Author: joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviews

Again, a mix.  You can see a review of Before and Again in my archive.  I liked the book. Here are mystery, history, intrigue and literary fiction.  The Buchan book, inspiration for the Hitchcock movie, is free.

I found this endearingly illustrated story to be charming and sweet.  It will be especially enjoyed by children who like cats as the adventurous cat features in all of the illustrations.  Our narrator tells about all of the kinds of stories that he does not like as he goes through the events of his day…but wait!  What happens at the end?  Read the book to find out.  It is cute.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

Pub Date 15 Sep 2020  

What a beautiful, complex, heartbreaking and uplifting novel this is!  I rate this story about C.S. Lewis and Joy Davidman highly.

Many people know who C.S. (Jack) Lewis was.  The first thing that often comes to mind is his children’s (Christian) book series about Narnia.  But of course he was and accomplished so much more than this.  An Oxford and later Cambridge professor, a writer on many Christian topics, a heartbroken child who lost his mother, a caretaker for a brother whom he loved deeply and a believer in four types of love.  (Readers will learn about these in reading the novel.)  C.S. Lewis was also a veteran, a person loyal to his commitments and a friend to many including Dorothy Sayers and J.R.R. Tolkien.

Joy Davidman Gresham Lewis was a child of an exacting father, a highly intelligent and well-educated woman, a wife to the dysfunctional Bil, a mother to beloved sons Davy and Douglas, a writer, editor, poet and more.  She lived her life fully and complexly.

How did these two, one British and the other American come together?  Readers learn fairly early in the novel that Joy had a profound and life changing religious experience.  This led to her writing to C.S. Lewis.  No spoilers so readers must go to the novel to learn about Joy and Jack’s uniquely evolving relationship.

The settings of the book are so beautifully evoked, both in New York and Vermont, also in London and Oxford.  Oxford, in particular, is so lovingly described that Anglophiles will truly rejoice at the sections of the book that are set there.

The full meaning and impact of the title, Becoming Mrs. Lewis, becomes deeply affecting the deeper one travels into Joy’s world.  It was a very clever name for the novel, even as it is deceptively simple.

Becoming Mrs. Lewis is published by a press that describes itself as one that publishes “stories that inspire, illuminate, and transform. Stories that captivate the imagination, enlighten the mind, and strengthen the spirit.”  They are the right ones for this title.  The novel made me think about the complexity of life choices and the meaning of many kinds of love.  It has inspired me to learn more about these two remarkable people.

I found the novel to be one that did not read especially quickly but I enjoyed the time that I spent with it.  The end definitely touched my emotions.

In this paperback edition of the book, there are many extras.  These include a map of Oxford, comments by the author, a bibliography, a timeline, discussion questions and more.

I received a complimentary copy of this book.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.  Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for this amazing read!

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AS AN E BOOK FOR $3.99

#BecomingMrsLewis #NetGalley

This is the third entry in Ms. Fredericks’s historical mystery series featuring ladies maid, Jane Prescott.  The novels are set in New York in the early 1900s, with this story taking place in 1913.

I read last year’s title, Death of a New American, which I enjoyed so I was excited to receive an ARC of Death of an American Beauty.  This time Jane plans on taking a break from her ladies maid duties and intends to start by taking in a bit of culture.  She wants to attend an exhibit of the (radical) new artists of the Cubist movement. However, life does not always go as planned and instead Jane becomes involved in another murder investigation. Someone is murdered outside the home where Jane grew up.  Jane’s uncle, who runs a refuge for former prostitutes there becomes a suspect.  Jane naturally becomes involved in the case wanting to clear her uncle.  She is helped by her friend, the reporter, Michael, a character known from the previous book.

Fans of historical mysteries should enjoy this title.  The author does a good job creating an engaging situation for Jane.  Note that this title can be read as a standalone but the other titles in the series are also worth picking up.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

Miss Manners, aka Judith Martin, first began writing about etiquette many years ago. This book is her return to scolding and helping us out. With her signature wit and common sense, along with an inability to suffer fools gladly, Miss Manners dispenses advice and opinions on everything from Christmas wish lists to restaurant behavior to wedding etiquette and so much more. A warm welcome back to the acerbic Miss Manners whose advice is spot on and entertaining to read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

Pub Date 09 Jun 2020

#MindingMissManners #NetGalley

Fiction of various sorts and one for children.

All of these titles come from Harper Collins and none is more thatn $4.99.  Hope there is something for you here.  Let me know.

This book tells the stories of five prominent women who lived on Mecklenburgh Square in London in the 1900s. The subjects did not necessarily know one another but they shared an address during years when women were beginning to assert their independence in relationships and work.

The five women are the writer/poet HD; Dorothy Sayers who is well-known for the Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane mysteries; Jane Harrison a prominent classical scholar; Eileen Power a scholar in the field of economics and, finally, Virginia Woolf, an author beloved by many. Each has a chapter in the book in their own right with connections being acknowledged when they are there. As one example, both HD and Dorothy Sayers were involved with the writer John Cournos.

The book begins with a fabulous introduction that provides the historic context for what follows. This, in itself, could be read as an excellent essay. The author then tells the story of each of these women. Every one of them had a complex life in which they tried to accomplish what they felt was important. There are so many vignettes. Below is one.

Dorothy Sayers gave to her characters what she wanted herself. The author says that when money was hard to come by, Sayers lavished a lifestyle she did not have on Wimsey. He had the cars, the homes, the food, the servants that Dorothy did not. Sayers also gave Harriet Vane the relationship that she, Dorothy, may have wanted; it was one among equals. To share a fact that I had not known, Dorothy became pregnant and had a child whom she could not raise due to the mores of the time.

This title is written in a very readable and fluid style. The pages turn easily and I was always looking forward to the next time that I would have the chance to read more.

If you are interested in the lives of women, the compromises that one may or may not make in life and this little neighborhood in London, pick up the book. I recommend it most highly.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

#SquareHaunting #NetGalley

This title is geared toward preschool aged children although I think that slightly older children could also benefit from it. The book is designed to help little ones recognize, experience and name their emotions.  The illustrations do a good job of evoking the feelings that they represent; for example, anger is marked by a flame.

Adults who have some insight can name and recognize what they are feeling.  This helps with self-regulation.  This book is beginning that process for children.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this helpful title.  All opinions are my own.

Pub Date 09 Jun 2020

#HowDoIFeel #NetGalley

This book is very aptly names.  The puzzles are, in fact, fiendishly difficult to solve.  This is at least partly due to the author’s ability to create a puzzle and the variety that she finds within each type.  This book includes crosswords, word searches, sudoku, calcudoku, kakuro and cryptograms.  In each category, Ms. Chen has created variations on a theme.  For example, the first word search puzzle is difficult but traditional.  Following this one though, the others all have a twist; for instance the next puzzle has anagrams and the one after that is called change the first letter.  Similarly most of the puzzles in the book have a twist that makes them quite challenging.

This book will be welcomed by those who want to immerse themselves in a challenge that could well take time.  Beginning puzzlers may be frustrated by the book.  Think about who you are and then decide.

Many thanks to Callisto publishing for this title.  All opinions are my own.

This title will be released on April 28, 2020.