A Novel

by Brenda Novak

The Bookstore at the Beach is the second title that I have read by Ms. Novak, following her earlier novel, One Perfect Summer. As was true of that book, this is a long (448 pages) story that is filled with plot and character.

Readers follow and get to know the lives, struggles and joys of three generations of women from one family. The oldest is Mary. She runs a bookstore in a small town and leads a fairly insular life. Mary is not a risk taker. Why? What happened to her in the past that formed her attitudes and character? No spoilers so you have to read the book to find out.

Next up is Autumn, Mary’s daughter. She has come with her two children to spend time with Mary over the summer. Readers learn early on that Autumn’s husband has been missing for nineteen months, most likely related to his travel in Ukraine. Should Autumn hold on to hope that he will come back or…should she again become involved with her high school crush who lives in the town where Autumn is summering?

Finally there is Taylor, Autumn’s daughter. She was feeling numb and engaged in sexual activity without using birth control. Is she pregnant? If yes, how will this define her life? There is also a strong plot line about Taylor’s friendship with Sierra as Taylor wonders if she is in love with her.

The author holds onto all of the many plot strands without losing any of them. She tells a story that has some depth and that held my interest.

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

Uneasy Lies the Crown (Tasha Alexander)

by joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviewsAugust 10, 2018

Uneasy Lies the Crown follows last year’s excellent, A Death in St. Petersburg.  This time, Lady Emily and Colin are trying to keep the (very) new king safe from possible threats.  There have been several murders with each corpse dressed as an historical king.  Is this meant as a direct threat to Bertie or is there something else going on?

In tandem with this plot is a story set in the 1400s.  This is the tale of a brave knight who fights for his king and his relationship with his wife.  This earlier historical tale is connected with Colin’s ancestors.

This book will be welcomed by those who read each book by Tasha Alexander as it comes out.  That having been said, I thought that last year’s entry was stronger.  I look forward to seeing what comes next. Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur books.

#UneasyLiesTheCrown #NetGalley

The Scarlet Letter is free.

by Albert Arrayás

Pub Date 04 May 2021

If one judges a book by its cover, it seems pretty clear that this title should be fun. Just look at the characters; their names are sure to make adults smile.

I loved the imagination of this author. Just think, every chicken tucked in its own bed and even some with bathrobes! The plot has to do with a competition, the most important event of the year. But, horrors (!), who is hen-napping the contestants and why? Luckily, witch, Miss Henrietta is on the case.

The illustrations are whimsical and fun. My only quibble is that children may find the final twist a little confusing.

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

Starring He, She, and They

by Ian Hoffman; Sarah Hoffman

Pub Date 04 May 2021

Parents can educate themselves and their young children with this title in the helpful series published under the auspices of the American Psychological Association. Through the setting of a school play, this picture book looks at the subject of chosen pronouns, specifically the use of “they,” in addition to,”he” or “she.” The importance of respecting each child’s choice is the theme.

The class play is about a farm and harvest. The author ties the theme together by showing that farm crops grow just as they are supposed to, as do people. This inclusive message should be an important part of a child’s early learning.

I recommend this book for families and preschools.

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

Elizabeth & Margaret

The Intimate World of the Windsor Sisters

by Andrew Morton

The Golden Age of the American Essay

1945-1970

by Phillip Lopate

This collection, edited by Phillip Lopate, reads as a who’s who of great writers and thinkers. Some of the authors whose essays can be found here include James Agee, Reinhold Niebuhr, James Baldwin, Mary McCarthy, E.B. White, Norman Mailer and Martin Luther King among others.

The book begins with a helpful and detailed exploration of what may have led to this time period yielding so many exceptional essays. Each entry then has a brief introduction.

This is a generous compendium. Readers can dip in and out, always finding something of interest. It is worth a read.

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

The Last Bookshop in London

A Novel of World War II

by Madeline Martin

As soon as I saw the title of this book, I wanted to read it. The magic word, of course, was bookshop. I also found the cover to be very appealing. So, I initially judged this one by its cover. That said, I wasn’t’ disappointed.

This novel’s protagonist, Grace, is a young woman who recently lost her mother. Along with her best friend, Viv, she moves to London to stay with a family friend. The two arrive only to have war declared not long after. Viv enters one of the women’s units while Grace remains with her mother’s friend. She takes a position in a bookshop and the shop is also a character in the book.

This story points out the importance of literature. In a lovely scene, Grace goes underground during a bombing raid where she begins reading Middlemarch to those who are stuck in the shelter over night. Those stuck there look forward to additional chapters when the next call to go underground comes.

Grace organized the bookshop and develops a relationship with its curmudgeonly owner. She studies way to make the shop successful and, for example, advertises buying books to read while unable to sleep in one’s beds due to the bombings.

The author does a good job of portraying wartime Britain. There are losses of people, property, usual foods, a way of life. There are also the joys of friendship, love, books and connection.

There are so many WWII set novels being written now. My theory is that, awful as the war was, it is more reassuring to look back at that time than our current one. For all of the suffering, the reader knows that eventually Britain will declare victory.

I think that this title is worth reading. Let me know what you think!

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