#ShowMetheBunny #NetGalley Pub date: January 22, 2022
I have been reading this series ever since the first, A Pedigree to Die For, was published. There are now more than 20 booksabout Melanie Travis and those around her, including likeable Aunt Peg. The novels are cozies with appealing recurring characters, good plots and lots of information about dogs. If this sounds right for you, the books can pretty much be read in any order. The evolution of Melanie’s romantic life and the growth of her son may lead some to want to read the books paying attention to publication dates.
This time, Melanie agrees to organize an Easter event at a women’s shelter. She quickly discovers that a major benefactor has died. What happened? Who is responsible? Enjoy unraveling this mystery and watching Melanie and her Aunt Rose try to come to terms. Don’t worry, there will be Aunt Peg as well.
I note that Aunt Rose is not too fond of dogs. As a result, they are less a focus in this entry. This should not keep readers from the novel though.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
This fifth in the series will be welcomed by those who have enjoyed the previous titles. This is a light, historical mystery featuring Beryl and Edwina. They are opposites; one is British, the other American, and they have joined to form a detective agency. This time the case starts out deceptively as they are investigating a faux case at their client’s request. What will happen when a very real murder occurs? Read this one to find out. Along the way, enjoy the settings and the protagonists.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
The inspiring connections between the world’s greatest artists
by Susie Hodge
#ArtisticCircles #NetGalley
This title includes stories of many artists and their creative connections with others. For each artist featured, there is interesting biographical information, something about these connections and an illustration of the artist. These illustrations reflect each artist’s own style.
There are way too many artists to list here. Some of those included are Sargent, Mondrian, Picasso, Calder, Basquiat and Krasner. I very much enjoyed the biographical anecdotes about each talented artist. The connections are also there often floating above the other text.
This title is well organized. Beneath each artist’s name are those who were influenced. For example, under Georgia O’Keeffe is the name Judy Chicago. Under Judy Chicago’s name are Georgia O’Keeffe, Eva Hesse and Jenny Holzer. This helps readers to see how so many of the artists connected to each other and lets readers hone in on which entries they want to read.
For those who would enjoy a wide-ranging exposure to both well-known and lesser known artists, this book is recommended.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title which I plan to purchase. All opinions are my own.
From the Publisher
Claude Monet
ONE OF the founders of Impressionism, Oscar-Claude Monet (1840–1926) remained faithful to the movement’s aims throughout his life: painting en plein air, capturing fleeting moments and using color to depict the effects of light. Even the name Impressionism came from the title of one of his paintings. As a teenager growing up in Le Havre on the Normandy coast, he began painting outdoors with Eugène Boudin (1824–98). At that time, although some artists made outdoor sketches or visual notes, most paintings were completed in artists’ studios. By painting directly in front of his subject, Monet believed he was capturing light and color as accurately as possible, and using bright pigments, he rendered everything with bold, broken brushmarks. From 1874 to 1886, he helped to organise, and exhibited in, five of eight independent exhibitions with the artists known as the Impressionists.
Oscar-Claude Monet . . .
Was particularly influenced by the painting Déjeuner sur l’Herbe by EDOUARD MANET
Helped inspire the painting Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose by JOHN SINGER SARGENT
Wrote thousands of letters to friends including MARY CASSATT
Wrote thousands of letters to friends including AUGUSTE RODIN
Tamara de Lempicka
EPITOMISING ART Deco, Tamara de Lempicka painted with smooth brushwork, angular contours and sculptural tones. Her distinctive painting style conveyed the glamour of the Jazz Age. Born Maria Górska in Warsaw (then part of Russia), De Lempicka went to boarding school in Switzerland. In 1911, she spent the summer with her grandmother in Italy where she saw the work of many great Italian artists, thus igniting her passion for art. After her parents divorced, she lived in St Petersburg with her extremely wealthy aunt and uncle, who introduced her to a life of luxury. When she was fifteen, they took her to an opera where she met Tadeusz Lempicki, and three years later they married. In 1917, the Russian Revolution began and Tadeusz was arrested by the Bolsheviks. However, his young, attractive wife used her social connections and charm to secure his release. They escaped to Paris where her family had taken refuge.
#TheMysteryofAlbertEFinch #NetGalley Pub Date 11 Jan 2022
Crooked Lane publishing serves a a real “go to” for those who like their mysteries without too much violence and yet with a story, characters and settings that engage the reader. This was one that I wanted to read as soon as I saw the words “Victorian Bookclub” in the subheading. As a further bonus, the story is set in Bath, a place that I have loved ever since spending a junior year abroad there.
Uh-oh, there is a murder at a wedding. The victim had been in an argument with her husband but is he the culprit? What else is going on here? Read this delightful title to find out. This book is part of a series but can be read on its own. Fans may want to look for the other titles though.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Pub Date 30 Nov 2021#PennytheHorseOfCourse #NetGalley
This story is one that has a message for young children which is to be yourself! Penny is the only pig on a horse farm so she naturally feels left out. Her way of dealing with that is to try to make herself more like a horse. The cute illustrations show exactly what she attempts. How does her situation work itself out? Read this book with a child to see.
Using animals can be a good way to tell a story about something important. Children have a little distance this way and may find it easier to talk about their feelings as a result.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.
by Edited by Anne T. Woollett, with contributions by Austėja Mackelaitė, John T. McQuillen, and others
#Holbein #NetGalley
This is simply a gorgeous book! It can be enjoyed by both art history scholars and those who enjoy looking at art. Many may know Holbein for his portraits of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, among others. There is so much more to discover in these pages, however. The beautifully reproduced paintings that are included in this volume demonstrate Holbein’s gift for capturing his subjects. They feel very real and human. The volume also has art by Erasmus. There are, in addition, a number of well-written essays.
Highly recommended! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
This is Fiona Davis’s third New York City based historical novel and it is a winner! I have not read her earlier books,The Address and The Dollhouse, but may well do so now. The Masterpiece has a dual narrative structure, one story is set in the 1920s-30’s and the other in the 1970s. The stories of Clara Darden and Virginia Clay overlap and intersect. Darden is an illustrator, teacher and painter in the earlier era while Virginia, a divorcee, begins working at Grand Central around the time when the landmark battle was underway. Each woman has a backstory, relationships and challenges, all of which are well depicted. Did you know that in the 1920’s there was an art school right in Grand Central? Did you know that Sargent was one of the founders? Are you interested in historical preservation? Do you enjoy a story with a plot twist? If you can answer yes to any, or all of these questions, I highly recommend this book.
I very, very much like this title. It is a collection of poetry that I read first thing in the morning, last thing at night or anytime that I want to feel better about the world and myself. Each poem is absolutely not abstruse and offers something to which the reader can relate. There are some poets known to me, including Amanda Gorman, but most are new discoveries. This means that each poem is an exploration, albeit a short one.
A brief quote from the first poem sets the tone:
Hope has holes
in its pockets.
It leaves little crumb trails
so that we,
when anxious,
can follow it.
If this excerpt appeals to you, you will want to own this book. It offers a promising way of viewing our universe.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
This is Fiona Davis’s third New York City based historical novel and it is a winner! I have not read her earlier books,The Address and The Dollhouse, but may well do so now.
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 