Another older map. I wonder how hot it is in Mexico now?
Today there's a heat advisory here in the Northeast-- between the temperature and the humidity the heat index will make it feel like it's about 104. The schools are even on early dismissal.
And, silly us, we don't have air conditioning.
But truly, I love it. For 8 or 9 months of the year (while trying to stay warm) I dream about opening the windows and hearing the birds and the crickets and the peaceful outside noises. So I don't complain about hot weather.
new posts in all blogs
Blog: Biblio File (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Edge of the Forest, Biography, China, Taiwan, France, Renaissance, Laura Tyson Li, Madame Chiang Kai Shek, Catherine de Medici, Add a tag
By: Jennie,
on 8/7/2007
This is an exhaustive look at a complicated woman. Catherine was Queen of France, and mother to 3 kings of France. She held most of the power during the religious civil wars, was a contemporary of Queen Elizabeth (Elizabeth's "Frog" was Catherine's youngest son) and history has placed the blame for the Saint Bartholomew's Day massacre squarely at Catherine's feet.
Frieda has tried to free Catherine of this blame-- she paints a picture of a surgical assassination gone horribly wrong but... the fact that she wasn't guilty of massacre, just ordering the political killings of a dozen men? I'm not entirely sure that makes her better.
Frieda writes a compelling story about a place and time period I know little about. She explains context extremely well and her story is well researched and well told-- for my research, I really only needed the first few chapters, but I was so intrigued by Frieda's portrait that I had to continue reading.
There are 3 inserts of color photographs and paintings that serve as great visual aids and I really appreciated the "Cast of Characters" at the beginning of the book--it's hard to keep all those Henri's straight, plus the ever-changing Duke of Guise...
If you like biography, France, powerful women, religious history, or Renaissance history, I recommend this book.
Another powerful woman who is often a controversial figure is Madame Chiang Kai Shek.
In Madame Chiang Kai-shek: China's Eternal First Lady by Laura Tyson Li, we get another look at a complicated and complex person.
I think Li really wanted this to be a sympathetic view of Madame Chiang Kai- Shek, but after a certain point, the material just wouldn't let her. I learned a lot about Taiwan, as well as the craziness that was the first 50 years of the twentieth century in China. (1911 brought the overthrow the the Qing Dynasty and the new Republic, which never fully gained control of all of China-- much was ruled by warlords, then the Communists were making noises so there was that war, then the Japanese were invading, so there was that war, then back to the Communists...)
After reading this book, I finally understood why Communism succeeded in China and why many saw it as a much better alternative to Chiang's government. But oh, she played the American government and people like a fiddle to get support for a losing cause for years. The KMT (Guomingdang) only lasted as long as it did because of US support...
A revealing and fascinating look at the birth of Communist China, China/Taiwanese political tensions, and the woman who stood in the middle of it all.
Viewing: Blog Posts Tagged with: Madame Chiang Kai Shek, Most Recent at Top [Help]
Results 1 - 3 of 3
By: Jennifer Thermes,
on 6/9/2008
Blog: Art, Words, Life (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: It's getting hot in here, Mexico, maps, rotarian magazine, Add a tag
Blog: Art, Words, Life (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: It's getting hot in here, Mexico, maps, rotarian magazine, Add a tag
9 Comments on Monday Map: ¡Hola a Mis Amigos Mexicanos!, last added: 6/9/2008
Display Comments
Add a Comment
By: Jennifer Thermes,
on 3/17/2008
Blog: Art, Words, Life (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: maps, rotarian magazine, Add a tag
Blog: Art, Words, Life (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: maps, rotarian magazine, Add a tag
A little map from a few years ago.
0 Comments on Monday Map: Alaska as of 3/17/2008 9:10:00 AM
Add a Comment
Blog: Biblio File (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Edge of the Forest, Biography, China, Taiwan, France, Renaissance, Laura Tyson Li, Madame Chiang Kai Shek, Catherine de Medici, Add a tag
I promise kid/YA books later this week, today's more adult non fiction, but with really good reason!
I have reviews up today in the new issue of Edge of the Forest. Head over there to read lots of reviews and cool stuff, as well as my thoughts on Leap and Duchessina: A Novel of Catherine de' Medici.
Now, when reviewing a work of historical fiction, it's always nice to know something about the time period. If you're reviewing a novelization of someone's life, you should know something about that person besides what Wikipedia and Biography Resource Center (my favorite biography database) can give you.
This is an exhaustive look at a complicated woman. Catherine was Queen of France, and mother to 3 kings of France. She held most of the power during the religious civil wars, was a contemporary of Queen Elizabeth (Elizabeth's "Frog" was Catherine's youngest son) and history has placed the blame for the Saint Bartholomew's Day massacre squarely at Catherine's feet.
Frieda has tried to free Catherine of this blame-- she paints a picture of a surgical assassination gone horribly wrong but... the fact that she wasn't guilty of massacre, just ordering the political killings of a dozen men? I'm not entirely sure that makes her better.
Frieda writes a compelling story about a place and time period I know little about. She explains context extremely well and her story is well researched and well told-- for my research, I really only needed the first few chapters, but I was so intrigued by Frieda's portrait that I had to continue reading.
There are 3 inserts of color photographs and paintings that serve as great visual aids and I really appreciated the "Cast of Characters" at the beginning of the book--it's hard to keep all those Henri's straight, plus the ever-changing Duke of Guise...
If you like biography, France, powerful women, religious history, or Renaissance history, I recommend this book.
Another powerful woman who is often a controversial figure is Madame Chiang Kai Shek.
In Madame Chiang Kai-shek: China's Eternal First Lady by Laura Tyson Li, we get another look at a complicated and complex person.
I think Li really wanted this to be a sympathetic view of Madame Chiang Kai- Shek, but after a certain point, the material just wouldn't let her. I learned a lot about Taiwan, as well as the craziness that was the first 50 years of the twentieth century in China. (1911 brought the overthrow the the Qing Dynasty and the new Republic, which never fully gained control of all of China-- much was ruled by warlords, then the Communists were making noises so there was that war, then the Japanese were invading, so there was that war, then back to the Communists...)
After reading this book, I finally understood why Communism succeeded in China and why many saw it as a much better alternative to Chiang's government. But oh, she played the American government and people like a fiddle to get support for a losing cause for years. The KMT (Guomingdang) only lasted as long as it did because of US support...
A revealing and fascinating look at the birth of Communist China, China/Taiwanese political tensions, and the woman who stood in the middle of it all.
4 Comments on Dragon Ladies, last added: 8/23/2007
Display Comments
Add a Comment
i'm sure even mexico is slightly cooler than the NE today... sweltering here in PA too. we've got the same heat wave as you...it's unreal...i melt and become unfriendly in humidity. monday i am on the road most of the day...means everyone will be driving angry! wonderful map.
Lovely map Jennifer!! Adore the turtle.
Now you have to paint Frank somewhere in there... he. he.. in relation to your Friday movie, we can then play were in the world is Frank
:o)
Hi Christine-- Yep, it is unreal. Disturbing, actually. I don't mind the heat as long as I can breathe, but now there are all these poor air quality warnings-- I am feeling the effects of that. Not good. Be safe driving out there!
Ha, Alicia... I love that idea! Frank, where are you now?? :-)
ok, i have to 2nd the where in the world is frank idea! that is way tooo funny!
Well I sure hope he's not painting outside today, if he's still in New England!
O.K., I am here in hot old Poughkeepsie. Schools sent home here too.
I was going to paint today, but opted to stay in and hang out with the family on my last day.
Mexico is a lot cooler than it is here, and when it hits 100, it is a dry heat. ha ha ha.
It's started to rain down there, so the big heat is over.
They DO drive kind of cranky up here when it gets hot. People honking at the lights when people dont get moving fast enough etc...
You can mark me back in Mexico tomorrow on your maps. Thanks for thinking of me. Love the Mexico map. I'm right about where that dot on the i is or the top of the c.
Ahh, Poughkeepsie... so you know what we're talking about with this heat! I never quite got the concept of dry heat... 100 is 100, no? Maybe your hair doesn't curl up as much. :-)
I always meant to look up where you are in Mexico-- glad to know. Have a safe trip back!
No no no, 100 there is much more bearable than 100 here. The air here is very heavy today. In Mexico, at least up high where I am, it is hot and freakin sunny, but you don't have that real energy sucking humidity like you get up here.
I'm not complaining mind you, it is good to see my family and this heat brings back all kinds of good summer memories.
Well I think I'll take your 100 then! It is a bit much here today. :-)