Tag Archives: brian jacques

Book Reviews – July to Oct 2025

4 Nov

As you can see, I definitely got behind on my monthly book reviews! They just fell through the cracks… In order to catch up quickly, I decided to list the books with a quick review so that next month, I’ll be caught up.

July Reads:

The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder (The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder #1) by C.L. Miller

~I read the sequel to this first, click here for that review. This was a fun adventure although I was, at times, distracted from the story by the choices of the main character…i.e. they seemed out of character even if she was trying to be bold and brave (!!). I’d say it’d be a fun vacation read (which is in no way a slight!) I did enjoy the second one more.

The Californios by Louis L’amour

~Every once in a while, L’amour wrote out of the norm westerns, and this is one of them. First of all, Sean Mulkerin is a sea captain and there’s an element of the supernatural in the quest for gold to save the family ranch. I did highly enjoy it although i do remember being a little confused about some of the happenings.

Unity (Assassin’s Creed, #7) by Oliver Bowden

~I’d not picked up an Assassin’s Creed novel in a couple years probably. I gave this one 3.5 stars on goodreads but I honestly can’t remember why? I remember enjoying it and reading it within a couple days. Shrug

Castaways of the Flying Dutchman (Castaways of the Flying Dutchman #1) by Brian Jacques

~I hadn’t read anything other than the Redwall series by Jacques before but of course I had to snag this to read it! I enjoyed it – the writing definitely felt more for young adult than Redwall (don’t ask me to explain that further…) I was disappointed by how seemingly short a time that the main characters actually spent onboard the Flying Dutchman… Still an engaging story.

All That Is Secret (An Annalee Spain Mystery, #1) by Patricia Raybon

~This touched on two points of interest for me – 1920s and murder mystery. I’d never read anything by Raybon before but I really enjoyed her writing style. What didn’t hit right with me was the near-constant discussion of race and class. (yes I am quite aware of how big an issue it was in those times especially, I just thought it was over-written which almost numbs the reader to it.) Definitely recommend if you’re wanting a fun, faith-filled murder mystery with some fabulous twists. I still think about one near the end that I never saw coming, but afterward, you realize it was skillfully woven throughout the story.

Isles of the Emberdark by Brandon Sanderson – audiobook

~A very unique adventure from Sanderson that came out this year (2025) – I was enthralled with the stories of Dusk and Starling as they both struggled to do their best in trying circumstances. Highly recommend this one if you’re a fantasy fan.

August Reads:

The Rithmatist (The Rithmatist #1) by Brandon Sanderson

~no denying that this is a young-adult story but it was quite fun, very unique in that the villains are chalk drawings and the only way to fight them? With chalk.

By the Pricking of My Thumbs (Tommy and Tuppence Mysteries, #4) by Agatha Christie

~I scored this at a little library! The way that the two get caught up in another adventure was pretty clever and I had no idea of the ending. Definitely recommend.

Lady Susan by Jane Austen

~It’s been ages since I read an Austen and wow- Lady Susan is a CHARACTER. This was entertaining for sure, a nice quick read.

September Reads:

The Outcast of Redwall by Brian Jacques

~This didn’t end up being a favorite of the series but I did give it 4 stars on Goodreads.

The Curious Inheritance of Blakely House by Joanna Davidson Politano

~1901. Inventions of the clock-making variety. Murder mystery. Main character needing to prove they’re worthy of the inheritance? Brilliant. There were some side plots that made me confused why that was the author’s choice… but the storytelling was absolutely beautiful. Add in the fact that there’s a pirate butler? Sold.

The Tales of Teltra Season One e1-3 (Tales of Teltra Book 1) by Daniel McCormack

~Highly recommend you go give this a listen (tales-of-teltra). It’s an immersive audiobook in episodes. Fantastic storytelling and was instantly pulled into the story. Can’t wait to finish the rest of it!

The Man in the Brown Suit (Colonel Race #1) by Agatha Christie

~This was an absolutely wild ride. I felt almost like I’d come in, in the middle of a series or something. Some of Anne’s decisions made me just groan in frustration, honestly.

The Murder on the Links (Hercule Poirot #2) by Agatha Christie

~Poroit’s little sayings are some of my favorites of these books. I had an inkling on the ‘who’ but that’s it. I really do like Hastings, Poroit’s associate.

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Hercule Poirot #4) by Agatha Christie

~I did not see the end/reveal coming at all on this one. I’ll admit I did get a little lost at times with who was who and what was what, but I loved how it felt a little bit different in how it was presented. Loved it.

October Reads:

Pearls of Lutra (Redwall #9) by Brian Jacques

~I really liked this story- combining the loveliness of Redwall Abbey with sailing on the ocean, peaceful islands, villianous enemies and all sorts of fabulous characters.

Ten Days in a Mad-House and other stories by Nellie Bly

~It was intriguing reading about Bly’s time at an insane asylum. I enjoyed her writing style.

Currently reading:

Eye of the World (Wheel of Time #1) by Robert Jordan

Ten Days in a Mad-House and other stories by Nellie Bly – ‘and other stories’ still to read

The Secret Adversary (A Tommy & Tuppence Mystery) by Agatha Christie

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Book Reviews- Jan 2025

31 Jan

Welcome back to SGL, my friends! We’ve another book review post today, and at the bottom, there’s a quick review of my December reads.

The Complete Sherlock Holmes (Sherlock Holmes #1-9) by Arthur Conan Doyle – Doyle’s famous detective, Sherlock Holmes’ and his trusted assistant, Watson, in all nine books of adventures put together in one audiobook.

~I started this 69 hour long audiobook back in the beginning of September. I enjoyed finally reading the Sherlock stories but will admit that doing it all in one ‘chunk’ was probably a bit much. I enjoyed seeing how Holmes’ was written- rather than how he’s portrayed in movies/tv series. He’s more talkative and considerate in general than I think is portrayed. I enjoyed these and look forward to reading specific ones again. Definitely recommend.

Uprooted : How 3,000 years of Jewish Civilization in the Arab World Vanished Overnight by Lyn Julius – (a snippet of the excerpt from Goodreads) Who are the Jews from Arab countries? What were relations with Muslims like? What made Jews leave countries where they had been settled for thousands of years? What lessons can we learn from the mass exodus of minorities from the Middle East?

~I am working to regularly read a bit more non-fiction with the focus being Jewish history. Unsurprisingly, this was a rather hard read, which made it a slow one for me. There were so many points that I tabbed and I have started a blog post for a separate review. Definitely recommend this for adult readers who want to learn about Jewish history in the Middle East.

A Lady in Attendance by Rachel Fordham – When Hazel takes a job as Dr. Gilbert Watt’s lady in attendance, she uses an alias. Five years in a New York state reformatory have left a stain on her real name – as well as on her heart. Gilbert Watts is unsure about admitting a woman into his office, but finds that Hazel is a cheerful addition to his life even while he senses something secretive underneath her chatter. For Hazel, she finds a friend in the quiet dentist and the hope that if she can put her past to rights, she just might have a future after all.

~My mom loaned me this book with the ‘you’ve got to read this’ suggestion. =) This is the only book by Fordham that I’ve read and it was well written and enjoyable! There was one moment for Hazel that felt so out of character that I stopped reading for a few days. But it was compelling enough that I came back to it and finished. Fordham had some twists throughout the plot that kept this story feeling fresh and I appreciated that. Recommend.

Castle of Whispers (Secrets of the Quilt #1) by Elizabeth Penney – Sofia Parker inherits a family heirloom the evening before her grandmother’s funeral. A trunk and the silk quilt inside have been passed down for generations, a secret trust to be guarded. But all the guardians were women who were excellent seamstresses and Sofia can barely thread a needle, much less stitch a straight line. So Sofia is stunned to inherit this heirloom, and even more so to find that there’s a diary inside the trunk as well. A diary that chronicles the significance of each piece of the quilt and the one that intrigues Sofia is that one is claimed to be connected to the Mona Lisa!

~This was another book my mom loaned me. I admit that I was a bit uncertain about it but I’m glad I gave it a try. It was a cute read – one with a fun historical twist that since the synopsis doesn’t say too much about it, I won’t either. Suffice it to say that this was a sweet story although, once again, the main character, Sofia, did something that irked me. It was better explained further on (the motivations behind) but, I’ll admit, it still doesn’t sit quite right…? I don’t know. But. If you’re wanting a sweet read with some fun history thrown in, check this one out. And apparently it’s a whole series!

Lord Peter: The Complete Lord Peter Wimsey Stories by Dorothy L. Sayers – a full collection of the 21 Wimsey short stories along with an article about the author.

~This is linked to a review that I did of the whole series earlier this month – definitely check it out if you like mysteries. It was quite fun to go through these, even though I’m not normally a fan of short stories. I will always recommend this series!!

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (The Chronicles of Narnia #1) by C.S. Lewis – When the Pevensie children are sent away from London, they’re sent to stay at a house owned by the professor. Lucy, the youngest, finds a wardrobe in an empty room and stumbles upon the fantastical land of Narnia. Soon, all four siblings – Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy- will be blinking in the bright sunlight of that frozen land, meeting Aslan and be forever changed.

~After the chaos that was December, I needed a cozy story to listen to, so I (naturally) turned to Narnia. I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Michael York. I adore the Pevensie siblings, and of course, especially Lucy. And Peter. The beavers and Mr. Tumnus are wonderful as well. Suffice it to say, I highly recommend this intro to the Narnia series!

Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson – Tress leads a simple life on her island home in the emerald sea. She enjoys colleting cups that sailors bring her and listening to the stories her friend Charlie tells her. But then he’s taken away from her by his father to find Charlie a bride and disaster strikes. Charlie has been captured by the Sorceress in the Midnight Sea. Tress decides she must sneak off her island and rescue Charlie. The journey she undergoes is dangerous, not only because one drop of water in a sea of spores can mean instant death, but because it will challenge her in every way.

~First off, how is this my third read of this book and yet it’s the first time I’ve reviewed it? Anyway, this is a fairytale but with the heroine being more than just the damsel in distress. Tress has no idea how she’ll accomplish her plan, but through it all, she proves that she is more than a simple window washer from a tiny island no one knows about. Sanderson wrote this with a bit of tongue-in-cheek that differs from his usual style and it just makes it that much more fun. Highly recommend.

Since I apparently missed doing a review on December’s reads, here’s a quick list of what I read! The first several are short stories from the Victorian age. I was part of a read-along on Instagram that’s called Dickens December. It’s quite fun if you want to check it out – look up Laura (pixie.hallows) or Jess (dickens.and.docks)

The Christmas Mummers by Mary Charlotte Younge

Old Hooker’s Ghost by Anonymous

The Black Bag Left on a Doorstep by Louisa Catherine Perkis (a new favorite. It’s about a female detective!)

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Other reads in December:

The Legend of Luke (Redwall #12) by Brian Jacques – Martin, along with friends, Gonff, Trimp the hedgehog and Dinny Foremole, leaves Redwall on a dangerous journey to the northern shores to find his father, Luke. There, he finds the story of the evil pirate stoat, Vilu Deskar and the warrior mouse, Luke, who pursued him over dangerous seas to enact revenge, even if it meant abandoning his only son.

~I always enjoy a Redwall story. I’d been curious about the story of Martin’s father, as I’ve been slowly reading through the series (although I did go out of order on this one, whoops!) I liked the different creatures that the travellers came across, and how they either outsmarted/defeated/befriended them, depending on who they were. All that to say, I enjoyed it even though this isn’t one of my favorites of the series.

Hangman’s Holiday: a collection of short mysteries (Lord Peter Wimsey #9) by Dorothy L. Sayers – this collection not only shares some amusing things that happen to/around Wimsey, but they also include some stories featuring amateur sleuth Montague Egg.

~I started this a little unsure, because I’m honestly not a huge fan of short stories, but they were still delightful! I thought the ones with Montague Egg were hilarious, and wouldn’t mind reading more books about him.

Quite the diverse list, isn’t it? Did any strike your fancy? What’s a book you’ve read recently that you absolutely loved? Let me know, down below!

~Laura

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Book Reviews – April and May 2024

7 Aug

Time for Book Reviews again! I know, already?! But I’m trying to catch up to be able to do them monthly as usual. If you’ve been following along, you’ll know that I’m currently in at least three series’. Two of them are children’s/young adult and one is murder mystery.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter #4) by J.K. Rowling- In his fourth year at Hogwarts, Harry is looking forward to learning new spells and playing Quidditch. But when he’s unexpectedly chosen as as competitor in the dangerous Triwizard Tournament, he’s suddenly thrust into more dangerous territory than he ever has been.

~I feel like this is the last book that the trio – Harry, Ron and Hermione- are still innocent kids enjoying school and holidays. The scenes where the muggle world and wizarding world interact, were wonderful and… magical. (sorry but I had to crack at least one joke like that in these reviews). The danger is so ramped up and yet, Harry’s got friends that help him along the way… or snub him, as the case may be. Anyway, this one was a lot of fun but also held so much heartache that sometimes caught me off guard.

The Five Red Herrings (Lord Peter Wimsey #7) by Dorothy L Sayers- While Wimsey is visiting the Scottish coast with some friends on a painting retreat, the hated Sandy Campbell is found dead. But although it looks like an accident on the cliffs, Wimsey is certain that there’s something wrong with the death and starts to investigate.

~ This one was intriguing as Wimsey and his ‘helpers’ track down the alibis of six different suspects. I admit that I had a hard time, or as Wimsey would say ‘a devil of a time’ keeping track of who everyone was. And then there was the question of whether the stolen bicycle was, or wasn’t, relevant to the case. I am still enjoying this series whole-heartedly, and having Ian Carmichael narrate the majority of them brings a certain comfort to the listen.

Brotherhood by Mike Chen- Obi-Wan is sent to Cato Neimoidia to investigate a devastating explosion and finds himself fighting the separatists. Anakin, who is now a Jedi Knight and on equal footing with Obi-Wan, goes against his orders to leave Kenobi to his own mission and hurries to assist.

~Ah, Kenobi and Skywalker. It was fun to see their familiarity and camaraderie bump against their struggle in finding their balance in their new equality. The investigation and subsequent…solving of the issue was quite entertaining. Definitely enjoyed this one.

Queen’s Peril (Star Wars: The Padmé Trilogy, #0) by E.K. Johnston- When Padme, at a mere fourteen years old, wins the election to be queen of Naboo, she adopts the name of Amidala to keep her family safe. Another precaution is to gather around her handmaidens – girls of similar age and build with skills that can be her decoys, assistants and confidants. But they all come from different backgrounds, and it’s up to Padme to unite them into one cohesive group.

~It was fun reading about Padme when she was younger and how she was so intentional about her handmaidens, as well as the choices she made for Naboo. It was hard to imagine having a ruler being a girl of 14, but somehow, one was able to put that aside, or even believe it was possible, in this atmosphere.

Come Out of the Kitchen! A Romance by Alice Duer Miller- In a small Southern town, bachelor Randolph Reed seeks to purchase a quaint mansion. But the owners only agree if he will take on the current four-person staff – a butler, cook, maid and a young page boy.

I picked this one up, printed in 1916, at a library book sale. It’s a lovely little hardcover and the title was just so intriguing that I had to grab it. It’s a short, sweet, comedic story of romance with some good moral lessons in it as well. I’ve since realized that there’s been an adaptation (tv or movie?) of this but I haven’t, as of yet, watched it. Highly recommend if you’re wanting a light, lovely read.

All My Secrets by Lynn Austin- When Arthur Stanhope III unexpectedly dies in 1898, his mother, widow and daughter are dismayed to learn that the estate – and the vast wealth- is left to the nearest male heir, leaving them almost destitute. His widow, Sylvia, decides that their best hope is for their daughter, Adelaide, to marry well, before news of their downfall is circulated. But, Junietta, her mother in law, feels that their lives need some shaking up and vows to let Adelaide choose her own path in life. Caught between two women she loves, Adelaide must learn from both of them and decide which life she wants to lead.

~The synopsis of this one drew me even though I’m not reading as much of this genre anymore. But Austin is an author I’ve read and enjoyed multiple times. This story, while it started out strong for me, threw me with some of the story-telling choices that were made. Without sharing spoilers, I didn’t enjoy how the three stories of the women were told. Recommend with the acknowledgement that it wasn’t for me.

The Sunlit Man by Brandon Sanderson- Nomad has been running from the Night Brigade for years by skipping through the Cosmere, just one step ahead of his pursuers. But with his powers depleted, Nomad finds himself stuck on Canticle, a planet that’s own sun will kill anyone that doesn’t keep moving, following the shadows. Tormented by his past mistakes and terrified of making new ones, Nomad must do all he can to restore his powers to skip yet again, but ends up having to fight for his very soul.

~It had been too many months since I’d read a Sanderson novel, so I picked this one up again. (now that I have my own hardcover copy!) It being my second time through it was still a surprise on some of the plot points but I also understood some of the hints and twists that were coming. Enjoyed it thoroughly and obviously recommend.

Now’s the time to refill your coffee cup, restart your Youtube playlist before starting on May’s book reviews:

The Bellmaker (Redwall #7) by Brian Jacques- Martin the Warrior comes to Joseph the Bellmaker one night with a mysterious message, indicating that Joseph’s daughter, Mariel and her companion, Dandin are in great danger. They’ve been gone for four seasons, having left to fight evil but no word has been heard of them since. Four Redwallers rush off to find and assist Mariel and Dandin, facing danger of their own with valiant hearts.

~When I want an engaging comfort story, I turn to the Redwall series. This one was quite action-packed! I always enjoy the puzzles that Martin provides for the Redwallers to decode and their subsequent rally to action in order to do good. Plus, I always find myself wanting delectable vegetable, fruit and herb dishes after reading a Redwall book.

Star Wars: The Prequel Trilogy by Terry Brooks- Follow the fight of good against evil, of myth and magic and of innocence and power in the fantastic world of Star Wars. Anakin Skywalker is found as a young slave on the world of Tatooine; as a young padawan, as a Jedi Knight fighting a war among the stars.

~This is the novelization of the prequels. It was quite fun to read although there were parts that I was a bit less interested in since I have seen the movies several times. But, I’d recommend these to any fan of Star Wars for sure.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter #5) by J.K. Rowling- After receiving no news, even from Ron and Hermione all summer, Harry finally learns just why that is. Dumbledore also tells him about a prophecy that says that Harry will have powers to defeat the now-returned Voldemort. But the wizarding world doesn’t believe that Lord Voldemort really has returned and are making Dumbledore, and Harry, out to be liars and dissidents.

~Well, so much for any of the ‘happy kid’ feeling from the previous books. This one just hits you in the face with the harsh reality that life often holds. Harry’s left out of anything that’s going on with the Dursley’s who abuse him. And even when he’s back among the Weasley’s and his other friends, he’s still not included in much of the planning. What makes it all worse is that the Ministry appoints a new teacher who takes pleasure in hurting the students. Like I said, so much for a lovely comforting read. But still, it was quite good, seeing our trio grow and learn when to stand up for themselves and the power of friendship, love and loyalty.

Long Way Down by Ewan McGregor- McGregor and Charlie Boorman go on their second trip around the world on their motorcycles. This one is a 15,000-mile journey, from Scotland to South Africa, riding some of the toughest terrain in the world.

~I always enjoy a well written travelogue and (aside from the swear words, sadly) this one was fun. Going from Scotland to South Africa is a crazy distance but the people McGregor and Boorman meet and interact with were a highlight of this book.

Whew! You made it. You deserve another cup of coffee and at least a half hour’s reading of a good book.

Click the link for March 2024 Book Reviews where you’ll see more of the series I’m reading!

A friendly little note : While covering different genres, I do not read anything that has blatant sexual content. I will tell you if there is any sort of such (typically very mild and delicately put) in them and if I don’t think they’d be appropriate for young/teenage readers.

Happy Reading, Laura

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Favorite Reads of 2023

11 Jan

As an avid reader, it’s always fun to go back through my list of books that I’ve read in a year and choose my favorites. I chose my top six out of sixty-five books. These aren’t in any particular order:

Murder Must Advertise by Dorothy L. Sayers – #8 of Lord Peter Wimsey novels. When an employee dies at Pym’s Publicity, a respectable ad agency in London, it looks like an accident. But Lord Peter Wimsey is called in and he finds what’s really going on in the cutthroat world of copywriting.

-I found this while at a library book sale. My copy was published in 1933, hardcover and still has the paper sleeve. So of course, I had to grab it. I’d never read/heard of Sayers before but I’m so glad I snagged it! I’ve since read/listened to another of her Lord Peter Wimsey Novels, Clouds of Witness. I plan on reading more of the series this coming year. (her stories remind me a bit of Agatha Christie!)

Kenobi by John Jackson Miller – Obi-wan must set aside his status as jedi master and become Ben Kenobi as he watches over young Luke Skywalker. But he can’t help but aid the residents of Tattoine.

– This was my first Star Wars novel and since I borrowed it from a friend, I plan on buying my own copy since I’m already wanting to re-read it. It was fun to read about that in-between time that Kenobi went through -the struggles and grief and moments of peace.

Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanderson- Yumi and Painter come from opposite worlds – she from one of gardens and spirits, he from darkness and nightmares. But when their lives become strangely intertwined can they figure out why, and how to help each other?

-I listened to this on audiobook on Spotify as it was part of the Year of Sanderson releases. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was fun to see the events through both Yumi and Painter’s points of view and to be constantly surprised by the revelations. Looking forward to reading/listening to this again!

The Long Patrol by Brian Jacques – The Rapscallion army is on the move after a sound defeat by Lady Cregga Rose Eyes, the Badger Lady of Salamandastron. The hare warriors, the Long Patrol, are on their trail to stop their progress to Redwall. Young Tammo is at the forefront as he chases his life-long dream of joining the Long Patrol.

-I listened to live readings of this from Story Time with Friends but also have a physical copy of it. Once again, the story of Redwall was delightful and full of delicious-sounding food, battles and morals. I love how Jacques weaves a story together.

The Boomerang Clue by Agatha Christie -Bobby didn’t know it when he found a body at the local golf course, but he was very lucky. Not only lucky to have escaped being poisoned, but to have Frankie at his side. Lady Frances Derwant was going to help him find the would-be murderer. But their only clues were a picture and the dead man’s last words- why didn’t they ask Evans?

-I found a hardcover five-in-one edition with this novel at the thrift store in the spring. I’d never read any Christie but had been wanting to give her at try. Six books later… anyway, this one was oddly fun (can murder mysteries be fun?).

Death Comes to Pemberly by P.D. James – Darcy and Elizabeth have been married for six years. Life is idyllic – they have two sons; Bingley and Jane live nearby; Mr. Bennet visits regularly; Georgianna has a promising marriage prospect. But it all comes crashing down when Lydia shows up, hysterical that her husband, Wickham, has been murdered. Both she and Wickham had been banned from Pemberley, but at this news, Elizabeth and Darcy take Lydia in and seek to solve this mystery.

-Brown Paper Packages Bookmail on Instagram was selling this and I just had to give it a shot. Several years ago, I watched the BBC production based on this book and enjoyed it – I probably liked the book even more! A murder mystery set in Pemberley with the beloved Austen characters? What else can you ask for?

Honorable Mentions:

Lumen by J.J. Fischer- #2 of Nightingale Trilogy- Sephone, Dorian and Cass continue their search for the only man who knows how to get to the Reliquary- the elusive Silvertongue. But Sephone’s time is getting short, Dorian is accused of treason and secrets start to drive the three companions apart. What choice will Dorian make when the stakes are at their highest?

-I received an arc for my free honest opinion. If you want to read that blog post, it’s right here. Suffice it to say, I highly enjoyed this sequel to Calor, and will have my own copy soon!

The Daybreakers by Louis L’Amour- When Tye Sackett stepped between his brother, Orrin, and a bullet, both their lives were irrevocably changed. They head west to Santa Fe where Orrin becomes marshal and Tye commands respect without a badge. But their past comes hunting them and one brother must sacrifice so the other’s dreams will be realized.

-I’ve been getting into L’Amour’s more this year thanks to thrift stores and book sales and now have a whole stack of them waiting to be read. This one, however, was an audiobook. I really enjoyed it- I’ve always liked western stories and how L’amour writes them is just nostalgic and lovely. The brother’s journey and relationship was intense, suspenseful and just engrossing.

Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones – #1 of Howl’s Moving Castle series – It’s Sophie’s misfortune to have been born the eldest and so to have the destiny of failure if she leaves home. But when the Witch of the Waste puts a spell on her that turns her into an old woman, Sophie is forced to seek out the one place where the spell could be broken- the wizard Howl’s castle. To do so means dealing with the heartless Howl, make a deal with a fire demon and face the Witch of the Waste head on. Through the journey, she learns that there’s more to Howl, and herself, than she ever dreamed.

-I love the Studio Ghibli movie based off this book so this summer I checked it out of the library. It’s different from the movie of course, Howl is from Wales for one thing! But it was still charming and a delightful tale. After reading it I was inspired to crochet both Howl and Sophie. I want to read more of the series this year!

And that’s it! Even though I did read several others that were quite wonderful! If you want to see my full year of reading, click here to go to Goodreads. It’s always interesting to me to see, at the end of the year, what genres I favored. Especially since I am very much a mood-reader (i.e. I can have the best of intentions to next read a certain book but if it doesn’t strike my fancy in that moment, I’ll grab whatever does.) And this year, the genres were definitely mystery and fantasy. With a lot of westerns thrown in.

I’m hoping to add more classics to my reads this coming year – I’ve picked up Martin Chuzzlewit by Charles Dickens and a book about Tchaikovsky that I really want to read, among others! Just in glancing at my bookshelf next to me I see The Velvet Doublet by James Street, Come out of the Kitchen by Alice Duer Miller, Valley of Wild Horses by Zane Grey and You Can’t Go Home Again by Thomas Wolfe. (yes, these are all on my classics shelf!)

I’d love to hear a favorite read of yours! Maybe I’ll add it to my list!

Happy Reading, Laura

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March 2021 Book Reviews

14 May

Once again, it’s been far too long since I got any sort of post here on SGL. But, at last, I have finished the book reviews for what I read in March. It was rather a stellar month for reading exceptional books, let me tell you. Let’s get right to it!

Redwall by Brian Jacques- At Redwall Abbey, everything is peaceful and the inhabitants prepare to celebrate the Summer of the Late Rose. But what they don’t know yet is that Cluny the Scourge is nearing their valley. Cluny is a vicious warlord, a one-eyed rat who wishes to kill all in his path. He sets plans to kill the peaceful animals and take ownership of Redwall.

~I had never read this nor barely even heard of it, and am so glad that I picked a copy up when I found it at a thrift store. It turns out that my husband read the whole series as a kid and loved it. I quickly understood why as I was whisked into the world of the Abbey- Martin, Bartholomew and the others. Cluny and his army. The owl. Oh, just the whole of it. It was so good and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

To Whisper Her Name (Belle Meade Plantation #1) by Tamera Alexander – Being the widow of a man who was shot as a traitor to the south leaves Olivia Aberdeen without many options in Nashville. She has been shunned by proper society. But she is relieved to accept the invitation by ‘Aunt’ Elizabeth Harding to be housekeeper at Belle Meade Plantation. When she arrives and finds out from Confederate General William Giles Harding why he agreed to her coming, she is disillusioned and worried. This was not to be the safe haven that she had hoped it would be. But another newcomer to Belle Meade draws her interest, a young man that, although he is from the South, seems anything but a Southern gentleman. Ridley Cooper, branded a traitor and dreaming of learning the ‘gift’ that Bob Green, Belle Meade’s horse trainer and former slave, has with horses, enters Belle Meade with a host of secrets. One of them being that while he was born in the South, he fought for the North. As he battles demons within himself, both of them must deal with fears of betrayal.

~Why did this sit on my shelf for a few years before I ever read it? I’ll never know. I was quickly drawn into the story and was HELD there for the whole thing. I really liked Ridley and Uncle Bob. As well as Olivia and her struggle to overcome not only her long-held fears but the social stagnation that suddenly happens to her. A great book – highly recommend! 

Mary Poppins 80th Collection Edition by P.L. Travers – Travel to Cherry Tree Lane on the east wind and join in on all the adventures that the Banks children go on when Mary Poppins arrives to be their nanny.

~Forgive the super short synopsis but I feel like most people have a general idea of who Mary Poppins is. I had never read any of the stories about the ‘magical’ nanny, my only experience was Disney’s rendition of her with Julie Andrews. I did enjoy getting to see how Travers wrote the character and all the crazy adventures she led the children on. But, I will say, I didn’t end up adoring her, nor the whole of the book. There were adventures that I had fun reading but on the whole, (please don’t hate me for saying this), I rather still prefer Disney’s version of who Mary Poppins is. I am glad I read it though, and think it’s worth anyone who is interested in at least trying it. I will add that getting to know Poppins’ relatives makes it worth it.

Home Work: A Memoir of my Hollywood Years by Julie Andrews – This being her second memoir, she focuses on her years in Hollywood, as an up and coming actress. The highs and lows of working with the giants of cinema at the time as well as balancing her personal life.

~I enjoyed the portion that I read of this. I honestly read maybe a quarter of it but realized that as interesting as it was, there were other books that I would rather be reading. So, I opted to be done with it. But, Andrew’s writing style is engrossing and the stories she shares are interesting. I mainly wanted to read it because of learning about her experiences filming both Mary Poppins and Sound of Music.

Seraphina (Seraphina #1) by Rachel Hartman- In Goredd, the peace between humans and dragons these past forty years has done little to ease the suspicions between them. The dragons have created a way to form themselves into human shape, and their abilities in mathematics are unmatched. The anniversary of the treaty is approaching and tensions run high. Seraphina Dombegh is a new member of court when a member of the royal family is murdered. With sufficient reason to hide from both sides, she is nevertheless caught up in the investigation with the perceptive captain of the guard, Prince Lucian Kiggs. As things grow more dangerous, she struggles to hid her secret that could mean her very life, if it is found out.

This gets five stars and I do not do 5 star ratings very often! I was completely enamored with this book. I knew nothing about it when I started – but man, Hartman did an amazing job weaving a story together with dragons in a whole new way. I really liked Kiggs’ character development, as well as Seraphina herself. The only things I feel like I should mention: the word ‘bastard’ is used throughout but in the instance of being a child born out of wedlock, not as a derogatory name. There is a very subtle instance of a possible relationship between two men, but it’s so subtle that I probably wouldn’t have even caught it if I hadn’t looked up the term that Hartman used for it. I am eagerly awaiting reading the sequel.

Dr Fate Vol. 1 The Blood Price by Paul Levitz (from goodreads:) In modern-day Brooklyn, Anubis, the Egyptian god of the dead, has called up a great flood in order to cleanse the world. If left unchecked, his magic has the power to wash all of humanity away. To turn the rising tide and save mankind, Nabu the Wise, the mystical helmet of Fate, must choose a new champion from among Earth’s greatest heroes—instead, he settles on Khalid “Kent” Nassour, Egyptian-American first-year med student. Unfortunately for the inexperienced and overwhelmed Khalid, instructions for his new abilities can’t be found in any of his textbooks. Unless he can learn to harness the ancient power of Nabu, Anubis will claim everything the new Doctor Fate holds dear, including his family, his girlfriend and the world as he knows it. Yes, the Doctor is in…way over his head.

~sometimes, the goodreads synopsis is just too good. Whoever wrote this one, nailed it. Confession time: this was my first comic book. Not to read of course, there have been a few over the years. But to own. And it is, naturally, about Dr. Fate. (marrying a nerd has had its advantages in getting exposed to some really cool superhero characters). This is a modern retelling of Dr. Fate’s origin and I liked it. I really appreciated that they worked in a (full page) spread of him in his original outfit. (insert girlish squealing). The storyline kept me interested and the artwork was incredible.

What have you been reading lately?

~Laura

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