The Sunne In Splendor

by Sharon K. Penman

 

Although Sharon Penman became my favorite medieval fiction author, I had trouble reading this very big book. I have attributed this to the fact that I have read several other accounts of the War of the Roses and was very familiar with the story. In light of her recent passing and the knowledge that there will not be any more additions to Penman’s catalog, I became determined to finish this novel. That determination was rewarded with another great read. As with every Penman novel, the reader is made to feel like an eye witness to history. The lives of these historical characters come alive on the page and you feel as it you knew them in their time. In my opinion, no one has done it better. I highly recommend this novel to lovers of fiction and anyone interested in medieval history.

Anna Karenina

By Leo Tolstoy

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I read the editorial reviews of this novel before I began to read. Some reviewers call this novel the greatest novel of its time. Although I can’t say that I agree with such an assessment, I will say that this is a character driven novel. The author is able to make each character come alive on the pages. The characters are complete individuals, with personalities that are easily recognizable in contemporary society. I could not help feeling a sense of empathy for the characters. The unpredictability of the story kept my attention even through the parts that I thought were less compelling.

 

This is a really big book and I began to read it on my tablet but it got a little boring when the author expounded on nineteenth century Russian society. Many chapters devoted to farming, politics, and the aristocracy vs. the  peasantry. I knew nothing of Russian history or society before this novel. I switched from my tablet to Audible, which helped me through those parts.

 

I particularly enjoyed the author’s treatment of one character’s struggle with faith.