Category: Uncategorized

Viveca Sten is a very popular author in her native Sweden.  A number of her mysteries set on Sandhamn are now being released in the U.S.  There is also a tv series available on MHz that features the author’s stories.

Sandhamn is an idyllic summer colony located not far from Stockholm.  However, as in the much fluffier Murder She Wrote, the setting belies the nature of the murders and crimes that occur in the community.

In this entry, a student who was researching former members of the Coastal Guard seems to have committed suicide.  No surprise or spoiler really to say that so much more was involved.  I found this investigation into this crime and its historical antecedents to be both suspenseful and tragic.

Spending time with Thomas, Nora and those around them adds to the enjoyment of the book and provides some relief from the very sad experience of the Rangers.  I plan to continue reading this series and look forward to watching the relationships among the protagonists evolve.

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

Would you like to introduce a child to the magic of Charles Dickens’s stories?  The novels themselves, of course, are lengthy while this collection is a beautifully illustrated introduction to a number of the books.

Included in the retellings are Oliver Twist, The Old curiosity Shop, David Copperfield, Great Expectations, A Tale of Two Cities, A Christmas Carol, Nicholas Nickleby and Hard Times. Each story begins with a helpful illustrated list of characters.

The stories are expertly retold, having sufficient detail to not just be summaries, and may well inspire a child to read one of the full length books.  That would be a good project for the current moment. All in all, a wonderful resource.

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

Pub date: May 19, 2020

#AWorldFullofDickensStories #NetGalley

This is a book for the very youngest among us.  It is a board book with felt to feel as an integral part of the printed book.  The illustrations are charming incuding a hedgehog, a lion, a giraffe and more.  I think that this book will most definitely appeal to babies and toddlers.

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

Pub date:  July 2020

A few more choices for today.  Meet Me at the Museum is one that I owuld like to read.  There will be a tv series of the Korelitz novel.

Women’s fiction including historical fiction and a thriller in Reconstructing Amelia, a mystery, a free DH Lawrence title, the story of a vet (and basis for a tv series) and a book on the history of religion by a very well known scholar.  Pretty good choices in my opinion.  See my archive for a review of The Grace Kelly Dress.  I enjoyed it.

A family story, a women’s fiction title, a couple of mysteries, and American classics with one for children and one for adults.  The Baum book is free.

This book has such sweet and fun illustrations.  The text tells the story of a young girl going to her karate class.  Many aspects of karate are clearly explained in the text by the author, a karate champion herself.

This book provides an excellent introduction to what a student can expect if they start lessons. There are rules and discipline along with co-operation, fun and learning.

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

Pub date:  May 5, 2020

Sometimes it can be nice for kids to do something that is not screen related when traveling. This book reminds me of the kinds of amusements that were available before ipads; there is a place for this kind of book that I think will keep kids entertained while at home or on the go. This fun looking book is filled with activities and puzzles. There are spot the difference puzzles, matching games, mazes, dot to dots, coloring, quizzes and more. The activities are packed into a brightly illustrated book sure to provide hours of fun. Think about this book for a child you know who is in early to mid elementary school.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

Sophie and her Dad are invited to Olive’s birthday party. They get ready by dressing up and making food to bring with them. When it is time to attend the party, how do they get there? They go by elevator!
As Sophie and her dad make their way to the tenth floor, the elevator gets pretty crowded! Young listeners will enjoy the exuberant illustrations as everyone squeezes in. When they arrive, there is a good party.
That’s it. This is a simple but fun book that young listeners will enjoy. The illustrations show a diverse group of people who enjoy being together. That is an added bonus of this title that is geared toward young children.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this cute read in exchange for an honest review.

From the publisher:

I found this to be an absolutely brilliant book. John Carey, an Oxbridge professor, is an erudite guide to learning about poems and poetry. But, he is not only an intelligent guide, he has written a book where I wanted to keep turning the pages.
This book encompasses the history of poetry from the earliest epics, such as The Gilgamesh Epic, and moves through the centuries, ending in chapter 40 with modern poets including Maya Angelou and Mary Oliver. I could list so many, many of the included poets but will pick just ten to give an idea of what the book contains: Homer, Dante, Donne, Milton, Wordsworth, Eliot, Pound, Elizabeth Bishop, Auden and Stevie Smith.
To give an example of the flavor of this title, chapter one is about the Gilgamesh Epic. The story itself is clearly recounted but the author gives so much more than this; for example, there is discussion about how this story relates to other biblical tales and poetry’s depictions of death as a central issue for all. This expansiveness leaves the reader with much food for thought.
Professor Carey sees that music and poetry are analagous; one gives us the best of noise while the other may give us the best of words. (This is my understanding of what he said).
I recommend this book most highly. Even before our current crisis, 2020 was becoming the year of exploring poetry for me. This book will enhance my understanding and experience as I continue my journey..
Many, many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book in exchange for an honest review. I found it to be a special book.