#6Degrees Of Separation Book Challenge From The Arsonist to My Antonia

My March #6Degrees challenge

Hosted by Kate from Books Are My Favourite And Best The idea is to start at the same book as other readers, then find themes that link six books, and see where you end up!

The starting point this month is The Arsonist by Chloe Hooper, a true crime novel. (I have not read this, but I have read my six books).

I chose fire as my link to my first book.

Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire. I’m sure I don’t need to tell readers about Harry Potter!

My next link goes from Goblet of Fire, to The Column Of Burning Spices by P.K. Adams. Book two of the Hildegard of Bingen series. Hildegard is regarded as Germany’s first physician; this book takes place in the twelfth century.

I chose burning as my link to my third book. The Burning (Spirit Warriors #3) by D.E.L. Connor. This is a #YA series, set in Montana around a group of teenagers and their connections to animal spirits revered by the Native Americans.

Spirit was my link to book four. Trusting The Currents by Lynnda Pollio. Told through a form of conscious storytelling. It is the story of two women: Lynnda Pollio who reached a point in her life when she was ready for a spiritual journey, and Addie Mae, a Southern African-American woman who chose to speak about her own teenage life through Lynnda.

My next link is about journeys. The Call Of The Canyon by Zane Grey. A western set in the 1920s. Parts of Arizona, particularly around Sedona, are said to be filled with strong cosmic forces conducive to healing and spiritual experiences. The author’s story of Glenn and Carley highlighted the effect the land can have on people.

The link to my last book is early settlers. My Ántonia by Willa Cather. Classic American historical fiction set in Nebraska in the 1880s. This story tells of harsh pioneering times, when people spread across America in search of a better future. They tamed the land, withstood the seasons and the hardships that Mother Nature threw at them and many thrived.

If you would like to take part, April’s challenge begins with How To Be Both by Ali Smith. (Posting date is April 6th)

 

This is my Review of the Month for the review collection on LovelyAudiobooks.info

#NewRelease Rosie’s #Bookreview of Medieval #Histfic The Column Of Burning Spices by @pk_adams

The Column of Burning Spices: A Novel of Germany’s First Female Physician by P.K. Adams

4 stars

The Column Of Burning Spices is book two of the Hildegard of Bingen series. Hildegard is regarded as Germany’s first physician; this book takes place in the twelfth century. You can read my review of book one, The Greenest Branch, here.

A little historic background: the Catholic Church continued with the power struggles between the papacy and the secular rulers of the Holy Roman Empire. During the time of this book, the dispute was over who had the right to appoint Bishops; it caused a civil war.

At the Abbey of St. Disibod, Hildegard’s success as a physician brings useful money to the Abbey, as does her writing on medicines and her faith. But she is constantly despised by Prior Helenger, who has influence over the Abbot, and she faces opposition from other men within the church whom believe that woman should have limited roles.

An opportunity arises for Hildegard and her fellow nuns to leave the Abbey. Hildegard builds a convent around her own principles of peace and harmony. She becomes renowned for her opinion about the corruption which infiltrates and threatens the survival of the church. Slowly, her views on those who seek personal gain from promotion begin to become popular.

The author paints a vivid picture of this period of history. There were a lot of characters in positions of power that were part of the story, but the author dealt with them well, without it feeling like a history lesson. The focus is on Hildegard and her achievements which included writing, composing and philosophy. I particularly enjoyed her thirst for knowledge about healing and the practice of using herbs and hygiene as opposed to bloodletting.

Overall, I thought this series was a very good insight into the life and works of a woman who later became a Saint.

View all my reviews on Goodreads

An ambitious woman. Medieval Church hierarchy. The struggle will be epic.

“A fascinating portrayal of one of history’s most remarkable women, Hildegard of Bingen—composer, mystic, theologian, and physician. The characters and settings come alive on the page, and by the end I felt as if I’d traveled in time to 12th-century Germany.” –C.P. Lesley, author of The Golden Lynx.

In The Column of Burning Spices, part two of the Hildegard of Bingen series which began with The Greenest Branch, the medieval era comes vividly to life in all its romanticism and splendor. However, the societal strictures that prevent women from being able to access education and live independent lives are also on display.

The year is 1143. Hildegard, already a well-known physician, has expanded her work to writing not just about medicine but on theological matters as well. Once again, the monks of St. Disibod are there to stop her, citing the biblical passages that admonish against “women teachers.” Also, Abbot Kuno is aging, and it is only a matter of time before he is succeeded in the post by Prior Helenger, who wants nothing more than to see Hildegard permanently relegated to the convent’s enclosure.

Leaving St. Disibod is Hildegard’s only hope of continuing her mission of healing and writing as she sees fit. She has been saving money from the convent’s endowments for years, but in order to establish her own foundation she will need the backing of a powerful man of the Church. There are several who could become her champions – from the famed Abbot Bernard of Clairvaux, to the Archbishop of Mainz, to the newly elected Pope Eugenius III. But will they take up a woman’s cause and subvert centuries of established tradition? And will it be enough to protect Hildegard from a betrayal that lurks closer than she could ever imagine?

Set against the backdrop of the lush oak forests, vineyard-covered hills, and sparkling rivers of the Rhineland, The Column of Burning Spices is a tale of courage, strength, sacrifice, and love that will appeal to fans of Ken Follett, Sharon Kay Penman, Bernard Cornwell, and Conn Iggulden.

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