Randi

Can’t wait for the next book!

Évalué le: 2024-12-09

I started reading this when it first came out and got stuck around 1/4 way in. Given that Freedom and Purity are two of my favourite novels, I was frustrated. I just completed by listening and was assisted by the excellent performance of the reader who maintained momentum and character beautifully. Secrets, desires, ambition, envy, obsessions and the flawed nature of decision-making under the influence of the above emotions make for a powerfully dysfunctional, yet laudable story of family, social hierarchy, personal lust and faith. I adore the work of Franzen. He is a magician.

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Black History Canon

Évalué le: 2023-04-25

Given its accolades, I’m likely just reiterating many sentiments. I was thrilled to learn that Mr Smith had been a high school teacher and that had, in part, instructed his book. I too was an English teacher with a love of history, and kept thinking of ways I could have incorporated his text into my lessons.
Smith tackles a still difficult and ugly subject matter with beautiful prose, and just the right amount of acrimony, complete fairness and deep research. Through extensive use of primary sources, he makes the logical connections that leave no other inference. I like that he acknowledges, either refuting or reinforcing, ALL beliefs and points of view he encountered throughout his research.

As full disclosure on identity, I’m a white, female, Jewish Canadian with a fair amount of historical knowledge (especially of North America). What was completely new for me, or far more in-depth than my prior knowledge was …
Seneca Village in NYC!! I was blown away and unfortunately part of the group that assumed NY was for the most part sympathetic to the cause of equal rights.
Also surprising was Lincoln’s complex relationship with race. I had no idea that it came down to a political move in the end.

This was clearly a labour of love and we are only better for listening to it. Thank you for your incredible research and very engaging book!

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Well Balanced (mostly) and Insightful

Évalué le: 2023-01-21

Overall a very respectable and deeply researched account of the players who make up the Windsor Royal family.

Ms Brown provides a mostly balanced profile of the actions and behaviours of the members of the firm, while offering her sharp witticisms and suggesting conclusions one can infer from them. If she observes hypocrisy, she’ll point it out. If there’s irony, even better. Still, if there’s pathos, she’ll leave some room for that.

She draws some pretty hilarious extended metaphors when she wants to point out a particularly scathing set of circumstances to characterize the Royal she’s unfolding. (My favourite being the cake metaphor attributed to Meghan and her offers of celebrity appearances… yes, please!).

Notwithstanding, there’s a tone, at moments, of elitism, that could also be interpreted as an assessment of who preserves the traditions of the monarchy best. For example, in speaking of Harry’s love interest one prior to Meghan, Brown’s criteria for why she would have made a perfect Harry-match is all about lineage, alliance and acquiescence. In a similar vein, she hasn’t a bad word for Kate / Catherine nor the Queen. To Brown, both upheld their duties impeccably.

Nevertheless, she leaves room for the desire for reform, as the reader learns, in the epilogue, of Charles’ aspirations to open his home to the public to honour his mother’s legacy.

As many readers will do, I cheered at the outcome for Andrew (no Prince title warranted here) and loved how the truth was scathing in itself.

She neither condemns nor supports Harry and Meghan’s actions, yet draws attention to motivation and psychology to explain behaviour. As such, for the most part, she asks the reader to draw their own conclusions and make their own value judgements.

While I may have been led somewhat by the astute persuasive skills of the author, I did just that.

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