Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too!

This book is a fantastic resource for both home and school libraries. It is geared toward elementary school children but, as an adult, I also found it to be highly informative and interesting. As would be expected 50 trailblazers are featured in the book. Some of them were well known to me, as for example, Joe Biden or Rosa Parks while many others were new to me. Just a couple of the new names to me included Margaret Murie and the All American Red Heads. Some of the people featured are quite contemporary, as for example, Colin Kapernick. Each person has a two page spread that is dense with information. There are sections on what the trailblazer did, where they were from, how their work continues and more. There are also quotes. I enjoyed this one from Rebecca Lobo:

and my daughter walked in the room and looked at the TV and said to Steve, ‘Are those boys playing?’ And I said, ‘Yes.” And my daughter said, “I didn’t know boys played basketball.”

I give this book a full five stars. It will inspire and inform the children in your life. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

#50TrailblazersOfThe50States #NetGalley

 

J.P. Monninger has crafted an exquisite novel in Seven Letters. The author has a gift for making readers feel that they are on a journey with the characters. Places including Ireland and Italy come to vivid life in the novel. In addition, there is a good history lesson on the Blasket Islands in the book. I want to visit there and know more about the people who once lived on the islands.

The main characters in the novel are Ozzie, a damaged war vet and Kate, a professor at Dartmouth College. Their meeting, their relationship, their pasts all are beautifully described. The reader roots for them and wishes for their hard earned happiness…but can it be?

I highly recommend this lush beautiful novel. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the wonderful read in exchange for an honest review.

Also check my blog for my entry on the blog tour for this novel.

Sujata Massey is the author of two mystery series.  I highly recommend the earlier, contemporary series about Rei Shimura which is set in Japan.  In this new series, the author is telling stories set in India in the  1920s.  The first novel is The Widow of Malabar Hill.

Perveen Mistry is a rarity in her time.  She is a legally married, but separated, woman practicing law. Perveen has entree to the women who are in purdah and endeavors to serve their best legal (and life) interests.

This story is ostensibly about what the best education for a young maharajah would be.  But there is more.  There are intrigues, an affair, murder, family ties and tensions.  The reader also watches as Perveen is attracted to a British officer/diplomat for the Satapur region.

Massey tells her story well.  The book is an engaging one that should bode well for the future of the series.

Editorial Reviews:
“Massey’s second whodunit featuring Bombay attorney Perveen Mistry is even better than the series’ impressive debut . . . The winning, self-sufficient Perveen should be able to sustain a long series.”
—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“Once again Massey does a superb job of combining a fascinating snapshot into 1920s British-ruled India with a top-notch mystery. She has created a strong, appealing heroine who is forging her own path in a rapidly changing world.” 
—Library Journal, Starred Review

“[The Satapur Moonstone] will certainly please readers looking for an engaging new female lead.”
—Booklist

The Baltimore Sun‘s Best Author of 2019
An Amazon Best Book of the Month for May 2019
A Book Riot Read or Dead Most Anticipated Mystery Novel of 2019
A CrimeReads Most Anticipated Crime & Mystery Novel of 2019
A BookBub Most Anticipated Mystery Novel of 2019
A Goodreads Most Anticipated Mysteries and Thrillers of Spring

Bird Summons tells the story of three Muslim women who go on a vacation/pilgrimage to visit the grave of a Scottish woman who converted to Islam. Each of these friends has a full life and issues with which to cope. They form the basis of the novel.

Salma was born in Egypt. She was a physician there but is not able to practice her profession in the U.K. Instead, she is a massage therapist. Salma is married to David, who had converted to Islam before they met. Salma has only self-imposed restrictions in her life. She has recently heard from an old love who is still in Egypt. What decisions will she make?

Moni has a traditional marriage although it is a stressed one. Moni has a son with profound developmental issues who is the focus of her life. Will she move to be with her husband back in the Middle East? What would this mean to her son and her?

Imam, the youngest of these friends, has lived her life on the basis of her beauty. She thinks that she has found a relationship that will sustain her but, unfortunately, her partner does not seem willing to face the lack of acceptance of the relationship from his family. Will she come into her own?

The story centers on these characters both as individuals and in their interactions with each other. The novel is a mix of straightforward narrative and strange tales told by a symbolic bird. What do these bird summons mean to the characters? Read the book to find out.

This novel is a good read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in return for my honest review.

#BirdSummons #NetGalley

Editorial Reviews

The illustrations in this short book are beautiful and full of the wonder of nature. They form the background to a story that is about a mother bird who loses an egg. Clearly, this is an anthropomorphized story about miscarriage. The listener sees how the mama bird’s living child tries to cheer her up as the two go on a flight that shows the beauty of their world. When they return home, Mama Bird feels better.

This book fills a niche as there are few stories that explain miscarriage to young children. For this reason, it is a valuable resource. The book is sweet but may leave young ones feeling not only that they make their parents happy but also feeling that it is up to them to make things better. Parents should reassure children that this is not their responsibility but that family love does make things better. This book can open up a tough subject for young children and their parents.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book in exchange for an honest review.

More Donna Leon whose Brunetti series is excellent.  Also, from the Golden Age of Mystery, some Margery Allingham.  Lastly,  a Ken Follett saga.

In Cities Around the World, children will search for famous landmarks as well as the small things that symbolize a city. Hot dogs in Manhattan anyone? The cities include New York, London,Amsterdam, Paris, Berlin, Barcelona,Rome, Moscow, Beijing, Tokyo, Sydney and Toronto. The iconic sites are noted as for example, the River Seine and Musee D’Orsay in Paris or Saint Patrick’s Cathedral and the Statue of Liberty in New York. In addition, there are travelers to find and other sights to hunt for in addition to the landmarks.

The detailed illustrations are in muted tones. The details are intriguing and I especially enjoyed looking at the people. Children will enjoy searching each city and will learn about places to visit along the way. Of note, the puzzles are of medium difficulty.

Thank to NetGalley and the publisher for this fun trip in exchange for an honest review.

#CitiesAroundTheWorld #NetGalley

From the publisher:

This is an appealing book that will teach budding artists, including adults, how to draw more than 100 every day items. The author has a natural, chatty style as she describes the projects and how she became interested in each.

The book begins with general directions, a list of tools and materials, etc.  It is then divided into chapters including Around the House, Get Outside!, Everyday Life and Around Town.  There is also a final section on Crafting Projects. Each section has multiple ideas. For example, the section Around Town has two Creative Prompts:  one on Bicycles and one on Mailboxes.  There are then exercises that involve drawing a house, a cafe and a neighborhood map.  Each of the other chapters is similar in organization.  For all, there are detailed illustrated directions for drawing.

The book has a mix of color and black and white artwork.  The finished projects look lovely and, at times, whimsical.  Throughout, the book is inspiring and helpful.  Readers will see that, even if  not born an artist, you can learn to draw and enjoy creating your own works.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for htis read in exchange for an honest review.

This is an excellent cookbook for both the Kosher and non-Kosher cook. Everything is laid out in a clear, concise way, including the ingredients, the steps in the recipe and the time that it will take to prepare the food. Categories include No-Cook with Strawberry Feta Salad and Strawberry Basis recipes for example; 30 Minutes including Pumpkin Pie Pancakes and Barbecue Pastrami-Wrapped Asparagus as well as Perfectly Creamy Mac and Cheese, among others. There are also chapters on 5 Ingredient Meals such as Sausage Stuffed Sweet Potatoes and Lazy Meatballs, among with others and then sections on One Pot Meals and Slow Cooker & Pressure Cooker meals, again with each chapter including many recipes. Further, there are chapters on Bakery items, Staples, Holiday Menus and more. There are over 100 recipes in all. Beginning cooks will feel success with the recipes and experienced cooks will also enjoy their ease. The book is nicely illustrated throughout. I feel inspired to get in the kitchen!

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

#TheSimplyKosherCookbook #NetGalley

From the publisher:

I love this book!  If you are pregnant or know someone who is, this would make a great gift, for yourself of them.  This is a comic/graphic novel that shows a heterosexual couple falling in love, establishing a life together, experiencing a pregnancy and becoming parents with all of the ups and downs that this entails.  The illustrations are sooo adorable and emotive.  This is a sweet yet honest look at an important stage in life.  Highly recommended!  I give it five stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and AndrewsMcMeel publishing for this book in exchange for an honest review.

#Baby #NetGalley