Thais Lima Lima itibaren 105, Taiwan, 台北市松山區敦化里
I was very pleasantly surprised by this book - I was expecting the lion's share of the material to be about Jane, her 9 day reign, and the subsequent fall-out after her execution. However, what I really enjoyed about this was the stories that are usually completely ignored by authors - that of Katherine and Mary Grey, and what their sister's death meant for them. As potential heirs to the English throne, Elizabethan England was often a dangerous place for them, whether it be the Queen herself casting a shadow over their lives, or others plotting to overthrow the monarchy in their name. As they were so entwined with the issue of the English succession, their lives were continuously shaped by the political and religious landscape at any given time, and their choices and actions affected the standing of their family for generations. The story that is being told is often a very human one - involving love, marriage, intrigue, betrayal, power and plotting. However, the author writes in such a way that the imagery of Tudor England is very vivid (including details on the policical background as Elizabeth's reign goes on, and the key players that shape the sister's lives), so it is easy to place yourself in the sisters' situations and go some way to relate their feelings with their actions. An absolutely fantastic read - a must for any Tudor enthusiast!
I knew this was an anti-war classic, but it wasn't as hard-hitting as I thought it would be. (I'm not sure if that's a bad thing or good thing.) I really liked the idea of Billy "being unstuck in time" and how brilliantly Vonnegut used it to consturct his plot. The story is very intense, and yet Vonnegut manages to make the book to come off as an easy read.
Among the funniest things I have ever read. The series began as a radio show, and was then adapted for LP record. (You know, the 12-inch vinyl disk with the small hole in the center.) I first discovered it in that form, then heard the original radio shows, and only later read the books. Whatever the format, the humor is original, unconventional, unexpected and unpredictable, and simply hilarious. Some theists might be offended by Adams's atheist satire, which can be ascerbic and even insulting. I don't let it bother me.