Month: August 2019

Time in Nature: Nature Tonic (de Kwant)

The author of this book discovered that time in nature truly helped her to feel less stressed and more centered. She subsequently wrote this beautifully illustrated book that lists 365 ways to connect with nature that will help readers to feel calmer and more mindful.  The book is divided into sections including Nocturnal Nature, In the Forest, The Life Aquatic, etc.

An example of a daily suggestion:

Suggestion 342

The philosopher Henry David Thoreau believed that,

An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.

Go out in the early morning for a run or a brisk walk to see the sunrise…Come home refreshed and ready for the rest of the day.

I have found that I do feel better when I spend time outside, whether at my local park or botanical garden.  This book will encourage me to keep those connections going and may do the same for you.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book in exchange for an honest review.

Some more from the publisher:

Ginger is one of the best spices to give you a boost on a cold day. Place 3/4 inch (2 cm) sliced

Prompt 252

Ginger is one of the best spices to give you a boost on a cold day. Place 3/4 inch (2 cm) sliced and peeled ginger root in a mug of boiling water. Add honey and some fresh lemon juice. Let it brew for 5 to 10 minutes and then enjoy the warming infusion.

Something to do at least once in your life is to sleep in a hammock outside on a summer

Prompt 45

Something to do at least once in your life is to sleep in a hammock outside on a summer night, or just take a short evening nap before you head to bed. Enjoy the soothing sounds of the wind rustling the leaves of the trees and let yourself drift off into beautiful dreams.

#NatureTonic #NetGalley

A sequel: Postscript (Ahern)

PS, I Love You: A Novel by [Ahern, Cecelia]

Many readers may remember Cecilia Ahern’s first book, P.S. I Love You. It was quite popular. Ahern wrote this novel when she was only 22 years old which amazes me. This debut told the story of a young widow and what happened to her as she read and acted on the letters left to her by her husband.

NetGalley has recently offered a preview of Postscript, a novel which features the protagonist of this first novel. In the sequel, readers will find out what has happened to Holly in the intervening years. She also takes on a project that forms the basis of Postscript.

I can’t truly review this book because I have not seen the full novel. However, fans of the author may want to keep an eye out for this one. It is coming in February 2020, the month of love and Valentines.

 

 

Calling fans of Ann Cleeves: The Long Call

I read and enjoyed this latest, a first in a new series, from Ann Cleeves. It is publishing soon.  I have also included the New York Times review. Let me know what you think, either of the reviews, or the book, or both.  I recommend this title.

My review

Kudos to the talented Ann Cleeves for this first entry in her new series. I have read the author’s Vera and Jimmy Perez novels, both of which I recommend. As a reader who looked forward especially to every Perez novel, I was sad to learn that the series had finished. I wondered if there would be no more books by this author. I am delighted that that is not the case.

In The Long Call, Ann Cleeves creates a world within a small community in North Devon where rivers converge; the setting effectively becomes a part of the story. In this world, there are three police officers who are central characters. First is Matthew; he was raised within the Brethren, a conservative religious group. While Brethren characters are very much a part of the novel, Matthew himself has left the group. This cast him away from the familiar into a new life in the police and with his husband, Jonathan. Next is a female character, Jen. She is divorced and never has sufficient time for that elusive work-life balance. Ross is a police officer who seems a bit full of himself but he too has reasons for being as he is. I enjoyed spending time with each of these characters.

The story is populated with many characters. There are businessmen, a curate and his girlfriend, an artist and many others. There is the murder victim whose backstory is essential to the plot. Also, there are three young women with Down Syndrome who are integral to the novel. Ms. Cleeves portrays each as a fully rounded person. She is clear eyed and empathetic in the portrayals of the three and their families.

This book was an excellent read and one that I highly recommend. I was sorry to get to the end of the book and only hope that the next in the series comes out soon. If you are a person who enjoys well written British mysteries, put this one on your TBR pile

Many, many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this book in exchange for an honest review.

The New York Times Book Review by Marilyn Stasio that will be in this weekend’s book review.

Matthew Venn is the kind of man who isn’t even welcome at his own father’s funeral. But that’s where we find this detective, skulking around the edges of the service at the North Devon Crematorium, when the call comes in that a body has been found nearby, on the beach at Crow Point. Not a drowning victim, we learn in Ann Cleeves’s atmospheric procedural THE LONG CALL (Minotaur, $26.99), but murdered with a stab wound to the chest.

Venn already has plenty to occupy him, having recently married his lover (“beautiful” Jonathan) and moved back to Devon to police the strictly religious community where he grew up. A prolific author with two sturdy mystery series already underway, Cleeves has a fondness for quirky characters, several of whom show up here when Venn starts interviewing suspects. But Cleeves’s true strength lies in her descriptions of the natural world, gorgeously captured in this brief description of Venn listening to “the surf on the beach and the cry of a herring gull, the sound naturalists named the long call, the cry which always sounded to him like an inarticulate howl of pain.”

Fun outdoors: Camping with Dear Dragon (Conn)

The Dear Dragon books are for developing readers. Each entry has a simple, repetitive vocabulary and tools to help young readers to feel successful, including a picture glossary and additional activities at the end of the book.

This one is about camping. A sample page says:

“I am camping. I see the moon.”

The next page says:

“I am camping. I see Dear Dragon.”

The repetition reinforces a child’s skills. In addition, each page has an illustration that reflects the sentences being read.

These simple readers will help young children to master a lifelong skill.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this read in exchange for an honest review.

#CampingWithDearDragon #NetGalley

How to live well: Find Your Mantra(Gunar)

The author of this book has collected mantras that relate to different categories; these include Peace, Love, Happiness, Strength and Journey. There are gentle and attractive illustrations throughout each of these sections.

Some of these mantras are tried and true and will be familiar, while others may be less so. For each, the author includes a Mantra Action and a Mantra Benefit. One example:

“Live More. Worry Less.” The author suggests an action which includes a meditation for calming fretting. She also lists a benefit, in this instance, seeing your shoulders be less hunched and the reader feeling better over time.

Many may well enjoy spending a moment each day to center and reflect. This book can help to do just that.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this read in exchange for an honest review.

#FindYourMantra #NetGalley

How to plan: Nancy’s Genius Plan (Jaimes)

This is a funny and entertaining short read that young children will relate to. Nancy wants the cornbread…all of the cornbread. She involves her listeners in ensuring a successful plan of securing this treat for herself, only herself, but what happens? Little ones will be amused to find out as this book provides a nice, not at all preachy lesson on sharing. The illustrations engage the reader and add to the story. Perfect for toddlers who understand the concept of “mine.”

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this read in exchange for an honest review.

#NancysGeniusPlan #NetGalley

Now out: My Kindergarten in 100 Words

I received this e galley in exchange for an honest review. I am not sure if this was the finished copy. The first pages had colored illustrations, after which the remaining pages were black and white. Deliberate? Something for children to color? Not the finished copy? I just don’t know.

Nonetheless this is a cute book with playful illustrations. The pages start with waking up in the morning, move on to getting ready for school, being there and, of course, returning home at the end of the day. A quick sample of words which are both concrete and abstract; playing, cereal, scooter, friends, goldfish, sharing, crayons, sandwich, skipping rope, smiling and gold star, along with many others.

This is a book for toddlers and adults to look at together. Children can point to objects while adults can familiarize a chlld with what school is like.

This is a fine book. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.


	


	





	

		
		
Take a moment to reflect:  What Really Matters
	


	
	
	

		
What Really Matters: Faith, Hope, Love: 365 Daily Devotions from Our Daily BreadWhat Really Matters is about just that. This book of short readings, one for each day, is about living a life in accord with one’s values and beliefs. Taking the few minutes in the morning (or later) to pause, read and reflect, is a wonderful way to have a day that is filled with kindness and mindfulness. There are suggestions for bible verses to study which I think readers may delve into further should they wish. I myself don’t. The book is geared towards those who are Christian but the underlying messages are for everyone.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book in exchange for an honest review.

	


	





	

		
		
The perfect bedtime story for young book lovers:  Help Wanted Must Love Books (Johnson)
	


	
	
	

		


love this book! It is a picture book about a girl who looks forward to bedtime stories with her dad each night. This favorite time is disrupted when dad gets a new job and is too busy and distracted for this ritual. Taking matters into her own hands, Shailey advertises for someone to read to her. Readers will chuckle as Shailey edits and modifies her help wanted ad based on the applicants. For a further sense of fun, the applicants are all characters from favorite children’s stories. Both adults and children should enjoy recognizing job seekers like Cinderella and Goldilocks. The end of the book is sweet as the best applicant, gets the job.


At the end of the book are amusing personal statements from a few of those seeking employment, including Robin Hood and Tinkerbell. There is also a caution to keep devices and distractions away from story time.


All in all, this was a delightful story with great illustrations. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book in exchange for an honest review.


Pub date:  March 2020














#HelpWantedMustLoveBooks #NetGalley









	


	





	

		
		
Now out:  Celebrations Around the World (Halford)
	


	
	
	

		


This book for young readers includes facts about 25 holidays. Some of the celebrations are secular or national (Thanksgiving, July 4th, Bastille Day, Groundhog Day, Anzac Day), while others are religious (Easter, Rosh Hashana, Christmas, Hannukah, Eid al Fitr). In addition to the holidays and celebrations just mentioned this book features fourteen additional days to remember. Throughout the illustrations are whimsical, bright and engaging.


This book will be a good addition to the school library shelves. It is broadly based with holidays from all over the world including China, Japan, India, Africa and more.


Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley. I enjoyed celebrating with you.