Eclecticism

...making decisions on the basis of what seems best instead of following some single doctrine or style.
Me in a nutshell!!!

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Tuesday Royal Book Review...


The Lady of Hay by Barbara Erskine. I bought this book at Waterstone's in Winchester, England on my trip. I have wanted to read this for quite awhile as was unable to find a copy. Waterstone's Books in England has so much we do not have as far as Royal fiction and non. I was really excited to come by several of Barbara Erskine's early works in brand new covers. I bought Lady of Hay and Child of the Phoenix.

I have never read anything by Erskine before, but now I'm converted. She's a wonderful author. I started the book at 10 p.m. the night before we left for home and didn't put it down until 1:30 a.m. You know it's good when I can actually stay awake that late. I just have not been able to put this book down. It's 725 pages, but what a story about reincarnation and redemption.

Joanna Clifford a young University student in Edinburgh volunteers to be hypnotized in a regression project for two professors. She is excited about this new age trend. She regresses all the way back to the late 12th century as Matilda De Brasoe the wife of the Marcher Baron of Abergavnney Wales, William De Brasoe. Her regression is so traumatic that the professors feel compelled to have her forget all about it. When she wakes up she is convinced that she was unable to be hypnotized, and has no memory of Matilda.

Flash forward 15 years and Joanna Clifford is a very successful journalist for a Woman's magazine. She loves interesting projects to report on. She has a nice car, nice flat and very handsome boyfriend who she is on and off with. An interest in reincarnation and regression by the public has given Jo an opportunity to volunteer herself to do a major story on it.

She is very sceptical about the subject and is out to prove that it's all just a hoax or in your mind. She is regressed back to being Matilda again and it's all so amazing that everyone involved is interested in Matilda's story so Jo keeps going back to be regressed, and the story becomes more and more complex not only involving her past life, but affecting her present life as well. Matilda had three men in her life that were madly in love with her, her husband (a creep), her lover ( a coward), and her King ( a maniac). The regressions start taking a major toll on her emotional well being as well as physical. Jo begins to realise that these three men have followed her 800 years into the present day to settle their own scores with her, each other, and themselves.

What a literary ride this book is. You won't be able to put it down!!!! I am now very anxious to read Erskine's Child of the Phoenix. Look on Amazon for used copies if you cannot find a new one or Ebay. It's worth finding and reading.


8 comments:

  1. Wow I would never imagine picking this book up but for some reason it intrigues me from how you have described it so glowingly.
    I am not a fan of reincarnation and all that mystical stuff.
    I have always loved browsing online at Waterstone's; they do have some fabulous finds over there but pricey for us.. I would be ecstatic to visit across the pond of course!

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  2. This is one of my all time favourite books. I read it when it first came out. If you like this one you should also read The Kingdom of Shadows, it is fantastic as well. Great review! Child of the Phenix is not a time travel novel but I still enjoyed it.

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  3. Susie I'm so glad you're an Erskine convert! You have so many great books ahead of you! Of her earlier works, you have to read Kingdom of Shadows - it's about Robert the Bruce and his lover Isobel. Child of the Phoenix is great too.

    Erskine's later novels tend to get a little spookier and focus more on the supernatural elements. It's like she changed her style a little bit but I still love it all the same. Of her latest works, I really enjoyed The Warrior Princess (released last year).

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  4. HI:) I don't think I'd pick this one up on my own...never thought I'd be interested; however...after such a wonderful review...who knows?! I also have to admit I'm impressed by your speed reading (725!)

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  5. Ms. Lucy~I'm not a speed reader, it was just so good I couldn't put it down :-). I just found Kingdom of Shadows that Alaine and Annie recommended on Ebay. Really this one grabs you from the first page.

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  6. OMG this is one of my all time favourite books, along with Child of the Phoenix and Kingdom of Shadows. Definitely books to be buried with LOL
    Great review!!

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  7. Interesting! It reminds me of Green Darkness by Anya Seton.

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  8. Just added this to my tbr. I like reincarnation and stuff. Green Darkness was a decent book too.

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