The Handmaid's Tale

I found this book by Margaret Atwood to be very entertaining.  Mary and another buddy both told me that they put the book down.....but I was not as "turned off" by the religious fanaticism as Mary would be and I like science fiction kinds of books more than my other buddy.....My very favorite part of this book was the end.  Somehow it would have been a bit of a let down to have had any other ending.  If you are planning on reading the book, please quit reading.....don't let this spoil the end for you.  But it fit my life interests so well at the end....there is a meeting at which the speaker is talking about the fact that "society" has found some sort of "diary" that belonged to the main character of the story.....and they are trying to make some sense out of the Gillian era of history with help from the diary.....and they are piecing it together much as we would do now if we were looking at the middle ages and reading what someone had written....

The entire first part of the book could be thought of as either an imaginative interpretation of what they have found....or one can think of what they have found as clues to what we have just read as the handmaiden's actual tale.  But either way I think it is a bit of a comment on how nothing in history lasts.....and that it is impossible to interpret what actually happened....we can only guess.  And exactly what the Handmaid hoped would happen did happen....the terrible regime in which she lived did not last forever.

Joy Luck Club

I read this book by Amy Tan many years ago when I was not much older than the young women in the book.  I loved it then.  When the Book Club decided to read it for October's selection, I almost did not reread it.  But then I decided that I would listen to it on audible.  I think that I loved it even more now that I am the age of the older women in the book.  I didn't get to go to book club after all in the month of October.  I was sorry as I would have liked to hear what other women had to say.  I had a bit of trouble keeping the stories straight and figuring out to which of the characters each story connected.  I thought that it was because I was listening to the book rather than reading it.  But Mitzi said she found the same thing to be true even though she read a printed copy.  The truth was that it didn't make any difference which part of the mosaic one attributed which story to.....it was the interweaving of all of the stories which made the whole so wonderful.

Funny in Farsi

I read this book for the book club that I like to attend with Mitzi.  I haven't been in so long that I will probably be introduced as a newcomer.  I would never have read the book without Mitzi's encouragement that it was short and an entertaining read.  I read it via audible.  And finished binding off my wonderful purple/blue/violet Drachenfels shawl.  All of this in September which is porch sitting time of the year.

Firoozeh Dumas, the author, was born in in 1965 in Abadan, Iran.  She did most of her growing up years in California.  Firoozeh read the book herself for audible.  Her American accent is excellent.  It is always embarrassing to me how little I know about the middle east.  So I did quite a lot of googling when I finished the book.  Firoozeh is quite attractive and the area in which she was born is very interesting so I will add the information below.

Because my next door neighbor's family was from Iran/Persia, I first googled the names Iran, Persia, Persian, and Farsi.  Iran was called Persia by the western world until 1935.  At that time Persia became Iran on the maps.  The people who lived in this country NEVER called it Persia.  This was an English word for the country that they called Iran.  In addition the people who lived in Iran never called their language Persian....it was always called Farsi.  Below are maps showing Iran and the town in which Firoozeh was born:





You will see Abadan at the very top of the Persian Gulf.  Abadan according to Wikipedia was a port.  Accumulation of silt over the centuries caused the town itself to be back from the coast as the years went by.  In the first half of the 20th century it was the largest oil area in the world.  The area has a great deal of oil and the Western World had worked with natives to develop quite large refineries.  After the nationalization of the oil industry in Iran, the oil was piped to Tehran for use within the country itself.

Firoozeh married a French man, Francois Dumas.  This accounts for her very un-Iranian last name.  The book is written with each chapter having one incident that Firoozeh explains.  Some chapters are about family life of food or relationships.  The book is very entertaining.

My favorite two chapters are close to the end of the book. One is the story of antique limoges china that is in her husband's family.  Again a quick google tells me that Limoges is an area of France.  So that there are many companies that have produced china in that area over the years including Haviland.  As I remember the story, Firoozeh's husband asked his mother for a set of Limoges china that was boxed up in their garage and had not been used by his family in his memory.  When an earthquake hit in the area in which Firoozeh and Francois were living, Firoozeh imagined that her mother-in-law would suddenly realize how much she cared about the young couple and make up with Firoozeh.  Instead, when Firoozeh called to let her mother-in-law know that they were safe, her mother-in-law was most interested in if the china was broken.  You honestly have to read the chapter for yourself.  There is much of interest in the story of how the china influenced the young couple and ended up donating the set of china to a charity because Firoozeh felt that the china now had bad Karma.

The other favorite chapter was about noses.  Again one needs to read it for oneself.  But the chapter dealt with a librarian who Firooza called the Toucan because of her nose.  And the crazy coincidence that the non-TV-Watching Firooza watched TV by chance one evening and found the story of the Toucan's self confidence in spite of her nose.  It is a great story.  And it was particularly fun to read in light of the fact that this year I was reminded of my reduced status in my deceased husband's family at his death.  Something came up and I was laughing with my daughter about it and she said:  "Mom, you just don't have the nose!".  Funny stuff.

Sarah

I started Sarah last night and I am hooked!  It starts with a ten year old Sarah who is old and wise for her age.  Abram tells her he will be back for her in ten years.  He plans to marry her.  In the mean time Abram's nephew is marrying Sarah's older sister.

I had to google Sarah and her life last night.  It is said that she was beautiful even into her 90s.

Finished the book last night.  I found it to be a really easy way to familiarize myself with the characters of the old Testament.  WOW!  No wonder I was never told much about the old Testament in Sunday School as a child....this is pretty adult content!  The Bible is NOT for the faint of heart!  I did like the book and I will probably read another of the series of the books by Merek Halter.

The author speaks at the end of the audio book.  That is a very nice plus as it is often hard to know in historical fiction what is most likely true and what the author has added or not added.

The book covers the years during the draught in Canaan during which Abraham and Sarah go into Egypt.  The fact that Abraham tells the lie that Sarah is his sister in order to protect his own life....as the Pharaoh might have killed Abraham in order to marry Sarah.  The birth of Ismael to Hagar (Sarah's handmaiden).  The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Lot escapes with two of his daughters, but his wife does not because of her own unworthiness).  The birth of Isaac to a very old Sarah and Abraham.  And the sending away of Ishmael and Hagar for the sake of both sons.  The author ends the book with both Sarah and Abraham still alive.  However it is a very unhappy Abraham who is leaving to make a sacrifice at Moriah.  He and Isaac are preparing to leave and it is VERY evident that Abraham is not happy.  And the book ends....so, of course, I had to google what is next:

Genesis 22:1-12

Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!"

"Here I am," he replied.

Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."

The Four: The Hidden DNA of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google

Jason liked this book and I bought it.  It is very interesting, but I find it to not capture my close attention for very long.....So I will be reading this book interspersed with some fiction for the next few weeks.

Katherine of Aragon the True Queen

From Amazon:  Bestselling author and acclaimed historian Alison Weir takes on what no fiction writer has done before: creating a dramatic six-book series in which each novel covers one of King Henry VIII’s wives. In this captivating opening volume, Weir brings to life the tumultuous tale of Katherine of Aragon, Henry’s first, devoted, and “true” queen.

A princess of Spain, Catalina is only sixteen years old when she sets foot on the shores of England. The youngest daughter of the powerful monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella, Catalina is a coveted prize for a royal marriage—and Arthur, Prince of Wales, and heir to the English throne, has won her hand. But tragedy strikes and Catalina, now Princess Katherine, is betrothed to the future Henry VIII. She must wait for his coming-of-age, an ordeal that tests her resolve, casts doubt on her trusted confidantes, and turns her into a virtual prisoner.

Katherine’s patience is rewarded when she becomes Queen of England. The affection between Katherine and Henry is genuine, but forces beyond her control threaten to rend her marriage, and indeed the nation, apart. Henry has fallen under the spell of Katherine’s maid of honor, Anne Boleyn. Now Katherine must be prepared to fight, to the end if God wills it, for her faith, her legitimacy, and her heart.

From Me:  Allison Weir does an amazing job of filling in with her wonderful imagination the details that make the story of these historical figures come to life.  One can not help but like both Henry and Katherine!  They are wonderful characters and are so in love in the beginning of their marriage!  I listened to the part of the story this morning on my way to Starbucks when Katherine has lost the first baby because she was born too premature.  The second baby was a male child and the entire kingdom celebrated.  However this baby never made it to childhood as he died while Katherine was at court with Henry.  The part that I am listening to this morning is that Katherine is pregnant again.  Henry and his soldiers are ready to sail to France to fight Louis (Henry considers it a crusade because France's King Louis is no friend to the Pope).  Henry makes Katherine the ruler in his absence.  He tells her that she will rule as wisely as did her mother, Isabella.  Henry takes Wolsey with him. Henry seems to be very in love with Katherine still.  They both hope that this child will be a boy and a heir to the throne.

 For six months in 1513, she served as regent of England while Henry VIII was in France. During that time the English won the Battle of Flodden, an event in which Catherine played an important part with an emotional speech about English courage. 

Here is a link to a very easy to read article that explains the order of the wives:

https://www.history.com/topics/british-history/henry-viii

And an excellent article by Philippa Gregory.  

http://www.philippagregory.com/family-tree/katherine-of-aragon

From this same site (above):



There is also an explanation on the site that Isabella (and thus Katherine) was a descendant of John of Guant on this site.

and

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/people/henry_viii/

Today I read part of chapter 18 of 34.  The interesting thing that the author creates is the idea that it is Katherine herself who begins to believe that God is punishing both her and Henry for something....and perhaps it is indeed the marriage that is not right in the eyes of God.  Allison Weir is painting the picture in the year in which Henry's illegitimate son, Henry Fitzroy (Henry the son of the King), is born.  Katherine has endured 7 or 8 births by this time.  And they have only one child (Mary) to show for her years of pregnancies.   Her figure is ruined.  She looks much older than her 33 years.  Henry on the other hand is 28 and extremely handsome and virile.  He knows how to have a good time!  He is strong and handsome.  But Allison paints the picture that he is still loyal and kind to his wife.  They still have a strong love between them.  But Katherine is already becoming a person for whom her sewing and church duties each day are filling her life.  And while one feels very sorry for Katherine when she hears the news that Bessie Blount has born the King a son, there is the feeling that Katherine is tired and ready to give up her childbearing days.....The King still comes to her bed and both wish for a son, but Allison is preparing us for Katherine to be content with no longer having this travail in her life.

It took me a long time to finish this book.  But it was not because I did not find it of interest.  There were just lots of details and sometimes I didn't want to turn the book on.  I finished it last night (June 21, 2018).  It would be amazing if Katherine was as good a person as Allison Weir painted her.  To the very end she maintained that she was the true Queen.  But in part that was to insure that her daughter, Mary, would be considered a legitimate candidate for Queen of England.  Katherine never wavered and made good decisions to the very end.  Allison indicated that Katherine's health may have been adversely affected by the unhealthy places that she lived at the end of her life.  It is likely that Ann Boleyn could be implicated in the choices of places that Katherine was sent.  But it is also clear that she has heart problems at the end.  When she dies she writes to Henry one last time.  She makes a will.  And she dies with very loyal people surrounding her.  She doesn't know that Henry will have Ann Boleyn executed.  But she does all that she can to insure that her daughter will have a chance to rule.

Henry is painted as a very attractive man in spite of the paintings that we see of him later in life.  All of this story takes place Henry VIII (28 June 1491 – 28 January 1547).  Mary does rule briefly....but it is Ann Boleyn's daughter, Elizabeth, who is the memorable ruler.  Elizabeth was the last of the Tudor rulers.  

Wikipedia says:  Upon Henry's death, he was succeeded by his son Edward VI. Since Edward was then only nine years old, he could not rule directly. Instead, Henry's will designated 16 executors to serve on a council of regency until Edward reached the age of 18. The executors chose Edward Seymour, 1st Earl of Hertford, Jane Seymour's elder brother, to be Lord Protector of the Realm. If Edward died childless, the throne was to pass to Mary, Henry VIII's daughter by Catherine of Aragon, and her heirs. If Mary's issue failed, the crown was to go to Elizabeth, Henry's daughter by Anne Boleyn, and her heirs. Finally, if Elizabeth's line became extinct, the crown was to be inherited by the descendants of Henry VIII's deceased younger sister, Mary, the Greys. The descendants of Henry's sister Margaret – the Stuarts, rulers of Scotland – were thereby excluded from the succession.^[148] This final provision failed when James VI of Scotland became King of England in 1603.

and

James I of England. ... He ruled in Scotland as James VI from 24 July 1567 until his death and he ruled in England and Ireland from 24 March 1603 until his death. His reign was important because it was the first time England and Scotland had the same monarch. He was the first monarch of England from the House of Stuart.