Artemisia Gentileschi

by Sheila Barker

I have seen some of this artist’s paintings and was fascinated by them. Here was a woman painter at a time when the art world was dominated by men. Plus, I later learned about her complicated personal history. For these reasons, I was delighted to have the chance to see this book and to learn more about AG.

This title is published by Getty and they clearly know how to produce gorgeous books on art. This book is part of a series on female artists and is motivated, in part, by current social movements and the desire to give space to past pioneers. Each book, according to the introduction, looks at a female artist in terms of social, cultural, temporal and geographic contexts. Attention is also paid to the artist’s life story and the growth and evolution of their art.

The reproductions in these pages are plentiful and provide a good sense of the artist. I loved many of the Madonna and Child portraits which, to me, exhibited a contemporary (to her time) feeling and a sense of the warm relationship between the two.

Art lovers and those who want to enhance their knowledge base will enjoy this title. I definitely recommend it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Other reviews:

“Sheila Barker paints a rich portrait of Artemisia’s early career . . . providing details of the artist’s life as well as the personalities she encountered. All in all, a major contribution to our understanding of Artemisia’s life and work.”
—Judith W. Mann, Curator, European Art to 1800, Saint Louis Art Museum
 

“Sheila Barker’s book provides a compelling and lively introduction to this endlessly fascinating, complex, and essential painter whose ambitious work challenged the gender-restricting conventions of her day by asserting her claim to be the equal of her male colleagues.”
—Keith Christiansen, Curator Emeritus, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Practices and Guidance for Uncovering Your Natural Awareness

by Diana Winston

This book is one that a reader might want to return to again and again as they learn more about natural awareness and all that this involves. The author is well-credentialed and shares her experiences in getting to where she is, including some struggles when she was in Myanmar learning Vipassana practices.

The book consists of many small chapters. Those in the first section on foundations, for example, include: What is Natural Awareness?; Why is Natural Awareness so Hard to find?; What’s in It for Me?; and Developing a Natural Awareness Practice. The book includes many techniques and practices and can be helpful to those new to the topic and those who are wanting to expand their mindfulness practice.

Are you a person interested in this topic? Would you like to understand what natural awareness is? If yes, this title is definitely worth a read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

See review on my blog. The author has a new book coming out soon. Other titles by her are also on sale.

by Tif Marcelo

As I write this review, Valentine’s Day had just passed and wedding season is still ahead. While weddings are meant to be happy occasions, sometimes getting there isn’t easy as the family in this novel that runs a wedding boutique business knows very well.

At the same time that they are trying to make others dreams come true, sisters Marisol, Janelyn and Pearl are also trying to manage their own lives. This is often challenging for them both as individuals and in their relationships with one another. Follow along with them in this entertaining read.

One thing that I enjoyed along with the story was the author’s use of a piece of music as chapter headings. Readers can have a playlist by the end of the novel.

Those who enjoy women’s fiction will want to give this book a look.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

New Books to Make Your Heart Race

I love these FREE samplers; they can be so helpful in deciding which titles I want to read in the upcoming months. This collection is thriller based, featuring authors Nora Murphy; Ragnar Jonasson; Katharine Schellman; Kelley Armstrong; James Byrne; Jennifer Hillier; Mark Pryor; and Sandie Jones. I have read books by some of these writers while others are new to me; some are even n author’s first book. For each, there is a description of the novel and a generous sample.

So, dip in. Who knows what you will find appealing?

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Book 2

by Alice Kuipers

This title should appeal to those who are moving forward in reading chapter books. At over 100 pages, children will enjoy spending time with a slightly longer book. With its illustrations, it still retains a bit of what kids enjoy in picture books as well.

Polly speaks directly to the reader who learns that there is a special power in these pages. What Polly writes in her Spell book is responded to and so Polly enjoys this dialogue. She also enjoys that she can make things happen. What, exactly will occur at the school fair? Young readers will have to read this one to find out!

Polly is curious and loves learning. Her book is called Spell because she loves spelling. She also knows that the word has multiple meanings. She also comments on syllables on the very first page. I found this interesting as a child that i am tutoring is working on this very topic.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

From the Publisher

Polly Diamond series

This series is just right for fans of:

• Ivy + Bean
• Judy Moody
• Dory Fantasmagory
• + more!

Polly Diamond and the Stunning Spectacular School Fair

Polly and her magic book, Spell, have all kinds of adventures together because whatever Polly writes in Spell comes true! But when Polly and Spell join forces to make the school fair super spectacular, they quickly discover that what you write and what you mean are not always the same.

From the Publisher

Polly Diamond series

This series is just right for fans of:

• Ivy + Bean
• Judy Moody
• Dory Fantasmagory
• + more!

Polly Diamond and the Stunning Spectacular School Fair

Polly and her magic book, Spell, have all kinds of adventures together because whatever Polly writes in Spell comes true! But when Polly and Spell join forces to make the school fair super spectacular, they quickly discover that what you write and what you mean are not always the same.

Brief Encounters of the Romantic Kind

by Alexander McCall Smith

Time with Alexander McCall Smith is always time well-spent. The author of many series, McCall Smith generally tells gentle stories with warmth and feeling. Some most enjoy the Lady Detectives, while for others, it is Bertie. Personally, my favorite is the series with Isabel Dalhousie. This title features none of the above but will be enjoyed by readers nonetheless.

This collection of fourteen stories is unique. For each, the author looked at a photo from a real newspaper archive. He then imagined a tale to go with each portrait. Readers can enjoy McCall Smith’s vivid imagination and conjuring while also imagining what stories they might write about these same pictures. All in all, a lovely read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post

A Novel

by Allison Pataki

Readers of historical fiction, mark your calendars for this books release date. It is fabulous.

Allison Pataki tells the story of Marjorie Merriweather Post from her childhood right on through her “many lives.” She was a daughter, wife (multiple times), mother, key part of Post (later known as General) Foods, society woman, charitable worker and donor, ambassador’s wife, builder of multiple estates and more. The pages just flew as I followed Marjorie through her life.

Readers will travel with Marjorie to many locations. Among these are Battle Creek, Washington DC, Manhattan, the Adirondacks, Palm Beach (Mar-a-Lago) and Moscow. Readers experience Marjorie’s own experiences in each of these places.

Relationships were a big part of Marjorie’s life. No spoiler so I won’t write about how many times she married or who her husbands or children were.

I so highly recommend this book to those who enjoy historical fiction. It is one of the best that I have read in this genre.

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

From the Publisher