Dark Angels by Karleen Koen

Dark Angels by Karleen Koen

Having just read the two British historical novels by Ken Follett, I happened across this book and decided to continue my reading about British history. This novel is very different from the two Follett novels; it is much more a romance novel and less a historical novel, although it is based on certain historical events. This book is about Charles II of England, who ruled England from 1660-1685, following the Protectorate of Oliver Cromwell. This novel is a prequel to Koen's bestselling Through a Glass Darkly and its sequel, Now Face to Face.

This book is primarily about the court of Charles II. The protagonist, a young woman named Alice Verney, a maid of honor to the Queen, is the vehicle for describing the machinations of the court as the King spends most of his time and energy collecting mistresses and seeking pleasure in their entertainment. Evidently the book is based on actual historical characters and actual historical events, and it seems to be an accurate description of a King whose reign seems to have been focused on sexual pleasures and has been described by historians as a playboy sex-fiend. The book describes the disdain with which the King treated the Queen, and the constant plotting by individuals at court as they tried to gain favor with the King.

Although the book may provide an accurate description of the court of King Charles II, I found the book less about history and more simply a romantic intrigue. Once again, I found myself thinking of the remarkable differences between men and women writers. Women usually write from the perspective of the women in the story, and men usually write from the perspective of the men in the story. Women write more about people and feelings, and men write more about events. I suspect that women would enjoy this book more than men; I think of it almost as "chick lit".

P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern

P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern

In her 1969 book, On Death and Dying, Elizabeth Kubler-Ross described the “Five Stages of Grief” that individuals experience when facing a loss in their lives, whether the loss is the loss of a loved one or a personal loss, such as the loss of a job. In her first book, Cecelia Ahern wrote about a young woman, Holly Kennedy, who lost her husband, Gerry, to cancer. Holly experienced all of the Kubler-Ross stages of grief, although the book ends before she reaches the final stage, acceptance. Her journey is agonizing, as it is in real life.

The premise of this book is very interesting, for Holly’s loving husband knew that he was going to die, and he loved Holly enough to help her through the grieving process after his death. He left a series of envelopes for her, one to be opened each month, each requesting Holly to take some specific action that would help her deal with her loss. Holly also finds, as we all do, that our family and friends help us deal with our grieving. Holly also found new friends to help her, as occurs in life.

This book is sad. It is not a happy book. But it is a helpful book in that it shows us what the grieving process is like, and it gives us hope that somehow we will make it through to the end point of acceptance of our loss. Of course, we never come to accept fully a deep loss. The grief remains with us forever.

P.S. I Love You

World Without End by Ken Follett

World Without End by Ken Follett

The second of Ken Follett's epic historical novels, World Without End is set in England in the 14th century period of 1327 to 1361. This book is set in the same fictional town as Follett's previous book, Pillars of the Earth -- Kingsbridge -- with the same backdrop of the Kingsbridge priory, two hundred years later. The book begins with the death of Edward II in 1327, passes through the beginning of the Hundred Years War in 1337, and describes the devastation of the initial stages of the Black Plague.

This book follows the same format as Pillars of the Earth -- a young man and a young woman are the central characters, both of whom are more intelligent than anyone else. These two characters lead the advances that occur in the historical period. The story includes villains who generally make life miserable for everyone else, and who depict the way in which the monarchy controlled and enslaved the population during that period. The story also includes the role of the church in controlling and enslaving the population. In describing the Black Plague, the story particularly describes the first steps in advancing medical science, and the terrible resistance of the church in accepting new ideas. As I have no knowledge of that historical period, I have to assume some level of accuracy in the historical descriptions in the book. I was struck by the minuscule advances in civilization in the two hundred years between the two books.

Like Pillars of the Earth, this book is a long soap opera, following the daily lives of the characters. The characters were well developed, and their stories were interesting. I was not put off by the length of the book; indeed, I found that I enjoyed coming back to it again and again, as someone watching a soap opera. I did not expect great literature, but I did enjoy the characters, the story, and the lessons in the history of that period. I also liked the way that Follett tied everything up at the end, leaving the reader feeling good. The only negative I felt as I read the book was Follett's descriptions of sex -- for some reason he used gross male terminology. I found this terminology out of place with the rest of the story, and felt that he could have used much better terminology while describing the same actions.