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The Disgraced Knight's Redemption by Ella Matthews #Review TheKnightsMissionsSeriesBook3

    The Disgraced Knight's Redemption, the third in Ella Matthews' series, The Knight's Missions, was published by Harlequin Historicals on October 23rd.    A disgraced warrior… Torn between duty and desire! Sir Tristan must win back his honor. His orders from King Edward are simple: seek out the leader of Pwll Du Castle—the unmarried Lady Catrin—and demand she leaves. As Tristan is renowned for his lethal charm and handsome looks, how can she resist? But when the beautiful Welshwoman comes under siege from her covetous neighbor, Tristan finds himself fighting for her! Yet, is it a losing battle? For securing the castle and fulfilling his knightly duty will mean letting Catrin go…  My Thoughts This medieval romance can easily be read as a standalone. You are taken to medieval Wales where Sir Tristan has been tasked by the King to remove Lady Catrin from her position in charge of Pwll Du Castle. You sense from the start his loyalty to his fellow Knights and...

Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld #Review

Today I have a novel which poses a rather intriguing question: What if Hillary hadn't married Bill? 

The book in question is Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld which is published by Doubleday in hardback on July 9th. The Hillary and Bill are of course, Hillary Rodham and Bill Clinton...

‘Awfully opinionated for a girl’ is what they call Hillary as she grows up in her Chicago suburb.

Smart, diligent, and a bit plain, that’s the general consensus. Then Hillary goes to college, and her star rises. At Yale Law School, she continues to be a leader― and catches the eye of driven, handsome and charismatic Bill. But when he asks her to marry him, Hillary gives him a firm No.

How might things have turned out for them, for America, for the world itself, if Hillary Rodham had really turned down Bill Clinton?

With her sharp but always compassionate eye, Sittenfeld explores the loneliness, moral ambivalence and iron determination that characterise the quest for high office, as well as the painful compromises demanded of female ambition in a world ruled by men. Uncannily astute and witty in the telling, RODHAM is a brilliant reimagining –an unmissable literary landmark and truly a novel of ourtimes.

My Thoughts

This is a work of fiction which re-imagines what Hillary Clinton's life would have been like if she had not married Bill Clinton. Although you are always clear that this is speculative and fictionalised, I couldn't help but feel a little uneasy at someone's life being used in this way, especially when intimate thoughts and sexual encounters are included. However, if I put these reservations to one side, I can say that this is an enjoyable read which threads together political figures and even uses words from seminal moments.

    This is a study of the costs of political ambition to the individual.  It is made clear that the public persona has to take precedence on the private one and you feel that Hillary's ambition and belief in her ability supersedes everything to her. But she nevertheless feels like a rounded character who has regrets and affection for others. The background to electioneering and political manoeuvring is shown in detail. The other message which comes over loud and clear is the sexism which she fought against all her life. Women's rights are written in large letters throughout. 

In short: Literary fiction merges with politics
 
About the Author


In addition to Rodham, Curtis Sittenfeld is the author of the Sunday Times best seller American Wife, in which she painted a picture of an ordinary American girl –a thinly-disguised Laura Bush -who found herself married to a President. It was longlisted for the Orange Prize, as was her debut novel Prep. Her other books are Man of My Dreams, Sisterland (a Richard & Judy Book Club pick), Eligible, and the acclaimed short story collection You Think It, I’ll Say It. Her books are translated into 30 languages. She lives with her family in the American Mid-West.

You can follow Curtis here: Twitter  

Book link: Amazon UK 

Thanks to Curtis Sittenfeld, Doubleday and Anne Cater of Random Things Tours for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.

Check out the rest of the tour!

 

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