Good Reads & Views

The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory
Fiction

What it’s about: I had always thought of Katherine of Aragon as a boring and devout first queen of Henry VIII, not as her own person or as anyone of great accomplishment. I am sure this is not uncommon when compared to the allure of Anne Boleyn’s role played in this court as well. I have a greater admiration for the original and true Queen of England now that I am more aware of the greatness she realized for England and a greater sadness and understanding for the betrayal of the country that she had dedicated her life to and loved.

Why you might like it: If you love stepping into history and discovering people, places, and the inner workings of a royal court, you will love this book. I know it’s historical fiction but it sounded real and wonderfully written.

You might also like: The next book in this series, The White Queen by Philippa Gregory.

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Grace is Greater by Kyle Idleman
Nonfiction

What it’s about: "Grace is Greater" teaches us that God’s grace cannot be earned, is undeserved, tender and available to all who will accept it. His grace is greater than the shame we feel, our mistakes, and our resentment towards those who have hurt us. God’s grace is greater than our failures and provides strength in times of weakness.

Why you might like it: Regardless of anything you have ever done or anything that has been done to you, when you choose to accept and experience God's grace you will understand that God's grace IS greater, and you will want to share it with others.

You might also like: Grace written by Max Lucado.

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The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory
Fiction

What it’s about: Philippa Gregory has written a plethora of books about the Tudor dynasty based in England in the 1500's. This book is written from the viewpoints of 3 women: Jane Boleyn, whose testimony at her husband's trial led to his beheading (along with Ann Boleyn, his sister). She served as a lady-in-waiting to many queens, who were all wives of Henry VIII; Anne of Cleves, Henry's 4th wife; and Katherine Howard, Henry's very young 5th wife, who was beheaded.

Why you might like it: This is a riveting and gripping novel. Gregory's writing style changes as each woman speaks. It makes the reading experience feel more intimate: you feel as if you know these ladies, and this feeling leads you to care about them.

You might also like: The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory is the next book in the Plantagenet and Tudor Book series.

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Private: The Royals by James Patterson with Rees Jones
Fiction

What it’s about: Private is an elite detective agency. When kidnappers threaten to execute a Royal Family member in front of the Queen, Jack Morgan and his team have just 24 hours to stop them. While there are a dozen books before this one, and they do talk about a past case, I believe there is enough information in this book that you could read it alone. 

Why you might like it: It is fast paced with a surprising plot twist.

You might also like: New York, Actually by Sarah Morgan.

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The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
Fiction

What it’s about: This is the story of Mary Boleyn, a woman who is often lessened to a footnote in history. It is notable, however, that she was the only Boleyn sibling to survive the Tudor court in sixteenth century England. It is also the story of Anne Boleyn, her rise and fall, as seen through the eyes of her sister, Mary, with whom Anne was to have a lifelong conflict of jealousy, greed, and ambition.

Why you might like it: This story is one that is sure to enchant all those with a love for well-written historical fiction.

You might also like: The Tudor Saga Series written by authors Jean Plaidly and Philippa Carr.

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Little Black Dress by James Patterson
Fiction

What it’s about: A young woman determined to experiment with making her fantasies a reality.  With all decisions, there can be delightful and enjoyable consequences OR there can be ghastly and unpleasant consequences. The storyline is enticing to witness how a little black dress transforms her personality. I LOVE Patterson’s new co-author, Emily Raymond. I could not stand to put it down once I started reading it. I’m already looking for more books written by both of them.

Why you might like it: BookShots are an excellent read for people who do not have time to sit down and enjoy a much longer book.

You might also like: Let’s Play Make-Believe, written by James Patterson and co-author James O. Born.

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Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
Nonfiction

What it’s about: Louie Zamperini was an amazing track star, breaking record after record running in the 1936 Olympics. Once WWII broke out, he became a bombardier assigned to the Pacific theater. During one of his missions, his plane went down over the ocean. He and two other crewmembers survived. They were captured by the Japanese and spent the next 2+ years enduring brutal mistreatment before finally being freed at the end of the war--something that left Louie adrift and struggling to find his purpose in life.

Why you might like it: A tragic yet redeeming story advocating the value of human life, and how its multitude of struggles help define each one of us, for better or worse.

You might also like: The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

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In Order to Live by Yeonmi Park
Nonfiction

What it’s about: This book is divided into three parts depicting Yeonmi' s family's life in North Korea, Yeonmi and her mother's time in China, and then their life in South Korea. This is a well written account that cultivates a greater awareness through a great deal of personal insight and experience.

Why you might like it: This book allows for a greater understanding of the experiences of people from North Korea and what they have endured and continue to endure.

You might also like: The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clemantine Wamariya 

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Dead Man Walking by Helen Prejean
Nonfiction 

What it’s about: Sister Helen Prejean is a Catholic nun. I anticipated this book would be very one sided based on her religion. I didn’t become interested in the book until after I saw the movie. The movie combines the two executions included in the book into one death row inmate story. Sister Helen Prejean does an amazing job of exploring the topic of capital punishment through the role of a spiritual guide.

Why you might like it: If you enjoy being deeply drawn into a story that you feel as though you’re there witnessing all of it, then you’ll appreciate Sister Helen Prejean's writing style.

You might also like: American Prison by Shane Bauer.

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The Zookeeper’s Wife by Diane Ackerman
Nonfiction 

What it’s about: The Zookeeper's Wife is an astonishing story of the courage and selfless actions of the people of Warsaw during the Second World War who rescued and hid, at great personal danger, the hundreds of Jews who were hunted by the Nazis.

Why you might like it: The Zookeeper’s Wife is a true story set in Warsaw, Poland at the onset of WWII, and is both a horrifying and endearing story.

You might also like: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. 

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