My faceless neighbor spoke up: “Don't be deluded. Hitler has made it clear that he will annihilate all Jews before the clock strikes twelve.”
I explod
My faceless neighbor spoke up: “Don't be deluded. Hitler has made it clear that he will annihilate all Jews before the clock strikes twelve.”
I exploded: “What do you care what he said? Would you want us to consider him a prophet?”
His cold eyes stared at me. At last, he said wearily: “I have more faith in Hitler than in anyone else. He alone has kept his promises, all his promises, to the Jewish people."
the sheer bleak helplessness in this short memoir is fucking devastating. ...more
3.75 stars, including my scholarly notes: [image] SPQR is broken up by topics rather than chronology, which made it easy to pick up and put down as I h3.75 stars, including my scholarly notes: [image] SPQR is broken up by topics rather than chronology, which made it easy to pick up and put down as I had time, but also impeded my ability to create a coherent image of when things where happening. The Roman Empire was around for a long ass time, my dudes. Everitt does also provide an abbreviated timeline at the end, but ain't nobody got time for flip-flopping back and forth....more
He regarded me seriously. “Not bad. What’s your name?” “You know my name.” “Your full name.” “Marie-Josephe-Rose.” “Joseph is your father’s name?” “Wa
He regarded me seriously. “Not bad. What’s your name?” “You know my name.” “Your full name.” “Marie-Josephe-Rose.” “Joseph is your father’s name?” “Was.” “Was he a good man?” I smiled. Hardly. “A very good man.” “Very well, I shall call you Josephine, after the heroine in Le Sourd. Have you seen it?” “My name is Rose.” “You are mistaken."
3.75 stars. Napoleone, as noted by history, was kind of a dick.
If you are looking for a grand tale of passion between Napoleon Bonaparte and Rose (Joséphine de Beauharnais), you should try elsewhere. This novel, the first in a trilogy, starts with Rose as a young teenager in Martinique but her life truly begins when she marries Alexandre de Beauharnais, an aristocrat-cum-politician, at the age of 17.
In epistolary format, she chronicles her terror and worry as she desperately tries to keep her family safe and together during the French Revolution, bargaining with all the political capital she has, even as she is imprisoned in Carmes. Napoleone doesn't become a feature until the very end, after (view spoiler)[Alexandre is sent to the guillotine and she has two (relatively) unsuccessful amourettes with powerful men. (hide spoiler)]
The quote above really exemplifies the relationship between Rose and Napoleone; he is driven and odd and socially flat, while she tries to figure him out. They're friends of a sort by the end of the novel, married at the behest of Rose's former lover and Napoleone's mentor. Rose is intrigued by Napoleone's intensity, but there's no real love there. As an "aging" (32) widow with two children and less money than expenses, her decision is much more practical than romance. Napoleone claims to desperately love her, but was also offered an army to drive the Austrians out of Italy in exchange for this marriage, so who's to say?...more
Little known fact about me: I adore etiquette books. Rules of a society broken down in bite-sized pieces, just waiting to be used for someone's historLittle known fact about me: I adore etiquette books. Rules of a society broken down in bite-sized pieces, just waiting to be used for someone's historically accurate and violently graphic monsterotica? (Or, like, literary fiction, I guess.)
This is an amalgamation of Professor Hill's advice, written originally in the last quarter of the nineteenth century, aimed at the American and English public.
[Hill] literally defined the lifestyle of a generation, a lifestyle against which the rascals of the Roaring Twenties would ultimately rebel.
Drinking, dancing and profanity are a lot of fun - I think Professor Hill was missing out.
Most of what you'll find here is either common sense ("Never pick your teeth or clean your nails in company") or the prudish conservative values you expect from the era ("Never allow the conversation at the table to drift into anything but chitchat. The consideration of deep and abstruse principles will impair digestion.")
Some, though, are an interesting look at a culture that may not be so foreign as we think, despite their fussy dinner rules. In a case of Victorians: They're Just Like Us!, I present their version of craigslist's missed connections:
Wow wow wow. I would read a thousand more books about Daniel and Archie, oh my goodness. Mystery, snark and tight breeches. This was infinitely hotterWow wow wow. I would read a thousand more books about Daniel and Archie, oh my goodness. Mystery, snark and tight breeches. This was infinitely hotter than most m/m fiction I have read and it only features blowjobs and frottage.
I can appreciate this story for what it is, but that doesn't stop me from wanting to slap both Misha and Janina. My knowledge of what was going to hapI can appreciate this story for what it is, but that doesn't stop me from wanting to slap both Misha and Janina. My knowledge of what was going to happen made it frustrating to read how little they took seriously. Clearly I expect too much from children....more
![The Time-Travellers' Handbook: How to be the Best in Time and Space [Mar 19, 2009] Stride, Lottie](https://cdn.statically.io/img/i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1347724198l/6438075._SY75_.jpg)
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