This title would make a fun addition to bedtime. Young children will enjoy seeing the colorful monsters and their antics. The rhyming text will delight little ones…and their adults should enjoy this one too. It is adorable.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.
Four stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
From the Publisher
Sleepy monsters, weepy monsters, teeth-brushing monsters, toilet-flushing monsters, crashing monsters, all settling in for bedtime!
Get ready for bed with the wild and familiar escapades of the monsters at bedtime!
The simple narrative with fun wordplay and a gentle rhyme is perfect for reading aloud
Kids can chuckle at all the different types of monsters while watching out for cheeky little monster who does everything to avoid bedtime!
Escape to France with this heartwarming feel-good romance
by Lucy Coleman
A look at this book’s cover will let a reader have a good sense of this is their kind of book. It is mine. Here is the story of a young woman who is trying to figure out what she wants next in life. This need follows on some disappointing events.
Anna seeks a change so travels to France to work on the units of her parents’ gite. Of course, while there, she will meet a handsome stranger. Will she get a happy ending?
Those who enjoy light reads will, I think, enjoy this one. Yes, it might be a bit predictable, but sometimes that is exactly what I need.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Aria for this title. All opinions are my own.
Anyone who enjoys Gorey’s unique, quirky, macabre way of looking at the world will, I think, adore this book. There is so much within these pages. Look at cats, Broadway poster designs, programs. photos, drawings and so, so much more. This is really a treasure chest of a book with terrific accompanying text by the author.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for this title. All opinions are my own.
I first learned about this book from a review in the Times of London. My interest was piqued so I was completely delighted when NetGalley offered me access to this title. Having recently seen the exhibit Paris 1874 at DC’s National Gallery has left me thinking even more about Monet and the ways in which his work (that we now take for granted) was revolutionary and extraordinary.
This book offers a deep dive. It is long at over 900 pages so may not be for the casual art lover. However, for those who are interested, this is a rich and detailed work. Readers will learn about Monet both as the artist and the man. There is much primary source material that brings readers up close to Monet’s life.
Highly recommended to those interested in this period of French art. They, like me will enjoy learning about the art, the women who influenced Monet and the many artistic talents with whom he was in contact.
Many thanks to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor as well as NetGalley for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 24 September 2024
Review
WINNER OF THE ELIZABETH LONGFORD PRIZE FOR HISTORICAL BIOGRAPHY AND THE FRANCO BRITISH SOCIETY AWARD
“Lively… Provocative… To the wider world, Monet was a placid voluptuary, not a tormented rebel. By excavating the artist’s unexpectedly messy inner life, Wullschläger… sets out to upend this view… Artful.” ―Hugh Eakin, The New York Times
“Jackie Wullschläger’s Monet: The Restless Vision… could be called an Impressionist biography of the central Impressionist… Every few chapters, a sudden nub of detail robs you of your breath… Monet may be the first artist biography I’ve encountered in which this kind of thing isn’t just readable but sexy.” ―Jackson Arn, The New Yorker
“Sumptuous… a portrait of anartist mercurial and materialist, ambitious and conceited, yet unstintingly loyal to all in his orbit… Wullschläger avoids attempting an exhaustive account; why weigh down her book with gratuitous details? She prefers to delight.” ―Hamilton Cain, LA Times
“A writer of radiant energy and exhilarating insights, Wullschläger matches each phase in Monet’s long, ardent, precarious, and momentously creative and productive life with the evolution of his radically in-the-moment paintings. Her biography, like his work, profoundly alters our perceptions, revealing how, from portraits to seascapes to water lilies, Monet painted out of love and endless fascination with what it feels like to be alive.” ―Booklist, starred
“Wullschläger… bring[s] to life a man whose creative genius was inseparable from his flawed humanity. Even readers well-versed in Monet’s life story will learn something new from this thorough and original reappraisal.” ―Publishers Weekly
Adults who love The Little Prince and kids who may just be learning about de Saint Exbury will both enjoy this entry in the good series. Watch young Antoine grow up and find his way to becoming a pilot (he faces a few challenges). Read about all that he accomplished before his life ended to soon.
My favorite part of the story is when the author says that, when flying a mail plane, Antoine circled the airport for an hour so that he could finish his book. What a book lover!
After sharing this book with a child, buy a copy of Le Petit Prince for them. They may treasure it for many years.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.
Molten Mud Murder is published by the excellent Poisoned Pen Press, a small press that is dedicated to mystery fiction. This is author Johnson’s first novel and the first in a projected series.
American protagonist, Alexa, is a forensics examiner whose specialty is teeth. She has come to New Zealand on a fellowship, falls in love with the country and wants to stay longer. She manages to insert herself into the murder case involving a city counselor.
What I struggled with a little: Alexa took many risks that felt plot driven. Some mysteries, such as what happened to her friend, Mary, were not fully solved. Perhaps that is for another book.
What I liked: The setting on the North Island of New Zealand and the ways in which the landscape is brought vividly to life. The information about tribal Maori customs and rituals. That there was a back story for Alexa. The hint of romance between her and Bruce, the Senior, a term for the chief detective. The details on forensic examination.
This mystery should appeal to armchair travelers, lovers of New Zealand and those who enjoy action packed mysteries. Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this proof in return for an honest review. I look forward to the author’s next book.
Do you know a child who might like to know more about the many countries that make up Asia? Would they like books with maps, photos and a nice layout? Are they interested in history, people, culture, food, wildlife, sights, the past and future of this continent? And, this book has even more.
If they (or you) can answer yes to some (or all) of the above, this book is an excellent resource. It is organized by geographic areas, for example, South Asia or West Asia, etc. and packed with information.
This book would make a fantastic addition to a home or school library.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.
Imagine that is four o’clock on a late fall or winter afternoon. A cup of tea or coffee or hot chocolate is on the table and this book is in your hands.
Take the time to read an entry any day that you have the opportunity. It will see you through many a cold, dark night.
Some of the entries in this book are very short as is the first one by Anne Frank. At most the others are still less than ten pages.
There are authors whose names I recognized including Virginia Woolf, Tove Jansson, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Vincent Van Gogh. Interspersed with their writings were many minutes of getting new perspectives on the time of year.
Start with the author’s introduction and then read this one in any order. It is a title that I will be pulling out again and again.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Elliott & Thompson for this title. All opinions are my own.
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 