Book Wrap Up December
by
Natasa Djordjevic
- 5:18 AM
The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry (**)
I have no quibble about the quality of the writing here and many passages were absorbing and quite enchanting. However; I found this book quite tedious and was glad when I got to the last page-which felt like an achievement.
The Price of Innocence by Vicki Hopkins (**)
The vocabulary was elementary and, at times, used dull, modern phrases. I think what bothered me the most was the dialogue. Everything the characters said was dull and stilted, with a basic vocabulary.
As Red as Blood by Salla Simukka (**)
I thought the author had some wonderful words in helping the reader understand the beauty of cold Russian winters. The story is pretty predictable, but not the best.
Uneasy Lies the Crown, A Novel of Owain Glyndwr by N. Gemini Sasson (***)
An interesting book with some great characters. It’s well written, but I found it hard to follow at times with all the jumping around from Wales to Scotland to England and back to Wales, with subplots being played out in each area.
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh (****)
Well-written book about a girl who grew up in foster care and communicates through the language of flowers. Well researched with significant character development. Thought provoking. A little too idealistic of an ending for me, but thoroughly enjoyed it.
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman (****)
I was captivated by this delightful, magical story and wanted more of the Owens family. Those who enjoy magical realism, women's fiction laced with romance, and stories about multi-generations of women should give this one a try.
2025: SF Novella by Stjepan Varesevac Cobets (****)
A book of survival and one we all could relate to given the world’s current events. Even though this isn’t my cup of tea, I have to say that it caught my attention. And I would recommend it with all my heart!
“We must find a gentleman in this house who is so chivalrous, he would move a dead body for a lady, and has so much integrity, he would never use that favor against her. Is there such a paragon on this earth?”
A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder is the first book in the Countess of the Harleigh Mystery series. Set in Victorian England, it’s filled with charming characters, witty dialogue, and, of course, mystery. American-born Lady Harleigh is forced into sleuthing to protect her reputation and the future after her husband’s death, initially ruled a heart attack, is questioned because of an anonymous letter to the police, suggesting she murdered him. With the help of her neighbor George, she must uncover the truth and not only protect herself, but her sister Lily, who is in London for the season in hopes of making a match.
Taking a cozy mystery into the past, giving it a historical setting, had A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder, a fun read right from the start. I wasn’t sure how the historical side would mix with the leading lady going about investigating on her own, but the author worked it all into the mix quite nicely keeping the feel of those times. With this being the first of a new series, I’m excited to see what happened next for Frances and the rest of the characters.
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
by
Natasa Djordjevic
- 8:04 AM
November Book Wrap Up
by
Natasa Djordjevic
- 6:51 AM
The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner (****)
Very happy I read this book, however, it’s a fairly tough read. Hard to follow at times and has a rather depressing story. But it is a must-read, and I found the way the author used past and present intermixed extremely refreshing and worth the little confusion it caused.
The Long Sword by Christian Cameron (****)
Historical fiction at its finest. I was completely invested in all the characters, both good and evil. A sweeping tale of conflict, betrayal, and dark age politics and a story I will follow to the end.
Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri (****)
Lahiri’s prose is beautiful, and she has a way of painting pictures with words that are rarely seen in literature today. The one negative thing that I would say is that all of her short stories seem to be about the same thing, so after reading one or two, you start to think that you have read them all.
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness (****)
If you love witches, daemons, and vampires, I do recommend this book. Author Deborah Harkness has put her spin on each of these, and she keeps you intrigued as to what each can and cannot do.
Meara by Anya Wylde (*****)
An enjoyable read, full of mythology and fantasy. The characters are engaging; the imagery is spectacular. I love Anya Wylde’s style of writing, and the story kept me intrigued from beginning to end.
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
by
Natasa Djordjevic
- 7:54 AM
Death of Kings by Bernard Cornwell
by
Natasa Djordjevic
- 1:55 PM
“Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.”
Death of Kings covers the events surrounding the death of Alfred the Great of Wessex in 899. His son Edward is heir to the throne, much to the chagrin of Alfred’s nephew, Æthelwold. Uhtred, the protagonist of The Saxon Tales and the warrior who defeated many a Dane in defense of Alfred’s kingdom, is in his forties by this novel. He is still the lover of Æthelflaed, Alfred’s daughter, and remains the greatest Saxon warrior in England. But his own life and the fate of the kingdom become threatened by Alfred’s impending demise as a cast of Danes, and even some treacherous Saxon lords, scheme to take Wessex for their own. And killing Uhtred of Bebbanburg is at the top of the list for achieving that goal. As with most of the novels in The Saxon Tales series, it lay the foundation for this plot with events and characters from earlier books. Familiar villains, like Haesten the Dane, are back, as are allies, including Father Willibald, Father Beocca, Steapa, and Finan. And like many of Cornwell’s novels, this one builds towards a climactic battle with the Danes over the fate of Wessex. Cornwell writes medieval battle scenes better than any author I have read, and the several in this novel are the highlights of the story.
A great read for anyone interested in the time when English identity was forming and the Saxons had to fight with the Danes for England. Just the right mix of battle, fighting, and intrigue.
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
by
Natasa Djordjevic
- 6:11 AM
Book Wrap Up October
by
Natasa Djordjevic
- 1:58 PM
The Gentleman by Forrest Leo (***)
Entertaining, and started strong, it was hard to finish, but the last two chapters picked up. Funny unique banter between characters which is the glue that holds the book together.
Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak (***)
The quality of writing, and imagination, is as strong as ever. There’s nothing wrong with this novel, and I guess that without the high expectations going in, I would have enjoyed it much more.
The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold (****)
The author creates an interesting fantasy world in which magically comes from interaction with their five gods. The story is intricate and tightly written, with a protagonist that I only gradually learned to appreciate through his struggles against self-doubts, the whims of the gods, and the politics of the royal court.
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
by
Natasa Djordjevic
- 2:45 PM
Book Wrap Up September
by
Natasa Djordjevic
- 10:35 AM
The Healer's Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson (✵✵)
While this book was not terrible, it was extremely predictable and very cheesy. Finally, this book was advertised as a ‘re-telling’ of the famous fairy tale “Sleeping Beauty”. There is only the thinnest of connections between the fairy tale and this story. If this is the reason the book intrigues you, you move on.
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin (✵✵✵)
The story starts charmingly but rapidly loses steam. The story seems disjointed and awkward. The storylines don’t seem cohesive, and overall it is fairly shallow. I wanted to like this book, but I can’t recommend it.
Cooking for Picasso by Camille Aubray (✵✵✵)
This is a fun story of food, art, and mystery that playfully jumps between two continents and eras. I preferred the Picasso-era storyline more than the current-day characters, but - in the end - I enjoyed how it all came together.
Inamorata by Megan Chance (✵✵✵)
A gothic tale with a bit of mystery that explores the nature and relation of passion, beauty, art, fame, and love. The story and its characters are engaging and the author paints a vivid picture of Venice in the early 19th century.
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson (✵✵✵)
A well-researched history of the power of reading, the ugliness of prejudice, and the strength to persevere. A simple story that can be meaningful even in today’s world.
The Indigo Girl by Natasha Boyd (✵✵✵✵)
Indigo Girl was a unique historical novel about a time period and subject I was unfamiliar with. The main character was well-developed, and the story moved along at a smooth pace with some surprises. The ending was suspenseful. I would recommend this novel.
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
by
Natasa Djordjevic
- 1:17 PM
