Tag: history

Book Reviews

Empress of the Night Review

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Empress of the Night by Eva Stachniak   

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Catherine the Great. Empress of Russia and the longest-running female leader ruling for 34 years. Formerly a princess of Anhalt-Zerbst going by the name of Sophie, the future Empress traveled to Moscow as a young girl and becoming the bride of the future Emperor Peter III. Catherine the Great found herself in a new country, surrounded by spies and ill-wishers. Even the current Empress Elizabeth had no real love for the young woman. But somehow, the new Grand Duchess fought her way to the top and ruled Russia with every ounce of grace and strength.

Stachniak’s Empress of the Night brings the world of Catherine the Great to life by setting up the story of Catherine during her final days, recalling the memories from her time in Russia. The author takes every care in the world to express every struggle, love, happiness, and anger Catherine experienced as Grand Duchess and then Empress. From the rage and abuse, Catherine’s mother thrust upon her to the betrayal of Catherine’s first Favorite Serge to the kinship she found within her supporters and other lovers. Stachniak was not afraid to explore the beauty and lust of Catherine’s great loves but also the ugly side that ended those relationships. We all know Catherine was a sexual being, and rulers of other countries loved to undermine her for that. Still, the author embraced the joys of female sexuality Catherine displayed. Catherine, as a character, was not afraid to show her pleasure for all life had to give. She revealed that a woman with so much power can still enjoy the vulnerability and softness that love brings.

While Catherine’s many loves are an essential part of the story, her decisions and lessons learned during her rule are the real scene stealers. It is a breathtaking experience to see a woman take every piece of knowledge and asset of herself to bring the world to a kneel. A world that men ruled. It is an even better moment to see this same woman still care for those around her, whether they be a servant, friend, or family member. In Empress of the Night, Catherine’s true successful leadership abilities were clear as day. Her strength compared to Peter III made it obvious how fit she was to take over as Empress. Catherine was one woman you did not want to mess with. And her network of supporters and spies shown in the novel was another transparent sign of the brilliant and determined leader she became.

As a reader, you hope that her story can continue, but you know Catherine’s reign is going to end. The author did an excellent job of balancing the legend that is Catherine the Great with the human that is Katenka. And because of that, her final moments in the last pages of Stachniak’s novel become ever the more painful.

Empress of the Night will keep you up at night reading every little morsel if you love reading historical fiction and learning about influential women in history.

Book Reviews

Mozart’s Sister Review

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Mozart’s Sister by Rita Charbonnier   

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

When the name Mozart comes up, you probably immediately think of the legendary composer who died much too young, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Many forget that Wolfgang was not the only talented child in the Mozart family.

Charbonnier’s novel Mozart’s Sister tells the story of dear Nannerl, also known as Maria Anna Walburga Ignatia Mozart, who found her talent being pushed aside so her younger brother could learn and grow as a musician and composer. The story itself is shaped as a retelling from Nannerl in letters exchanged with her student Victoria’s father, Armand d’Ippold, who develops a romantic relationship with Nannerl. From her eyes, you see the joyful and loving connection Nannerl and Wolfgang had as young children. And you also see how their relationship grew strained and ultimately nonexistent. It was horribly sad to see their love for one another be poisoned by their father, Leopold Mozart’s ambition for his son.

I hated that this young, talented women’s dream of being a professional musician and composer was stamped out by her father. It was excruciating to see Nannerl give up her love for music and composing and let this sense of bitterness and depression take over her being. But thankfully, the author did a beautiful job of showing how Nannerl’s love for music came back to her later in life.

I didn’t much care for the romance between Armand and Nannerl. And I was delighted to see the romance between her and Baptist blossom later in the book. I wished the author had given more moments between those two. We get pages and pages of Armand, but once he is out of the picture, we are so close to the end of the book that Baptist doesn’t get the attention he rightfully deserves.

I loved the ending of the book! I completely adored the amount of humor and content Nannerl experiences in those final pages after having years of unhappiness in the first half of her life. I couldn’t put Mozart’s Sister down, and I would recommend it to anyone with a love for music and historical fiction.

Book Reviews

Clara Review

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Clara by Janice Galloway   

Rating: ⭐️⭐️/5

I can’t say I loved reading this book. I can’t say I hated this book. I honestly don’t know what I expected when I chose to buy Clara, but I will admit I thought I would enjoy it more.

Galloway’s novel is a historical fiction about the composer, pianist, wife, and mother, Clara Schumann. You don’t hear of many female composers and performers who lasted as long as she did and persevered in the male-dominated industry of the 19th century. I thought it would be an exciting read.

As I was reading, I felt sad, angry, and, more often than not, suffocated. I hated how Clara as a character was treated in the book. Her father, Herr Wieck, was controlling and cruel. Her husband, the famous Robert Schumann, could be just as horrible as Wieck. Ever since I started taking an interest in music history, I’ve heard about the great love story that is Clara and Robert, but for me, it wasn’t a romance. It was a tragic story of two lonely souls. I know Robert Schumann suffered greatly with his mental health, and it didn’t help that doctors of his time couldn’t help him much. I know some things he said and did to Clara were not easily controllable. I get that, but it didn’t stop me from feeling incredibly sad for her. Clara had much to give to this world. The fact she had to deal with all the shit two of the most influential men in her life broke my soul. It was incredibly depressing seeing how much Clara had to hold back her emotions, walk on eggshells, and cautiously speak and react in a way that didn’t somehow hurt her father or husband.

Two things I did enjoy were that the author didn’t sugarcoat Clara’s life and showed how strong Clara was throughout her life. However, I wished the book wouldn’t have ended when Robert died. I would have liked to see her life after his death. She was more than just a wife to Robert Schumann; I wanted to see more of that.

Would I recommend this novel? Probably not.

Book Reviews

Abundance Review

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Abundance by Sena Jeter Naslund   

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Sena Jeter Naslund’s novel Abundance is a historical fiction that takes us into the world of Marie Antoinette, the last Queen of France before the bloody French Revolution. After finishing this novel, I find myself feeling a little bit depressed. I feel so sad because the author’s beautiful and descriptive writing made me form a strong emotional connection to Marie Antoinette as a character.

Of course, we all know how the French Queen’s story ends. But seeing her life starting from her journey to France, leaving behind her home in Austria, and transforming herself into the Dauphine was truly enthralling to read. I loved seeing a new side to a Queen who was labeled as an adulterous, greedy, and ignorant woman. While not ignoring Marie’s faults, I appreciated how the novel shows the beauty of her love for her friends and family. I truly enjoyed reading about Marie’s evolution during her years in France and the absolute courage and grace she had near the end of her life.

I would recommend this to anyone who loves historical fiction and is interested in the French Revolution.

Book Reviews

A History of Opera Review

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A History of Opera by Carolyn Abbate and Roger Parker   

Rating: ⭐️⭐️/5

I bought A History of Opera over a year ago because I work for an opera company and I thought I might as well learn more about opera itself. This was a slow read for me. Have I enjoyed other music history books more than this one? Yes. Was it a bad book? No.

There was a lot more music analysis in A History of Opera than I thought, but I should’ve expected that because music history always involves at least some music analysis. I did like learning a bit more about the opera giants that I’ve heard so much about in school and work, such as Mozart, Verdi, and, of course (unfortunately), Wagner. I also liked that the book encompasses the very beginning of opera’s formation to the present-day struggles of composers writing new operas and the museum culture of opera. I would have liked a bit more storytelling regarding the actual history of opera, but overall it was an okay read.

If you love music history and music analysis/theory and are interested in opera, you will enjoy A History of Opera.

Book Reviews

A Thousand Ships Review

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A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes  

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I know what you are thinking. Another Greek mythology fiction book centering around the Trojan War? Really? We all know the tales of the war between the Trojans and the Greeks, and we all know the names Odysseus, Achilles, and Hector. I read this particular book because A Thousand Ships tells the story of the women in the Trojan War.

Greek mythology has never been kind to women, and there were some miserable endings for some of these women, such as Creusa and Iphigenia. However, some stories seemed to end horribly, but somehow the women found their victory or contentment in their ending. I love that Natalie Haynes tells the stories that need to be told. Brough a voice to women who were merely side characters in the famous stories of the Trojan War.

Also, I love how Penelope’s chapters get more and more sarcastic and bitter towards her husband, Odysseus. I also loved that the story centers mostly around what happened after the Greeks won the war. The author does offer some flashbacks, such as why the Trojan War even began. No, it wasn’t because of Helen and Paris, and it all had to do with Gaia and the scheming of the gods.

I enjoyed A Thousand Ships, and now I’m looking to read more books about the women’s perspective of Greek tales and tragedies.

 

Book Reviews

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue Review

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The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab   

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is no doubt my favorite book I’ve read this year. Actually, it is in my top ten favorite books of ALL TIME! V.E. Schwab has given me the most exquisite gift I could ever have. The irony of the book is that this is the most unforgettable book. I was wary at first to read a book where the main character is forgotten by everyone she meets because I thought it would only be super sad. But I was happily amazed by the joy and light found with Addie’s story, even in the darkest of curses.

Seeing how her curse of being immortal and forgotten affects how she lives was fascinating in every way because Addie had to find ways to maneuver around the curse and still live her life as best she could. I loved reading about her life through the centuries from 1714 to 2014, and it was super cool to see Addie find ways to still leave her mark on the world through other artists’ art and music. Addie LaRue’s relationship with Luc, aka the darkness, was a never-ending game of tit for tat. I appreciate that Addie never gave up on herself and gave in to surrendering to the complex god. She is one of the strongest female characters I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading about.

Henry Strauss’s curse and the reason behind him making a deal with Luc broke my heart. My poor Henry. He deserves all the love the world can offer, and I was so happy Addie and Henry met and had a reprieve from the cursed lives even for just a few precious months. I enjoyed his ending in the book. I’m not going to say what happens because I don’t want to spoil it, but I’m happy for my boy.

I was so sad to finish the book and finish my journey with Addie LaRue. Part of me wants to start all over again. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is THAT good.

Book Reviews

Circe Review

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Circe by Madeline Miller  

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

As a fan of Greek mythology, I am always excited to read a retelling of classic stories. Madeline Miller has given me an unforgettable gift, and I love this book with my entire being! I have heard of Circe obviously from the Odyssey, but being enveloped into her world and seeing the trials she has faced, I came to really love her as a character.

I loved seeing the author’s reasons why Circe became this powerful witch on Aiaia that transformed sailers into animals. I loved seeing Circe’s tale begin with her birth and continue until her final moments. I loved seeing her come into her powers. I loved that everything was not as it seemed when it came to her relationships with her family. Madeline Miller made me absolutely fall in love with Circe’s journey. I was so happy to see how the book ended.

Of course, it was interesting to read the tale of Odysseus’ time in Aiaia from Circe’s point of view, and seeing the son created from their time together was a great read. I loved the twist at the end involving Telemachus and Telegonus. While reading, I wished for more time with these characters to see Circe and Telemachus’ next chapter in life come to pass. But at least we got a glimpse of it!

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves Greek mythology and complex female character.

 

Book Reviews

A People’s History of the United States Review

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A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn  

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

This book has to be the best historical, non-fiction book I have EVER read. I truly enjoyed every second of it. The book doesn’t repeat what we learn in school, where the elite, white political and economic leaders are the stars and heroes. No. This is a story about the real people of this country: the African Americans, the Native Americans, the poor lower class, the workers, the immigrants, and the liberated women. The author wanted to “awaken a greater consciousness of class conflict, racial injustice, sexual inequality, and national arrogance,” and he did just that.

I love that I learned something new within each chapter. I liked that Zinn didn’t go into detail about battles and war leaders in the Revolution, Civil War, or World Wars, but instead discussed the citizens in the US that were most affected by the violence. I also appreciated that Zinn showed the ugly truth instead of hiding it, such as the slaughter of Native Americans by the “great” Christoper Columbus, the hypocrisy of our founding fathers, and the US’s everyday actions that embraced the corporations and the rich but left the poor and oppressed to suffer.

A People’s History of the United States is a book I highly recommend to anyone who loves history and wants to see from a different point of view than what is pushed on us throughout our schooling.