Tag: #historicalfiction

The Postcard from Italy – Angela Petch

The Postcard from Italy is part WWII story, part a love note to Southern Italy, part family dysfunction, part romance, part mystery, part a foodie's dream and thoroughly enjoyable. I requested to read it through NetGalley because my father served in Italy in WWII, returning home in May 1946. He was stationed fairly close to … Continue reading The Postcard from Italy – Angela Petch →

Four Treasures of the Sky – Jenny Tinghui Zhang (Audio)

This is a powerful, enlightening, thoughtful, beautifully written -- and devastating story. The audio version was worth the time, with an extraordinarily talented narrator, Katharine Chin. Audio is particularly valuable when as here, the writing is exquisite. But, since I have no writing to reference, I may get some details wrong. Sometime in the late … Continue reading Four Treasures of the Sky – Jenny Tinghui Zhang (Audio) →

Murder at the Porte de Versailles – Cara Black

I was fortunate enough to discover Clara Black's Aimee Leduc series with the first installment, "Murder in the Marais," and I have purchased and read every one since, at the moment it was published. In this instance, thanks to NetGalley, I read the twentieth book in the series ahead of the publication date and it … Continue reading Murder at the Porte de Versailles – Cara Black →

Deacon King Kong – James McBride (audible)

Deacon King Kong is a funny, tragic, sweet, ugly, pulls no punches but finds good in the world around every corner book. It is McBride's meticulous attention to the humanity, humor, danger, ambivalence and values (good and bad) of every single character that fills Deacon King Kong with heart and humor. Because, while its subjects … Continue reading Deacon King Kong – James McBride (audible) →

City of Shadows (Counterfeit Lady No. 5) – Victoria Thompson

I'm such a fan of Victoria Thompson's writing in general and the Counterfeit Lady series does not disappoint. For one thing, Thompson's research is excellent and she brings the periods she writes about alive. Lizzie, our "former" con artist is now married to Gideon Bates. She met his mother quite by accident when Mrs. Bates … Continue reading City of Shadows (Counterfeit Lady No. 5) – Victoria Thompson →

Our American Friend – Anna Pitoniak

I am totally ambivalent about choices made in this well written cold war Russia versus the United States novel, that then looks at the question of present day Russia cozying up to a Billionaire U.S. President with no morals, married to a (Russian) emigre. Sophie Morse is a young journalist, married to Ben, a lawyer. … Continue reading Our American Friend – Anna Pitoniak →

Harlem Shuffle and Crook Manifesto – Colson Whitehead – Audio Version

Harlem Shuffle is a three-part book about a furniture store owner at 125th Street and Morningside in New York City in 1959, 1961, 1964. Harlem itself is a character in this novel, its hierarchy, its ordinary families, its upper crust and those trying to change their lives or to preserve the status quo. I sat … Continue reading Harlem Shuffle and Crook Manifesto – Colson Whitehead – Audio Version →

A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons- Kate Khavari

In this delightful debut, A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons introduces us to Saffron Everleigh, the only female working in the University College London Biology Department. She is the assistant to Professor Maxwell, a botanist. He is an old family friend, who assigns Saffron substantive work and mentors her, an unusual experience for many … Continue reading A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons- Kate Khavari →