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The Book Salon ~~ November 2020
Nice review, particularly your thoughts on other works you've read by her. I haven't read any of them but recognize her name. And, as you may have noted on another thread, several of us do enjoy Salem stories. :-)
The Dead Are Arising' Sheds Light On Malcolm X — And Those That Influenced HimReview
https://www.npr.org/2020/10/28/928595...
The Dead Are Arising: The Life of Malcolm X---- Les Payne
'Group' Destigmatizes And Demystifies Group Therapy, Without LessonsReview
https://www.npr.org/2020/10/29/928721...
Group: How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved My Life --- Christie TateThis is also a Reese Witherspoon Book club pick for November.
Print Unit Sales Rose 13.4% In Early OctoberUnit sales of print books increased 13.4% in the week ended Oct. 10, 2020, over the comparable week in 2019, with three new titles topping the bestseller list. The two biggest bestsellers were in adult nonfiction, helping to lift unit sales 10.9% over the week ended Oct. 12, 2019. Ina Gartner’s Modern Comfort Food sold more than 130,000 copies in its first week, while Humans by Brandon Stanton followed, selling almost 103,000 copies. Juvenile fiction sales rose 17.1%, led by The Tower of Nero by Rick Riordan, which sold about 49,000 copies in its first week. YA nonfiction sales jumped 71.4% in the week. Three new titles in the Complete Guide in Ten Easy Lessons line from Simon & Schuster’s Portable imprint drove the gains: Engineering Made Simple, Science Made Simple, and Math Made Simple each sold more than 6,000 copies in its first week. Five new titles took the second through sixth spots in adult fiction, where sales rose 9.2%. Elin Hilderbrand’s Troubles in Paradise was #2, selling more than 39,000 copies, followed by The Searcher by Tana French, which sold nearly 27,000 copies, and Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam, which sold almost 23,000 copies.
Full stats in article
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/b...
This Week's Bestsellers: November 2, 2020Actor Matthew McConaughey has the #1 book in the country with Greenlights, which “is not a traditional memoir,” he writes in the introduction. Still, amid the “stories, insights, and philosophies,” he touches on highlights of his life and career, including his breakout dramatic role as small-town Mississippi lawyer Jake Brigance in the 1996 film version of John Grisham’s A Time to Kill. Grisham, meanwhile, debuted in the top spot last week with Brigance’s third outing, A Time for Mercy, which this week is #3 in the country. The two bestselling authors discussed McConaughey’s memoir in an online event hosted October 21 by Live Talks Los Angeles.
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/b...
Greenlights---Matthew McConaughey
------ Devolution : a firsthand account of the Rainier sasquatch massacre
by Max Brooks
A modern retelling of the Bigfoot legend is presented as a gripping journal by a woman from a high-tech Pacific Northwest community who becomes cut off from civilization by a volcanic eruption before witnessing the flight of starving humanoid beings.
----- Poison or Protect : A Delightfully Deadly Novella
by Gail Carriger
Lady Preshea Villentia, the Mourning Star, has four dead husbands and a nasty reputation. Fortunately, she looks fabulous in black. What society doesn't know is that all her husbands were marked for death by Preshea's employer. And Preshea has one final assignment: a house party with minimal bloodshed. Preshea hadn't anticipated Captain Gavin Ruthven, a massive, Scottish, quietly irresistible werewolf-- who's working for the enemy. Now Preshea must risk her own heart-- a terrifying prospect, as she never knew she had one.
----- Cocaine blues : a Phryne Fisher mystery
by Kerry Greenwood
When sleuth Phryne Fisher decides to try her hand at being a lady detective in Melbourne, Australia, she becomes embroiled in a mystery involving poisoned wives, cocaine smuggling rings, and erotic encounters with a beautiful Russian dancer.
------ The dark tide
by Alicia Jasinska
After offering herself to save her brother Finley and secret crush Tomas from capture by Caldella's Witch Queen, Lina Kirk and the witch soon face a terrible choice
------ Poor Tom is cold
by Maureen Jennings
A woman's evil stepchildren plot to lock her away in a sanitarium for the insane in order to steal her husband's estate, in an atmospheric mystery set against the backdrop of turn-of-the-century Toronto.
------ The bullet
by Mary Louise Kelly
When her world is blown apart, Professor Caroline Cashion returns home to discover the truth about her past and why her biological parents were murdered—and to find the killer before he finds her.
------ Migrations
by Charlotte McConaghy
A woman who has dedicated her life to protecting the environment convinces a fishing captain and his salty crew to follow the world's last flock of Arctic terns on a migration of dark revelations. A first novel. 200,000 first printing.
----- A deadly education
by Naomi Novik
An unwilling dark sorceress destined to rewrite the rules of magic clashes with a popular combat sorcerer while resolving to spare the lives of innocents.
------ Future Quest presents. Vol. 1
by Jeff Parker
"The Hanna-Barbera stars of the hit FUTURE QUEST series--Jonny Quest, Space Ghost, the Herculoids and many more--reunite in this all-new series! After the thrilling events of FUTURE QUEST, a new age of adventure begins! Space Ghost and his young wards Jan and Jace team up with the Herculoids to rebuild the mighty Space Force. Will they rise again to become defenders of the galaxy? Or is there something lurking in the shadows ready to stop them for good?"
------ Crooked river
by Douglas J Preston
Investigating dozens of grisly blue shoes containing severed human feet floating in the ocean off the coast of Florida, Pendergast and Junior Agent Coldmoon make harrowing discoveries while confronting an adversary of unimaginable power.
------ Rodham : a novel
by Curtis Sittenfeld
A novel of what-might-have-been follows Hillary Rodham as she takes a different path, blazing her own trail — one that unfolds in public as well as in private — and one that crosses paths again and again with Bill Clinton.
----- Evil Thing : A Tale of That De Vil Woman
by Serena Valentino
A memoir by the villainous Cruella De Vil documents her lonely childhood, daring fashion choices, fateful car crash, struggles with a possible curse and destructive relationships with the women in her life who shaped her choices.
----- Before the ever after
by Jacqueline Woodson
The son of an idolized pro-football star begins noticing the contrast between his father’s angry, forgetful behavior and his superhero reputation before adjusting to a new reality involving difficult symptoms stemming from his father’s numerous head injuries.
------ Lilac girls
by Martha Hall Kelly
A debut novel inspired by the life of unlikely World War II heroine Caroline Ferriday follows the experiences of a Manhattan debutante, who resolves to help upon learning of the atrocities at the Ravensbruck concentration camp; and a Catholic teen, who is swept up in the Polish resistance movement.
------ All systems red
by Martha Wells
A hardcover rerelease of the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning debut finds a team of scientists and their self-aware droid fending for survival on a distant planet when a neighboring mission goes dark.
Listening to the novel Munich Airport as I write this, carried over from last month. Also listening to Jane and Prudence by Barbara Pym, as well as a nonfiction title: Brief Lives of the English Monarchs: From William the Conqueror to Elizabeth II which is helpful in filling in gaps in my background.
Finished the ⭐⭐⭐⭐ second book in the Jimmy Mullen series
One Way Street by Trevor Wood https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Currently reading
A Galway Epiphany by Ken Bruen
Alias Reader wrote: "Print Unit Sales Rose 13.4% In Early OctoberUnit sales of print books increased 13.4% in the week ended Oct. 10, 2020, over the comparable week in 2019, with three new titles topping the bestsell..."
Because people are reading more instead of going out due to the virus??
Sandy *The world could end while I was reading and I would never notice* wrote: "Finished the ⭐⭐⭐⭐ second book in the Jimmy Mullen series One Way Street by Trevor Wood https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/......"Welcome to Book Nook Cafe, Sandy !
Julie wrote: "Alias Reader wrote: "Print Unit Sales Rose 13.4% In Early October
Julie Replied: Because people are reading more instead of going out due to the virus??
Let's hope it gets people hooked on reading !
Thank you for the news on book reviews and publishing, Alias. I haven't been paying attention but wondered if others were reading more during Covid. It seemed as though watching tv/movies/videos was dramatically increasing, but i hadn't heard much about reading, other than audio books.It's sad that Payne didn't live to see his Malcolm X book published. Oddly, i recall that a previous biographer, Manning Marable, died not long after his bio, Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention was published. After so much research and writing, at least they created appreciated biographies.
What a variety of books, Alias! They cover the fiction aisles quite nicely. I didn't find any for me, this time, though. Shocking, i know! It's probably because i just went through my pages-long TBR lists and decided i need to FOCUS next year on reading some of them.
John, i like such books as the Carolly Erickson brief biographies. They are such an education and, as you note, you learn about some monarchs who've been neglected. It takes me a month or so to work through them because i distract myself by looking for other books about the individuals.
Sandy, welcome to the group. Your tag line is clever, the world could end while i read some books, too. I hope what you are reading now works out that way.*Wait, i don't mean that i want the world to end...just to clarify. I hope the book is engrossing. Sounds safer for us all.
madrano wrote: It's sad that Payne didn't live to see his Malcolm X book published. Oddly, i recall that a previous biographer, Manning Marable, died not long after his bio, Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention was published. After so much research and writing, at least they created appreciated biographies...."I own but have not yet read Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention--Manning Marable
Speaking of Malcom X, The Autobiography of Malcolm X is one of my all time favorite books. It gives you a real good sense of the times. Also it not often you see people who change their outlook on life. The book gives you an excellent view of the arc of his life.
I've put this new one on my TBR list.
------ All Scot and Bothered
by Kerrigan Byrne
An unlikely heiress: Thanks to a mysterious benefactress, vicar's daughter Cecelia Teague now possesses a substantial fortune and, with it, a freedom afforded to few women in Victorian England.
An unusual bequest: Cecelia has also inherited a notorious London gaming hell, putting her on a collision course with the attractive Cassius Gerard Ramsay, Lord Chief Justice of the High Court, who believes the establishment is a front for criminal activities.
Series alert: All Scot and Bothered is the angsty, steamy 2nd book in the Devil You Know series, after How to Love a Duke in Ten Days.
------ Spoiler Alert
by Olivia Dade
The backstory: When he's not busy starring in the hit television series Gods of the Gates, actor Marcus Caster-Rupp writes fanfiction about the show under the name Book!AeneasWouldNever and shares it with his online BFF, Unapologetic Lavinia Stan (a.k.a. geologist April Whittier).
And then: After April's resplendent Lavinia cosplay goes viral and attracts the ire of fat-shaming trolls, Marcus defuses the situation by asking her out, not realizing that she's Unapologetic Lavinia Stan.
For fans of: Kate Stayman-London's One to Watch, Lucy Parker's Act Like It, or Jen DeLuca's Well Met.
------ The Roommate
by Rosie Danan
The situation: Shortly after her housemate (and unrequited crush) abruptly leaves L.A. after subletting his room to some guy he found on the internet ("You're gonna love him!), Clara Wheaton discovers that new roomie Josh Conners is porn star "Josh Darling."
Why you might like it: opposites attract as posh, high-strung Clara and laid-back, working-class Josh embark on a relationship that's part-business, all-pleasure in this sex-positive romantic comedy.
Reviewers say: "Warmly funny and gorgeously sexy" (New York Times).
------ Her Night with the Duke
by Diana Quincy
What happens: While stranded at a country inn, widowed travel writer Lady Delilah Chambers spends one night with a stranger only to find out later that he is Elliot Townsend, the Duke of Huntington -- and her beloved stepdaughter's betrothed.
What sets it apart: Delilah, an aristocratic woman of English and Arabian descent, offers a perspective rarely seen in Regency romance.
About the author: Prior to writing historical romance, Arab American author Diana Quincy was a television journalist.
------ The Love Study
by Kris Ripper
Just so you know: "Here's how my friends describe me to new people: 'This is Declan. He left his last boyfriend at the altar, so watch out.'"
What happens: As Declan reenters the dating scene six years after his ill-fated engagement, YouTuber Sidney invites him to participate in "The Love Study," their new video series about queer dating. But Declan discovers he has more chemistry with Sidney than any of his blind dates.
Read it for: a diverse, all-LGBTQIA cast, headed by a pair of well-matched leads, and supported by a lively friend group.
************** From different worlds **********
----- A Hope Divided
by Alyssa Cole
What it's about: Herbalist and spy Marlie Lynch, a free Black woman, harbors an escaped prisoner, Union soldier Ewan McCall, in her white half-brother's plantation home...which the Confederate Home Guard has just made their base of operations.
Why you might like it: Set during the American Civil War, this 2nd book in the Loyal League series boasts memorable characters, an exciting espionage plot, and well-researched historical details.
For fans of: Beverly Jenkins' House of Le Veq series.
------ Bringing Down the Duke
by Evie Dunmore
Starring: Oxford student Annabelle Archer, who must convince Sebastian Devereux, the politically influential Duke of Montgomery, to support the cause of women's suffrage.
What's at stake: Annabelle's scholarship, Sebastian's family estate, and crucial amendments to the Married Women's Property Act.
Reviewers say: This opening installment of the League of Extraordinary Women series is "chock-full of verve, history, and passion" (Library Journal).
------ When a Duke Loves a Woman
by Lorraine Heath
What happens: Gillie Trewlove rescues a badly injured man from the alley outside her Whitechapel tavern and discovers that he's Antony Coventry, Duke of Thornley, who requests her assistance in searching for his missing fiancée.
Series alert: When a Duke Loves a Woman is the 2nd in the Sins for All Seasons series (after Beyond Scandal and Desire), which follows a working-class family of foundling foster siblings.
For fans of: Sarah MacLean's Bareknuckle Bastards series.
----- The Rakess
by Scarlett Peckham
Introducing: Seraphina Arden, who rejects the label of "fallen woman" and instead becomes a "Rakess," dividing her time between activism, a series of lovers, and the publication of her scandalous memoirs.
What happens: Seraphina embarks on a liaison with widowed Scottish architect Adam Anderson, whose livelihood depends on the patronage of the very gentleman whom Seraphina has vowed to destroy.
What sets it apart: In addition to subverting the popular rake trope, this 1st Society of Sirens novel sensitively explores the challenges of healing from trauma en route to its happily-ever-after.
------- A Gentleman Never Keeps Score
by Cat Sebastian
All by himself: Ever since he became a social pariah, Hartley Sedgwick hasn't set foot outside the London house he inherited from his abusive godfather.
Until... Black retired boxer and tavern owner Sam Fox agrees to help an old friend by retrieving a scandalous painting from a gentleman's home, which brings him to Hartley's doorstep.
Why you might like it: This 2nd book in the Seducing the Sedgwicks series (after It Takes Two to Tumble) centers on the sweet yet steamy relationship between its likeable leads, who come from very different backgrounds.
------- Miss Benson's Beetle: A Novel
by Rachel Joyce
“Two very different women set off on a journey to New Caledonia to find a Golden Beetle, and discover so much more. A story of friendship and women breaking out of what is expected and being who they really are. By turns humorous, heartbreaking, and triumphant, you'll find yourself cheering for Miss Benson. For fans of Fredrik Backman, Elizabeth Berg, and Gail Honeyman.”
Janine Walsh, East Meadow Public Library, East Meadow, NY
NoveList read-alike: The Ship of Brides by JoJo Moyes
------- Before the Coffee Gets Cold: A Novel
by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
“A cafe has something magical--if someone sits in a particular chair and a cup of coffee is poured, they can travel to the past. In this slender story, the lives of visitors and staff intertwine, and four hopeful people sit in the chair. While this book deals with different kinds of loss, it's ultimately warm and uplifting. For fans of The Immortalists and Oona Out of Order.”
Julie Graham, Yakima Valley Libraries, Yakima, WA
NoveList read-alike: Strange Weather in Tokyo by Hiromi Kawakami
-------- The Boy Toy
by Nicola Marsh
“Hot Aussie alert! After a bitter divorce (cheating husband with a pregnant nineteen-year-old mistress), Samira left Australia for L.A. Now her cousin has convinced her to return for 6 months. On a night out, Samira is saved from a weirdo by a cute boy much younger than she is, and she’s in for the surprise of a lifetime with her new Boy Toy. For fans of Ayesha at Last and The Wedding Party.”
Afton Finley, Waseca Public Library, Waseca, MN
NoveList read-alike: The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai
-------- The Burning God: The Poppy War, Book 3
by R. F. Kuang
“In this satisfying finale to the Poppy War series, Kuang beautifully weaves in much Chinese history while maintaining a distinct storyline. Rin's similarities to Chairman Mao are fully realized by this third book, yet she remains a unique character with complex emotions of both rage and empathy. For fans of series fantasy such as Chakraborty’s Daevabad trilogy and Liu’s Dandelion Dynasty.”
Richard Lawhorn, East Cobb Library, Marietta, GA
NoveList read-alike: The Burning series by Evan Winter
------ Murder in Old Bombay
by Nev March
“James Agnihotri has recovered from a war injury when he reads about the “suicide” of two ladies. His first interview as a new journalist is with the husband of one of the women, who wants to know who murdered his wife and sister. Jim follows clues, interviews observers of the tragedy, and travels through India. For readers who like intrigue, other cultures, and romance, along with fans of Kate Atkinson and Laurie R. King.”
Gail Christensen, Kitsap Regional Library, Bremerton, WA
NoveList read-alike: A Rising Man by Abir Mukherjee
------- The Office of Historical Corrections: A Novella and Stories
by Danielle Evans
“A novella about the first African-Americans in Wisconsin and the lives of their descendants today along with several other haunting short stories. Recommended for fans of Jodi Picoult.”
Heather McIntosh, Botetourt County Libraries, VA
NoveList read-alike: The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw
------- The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany
by Lori Nelson Spielman
“Emilia is a devoted daughter, the second daughter in her family, and second daughters are cursed to never marry. Aunt Poppy, another second daughter, invites her on a trip to Italy promising to break the curse. For readers who enjoyed The Old Drift and It’s Not All Downhill From Here.”
Chris Markley, Kingsport Public Library, Kingsport, TN
NoveList read-alike: The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters by Balli Kaur Jaswal
------- This Time Next Year We'll Be Laughing
by Jacqueline Winspear
“The author of the beloved Masie Dobbs novels shares both madcap and poignant stories of her nuclear and extended family, giving insight into the humor and hardships that shaped her imagination and work. For readers who enjoyed Where the Past Begins: A Writer’s Memoir and How To Write an Autobiographical Novel.”
Joy Robinson, Piscataway Public Library, Piscataway, NJ
NoveList read-alike: My History: A Memoir of Growing Up
------- White Ivy: A Novel
by Susie Yang
“A coming of age immigration story, Ivy is obsessed with her privileged classmate and will do anything to win his love. For fans of You and Gone Girl.”
Joann Im, Los Angeles Public Library, Los Angeles, CA
NoveList read-alike: Social Creature by Tara Isabella Burton
------ Written in the Stars: A Novel
by Alexandria Bellefleur
“Darcy, a buttoned-up actuary, convinces quirky astrologer Elle to fake a relationship for a couple of months to get her brother (and Elle's new business partner) off her back. For fans of The Kiss Quotient and You Had Me at Hola.”
Elizabeth Gabriel, Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee, WI
NoveList read-alike: Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall
Jenna Bush Hager announces juicy, coming-of-age novel as November book club pickhttps://www.today.com/shop/jenna-bush...
White Ivy---Susie YangA young woman’s crush on a privileged classmate becomes a story of love, lies, and dark obsession, offering stark insights into the immigrant experience, as it hurtles to its electrifying ending.
Ivy Lin is a thief and a liar—but you’d never know it by looking at her.
Raised outside of Boston, Ivy’s immigrant grandmother relies on Ivy’s mild appearance for cover as she teaches her granddaughter how to pilfer items from yard sales and second-hand shops. Thieving allows Ivy to accumulate the trappings of a suburban teen—and, most importantly, to attract the attention of Gideon Speyer, the golden boy of a wealthy political family. But when Ivy’s mother discovers her trespasses, punishment is swift and Ivy is sent to China, and her dream instantly evaporates.
Years later, Ivy has grown into a poised yet restless young woman, haunted by her conflicting feelings about her upbringing and her family. Back in Boston, when Ivy bumps into Sylvia Speyer, Gideon’s sister, a reconnection with Gideon seems not only inevitable—it feels like fate.
Slowly, Ivy sinks her claws into Gideon and the entire Speyer clan by attending fancy dinners, and weekend getaways to the cape. But just as Ivy is about to have everything she’s ever wanted, a ghost from her past resurfaces, threatening the nearly perfect life she’s worked so hard to build.
Filled with surprising twists and a nuanced exploration of class and race, White Ivy is a glimpse into the dark side of a woman who yearns for success at any cost.
Reese Witherspoon Picks 'Group' for November Book Club
Group: How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved My Life----Christie TateA REESE’S BOOK CLUB PICK
“Hilarious and engrossing.” —People
“This unrestrained memoir is a transporting experience and one of the most startlingly hopeful books I have ever read.” —Lisa Taddeo, New York Times bestselling author of Three Women
“A wild ride…It gets pretty raw.” —The Boston Globe
The refreshingly original debut memoir of a guarded, over-achieving, self-lacerating young lawyer who reluctantly agrees to get psychologically and emotionally naked in a room of six complete strangers—her psychotherapy group—and in turn finds human connection, and herself.
Christie Tate had just been named the top student in her law school class and finally had her eating disorder under control. Why then was she driving through Chicago fantasizing about her own death? Why was she envisioning putting an end to the isolation and sadness that still plagued her despite her achievements?
Enter Dr. Rosen, a therapist who calmly assures her that if she joins one of his psychotherapy groups, he can transform her life. All she has to do is show up and be honest. About everything—her eating habits, childhood, sexual history, etc. Christie is skeptical, insisting that that she is defective, beyond cure. But Dr. Rosen issues a nine-word prescription that will change everything: “You don’t need a cure. You need a witness.”
So begins her entry into the strange, terrifying, and ultimately life-changing world of group therapy. Christie is initially put off by Dr. Rosen’s outlandish directives, but as her defenses break down and she comes to trust Dr. Rosen and to depend on the sessions and the prescribed nightly phone calls with various group members, she begins to understand what it means to connect.
Group is a deliciously addictive read, and with Christie as our guide—skeptical of her own capacity for connection and intimacy, but hopeful in spite of herself—we are given a front row seat to the daring, exhilarating, painful, and hilarious journey that is group therapy—an under-explored process that breaks you down, and then reassembles you so that all the pieces finally fit.
The First Stone: Some Questions About Sex and Power is by one of my favourite Aussie authors, Helen Garner. Men AND women; men VS women? This 25th anniversary edition includes other writings about Garner and the lively controversy over the indecent assault scandal.
5★ My review of The First Stone
Alias Reader wrote: "Sandy *The world could end while I was reading and I would never notice* wrote: "Finished the ⭐⭐⭐⭐ second book in the Jimmy Mullen series [book:One Way Street|54..."Thanks ❤📚
Alias Reader wrote: "Reese Witherspoon Picks 'Group' for November Book Club[book:Group: How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers..."Deliciously addictive? That's one for me. Great review. ❤📚
Although I didn't love
A Galway Epiphany: A Jack Taylor Novel by Ken Bruen quite as much as other books I have read in this series, it's still a good solid ⭐⭐⭐⭐ read. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Alias Reader wrote: "Speaking of Malcom X, The Autobiography of Malcolm X is one of my all time favorite books. It gives you a real good sense of the times. Also it not often you see people who change their outlook on life. The book gives you an excellent view of the arc of his life...."This is my favorite biography/autobiography ever. I liked the story of his growth and the retelling from his own viewpoint.
Rachel Joyce's Miss Benson's Beetle sounds up my alley. As does A Hope Divided by Alyssa Cole. However, the most tempting for me is Danielle Evans and the novella in The Office of Historical Corrections: A Novella and Stories. I hope it's as good as it appears.I appreciate the lists, Alias. Kinda. Afterall, my TBR just grew by THREE!!!!!
Wow, Patty, i agree with your concluding paragraph. What a book to spark conversation. Thanks for sharing about the story/process it took.
Sandy, thanks for the link to your review. The series sounds intriguing--have you read all the books in it? It's been around awhile but i've not heard of it. Where have i been?!I like your two star comment best. It sums up what i often think about books, particularly series. I like the book okay but probably won't read more. Well put.
madrano wrote: "Wow, Patty, i agree with your concluding paragraph. What a book to spark conversation. Thanks for sharing about the story/process it took."It sure is thought-provoking! Where is the line between flirting and annoying behaviour and indecent assault?
This is another cute cartoon biography for kids of Steve Jobs by Mª Isabel Sánchez Vegara. All libraries should have collections of this Little People BIG DREAMS series to inspire kids' curiosity. I always learn something from them and end up looking for more details!
4★ My review of "Steve Jobs"
Thanks to other GR readers for sharing this - I love short stories! Here's my take on Death By Scrabble by Charlie Fish. Good fun and very, very short.
4★ My "Death by Scrabble" review with a link to the story
The Kopp Sisters are as entertaining as ever in Amy Stewart's third in this historical mystery series, Miss Kopp's Midnight Confessions. New Jersey just before America's entry into World War One makes a great setting.
4★ My review of "Miss Kopp's Midnight Confessions"
Magical and enchanting ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
This little novella kept me interested from the first page to the last. Lise, the main character, is nothing if not strange. Her actions and words keep the reader guessing, wondering and intrigued throughout. Muriel Spark is a smart writer. Her story was tight and appealing. This is the first work of hers that I've read but I'll certainly read more.
The Driver's Seat
Patty, i agree more schools should offer that inspiring series for children. I'm in the process of reading Edward O. Wilson's Tales from the Ant World, an autobiography. He shares his avid fascination with insects from an early age, knowing exactly what he wanted to do with his life from an early age. Neat.There are so many new-ish short stories available online. Such a joy for those of us who enjoy dipping our toes into reading this way. I appreciate the link.
Patty, you have a way of making this series look very entertaining. The covers are appealing, too. Thanks for the update on the women.
Sandy, how delightful that you have a store of Hoffman stories to turn to, rather than return to our 21st century. It's neat to see what you like about the books. Glad you shared with us.
Petra, i like your take on this story. I've read a couple of books by Muriel Spark and liked them, even when i didn't like the characters. The first i read was during Watergate, when a review stated the story echoed Nixon & his gang. Fun but not brilliant. That was The Abbess of Crewe.From there i read her most famous novel, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. Then several more, liking her writing more & more. Again, i appreciate your comments.
madrano wrote: "I appreciate the lists, Alias. Kinda. Afterall, my TBR just grew by THREE!!!!!."
LOL.... Then my job is done here. :)
The Sky WorshipersGenghis Khan, the history remembers him as a brutal ruler, but also as a military genius, who out of nomadic tribes gave birth to the vastest empire ever, the Mongol Empire.
The plot is interesting: the princesses captured by Mongols chronicling the events of the empire.
3.5/5 When you have a story driven by historical events after a while it tends to get dry. This story is very rich in historical background and as much as I like stories rich in historical background, I have to say too much was packed into this story. Between historical facts more character development could be breathed into the story to make it more dynamic.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
John wrote: "I've got my final unread Spark title slated to tackle before the end of the year: The Only Problem."Wow, John, it appears you are a fan of her work. Do you have a favorite? This one sounds very good to me.
Alias Reader wrote: "madrano wrote: "I appreciate the lists, Alias. Kinda. Afterall, my TBR just grew by THREE!!!!!."
LOL.... Then my job is done here. :)"
LOLOLOL! Sadly, i know better. You just post list after list, sucking me into them...and adding to my own Pile!
Annette, i found your review of the F M Deemyad novel interesting on two levels. The first is the obvious--how was the book? The second was your analysis of what you wished to learn from the book. I suspect there are other fans of historical fiction who might disagree but we all come to books with hopes. I appreciate both aspects of your comments.Also, it's So Very Nice to read that someone else has a tendency to misread synopses! I did the same just last week. What the heck? I guess i feel i know what i want & will myself to see it. LOL!
madrano wrote: "John wrote: "I've got my final unread Spark title slated to tackle before the end of the year: The Only Problem."Wow, John, it appears you are a fan of her work. Do you have a favor..."
Aside from her blockbuster The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, I think Memento Mori is one I recall having liked particularly. I'm going to have to reread some of them as I have little memory of book plots, the way some people can't recognize names or faces.
madrano wrote: "I appreciate the lists, Alias. Kinda. Afterall, my TBR just grew by THREE!!!!!===========================
."Alias Reader wrote
LOL.... Then my job is done here. :)"
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Deb replied:
LOLOLOL! Sadly, i know better. You just post list after list, sucking me into them...and adding to my own Pile!."
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Just when I thought I was out...they pull me back in.- The The Godfather Part III
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPw-3...
Lara Hawthorne has produced the loveliest Christmas book I've seen in a long time. The Twelve Days of Christmas is beautiful and has a lot of interesting details kids (and grown-ups) will love. Great gift!
5★ My review of The 12 Days of Christmas
On a different note, The Night Whistler by Greg Woodland is an Aussie rural crime story that features a young boy who refuses to give up and a disgracefully demoted detective who believes him.
3.5★ My review of The Night Whistler
Book Nook Cafe
Books mentioned in this topic
The Journals of Susanna Moodie (other topics)Gould's Book of Fish: A Novel in Twelve Fish (other topics)
The Conquering Tide: War in the Pacific Islands, 1942–1944 (other topics)
Twilight of the Gods: War in the Western Pacific, 1944-1945 (other topics)
Pacific Crucible: War at Sea in the Pacific, 1941-1942 (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Margaret Atwood (other topics)Richard Flanagan (other topics)
Ian W. Toll (other topics)
Garry Disher (other topics)
Michele Campbell (other topics)
More...
This the thread for general book discussions for November 2020.
Tell us what you just read, are currently reading or plan to read. Tell us about your favorite author. Have you read some book news? Share it with the group. Anything related to books and reading, we want to hear all about it !
:)