An excellent book telling the story of Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman to graduate Medical School and the women who came after her, waiting to prAn excellent book telling the story of Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman to graduate Medical School and the women who came after her, waiting to prove they had what it took to be called Doctor.
And they did. The struggles these women went through, would have had most of us choosing another career option!
But the persevered and we are so glad that they did. This is a true story of the sexism that goes on in the field of science. At this time we still don't have control over our own bodies.
I really enjoyed this glimpse of history.
NetGalley/ St. Martin's Press December 02, 2024...more
Part Travel Book, Part Cookbook, and part History Book!
I was very happy to see this little gem. I am from Bay St. Louis, and New Orleans is our happy Part Travel Book, Part Cookbook, and part History Book!
I was very happy to see this little gem. I am from Bay St. Louis, and New Orleans is our happy place. Over my lifetime I have eaten at quite a few of these beautiful restaurants. This was a walk down memory lane for my taste buds and my heart.
We will be there this Fall as well and this was the perfect guide to delicious food and great stories.
My Mother and I have always had Robin Cook in common. I was thrilled to see this pop up.
I enjoyed the first half of the book. Spooky Bellevue is alwayMy Mother and I have always had Robin Cook in common. I was thrilled to see this pop up.
I enjoyed the first half of the book. Spooky Bellevue is always a good setting and it did not disappoint. The medical descriptions are always on point.
Once the supernatural elements showed up, it lost something for me. ...more
"If one had the time to travel and the money to support excavations or purchasing artifacts, or both, that was enough to make you an archaeologist at "If one had the time to travel and the money to support excavations or purchasing artifacts, or both, that was enough to make you an archaeologist at this point in the history of archaeology in Egypt."
During the Golden Age of Exploration, there were women working, exploring, and traveling long before Howard Carter discovered the tomb of King Tut. Before men even conceived of claiming the story for themselves, women were working in Egypt to lay the groundwork for all future exploration.
Their stories have been lost, omitted or just forgotten. But in this book we discover the women who went to Egypt and their stories.
Lucie Duff Gordon, Amelia Edwards and Marianne Brocklehurst. Their diaries, maps, and step by step looks at their travels and their finds.
They were up against a lot of oppression, bad behavior, and sometimes loss of credit for a dig. But each of these women paved the way for the women who came after them. What a beautiful story this is. I love learning about women in Egypt and this was the perfect book for me.
NetGalley/ St. Martin’s Press July 16, 2024 ...more
Joy is a Lady. Savio is an immigrant. What could these two have in common? A lot it turns out.
In the 1970’s, a girl named Paige finds a letter. AddressJoy is a Lady. Savio is an immigrant. What could these two have in common? A lot it turns out.
In the 1970’s, a girl named Paige finds a letter. Addressed to a Joy and full of numbers and codes. What in the world is this.?
And so begins a story of love, danger and sacrifice. A tear-jerker. I used so many tissues and it was wonderful!
Fredericka Mandelbaum came to New York in 1850. Poor and working as a peddler. By 1870, she was a widow with children and a fixture in Society.
She musFredericka Mandelbaum came to New York in 1850. Poor and working as a peddler. By 1870, she was a widow with children and a fixture in Society.
She must have married well. No, she was a crime boss.
And if that isn’t intriguing, I don’t know what is!
She was a fence and a very successful criminal. Planning robberies of gold, jewels and cash all over the country. We are talking millions and millions!
What an interesting account this was. I had never known about Marm before and I am very glad I found out.
They may have had gangs in New York, but this lady created a system, and it worked very well.
A grand story spanning decades of our country’s history. A family whose decisions and choices have shaped them all in different ways.
When they have moA grand story spanning decades of our country’s history. A family whose decisions and choices have shaped them all in different ways.
When they have money, they buy a house. Lost House. A place where they can escape the craziness that is life moving forward. And their money comes from oil.
Moving on they will need to come to terms with all of their decisions.
The cover of this book drew me in and I am ever so glad it did!
A paranormal investigator, Amy Bruni, travels across the country to find the most hauntThe cover of this book drew me in and I am ever so glad it did!
A paranormal investigator, Amy Bruni, travels across the country to find the most haunted, notorious, locations and then gives us a history lesson and a recipe! Two of my favorite things!
The photos and the information is great and the recipes are sometimes interesting, but tie in with the location.
With dialogue written by Brendan O’Hea, Dame Judi Dench tells us about every one of her Shakespear roles. As well as the entertaining, behind the scenWith dialogue written by Brendan O’Hea, Dame Judi Dench tells us about every one of her Shakespear roles. As well as the entertaining, behind the scenes stories.
As Dench herself says, 'Shakespeare is an international language, a beacon for humanity, and a bridge across cultures. Everything you have felt or are yet to feel is all in there in his plays.'
What a wonderful, entertaining book! Who isn’t a bit in awe of Dame Judi and all that she has achieved?
A passionate tale of plague, fire, and forbidden love in seventeenth-century London from the acclaimed author of Solomon's Crown
I had tears in my eyesA passionate tale of plague, fire, and forbidden love in seventeenth-century London from the acclaimed author of Solomon's Crown
I had tears in my eyes before the first chapter ended. Cecilia is a character you want to comfort, champion, and be a friend to. I love that.
1666. Cecilia Thorowgood is a widow before her marriage has really begun. A plague has devastated the country and now Cecilia, having gone to her sister, is trapped. Living in London with her sister and her husband. More about him later. She is obviously grieving, but her sister is having doctor after doctor giving her heaven knows what! The sister is desperate to have her well, so she can marry her off again. All behind her back of course.
But the desperation leads her to seek out Dr. David Mednes. An immigrant and a Jew. Nothing works, but then as David says, Nothing can cure grief. It takes as long as it takes.
Together they may begin to believe in love again. Maybe. Can they survive the prejudices of the town? And will they survive the horrible things coming their way? A beautiful story of love, loss, grief, and hope.
Inspired by a true story, The Wharton Plot follows Edith Wharton through the fading years of the Gilded Age in a city she once loved so well, telling Inspired by a true story, The Wharton Plot follows Edith Wharton through the fading years of the Gilded Age in a city she once loved so well, telling a taut tale of fame, love, and murder, as she becomes obsessed with solving a crime.
The theme of book banning is at the heart of this murder mystery. And it couldn’t be a more timely read.
It is 1911 in New York City and Edith Wharton is tired of it all. She can’t seem to write and her marriage is in dire straits. She is ready to chuck it all and leave the country.
Until the novelist David Graham Phillips is murdered in broad daylight in front of the Princeton Club! Having met him only recently, Edith is intrigued when his sister asks her to look into things. She has a feeling this is about his latest book, which is causing quite the stir even before it is published. What kind of book would someone kill over?
And that is a good question, especially now. Is one person’s opinion of a book enough to have it banned and their reputation scuttled?
While Edith is a prickly character, she is going to get to the bottom of this one! Maybe her career and marriage are over, but she isn’t letting go of this one!
Always a pleasure to read this author.
Netgalley/ St. Martin’s Press/ Minotaur January 2024
I learned so much from Muhammad the World-Changer, that I knew I wanted to read more.
There are over a billion copies of the Qur’an, and it is not easyI learned so much from Muhammad the World-Changer, that I knew I wanted to read more.
There are over a billion copies of the Qur’an, and it is not easy to read and understand. There are many interpretations, all a little different, which make it difficult to understand if Arabic is not your language.
In plain language, the author helps us to understand how the Qur’an came to be. There is much contested about parts.
I came away with a much deeper understanding. Netgalley/ St. Martin's Press February 27, 2024...more
What fun this is! I have fallen in love with the Williamson sisters!
Penney and Josephine Williamson are two of Britain’s surviving WWII Veterans. TheyWhat fun this is! I have fallen in love with the Williamson sisters!
Penney and Josephine Williamson are two of Britain’s surviving WWII Veterans. They are very popular and are in demand across Europe.
But they need a bit of assistance. Enter their nephew, Archie. Archie adores his aunts and manages their appearances and tries hard to keep them on the straight and narrow. And it is a job.
They may be over 90, but they are as bright as ever. They may be old, but they are still perfectly attired, always looking for the next excitement that Archie has arranged.
The ladies have been asked to come to Paris to receive the Legion d’Honneur for their part in liberating France. And of course Archie will accompany them as Arlene wrangles them.
The official story is that the ladies worked in the Royal Navy and Nursing Corps. In real life, however, Josephine was an intelligence operative! Penny was a spy and hand to hand combat! Will the truth be told?
All through the book, you know there are secrets. And something happened to Josephine in Paris when they were just teenagers. No one knows what that was. Not even Penney.
In Paris they are going to learn a lot and their age isn’t going to stop them from settling old scores and maybe another heist?
This is such a good story. I adored these ladies and can only hope when the time comes I am just as daring!
Netgalley/ William Morrow Paperbacks Jaunary 30, 2024...more
Brown’s latest work is about an event most Americans don’t know anything about. I say that having been a teacher for a long time and I’ve asked so manBrown’s latest work is about an event most Americans don’t know anything about. I say that having been a teacher for a long time and I’ve asked so many people if they knew this and, no, they have not.
This is a big work that covers the 1920 to 1921 in West Virginia. Specifically the Mine Wars. The Battle of Blair Mountain was the largest battle fought on American soil since the Civil War! Where ‘redneck’ would begin.
He blends facts with characters he has invented, old, young, black, white, and everything in between. Doc Moo for instance was Lebanese-American and a doctor working the camps. One of my favorites is Mother Jones, a legend in the union fights.
A heartbreaking story of love, loss and what people can do together. How ordinary citizens can come together to fight injustice.
Taylor Brown is from just up the road from where I am from in Georgia. Maybe that is one reason I gobble up his stories the minute I can! But I think it is because he is such a wonderful storyteller!
I love it when I read a book that teaches me something as well as entertaining me. This is one of those books. Margaret Fuller was an inspirational woI love it when I read a book that teaches me something as well as entertaining me. This is one of those books. Margaret Fuller was an inspirational woman in the 19th Century. The author of the women’s movement one could easily say.
Beginning in 1863 when Margaret receives an invitation to Ralph Waldo Emerson’s to meet his transcendentalist friends at his home. And so begins her influential and exciting life mingling with what we now know are famous authors of the era.
She became an author, a publisher, a leader in women’s rights and is one of the most fascinating women I have been fortunate to read about.
There is so much in this Historical Fiction work, always with some truth and the beautiful writing of the author.
Thanks to Netgalley and RHPG/Ballentine for the review copy. All opinions are my own.
George Kennan's Epic Journey Through The Brutal, Frozen Heart of Russia
This is a nonfiction account of the Siberian exile system in Czarist Russia. ItGeorge Kennan's Epic Journey Through The Brutal, Frozen Heart of Russia
This is a nonfiction account of the Siberian exile system in Czarist Russia. It has at times been a difficult read, but the fact that I knew next to nothing about this kept me coming back.
Not a pretty telling, but I knew that much going in. I am in debt to Mr. Wallance for bringing this to us. There is a mysteriousness about all things Russian and this helped me understand quite a lot.
This man did the leg work too. The conditions were grim and he was interviewing all kinds of people and it was just awful.
I fully intend to read this again. I learned quite a bit I did not know and I will be curling up with this during the cold winter months, happy I don't live in Siberia!
NetGalley/St. Martin's Press, December 05, 2023...more
A travel narrative following three ancient roads and looking at more than two thousand years of history of Ancient Rome through the modern eye.
First, A travel narrative following three ancient roads and looking at more than two thousand years of history of Ancient Rome through the modern eye.
First, it is important you read above. If not you are going to think this is about Caeser’s journey. It is not. It is the author’s journey to travel the path Caesar did along the three roads in Rome. The Via Appia, The Via Egnatia, and The Via Traiana.
I wasn’t in love with it. He talks a lot about parking and coffee. I can see where we got confused, but it was okay.
NetGalley/St. Martin’s Press, December 12, 2023...more
In France, Blythe Bricard, daughter of two major fashion names, has given up her fashion dreams. But, that is only bI really enjoyed reading this one.
In France, Blythe Bricard, daughter of two major fashion names, has given up her fashion dreams. But, that is only because she doesn’t know the real stories of her mother or grandmother. Finding out their secrets will be shocking and may lead to a new life.
In 1970 New York, Astrid is out to change the fashion world. First as inspiration to designer, Hawk Jones. But Astrid doesn’t want to be anyone’s muse. She is a designer and wants her own name on designs. And she has a plan to compete with the big boys to win a showcase.
But life intervenes and Astrid never shows up. Vanishes. Leaving behind a white silk dress behind.
Going back to 1917, when a teenaged Mizza Bridard is making a name for herself on her own terms.
What a beautiful and sad story this was. It is still a real struggle to achieve a place in that life. That is sad.
NetGalley/ Grand Central Publishing, January 30, 2024...more
What a unique idea, writing about a static place and all the people who inhabit it.
The descriptions are vivid and beautiful. You can smell the grass, What a unique idea, writing about a static place and all the people who inhabit it.
The descriptions are vivid and beautiful. You can smell the grass, and the flowers, and see the ponds and the moss. The author takes us back about 400 years to the first inhabitants of the humble cabin.
A pair of lovers running from a Puritan colony. A soldier who forgets battles to focus on apples, spinsters surviving war and hardship to die of silly things.
The scene is set beautifully and serves as a backdrop for a story of nature and human nature. Each story seems to have a deeper meaning and I loved every minute of this one.
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