured prose is compelling, and the book’s intriguing plot will keep readers turning pages until the very end.”

 

Copyright © 2013 by The Maiden’s Court

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Book Review: Through a Dusty Window by Delancey Stewart

Through a Dusty Window: New York City Stories 1910-2001 by Delancey Stewart
Paperback, 108 pages
Delancey Stewart Publications
November 17, 2012
★★★★☆

Genre: Short Stories, Historical Fiction

Source: Received for review from author as part of Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tour

“New York City is a place full of whispers and ghosts. It is impossible to walk the sidewalks there without considering the lives and paths of those who walked them before; those who left their imprints – visible and hidden – on everything that makes up the city today. Through a Dusty Window is a collection of ten short stories spanning a century between 1910 and 2001, all of which take place in the same Upper West Side brownstone apartment. Through each vignette, readers are given perspective on historical events that deeply influenced the city, filtered and understood – or misunderstood – through the eyes of Stewart’s characters. From Prohibition to World War II; the Vietnam-era Summer of Sam killings to John Lennon’s murder – Stewart’s stories give modern day explorers a chance to see the city as it was, and to answer the question: who was here before me?”

I have read collections of short stories before, however I haven’t thought of them as works of historical fiction. Through A Dusty Window gives the reader a quick glimpse into the life occurring in a brownstone in New York City throughout the decades. In those short pages you get a distinct feel for the period through dress, attitudes, and/or events. It was interesting to see decades covered that are not within the typical purview of historical fiction – such as the 80’s, 90’s, and 2000’s – because even though I lived through some of these events I don’t know much about them as I was very young.

I was very happy that the stories came full circle in the end and that the stories all were tied together. That was what I was hoping for when picking up this book – for this history of a house, you need something to tie the different families that lived there together in some small way. While these stories were just snippets of the lives that went on in the brownstone, it felt like they could have been developed into full stories in their own ways.

I especially liked the concept for this set of short stories. I have never lived in a house that had any sort of history or had really been around all that long – but I have always found myself wondering about those historic homes in my town that have modern day families living in them. You know that those homes have “seen” a lot go on around them as well as within their walls. So while these stories were about the people living in the house, they were also about the house itself.

I read this collection in one short sitting – not only because it is short in length but I really enjoyed all of the stories and wanted to see which events were covered in each decade and how it resolved.

This is the author’s first book with another in the wings. You can visit the author’s blog for additional information about the book.

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• Boom Baby Reviews
• Historical Tapestry

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You can follow along with the rest of the blog tour by visiting the Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours site or on Twitter with the following hashtag: #DustyWindowVirtualTour.

Thanks to the virtual tour, I have a paperback copy of the book for giveaway to one lucky US resident.  The giveaway is open until April 14th.  Simply put your entries into the Rafflecopter below to be entered.  Good luck!

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Copyright © 2013 by The Maiden’s Court

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Book Review: Like Chaff in the Wind by Anna Belfrage & Giveaway

Like Chaff in the Wind by Anna Belfrage
Book 2 in the Graham Saga
Paperback, 392 pages
Troubador Publishing Ltd
December 17, 2012
★★★★☆

Genre: Historical Fiction, Time-Slip

Source: Received from the author for review

“Matthew Graham committed the mistake of his life when he cut off his brother's nose. In revenge, Luke Graham has Matthew abducted and transported to the colony of Virginia to be sold as indentured labor. Matthew arrives in Virginia in May 1661 and any hope he had of finding someone willing to listen to his story of unlawful abduction is quickly extinguished. If anything, Matthew's insistence that he is an innocent man leads him to being singled out for the heaviest tasks. Insufficient food, grueling days and the humid heat combine to wear him down. With a sinking feeling, he realizes no one has ever survived their seven years of service on the plantation Suffolk Rose.

Fortunately for Matthew, he has a remarkable wife. Alex Graham has no intention of letting her husband suffer and die. So she sets off from Scotland on a perilous journey to bring her husband home. Alex is plagued by nightmares in which Matthew is reduced to a wheezing wreck by his tormentors. Sailing to Virginia, she prays for a miracle to carry her swiftly to his side. But fate has other plans, and what should have been a two month crossing turns into a yearlong adventure - from one side of the Atlantic to the other. Will Alex find Matthew in time? Will she be able to pay the price of setting him free? Like Chaff in the Wind continues on from The Rip in the Veil, taking Alex and Matthew's love story to a new continent.”

First, a note: I have not yet read book 1 in this series, The Rip in the Veil, so I can’t comment on how the second book builds from the first. I can, however, tell you that you probably should read the books in order. That being said, if for some reason you decide to read them out of order, say for a tour and ran out of time to read the first, you won’t be totally lost. The author includes enough information so that you can piece together the major events that have occurred, however it isn’t necessarily right at the start of the book – so there were periods of confusion until I got those tidbits.

The majority of the novel takes place on ships headed to the American Colonies and in Jamestown, Virginia. A shorter amount of time is spent in Scotland. Jamestown was a refreshing setting in that not many stories take place here – but it wasn’t the Jamestown that I expected or experienced upon visiting the historical site. When the book opens we are in 1661, so approximately 50 years after the Jamestown most of us think about with the starving settlers, Pocahontas and John Smith, and various interactions with the natives. It was nice to see this growing Jamestown – even if it was still a somewhat lawless land.

The time travel element was strong, but not so much in terms of people time traveling throughout the book. Alex, our heroine, previously traveled to this time and place from the present. So while she isn’t currently traveling you still have her dealing with outcomes, mindset, and trying to fit in with the ways of women in the 17^th century. I think that the time travel element was probably more present in the first book.

While I struggled a little bit with the beginning – mostly due to not having read the first book – it was a quick read and quite enjoyable. The characters were entertaining, the plot moved right along, and I felt like the characters grew quite a bit throughout it. The main focus of the book really is the relationship between the characters.

Author Anna Belfrage also has written book 1 in the series, The Rip in the Veil and is currently working on the rest of the Graham Saga. You can visit Belfrage website or blog for additional information about the book.

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• Bippity, Boppity, Book
• Oh, For the Hook of a Book

  

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You can follow the rest of the blog tour on the Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours site or on Twitter with the following hashtag: #ChaffInTheWindVirtualTour.

I have a giveaway to offer today – for one copy of Like Chaff in the Wind and it is open INTERNATIONALLY!  The giveaway will be open until April 7th.  Entry is through the Rafflecopter below.

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Copyright © 2013 by The Maiden’s Court

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