Great reads for adults and children!
In this picture book, bedtime story, a little girl cannot fall asleep. Her mom suggests that she think of some stories and that she will then drift off. Mom goes on to tell several stories (in prose that rhymes at times), none of which is quite right. You can guess who falls asleep first! The illustrations are soft and sweet; all in all a charming bedtime book.
Thanks NetGalley and the publisher.
So many good choices here. Note that for some authors more than one book is a bargain this month. That was definitely true for Susan Hill. Hope you find some good reads here!
Are you one of the folks who was glued to the TV for the Royal Wedding? Would you like to relive some of the fun of that day? If you would, this is an excellent coloring book. The illustrations are very well done and there is lots to color. If you have your pencils at the ready, and you are a romantic, this could be for you!
This is a fantastic sampler of books that are being published by Algonquin. Included is an excerpt from new book by B. A. Shapiro whose new novel is about post Impressionist Art, the Barnes Foundation and Paris in the 1920s. I am quite excited about this one as I have been a frequent visitor to Philadelphia’s Barnes Foundation and have taken a class on Contemporary Art.
There is another fictional story set in the world of art, Heather Rose’s The Museum of Modern Love. This is about the artist Marina Abramovic.
There is also Mesha Maren’s debut novel which takes place in West Virginia. It is a book which explores the meaning of home. The novel was written when the author lived in a one-room cabin in the state.
Also included are a short story collection by D. Wystan Owen and books by Gina Wohlsdorf and Tim Johnston. (Ms. Wohlsdorf’s novel, Blood Highway is a thriller while Tim Johnston is a crime story.)
Of note is that the sampler includes essays with the authors. These may serve to whet your appetite for reading their works even more.
So…lots of good suggestions for reading as we move toward fall’s shorter days.
Thanks for this sampler NetGalley and the publisher.
The Shadow of Death is a cozy mystery by an author who is new to me. The novel’s protagonist, Sister Agatha, is a Jessica Fletcher like amateur detective. In the book the reader finds murder, financial shenanigans and characters who have troubled pasts. The delights in the novel are the setting, the insights into modern (un-stuffy) religious life and the warmth of the characters. My guess is that I will soon be reading the sequel.
Review to come.
Do you enjoy mysteries? Short stories? Female detectives? If yes, this book deserves a place on your bookshelf. It is filled with stories from different eras and covers 150 years of writing, beginning with the Victorians. My favorites sections are the Golden Age, Mid Century, the Modern Era and Bad Girls. Many, many of my favorite authors are to be found in this collection. At over 1000 pages, this will be a book to dip in and out of over time. Highly recommended!
This richly and beautifully illustrated storybook comes out at just the right time. It is a lovely re-telling of a classic Christmas story and will help little ones you know to anticipate the joys of the season. Re-discover or enjoy this classic about belief for the first time.
My favorite quotes:
This one for fun:
“How can he know how to speak to everyone?…He must be Santa!” “Darling, that doesn’t make him Santa Claus,” Mother said. “I speak French, but that doesn’t make me French toast!”
This one as a classic:
“Faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to.”
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.
This book comes with an excellent pedigree. Jessica Fellowes, daughter of Julian and Downton Abbey fame, is a writer in her own right. The Mitford Sisters who led fascinating lives and are the subjects of many books are the children of the book, while Nancy is the protagonist. The setting is Britain, the time is after WWI so all of the elements are in place. Despite this however, I found the book to be good but not extraordinary. There is a mix of romance, mystery, secrets from the war, questions of identity and yet to my disappointment, it was not a five star book. This is the start of the series; I will hope the next book is just a little bit better.
Still Life by Louise Penny
The Cuckoo’s Calling by J K Rowling as Robert Galbraith
The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey
IQ by Joe Ide
Girl With a Gun by Amy Stewart
A Beautiful Blue Death by Charles Finch
Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death by M C Beaton
These are all mysteries. Of them all, my favorite would be The Cuckoo’s Calling.
Anne Perry publishes a holiday novella each year. This one is from 2016 and is a e-book bargain today. It features two of my favorite characters from the Charlotte and William Pitt series. Vespasia and Victor Narraway are well past their youth when they find romance. Their relationship is tender and appealing. The mystery takes place in the Holy Land. This is a
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 