Have you ever been asked to name your favorite fiction title? Have you ever tried to answer this question just for yourself? When I am in this situation, I always think about Bel Canto. I delayed reading this novel for ages. Who needs to read a novel about a hostage situation I would ask myself. Life is tough enough. Wow! Was I wrong. This is an amazing book. Never have I cared about characters so much and been so sad to know that there could not be a happy ending for them all. The set up is a hostage takeover at an opera performance for a private party and the aftermath of this event. All of the characters are nuanced and I cared for each and every one of them. If you have not read this, do so, do so, do so!
As you can see, the book has been made into a movie starring Julianne Moore. It comes out on September 14th. See below for an article on opera and music in movies and for more on Bel Canto.
This illustrated book includes so much information that it will be read and re-read by young folks interested in science and the skies. The book starts by encouraging readers to observe what they see when they look up into the sky; for example, they may see those in apartment buildings or window washers or lightning rods on tall buildings. The author then has readers see what there is by going higher and higher before back down to earth. So…there are airplanes, space stations, galaxies, etc. and on the way down clouds, birds and so on. The illustrations are engaging and add to the fun of the facts. This book seems like a great way to encourage young readers and their adults to observe and learn more about their world.
When I doodle, I almost always draw flowers. So, for that reason, I was intrigued by this title, thinking that I could improve the quality of my drawings. This book could definitely help me to achieve that goal. The directions are clear, the layouts are well done, suggestions for colors are given and there are colored drawings of each flower. This is a great book for those who would like to improve their creations! Thanks NetGalley and the publisher.
Many books have been written for children retelling the stories of the great Greek myths. This book deserves a welcome place on that shelf. Each God or Goddess is introduced with a paragraph stating their Latin name, their parents, their appearance, character traits and role. The stories are told in a lively manner that demonstrates the human qualities of the gods; they can be jealous, have affairs, go to war, fight with their siblings, etc. The illustrations are lovely and have a painterly quality. If you or your child wants to know more about mythology, take a look at this appealing book.
Today we spent a good part of the class talking about Snow White. Focus was on the roles of women; the idealized version of a woman was Snow White; she is beautiful, innocent and takes care of others, in this case the dwarfs, by cooking and cleaning. The stepmother was seen by the professor as not necessarily “wicked,” but more as a woman who was not accepting the mores of the time. The stepmother was a woman who knew what she wanted and tried to achieve it, something that was not usual for females at the time.
I always look forward to the day when the next Buzz Books Monthly is published! There is no better way to learn about the books that I will want to read. October’s issue includes excerpts from The Traveling Cat Chronicles along with new books by Diane Chamberlain and Leif Enger. There is also an excerpt from The Winters and yes, it is Rebecca based and also excerpts from new novels by Barbara Kingsolver and Sarah Perry, author of The Essex Serpent. And…if that’s not enough, there are also listings of books to be published. I will be looking for new books by Elly Griffiths, Elin Hiderbrand, Jan Karon and Kate Morton, among others. Brene Brown also has a new release. It is going to be a great reading season! Thanks for keeping me up to date Book Buzz.
Calling all those who love the Stephen sisters, Vanessa Bell and Virginia Woolf, along with their spouses and many Bloomsbury friends, all prominent artists, writers and thinkers. The group included Roger Fry, Maynard Keynes and Lytton Strachey, among others.
Do you like stories in which girls and women are strong characters with independent lives? If the answer is yes, you might enjoy reading this book with a grade school child that you know. The author has taken well-known fairy tale heroines and given them lives that have more roles than just princess/bride. From detectives to environmentalists, these girls want to accomplish things. I very much enjoyed the concept of the book. At times though, I think that the book was a little too heavy handed. On the other hand, the author is trying to make up for years of a certain kind of fairy tale, so I can see where this is a matter of taste. I would give this book three stars although others might rate it more highly.
$3.99 today. This is the last novel written by the beloved author of the Kinsey Milhone series. It is probably good to start with A is for Alibi although I have not read the books in order. Sue Grafton is missed!
$3.99 today. Is there any one out there who reads women’s fiction who has not read this novel? It is such a good one. This is the story of somewhat flaky Louisa who cares for paraplegic Will. In addition to being an unconventional romance this book gets the reader to care about larger issues including the quality of life that each of us wants. Highly recommended.
There are so many alphabet books for young children that parents are spoiled for choice. This one has a cute concept. The animals are not the most common ones so there is a little more surprise for the little learner. The book has bright, colorful illustrations that will engage youngsters. At the end, all of the animals are lined up for children to pick out and remember. This one is a good addition for early learners’ bookshelves.
Andrew and Briana Volk have authored a lavishly illustrated compendium of food facts, recipes and cocktails. All are influenced by the state of Maine, the city of Portland and Briana’s Finnish ancestors. There are recipes for dishes like salmon soup, smoked trout with deviled eggs, summer vegetable stew, pretzels, butterscotch buddino with pistachio praline, etc. To this are added cocktails both cold and hot. There are side treks to places like Mohegan Island and information on things like how to shuck oysters. A great resource for interesting food and drink with a special shout out to Maine, one of my own favorite places.
This is the perfect gift book for riders and those who love horses. Some of you out there may well want to make this book a gift to yourself. Many disciplines including dressage, show jumping, polo, carriage driving, eventing, and others are described in this lush book. The importance of the bond between horse and rider is emphasized with the author describing horses as animals who are eager to please. The reader can dip in and out of the book, reading about the horse encounters they most love or they can learn about new disciplines and sports. The photographs throughout are stunning. Highly recommended for horse folk! Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto for this one.
This is a very appealing picture book that will be an enjoyable read-aloud for young children. It is the story of animals who work together to make a cake. Cooperation is a clear theme but it is gently presented. Throughout the book, there is repetition reminiscent of the old children’s game, “I am going on a trip and I packed…” Young children will enjoy how the book repeats as it then adds the next animal character and that animal’s contribution to the baking project. Children can play a fun memory game by trying to recall the critters and their ingredients in the correct order. The illustrations are lovely and feel reminiscent of that great master, Eric Carle. All in all, I highly recommend this one!
A fun introduction to the basic moves of gymnastics. Each move is compared to the way an animal moves; young folk can slither like a snake, for example. The illustrations are vivid and multi-cultural. Children and their parents can enjoy this book together as they bend, stretch, jump and use up some energy. A cute addition for a toddler’s bookshelf!
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 