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

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I read fewer cozy mysteries than I once did so they have to look interesting if I am to pick them up. Having read last year’s novel by this author, I was eager to read her sophomore effort. I enjoyed The Hour of Death very much.

The series is set in small village Wales and many of the characters are in religious life. I found the descriptions of the Sisters’ daily life to be endearing and appealing. Pryderi feels like the perfect community, even though there are developers encroaching and murders taking place.

Protagonist, Sister Agatha, is a librarian, cheese maker and would be author of detective fiction. Her heroes are Inspector Barnaby and Armand Gamache, among others. The insertion of these and other loved mystery authors seems to fit right in. Sister Agatha’s main partner in crime is Father Selwyn. The two have known each other since childhood and together follow the clues, often while drinking Welsh teas.

In this new book by the author, an important member of the WI is killed. Of course, the question is “who did it?” Around this, there are other female characters, most especially Lucy, whose story unfolds over the course of the novel. Returning characters, including the female Bishop and Sister Gwennyd, add to the book’s pleasure.

This is not the hardest mystery to solve but the story is very enjoyable. Highly recommended if you like cozy mysteries.

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Press for this relaxing and seasonal read that takes place in the buildup to Christmas.

 

My review of the first book in the series:

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 we will be reading a sequel this time next year!

 

I really liked this book and think that young beach explorers (and their adults) will too!  It is filled with information, photographs, illustrations, stickers, suggested activities and more.  There are many suggestions about things to look for and observe; everything from seabirds to plants to tides to sounds to shells and rocks and loads more.  There are suggestions for games, building sandcastles and many other activities.  At the back of the book is a facsimile of a diary entry in which a child can note the day’s adventures.  The book is appealing and interactive.  I recommend it highly!

#BackpackExplorerBeachWalk #NetGalley

This simple picture book story is about a young child who is trying to figure out what to do to make his cat happier.  Bilingual, easy to read and fun, this is a good book for beginning readers.

#MyCatIsSadMiGatoEstaTriste #NetGalley

Do you have a child who will be starting school soon? Would they like to know what to expect? If the answer is yes, this book is for you. Tour school with young student, Kushi. She goes through all of the important parts of the building, including important stops like lunchrooms and bathrooms. Classrooms, the office, library, gym and more are included in this reassuring visit. With its colorful, multicultural illustrations and additional resources, this story will be a welcome addition to the genre.

 

So, my children’s lit class has moved on from Little Women to another resourceful girl, Dorothy.  I had read this book as a child, have seen the movie many times and was looking forward to going back to the book again.

I had read The Wizard of Oz as a story about inner resources that are there for one although it may take time to recognize that.  To me, that was a part of the journey of Dorothy, The Scarecrow, The Tinman and The Lion.  There is also, of course, the idea of family and there being “no place like home.”

In class a far more political view was discussed.  There was a high school English teacher named Littlefield who saw this book as reflecting the Populist (a political party) sentiments of the time.  At the time, farmers wanted silver to be added to gold money so that more could be issued.  This is seen in the book when Dorothy wears her Silver, not red, slippers on the Yellow (gold) Brick Road.  In the novel, the farmers on the prairies are suffering as was true after the Civil War.  Dorothy’s life is literally turned upside down as was true for those who struggled.  In this understanding of the novel, the Scarecrow is a stand in for the farmer, the Tinman represents factory workers and the Lion stood for William Jennings Bryant.

Others viewed the novel as related to the Gilded Age.  Capitalism put a (false) sheen on everything and Oz is seen to shine in that way.  The novel can also be looked at as Dorothy’s coming of age story;  in this view it is the story of an orphan’s self-discovery.

How do you view The Wizard of Oz?  I would love to hear your thoughts. Have you thought about re-reading this very American, childhood classic?

I really loved this novel by a first time author and blogged on it a few times. It is currently on sale for $4.99! Please take a look. It is a life affirming story. Highly recommended.

My review is above.

 

I loved this book! It is an early reader with simple language and appealing illustrations. Adults and children who love cats will enjoy watching the unnamed child and Kitty Kitty as they settle down for the night. This is a very cute read!

James Shepherd has collected many well and lesser known tales in this wide-ranging collection. He has chosen different writers’ versions for the stories and this adds to the depth and breadth of the book. I first looked at myths that I knew to see if I enjoyed the re-tellings and I did. I then explored further. In some instances, the language of the story seemed “old fashioned,” which made me feel like I was being told an old and well known story (in a good way). The book is illustrated with paintings that add to each tale. For lovers of mythology, this could well be a good addition to your shelf; it would also be a good introduction for those who have not been exposed to these very human heroes.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.

I love the Duncan Kincaid/Gemma Jones series.  It began with A Share in Death (1993) and there are now eighteen books in all.  I have enjoyed every one.  Where Memories Lie is from 2008.  The books are best read in order, because of the relationships between characters, but you can start anywhere.  As I read this in ’08, I will borrow a summary from Goodreads.

“Erika Rosenthal has always been secretive with her friend and neighbor, Detective Inspector Gemma James, about her past, except for one telling detail: She and her long-dead husband, David, came to London as refugees from Nazi Germany. But now the elderly woman needs Gemma’s help. A unique piece of jewelry stolen from her years ago has mysteriously turned up at a prestigious London auction house. Erika believes the theft may be tied to her husband’s death, which had always been assumed a suicide.

Gemma has a tough challenge. She must navigate the shadowy and secretive world of London’s monied society to discover the jewelry’s connection to David’s murderer. However, the cold case needs to be put back on the books and possibly into the hands of her partner, Duncan Kincaid. When a second, present-day murder kicks the investigation into high gear, Gemma becomes more determined to exact justice for Erika in a case that will have lasting repercussions.”

If you have not read this author’s novels, you are in for a real treat!  I am always eagerly awaiting the next book by Deborah Crombie.