Author: joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviews

by Thomas Schlesser

#MonasEyes #NetGalley

Many years ago I read Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder. Mona’s Eyes will do for the history of art what Gaarder’s book did for philosophy. Both of these books are wonderful and reward careful, unrushed reading.

Mona’s Eyes is translated from the French. It tells the story of a little girl who had an episode of temporary blindness. It is not clear as the story begins whether or not, she will face a life without vision.

Many intercede to care for Mona. The most interesting might be her grandfather, Henri/Henry. When Mona is supposed to be attending therapy sessions, instead her grandfather is taking her to Paris museums. He wants Mona to soak up the art so that it is in her memory and he wants her to learn the lessons that the works have to teach. It is from here that readers find out much about the history of art beginning with Botticelli and moving forward all the way to Pierre Soulage. There is ample description of each work as well as a sense of what Henri hopes Mona will take forward from each. To start at the beginning, the Botticelli is paired with learning to receive as well as give.

In addition to the art history, there is a plot relating to those around Mona including her family and friends. There are also details of her daily life.

There are no reproductions in the book so it is best to read this one with access to the works as they are described. That way, the reader can see what Mona is seeing.

I most highly recommend this title. Mark your calendar for its release date.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Europa for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 26 August 2025

Fiction-Literary fiction

432 pages

Mary Kirk, Bessiewallis Warfield, Diana Spencer…their stories entwine in this historical novel that is largely based on truth. It is a page turning and fascinating look at life in America and Europe from 1912 until 1997.

Mary and Wallis became friends in their teens; Wallis married an American pilot; Mary married a French pilot. Wallis divorced and subsequently married Ernest Simpson. You probably all know who her third husband was… but do you know who Mary married next? I won’t spoil the book by telling you.

Mary and Wallis’s stories come alive in a glittering London. The story of Alex and Rachel, who are impacted by Diana’s death, takes place in 1997. Choices are made by all with implications and consequences. I truly enjoyed this book and suggest it highly to fans of historical fiction.

Lovesey was one of my favorite mystery authors. I have read every title in his Bath set Peter Diamond series. He also wrote titles that were not the Diamond ones. He will be missed.

Just a few that I reviewed:

Simple Truths for Our Complex Lives

by Gretchen Rubin

#SecretsofAdulthood #NetGalley

Gretchen Rubin has been offering her wisdom to readers over the course of many books. She began with The Happiness Project and most recently Life in Five Senses, with several others in between.

This title is a bit different from some of Rubin’s others in that it consists of a series of aphorisms-dictionary definition is “a pithy observation that contains a general truth.” Rubin compiled these for herself and her family. She now shares them with her readers.

This is a title that can be dipped in and out of. It is divided into sections including Cultivating Ourselves, Facing the Perplexities of Relationships, Making Things Happen, Confronting Life’s Dilemmas, and more. Each of sections has a number of entries as for example, Comfort, Responsibility and, Getting It Wrong.

This book could make a nice graduation gift for someone. Those who are not of school age may also find wisdom here. For myself, I think that aphorisms were not quite enough. I wish that there had been more commentary. However, that was not the author’s intention. She was looking for short, meaningful things to guide others.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.

Self-Help

176 pages

Pub date: 01 April 2025

Note: Gretchen Rubin is interviewed in the May edition of Psychologies magazine.

An earlier title by the author:

#Jackie #NetGalley

Is there a more iconic American woman than Jacqueline Kennedy? Much has been written about her and yet she still retains an air of mystery.

In this novel Dawn Tripp successfully imagines Jackie’s life with a carefully researched title. Readers follow Jackie over a period of many years. They will learn more about her life before Jack, her courtship and marriage to both him and to Onassis, her role as a mother, her career, her cancer diagnosis and much more in this well written narrative. Readers will witness both the tragedy and the inner strength that defined this most impressive woman.

Tripp has written a long (over 450 pages) and immersive novel. It is very easy to recommend this title to historical fiction readers and those who are intrigued by the myth of this woman.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 18 June 2024

From the Publisher

Other books that I have reviewed about Jacqueline Kennedy

Get to know them: Jackie and Maria by Gill Paul

Yes, that Jacqueline: Jacqueline in Paris

www.nytimes.com/2025/04/09/books/review/new-crime-fiction.html

www.nytimes.com/2025/04/10/books/leigh-bardugo-fantasy-books.html

#GoodMoviesasOldBooks #NetGalley

Generally speaking, books have covers and movies have posters. But…what if movies came with imagined book covers? That is the premise of this book.

There are way too many movies featured in these pages to come anywhere close to naming them all. A look at this title’s cover will offer a good introduction though.

I love vintage feel of this book, the translation of movies into very realistic covers, and the love that Stevens has for his work. I am also in awe of his creativity in designing so many covers.

This is a fun book to explore. Cinema people will want to take a look.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 29 April 2025

Arts & Photography

256 pages

#LivingwithJaneAusten #NetGalley

I was intrigued by the title of this book which truly resonated with me as I have been living with Jane Austen since January. That is when I embarked on a semester long course on the author. It has been marvelous. So far, I’ve read or reread Austen’s earliest writings, Sense & Sensibility, Pride & Prejudice, Mansfield Park and Emma. I’ve just embarked on Persuasion with Northanger Abbey to follow. The course has provided both enjoyment and a deeper look at characters, women’s roles, the marriage plot, the importance of money and more.

In Todd’s book, she explores the role that Austen has had in her life. She also offers much insight and opinion on Austen’s life and novels. This title makes an excellent companion for anyone who has enjoyed Austen’s work. It will provoke thought as readers decide if they agree or disagree with Todd.

This title comes out just in time to celebrate the 250th birth of Jane. Austen folk should give it a look.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Cambridge University Press for this title All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 20 March 2025

An absolutely gripping and heartbreaking love story set against the backdrop of the Crown

by Jade Beer

#ThePalaceDressmaker #NetGalley

I knew that I wanted to read this book as soon as I saw the author, the title, the cover and the description. I was so delighted to read an early copy of this novel.

The Palace Dress Maker offers a long (400 pages) and immersive read that takes place in the present day, the late 1980s and the 1990s. The storylines intersect through protagonist Jayne.

The dressmaker of the title is Meredith. In the current day, she lives in a Bath flat where both she and the readers get to know the other tenants. Meredith is struggling in her day to day life which leads to her meeting Jayne (more on Jayne below).

Meredith appears to be suffering from a form of dementia. She has a memory room that was created by her beloved William. But…where is he?? This is a central question in the novel. Also in the flat is an amazing dress and some notes from a certain Diana. Why does Meredith have these? No spoiler really given the novel’s title.

Jayne has been struggling in life. She is happy in her flat. Jayne works as a dog walker and in a flower shop. Through her jobs, she meets all of the other residents of the flat. Each of them has their own backstory. Note that one of these people is Jake. What will happen between him and Jayne?

I enjoyed this novel which, for me, required some suspension of disbelief. I don’t know enough about dementia to know if events could truly unfold in this way in real life. However, the novel still offers a good read.

Recommended to royal fans and lovers of women’s fiction.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton or this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 05 November 2024