Alison Rattle

Mad Kings & Queens is exactly what one would expect from a Barnes and Noble bargain history book, but I am nonetheless disappointed. I was prepared for the lackluster writing and the lack of development, but I was not prepared for the prejudice and judgment that guided the choices made by Rattle and Vale. It is no secret that royal lines have long been plagued with mental instability, and the "inbreeding" of European royal families has lead to a long list of unfortunate offspring. This show more progeny makes up a strong portion of the book, which is seasoned with famous figures such as Vlad the Impaler and Elizabeth Bathory (named as Erzsebet Bathory, accent marks missing).

What I found distressing was the long list of monarchs who were dubbed insane for, well, enjoying sex. Some of these royal figures are even included for simply enjoying sex with their lawful partners. Others, of course, include queens who had a number of affairs, and rulers who indulged in homosexual desires of varying degrees. While I understand that contemporary politics, religion, and cultural stigmas would likely influence the subjects of these royals to recoil in horror, does a strong libido really mark a historical figure for entrance into a collection of Mad Kings & Queens? I would argue that a king who engaged in sexual congress with his wife late into his seventies deserves a little more indulgence than the tsar who ran naked through the streets stabbing citizens.

Interested in naughty kings and queens? Eleanor Herman is a lot more fun - and a lot less judgmental. show less

In 19th century London, two rather naïve 15 year old girls face very different problems. The narrative alternates between them, chapter by chapter. Ellen is bored and lonely. Her father is wealthy but has little time for his daughter, and her only confidante is her maid, Mary, until an attractive young man comes to work with her father. Queenie's Da drinks, and Mam has turned to prostitution to support the family, while Queenie looks after her brothers and sisters. Her escape is a domestic show more job in Covent Garden, looking after babies who have been given up for adoption. Both girls will soon be shocked out of their innocence.

From her experience with her own siblings, Queenie knows that the quietness of the Wild Street babies isn't normal, and that there is something wrong. Why is her employer, Mrs Ellis, so angry when she gives babies milk which has not been doctored with the mysterious Godfreys Cordial (a popular "medicine" given to quieten Victorian babies, containing opium), or when Queenie thinks the babies lying on the sofa could do with some sunshine? Why are the babies too quiet and sleepy to eat?

Can these two girls break free of the future apparently mapped out for them?

The Quietness is an engaging historical novel for older teenagers. I'm quite a lot older than the intended audience, but really enjoyed reading it. Alison Rattle has previously co-written a non-fiction book about Amelia Dyer, one of the most notorious convicted baby farmers in Victorian England, and she has put her knowledge and research to great use in this fascinating and disturbing story.

There are some aspects of the novel which don't totally work for me - some unlikely coincidences and at least one complete change in character which I didn't quite believe. I would still recommend it, especially for girls over about 14 and mature readers of young adult fiction - there are some scenes of sexual violence and other very nasty crimes which might be a bit much for a precocious 10 year old.

Reviewed in October 2013 for Amazon Vine show less

The first line of the introduction reads, "They don't come more appalling than aristocrats." This is a look at about forty royals who behaved very badly. Included are the ones you know, like Vlad the Impaler and Elizabeth Bathory, but there are the less famous, like Charles VI of France, who had iron rods sewn into his clothes because he believed he was made of glass and was afraid of shattering. Philip V of Spain became so mad that he believed his feet were too mismatched for him to walk, show more he attacked people and bit chunks from himself. Anna I of Russia had overweight woman force-fed until they fainted and made noblemen impersonate chickens.

I devoured this book quickly as it's so interesting, but I have to take half a point off because some of the people weren't mad, so didn't belong in the book. Rulers such as King Henry VIII were cruel or selfish, while others suffered from depression. So many of these bios start off with the fact that the subject didn't have much of a chance at being normal due to the amount of in-breeding for generations. show less

An interesting and sad tale about obsession set in Clevedon, a small seaside resort in Somerset. Marnie, a young local girl, meets Noah, the son of a prominent and prosperous business man, and finds herself feeling a dangerous attraction for him which leads to the madness of the title.

I found the Victorian setting and the historical information with regard to bathing huts and 'dippers' fascinating. A 'dipper' is someone who helps wealthy ladies submerge themselves in the sea mostly for show more health reasons. I also enjoyed reading about the building of Clevedon Pier. Such was my curiosity that I decided to find out more via the internet. Reading fiction can definitely be educational.

As to the story, I found it a dark and tragic one. I did not particularly like either of the main characters - I wanted to shake some sense into them both. The latter part of the book had a feeling of 'Fatal Attraction' about it; Marnie was somewhat of a 'bunny boiler'! It portrayed Marnie's fixation very well and at times I was actually cringing to find out what happened next.

The descriptions of the sea and the town itself were very realistic. The whole story was atmospherically and vividly told, so much so that I could picture it perfectly in my mind.

An intriguing and thought provoking read which had me anxiously turning the pages!

Read and reviewed for Lovereading.co.uk. show less