Author: joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviews

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!

The best kind of education: Forest School for Grown-Ups

Explore the Wisdom of the Woods

by Richard Irvine

#ForestSchoolforGrownUps #NetGalley

My local botanical garden boasts a beautiful forest. It serves as a place of peace and refuge for me. So, I was very pleased to receive an ARC on the wisdom to be found in the woods.

This title includes much that is of interest. For example, a year in the forest is described. There are then chapters on survival skills, foods, navigation, woodland skills, forest projects and more. Throughout, there are lovely line drawings and photos. There is so much packed into this 200 plus page book.

If you love the outdoors, give this title a look. It will teach you a great deal. I may never do some of these projects, like felling a tree, but it was fascinating to learn about them.

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

Pub date: 10 May 2022

From the Botanical Garden site:

For thousands of years, this old-growth Forest has changed, adapted and survived. When you visit the Forest, you will walk along Native American hunting trails, see marks left by glaciers, and pass under trees dating back to the American Revolution. The unique beauty and ecological importance of the forest are one of the reasons why the founders selected this site for The New York Botanical Garden in 1895.

Today this is the largest uncut expanse of New York’s original wooded landscape. The Forest remains a magnificent reminder of the beauty and resilience of nature in the face of complex human-caused disturbances. To preserve the Forest for future generations the Garden manages invasive species, plants native plants, and performs research.

From the publisher:

MWA Announces the 2022 Edgar Award Winners — CrimeReads

Tonight in New York City, the Mystery Writers of America announced the winners of the 76th annual Edgar Awards. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees. ___________________________________ BEST NOVEL ___________________________________ WINNER Five Decembers by James Kestrel (Hard Case Crime) *** NOMINEES The Venice Sketchbook by Rhys Bowen (Amazon Publishing – Lake Union)Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby (Macmillan Publishers…

MWA Announces the 2022 Edgar Award Winners — CrimeReads

Think! Philosophy: 50 Essential Ideas

by Michael Moore

When my older daughter started college, she took a philosophy class and found it to be most intriguing. I have never studied philosophy myself so I very much enjoyed spending time with this title. A number of philosophical concepts are explored beginning with the ancient Greeks and moving toward the modern day.

If you want to know who Aristotle was or how his philosophy differed from Plato’s (to give just one example), this book will provide an answer. I found that my brain needed to pay attention to understand all that was presented here. To help with learning, there are illustrations including art works throughout.

This book offers a good introduction to philosophy. Readers can then decide if they want to pursue any topic or philosopher in more depth on their own.

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

30 June 2022

By the way, for those who like to learn their philosophy with fiction, I most highly recommend Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder.

Making it possible: French Cooking for Beginners

Simple and Delicious Recipes for French Food for Any Meal

by Claudine Pepin

#FrenchCookingforBeginners #NetGalley

I recently watched two TV series that focused on Julia Child. So, this French recipe collection for home cooks came along at just the right time for me.

This title’s recipes are organized by course. We begin with To Start, followed by To Continue, On the Side, and To Finish. An example from each section includes Cauliflower Souffle, Beef Bourguignon, Spinach in Bechamel, and finally, Clafoutis. So, pretty traditional yet wonderful recipes are found within these pages.

This book has beautiful photographs throughout. There are also lovely drawings.

The credit for this title belongs fully with the author. I note though that her father is Jacques Pepin. Oh, what a family!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group-Quarry for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 19 April 2022

A new title by this author is always welcome-Broken Ground by Val McDermid

This is an e book bargain for 4.29.22

joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviews's avatarJoyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too!

#BrokenGround #NetGalley

Val McDermid writes a number of series; of them all, the Karen Pirie novels are my favorites. Broken Ground is the newest of these.
I enjoy Karen. She is a quirky woman who has faced a significant loss and is still recovering. In this novel, she gingerly considers a new relationship. She is an old fashioned copper who cares about justice and what is right. She is loyal to those on her team who are still learners.
Karen is the head of the Historical Cases Unit in Scotland. Spending time with her, the members of her team (including her adversaries) and her cases is always time well-spent. In this novel, there are several stories; one relates to events of WWII, another to a serial rapist, and there is also a present day murder. Each of these plots is explored satisfactorily.
I finished this book today and am already…

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