Book Beginnings and the Friday 56 #26

Book Beginnings on Friday and The Friday 56 are weekly memes hosted by Rose City Reader and Freda's Voice.

Rules: 

Book Beginnings: Share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. 

The Friday 56: Grab a book, turn to page 56 or 56% in you eReader. Find any sentence (not spoilery) and reflect on it if you want.

This week the spotlight is on:

Blackmail, Sex and Lies

by Kathryn McMaster

Synopsis:

For 160 years, people have believed Madeleine Smith to have been guilty of murder. But was she? Could she have been innocent after all?

This Victorian murder mystery, based on a true story, takes place in Glasgow, Scotland, 1857. It explores the disastrous romance between the vivacious socialite, Madeleine Hamilton Smith, and her working class lover, Pierre Emile L’Angelier. 

After a two-year torrid, and forbidden relationship with L’Angelier, that takes place against her parents' wishes, the situation changes dramatically when William Minnoch enters the scene. This new man in Madeleine’s life is handsome, rich, and of her social class. He is also a man of whom her family approve.

Sadly, insane jealous rages and threats of blackmail are suddenly silenced by an untimely death.

Book Beginning:

Pierre Emile L'Angelier thrashed and writhed in excrutiating agony.

 The only book I've read so far that involved arsenic poisoning was We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson. It must be very painful, dying of arsenic.

The Firday 56:

It would break my mother's heart. Oh, Emile, be not harsh to me. I am the most guilty, miserable wretch on the face of the earth.

From a letter from Madeline Smith to Emile L'Angelier

I hope your week has been splendid!

Book Beginnings and the Friday 56 #25

Book Beginnings on Friday and The Friday 56 are weekly memes hosted by Rose City Reader and Freda's Voice.

Rules: 

Book Beginnings: Share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. 

The Friday 56: Grab a book, turn to page 56 or 56% in you eReader. Find any sentence (not spoilery) and reflect on it if you want.

Take a look at what I'm reading this week:

The Color Purple

by Alice Walker

Synopsis:

Set in the deep American South between the wars, it is the tale of Celie, a young black girl born into poverty and segregation. Raped repeatedly by the man she calls 'father', she has two children taken away from her, is separated from her beloved sister Nettie and is trapped into an ugly marriage. But then she meets the glamorous Shug Avery, singer and magic-maker - a woman who has taken charge of her own destiny. Gradually, Celie discovers the power and joy of her own spirit, freeing her from her past and reuniting her with those she loves.
 

 

 Book Beginning:

You better not never tell nobody but God. It'd kill your mammy.

A powerful first line. Actually the whole book is a series of letters to God, then to someone else.

The Friday 56:

Me and Sofia work on the quilt. Got it frame up on the porch. Shug Avery donate her old yellow dress for scrap, and I work in a piece every chance I get. It a nice pattern call Sister's Choice. If the quilt turn out perfect, maybe I give it to her, if it not perfect, maybe I keep. I want it for myself, just for the little yellow pieces, look like stars, but not.

 It's nice Celie can appreciate such small things.

What are you reading this week? Are you enjoying it so far?

Review - Claire's Last Secret by Marty Ambrose

Title: Claire's Last Secret

Author: Marty Ambrose

Release date: September 1st, 2018

Synopsis:

1873, Florence. Claire Clairmont, the last survivor of the 'haunted summer of 1816' Byron/Shelley circle, is living out her final years in genteel poverty, but the appearance of British tourist, William Michael Rossetti, brings hope that she may be able to sell some of her memorabilia to earn enough cash to support her and her niece/companion, Paula.

But Rossetti's presence in Florence heralds a cycle of events that links the summer of 1816 - when Claire conceived an ill-fated child with George Gordon, Lord Byron, when Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein, and when four tempestuous lives came together - to a tragic death. As Claire begins to unravel the truth, she must go back to that summer of passion to discover the identity of her old enemy.

I received a free ebook copy of this book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My Thoughts:

Claire's Last Secret is the first book in a trilogy that unrolls a mystery involving Claire's long lost daughter, Allegra. Claire Clairmont, Mary Shelley's half sister usually doesn't get much recognition when the creative group that spent the 'haunted summer' in Geneva is mentioned. It's little wonder actually, given that she was the only member of the party that didn't turn her experiences of that summer into a literary success.

However, in her novel Marty Ambrose wants to show us that despite the fact that she didn't produce anything lasting from a literary point of view, Claire was still as important part of the circle as any other member. According to the author she deserves to be remembered in a favourable light, as someone who inspired Byron and the Shelleys with her love and friendship.

I'll confess it was hard for me to think with the writer's head in the beginning, because I had my own picture of Claire, which wasn't exactly flattering. I've read several biographies of the Shelleys, and Claire has always come across as a pushy, somewhat annoying individual, who always wanted to be the centre of attention. It is rumoured she had an affair with Shelley as well, and if it's true, it was an awful betrayal towards Mary.

In Claire's Last Secret we meet a very different Claire though. In the book she is an old lady who remembers her youth and sees her youthful foolishness in a very reasonable light. She doesn't regret anything and she wouldn't change anything in her past. She accepts herself as she is; someone who is chiefly driven by her emotions. I think it's a pretty romantic notion that the heart leads a person's actions, not the head and this simple twist on the character of Claire made her foolish decisions a lot more acceptable for me.

The book is written in a lovely manner, it was a joy to read. It's always great to revisit the events in The Villa Diodati during 'the year without summer', but it's even better if the writing is exquisite. To take a boat trip with Byron and Shelley, to be there when Mary Shelley reads from Frankenstein for the first time.... ahh to be there... 

If you like the second generation of romantics, or know nothing of them, either way, this can be a fun read. I'll definitely pick up the second book.

Goodreads | Amazon

August Wrap-Up, September TBR

August was a busy month for me, the number of books I managed to read shows that pretty clearly.

Anyways, this previous month was about moving and settling down, starting a new exciting life and, naturally, that began with packing, organizing, doing lots of shopping and stuff. 

I'm hoping in September I'll be able to chill a bit and read more, watch more tv shows and just generally enjoy autumn, my favourite season of the year. I can't wait for the wather to turn a bit cooler to create the perfect autumn feel...

I already can't wait for Halloween... But let's not jump ahead, let's enjoy September first. And without further ado, please see the summary of the month of August on the blog below!

Here is a summary of August on Paradise Found:

I've finished two books:

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline – Review

Claire's Last Secret by Marty Ambrose

Other posts on the blog in the month of August:

Book Haul

Events in my life

Happy Birthday, Mary Shelley! 

Weekly Memes:

Book Beginnings and the Friday 56 (Aug 3, Aug 17) 

Plans for September:

I'd like to read the following books in September (in no particular order):

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

Blackmail, Sex and Lies by Kathryn MyMaster

In Azgarth's Shadow by Cassie Sweet

The Crucible by Arthur Miller

(For the Timeless Book Club. Join here if you're interested: Lucy Preston Literary Society)

 How did your August go? Did you reach your reading goal?

Happy Birthday Mary Shelley!

 

I've recently finished reading Claire's Last Secret by Marty Ambrose, a book that features Claire Clairmont, Mary Shelley's half sister, who in her old days in Florence recalls the 'haunted summer' of 1816, the time when Frankenstein was born.

Since Mary Shelley's birthday was yesterday, I thought it fitting to commemorate it with raving a bit about her and the romantic circle she belonged to (that is a favourite pastime of mine anyway...)

You'll be able to read a review of Claire's Last Secret on the blog in a couple of days. Since it mostly concentrates on Claire and Byron's relationship, I thought I'd rather discuss a more Mary-centered topic today, so let me talk a bit about the new movie called Mary Shelley, that's been out in the cinemas since May in the US and for about a month in the UK. 

It hasn't hit the Hungarian cinemas yet, I'm not sure if it will at all but I'm very eager to watch it for obvious reasons (I'm crazy about the second generation romantics in case you haven't noticed by now).

Here you can watch the trailer:

 Director: Haifaa Al-Mansour

Starring: Elle Fanning, Douglas Booth, Tom Sturridge, Maisie Williams...

I love how the story heavily focuses Mary and the trailer suggests we are going to follow her from the time she met Shelley at least until she got Fankenstein published, possibly further.

I have the feeling the movie will capture her as the strong woman she was, but also a woman somewhat trapped by her feelings. Percy Shelley's too liberal thoughts about love were always to his benefit, but were ever only hurtful to Mary.

I confess I'm not the most happy about the casting and I'm not sure for example that the Byron character will be 'Byron enough' for me but I won't jump to conclusions before actually watching the movie. 

I hope this film will make a lasting impression, that the joys and tragedies in Mary's life will be shown with equal emphasis and that it doesn't turn into a teen drama becuase that would be a shame.

I can't wait to watch it and I'll make sure to let you know what I thought about it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARY SHELLEY!

 What do you think? Are you interested in watching Mary Shelley too?

 

Review - Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Title: Ready Player One

Author: Ernest Cline

Synopsis:

In the year 2044, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he's jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Wade's devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world's digital confines, puzzles that are based on their creator's obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them. When Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade's going to survive, he'll have to win—and confront the real world he's always been so desperate to escape.

My Thoughts:

Not being a gamer myself and knowing what Ready Player One is about, going into it I wasn't sure it'd be a book I'd entirely enjoy. I shouldn't have worried.

Most of the novel is set in a virtual reality called the OASIS. It's a world created by James Halliday who recently deceased and now his legacy is up for grabs... whoever finds the easter egg hidden in the game will inherit the OASIS and all the money that fuels it.

Wade Watts is a gunter, he dedicates all his time to his quest for the egg. When he finds the first clue he can't believe his luck... However, soon he realizes the danger that comes with his ambitions. The evil organization's – the IOI's – hand reaches out even to the real world and they'd do anything to beat Wade to the egg. 

The novel is packed with references to movies, tv shows and video games, mainly from the 1980s and 90s. It's fun to find out how many of the mentioned tv shows or movies you know. The video game references were mostly lost on me, but hey, no one is perfect... 

The movie Ladyhawke appeared so many times in the book I had to rewatch it because I remembered I'd loved it as a child. I also smiled at the Indiana Jones references and I especially appreciated when the song Kids wanna rock by Bryan Adams was mentioned. 80s, Baby.

Since I have a thing for popular culture in general, Ready Player One had a lot to offer to me. It's also a great adventure for the admirers of the 80s or the ones who were teenagers in that decade.

(Also it's a lot like Spykids 3D – Game Over for adults I just can't shrug this thought...)

Give yourself a favour and take a trip to the futuristic past. I know I'm glad I did.

Goodreads | Amazon

Events in my life

I have a pretty intense few weeks behind me – intense in a good sense – and I feel blessed because of all the amazing things that have happened to me since July.

Let me present the newest of news with a picture:

I'M ENGAGED!!!!

This is not a drill!

It was not easy for me to actually believe this happened because...

Six years of it!

Haha, I'm sorry I couldn't resist the gif (it's David-approved by the way, he knows he took his time and it drove me insane :)

We should start thinking about the wedding soon because we'd like to have a little one before I'm 30. Such excitement!

I promised I'd bring you some pictures from London Film and Comic Con, now's the time to make good on that promise.

Unfortunately the professional photos are still not uploaded to the con's website so I cannot show you the one I took with Pearl Mackie (12th Doctor's companion) or the one that David took with Jewel Staite (Firefly). Later I'll be able to post those ones as well I'm sure.

But here are some that'll give you an idea about how much fun we had:

Aaand a couple of pictures of us in London doing tourist-y stuff:

I'll be back soon with a new review, stay tuned!