Ginger Garrett

Dear Readers,

Here is another recover of a book that was actually in print for only a short time. I really liked it and wanted to recommend to those of you that haven't had a chance to read it yet.

Chosen by Ginger Garrett is the story of Esther. One I have always liked in the Bible. It is written from the perspective of a teenager ripped from her home, but instead of letting it destroy her, she is able to stay true to her faith and herself. Esther is written as a strong young woman who may not always know the right answers, but is willing to listen and learn. There is a love story in this one between her and King Xerxes. I have to imagine that there was some love between them somewhere, even though the Bible doesn't say so, otherwise the rest of the story doesn't make much sense.
This is a well researched book and is easy to read. I loved the different perspective on a familiar Bible story.

Happy Reading

Ginger Garrett

Dear Readers,

Sometimes you go to read a novel and totally miss the point. I finally understand what Ginger Garrett is doing in her Chronicles of the Scribe series. In the Arms of Immortals she takes us back to Sicily in 1347. It is the time where the Black Plague is just starting it's march across Europe.

We start the story in modern times where Mariskka Curtis has struck it rich. Her first novel has made her an over night sensation. She doesn't miss her old life and is plenty glad to use her new millions to completely enjoy this life. The only problem is it isn't her novel, she stole the manuscript from a dying patient. She is the only one who knows that or so she thought until the night Mbube shows up at her door.

Mariskka is sent to live her new story. It is not a place she wants to be. She doesn't speak the language and isn't dressed correctly. She is quickly labeled as a crazy old lady and is cast as an outcast. She knows how to help the victims, not necessarily cure them, but at least make them comfortable. The problem is she can't communicate that.

For those that are sharper than I and remember things like this, you will recognize Mariskka for the end of In the Shadow of Lions. She is in the last chapter stealing the book that the Scribe is writing. Her problems begin when she doesn't realize what she has in her hands. Our next main character will be named... Oh wait I don't want to give that away. :-)

It was an interesting look at a period of time in the church history where they lost control of the sciences. Before, the doctoring and such was done by the church as healing could only happen when you prayed also. I do believe that, but I also believe that I can pray myself, I don't need the church to do it for me. I also believe that I don't need last rites to go to heaven, and the time of the black plague changed that for the Catholic Church in that before only priest or men could pray the prayers and words of the last rights, but because of the rapid pace people were dying, the church announced that woman could also give last rites. Interesting.

This is definitely not my favorite period of history. It is dark and a tough time to survive. So I am not that excited to find out about it, but this book may have changed my mind a bit. It isn't a close look at everyday life and yet gives you small glimpses into everyday life in a village.

I know this isn't going to be a book that everyone likes. But it is an interesting, thought provoking book about our history.

Happy Reading
Chris

Ginger Garrett

Dear Readers,
I have found one of those quiet authors that writes such great historical fiction, but not many people know about her. Ginger Garrett doesn't not take on or write books that are happy reads. They are quite often a bit dark and different than the "standard" story of the character that we all know about. Chosen: the Lost Diaries of Queen Esther and Dark Hours are both very good and interesting books, but not widely read.

In the Shadow of the Lions Ginger takes on the story of Anne Boleyn and Henry the Vlll. Which for me was a very different read. I am not really all that familiar with that time period and I figure who wants to learn about a ruler who would get sick of a wife and kill her. I have always found him to be a bit inmature and very selfish, so in otherwords normal for a dictator.

What I didn't know or remember was that the Tyndale Bible was starting to hit England at the same time as his rule. Which is interesting because he really fought with the church because of his marriages and the lack of an heir.

In this story you actually start in modern times meeting an unnamed editor who is dying. She is waiting to die and has an incounter with an angel who is one of the Scribes of "history." He wants the editor to write down the story that he will tell her and sell it after which she will die.
Let me add here, I was not very excited to read this part as I was afraid that this story would take over the book and take away from the actually story. It doesn't it. In fact it shows up very little and is used as a transition between the two stories going on.

Back to the story. This is the story of Anne as she becomes queen, but from a very different perspective than the story we have always heard. I had always thought she went after the crown, wanting to be queen and doing everything she could to get it. Well Ginger writes her as someone who was caught in a troubling time and is trying to serve God as best she can. That in and of itself adds a very different twist to this familiar story. I can't say that I find her a sympathic character, but I do in someways feel for her. I still think she used people to get what she wanted, but maybe to a different degree than what she is portrayed in the history books.

I really did find this book interesting even though we all know how it ends. I think sometimes I forget that those people that are so much a part of history are still "normal" people. Whether is is King Henry or the Yeoman that you meet in this book. I also love that God took a time in history that was very turbulent and used it to spread His word to the "common" man. It is an interesting look at a part of church history that I really didn't know much about.

By the way the Catholic Church in here really reminds me of a book I just read by Janette Oke called the Centurion's Wife. The Pharisees of the Bible sound a lot like the Cardinals in this book. Hmmm :-)

Happy Reading

P.S. Those in the Zeeland Book Club this will be our book for January