FAVORITE BOOKS OF 2022
by
Natasa Djordjevic
- 6:23 AM
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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
