Shannon's Review - The Secret Plot To Save The Czar by Shay McNeal

Title: The Secret Plot To Save The Czar

Series: N/A

Author: Shay McNeal

Genre: History, Royalty

Publisher: William Morrow & Company

Received: Purchased

Release Date: October 2002

Pages: 368

Rating:

Author’s Website:

http://www.shaymcneal.com/

Shannon’s Thoughts:

History of  the Romanovs has led to many stories of their death or possible “escape”. This book researches the possibility of certain family or friends that may have planned or just had in their power to try and save the last Tsar of Russia of eminent doom.

I got about halfway through the book and I understood the author was examining plots by many people to save the Tsar. Near the end I was able to follow because some of the story was told as a story. As I discussed the book with my husband he said it sounds like a scholarly book, which I have to agree with.

Most of book is a list of names and people would, or tried to save the Tsar.  The first half was more like putting a piece of furniture together.  Part A agrees with part B so they try to connect with Part C and it does not come together.   The second half of the book the was some familiarity as I read the last days of the Tsar and family then near the end it becomes similar to the beginning as we read about the theories of other books by other authors whether any of the family did survive.  

In all the book was too impersonable.  I wanted to know more what the author thought in the end.  I also wish the beginning had been written in a way that connected the story together and not just a bunch of names of people I did not know, although some I did.  

Picture This - Royality Rules! Anastasia Romanov

Right now I am reading The Secret Plot to Save the Tsar by Shay McNeal.

I have always had a connection to the Romanov family especially Anastasia.  She loved drawing and painting as do I and she was a big goof from what I understand.

I drew the picture above and decided that this would look good on a shirt and maybe I could do some other Royal art.

If anyone is interested I made t-shirt, mugs, tote bag and binders with the image above on Zazzle.

Go to the line below to check out the items I am selling.

http://www.zazzle.com/confuzzleddesigns

Review - A Dangerous Inheritance by Alison Weir

Title: A Dangerous Inheritance
Series: N/A
Author: Alison Weir
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Hutchinson
Received: From Publisher for Review
Release Date: May 2012
Pages: 537
Rating:


What is it About?
Two different centuries, two different Katherines and both (according to the Queen) a threat to the throne.

My Thoughts:

Two Katherines who only want to live happily ever after with their husbands but the royal family only sees them as a threat to the throne.  Even though they are a century apart they still want the same.

Whether this story is based on much fact I do not know.  I do know it took me awhile to start enjoying it.  Back and forth between Kates in each chapter did confuse me. The Kates stories  were broken up by chapters and as I was just getting into one Kate  then we go back to the other.  I felt bad for the girls and yet also that they kinda brought bad luck on to themselves. It still draws you in the story inside of the story about the two brothers who may have been killed by Richard III I didn’t really feel any connection.  If the story was about those two then maybe I would have cared more but it was just side story.


Website:

Official Website of Alison Weir
http://alisonweir.org.uk/

Books To Talk About - The Countess by Rebecca Johns

It's Halloween what better way to celebrate then to have a discussion about one of Bram Stoker's inspiration to Dracula.   

The Countess is a historical fiction about Erzsébet Báthory.  Based on the true story of the real Countess Bathory who killed 34 of her servants, mostly woman, for there blood.  One of the things she believed was if she bathed in it would make her young.  From how she became a Countess to her fate of being walled up into  her castle tower for her crimes.  This book brings to life the fascinating tale of the world's first female serial killer.

DISCUSS IN THE COMMENTS

1. Are there characters in the fictional world or the real world now that remind you of Countess Bathory? 


2. Do you think you could ever feel sympathy for a woman who killed 34 people for the reasons she did?


3.  What do you think drove her to kill?