A Novel

by Ann Mah

#JacquelineinParis #NetGalley

Jacqueline Kennedy was one of the world’s most well-known and iconic women. Her life has been well documented for sure. However, in this title, Ms. Mah, recalls and imagines an earlier time in Jacqueline’s life, long before she was a Kennedy. Here, she is a young girl, a Vassar student, on a junior year abroad in Paris.

In the author’s imagination, Jacqueline had to fight to get to Paris. Her mother and stepfather needed to be persuaded to let her go. Jacqueline’s mother’s goal for her daughter was a good marriage. When she finally agreed, it was with caveats regarding some young men that her daughter should meet. J’s mother also makes special arrangements for J to live with an aristocratic family, not in a dorm.

The book opens as J is arriving in France and follows her experiences and growth. In an early chapter, J is brought up against the reality of the Bouviers and how the family was not so well established as she had been led to believe. This exemplifies the ways in which time away from home leads to new understandings and perspectives.

Readers follow Jackie in a post war France that is still recovering. They make their way around the city with J and, such is the author’s talent, they feel that they could be there. In addition, readers follow the stories of those with whom Jackie comes in contact, including the family with whom she lives, the aristocratic Paul and some purported Communists, to round things out.

Fans of historical fiction are pretty certain to enjoy this novel.

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

Pub date: 27 September 2022

by Sonia Maria

#QuackQuackWaddleWaddle #NetGalley

This is a cute, rhyming title for young children. They will most likely enjoy the repetition and variation in the text as they learn the sounds that different animals make. Little ones are also encouraged to move like the different featured critters. The brightly colored illustrations add to the book’s enjoyment.

Recommended for young children and the adults who read with them.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Road Reef Press for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 20 November 2022

From The Short List:

I adored her earlier book, The Rose Code

Enjoyed and reviewed by me

www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/11/22/books/notable-books.html

When it comes to Abraham Lincoln, classical music, Andy Warhol and Truman Capote, there is always something new to learn.
— Read on www.nytimes.com/2022/11/11/books/review/audiobooks-warholcapote-rob-roth-declassified-arianna-warsaw-fan-rauch-and-there-was-light-jon-meacham.html

The best-selling debut author Bonnie Garmus created Elizabeth Zott, a chemist battling a sexist 1950s establishment, as the role model she craved — and found that readers wanted the same.
— Read on www.nytimes.com/2022/11/16/books/bonnie-garmus-lessons-chemistry-book.html

I reviewed this title

Detecting the History of Mysteries and their Creators

by Martin Edwards

#TheLifeofCrime #NetGalley

Martin Edwards has written both his own novels and non-fiction titles about crime and mystery. This book, that is almost 600 pages long, has to be one of his most ambitious yet. In these pages, Edwards writes about the history of crime novels. He begins with the origins of the genre. Moving forward readers find chapters with intriguing titles like Guilty Secrets, Treacherous Impulses, The Mistress of Deception ( I bet you know who that is), Locked Rooms, Sensation in Court, Daggers of the Mind, A Suitable Job for a Woman and many more. I am in awe of all that he has taken on in this book, furthermore he has performed his task most ably.

Fans of mystery fiction who wold like to know more about their favorite genre will find much to explore here. Read in historical order or just go where your impulse takes you. Either way, this is a wonderful resource. Readers will leave having enjoyed reading about their favorites; they will also have many new authors to add to their TBR piles.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper 360 for this title. All opinions are my own

Pub date: 16 August 2022

List price (Hardback) $32.99

Everything Changes

And That’s OK

by Carol Dodd

This is one of the most gorgeously illustrated children’s books that I have seen. Go slowly and let the pictures speak to you (and the child that you may be reading this to.) The subject is impermanence, a topic that I was recently learning more about in a book by Pema Chodron. Here the concept is presented in an easy to understand both neutral and positive way. Learning to accept that things change truly can help in living one’s life. The earlier this is learned, maybe the better!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Shambala Publications, Inc. for this title. All opinions are my own.

by Samantha Newman

The publisher of this title is now turning attention to Shakespeare in a series of titles for young readers. There will be sixteen in all. Hopefully these retellings will inspire kids to enjoy Shakespeare and to later move on to the originals.

Here, the play is the comedy, Love’s Labour’s Lost. The story is told in prose and is illustrated. The essence of the story is definitely here. It begins with Ferdinand wanting to form an academy with friends. Their goal is to study for three years and NOT to fall in love or have contact with the opposite sex. How will that go? Adults may remember but kids may enjoy finding out.

This title provides a good introduction to the bard. It is geared towards children seven and older according to the publisher.

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

Pub date: 01 July 2022

64 pages

Highly recommended!! She has written a beautiful and accessible poetry.

I am so eager for her next book. This is the most recent one.