RTC. I'm being a little more generous that I would ordinarily with this one. It's a little below average for this category- but, while it's not the beRTC. I'm being a little more generous that I would ordinarily with this one. It's a little below average for this category- but, while it's not the best, it's not the worst, either. So, a middle of the road rating for this one. Full review at a later date. ...more
Piglet: The Unexpected Story of a Deaf, Blind, Pink Puppy and His Family by Melissa Shapiro is a 2021 Atria Books publication.
This book wins inspiratPiglet: The Unexpected Story of a Deaf, Blind, Pink Puppy and His Family by Melissa Shapiro is a 2021 Atria Books publication.
This book wins inspirational story of the year!
Melissa Shapiro, a veterinarian with a thriving practice, a busy family, and a large pet and bird population of her own, agreed to temporarily foster a little puppy that was blind and deaf.
Melissa never dreamed she would eventually give Piglet, his forever home, much less see him become a superstar social media sensation. His journey was one that require a great deal of patience, a whole lot of work, and loads of love and affection- but this little dog’s spirit would teach and inspire countless children to meet the challenges they faced.
This little guy is just adorable, and his story will absolutely melt your heart!! Follow him on Instagram and Facebook- but also read his book. Knowing his journey will help you appreciate just how far this little guy has come and what a wonderful, vibrant disposition he has. He does great work- but he couldn’t have done it without Melissa and her family. They, too, are inspirational and I’m so glad they recognized Piglet’s potential.
Melissa, her family, and Piglet have touched so many lives and should be an example to us all.
Miss Eliza’s English Kitchen by Annabel Abbs is a 2021 William Morrow Paperbacks publication.
Eliza Acton’s original plan to become a poet came to an Miss Eliza’s English Kitchen by Annabel Abbs is a 2021 William Morrow Paperbacks publication.
Eliza Acton’s original plan to become a poet came to an abrupt halt when a publisher dismissed her work and then had the audacity to suggest she write a cookery book. To make matters worse, her father suffered a reversal of fortune, prompting him to leave the country. Eliza, with limited options, reconsidered the publisher’s suggestion that she write a recipe book.
But first, she must familiarize herself with a kitchen and gather recipes to add to her book. To help her with this task, she hires Ann Kirby, an impoverished young woman hoping to provide proper care for her ailing mother. Together, these women forge a bond while creating a series of popular cookbooks. It was a friendship that grew over time and endured for a lifetime.
The story is told in dual narratives. Eliza’s thoughts and personal goals and challenges are very different from those Ann Kirby endured, but the women complemented one another beautifully.
The characterizations are well done, with both women growing emotionally, gaining confidence and strength as individuals and as partners, each achieving their own personal and professional satisfaction.
I really enjoyed this story, based the real Eliza Acton and her English cookery books, which I must confess, I was totally unfamiliar with.
As a frequent reader of historical fiction, it is common to encounter dual timelines these days, which is okay most of the time, but not really my favorite, which was why I enjoyed the format the author used in this novel. Instead of a dual timeline, she used dual first-person narratives from the same time period. This made the story much more effective for me.
The truth about Mrs. Beeton’s book is also interesting, and is something people should be made aware of, in my opinion.
Overall, this is a lovely story of two very different women, from very different walks of life, coming together to create something worthwhile and helpful to generations of cooks who have benefitted from Eliza’s organization and instructions on not only the proper ingredients, but the steps needed to make the dishes a success. This format is still widely utilized today and has influenced several high-profile chefs over the years.
Culinary enthusiast, and fans of strong historical female characters will not want to miss this one!
Spin: A Novel based on (Mostly) True Story by Peter Zheutlin is a 2021 Pegasus publication.
This is a fictional account of Annie Londonderry’s infamouSpin: A Novel based on (Mostly) True Story by Peter Zheutlin is a 2021 Pegasus publication.
This is a fictional account of Annie Londonderry’s infamous bicycling marathon around the world in 1895.
You must read the book to fully understand the meaning of the title. Apparently, Annie Londonderry knew how to weave a very colorful tale, and used that gift to promote herself with lively embellishments about experiences on her journey around the world by bicycle. It was the first such feat ever attempted by a woman- and despite rumors of a wager- it was all most likely a publicity stunt.
There are so many half-truths or outright lies that Annie told in order to create publicity, that now it is almost impossible to tell what the entire truth really was- but what we do know is that Annie did embark on an around- the world trip on a bicycle, and her adventure made her a brief celebrity, enabling her to begin a career as a journalist.
The novel details both the verifiable facts and the wild stories Annie often told, along with a fictionalized imagining of her personal life.
Today, Annie’s adventure is but a small footnote in history, but I’m happy the author discovered his ancestry and brought Annie’s story back to life.
Annie appears to be quite a colorful character -both in real life and in novel form. I’m not sure what she would think of her nephew’s ‘spin’ on her life story- but I have a feeling she would have gotten a kick out of it.
The Sculptress by V.S. Alexander is a 2021 Kensington publication.
A First World War Saga-
I’ve been on a mission to locate new historical fiction thatThe Sculptress by V.S. Alexander is a 2021 Kensington publication.
A First World War Saga-
I’ve been on a mission to locate new historical fiction that is NOT set during the second world war. This book, although still a wartime drama- at least transpires during a different world war.
The story is centered around the life of Emma Lewis, a sculptress, who was fortunate enough to study under a world- renowned artist.
But, when Emma falls in love, she is left with a broken heart. Vowing to never allow her emotions to rule her head or heart ever again, she marries Tom, a doctor devoid of passion. Eventually, the marriage began to fray, becoming strained.
Then when war breaks out, Tom feels it is his duty to help with the war effort, and leaves Emma alone in Boston.
From there, Emma focuses on her art, only to feel frustrated by the lack of credit given to female artists. She also finds herself tempted by a blind artist who awakens her repressed feelings. Fearing further scandal, she departs for France to reunite with Tom.
It is there she discovers a purpose for her work- molding masks for soldiers disfigured in the war. While her marriage remains in shambles, Emma’s past comes roaring back in a most unexpected way. As stunning revelations mount, along with the heaviness of loss and missed opportunities, Emma rises up to take command of her life independently.
This is a strangely absorbing story, tragic and fraught with intense dramatics, but is also unflinching in its depictions of war. The author deftly draws the reader into the center of the horrors of war, and the tumultuous betrayals and desires of the heart.
That said, I wasn’t quite sure how to feel about this book. Because it draws from true events, ( the real-life sculptress, Anna Coleman-Ladd), and because it comes perilously close to becoming a retelling or re-imagining of Madame Bovary, the originality is thin- provided one is somewhat familiar with Gustave Flaubert's classic, that is.
It’s not the most cheerful novel, but boldly explores subject matter rarely acknowledged back in the early 1900s. The characters are not especially likeable, but, perhaps one could claim Emma’s work during the war provided her with some redemptive qualities.
The conclusion turned out to be a bit ambiguous, leaving me with some conflicted feelings about how things were left.
While I can commend the research behind the novel, the homage to a renowned classic, and the way art brought about healing in the darkest of times, from a personal standpoint, the book didn't quite reach the its intended goal.
This is my first book in this series. I wouldn't have chosen to start here, but this is an assigned book - on a deadline, I've al Lady Sherlock Rocks!
This is my first book in this series. I wouldn't have chosen to start here, but this is an assigned book - on a deadline, I've already missed- so I dug in, hoping for the best.
Despite missing out on some interesting history between the recurring characters, I thoroughly enjoyed this excellent locked room mystery. I had been curious about this series for a long time, so I'm glad I finally had the chance to check it out. I will definitely continue on with the series and hopefully, I will be able to cram in the previous four books before the next release, so I'll understand all the nuances hinted at in this installment.
If you are following this series, I'm sure you'll find this book to be a worthy addition. For me, I love locked room mysteries and this one was a highly entertaining head-scratcher.
If you love historical and British mysteries or like the various Sherlockian pastiches, then you will probably want to check this series out! If this book is any indication, I think this could become one of my favorites!!
Lots of pictures- easy to follow, step by step instructions. Great introduction for beginners. Might be a good time to consider trying to gAssigned-
Lots of pictures- easy to follow, step by step instructions. Great introduction for beginners. Might be a good time to consider trying to grow your own food. You don't need much space to try growing these herbs, veggies, and fruits.
Assigned- 4 stars. This was a fun, interesting book about an avid vinyl record collector. If I were rich, I'd borrow his idea- only I'd would visit raAssigned- 4 stars. This was a fun, interesting book about an avid vinyl record collector. If I were rich, I'd borrow his idea- only I'd would visit rare book stores instead. ...more
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