Winner of Six Books!

A Winner of Six Books!

I am pleased to announce that I have won six books

from a Book Coasters promotion of Gold Coast City Libraries

by entering into a competition of writing book reviews.

When I have read these books I will give more details about the

books.

There certainly is a variety of different authors and genres from

a book of “What Miscellaneous Abnormality Is That?” A Field Guide

(257^th edition) with a stamp on the back of The Federal Department

of Odds and Ends to a fascinating and inspiring book by Natascha

Kampusch “3,096 Days” a story of her kidnapping at a young age

and imprisonment in Vienna, where she did not escape until 8 years later.

Other books included are:

Bryce Courtenay's “Fortune Cookie”

“The Plantation” by Di Morrissey; (from the cover of the book it looks like it is

set in an idyllic setting; http://www.librarything.com/work/10703078)

Jefferey Deaver, a thriller writer and New York Times bestselling author,

“Edge”

“10 Short Stories You Must Read in 2010” by a selection of different authors.

Plenty of reading to keep me busy!

This has been very exciting for me to win these books and I am very appreciative

of the librarians at Gold Coast City Libraries for their help and inspiration and

encouragement.

I will give an update later when I have read some of these books.

Best wishes from Sandra

A Moon Princess (or a goddess) and a Sun King

"View of Grand Canal" by Nicholas Perelle,

engraving of 1680,

from wikipedia:

The Hall of Mirrors at Versailles at each end of the mirrored hallway

did have a salle (a room “Salon”) for peace and a salle (a room “Salon”) for wars

almost similarly as

Louis XIV's reign was of peace and war. At one time there was an

extended peace of nearly twenty years which considering the state of nations at the time

and the occurrence of wars this was no mean feat.

The Peace

of Versailles was signed at the end of World War I on 11 November

1918, Armistice Day. An auspicious occasion and also a memorable

one.

Also, that today as I write this post it is 71 years since the Battle of

Britain in which the free world was saved.

In the Book of Micah is mention that one day nations would not go to

war and instead would turn their swords to plough shares and their

spears to pruning hooks and would sit under their fig trees and vines.

Perhaps a symbol of a peaceful time.

Poem

A Moon Princess (or a goddess) and a Sun King

We danced and skipped

across the roof tops of time

You and I

across the sky;

Of purple dawns and hazy dew

These were things I always knew:-

I once did rise in an afternoon sky

so clear and blue,

And you were there, gleaming true,

Dispirited to see you leave so soon

But this was long past the noon-

In open skies

and morning dew

I saw these marvellous things of you-

Apollo's chariot riding high

and all the Moons could give a sigh:-

I glimpsed you once at old Versailles

There you were in your grand style

Where sun-swept shadows crossed the mile;

For was it not at the courts of dukes and kings

and miraculous things

that the emblem of the Sun rode high?

And who would emulate a-while

as a Pharaoh of the Nile

Challenge the Sun King's style?

Surely, no-one in his guile!

Moonlight glided gracefully

over the land,

through distant valleys and mountain tops

watched over vineyards, countryside, cities

and lakes;

Glimpsed dolphins frolick in the deep

Lit by moonlight,

the fields of sheep:

and found its way to the King's Domain:

The moonlight was a beckoning show

It found its way in an all-time glow;

Swaying tree-tops in the breeze

Gilded splendour gleamed the leaves

Where shadows dancing inter-weave;

A splendid scene

A coloured beam

Reflecting to the fountain stream;

And all the colours would unite

A glorious play into the night:

I thought those days would never end

And the Sun gleamed golden:-

it seemed a trend.

From a platform out on top

Could see the fruit and ready crop:

Seeming almost as a play

where the workers toiled away:

La Quintinie,­

With a wonderful “Bon Chretien” pear:

And for the needy

he would care;

With glass walls and a bell jar

He captured sun-light from afar;

Visitors viewed the “potager” display

Would eat the fruit along the way;

And weren't these your happiest days

When you set your trails a-blaze?

La Valliere, sincerity,

La Montespan, vivacity

did impress;

though I must confess

would cause distress

that you married your governess:

when had been

your royal queen

a previous princess;

With enchantments and

a School of St Cyr

Madame de Montespan had much to fear!

You were never the same

Not quite so tame

La Mancini could not take your name

A cause for suffering-

perhaps also of wandering;

“Louis, Louis”

You knew the score

Could hold forth at the Temple Door

Knew the stories of old folk-lore

Louis the Tenth and Four:

You knew of realms long before

And Atlantis on the ocean floor:

The power of words which were never said,

Of the people long since dead,

Of Akhenaten and the sphinx-like dread;

Mysteries and wisdom inscribed

of temple walls and mirrored halls

These were things which you ascribed;

And where to

Marly,

from before:

Design so fine

Palace divine

A flowing picture-

pavilions, terrace-

Palissades and shades

of beech and elm

evoked tranquillity, peace and calm

imagining a fairy glade

of crystal rock pools made of jade;

Allees and bosquets cleverly made

To designs geometrically laid;

Your garden was equal to none

You, Louis, were the One

With your symbol of the Sun.

You lived your life as a glittering flame-

And danced on the steps of audacity and fame;

Oh, and how moonlight becomes you,

suited your plane;

the softening glow of an amber show

And the moon would wane:

Silent patterns at your window pane

As though seeking answers as they came;

Of heady scents,

Perfumed flowers

in the magic Versailles hours

This truly was your game:

Ah, to sit with you a-day

And all the things which we could say:

And revolution's flame-

Who was to blame?

Wasn't that a mighty shame?

You who brought down city walls

Made Versailles free for all:

I look and I look;

And what do I see?

A Thousand Years of Monarchy:

And Romans, Visigoths and Teutonic Knights-

You always had put up your fights;

You who would prune your Chestnuts by hand

Sit under fig trees of the land;

Share your bounty of the earth

Great imaginings of worth!

Beauty and sprituality

flow together indelibly

And you gave Le Notre a wide berth:

With topiary and broderie

A spark of ingenuity

As shimmerings of emboidery

In the Versailles nursery:

Diamond patterns all on show

As in a glass-house after-glow;

Gleaming lanterns with lights down low;

Three Notes:

1.

La Valliere,

became a Duchess but

left Versailles and entered

a convent.

2.

La Montespan

was dismissed from her apartment

at Versailles by her son.

3.

There was an expectation that Louis XIV would marry a princess in seventeenth century France.

Marie Mancini was the Cardinal's niece.

Travel evenings

The scenic vista of Denali, Mt McKinley in Alaska: (from wikipedia)

Recently I have attended travel evenings which have been enjoyable
and also impressive.  The standard of presentations has been excellent
with talks, discussion and slide shows given by the speakers.

Last night I attended a travel evening of Canada/Alaska which was quite
fascinating for me.  I have not visited Canada or Alaska but after having
read in books of the early colonial era I am interested in visiting
these places.

To see the magnificence of the glacier fields and the gold rush towns in Alaska,
to go ice-skating around an ice-castle on Lake Louise which becomes a winter wonderland at
Christmas would be thrilling.  The colours of the early frontier towns and early quaint architecture
appeal.

Niagara Falls, the Rocky Mountains and attractions of the wild life and bears must be spectacular
for visitors to the region.  The colours of the leaves in fall must also be a splendour in Canada.  I have read that there are leaf festivals held.  I think of beautiful Prince Edward Island where Anne of Green
Gables was set and the beauty of the wonderful pristine and forested landscape of Canada, the shore-line and the magnificent wild-life.  The east coast also appeals and Quebec and Montreal for the early
French colonial architecture and history.  The chateau Frontenac in Quebec City looks magnificent from its pictures:  This looks like a fairy-tale with its magnificent spires:

Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City from wikipedia:

I have also attended a travel evening at the library which I found enjoyable.
One story was of a pilgrimage from the Pyrennes in France to a Cathedral in Spain.
This is quite a long journey which can be undertaken by foot or by horse and the
traveller is rewarded with a certificate from the Cathedral.  This is the Way of St James
or Camino de Santiago which was all very interesting to learn about.  The destination is
the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela:

Santiago de Compostela, a destination for pilgrims: (wikipedia picture)

All fascinating to learn of these places and events from attending travel evenings.
More places to think about for future travel.  The Pyrenees area of France is very
beautiful and I once visited Lourdes, which was quite beautiful.  This town is famous
for the story of Saint Bernadette.  A beautiful place set in the Pyrenees and a cross
could be seen in the distant mountains at night.

This is a picture of Lourdes from wikipedia depicting the Rosary Basilica.  It is quite beautiful to wander
around the beautiful old town and also view the living quarters of St Bernadette and her family which
was a small house in the town.  The setting of Lourdes is pleasant and it is also beautiful to visit the
site of the grotto which is famous for the water.

Beautiful song: When I See You Smile

A lovely song by Bic Runga:  Beautiful magic!

Bic Runga is another New Zealand singer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZJcOWdcCu0&feature=related

Review of Natasha's Dance

Natasha's Dance by Orlando Figes

A magnificent book of great scope and worth

is Orlando Figes story of the cultural history

of Russia. A wonderful book to read! I am still

in awe of such a wonderful and scholarly work.

This book is full of magnificence, great wealth and

splendour with stories of princes, tsars and paupers.

I found this book fascinating for its insight and

sensitivity in writing

of its people, mountains, scenery and countryside

of Russia. It is a book of great

beauty, in the writing and also in the content of the book.

There are powerful and evocative descriptions

of pieces of poetry or prose which had been

written by some of the great

writers in Russian literature included in the story.

I am reminded that there is a review on the back cover of

the book which states that the reviewer does not like to

say too much about the book so as not to spoil it for the

reader.

This book is enlightening and wonderful.

Also educational. It is majestic in its scope, describing

palaces of princes, lives of great writers,

folk-lore and customs.

I loved the folk-loric nature of the

book with majestic stories and beliefs concerning cities, towns

and cities of

imagination and legend which were believed to have existed at times under a

lake, the healing properties of certain places

or of the gripping detail provided in stories by Gogol or

Dostoevsky. Tales of imagination abound for St Petersburg

with its bronze horseman. Fascinating! Great story-telling. I will

have to read some of Gogol's tales which certainly give an aura of the

fantastic, colour and

atmosphere to the history of the culture of Russia.

The colours and culture of Russia seem so different from

the rest of Europe. This may have been due to the eastern influences.

St Petersburg was built in more traditional Western European concepts

and architecture. This is a beautiful city which I visited in 2009. Moscow

is different again, and yet the architecture from Muscovy is a splendour with the

magnificent gold domes of cathedrals and churches which can often be seen from afar

when travelling about the city or the countryside.

In the earlier days before Russia became a Soviet

state the aristocracy was often encouraged to build palaces.

These palaces often became a place of learning, culture and

civilisation.

Prince Potemkin built

an exotic palace on the Crimea and in a note there is a mention of a book written

about him titled “Prince of Princes” by Simon Sebag Montefiore

which I would like to also read.

Great warmth and humanity, dignity and valour and personal conflict and endurance are revealed in the stories of Count Sheremetev and Prince Volkonsky.

Wonderful descriptions are given of the music, ballet, prose, poetry, gifted artists, musicians and

film makers with stories of their lives which gives an added appeal to the book for the humanity and personalities of the people involved. The book is on a personal level with the characters and it is not difficult

to often sympathise with the characters and their personal situations. Their lives were very real and the times very true. Colour plates of characters and illustrations of the

colour of arts, theatre and design provide interesting detail into aspects of the culture and arts.

The theme of the book is enduring beauty and even in the bleakest moments, sorrows and sadness,

the spirit and strength of some of the great artists who may have been living in difficult times in Russia still shine through.

In his notes the author has admitted that it did take him a long time to write this book but I am

so glad that he wrote it and also glad that I have read it. It is difficult to imagine that so much wonder, splendour and beauty can be written in one book but this certainly is the case with “Natasha's Dance” the title of which comes from Leo Tolstoy's “War and Peace.”

Full accolades for the author. At the introduction a Russian countess who had been brought up

by French governesses knew how to dance a Russian dance and picked up the rhythm. All things

French were wonderful and admired until Napoleon came to Russia. Thereafter, as described in

the chapter of “Children of 1812” some of the nobility turned away from European values and

concepts and returned to the beauty of the land and rural countryside of the Steppe and wished to

revert to more Russian ways of life. Some of the aristocracy had befriended soldiers of the peasantry in the army and had gained a renewed respect for these people who had come from the rural villages and land of Russia.

A wonderful achievement to write a book of such grand scope.

The beauty and descriptions of the times in Russia are portrayed vividly. The colours and scope of the landscape, the Siberian Steppe, the nomads and various clans and khans who conquered the territory in the 12^th century, the folk-lore, songs and dances, traditions and the times of the tsars and a later

more fraught time which is depicted in a chapter of “Russia through a Soviet Lens” is a magnificent and scholarly accomplishment by the author. The book is quite compelling full of lively descriptions and anecdotes which makes “Natasha's Dance” fascinating to read.

Rare moments of beauty- glimpses in time

Rare Moments of Beauty-

A glimpse in Time:

One evening I was walking from the library

to the shopping centre and between apartment

buildings there are lovely palm trees in pots

and water ponds. It was a cold windy night

without too many people about. Even so, I was

quite entranced by the little plays of water displays

from the little fountains with illuminated lights

glowing from the water. Just beautiful! As not

many people were around I thought that these

majestic little displays must be for the people

living in the apartment buildings.

Another time one evening not long before Christmas

I was walking through Aotea Square in Auckland.

This was also a cold wind-swept night with not too many

people there. I was surprised as there was a group

singing on a stage and the few people watching were

wrapped up against the cold. The music was so

wonderful and haunting, it remains with me even

today. A beautiful song which the group was singing

and the sound seemed to follow, one line from the song

of which

I remember: “from the cradle to the grave.”

Rare moments of beauty:

I have been looking at some of the wonderful images

from le bal de Versailles where people dress in costume.

After looking at some of these pictures I can readily

imagine how beautiful and magnificent it must have

been when the king, Louis XIV, would walk around the gardens

of Versailles with his courtiers.

I can visualise the magnificent colours of the ladies' dresses

in the picturesque and wonderful settings. Even in the

stifling hot of the summer weather (when sometimes the restricted

clothing may have become uncomfortable) these occasions must have been

rare and wonderful glimpses of beauty in time. The beautiful

fountain displays may have had a cooling effect with the spray

from the water jets. A softly blowing breeze from the direction of the trees

may also have

tempered the scene. On one occasion

the scent from the flowers was so heady that the king and his courtiers

had to leaved. This was in the vicinity of the Trianon.

I remember vividly a scene of Marie Antoinette in the gardens at Versailles

near her hameau from the film “Marie Antoinette.” At this time Marie

Antoinette had chosen white cotton clothing which may have been more

comfortable for her in the hot weather. She also had a portrait painted

dressed in this fashion which was unfortunately

not approved of as the clothing was not in keeping

with the expectations of how the queen of France

was supposed to be. However, even in this film,

the moments of beauty and truth did shine through.

This piece of music seems to me to reflect the quality

and beauty of time and its passing nature: Mary's Song

played by Nick Cave which I came across yesterday

on face book:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAIXJ-quKWE

Elizabeth I must also have looked magnificent at times:

her rainbow portrait is a favourite and she lived up to to

her image of "the faerie queen" as depicted in the poetry

of Edmund Spenser.

Princess of Versailles

Princess of Versailles

Princess Marie-Adelaide of Savoy was quite a bright spark

in the generally staid and conventional court of the later years

of the life of the Sun King.

Arriving at the court of Versailles as a young girl of 10, with strict instructions

from her family to obey Madame de Maintenon when she arrived at court,

Princess Marie-Adelaide

readily made friends of Madame de Maintenon and the king, Louis XIV.

With

endearing attributes and natural precocity and exuberance of child-hood, she was

a fresh and lively personality in the hallowed halls of Versailles.

Charles Elliott's book of “Princess of Versailles” offers a fresh and wonderful

perspective of life at Versailles during the reign of the Sun King, the life of

Princess Marie-Adelaide who had come to the court to marry the grand-son

of the Sun King, the Duc de Bourgogne.

The book follows the fortunes of Princess Marie-Adelaide's father, Victor Amadeus II,

Duke of Savoy, who often seemed to be living in the shadow of the Sun King and as a

consequence could at times be fickle with his loyalties. There are wonderful

descriptions of the court of Savoy given in the book describing the beauty and refinement

of the court and also

a spiritual essence as Princess Marie Adelaide's mother with her ladies would

painstakingly repair the Shroud of Turin with golden thread. The world of the

court of Savoy was far removed from the more worldly court of Versailles.

Princess Marie-Adelaide was in effect brought up by the king and Madame de

Maintenon. Perhaps because Marie-Adelaide had become accustomed to the king

and Madame de Maintnon over the years she would also interrupt the king in important

meetings, but also over time the king did come to rely on Princess Marie-Adelaide to

attend entertainments in the evenings, even when she was not well with tooth-ache.

Marie-Adelaide also suffered from a mis-carriage at one time as she travelled against

doctors' instructions so as not to displease the king. This may or may not have been a

cause of her miscarriage and the king most likely felt very guilty about this as afterwards

he did seem not to be quite so affable and people did not like to approach him for about

15 minutes. The king was most likely very upset. At another time when his soldiers had

been defeated with many losses Madame de Maintenon had to bring this sad news to him.

Madame de Mainenon and the king spent many years together and for much of the time

these must have been happy years. Madame de Maintenon became involved in her school

of St Cyr and the education of the pupils. The pupils put on a play of “Esther” on the stage which the king attended. The king often attended the plays

with Madame de Maintenon and would have enjoyed these shows. The king was supportive

of Madame de Maintenon's involvement and work at the school.

St Cyr had been established by

Madame de Maintenon to support and educate impoverished young girls of the nobility. Their

future prospects were assured as they had the opportunity of becoming a teacher, entering a

convent or becoming married, in which case a suitable husband would be found for them.

Entertainments and balls were often held in Princess Marie-Adelaide's honour. She was bright and happy.

Princess Marie-Adelaide was as the belle of the ball. Dances and music brought back an echo

of earlier times when Versailles was a bright and welcoming place full of amusements

and entertainments. In later years the wonderful spectaculars and plays of earlier times

had waned. Earlier there had been Lully and Quinault who had staged magnificent

music and opera. There were beautiful sets and magnificent costumes.

There is a coloured

illustration of a dream scene from Lully's opera “Atys” depicted as a wool and silk tapestry

in the book “Baroque” Style in the Age of Magnificence 1620-1800 by Michael

Snodin and Nigel Llewellyn and assisted by Joanna Norman. The colours and displays

of the stage look magnificent. “Atys” had first been performed in 1676 and became known as

the king's opera. “Phaeton” which became more popular in Paris became known as “the people's

opera.” There were so many wonderful entertainments of the earlier times at Versailles.

In the same book there is also a wonderful depiction of an engraving of the inauguration of the

equestrian statue of Louis XIV in place Louis-le-Grand, which is now the Place Vendome. It looks

to have been a magnificent occasion and I am also reminded of a similar occasion for the unveiling of the Bronze Horseman in St Petersburg. This also looks to have been a spectacular occasion from the pictures which have have been depicted.

The duc de Bourgogne had been brought up by a religious tutor, Fenelon, who later

had been banned from the court because of his views. However, his teachings had

influenced the young duc de Bourgogne, who would have liked nothing better than to read

and study religious texts and writings. At one time when the duc de Bourgogne was not

present at an evening's entertainment the king was known to say that as a prince of the court he

should be present at the royal functions. The king was probably not impressed or put out

by the duc de Bourgogne's absence.

At one time, during severe economic hardship, the Duke and Duchess of Bourgogne

sold their jewellery to assist less fortunate people.

After the demise of Monseigneur, the king's son, from smallpox, the duc de Bourgogne

was being made ready for his time to take over the crown from Louis XIV as next in line

of succession. Great things were expected of him and Louis XIV proudly did introduce

him to clerics and people of the church.

Unfortunately, in those times, there were not vaccinations available for small-pox and

many people also in Paris succumbed to this disease.

Princess Marie-Adelaide fell ill and passed away with the duc de Bourgogne also passing

away not long after. This couple seemed ideal and would have made a wonderful king

and queen. Two of their children were also lost from small-pox and a governess, Madame de Ventadour, refused

to allow the doctors to treat another son, who was very young at the time. This child subsequently

reigned as King Louis XV many years later.

I found “Princess of Versailles” to be rich in content and wonderful to read. The book shows

Versailles to its best advantage, the wonderful place which at times it could be. Charles Elliott

did devote a few pages to the earlier years of Versalles as a background to the story.

Princess Marie-Adelaide was popular at court, loved and admired by many people and sadly missed as also had been her grand-mother

Princess Henriette, Madame, who was known as “Minette” who had also died at a young age many

years earlier.