by Katherine Rundell

 #ImpossibleCreatures #NetGalley

Remember when the first Harry Potter title was published? It went on to become one of those books that just took off and has been loved by so many. Similarly, I think that Impossible Creatures has every chance of being that next, very special book.

This novel tells an involving story of two children and a created world. First readers meet Christopher. One day he rescues a baby griffin and his life changes for ever. On this very same day, Christopher meets Mal (and her magic coat). She is in need of his help. Of course the two join forces.

Over the course of this book much happens to these characters in a story that is heroic, magical and engaging. Note that the illustrations add much pleasure to the reading. These are whimsical and quite appealing.

In my opinion, young readers will be very eager to get their hands on this one! I am sure that it will get kids reading. Yay!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s-Knopf Books for Young Readers for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 10 September 2024 in the U.S.

* BRITISH BOOK AWARDS CHILDREN’S FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR * WATERSTONES BOOK OF THE YEAR WINNER * BOOKS ARE MY BAG READERS’ AWARD WINNER * FOYLES CHILDREN’S BOOK OF THE YEAR * SHORTLISTED FOR AMAZON KIDS AND YA BOOK OF THE YEAR

* THE TIMES CHILDREN’S BOOK OF THE WEEK * THE INDEPENDENT CHILDREN’S BOOK OF THE WEEK * THE DAILY TELEGRAPH CHILDREN’S BOOK OF THE WEEK * SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER IN SEPTEMBER 2023

There’s a place where all the wildest stories began . From Katherine Rundell, the British Book Awards Author of the Year, comes the paperback release of the first novel in the critically acclaimed, award winning, best-selling Impossible Creatures series. This edition includes The Centaur’s Spectacles bonus short story.

Christopher is stunned when he discovers a passage to the Archipelago: a cluster of magical islands where all the creatures of myth still live and breed and thrive in their thousands. There he meets Mal: a girl from the islands, who is in possession of a flying coat and a baby griffin, and who is being pursued by a killer. Together they embark on an urgent quest to discover why the creatures are suddenly perishing, voyaging across the wild splendour of the Archipelago, where sphinxes hold secrets and centaurs do murder, in a bid to save both the islands and the world beyond them from a rising evil – before it’s too late.

‘Rundell’s first foray into fantasy is both a deft, rich homage to the greats of children’s literature and an absorbing, profoundly poignant quest story for those aged 9+ – quite possibly her best yet’ – The Guardian

‘A marvellous, imaginative fantasy told with great style and sparkle – a book to race through in a day and keep for a lifetime’ – Jacqueline Wilson

‘The world of this new book is so intriguing and so well put together that I couldn’t resist it. Readers who already know her books will seize this with delight, and new readers will love it and demand all her others at once’ – Philip Pullman

‘A masterpiece to rival Tolkien and Pullman’ – The Daily Telegraph

‘Fantastically exuberant, wildly imaginative, impossibly brilliant. Rundell’s best, which is something to be marvelled at’ – Kiran Millwood Hargrave

‘Between the covers of Impossible Creatures is a world as enchanting, as perilous, as richly imagined as Narnia or Middle Earth‘ – Frank Cottrell-Boyce

‘Rundell’s book packs a punch with imagination and creativity in its purest form. She has created a story with potential to be adored by fantasy lovers for years to come’ – The Independent

‘With a delightful cast of characters, breathless adventure, and an abundance of myth and magic, Impossible Creatures offers the very best of fantasy’ – Aisha Bushby

‘A fierce, fantastic, wild-hearted adventure that roars and bristles with imagination. I devoured it like a hungry dragon’ – Sam Sedgman

‘A rare and remarkable feat of glittering imagination from a truly masterful storyteller’ – Catherine Doyle

‘The action is gripping. Every sentence sparkles. You can feel the flutter of griffin feathers and the menace of strange poisonous shrews. Magnificent’ – The Times

‘Surely the next classic’ – The I

by Sophie Kinsella

#WhatDoesItFeelLike #NetGalley

I, like many others, have enjoyed many light hearted books by Ms. Kinsella. This short title is something different.

As many may know, Kinsella has been diagnosed with a brain tumor. Here, she takes a fictional look at a character facing a similar situation.

Author, Eve, seems to have it all. There are her writing, her spouse, her children and an all around lovely life until she wakes up in a hospital bed, not knowing why. The answer floods in on her as Eve learns that she is facing a life and death situation.

Readers follow Eve and those around her in a work that is extremely moving. I highly recommend this one.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 08 October 2024

From the Publisher

#TheHazelbourneLadiesMotorcycleandFlyingClub #NetGalley

I knew that I wanted to read this novel as soon as I saw the beautiful cover and the name of the author. Many may recognize Helen Simonson from her book Mr. Pettigrew’s Last Stand. In that work and this, Simonson writes with her own distinctive sensibility.

The Hazelbourne story begins not long after WWI has ended. Readers may think that the armistice resolved everything; however, for many figuring out a life post-war was not always easy. In this novel, the author spends time with some of those folks.

Constance grew up somewhat beholden to the family of her mother’s best friend. There were class differences between them but a relationship endured. During the war, Constance managed the family’s estate. Once the war was over, her sense of purpose was taken away since the job was given back to a man.

Poppy is a happily unconventional young woman. She seems to live as she likes. A big part of this is her motorcycle business. Riding along in one of these vehicles when driven by a woman was not expected at the time.

Poppy’s brother served and lost a limb. All he wants to do is fly again but no one will look at him as capable as the story opens.

The lives of these characters come together at a seaside hotel when Poppy asks Constance for a favor. Poppy’s mother, brother and she have seemingly taken up long term residence there While Constance is visiting as a companion to an older woman.

In addition to these main characters, many others are in these pages. In this way, the author creates a broad canvas for her story.

Lots happens as readers get to know the characters in this novel of manners that unfolds at its own leisurely pace. Issues are covered that are reflective of the time period.

Readers will become attached to many in this story and will wait to see how things l turn out. They will enjoy every bit of this over 400 page book.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 07 May 2024

#NeverStopHoldingHands #NetGalley

Bear Grylls is well known to many. This collection is authored by his wife Shara who offers some wisdom for long term relationships.

Some of the advice is offered by those whose names readers will recognize and some is not. For example, there is something from Gordon Ramsay, from Miranda Hart and her husband, and from the Sebag-Montefiores. There are also words from more religious origins like the Bible and Martin Luther. Some are from members of the author’s family.

Some advice is anodyne and some is wise. Some entries are humorous while others are more serious. Some I very much liked, as for example, an Irish blessing and an Apache one.

This book could make a nice gift for someone.

Many thanks to NetGalley and John Murray Press for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 27 January 2026

by joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviewsJuly 22, 2019

This is a wonderful historical novel based upon the Book Women who delivered library materials to those in the out of the way sections of Kentucky.  The book women were part of a program started by President Roosevelt under the WPA.

There are many book women in Troublesome Creek, Kentucky but the protagonist of the novel is the unforgettable Cussy.  Cussy speaks in dialect which helps the reader to fully enter into her world.  Cussy faces special challenges because she is the last of the ‘blues.’  There really were blue-skinned people in America as a supplement at the back of the novel attests.  They were objects of curiosity and also of prejudice, just as was the case for the African American population.

Cussy wants to be independent both before and after her disastrous short term marriage.  And yet, what will happen with patron Jackson who is one of the few to call Cussy by name, rather than the derogatory Bluet?

Cussy’s love of books flows through the novel.  There are references to books that were popular at the time, including those by Steinbeck and Rex Stout.  Cussy’s inventiveness in making books and delivering what her patrons need is impressive.

The landscape of rural Kentucky, the small towns, the mines, the mountains are all well described.  Each patron that Cussy visits has a back story and readers will even come to learn more about the mule who transports her.

If you are a reader who enjoys historical fiction set in the U.S., consider this one.  Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Sourcebooks, for this book in exchange for an honest review.

An Illustrated Keepsake Book

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

#FamiliusBooks #NetGalley

As I write this, we are approaching Labor Day so Christmas is far away. Still, this book comes out in September so thoughts may turn to winter and holidays soon.

The illustrations for Wadsworth’s poem in this book are appealing and nostalgic. They beautifully evoke the season.

The poem itself feels very relevant with its repeating lines that evoke the need/hope/wish/belief for peace on earth and goodwill towards men. This is a message that very much resonates for today.

Note: There is one page that depicts momentary despair; this may need some discussion with young children.

This is a book for children but I believe that adult’s will enjoy it as well.

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

Pub date: 09 September 2025

www.nytimes.com/2025/05/22/books/review/best-crime-books-2025-so-far.html

This novel by Bruce Nash is relatively short, at 240 pages, and yet he successfully creates Rose’s world. She is an older woman (in her 80s) who resides in assisted living. Her days are pretty routine and include meals, medications, visits from her family, time spent with another resident who is a friend, and time spent observing the life of the home. Rose also must deal with dementia.

Nash does what feels like an accurate job of portraying Rose’s inner life. He shows how unnerving dementia can be. Readers watch as Rose often says a word that is not the one that she wants although, often, she is able to make a correction. She also, for example, has a unique way of playing scrabble.

One day, her friend and neighbor is found dead. Will Rose be able to figure out what happened to her and why? Readers will watch as Rose tries to figure things out.

Readers who want to get a sense of the world of someone like Rose may want to give this title a look.

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

Pub date: 01 July 2025

From the Publisher

#TheAirRaidBookClub #NetGalley

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.

Pub date: 11 July 2023

From the Publisher

My review of Eudora…

So many of the reviews that I saw for this novel were quite praiseworthy so I read it with very high hopes and expectations. It did not disappoint. This is a novel that engages the reader through its characters and its story lines. I think that readers who enjoyed novels like The Little Paris Bookshop or The Lido will want to read this one…as will many others. Miss Honeysett is a prim woman who is 85 years old. She believes that the time has come to take control of the end of her life. This leads her to contact a Dignitas like clinic and submit an application. Will her request be granted? Will Eudora want it to be? Readers learn that Eudora faced a number of tragedies and disappointments over the course of her her life. Most chapters in the novel include a flashback to a key moment for Eudora. No spoilers so I do not want to write more. In the present, Eudora meets the irrepressible Rose. The two have a relationship that evolves over the course of the book as Rose awaits becoming a big sister. Another important character is Stanley. His friendship with Eudora and Rose is impacted by some memory issues. What will happen to each of them? At times acerbic, at times touching this is a novel that I most definitely recommend. Give it a try. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.