The Etruscan, first published in 2004, went out of print but is now being revived. I received a copy from BookSirens and this is what I think:
Linda LaThe Etruscan, first published in 2004, went out of print but is now being revived. I received a copy from BookSirens and this is what I think:
Linda Lappin loves to write historical fiction. In an interview in Art in Fiction, Lappin states:
"I have published four historical novels: The Etruscan, Katherine’s Wish, Signatures in Stone, and Loving Modigliani: The Afterlife of Jeanne Hébuterne. All four books deal with artists or writers of the early 20th century, three were inspired by my encounters with Italian art, and all four explore how we live beyond time through the arts."
I had read Loving Modigliani and loved it. When presented with a free copy of The Etruscan, I jumped at the chance to read it. I am so glad that I did.
It is 1922. An American photographer, Harriet Sacket, travels to Italy to photograph Etruscan tombs. There she meets the enigmatic Count Federigo del Re. She documents her work and her relationship to the Count in a diary, later read by her cousin and his wife, Stephen and Sarah.
Stephen's take on the diary:
"Harriet is suffering from what are clinically called delusions. That diary of hers… is a classic account of hallucinations and derangement".
Sarah's Take:
"Nonsense! I think it must be a novel. A gothic novel based on something she has personally experienced."
Is the story in the diary true or just a 'delusion'?
Read the book and find out!!
5 stars
For Linda's description of her four novels, please read the interview:
"I have published four historical novels: The Etruscan, Katherine’s Wish, Signatures in Stone, and Loving Modigliani: The Afterlife of Jeanne Hébuterne. All four books deal with artists or writers of the early 20th century, three were inspired by my encounters with Italian art, and all four explore how we live beyond time through the arts."
I had read Loving Modigliani and loved it. When presented with a free copy of The Etruscan, I jumped at the chance to read it. I am so glad that I did.
It is 1922. An American photographer, Harriet Sacket, travels to Italy to photograph Etruscan tombs. There she meets the enigmatic Count Federigo del Re. She documents her work and her relationship to the Count in a diary, later read by her cousin and his wife, Stephen and Sarah.
Stephen's take on the diary:
"Harriet is suffering from what are clinically called delusions. That diary of hers... is a classic account of hallucinations and derangement".
Sarah's Take:
"Nonsense! I think it must be a novel. A gothic novel based on something she has personally experienced."
Is the story in the diary true or just a 'delusion'?
Read the book and find out!!
5 stars
For Linda's description of her four novels, please read the interview:
Seventeen people have written treatises on hope and there is a gem in each one.
Each story describes a persHope Does Not Disappoint
Nor does this book!!
Seventeen people have written treatises on hope and there is a gem in each one.
Each story describes a personal experience of hope followed by a FOCUS and a REFLECTION or call to ACTION.
My takeaways:
Those with hope are willing to act. Those without hope are content to wish.
Proximate hopes are connected to our everyday desires and dreams. Ultimate hope is a theological virtue and is directly connected to the meaning of our life.
I’ve gone to church my whole life, and it never occurred to me to wonder how much my parish could accomplish if we helped pick up the crosses of those in need right in front of us.
The name Nadia is Polish for “hope.”
Hope is the theological virtue that enables us to keep our eyes on heaven—even during those times when our sufferings and trials make our lives here on earth seem like a living hell.
If God can make a saint out of an ordinary man like Padre Pio, he can do the same thing with you and me.
Final thought:
I am in my twilight years having every earthly thing I want. As a Catholic, I am bolstered by the thoughts of this book. My hopes are for spiritual outcomes, not earthly ones.
5 stars
Merged review:
Hope Does Not Disappoint
Nor does this book!!
Seventeen people have written treatises on hope and there is a gem in each one.
Each story describes a personal experience of hope followed by a FOCUS and a REFLECTION or call to ACTION.
My takeaways:
Those with hope are willing to act. Those without hope are content to wish.
Proximate hopes are connected to our everyday desires and dreams. Ultimate hope is a theological virtue and is directly connected to the meaning of our life.
I’ve gone to church my whole life, and it never occurred to me to wonder how much my parish could accomplish if we helped pick up the crosses of those in need right in front of us.
The name Nadia is Polish for “hope.”
Hope is the theological virtue that enables us to keep our eyes on heaven—even during those times when our sufferings and trials make our lives here on earth seem like a living hell.
If God can make a saint out of an ordinary man like Padre Pio, he can do the same thing with you and me.
Final thought:
I am in my twilight years having every earthly thing I want. As a Catholic, I am bolstered by the thoughts of this book. My hopes are for spiritual outcomes, not earthly ones.
I read this book or should I say skimmed this book for book club. Out of the six who came to discuss the book, I was the only one who did not appreciaI read this book or should I say skimmed this book for book club. Out of the six who came to discuss the book, I was the only one who did not appreciate it. I am not saying the book was poorly written only that the characters had so many problems with their personalities, I was put off. I realize, too, that I do not appreciate as I should, most books that are not in my favorite genre, historical fiction. I will not rate this book since I did not finish.
You might like the book because I am told there are many funny parts. Also a complicated story line gets neatly tied up at the end, so I am told!!
Your book really touched me and I want to share it with the world!!
The Characters Tacker Hart has come home disgraced, from NigerDear Elaine Neil Orr,
Your book really touched me and I want to share it with the world!!
The Characters Tacker Hart has come home disgraced, from Nigeria to Winston Salem. He might be disgraced, but he did learn how to treat African Americans in an empathetic way while he was there. Kate Monroe needs answers. She goes on a quest to find them. She is the love interest for Tacker. They both encounter Gaines Townson, an African American, who believes that nonviolence is the answer.
Sometimes the interaction among these three was not perfect, but you described them so well, and I loved them just the same.
Swimming!! The story itself 'swims' between what happened in Nigeria and what is happening in North Carolina. And then there is the swimming pool...
Location I met my husband in Charlotte and loved to go to Winston Salem to shop, dine and see the sites (The Wachovia Building- now Wells Fargo- was a favorite).
The Writing I especially loved these quotes both from Chapter 1
“If working at Hart’s as a teenager had instilled in Tacker a sense of democracy (“Meet every customer with respect,” his father had said, though now Tacker could see that not everyone was actually included), football had taught him fair play, a concept also apparently defunct.”
”He (Tacker) figured himself a pilgrim out to slay the dragon of his failure.”
Of course, I liked other quotes too, but I want to leave it to your new readers to find them on their own.
Sadly, my library does not even have a copy of your wonderful book. And my library branch is the Martin Luther King branch. If they will accept it, I will give them my copy as a donation. This book should be easily accessible to all.
This is the first book you have authored that I have read. Needless to say, it will not be my last.
Sincerely, Celia Phillips
5 shining stars
Merged review:
Dear Elaine Neil Orr,
Your book really touched me and I want to share it with the world!!
The Characters Tacker Hart has come home disgraced, from Nigeria to Winston Salem. He might be disgraced, but he did learn how to treat African Americans in an empathetic way while he was there. Kate Monroe needs answers. She goes on a quest to find them. She is the love interest for Tacker. They both encounter Gaines Townson, an African American, who believes that nonviolence is the answer.
Sometimes the interaction among these three was not perfect, but you described them so well, and I loved them just the same.
Swimming!! The story itself 'swims' between what happened in Nigeria and what is happening in North Carolina. And then there is the swimming pool...
Location I met my husband in Charlotte and loved to go to Winston Salem to shop, dine and see the sites (The Wachovia Building- now Wells Fargo- was a favorite).
The Writing I especially loved these quotes both from Chapter 1
“If working at Hart’s as a teenager had instilled in Tacker a sense of democracy (“Meet every customer with respect,” his father had said, though now Tacker could see that not everyone was actually included), football had taught him fair play, a concept also apparently defunct.”
”He (Tacker) figured himself a pilgrim out to slay the dragon of his failure.”
Of course, I liked other quotes too, but I want to leave it to your new readers to find them on their own.
Sadly, my library does not even have a copy of your wonderful book. And my library branch is the Martin Luther King branch. If they will accept it, I will give them my copy as a donation. This book should be easily accessible to all.
This is the first book you have authored that I have read. Needless to say, it will not be my last.
Loading...
