There are still more good e-book bargains

Sally Field’s autobiography has gotten excellent reviews.  This actress, who at times was underestimated due to her roles as Gidget and The Flying Nun, went on to win Oscars.  She writes of her life in all of its complexities and with its many difficulties.

CIRCE (#1 New York Times bestseller)The author’s first novel, The Song of Achilles, was enthusiastically received.  Circe has also gotten excellent reviews for being a

“A bold and subversive retelling of the goddess’s story,” this #1 New York Times bestseller “manages to be both epic and intimate in its scope, recasting the most infamous female figure from the Odyssey as a hero in her own right” (Alexandra Alter, The New York Times).

The Paris SeamstressI have wanted to get this book for a while so, as an e-book bargain, this was clearly the day.  This is a story that takes place both during WWII and in the present.

“This rich, memorable novel unfolds beautifully from start to finish.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

A New York Times Top Ten Book of the Year and National Book Award finalist, Pachinko is an “extraordinary epic” of four generations of a poor Korean immigrant family as they fight to control their destiny in 20th-century Japan (San Francisco Chronicle).

NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK OF 2017 * A USA TODAY TOP TEN OF 2017 * JULY PICK FOR THE PBS NEWSHOUR-NEW YORK TIMES BOOK CLUB NOW READ THIS * FINALIST FOR THE 2018 DAYTON LITERARY PEACE PRIZE* WINNER OF THE MEDICI BOOK CLUB PRIZE

This is in my TBR pile.  Everyone that I know who has read this novel has recommended it highly.

 

A Poetry Anthology: There Are Girls Like Lions

The title of this book comes from one of the poems inside, called Here are Girls Like Lions by Elisabeth Hewer.  A quote:

Here are girls like lions,

here are girls like howling wolves…

Here are girls who can’t breathe air, only fire.

Here are girls who carry kindness…

You’ve got to help them rise.

This anthology of poems about and for women includes authors that I both know and those who are new to me.  A partial list includes Emily Dickinson, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Sandra Cisneros, Sappho and Mary Oliver whom I know and Mary Jo Bang, Naomi Shihab Nye and Jean Valentine whom I did not.  If you are looking for an interesting, thoughtful anthology with an excellent introduction by Cole Swenson, I  recomment this one.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-galley which I was given in exchange for an honest review.

 

 

Some more e-book bargains

How to Walk Away: A Novel

Praise for How to Walk Away:

“A heartbreak of a novel that celebrates resilience and strength.” —Jill Santopolo, bestselling author of The Light We Lost

“If you just read one book this year, read How to Walk Away.” —Nina George, New York Times bestselling author of The Little Paris Bookshop

“Warm, witty, and wonderfully observed.” —Emily Giffin, New York Times bestselling author of First Comes Love

“Sympathetic and refreshing!” —Elinor Lipman, bestselling author of The Family Man

“I can’t think of a blurb good enough for this novel…poignant, funny, heartbreaking.” —Jenny Lawson, bestselling author of Furiously Happy

The Hazel Wood: A Novel

From School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up—Alice Proserpine’s mother Ella was raised on fairy tales amid the cultlike fandom surrounding the release of Tales from the Hinterland, a collection of grim fairy tales that, in the 1980s, briefly made Alice’s grandmother Althea Proserpine a celebrity. Instead of fairy tales, Alice has highways as she and her mother constantly move around hoping to outrun their eerie bad luck—something that seems much more likely when they learn that Althea has died alone on her estate known as The Hazel Wood. Everything isn’t as it seems, and soon after, Alice’s mother is kidnapped, leaving nothing except a warning for Alice to stay away from The Hazel Wood. The teen reluctantly enlists her classmate and not-so-secret Hinterland fan Ellery Finch, who may or may not have ulterior motives for helping, to share his expertise on the fairy tales. The path to the Hazel Wood leads Alice straight into the story of her family’s mysterious past. Albert’s standalone fantasy debut has a narration in the vein of a world-weary noir detective who happens to be a teenage girl. Resourceful, whip-smart, and incredibly impulsive, Alice also struggles with her barely contained rage as circumstances spiral out of her control. Her singular personality largely excuses the lack of context for much of her knowledge and cultural references that hearken more to a jaded adult than a modern teen. The lilting structure and deliberate tone bring to mind fairy tales both new and retold while also hinting at the teeth this story will bear in the form of murder, mayhem, and violence both in the Hinterland tales and in Alice’s reality. VERDICT An aggressive lack of romance and characters transcending their plots make this story an empowering read that will be especially popular with fans of fairy-tale retellings.—Emma Carbone, Brooklyn Public Library
Before and Again: A NovelMy review:
Before and Again…how does what happens, mistakes that we have made, impact our view of the past, our present and our belief in the future? These big issues are fictionally brought to life in Barbara Delinsky’s newest novel.
Early on in the book, the reader learns that a moment of inattention led to the death of the protagonist’s daughter, Lily. Any parent can, but does not want to, imagine what this could mean. The reader watches as Maggie tries to move on and start fresh but…can/should the past be denied? A concurrent theme involves Grace who has secrets and stories of her own. In addition, Grace’s son is accused of computer hacking and the consequences of his act may impact his future, just as Maggie and Grace are impacted by their pasts.
I found the characters to be sympathetically drawn and would recommend this book to readers of women’s fiction.

A WWI mystery-Murder in Belgravia by Brittney

This is the first novel in a new historical mystery series set in Britain during WWI.  The premise centers on the formation of a new detective unit which includes both men and women.  The two women are a doctor and a woman who took law courses but, since she was female, could not obtain a degree.  The men are forward thinking officers of the law.

The story centers on the death of a returning soldier who may have been murdered by his wife.  A lot is thrown into the mix including scenes set in upper class homes, hospitals and brothels.

This was an interesting book with characters who were quite likeable.  I look forward to the next in this Mayfair 100 series.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-galley.  The opinions are my own.

#MurderInBelgravia #NetGalley

Today’s e-book bargains

The great e-book bargains just keep coming.  I truly enjoyed Dear Mrs. Bird and will reprint my review below.  You cannot go wrong with Agatha Christie and/or P.D. James if you are a mystery fan. Maeve Binchy provides the best sort of comfort reading while Lisa Jewell is becoming a master at suspense.  Manhattan Beach got good reviews and The Room on Rue Amelie sounds intriguing.  Enjoy!

Dear Mrs. Bird is an engaging and warm first novel. Readers who enjoyed The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society are almost certain to rate this book highly.

Mrs. Bird is an out of touch editor at a woman’s magazine during WW II who is responsible for the agony column. Sadly, she deems most letters “unsuitable” for answering. Enter Emmy; young, naive, and trying to cope with bombs and disasters in London. She begins to answer letters as Mrs. Bird and… you need to read the book to learn what happens. This novel at first seemed like it would be light but it has substance. Themes of love, friendship and how to relate to others all have their place. I highly recommend Dear Mrs. Bird! I would like to write her a fan letter.

Thanks for this read NetGalley.

 

Manhattan Beach: A NovelDear Mrs. Bird: A NovelThe Room on Rue AmélieWatching You: A NovelSparkling Cyanide

A Certain JusticeA Week in Winter

A seasonal title: One Day in December by Josie Silver and One Day in December by Shari Low

This novel has received a good deal of attention, including being selected for Reese Witherspoon’s book club.  It is the story of Laurie and Jack, their friends and families.  It is a story of a romance that may or may not go to a happy ending.  It is definitely one in which the course of true love “never did  run smooth.”  If you enjoy light, romantic fiction you might want to join the many who have read this title.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-galley.  The opinions are my own.

I previously reviewed another novel with the same name.  That review is reprinted below.  I think that I preferred the less well known one, which is this one.

Four main characters and a number of their connections feature in this engaging women’s fiction read. The action takes place over the course of one day with sufficient back story to give the novel some depth. The book begins with a character dying in hospital; it will only be at the end of the novel that the reader learns who this is.

As for the characters…Bernadette is married to surgeon, Ken, their union is not a happy one. She, Ken and their two children are one story line. Media obsessed Lila is another; she is involved with Ken and is half sister to the more likeable Caro. Both Caro and Lila’s mothers were married to the same man but they have never met. Cammy wants to marry Lila but gets to know Caro as well. There are others in the novel including Caro’s cousin, Caro and Lila’s parents and an entire French football team! Each chapter follows one of the main characters.

I found this book to be an enjoyable read; one of those novels that is good for a time when you want to relax. There will be another book by this author coming out soon.

Stop and see what happens: Red Light, Green Lion

Red Light, Green Lion is one of those children’s books that also has a fine and uplifting message for adults.  It is about the unexpected things that can happen in life and about coping with whatever comes up with an open mind and heart.

Some examples of the clever pages in this book…each is on a two page spread with whimsical line drawings, so at first it is not clear what the second page will say.

Red Light…Green Li (next page) lac (lilac)

Red Light…Green Li (next page) fe preserver  (life preserver)

And some text:

“Then on some days, when we feel most discouraged, something amazing happens right in front of us, and we don’t even notice it happening.

Red Light…Green Li (next page) ghtning bugs

And it changes everything.”

This is a sweet book with a positive message.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-proof.  The opinions are my own.