Bookworm: ‘Royal Audience’ for fans of President, royal family

“Royal Audience: 70 Years, 13 Presidents – One Queen’s Special Relationship with America”

• By David Charter
• c.2024, Putnam
• $30, 327 pages

Once upon a time, we were upstarts. Back then, her great-great-great-grandfather lost a war against us – although, over time, it became clear that his country and ours needed one another. Ascending the throne, she acted accordingly, and in the new book “Royal Audience” by David Charter, you’ll see how the woman with a round crown got along with the men in the Oval Office.

Though she was not born to be Queen of England, Elizabeth II took the mantle of a future queen with aplomb when her uncle famously gave up the throne for the woman he loved. As a young princess, she was poised, confident, and made friends with President Harry Truman, to whom Winston Churchill coined a phrase to describe what the monarchy and the leader of the U.S. should mean to one another.

Dwight Eisenhower had that kind of “Special Relationship” with Churchill and the Queen, having met them both. Knowing his love of cooking, Elizabeth II sent recipes to Eisenhower accompanied by warm, personal notes. Eisenhower, who’d taken up painting while president, returned the admiration by creating portraits of the Queen’s two oldest children.

John Kennedy “preferred the counsel of men” and there was initial “tension” between his First Lady and the Queen; the latter issue was later resolved. LBJ was the only U.S. President not to meet Elizabeth II.

Richard Nixon tried to play matchmaker between his daughter and the Queen’s eldest son. Elizabeth met Gerald Ford during “one of [her] most memorable and successful US visits...” Jimmy Carter was close to the Queen’s age but they had vastly different backgrounds. She bonded with Ronald Reagan over horses in a “meticulously prepared” ride; became fast friends with the first Bush; and had an “annus horribilis” in the same year Clinton was elected. The Queen paid tribute to Americans during the second Bush’s tenure; broke protocol with Michelle Obama; may have “trolled” Donald Trump; and her death “appeared to make a deep impression on [Joe] Biden.”

With issues of diplomacy often at the forefront of the news lately, it’s nice to read about leaders getting along well, particularly when there was such rancor in the past. “Royal Audience” shows the grace and patience of Queen Elizabeth II in that endeavor, but also features the personalities of the 13 men who sat on this side of the pond.

The good news for readers is that author David Charter makes this a fun read that’s never stiff-upper-lip stuffy. You will, in fact, find yourself delighted at the small breadcrumbs of I-didn’t-know-that’s scattered throughout this book, which are entertaining, funny, touching, and which serve to keep things moving. Yes, Elizabeth is certainly half of the focus here, but you’ll also enjoy choice tales about our own leaders. It’s like getting a seat at a diplomat’s table, and you don’t even have to wear a tuxedo or gown.

If you’re a fan of the Royal Family or the White House residents, this book does double-duty for you. Find “Royal Audience,” pick it up, and start it.

Adult books on magic, tarot, witches and more

• c. 2024, various publishers
• $19-$30, various page counts

The planets say it’s going to be a challenging day. The cards showed you what to watch and what to avoid, but the news wasn’t all bad: you also noticed good luck on the way, so you’re prepared for that, too. It’s all in what you believe, and with these four new books, you can put a little magic in your life.

Having your cards read doesn’t have to involve a gauzy room or a crystal ball; in fact, with “The Magic of Tarot” by Leanna Greenaway & Beleta Greenaway (St. Martin’s Essentials, $19.00), you can learn about your present and your future from the comfort of your kitchen table or living room chair. Here, you’ll see what each of the cards can mean, how to lay them out, how to interpret their meanings and positions, what tools to bring to your “toolbox,” and more. This is a simple book, it’s easy to use, and it includes both classic and modern cards in the instructions.

For readers who like a little true mystery in their lives, “The Secret Life of Hidden Places” by Stefan Bachmann & April Genevieve Tucholke (Workman, $30.00) will be a delightful way to indulge. Filled with pictures, drawings, and stories that will thrill you, this book takes you on a tour of nefarious laboratories and workshops, curious miniature castles, weird houses, hidden rooms, secret societies, and the people who created them all. If you’re particularly brave, put these places on your to-visit list this summer and see what happens.

And speaking of journeys, author Allyson Shaw takes readers on a trip through fens, forests, and folklore in search of the story of Scotland’s witches in her new book “Ashes and Stones” (Pegasus, $28.95). Yes, you can visit the informal stone monuments that stand in Scotland to memorialize the women accused of witchcraft. Yes, you’ll want to read this book before you go, to understand the history and herstory of what happened centuries ago.

And finally, how about something very different?

When he was a young boy, artist Ai Weiwei learned that some books in his native country were forbidden to read. Chairman Mao decided what was permissible and what was not, and so Weiwei devoured what he could, which was mostly comic books and propaganda. In “Zodiac,” with Elettra Stamboulis and Gianluca Constantini (Ten Speed Press, $28.99), Weiwei shares the story of his life, woven with philosophy and the Chinese zodiac. It’s a tale of finding one’s self in the beauty of art and storytelling, as well as finding meaning in stories. Readers who appreciate graphic novels will love it; bonus, if you enjoy folklore.

So, what if you have questions on crystals, ghosts, or other magical or paranormal things? Well, you head for your favorite bookstore or library and peruse those shelves. Your librarian or bookseller knows about lots of books for you to read, absorb, use, learn from, and enjoy. They’ll help you find what you need so go ahead, ask. The answer is in the cards.

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The Bookworm is Terri Schlichenmeyer. She has been reading since she was 3 years old and never goes anywhere without a book. Terri lives on a hill in Wisconsin with two dogs and 11,000 books. Read past columns at marconews.com.