Pope Joan is a good read. I couldn't put it down. Joan is a very compelling character. I was immediately drawn in to her desperate yearning for knowledge and freedom at a time when almost everyone around her was illiterate and women were little more than property. Cross paints a fascinating 9th century back drop with plenty of accurate medieval historical events and details. I found myself looking up battles, maps and people highlighted throughout the story. I know very little about this time period before reading the book so it was a lot of fun. The inner workings of medieval Papal Rome were amazing, a bit like a Greek tragedy. Was Joan actually a pope? We will probably never know for sure but it definitely makes a great story and Cross gives a nice summary of her thoughts and seven years of historical research that went into the book. I highly recommend this book. It made for a lively book club discussion!

This is a good but not great quick read. Perfect for summer. At first I found the writing too simple. I watched the short documentary on HBO on the making of the series and it helped me get a feel for the real Botswana. It was easier to get into the story and appreciate the pacing and characters when I realized that the intense heat means that life is slower and more time is spent on chit-chat. Don't expect a lot of action. The story is more of a personal success story.