I was sent this novel by a longtime Australian friend who became interested in the television show featuring actress Natalie Dormer. “Picnic at Hanging Rock is an Australian historical fiction novel by Joan Lindsay. Set in 1900, it is about a group of female students at an Australian girls’ boarding school who vanish at Hanging Rock while on a Valentine’s… Read more »
It’s been a very busy year with my new career as a museum director, and I have allowed my hobby of reading and reviewing to fall by the wayside. Going from working a 9-to-5 (or rather 10-to-6) for years to having no set hours has taken its toll on my free time. One might think that would be the perfect… Read more »
In Lions of the Desert: A True Story of WWII Heroes in North Africa, I tell the tale of the legendary Operation Condor and 1941-1942 Desert War between Rommel’s Afrika Korps and the British Eighth Army, based on recently declassified British and U.S. Military Intelligence records. In May 1942, just before the Desert Fox launched his offensive to drive Eighth… Read more »
Dorothy Dunnett’s THE GAME OF KINGS: Book One in the Legendary Lymond Chronicles. Combining all the political intrigue of Game of Thrones with the sweeping romanticism of Outlander, Dorothy Dunnett’s legendary Lymond Chronicles have enthralled readers for decades and amassed legions of devoted fans. The series will be reissued in an oversize trade paperback format on May 14th. The first… Read more »
The Hill Ghost by Callan McAuliffe In 19th century Scotland, a Tibetan mastiff sheep-dog and his eccentric seagull friend, Blue, team up to thwart a returning pack of wolves bent on savagery and revenge. Blue, an ex-seafaring bird, brings a nautical flamboyancy to the story, which culminates in a parallel tale in the Epilogue, leaving the reader to wonder if… Read more »
I met author Calvin Cherry today and his Dracula prequel, which is a biographical narrative of author Bram Stoker, looks to be an intriguing historical read! Stoker: Evolution of a Vampire by Calvin Cherry Every writer has an inspiration. Every icon holds a story. Every legend hides a dark side. Dear reader, When the boon of sleep becomes a presage… Read more »
Born to the Badge by Mark Warren This is the second installment of Warren’s fiction trilogy based on the life of Wyatt Earp (read my review of Adobe Moon). While Wyatt’s youth is behind him, his experiences have left him with heartache and guilt. Nonetheless, he has gained wisdom and his innate ability to be the calming presence in difficult… Read more »
Adobe Moon: Wyatt Earp, an American Odyssey by Mark Warren The first in Mark Warren’s Wyatt Earp trilogy, Adobe Moon opens with a young Wyatt determined to strike out on his own, yet restrained by familial duty. Once his farming days are blessedly over, he goes through various professions, learning hard lessons along the way. The timeline in this novel… Read more »
I love stories about authors, and have read several (A Wilder Rose, A Country Road, A Tree, Shame the Devil, Mrs. Poe, Twain’s End, The World Within, The Other Alcott, The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen, Love Disguised, Nobody’s Secret, Loving Will Shakespeare, Miss Emily, The Secret Confessions of Anne Shakespeare, A Jane Austen Daydream, Mrs. Hemingway). Below are more… Read more »
There’s a feature in the November 2018 issue of Book Page, Choose Your Words Wisely, in which the author of 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die, James Mustich, explains his intent on his huge undertaking. “…[it] is neither comprehensive nor authoritative; it is meant to be an invitation to discovery and a tool to prompt conversations about books and… Read more »
The Clockmaker’s Daughter by Kate Morton October 9, 2018 In the summer of 1862, a group of young artists led by the passionate and talented Edward Radcliffe descends upon Birchwood Manor on the banks of the Upper Thames. Their plan: to spend a secluded summer month in a haze of inspiration and creativity. But by the time their stay is… Read more »
This book came to my attention and I thought I would share it as it sounds like an interesting and unusual historical setting. I’ve been increasingly interested in mid-20th century (post WWII), especially the 60’s. I’m adding this to my ever-growing list! BOOK DESCRIPTION: “In this hauntingly unconventional novel, young Lissa Power challenges the imagination and captures the heart as… Read more »