Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too!
Great reads for adults and children!
In this board book, toddlers will delight in that old song about jumping on the bed. The illustrations are quirky and fun. As each monster falls, toddlers are invited to help by kissing the monster or putting on a band aid, etc. Young listeners will enjoy the repetition and soon may be singing themselves!
Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for this read in exchange for an honest review.
This was my second exploration with the intrepid George and Ava. I previously read and reviewed another in the series George and Ava are good company. They are curious and eager to learn. In this one, young scientists will learn a lot about the different forms of water, (solid, liquid, gas), as they perform experiments and learn geo facts. There is a quiz at the end so kids can see what they retained and also suggestions for additional resources for teachers. This series provides a wonderful way to learn science. Science becomes fun and curiosity is rewarded. Perfect!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto for this book in exchange for an honest review.
TheWaterCycle #NetGalley
One delightful thing about reading and reviewing children’s titles is the opportunity that is presented to learn like a child again. I never studied volcanoes and earthquakes when I was in school; I remember magma from my kids’ studies and that was about it. In this appealingly illustrated title, I learned about geology with Ava and George. They were excellent guides.
This book provides lots of information and terminology in small easy to learn pieces. There are many GeoFacts and experiments to try at home as children learn about volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis. At the end of the book, there are a useful review section, an author’s note and a list of websites for young scientists who want to learn more.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review. You and your young scientist will love it.
The cover makes this book look like it could be a juvenile title; it is not. Rather this is the latest entry in Kerry Greenwood’s Corinna Chapman series. Readers may already know the author’s Miss Phrynne Fisher series of novels and the later Australian TV series. Those who like Miss Fisher may enjoy finding out what Ms. Greenwood has also written.
This book is peopled with eccentric characters. On occasion, I had a bit of difficulty recalling who was who. Readers will definitely remember Corinna and her Israeli boyfriend though. They are a couple who enjoy food and each other. He is an Israeli agent of some kind while Corinna is a baker whose goods sound quite delicious.
The plot centers on a Scottish/Australian soldier whose dog has gone missing, most likely kidnapped. This is not just any dog though; Geordie worked hard in Afghanistan and is the most important connection that our traumatized former soldier has.
Readers will see what happens as Daniel, our Israeli protagonist, and Corinna solve the case. Along the way, readers will enjoy Corinna’s acceptance of others, wit and friends.
Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this book in exchange for an honest review.
Ironically, I started to read this book when I had ten minutes free before rushing off to do something. I came back again later and began to make the time to read this book and think about its messages and suggestions.
We all know that life is hectic, that many only feel okay while being productive and that it is hard to slow down. This book will help readers to think about what is important about slow living, as it helps you to understand why slow living is important. It is well worth your time to find out.
The book is divided into many chapters and is illustrated throughout with beautiful photographs. Readers can read straight through or look first at what makes most sense for them. There are sections on everything from creating rituals to explanations of what mindfulness and meditation are, to learning to listen to your body, pay and more. Hopefully, readers will take away the intended message and will begin to slowly enjoy life more.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this helpful read. All opinions are my own.
From the publisher:
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The Challenges of Our Modern AgeWith the demands of twenty-first-century life, no wonder people are looking for alternative ways to live. For me, slow and simple living encompasses all the fundamental values that help my family live a more wholehearted life, from being connected to the present moment to appreciating the little things, and taking time to enjoy and celebrate life. Of course, there are many things that can hinder us on our quest to live more slowly, including the glorification of being “busy,” consumer culture and materialism, and our digital age and virtual consumption, all things that we need to evaluate in our lives and decide whether we want and/or need a lifestyle change. |
TimeWe would all like more time to do as we please, including time to slow down, relax, enjoy life, and connect with the ones we love. Time can seem so elusive; it can both drag and fly by. Time is a resource that we simply cannot get back. Once it has gone, it is gone. No wonder a lot of us are obsessed with being as productive as possible with our time. Perhaps we feel that there aren’t enough hours in the day to complete all the things that need doing. Maybe that’s why we clock-watch and cram every minute of the day with tasks. If we are not achieving things and crossing them off our to-do lists, many of us feel like we have wasted our day. |
Learning to Nurture OurselvesLearning to nurture and really look after ourselves is one of life’s essential lessons, yet many of us find it difficult to do. However, in recent years, “self-care” has become an increasingly popular topic and a growing industry. We are also beginning to understand how far the term “well-being” stretches and what it encompasses, realizing that it is linked to our personal happiness, as well as a healthy body, mind, and spirit. It is crucial to carve out time in our week to tend to ourselves; otherwise, we are left running on empty. If we do not make time to look after our well-being, then we cannot be present for those around us, fulfill our responsibilities, and live a wholehearted life. |
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Well-Being BODYWe often do all our “thinking” with our minds, even though our bodies possess inherent intelligence. They often know what is best for us: when we need to rest, when we need fresh air and exercise. If we take just a moment to think about all the amazing things our bodies do—all the movements, automated bodily functions, brain processing, tissue growth and repairs, hormone releases, etc.—then it makes sense for us to put some time aside to take care of and look after them. By slowing down things, we are able to listen to our bodies with more clarity and develop our body-mind connection, which in turn allows us to feel connected to our “self” in new ways. |
A Slow HomeOur homes and what we surround ourselves with are deeply intertwined with our slow-living experience. And it is essential to invest some time looking closely at our homes and whether we have them set up in a way that supports us and encourages a slower pace. How our homes feel, and the space around us, can make an impact on our well-being. A slow home can help us to connect deeply to ourselves and allow us to focus on the important things. |
Seasonal LivingConnecting to and understanding the seasons has been a big part of my family’s slow-living journey. There is so much inspiration to be found in nature and the seasons with regard to slowing down and living more simply. Nature does not know how to hurry; the blossoms bloom when they are ready and the leaves fall when it is time. Living seasonally gives the year a shape and rhythm of its own and a lot of comfort can be gained from familiarity with these rhythms. |
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SustainabilityWhen slowing our homes, we also need to consider reducing our environmental impact. There are two key areas to examine to live as sustainably as possible: our conscious shopping habits (this applies to everything from shopping for food, housewares, and clothing to luxuries and cleaning and beauty products) and how responsible we are when disposing of any waste we create. |
Well-Being MIND AND SOULWhen we begin to live more slowly, we find we have time to look within—space unfolds and allows us to deeply think and reevaluate things. We have time to think about the purpose and meaning within our lives, and naturally, we become more intentional and thoughtful with the decisions we make. Both meditation and mindfulness are explorations of the mind and help us be more thoughtful, focused, and calm. Practicing meditation and mindfulness is the perfect way to take the time to understand the intricacies of our minds and ourselves. They can bring out the best side of human nature and help us cope with the day-to-day challenges that life throws at us, like stress at work, paying our bills, and raising children. |
Daily Slow-Living RitualsThere is an art to creating a ritual. A ritual is a moment that we consciously take the time to absorb and be truly present in. If we deconstruct it, a ritual is a ceremony of a series of sacred actions. Tiu De Haan, ritual designer and inspirational speaker, describes a ritual as a container around a moment, rather like a frame around a piece of art. She also explains that a “ritual nourishes the soul like food and water nourish the body.”22 Rituals can bring moments of reverence into our days in the simplest ways. The art of the ritual becomes a visual and physical cue for our body to slow down, be mindful, breathe a little deeper, and be more present. By understanding a ritual in these terms, we can see the benefit of making rituals a part of our daily routine. |
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This is the time of year during which adults look for books to help prepare children for starting school. In this one, some of the characters are a mix of tree and human which is slightly odd and not directly related to the story. The illustrations are bright and may well appeal to young listeners.
Whizzy Willow leaves home with his parent, worries about the first day of school but all goes okay. Whizzy becomes involved in a variety of activities from hand painting to playing soccer to lunch. He leaves at the end of the day believing that all will be well.
In my opinion, there is nothing that particularly makes this book stand out in a crowded field. It seemed just a bit disjointed to me. Still, many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions are my own.
This is a board book for young children. It is peacefully illustrated with just a few cartoon like colors who enhance the text. The story is a simple one that gently encourages young children not to give up and to accept that things do not always go perfectly right away.
Young children will relate to this book. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
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Today I get to ride my beautiful blue birthday scooter |
“You’re okay,” Grandpa says. “Ready to try again?”I shake my head. |
But whenever I fall, I get right back up. “One more time!” I tell myself. |
A new Anne Perry novel is always most welcome! Dark Tide Rising is in the William Monk series, following last year’s excellent An Echo of Murder. This new case hits very close to home for Monk, in terms of his feelings for Hester and, at work, where he fears that one of his men has betrayed the team. Some plot…Monk works for the River Police where he is a Commander. He is contacted when Kate Exeter is kidnapped and her husband wants assistance in releasing her once he has paid the (exorbitant) ransom. He and Monk’s team accompany him to a very dank, dreary spot known as Jacob’s Island for the transfer. But something goes very wrong…no spoilers, so I won’t say more. It will be well worth your reading the book to find out for yourself.
In this novel, there is back story that will please long time readers of the series. We learn much more about Monk’s second in command, Hooper, and watch him fall in love. There is a trial with Oliver Rathbone defending and Inspector Runcorn also makes an appearance. If you are new to the series, you will be able to catch up and know who’s who quickly.
Dark Tide Rising is another very good entry in an already strong series. You will feel the iciness and fog on the Thames, care about the characters and await the resolution of the case. Enjoy!
A new Anne Perry novel is always most welcome! Dark Tide Rising is in the William Monk series, following last year’s excellent An Echo of Murder. This new case hits very close to home for Monk, in terms of his feelings for Hester and, at work, where he fears that one of his men has betrayed the team. Some plot…Monk works for the River Police where he is a Commander. He is contacted when Kate Exeter is kidnapped and her husband wants assistance in releasing her once he has paid the (exorbitant) ransom. He and Monk’s team accompany him to a very dank, dreary spot known as Jacob’s Island for the transfer. But something goes very wrong…no spoilers, so I won’t say more. It will be well worth your reading the book to find out for yourself.
In this novel, there is back story that will please long time readers of the series. We learn much more about Monk’s second in command, Hooper, and watch him fall in love. There is a trial with Oliver Rathbone defending and Inspector Runcorn also makes an appearance. If you are new to the series, you will be able to catch up and know who’s who quickly.
Dark Tide Rising is another very good entry in an already strong series. You will feel the iciness and fog on the Thames, care about the characters and await the resolution of the case. Enjoy!
I have been following Chloe since the first book in this series,, Old World Murder, was published back in 2010. Chloe is an historical interpreter who works on various museum sites such as Old World Wisconsin. In each book, in addition to a good mystery, the reader learns about Wisconsin’s settlers and immigrants. Often the history has to do with Norway, as is the case in Fiddling with Fate.
In this entry in the excellent series, the history is personal. No spoilers from early books so I will just say that Chloe learns more about her own family in this one. Long time readers undoubtedly will enjoy this aspect of the book. Of course, there is also murder.
Chloe and her fiancee, Roelke, leave Wisconsin for Norway where Chloe will travel on a trip that her mother had hoped to take. While in Norway, Chloe and the reader will learn a great deal about the role of music and fiddling. Music and dancing (in the novel’s historical sections) were viewed by some as an essential aspect of life, while for others the Hardanger’s fiddle was the devil’s instrument. These attitudes very much relate to the fate of the book’s central characters in both the present and the past.
Readers will spend time in the fjords, climbing paths, museums and charming hotel where Chloe and Roelke stay. Readers will also meet the many characters from museum employees, to fiddlers, to dancers.
There are links and suggestions provided for those who want to see and learn more about the places and things that are central to the story. I always find that these suggestions have helped me to enjoy the novels even more.
I think that this book will be enjoyed most by long time readers of this series. New readers might want to start right from the beginning and move through each of the ten books. Two of my favorites are The Lace Maker’s Secret and Mining for Justice.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Midnight Ink for this e galley in exchange for my honest review.
You can see my review of the Carr novel in my archive.
You can’t go wrong with this Dorothy Sayers set at an Oxford women’s college.
The Silent Wife is in my TBR pile.
This summer one of my daughters invited/challenged me to read all of the Harry Potter books. I am not sure what number read through this was for her but, for me, it was the first time that I have read all of the books. Was I familiar with them? Of course. Had I bought them all for my children, sometimes two copies so that neither would have to wait? Had I heard Jim Dale narrate them in the background of my car rides? Had I seen some of the movies? Had I read some? The answer to all of these is yes. I thought that the first book was a perfectly formed novel that would have earned praise even if the author had stopped there. I continued to read for a while but stopped when I got the Professor Umbrage. I disliked her so very much that I put the books down.
Well, this summer I made it past that banally evil teacher and finished all seven of the books. I am sad to be done. It was quite a journey.
It is difficult to say something about the novels that has not already been said. The books are meant to be epic, about a world in which evil can possibly triumph, a world in which one group, Voldemort’s followers, wants to exterminate another, Muggles, for not being pure enough. The books show the importance of community, friendship, doing what is right. They demonstrate that a person can go on even if, like Harry, they lose many who are most dear to them.
This is also the ultimate boarding school story. It is populated by professors, houses, magic, sports, teenage love, studies and angst. All of these are familiar tropes yet J.K. Rowling makes them new again.
I recommend the series most highly for everyone from children to adults, although I think that, because of the dark nature of some of the later books, they are not meant for your first or second grader.
Have you read the series? Your comments?
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 