A Novel

by Maggie Humm

#TallandHouse #NetGalley

This book of historical fiction will be welcomed by those who enjoy stories about women trying to find their way in the world. The main character, Lily is an artist and a product of her times; she is aware of the expectations for women and what she wants for herself. Given the time frame of the story, readers learn more about nursing during the Great War and the movement for women’s right to vote.

With a bow to Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Ramsay, Lily becomes involved in wanting to understand what led to her demise. Mrs. Ramsay was a key figure to Lily who painted a portrait of her that was not completely well received by its subject. In addition, the reader watches Lily as she falls in love with her tutor, Louis.

There is a lot going on in this well-told narrative. I enjoyed the book’s Cornwall setting, the characters and the insight into women’s lives at that time. I also admire the author’s understanding of Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse and how this was incorporated into the story.

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

Enjoy.

by Liesbet Slegers

Clavis Publishing

#BakersandWhattheyDo #NetGalley

Pub date: November 10, 2020

This book is so adorable; the illustrations are endearing and made me smile, while the text made me hungry! If you know a child who likes rolls, cakes, pies and more, they may well enjoy this book about what bakers do and how they do it. They will learn some interesting facts; for example, bakers get up early in the morning and why they wear white clothes.

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

World’s Greatest Cities

A Journey Through the Most Dynamic and Fascinating Cities in the World

by Editors of Chartwell Books

#WorldsGreatestCities #NetGalley This title is a lovely resource for travelers both virtual and real. Iconic locations from each featured city are highlighted. For New York, it is the Empire State building. For Beijing readers see the Forbidden City while in Venice, we view St. Mark’s Basilica and in Paris, Notre Dame. Then there is Christ the Redeemer in Rio, Tower Bridge in London and Senso-ji Temple in Tokyo. If these locations intrigue you, this book will be a delight. For each featured city, there is a spread with a map, key facts and then an essay. This is followed by a detailed look at the featured building. Throughout there are many photos of each of these amazing metropolises. This book would be a great addition to the travel library of someone you know. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

How to They/Them

A Visual Guide to Nonbinary Pronouns and the World of Gender Fluidity

by Stuart Getty

#HowtoTheyThem #NetGalley

Language evolves to meet new needs and has done so for a very long time. The use of they/them in new contexts is part of that history. It is important that language be responsive and make sense. In this book, the author provides a good explanation for the current addition of they/them as a singular pronoun that is responsive to our current time.

The author provides history and engages in dialogue with the reader, all the while helping readers to embrace adding to their vocabularies. This book is recommended for those who want to educate themselves and others in their lives. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

Discover the Facts. Be Inspired. Make A Difference.

by Jess French

#LetsSaveOurPlanetForests #NetGalley Pub date: October 6, 2020 This engagingly illustrated title for kids will inspire them to care about the environment. The subject here is deforestation and the importance of our forests. Kids will learn about some of the many ways that forests are critical to the ecosystem; there is everything from their beauty to the role of forests in climate change. Readers will also become knowledgeable about the many types of forests there are including tropical rain forests, boreal forests and temperate deciduous forests. After reading about the causes of deforestation there is a section on the effects of deforestation followed by some more optimistic chapters. These include solutions and a “what you can do,” thus helping the young to become engaged and to not feel hopeless about their world. This section includes a number of possible career choices related to the environment. The children of today will inherit the beauty of the natural world and the calls to care for it. This title will help them to understand the stakes but not to panic. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.

I Do Not Like Stories

by Andrew Larsen

#IDoNotLikeStories #NetGalley

I found this endearingly illustrated story to be charming and sweet. It will be especially enjoyed by children who like cats as the adventurous cat features in all of the illustrations. Our narrator tells about all of the kinds of stories that he does not like as he goes through the events of his day…but wait! What happens at the end? Read the book to find out. It is cute.

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

by Edited by Paul Edmondson and Stanley Wells

#AlltheSonnetsofShakespeare #NetGalley

This year I have been reading more poetry. Poetry lends itself to this time when there is leisure (at least for me while I go nowhere basically) to read and reread a poem in order to “get” it. This collection is most welcome and part of a new ambitious project for me.

Of course everyone has heard of Shakespeare. Dip into the many sonnets, some of which may be familiar and many of which may not. All are worth some of your time.

Along with the sonnets, there is a good introduction in this book which can be read in any order. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

by Ruta Sepetys

#TheFountainsofSilenceSAMPLER #NetGalley

I was very excited to see this excerpt from The Fountains of Silence on NetGalley. My sister, who loves historical fiction, highly praised this novel. Although we may not always agree, we agree that this book is worth reading.

Although this title was published as a young adult novel, in my opinion both adults and young adults will find it to be interesting and involving. The setting, Franco’s Spain, engages the reader. There have been many historical novels set in France, Germany and England but not so many in Spain. Readers will learn what happened to the country under the Fascist leader. There are repercussions for today’s politics as well.

As in all good historical fiction, there are characters to learn about and connect with. Over the course of the book, readers will get to know Ana and those around her. They will also meet Daniel who gets to know Ana and her family. They were on the Republican side during the war. This is the side that was against Franco and has impacted them.

This sampler was enough to intrigue me and I now plan to read the novel. Have you read it? If yes, what are your thoughts?

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