The Painted Girls
by Cathy Marie Buchanan
Narrated by Cassandra Campbell, Julia Whelan, Danny Cambell
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Blackstone Audiobooks
Publish Date: January 10, 2013
Format: Audio, 12 hours | 15 minutes
Audio Listening Level: Easy – Intermediate
Rating: 4 of 5
Based on the real life story of the Van Goethem sisters, Antoinette, Marie and Charlotte, The Painted Girls is a poignant account of life in the underclass in late 19th century Paris.
With the sudden death of their father and their mother sinking into absinthe addiction, the two oldest the Van Goethem sisters are forced to find work or face eviction from their apartment. Marie, the real life inspiration for the Degas sculpture Little Dancer of Fourteen Years, works as a model while training for the ballet. Antoinette, unable to make the cut with the ballet and unwilling to work at the laundry, one of the few occupations available to her, finds it easier to associate with men of questionable morles and a lead a life of sexual promiscuity.
Woven into the story is also an account of a string of murders and a trial which occurred in the city during the same time period. While the author admits there is no evidence the girls actually knew the accused murder, Emile Abadie, Antoinette’s involvement, and at times obsession, with him makes for a riveting addition to this historical novel.
The story is told in alternating chapters from the point of view of Marie and Antoinette with occasional interludes about the murders and Emile’s trial. The writing is richly detailed and the subject well-research. While at times depressing and bleak, the story is also captivating with a lush sense of the glory and gaiety of the ballet and the late 1800s Paris. Vivid and striking, the story comes to life.
The audio production, performed by Cassandra Campbell, Julia Whelan and Danny Campbell, is superb. Cassandra Campbell voices the older, experienced Antoinette while Whelan brings us the younger, less mature, Marie. Danny Campbell narrates the interludes and reads news articles from The Figaro with updates about the murders and the trial of Emile Abadie with a documentary-like style.
Overall an engaging novel sure to captivate historical fiction fans and the many who enjoy a story set in Paris.
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Source: Review copy provided by Blackstone Audio through Audiobook Jukebox.
© 2013 Under My Apple Tree. All rights reserved.
When I mention sparrows most people think of the common backyard House Sparrow, a European species brought to New York in 1851, and not related to the native North American sparrows.
Here are a few of our native sparrows that were nice enough to pose for me last week. I see the White-throated Sparrow and American Tree Sparrow in the winter when they migrate to a warmer climate. The Song Sparrow is a year-round resident here.
White-throated Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Alyce at At Home With Books. Visit her blog to see more great photos or add your own.
© 2013 Under My Apple Tree. All rights reserved.
Almost wordless: Only 27 more days until spring.
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More Wordless Wednesday. © 2013 Under My Apple Tree. All rights reserved.
Bone Bed
by Patricia Cornwell
Narrated by Kate Burton
Genre: Crime/Thriller
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Publish Date: October 16, 2012
Format: Audio, 12 hours | 53 minutes
Audio Listening Level: Intermediate
Rating: 3½ of 5
Publisher’s Synopsis:
A woman has vanished while digging a dinosaur bone bed in the remote wilderness of Canada. Somehow, the only evidence has made its way to the inbox of Chief Medical Examiner Kay Scarpetta, over two thousand miles away in Boston. She has no idea why. But as events unfold with alarming speed, Scarpetta begins to suspect that the paleontologist’s disappearance is connected to a series of crimes much closer to home: a gruesome murder, inexplicable tortures, and trace evidence from the last living creatures of the dinosaur age.
My Thoughts:
I read many of the early Scarpetta novels and eagerly anticipated each new installment in the series. But, as sometimes happens with a recurring character, I got tired of them and moved on to something else. Last year I had the opportunity to review Red Mist, the 19th book in the series, and found that I still enjoyed Kay Scarpetta.
Now Chief Medical Examiner, Scarpetta is still sharp and Cornwell’s writing is fast-paced and interesting with the forensic detail I enjoy. The main story, the murders, and solving the mystery of the serial killer, had enough complexity to keep me guessing and kept me engaged throughout the book.
This is the 20th Scarpetta novel, and one of the problems with a series that has this many installments is intertwining the back story in a way that makes sense to new readers or ones that have jumped back in to the series. At times the back story involving personal relationships, husband Benton, niece Lucy, and colleague (and now Chief Investigator) Marino, left me confused; but ultimately it wasn’t necessary to understand all the history to enjoy this story. Cornwell gives us just enough detail to get by while whetting our appetite for the previous novels.
The audio, read by Kate Burton, was nicely paced and easy to listen to with enough changes in tone and accent to differentiate among the many characters. Keeping track of all the characters was at times challenging, requiring a little extra concentration, but not difficult to follow. Overall, an enjoyable forensic science mystery.
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Source: Review copy
© 2013 Under My Apple Tree. All rights reserved.
Mailbox Monday
Mailbox Monday was created by The Printed Page. It is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their home last week.
Mailbox Monday is currently on tour, hosted by a different blog each month. The February host is Audra @ Unabridged Chick.
Just one book this week but it’s one that I’m eager to begin reading.
For review from the author:
Looking For Me
by Beth Hoffman
Teddi Overman found her life’s passion for furniture in a broken-down chair left on the side of the road in rural Kentucky. She learns to turn other people’s castoffs into beautifully restored antiques, and eventually finds a way to open her own shop in Charleston. There, Teddi builds a life for herself as unexpected and quirky as the customers who visit her shop. Though Teddi is surrounded by remarkable friends and finds love in the most surprising way, nothing can alleviate the haunting uncertainty she’s felt in the years since her brother Josh’s mysterious disappearance. When signs emerge that Josh might still be alive, Teddi is … more.
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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.
Share what you read last week and what you are currently reading.
Last week
I posted one review, The Man in the Empty Suit, a reality-bending, mind-twisting time travel novel that science fiction fans should enjoy.
I finished listening to two audio books, The Painted Girls and The Bone Bed. Reviews coming soon.
This week
I’m listening to The Shining for the #shineon read-along.
In print books I’m reading Friendships Don’t Just Happen for book club and Scent of Darkness for an upcoming tour stop.
What are you reading?
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© 2012 Under My Apple Tree. All rights reserved.
This Mourning Dove was so nicely camouflaged that I almost didn’t see it. There were several in a small tree and I only noticed when one of them moved. A nice example of natural protection.
I don’t think nature will provide the same protection for a dove sleeping in my backyard feeder. The bird only poked its head up when I opened the window to take this photo.
Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Alyce at At Home With Books. Visit her blog to see more great photos or add your own.
© 2013 Under My Apple Tree. All rights reserved.
Thank you to everyone that stopped by to enter my giveaways the past few weeks. Here are the winners which were selected by random.org.
Driving Alone by Kevin Lynn Helmick
Winner: Ellie
Sponsored by TLC Book Tours
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Print Book Giveaway Hop
The Spy Who Jumped Off the Screen by Thomas Caplan
Winner: Vicky
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Literary Giveaway Hop
The Time In Between by María Dueñas
Winner: Katie @ Doing Dewey
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© 2012 Under My Apple Tree. All rights reserved.
Under My Apple Tree 