The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

Two sisters competing for the greatest prize: the love of a king
When Mary Boleyn comes to court as an innocent girl of fourteen, she catches the eye of Henry VIII. Dazzled by the king, Mary falls in love with both her golden prince and her growing role as unofficial queen. However, she soon realizes just how much she is a pawn in her familys ambitious plots as the kings interest begins to wane and she is forced to step aside for her best friend and rival: her sister, Anne. Then Mary knows that she must defy her family and her king, and take her fate into her own hands. A rich and compelling tale of love, sex, ambition, and intrigue, The Other Boleyn Girl introduces a woman of extraordinary determination and desire who lived at the heart of the most exciting and glamorous court in Europe and survived by following her own heart.

Mary Boleyn

Mary Boleyn was the sister of the more famous Anne Boleyn. Mary was one of the mistresses of King Henry VIII of England and also, allegedly, of his rival, King Francis I of France. She married twice. During the affair or sometime after, it was rumoured that one or both of Mary's children were fathered by the king. One witness noted that Mary's son, Henry Carey, bore a resemblance to Henry VIII.

The Six Wives of Henry the VIII
copyright "six wives of henry VIII"

                        

   Catherine of Aragon                  Anne Boleyn

      m. 1509 - 1533                     m. 1533 - 1536

            Divorced                               Executed

                       

     Jane Seymour                       Anne of Cleves
    m. 1536 - 1537                   m. 1540 Jan. - July

             Died                                    Divorced

                     

   Kathryn Howard                    Katherine Parr

    m. 1540 - 1542                   m. 1543 - 1547

         Executed                             Widowed  

            

Interview with Philippa Gregory 
~authors website

Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote

"Truman Capote I do not know well, but I like him. He is tart as a grand aunt, but in his way is a ballsy little guy, and he is the most perfect writer of my generation, he writes the best sentences word for word, rhythm upon rhythm. I would not have changed two words in Breakfast at Tiffany's which will become a small classic." 
-Norman Mailer

Truman Capote was already a celebrity by the time Breakfast at Tiffany's was released in 1958. It was written at the end of what he called his second cycle of writing which began with his first published novel, Other Voices, Other Rooms. Although it was never assumed by the critics at the time, Breakfast at Tiffany's was to become one of the most famous and influential works Capote ever wrote. ~website

Capote Quotes

"I don't care what anybody says about me as long as it isn't true."

"I like to talk on TV about those things that aren't worth writing about."

"My major regret in life is that my childhood was unnecessarily lonely."

Audrey Hepburn Quotes

"I was born with an enormous need for affection, and a terrible need to give it. "

"I never thought I'd land in pictures with a face like mine."

Breakfast at Tiffany's Movie Trailer

The Greater Good by Casey Moreton

If he didn't get out now, he'd never forgive himself..." (from the first line)

This high-velocity political thriller from a gifted first-time novelist follows the hunt for a videotape that terrifyingly reveals Washington's deadliest secret: the shocking identity of the vice president's assassin. 

Hours before an assassin's bullet rips through his bedroom window, Vice President James Ettinger makes an explosive confession on videotape. When the smoke clears in the aftermath of the assassination, the tape has vanished. And the race is on. From the dizzying heights of Washington insider power to the subterranean realm of win-at-all-costs political maneuvering, the quest to find the mysterious videotape snatches readers up in a relentless whirlwind of espionage, brutal policy warfare, and the intricate machinations of no-holds-barred power brokering. Only one thing is clear: those responsible for Ettinger's death will stop at nothing to make sure his final words are never heard. Putting his crew of engaging, multidimensional characters through their paces as they negotiate a treacherous political maze, novelist Casey Moreton proves himself a natural storyteller with seemingly unlimited surprises up his sleeve. 

About the Author

Casey Moreton lives with his wife, Kari, in Rogers, Arkansas. This is his first novel.

Honeymoon With My Brother by Franz Wisner

Franz Wisner had the world by the tail. He was engaged to the beautiful Annie, with whom he shared a passion for conservative politics and a command of quotes from the movie This Is Spinal Tap. He worked as a government-relations official for a California real-estate giant, rubbing elbows with bigwig politicians. But then his fiancée dumped him days before their wed

ding, and his boss demoted him. So he dragged his younger brother, Kurt, a Seattle realtor and divorcé, to Costa Rica for his already-scheduled honeymoon, where Wisner spilled his guts to a prostitute in the hotel bar. ("Not once did it occur to me that I was having a heart-to-heart with a woman who faked orgasms for a living.")

Both inspired and desperate, the two quit their jobs, sold their houses, gave away their belongings, and traveled the world for two years, romping through Europe in a newly purchased Saab, then hitting the Middle East, Southeast Asia, South America, and Africa. Along the way, Wisner got to know his brother in a way he never had ("Kurt had become ... my new best friend") and fought to move past his failed relationship.

Wisner's story is straightforward, heartfelt, and highly readable--though without any true, biting insights--and should connect with readers who've gone through a breakup, career change, or midlife crisis, or fantasized about quitting the rat race. His best travel tip? Throw away the guidebooks, and talk to the locals instead. --Andy Boynton 

Quotes from the book

"Funny.  If it was just one of us, this would be considered flaky.  Two and it's brotherly love."

"Travel is a language spoken by an inclusive club.  It's a trigger for memories and a spark for more journeys."

About the Author
Franz Wisner (author's website) is a writer/vagabond who, in a previous reincarnation, used to work as a lobbyist, a public relations executive, and a government press secretary. During his world journeys, he published numerous travel articles and opinion pieces, which appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times, ABC News on-line, and Coast Magazine, among others. Franz and his brother, Kurt, are currently traveling the globe for their next book, also with St. Martin's Press. ~macmillian publishing

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