What a fun way to learn colors! For each color, a work of art in the museum’s collection is featured. For anyone who has access to the Met Museum. a treasure hunt of these objects would be fun. At the end of the book, kids are asked to recall the color of each art work. There is also a list of each work that is in the book.
This is an appealing way to learn both colors and a bit about art. I liked it very much.
Many thanks to NetGalley and DK Children for this title. All opinions are my own.
The Swans of Harlem is a must read for those who love ballet and social history. Here readers will meet some remarkable women. They are Lydia Abarca, Gayle McKinney Griffith, Sheila Rohan, Karlya Shelton, and Marcia Sells. Readers will also spend time with the Dance Theater of Harlem and witness the many accomplishments of that company and its dancers.
In her prologue, the author notes that Abarca’s daughter was very proud of all that her mother had done as a dancer who broke barriers and was an exquisite performer. However when she did some research, she found that there was a dearth of material on any Black dancer except for the wonderful Misty Copeland. This book is in some ways a response to the need for documentations and recognition of the contributions of earlier ballerinas. No one who reads it will forget these dancers/friends/colleagues/barrier breakers and more.
This book benefits from the author’s connection to her subjects. She documents their beginnings, careers, retirements and legacy. Those who read it will have met some remarkable women and deepen their knowledge of dance.
“Remarkable…Spirited…Valby’s extensive interviews with the dancers lend an intimacy to the narrative, the details of their lives elevated and their perspectives clearly observed. The women of the 152nd Street Black Ballet Legacy Council are determined to bring their story out of obscurity. In The Swans of Harlem, they become unforgettable.” —Bookpage
“A loving tribute.” —Smithsonian Magazine
“Five of the world’s greatest dancers helped change the face of ballet—they performed at the White House, they appeared on Broadway, they were on the covers of magazines…This insightful history from Karen Valby tells the stories of Lydia Abarca, Gayle McKinney-Griffith, Sheila Rohan, Karlya Shelton, and Marcia Sells, celebrating the contributions they made to their art form and giving them the recognition they so greatly deserve.” —Town and Country Magazine
The Stranger in the Library is the eleventh title in this North Carolina set series. Readers old and new will be happy to spend time with librarian Lucy and those around her.
I enjoyed the storyline that had to do with art and paintings. Of course, readers also get to experience some nefarious doings, including the murder. They can have fun with this, knowing that all will be revealed.
Those who enjoy traditional mysteries will want to give this one a look.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 04 June 2024
Praise for The Stranger in the Library: “A neat package of art lore and murder set against the storied background of the Outer Banks.” —Kirkus Reviews
Welcome back Phryne and Dot! A new novel with these beloved characters is always cause for rejoicing. This time, Phryne and Dot make their way to a spa for recovering WWI soldiers. It may sound like a peaceful retreat but series regulars know that mayhem is sure to follow, along with a resolution by the end of the novel.
Readers who enjoy fashion, wit and spas are sure to love this latest entry in the series. After reading this, many will look for other titles by Ms. Greenwood or they may want to watch the Miss Fisher mysteries on Acorn TV. Whichever way readers choose to encounter Phryne, they can’t go wrong.
Also note the gorgeous cover of this novel. The artwork is magnificent and Miss Fisher shines.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.
One thing that I love about Sulari Gentill is that she never seems to rest on her laurels. I very much enjoyed her novels about Rowly Sinclair and his group of friends. These are historical mysteries, set in the 1930s, in a series that began with A Few Right Thinking Men. There are good characters who are good friends and good stories in each of the entries.
Ms. Gentill then began to write some standalone novels and stories set outside of Australia. These include After She Wrote Him, The Woman in the Library, and now, The Mystery Writer. Each has an intriguing and, perhaps quirky, story.
In this new book, Theo (Theodosia) has decided to leave law behind. She wants to be a novelist. When her mentor is killed and her brother becomes a suspect, the scene is set.
A few things to ponder…who was the murderer, where is Theo’s manuscript, and what secret things are happening? Get ready for the unraveling.
It is easy to recommend this one.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this title. All opinions are my own.
Susie Hodge has written a number of books about museums and art. I have found all of the ones that I have read to be interesting and informative. That is again the case here with Ms. Hodge again sharing her insights and ways of looking at things.
This title is well organized. There are ten elements of art explored in these pages. These include scale, colour, light, movement, medium, technique, content, location, time and, the artist. After explaining each of these in a clear way, Hodge moves on to explore a number of paintings. Just some of these works are The Arnolfini Portrait (van Eyck), The Serenade (Judith Lester), The Monk by the Sea (Caspar David Fridrich), Under the Wave off Kanagawa (Katushika Hokusai), The Starry Night (Vincent Van Gogh), and Guernica (Pablo Picasso). There are too many to list but all are engaging and worth a look.
There are works here that readers will recognize and look at anew and those that will be getting a first glance. In each case, it is terrific to read what Hodge has to say.
Highly recommended to art lover experienced and un. Note the many gorgeous reproductions as the pages turn.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.
I met Zoe Barlow in this author’s first in the series, Lost in Paris. In both that book and this, the Paris of the 1920s comes to life. It was the time of the ex-pats with many, including the fictional Zoe, finding their way in a post war world.
This novel is set around the time of the 1924 Olympics. What will happen because a clock was damaged in a poker game? Suffice it to say, a lot and that includes murder! Even Chagall’s art figures into the story as Zoe detects.
In addition to the evocation of Paris, the murder and Chagall, readers of the first book will want to know how Zoe is doing. She is still searching for her daughter as the story begins; will there be an update?
Those who enjoy historical mysteries will enjoy this one. It is possible to read this without having read the first book although with that one’s story involving Hemingway (among others), there is a lot going for it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this title. All opinions are my own.
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 