World Without End

by Ken Follett

This is the follow-up book to Pillars of the Earth, although it is not a direct sequel. It takes place 200 years later. They don't have to be read in order. I would say similar things as I did about Pillars: it's an easy read, despite being over 1000 pages, the characters are interesting, and so forth, but if I were to offer a criticism, it would be that many of the story lines were similar to the other book (evil men in power, smart women who overcome them.)

I enjoyed the character of Caris the most -- her experience as a woman who wants meaningful work drives much of the story.

The Seduction of the Crimson Rose

by Lauren Willig

The latest in the Pink Carnation series, this time focusing on Mary Alsworthy and Lord Vaughn. I highly recommend this series if you like historical fiction, but do start with the first book.

The Abstinence Teacher

by Tom Perotta

This novel intertwines the story of a woman who teaches sex education and is forced to teach an abstinence only curriculum and a man who is a recovering drug addict and evangelical Christian who belongs to a fringe church. Explores the issues of religion in society, most especially the separation of church and state.

I enjoyed it, but have read better books.

The Senator's Wife

By Sue Miller

This book is about the nature of marriage, the compromises we make, the expectations we bring to it and the bargains that we make, implicit and explicit. It is also about a generational divide, and the nature of betrayal.

Worth reading.

Sovereign Ladies: Sex, Sacifice, and Power

By Maureen Waller

This book covers the lives of the six queens regnant of England: Mary I, Elizabeth I, Mary II, Anne, Victoria and Elizabeth II.

I knew very little about Mary II (of William and Mary) and Anne, sisters and daughters of James II.

It's a good overview if you are interested in such things, but I knew more about Mary I and Elizabeth I from both my non-fiction and historical fiction reading than was covered in this volume. I doubt a whole book about just Mary II and Anne would be all that interesting, but it was interesting to learn more about them. I didn't know that Anne would be pregnant more than 15 times, yet die leaving no surviving children.

With the exception of Elizabeth I, there seems to have been an ordinariness about all of them that belies their birth into royalty. As each the monarchy steadily lost power -- only the first two queens were absolute rulers -- the rise of pageantry in direct relation to the decline in real power is one of the most interesting things about a modern monarchy.

I recommend "Sex with Kings which is about royal mistresses.