Innocent Traitor: A Novel of Lady Jane Grey (July 2007) by Alison Weir

This is Alison Weir’s first work of fiction and I must say it is really well written. At first I wasn’t sure about the changing point of view – it’s written in first person, but the person keeps changing so we can get different perspectives of the intricate plot. It is, of course, all based on historical facts and begins when Lady Jane Grey is born. It follow her growth as well as the parralell to what is occuring in King Henry VIII’s court at the time (his seven wives).

The book delves into Lady Jane’s life, personal beliefs, and difficulty to come to terms with what is happening to her life. She has no control over the cunning plots and plans of her lord and lady (parents), and the Lord Protector who scheme to bring her to the throne when young King Edward passes. She is famously titled The Nine Day Queen as she is disposed by the legal heir to the throne of England is Mary, daughter of Henry VIII and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon.

It was a slow start, I had trouble getting into it mainly because of the changing point of views, but in the end it really works. The go-between is mainly Lady Jane, her nurse Mrs Ellen, her mother Frances Brandon, and someone at court – usually the Lord Protector. Alison Weir has a book coming out in 2008 about Elizabeth I; there is an excerpt at the end of Innocent Traitor and it seems to begin similarly – at the very beginning of her life. I look forward to reading more of Alison Weir’s fiction as her style and dedication to historical detail has really grown on me… besides, I adore historically-based fiction!

Today I tried to go shopping for some friends, including my not-so-secret UK Swap Pal. (I accidentally did the same as you Michelle – I revealed myself by unknowingly signing my email “Monica” and she caught it!) Anyway, she has no idea what I’ve picked out for her, so I went shopping.

And no I’m not going to be stupid enough to put photos of what I bought! I’ve got photos of what I saw!

First we went to Loop, but I forgot to bring the directions so we wondered around Islington for a while until a local overheard me asking a shop keeper if they knew where a wool shop was. When I finally got to Loop I discovered it is closed on Monday.

Because it was closed, we ended up going to Oxford Circus and of course wandering around Liberty’s Department Store. I love it in there – it’s so posh looking… and there are so many neat knick-knacks!

I found the Pantone Mugs again! I saw them ages ago in Urban Outfitters but they only had orange and yellow. But I found and photographed the colours my Publishing friends would probably choose. For those who don’t know, Pantone is a company that does ink and colour; when you design things on the computer you can’t always trust the colours on the screen to be the ones that print. So to determine what the colours will actually look like you use official Pantone colours on the computer file and you can check the official Pantone printed book.

(Tag: Ginger & Rachel B.)

(Tag: Margaret & Laura J.)

For the coffee lovers and the espresso drinkers. (Tag: my design teacher from the Publishing Program – Terry)

Which colour is your coffee? (Tag: Fiona)

A B C D E F G, H I J K L M N O P, Q R S T U V, W X, Y & Z!!!! (Tag: Rachel R.)

(Tag: Meryl for Monopoly) (Tag: not publishing I know, but this reminded me of Ruth‘s post the other day about her teacup collection)

Okay that’s the publishing stuff, but here is some other good stuff. Yummy Hot Chocolate from Whittard of Chelsea!

Fancy a cup of cocoa, Michelle?

I just couldn’t resist this photo! See the tea-for-one in the top row, second one from the left? I have that one! I love the colours in the teapot to the left of the one I own. They have a whole line of that design… I just think it’s so delicate and feminine! One day when I have the space and the savings I’m going to buy a really pretty, posh teapot.

Booking Through Thursday topic: After the Honeymoon

Have you ever fallen out of love with a favorite author? Was the last book you read by the author so bad, you broke up with them and haven’t read their work since? Could they ever lure you back?

I’ve not had many falling-outs with favourite authors, more with authors I’m “trying on”. I either don’t like their writing style or their subject matter, or just their voice and tone. I remember reading Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells after my mom recommended it; and because both of us enjoyed it so much, we decided to read the prequel together, Little Altars Everywhere.

It was probably 1998 or 1999 when Ya-Ya got big, so I would have been 10 or 11 years old. Well Little Altars Everywhere has this one scene where Sidda sees her aunt making love with her girlfriend (in the time the story is placed, they couldn’t openly be in a lesbian relationship). Needless to say, my mom could not finish reading this book with her youngest daughter and her daughter (me) couldn’t handle reading it to her mom. It wasn’t that we are/were anti-gay, it just wasn’t comfortable to have descriptive sexual content in a book that we were reading together, and for my mom her 10-year-old kid. We put down the book and started a new one later that week. I could go back now, being older, wiser, and able to handle that kind of content, but I just haven’t felt the urge.