I thought this would be a book about the history of jewels. Instead, I got a travelogue with heavy, heavy religious overtones and a specific worldview. Back to Aja Raden it is. ( )

Very interesting book. ( )

I remember reading this my senior year of high school because Clemson's honors college application asked what the last book you read was, and this was it- so definitely November some time. I really like this quirky histories of specific objects- scientific properties, cultural significance, economic import of today. Might do a more thorough review if I reread it. ( )

This was a really fascinating book, each chapter telling the in-depth story of the history of each particular gemstone. I would recommend it for anyone interested in jewelry and/or microhistories. Amber, pearls, jet, peridot, emeralds, sapphires, rubies and diamonds were all covered. My only complaint would be that I wish more stones had been covered; for example amethysts or citrines or really anything in the quartz family. ( )

nteresting and entertaining look at gemstones and where they come from. I learned that birthstones were invented in 1912 by some jewelers with overstocks of certain stones. There's lots of fascinating lore here. Finlay doesn't waste any time on what is common knowledge, she jumps right into the arcane and the obscure. Her voice is engaging and her style is sure. ( )