This novel has an average rating from my local library readers, but I found it a fascinating insight into the Valois dynasty seen through the eyes of Marguerite de Valois during the 16th century. Although King Charles heads the French dynasty, his mother, Catherine de Medicis, is the one who makes all the political decisions. Her schemes to maintain and increase her family’s rule include marrying her off to any man if it will increase the family’s power. The Queen’s desire to maintain a stronghold on its kingdom culminates in the St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre when thousands of Huguenot are slaughtered.
Will Margurerite realize what kind of a person her mother really is, and overcome her desire to please her?
In 1950s England, Lewis’s mother drinks a bottle of wine, and drowns while out on a picnic with her son. Because of his failure to save his mother, Lewis’s response to his guilt becomes unruly and he lands in jail. On his release, he discovers the past is ever present within both his remaining family and his village community that no longer trust him.
African American Evan grew up an orphan in a small Mississippi town. When he meets Valuable, the daughter of the town whore who doesn’t know who her father is, their lives change. Both want a family, something neither of them have, but can this racial combination survive in the 1950’s racist south?
A South American government tries to lure Mr Hosokawa to a party so he will invest in their country, but the Japanese tycoon is not interested in doing business with this regime. When he is not working long hours at his company, Nansei, he is passionate about opera, especially opera singer Roxane Coss. So when the South American government invites him to attend his birthday party where this very opera singer will perform, he cannot refuse.
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