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Book 1 in a brand new series by the author of bestselling phenomenon THE CORNER SHOP IN COCKLEBERRY BAY

by Nicola May

#FerryLaneMarket #NetGalley

Sometimes I just want to read a book that will provide a nice escape. It’s fine if the characters face some challenges but there are days where knowing all will end well feels really welcome. This story about Ferry Lane Market just fits the bill.

Main character, Kara, is one of those people who puts the needs of others first. What will happen when she has a chance to change that pattern? Read this story to find out. You will probably then want to move right on to the second entry in the series.

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

by Sheila Barker

I have seen some of this artist’s paintings and was fascinated by them. Here was a woman painter at a time when the art world was dominated by men. Plus, I later learned about her complicated personal history. For these reasons, I was delighted to have the chance to see this book and to learn more about AG.

This title is published by Getty and they clearly know how to produce gorgeous books on art. This book is part of a series on female artists and is motivated, in part, by current social movements and the desire to give space to past pioneers. Each book, according to the introduction, looks at a female artist in terms of social, cultural, temporal and geographic contexts. Attention is also paid to the artist’s life story and the growth and evolution of their art.

The reproductions in these pages are plentiful and provide a good sense of the artist. I loved many of the Madonna and Child portraits which, to me, exhibited a contemporary (to her time) feeling and a sense of the warm relationship between the two.

Art lovers and those who want to enhance their knowledge base will enjoy this title. I definitely recommend it.

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

Sense and Sensibility

Illustrations by Marjolein Bastin

by Jane Austen

The opening chapter of Sense and Sensibility is one of my favorite in all of Austen. I find her wit here to be so sharp. The reduction of expectations for the Dashwood family as they lose their property and much of their financial security, because of primogeniture, is described in a way that is actually quite scathing and revelatory of the estate’s new female doyenne.

There is much to delight in as readers observe Elinor and Marianne interact with each other and those around them. Suffice it to say, that each embodies one of the titular traits. A rereading of this novel is always welcome to me.

If you have not read S and S, I recommend it most highly. I especially want to draw your attention to this absolutely gorgeous edition of the book. It is surely true that there are many, many less expensive versions of the novel. That said, this enchantingly illustrated one will be adored by true Austen aficionados. The flowers throughout are just lovely. Consider making this one a gift for someone you know…maybe even yourself.

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

He Saw the World in a Wave

by Susie Hodge

This series of books for children is published in conjunction with New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. Each entry is beautifully illustrated and gives a sense of the artist’s spirit and sensibility. This time the artist featured is a well-known Japanese one.

Even as an adult who has taken art history classes, I learned new things in reading this title. For example, the artist changed his name many times, lived to a rather old age and was interested not only in Japanese art.

Children will learn that Hokusai was adopted, that he studied with many artists and that he constantly wanted to improve. They will see that he was an artist who developed his own style during a time when there was much conformity in Japan.

The author invites children in. She offers them art projects that they might want to explore. As in the other volumes, there are some special sections at the end of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this enjoyable title. All opinions are my own.

Anna Lee Huber’s novel, is an historical mystery that is reminiscent of an Agatha Christie novel. A group of characters is stranded on an island, (think “And Then There Were None”), as the action unfolds. Widow Verity attends an engagement party weekend, while trying to find out whether her husband, Sidney, was a traitor during WWI. Not the most believable plot but Verity is a plucky character and one that I rooted for.  Book provided by NetGalley in return for an honest review.  Thanks NetGalley!

Elin Hilderbrand has written many novels that take place on Nantucket.  This is her first murder mystery and the first book that I have read by the author.  The setting is beautiful and full of details of how the well-to-do spend their summers on the island.

A wedding is scheduled to take place.  The groom, Benji is the scion of a wealthy family while his bride to be, Celeste,  comes from a loving, middle-class background.    Celeste and Benji’s parents come to life in portrait-like depictions.  Benji’s mother is a society woman who writes mystery novels and always hosts in the most proper ways.  Her husband, Tag, is a man who has had many affairs. They live a life of luxury but do not have a happy marriage.  In contrast,  Celeste’s parents are “salt of the earth” types who have a loving relationship.  Karen, who has breast cancer, is portrayed in a wonderfully empathetic fashion.  Kudos to the author for sympathetically but not maudlin-ly describing Karen.  Bruce, Celeste’s dad, clearly adores both his wife and child.  They want only for Celeste to be happy and secure.

Celeste’s maid of honor is the murder victim.  For fear of spoilers, I won’t say more about what happened or the solution of the mystery.  There are numerous suspects and many relationships come into play.

This is what I would describe as a good summer read.  It is a long (over 400 pages) novel in which the reader becomes immersed.  If you want a light summer escape, this one is worth trying.

I may be one of very few people never to have read anything by Margaret Atwood.  I am so happy to now have had the chance to spend some time with her poems.

The poems are reflective and often moving.  One of my favorites was called Blackberries.  It is about fruit, growing older and generational connections.   Another elegiac poem called Blizzard is about the poet’s mother getting older and how hard it is to let go.

Ms. Atwood covers a wide range of topics in this collection.  It is definitely worth either reading straight through in order or dipping into.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

Pub date:  November 10, 2020

#Dearly #NetGalley

In May 2019, Katherine Reay’s novel The Printed Letter Bookshop was published. Her new book, Of Literature and Lattes can be read on its own but will be enjoyed most by those who have read The Printed Letter. The setting in Of Literature and Latte is the same town as in the prior book and readers catch up with the lives of some of the characters from that book as well. However, the novel also has its own plot and some new characters.
In this book Alyssa has left a job with a company that seems to be based on Theranos and that similarly explodes for her. With nowhere to go and under investigation, she returns to the town where her parents (characters in The Printed Letter) live. Alyssa has to figure out what to do with her life and with her unhappiness.
Jeremy has come to Winsome to run the kind of coffee shop that many of us dream of, one that values community and great beans that make great drinks. However, the shop is struggling as is Jeremy. One ray of brightness is his daughter but his daughter’s mother is threatening to leave town.
Janet, from the prior novel. is trying to have a life in which she has stronger relationships with Alyssa and Seth, the man she first married, and is again seeing. It is complicated.
The stories of these characters come to life and I think that readers will care about them. I did not find Of Literature and Latte to be as strong a novel as The Printed Letter but I am pretty confident that this author’s many fans will be eager to engage with this title.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this read in exchange for an honest review. By the way, I love the cover.

I give the three and 1/2 stars.

#OfLiteratureandLattes #NetGalley