Book Nook Cafe discussion

This the thread for general book discussions for April 2021.

What book did you select to start the new month reading ?

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 !
:)

The Mirror Man by Jane Gilmartin

Jeremiah Adams is a marketing executive for ViMed Pharmaeceuticals, which has created a controversial drug that transfers everything in the brain (thoughts, memories, etc.) For an experiment, the drug is used to make a clone of Jeremiah, which proceeds to live Jeremiah's life.

Good Sci-fi thriller. 3.5 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Barbara! You hustler! Using Keanu Reeves to illustrate your review! Your words alone draw me to this book but adding Reeves is like a drug to some of us...not naming names.

deborah Anonymous

madrano wrote: "Barbara! You hustler! Using Keanu Reeves to illustrate your review! Your words alone draw me to this book but adding Reeves is like a drug to some of us...not naming names.

deborah Anonymous"

Ha ha ha Keanu is a favorite actor of mine too. 🙂

----- I Have Something to Tell You : A Memoir
by Chasten Buttigieg

A moving, hopeful, and refreshingly candid memoir by the husband of former Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg about growing up gay in his small Midwestern town, his relationship with Pete, and his hope for America's future.



----- Demon slayer. 1, Cruelty
by Koyoharu Gotoge

After his peaceful life is shattered when a demon slaughters most of his family and turns his little sister Nezuko into a demon, Tanjiro Kamado sets out on a dangerous journey to find a way to save his sister and avenge his family



----- The postscript murders
by Elly Griffiths

Detective Sergeant Harbinder Kaur investigates the seemingly unsuspicious death of a 90-year-old woman with a heart condition who had a very extensive collection of crime novels, each one dedicated to her and each containing a mysterious post-script. 35,000 first printing.



------ V2 : a novel of World War II
by Robert Harris

A World War II German rocket engineer under orders to launch V2 rockets at London from Occupied Holland and an actress-turned-English Intelligence officer who would neutralize the bombings land on opposite sides in a desperate hunt for a saboteur.



----- Trouble on the books
by Essie Lang

After taking over her aunt's bookstore in the Thousand Islands region of Upstate New York, a former editor investigates the murder of a volunteer coordinator at the castle on Blye Island in the first novel of a new mystery series.



------ The night circus : a novel
by Erin Morgenstern

Waging a fierce competition for which they have trained since childhood, circus magicians Celia and Marco unexpectedly fall in love with each other and share a fantastical romance that manifests in fateful ways.



------ There and back again : By Max Merriwell
by Pat Murphy

When a asteroid miner stumbles upon a mysterious message pod, he finds himself in the middle of an adventure involving the richest family in the galaxy, who believes what he has found could be the key to mapping the wormhole system. 12,500 first printing.



------ King Philip's War : the history and legacy of America's forgotten conflict
by Eric B. Schultz

King Philip's War--one of America's first and costliest wars--began in 1675 as an Indian raid on several farms in Plymouth Colony, but quickly escalated into a full-scale war engulfing all of southern New England.

At once an in-depth history of this pivotal war and a guide to the historical sites where the ambushes, raids, and battles took place, King Philip's War expands our understanding of American history and provides insight into the nature of colonial and ethnic wars in general. Through a careful reconstruction of events, first-person accounts, period illustrations, and maps, and by providing information on the exact locations of more than fifty battles, King Philip's War is useful as well as informative. Students of history, colonial war buffs, those interested in Native American history, and anyone who is curious about how this war affected a particular New England town, will find important insights into one of the most seminal events to shape the American mind and continent.



------ Cannibalism : a perfectly natural history
by Bill Schutt

A research associate at the American Museum of Natural History presents a tour of cannibalism in the human and animal worlds to explore its evolutionary roles and how it has manifested culturally as a survival mechanism, burial ritual and warfare tactic.

------ Stamped : racism, antiracism, and you
by Jason Reynolds

A timely reimagining of Dr. Ibram X. Kendi’s National Book Award-winning Stamped From the Beginning reveals the history of racist ideas in America while explaining their endurance and capacity for being discredited.


----- The lake monster mystery
by Shannon Gilligan

While on a vacation in Vermont, two sisters become determined to prove that there is a sea monster living in Lake Champlain, in a book where the reader's choices determine the outcome of the story.


----- 'Salem's lot
by Stephen King

When a writer returns to his small Maine hometown, he discovers that the peaceful hamlet is being overrun by vampires and sets out to curb this ancient evil before it can spread, in a new edition of the horror classic that features fifty pages not in the original edition, as well as two previously unpublished short stories, and a new author introduction.


------ The magicians : a novel
by Lev Grossman

After graduating from a secret, exclusive college of magic in upstate New York, Quentin Coldwater finds that a fictional land from a series of childhood fantasy novels is real, but is more darker and dangerous than he could have imagined.

----- Dealbreaker
by L.X. Beckett

What it's about: Twenty years after the events of Gamechanger, pilot Frankie Barnes works for the Bootstrap Project to develop technology that will prove that humans are ready to become galactic citizens.

Why you might like it: This 2nd Bounceback novel is an optimistic, post-cyberpunk romp packed with shiny futuristic technologies, from autonomous AI to immersive VR to faster-than-light travel.



----- We Could Be Heroes
by Mike Chen

Then: Jamie Sorenson and Zoe Wong woke up in empty apartments with superpowers, but no memories of their previous lives.

Now: Jamie, a bank robber, and Zoe, a vigilante crime-fighter, meet in a support group for people with memory loss and team up to find out what happened to them.

About the author: Mike Chen is the author of Here and Now and Then and A Beginning at the End.



----- The Echo Wife
by Sarah Gailey

Starring: scientist Evelyn Caldwell and her illegal clone, Martine, who's now pregnant by Evelyn's estranged husband, Nathan.

But wait, there's more! The plot twists keep coming in this disturbing SF thriller, which takes readers inside some deeply dysfunctional relationships.

About the author: Sarah Gailey is the author of Magic for Liars and Upright Women Wanted.



----- The Witch's Heart
by Genevieve Gornichec

Starring: Angrboda, a witch who defies Odin, loves trickster god Loki, and bears three unusual children.

For fans of: Madeline Miller's Circe, Neil Gaiman's Norse Mythology.

Want a taste? "Long ago when the gods were young and Asgard was new, there came a witch from the edge of the woods."



------ Beneath the Keep: A Novel of the Tearling
by Erika Johansen

What it is: a prequel to the bestselling Queen of the Tearling trilogy, which examines life in the feudal Tearling Kingdom.

Featuring: Princess Elyssa, mother of series protagonist Kelsea; Lazarus, who will play an important role in events to come; and members of the nascent Blue Horizon rebel group.

Is it for you? Human misery abounds in the Tearling, including but not limited to slavery, child abuse, and human trafficking.



----- Winter's Orbit
by Everina Maxwell

A marriage of convenience: To uphold a treaty, playboy Prince Kiem of the Empire of Iskat must wed the recently widowed Count Jainan of Thea, whose first husband died in suspicious circumstances.

Why you might like it: This character-driven space opera, originally published on Archive of Our Own as "The Course of Honour," maintains a tight focus on Kiem and Jainan's relationship.

For fans of: the blend of romance and political intrigue in Emily Skrutskie's Bonds of Brass.



----- A History of What Comes Next
by Sylvain Neuvel

What it's about: Mia and Sarah are Kibsu, aliens that work in mother-daughter pairs to push humankind towards the goal of space exploration while avoiding the Trackers that threaten to undo their efforts.

Why you might like it: This well-researched series opener by the author of the Themis Files trilogy includes appearances by historical figures such as Wernher Von Braun and Sergei Korolev.

For fans of: the richly detailed alternate history of the Space Race presented in Mary Robinette Kowal's Lady Astronaut novels; the rival factions of Annalee Newitz's The Future of Another Timeline.



----- Soulstar
by C.L. Polk

Finally! Aeland's hated Witchcraft Protection Act has been repealed, but there's a long way to go to right the wrongs of the past, which confined some witches to asylums while sending others into hiding.

Starring: Robin Thorpe, recently reunited with her long-imprisoned spouse, and community organizer Jacob Clark, who seeks voting rights for all.

Reviewers say: This conclusion to the Kingston Cycle (starting with Witchmark) "tightly braids the strands of the personal and the political in a fantasy world few will want to leave" (Booklist).



----- The Mask Falling
by Samantha Shannon

The situation: Escaping Britain for a safe house in Paris, dreamwalker Paige Mahoney and her Rephaite companion, Arcturus, work to build cross-channel alliances to take down the authoritarian Scion regime.

Read it for: a detailed dystopian setting, cloak-and-dagger intrigue, and new developments in a slow-burning, will-they-or-won't-they romance.

Can you start here? The Mask Falling is the 4th book in a planned seven-volume series and builds upon the foundation laid in previous installments; newcomers should start with The Bone Season.



------ On Fragile Waves
by E. Lily Yu

Introducing: siblings Firuzeh and Nour, born in Kabul during wartime and raised on their parents' stories of Australia, a land of "No bombs. No checkpoints. No soldiers."

What sets it apart: Depicting the family's harrowing journey in dreamlike prose, this heartwrenching debut reads like a folktale but but offers no happy endings.

For fans of: the magical realist approach to migration and displacement in Mohsin Hamid's Exit West; the haunting and lyrical style of Rene Denfeld's The Enchanted.

------ Extravagant: Discovering a Life of Dangerous Generosity
by Brady Boyd

What it is: an inspiring rallying cry toward Christian generosity, taking the Good Samaritan parable as its center.

What makes it unique: the distinction drawn between the concept of charity and "true" generosity; a candid exploration of less-discussed obstacles to generosity such as distraction and fear.

About the author: Pastor Brady Boyd leads the New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and has published other works about the intersection of faith and lifestyle including Let Her Lead and Addicted to Busy.



------ The Saint Makers: Inside the Catholic Church and How a War Hero Inspired a Journey of Faith
by Joe Drape

What it is: the engaging biography of military chaplain Father Emil Kapaun, whose service in World War II and death in a Korean War POW camp have put him on the path to canonization.

Read it for: author Joe Drape's discussion of the way his research for this book encouraged him to reexamine his own relationship with faith and the church.

You might also like: No Greater Glory by Dan Kurzman, which tells the story of four other military chaplains whose service cost them their lives.



------ Let Us Dream: The Path to a Better Future
by Pope Francis

What's inside: a concise and accessible call to reckon with the most pressing problems facing the world and to resist the urge to "return to the false securities of the political and economic systems we had before the crisis."

Why you might like it: Thoughtfully organized into digestible parts, Let Us Dream maintains an attitude that the world's seemingly insurmountable problems can be approached as opportunities to grow and change as individuals and as a whole.

Reviewers say: "Informed by spiritual sources and the thinking of some of the world's foremost scientists, economists, and activists, Pope Francis offers tools for creating a better, more just world" (Library Journal).



----- Religion and the Rise of Capitalism
by Benjamin M. Friedman

What it is: a scholarly exploration of the role that Protestant Christianity played in the development of modern economic thought and how it continues to influence contemporary beliefs about the free market.

Who it's for: readers interested in religion as a social force.

Don't miss: the discussion of Adam Smith's ideas about scarcity and how they might have been shaped by hot-button religious topics of his day.



------- The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song
by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

What it's about: This compelling history of the Black church in America looks at its central role in Black cultural life, including the ways it has helped (and sometimes hindered) social progress and political resistance.

Media buzz: The Black Church has been adapted by PBS into a documentary miniseries of the same name.

About the author: scholar, journalist, and Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. has published books such as Life Upon These Shores and The Trials of Phyllis Wheatley. He also hosts the PBS family history series Finding Your Roots.



------ Benedict XVI: A Life. Volume 1, Youth in Nazi Germany to the Second Vatican Council...
by Peter Seewald

What it is: the engaging and well-researched 1st entry in a multi-volume biography of pope emeritus Benedict XVI (born Joseph Ratzinger).

You might also like: Absolute Monarchs by John Julius Norwich, which covers the history of each pope, from St. Peter up to the election of Benedict XVI.

Reviewers say: Author Peter Seewald "artfully weaves together politics, church history, philosophy, and theology to show how these influenced and shaped the man who would become Pope Benedict XVI" (Library Journal).



------ Happiness Becomes You: A Guide to Changing Your Life for Good
by Tina Turner

What it's about: the personal philosophy and life advice of legendary artist Tina Turner, informed by her nearly 50 years of practicing Buddhism.

Why you might like it: Happiness Becomes You is more than just another celebrity memoir. Although Turner does reflect on the way her practice has supported her through personal struggles, readers will also find an accessible guide to Buddhist practice and terminology with relevant inspirational quotes inside.



------ Black & Buddhist: What Buddhism Can Teach Us About Race, Resilience, Transformation...
by Pamela Ayo Yetunde and Cheryl A. Giles (edited by)

What it is: a timely and engaging anthology of essays by Black Buddhist practitioners, about their spiritual journeys and the intersections of their racial and religious identities.

Topics include: healing from intergenerational trauma; the search for wholeness as both an individual and social phenomenon.

Try this next: Be the Refuge by Chenxing Han, which aims to return Western conversations about Buddhism to an Asian context and explores the relationships that modern Asian Americans have to the faith.

~~~~ Home, Garden, and DIY ~~~


------ Mini Amigurumi Animals: 26 Tiny Creatures to Crochet
by Sarah Abbondio

What's inside: simple, clear instructions for making adorable animals.

Why you might like it: With many projects using the same body pattern, this a good bet for beginning crocheters.

Projects include: rabbit, dog, cat, horse, elk, hedgehog, lion, and sloth.



------ Plant-Powered Protein: 125 Recipes for Using Today's Amazing Meat Alternatives
by Nava Atlas

What's inside: 125 vegan recipes using protein alternatives, including some DIY versions. There are also color photos, recipe variations, recommended pantry staples, protein health information, and a resource list.

Recipes include: Easy Plant Parmesan; Biscuits with Sausage Gravy; New England Clamless Chowder; Bacon Baked Beans; Chick'n Tetrazzini Pasta; Massaman Curry; Meaty Veggie Burritos.



------ Growing Under Cover: Techniques for a More Productive, Weather-Resistant, Pest-Free...
by Niki Jabbour

What it is: a thoughtful, in-depth guide to a variety of plant covers -- cloches, mini hoop tunnels, cold frames, polytunnels, greenhouses, and more -- that will extend growing time and create a more productive vegetable garden.

Topics include: choosing a cover; preventing problems; using shade cloth; site selection; maintenance; cover-loving vegetables.



------ Clean Mama's Guide to a Peaceful Home: Effortless Systems and Joyful Rituals...
by Becky Rapinchuk

What it is: a well-organized, friendly guide to setting up cleaning systems and rituals by the author of Clean Mama’s Guide to a Healthy Home and founder of the Clean Mama blog and website.

What's inside: workbook-like questions to help you focus on where you need help; 50 housekeeping tips; checklists.


****** Focus on: Style ******

----- Wild at Home: How to Style and Care for Beautiful Plants
by Hilton Carter

What's inside: lush color photos; shopping and styling tips; home tours; the benefits of plants; care basics; and propagation info.

Want a taste? "Have you ever seen a variegated monstera? The way in which the green and white come together like a piece of marble cake is perfection."

Did you know? The author's latest book, Wild Creations, focuses on DIY projects like murals and plant stands and comes out next month.



------ Elements of Family Style: Elegant Spaces for Everyday Life
by Erin Gates

What it is: a beautifully photographed, family-focused design book organized by room that offers practical advice and ideas for purchasing items (rugs, sofas, etc.) that can survive children and pets.

Don't miss: the detailed photograph captions; the clever sidebar tips; the author's story about her struggle with infertility.



------ The Mexican Home Kitchen: Traditional Home-Style Recipes that Capture the Flavors...
by Mely Martínez

What's inside: over 85 homestyle Mexican recipes, plus photos, a look at the Mexican pantry, a list of equipment and tools, and cooking tips.

Recipes include: Flour Tortillas; Lentil Soup; Carnitas; Chiles Rellenos; Cheese Empanadas; Pork Tamales; Pico de Gallo; Salsa Verde; Refried Beans; Rice Pudding; Flan; Horchata; Mexican Hot Chocolate.

About the author: Mely Martínez writes the popular Mexico in my Kitchen blog and has lived in various regions of the country.



----- The Curated Closet: A Simple System for Discovering Your Personal Style...
by Anuschka Rees

What's inside: a minimalist approach to fashion that uses workbook-style exercises and infographics to help readers assess their individual clothing needs, identify their personal style, build a small but versatile wardrobe, and learn the art of smart shopping.

Is it for you? Created by style blogger Anuschka Rees, The Curated Closet focuses on women, but its philosophy can be adapted by anyone looking to step up their style and streamline their closet.

------- The Fallen Angel
by Tracy Borman

Series alert: The Fallen Angel wraps up the trilogy of novels starring Frances Gorges, a secret Catholic whose knowledge of herbalism puts her at risk at the court of witchcraft-obsessed King James I.

The setup: The stakes at court are even higher for Frances and her husband, Sir Thomas Tyringham, after they find themselves in the path of the king's newest (and most ruthless) favorite George Villers, who will do whatever it takes to maintain his position.

Reviewers say: "Entertaining and delicious Stuart-era scandalmongering" (Kirkus Reviews).



------ The Mermaid from Jeju
by Sumi Hahn

What it's about: The eventful life of a Korean girl named Junja, from her early days as a haenyeo (one of the remarkable all-female group of divers on the island of Jeju) to her final days as a well-respected elder in Philadelphia's Korean American community.

Witness to history: Junja's dramatic and sweeping story begins during the Japanese occupation of Korea and is also deeply marked by the events of World War II, the Communist rebellion, and the 1950s American military occupation, which mold her into a tenacious survivor.



------ In Search of a Name
by Marjolijn van Heemstra

What it is: a reflective and stylistically complex story of the search for historical truth that wrestles with questions of inheritance and moral responsibility, inspired by the author's own family and their activities during World War II.

Starring: Dutch writer and expectant mother Marjolijn, who sets out to learn more about an uncle who allegedly fought with the anti-Nazi resistance after her grandmother suggests naming her baby after him.

Try this next: Gurjinder Basran's Someone You Love is Gone, which also explores the self-discovery to be found in difficult family legacies.


----- The Arctic Fury
by Greer Macallister

The premise: Inspired by the true story of the doomed Arctic voyage of British ships H.M.S. Terror and H.M.S Erebus, this candid and suspenseful story follows Bostonian Virginia Reeve, hired by a captain's widow to discover what she can about what went wrong.

The problem: Virginia's own voyage returns from the ice with an incomplete crew and its own mystery to solve -- what really happened in the frozen north, and was one of the team really capable of murder?

About the author: Greer Macallister writes a regular column for the Chicago Review of Books and has published other historical novels including Woman 99 and The Magician's Lie.



------ Outlawed
by Anna North

What it is: The fast-paced and compelling story of apprentice midwife and erstwhile doctor Ada, whose inability to bear children leads her to develop a unique kinship with a group of female and nonbinary outlaws, whose defiance of social expectations offers Ada a chance for life on her own terms in the Dakota territory.

You might also like: other westerns about gutsy social outsiders like All God's Children by Aaron Gwyn and How Much of These Hills is Gold by Pam C. Zhang.



********* The Bonds of Friendship ********


----- The Whale: A Love Story
by Mark Beauregard

What it's about: novelists Herman Melville and Nathaniel Hawthorne, whose brief yet intense friendship coincided with some of their most iconic work.

Read it for: extracts from real letters the authors exchanged; the flesh-and-blood portrayal of Melville, whose self-deprecating humor and emotional honesty make him a compelling and relatable narrator.

Want a taste? “I feel that this Hawthorne has dropped germinous seeds into my soul. He expands and deepens down, the more I contemplate him; and further, and further, shoots his strong New-England roots into the hot soil of my Southern soul.”



------- A Single Thread
by Tracy Chevalier

What it is: an engaging and bittersweet story of life after loss, and making a place for yourself in a society that seems determined to leave you behind.

Featuring: thirty-eight year-old Violet Speedwell, who, 14 years after she lost her fiancé during the Great War, discovers purpose and healing when she joins a group of women who embroider the seats and kneelers at Winchester Cathedral.

For fans of: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows, which also features likeable female characters who find solace and meaning in an unlikely circle of friends.



------- The After Party
by Anton DiSclafani

Starring: rebellious glamour girl Joan Fortier and Cece Buchnan, her "best friend since infancy, her modern-day lady-in-waiting." Inseparable since childhood, the women's complicated bond is unraveled by Joan's increasingly alarming behavior.

Why you might like it: Set amid the debutante balls, cocktail parties, and garden-club luncheons of 1950s Houston, Texas, The After Party boasts in-depth characterizations and strong period atmosphere.



------ The Pull of the Stars
by Emma Donoghue

What it is: the richly detailed and moving story of three days in a Dublin maternity ward during the worst days of the 1918 Flu Epidemic.

Why you should read it: The moving and well-researched portrait of dedicated but overworked health care workers trying to get through a major disease epidemic is especially poignant and timely.

About the author: Irish novelist and Man Booker finalist Emma Donoghue has written both contemporary and historical fiction including Slammerkin, The Sealed Letter, Room, and Frog Music.



------ Lost Roses
by Martha Hall Kelly

What it's about: the upturned lives of three young women in the wake of the Russian Revolution -- aristocratic Sofya Streshnayva, a Romanov cousin; Eliza Ferriday, a New Yorker visiting her school friend Sofya's homeland; peasant and young mother Varinka, who feels caught between her family's safety and her revolutionary ideals.

Series alert: Lost Roses is the 2nd entry in a series of historical novels about life during wartime starring the Ferriday family, which began with Lilac Girls.

Alias, i am SO glad you do not illustrate the book lists you share with photos of actors we love! I'd go crazy!! *winking to Barbara*

It was a pleasure to see several books i've read on the lists you shared, Alias. I can endorse the blurbs about the following:
I Have Something to Tell You--Chasten Glezman Buttigieg

The Postscript Murders--Elly Griffiths

The Arctic Fury--Greer Macallister.

But oh, the temptations include the following:
King Philip's War: The History and Legacy of America's Forgotten Conflict--Eric B. Schultz

The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song--Henry Louis Gates Jr.

Benedict XVI: A Life: Volume One: Youth in Nazi Germany to the Second Vatican Council 1927–1965--Peter Seewald

Not to mention the mysteries & science fiction! And a new-to-me Tracy Chevalier, A Single Thread.

Lucky us, lucky readers.

Alias Reader wrote: "
----- I Have Something to Tell You : A Memoir
by Chasten Buttigieg

A moving, hopeful, and refreshingly candid memoir by the husband of former Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg ab..."

I read The Night Circus. Normally, fantasy books leave me blah, but I loved this book about a travelling circus and a contest set up by two aging magicians. The characters came alive for me on the audio book so that I looked forward to time in the car. I rated it 5*****.

Squeeze Me by Carl Hiaasen

In this comic novel by Carl Hiaasen (set in the Trump era), a POTUS-supporting socialite goes missing in Palm Beach, leading to unpredictable repercussions.

Plenty of fun characters. 3.5 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Gina, it's interesting you posted about the Erin Morgenstern novel. The description drew me it but i wondered. Now i know it's worth the time. Thanks.

Barbara, if ever a book was a romp, this Hiaasen sounds like one! I appreciate your run down.

Just DNF'ed Mother Land, finding I needed to suspend disbelief regarding the characters to continue.

John wrote: "Just DNF'ed Mother Land, finding I needed to suspend disbelief regarding the characters to continue."

Sorry to hear it wasn't working for you. Onward to better reads.

I loved Trent Dalton's first book (Boy Swallows Universe), which was largely autobiographical. There's no question he can write.

All Our Shimmering Skies is good, but I was spoiled by what I know he is capable of.
3.5★ Link to my Shimmering Skies review

Barbara wrote: "Squeeze Me by Carl Hiaasen

In this comic novel by Carl Hiaasen (set in the Trump era), a POTUS-supporting socialite goes missing in Pa..."

I'm in the process of listening to this in my car, but it's due tomorrow so I'll have to interrupt listening. It is funny if you don't like Trump.

PattyMacDotComma wrote: "I loved Trent Dalton's first book (Boy Swallows Universe), which was largely autobiographical. There's no question he can write.

[book:All Our Shimmering Skies|48..."

This is on my short TBR stack. Can't wait to get to it.

Patty, sorry to read that the next Dalton wasn't as good a reading experience for you. It sounds unusual with new ideas for characters & their friends, at least.

As an aside, i didn't realize Australia was bombed during WWII. So, your review educated me in more ways than one. Thanks.

Gina wrote: "Barbara wrote: "Squeeze Me by Carl Hiaasen

I'm in the process of listening to this in my car, but it's due tomorrow so I'll have to interrupt listening. It is funny if you don't like Trump.."

I agree; Trump supporters probably wouldn't laugh.

Gina wrote: "Barbara wrote: "Squeeze Me by Carl Hiaasen

In this comic novel by Carl Hiaasen (set in the Trump era), a POTUS-supporting socialite go..."

Thanks for the heads-up on this book. I'm almost done with my current audio book and need a new one to listen to at the gym.

Alias Reader wrote: "Gina wrote: "Barbara wrote: "Squeeze Me by Carl Hiaasen

Thanks for the heads-up on this book. I'm almost done with my current audio book and need a new one to listen to at the gym.
."

You're welcome. I hope it gives you a chuckle Alias. 😁

Finished this weekend, the novel The Royal Governess

Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I just enjoyed Kopp Sisters on the March by Amy Stewart, number five in the series. It's April 1917, just before America enters WW1, and the sisters are off to army camp with another colourful character.
4.5★ Link to my Kopp Sisters review

Simon, i'll bet that is an enjoyable book. I wasn't aware of the governess, nor her own book. Since she had the Queen Mother's permission to write a book, i guess she didn't share it with her before publication. I'll bet that wouldn't happen today! Thanks for the titles and sharing your thoughts about the novel with us.

Patty, it's fun to keep up with the Kopp sisters via your reviews. What individuals they are.

Decided to check on why Kurlansky's Paper: Paging Through History seems to be taking so long? Once again, the text actually finishes at 75% with the rest being notes, etc.

Madrano,

Thing with Marion Crawford is that she didn’t have the Queen Mother’s permission to write the novel about her experience educating the future royal daughters. That’s what caused the whole “exile” situation. I feel that Crawford was pressured to write down her experiences but I won’t say more but you should read this novel :)

I gave my mother This Tender Land as a recent birthday gift. Today I noticed she'd started it, when I asked how it was going she replied "I love it!" Not a book for me, but I thought she might like it.

I’ve heard much rave reviews on This Tender Land. My book club pick for June so on my 2021 reading list :)

Simon, thanks for that clarification. I read Goodreads comments about The Little Princesses, believing the QM did, in fact, give permission. I see i missed the word "maintained" permission was given. We'll never know the truth but it seems odd that the woman would think she was allowed to write it.

I'm sadly nearing the end of Louise Penny's Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series. Number 15 is A Better Man. Freezing spring floods threaten Three Pines and Montreal.
4.5★ Link to my review of A Better Man

Summer Brother by Dutch author Jaap Robben was a good read and has just been longlisted for the 2021 International Booker Prize.
4★ LInk to my Summer Brother review

The Great Mistake


What shaped Andrew Haswell Green to become one of the most influential people shaping the map of New York City as we know it today? And what drove another man to murder Green at the age of eighty-three?

4/5 the proceedings of the murder case did not hold my interest, but the character development gives the story an interesting depth, which is the strength of this story.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Forest of Secrets

England, 1586. After weeks on the road investigating a possible treason, Mistress Ursula Stannard is journeying back home with her retinue. She solves mysteries and has the ear of the queen and her council. Upon her arrival home, she has an unexpected guest: Etheldreda Hope, a simple country woman who comes from the New Forest. The vicar in her area wouldn’t listen to Etheldreda, so she thought to turn to Mistress Stannard regarding some strong goings-on in her village. “She thinks these Goings On, whatever they are, could have something to do with Mary Stuart.”

4/5 I found some descriptions of Ursula’s thinking process slowing the pace at times. However, if you are familiar with this series and the character of Ursula, then you may feel differently about this.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished Finding Rebecca

My Review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/3903821012

Patty, it's always nice to read reviews of a series i didn't continue reading. From your review of the Penny book i learned that Gamache's daughter ended up marrying his subordinate. Nice. And more. Thanks for the update. Those truncated sentences sound authentic during the storm, i would imagine.

The description of the mother, "he’s got the universe in his eyes" is lovely. And wonderful.

Annette, one thing i like about historical fiction is an exploration of people i've never heard mentioned, such as Andrew Haswell Green. I don't recall hearing the name previously but i've wondered about the islands of NY and how they are one. Thanks.

In the book about Ursula, you cover another aspect of such fiction which i like. Learning about holidays and how they are celebrated, even when i am mostly unfamiliar with them, is a delight. I look forward to reading about Midsummer in Chenston. Again, thank you.

Interesting review, Dem. I am familiar with being disappointed in the inconsistencies of some authors. Still, we have to try them, right? I'd hate to overlook a gem. Thanks for sharing your ups & downs with this author.

I finished a couple of easy, relaxing mysteries over the weekend:

Tricky Twenty-Two - I usually listen to the audio versions of this series, while out jogging. They make for a fun time. But this book isn't available in audio, so I read the print version. This was such a relaxing, fun read. This series is formulaic, for sure, but they are amusing at the same time.

A Quiet Place - I enjoy a Japanese mystery and this one is no exception. The focus of Japanese literature is more on customs, expectations, saving face than found in North American literature. This story starts slow, with very deliberate pacing, but picks up as the protagonist goes through his ordeal. It's very cleverly done. I enjoyed this mystery.

I finished Long Bright River. I really enjoyed this book. Mickey was trying to find her sister and solve a string of murders. At the same time, she has things happening in her life. This was an entertaining book that follows the mail character through this period in her life and her past. It was interesting and I recommend this book.

I finished Riding the Bullet. This was an interesting short story about a kid hitchhiking home to his mother when she had a stroke. There were a few twists to the story. It was a quick and entertaining short story.

Milkman by Anna Burns

An 18-year-old girl, living in Northern Ireland during The Troubles, is stalked by a high-ranking, middle-aged, paramilitary leader.

This book won the Man Booker Prize for 2018. 4 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

------ Nobody's Normal: How Culture Created the Stigma of Mental Illness
by Roy Richard Grinker

What it is: an engaging look at the history of mental illness stigma and how those negative attitudes have shaped treatment over time.

Read it for: the author's compassionate approach toward mental illness and the story of his own family's role in the history of psychology (his grandfather worked with Sigmund Freud).

Reviewers say: Nobody's Normal is a "highly readable, thoughtful study of how we perceive and talk about mental illness" (Kirkus Reviews).



----- ADHD 2.0: New Science and Essential Strategies for Thriving with Distraction...
by Edward M. Hallowell MD and John J. Ratey MD

What it's about: understanding and managing ADHD in all stages of life, grounded in the latest available research.

Why you should read it: Both authors have ADHD themselves, giving them personal perspective that's as valuable as their professional work.

Don't miss: the exploration of topics often left out of conversations about ADHD, such at the emotional ramifications of living with the disorder.



----- Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted
by Suleika Jaouad

What it's about: the moving and bittersweet story of Suleika Jaouad's battle with leukemia and her journey of emotional recovery after surviving the disease.

About the author: Jaouad is an Emmy Award-winning documentarian and columnist for the New York Times.

Reviewers say: "This is a stunning memoir, well-crafted and hard to put down" (Publishers Weekly).



----- The Plague Cycle: The Unending War Between Humanity and Infectious Disease
by Charles Kenny

What it is: a timely and well-researched history of the relationship between humanity and disease and how various plagues have shaped society.

Why you should read it: to provide context for the economic, social, and political implications of the current pandemic.

Don't miss: the discussions of non-communicable but still widespread conditions like high blood pressure.



----- The Price you Pay for College: An Entirely New Road Map for the Biggest Financial Decision...
by Ron Lieber

What it's about: planning for the ever-increasing costs of higher education and how things got so expensive to begin with.

About the author: Ron Lieber is the author of The Opposite of Spoiled and writes the column "Your Money" for the New York Times.

Reviewers say: The Price You Pay is "a revealing and useful guide" to funding a college education.



------ Parenting While Working from Home: A Monthly Guide to Help Parents Balance Their Careers...
by Shari Medini and Karissa Tunis

What it is: a well-timed and approachable guide to balancing the competing responsibilities of work, childcare, and schooling when all three take place at home.

Why you might like it: Potentially overwhelming topics are broken down into digestible pieces that include practical steps to help you get started.

Try this next: The Free-Market Family by Maxine Eichner, which explores how many parents got to this stressful place and what can be done to improve work/life balance in modern society.



------- What Doesn't Kill You: A Life with Chronic Illness -- Lessons From a Body in Revolt...
by Tessa Miller

What it's about: This candid account of learning to live with chronic illness chronicles how author Tessa Miller had to radically alter her perspective and expectations after being diagnosed with Crohn's disease in her early adulthood.

For fans of: Kate Bowler's Everything Happens for a Reason, which also takes a candid look at life-altering illness.

Don't miss: a chapter full of advice for people who have someone with a chronic illness in their life on how best to provide support and accommodations.



------ Sanctuary: A Memoir
by Emily Rapp Black

What it is: a lyrical and moving examination of trauma and grief after losing a child to congenital disease.

Read it for: cogent observations about the social norms surrounding grief and resilience and how they affect the grieving process.

About the author: Fulbright scholar and Michener fellow Emily Rapp Black has previously published the memoirs Poster Child and The Still Point of the Turning World.



------ Every Body: An Honest and Open Look at Sex from Every Angle
by Julia Rothman and Shaina Feinberg

What's inside: candid anecdotes, interviews, and essays about a wide variety of topics related to human sexuality and sexual health.

Topics include: body-positivity and self-image; mental and physical health conditions related to sex; intersex advocacy; modern life with HIV.

Is it for you? The stories related in Every Body are told in a liberated, frank style that's not shy about the details of sexuality.



------- The Puzzle Solver: A Scientist's Desperate Quest to Cure the Illness That Stole His Son
by Tracie White with Ronald W. Davis, PhD

What it is: the inspiring story of Stanford University geneticist Ronald W. Davis's work to understand and treat the debilitating disease myalgic encephalomyelitis (also called chronic fatigue syndrome) after his son's diagnosis.

Why it matters: ME/CFS has often been dismissed as a fake or psychosomatic condition, but the work of Dr. Davis and others has led to important new discoveries about its biological origins and implications.

------ A Lady's Formula for Love
by Elizabeth Everett

Starring: Violet Hughes, Lady Greycliff, the founder of Athena's Retreat, a clandestine club for women scientists; and her taciturn bodyguard, Arthur Kneland, who must protect her from the dangerous organization targeting the Retreat and its members.

Reviewers say: This opening installment of the Secret Scientists of London series is a "fiercely feminist, achingly romantic, and intensely sensual love story" (Booklist).

For fans of: The strong-willed women and well-drawn Victorian setting of Evie Dunmore's League of Extraordinary Women series.


------ An Unexpected Earl
by Anna Harrington

Then: Penniless orphan Brandon Pearce fell for girl-next-door Amelia Howard, much to the dismay of her wealthy family, which drove the young lovers apart.

Now: Brandon, a decorated veteran who has just inherited an earldom, is reunited with Amelia, who needs his help dealing with a blackmailer intent on ruining her family.

Why you might like it: This 2nd book in the Lords of the Armory series (after An Inconvenient Duke) offers a second chance at love for childhood sweethearts, plus skullduggery and secret societies.



------ Accidentally Engaged
by Farah Heron

What happens: Toronto baking enthusiast Reena Manji convinces her gorgeous new neighbor, Nadim Remtulla, to pose as her fiancé on a cooking competition show that could fund her dream of culinary school.

But wait, there's more: As the latest "Good Muslim Man" that Reena's matchmaking parents believe she should marry, Nadim is NOT someone she'd consider dating. At least, that's what Reena keeps telling herself.

Series alert: Fans of author Farah Heron's The Chai Factor will recognize Reena as the best friend of that novel's heroine Amira.



------ Act Your Age, Eve Brown
by Talia Hibbert

What happens: Determined to prove to her wealthy parents that she can support herself, 26-year-old Eve Brown lands a job at the picturesque Castell Cottage Bed and Breakfast after (accidentally!) injuring its gruff proprietor, Jacob Wayne.

Why you might like it: This lively conclusion to the Brown Sisters trilogy (beginning with Get a Life, Chloe Brown) features authentically depicted autistic leads, a story that's equal parts zany and moving, a complimentary playlist, and rogue ducks.



------ Wild Rain: Women Who Dare
by Beverly Jenkins

What happens: Wyoming rancher Spring Rain Lee rescues traveling reporter Garrett McCray from a blizzard, earning his respect and -- if she'll have it -- his love.

Read it for: a fiercely independent heroine battling past trauma, a gentle hero forging his own path in life, and meticulously researched depictions of the lives of Black people in the 19th-century American West.

Series alert: Wild Rain is the 2nd book in the Women Who Dare series, which links the author's House of LeVeq and Old West series.



------- Jackson
by LaQuette

Sabotage! Aja Everett has been working hard to turn her family's ranch into a retreat that will also provide vocational training to the formerly incarcerated. But when a saboteur places her dream -- and everyone's lives -- in jeopardy, Aja enlists the aid of Texas Ranger Jackson Dean.

Why you might like it: This 1st Restoration Ranch novel boasts a steamy relationship between two commitment-shy leads as well as a suspenseful undercover investigation.



------ Waiting for a Scot Like You
by Eva Leigh

What it's about: As a favor to an old friend, Major Duncan McCameron agrees to escort Beatrice, the widowed Lady Farris, to a house party in the country. A house party that's...well, more of an orgy, to be honest.

Why you might like it: This 3rd Union of the Rakes novel follows an older heroine, her younger paramour, and their many misadventures on the road to love, and features homages to beloved 1980s movies including Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Footloose.



------ First Comes Like
by Alisha Rai

Starring: Pakistani American beauty influencer Jia Ahmed, and actor Dev Dixit, the Bollywood scion who slid into her DMs months ago but now claims not to know who she is. (How dare he!)

What happens: Horrified that someone has been impersonating him online, Dev makes it up to Jia by agreeing to pose as her boyfriend.

Why you might like it: This upbeat and witty 3rd installment of the Modern Love series (after Girl Gone Viral) introduces likable leads and their supportive extended families.



------ The Duke Heist
by Erica Ridley

The players: The Wychesters, a band of orphans adopted by an eccentric aristocrat who turned them into Regency London's version of Robin Hood.

The score: a painting currently in the possession of Laurence Gosling, the new Duke of Faircliffe, which was stolen from the Wynchesters by Laurence's late father.

The plan: Unassuming Chloe Wynchester will infiltrate the ducal household, retrieve the painting, and...accidentally kidnap the duke? Oops.



------ Honey Girl
by Morgan Rogers

Starring: Astronomer Grace Porter, who arrives in Las Vegas to celebrate finishing her Ph.D and wakes up married to Brooklyn-based radio host Yuki Yamamoto.

What happens: Burned out by the challenges of being a queer, Black scientist in white, male-dominated academia, Grace heads to New York to clear her head and see if this thing with Yuki has potential.

What sets it apart: Although Grace and Yuki's love story anchors the narrative, this debut also saves plenty of space for Grace's journey of self-discovery and the couple's respective circles of friends.

Petra, i have enjoyed the Janet Evanovich series, too. I think the last i read was #16 or so. It's a bit reassuring to know that there are more funny mysteries by her out there, when i am in the mood.

I'm pleased to see that you enjoyed the Seichō Matsumoto mystery as much as i did. You mentioned the thing i probably like most, learning the customs in another country, particularly Japan. While i know some customs have changed over the years, the ones still observed fascinate me. I'm glad to have your comments about it as a sort of dip into my Reading Memory Lane.

Ashley, the Liz Moore mystery sounds good. And it sounds like an interesting premise, contrasting the lives of two sisters.

Thanks for sharing about this and the Stephen King short story.

Barbara, what a curious idea for a main character. Indeed, several of the notions you mentioned are unusual. The idea of sharing about living in such a time & place is appealing, as we mostly know the bad/sad aspects of those times in Northern Ireland.

Roy Richard Grinker's book, Nobody's Normal: How Culture Created the Stigma of Mental Illness sounds as though it would be beneficial for those who have recently realized they have a family member with mental problems. When such a thing occurs, you begin wondering who is "normal" and more.

Honey Girl sounds different. I may have to check out this Morgan Rogers novel.

Thanks for the lists, Alias. They've covered both health and heart!