The Passion of Artemisia by Susan Vreeland

I recently read The Passion of Artemisia by Susan Vreeland. This historical fiction follows the life of Artemisia Gentileschi in post Renaissance Italy. Artemisia is the only daughter of a recognized painter in Florence. Artemisia is raped by her father's painting partner and suffers through a humiliating trial forced on her by her father in order to retrieve property he felt was due him rather than to restore his young daughter's battered reputation. Artemisia forges ahead through events not always of her own choosing to become a recognized painter in her own right during a time when women were not recognized by the art community. I have always enjoyed this genre and this book did not disappoint me. Artemisia's strenght and spirt to continue to pursue her dream, facing all obstacles with dignity and resolve, makes here a character that you can appreciate and connect with. She is not a perfect character, but she follows her path in a way that can inspire others to do the same. I also enjoy the setting with it's descriptions of Italy during this exciting time. I have read other books my Vreeland and have enjoyed them as well. Another writer that is similar to Vreeland is Tracy Chevalier (Girl With a Pearl Earring).

Duma Key by Stephen King

You should know right off the bat that I am a huge Stephen King fan but this book is amazing as most of his books are. It is about a man that has an accident and loses an arm. His wife leaves him so he goes to Florida and becomes a painter but of course his paintings are more than what he bargains for. What is great about King's books though is his writing. I love the way he phrases words and sentences. This book is really big, over 600 hundred pages but it didn't take me long to read it because I had a hard time putting it down. I know that not everyone is a King fan, but if you are, this one is a definite good one.

Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky

This book was really great. I would recommend it! This book is mainly about the French/German war in the beginning of the 1940's. There are two parts and the first one is how people from Paris were driven from their homes. There are acts of desperation. It's a few different families and how they all deal with the start of war. In the second part, they are all able to go back home. However, the German soldiers move into their towns and into their homes. Most of the Perisan men are prisoners of war, so alot of these people hate the Germans being there. The second part has a whole different set of families. Some of the women start to fall in love with the Germans. Towards the end, both sets of people from both parts of the book start to merge. You'll notice there is an abrupt ending, however, wonderful!

What I didn't know when I read this book, was the main attraction of the writer. She was a novelist in the 1930's-1942. She was writing this book in 1942, when the Germans were arresting all the jewish people. She never finished this book, but saved the manuscript and hid it along with her daughters. She and her husband were both arrested and were killed in the gas chamber. Decades had gone by and her now older daughter realized they had their mothers last novel. It was sent to be published. It was such a great book, but knowing the history of it makes it even more enjoyable.

Michelle

Switching Time by Richard Baer

This book is written by a psychiatrist about a woman with 17 personalities. I was skeptical when I first started reading the book but by the end, I was sold. What this woman, Karen, is put through as a child and an adult is horrifying in the extreme, so I can see how she would shut herself up to avoid pain. Baer explains it pretty easily for someone like me to understand how it works. Karen spends 18 years in therapy to get throughit all. The book is worth reading if only to learn how to spot someone else going through the same thing she did.

Laurie

Leap of Faith

One of my favorite books is Leap of Faith by Queen Noor. She is a Princeton educated American who falls in love with the King of Jordan. She marries him, moves to Jordan and has five children with him. I really enjoyed learning about the middle east through a western woman's eyes. In addition she was critical to the humanitarian relief effort in that part of the world.