I have read some outstanding books over the last three weeks and I thought for the book lovers out there you may like to grab them. (They were all from the local library.)

 

The Venetian Contract – Set in Venice in 1576 tells a story of a young lady embroiled into a plot to bring about the downfall of Venice and how it unravels. A beautiful love story and a remarkable insight into another world. The plague killed millions of people, indiscriminately and makes me truly grateful for my health.

 

In the Shadow of the Banyan – written by Vaddey Ratner about her own journey during the ‘revolution’ in Cambodia. She is a courageous young woman who beats all the odds and survives the horrific crimes and times of the war. It makes me truly humbled to live with such peace in our Country and determined never to take peace or democracy for granted.

 

The Villa Triste – written by Lucretia Grindle is set in 1944 in Italy and covers the rise of the Partisans, a group who played the major role in ridding Italy of it’s German occupants. I had no idea of some of the horrific crimes that were committed and I think, as horrible as it is to read the details, it also makes me a better person to understand the suffering and violence that was done at the direction of one dictator.

 

The Shadow Prince – written by Terence Morgan. In 1483 the King of England died and his two sons were imprisoned in the Tower of London and then murdered… or were they. It’s a mystery that has never been solved and this book is about the Prince that got away, travelled to far off lands had amazing adventures, then eventually returned to claim his throne. A beautiful book and after I finished it I coincidentally picked up The Red Queen, by Phillipa Gregory, which was set in the same time, but covers the decade before the Princes were imprisoned and tells it from a completely different angle. A power hungry woman, who will stop at nothing to get her Son the throne. Another great book about a time rich with immorality.