Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More


Rhett Butler’s People by Donald McCaig

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on December 17, 2007
Posted in Books Read 2007Donald McCaigHistorical Fiction  | 8 Comments

Gone With the Wind, it is Not

When I first heard that Rhett Butler’s People was coming out and that it was authorized by the Mitchell estate, I got vary excited!! I could hardly wait to get my hands on it and I ordered one for my mother in-law for Christmas as well.

I must say that I was disappointed. The writing style and the historical detail were good, although, the book did drag in a couple parts. I also found that McCaig wrapped up all of the loose ends, without leaving anything to the imagination. I find it hard for the characters to live on in the world of my imagination, when an author wraps up everything so neatly.

Some of the characters seemed to be written out of character. Melanie Wilkes is a big example of this. She was still the loving, meek woman she was in Gone With the Wind; however, Craig has us believe that she wrote intimate letters to a girl friend about sex. Mitchell’s Melanie would never have done this.

I did enjoy McCaig’s take on some of the minor characters, such as Wade and Belle. However, if you haven’t read Gone With the Wind and only saw the movie, you won’t know whom some of these minor characters, such a Wade, are.

I am not sorry that I read Rhett Butler’s People. It was worthwhile and I enjoyed it for the most part. In my opinion, it is not a work of literature that will stand the test of time like Gone With the Wind has.

3/5

Copyright 2007-2010: All the posts within this blog were originally posted by Teddy Rose and should not be reproduced without express written permission.

Outlander By Diana Gabaldon

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on December 2, 2007
Posted in Books Read 2007Diana GabaldonHistorical FictionScotland  | 11 Comments

Fun Filled Adventure in 17th Century Scotland
When I first heard of this book and all the positive hype, I was skeptical. It’s a book that is hard to classify as just one genre. It’s part historical novel, romance, suspense, action, and science fiction. I right away wonder how much romance was in it, you see, I don’t mind some, but I don’t like true chick lit or Harlequin romance. However, the more I heard about it the more I wanted to at least give it a fair try.

It did end up having a lot of sex and some romance, but it was also an excellent historical adventure in 17th century Scotland. I thoroughly enjoy this romp through time. Diana Gabaldon writes with near perfect pitch and prose. The only thing I found a bit annoying in parts was that it was a bit repetitive in parts. I think a little more careful editing was needed.
Though the book is over 800 pages, it reads very fast and be for warned, it is very hard to put down! I spent some wee hours in the morning with this book! Don’t suffer from sleep depravation like I did. Learn from my mistakes. Don’t read it right before sleep time!

4/5

Copyright 2007-2010: All the posts within this blog were originally posted by Teddy Rose and should not be reproduced without express written permission.

1916: A Novel of the Irish Rebellion

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on November 12, 2007
Posted in Books Read 2007Historical FictionIrelandMorgan Llywelyn  | 6 Comments

High Praise to Morgan Llywelyn!

This wonderful work of historical fiction is based on the 1916 Irish Rebellion, known as the Easter Rising.

Were introduced to the main character Ned Holloran, a 15-year-old survivor of the sinking of the Titanic. Neither of his parents survive. He is given the choice to stay in the United States with his sister Kathleen and her new husband. He chooses to go back to Ireland, where he attends an Irish school lead by Padraic Pearse, who is a scholar, poet, and rebel for the Irish cause. Ned gains a new appreciation for Ireland and it’s culture and gets involved in the rebellion.

Llywelyn weaves the true facts and real life historical people of the rebellion with her fictional character Ned Halloran seamlessly. She introduces us to the amazing Irish history and people of the time in an informative and entertaining way.

This is the first book in an Irish Century Series. I can hardly wait to read the next one, 1921: The Great Novel of the Irish Civil War! 4.5/5

Copyright 2007-2010: All the posts within this blog were originally posted by Teddy Rose and should not be reproduced without express written permission.