'Queen of the Sea' is a superb blend of Tudor fan-fiction and YA coming-of-age graphic novels. Margaret lives in an isolated convent on an island near Albion, an alternate England. Raised by the kind nuns she expects she will become one herself someday. Things begin to change when an exiled noblewoman is brought to the island with her son, a boy close to Margaret's age. They become friends and a chain of events begins that leads to Margaret seeing the island, her community, her world, and herself in a new light.

The majority of the book deals with the arrival of another exile - the former Queen Eleanor - and with her more radical changes to her home. Margaret is caught up in the great events of her day, but a part of her wants things to be what they used to be. As she comes to terms with the changes in her life and new facts, Margaret has to make some important decisions.

This is a beautiful book. The illustrations are bright with color and full of period detail that enhances the story. There are asides in the text about embroidery and chess that are educational, sure, but thematically contribute to Margaret's story. Graphic novels are always a fast read, but these 400 pages went by far faster than they should have. 

This book is actually the acceptance speech that Bob Dylan gave when he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2016.

I was talking with a friend about Bob Dylan and his Nobel Prize came up and he loaned me his Kindle and I read The Nobel Lecture by Bob Dylan.  Later I found it on YouTube and you can listen to it here.  I cannot call it inspiring but it is worth time reading or listening to just like other recipients of any Nobel Prize.  Some people call it rambling, while others call it extraordinary, but it does reveal, at least according to Dylan why he became a songwriter and folk singer.

Dylan talks about four influences of his career, Buddy Holly, and the books Moby Dick, All Quiet on the Western Front, and The Oddessey and how they influenced his writings, either knowingly or not.

I guess I'm going to have to listen a little differently when I listen to Tombstone Blues and Maggie's Farm in the future, to see if I can hear some of these stories in his songs, but I've never found the interest to read Remarque, like a journey I don't want to travel. I guess I know what I'll be listening to on my commutes to work next week.

If you're a Bob Dylan fan take the time to read or listen to his speech.  It does give you an insight into some of his influences.

I got less and less impressed: less funny, and felt this went out with a bit of a whimper.   Kinda like the 'it was all a dream' ending let down, although it wasn't that trope.   

Hoping DD holds up more.