Women’s History Month

At work today, I perused the table that held selections for Women’s History Month.

And what did I spy with my four reading eyes?

This:

photo courtesy of www.artandwords.com

Doomed Queens: Royal Women Who Met Bad Ends from Cleopatra to Princess Di by Kris Waldherr.

Okay readers, I’ve told you before, sometimes I’m drawn to a book by its cover.

Can you NOT see why I HAD to pick THIS one up? I mean, how many books are out there that have not one, but two photos of women who either have the vapors or have just lost their heads?

Having gotten into the Phillipa Gregory books in the last two months kind of helped in  my decision making process too.

This book is part historical fact, with some really good humor thrown in. There’s even a little quiz at the end of the book for readers to take to see if you are a doomed queen.

I thought for sure that by having the same name as a queen who lost her head, I was right up there in line for doomdom. But, whew I am not.

If you’re not big on history, but are interested in knowing about the queens of yesterday, you will enjoy this book as well as learn from it. I loved everything about it. The photos, the background of each of the queens, the humor. I even read a short passage out loud to a coworker, who, had she been sitting down, would have fallen out of her chair laughing.

Check out more information about Doomed Queens…but don’t lose your head.

A Stab At a Different Genre

No characters lost their lives by being stabbed in this novel.

(wait, let me think about that for a second…nope)

I posted last week about my library list of historical fiction that I’m working on this year.

I finished reading my very first Philippa Gregory novel this morning.

I have a friend who loves Gregory’s work. She’s recommended titles by Gregory before. I’ve gone to the library with the goal of bringing one home to read.

But I always came home empty-handed.

For some reason, I couldn’t bring myself to check out one of her books.

I took my time choosing one this month.

And I loved it.

I couldn’t put it down.

I took it to work with me (to the bookstore) and snuck a few pages while I was working.

I enjoyed the plot, and found myself trying to figure out how the story was going to end. (sometimes I’ll give in and read the last page or two, but I didn’t with this one)

And now I’ll have to get another one.

If anyone has a suggestion on which one I should read next, let me know.