Tag Archives: #readerslog

Reader’s Log 044: Latest Reads

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This past weekend I was able to fit in a lot of reading time. I’m making a conscious decision to focus more on reading for reviews in the evening times before bed. I’ve gotten busy with so many other things that my reading pile for reviewing was somewhat neglected. It surely is time to get back on track!

I’ve chosen the evening times for focusing on my review pile because in the mornings I do my Bible studies, history studies and research. That is a good schedule for me and I’m wanting to stick to it! Sometimes life gets in the way but it’s important to regroup or make changes if it isn’t working out.

I would really like to get to the place where I’m posting book reviews every four to eight days. I probably could make that work if I don’t stress about it. We will see what happens. On top of reading and studying, I’m also working on my art. Now that is a juggle to stay consistent with everything. So many things to do, so little time…

Yesterday I started reading “The Lawyer and the Laundress” by Christine Hill Suntz and I’m enjoying it so far. Here is the book description: Canada, 1837. Widower James Kinney knows his precocious daughter, Evie, needs more than his lessons on law and logic, but Toronto offers few options. Classes with the neighbor children seem ideal until James discovers Evie is secretly spending her time with Sara O’Connor, a kind and mysteriously educated servant. For propriety’s sake, James forbids their friendship. But then Evie falls victim to the illness ravaging the city, and James must call upon Sara’s medical knowledge and her special bond with Evie to save his daughter’s life.

When Sara’s presence in his household threatens scandal, however, James offers an unexpected become his wife, in name only, and help him raise Evie to be a proper young lady.

If Sara can ignore the sparks she feels when they’re together, his logical proposal could keep her secret secure forever. But soon, the forces of rebellion unravel their tidy arrangement. When James is accused of treason, Sara must find the courage to face a past that could save her husband’s life.

I’m also trying to finish up “Letters from the Dead” by Isabella Valeri and I must confess I’m struggling to get though it which has caused me to get behind on posting my review. Here is the description of the book: For the first eleven years of her life, the precocious daughter of a great European family tracing its roots back more than fifteen generations, never set foot on land that her family didn’t own. Cloistered on a sprawling estate in the Alpine foothills, as the youngest sibling of her generation she has little knowledge of the dark forces gathering in the shadows to strike at her family. But, when her insatiable curiosity leads her to uncover a priceless text hidden hundreds of years before, she shines light into corners meant to be left in the dark and threatens to uncover secrets that could trigger an internecine battle for succession.

Then, with no warning or explanation, she is whisked away on a private jet and exiled to an elite but isolated all-girls boarding school in the United States. More than a decade later, now in her twenties, she finds her bank accounts abruptly frozen by her family. She is recalled from her affluent but empty existence abroad. Little does she know that her family has plans for her, including an arranged marriage. Worse, as she draws closer to discovering the horrific act that sent her into exile a decade before, and shadowy enemies close in on her family, she must face her most dangerous and powerful foe: her own father.

I’ve also started reading, The Lies They Told by Ellen Marie Wiseman (I have an advance reader’s copy) and a book about Cyrus the Great.

Stephanie

Reader’s Log 042: Books on Cyrus the Great

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Ancient history is fascinating and so relevant to our present time. Once one takes a deep give into cultures and the rise and falls of civilizations, you see patterns of these events more clearly. This has been my experience since I’ve started this journey and I see so many events that are happening today in a different light. This has led me to read more about the Persian, Hellenistic, and the Hasmonean periods to the the beginning of the Roman period BC. Over my lifetime I feel like I’ve only done surface studies of these periods and I want to be more than just a generalist of these histories. Since I’ve decided to go this route, I realize I need to be a bit more methodical in my research. Which isn’t always easy since there are so many paths in the details one uncovers that can easily lead you down a rabbit hole!

Today, I thought I would share three books about Cyrus the Great that I have on my wish-list. I’ve always been intrigued by him, particularly because he freed the Jews from their Babylonian exile.

I’m curious about comparing these books as well as seeing what each writer has to say about Cyrus. Most likely, I will take my time with these readings and take breaks.

Stephanie

Discovering Cyrus: The Persian Conqueror Astride the Ancient World by Reza Zaghamee

Some of the most fascinating human epochs lie in the borderlands between history and mystery. So, it is with the life of Cyrus the Great, founder of the Persian Empire in the sixth century BCE. By conquest or gentler means, he brought under his rule a dominion stretching from the Aegean Sea to the Hindu Kush and encompassing some tens of millions of people. All across this immense imperium, he earned support and stability by respecting local customs and religions, avoiding the brutal ways of tyranny, and efficiently administering the realm through provincial governors. The empire would last another two centuries, leaving an indelible Persian imprint on much of the ancient world. The Greek chronicler Xenophon, looking back from a distance of several generations, wrote: “Cyrus did indeed eclipse all other monarchs, before or since.” The vision of the biblical prophet known as Second Isaiah anticipates Cyrus’ repatriation of Jews living in exile in Babylon with these words of the Lord: “He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please.”

Despite what he achieved and bequeathed, much about Cyrus remains uncertain. Persians of his era had no great respect for the written word and kept no annals. The most complete accounts of his life were composed by Greeks. More fragmentary or tangential evidence takes many forms – among them, archaeological remains, administrative records in subject lands, and the always tricky stuff of legend.

Given these challenges, Discovering Cyrus: The Persian Conqueror Astride the Ancient World is a remarkable feat of portraiture. In his vast sweep, Reza Zarghamee draws on sources of every kind, painstakingly assembling detail, and always weighing evidence carefully where contradictions arise. He describes the background of the Persian people, the turbulence of the times, and the roots of Cyrus’ policies. His account of the imperial era itself delves into religion, military methods, commerce, court life, and much else besides. The result is a living, breathing Cyrus standing atop a distant world that played a key role in shaping our own.

Cyrus the Great: A Life from Beginning to End by Hourly History

Cyrus II of Persia was one of the greatest leaders that the world had ever known; he was the one in whose footsteps other empire builders would follow. From Alexander the Great to countless Roman emperors and Ottoman sultans—it was the mighty shoes of Cyrus that they all attempted to fill.

More than merely a successful conqueror, Cyrus the Great is known just as much for being a great liberator as he is known for his conquests. He was even credited in the Bible as the one who freed the Jews from their long-held Babylonian exile. By the time of his death, Cyrus controlled more land and people than anyone before him. Under his dominion were countless principalities, nationalities, ethnicities, and religions of all kinds. In contrast to many other powerful rulers, Cyrus did not seek to oppress his subjects or interfere with their way of life, religions, or local customs. It is for this reason that, as great as his temporal conquests may have been, the benevolence of Cyrus the Great’s leadership stands as his greatest attribute of all.

The life of Cyrus the Great remains as an unparalleled testament in the annals of history.

Cyrus the Great: The Life and Legacy of the King Who Founded the Achaemenid Persian Empire by Charles River Editors

“I am Cyrus the king, an Achaemenian.” – An inscription found at the Persian capital of Pasargadae

At one point in antiquity, the Achaemenid Persian Empire was the largest empire the world had ever seen, but aside from its role in the Greco-Persian Wars and its collapse at the hands of Alexander the Great, it has been mostly overlooked. When it has been studied, the historical sources have mostly been Greek, the very people the Persians sought to conquer. Needless to say, their versions were biased.

It was not until excavations in the region during the 20th century that many of the relics, reliefs, and clay tablets that offer so much information about Persian life could be studied for the first time. Through archaeological remains, ancient texts, and work by a new generation of historians, a picture can today be built of this remarkable civilization and their most famous leaders.

When considering this empire’s rulers, the two most often referenced are Xerxes, the leader of the Persian invasion of Greece which caused the heroic sacrifice of the Spartans and their allies at Thermopylae, or Cyrus the Great, the man who created the empire. While he was one of the most influential men in the ancient world, research on Cyrus the Great is simultaneously fascinating and frustrating. The Persians’ ancestors did not write (in fact, in their epic poems and myths, they claim that it was something taught to man by demons and therefore something to be avoided), and though the Iranians had taken up writing in their governmental and administrative functions by the time Cyrus lived, the kings still did not learn to write. Put simply, it was considered a functional skill, but not of the greatest importance.

As a result, while plenty of ancient sources mention the great Persian king, Persian sources themselves are rare, and those sources that do exist, such as the Babylonian Chronicle, are largely dry and state only the basic facts and large events. By contrast, Greek sources about Cyrus embrace the artistic aspect of their work so highly that the accuracy often comes into question, and sometimes deep scrutiny is necessary to attempt to separate the fact from the fiction. In the end, the full truth about Cyrus and his reign may never be truly understood.

Of course, this reality has deepened the mystique that surrounds Cyrus even to this day, and it has elevated his status from conqueror and king to enlightened humanist monarch and ideal ruler. In fact, a modern misconception based on the Cyrus Cylinder has labeled him the first proponent of civil rights, though this is somewhat of an exaggeration. The argument hinges on the Cylinder being a unique artifact in listing the ideology by which Cyrus intended to rule, but it equally ignores the fact that such declarations were commonplace among kings of the ancient Near East and more a tool of monarchal propaganda than a sweeping declaration of human rights.

That said, Cyrus was a fair and rational leader, particularly compared to the many brutal kings and warlords of ancient times. The high praise he received, even from his enemies, must certainly not be dismissed, and the admiration directed toward him came from many other exceptional individuals, including Alexander the Great, a bitter enemy of the empire Cyrus founded. Whatever the underlying issues, the incredible achievements of Cyrus distinguish him as one of the greatest kings in history, and his life, conquests, reforms, and rule continue to be of great interest over 2,500 years later.

Cyrus the Great: The Life and Legacy of the King Who Founded the Achaemenid Persian Empire looks at the life of the Persian leader and the major legacy he left. Along with pictures depicting important people, places, and events, you will learn about Cyrus the Great like never before.

Reader’s Log 040: Book Spotlight

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The ‘Hellenization’ of Judaea in the First Century after Christ by Martin Hengel

I’ve had this copy in my personal library for about three years now and I almost forgot I had it! I came across it while organizing my books by topic. Hengel’s work is absolutely brilliant and I’m delighted to be reading my copy again. This first time I read it, I mostly did surface reading and now I’m taking a deeper study of its text, highlighting passages and taking notes. It is my goal to read all of Hengel’s work.

Stephanie

Book Description: This short but highly significant study is the first real sequel to Professor Martin Hengel’s classic and monumental work Judaism and Hellenism. It demonstrates from a wealth of evidence, much of it made readily available here for the first time, that in the New Testament period Hellenization was so widespread in Palestine that the usual distinction between ‘Hellenistic’ Judaism and `Palestinian’ Judaism is not a valid one and that the word `Hellenistic’ and related terms are so vague as to be meaningless. The consequences of this for New Testament study are, of course, considerable. Martin Hengel was Professor of New Testament and Early Judaism in the University of Tuebingen.

Reader’s Log 038: A Weekend of Reading and Reflection

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A Reader’s Voice

Yesterday, I blogged about my upcoming books I’ve selected and that post is a start in blogging about what I’m reading and why. In the past couple of years or so, certain themes in stories have weighed heavily on my mind. Not only that but if the themes and content is something I should be reading as a follower of Christ. I’ve always read widely but was cautious about content and my Christian conventions. However, I’ve agreed to review books that I wasn’t fully aware of its content and have done my best to honor those commitments keeping in mind that I’m not reading a biblical world view on morality and so forth. I have noticed in the past few years that a particular genre from certain authors I once enjoyed reading has become darker and too graphic in human nature to say the least which-I admit-reflects much of the world we live in today. This is not pointing fingers or making accusations towards others but a reflection on my own choices I make about reading material that I want to chose to read or omit from my life.

I’ve also reflected on the issue of how readers and reviewers on NetGalley are given information about the books we choose to read. I believe there is not enough information about its content and NetGalley should provide more information about any disclaimers of content we should be aware of since we are making a commitment to read said books. Yes, I am aware of the argument if that were the case, there would be so many books not selected to read because of the disclaimers and that wouldn’t be fair to the author and so on…I was onboard with that argument for a long time but I am no longer. After all, movies come with ratings and provide disclaimers.

I realize I haven’t always been consistent in my reviews to point out any content that people need to be aware of if they need or want to avoid for various reasons.

More times than not, I felt trapped into reading said books and recently I’ve rejected two books and stated my reasons to the publishers with respect of course. This may be difficult for many readers and authors to hear but as a long-standing book blogger, my experience as a book reviewer and reader needs to be voiced even at the risk of losing subscribers.

Christians are encouraged to engage with secular books-including fiction for an understanding of the world but we should also be discerning and cautious. That is true for secularist as well. For anyone in society really.

I have read many books that dealt with sensitive and difficult topics in such a way to make the story readable to a wide audience without compromising the readers convictions of what they can read without feeling uneasy or question if this is something they should be reading in the first place. My thanks to writers who weaves the story thus. I have more thoughts on this topic and may share more at a later time.

Stephanie

Reader’s Log 036: Current Reads

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I’ve got quite the collection of books I’m currently reading. I don’t usually have this many going at once but seeing as they are -for the most part-from different genres…For the exception of. “Letter from the Dead” and, “Murder at the Loch”. That said, those two mysteries couldn’t be more different. I’m just about finished with, “Murder at the Loch” and I just received, “Letters from the Dead” on Monday from the publishers. It has been ages since I’ve received a physical copy. That has been by design by me because of the volume of books I have in the house as it is and I’m currently working on acquiring physical copies of theology, ancient cultural background and early church history for studies.

Ever since I came back from a much-needed break from reviewing, I’ve only been reading books for review via ebook through NetGalley. I am listening to, “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea” via audio-book and I’m really enjoying the story. I grew up knowing this story and it is among my favorites. Listening to the story is a real treat.

As far as reviews go, I do have a few coming up soon. Be on the lookout for those.

Stephanie

Letters from the Dead by Isabella Valeri

Expected publication Date: May 27, 2025 by Atria Books

For the first eleven years of her life, the precocious daughter of a great European family tracing its roots back more than fifteen generations, never set foot on land that her family didn’t own. Cloistered on a sprawling estate in the Alpine foothills, as the youngest sibling of her generation she has little knowledge of the dark forces gathering in the shadows to strike at her family. But, when her insatiable curiosity leads her to uncover a priceless text hidden hundreds of years before, she shines light into corners meant to be left in the dark and threatens to uncover secrets that could trigger an internecine battle for succession.

Then, with no warning or explanation, she is whisked away on a private jet and exiled to an elite but isolated all-girls boarding school in the United States. More than a decade later, now in her twenties, she finds her bank accounts abruptly frozen by her family. She is recalled from her affluent but empty existence abroad. Little does she know that her family has plans for her, including an arranged marriage. Worse, as she draws closer to discovering the horrific act that sent her into exile a decade before, and shadowy enemies close in on her family, she must face her most dangerous and powerful foe: her own father.

Murder at the Loch by Dee MacDonald

Recent retiree Ally McKinley has stepped out with her puppy Flora for a walk by the loch in the tiny village of Locharran, taking a break from running the coziest little guesthouse in the Highlands. But Ally’s peace and quiet is sunk when she and Flora find the body of a mysterious woman floating in the water…

Before she knows it, Ally finds herself wading into the middle of a new investigation. Who was the mystery woman and why was she killed? Her enquiries take her all over the from the corner shop and the nearby hotel to the turreted castle, home of local earl Hamish Sinclair where preparations are underway for his upcoming – and much gossiped about – wedding.

The body in the loch soon has the rumour mills buzzing. But then Elena, the earl’s new bride, is also found poisoned to death the morning after her marriage! With two deaths to investigate, the police appear to suspect almost everyone in Locharran, even Ally herself…

Determined to uncover the truth and clear her name, Ally finds poison at the home of one of her suspects and thinks she might be on the right path to solving both murders. But with a killer on the loose in the Scottish Highlands, can Ally unravel the clues before the next person in a watery grave is her?

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by by Jules Verne

When an unidentified “monster” threatens international shipping, French oceanographer Pierre Aronnax and his unflappable assistant Conseil join an expedition organized by the US Navy to hunt down and destroy the menace. After months of fruitless searching, they finally grapple with their quarry, but Aronnax, Conseil, and the brash Canadian harpooner Ned Land are thrown overboard in the attack, only to find that the “monster” is actually a futuristic submarine, the Nautilus, commanded by a shadowy, mystical, preternaturally imposing man who calls himself Captain Nemo. Thus begins a journey of 20,000 leagues—nearly 50,000 miles—that will take Captain Nemo, his crew, and these three adventurers on a journey of discovery through undersea forests, coral graveyards, miles-deep trenches, and even the sunken ruins of Atlantis. Jules Verne’s novel of undersea exploration has been captivating readers ever since its first publication in 1870, and Frederick Paul Walter’s reader-friendly, scientifically meticulous translation of this visionary science fiction classic is complete and unabridged down to the smallest substantive detail.

Will the Real Heretics Please Stand Up: A New Look at Today’s Evangelical Church in the Light of Early Christianity by David W. Bercot

Sex and money scandals. An exploding divorce rate. Drug-addicted youths. And an ever-growing worldliness. Today’s evangelical church is fighting battles on all fronts. And we seem to be losing these battles to the relentlessly encroaching world. Perhaps the answers to our problems are not in the present, but in the past. Because there was time when Christians were able to stand up to world.

The author takes you on an engrossing journey back to the time – back to the end of the first century. Here is an inspiring account of what Christians believed and practiced at the close of the age of the apostles – and how the church eventually lost the Christianity of that time.

But Will The Real Heretics Please Stand Up is not primarily a history book. It’s a fresh, creative look at the problems facing the church today – and the solution to those problems. It’s a call for today’s church to return to the simple holiness, unfailing love, and patient cross-bearing of the early Christians.

Reader’s Log 019: Book Stack Part 6

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Acquiring books and reading them are entirely two different hobbies. I must say in the last few years, I have been working on curating my home library and working out what criteria I want to set to grow my stacks.

In this book stack series, I’m sharing books I’ve previously read and reviewed from NetGalley and want to obtain a physical copy for my home library. Today, I’m doing something a little different with this post.

A fellow blogger tagged me in a, “Spook Scary Book Tag” post and was excited to spot a few titles I’m not familiar with and appreciated the tag. As I was checking out the books listed, I came across, “I see You” by Clare Mackintosh. I made a comment on the post stating “I see you” is on my to-read list. Umm…shortly after, I remembered I read and reviewed the book for the publishers! Good grief. That said, it is worth reading the story again and I will be adding a physical copy of this story to my book stacks. It is also a perfect October read. If you haven’t yet, I highly recommend you do.  

About the Book:

When Zoe Walker sees her photo in the classifieds section of a London newspaper, she is determined to find out why it’s there. There’s no explanation: just a website, a grainy image and a phone number. She takes it home to her family, who are convinced it’s just someone who looks like Zoe. But the next day the advert shows a photo of a different woman, and another the day after that.

Is it a mistake? A coincidence? Or is someone keeping track of every move they make . . .

I See You is an edge-of-your-seat, page-turning psychological thriller from one of the most exciting and successful British debut talents of 2015.

My book review of, “I See You” here.

In the mid to late 90’s and early 2000s, I used to read Dean Koontz books. Well, this past Tuesday, I went over to my local thrift store to get out of the house a bit and came across one of his books! I’ve read so many books, I can’t remember if I’ve read the book I spotted. So, I picked it up and examined the book for wear and so forth… It’s a hardback and the edition is from 1992. The book is called, “Hideaway.” Are you familiar with the story? Maybe once I start reading it, I will remember if I have read it or not.

About the Book:

Strange visions plague a man after he survives a near-death experience in this chilling thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz.

Surviving a car accident on a snowy mountain road is miraculous for Lindsey Harrison, but even more so for her husband, Hatch, who was clinically dead for eighty minutes.

 After experimental procedures bring Hatch back to life, he awakens with the terrifying feeling that something is it out there. But it soon becomes apparent that the evil stalking Hatch is within him—a dark force of murderous rage that hides within us all…

Tagging:

Mybookworld24

Be sure to check out Alex’s books he mentioned in the post he tagged me on.

Stephanie

Reader’s Log 018: Book Spotlight

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I’m currently reading, “Sisters in Science” by Olivia Campbell for review and while doing so, I looked up if Campbell has written other stories. There is a story called, “Women in White Coats” that I’ve heard of and hadn’t paid attention to the fact that Campbell is the author. While, I’m curious about this book, I’m still not sure I will be able to fit it into my reading schedule at present. The story is non-fiction and the premise is something I’m greatly interested in knowing more about. Hopefully, it may be a 2025 read.

I thought I would share the book description and perhaps this story will be a new discovery for someone. Have you heard of this book? Thoughts?

Stephanie

Book Description:

Published March 2, 2021

In the early 1800s, women were dying in large numbers from treatable diseases because they avoided receiving medical care. Examinations performed by male doctors were often demeaning and even painful. In addition, women faced stigma from illness—a diagnosis could greatly limit their ability to find husbands, jobs or be received in polite society.

Motivated by personal loss and frustration over inadequate medical care, Elizabeth Blackwell, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson and Sophia Jex-Blake fought for a woman’s place in the male-dominated medical field. For the first time ever, Women in White Coats tells the complete history of these three pioneering women who, despite countless obstacles, earned medical degrees and paved the way for other women to do the same. Though very different in personality and circumstance, together these women-built women-run hospitals and teaching colleges—creating for the first-time medical care for women by women.

Reader’s Log 016: Book Lists

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I’ve been making book lists for as long as I can remember. Occasionally, I find lists on scraps of paper between pages of books, notebooks or scattered in random places. The latter reminds me of a passage in Possession by A. S. Byatt of paper referring to leaves. Do you know it?

Knowing I won’t get to all the books on my lists, I still keep adding. Also, I break up the list into categories sometimes. Recently, I watched a couple of book vloggers on YouTube who went through the New York Times top books of the 21st Century-or something like that. There were a few I was interested in and I started a new list for those books. One of them was Stephen Kings book “11/23/64” and I have owned a hardback of that story for years but have not read it as of yet.

Last week, I went to our local used book store and only found two of the books on my list! Collecting these books may take a while but I’m determined. Perhaps, the library sale next year will have them. Do you make lists and how many books do you think you have you want to acquire? I’m pretty sure I may have over 3,000 give or take.

Below are the two books on the list I purchased last week and the list of books I want to add to my home library to-read. I may be adding to this list. We will see. Have you read any of these books? Do share!

Stephanie

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

(Paperback)

I really want to read this book soon.

An audacious, darkly glittering novel set in the eerie days of civilization’s collapse—the spellbinding story of a Hollywood star, his would-be savior, and a nomadic group of actors roaming the scattered outposts of the Great Lakes region, risking everything for art and humanity.

Kirsten Raymonde will never forget the night Arthur Leander, the famous Hollywood actor, had a heart attack on stage during a production of King Lear. That was the night when a devastating flu pandemic arrived in the city, and within weeks, civilization as we know it came to an end.

Twenty years later, Kirsten moves between the settlements of the altered world with a small troupe of actors and musicians. They call themselves The Traveling Symphony, and they have dedicated themselves to keeping the remnants of art and humanity alive. But when they arrive in St. Deborah by the Water, they encounter a violent prophet who will threaten the tiny band’s existence. And as the story takes off, moving back and forth in time, and vividly depicting life before and after the pandemic, the strange twist of fate that connects them all will be revealed.

The Martian by Andy Weir

(Paperback)

I saw the movie when it came out. I see people keep talking about the story, so I’ve decided to read it. Read the first few pages already.

Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars.

Now, he’s sure he’ll be the first person to die there.

After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive—and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive.

Chances are, though, he won’t have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain-old “human error” are much more likely to kill him first.

But Mark isn’t ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills — and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit — he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. Will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?

Book List:

The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles

We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer ( I randomly just added this one.)

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

Know My Name by Chanel Miller

Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann

2666 by Roberto Bolaño

The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen

Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

11/23/64 by Stephen King (Own)

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

The Bee Sting by Paul Murray

Tomorrow and Tomorrow, Tomorrow by Gabriella Zevin

The Wager by David Grann

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

The Knowledge Gap by Natalie Wexler

Yellow Face by R.F. Kuang

The Last House on the Cliff by Anne Wyn Clark

Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel (Own)

The Plot Against America by Philip Roth

The Book of Witching by C.J. Cooke

The Martian by Andy Weir (Own)

The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese

Reader’s Log 013: Book Spotlight

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Librarians of Lisbon by Suzanne Nelson

A WWII Story of Love and Espionage

Pub Date Feb 04 2025 by Zando Projects

352 pages

Historical Fiction | Mystery & Thrillers | Romance

When I come across a book title with the word’s bookstore, bookseller, librarian or libraries, it is a sure bet I’m going to want to check it out and perhaps add it to my to-read pile. What is even more intriguing is that this story takes place during World War II in Lisbon. I can’t remember if I’ve read a historical story that takes place there. Isn’t the book cover nice? For those of you who are NetGalley members, this one is available to request a copy.

Stephanie

Description

In a glittering city of secrets and shadows, love is the most perilous gamble of all.

Lisbon 1943. As two American librarians are drawn into a city of dangerous subterfuge and unexpected love affairs, they are forced to choose between their missions and the men they love. Brimming with evocative writing and meticulous research, award-winning author Suzanne Nelson spins a web of secret aliases, sweeping romance, and great sacrifice. Inspired by real historical figures, this is the captivating story of two remarkable young women, their bravery and heartache, and a friendship that withstands the ravages of war.

With World War II raging across Europe, best friends Selene Delmont and Beatrice Sullivan are enlisted by the U.S. Intelligence Office and sent to Lisbon—a sparkling city and hotbed of trouble, harboring exiled royalty, hunted refugees, and spies trading double-edged secrets in seductively dark corners. In official capacity, librarians Selene and Bea have been recruited to catalog the vast mountain of information gathered by the Allies, but by night, both women are undercover agents tasked with infiltrating the Axis spy network.

Where Selene is confident and brash, Bea is bookish and careful. Selene longs to escape her family’s impossible expectations and embrace her independence, while all Bea wants is to heal from heartbreak and keep impulsive Selene out of trouble. But soon, both librarians are caught up in treacherous games of deception alongside two of Lisbon’s most notorious men—the outcast Portuguese baron, Luca Caldeira, and the lethal double-agent, Gable. As Selene charms her way through lavish ballrooms and fêtes with Luca, Bea is plunged into Gable’s shadowy underworld of informants.

Reader’s Log 012: Book Spotlight

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Death Comes in Threes (Book 9) by Michael Jecks

The period in which, “Death Comes in Threes” takes place is one of my favorites. That said, I love reading stories that take place all the way back to ancient civilization. The complexities of the human condition and imagining their lives gives us a broader sense of perspectives and design other than our own-if you will. Making connections to people whether it be from the past or present allows us to develop and nurture empathy. There is also the adventure of time traveling through reading and immersing yourself in other cultures. I could go on but wanted to give you a small glimpse into why I love reading history non-fiction, and historical fiction so much.

Today’s post is largely about spotlighting books under three hundred pages. I used to be one of those readers who challenged myself on how many books I could read in a year. While I understand the concept and meaning behind the challenge, I believe it can also foster stress and anxiety to some and it becomes no longer enjoyable to read. Needless to say, I don’t participate in those reading challenges any longer because it became a chore overtime for me.

There are so many books I want to read and knowing I won’t get to them all, oftentimes I find shorter books allow me to fit in more stories. That is just common sense for any reader. I also find reading shorter books gives one a connection to characters almost immediately, if written well. Of course, longer novels can do that as well but shorter books set a higher bar for the author to achieve within its scope.

Michael Jecks is a writer I have payed attention to for a while now and while I haven’t read his, “A Bloody Mary Mystery Series” from the beginning, I’m looking forward to diving into, “Death Comes in Threes.” Yes, I’m really bad about starting series from the beginning. I used to be diligent about starting them at book one but somewhere along the way, I veered way off course. I can’t explain why really. Does that happen to you?

Stephanie Hopkins

Death Comes in Threes (Book 9) by Michael Jecks

Pub Date Jan 07 2025 by Severn House

240 Pages

Description:

Princess Elizabeth’s unlikely assassin finds himself on the hook for two murders in this light-hearted Tudor mystery series!

August, 1558. As London is bustling with growing trade from foreign lands, and Queen Mary’s health is once again a hot topic, Jack Blackjack has much to keep him busy. And that’s before his new tenant – a Dutch merchant – disappears under a cloud of suspicion, quickly presumed murdered, and Jack’s latest female companion’s body is found mere streets from her dwelling place.

People around Jack keep inconveniently getting murdered, and he seems to be the most likely culprit! With both the authorities and the unsavoury echelons of London on his tail, nowhere is safe for Jack to hide. He must go about proving his innocence – and uncovering the murky truth – while ensuring he doesn’t find himself dancing the Tyburn jig!

The question is – can he rely on friends in high – and very low – places to get him out of this ever-increasing mess?