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Curious minds & voracious readers want to know:

Author
Title
Rating
Synopsis
Review
Did you like it? Why/Why Not?

This helps us decide if we want to read it next!

A Lady's Guide to Gossip and Murder, Dianne Freeman

★ ★ ★

Lady Frances has a penchant for matchmaking: most recently she matched her cousin w/ a widow.... but when the widow is murdered her cousin who recently broke off the relationship is likened as a suspect.

Lady Frances & her neighbor George investigate the widow & find she had a stash of cryptic notes about her neighbors...

When the local newspaper editor is also found murdered, it is discovered that the widow was writing the local gossip column by Miss Information and had threatened to expose shady investment dealings involving her brother-in-law, the local banker.

Interesting and fast reading!

Whispers of Warning, Jessica Estevao

★ ★ ★

Ruby wakes her Aunt Honoria from a deep sleep, where she has had a prophetic dream of danger coming to the Hotel Belden. Wanting to know more, Honoria calls a small group of "sensitives" together in order to get a better idea of what is about to descend.

Sophoronia, is not only a renown suffragette, but it is claimed she is a "sensitive" as well. During her stay at the Belden, she creates no end of trouble during her public meetings & parade. She has asked Ruby to take the stage in order to give a psychic message to the crowd, but has also asked Ruby to add to the message, a subtle threat of exposure to one of Sophoronia's enemies.

Later Sophoronia is found dead at the bottom of the local plunge, in a heavy man's coat, rocks in the pockets, & a cosh to the head.

The local Sheriff is on the take, but his head constable, Yancy, isn't. When Yancy is pulled off the case, he asks Ruby to step in and help him investigate Sophoronia's death.

Sophoronia had it coming, she was an ugly & manipulative woman.

Yancy is a first class hypocrite always angry with Ruby's doings and her friendship with his sister & mother, but then calling on her when he needs help solving a crime.

Ruby and her Aunt Honoria are interesting, but could be better by furthering their psychic abilities.

The other characters are okay as well.

The story line was good and held my interest, and I'm looking forward to the resolution of the crooked Police Chief.

Picture Miss Seeton – Heron Carvic – 3***
What a fun romp of a cozy mystery! Miss Seeton is a retired art teacher who has just inherited a cottage in the village of Plummergen, Kent. Whether she’s in London or Plummergen, she and her trusty umbrella do manage to wind up in the middle of all sorts of altercations. A bit slow to start, but once I got used to the style, I was hooked. Miss Seeton is a hoot, and I want to keep reading this series.
LINK to my review

Becoming – Michelle Obama – 5*****
Michelle Obama’s memoir / autobiography takes her from her childhood through college, her first years as an attorney, meeting Barack and their time in the White House as President and First Lady. Through her words I felt that I really got to know this remarkable woman.
LINK to my review

Three Wishes – Liane Moriarty – 3.5***
Moriarty excels at exploring relationships within an ensemble group of characters. Here she looks at the Kettle sisters, a set of adult triplets, their partners and their parents. As she did in Big, Little Lies Moriarty begins at the end, and then backtracks to lead us up to that climactic event. It's a story of sibling rivalry, and love found / lost / and found again. A fast read and quite entertaining.
LINK to my review

Brave, Not Perfect: Fear Less, Fail More, and Live Bolder
Title: Brave, Not Perfect
Author: Reshma Saujani
Rating: 5 *****
Synopsis: Imagine if you lived without the fear of not being good enough. If you didn’t care how your life looked on Instagram, or worry about what total strangers thought of you. Imagine if you could let go of the guilt, and stop beating yourself up for tiny mistakes. What if, in every decision you faced, you took the bolder path? ..... There’s a reason we act this way, Reshma says. As girls, we were taught to play it safe. Well-meaning parents and teachers praised us for being quiet and polite, urged us to be careful so we didn’t get hurt, and steered us to activities at which we could shine. As a result, we grew up to be women who are afraid to fail. It’s time to stop letting our fears drown out our dreams and narrow our world, along with our chance at happiness....In Brave, Not Perfect, Reshma shares powerful insights and practices to help us let go of our need for perfection and make bravery a lifelong habit. By being brave, not perfect, we can all become the authors of our biggest, boldest, and most joyful life.

Why I like it: I really enjoyed this book, and thought that it covered this topic wonderfully, as well as being inspiring. I was surprised how much I liked this book, given that it isn't a book i would typically read (I was gifted it after a graduation). It did get repetitive at later parts, and some sections of it could have been cut, but overall I found this a very interesting read. It also provided different strategies and techniques that a person could take to get themselves off the track of desired perfection and onto the track of doing what they love, regardless of that anyone thinks.

Manga Classics: Macbeth by Shakespeare / Crystal S. Chan


⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Let me put it this way: I got a free digital copy for review, and it was so good that before I'd even finished it I had bought the print version to finish it on. 😍😍😍 Just brought so much depth to the story, even I caught some new details! Absolutely loved this adaptation!

See the full review and more at baileysbooks.home.blog!

Recommended: Yes!!
For teachers looking for ways to make Macbeth clearer for students while still using the original language, for those who love a badass graphic novel, for an interesting and faithful illustrated interpretation of Macbeth.

Thoughts:
This was an amazing blend of modernity, through the manga illustrations, with the classic language of Shakespeare. What a powerful combo! I loved the way foreground through background was leveraged for metaphorical imagery. That's one aspect that I think is particularly well done and powerful in conveying meaning in some of the lesser-known phrases they use. Facial expressions on the characters are great at conveying the emotion and tone that can be hard to find in the text alone, as well.

The Good Thief’s Guide to Amsterdam – Chris Ewan – 3***
Charlie Howard is a successful mystery author, writing a series that features a professional burglar, Faulks. As a sideline – and I guess you could call it research – he also occasionally accepts a commission to steal certain items. This was a highly entertaining mystery. I couldn’t help but think of Lawrence Block’s Bernie Rhodenbarr series, but the comparison is a good one. The pace is quick, the characters interesting, and the charms of Amsterdam (a city I have visited) evident.
LINK to my review

Our Man In Havana – Graham Greene – 4****
A delightful send-up of espionage / spy thrillers, starring a hapless vacuum cleaner salesman whose daughter has expensive tastes. Wonderful supporting cast of shady characters, corrupt police officials, and clueless bureaucrats. A nice romantic twist and a not-to-be-believed ending. Great fun, though the British humor is a bit dry. I've never seen the movie, but kept picturing Sir Alec Guinness in the lead role.
LINK to my review

Now reading.This is my Halloween read just because of Morton's twist endings!!! Also reading NIGHT by Elie Weisel . Small book but not an easy read, as expected.

Kimberly wrote: "

Whispers of Warning, Jessica Estevao

★ ★ ★

Ruby wakes her Aunt Honoria from a deep sleep, where she has had a prophetic dream of danger coming to the Hot..."

I am placing this on my TBR! Thanks!

A Dangerous Engagement: an Amory Ames Mystery, Ashley Weaver

★ ★ ★

Whoopee! For once Amory didn't wail, carp, bitch, & whine about Milo and him being untrustworthy in the past... One became so tired of that, so off-putting.

Amory & Milo are invited to a wedding in New York when, of course, a murder strikes... on the front door no less

Gambling, pranks, gangsters... crooks & con-men...

A fast & interesting read.

Mrs. Jeffries Delivers the Goods, Emily Brightwell

★ ★ ★

Another easy mindless historical mystery featuring Mrs. Jeffries, Inspector Witherspoon's intrepid housekeeper....

A much disliked lazy boorish snob happens to fall over dead from arsenic poisoning during an annual employee recognition dinner..

Not only was he hated, but he was a schemer & harasser who was seeking revenge for petty past transgressions.

Mrs Jeffries and the Alms of the Angel, Emily Brightwell

★ ★ ★

Once again Mrs Jeffries & the staff covertly help Inspector Witherspoon bring a murder to justice.

When the neighborhood busybody is found in her garden dead, with her head bashed in there were no lack of suspects... The suspicions fall upon the members of the London Angel Alms Society & the local Vicar all who have secrets....

After some investigation by the staff it is discovered that dead woman was investigating the discrepancies of incoming & reported Alms.

A quick and easy read.

Nobody’s Perfect – Donald E Westlake – 3***
Dortmunder’s gang is back for their fourth “can’t fail” scheme. This time the “victim” has arranged the theft as part of an insurance scheme. Westlake has a way of putting obstacles in the path of his loveable gang of thieves that just tickles my funny bone. I enjoy watching them scheme, and how exasperated Dortnumder gets with Kelp’s attempts to “help.” I was somewhat disappointed in the cliff-hanger ending, however.
LINK to my review

Burglars Can’t Be Choosers – Lawrence Block – 3***
This is the first in the series starring Bernie Rhodenbarr, a professional burglar with loads of charm. I love this series, and this is a second reading, though I didn’t remember any of the plot, so the twists were all a surprise to me. I like Bernie as a character. He’s smart and nonviolent. The plots are intricate and the supporting characters a delight. And I love the way Block writes about New York City; I really feel as if I’m walking the streets right along with Bernie.
LINK to my review

Vinegar Girl – Anne Tyler – 3***
A retelling of Shakepeare’s The Taming of the Shrew that doesn’t quite work. Tyler shines when she explores relationships, but here she has to find a plot to adequately mirror the bard’s play. Not her strong suit and it detracted from the relationships. Some things to like about it, but overall ‘meh’.
LINK to my review

Funny Cide – Sally Jenkins – 3.5***
In 2003 an unlikely horse, from an unlikely stable owned by a group of high-school buddies won the Kentucky Derby and captured the hearts of America. This is his story. Jenkins does a good job of weaving together the various stories behind the horse: breeder, owners, trainer and jockey. I particularly liked the way she wrote the build-up to the Derby and Funny Cide’s amazing win there. I felt the excitement all over again. The only thing missing was a mint julep.
LINK to my review

Mr Campion's Visit, Mike Ripley

★ ★ ★

Albert Campion is called upon by a local Bishop to fill in as Campus Visitor for the MP who was recently arrested for being a spy. The campus is on an estate where Albert sorted out a murder & burglary 40 years previously

When the gigolo Chilean professor working on the plate tectonics theory of shifting submerged ocean plates pushing mineral deposits to the surface is found dead in the campus lake, it is up to Campion to figure out whether is was a crime of passion or a crime of corporate greed.

With his usual wry humor & the help of Lugg, Campion solves the mystery

Mr Campion's Abdication, Mike Ripley

★

Oh dear: This was ever so very boring....

Albert Campion is producing a movie about a mysterious treasure, an archaeological dig that has since been reburied, and a secret rendezvous between David & Wallis. His son & daughter-in-law are playing David & Wallis.

Most of the book is focused on the mysterious treasure, which most of the town's people say is non-existent.... But the treasure hunters believe differently and will stop at nothing, not even murder to get the treasure.

The book was boring, the mystery really wan't apparent until the end, which I skipped from page 113 to 204 to get to. There was a definite lack of Campion's usual wry humor and the characters were not only flat but unlikable as well.

Worse, the abdication had only a very minor part in the story line.

Pah! Boo! Hiss!

The Frightened Man, Kenneth Cameron

★ (for the plot)

Long and drawn out, so much so I had to skip 50-75 pages.....

I didn't like the characters they were hard and elicited no empathy.... Had I read this first I'd not have read the 2nd in the series (as it was I read that one first).

A man comes to Denton insisting that Jack-the-Ripper is after him and is in need of protection. As it turns out the man was a voyeur and had witnessed the horrific murder of a young prostitute.....

The police, of course, don't care and pin the murder on an African Sailor, just to be done with it... Until Denton is attacked twice in his home by a mad-man with a knife, the same type used on the dead girl.

Denton searches for the frightened man & finds him dead, 4 floors below the window of his photography studio.....

And so the book goes on & on & on with everyone fighting their personal demons & the police, until Denton unwittingly comes across the murderer.

I have the 3rd in this series next to my chair, I'll have to peruse it before I consider reading it.

The Flight of the Maidens – Jane Gardam – 4****
In the summer of 1946 three young women prepare themselves to head off to university and explore the world beyond Yorkshire, England. What I love about Gardam’s writing is the way she paints her characters and shows us who they are. Gardam changes point of view from chapter to chapter to give each girl a chance in the spotlight. Still, while Leiselotte’s journey is the most wide-ranging and full of surprises, I’m not sure I ever really got to know her and felt that her story was somewhat tacked onto that of the other girls.
LINK to my review

The Last Days of Night – Graham Moore – 4****
Moore’s novel is historical fiction that focuses on the question of genius, and the war between Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse on WHO invented the light bulb and was entitled to power the country. I was completely captivated by the narrative. The characters fairly leapt off the pages. Moore also does a fine job of setting the scene. In short, it was fascinating, engaging and illuminating.
LINK to my review

Mr Mercedes – Stephen King – 4****
Book Number 1 in the Bill Hodges Trilogy, featuring retired Detective Bill Hodges in an unnamed Midwestern city. King is a masterful writer and he doesn’t disappoint in this thriller / police procedural. The reader always knows who the perpetrator is, but that doesn’t lessen the suspense as Hodges and his assistants race the clock to solve the puzzle.
LINK to my review

The Good Thief – Hannah Tinti – 2**
An orphan with a missing hand falls in with a group of scam artists / thieves in early 19th century New England. I had heard good reports of this novel and I was intrigued by the premise. Tinti captured my attention at the beginning and certainly kept me reading, but I found it very dark and distasteful. The scenarios, schemes, and twists in the plot just seemed like a list of “what will be next to befall this kid.” Tinti does give the reader a real sense of the time and place. I also really enjoyed Mrs Sands and descriptions of life in her boarding house. But in the end, the things I liked didn’t quite make up for what I didn’t like about it.
LINK to my review

The Second Woman, Kenneth Cameron

★

Long, befuddling, violent with unlikable characters; this will be the last I read by this author.

Denton comes home to find the police in his home, a woman murdered wrapped in a tarp in his back yard. Violent government thugs come in, take over from the police and take the corpse away.

The government is covertly attempting to expunge Britain of poor Jews by attempting to negotiate a settlement for them in Uganda.

A Jewish pugilist friend of Denton's has opened up a boxing studio for poor Jewish boys, while Denton goes to work-out with him, the man is beaten nearly to death & his studio set on fire.

A woman is secreted away in Janet's house after having an abortion.

While investigating the disappearance of the corpse, Denton is captured by the government thugs and tortured....

Just ugly hateful people and over the top violence....

One star of the overall story idea.

Love, Lies and Spies – Cindy Anstey – 3***
Anstey has written a young-adult, mystery/romance set in Regency England. I really enjoyed this fun, fast read. I could definitely hear the echo of Jane Austen. I liked Julianna’s spunk and intelligence. I also appreciated the slow-burn pace of the central romance. I did figure out the master spy / traitor ahead of the reveal, but not by much. Nicely done!
LINK to my review

All the Crooked Saints, Maggie Stiefvater

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ♥

From the back cover:

"Here is a thing Everyone Wants: A MIRACLE.

Here is a thing Everyone fears: WHAT IT TAKES TO GET ONE.

Any visitor to Bicho Raro, Colorado, is likely to find a landscape of dark saints, forbidden love, scientific dreams. miracle-mad owls, estranged affections, one or two orphans, and a sky full of watchful stars.

As the heart of this place you will find the Soria family, who all lave the ability to perform miracles. And at the heart of the family are three cousins longing to change the future; Beatriz, the girl without feelings, who wants only to be free to examine her thoughts; Daniel, the Saint of Bicho Raro, who performs miracles for everyone but himself; and Joaquin, who spends his night running a renegade radio station under the name Diablo Diablo.

They are all looking for a miracle. But the miracles of Bicho Raro are never what you quiet expect."

I have not the words to convey how deeply this book resonated with my being.

Eloquently written, running deep as still waters. the resonance of the universe upon a landscape, familiar enclave, & seekers of miracles that heal the innermost soul; this book encapsulates, explores, & delivers the innermost desires and fears of healing the darkness that lingers in the depths of one's very being and then bursts open the very same being with the power of healing, love & lightness of being that only honesty & truth can bring.

Yeah, I ♥ this book, mainly because it touched me on a deep personal level & because I get It!

Once I started it, I could not put it down and this one is not only a "keeper" but one I'll purchase as a gift for others.

I just finished this book.Haunting coming of age story. I chose this book because it was local.I live near Niagara Falls Ont/US border, so I enjoyed reading abt locations I was familiar with. If you liked the movie "Stand by Me" you should like this. The writing and character development was wonderful. A small book at 206 pages but the story was riveting.It starts out peculiar and funny but turns dark. Jake,Dove and Billy have ghost adventures with Uncle C every week. I read the first half in 2 nights and finished the last half in one sitting. I was in tears by the end. Honestly, I cannot write a review that does this book justice,it hits you from so many angles.I am still thinking abt it. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a well written story line and characters that take you everywhere with them.

I am reading a 1934 hard cover of this book.My former employer's Dad used to buy books at estate sales in the 1950's for display. I was able to get a hoard of these books when the business closed! Anyway, just started reading this one and like it so far. I could certainly live at this cottage by the sea. I will be back with a review.Hill's books seem to have great reviews.

The Lazlo Letters, Don Novello (aka Father Guido Sarducci)

★ ★

Historical Commentary via Letters (correspondence with) written to President Richard Nixon, Spiro Agnew, Kellogg's, Lester Maddox, Bebe Rebozo, Gerald R Ford, John Erlichman, King Faisal, Queen Elizabeth, and many others

I read this when it first came out and thought it hysterically funny & intelligent....

I read it again 2 nights ago, and although I saw the humor & intelligence behind the letters, I found them tedious and inane.

Amazingly many of the people Lazlo wrote to, took him very seriously and actually responded in a sincere manner....

So obviously in the past 27 years my sense of humor has changed.

Citizen Lazlo, Don Novello (aka Father Guido Sarducci)

★ ★

Historical Commentary via Letters (correspondence with) written to Richard Nixon, 60 Minutes, Kellogg's (who got him back), Lawrence Welk, Edward Roybal, Pepsi Cola, Lee Iacocca, Saud Nassir al-Sabah, Dan Quayle, Imelda Marcos, Joseph Biden, Anhieser Busch, George Bush, Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, and many others.

Because I had remembered the first in the series to be hysterically funny, so I figured I read this one as well.

Although I saw the humor & intelligence behind the letters, I found them tedious and inane.

Amazingly many of the people Lazlo wrote to, took him very seriously and actually responded in a sincere manner....

It was interesting to read many of the responses. In fact it was amazing that he received as many responses as he did, when it is obvious that the letters are "crank letters".

The Vintage Caper – Peter Mayle – 3.5***
This is book #1 in the Sam Levitt series. Mayle has given the reader a crime caper with a plausible (if fantastic) plot, a wonderful cast of characters, and mouth-watering descriptions of food and wine. Mayle’s love of France shines through; I could practically smell the aromas from a restaurant’s kitchen and feel the sun on my face. And I love that twisty ending! A fast, fun, delicious read.
LINK to my review

I just finished Reality by Deception by Bobby Casto
I'm giving this book 5* - and here's why:

What an amazing book!

I usually don’t like reading YA very much, but I’m so glad I gave “Reality by Deception” a chance.
The story is an action-driven, exciting mix of Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Dystopia and will entertain young adults and more mature readers alike.

Bobby Casto is a very talented author. He has created a unique, complex world with its own history and mythology. It’s populated with well-developed, likable characters. The story’s heroine, Aijayy is a young girl with a strong will and many talents, some obvious and some still slumbering deeply inside her. Her life changes dramatically when she meets Benshi, Sai, and Ice, who are so-called A-Types, humans with extraordinary abilities, almost super-powers.
Her new friends and other A-Types are oppressed by a dystopian government, and Aiijayy joins their fight for freedom and equal rights.
But it turns out that the reality of this familiar and yet exotic world Aiijayy lives in is something completely different than the heroine thought it to be…
What this is, everybody should discover for themselves as I highly recommend reading this book.
It is fast-paced and sometimes reminded me of an Anime, particularly the descriptions of the A-Types.
I hope Bobby Casto will write many more books and am already excited about the promised sequel!

Not Quite Nice – Celia Imrie – 3.5***
In her debut novel, Imrie has given us a sort of “coming of old age” story featuring a group of British expats living in a small town on the French Riviera. I thought it was an enjoyable, fast novel. Perfect for a vacation read. The bad guys get what’s coming to them, and everyone learns a lesson or two. It’s not exactly a happily-ever-after ending, but it gives me hope for the future of these characters. There are two more books in the series (thus far), and I look forward to reading them.
LINK to my review

The Ravenmaster – Christopher Skaife – 3***
Subtitle: My Life With the Ravens at the Tower of London. This memoir details Skaife’s career path to what has become his life’s work: the Ravenmaster at the Tower of London. His dedication to his position as Ravenmaster is evident, as is his great love for the birds. But there were times when I felt the book dragged as he overwhelmed me with scientific detail. Final verdict: interesting but not gripping.
LINK to my review

Summer Hours At the Robbers Library – Sue Halpern – 3.5***
Three people running from their past (or present) find the help they need at the library. The novel is told in alternating viewpoints as each of the three central characters reveals his or her back story and experiences in current time. The first time there was a “flashback” it caught me off guard, but I quickly grew used to the style. Halpern gives us a wonderful cast of supporting characters as well. There are moments of humor to balance the heartache and disasters. I’d love a sequel to find out how they cope in the future.
LINK to my review

(n.b.: edited to fix link to my full review)

I Always Loved You – Robin Oliveira – 3***
The subtitle – A Story of Mary Cassatt and Edgar Degas – is all the synopsis anyone needs. This immediately drew my attention as I love art, the Impressionists in particular, and I love reading historical fiction about artists. I had previously been content to merely gaze with astonishment and admiration at the works of art they created. But while I appreciate now having learned all the details of their complicated relationships, and while these period elements added color to the story, the book failed to really move me.
LINK to my review

Newly Wed and Slightly Dead 4****
Danielle Garrett
First book in A Touch of Magic Mysteries. It takes place in the Seattle Haven, part of the Beechwood Harbor universe where Anastasia, this book's main character, has previously appeared. It can be enjoyed without reading the other books in the universe. Danielle Garrett's books are paranormal cozy mysteries with romance in them so I like them for multiple reasons. Narrator Amanda Ronconi once again does excellent job voicing characters in this universe.
I gave this 4**** despite event planning being a cozy theme I normally avoid because I don't find it interesting.

Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts, Kate Racculia

★

The premise was pretty good, but the title is misleading... I wanted more of a ghost story and more of the story built around the house.

Instead there is more of a treasure hunt, which in some parts was so boring that I skipped a good portion of the book and went straight to the last few chapters, which I still didn't like.

Tuesday Mooney's best friend, Abbey, disappeared when she was 16 years old and her body never found. Abbey's father had a funeral held for Abbey, after which Tuesday went upstairs to Abbey's room and took Abbey's Ouija Board.... Although one would think that this major event would play in the book, it was played down and mostly ignored by the author.

Majority of the book is about a treasure hunt put together by the recently deceased eccentric millionaire Vincent Pryce and his young wife. The clues are based around Edgar Allan Poe and the theater. There are good guys, bad guys, & even a murderer.

I never did find out what happened to Abbey, but all of a sudden I think I know!

I was extremely disappointed..... and most likely will not read this author again, even though her books have intriguing & great sounding titles.

Uncommon Criminals – Ally Carter – 2.5**
Katarina Bishop is back with her crew of teen-aged thieves. This time they are after the Cleopatra emerald, despite legend that it carries a curse. There are a lot of twists and turns in this plot, and more than one intricate theft taking place. Not to mention cons and contra-cons. It's a fast read, and I like a lead female who is smart, determined and generally self-sufficient. But I didn't think it was as good as the first book, Heist Society. Still, I see the appeal for the target YA audience.
LINK to my review

Quentins – Maeve Binchy – 3.5***
I came late to the Binchy fan club, but better late than never. I really like her style of every-day drama – the kinds of ups and downs we all experience in life. Many of her books feature the same ensemble cast of characters, but they don’t have to be read in any particular order. This book starts with Ella Brady and her lover Don Richardson, but quickly encompasses Brenda and Patrick who run the upscale restaurant Quentins and all the many patrons and trades people who support it. Reading a Binchy novel is a bit like visiting with old friends.
My full review HERE

The Lionman Kidnapping 3***
Eve Langlais.
I've quit making much effort to read Langlais in order since she seems to be linking her series to each other. The Chimera series is again a lab creating hybrids. Lionman is Chimera #3 and it was okay. Troy Duran has an appropriate voice for narrating this book but I listened to it because it was available through my library's hoopla. I really liked books and characters in her earlier shifter/hybrid series like Furry United Coalition and Kodiak Point but I'm not finding the new series like Misfits and Chimera as much fun. Maybe I'm just tired and new readers of Langlais will enjoy these as much as I did the earlier ones.

The Handmaid's Tale: The Graphic Novel

See the full review and more at baileysbooks.home.blog

The Handmaid’s Tale: The Graphic Novel by Renée Nault – ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Interesting, but mostly made me feel like I need to read the full novel to get now if the details that feel like they’d make the story have more impact. The creep factor of the control of the world was toned down by the shortened adaptation, but enhanced by the visuals that really hit you in the face with how WEIRD the situations were.

Recommended: For people who have already read the original
For a shorter adaptation with effective art that will enhance an already developed story for those who know it

Thoughts:
My overall impression is that I wasn't able to get the details I would need about the world and the characters to truly appreciate this. In part due to the nature of a graphic novel, where text is limited, I felt like some of the reasoning of why these things had happened, how our MC got to be where she was, and so on, felt undeveloped. I know that's partly intentional in the story itself, but it felt a little hollow from here.

The art does help build the story, though. The emotions are carried very well by it. There's a lot of focus on color, with the red of the Handmaids, the blue of the Wives, the green of the Marthas, and the gray of everyone else creating a world with very clear divides. Seeing the positioning of the husband, the Wife, and the Handmaid for their monthly ceremony was unbelievably weird. That in an image was very powerful in expressing the bizarre situation that Gilead created, and it was practically impossible to wrap my head around how anyone would think that was a good idea (or necessary in any way - who is even happy there?? Probably no one participating!!).

I appreciated the openness of the ending, though it felt rather abrupt. Pacing felt rather fast across the whole tale. Overall, I've come away from this feeling like I should just read the full original novel that's been on my shelf for years and years. This graphic novel is more of an enhancement of the story for those who are already familiar with it.

Design For Murder – Carolyn G Hart – 3***
Book # 2 in the Death on Demand series, featuring mystery bookstore owner Annie Laurance. Hart writes a fast-paced cozy mystery with a great central cast of characters and a wonderful premise. I love the mystery bookstore, though I did get a little irritated by how often an author / book was mentioned. I very much liked the Mystery Night puzzle going on at the same time that a real murder was being investigated.
My full review HERE

Jennifer wrote: "The Handmaid's Tale: The Graphic Novel

..."

This had to have been approved by Atwood ... surprised that her name isn't listed first. But perhaps this is a way to get the message out to more people who wound not otherwise pick up the full text.

Ban This Book – Alan Gratz – 4****
Fourth-grader Amy Anne Ollinger is stunned to discover that her favorite book has been removed from the school library because another student’s parent has complained it’s “inappropriate.” I loved Amy Anne; she starts out a quiet, shy girl who virtually never voices her concerns out loud, but who takes action to right a wrong. Perfect read to celebrate Banned Books Week!
My full review HERE

Mr Campion's Farewell, Mike Ripley

★ ★

Odd goings on in a small tourist village, where Albert's niece works painting oil pastorals in the style of famous English painters. Nine Carders run the village, people who break tradition or cause problems disappear for nine days....

When Albert arrives in the village to investigate people who've had troubles become oddly quiet & evasive, putting Albert in danger.

Meh, I've read better.... Too much of this was trite, blabbering, filler w/ flip, smart-aleck bantering intending to be clever.

The last I'll be reading in the Campion series, as I find viewing the BBC versions much more enjoyable!

The Curse of the Pharaohs – Elizabeth Peters – 2.5**
Book two in the Amelia Peabody series, featuring the intrepid Victorian lady Egyptologist. I read the first book in the series a few years back and was not a fan. Much of what irritated me in the first book happened again. But … I’m beginning to see the humor and satire in Peters’ style. I’m starting to appreciate Peabody’s manner and her relationships with the other characters. This is a strong, independent-minded, intelligent woman who does not suffer fools gladly.
My full review HERE