Truth in Fiction: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd and The Poisoner's Handbook

I've always loved Agatha Christie mysteries.  When I was a little younger than Hope (about 10 or 11) I read aloud to the elderly lady next door.  Mrs. Jenkins was nuts about mysteries and especially Agatha Christie novels.  I cannot remember which ones we read, but I know that it gave me my first love of the thrill for the whodunnit.  After that I started to blow through as many Christie novels as I could and then I found that they started to lose appeal.  You see, I began to guess the murderer.  I would pick out the least likely person and I knew that 90% of the time that was the killer.  Now I know that to truly experience the thrill of Christie, I need to limit her and only read one book a year by this queen of mystery. 

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd was my Christie choice for this year as it is one I hadn't read before and is considered one of her finest.  I can honestly say that I did not guess the killer until the last 30 pages of the book.  I was shocked and surprised.  I can't say anything more about the novel for fear of spoiling it, but I do think it is one of her best and every one should wait for a rainy day, grab a cup of tea, and read it in one sitting.

Although poison makes an appearance in The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, it isn't the star (that's the most I can say without giving the plot away).  So why did I chose Deborah Blum's The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York?   For one, I really wanted to read this book.  Secondly, time period wise it occurs about the same period of time.  Ackroyd was published in 1926 and the Jazz Age occurred in the 1920s.  But thirdly and most of all I wanted to read the two books in conjunction because of this quote, taken from Blum's epilogue to Poisoner's:

 "...[I]n reality, I find poison killing among the most disturbing of all homicides.... They're closer to that lurking monster in the closet than some drug-impaired crazy with a gun." 

 Blum recognizes that most poisoning cases are frightening because the murderer has planned to kill someone familiar and poison is the perfect way to go undetected.  Although Blum's book does detail some instances of poisoning from unsafe working conditions, accidental deaths, unregulated products, and a rogue killer; most of the cases involve someone poisoning their spouse, family, friends, children, etc.... I think that this is what links the book to Christie; her murderers live among the victims.  In other words, someone at the dinner table is a murderer and that in itself is horrifying.

While The Murder of Roger Ackroyd was entertaining and page-turning, I don't think I can say enough positives about Poisoner's Handbook.  The book details the science behind poison and forensics, but it also offers a fascinating history of Charles Norris (medical examiner) and Alexander Gettler (toxicologist) and how the two men increased the accuracy of forensic science by repeated experiments and scholarly research, established procedures and a place of professionalism, and cleaned out corruption within the office.  I also learned a great deal about the formation of the FDA, Prohibition, criminal organizations, and the dangerous life of Jazz Age New York (I never thought of what it would be like in NY with everyone driving and no standard driver's license or driving laws... ack!).

Blum really brought the science of toxicology to life; almost too much.  At one point I was reading about an autopsy and there was a discussion of various tools used to saw into parts and I literally had tunnel vision.  I thought I was going to black out!  I was disgusted by what my imagination did to the description and at the same time in awe of the powerful writing.

History, mystery, true crime, and science fans thoroughly enjoy The Poisoner's Handbook and mystery fans are sure to be stumped -- at least for a bit -- by The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.

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The Murder of Roger Ackroyd was read for the Truth in Fiction challenge and Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge.

The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York was read for the Truth in Fiction challenge and the Support your Local Library Challenge

Truth in Fiction: Charles Dickens and Our Mutual Friend

This is my first post for my reading challenge that I am hosting (I'm a horrible challenge host) that seeks to pair non-fiction books with novels.  I read Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens in January and I read Claire Tomalin's Dickens biography in February.  Here it is mid-March and I'm finally writing.  Naughty blogger.

I've hesitated on writing because I was trying to figure out what "angle" I wanted to take.  I don't want to recite the life of Charles Dickens and I've already written a review of Our Mutual Friend.  I've decided to not rehash things and instead to talk about where these two books intersect.  First, let me warn you that there will be Our Mutual Friend spoilers galore and so don't read on if you have yet to read the novel.

Our Mutual Friend is Charles Dickens last completed novel before his death in 1870.  Published in a serialized format from 1864-1865, the novel concerns a mysterious death, a will, and -- a favorite topic to Dickens -- money.  This is the novel Dickens had with him when he was involved in the Staplehurst rail crash.  Dickens grabbed his manuscript and managed to help get other passengers to safety.  At the time he was traveling with his mistress Ellen Ternan.  Dickens had been involved in come capacity with Ellen Ternan for some time and he left his wife and mother of his brood of children to be with the young actress Ellen, called Nelly.

It is beyond a doubt that Dickens is a very fine writer and has great compassion for the poor and downtrodden; however, he is human and flawed and his abominable behavior towards his wife was the one glaring lapse of character (of course he had other flaws, but this is the most "public" of his faults).  In reading Tomalin's biography it is interesting to note that Dickens tries very hard to cover-up his faults and to almost talk himself into being faultless.  He assumes a victim like stance rushing towards separation, asking his children to abandon their mother, even taking the younger children from their mother, forcing Catherine Dickens to pretend that all was well and even make social calls to the Ternans.  All the while he raising money for orphans and working to establish and keep up his home for fallen women.  In addition he is doing public readings and writing... still the beloved Boz.

What links Our Mutual Friend to this duplicitous time in his life is the one glaring issues I had with Our Mutual Friend -- the manipulation and lies fed to Bella Wilfer and how it is TOTALLY okay and even joyous in the end.  In my review of Our Mutual Friend I discuss how Bella is duped into thinking that she is marrying John Rokesmith who in fact is John Harmon.  A condition of Harmon's inheritance is that he marry Bella Wilfour. Well, Harmon is thought dead, Bella is released from her engagement to a man she doesn't know, and the Boffins (common and good people) inherit the money.  The Boffins take on Bella as a ward and shower her with affections and gifts.  Enter John Rokesmith (aka Harmon) who is secretary to Mr. Boffin.  Bella and John fall in love; John is kicked out of the home, Bella follows him, they wed, time passes, she has a baby and then one day.  BAM!  John tells Bella who he really is after a ridiculous scene where we learn that the Boffins were "in on it" and knew that Bella was being tested.  John wanted to know that Bella just wasn't after the money and so there was a long period of time where Bella was actively deceived to test her worth.  Most surprising is Bella's reaction.  She isn't angry.  She doesn't question.  She accepts that she needs to put full faith in her husband and trust that all of his lies and deceptions were for her own good.

At the end everyone is happy and smiling and all is right.  And it smacks of falsity.  I think this is pushing it even by Victorian standards of wifely obedience.

So while Dickens is in the midst of trying to be the lovable, fatherly Boz and writing about societal ills and supporting through philanthropy those wronged by selfishness he is engaged in breaking up his home and his wife's heart and carrying on with a much younger actress.  I can't help but think, and this may be a stretch, that Dickens knew he was wrong and sought at every chance to validate his own willingness to deceive with his sense of morality.  This sort of cognitive dissonance is apparent in Bella's thankful attitude towards John and the Boffins deceiving and testing her character through their falseness. 

Once again, I don't have any evidence that this was really on Dickens's mind or that he truly struggled with his poor choices.  I like to think that he knew he was wrong and was seeking a way to make his errors seem not so bad, but I don't know that for sure.  It could just all be a coincidence, but it is interesting to ponder.

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Our Mutual Friend was read for January Charles Dickens month, the Truth in Fiction challenge, Classics Challenge 2012, Victorian Challenge 2012, Tea and Books challenge,  and The TBR Pile Challenge.

Charles Dickens: A Life was read for January Charles Dickens month and the Truth in Fiction challenge

Readerly Rambles: 03/14/2012

What I've Read:
I finished out my February reading by completing Claire Tomalin's Charles Dickens: A Life and Agatha Christie's The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.  Both books were fantastic and it was an excellent close to the month.  I still need to write up my Truth in Fiction challenge review of Tomalin's biography and Our Mutual Friend.  I keep forgetting.  I'm such an awful challenge host.  (pencils in reminder)

What I'm Reading:
I'm nearly done with Deborah Blum's book about the beginnings of forensic science The Poisoner's Bible: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Science in Jazz Age New York.  I cannot believe that a book can be scientific (chemical properties and lab explanations), give an excellent historical/social/political background, detail famous and not so famous murders, and be such a fast read.  I've learned so much -- and not just about poisons, autopsies, prohibition, and such -- but I've learned a bit about what actually went into discovering all these humdinger tests.  I will tell you that this is the first book that made me nearly pass out.  There was a discussion of autopsies, various tools used to saw things, and some horrific internal damage due to poison.  For some reason my brain tried to imagine sound and smell and I had tunnel vision.  Yup.  I'm certainly not seeking a career change at this point in time.

I'm also re-reading Anne Bronte's The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.  I read this in high school because my teacher was frustrated that I'd already read Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre.  She assigned me this Bronte novel.  I remember loving it, but I'm finding it much more complex and rewarding this time around.  Probably because I'm not an idiot high school student.

What's Up Next:
Hopefully by the end of this week I'll finish up my two current reads and crack open The Bronte Myth by Lucasta Miller and The Leavenworth Case by Anna Katherine Green.

Upcoming Adventures in Book Nerding:
 I have a few nerdy projects in the works.  I'm about to do a great big clean-up of my LibraryThing account.  Now that my shelves are all prettified I can attack LibraryThing.  I have updated additions and deletions in ages.

In addition I've started assembling my list of 100 classics for The Classics Club!  I'm super-excited about this so expect a post in the near future. 

Truth in Fiction Challenge

Several weeks ago I was musing on pairs of books, namely fiction books paired with a related non-fiction book.  You can read all about that bookish musing here.  Once I started thinking of fiction and non-fiction pairings I simply couldn't help myself.  I had to make a challenge.

I present to you the TRUTH IN FICTION CHALLENGE!

The Details:
Challenge runs from 01/01/12 - 12/31/2012

Goal:  read a specified number of book pairs that are comprised of one fiction book and one related non-fiction book.  Think outside of the box; the non-fiction book could also be journals, letters, memoirs, etc.... The pairs needn't be exact matches, although there should be an easily detectable common thread.  Overlapping with other challenges is fine.

The catch:   Instead of individual reviews, after each book pair write a joint review.  For example, if I read The Bell Jar  by Sylvia Plath and then The Journals of Sylvia Plath then my review post will be focused on both books.  


Levels:
Freshman:  1 pair
Sophomore: 2 pairs
Junior: 3 pairs
Senior: 4 pairs
Masters: 5 pairs
PhD: 6 pairs
Professor:  7 pairs

Interested?  Leave a comment and with a URL to a post (with or without a book list) or leave me a comment with which level you'll be aspiring to complete. (EDIT: I had a Mr. Linky up and it was giving me fits, so we're back to leaving comments).

Thursday Thirteen: The Truth in Fiction Edition

I'm feeling bookish lately which has led to tons of meandering around on GoodReads  I have more book lists than you can shake a stick at.  Below are some bookish pairs I'd like to read. The first book is fiction and the second book is a non-fiction work that relates -- by varying degrees -- to the fiction books:

Pair #1:  Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens and Charles Dickens: A Life by Claire Tomalin

Pair #2  The Professor by Charlotte Bronte and The Life of Charlotte Bronte by Elizabeth Gaskell

Pair #3:  This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda: A Biography by Nancy Milford

Pair #4:  The Queen of Last Hopes: The Story of Margaret of Anjou by Susan Higginbotham and The Wars of the Roses by Alison Weir

Pair #5:  Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks and London: The Biography by Peter Ackroyd

Pair #6:  The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie and The Poisoners Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York by Deborah Blum

Pair #7:  Love in a Cold Climate by Nancy Mitford and The Sisters:  The Saga of the Miford Family by Mary S. Lovell

Pair #8:  The Black Prince by Iris Murdoch and Iris Murdoch: A Life by Peter J. Conradi

Pair #9:  Autobiography of Henry VIII by Margaret George and The Tudors: The Complete Story of England's Most Notorious Dynasty by G.J. Meyers

Pair #10:  Man and Wife by Wilkie Collins and Wild Romance:  A Victorian Story of a Marriage, a Trial, and a Self-Made Woman by Chole Schama

Pair #11:  All Passion Spent by Vita Sackville-West and The Letters of Vita Sackville-West and Virginia Woolf

Pair #12:  The Complete Shorter Fiction of Virginia Woolf and Virginia Woolf by Hermione Lee

Pair #13:  Richard III by William Shakespeare and Shakespeare's Kings: The Great Plays and the History of England in the Middle Ages 1337-1485 by John Julius Norwich

Readerly Rambles: 08/05/2011

What I've Finished:

My reading has been clipping along at a lovely pace -- well, for me at least -- and I've finished several books in the past month:

• Hotel du Lac by Anita Brookner:  You can read my belated International Brookner Day post here.  I'll certainly be revisiting this author, as I really enjoyed her writing style.  I'm a fan of witty observations paired with quintessentially British characters. 
• The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Allison Hoover Bartlett:  This nonfiction book is about John Gilkey, a man who has stolen over $200,000 worth of rare books and other items.  I was intrigued by the Bartlett's extensive interviews with Gilkey, her chronicling of his thievery and upbringing, the depth of her explanations of the rare book world, and her interviews with Ken Sanders (the rare book dealer who caught Gilkey).  However, I think this book lacked a certain amount of depth.  Hoover repeatedly discusses Gilkey's delusional outlook on life, his desire to "make" his image through book thieving, and his belief that he deserved these stolen goods.  She strongly emphasizes that he seems to have a mental break with reality.  HOWEVER, at no point does she discuss his issues/history with mental health professionals.  The book is a fast and enticing read despite its flaws; I finished the book while sitting in the movie theater awaiting the midnight showing of Harry Potter 7.2.
• Elizabeth I by Margaret George:  Margaret George is my new author crush.  This is the first book I've read by George even though she has been on my TBR pile for ages.  It took a good 50 pages or so for me to get into the book, but once I was in there I didn't want to come up for air!  What I liked most about the novel is that it begins with the Spanish Armada (Drake representin') and covers Elizabeth's later rule and death.  Most books seem to focus on the young Elizabeth and it was fascinating to read a novelization of her later life.  You must read this book!
• The Oxford Book of English Ghost Stories:  I've actually been reading this book off and on since December 2009!  This large volume is filled to bursting with deliciously creepy ghost stories.  Let's just say I will NEVER play hide'n'seek in a house at night EVER (sorry kids). 
• Interlibrary Loan and Document by Lee Andrew Hilyer:  this was a ridiculously concise book on ILL.  I think it is for folks who are totally unacquainted with interlibrary loan.  I picked up one or two things.  Yes, I read it for work and yes, it was infinitely dull.

What I'm Reading:

I have two books going at the moment:

• A Word Child by Iris Murdoch: I adore Iris Murdoch, but I haven't picked up a Murdoch book in ages.  I'm about 100 pages in and all of my favorite Murdochisms are present - pitiful and unlikable characters to which, oddly, I find myself liking, phenomenal feats of language play, wit, dashes of mystery, and dear god her powers of description.  I can't put my finger on why I love her character descriptions so.  There earthy and real; her descriptions of people have this animal quality.  I'm on a mission to find the perfect description to illustrate this aspect of her writing.  More on that in the soonish future.
• Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin:  This is my secondary read.  This book is planted in the nursery by the rocking chair for when I'm nursing and rocking Atticus.  I've only read the first chapter of this novel about Lewis Carroll and his Alice, Alice Liddell.  I haven't read as much because I've developed a habit of dozing when rocking the baby.  I'm intrigued by the novel and slightly uncomfortable.  In the first chapter Alice is a child and mesmerized by Charles Dodgson (aka Lewis Carroll) but there is something certainly creepy about the attraction between the two.

What's Next:

I have a library book and an ILL book on my nightstand to read next.  Jane and Prudence by Barbara Pym (I'm on another Brit. streak) and Vin Packer's pulp novella duo Whisper his Sin / The Evil Friendship.  The Packer story The Evil Friendship is about the Parker-Hulme murder and was part of the inspiration for Heavenly Creatures.

Loads of great reading going on and even more in the future.  Tomorrow I'm taking the kids to the library so I'm sure I'll find a few more books jumping on-board.

Readerly Rambles: 06/29/2011

What I've finished:

Friday night after the kiddos were in bed and Sam was off at the coffee shop, I crawled into bed with Edna St. Vincent Millay.  Well, not the poetess herself, but the wonderful biography by Nancy Milford.  I inhaled the last 200 pages EVEN when I knew that Atticus would most likely be waking throughout the night.  He did wake up a billion and one times, but it was totally worth it.

I've gone from a passing admiration and delight with Edna St. Vincent Millay to an obsession of near Plath-like proportions.  Millay's life makes for good reading: strange family relationships, bohemianism, heartbreak, affairs, gossip, more affairs, illness, and then a few more affairs.  I thought Milford did a good job of not giving in to sensationalism.  The reader see Edna as a full-human; yes, she is a sexually-free person and a damn fine poet, but she is also a mother, sister, wife, friends, etc.... Also, this was a well-balanced book in that Edna was not sainted and not vilified.  Accomplishments and kindness are noted as are the human errors and faults.

Milford briefly lived with Millay's sister, Norma, at Millay's home (Steepletop) while researching.  The biography effectively communicates that closeness:  Edna St. Vincent Millay feels very present in the book and I thought Milford a through researcher and a fabulous writer.

I'm eager to read another biography by Nancy Milford, Zelda: a biography, which is about Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald.  I might actually have to purchase that one!

What I'm reading:

I haven't announced it yet on Fig and Thistle, but I'm participating in International Anita Brookner Day.  I'm about half-way through Hotel du Lac and I'm loving every blessed word.  Anita Brookner, where have you been all my life?  I plan on finishing this week and sharing my thoughts.

What's next:

I know its folly to tackle unwieldy books when there are kiddos afoot, but I'm going to do it anyway.  My next read will be Margaret George's latest Elizabeth I:  A Novel.  It is a library book, so hopefully that will light a fire under my ass to get it read in the next two weeks.

Readerly Rambles

I've finally accepted the fact that I was not meant to be a book blogger.  I keep trying to move towards more bookish blogging, but, frankly, it seems like such a chore.  I'm lucky if I get to read 5 book a month (I collect hobbies like I collect tattoos).  I've hated nearly every ARC sent to me.  I don't give a damn about hosting book giveaways -- especially book giveaways that are thinly masked marketing ploys --  and I am incapable of writing a well-thought out interesting review.  Books are my first passion. Okay, my family is my first passion, but books are a close second.

I'm a nerd with a blog.  Not a book blogger.  Just a sorta blogger who loves books.  Given that I lack the ability/inclination/time to write stunning book reviews, I'm just going to pop-on and occasionally ramble about what I've read.  I might even have sentence fragments or lack transitions or *gasp* say nothing of value.  Whatever.  There are books to be read and no time to dither about structuring elegant prose.

What have I read?  Not much.  I've read about half the number of books I read by this time last year.  Hummmmm.... I wonder why... oh, yes.... Atticus.  Atticus is only my rolypoly baby boy for a tiny window of time and my books will always be there on the shelf.  I can read when he is older.  I will say that what I have read has been CRAZY good.  I don't think I've read a single sucky book.  Yay!

Some of these books I've already discussed here, but for OCD's sake, lets just run down the list starting with...

Silent Woman:  Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes by Janet Malcolm:  I thought about writing a long post on Malcolm's book about attempting to write Plath's biography and dealing with issues of literary estate, memory, and point-of-view, but...... I didn't.   This book is interesting if you are a Plath-fiend, but this book is less about Plath and more about writing biography.  I would teach it in a creative non-fiction class and not in an American lit class.  A very interesting book that will have your brain mulling over interpretations of the past for weeks (months!) afterwards.

Whose Body? by Dorothy Sayers:  meh.  This is the first Lord Peter Wimsey and I do plan on reading the others despite my lukewarm reaction to the book.  A murder mystery involving a body in a bathtub and a bevy of British characters (caricatures) this book was okay in the mystery department, but I was annoyed by the foppish behavior and speech.  I think I had high expectations for this book and was disappointed.

Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens:  I've already blogged this book, but let me express, once more, that I freaking loved it!  Easily my second favorite Dickens' novel.

Sylvia Beach and the Lost Generation by Noel Riley Fitch This book took awhile to finish as it was so dense.  I really loved this book.  More than a biography of Sylvia Beach, this book has so much about Paris and the Lost Generation.  Fans of Joyce, Hemingway and other ex-pat writers will enjoy how Fitch immerses the reader into the streets, bookshops, and cafes of Paris.

The Queen's Man by Sharon Kay Penman:  A historical mystery series in the time of Eleanor Aquitaine written by Penman.  Need I say more?  A definite win.

The Paris Wife by Paula McLain:  This novel concerns Ernest Hemingway's first wife, Hadley Hemingway.  It took me a bit to get into the novel, but after about 50 pages I was hooked.  This story is heartbreaking and no, I still don't feel sorry for Mr. Macho Hemingway.  Being a damned good writer is no reason to be a selfish prick (cough Ted Hughes cough).  I highly recommend this novel, but only if you are in the middle of a healthy marriage.  I imagine this book may be disheartening to single-folk and dismal for miserable married-folk.  Luckily, I read and thanked my lucky stars that Sam is hugely talented as an artist and devoted to me.

Not much reading, but it has all been pretty solid.  Right now I'm reading a book for work about Interlibrary Loan Best Practices (for work, duh) and I'm consumed by an Edna St. Vincent Millay biography.  Hopefully, I'll ramble in a readerly-fashion at least a few times a month.

Remembering September and Looking to October

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October is here and it is one of my most favorite months; I adore fall weather.  September was disappointing as far as autumn goes -- we had temperatures in the upper 80s most of the time.

Now the air truly has a bite of apple crispness and find myself perfectly content to stay home with a large mug of warm milk and and an even bigger book.

Now, for retrospect followed by exciting plans....

Remembering September:

• I began life as a soccer mom (gasp!); and Hope is really loving the sport.  It is so nice to see her working hard and making friends.


• Baking:  a made some fall favorites (pumpkin bars and espresso brownies) and baked a new recipe, Cranberry Honey Drop Cookies.


• The adoption was finalized!  Sam is Hope's daddy for ever and always!


• I began a new embroidery project


• I had a wonderful date day with Sam to Athens.


• Several wonderful trips to the library and a phenomenal library book sale


• Celebrated Sam's 29th birthday


• Began taking Prepared Child Birth Classes


• Readying the nursery!


• Finally I have internet at home


• Craft night with friends featuring yarn, Thai food, coffee and gossip


• Read three books (only three!), Mary Queen of Scots and the Murder of Lord Darnley by Alison Weir, Anatomy of Deception by Lawrence Goldstone, and The Sign of Four by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Looking to October:

• Blogtoberfest! The goal is to post every day in October.  I didn't accomplish this last year, but I sure did post a heck of a lot more.  My goal is to post every day, even if it is a tiny writeup, rant, or link.


• Finishing Sharon Kay Penman's The Sunne in Splendour.  This is a fabulous book, but nearly 1,000 pages long.  This is my "I must finish this book before Atticus gets here" challenge.


• Speaking of Atticus he *might* be here by the end of the month.  Needless to say I'll be nesting, baby prepping, and finishing childbirth class.  I'm looking forward to this being my last month of pregnancy and having my little man soon!


• Thrifting!  Tomorrow is the huge community thrift sale, because of Hope's soccer game I won't make it there until noon so I hope some deals are left.


• Working on my new embroidery project and finishing the blanket for Atticus.


• Organizing my photo albums.  I feel compelled to tackle the box of pictures and put them in order.


• Breaking out the sewing machine


• Making holiday plans and beginning my baking and gift plans early


• READATHON!  Next Saturday!  Yay!


• Staycation!  Hope has fall break week after next and we have plans to see a movie, have lunch with her Dad at work, take walks and watch plentiful amounts of Dark Shadows.


• Possibly a foray into Once a Month Cooking.... possibly


• Organizing my bookshelves.  I'm saving this for my nesting spurt.


• Baking big loaves of crusty bread and making jar after jar of pumpkin butter and apple butter.


• Audiobook stockpile!  I'm stocking up on audio books for when I function as a milk tank in late October / early November.  Pass on any recommendations!

There we have it, lots of stuff to look forward to!  In my immediate future I see a shower and hitting the pillow.  I'm tired and I know I'll be up 5o0 times in the night since Atticus has decided my bladder is the perfect squeeze toy.

Mary, Queen of Scots, and the Murder of Lord Darnley by Alison Weir

I've spoken before of my childhood obsession with Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots.  I went back and forth between the two queens anxiously trying to align my loyalties, but I remained conflicted.  Even my immature ten-year old self could see that Mary, Queen of Scots was ruled by emotion, far too trusting, and was no match to Queen Elizabeth's brilliance.  I guess you could say that my head was for Queen Elizabeth (pun intended) but my heart went out to Mary.

I picked up Alison Weir's focused biography of Mary, Queen of Scots on a whim.  The cover was pretty and I've been so immersed in The War of the Roses, that I hadn't thought about Mary in quite some time.  I was quickly captivated by Weir's analysis of Mary.  In fact, I read the last 200 pages in one sitting; something I never accomplish with most non-fiction.

Weir's book specifically follows the events leading up to and following the murder of Lord Darnley, Mary's second husband and father of King James I of England.  Essentially, Mary was raised in French courts (which didn't go over well in Scotland), found herself in the midst of religious conflict (the Reformation and Counter-Reformation) and was manipulated by nearly every man close to her (Lord Darnley, her third husband Lord Bothwell, and her entire council), and was far too trusting of her dear cousin Queen Elizabeth.

She witnessed the murder of a trusted servant, had numerous plots against her life, was a victim of kidnapping and imprisonment several times over, suffered from grave illnesses and a miscarriage, and was reviled as a harlot and murder when all was said and done.

Weir does an excellent job of reclaiming Mary's reputation; Mary made many mistakes and showed poor judgment, but Weir points out that she had very little options available.  Protecting her heir, her honor, her throne, and her health was complicated by the fact that she was being manipulated by those in positions of trust.

Conjectures and explanations are not the only proofs offered in Mary's defense.  Weir carefully cross-examines each piece of evidence -- especially in the case of the infamous Casket Letters -- contemporary letters, journals, and accounts are double-checked for inaccuracies, contradictions are traced, translations reexamined, and personal vendettas aired.

At the close of the book, it is apparent that Mary did not have a hand in murdering her husband, but, rather, Darnley was murdered by the very men who tried to pin the murder on Mary.

Mary, Queen of Scots, and the Murder of Lord Darnley, is truly enlightening and reads as smooth and as fast-paced as fiction.  I will certainly be checkout more of Weir's non-fiction work in the future.

Notes on a Cold, Solitude, and The Weekend

On a Cold

My allergy-induced illness turned into a dreadful cold by Wednesday evening.  Being pregnant, I was advised to only take Benadryl (Zyrtec did nothing).  Benadryl affects me like a gallon of gin; I spent Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday in a daze, with more boogers than one human should have in a lifetime, and plagued by a cold, clammy sweat that wouldn't go away.

By Friday afternoon I was barely caught up at work, dehydrated, having contractions (again) and ready to quit my job and join the circus.  No one was at work (nearly half the staff out or at meetings) and someone pooped on the floor of the bathroom.  Yes, a college student shat on the floor AND WALKED THROUGH IT.  I conducted 2 trainings, handled a mess of interlibrary loan requests, and pondered "why-in-the-hell-is-an-academic-library-running-like-a-Fortune-500-company."  I've had enough of meaningless meetings, self-important garble, and statistics. Work was stressful.  One desperate call to the OB/GYN later, and I was armed with a new medication, Zyrtec-D, and instructions to hydrate and rest.

I came home, showered, drank an entire bottle of SmartWater in one go, medicated and flopped into bed for a wonderful two-hour nap.  Sam -- awesome husband that he is -- handled soccer practice, dinner, and playing with Hope so I could rest.  I awoke feeling worlds better.  The contractions died down as did my work rage concerns.

On Solitude

I'm in a weird place right now that only my introvert friends will understand.  For the past 6 weeks I've had least three social events a week (school meetings, dinners with family and friends, baby showers, outings, chatting at the coffee shop, etc...).  I adore my friends and love spending time with them, but I crave a weekend of solitude with my family.  I'm avoiding the phone, endeavoring to avoid Facebook, and trying my best to engage in hermitude.

As a fan of the Meyers-Brigg Personality Assessment (I'm an INFJ) I can tell you that extroverts and introverts handle social activity very differently.  Extroverts are energized by social engagements, Introverts are typically exhausted by social engagements.  Not in a negative way, we enjoy time with friends, we just need solitude to recharge and refresh.

Of course this could just be a quirk of pregnancy making me crave solitude with family.  Atticus will be here in 9 weeks and each weekend is fastly filling up with social engagements.  I need some quiet time to read, think, sleep, and cuddle with my family before I have those sleepless nights of breastfeeding stretching out before me.  Have any other mothers experienced this?

On the Weekend

This weekend will be marvelous:  Sam and Hope are out playing soccer, Autumn is certainly in the air, and I'm sitting in a cushy chair at Starbucks sipping a pumpkin spice latte.  Plans for later include the family finishing up a challenging owl jigsaw puzzle, flopping on the couch to watch Where the Wild Things Are, and munching on popcorn.  When Hope is in bed I plan on finishing up Alison Weir's Mary Queen of Scots and the Murder of Lord Darnley.  Tomorrow we have plans to do the weekly grocery shopping, make baby shower thank-you cards, and take a trip to the library.

Alright, I'm off to resume my Hobbit-esque weekend!

Remembering August and Looking to September

Yesterday Hope stayed home from school because of a sore throat, sinus headache and some sniffles.  By two in the afternoon she was feeling much better and I began feeling crappy.  My throat hurts and I've been blowing my nose in Starbucks for the past hour (I'm sure the other customers are more than thrilled).

While I was feeling ill yesterday, I flipped through my journal and found something interesting.  On January 31st I listed accomplishments and memories from the month and then made another list of things I was looking forward to in September.  Seasonal allergies aside, there are many exciting things happening in September and August was a good month for me so I thought I'd revive the list.

Remembering August:

[caption id="attachment_199" align="alignright" width="246" caption="Sam's DIY Dali moustache..."][/caption]

• completed a 48-hour readathon


• baking - I made peanut butter bars, espresso brownies, strawberry peach cookies, and banana bread


• my friends Catherine and Shannon threw me a WONDERFUL baby shower


• lots of dinners and hanging out with friends


• another ultrasound and Atticus kicking and flipping like mad


• days at the pool with Sam and Hope


• Arcade Fire concert


• began crocheting a baby blanket


• Hope started the 5th grade and has really matured over the summer


• lovely stay-cation at the beginning of the month


• read 5 books (The House at Riverton, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Manservant and Maidservant, The Stolen Crown, and Time Among the Dead)


• made several trips to the library


• paid off a medical bill


• finished an embroidery project
  
  [caption id="attachment_200" align="alignright" width="246" caption="Pumpkin Spice Latte Time!"][/caption]


• saw the Dali exhibit at the High Museum of Art

Looking to September:

• another baby shower


• Hope's soccer season begins


• Carl's R.I.P reading challenge (more on that later)


• finishing the baby blanket


• Autumn baking (pumpkin and apple everything)


• leaves changing and cooler breezes


• breaking out my Docs


• getting internet at the house (hopefully next week)


• baking bread with friends


• completing the nursery


• adoption finalized


• library book sale


• new embroidery projects


• pumpkin spice lattes


• black fingernail polish


• childbirth class


• crafting thank you cards


• paying off my credit cards


• Sam's 29th birthday

I'm ready, September!

In the words of Eddie Vedder, "I'm still alive"

I can't believe I haven't blogged since Wednesday!  The last half of my week off from work flew by.  I accomplished a great deal, but, alas, I didn't have the time, energy, or any real inclination to blog.

So what did I do from Wednesday evening until today?

• Started a biography of Mary Queen of Scots


• baked Snickerdoodle cupcakes


• had my friend, Meghan, over for dinner


• went to lunch with my friend Erin and Hope


• bought the new Arcade Fire album and obsessively listened to it


• purchased yarn for a baby blanket and began furiously crocheting


• watched several movies with Sam


• had a day at the pool with Sam and Hope (I'm slightly burned)


• went to dinner with Sam and Hope


• cleaned the house


• did massive grocery shopping


• reorganized the pantry


• finished back to school shopping


• packed Hope off for her first day as a fifth grader


• packed Sam off at for his new job


• went back to work after 9 days of vacation and tried to catch up on work

WHEW!  I'm tired and amazed that summer vacation has flown by so quickly.   Between the two of us, I'm a bit glad that I'm back to my regular schedule.  I miss my routine and I honestly feel like I get more done when I have some order in my life.  Alright folks, I've a busy week this week but I am determined to get some reading done.