Philippa Gregory

If you have been following my Facebook page, you know that I am a fan of Philippa Gregory. I have not read all of her books yet. That is on my list to do when I am finished with my degree (only 3 more classes but who is counting!).

Last night I was able to attend a sold out event held by Topping & Company in Ely where Philippa Gregory talked about her new book, The King's Curse, which is about the curse placed on Henry VIII and his failure to produce a male heir. Philippa is a historian that brings it to life. So I was so excited to meet her and get her to sign a copy for myself and one of my sisters-in-law for Christmas. Don't worry she doesn't read my blog.

I was thinking last night and I think that it was a mix of Philippa's books and living in England that got me interested in history. I have always been an avid reader, well not so much since I started school again, but I just cannot get enough of a good story or finding out something new. I have a dresser full of books that I will start to read at the end of November and I can't wait.

The first book that I read of Philippa's was The Other Boleyn Girl, which was later made into the film which was also filmed in Ely Cathedral. It is the story of Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn, from the perspective of Mary Boleyn, her older sister and the king's mistress. What I loved so much about this book and all of the other ones I have read was that Philippa takes the historical facts that we know and fills it in with how things happened in a believable story. So you are learning about the events but feel like you know these historical people personally.

Reading her books have made me such an expert on Henry VIII at pub quiz it is my area of expertise.

I think that lead me to love England and its history so much that I wanted to do a degree in history and hopefully will improve my blog. I promise to pay it more attention after it is all said and done, I have a lot of ideas that I am writing down.

If you find history books boring but want to still learn about it, I definitely recommend reading her books, she make history delicious!

Book Review: Chavs: The Demonization of The Working Class by Owen Jones

I had heard of the book Chavs: The Demonization of the Working Class by Owen Jones and was lucky enough to go see him speak at the Cambridge Festival of Ideas in 2013. I know I have a different interest in the way society works in the UK than the average person who will only be living here for 2-4 years but I thought I would tell you about this book anyway.

For this that do not know, chavs is a term that is often used to describe the types of people usually white lower or working class people that unfortunately that wear track suits and chains and other clothing usually displayed in American music videos.They are also usually also the people that get anti-social behavior order (ASBO) which is for being a nuisance.

Owen Jones is a political writer and he is a commuter for left-wing policies (way far more left than you will ever see in the US).

Chavs is a political book that goes through the issues that have come up after the closing of the mines in England and the society costs. While this might not be interesting to the common visitor, it is very important to understand because many Americans like Margaret Thatcher and are more prone to speak about their preference to the capitalist economic market. The people in the lower and working class are not usually fans of Margaret Thatcher as their communities have been left destitute and prone to unemployment because the industries that they used to work in have moved overseas and nothing has replaced them.

The book itself gives great historical reference to why things are the way that they are today. I found it interesting that before Margaret Thatcher two out of every five people used to live in a council house and now its one in every ten. Also you hear about the closing of the mines and the miner strikes but the news never really covers how the people were affected and how that affects the country. I can also see similarities to industrial cities in the United States and the issues seen there today. It allowed me to understand a section of England that I could not find in one place like this book does.

If you like politics and history or want to understand how things work in another country read this book. It is an easy read but really gets to the point. but I am a fan of Owen Jones and follow his articles which can be fond in both The Guardian and The Independent. 

I just thought I would put it out there!

Book Review: Future Homemakers of America by Laura Graham

The Future Homemakers of America should be read by all women stationed or wives of personnel stationed in the UK. The reason for this is that it gives the background information of what the women who were here in 1953 experienced. It follows four women who were living in Norfolk and their lives both on and off base. I feel that those associated with the military will really identify with the women and their families.

I also think that it makes the ones here today appreciate how far England has come in this time as well. It also compares the way the people lived in the base housing provided to them with how the locals were living at the time. It is often still hard today to understand the change that England went through after WWII because America was not affected in the same way.

I think it is a book that you will enjoy and a must read!

University Library

Right Now I am very thankful to be able to use the Cambridge University Library, this place has been such a great resource for me. I know that you can get books online but sometimes it is very difficult based on your subject. I am doing a history degree through American Military University, which I am happy to say that quite a bit of people over here are too.

I am able to use this library for free due to my association with the university but I found out that you can also use this place. It costs £10 for sic months but I rest assure you that you will find this as a great resource if you are doing studies as well.

It is huge and a very interesting experience trying to track things down. So far it has been my saving grace.

Book Review: Miss Savidge Moves Her House

Miss Savidge Moves Her House was written by a former member of my sailing club, Christine Adams. She wrote the book about her ex-husband's aunt who moved her house from Hertfordshire to Wells-Next-The-Sea. Auntie May saved it from being bulldozed and lost forever in favour of a bypass.

The house wasn't just any old house but used to be a hall. She numbered every brick and timber in order to put it back together but died before it was finished. Christine finished the house and you are able to stay there as it is a B&B.

This story was also featured on the BBC Antiques Roadshow.

This is a very interesting read and you can finishing it off by going away to Wells-Next-The-Sea and staying with Christine!