Assassin, by Anna Myers
Alternating passages narrated by John Wilkes Booth (http://www.nps.gov/archive/foth/booth.htm) and a young girl named Bella who becomes a seamstress for president Lincoln describe the events leading to Booth's assassanation of President Lincoln. From page one I was hooked. Booth is an actor as are Bella's parents and she is fascinated by his appeal on stage (Ford's Theater - http://www.civilwarphotos.net/files/images/633.jpg). But, when Bella's mother dies, her father takes her to live with a Grandmother she hardly knows and who despises the idea of acting. While Bella adjusts to life with her Grandmother and learns to sew in preparation take over her Grandmother's position at the White House, Lincoln (http://www.gallatindesign.com/websites/presidents/images/biopics/lincoln02.jpg)wins the presidential election, Booth joins the army to get closer to Lincoln and their lives become closer and closer to colliding.
I enjoy historical fiction and think Myers explored the thoughts of John Wilkes Booth well. The intertwining lives of the two characters makes me think of how I may be influenced by others and how it may be hard to avoid pressures of people we admire. Assassin is well written; Myers is wonderful at making the inner thoughts of Booth and Bella seem real.
1 comment:
Ms. Block, A very evocative analysis of Assasin, which caused me to curiously see if we had it in our holdings as well (we don't). I've now placed your Beagle/Hayes blog on our listing of links, go ahead and add us to your links as well, if you like.
Chris Turner
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