Joan Mackenzie: The Marriage Portrait and Owning It

The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell.  Based on the life of Lucrezia de Medici who lived in Florence in the 16th Century and was the subject of the famous Robert Browning poem My Last Duchess. At the age of 15 she was married off to the Duke of Ferrara who commissioned a marriage portrait of his new wife, inviting a renowned portrait artist to take on the job. Lucrezia though felt unwelcome in her new home where it was clear that her sole responsibility was to provide a son and heir and when that didn’t happen, after less than a year, became increasingly certain that the Duke had plans to kill her. Wonderful historical fiction.    Owning It by Brad Smeele. Story of a world champion wakeboarder who had a terrible accident on the water and has been quadriplegic ever since. It’s a big book – nearly 500 pages – which is remarkable given that he wrote it by using a mouthstick to tap out every single letter onto a tablet. I have to say, he shares a lot – perhaps not always wisely – but I guess it highlights what he’s lost. Is becoming quite the inspirational/motivational speaker.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.