The Tenth Gift (2008)

Pirates of the Mediterranean...
pg 123: Compare these talkative pirates to the slave traders in, say [b:The Book of Negroes|12954908|The Illustrated Book Of Negroes|Lawrence Hill|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51mAGPc+3QL._SL75_.jpg|18112021]. The pirates here are hardly realistic, talking up their cargo like they're at Sunday tea. How come none of the women captives have been raped yet? Also not very realistic.
pg 131: "Annie Badcock" -- another really thinly veiled connection between Julia and Cat; first the repeated references to "Robert Bolitho" and then the unnoticed name "Bolitho" in the family Bible, and now the same name for the two seers, one in Cat's time, one in Julia's time. The connections are so obvious that the audience's intelligence level must not be very high.
pg 185: I'm tired of books with irrationally strong female characters. We're supposed to admire Cat because she speaks her mind and argues for what is right or righteous...but she's stupidly pigheaded in this way, because she really just puts her foot in her mouth everytime and insults the man with the metaphorical gun at her head. If she were really smart she'd have a better sense of self-preservation and subservience.
pg 216: lol Who, while sitting in a cafe and a strange man comes up and asks "What are you reading?", responds with an ENTIRE PARAGRAPH from the book?! First, the opening question is usually a pick up line and the guy couldn't care less about the book. Second, the typical answer to such a question is the TITLE of the book, not the literal words being read at that moment. Third, even if you wanted to share the literal words you were reading, you might give only a sentence or summary, not a huge paragraph! Try reading a random information paragraph to a stranger sometime; it takes longer than you think, and both you and the stranger will be bored very quickly. Really, I think this full out paragraph was just the author's lame way of throwing in more historical background. I didn't find it an effective interjection.
pg 219: I really hope this doesn't become (but I fear it will) a love story where she falls for Idriss...

Finished: As far as historical fiction and chicklit goes, this is a reasonable mesh of the two genres. Nothing to heavy in either (fortunately, in the latter case, though the love stories are predictable). Some unbelievable melodrama regarding Michael; not a believable character. The others: fairly typical of pop fiction.
The main thing this book has going for it is the look at Barbary pirates--excuse me, CORSAIRS-- that is not found in most stories. Otherwise just a good beach read. ( )

Jane Johnson's Crossed Bones has come at a great time - it seems there have never been so many good historical writers on our shelves and there is always room for one more. From the intriguing first line to the end of the novel this is exciting, entertaining and extremely enjoyable.

I've seen various people describe it as a 'rip-roaring read' and a 'swashbuckling pirate tale' and I would agree with both. Jane Johnson has weaved an excellent story into a well-researched historical backround. If you doubt the extent of her reading, check out the back of the book where a list of further reading sources is provided.

The writing style is clear, catchy and accessible and the characters are excellent. This enchanting mix of past and present is a real winner. ( )

This is a book about many things: two women - one living now and one who lived in the early 17th century, embroidery, slavery, corsairs, Islam, Cornwall, Morocco. The romantic stories of Julia Lovett (21st century) and Catherine Ann Treggena (17th century) and how they were linked did not really excite me much. What did excite me was the amazing picture of life in rural Cornwall 500yrs ago, and the sights smells and sounds of Morocco then and now, Jane Johnson has a real knack of conjuring up the place and the time.
She has researched the background subjects meticulously and put together an intriguing tale. I learnt a great deal from reading the book, and have subsequently followed up on some of the books Johnson includes in a list of recommended reading at the end. For some reason, the corsair raids on Cornwall and Devon during the 17th Century and their ability to capture and enslave English men women and children seems to have become a forgotten part of British history. 1,000,000 white slaves taken to North Africa is extraordinary, we are all taught about the black slave trade but this area seems to have been air-brushed out of the picture. ( )

This is a beautiful story. The book starts with Julia, who has been having an affair with her best friend's husband. He gives her a gift of a centuries-old book about needlework (Julia owns an embroidery shop) and Julia discovers the story of Catherine, a young servant woman who is captured by Barbary pirates. The book goes back and forth between Julia's investigation of Catherine's life and Catherine's recounting of her journey. The author has a gift for descriptive writing- the colors, smells, tastes and life in the book leap off the page. It's also a very satisfying book that will hold you spellbound until the very last page.

Food: This book is spiced cake with nuts and dates, served with mint tea. It is lush, dense, flavorful and refreshing, all at once, without being too heavy. ( )

A really good read with wonderful descriptions of 1600's life in contrast to present day. ( )