Tuesday’s Temptations ~ July 6

Despite how wonderful my current reads might be (or, this week, how incredibly disturbing), I really enjoy being able to look over my shelves and drool over the as-of-yet unread goodies. I don’t know about you, but I could spend a half hour or more just touching the spines and, because I have to double park my books for lack of space, pull out the first row so I can rediscover what’s behind them.  Granted, this is most likely to occur when I’m procrastinating getting the laundry started or doing the dishes, but I would enjoy it just as much if I planned to do it.  So, why not plan on deliberately combing my shelves?  Going forward, I’m going to take a look at my (horrifically gigantic) TBR pile and highlight a book that I’d really like to pick up right now if it weren’t for …  Sigh.  Here you’ll find the who, what, why, when, and where of one of my greatest literary temptations of the week.

It’s been a while, but let’s not focus on that.  Here’s the July 6th edition of Tuesday’s Temptations!

Who?

Before writing novels, Vanora Bennett worked as a journalist in places like Cambodia, Indonesia, and Paris.  Her life as a journalist led her to write non-fiction about Chechnya and being homesick for London.  Bennett’s first novel was Portrait of an Unknown Woman.  Although I had some issues with the ending, I really enjoyed the novel.  Thomas More and his family were very interesting and I loved learning about Hans Holbein and his art.  I was interested in reading her follow-up novel, Figures in Silk.  I haven’t gotten around to it yet, but I find her latest novel, the subject of today’s Tuesday’s Temptation even more interesting.

What?

Why?

This book caught my eye mainly because I liked Portrait of an Unknown Woman.  That it told the story of Catherine, Henry V’s wife, made me even more interested.  She’s a queen of whom I know little.  I am really looking forward to learning more about her and discovering what she saw in Tudor.  This book would also fulfill one of my requirements (Books with a Title in the Title) for What’s in a Name? 3 challenge hosted by Beth Fish Reads.  A delicious book and one step closer to the finish line.  What could be better than that.

Here is the description from the publisher:

Catherine de Valois, daughter of the French king Charles VI, is born into troubled times. Though she is brought up in a royal court, it is a stormy and unstable environment. Before she is out of her teens, Catherine is married off to England’s Henry V as part of a treaty honoring his victory over France. She is terrified at the idea of being married to a man who is a foreigner, an enemy, and a rough soldier, and is forced to leave her home for England.

Within two years she is widowed, and mother to the future King of England and France—even though her brother has laid claim to the French crown for himself. Caught between warring factions of her own family and under threat by the powerful lords of the English court, she must find a way to keep her infant son safe. In Owain Tudor, a childhood friend for whom Catherine has long had affection and who now controls the Royal household, Catherine finds both strength and kinship. As their friendship turns to love, however, she risks not only her life and that of her son but the uneasy balance of power in England and France that will be forever changed.

History comes alive in this lyrical and moving true story of one woman’s courage and the inception of one of the most famous royal lineages of all time.

When?

The Queen’s Lover was published in March.  I pretty much requested it right away.  I’ve been longing to read it ever since.

Where?

This book is located on my “on deck” shelf in the living room.  This shelf is no longer neat and orderly.  It’s sitting at a 45 degree angle between a crochet book and a crochet magazine.  I need to rescue this book very, very soon!

What’s tempting you today?