A Review: Liar Temptress Soldier Spy (I Met the Author!)

Summary: New York Times bestselling author Karen Abbott tells the spellbinding true story of four women who risked everything during the Civil War. Seventeen-year-old Belle Boyd, an avowed rebel with a dangerous temper, shot a Union soldier in her home and became a courier and spy for the Confederate army, using her considerable charms to seduce men on both sides. Emma Edmonds disguised herself as a man to enlist as a Union private named Frank Thompson, witnessing the bloodiest battles of the war and infiltrating enemy lines. The beautiful widow Rose O'Neal Greenhow engaged in affairs with powerful Northern politicians and used her young daughter to send information to Southern generals. Elizabeth Van Lew, a wealthy Richmond abolitionist, hid behind her proper Southern manners as she orchestrated a far-reaching espionage ring—even placing a former slave inside the Confederate White House—right under the noses of increasingly suspicious rebel detectives. With a cast of real-life characters, including Nathaniel Hawthorne, General Stonewall Jackson, Detective Allan Pinkerto,n, Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln, and Emperor Napoléon III, Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy shines a dramatic new light on these daring—and, until now, unsung—heroines.

Thoughts: I LOVED this book! Even though a reader's copy was provided, I ended up purchasing it through Audible as well so I could listen when I was editing photos and cooking dinner and reaching my 10,000 steps. I needed to know what was going to happen next! I'd heard of Belle Boyd from one of my favorite podcasts, Stuff You Missed in History Class, and had been interested in hearing more about women involved in the Civil War after reading Erin Lindsay McCabe's I Shall Be Near to You (which is FANTASTIC), so this seemed like it would fit the bill. Abbott doesn't disappoint-- she really brings each of these women to life with beautiful prose and her attention to detail. If you're into fast-paced nonfiction about incredible women in America's history go grab a copy NOW!

Oh, and don't be jealous, but Karen Abbott just happened to be in Chicago this week so I also got to meet her and get my book signed!!! Yep, so cool. Here's some photos from the event at Women and Children First in Andersonville (these were taken on a Nikon and edited on an iPhone-- be nice!):

The Author: Karen Abbott is the New York Times bestselling author of Sin in the Second City, American Rose, and, most recently, Liar Temptress Soldier Spy, which was named one of the best books of 2014 by Library Journal, the Christian Science Monitor, Amazon, and Flavorwire, and which was optioned by Sony for a miniseries. A native of Philadelphia, she now lives in New York City, where she's at work on her next book.

*I received a copy of this book from TLC Book Tours and Harper Perennial in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, TLC!

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My First Readathon!

It feels like it's been a million years since I've had any time to sit down and read. What better way to commit to giving myself a little downtime than signing up for a readathon?! I've always wanted to join in but the timing has never worked out, and while I do actually have to photograph an event for several hours on Saturday, I still have most of the weekend to kick back and get lost in a good one. Ahhhhhh! It's my first readathon and I'M SO EXCITED!!!! I've really missed reading and blogging and all you blogging buddies and just want to jump in on the action.

I went to the library this evening in anticipation and picked up a few titles I'd been eyeing on Goodreads. I'm sure there will be some changes (and technically Dangerous Liaisons doesn't count because I've already started it), but I'm pretty happy with what I've got so far.

Readathon TBR:

Icelander by Dustin Long

I know nothing about this one. I found it while looking for another book and thought it would be appropriate since I'll be visiting Iceland in September. *Shrugs shoulders*

Broken Glass Park by Alina Bronsky

I found this one in a used bookstore in Chicago but couldn't commit to buying it at the time. I'll admit I'm not familiar with her work, but do know she has an extensive library, so fingers crossed.

The Observations by Jane Harris

I tried this one a couple of years ago and couldn't finish. But then Harris went and wrote one of my all-time favorites, Gillespie and I, so I figured I'd give it another go.

What We've Lost is Nothing by Rachel Louise Snyder

This title is my library's summer reading choice (One Book, One Oak Park). You  know, the whole community chooses a book for the season and then a huge event is held for people to participate and discuss. It's pretty awesome. It also happens to be based in my current home base, Oak Park, IL, so it'll be doubly interesting.

Second Life by S.J. Watson

I enjoyed Before I Go to Sleep (I really liked the movie), so it was added to the list because thrillers are always fast reads. Online sex circles? Ha. Doesn't sound like my cup of tea but I'm giving it a go. The book, not the circles...

The Caretaker by A.X. Ahmad

The second novel in this series made a recent must-read thriller list on NPR, and who am I to argue with that?! So I picked up the first. We'll see.


So... friends, what are you planning on reading?!? Anyone have any must-read historical fiction recommendations that I should add ASAP?!

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A Review: The Dream Lover by Elizabeth Berg

Elizabeth Berg's The Dream Lover is the story of George Sand: French novelist, protofeminist, and inamorata to some of history's leading men.

I must admit that I haven't read Sand's work. I actually, and this is outright embarrassing, had only learned of her after watching a movie based on her relationship with Frederic Chopin. You know, the film with a young Hugh Grant as a sickly Chopin? Yep, I totally had a thing for him (Grant) as a teenager, and was also obsessed with Chopin, so she was really just a side note. Whatever. So I basically knew that these two had gotten busy together and that she wore men's clothing but that was about it. Pathetic.

This novel delves into the life of George Sand beginning with her parents ill-suited match, adding color to her formative years. Assuming that much of the novel is based on biographies of the writer, there's much to be learned, or at the very least, researched after finishing the book. I had no idea she was close friends with some of her more well-known literary, male contemporaries. The atmosphere was lovely and I was instantly transported to the busy streets of Paris, or the idyllic, lush countryside of her family estate at Nohant. It was the perfect companion for escaping the everyday life for an hour or so.

That being said, I didn't entirely love this novel. As of late, I've felt that many narrators in historical novels sound eerily similar, and this one was no different. Is this just me?! Anyway, the beginning seemed promising, as we learn of Sand's family background, of her relationship with a grandmother who means the best but demands the rigid etiquette of post-revolutionary France, which paves the way for George and her exciting life ahead. However, the moments where the reader is forced, suddenly, into George's present day life, consists of being fed exacting play-by-plays of her deteriorating relationships with lovers and her inability to write without them. It was something along the lines of, "and then I started seeing x, but it just didn't work after I caught him with z, so we broke it off." Every. Time. And the woman falls in love with like every dude (and maybe one lady) she meets. Ok, ok, so maybe that's just how she operated so I can't really fault the book for that, but the jump from one summary of a lover to the next was boring and didn't offer anything substantial in terms of character development. I really longed to get back to Nohant and watch her grow.

At the end of the day, I would recommend this book to friends who love historical fiction and want to read about a pioneering lady figure. It's perfect for getting swept away to a different time and place, especially imagining being apart of the literary circles of Paris at this time. And I'll admit that I did learn a lot about her life, even though this work was fiction, as it prompted me to research her life past the pages. I'll definitely be adding Sand's work to my TBR moving forward.

Read this title? Share your thoughts! I'd love suggestions of other historical fiction to add to the TBR, as well!

*I received an advanced reader's copy of this title from Random House through Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

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Read Along Wrap-Up: Margaret Atwood's Alias Grace

"There are always those that will supply you with speeches of their own, and put them right into your mouth for you too."

Let me start by saying that I'm so glad I participated in this read along. For the first time, in a long time, I was challenged by a work to a degree that was both refreshing and frustrating. I feel that the entire experience has made it almost impossible for me to offer any valuable insight. I'll admit that I chose to read this title during the busiest part of my year to date. I traveled to Washington DC to see a friend graduate, I attended a wedding, a couple of birthday parties AND opened an Etsy shop. Needless to say, it's been a challenge just making the time to sit down and read. It took me an entire month to polish off ONE title, so that certainly helps to make my case.  

Aside from the time, Atwood's work requires serious attention to detail, because there are no words or sentences or paragraphs placed anywhere unintentionally. A re-read would probably be beneficial as I feel there's so much I missed. 

NOTE: spoilers ahead! 

Short recap: Grace Marks has been charged with the murder of her employer and his mistress. Years later, she spends her days tidying the home of a governor and his wife, as part of a penitentiary work program, and her nights, locked in a cell with no windows. When a young doctor (Simon), desiring to uncover the mysteries of mental health, and confirm her guilt or innocence, arrives to interview Grace, we see the story of her life up until the horrid event.  

Dr. Simon is sent to determine Grace's innocence, so that she may finally be released to return to a normal life. NOTE: Let's focus on Truth v. Fiction. However, as Grace slowly tells her story, it's clear that there is so much more than the words leaving her mouth. The doubt, on behalf of the reader, builds as the pace of her story is slow enough to force much deliberation. The audience feels the frustration that Dr. Simon, himself, feels, sitting in the small sewing room with the famed murderess. Furthermore, between Grace's narrative, the audience is also witnessing Dr. Simon's life outside of his case, as well as Grace's own thoughts. We understand that she tells stories that she believes Dr. Simon will enjoy, but how much is fabricated? All the while, Grace never actually ponders her guilt or innocence, only the acceptance of the lot she's assumed. 

There are many dream sequences that are questionable. Was Grace actually in the grip of a walking sleep, or was it all a lucid dream when she finds herself out of doors, in the middle of the night, in nothing but her sleeping gown? 

Many of her "confessions" are convincing. However, it seems that after hearing so many others tell her story, she is quite uncertain of some events herself. The sensationalism and gossip of the period (well, throughout time) plays a large role in the way everyone views Grace, notwithstanding evidence that may suggest otherwise. I will note that I found it rather interesting that those rooting for her release were using the argument that she was "possessed" or had multiple personalities, therefore, should not assume responsibility? A sign of the time to be sure. 

The story concludes without much resolution. The audience is still left to ponder Grace's guilt or innocence. I believe the last sentence made me lean towards the former, as she so curiously sews a little quilt with pieces of Mary and Nancy's garments so that they'll all "be together." Grace is released after 30 years of incarceration and goes on to marry one of her accusers, the boy, Jamie Walsh. Which brings up questions of sadism, but that's another post altogether. Did anyone else notice the reoccurring theme of sadism? Perhaps that was just me. 

There are words that come to mind when I think about this novel, namely: suffering, guilt, indecision, spirituality, dreams, and desires. Grace is much less the evil temptress that so many believe her to be. She expresses a love for the simple beauties of an ordinary life. However, the reader can never be certain as to what Grace Marks truly thinks.

There are whole chapters displaying Dr. Simon's life while staying in Kingston to perform his interviews. He ends up going so far that he is forced to flee and never actually learns what he's worked so hard to procure. We definitely see his desires for Grace, and for a life that he does not lead, acted upon his landlady, the pitiful, Mrs. Humphrey. However, it's clear that Dr. Simon often believes he is the smarter of the sexes and completely dismisses the fact that those relations may have plots of their own. I am certain that this side of Dr. Simon's life plays an integral role in the overarching story; however, I've yet to make it any clear connections. In the end, I warmed up to Dr. Simon as many readers pointed out that he had noble intentions and was far more progressive than many in his position during this period.  

Let's talk about the seance scene, shall we? Totally don't have anything to offer there. 

All and all, I walked away from this novel with far more questions than answers. I'm looking forward to reading other reviews to gain more insight so my head doesn't feel like mush. Once again, Margaret Atwood has blown me away and offered a huge challenge. Thanks Zeteticat for hosting! 

Note: Reading the author's notes was very fascinating. The case was so incredibly sensational, prompting news in Canada, US and Britain; however, once Grace was actually released, she managed to drop off the map completely.  

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