Pat Barker's the Silence of the Girls is a new twist on a common story: What happens to the women of the losing side in a war? Here is the story of Trojan women from the perspective of Briseis, a Trojan Princess who is "awarded" first to Achilles but used as a weapon in a power struggle by Agamemnon. What is so startling is how vivid and modern the telling is. Briseis's voice could be any Syrian woman caught behind battle lines, or a girl kidnapped by Boko Haram. And that is Barker's point - this is happening now- it isn't just a semi-mythic heroic event. It is not romantic. Briseis and all the characters, men and women, are fully textured and passionately alive beings. I loved this book. ~ Reviewed by Maeve Noonan
This book is an excursion through a very small dense area of Northern England, an "Alcove" as Robb calls it, that has been not lost per se, but well overlooked, a misty half-mythic landscape. This book is for anyone who loves obtuse or old maps and stories of reivers and highwaymen. Robb traverses the land and History by bicycle or on foot. Almost a Time/ travel log. This is a great follow up to his book, Discovery of Middle Earth. ~ Reviewed by Maeve Noonan
This eminently readable history is powerful & eloquent. The scope and drama of the Cherokee Nation is fully and finely drawn; the statescraft, elegance and yes often blood thirsty events that stretches 3 centuries of US History yet it reads like" the Great American Novel" explaining the pertinence of the Cherokee being the only Tribe to fight on both sides of the Civil War. This is for anyone who loved Killers of the Flower Moon. ~ Reviewed by Maeve Noonan
This is an epistle for and perhaps by trees. If you love trees read this exquisite book. It haunts me and hunts me in my sleep, waking me up at all hours to read it. ~ Reviewed by Maeve Noonan
Madeline Albright has not gone soft or gentled. She waits only until page 4 to tell the world what she thinks of the current administration. Endeavoring to keep it short -- per the state of most peoples' attention span or states of exhaustion -- Albright skewers history through personal and professional narratives as thoroughly as she ever did using her infamous pins (see a previous book, Read My Pins). This is a timely read if ever there was one. Well done Madam Secretary! ~ Reviewed by Maeve Noonan
Northshire Manchester
4869 Main Street
Manchester Center, VT 05255
ph. 802.362.2200
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Northshire Saratoga
424 Broadway
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
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ph. (toll free) 855.339.5990
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