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Welcome to My Official Web Page!

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

The Serpent & the Pearl: The Borgias, Great Food & Political Intrigue


My rating: 5 Enthusiastic Stars!

The Synopsis (from the publisher): Rome, 1492. The Holy City is drenched with blood and teeming with secrets. A pope lies dying and the throne of God is left vacant, a prize awarded only to the most virtuous--or the most ruthless. The Borgia family begins its legendary rise, chronicled by an innocent girl who finds herself drawn into their dangerous web... 

Vivacious Giulia Farnese has floor-length golden hair and the world at her feet: beauty, wealth, and a handsome young husband. But she is stunned to discover that her glittering marriage is a sham, and she is to be given as a concubine to the ruthless, charismatic Cardinal Borgia: Spaniard, sensualist, candidate for Pope--and passionately in love with her. 


Two trusted companions will follow her into the Pope's shadowy harem: Leonello, a cynical bodyguard bent on bloody revenge against a mysterious killer, and Carmelina, a fiery cook with a past full of secrets. But as corruption thickens in the Vatican and the enemies begin to circle, Giulia and her friends will need all their wits to survive in the world of the Borgias.





My review: I'm a huge fan of Kate Quinn's Rome series and have been eagerly anticipating her foray into the Renaissance and the world of the Borgias. THE SERPENT AND THE PEARL was well worth the wait! 

I know a fair bit about the Borgias, but it was refreshing to see Rodrigo, Cesare, Juan, and Lucrezia as secondary characters here, allowing Guilia Farnese, Carmelina, and Leonello to take center stage. The Bride of Christ (AKA Rodrigo Borgia's concubine), the cook with secrets and a mummified hand in her pocket, and the snarky dwarf bodyguard kept me laughing and flipping pages until the wee hours of the morning. As I've come to expect from Quinn's novels, the characters are flawed, but somehow I always end up rooting for them, even when I want to throttle them. Set all that amidst the lush backdrop of the Renaissance, add a dash of political intrigue, and a dose of black humor and you've got a riveting novel from cover to cover!

Monday, August 12, 2013

What I Think About On My Long Runs: Casting THE SECRET HISTORY

Today I had my last sort-of long run before my marathon on Sunday. (Note: If you don't see me online next week, it's because I'm recovering from, you know, dying on the course.)

I try to avoid thinking about my current revision of THE TIGER QUEENS while running, mostly because it's highly inconvenient to have to stop to type my ideas into my phone and otherwise I'm guaranteed to forget them. So today, a reviewer's comment on THE SECRET HISTORY got me thinking about who my dream cast would be if Hollywood ever came calling. 

(Of course, I realize I'd have no say whatsoever regarding any of this, but humor me here--running can be mind-numbingly boring, but thinking of Francois Arnaud as Justinian is pretty darn fun, especially when Pitbull is blaring in my ears.) 

Also, you'll notice that I had no qualms resurrecting the dead. It's my dream cast so I'm allowed a few zombies, er... liberties.

THEODORA: Diane Baker (the younger years)
A reader mentioned Baker's resemblance to Theodora and I have to agree-she's a dead ringer for my favorite prostitute-turned-empress!


JUSTINIAN: Francois Arnaud
I'll be honest--I went with Francois Arnaud for Justinian because of his hair. I've always thought Justinian had great hair. Just ignore the whole Cesare Borgia persona and imagine him with ink-stained fingers and schematics for the Hagia Sophia stuffed in his pockets.


ANTONINA: Elizabeth Taylor 
Liz might be a smidge too imperious for Antonina (I always think of her as Cleopatra), but they both had multiple husbands and scores of men falling at their feet. I picture her dressed up as Medusa... sniping all the while at Theodora.


HECEBOLUS: Russell Crowe (the Gladiator look, not the recent shaggy bear look)


Russell Crowe in Gladiator was pretty much who I thought of as I was describing Hecebolus: the classic Roman tough-guy. Only Hecebolus is a lot less honorable...


MACEDONIA: Penelope Cruz
Cruz has that polished courtesan look to her, like she could look down her regal nose and teach Theodora a thing or two...



EMPEROR JUSTIN: Ernest Hemingway


Ol' Ernest has that crusty soldier/fisherman look to him that would be perfect for a former swineherd-turned-soldier-turned-emperor. (Side note: I actually can't stand Hemingway or his books, but they guy was larger-than-life, similar to how I imagine Justin in his early days.)

So that's my cast! What do you think? Is there anyone totally different from how you pictured them?