A Room Of Books

 Fiona Figg is just too much fun. I will definitely look for more of her titles. In this one she goes undercover to see who is leaking information about animal research for the war effort. My new word is vivisection. Of course, Fiona Figg must prepare to look her best. That means hitting Harrods immediately. Oh, I stayed close to Fiona. Not wanting to miss a chance to touch or try on evening wear. The book is stunning.

 Louis Benoit Zamor is from Africa. He is stolen and taken to France. He loved his family. He had no desire to leave them. He is a gift to Madame du Barry from the King. He is treated as a noble person. He wears fancy clothes and he eats fancy food while attending the same events as the rich. Really he is treated like a pet. Madame has a dog. Now, she owns two pets. This is what she says. This clearly shows whatever way Benoit is treated is painful. Will he ever find his true self? His being is so complicated. The exciting part is when he gets lost in the paths of a labyrinth. It is impossible to know what he will face each day. Kidnapped. Remember the word and feel the acts of falseness. Perhaps, the upper crust have no way of knowing right from wrong. Maybe they are survivors of time too.

 All of our senses are tantalized in these poems. Reading it you can look backward and forward at time. How has it touched us throughout our lives? Cassie Fritsche readies us for the autumn months. It is when we shiver and must accept the fact that death is always with us. The red and yellow leaves tell stories about dying. These poems are a way to see our worlds twice. She brings us back to the magic of the sunflower. We are children again. Some poems speak as loudly as a memoir. She has written our stories without touching us. It is heartbreaking to think we gave our hearts to someone who did not have a dream One who only wanted to lock us into a narrow world. You begin to feel you are smothering. The air is cut off. To stop it you have to run away.  Some of the questions we have asked ourselves are answered here. Some times we fear poetry. This time relax. All of our old friends are within the pages of this book. There is:Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White. The poems give so mu

Going through an illness again to share with others is not easy. Garry Cosnett writes honestly about the days and nights he faced depression and the times when the disease bolted back again. Thank goodness that certain someone entered his life at the right time. Who can understand depression? It has one aim. It wants to destroy our life plans. I am glad Garry Cosnett never totally gave up. He would try, try again. Some times knowing the wrong shoe waited at the wrong end of the sidewalk corner. Hope is his ending words. After going through so much, he never stopped going forward. Thank you for your story.

 She is looking at herself in another place and time. How must that feel? Her lives are complicated. Obviously, she has lost touch with her real self. Her name is Magdalena.  Her other name is Janey. The story is intriguing. Is reminds me of Time Travel novels. Falling back and forth in time. Wishing you could stay with one special person like Ranulf Navarre: handsome, strong and all the other good qualities owned by men.  Magdalena has married five times. This fifth man made her hate men. She never wanted another man to call her own. Perhaps, she has begun to write her novel, a Medieval one. Since he is like a vampire or is one, she would have needed some type of escape. Maybe the novel she is writing led to her other selves. It is a novel that makes you think about who are we really in life. Where do I belong? Here or there or some where in between the now and forever. While Magdalena is puzzled by Janey's life and her life, dream or reality, "Before I wake" is fun. I l

 I never have known the distance between Scotland and England. Lazy me, I should have just grabbed a map. It is more than five hundred miles difference between the two places. On the trip,  Cressida and her sister are learning there is more to see than scenery. Observing people on the train and listening to what they say is very interesting. It becomes more fascinating after a murder is committed on the train. The tension rises because the person responsible for the killing is still on the Scotland Express. Quarters are tight on the train. That is the reason all of them almost personally witnessed this crime. This is a goody- good mystery. For the life of me, I can not figure out who killed Mr. Warriner.  All fingers point in one direction. Detective Andrew's assessment is hand in hand with the group. It all makes me think how easy it is to find your innocence lost. Yes, all of a sudden your freedom and reputation are gone. That gives me the shivers. I have read two or three myster

 Some call it progress. Others call it a pain in the neck. Everything should remain the same way by appreciating the present and learning from the past in Augustin. I really liked the interview with Sherry  I am going to hug my wooden spoons. What's your favorite kitchen tool? I like my vegetable chopper and my silver ice cream scoop. Also fun are the conversations in the book about new and old. One man is not caring for the podcasts and also continues to use his Rolodex. It is interesting the many ways we find to show our dissatisfaction and stubbornness. There is so much going on at the school and in the kitchen. The cook-off will lean on the word delicious. Really, it is all about change. The mention of Iceland really catches the interest. Maybe the magic word here in Served Up Spite is change.

 It is Valentine's Day. Edie watches Ethel open a card that comes with bunches of lilies. Surprise, the card does not give a name. Manchester, England looks worse for wear after the Christmas blitz. I am more than interested in who sent the lilies. I hope he is not a crazy. Maybe it is a guy with a sweet heart. Then, we are on the way to romance.  Of course, all of these thoughts are just pie in the sky. One thing for sure is there is no way to ignore the lilies. There is a message here. Maybe a not so good message. This one is a delight to read: The War, artistic characters and Edie, the main character, seems so humble. She does not seem to have an angry bone in her body. She just wants to help. All the while holding on to her job as a writer of obituaries at the Chronicle.

So shocked by the incident in The Far Side of the Desert. I have forgotten the book location. While reading, I must have become to relaxed. Now, all I feel is fear. How in the world did Joanne Leedom-Ackerman write it? Is she a nervous wreck?  

 At some point in life, we become hypnotized by our memories. They become more important than our present life. Then, we want to find the places and people lost to us. Before they die, and we have nothing. Our main character is a daughter and a Food critic. She has become very interested in her mother's life. All the days she lived is like a closed mystery. She, the daughter, is the only one left to open the book of secrets. The decision is made to move from New York to France. Sainte Colombe is the location she longs to explore. It is fascinating to read about this woman's solo journey. She finds out it is not easy to make friends in this village. All who should live there are already there. No room for strangers. I have found the stray kitten's name, Astre, easier to remember than the lady who is on a journey to discover her ancestor. Oh, Luddington! Perhaps, you are familiar with families with that name.

 When the word runaways was mostly used, it became too familiar. It did not wake up the mind to specifics. Now, we use other terms for those who trample the earth looking for a safe abode. Now, the meanings are more modified, more meaningful. We have begun to care.This is a segment of the population needing safety. There is so much real fear. Their stories are not fairy tales. The conclusion is that life would look as dark as night without angelic helpers. The stories from the wanderers struck me. You can tell these are real people. Not just characters from a book. I could not move. I wanted to know how could these young people find a different way to live. How could they make a comeback. How could they dream again. Dreams are what make people care, want to live and want to reach out. The book is spectacular.https://bookblvd.blogspot.com/2023/10/bllack-liturgies-by-cole-arthur-riley.html

 Prayer and confession is very important to the human spirit. It is impossible to live fully without ways to remember we are necessary to the  human planet. After all, there are those who would steal our dignity. Cole Arthur Riley writes different literary works by others to help us have a joy on our journey through life. There is no need to fear. All you need do is welcome Black Liturgies into your home and rest in their words. It truly is inspired beauty inside this tome gathered by Cole Arthur Riley. You will want to read and reread it again and again.

Poor Deer writes stories. Writing stories is her personal secret. Oh, there is so much in Claire Oshetsky's Poor Deer to think about, cry about and talk about to a friend or club. I am a bit speechless. Thinking about what God or your Higher Power can bring to your life. Living life is not for the unbrave. I do not like the word "reckoning." It is here in this book. I am spooked.

 Elizabeth's parents are from Mexico. Elizabeth is born in Arizona. Her parents want the best life for her. So, they came to America. It is exciting to dream with this family. Some dreams come true and some pop like flyaway balloons. Through Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez, the lesson is learned. Family and work is important. A great admiration grows for Mexican-Americans who go up the ladder of success and sometimes fall down that same ladder. Either way the words love and hope remain on our minds. The book is glorious. One you will not stop reading until you find out what will happen next.

 Before love there is hate. A girl and guy are both studying Archaeology. At first, she, Gail, can't stand the guy. Later, years, she begins to fall for him. She admits he is very handsome. This is a good romance. The hardship of one falling for the other who acts as though he is unaware of girls and dating. By the way they are studying Archaeology at the college level. So, they are mature and pretty knowledgeable. They are at the School of Archaeology in Madrid, Spain. It is a beautiful love story. One that makes you want to fall in love all over again.

   It is a celebration party for an author's newly published book. It gives us a chance to meet or meet again all the important characters. This introduction became long and boring. The main character's name is Samantha. Sam is her nickname. One guy named Dawson made a Cupcake cake. I became interested. I have never heard of that kind of cake. He made a chocolate one.Nana Jo is Sam's Grandmother. She and Sam know just about everybody. They believe in having friends. Sam is celebrating the publication of her first book. Yes, the poodles on the covers of the books belong to Sam. She would feel heartbroken if we did not give them a mention.

Mollie Moon’s family always had a deep concern about human rights for the Negro people. The one problem is they did not have money the money to donate big sums. Thankfully, that did not stop them from finding another way to serve organizations like NAACP and the Urban League, etc. They did have time. Mollie Moon used it well. She became the perfect fundraiser. She had a wonderful reputation "as the doyenne of Harlem Society..." Her life teaches that if you can not do it one way do it another way. Also, a sterling reputation definitely does not hurt. I think there is a Bible quote about the importance of a good reputation. While reading about her life, I am gaining a better understanding of Politics. This book is lush with money, famous names, etc. It gives hope that our political desires are being represented by the right people. Of course, Martin Luther King is mentioned along with the males from the Rockefeller family. This novel is gargantuan in "How To Win And Influ

In one night, the street become chaotic with violence. Mostly all of the environs remember the sound of breaking glass and the businesses or homes behind the shattered glass. It is remembered as Kristallnacht. It is so sad. There are feelings of anger too that I feel. Some of the Jewish people were taken to places like Dachau. Their disappearances a mystery to their families and friends. It is 1938. We travel from Lancaster County to Vienna, Europe. The Jewish people have mixed feelings about how long these horrid conditions will last. Unfortunately, it is only the beginning of days and nights of horror in many places.. On this night they see the dreaded Swastika. Because of what that symbol means children will need to leave their loving families for safety. I can not imagine my family and I forced from our homes and maybe killed. The mind can not grasp such a fact quickly. Truly, the world had turned upside down with confusion and hate.

 I never thought about it. All of my walking life has been spent visiting a pharmacy. The pharmacy is like an old and necessary friend. There whenever my family and friends needed one. That is why I had to read this cozy. I can still see the book stand, the ice cream and smell the medicines in the store. In Victoria Hamilton's Sieve and Let Die, there is the beloved pharmacy. Only this time one of the customers might have a motive for committing a crime. My mother had a sieve and she put it to use constantly. Especially when baking cake and wanting finer flour.I have baked from scratch: pies, cakes and biscuits. I am ashamed to write it. I used a modern, flat sieve one time and never used one again. I have already collected cooking trivia. There are sieves named chinois and zaru. The definition of those is found in the  cozy. In the front of the book, there is a list of names. These are the names of the characters and what they primarily do in their lives. Oh, I must mention Queens

There is a sad and shocking beginning.  The husband and the wife of a foursome  have run away together. More strange is the fact that the wife and husband left behind decide to share their pain with each other. At first, they meet in a park to discuss this grave matter. I have no Japanese language skills. Japanese names are probably has beautiful as the cherry blossoms or the gardens. What the two discuss, Nozomi and Sedge, is what else is going on in their lives. Surprisingly, Nozomi is not hysterical. She's very together. Perhaps, she is in shock. I want to know more about Mariko and Koichi's  son. Is he spoiled, or does he have a medical condition? I think this is a great book. Maybe I have been hypnotized by the herons. The book also has awakened my curiosity about Japan. Is marriage as sacred to them as it is to America and other places? So much to know and so little time.

There are many wonderful male authors. Then, there are some men writers who are too much. Travis S. Bush writes about going to the bathroom, etc. His crudeness really was a turn off. Although, I have to say his writing is very good. I am very curious about which way John's life is going to turn. He has received some very devastating news.  

 Colorism is a new word. I will add it to my vocabulary list. Although not familiar with the word. I am familiar with the problem. Soon after arriving at Vermont Lila sees a violent act. One that reminds us of the words Black lives matter. We are also introduced to a love story. Maybe there is more than one love story. Lila loved Kenton deeply. Then, it was over. She discovers Robert.He seems like the perfect fit, It is as though they have known one another forever. Elizabeth Nunez has written a book that is filled with love and racial issues. You might call the novel controversial. It is one of those books where you shut the world out and read. It is like the author is personally with you. Holding your hand while bringing along a better understanding. Shockingly, we have mixed and mixed until we are almost made of one blood. If only we would release our fears and allow each person to love whom they have chosen.Otherwise, love remains tragic. It need not stay in that place. In the mid