Category: book

The Bubbling Beneath.

Book Review for “The Paris Deception” by Bryn Turnbull. Summary: "Sophie Dix fled Stuttgart with her brother as the Nazi regime gained power in Germany. Now, with her brother gone and her adopted home city of Paris conquered by the Reich, Sophie reluctantly accepts a position restoring damaged art at the Jeu de Paume museum … Continue reading The Bubbling Beneath. →

Topping Up Destiny.

Book Review for “The President's Hat” by Antoine Laurain. Summary: "Dining alone in an elegant Parisian brasserie, accountant Daniel Mercier can hardly believe his eyes when President François Mitterrand sits down to eat at the table next to him. Daniel’s thrill at being in such close proximity to the most powerful man in the land … Continue reading Topping Up Destiny. →

#T5T – Top Five Tuesday for May 23, 2023 – AIR!

Top Five Tuesday was originally created by Shanah @ Bionic Book Worm, but is now hosted by Meeghan @ Meeghan Reads. To participate, link your post back to Meeghan's blog or leave a comment on her weekly post. This week, Meeghan asked us to put up our top five books with AIR (or some variant) … Continue reading #T5T – Top Five Tuesday for May 23, 2023 – AIR! →

#ShortStorySunday – TCL’s Homework.

Four Short Reviews for Four Irish Short Stories. In preparation for my writers' retreat in Ireland in September (with Claire Keegan - author of "Foster" and "Small Things Like These" which were just amazing), participants were requested to read the novel "The Barracks" by John McGahern, as well as the following short stories: “The Tent” … Continue reading #ShortStorySunday – TCL’s Homework. →

The In Between Time.

Book Review for “Ex-Wife” by Ursula Parrott. Summary: "It's 1924, and Peter and Patricia have what looks to be a very modern marriage. Both drink. Both smoke. Both work, Patricia as a head copywriter at a major department store. When it comes to sex with other people, both believe in “the honesty policy.” Until they … Continue reading The In Between Time. →

TCL’s Shelf Control #11 – Yes, I am One.

Shelf Control is a weekly celebration created by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies, of the unread books on our shelves. Lisa says: "Pick a book you own but haven’t read, write a post about it (suggestions: include what it’s about, why you want to read it, and when you got it), and link up! For more … Continue reading TCL’s Shelf Control #11 – Yes, I am One. →

Profoundly Different and Profoundly the Same.

Book Review for “The Barracks” by John McGahern. Summary: "Elizabeth Reegan, after years of freedom and loneliness, marries into the enclosed Irish village of her upbringing. The children are not her own; her husband is straining to break free from the servile security of the police force; and her own life, threatened by illness, seems … Continue reading Profoundly Different and Profoundly the Same. →

TCL’s #6Degrees of Separation for May 6, 2023.

From “Hydra” by Adriane Howell to “Ever Rest” by Roz Morris. This is a monthly link-up hosted by KateW at Books Are My Favourite and Best. Each month a book is chosen as a starting point and linked to six other books to form a chain. A book doesn’t need to be connected to all … Continue reading TCL’s #6Degrees of Separation for May 6, 2023. →

Cherished and/or Cursed?

Book Review for “The Castle Keepers” by Aimie K. Runyan, J'nell Ciesielski, and Rachel McMillan. Summary: "1870. After a disastrous dinner at the Astor mansion forces her to flee New York in disgrace, socialite Beatrice Holbrook knows her performance in London must be a triumph. When she catches the eye of Charles Alnwick, one of … Continue reading Cherished and/or Cursed? →

TCL’s #DNF Friday #14 – Off-Key Notes.

Why I can't write a Book Review for “Rhapsody” by Mitchell James Kaplan. Summary: "When Katharine “Kay” Swift—the restless but loyal society wife of wealthy banker James Warburg and a serious pianist who longs for recognition—attends a performance of Rhapsody in Blue by a brilliant, elusive young musical genius named George Gershwin, her world is … Continue reading TCL’s #DNF Friday #14 – Off-Key Notes. →