Passion of Artemesia

I read this awhile ago but I thought I'd review it now because of the recent discussion we had about the Italian Court case and the wearing of jeans. This book is written by Susan Vreeland, we read her book on a Vermeer painting -- there was a Hallmark movie as well and that book was Girl in Hyacinth Blue. Ms. Vreeland seems to be exploring artists as her following book The Forest Lover is also about an artist. In Passion of Artemesia Ms. Vreeland explores the woman behind the art. I liked the book so much I bought one of the references she used. That's why I have the full text of Artemesia's rape trial -- that book also has color plates of her paintings. Artemesia's father was also a very famous painter. Artemesia herself was the first woman artist admitted to the Accademia dell' Arte del Disegno. The book is well researched and very well written. Artemesia's story is worth reading/seeing. You really must see the art when reading the book.

Cris: What I Read in March

This looks like a lot of books, but the last time we met was March. 14th and I sent out "What I Read" about two weeks before that. So this is really covers about 6 weeks.

Finished:
A Walk in the Woods, by Bill Bryso (audio) (Very funny as always!!)

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, by C. S. Lewis (audio) (Wow the movie was very much like the book. I enjoyed both.)

Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister, by Gregory Maguire (As good as Wicked)

Leaping Beauty, by Gregory Maguire - This book has several mangled children's stories. It's very silly. I think it would be great to read to kids age 4-8, but I found it dumb. I only listened to 30 minutes, which was 1.5 stories. I heard Leaping Beauty, which is about a baby frog named Beauty and part of the Three Chickens and the Red Fox (Little Red Riding Hood).

An Act of Love, by Nancy Thayer

Say When, by Elizabeth Berg

Unnatrual Exposure, by Patricia Cornwell (8th book in her series)

The Killer Angels, by Shaara, Michael (audio) (This is very good. You read about the battle at Gettysburg from both sides. Very interesting.)

Slipping into Darkness, by Peter Blauner (audio) (New author for me, but my usual crime/detective story. I really liked this book.)

1st to Die, by James Patterson (This is the first book in the Murder Club series. He just released 5th Horseman, which as you can guess is the 5th book. I have read 1-4 but it's been some time. I am number 54 in the list to get the 5th Horseman, with 3 books to lend. No problem being able to reread 1-4 before it's my turn.)

Listening to:
A Slight Trick of the Mind, by Mitch Cullin (This is the story of Sherlock Holmes. He is 93 and losing his memory. So far it's OK.)

Reading:
2nd Chance, by James Patterson (2nd book in the Murder Club series.)