The Rose Code by Kate Quinn (2021) – Historical fiction set at Bletchley Park during WWII which follows three unlikely friends during the war and beyond. I had been saving this for months, so was pleased when my book group decided to read it. For once, everyone seemed to enjoy our choice! I did not review this because many had already done so very eloquently!
Fiction
The Native Heath by Elizabeth Fair (1954) – When Julia Dunstan inherits her uncle’s home in a small English village, she is delighted to make a home for herself after many years abroad, even if those around her are less appreciative than they should be and don’t always conform to her mental image of how they should behave. My review.
Mystery/Suspense
Murder in Three Acts by Agatha Christie (1934) – When a guest at a house party collapses and dies after taking a sip of his cocktail, there is no reason to suspect it is murder – until it happens again! My review.
Death and the Lit Chick (2009)/ Death in Cornwall (2021) by G.M. Malliet – These are part of the St. Just mystery series, which I felt improved dramatically when Detective Arthur St. Just met Portia De’Ath, an attractive mystery writer.
The Nowhere Man by Gregg Hurwitz (2017) (audio) – Admittedly, this series is violent but I think the author does a good job at making Evan Smoak sympathetic although he is an assassin. In this book, he has been kidnapped and has to figure out how to escape.
Nonfiction/Sports
It’s Better to be Feared by Seth Wickersham (2021) – A fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the New England Patriots by an ESPN reporter. This might have been my favorite book of the month! My review.
Romance
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood (2021) – This is an example of a romance sub-genre recently invented – the stem romance! A PhD student studying cancer falls into a fake relationship with her unexpectedly hot professor, which of course turns into the real thing. It sounds silly but it was fairly well done with appealing characters.
Juvenile Fantasy
The Children of Green Knowe by L.M. Boston (1954) – When Tolly goes to visit his great-grandmother for the first time, he finds a manor house that is inhabited by those who lived there in the past. My review.
The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet by Eleanor Cameron (1954) – When David sees a newspaper ad inviting him to build a spaceship, he enlists his best friend to help, and soon they are on the adventure of their lives in outer space! My review.
The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis (1954) – The fifth installment of the Narnia books reads like a story from the Arabian Nights and has always been a favorite. My review.
Juvenile Historical Fiction
I’m Deborah Sampson by Patricia Clapp (1977) – In this historical novel for middle-graders, Clapp imagines a backstory for real-life heroine Sampson who disguised herself as a man to fight for America in the Revolutionary War. My review.
Highland Rebel by Sally Watson (1954) – Lauren resents being left at home while her father and brother go to fight for Bonnie Prince Charlie but her ingenuity will save the Prince’s life. Reading this book was a tribute to Watson, who died in March. My review.
Juvenile Fiction
Born Behind Bars by Padma Venkatraman (2021) – I picked this up at the library on Sunday and read it when there were no patrons! Set in India and based on a true story, this is about a boy who is unexpectedly released into the world after spending his first nine years in jail with his mother.
Young Adult
Take a Bow by Elizabeth Eulberg (2012) – Four talented teens attend a prestigious performing arts high school in New York and are looking for their big break. My review.
The Native Heath by Elizabeth Fair (1954) – When Julia Dunstan inherits her uncle’s home in a small English village, she is delighted to make a home for herself after many years abroad, even if those around her are less appreciative than they should be and don’t always conform to her mental image of how they should behave. My review.
Mystery/Suspense
Murder in Three Acts by Agatha Christie (1934) – When a guest at a house party collapses and dies after taking a sip of his cocktail, there is no reason to suspect it is murder – until it happens again! My review.
The Nowhere Man by Gregg Hurwitz (2017) (audio) – Admittedly, this series is violent but I think the author does a good job at making Evan Smoak sympathetic although he is an assassin. In this book, he has been kidnapped and has to figure out how to escape.
Nonfiction/Sports
Romance
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood (2021) – This is an example of a romance sub-genre recently invented – the stem romance! A PhD student studying cancer falls into a fake relationship with her unexpectedly hot professor, which of course turns into the real thing. It sounds silly but it was fairly well done with appealing characters.
Juvenile Fantasy
The Children of Green Knowe by L.M. Boston (1954) – When Tolly goes to visit his great-grandmother for the first time, he finds a manor house that is inhabited by those who lived there in the past. My review.
The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis (1954) – The fifth installment of the Narnia books reads like a story from the Arabian Nights and has always been a favorite. My review.
Juvenile Historical Fiction
I’m Deborah Sampson by Patricia Clapp (1977) – In this historical novel for middle-graders, Clapp imagines a backstory for real-life heroine Sampson who disguised herself as a man to fight for America in the Revolutionary War. My review.
Juvenile Fiction
Born Behind Bars by Padma Venkatraman (2021) – I picked this up at the library on Sunday and read it when there were no patrons! Set in India and based on a true story, this is about a boy who is unexpectedly released into the world after spending his first nine years in jail with his mother.
Young Adult
"It’s Better to be Feared" -- with a title like that, I was pretty sure this was non-fiction work about politics. I'm very interested now why this title was chosen for the sports field instead, and how much psychology is mixed up in there. This one also reminds me a lot of "It's Better to Reign in Hell..." Ah, well, some book titles are absolutely brilliant.
ReplyDelete~Lex
I love Hurwitz's Evan Smoak series. He's such a great character. And I really enjoyed The Love Hypothesis, too. Right now my mom is reading The Rose Code and loving it...it's one I want to read soon. Have a great week. :D
ReplyDeleteI will have to look into The Rose Code by Kate Quinn, since you liked it so well. I like the subject matter.
ReplyDeleteAlso Greg Hurwitz's books. I don't mind violence, it depends on the writing and how the violence is handled.
The Rose Code was excellent, but The Diamond Eye is even better!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you read The Rose Code, one of the best books of 2021 for me. I loved it so much I read it twice! Great characters and such a climatic ending.
ReplyDeleteDeath in Cornwall appeals, but I think I want to begin the series at the beginning so I just put book #1 on my tbr list in GoodReads.
Love the cover of The Children of Green Knowe. As a child, I would have found this irresistable. Also love the cover of Highland Rebel.
Excellent reading in April! Happy May reading :)