The Phone Booth at the Edge of the World is an ebook bargain today!

Favorite books of mine include The Book of Dreams and The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George, Becoming Mrs Lewis by Patti Callahan, and Everything Love Is by Claire King. One quality that these novels have in common is a deeper emotional resonance than is found in much fiction. To this list of my own treasured favorites, I am adding The Phone Booth at the End of the World. It is a unique and uniquely moving read.

The tsunami that swept Japan over a decade ago left much destruction in its wake. There was loss of property, community and the lives of those that many loved. Yui, the protagonist of this novel, lost her mother and daughter. She continues her work at a radio station but is broken inside.

Yui hears of a phone booth at a remote location in Japan. It is not connected but has become a kind of shrine. People go there to speak into the phone with the loved ones that they have lost. On her first trip to this pilgrimage site, Yui meets Takeshi. His wife died in the tsunami, leaving him with a beloved daughter who has been mute ever since. Yui and Takeshi become companions who visit the phone booth each month. They come to know each other well and to share in life, loss and healing. There are other characters who also have faced this incomprehensible loss, as for example, a high school student. They also take their places in the book.

This novel has a gorgeous design. Each chapter has a line drawing at its start. The reader might see birds in flight, an old fashioned telephone or a book for example. Short chapters alternate with even shorter chapters. The very short chapters are lists. A reader might learn what Yui’s favorite Bossa Nova music is or what her daughter was wearing on the day of the storm or what gifts Yui had bought for her but had not, as yet, given to her. These chapters add to the poignancy of the story.

I highly recommend this novel. It will engage you, make you think and, perhaps, inspire you.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.

An excursion

This weekend I am lucky enough to be attending the first Hamptonswhodunit.com festival in New York. This is my first mystery convention ever and it is so much fun.

I attended three panels yesterday. One was with Nita Prose, Greer Hendricks and AJ Finn discussing going from being editors to becoming authors. I learned a lot about the anxieties of first books, cover art and their second, forthcoming new novels. All agreed that writing a second novel , after a first success is challenging. This discussion was led by Carol Fitzgerald of the Bookreporter.

Next was a panel on women writers and their bonds moderated by Alafair Burke. The authors were Kellye Garrett, Alison Gaylin and Megan Abbott. They take on tough and current topics in their works. All are glad that women thriller writers now command more respect.

Third was AJ Finn interviewing Anthony Horowitz who is an incredibly engaging speaker. We heard about everything from Foyle’s War to the recently televised Magpie Murders. He talked about how much books have meant to him ever since his unhappy time at boarding school. All of his series were discussed and he, like all the others, did book signings.

I got to chat with Carol Fitzgerald about reviewing books and her work. It was a pleasure to meet her.

Let me know if you want to hear about today.

Definitely worth coming to this event!

Get ready for fun: Travel Games for Big ThinkersGet ready for fun:

#TravelGamesforBigThinkers #NetGalley

Yes, we live in a world of computers and i pads but sometimes it can be nice to see a kid engage with a pencil and paper game book. Here is a good one that is part of a series. It is well organized with the first part of the book including two player activities such as dancing man (awfully called hangman in the past) or dots, for example, and the second half of the book including one player puzzles such as sudoku and word searches. This would make a great item to pack before taking your child on a trip.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Collins Reference for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 10 March 2023

Breathe: Mindfulness and Me

A Practical Guide for Living

by Kira M. Markoff, LCSW-C

#MindfulnessandMe #NetGalley

Have you ever wanted to learn more about mindfulness? Wanted to see if its’ practices could help you? If yes, this title provides a good guide and introduction.

The book begins with some history of mindfulness and its wide usefulness across many religions and belief systems. Ms. Markoff then goes on to offer an 8 week introduction toaspects of this way of life. Chapters discuss Presence, Breathing Techniques, Body Related Practices, Working with Emotions, Traditional Mini-Meditations, Breathing Plus, Chakras and Creating Connections along with Where to Go From Here. There are many practices to try. Just one example is Thich Nhat Hahn’s Anger Mantra which is clearly explained. There is also a recommended reading list.

The author invites readers to engage and see if mindfulness makes sense for them. She also suggests that readers can explore chapters in any order. Markoff notes that some readers may want to try out mindfulness with an in person guide in addition to with a book.

There is a good exploration of concepts in here. Readers may well refer back to this title many times.

Many thanks to NetGalley and John Hunt Publishing Ltd for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 01 June 2023

Read to Your Baby Every Night

30 classic lullabies and rhymes to read aloud

by Chloe Giordano

#ReadtoYourBabyEveryNight #NetGalley

This is exactly the kind of book that I love for developing the very earliest literacy and love of books in the littlest ones. It will provide such an enjoyable experience for both adult and child.

Here is a compilation of well known rhymes. Some of these are Sing a Song of Sixpence; To Market, to Market; Brahms’ Lullaby; All the Pretty Little Horses; Sleep, Baby, Sleep and many more.

The book has sweet and gentle illustrations. These add to the peaceful experience of this bedtime read.

This would make an absolutely perfect gift for a new family!

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

Pub date: 20 June 2023