Author: joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviews

Erik Larson has a true talent for bringing history to life.  In prior books he has written about an American family in Hitler’s Germany (In the Garden of Beasts) and, in the Dead Wake about the crossing of the Lusitania, among others.  He is clearly well credentialed for writing about history and WWII.   As an added bonus, Larson’s books are not only informative, they are very readable.

I was quite excited to receive this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  As can be seen from the title, this one is about Churchill and his circle during the time immediately after he became Prime Minister.

I have read several books on Clementine Churchill, both fiction and biography so was very interested in this book.  It did not disappoint.  It was wonderful to spend time with this man who was truly the right man for England’s difficult blitz years.  The book reads easily and tells the story of the country and also Winston and those who surrounded him, including his wife and children.  Readers also get to spend time in iconic locations, including Chequers.

This book is highly recommended for those interested in England, WWII abd a human and steadfast leader to whom we all owe much.

Again, many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

Decolonize Your Bookshelf in 50 Books

by Joan Anim-Addo, Deirdre Osborne, Kadija George Sesay

This title is a fantastic resource for those who want to expand their reading horizons. The three women who put this book together write on fifty books that are well worth reading. I want to list all fifty excellent choices here but will just list a few. Then readers can experience their own joy of discovery with this resource. So, there are Things Fall Apart by Chinua, Achebe; Wide Saragasso Sea by Jean Rhys; If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin; The Color Purple by Alice Walker; and Annie John by Jamaica Kincaid. All of these books were known to me but others, including The Emperor’s Baby by Bernandine Evaristo, an How to Read the Air by Dina Wengestu were not.

Each entry describes a book in depth. There is then a section, The Novel, that gives some context. Next is autobiographical information on the author and finally, my favorite section entitled If You Like This Try…

I definitely recommend this one! I agree with the introduction that notes that fiction can help us to enter worlds that are not a part of one’s own experience of daily life. This title will lead readers to hours of exploration and many new treasures to pick up. It will be an especially excellent resource for those who are seeking books by authors who are not white and who represent many points of view.

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

This title will be published on 22 Feb 2022,

I very much enjoyed Libby Page’s first novel, The Lido, published in the U.S. as Mornings with Rosemary. When I saw that The Island Home had been published I very much wanted to read it, in fact, so much so that I ordered the book from England. This long (469 page) novel did not disappoint.

Protagonist Lorna left the island many years ago. When the novel opens, she is a single mother to Ella and a teacher. The two are about to return to the island for a few weeks. Lorna has great ambivalence about going back but this is not shared by Ella who is eager to meet her cousin, Molly.

What follows is a story about a place that, although small, contains worlds. It is also a story about how sometimes it is by going backwards that it becomes possible to move forward. Readers watch as Lorna revisits her past and integrates it into her future. While what happens to Lorna may be predictable following her emotional journey still makes for a satisfying read.

There are many characters surrounding Lorna. These include her brother, sister-in-law Alice, niece and others who live on the island, including Lorna’s primary school teacher. There is also Mallachy, an artist now (as Lorna once was). Readers hope that they will find a happy ever after.

The island is portrayed as idyllic in many ways. However there are some challenges as well. There are those who are ill, a school that may have to close and a teacher who was important to Lorna.

This novel is worth a read. It is a largely gentle and good book.

The Lido is a lovely book. It is a story of friendship between the generations and the joys of community. Kate is a twenty-six year old reporter who suffers from a panic disorder. She is assigned the story of the lido, an outdoor pool, that is threatened with foreclosure. In covering this story, Kate moves ahead in her own life. Kate works with eighty-something year old Rosemary on the lido campaign. The story of the lido links with Rosemary’s childhood and marriage. Widow Rosemary recalls the love of her George throughout the novel in touching and moving ways. Surprise of this book…author Libby Page is only in her 20s and this is her first novel. Bravo Ms. Page! You have written a sweet, touching and life-affirming story. Thank you NetGalley!

by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara

Here is another excellent biography for kids. This time readers will learn about how young Gloria Steinem became a well-known and capable advocate for women’s rights.

Even adults may learn some things about Gloria that they did not know. For example, for many years, she and her family lived in a trailer and traveled. This all changed when Gloria was ten and her parents divorced. It was after this that young Gloria was exposed to the ways in which boys and girls were treated differently. This was not okay! Gloria’s life purpose became to stand up for women. She became a journalist and went on from there. Her contributions to feminism are now well-known.

The illustrations in this title are lovely and evocative. They add to the enjoyment of the book. All in all, this is another excellent entry in a series that invites children to aspire. As always, there are sections of additional information at the end of the book.

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

This title will be published on February 1, 2022

Poems of Connection and Joy

by Edited by James Crews

Readers may be drawn to this collection by both its title and the book’s cover. Those who enjoyed the first collection curated by Mr. Crews, How to Love the World, will welcome this second compilation.

Many of the entries in this book are about every day life. For example, there is Angela Narciso Torres who writes about a Chore. A brief quote:

My friend turns everything into prayer. Sweeping the leaves, shaving his beard, washing dishes-

The editor reflects on this poem and how it “teaches us to transform ordinary tasks of our lives into generosity.” If a reader is drawn in by this perspective, they should give this book a look.

Some of the more well-known contributors to this book include Julia Alvarez and Ross Gay. Most of the writers were not previously known to me however.

Along with the poems, there are sections called “Reflective Pauses.” These give context to some of the entries and invite a bit of contemplation on the reader’s part.

This book is a generous compendium. About 100 poems are included here.

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

This title will be published in April 2022.

nyti.ms/3g31veo

www.nytimes.com/2022/01/26/books/review/new-thrillers.html

See my review of The Appeal on my blog.

www.nytimes.com/2022/01/27/books/review/12-new-books-we-recommend-this-week.html