TCL’s #6Degrees of Separation for May 1, 2021.

From “Beezus and Ramona” by Beverly Cleary to “Fall of Poppies” by various authors. This is a monthly link-up hosted by Kate 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 … Continue reading TCL’s #6Degrees of Separation for May 1, 2021. →

A Buzzfeed Blunder on Children’s Books

Recently a friend of mine posted on Facebook a link to a Buzzfeed article "13 Children’s Books That Encourage Kindness Towards Others." Admittedly, I am familiar with only two of the books on that list. One is the Dr. Seuss book "Horton Hears a Who," which certainly fits the bill. The other, however, is Shel … Continue reading A Buzzfeed Blunder on Children’s Books →

Baking Soda and Soccer

Book Review for "Britt-Marie Was Here" by Fredrik Backman. Every so often, a writer comes along who can write a story with characters that touch you to your very core. Fredrik Backman is one of those writers - he did it with his first novel A Man Called Ove, repeated this with his second novel … Continue reading Baking Soda and Soccer →

Guest Blog Post: “Rarity from the Hollow” author Robert Eggleton

The Beginning, Middle, and End Emotional Closures in Fiction and in Reality A Great Ending! Many readers demand one in fiction. But, in real life emotional closures may be much more elusive. Have you every been “done wrong” in some way – somebody hurt your feelings, told a lie about you, cheated in a relationship, … Continue reading Guest Blog Post: “Rarity from the Hollow” author Robert Eggleton →

What is your superpower?

Book Review for "My Grandmother Sends her Regrets and Apologises (aka "My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry"), by Fredrik Backman. Anyone who has been reading my reviews will know that my favorite book of 2014 was Backman's, "A Man Called Ove." This Swedish author took the world by storm with his poignant … Continue reading What is your superpower? →

Odd One Out

Book Review for "The Children's Crusade" by Anne Packer. How can one deal with someone you love pulling away from you? This is the question posed in Anne Packer's latest novel about the Blairs, Penny and Bill, their marriage, their home, the land it was built on and their four children, Robert, Rebecca, Ryan and James. … Continue reading Odd One Out →

A Dream within a Dream

Book Review of "Sleeping Patterns" by J.R. Crook. What is the relationship between the writer and his audience? J.R. Crook’s debut novel investigates this through a group of characters – himself included – living together in student accommodations in London. The main story here centers on an artist Annelie Strandli, known as Grethe to her … Continue reading A Dream within a Dream →

21 days on an Ocean Liner with an 11-year-old boy

Book Review of "The Cat's Table" by Michael Ondaatje. Michael Ondaatje (author of "The English Patient"), has a distinctively unique style to his writing. His literary voice is poetic and fluid, yet also highly accessible. This comes through in all his writing, giving his work a deceptively simplistic feel, while remaining evocatively beautiful. However, he … Continue reading 21 days on an Ocean Liner with an 11-year-old boy →

Empty Nest and/or Wishful Thinking

Book Review of "Second Honeymoon" by Joanna Trollope. Edie is an actor, but raising her three children Matthew, Rosa and Ben, made her put most of her career on hold. After the last of her children finally moved out, that nest seemed suddenly very, very empty. This doesn't bother her husband Russell; he's thrilled he'll … Continue reading Empty Nest and/or Wishful Thinking →

Plowing Through the Family Problems

Book Review of "A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian" by Marina Lewycka. Nicolai is an 86-year-old immigrant from the Ukraine, living in Peterborough, England, who has been a widower for about two years. The loss of his wife was a blow to him, but he has begun coping. One way is by writing his … Continue reading Plowing Through the Family Problems →