Heard of Female Thieves?

Book Review for “The Forty Elephants” by Erin Bledsoe. Summary: "Inspired by the true story of Alice Diamond and the Forty Elephants, the first all-female gang of London. London in the 1920s is no place for a woman with a mind of her own. Gang wars, violence, and an unforgiving world have left pickpocket Alice … Continue reading Heard of Female Thieves? →

Prophetic or Pathetic?

Book Review for “Delphi” by Clare Pollard. Summary: "Covid-19 has arrived in London, and the entire world quickly succumbs to the surreal, chaotic mundanity of screens, isolation, and the disasters small and large that have plagued recent history. As our unnamed narrator—a classics academic immersed in her studies of ancient prophecies—navigates the tightening grip of … Continue reading Prophetic or Pathetic? →

Dust in the Wind.

Book Review for “Now in November” by Josephine W. Johnson. Summary: "This unforgettable novel tells in shimmering language the story of a middle-class family driven into poverty by the Depression. Three daughters struggle to survive with their parents as farmers, battling against the elements and trying to come to terms with their harsh, unresponsive father. … Continue reading Dust in the Wind. →

A Vine Intrigue.

Book Review for “A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons” by Kate Khavari. Summary: "London, 1923. Newly minted research assistant Saffron Everleigh attends a dinner party for the University College of London. While she expects to engage in conversations about the university's large expedition to the Amazon, she doesn’t expect Mrs. Henry, one of the … Continue reading A Vine Intrigue. →

Waves of Goodbyes.

Book Review for “Tides” by Sara Freeman. Summary: "After a sudden, devastating loss, Mara flees her family and ends up adrift in a wealthy coastal town. Mired in her grief, Mara's first few days are spent alone, surviving on what scraps of food she can find, and swimming at night in the ocean. When her … Continue reading Waves of Goodbyes. →

TCL’s Top Ten (or more) Favorite Books of 2021.

2021- the Year of 4.75 stars! This past year has seen me read more books than ever. I'm guessing that's because of several reasons. The pandemic meant more time at home, and that, combined with my now being retired for over a year, meant more time for reading overall. There are other reasons I read … Continue reading TCL’s Top Ten (or more) Favorite Books of 2021. →

Emmy’s Winning Wisdom.

Book Review for “Dear Mrs. Bird” by AJ Pearce. Summary: "London 1940, bombs are falling. Emmy Lake is Doing Her Bit for the war effort, volunteering as a telephone operator with the Auxiliary Fire Services. When Emmy sees an advertisement for a job at the London Evening Chronicle, her dreams of becoming a Lady War … Continue reading Emmy’s Winning Wisdom. →

TCL’s #NovNov 3 – Distorted Reflections.

Book Review for “The Looking Glass” by Carla Sarett. Summary: "Claire Charles, a member of 1930s New York high society, has been trained in painting in preparation for marriage, but shocks everyone by pursuing art as a career and her own inclinations. In Paris, fifteen years later, she collides with Leah, a mysterious artist who … Continue reading TCL’s #NovNov 3 – Distorted Reflections. →

Gotten to a Nunnery…

Book Review for “Learwife” by J.R. Thorp. Summary: "Word has come. Care-bent King Lear is dead, driven mad and betrayed. His three daughters too, broken in battle. But someone has survived: Lear's queen. Exiled to a nunnery years ago, written out of history, her name forgotten. Now she can tell her story. Though her grief … Continue reading Gotten to a Nunnery… →