Do you like to know what books are coming out so that you can add them to your TBR list? If your answer is yes, you may well like these three newsletters as much as I do.
The first is from the Poisoned Pen Bookstore which is located in Arizona but, of course, available to all on line. Find them at http://www.poisonedpress.com. Below is a brief paragraph from the newsletter,
“Please sign up for our Enews, read our Booknews.”
Next is the equally good newsletter from http://www.mysteriousbookshop.com. They are located in Manhattan (New York, not Kansas). Great newsletter and lots of mentions of rare, as well as, new books. The owner, Otto Penzler, is a force in the mystery world.
Last but by NO means least, is http://www.bookreporter.com. They publish a newsletter every Saturday and, on Tuesdays, a selected list of book beings published that week. They also have contests.
Please let me know if you like these sites and if you know of other good ones. Happy reading!
This novel contains so much that my class on Adultery in 19th Century Literature could discuss, that it is a shame that we only had two classes for this novel. It is on to Dostoevsky next week with a story called The Eternal Husband and then to Tolstoy and Anna Karenina after that. This class is an audit for me of a for credit college comp lit class so the pace is quick. But…back to Madame Bovary. There was much discussion of Emma. Is she someone to feel sorry for? Is she a victim? Why is she unable to be happy with her husband? What can be said of her as a mother? Why does she try to make herself feel better by spending lots of money that she does not have? What does it mean that she has read many novels and is quite influenced by them? Is she constrained by the roles that were available to her? What does the reader think about what happens to her at the end of the novel? And then…What of the men in the book? Does the reader feel sympathy for Charles? Why is he not enough for Emma? What does the reader make of Rodolphe? of Leon? Do any of these men love her? What of the many bourgeois villagers including the pharmacist and the money lender? We learned to watch for colors…blue symbolizes passion and yellow danger and, that there are many “threes” in the novel. We also learned that even the most casual seeming detail can come back later in the novel with great importance. Read Nabokov’s views on the novel as we did in an article. I am very glad to have reread this novel which I last read in my twenties. There is so much in it. If you don’t mind SPOILER some tragedy think about reading or re-reading this important novel of realism. And readers…let me know if you are interested in following this class as it continues or if this is enough on adultery. Thanks.
I have not read Fiona Barton’s first book, “The Widow,” although I probably will now. Her sophomore effort, “The Child,” is intriguing and suspenseful Who is the baby found on the building site? How are the characters and their stories connected? What does it mean to be a parent? To grieve? To confront and accept one’s past? “The Child” is about all of this while being a page turner. I did guess the answer to the central mystery but this did not in any way lessen my enjoyment of this novel. I feel confident that Fiona Barton’s next book will be, “third time the charm.” Recommended for suspense fans. Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to review this novel.
Fans of Andrea Camilleri and Donna Leon may well enjoy this mystery featuring a woman of a “certain age” who moves to Sicily. Enjoy the setting, the views and watch what happens to Auntie Poldi as she gets involved in solving a mystery. The book is narrated by Poldi’s nephew who is an aspiring author. Each chapter begins with an italicized summary.
I loved Missing Presumed, Susie Steiner’s first book in this series, and was very eager to read Persons Unknown. What I most enjoyed in reading both books was the author’s ability to create a quirky, interesting protagonist in Manon. I related to Manon’s observations on the bonds of parenting and her experience of pregnancy. Early on, I was glued to this book because I was so worried for Fly, Manon’s adoptive son. I found the mystery itself a bit less strong but that did not lessen my enjoyment of this book. Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book. I hope that there will be more in the series in future!
and growing! This is for having over 100 likes on WordPress for the blog. Thanks everyone. I enjoy seeing this number get bigger. It is like getting a report card for my reviews. Do we ever outgrow elementary school? Reports, stickers, etc.
first of series 
first of series
Inspector Ramsay series
George and Mary Palmer Jones series
A Place to Remember is women’s fiction at its finest and most absorbing. Set in Australia, the descriptions of place were vivid and brought this story to life. The characters were easy to engage with and I enjoyed reading about them. There are two stories, that of a mother/daughter and father/son who come to care deeply for each other as the reader does too. Romance is in the air but its course is not smooth. There are some less likeable characters as well although clearly the reader is not meant to like them. This book would make a perfect pairing with the series A Place to Call Home that is available on acorntv.com in the U.S.
As those of you who have read this blog know, I always look forward to a new Anne Perry novel. I have read the Thomas Pitt and Inspector Monk series from the first to the latest. Now there is a new variation to look forward to. Publishing in April is Tweny-One Days, which features Thomas and Charlotte Pitt’s son, a newly qualified lawyer. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this novel. I am enjoying it so much and will post my review as soon as I finish. SPOILER ALERT…I was deeply moved to learn about what has happened to some of my favorite characters in the series. I felt a true sense of sadness but will not tell you why. You may find out for yourself when you add this book to your TBR pile…and you should!
I loved this sweet, gentle and deeply moving novel. It is about an elderly French man and is narrated in both the past and present. It is a story of how we live and view our lives and how we care for each other. Characters include Baptiste who, as an infant, was mysteriously separated from his mother on a train never to see her again; Sophie, a young waitress who endeavors to keep Baptiste anchored in the world and they mysterious Amandine, a therapy client of Baptiste but so much more. This is an emotional read that I highly recommend. Please note that the illustration at the top of each chapter lets you know if you are in the present or past.
Another month means a new compilation from Book Buzz. Take a look to find out what needs to go on your TBR pile for April. Also, read the excerpts to maybe find something out of your usual taste.
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 