General Chat

Please review:
Daughters of Fire, Dreamers of the day and Half of a yellow sun

Review Barbara Erskine Daughters of Fire.

I have never yet read a book by Barbara Erskine that I didn’t enjoy. And she didn’t disappoint with this one. A great tale combining history and the present day, atmospheric, intriguing and exciting reading. Quite spooky as well with the spirits of the past taking over the people of the present day. A really good read.

from Helen

have been away staying at ( computer-less) relatives for 10 days. I took "Dreamers of the Day" with me and, although I haven't been able to finish it yet, I really like it.

I was interested to read of the American woman Agnes Shanklin meeting up with famous figures from British history and of the conversations ensuing between the various characters. I studied this era in history at school and, as a schoolgirl, found it dull but this book makes it all much more intelligble to me. I am hoping there is a happy ending for the spinster school teacher....I love the language. There are some great one-liners and if any of you haven't manage to get hold of this book I suggest you persevere as, politic apart, it is very enjoyable.

The book is essentially a travelogue but the politics is key as it details the story of the creation of the modern middle eastern states. I did "switch off" a couple of times but I am determined to finish the story and then re-read it, something I often do.

I also received the Barbara Erskine book but I haven't managed to read this yet.

Half a Yellow Sun.

Have only read a few pages so far.
Will review if and when I finish it.
Have to confess, that although so far it has been well written, I have been reading with trepidation, as I still remember the news in the 1960's about the genocide that went on. So am rather dreading what will happen.

Tess

Daughters of Fire by Babara Erskine

This was one of the bppks that I voted for and I really looked forward to reading it. It moe than lived up to my expectations.
I was swept along by the story, even at times wanted to call out a word of warning to Viv.
Although for a short while I was a bit irritated by the sudden change of charecter from Viv, to Cartimundua and back again, I soon realised that this was aploy to make the reader feel what Viv was feeling, out of control, scared and intrigued all at the same time.
The tussle between Hugh and Venutios seemed very real and I felt quite sorry for Hugh, being in a situation, not of his making.
A historical novel with a difference.

A gripping story - if it was a film, I would have bee sitting on the edge of my seat, wanting everything to turn out well.

Dreams of the day by Mary Doria Russell

Clever mixture of fact (history and politics of the day) and fiction would have one almost believing that Agnes Shanklin was indeed in Egypt with Winston Churchill et al. The outbreak of the dreaded Black Flu which was indeed a Black November in 1918 for NZ (my grandmother died of it at the age of 28 she was also pregnant at the time so was probably more vunerable to the dreaded lurgy) was something I am well familiar with in my genealogical history. The author has some very poetic prose and whilst I started out dallying and dallying as it didn’t really grip me (more used to thrillers or travel books etc) I did warm to the story everything that happened could very well have happened. Some mothers were like Agnes’s mother – but I think and hope that such practices are a past generations trait. I also googled the photo and did indeed find it. I wonder who those two people standing there really were.


Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Well here we go again a mixture of fact and fiction, but I do think we were spared some of the more horrific aspects of the Nigerian Civil War in 1967 -1970. I was here in NZ at the time enjoying my teens to twenties years with much vigour and was somewhat oblivious to the goings on over in Biafra. I would say we were far more aware of Idi Amin and the Ugandan genocide than Nigeria. Again I googled it – I had not realised when I started to read the book that the title was the Republic of Benin Flag.
The author has done a lovely job of interweaving the two sisters, their lives, Ugwu and the delightful Harrison into the trials and tribulations of Biafra.

Neither were books that I would normally pick up and read – but both were easy to read and one was not bogged down with too much information.

Have also read The Girl who Played with Fire – once again hated being interrupted – Salander is definitely a force to be reckoned with. Now have the third book on order.


Persey

As I told Ann earlier, my little village library couldn't get Dreamers of the Day or Daughters of Fire, so I was just left with Half a Yellow Sun which I had been given by a friend.

At first, not realising what it was about, I couldn't "get into it". Although I recalled the reports on the Biafran war, at the time of happening I was fully occipied with a new baby and so I have, after persevering and I must admit enjoying the read, I have also been educated which I like to happen.Although a good part was true and was interspersed with fiction, I felt I had gotten to kn ow the characters and felt their desperation , their commitment to the cause and their hope for the future, which unfortunately was shattered. I would definitely read this authors work again.

Dreamers of the Day by Mary Doria Russell

Agnes Shanklin was a seemingly staid, sensible straight-forward sort of woman - but inside was an adventurer waiting to get out.
When her world crumbled around her as the result of The Great War and the catastrophe of the Flu epidemic, which killed all her family, instead of collapsing under adversity she stepped out into a New World.
Initially ablely assisted and encouraged by the resolute and sparkling Milrded a shop assistant in a Top womans clothes shop. (and friend of Bob Hope).
Agnes got a complete new wardrobe and started her holiday of a lifetome.

I was educated and enlightened by what she learned. So much of the information about the Middle east was new to me - but I feel that it shouldn't have been, my school education seems to have been sadly lacking.

Her view of the (famous) people she met was amusing. I especially liked the way she came to decisions - her ols self (in the guise of her mother) v her new self (in the guise of Magnificent Mildred) vying for the upper hand in her consience.
I was entertained by Thompson's "French" description of what he had observed.
Through Agnes, we met many famous people, I was intrigued by Gertrude Bell- who seems to have been a person of much importance and influence - and yet I had never heard of her.
I found the ending to be very different, it took me by surprise.
Generally a good story (with a lot of facts) which held my interest to the end.

Sadly I only managed to get Daughters of Fire this time as our local library has been closed for refurbishment.
There is always a slightly creepy edge to Barbara Erskine's books, just enough to put you a little on edge but not enough to make you too uncomfortable. This was another book set in two time frames: a style I enjoy when they are well linked together and these were. The characters were well defined, the history seemed well researched and it made me want to visit the area- though I would leave any brooches at home!
I think you are right , it could make a really exciting film.
Pam

Thank you for some good reviews. My original review of daughters of fire written immediately after I finished it is locked in my old pc which crashed, I had to re-review it from a 'distance' so maybe didn't put as much in as I would have memory being what it is. A film of the book would be great I agree.

I was reading Daughters of Fire whilst still unwell and irritable, so I allow that I didn't put as much into reading as I may do if I get back to it. I was happy to shelve it when Half a Yellow Sun finally arrived. I have not yet finished reading it, it does bring back memories and although a mixture of fiction wrapped around fact, I was interested because I was 'busy rearing a family' at the time and didn't have all the facts. I am finding it very interesting and informative.

Haven't quite finished reading Daughters of Fire yet, will be back to do both reviews.

I read Daughters of Fire and have read most of Barbara Erskine's books.
I did enjoy reading this but from the start you could see who was going to be the "baddie" in fact I got to the stage where I was flicking through the modern day bits and then really enjoying the chapters about Cartimandua. Think I would of preferred the book to just of been about her as the other bits were to predictable .
I still think Lady of Hay a far better read but that one was even better reading a second time around so perhaps Daughters of Fire needs a second reading sometime in the future.
Sorry, only one was read as had two trips away.

x Jill