I love to read, recommend books and open the world of reading to others. I tutor to ensure that the next generation of readers will know the joys of a good book because their reading skills have improved. I am an avid reader, especially of mysteries and fiction. I believe that two of the world's greatest inventions were the public library and eyeglasses!
This book is an excellent compendium of stories for “rebel girls” but also for anyone interested in learning more about a variety of accomplished women immigrants. The book can be read in order or at random. For each woman her area of interest is listed. To name just some of the women included, there are Lupita Nyong’o, an actress; Madeleine Albright, politician; Frieda Belinfante, cellist and conductor;Burke Harris, pediatrician and so many more, all the way to the end of the alphabet. Each short, engaging entry includes an illustration, a quote and a short biography.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this inspiring collection that will remind girls that they can be anyone they choose. All opinions are my own.
Lauren Willig has written many novels including those in her Pink Carnation series. This title is based on true events; during WWI a unit of Smith College graduates traveled to France to offer aid and assistance. These real life volunteers are acknowledged at the beginning of the novel.
The book’s protagonist, Kate, was a scholarship student at Smith. This experience left her with an excellent education and some feelings of insecurity despite her friendship with the wealthy, Emmie. A few years after graduation, Emmie recruits Kate to be one of the fictional band of sisters of the title. These “sisters” include the married woman in charge of the volunteers, two female physicians and the other Smithies. Their experiences in France and the interrelationships of the characters form the basis for the story.
This book has an interesting premise and the story is well told. I especially enjoyed the letters that begin each chapter. My only quibble was that, at times, it was a bit difficult to differentiate the characters. Many, but not all, had a trait or relationship that helps the reader to keep track.
Willig includes information at the novel on her historical sources and the ways in which her own education led to the writing of this title.
Of note: I alternated between listening to the audio of this title and reading it. The audio was well produced and engaging. It is so nice to be able to follow a story by doing both. Also, I note the beautiful cover of the novel; it drew me in.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.
Last year I read and enjoyed this author’s The Air Raid Book Club. With her latest novel, Lyons again sets a story during WWII.
Lyons has a gift for writing about characters with warmth and caring. Readers will be hoping for the best for many of those that they meet in these pages.
I loved how the book’s protagonist Peggy believed in libraries and stories. The author also makes literary references that I enjoyed.
Peggy is trying her best in all ways to help the war effort while working for the Ministry of Information. At the same time, her twin brother sees active service and Peggy hopes that her work will somehow end the war sooner and bring him home.
In contrast, when readers meet Lady Marigold Cecily, Peggy’s nominal boss, she is more of a socialite than a worker. Will she change and make a contribution? What about the others in Peggy’s unit? Some are irascible; all have personalities.
Readers also get to know generations of Peggy’s family. They are an endearing group.
This is a book that is very easy to like. I recommend it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Headline for this title. All opinions are my own.
The author’s last book
My thoughts:
I truly enjoyed Annie Lyons’s novel about Eudora Honeysett and gave it five stars. I, was then, of course, quite eager to read The Air Raid Book Club. It did not disappoint.
This is an historical novel that will appeal to those who have read Dear Mrs. Bird, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, The Last Bookshop in London, and other similar titles. It is warm in the same way with characters about whom writers will care. Plus, there are books, lots of books. At the end of the novel titles are listed should readers wish to explore further.
Gertie was married to Harry. Together the two opened and loved a bookshop. Sadly, Harry died from the very thing that kept him from serving in the military. Gertie has subsequently lost her zest for life. When she is asked by one of Harry’s friends to take in a Jewish child as WWII looms, she hesitates before making her decision. What happens as a result of this choice, the importance of books, and more make this title a most satisfying read, even with some sadness in the events of the story. As an extra bonus, get to know Mr. Hemingway…no, not that one! He is Gertie’s lovely dog.
Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for this title. All opinions are my own.
As soon as I saw the title of this book, I wanted to read it. The magic word, of course, was bookshop. I also found the cover to be very appealing. So, I initially judged this one by its cover. That said, I wasn’t’ disappointed.
This novel’s protagonist, Grace, is a young woman who recently lost her mother. Along with her best friend, Viv, she moves to London to stay with a family friend. The two arrive only to have war declared not long after. Viv enters one of the women’s units while Grace remains with her mother’s friend. She takes a position in a bookshop and the shop is also a character in the book.
This story points out the importance of literature. In a lovely scene, Grace goes underground during a bombing raid where she begins reading Middlemarch to those who are stuck in the shelter over night. Those stuck there look forward to additional chapters when the next call to go underground comes.
Grace organized the bookshop and develops a relationship with its curmudgeonly owner. She studies way to make the shop successful and, for example, advertises buying books to read while unable to sleep in one’s beds due to the bombings.
The author does a good job of portraying wartime Britain. There are losses of people, property, usual foods, a way of life. There are also the joys of friendship, love, books and connection.
There are so many WWII set novels being written now. My theory is that, awful as the war was, it is more reassuring to look back at that time than our current one. For all of the suffering, the reader knows that eventually Britain will declare victory.
I think that this title is worth reading. Let me know what you think!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.
Sulari Gentill has authored a number of books in an historical mystery series set in 1930s Australia. It is a time when there is much unrest; on the one side is the New Guard, a Fascist group, while, on the other, there are the Communists, among others. Historically, WWII is coming and tensions are high.
Ms. Gentill uses this time period to good effect in her mysteries which feature a mix of fictional and historical characters. In this one, the historical figures include a number of politicians and readers spend time at the new Parliament building. One does not have to stretch very far to find some parallels with our own uncertain times. There is a quote that relates to the story’s title and those (and our) times. It is “The dangerous language you speak of is the truth.”
The series in general and this novel feature family dynamics, political intricacies, murder, chases, romance and suspense. Readers familiar with the series will be delighted to spend time with main characters Rowly (a kind of Lord Peter Wimsey if Wimsey were more on the left), poet Milton, painter Clyde and the female sculptor, Ed. There is a new character as well, a woman with whom Rowly had been in love as a teen; will she take Edna’s place in his affections? Readers will also find that Wilf, Rowly’s brother, makes an appearance and the two seem as fractious as ever.
A lot happens in this novel. A communist is killed on the steps of Parliament. Egon Kisch, an anti-Fascist (a true historical figure) who wants to speak in Australia may not be allowed in the country; how will he and Rowly intersect? There is an unidentifiable young woman who is found murdered early in the novel; who is she? There is a famous air race and more. The novel is busy but it works.
Each chapter opens with a fictitious newspaper account. These add a sense of veracity to the book and parallel some of what happens. series.
I enjoy Sulari Gentill’s novels more each time that I read them. I highly recommend this one.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.
I recently read an article in Library Journal about the mystery genre. It noted that there are a number of crossovers within the mystery field now; one of these new categories is the combination of mystery and romance. That is what readers find in The Crime Brulee Bake Off. They also find murder and BAKING!
Fans of shows like the Great British Baking Show will want to pick this one up immediately. It is fun to turn the pages and feel a party to insider knowledge of the workings of the show and the feelings of the contestants. However, one thing that fans of the TV series have not seen is murder and that is where a twist comes in. I also don’t know of any romances that began on the show as one does here.
Fans of traditional crime with a budding aristocrat and baker relationship will eat this one up.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.
The Housemate is the new standalone thriller from the award winning writer Sarah Bailey
Dubbed the Housemate Homicide, it’s a mystery that has baffled Australians for almost a decade. Melbourne-based journalist Olive Groves worked on the story as a junior reporter and became obsessed by the case. Now, nine years later, the missing housemate turns up dead on a remote property. Olive is once again assigned to the story, this time reluctantly paired with precocious millennial podcaster Cooper Ng.
As Oli and Cooper unearth new facts about the three housemates, a dark web of secrets is uncovered. The revelations catapult Oli back to the death of the first housemate, forcing her to confront past traumas and insecurities that have risen to the surface again.
What really happened between the three housemates that night? Will Oli’s relentless search for the murderer put her new family in danger? And could her suspicion that the truth lies closer to home threaten her happiness and even her sanity?
The author:
Sarah Bailey was born in Melbourne, Australia, and lives there to this day. Sarah’s debut novel, The Dark Lake, was published by Allen & Unwin in 2017, and is a best seller in Australia, the USA and Canada. It won both the 2018 Davitt Award for Best Crime Debut and the 2018 Ned Kelly award for Best First Crime.
Sarah has three sons and enjoys juggling her family life, her full-time advertising career and her writing
Who might want to read this one? (Me!)
A great read for fans of Find Me by Alafair Burke, Not A Happy Family by Shari LaPena, Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner and, Mother May I by Joshelyn Jackson.
I have read and enjoyed other books by this author and plan to read this one soon.
The Ultimate Cookbook (Quick And Easy Weeknight Meals for the Whole Family)
by Cider Mill Press
#FamilyDinners #NetGalley
Wow! This cookbook comes in at over 800 pages. That tells readers that it is absolutely jam packed with recipes. In fact, there are over 300 in all.
Begin by reading the short introduction. Next is a helpful inventory of kitchen essentials; these include everything from cookware to spices and more. And then the recipes. Categories for these include Weeknight Wonders, Comfort Classics, Hands Off, Around the World, From the Garden, and Elevated.
The illustrations made me hungry. The recipes look relatively easy to follow.
Try Green Shakshuka, Grilled Pork Loin with Green Goddess Pesto or Chicken Teryaki Burgers, to name just three.
There is enough variety here to meet many tastes.
Those looking for one book with many choices for meals will want to give this one a look.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Cider Mill Press for this title. All opinions are my own.
When readers who have heard of Dorothy Parker think of her, they often imagine her at the Algonquin Hotel issuing bon mots. Sarcastic and seemingly in possession of herself, many envied her. However, this historical novel about Dorothy and some of her friends and acquaintances reveals that she had many reasons to feel unsettled and unhappy. The support of three friends helped her to get through.
Early in this novel readers learn that Dorothy is having trouble finding work. She is also having many difficulties in her marriage; her husband came back from WWI a changed (and unpleasant) man. Dorothy’s friends include Jane, a newspaper reporter; Winifred who is an actress and, Peggy who works at a magazine. They form a bridge group where they not only learn to play cards but reflect on life.
These characters are surrounded by many men. They include those who spent time at the Algonquin. All are men of their time and their treatment of women is often condescending.
Will these friends find their happy/happier endings? Find out in this well written work of historical fiction.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for this title. All opinions are my own.
This book is an excellent compendium of stories for “rebel girls” but also for anyone interested in learning more about a variety of accomplished women immigrants. The book can be read in order or at random. For each woman her area of interest is listed. To name just some of the women included, there are Lupita Nyong’o, an actress; Madeleine Albright, politician; Frieda Belinfante, cellist and conductor;Burke Harris, pediatrician and so many more, all the way to the end of the alphabet. Each short, engaging entry includes an illustration, a quote and a short biography.
Sulari Gentill has authored a number of books in an historical mystery series set in 1930s Australia. It is a time when there is much unrest; on the one side is the New Guard, a Fascist group, while, on the other, there are the Communists, among others. Historically, WWII is coming and tensions are high.
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 