The Fourth Estate

The Fourth Estate
by Jeffrey Archer

I continued listening to the tapes on the way home from a family trip. My husband even listened with me as we traveled through the cold war and the building of two newpaper empires. The part that intrigued me and that also gave me chills was the KGB using a well known business man as a messenger and informant.

I got all the way to side two of tape three.

The Fourth Estate

The Fourth Estate
by Jeffrey Archer

I started listening to this audio book on the way home from the Tri-Cities. It was hard for me to focus on the beginning, but it got interesting as it reverted to the childhoods of the two main characters in the story and continued through to their adulthood stories. I feel like the plot is thickening, and I'm only on the second side of the first tape.

The story takes place in Europe during and after World War 1. One central theme that is emerging is newspapers and the press. Another theme that I am sensing has to do with Judaism. I'm not sure if that is going anywhere, or if it is a residual from the Holocaust time period.

I can't say that I'm enjoying the book yet, but I am going to keep going. I am mildly intrigued.

The Red Tent

The Red Tent
by Anita Diamant

I'm reading this book about the story of Dinah. Here is the Amazon.com review on the book:

The red tent is the place where women gathered during their cycles of birthing, menses, and even illness. Like the conversations and mysteries held within this feminine tent, this sweeping piece of fiction offers an insider's look at the daily life of a biblical sorority of mothers and wives and their one and only daughter, Dinah. Told in the voice of Jacob's daughter Dinah (who only received a glimpse of recognition in the Book of Genesis), we are privy to the fascinating feminine characters who bled within the red tent. In a confiding and poetic voice, Dinah whispers stories of her four mothers, Rachel, Leah, Zilpah, and Bilhah--all wives to Jacob, and each one embodying unique feminine traits. As she reveals these sensual and emotionally charged stories we learn of birthing miracles, slaves, artisans, household gods, and sisterhood secrets. Eventually Dinah delves into her own saga of betrayals, grief, and a call to midwifery.

The Virgin Lover

Now I am working on the sequal,

The Virgin Lover
by Philippa Gregory.

I haven't had the same time to spend with this book and it hasn't captured me in the same way the last one did.

Note on 2-23-08: Still in the TBR pile

The Queen's Fool

The Queen's Fool
by Philippa Gregory

I finished this book the same day. It was a great ride.

The Queen's Fool

The Queen's Fool

by Philippa Gregory

I'm about halfway through this book about a young Jewish teenager surviving in the 1550s. She dresses as a boy to escape the inquisition in Spain. Then she keeps the clothes as a way to maintain her independance in London.

She catches the eye of some important Lords and ends up working as a "fool" for the court. She has the gift of "sight" but does not alway see the obvious things in front of her.

I started this book today and have not put it down until page 277. I am looking forward to how it turns out.