Rebecca Books

Ivy has never had a good life. When she was young, her father died and her mother abandoned her. Her aunt and uncle that took her in weren't too kind either, and she was constantly mocked by her female cousins and beat by her cousin Jared. She's humiliated and punished when sent to school, so she runs away, only to join a band of thieves who start her laudanum addiction. As she grows older though, her fiery locks catch the eye of an artist, and she becomes his model. Yet problems persist in the form of a jealous mother, a familiar band of thieves, a controlling cousin, a drug addiction, and a realization that modeling can be a painful experience.

Ivy was an enjoyable historical novel even though the story had it peculiarities. For example, Ivy had an aversion to eating meat, which is never completely explained but probably has something to do with her love for all animals. The motives of several characters were often befuddled and unclear, and Ivy was the only well-developed character, although I didn't like how she was always at the mercy of others and rarely made decisions for herself. Despite its drawbacks, Ivy's journey from thievery to a respectable occupation was fascinating in the context of nineteenth-century British society.

It was the historical angle and thievery that drew me in, and I'm glad I read this novel. Ivy was a sort of combination between Elizabeth Scott's Stealing Heaven with the thievery aspect, Anna Godbersen's The Luxe with high society and fashion, Jennifer Donnelly's A Northern Light in respect to the role of women, and Christine Fletcher's Ten Cents a Dance in regard to addictions, the last three also being historical novels. I do recommend this novel to fans of historical fiction, but want against some confusion that may occur while reading this novel.

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To Amazon Books: Jenny Mitchel, Young Irelander

My book is a biography of a Nineteenth century Irish woman with grace and conviction. By chance I found her in an1857 Knoxville, Tennessee newspaper. "John Mitchel, his wife and children were at home in Tucaleechee Cove, an empty corner of the Great Smoky Mountains." The article said that Mitchel was a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin and she was the niece of Baron Verner of Ireland. Why on Earth? The English Book of Records did not show Jenny although her putative captain father James Verner was brother to the Baron William Verner. So I went on a wonderful decade of research into the 1848 Young Irelander's effort at rebellion. Jenny Verner was born in Newry, Ireland in the early Nineteenth century and died when she was 80 on the night when the Twentieth century was coming in. She was called by her friends "Pretty Jenny". She was married to John Mitchel, also Newry born, who would be known around the world as John Mitchel Irish Patriot. He was an editor of newspapers in Dublin. Who wrote with an inkpot full of fire for freedom from England. A group of other young men naming themselves Young Irelanders joined the cause in 1848, that great year of rebellions in Europe. The English put the Irish rising down before it became really started. The young Irelanders were arrested, tried and sent as State Prisoners to Australia. They were gentlemen and could not be put in the Australian prisons to break rock and build roads. They were each assigned a house and enough land to farm, but from which they were not allowed to leave with out permission. Jenny and their children were allowed to join John Mitchel. They sailed for three months from Liverpool, England with her 5 children, a maid and a manservant. Jenny wrote to friend's back home about her journey and said she was happier than she had ever been. There came a baby girl. In New York City important people like Horace Greeley owner and editor of the New York Tribune, had money given to help the 1848ers and since there was no war, they decided to help John Mitchel escape to New York City. Where they would establish a newspaper for him to keep the education for freedom alive. Jenny, their 5 children and the baby joined the flight. They sailed to San Francisco, where she thought it would be good to stay because everyone was getting rich in the gold rush, but they were committed to New York City. They crossed Nicaragua to the Atlantic Ocean by donkey and Indian war canoes. They arrived at the Empire of the Miskito Indians, a protectorate of the British. They waited in Greytown at the Empire of the Meskito Indians for the Atlantic liner the Prometheus owned by Cornelius Vanderbilt. They lived in Brooklyn where many Irish were settling, including some escapees from the Young Irelander effort. They came to the home of "Pretty Jenny" for tea, scones, wine and dancing. Who ever has lived or visited Ireland is forever homesick. John Mitchel Irish Patriot lost his sponser's when he chose the side of the South in the coming of the Civil War. In the many homes that would follow, Jenny and her piano followed. My research began in Ireland with the Archives of Trinity College Dublin, the National Library of Ireland, the prison records, census records and newspapers. Then extended to the Australian Libraries, New York Public Library, Knoxville Tennessee, Washington D.C., Richmond Virginia and France. The War had begun when John, Jenny and the girls for a brief time were in France. Two of their boys joined the Confederate States Army and John Mitchel thought he should come to Richmond Virginia to support them with his writing. The boys were killed, one Lieutenant CSA John Mitchel in command at Fort Sumpter and Willie the youngest at Gettysberg. Jenny and the two surviving girls joined them by way of a Confederate blockade-runner the Vesta, an English ship. She was on her way to surprise John Mitchel with supplies for Richmond at war. They stopped in Bermuda to re coal for the Carolinas. Yankee war ships beached their boat loaded with paper from England for printing Confederate monies, off the Carolina Coast. From the beach they watched their ships captain set fire to their ship, to leave nothing for the Northerners. Instead of surprising John with supplies in War torn Richmond, they surprised him as bedraggled kittens. In Richmond John Mitchel was indeed supporting his son's and the south with the Citizen Newspaper. Richmond was capital of the Confederate where President Jefferson Davis said the north soldiers should never be allowed in for they would rape their women and starve the old people. When General Robert E Lee sent a message that he was surrendering and the Union Army was closing in on Richmond he commanded a train and all the cars with all the able men in the area to leave. He left Richmond with all the important people for Danville, Virginia, leaving the women to defend themselves. (He had sent his family on a vacation a long way away several weeks before) He commanded that Richmond be set on fire, which it was. John Mitchel and others contributed to the war, but left on foot down the railroad track. The fire was consuming. Jenny and the girls were in their home across the road from a big ammunition dump, which went up one by one. Their home was not harmed. The federal's arrested John Mitchel when he returned to Richmond. He was jailed in Fortress Monroe with Jefferson Davis. Their cells were open to the Atlantic Ocean, which gave John something. Winds from the Atlantic gave him what contributed to his death. The death of John Mitchel Irish Patriot was known around the world and money was sent to Jenny to honor him. It was sufficient to keep her comfortable and pay for a lot in Woodlawn Cemetery. Their grandson John Mitchel was major of New York City. He insisted in World War 1 for the US Army Aircorps and was killed in a training flight. He was carried from the city to Woodlawn Cemetery by a foot parade. In which Former President Theodora Roosevelt marched.

Review by Timothy Taylor: Akibavar@aol.com Jersey Blue is the only book I can think of that amuses and arouses simultaneously. There are some wildly perverse sex scenes involving riding crops and twin sisters who are exceptionally close, but the general tone of the book is good humor; sometimes in the midst of the most outrageous activity one finds oneself laughing out loud! The story takes the reader through back swamp Jersey history, but never loses sight of the comical yet heroic lusts that drive humanity. I recommend this book to anyone who would like to read a unique and extra spicy historical novel.

This is an excellent piece of scholarship and prose. Rebecca Lester takes us into the lives of young Mexican postulants in a way that challenges how we think about "being" and "becoming". Lester investigates, and clearly articulates, how twenty young women learn to embody what it means to be a nun within the unique Mexican nationalist context. The first half of the book investigates how the women learn to be nuns through the reshaping of their own subjective experiences of the world, their selves, and God. The second half chronicles the social history of life in Mexico, paying particular attention to local conceptions of femininity and modernity. Readers will learn how the convent's philosophy resonates with Mexican femininity in a way that provides the young postulants with a legitimate avenue for being both a modern and tradition Mexican woman through serving God and the poor. Though Jesus in Our Wombs is theoretically rigorous, Lester writes with clarity, articulating deep philosophical questions and insights in everyday language. This is a MUST READ for people interested in anthropology, existential philosophy, feminist theory, Mexico, and Catholicism. Yes, indeed, readers will find so much to think and talk about after reading this book!

This is a wonderful book that shows how important woman are in Jesus' life. Make us wonder why he kept chosing women for many important things such as being the first witness of His resurrection. Are woman more faithful than men? Do we love more deeply than men? Are we made with a different heart?

These works were originally published as part of a cooperative effort between the Jewish content book- centered website 'Nextbook' and Schocken books. The whole series is edited by Jonathan Rosen.
Goldstein rereads the story of Spinoza and perhaps makes him more Jewish in his thought than he truly was. Pinsky retells the story of Biblical David in a less worshipful way than many religious Jews would approve of. Nuland looks at the Rambam's legacy as a doctor and stacks it up against modern medical knowledge. I would not say any of the works is a masterwork, but all three are highly interesting and worthwhile reads.

AS aGRADUATE OF ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY IN 1987 AND A PROPONENT OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY I AM A SUPPORTER OF THE TRUTH AND KNOWING THE ROLE MRS CARR AND E.D.NIXON PLAYED IN THE MOVEMENT WAS VERY ENLIGHTENING TO ME I HAVE WRITTEN TO MRS. CARR SEVERAL TIMES IN HOPES OF RECEIVING HISTORICAL INFORMATION FROM HER. I THANK THE BOOK SENDS A MESSAGE THAT YOU HAVE TO GO BEYOND PRINT MEDIA TO GET THE FACTS!

I never knew that there was so much practical, applicable material in these three books. Up until now, Joshua, Judges, and Ruth were largely closed books to me. This commentary has opened my eyes to their life-changing truths. Excellent material for any Sunday School teacher, small group, youth group, or Bible study leader. Can easily and profitably be used as a daily devotional. Well done!!!

A simply superb reproduction of the 1933 Houghton Mifflin edition of Walter Nordhoff's The Journey Of The Flame, this new Heyday Books edition is part of their "California Legacy Book" series. On the day of his 104th birthday, Don Juan Obrigon tells his life story to assembled relatives and guests. Don Obrigon describes his travels as a boy of twelve in 1810 when he accompanied the Spanish Inspector-General of the Colonies from the souther tip of Baja California to Monterey. A work of fiction, author Nordhoff brings to life a "time lost" tale of adventure and ancient desert lore based on meticulous research and personal experience. Beautifully written, deftly constructed, and enthusiastically recommended reading, The Journey Of The Flame will prove entertaining and reader engaging to a whole new generation.

A great book, lots of historical information, and yet simple enough to follow for any kid over 9 years of age. I personally used it for a research report, and using this book alone, wrote at least 4 pages, which then led me to receive an "A" on the report. Also tells a lot about Chinese immigrants such as my parents, which I can tell rose above and behind, forefilling to American Dream of earning your way up to the life I have now from a farming community my parents came from. My grand parents went through these experience, and I tell you that this is as accurate as it gets.