Month: August 2019

What will happen to them? The Secret Guests by Benjamin Black

Many readers will know that literary fiction author, John Banville, uses the pen name Benjamin Black. As Mr Black he has written a well regarded series of mysteries that take place in 1950s Ireland.

This historical/suspense novel also takes place in Ireland. It is a dark time for Britain as bombs regularly fell in London. Based on what the author thinks happened, this novel posits that fourteen year old Elizabeth and ten year old Mary were sent to Ireland to keep them safe.

This slow burn of a novel imagines how this was done, what it was like for the princesses and who the people were who ensured their safety. They are challenged.

Margaret, renamed Mary, to keep her identity hidden, is a particularly vividly drawn character. She is inquisitive and a bit of an imp. Elizabeth/Ellen as the older, more staid sister is also brought to life.

There is a plot against the princesses. Who knew they were there? Who is responsible? We all know that Margaret and Elizabeth survived so the reader knows the ending. Nonetheless, the unraveling is suspenseful.

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

Bon Appetit! The Pasta Friday Cookbook (Arevalo)

I love this cookbook! The author was a successful chef and restaurant owner who wanted a less stressful life. As part of this, and wanting community, she began hosting Friday night pasta and salad dinners for friends and family. Simple, fun, rewarding. She shows how you can do it too or just make family dinners. With recipes organized by season and beautifully photographed, you will be inspired!

Highly recommended.

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

E book bargains for August 12, 2019

Some comments…

The Anne Perry is part of a series that takes place during WWI.

In the Presence…is one of my favorite Lynley mysteries.

Before the Poison is a stand alone by the author of the Inspector Banks series.

The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living by Louise Miller

Shoulder the Sky by Anne Perry

In the Presence of the Enemy by Elizabeth George

Before the Poison by Peter Robinson

Death in Springtime by Magdalen Nabb

Death of a Nationalist by Rebecca Pawel

E book bargains for August 11, 2019

The Cold Dish by Ctaig Johnson

Song of the Lion by Anne Hillerman

Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco

The Mystery of Three Quarters by Sophie Hannah

The Weight of Ink by Rachel Kadish

A Summer in Sonoma by Robyn Carr

No Time to Spare by Ursula Le Guin

Many Lord Peter Wimseys by Dorothy Sayers

The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott

Mysteries, historical novels, Women’s fiction and Ursula LeGuin. Good options yet again!

Trucks, trucks, trucks: Dylan the Dump Truck #WhizzyWheelsAcademyDylanTheDumpTruck #NetGalley

This book is aimed at toddlers and preschoolers.  Young listeners will learn about Dylan’s adventures on the work site.  Dylan is eager and enthusiastic but…he does not always pay attention and sometimes hears something other than what is said.  Will he be able to find his place on the work crew?  Young listeners will find out in this story!  The illustrations bring the vehicles to life and will undoubtedly appeal to children who like Thomas the Tank Engine.

A note…I had wondered when reading this book if there would be something explicit about Dylan having a learning disability but there really was not.  Nonetheless adults could use the book as a jumping off point for discussion.

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

 

From the Publisher

Seek and find: Catch Cat (Grace) #CatchCat #NetGalley

This book combines learning about theT continents with a search and find, I Spy concept. Each continent has an intricate picture with things to locate. The illustration for each continent is in the shape of the countries therein. The sought objects are described before each two page illustration. In addition, the challenge is to find the cat on each continent. There are many fun facts in this book; happily at the end there is an answer page so the searcher can find any thing that they ay have missed.

The resolution in the illustrations was not always clear. This is most likely not an issue in the hard copy.

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

From the publisher:

AFRICA

NELSON MANDELA STATUE

Nelson Mandela was a civil rights leader who fought against the apartheid system – which meant that people were kept separate because of the colour of their skin. His protests meant that he spent a lot of his life in prison, but he would eventually become the president of South Africa. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and over 250 other awards for his bravery and courage. Many statues have been put up around the world to honour him.

THE GREAT PYRAMID OF GIZA

Pyramids are huge stone structures that were built as burial tombs for ancient Egyptian pharaohs. The largest pyramid was built by Pharaoh Khufu around 2550 BC. It measures 147 metres tall and it’s thought that 2.3 million blocks were used to build it!

VICTORIA FALLS

Victoria Falls is the world’s largest waterfall and measures roughly 1,700 metres wide and 108 metres tall. It has been named one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and tourists travel from all around to see it. At night it’s possible to see a ‘moonbow’, which is formed by the reflection of the moonlight on the water.

AFRICAN GOLDEN CAT

These wild cats are reddish-brown in colour and some have spots on their fur. They are agile climbers but spend most of their life on the ground, tracking their prey and pouncing on them at just the right moment.