Jodi Picoult

#ByAnyOtherName #NetGalley

Where does the title come from? Find out below. Think too of the different meanings it might have.

Picoult is an author who does not write the same book twice. That said, she has a knack for writing interesting novels that are often quite topical (school shootings, abortion and more).

In this latest work, Picoult examines ways in which women’s work is often taken to be less valuable. How might this play out in two time periods? Turn the pages to find out.

In the earlier time period, Picoult postulates that Emilia Bassano was never credited but wrote many of Shakespeare’s plays. Could this be true?

The world of her and Shakespeare’s time is very authentically portrayed here. Picoult did her research. Details of clothing, education, women’s roles, the power of men and more come alive.

Emilia faced many obstacles after her father died and her mother left her. She was educated but faced many constraints. How did she survive?

In the present day, Mel, who is a budding playwright, faces many challenges. She has learned that Emilia was a relative and has written a play about her. How are their lives the same and different? How do they each face their creative obstacles? Read this long novel to find out.

Be sure to look at the notes at the back of the book. There are lots of details on Shakespeare related references.

Those who are already fans of the author will likely buy this book. I hope that those new to her will also pick this up.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

Title answer: Romeo and Juliet. Think 🌹

Pub date: 20 August 2024

From the publisher

A Novel

by Brenda Novak

The Banned Books Club

#TheBannedBooksClub #NetGalley

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing

Booker prize winner 2024: Samantha Harvey’s Orbital takes title

https://www.thetimes.com/article/03f2a541-198c-4a28-ac20-fd073873546a?shareToken=5c7ebe400d98ccc5ad500a4e877da058

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/11/books/review/vintage-crime-reissued-novels-fiction.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/11/arts/booker-prize-contenders.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

Lately, I have very much enjoyed putting aside everything to engage fully with a puzzle. This title offers much to anyone who would like to do the same.

Inside this generously sized book are all of the instructions a solver could need and then lots of puzzles. There are crosswords, word searches, sudoku, calcudoku, logic puzzles, cryptograms, Masyu (which I did not know), and nonograms.

Those who like to gently stress their brains will want to sample this one.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Callisto Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 12 November 2024

by Angela Youngman

#TheArtLoversGuidetoAmsterdam #NetGalley

Traveling to Amsterdam? Visiting virtually? Enjoying memories of past travel? If any of these appeal, this title is a terrific, photo filled resource. Chapters include The Netherlands, Amsterdam, Dutch Art Movements, Key Artist Profiles, Artist’s Amsterdam, Exploring Amsterdam’s Art and, Within Easy Reach of Amsterdam.

Go to, and also beyond the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museums in these pages to other treasured spots. Consider works by Bosch, Mondrian, Hals and many others.

I think that this is an excellent resource. I will purchase the hard copy.

Many thanks to Pen & Sword-White Owl and NetGalley for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 30 January 2024

Luxurious Rituals to Ignite Your Senses and Rejuvenate Your Soul

by Richard Christiansen

#FlamingoEstateTheGuidetoBecomingAlive #NetGalley

Before picking up this title, I had never heard of Flamingo Estate. Now I wish that I could visit in person as well as through the pages of this book.

There is an ethos to this estate that has offered wisdom to the many who have spent time there. Just a few of the conversations that are included here are with Alice Waters, Martha Stewart, Jane Fonda, and Chrissy Teigen & John Legend.

Flamingo Estate is a generous read at over 500 pages. Dip in and out and enjoy. Given our world, this book’s belief in pleasure, the earth, observation and caring for ourselves resonates.

Just a few things that are offered her include learning to grow a tomato, how to quite your job, how to benefit from Mother Nature. Spend time in these pages, both reading and looking at the gorgeous photos. Feel better!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 19 November 2024

From the Publisher

This is the Flamingo Estate Guide to Becoming Alive

It’s Pleasure-Seeking 101. In these pages you’ll learn how to grow a Tomato. How to quit your job. How to get your hands dirty. But mostly, you’ll learn that Mother Nature can be your doctor, your therapist, your friend, your savior.	There is a joy in living, and that means opening up your senses and prioritizing their arousal. Smelling the flowers, listening to great music, eating a pint of ice cream, and maybe doing it all in a hot bath.	Don’t wait to be ready. Experience sensory pleasure, while you still can.And reader, please note: None of your senses are common.

Luxurious Rituals to Ignite Your Senses and Rejuvenate Your Soul

by Richard Christiansen

#FlamingoEstateTheGuidetoBecomingAlive #NetGalley

Before picking up this title, I had never heard of Flamingo Estate. Now I wish that I could visit in person as well as through the pages of this book.

There is an ethos to this estate that has offered wisdom to the many who have spent time there. Just a few of the conversations that are included here are with Alice Waters, Martha Stewart, Jane Fonda, and Chrissy Teigen & John Legend.

Flamingo Estate is a generous read at over 500 pages. Dip in and out and enjoy. Given our world, this book’s belief in pleasure, the earth, observation and caring for ourselves resonates.

Just a few things that are offered her include learning to grow a tomato, how to quite your job, how to benefit from Mother Nature. Spend time in these pages, both reading and looking at the gorgeous photos. Feel better!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 19 November 2024

From the Publisher

This is the Flamingo Estate Guide to Becoming Alive

It’s Pleasure-Seeking 101. In these pages you’ll learn how to grow a Tomato. How to quit your job. How to get your hands dirty. But mostly, you’ll learn that Mother Nature can be your doctor, your therapist, your friend, your savior.	There is a joy in living, and that means opening up your senses and prioritizing their arousal. Smelling the flowers, listening to great music, eating a pint of ice cream, and maybe doing it all in a hot bath.	Don’t wait to be ready. Experience sensory pleasure, while you still can.And reader, please note: None of your senses are common.

Jenny Colgan has found fertile ground for her novels in Scotland where she has set a number of  women’s fiction/romance titles.  500 Miles From You is the latest of these.  I found it to be a relaxing read and recommend it for some pleasant distraction.  If that sounds like faint praise, it isn’t.  I find that as this unusual life we have continues, being transported to a fictional world can be most welcome.

In this story, Lissa is a community nurse in London, while Cormac holds down a similar job in a small Scottish village.  The two swap places for a number of months.  Traumatized Lissa falls in love with her new life which is idyllically presented.  Cormac is initially overwhelmed in London but slowly feels a bit better there.

Cormac and Lissa have one very important case that they share, that of a young girl who has received a heart transplant.  The donor ties the two story lines together.

Lissa and Cormac get to know one another through texting.  Readers know that they will eventually meet but this takes awhile and some plotting on the author’s part.  By the time the meeting takes place, many readers will be rooting for this couple.

There are many secondary characters in the novel.  Some of them are new, while others have made appearances in other novels by Ms. Colgan.  However, readers do not have to have read any of the prior books in order to enjoy this one.

If I had one small quibble with this novel, it would be that it tilted so favorably toward Scotland, somewhat slighting the glories of London.  That aside, I recommend this one for a fun read.

Have you read books by Jenny Colgan?  Did you enjoy them?  Let me know, please.