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

The narration of this book makes it feel like an ancient fable, which perhaps it is.  As is often the case in children’s literature, a story with animals is a way for children to access their feelings indirectly by identifying with a non-human character.  In this short, nicely illustrated story, Toad is sad because he does not have friends.  He blames himself for this dilemma, until a wise and friendly bird offers him some advice.  Armed with a new way of looking at things, Toad is able to form new friendships.  A simply told yet welcome tale for a read-aloud audience.

#TugOfWar #NetGalley

This novel is part of the  Inspector Wexford series of police procedurals.  I blogged on Ruth Rendell earlier and you can find what I wrote by searching the blog by author’s name.  This book was an Edgar Award finalist and may be enjoyed by lovers of traditional mysteries set in small towns.

From the Inside Flap

This is the first novel in this author’s series which takes place in Sandham. a Swedish vacation island.  I reviewed this previously and reprint that review below:

Anne Shirley is one of the most beloved characters in children’s fiction.  She has helped to make Prince Edward Island a place that Anne lovers dream of visiting.  Anne has spunk, imagination, honesty, deep feelings and a sense of adventure.  Anne Arrives tells the story of Anne’s beginnings at Green Gables.  In addition to Anne, of course there are Marilla, Matthew and Mrs. Lynde.

This is a book with short chapters for beginning readers.  The essence of the plot is there and Anne’s character shines through.  The illustrations are gorgeous and will add to the young reader’s enjoyment of the story.  Hopefully, Anne Arrives is the first in a series!  Thanks for this read NetGalley and the publisher.

By the way, for Anne fans, a restaurant in New York City is having an Anne brunch on Canada Day this year.  It should be great.  A book for all, food and movies.

#AnneArrives #NetGalley

There are many books being published right now that inspire girls to dream and believe in themselves.  This book is another welcome addition to this much needed genre.  In the introduction, the authors acknowledge that for many years it was a man’s world.  Despite this many young girls became women who achieved great things.  The authors clearly look forward to the trend continuing.

In entries of varying lengths, biographies are presented according to several areas including Leaders and Activists (including everyone from Cleopatra to Shirley Chishom to Indira Gahndi, Rosa Pars and Wangari Maathai to note just a few), Scientists and Inventors (including Mamie Phipps Clark, Nettie Stevens, Ada Lovelance and Rosalind Franklin among others), Artists and Writers (some of whom are Jane Austen, Joan Armarading, Melba Liston and Virginia Woolf) and Athletes and Adventurers (for example, Ida Pfeiffer, Venus Wiliams, Krystyna Skarbek and pirate Anne Bonny).  As the reader can see, there are names that will be familiar along with others that will expand both children and parents’ horizons.

Unabashedly supportive of women, this book deserves to be on the shelves of schools, libraries and homes to remind girls of all they can do and be!

#101AwesomeWomenWhoChangedOurWorld #NetGalley

Whenever I travel, be it near or far, I always look for the local bookshops where I love to browse and buy. Shakespeare and Co. in Paris, Daunt Books in London, Politics and Prose in DC…you get the idea. So, you can imagine that I might find this book appealing and indeed I do. “Book Towns” is a book about towns like Hay on Wye where there are many bookshops and book festivals. I learned that many book towns began in order to improve local economies. In this book, many such towns are visited. The armchair traveler can spend time in France, England, Scotland, Wales, Belgium, Finland, the U.S., South Africa, etc. Plus, if you are planning a trip to one of the towns mentioned, you will know just where to go. The photographs made me long to be in each and every town and store. I highly recommend this book for all bibliophiles. Thanks to NetGalley and Quarto.

#BookTowns #NetGalley

I read this book when it was first published and enjoyed it very much. This is an historical novel that is set  soon after WW I.  It takes place (obviously) before there was TV and when radio was a great source of news and entertainment and when the BBC was new.  There is a mix of historical and fictional personages in the novel.  John Reith and Hilda Matheson who played prominent roles at the station are featured.  The story moves along nicely with some suspense (having to do with a conspiracy) and this is an all around good read.

A blurb: “A bright, appealing novel about the early days of the BBC and the women behind its brilliant programming….[The] depiction of female friendship and support is one of the great strengths of Stratford’s novel, which so capably describes its characters’ thirst for knowledge, for information of all kinds. An intoxicating look inside a world of innovative new media.”—Kirkus Reviews

I adored this book and, after finishing it, I wanted everyone I know to read it.  It is a thriller but at its heart it is the story of a father’s love for his daughter.  Along the way, issues of prejudice are also addressed.  The book deals with the aftermath of a bombing which is not my usual book type but this was well worth the exception. I give few books five stars but, to me, this one deserves every one of them.

Some blurbs to back me up:

“When you spend roughly 400 pages with characters and it still doesn’t feel like enough you know you’ve read a great book. Actually, an excellent book. [It] expertly slices out every human emotion. I can only hope I will get to meet these characters again in a future book.”―Jamie Canaves, BookRiot

“Marchetta’s stunning adult debut….Emotionally complex characters complement an intricate plot rife with dizzying twists and devastating reveals. This visceral read manages to capture the emotional aftermath of a mass tragedy while sustaining tension and delivering a scathing indictment of racial profiling, vigilante justice, and the 24-hour news cycle.”
―Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Along with its wellrounded and likable characters, this is more than a crime story; it’s jam-packed with family drama and heartbreak. Highly recommended for suspense and mystery fans.”
―Kristen Calvert, Library Journal (starred review)

Let me know what you think if you read this one.

This is an inviting book for young readers (or those being read to) that adults will enjoy as well.  Mini biographies of the well and not so well known are offered along with appealing illustrations, quotes from the personages and funny (at times) but always true award titles.  Some examples:  The Bad-Tempered Musical Genius Award (Beethoven); The 1,279 Goals Award (Pele); The Most Loved Diary Award (Anne Frank); The Saving Lives Award (Pasteur); The One Voice Award (Malala Yousafzai) and many more.  This book is inspiring and wide ranging.  It will give children a sense that they can accomplish great things while enjoying the accomplishments of those who came before them.  Highly recommended!

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher.

#ThePeopleAwards #NetGalley

Have you seen Renoir’s painting, Luncheon of the Boating Party?  It is in the Phillips Collection in Washington DC.  The painting is so full of life and character that it is a joy to stand before it.  Susan Vreeland ably tells the story of Renoir, his painting, his friends and the creation of this iconic work in an enjoyable and smart historical novel.  You could pair this with Renoir’s Dancer, a biography that I blogged on a few months ago. 

I have blogged on several of the books in this series.  All are about women who were once children and who can inspire young readers.  This entry on Jane Austen is no exception.  As always, the illustrations are charming.  Jane is described within her family, credit is given to her father for believing that girls should be educated, a romance for Jane is explored and, of course, she becomes a writer who gives her heroines agency.  Another welcome addition to a good series!

This is always a great resource.  You can find out whether authors you love have new books coming out and can also perhaps find titles to explore that will lead you in new directions.  There are lists and lists along with excerpts from a number of forthcoming titles.  I noted that Beatriz Williams, Michiko Kakutani, Megan Abbott, Anne Tyler, Cristina Alger, Louise Candlish and  Sophie Hannah all have books coming soon.  These may be of interest to you or you may flag completely different titles.  Either way, there is lots of good reading ahead for the summer.  Note that this can be accessed on amazon.