Learn more about Three Sisters, Three Queens here. On sale today!
Learn more about Three Sisters, Three Queens here.
Happy International Day of Friendship! If books were people, these books would be besties.
Need a read for your long weekend?
Spend this Canada Day with beloved historian Charlotte Gray and read a free eBook preview of The Promise of Canada: 150 Years—People and Ideas That Have Shaped Our Country.
Download the free eBook preview here!
Genevieve Von Petzinger talks with National Geographic about her new book, The First Signs, and described her love for finding patterns - which resulted in spending the equivalent of two weeks underground examining cave art in Europe!
Read the entire article here.
If you like Gone with the Wind, why not try...
- The Light Between Oceans by M.L Stedman
- The Railwayman’s Wife by Ashley Hay
- In the Shadow of the Banyan by Vaddey Ratner
She Does The City travels back in time to 1980 and explores Trinity-Bellwoods, an area of Toronto, as it’s described in Kay’s Lucky Coin Variety by Ann Y.K. Choi. Read about how Choi came to write about a Korean girl growing up in Canada and the women she met who inspired this story.
A portrait of Jeanne Antoinette Poisson, Marquise de Pompadour by Jean-Marc Nattier, 1746.
Here, Jeanne is dressed as Diana the Huntress, with her bow and arrow, which was how she dressed for the Ball where she met King Louis XV .
She is a fascinating and iconic character in both French and world history. She seemingly had it all: good looks, elegance, smarts, as well as some less laudatory characteristics including ambition, a bit of blindness where the King was concerned, and a vindictive streak. She also had another, very surprising characteristic: kindness.
You can read more about Jeanne in The Rivals of Versailles, Canadian author Sally Christie’s re-imagination of the story of Jeanne and the King.
Source: sallychristieauthor.com
5 Novels Perfect for Fans of The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom
Published in 2010, The Kitchen House was a huge success, selling over 30,000 copies in Canada. The novel touched on themes of class, race, dignity, deep-buried secrets, and familial bonds—themes that resonated with readers across North America. Here are 5 books to check out if you liked The Kitchen House.
1. Twelve Years a Slave/Solomon Northup
Solomon Northup was an entrepreneur and dedicated family man, father to three young children, Elizabeth, Margaret, and Alonzo. In March 1841, two strangers approached Northup, offering him employment as a violinist in a town hundreds of miles away from his home in Saratoga Springs, New York. Solomon bid his wife farewell until his return. Only after he was drugged and bound did he realize the strangers were kidnappers—that nefarious brand of criminals in the business of capturing runaway and free blacks for profit. Thus began Northup's horrific life as a slave.
The story that inspired the incredible film, Twelve Years a Slave is a harrowing, vividly detailed, and utterly unforgettable account of slavery.
2. Ruth’s Journey/ Donald McCaig
On the Caribbean island of Saint Domingue, an island consumed by the flames of revolution, a senseless attack leaves only one survivor—an infant girl. She falls into the hands of two French émigrés, Henri and Solange Fournier, who take the beautiful child they call Ruth to the bustling American city of Savannah. What follows is the sweeping tale of Ruth’s life as shaped by her strong-willed mistress and other larger-than-life personalities she encounters in the South. Here is a remarkable story of fortitude, heartbreak, and indomitable will.
3. River Runs Deep/Jennifer Bradbury
Twelve-year-old Elias has consumption, so he is sent to Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave—the biggest cave in America—where the cool cave vapors are said to be healing. At first, living in a cave sounds like an adventure, but after a few days, Elias feels more sick of boredom than his illness. So he is thrilled when Stephen, one of the slaves who works in the cave, invites him to walk further through its depths. But there are more than just tunnels and stalagmites waiting to be discovered. Little does he know he’ll also be fighting for the lives of a secret community of escaped slaves, who are hidden deep within the cave.
4. Girl in Reverse/ Barbara Stuber
When Lily was three, her mother put her up for adoption, then disappeared without a trace. Or so Lily was told. Lily grew up in her new family and tried to forget her past. Then her brainy little brother, Ralph, finds a box containing a baffling jumble of broken antiques—clues to her past left by her “Gone Mom.” Lily and Ralph attempt to match these fragments with rare Chinese artifacts at the art museum, where she encounters the artistic genius Elliot James. Elliot attracts and infuriates Lily—especially when he calls their first kiss “undimensional.” With the help of Ralph and Elliot, will Lily summon the courage to confront her own remarkable creation story?
5. Glory Over Everything/Kathleen Grissom
True fans of The Kitchen House will be super excited for this one. Glory Over Everything, the companion novel to The Kitchen House, tells the story of what happens next! Available April 2016.
Four Reasons Philippa Gregory Turned Me into a Feminist
Best known for her book The Other Boleyn Girl, Philippa Gregory has written 28 books with kick butt women as the main focal point. To celebrate her latest novel, The Taming of the Queen, which highlights King Henry VIII last wife, Kateryn Parr, we’ve come up with a list of 4 ways Philippa Gregory has turned you into a feminist, and you didn’t even know it!
1. These women were historically significant The characters Philippa Gregory continuously writes about are women who have been forgotten by history. Gregory has given these women a voice in a time when they were seen rather than heard. #FemalesHaveAVoice
2. Women are the main focus Although many of her leading ladies are married to kings, or politicians, whom generally history has focused on, Gregory focuses the entire book on the female protagonist. #GirlPower
3. Her novels are not romance driven FINALLY! Gregory has found a balance between historical accuracy, romance and social justice. Instead of swooning over the main man who sweeps the damsel off her feet, swoon over the damsel who saves herself, or (in many cases) dies trying. #NoThanksIllSaveMyself
4. Her Characters Made a Difference in History Each one of her heroines has made a significant difference in history. Anne Boleyn gave birth to the first ever Queen of England who did not marry, who didn’t need a man by her side, and ruled by herself. Elizabeth went to war, was a voice for her people and did not bend to the rules of society just because a man told her too. This was only made possible by Kateryn Parr, The Taming of the Queen’s female protagonist, who ushered in the Third Succession of the Throne Act which made Princess Mary and Elizabeth eligible to inherit the throne. She was also the first Queen to publish a book! #YouGoGirl
Read more about historical kick-ass females in Gregory’s newest book The Taming of the Queen! Available August 25th, 2015!
simonschusterca reblogged
Portraits of four of the five de Nesle sisters , who were mistresses of Louis XV: Only the fourth sister, Hortense Félicité de Mailly-Nesle, the marquise de Flavacourt, was not a mistress to the King.
Marie Anne de Mailly-Nesle, Duchesse de Châteauroux
Pauline Félicité de Mailly-Nesle, Marquise de Vintimille
Louise Julie de Mailly-Nesle, Comtesse de Mailly
Diane Adélaïde de Mailly-Nesle, duchesse de Lauraguais
Interested in the stories of the five de Nesle sisters? Read all about it in The Sisters of Versailles (09/01/15), a sumptuous and scandalous novel by Canadian author Sally Christie.
The Most Buzzed About #HistoricalFiction of Fall 2015
For #HistoricalFictionWeek we’ve compiled a list of the most anticipated books for 2015, enjoy!
"Sally Christie's The Sisters of Versailles is an intriguing romp through Louis XV's France...fans of historical fiction will enjoy this glimpse into the lost golden era of the French monarchy. An historical drama that proves that history is juicier than fiction." – Allison Pataki, author of The Accidental Empress
The Sisters of Versailles is the first book in an exciting new historical fiction trilogy about King Louis XV, France’s most “well-beloved” monarch, and the women who shared his heart...and his bed. Scandalous, we know! Available September 2015!
“We're riveted as Twain comes alive—faults and all—but in the end we're captured and captivated by him...Cullen has once again jettisoned herself to another time and place and delivered historical fiction fans with an utterly fascinating read." - M.J. Rose, New York Times bestseller
Twain’s End is a fictionalized imagining of the personal life of America’s most iconic writer: Mark Twain. This book is for anyone who is a sucker for a good love traingle! Available October 2015!
This book has been featured on Publishers Weekly’s The Most Anticipated Books of Fall 2015 list!
The Japanese Lover is an exquisitely crafted love story and multigenerational epic that sweeps from San Francisco in the present-day to Poland and the United States during the Second World War. Alma and Ichimei will have you turning the pages into the wee hours of the night, guaranteed! Available November 2015!
"[A] gripping and detailed chronicle, with plenty of court intrigue and politics to spice up the action...Highly recommended. " – Library Journal (starred review)
This list would not be complete without Philippa Gregory’s newest book The Taming of the Queen. From an author who has described all of Henry’s queens comes a deeply intimate portrayal of the last: a woman who longed for passion, power, and education at the court of a medieval killer. Available August 2015.
Happy #HistoricalFictionWeek!
Finding a great Father’s Day gift can be a challenge. Here are a few non-fiction titles that your #SmartDad is sure to like!
Red Notice by Bill Browder
Why he’ll like it:
- It’s a political thriller about an American financier in the Wild East of Russia.
- It’s about a contentious, relevant issue.
- It reads like a classic thriller, but it’s all true.
Hard Choices by Hillary Clinton
Why he’ll like it:
- Hillary Clinton shares the choices and challenges she faced during her time as Secretary of State.
- Clinton goes into deep detail about her work in Asia, Iraq and Afghanistan, Latin America, and other hot spots around the globe.
- Hillary is a 2016 presidential candidate - now is the time to learn more!
A Curious Mind by Brian Grazer
Why he’ll like it:
- Brian Grazer, Academy Award–winning producer, explains how curiosity played a central role in his work.
- Brian is the man behind iconic movies and television shows, including 24, Arrested Development, A Beautiful Mind, 8 Mile, and Apollo 13.
- It’s endorsed by Ron Howard, American film director, producer, and actor.
The Wright Brothers by David McCullough
Why he’ll like it:
- It tells the surprising, dramatic story of two brothers and how they created the first heavier-than-air, powered machine carrying a pilot.
- McCullough used private diaries, notebooks, scrapbooks, and more than a thousand letters to tell this story.
- The author is a master historian who is a two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize.
Happy Father’s Day!
simonschusterca reblogged
We’ve got two great ready-to-read series that make nonfiction a ton of fun! Learn the cool history or science behind topics kids love and will love learning about!
A special section at the back of each book includes relevant info on subjects like geography, science and math, and there’s even a fun quiz so readers can test themselves to see what they’ve learned!
Discover more History of Fun Stuff and Science of Fun Stuff!
Do you know what this is? This is The Heart from Auschwitz.
An act of defiance. A statement of hope. A crime punishable by death.
On December 12, 1944, locked inside Auschwitz, Polish teenager Fania turned twenty. After spending a year in a concentration camp, Fania didn't expect her birthday to even be remembered - but her best friend, Zlatka, risked everything to make her a birthday present, a paper heart.
Simply making the heart - or carrying it - could get either of them killed.
The heart was signed by many of their friends, bearing notes in Polish, German, French, and Hebrew that announced "When you get old, put your glasses on your nose, take this album in your hand and read my signature again," and "Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!" It was an act of great sacrifice and love for a friend.
Less than 40 days later, they began the Death March from Auschwitz to Ravensbruck, and from Ravensbruck to freedom. Fania carried the heart under her arm the whole time. And survived.
Fania donated the heart to the Montreal Holocaust Memorial Center in 1988, where it is a featured piece of their exhibit. You can read more about the story of Fania and Zlatka in Meg Wiviott’s Paper Hearts, coming September 2015.
Source: books.simonandschuster.ca