A WWII mystery (and a good one): To Die But Once

To Die but Once: A Maisie Dobbs Novel by [Winspear, Jacqueline]I have been reading Ms. Winspear’s Maisie Dobbs’s novels ever since the first one was published back in 2003.  When the series began, the world was facing WWI.  Now. a number of books later, WWII is coming ever closer to England.

Against the backdrop of the rescue at Dunkirk, the author tells a story that includes a murder, heroism, a spy and war profiteering.  In writing this one, the author drew upon the experiences of her father during the war years.

The reader also spends time with Maisie’s in-laws, her father, Priscilla and her family, her employees and war time evacuee, Anna.  Long term readers of the series will rejoice in the opportunity to visit with them.

I have read books in the series that I liked a tad better but I NEVER regret time spent with Ms. Dobbs.  You won’t either.

From the Back Cover

Spring, 1940. During the months following Britain’s declaration of war on Germany, as far as the population is concerned, nothing much seems to have happened. Despite the sandbagging of underground stations and public buildings, constant government reminders to carry gas masks at all times, and the barrage balloons bobbing overhead, the newspapers are calling it the “Bore War,” and mothers have started bringing children who were evacuated to the country back home.

Against this backdrop of uncertainty, Maisie Dobbs investigates the disappearance of a young apprentice working on a hush-hush government contract. As news of the plight of thousands of soldiers stranded on the beaches of France is gradually revealed to the general public, and as the threat of invasion increases, another young man beloved by Maisie makes a terrible decision that will change his life forever.

Maisie’s investigation leads her from the countryside of rural Hampshire to the web of wartime opportunism exploited by one of the London underworld’s most powerful men, in a case that serves as a reminder of the inextricable link between money and war. Yet when a final confrontation approaches, she must acknowledge the potential cost to her future—and the risk of destroying a dream she wants very much to become reality.

Some reviews:

“The wartime details … transport us with ease to a milieu where danger is omnipresent but—thanks to the presence of steadfast figures like Dobbs and her like-spirited colleagues—so is hope.” (Wall Street Journal)

“Maisie Dobbs is always looking for truth and the underlying motives in her cases. Her stories are ones that this reviewer always wants to read because of her character, values and thoughts on life…. A story about WWII and England that is close to the heart.” (Bookreporter.com)

“Winspear’s protagonist is indomitable and vulnerable, brilliant and kind.” (Chelsea Clinton in Entertainment Weekly)

“A novel that appeals equally to the intellect and the emotions, To Die but Once advances Maisie’s engaging story and reaffirms Winspear’s eminence in her field…. [A] radiant series.” (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

“First-rate.” (Booklist)

“History comes alive when a character you think of as a friend is in the thick of the action. That’s how Jacqueline Winspear keeps her Maisie Dobbs series so fresh.” (New York Times Book Review)

Little Bear Wants to Grow

Do you remember when you were young and all you wanted was to grow up?  Well, that is exactly how Little Bear feels.  He seeks advice from those he is close to but none of the advice works.  At the end of the story Little Bear’s parents let him know that he will grow little by little.

This book has a lovely message for children.  They will grow in time surrounded by those who love them.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this sweetly illustrated read. The opinions are my own.

#LittleBearWantsToGrow #NetGalley

A virtual degree: Degree in a Book: Psychology

This is a comprehensive look at the field of psychology.  It is a good reference for those who want an introduction to the subject but will also provide a good review and additional information for those who have already taken some courses.

The book is divided into chapters that address different aspects of Psychology.  These include:

What is Psychology

The Psychology of Learning

Cognitive Psychology

Biological Psychology

Developmental Psychology

Social Psychology

The Psychology of Intelligence

Personality Psychology

Clinical Psychology

Professional psychology

Future Directions

The chapters can be read in order or the reader can dip into just those that are of interest.  Concepts and clearly explained and defined.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this good resource.  The opinions expressed are my own.

Out Now

On the Playground is a non-fiction title that introduces children to the ways in which prejudice can be hurtful and damaging. In an afterword, the author states: “When I was growing up, it was common to see other kids being bullied…Much to my shame, I remember doing nothing…I encourage all readers of this book to make better choices than I did.” The author wrote this book to help children understand and do better.

This is an informational text. It does not have a fictional story line. There are illustrations that are multi-cultural and multi-contextual. There is a hybrid of what seems like a read aloud with other sections that are related and instructional.

To this reader, the book did not seem like one that a child would pick up and read but more one that would be part of a discussion in a school setting. While I admired what the author hoped to, and does in many ways accomplish, I found the book to be a bit dry. Using this book as a jumping off point for discussion makes sense to me.

A fighter and fights worth fighting: Muhammed Ali

This is another entry in the excellent Little People, Big Dreams series.  In it, young readers will learn about Cassius Clay and how and why he transformed himself into Muhammad Ali.  There is a lot about fighting but not only fighting in the ring.  The reader learns that there were also causes that this principled man fought for. As always, there are additional photos and facts at the end of the book as well as suggestions of other resources.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for another entry in this series.  The opinions expressed are my own.

#LittlePeopleBigDreams #NetGalley

Soon, Cassius was learning how to box. He was not the strongest fighter,Fight after fight, Cassius proved himself as an junior boxer.

 

Art to Count on: Kahlo’s Koalas

This is a child’s counting book that adults are sure to love too!  The illustrations are bright, appealing and in the style of ten different artists including Monet, Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollack, Frida Kahlo etc.  At the end of the book, there is additional information on each of the artists.  The picture book is an appealing addition (pun recognized) to the counting book genre.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.  I truly enjoyed this one.

#KahlosKoalas #NetGalley

Today’s e-book bargains: 2.18.19

Here are two entries in long running  series.  Clouds of Witness is an excellent entry in Dorothy Sayers series of Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries.  In this one, Lord Peter’s brother is the one accused.  Dorothy Simpson wrote a good series of police procedurals featuring Luke Thanet and those around  him.  They are good, not violent mysteries. Wake the Dead is an entry on sale today.  The books do not have to be read in order.Wake the DeadClouds of Witness

A few more e-book bargains: 2.17.19

Orphan TrainWindfallenThe Lost Vintage

I very much enjoyed Orphan Train when I read it.  From Goodreads:

Orphan Train

The author of Bird in Hand and The Way Life Should Be delivers her most ambitious and powerful novel to date: a captivating story of two very different women who build an unexpected friendship: a 91-year-old woman with a hidden past as an orphan-train rider and the teenage girl whose own troubled adolescence leads her to seek answers to questions no one has ever thought to ask.

Nearly eighteen, Molly Ayer knows she has one last chance. Just months from “aging out” of the child welfare system, and close to being kicked out of her foster home, a community service position helping an elderly woman clean out her home is the only thing keeping her out of juvie and worse.

Vivian Daly has lived a quiet life on the coast of Maine. But in her attic, hidden in trunks, are vestiges of a turbulent past. As she helps Vivian sort through her possessions and memories, Molly discovers that she and Vivian aren’t as different as they seem to be. A young Irish immigrant orphaned in New York City, Vivian was put on a train to the Midwest with hundreds of other children whose destinies would be determined by luck and chance.

The closer Molly grows to Vivian, the more she discovers parallels to her own life. A Penobscot Indian, she, too, is an outsider being raised by strangers, and she, too, has unanswered questions about the past. As her emotional barriers begin to crumble, Molly discovers that she has the power to help Vivian find answers to mysteries that have haunted her for her entire life – answers that will ultimately free them both.

Rich in detail and epic in scope, Orphan Train is a powerful novel of upheaval and resilience, of second chances, of unexpected friendship, and of the secrets we carry that keep us from finding out who we are.

Windfallen is an early Jojo Moyes title.  From Goodreads:
From the acclaimed author of Sheltering Rain comes an intensely moving story of two women whose lives entwine through a lovely seaside house.

The tiny, well-ordered seaside village of Merham holds little to interest the adventurous — except for Arcadia, the breathtaking art deco house perched above the shoreline. Attracted to this magical place, young Lottie Swift surrenders freely to its temptations and ultimately must face the hard consequences of her actions.

Years later another young woman comes to Merham. A designer hired to make over the now-empty Arcadia, Daisy Parsons seeks a new beginning, as Lottie once did. Fleeing a broken relationship, Daisy finds refuge at Arcadia, and something more — a love she thought she would never know again.

I haven’t read The Lost Vintage but would like to.  From Goodreads:
Sweetbitter meets The Nightingale in this page-turning novel about a woman who returns to her family’s ancestral vineyard in Burgundy and unexpectedly uncovers a lost diary, an unknown relative, and a secret her family has been keeping since World War II

To become one of only a few hundred certified wine experts in the world, Kate must pass the notoriously difficult Master of Wine Examination. She’s failed twice before; her third attempt will be her last. Suddenly finding herself without a job and with the test a few months away, she travels to Burgundy, to spend the fall at the vineyard estate that has belonged to her family for generations. There she can bolster her shaky knowledge of Burgundian vintages and reconnect with her cousin Nico and his wife Heather, who now oversee the grapes’ day-to-day management. The one person Kate hopes to avoid is Jean-Luc, a neighbor vintner and her first love.

At the vineyard house, Kate is eager to help her cousins clean out the enormous basement that is filled with generations of discarded and forgotten belongings. Deep inside the cellar, behind a large armoire, she discovers a hidden room containing a cot, some Resistance pamphlets, and an enormous cache of valuable wine. Piqued by the secret space, Kate begins to dig into her family’s history—a search that takes her back to the dark days of the Second World War and introduces her to a relative she never knew existed, a great half-aunt who was teenager during the Nazi occupation.

As she learns more about her family, the line between Resistance and Collaboration blurs, driving Kate to find the answers to two crucial questions: Who, exactly, did her family aid during the difficult years of the war? And what happened to six valuable bottles of wine that seem to be missing from the cellar’s collection?

Out now! Some good reads for kids

I wish that all beginning readers were this entertaining! With a simple vocabulary, funny and fun illustrations and some good rhymes, this is a great choice for a new reader.

Kids will feel successful about their reading skills and will also see that reading can be fun as they go through the story. For the adults, there are helpful suggestions at the back of the book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for another good title in the Reading Stars series.

This is a simple story book for young listeners. They will see how well a mother owl takes care of her baby when he becomes ill. The routines of a sick room are simply explained. The reader also sees Little Hoo’s friends arrive. They can’t play with Little Hoo but come back with a get well surprise for him. Children will be reassured to know that when ill, they can feel better soon.

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

This is part of a series of early readers. The text is very simple, yet appealing in its easy repetition. The illustrations are amusing and bright.
Young readers will be entertained by learning about the things that Cody is happy to eat and will enjoy the success of reading on their own. . Adults will appreciate the short section on using this book with a child. All in all a fun read for everyone.

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

This brightly illustrated book will be a useful addition to classroom and library shelves. In this story, it is diversity week at school. Students from Japan, Mexico and Hawaii share some of their traditions and the children learn from one another. Suggestions for responding to new experiences will encourage politeness among those who are being exposed to something for the first time. Diversity is presented as a positive value in which all have something to contribute. The book also includes suggestions for the adults in students’ lives.

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