Back to the past

I'm in the throes of 2 books right now at two ends of the historical novel spectrum.

One is "The Other Boleyn Girl," which explores the intrigue of Henry VIII's court through the eyes of Ann Boleyn's sister (who had an affair with the King before he romanced and married her sister). It's a rich tapestry, full of heartbreak, drama, and real history...all embedded in a love story, one that was lost in the history books amidst all the wives of Henry and beheadings. I'm listening to it in the car and wish that a long road trip was in my future. It is fantastic and a perfect read for an addict of the Tudor's television series. I am totally addicted, btw. One clear subtext of the book and series is that it sucks to be female back in those dark days. Even a rich and beautiful woman was nothing more than chattel. This is no exaggeration.

If you want to learn more, here is the author's very compleat website:

http://www.philippagregory.com/

The other audio book I'm listening to is "Sarah's Key," which I listen to as my bedside listening. It tells the tales of the actual roundup of French Jews in Paris through the eyes of a Jewish girl alternating with that of a contemporary American journalist living in Paris who is digging into this real historical event. You sense that these two lives are going to meet in the middle somewhere. I'm waiting to see where. It is a bit jarring to jump between the Jewish girl's story, as she is fighting for her life, and the American who has suffered very little by such standards. A cheating husband seems paltry compared to genocide. I come away not liking the journalist very much and wanting to find out more about the little girl.

I realize how much I love reading about the lives of women, stories rooted in historical events.....