ARTFUL READERS CLUB 

MARCH BOOK: 

The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Potzsch

March 29, 2013

Greetings Artful Readers Club Friends! My book selection for this month is by German writer and filmmaker, Oliver Potzsch. Its title is... THE HANGMAN'S DAUGHTER.

Taking us back in history to a time when autopsies were blasphemous, coffee was an exotic drink, dried toads were the recommended remedy for the plague and the devil was as real as your neighbor, THE HANGMAN'S DAUGHTER brings to life the sights, sounds and even the smells of 17th century, medieval Bavaria. The book captures the ugliness of  a time when herbal remedies and medical knowledge were feared as works of the Devil, women were tortured and burned at the stake as witches to "keep the peace," and people were generally distrusting, unsanitary and very superstitious. The small trading village of  Schongau, Bavaria (a real place near the Alps and the Lech River,) comes alive in this historical thriller. Schongau has seen 30 years of war and witch hunts. It's run by first families and a last name meant the difference between poverty and privilege.
The complex hangman is my favorite of the richly portrayed characters in the book- Jakob Kuisl is very lethal, but also a trusted healer ...compassionate, caring, intelligent and clear-thinking, but he's considered a social outcast because he's "the hangman." This multi-faceted man  turns detective to protect a woman he believes to be innocent of witchcraft...so starts the mystery. His investigative partner (the second main character) is Simon Fronwieser, a young, university-trained, aspiring physician whose father is a physician as well, but his old ways are no longer effective. The third main character...and I use the term "main" loosely...is Magdalena, the hangman's daughter. I still can't figure out why the author titled the book as he did because Magdalena had little to do with the action and drama in this novel. Perhaps it should have been called simply THE HANGMAN or THE HANGMAN and THE DEVIL!!  :)
I love that the author is a descendent of a long line of Bavarian executioners, the Kuisl family (as in the book,) and that he was inspired by genealogy and family lore to write THE HANGMAN'S DAUGHTER. But I felt that the substance of the book didn't justify its length. Toward the end of the book, I found myself skimming pages and, interestingly, didn't lose the thread of the story. Some of the descriptions were exhausting and superfluous. That aside, I did enjoy the book...just didn't love it. Don't think I'd recommend it, but I AM going to read the next in the series...go figure!!

Hope to see you the last Friday of next month for a review of my next book...THE TIGER'S WIFE by Tea Obreht.

My regular blog posting will be up in a few days.
Thanks for stopping by...

Hugs,
Abbyj

ETC.

March 25, 2013

Hi Family and Friends,

Two quicky art challenges I'd like to post...

The first one is for challenge blog INSPIRATION AVENUE. Their theme: seeds.  I used a photo I took in southern Ethiopia of a Kara tribal boy in his body paint. A little photoshop magic with some typical African seed pods and...here he is!

The other challenge was issued by THINK MONDAY-THINK ATC. Their theme: nests.

That's it...just those two...quicky, like I said.

Thanks for checking back. See you for my next regular posting...hopefully!

Big Hugs,

abbyj

CELEBRATION OF PASSOVER

March 24, 2013

Jewish families celebrate emancipation of Israelites

Tomorrw is the first night of Passover for Jewish families throughout the world. The 8-day festival commemorates the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. The story unfolds as God sends Moses to the Pharoh with a request to release his slaves. Despite warnings and many devastating plagues, the Pharoh refused. So, God visited Egypt and eliminated all their firstborn. While doing so, HE spared the Children of Israel, "passing over" their homes, hence the name of the holiday. Pharoh's resistance was broken and he chased his former slaves out of the land. 600,000 adult males, plus many more women and children, left Egypt and began their trek to Mount Sinai and their lives as God's "chosen people..." so the story goes. Happy Passover to all those celebrating this time of family togetherness!!

Current art challenges suggest spring...

SUNDAY POSTCARD ART asked to see the colorful, whimsical butterfly...my butterfly started in the eye of a tiger:

TAKE A WORD remembered how much rain there is in the spring. They requested some umbrella art:

Finally, THE THREE MUSES challenge blog had participants flying balloons. I used an old photo of my grandchildren in this piece:

Here's wishing you a peaceful, productive week and a happy heart! See you next posting?

Big Hugs,
abbyj