Hatty’s Reading Corner

Dictionary Nook

 Diaspora –

Meaning – derives from Greek ‘to scatter about’. When you come from your birthplace and share a little piece of your identity and culture everywhere you go.

27^th April 2025

Hi Everyone,

How are you?

It’s been a while since we last spoke.

A lot has happened for me I bet it has for you too. Before we get to that though, I just wanted to say that a trip to the Cerebral Pantry will be coming soon. I promise. I just need to find my feet in my NEW Flat first.

Yes, you heard me right. I have a beautiful ground floor flat in Poundbury, Dorchester. It is amazing!!!

What’s that? ‘Can I see some pictures?’ Of course you can. Come on in.

I am really lucky to have my own set of doors to the outside. Everyone else the main front door, but my fab PA’s and myself have our own access route in through that takes you straight to the living room.

Here a pic of it in the early days; things may have moved about a bit now.

My forest green sofa and my recliner chair that I can be hoisted into because I have a ceiling track hoist in the living room. It is wonderful to be able to sit on the same level as everyone else for an evening of telly or reading.

The sofa from different angles

The pictures went up soon after

I love to share my recliner chair with anyone. Check out Nic and her gorgeous lab Pudding!

Nicki and I went a bit mad one day in B&Q and The Range and brought a load of wallpaper. I decided not to wallpaper or paint my walls. Instead we got lots to different frames and framed the samples we collected. I now have an eye-catching collage in my bedroom.

My fabulous sister Jess has given me a pretty pink flower picture too. This flat is coming to life.

I am loving every minute of my independence and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the unwavering support of my fantastic family and magical Personal Assistants. Thank you for believing in me guys.

Another thing I’m really enjoying is my freedom to be able to go to places like Dorchester Library and Learning Centre and it take fifteen minutes, instead of forty-five to get there. It makes me go around volunteering with a huge smile on my face!

Speaking of books, shall we give today’s a go?

Dedication

To my phenomenal mum who has chosen today’s read. Thank you always teaching me new words like diaspora to describe this series of books by Kate Mosse.

Author: Kate Mosse

Series Name: The Joubert Family Chronicles

Book Title: The Burning Chambers (The Joubert Family Chronicles, Book 1)

Publication Date: 20^th January 2022

Publisher: Pan Books

Started Reading: 18^th April 2025

Finished Reading: 24^th April 2025

Rating ****

Review

There is something about the way Kate Mosse writes that has me hooked from the first page. In The Burning Chambers Mosse brings the Wars of Religion to life. The reader follows two different perspectives as they weave their way through 1562 France, Piet a Huguenot who is looking to protect the Shroud of Antioch, and Minou who is a Catholic that has a thirst for knowledge of her roots and family ties.   The story begins in Franschhoek , South Africa in 1862 and takes us back to 1562, Carcassonne to explain the complex history of the Joubert family.

I love the fact that this book and the series covers lots of places I have had the pleasure of going to on family holidays. I get to see them in a brand new light. It’s beautiful. I am thankful that there is a map at the start of the books though. Or else I would be confused. I enjoy a story with a map!

Minou Joubert is the lady at the heart of the book, Her journey really starts when she is sent a short note bearing the words, ‘SHE KNOWS THAT YOU LIVE,’ this is a story about courage, family, hierarchy, knowledge and power.

I got a bit muddled when it came to the parts focusing on religion but I did enjoy the way in which Mosse writes about France as if ‘she’ is a living, breathing part of the narrative. Carcassonne,  Toulouse  and Puivert are able to feel the blood shed of the Wars of Religion. . The characters in this book seem to interact with the power of France as a country.

There are certainly well rounded characters and relationships in this novel though. I wouldn’t want to come across someone like the intimidating and manipulative Blanche who draws Minou closer to her by taking something very precious to the Joubert family into her custody. Blanche and Valdi, the priest make a devastating double act in their hunt for something that is Minou’s by right. Will they succeed? You’ll have to read it to see.

If you like mystery and intrigue then this is a series for you. It spans generations of one family and the places they have come from. I think I have also come from a diaspora. I have a lot of my roots in Swanage and Dorchester and have spread them over to Alton, Chichester, Norfolk, France, Spain and America. In each place I have a piece of me that I cherish, just like the Joubert family do in The Burning Chambers.

If you would like me to review the rest of this series please let me know in the comments. The next book would be The City of Tears. I can’t wait to see where this one takes me.

Next time I see you, I have some really cool recipes to bake in The Cerebral Pantry. Keep your comments and suggestions coming. I love hearing from you!

See you soon.

Love

Hatts

Xxx