What is a Bluestocking?

In the early 1750s Mrs Elizabeth Montagu and others started a women's literary discussion group, a revolutionary step away from traditional mindless women's activities. They invited various people to attend, including a botanist, translator and publisher called Benjamin Stillingfleet. He wasn't rich enough to have the proper formal dress which included black silk stockings. So he attended in his normal clothes, wearing blue worsted stockings. This started a trend. The husband of one of the group members was Admiral Edward Boscawen, and he derisively referred to the meetings as the "Blue-Stocking Society". "Bluestocking" then became a term to describe literary/intellectual women.

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

The Dead Whisper On ~ Hip to be Square

Okay ladies, I have two more books for ya. One is a darker story, the other is fun. Let's start with the dark......








The Dead Whisper On by T.L. Hines - Do you remember Waking Lazarus? (The guy who died 3 times) Well this is his 2nd book and like the last one it's a chiller. If you creep-out easily than this isn't something to read before bed. It actually didn't bother me, but then again maybe I'm a creep.(?) It's about Canada MacHugh who lives in down and out Butte, Montana. 11 years after her father has died he starts speaking to her. I don't want to give away too much of the story, but he's offering her a chance to do some good in the world, to expose some wrong doings. But, of course there are forces at work that don't want her to succeed with her missions. (What kind of thriller would it be if someone isn't chasing someone else?) Even though it's a dark book, it is a story of hope and about whether to listen to the things your heart believes. I enjoy a thriller now and then with a little conspiracy theory thrown in.



And now the fun book......

Hip to be Square by Hope Lyda - I would call this a coming of age story, but the lead character, Mari Hamilton, is almost 30 and hasn't accomplished any of her "before 30 goals". Mari is single and works at a retirement home, so the only men she meets are seniors. Instead of receiving Vogue in the mail she gets the AARP Newsletter. She finds herself wishing for a change, but at the same time hates change and avoids it like the plague. One of the things I loved about this book are her friends. Now I love a good inspirational book with solid examples of Christian character, but I also love books where the character seem more, I don't know, real? (flaws and all) Even though they are all christian ladies they are not always nice and don't always get along. This is a humorous book with a touch of sarcasm. Some parts of her life seem to fall together a little too easily, but over all it was a fun story.


Well that's all for now, thanks to Jen H. for introducing me to Jodi Picoult, I enjoyed the tragic My Sister's Keeper and am now off to read the only other book I found by her at my local library - Plain Truth. I have to admit that the Amish lifestyle intrigues me. Hope to hear from some more of you soon!

Happy Reading ~Mo

1 comment:

Jenny-Jen said...

Awesome! I loved Waking Lazarus!!
I can't wait to read this.
Thanks Mo both of these books sound really good.