The Gown by Robson

I wanted to read this novel from the Imoment that I heard about it.  It turns out that it was a very good, but not absolutely amazing, read.

The Gown in question is the one that Queen (then Princess) Elizabeth wore for her wedding.  However, the Royals are not the ones that this story is about; rather, the novel is a fictional account of two women who embroidered this most important dress and the granddaughter of one of them.  The book moves back and forth between the 1940s and the present day.

An important setting in the book is the studio of Norman Hartnell whose atelier designed and made Princess Elizabeth’s wedding dress.  Mr. Hartnell comes across as a nice man who hired nice people.  He and Miss Duley, who manages the embroiderers, were real people.  The author did her research and was fortunate enough to meet one of the seamstresses from the time. This gives the studio scenes a welcome authenticity.

The three protagonists are Ann, Miriam and Heather.  Ann has been impacted by the war and its post-war austerity.  No spoilers so I won’t say what happens to her.  She is a good friend to Miriam, a Jewish woman, who emigrated to London after suffering many losses during the war.  Heather is Ann’s granddaughter.  The book is told in alternating narratives of the three.

At the end of the book there is a section on sources, a reader’s guide and an interview with Betty, the seamstress whom the author interviewed.

If you enjoy historical novels, I recommend this.  I cared about the characters and found the setting to be quite interesting.  If you have watched The Crown, this novel gives background from the time of the first series.

I would give this one three plus stars, just shy of four.  Let me know what you think if you read it.

www.nytimes.com/2021/08/26/books/september-books.html

Country Kitchen Cookbook

A Collection of Traditional American Home-Cooked Recipes

by Jennifer Boudinot

#CountryKitchenCookbook #NetGalley

This cookbook celebrates American cuisine in 100 recipes divided up by “Homestyle Breakfasts;” Irresistible Snacks & Starters;” “Scrumptious Salads & Sides;””Hearty Main Dishes;” and “Country Desserts & Cakes.”

This beautifully photographed title is filled with hearty, country cooking. The author starts out with a recipe that exemplifies what is within these pages. It is an easy to follow recipe for a Sunday Casserole that is filled with eggs, bacon, hash brown potatoes and more. That one is followed by more stick to your ribs food. Just a few of the recipes included are for Country Cobb Salad, Barbeque Baked Chicken, Buttermilk Biscuits, Hoppin John with Pork, and Coconut Cream Pie.

So, it is clear that this is not a cookbook for those on diets. All others, or those who are taking a break from healthy eating, will find much to enjoy here.

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

Rated 4 stars

by Donna Amey Bhatt

#HowtoGreetaGrandma #NetGalley Pub Date 21 Sep 2021

This sweetly illustrated book celebrates grandmothers all over the world. Customs, ways of greeting, special advice and more are offered regarding the ways of Omas, Mamgus, Babushkas and many other grandmothers in the places where they live. There are some general observations at the beginning of the book and then the individual country fun begins.

Children who are curious about how their lives are the same/different from others may well enjoy looking at this book with that special family member.

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

The Survivors

A Novel

by Jane Harper

Pub Date 02 Feb 2021   

The Survivors was my first encounter with a novel by Jane Harper although I have several of her books in my TBR pile. I only regret that it took this long to spend some time with this excellent author.

The Survivors is a bit of a slow burn of a book. It is set on Tasmania in a small community that is heavily impacted by the sea around it. The location with its small town, the beach, the caves and more is brought to vivid life. (Interestingly, I read that the author often thinks of place as one of the first things when she embarks on a novel).

There are many characters and they have numerous interconnections. Some are alive and some, who are no longer living, are those who were important to the novel’s characters in the past. Past tragedies, mysteries and disappearances all have their parts to play. There is also a murder in the present.

A sculpture called The Survivors was commissioned after a disaster at sea. But…there are other survivors as well. So, think about the title as you read.

This is a complex, rich novel and one that I highly recommend. I listened to it and the narration was very good. The male reader had the Australian accent that perfectly matched the story that he was reading.

Whether in book or audio format, I recommend this one highly.

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

The Cold Way Home (Keller)

The novels that Julia Keller, a Pulitzer Prize winning author, writes are never easy reads…but, boy, are they good! Each book is set in Ackers Gap, West Virginia, a place that faces far too many harsh realities. There are many drug problems, crushing poverty, a lack of resources and yet…people persevere.

This title is the eighth in the series which began with A Killing in the Hills. Long time readers will want to catch up with Bell Elkins, a former attorney (to know why “former” you need to read the earlier books), Jake, who is disabled (to know why, you need to read the earlier books) and Nick, the former sheriff. The three now run their investigative firm. Each has a rich and complex backstory of life events and relationships. Because of the depth of backstory, old readers, like me, are eager for updates but you can also read this novel as a stand alone.

I have learned to trust this author, even when the official book description sounds bleak. In this one, the devastating story has to do with a former hospital where lobotomies were performed on women who were “troublesome” and certainly not capable of giving consent or even asked about consent. This historical malpractice figures in the story that takes place in the current day even though the hospital has been long closed. So…oh, no is what I thought. Not sure I can go there but…I am so glad to have read this title.

There is despair in this one but also glimmers of hope. There is also a death to be investigated, lots of local color and beautifully delineated characters, even minor ones such as a trucker and a librarian.

I give The Long Way Home 5 stars, not something I do often. I recommend it most highly.

Many, many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this book in exchange for an honest review. I am already longing for the next in the series.

Pub Date 28 Sep 2021

Cloud Cuckoo Land is probably one of the most anticipated and hyped books to be released this fall. It is a novel that will intrigue, challenge and be long remembered by its readers.

Anthony Doerr is incredibly intelligent in how he has crafted his story. He also demonstrates a deep knowledge of mythic tales and history as he tells a story that begins with an ancient text that binds the entire narrative together. This is the myth of Cloud Cuckoo Land.

Doerr’s novel takes place in Constantinople in the 1400s during a siege, in the U.S. in recent history (going back before the Korean War and moving to now), and in a distant future. Each of these worlds is so vividly portrayed and each is unique. The feat of creating these disparate worlds that feel so real is worthy of praise.

The characters who populate these eras are richly vivid and readers will ache for them. They include Omeir and Anna who are on the opposite sides of Constantinople’s ramparts, Zeno and Seymour in the present, and Konstance in the future. Each has those to whom they are connected, along with worries and concerns. Readers may well have favorite characters. I admired Anna but found myself most drawn to Konstance.

There were times when I wanted to discard this novel. The pain of some of the characters felt like too much. Nonetheless I kept going as I wanted very much to understand how the plot strands would join. Of course, they are all reading the same ancient text but there will be more.

Anthony Doerr loves libraries and this is clear throughout the story. The magic, knowledge and anchor that they bring to their patrons is made most evident. In fact, the novel is dedicated to librarians.

Cloud Cuckoo Land is not All the Light We Cannot See. It is its own work and will be judged on its merits. It is a book that will make many of its readers think and care deeply. I highly recommend it.

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

poisonedpen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/BN-Sep-21.pdf

Everyday Grammar Made Easy

A Quick Review of What You Forgot You Knew

by Rod Mebane

#EverydayGrammarMadeEasy #NetGalley

I am one of those people who care about grammar. Lately, my pet peeve has been that everyone from Prince Harry on down is using the words me and I incorrectly. So, I was excited to see this ARC on grammar, nerdy though that may be. And, yes, attention is given to that very topic in one of the book’s sections.

This title is densely packed with information. Readers who want to learn more about grammar or those who want some tricky questions answered will both find answers within.

Grammar is described by the author as the principles that guide how words work together. If a reader wants to speak or write more effectively, the rules and practices described in this book will be most helpful.

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