Jane Austen: A Literary Celebrity by Peter J Leithart

May 31, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Jane Austen: A Literary Celebrity by Peter J Leithart
Publisher: Nelson Books
Genre: Historical, Non-Fiction, Biography
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Jane Austen is famous for such books as Persuasion, Pride and Prejudice, and Emma. Now learn about the author’s journey through a life spent making up stories that touched the lives of millions.

Jane Austen is now what she never was in life, and what she would have been horrified to become–a literary celebrity. “Janeia” is the author’s term for the mania for all things Austen. Dive into Jane Austen: A Literary Celebrity and discover:

how it all began and Austen’s love of poetry
her early masterpieces and the inspiration behind the stories
her road to getting published and the health decline that led to her death
In this updated edition, you’ll also find discussion questions that work well for book clubs and ELA lesson plans. This biography is perfect for:

Jane Austen fans and collectors
men and women who have enjoyed Austen-inspired films and TV series adaptations
anyone interested in learning about the varied sides of Austen’s character and the characters she created
Jane Austen: A Literary Celebrity is a fascinating look at a woman who never meant to be famous.

A decent overview about the life of Jane Austen.

I picked this book up because I wanted to get to know more about Jane Austen. She’s considered the titan of the romantic genre, but I didn’t know much about her. This was my entre into her life. I’m glad I read it.

I learned quite a bit about Austen and can now say I respect her writing even more that I know her. This book would be great for hardcore Austen fans and enlightening for those who want to know a little more.

The writing is utilitarian and serves the purpose of telling her story, but there were times it needed a bit more personality. I liked the story and liked learning about Austen, but there were times the author referred to her as Jenny. It’s not incorrect, but got a bit confusing, especially early on. I also got a little lost in the family tree descriptions early on. That’s not to say this is a bad book. Far from it. It’s a nice pocket read, but one has to read it with the notion there will be rereading involved.

If you’re a fan of Austen and want to know how her faith somewhat influenced her, how her life went and want something quick, then this might be the book for you. Give it a try.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Merchant’s House by Kate Ellis

May 31, 2023 By Leave a Comment


The Merchant’s House by Kate Ellis
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
Genre: Contemporary, Historical, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

DS Wesley Peterson, newly arrived in the West Country town of Tradmouth, has his hands full when a child goes missing and a young woman is brutally murdered on a lonely cliff path.

Then his old friend, archaeologist Neil Watson, unearths the skeletons of a woman and a newborn baby in the cellar of an ancient merchant’s house nearby.

As they begin to investigate the murders, Wesley starts to suspect that these deaths, centuries apart, may be linked by age-old motives of jealousy and sexual obsession. And the pressure is on if he is going to prevent a further tragedy . . .

DS Wesley Peterson has just arrived with his wife into the West Country, pleased to be out of the hustle and bustle of London. New to the small police force, he is eager to settle in and for he and his wife to make a new home. He bumps into an old university friend from his archaeology days, Neil Watson and the two of them compare their current careers, surprised to find more and more there is some overlap in each of their current projects.

I picked this book up on a whim as it appeared to have a number of similarities to the Dr Ruth Galloway series which I am enjoying immensely. While I didn’t find the characters or plotline as deep or complex as the Galloway series, I did find this an enjoyable police procedural style of mystery novel. The archaeology came out mostly in snippets from a relevant diary at the beginning of each chapter, so readers expecting a strong sense of history or archaeology/digs encompassed in the plot might find this aspect to the story a little lacking.

The mystery and police aspect to the plot is well thought out and while the pace is a little slow, I felt that added more to the countrified air of the story and more authentic than a hurried or more action-orientated city-style of pacing. As the first book in the series, I was pleased there was a decent introduction to the main characters including the members of Wesley’s police team. I would have enjoyed a bit more time spent with Wesley’s wife and be able to understand her a little better. I’m hoping that occurs in the coming few books.

Readers who enjoy British style murder/mystery novels especially with a hint of history/archaeology should find this an easy and entertaining read.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

I Walked the Line by Vivian Cash

May 29, 2023 By Leave a Comment


I Walked the Line by Vivian Cash
Publisher: Scribner
Genre: Historical, Non-Fiction, Music, Autobiography
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

I Walked the Line is a chronicle of first love, long-kept secrets, betrayal, forgiveness, and the truth–told at last by Johnny Cash’s first wife, the mother of his four daughters.

It is a book that had the full support of Johnny Cash, who insisted it was time for their story to be told, despite any painful revelations that might come to light as a result.

Many myths and contradictions regarding the life of Johnny and his family have been perpetuated for decades in film and literature. Vivian exposes previously untold stories involving Johnny’s drug addiction, his fraught family life, and their divorce in 1968, as well as the truth behind the writing of two of Johnny’s most famous songs, “I Walk the Line” and “Ring of Fire.”

Supplemented by a never-before-published archive of love letters and family photos, I Walked the Line offers a deeper look at one of the most significant artists in music history. Here, fans and readers can experience the extraordinary account of love and heartbreak between Johnny and Vivian, and come to understand Vivian’s dignified silence over the years. Through this elegant, revealing, and powerful memoir, Vivian Cash’s voice is finally heard.

Haunting, sweet and sad.

I wanted to hear the words from Vivian Cash when it came to the breakup and how she handled it. What was her side? This book tells that and more. This isn’t a tell-all book, though. This is her life through her eyes. This is how she handled what she went through. But it’s more than that. Cash includes letters Johnny wrote to her during their time courting and eventual marriage. She shows his hopes, fears and how he interacted with her in his letters. Those looking for some huge tell-all and naughtiness won’t find it, but if you’re looking for tender letters and her side of the story, then this will satisfy. I’m glad I read it.

There are moments when the author gets a bit bitter, which is understandable. She thought the marriage was going okay until it wasn’t. She wasn’t prepared to handle Johnny’s drug use or his utter devotion to June. The author somewhat demonizes June Carter, but honestly, it’s not surprising because that’s how she saw the situation. I can’t fault her for being bitter or telling it how she saw it.

If you’re ready to hear Vivian Cash’s side of the story, then this is the book for you.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

American Arcadia by Laura Scalzo

May 26, 2023 By Leave a Comment


American Arcadia by Laura Scalzo
Publisher: Regal House Publishing
Genre: Fiction, Historical
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

New York City, 1985, the scaffolded and torchless Statue of Liberty is under reconstruction, the Twin Towers hum with money, and the clubs pulse with music. Young Wall Streeter, Mina Berg, and her roommate, Chry Risk, strike up friendships with the volatile Danny Nyro and easygoing Dare Fiore. Mina wants Chry’s family prestige, while Chry only wants to play the bass like Jaco Pastorius. Nyro trades on his father’s notoriety and Dare is keeping secrets. Each of these twenty-somethings attempts to rewrite their origin story as they find themselves knotted in the cross purposes of friendship and love, life and death. Meanwhile, the Sicilian grandmothers on Staten Island are telling tall tales of a fugitive mermaid who lives in the New York Harbor. It’s for you to decide if she’s a monster or a saint. Themes of art, immigration, reproductive rights, AIDS, assault, class, and betrayal simmer beneath a dynamic plot that spans one life-altering year.

The 1980s was a memorable time, with big things turning the world upside down or individual homes. This story, set in 1985, in New York, covers some of those things such as AIDS and friends and family dynamics.

Mina and her friend Chry live their busy lives in this big city, Mina on Wall Street, and Chry as the daughter of a senator, trying to find her own way through music. They befriend a nice guy with a secret and a rich guy whose bold behavior often encourages the others to take chances. Each of them is bathed in mystery. For example, Mina was left to die as a baby but adopted. Will she ever know the truth from where she come?

As these twenty-somethings live day-by-day, having fun and working, they discover things about themselves and others. Not all these things lead to somewhere good. They face tragic realities, and readers are sure to pick up some of these moving moments and feel them as well.

One learns about the culture of the era, the New York of the eighties and what a bustling time it was, in some ways, different that it is today. Questions are often different, but not always. While reading about these friends and their families, one is likely to be entertained. The writing is personal and addictive. Why not check this one out?

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Other, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

The Original Bucky Lew: Basketball’s First Black Professional by Chris Boucher

May 22, 2023 By Leave a Comment


The Original Bucky Lew: Basketball’s First Black Professional by Chris Boucher
Publisher: Wings ePress
Genre: Young Adult (14 – 18 y.o.), Historical
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Bucky Lew burst through pro basketball’s color barrier to become the first Black player in an otherwise white league. And playing was just a start. He wanted to dominate in every single role in the game—from player to coach to general manager to owner.

His dream looked to be deferred when Harry Hough, the league’s best player, refused to play against him in a regular season matchup that the press billed as a preview of the championship. Not only were their teams the best, Hough was the league’s top scorer and Bucky its best defender.

All eyes were on the pair. What would Bucky do? Should he just go away or could he rally his teammates around him?

What about the fans—the thousands in the arena and those around the league following the rivalry in the papers? Or the league as a whole? Would they support him or move on without him?

The stakes were high—it was a fight for the future of the season, the future of the game, and maybe even the future of sports.

Hard work can make all sorts of things possible.

Being a trailblazer isn’t easy. I hadn’t realized how suspicious many people were of playing basketball as a career a century ago, and that was only one of the many obstacles the main character faced in his lifetime. His patience and perseverance only made me like him even more. Bucky experienced a lot of hard times, but he also paved the way for countless black athletes behind him.

While I admired the author’s desire to stick as closely as possible to historical facts about the protagonist’s life, it would have been helpful to have more character development in this novel. I learned a lot about Bucky’s accomplishments but not much about what it might be like to sit down and talk to him other than the fact that he was clearly quite intelligent. Was he also as quietly confident as I thought he might be based on some other context clues? Knowing more about what sort of personality he had and how fame affected him would have gone a long way to bumping up my rating for this book.

Some of the most memorable scenes were the ones that talked about how both the players and fans reacted to this brand new sport. For example, games could become a little violent or cause injuries in part because there wasn’t a clear understanding of what was and wasn’t acceptable on the court or off it. Other passages talked about how white people reacted to a racially integrated sport were also well worth checking out. There were a lot of nuances to these reactions depending on who the narrator was talking about and how far into Bucky’s career things had progressed, and some of them pleasantly surprised me.

The pacing was slow for my tastes, especially in the first third or so of this novel. Being the first Black professional basketball player is a huge deal, and I was hoping for more descriptions of how Bucky felt about it and how his life changed as people began to take notice of him. These things were addressed later on, but I struggled a bit to remain interested because of how slowly certain conflicts developed and how much time was spent describing other things instead.

Friendship was another theme of this book that I connected with. The number of people who played basketball well enough to do so professionally back then was small, so the same folks were often mentioned over and over again throughout the years. I enjoyed the stories about the friendships that were forged through the early days of this sport and how much kindness they showed to each other when someone was injured or otherwise in need of help.

The Original Bucky Lew: Basketball’s First Black Professional was a thought-provoking read.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , ,

Magnifico!: The A to Z of Queen by Mark Blake

May 19, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Magnifico!: The A to Z of Queen by Mark Blake
Publisher: Permuted Press
Genre: Non-Fiction, Historical, Contemporary, Biography
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Addressing the phenomenal success of the movie Bohemian Rhapsody, acclaimed music journalist Mark Blake builds on the legend of Queen and their enduring audience appeal.

Providing a fresh, unparalleled take on Queen’s music, story, and legacy, Blake’s complete portrait covers not only the major hits and bestselling albums, but also the inside stories behind the music.

Via a series of essays, interviews, and biographies, the author shares a wealth of lesser-known details—gained from over thirty years of original material—and explores what the songs of Queen say about their creators.

Queen facts, Queen stories and Queen tidbits. How can you go wrong?

I picked up this book because of the band. Queen. I’ve been a fan for years and wanted to learn a little more. This book does that and more.

If you’re a fan of Queen, some of these stories are going to be old hat. There are legendary stories that go along with the band. But there are a few nuggets of info I didn’t know, which was good. The book is formatted as it states, in an A-Z manner, with everything according to their letter. I liked that it was like that because it made it easy to read, but also not necessarily chronological, which was different.

If you’re a fan of Queen, this book is a must. If you’re a casual fan and want to know more, then check this book out. I recommend it.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Burning Desire and Other Stories by Marilyn Todd

May 11, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Burning Desire and Other Stories by Marilyn Todd
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Paranormal, Historical, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Passions run high in this sparkling collection from what Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine describes as “one of the best mystery short story writers of her generation.”

From shy insurance clerks obsessed with a stripper (Pirate of Penance) to wives plotting murder (Killing Kevin), there’s always a twist in the tail. Like harmless old beachcombers (The Old Man and the Seashore) and good-time girls finding that respectability isn’t all it’s cracked up to be (Long Slow Dance Through the Passage of Time), even magicians’ assistants (Saw Point), they’re all driven by a burning desire.

And be it for justice or greed, retribution or love, the flames burn hotter than hell.

First impressions can only go so far.

“Night Crossing” involved an angry woman named Chloris who was running away from a bad marriage and a man who was paid to ferry her far away from where she came from. I can’t go into much more detail about this one without giving away spoilers, but I enjoyed the descriptions of what warm night air feels like as summer ends and everyone knows colder weather will soon arrive. It’s the sort of fleeting moment that feels like it will last forever when it’s actually happening, and it enhanced the mystery nicely.

I struggled to connect with some of the stories in this collection because of how often they jumped around from one idea or setting to the next. “The Girl Who Walked on Rooftops” was one example of this. It was written as a conversation between two old friends who eventually reveal a huge secret to the audience. One sentence was set in the present, while the next would often reference something that happened decades ago. I had trouble piecing together all of the clues here and wished everything had been revealed more chronologically.

Dolly, the main character of “Long Slow Dance Through the Passage of Time,” intrigued me from the first line. She was so materialistic, charming, oblivious to her flaws and ignorant of what others truly thought of her that I couldn’t imagine what might happen to her next. Writing villains isn’t always easy, but Ms. Todd did a good job of balancing out Dolly’s beauty and ability to make a fantastic first impression with the dark aspects of this character’s personality that were always gliding around below the surface.

Burning Desire and Other Stories was full of surprises.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Unabashed Women: The Fascinating Biographies of Bad Girls, Seductresses, Rebels and One-of-a-Kind Women by Marlene Wagman-Geller

May 3, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Unabashed Women: The Fascinating Biographies of Bad Girls, Seductresses, Rebels and One-of-a-Kind Women by Marlene Wagman-Geller
Publisher: Mango
Genre: Non-Fiction, Contemporary, Historical, Biography
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Well Behaved Women Seldom Make History
#1 New Release in Historical Study Essays

A thrilling journey into the badass women whose non-conventional lives left their DNA on history. Discover words of wisdom from the women who found their voices, inspiring you to do the same.

Amazing women with a story to tell. Join Mae West as she shakes up the entertainment industry with her wit and wisdom or create colorful art pieces with Yayoi Kusama that are larger than life itself. These women in history defied the expectations of conventional society to live the lives they chose, regardless of what others thought.

Words of Wisdom. Society may have labeled these fierce femmes as rebels, bad-ass, wild, or uppity. But, these amazing women still dared to be different. With an out-of-the-box perspective, you’ll find inspiration from an array of fabulous females who will give you a lesson in being one-of-a-kind.

Unabashed Women offers you:

Lessons on how to break the glass ceiling
Biographies of trailblazing women from all walks of life
Empowerment through famous females who dared to go against the grain

Women don’t have to be one thing and they don’t have to be good all the time.

I picked up this book because I wanted to read the various biographies of the unabashed women and see who made the cut, but also see how the author handled the topic. I need not have worried. This book is quite multicultural, which was great, shows women throughout the most recent times, but went back over 100 years, which showed women have been trying to break the glass ceiling for a long time. I liked the variety of women, too.

These are the most influential women of our time and it’s nice to see such good biographies. They aren’t the most in-depth, but honestly, the book would be gigantic if that was the case. These are nice snapshots and I liked learning about the various people. Mae West, Nellie Bly, Jane Goodall are all among those chronicled.

If you want a book that doesn’t read like a textbook, but could be used as such, then grab this book. If you want to learn about women who are doing it for themselves, then this is the book for you. Pick it up!

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

My Daughter’s Boyfriends by Penny Jackson

May 1, 2023 By Leave a Comment


My Daughter’s Boyfriends by Penny Jackson
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Romance, LGBTQ, Contemporary, Historical
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

My Daughter’s Boyfriends is a short story collection from the Pushcart Prize–winning writer Penny Jackson. Her female narrators explore the loss of love and innocence, as well as the strength to overcome adversity and the need for redemption. The setting of these stories ranges from a hotel in Jamaica to New York City during the terror reign of Son of Sam to a summer camp for teenage girls in New Hampshire. Original, entertaining, thought-provoking, My Daughter’s Boyfriends will prove to be of special appeal to readers with an interest in coming-of-age stories about women.

These are the parts of womanhood that most women don’t discuss out loud.

The main character in ‘The First Brassiere” was irritated by the prospect of needing to wear a bra for the first time. Growing up isn’t always easy, and I liked the way she described what she wanted out of life instead and why she was so hesitant to start acting like a proper young lady. Ms. Jackson captured that stage of development perfectly and with the perfect amount of humor.

As soon as “The Elephant in the Bush” mentioned that Ida had Alzheimer’s disease and her former daughter-in-law was looking after her, I was interested in hearing more. I’d been a little suspicious this might be the case as soon as she was introduced, and I wanted to see what the plot did with characters like these. The relationship between them was warm, loving, and slightly unusual given that Susan had been divorced from Ida’s son for many years. This was something shared very early on in their conversation, and it only deepened my curiosity about how their family worked and what else I could learn about them.

Rose had a complicated and sometimes painful relationship with her father in “Green Love.” I was intrigued by how little she knew about what he did for a living and how uninterested she was in learning more. This was a memorable snapshot of a dysfunctional family that loved each other but struggled to express emotions like love for reasons that I will leave up to other readers to discover for themselves.

My Daughter’s Boyfriends made me yearn for more. What a poignant and gorgeous collection.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Frankie Manning: Ambassador of Lindy Hop by Frankie Manning and Cynthia Millman

April 25, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Frankie Manning: Ambassador of Lindy Hop by Frankie Manning and Cynthia Millman
Publisher: Temple University Press
Genre: Historical, Contemporary, Non-Fiction, Biography, Memoir
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

In the early days of swing dancing, Frankie Manning stood out for his moves and innovative routines; he introduced the ‘air step’ in the Lindy Hop, a dance that took the U.S. and then the world by storm. In this fascinating autobiography, choreographer and Tony Award winner (Black and Blue) Manning recalls how his first years of dancing as a teenager at Harlem’s Savoy Ballroom led to his becoming chief choreographer and a lead dancer for ‘Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers,’ a group that appeared on Broadway, in Hollywood musicals and on stages around the globe. Manning brings the Swing Era vividly back to life with his recollections of the crowded ballrooms and of Lindy Hoppers trying to outdo each other in spectacular performances.

Frankie Manning might not have been a total pioneer in the world of dance, but he’s right up there with the greats.

Now you might be wondering why I’d say he’s not a total pioneer. You might wonder who Frankie Manning is. Valid questions. Unless you’ve done any studying of jazz dance, you might not know this dancer, but you should.

Frankie Manning came of age in the swing era. He talks about going from ballroom to ballroom, club to club, learning how to dance. I liked this book because there are parts where he discusses dance and how he got as skilled at swing dancing, but also his simple love of dance. He’s done other things, but he sincerely loves dance, and it shows. I also liked that the book had other sections that discussed what the various dances were/are and how they evolved. That was so neat because I had no idea what some of them even looked like. Now I know.

Manning isn’t a perfect guy, but he loves dance and that shines through every page of the book. He not only talks about the heady swing days, but also his life after and how he came to teach.

It’s a fascinating look at swing dancing, the Lindy Hoppers and more. Grab a copy today!

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
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