It’s a quiet Sunday in New York, and I’ve spent most of my weekend reading The Needle in the Blood, by Sarah Bower. I’m currently about halfway through, and, except for the rather crude sex scenes, enjoying it. It’s a novel about the Bayeux tapestry and the man who commissioned it, Bishop Odo of Bayeux, as well as his mistress, Gytha. The book opens right in the middle of the Battle of Hastings, and continues up until 1077. Odo was at some point accused of defrauding the crown and his diocese, so it’ll be interesting to see how the author treats that subject.
Since my last Sunday Salon posting, I’ve posted three reviews, for Harriet and Isabella, The Black Pearl (not really a review—just thoughts about the book), and Dark Angels. I’ve also read The Miracles of Prato, by Laurie Albanese and Laura Morowitz, about Fra Filippo Lippi. The writing is very good, but the book is a little too heavy on the art metaphors.
I’ve got a stack of books waiting to be read, and I’m having a hard time choosing which to read next after Needle in the Blood. Which one do you think?
The Glassblower of Murano, by Marina Fiorato
The Founding, by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
A Place Beyond Courage, by Elizabeth Chadwick
The Dud Avocado, by Elaine Dundy
Nine Lives, by Dan Baum (nonfiction about nine people in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina)
The Birthday Present, by Barbara Vine
Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, by Jamie Ford
The Little Giant of Aberdeen County, by Tiffany Baker (seeing as this is a review copy and it came out on the 8th, I should probably get cracking on it soon)
The Women, by TC Boyle
Since my last Sunday Salon posting, I’ve posted three reviews, for Harriet and Isabella, The Black Pearl (not really a review—just thoughts about the book), and Dark Angels. I’ve also read The Miracles of Prato, by Laurie Albanese and Laura Morowitz, about Fra Filippo Lippi. The writing is very good, but the book is a little too heavy on the art metaphors.
I’ve got a stack of books waiting to be read, and I’m having a hard time choosing which to read next after Needle in the Blood. Which one do you think?
The Glassblower of Murano, by Marina Fiorato
The Founding, by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
A Place Beyond Courage, by Elizabeth Chadwick
The Dud Avocado, by Elaine Dundy
Nine Lives, by Dan Baum (nonfiction about nine people in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina)
The Birthday Present, by Barbara Vine
Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, by Jamie Ford
The Little Giant of Aberdeen County, by Tiffany Baker (seeing as this is a review copy and it came out on the 8th, I should probably get cracking on it soon)
The Women, by TC Boyle
Comments
Good luck with your applications, by the way!
- Medieval Bookworm
I agree with your comment on the crude sex scenes in Needle in the Blood. I ended up giving up on it not too far into it, although not because of the sex scenes. I couldn't get into it for some reason. I look forward to your review.