by Bernadette Watts

#StoriesforChristmas #NetGalley Pub Date 14 Sep 2021

I adore the delicate illustrations that enhance this collection of Christmas stories. There are eight tales in all. Some of these are well-known as, for example, The Little Drummer Boy, and The Snow Queen while others were not as familiar to me. All are nicely told but what will keep readers coming back are the absolutely gorgeous illustrations; definitely could be a picture book of the year in my opinion.

There is a note at the end of the book from the illustrator which is entitled “How I Became an Illustrator.” I am so glad that she did!

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

THIS TITLE DESERVES FIVE OF THESE STARS

#TheReadingList #NetGalley

A BEST OF SUMMER READ ACCORDING TO NEWSWEEK, PARADE MAGAZINE, NBC NEWS, LITHUB, AND POPSUGAR!

This author’s love of books, libraries and people shine through in this title. The novel tells the story of Mukesh and Aleisha as well as some others. Mukesh was widowed and feels lost without his wife. When he comes across her copy of The Time Traveler’s Wife, he wants to return this overdue book to the library. This is a surprisingly difficult expedition for him. Mukesh even literally has difficulty getting in the library door which he does not know how to open.

Inside the library is Aleisha who is halfheartedly performing her duties as a summer employee. While her brother always adored the library as a child, Aleisha did not enjoy being there. Will this change?

Over the course of the novel, these two characters interact and their lives change as the result, in part, of a book list.

Bibliophiles will very much enjoy the book’s premise and will root for the characters. They will also enjoy seeing the book titles and lists that the author includes in this novel.

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

by Marisa Aragón Ware

Pub Date 21 Sep 2021 #BodhiSeestheWorldThailand #NetGalley

Young readers are invited to come to Thailand with Bodhi. When she first arrives, Bodhi is overwhelmed and wants to go home. Children watch her take her first tentative steps in this new place. She comes to very much enjoy the sights and the people.

This book is a good one. It shows the importance of exposure to new cultures and teaches something about the country Bodhi is visiting. The illustrations are brightly colored and add to the book’s visual appeal.

Included are a number of Seek and Finds. For each, information is provided beneath the picture. For example, beneath a sea creature is stated “The colorful and territorial Siamese fighting fish is Thailand’s national aquatic animal.” This mans that, in addition to having fun, children will learn something as they look through this title. There is also additional information about Bangkok.

All in all, this is a nice book. I hope that Bodhi will have more adventures.

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

by Martin Edwards

Pub Date 12 Oct 2021

This collection of stories has been put together and edited by Martin Edwards. In addition to writing his own novels, Mr. Edwards has contributed to a number of collections for Poisoned Pen Press and the British Library. Among these are The Christmas Card Crime and Other Stories; Vintage Crime; and Blood on the Tracks.

This new book will make a perfect gift for a fan of classic mystery stories and their authors. Following a short introduction, readers will find a dozen holiday themed stories. Some of the authors included are Ngaio Marsh, John Dickson Carr, Margery Allingham and Cyril Hare. Each tale begins with a short biographical section on the author.

The nice thing about a story collection is that readers can complete an enjoyable short story relatively quickly and add pleasure to their day. Of course, there will be some who will want to read all of these stories right in a row!

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

by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara

#RuthBaderGinsburg #NetGalley

Pub Date 21 Sep 2021

I truly loved this entry in the long running series. Ruth’s story is told simply and well. Readers get a fine sense of what motivated Ruth and all that she accomplished, despite much overt sexism. They also learn that she was a broadminded fighter for everyone’s rights. Unlike some, readers learn that she could get along with those who disagreed with her. Watch for the short part in the story about her and Antonin Scalia.

Throughout the illustrations are quietly appealing. I loved the attention paid to Ruth’s glassses.

I highly recommend this title.

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

Standing Out, Getting In, and Staying Sane While Applying to College

by Becky Munsterer Sabky

#ValedictoriansattheGate #NetGalley

We are now entering the stressful season for rising junior and seniors in high school. These teens often believe that their worth is intimately bound up in where they will go to college. They also often face (way too much) pressure from parents about where they ought to go and what they ought to do there. It can be a very difficult rite of passage.

The author of this guide to admissions has a good sense of what is involved on many levels of this process. About twenty years after her applications were submitted, she still remembers what it was like not to be admitted to Dartmouth. She tells readers that she ultimately went to her fifth choice school, Colby College. At the time, Ms. Sabky took this to mean that there was something wrong with her. But…guess what, she still managed to thrive in college. This is what she wants for her readers.

Ms. Sabky has also worked in college admissions and brings that perspective to this guide. And guess what (again), after working at St. Lawrence, she went on to work in admissions at Dartmouth.

The book opens with a description of a meeting to review student applications. Many may find the way it was run to be somewhere between horrid and ridiculous. It does show, however, that admissions officers make decisions in a way that can be a bit capricious. To me this means that, if a student does not get into a given school, it can and will hurt but that trying to find a meaningful reason of the decision may just lead to unnecessary soul searching. I take from this that the same student will be admitted to one school only to be deferred from another equally “good” school. The process is to serve the school’s needs; if they can serve the student as well, that is good but that is not their motivation.

This book has a lot of practical information about applying to college. It also includes a plethora of anecdotes about students and the work of admissions officers.

This book will be valued by those who are looking for a personal account from admissions and are willing to accept the process can be flawed. Some may feel discouraged however. The author’s intended takeaway is that there is a good school for a student even if it was not their first choice school. It is clear that she felt good about Colby and feels that, for her, things worked out well. She wants this for others.

So, read this book if you are brave enough. It is helpful.

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

How to Fly (In Ten Thousand Easy Lessons)

by joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviewsSeptember 13, 2020

Poetry

by Barbara Kingsolver

Pub Date 22 Sep 2020

#HowtoFlyInTenThousandEasyLessons #NetGalley

I have read and enjoyed novels by Barbara Kingsolver and so was both excited and intrigued to see that she was publishing a book of poems. I read about this volume in an interview with the author that said her poetry was personal and could not have been put out into the world earlier in her life.

The poems themselves cover many topics. The first section, aptly in view of the title of this collection, is all about how to…how to Have a Child, Cure Sweet Potatoes, Survive This and more. There are a number of other sections as well.

The poems can, of course, be read in any order. I loved many of them. There is a life wisdom that Ms. Kingsolver has acquired and shares; take part in it. Read this title.

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

Carnegie’s Maid by Benedict

by joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviewsOctober 11, 2018

Imagine that your family sends you (alone) to the U.S. because of financial hardship in Ireland and you will need to support your relatives back home. Imagine that you are able to take on someone else’s identity to become the servant of Andrew Carnegie’s mother. Will you be found out? Will your position be secure? These are among the premises of this richly detailed historical novel. Relationships between upstairs and downstairs, specifically between Clara and Andrew Carnegie are a major part of this novel. Read it too to learn more about the business world and women’s roles in the post Civil War U.S. Overall, an enjoyable read.