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

I read this book a year or so ago but have been thinking about it again for two reasons; first, in England, they are making a television series with the author as she trains her second hawk and the other reason is that I have been thinking about how we mourn and acknowledge deaths of those we love.  This book has so much in it; there is biography, the training of the hawk and a great deal about T H White who had a very difficult time with his own hawk.  T H White wrote one of my all time favorite books, The Once and Future King, so I was fascinated to learn more about him.  Sadly, he had a rather tragic life.  This book is highly recommended for nature lovers, lovers of T H White and those looking for a meaningful memoir.

Another badge from NetGalley!  It is so much fun to see these; reminds me of when I earned badges for Girl Scouts.  I am proud of my accomplishment in having reviewed 25 books and I look forward to reviewing many more.  I welcome feedback from all of you readers; let me know what you are thinking about books and reading.

This is a relaxing read; the type of book that I read before going to bed at night. Darcy and Riley make an appealing couple. While the story is somewhat predictable, that is not a bad thing as this is the sort of book that one reads expecting good things to prevail. There was back story on the main characters which added some depth. The town, the villagers and the lighthouse are all lovingly described. So…an enjoyable read for those who like light romantic novels..

This is the first book that I have read by this author; she has one previously published mystery in the series. Each chapter begins with a literary quote from either Wuthering Heights or Jane Eyre. These presage events and/or emotions experienced by the characters in the chapter. I enjoyed the quotes and the many book references throughout the novel. The main characters were appealing although overall the characters and mystery would have benefited from greater depth and nuance. This was a good, cozy read.

Books and novellas by Anne Perry are always most welcome! This year, the author’s Christmas story gives the reader the opportunity to get to know Charlotte Pitt’s grandmother, Mariah Ellison, better. Mariah struggles with her own past as she tries to right a past injustice. Mariah is human, flawed, strong and admirable, much as we all are. Anne Perry writes with compassion and understanding. A great holiday gift for any fan of this author’s series. Highly recommended.

The Seagull is a Vera Stanhope mystery, a novel in one of Ann Cleeves’ two series, both of which are excellent. (The other books are the Shetland novels.) Both are also TV dramas available in the U.S. and originally from Britain.
I especially enjoyed this book because of the back story. The reader learns more about Vera’s parents and her childhood. I also enjoyed spending time with favorite characters, including Holly and Joe.
This novel is about an historical crime with implications for the present. The story is well told and the pages kept turning. Highly recommended.

Awarded to me today by NetGalley for some of my reviewing work.  Thank you NetGalley!

Many of us have warm memories of Anne of Green Gables, both from the novel and the Megan Follows and Colleen Dewhurst TV series. An updated series Anne with an E can now be streamed on Netflix, although I have not seen it. Anne was a favorite character for me and I have reread the novel as an adult. So…as you can imagine, I was excited to learn about this book. It is wonderful! I was torn between moving ahead quickly and savoring. This is a book to be enjoyed for the many photos and for the insight into Maud Montgomery’s life. Even if you have never read Anne of GG, this book provides a lovely, serene and visual armchair travel experience. Highly recommended!

My first read of a Jo Thomas novel. Loved the vivid descriptions of Cretan life and food. A story of second chances and choices. An easy and pleasant read, even if it feels a bit predictable at times. Read for lovely characters and some great armchair travel.  Thanks to Netgalley for this read.

I am reading this nonfiction title  for an undergraduate class, Religion and Healing.  This book offers a profound look at the culture, practices and beliefs of the Hmong people and how these clash with Western medicine when the Lee’s daughter, Lia, is found to have epilepsy (in Hmong culture, the title of the book is the Hmong word for this condition.)  This book is enlightening and heartbreaking.  In our current political climate, it offers a poignant reminder of the importance of learning about other’s belief systems without judging.  Recommended for all readers but especially for those in the “helping” professions.