fiction
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Russia, Russia, Russia… this time in fiction, probably
Russia, Russia, Russia. No, this isn’t a current events article on the state of things in the world. It could be (and that’s kind of frightening) but it’s not. This is a review of Karen Cleveland’s spy thriller NEED TO KNOW. The synopsis as posted on NetGalley, who were kind enough to grant me an… Continue reading
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“After the Parade” by Lori Ostlund
It’s some kind of masterful when you spend the first quarter of a book thinking that the main character is a self-absorbed, ambivalent, almost blissfully ignorant fool but then you read the middle half of the book, getting ever more caught up in his story, and the final quarter of the book realizing that none… Continue reading
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Putting the History in historical fiction
Blame it all on Laura Ingalls Wilder. My addiction to historical fiction, that is. Blame it on Little House on the Prairie and all the books that followed it. My mom read me the books as I learned to read and they were the first chapter books I read on my own. I still have the… Continue reading
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“Mad Miss Mimic” by Sarah Henstra
I freakin’ love this book! And I am so sad it only took me two days to read it! I’m going to read it again, no doubt about it. But onto the details first… Sarah Henstra’s MAD MISS MIMIC is about one Leonora Sommerville who lives in Hastings House with her sister and her doctor… Continue reading
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“Behold the Dreamers” by Imbolo Mbue
I didn’t realize I managed to read Imbolo Mbue’s BEHOLD THE DREAMERS just three days but, apparently, I did. Thanks for keeping track, Goodreads addiction of mine! I think I didn’t realize because I got lost so fast and so hard in this fantastic story of what America means to those who are born here… Continue reading
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“Summer of My German Soldier” by Bette Greene
“Time to get going on my ambition. It’s not the only one I have, but it’s the only one I work at.” Exciting news, fellow readers! I have, inadvertently, just read one of the most banned books of the 2000-2009 era in school libraries! Summer of My German Soldier came in at #55, according to… Continue reading
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Now I really want to go to Paris… in 1889…
The book: To Capture What We Cannot Keep The author: Beatrice Colin Dates read: September 28, 2016 – October 21, 2016 Where to get it: Amazon (on November 29, 2016) I’m gonna be honest here, I requested an ARC of this novel for three reasons; 1) it takes place in Paris(!), 2) it is historical fiction – i.e. the… Continue reading
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Reviewed: “The Visitant: A Venetian Ghost Story” by Megan Chance
Ghost stories are not generally the genre I go for. Historical fiction is my go-to genre. I don’t usually like stories that involve exorcisms, because they are so often used for the shock factor. But exorcisms in the context of actual history… I like that. All this makes Megan Chance’s THE VISITANT a perfect book… Continue reading
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Reviewed: “How to Party with an Infant” by Kaui Hart Hemmings
HOW TO PARTY WITH AN INFANT is a bit of a misleading title for an otherwise fine book. There are no infants, to begin with, and lead character Mele does not party. Mele has a child, who is old enough to be potty-trained, say some words, and walk around. She is not an infant. Mele… Continue reading
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Reviewed: “The Figaro Murders” by Laura Lebow
** spoiler alert ** I finished Laura Lebow’s THE FIGARO MURDERS. So there is that. The book is more or less interesting, interesting enough to see the story through anyway. The murders, and there are three, have very little to with Figaro, Figaro being the lead character in the famous Mozart opera. Mozart plays a… Continue reading
About Me
An English diarist and naval administrator. I served as administrator of the Royal Navy and Member of Parliament. I had no maritime experience, but I rose to be the Chief Secretary to the Admiralty under both King Charles II and King James II through patronage, diligence, and my talent for administration.
Adventures With Words 