Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too!

I read this author’s first novel, The Pilgrimage of Harold Fry.  In that novel, he traveled to see Queenie Hennessy.  In this novel, the reader learns more about her.

Praise for The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy

“In the end, this lovely book is full of joy. Much more than the story of a woman’s enduring love for an ordinary, flawed man, it’s an ode to messy, imperfect, glorious, unsung humanity. . . . [Queenie’s] love song is for us. Thank you, Rachel Joyce.”—The Washington Post

“Destined to change your world. One can’t help but see life, and the end of it, differently after experiencing this novel. Full of wisdom and heart, it will overwhelm its readers with a deep sensitivity.”—Bookreporter

“[A] beguiling follow-up . . . In telling Queenie’s side of the story, Joyce accomplishes the rare feat of endowing her continuing narrative with as much pathos and warmth, wisdom and poignancy as her debut. Harold was beloved by millions; Queenie will be, too.”—Booklist (starred review)

This one is in my TBR pile.  It is a thriller.

One of The Washington Post‘s 10 Best Thrillers and Mysteries of the Year
One of Publishers Weekly‘s Best Books of the Year
One of Real Simple‘s Best Books of the Year

Gary Giraffe is turning six and thinks that he will now be able to reach the sweetest leaves on the Acacia tree.  What happens when he can’t?  How does he feel?

This is another in the series from the American Psychological Association.  It is written to de-stigmatize asking for help.  There is a good lesson here for kids:  it is okay to ask and others will help.

As always in the series, there are helpful suggestions for adults at the back of the book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for another helpful entry.  I wish that these books had been around when my children were little.

#GiraffeAsksForHelp #NetGalley

When I was a Junior in high school, I asked my mother what her favorite book was.  She told me that it was The Forsyte Saga.  I read the book at that point to feel a connection with her and enjoyed it.  I have read the whole saga again several times and still love these novels.

The books may seem slow to you and a bit old fashioned as you start but I highly recommend giving them a chance.  The characters come to life, the relationships are well described and a period of English life is well portrayed.  Among the memorable characters is Soames who wishes to not just marry, but to possess, Irene.  There is Bossiney the architect who has relationships with several characters after he is hired by Soames. There are Jolyons old and young and scores of members of the clan.  You will get to know them well. Characters are nuanced, even those whom you may not like, you will come to understand.

The books have been made into TV series twice.  In one there were 26 episodes, I think.  More recently, in fewer episodes, the series starred Damian Lewis as Soames.  This version is on Amazon Prime.  However, try reading before watching…please.

Review

About the Author

TThis is available at bn.com and amazon.com.  It is a fantastic compilation of forthcoming titles.  There are also excerpts from a number of upcoming releases.  I always love Buzz Books because there is such a wealth of information that is well organized and easily accessible.

The novel moves back and forth in time allowing the reader to understand Jennie’s upbringing in the Gilded Age and her father’s influence on her life. The reader also learns about the traumas of Jennie’s early life, including the profound loss she faced, her father’s affairs, her move to Europe, etc.

Jennie glitters in British society. There are numerous appearances in the book of Bertie, the Prince of Wales and his wife Princess Alix. Other American women who married into the British aristocracy are also characters in the novel.

The reader empathizes with Jennie, especially during a time when a young Winston is quite ill. Further, as Jennie learns the truth about her husband, (I don’t want to include spoilers), one truly feels for her.

I highly recommend this novel for those who like historical fiction, those who are Anglophiles and those interested in the family in which Winston grew up.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this absorbing read.

This is another entry in the series published by the American Psychological Association. Thanks to them and to NetGalley for the e-galley of this book which was given to me in exchange for my honest opinion.

The illustrations in this book are appealing and much of the text is rhyming. Bea is expressive throughout. Bea starts out as a pretty happy kid. However as Bea starts to think about her birthday party, she begins to worry about all that could go wrong. She perseverates in her thinking and her worries grow and grow, as shown in the illustrations of the willow branches with leaves. Plenty of space is given to Bea’s concerns. Her mother tries to help and Bea also helps herself through mindful breathing, a good technique and one that is empowering.

I think that this book could be helpful to children who experience excessive anxiety. I also feel that it would be important to talk with whoever is reading this book, as they may feel more worried as they see all of the things that Bea worries about. This story serves as a reminder that children’s anxieties should be respected and addressed, not jollied away. It is another helpful entry in a helpful series.

#MindfulBeaAndTheWorryTree #NetGalley

I wish that all beginning readers were this entertaining! With a simple vocabulary, funny and fun illustrations and some good rhymes, this is a great choice for a new reader.

Kids will feel successful about their reading skills and will also see that reading can be fun as they go through the story. For the adults, there are helpful suggestions at the back of the book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for another good title in the Reading Stars series.

#MonstersMove #NetGalley

For those who enjoy Maeve Binchy’s novels or would like to read one for the first time and those who would like to spend time in Ireland and Italy, an e-book bargain. I liked this book when I read it a while ago.

From School Library Journal:

I enjoyed Carnegie’s Maid and have the author’s other two books in my TBR pile.  See below for a link to an article on this author and my review of Carnegie’s Maid.

My review:

Imagine that your family sends you (alone) to the U.S. because of financial hardship in Ireland and you will need to support your relatives back home. Imagine that you are able to take on someone else’s identity to become the servant of Andrew Carnegie’s mother. Will you be found out? Will your position be secure? These are among the premises of this richly detailed historical novel. Relationships between upstairs and downstairs, specifically between Clara and Andrew Carnegie are a major part of this novel. Read it too to learn more about the business world and women’s roles in the post Civil War U.S. Overall, an enjoyable read.

Here is the link to a NYT article on this author.

Some readers of my blog may recall that last summer I went to an Anne of Green Gables brunch. So, you may know that I am a big fan of this novel. This is a recently published edition of the classic and I enjoyed sitting down and reading about Anne again.

Anne is the orphan sent to Marilla and Matthew, who had requested a boy to help with their farm. Marilla is unsure about keeping Anne while Matthew has empathy for her from the start. As you read the book watch how Marilla softens over time.

The characters in this novel are wonderful. Anne is adventurous, outspoken, warm-hearted and a loyal friend. She will take a dare and work hard to be the best student in her class. She touched my heart and could touch yours too.

Anne of Green Gables is an old fashioned book, reflecting its publication date. Nonetheless, I recommend it highly as a chapter book read aloud with a child or as a book to read for yourself as an adult.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me spend time with one of my favorite fictional characters again!

#AnneofGreenGables #NetGalley