The Road

I know many people who have read The Road, by Cormac McCarthy and it's also been on the bestseller list in the past, so I thought it'd be worth reading. I got a copy from a friend and started in January... I just finished the book this past weekend! I can't recall a book taking me that long to get through (okay, I take that back- I started The Remains of the Day some time ago and still haven't gotten through half of it).

The Road is set during post-apocalyptic times and is about the journey of a father and son as they travel... well, readers never do find out where it is that they're traveling to. There is so much unsaid in this novel- what causes complete destruction of all that we know Earth to be, what the characters' names are, where are the duo is headed, where all the people are, etc. It sounds intriguing enough, but I simply could not get over the depressing and hopeless scenario that this father-son is in. I will say from a literary standpoint that the author is very creative- I am amazed at how well he describes the utter devastation. There are pages upon pages of vivid details and dark descriptions. Ultimately, what saves this book for me is to read about the relationship between the father and son. His love for his son is so deep and apparent. It did make me think about the depths I would go for the sake of my kids.

I do not regret reading the book, but I don't highly recommend it. I don't even know if I enjoyed the book enough to want to see the movie. However, Jason also read it and really enjoyed it- in fact, it was a fast read for him because he was hooked. I'd be interested to know if there are any women out there who enjoyed this book!

Nefertiti and The Other Boleyn Girl

I love learning about historical times, particularly through fiction. There's something that intrigues me about how society was during those times- the hierarchy, the monarchy, roles of women/men, the importance of having a son, kingdom expansion, religion, culture, etc. Two books that I have really enjoyed are The Other Boleyn Girl, by Philippa Gregory and Nefertiti, by Michelle Moran. I have decided to write about them in one post because they are quite similar.

The Other Boleyn Girl is a fictional account of what it was like to be in court at the time of Henry VIII in England. If you don't recall, one of the things King Henry VIII was known for was having six wives. This book fictionalizes how the Boleyn family orchestrated for Anne Boleyn to become queen (she was the 2nd wife). It was so interesting to read about Henry VIII, Anne's reign, and then of course how she died. The story is inspired by the life of and told from the perspective of Anne's sister, Mary Boleyn. Through this book, I also came to understand why Henry VIII chose to separate from the Church of Rome, a decision that has greatly impacted religion in England. Philippa Gregory is well-known for writing in this particular genre, and she has since written about Henry's other wives. I will admit that I have already read many of them, but loved this one the most.

Nefertiti is also a fictional account of what it was like to be in court, but it was during the time of Pharaoh Amunhotep in Egypt. It is also a story of two sisters and the roles they play as Nefertiti is chosen to marry Amunhotep. Nefertiti is chosen because her family believes that she will be able to temper Amunhotep and help to bring him back to the royal family's religion. Not only does she not bring back Amunhotep, she joins him. Amunhotep has chosen to worship a god that the Egyptians don't recognize, and with Nefertiti his decisions alienate his royal court, and eventually, the army, the clergy, and Egypt's allies. The story is told from the sister, Mutnodjmet's perspective. The power that Nefertiti gains and her manipulating ways greatly impact Egypt during that time. I loved reading about Egyptian culture! Michelle Moran has also written other books set in Egypt. I am looking forward to reading The Heretic Queen next.

These books were quick reads for me- I was so drawn into the time periods that I had trouble putting the books down. (I should mention that even now, I can't remember all of the characters in Nefertiti because of their long Egyptian names- that didn't put me off!). I also found the books to be easy reads. They were pretty straight forward and did not involve critical thinking! If you're looking for a quick and easy read, try either of these titles! And then let me know what you thought of them!