bucolicbook - Tumblr blog

[bucolicbook]

A Place to Hide by Ronald H. Balson

US pub date - 9/17/24

A Place to Hide is extremely well researched and written. Historical fiction, it’s an extraordinarily important book, and I recommend it. Afterward, if you don’t already know, find out about the helpers in the war, the real people. 

It pulled me in right away and kept my attention to the point where I wasn’t switching between ARC’s (I will often be reading two or three during the same time period) and solely reading this. However, this isn’t an easy book to read -in fact, it’s downright difficult to get through knowing that it’s all based on factual history - it’s heartbreaking but it’s extremely compelling. 

Teddy is a young Washington man in the US government when WWII is looming when he’s transferred to the US Consulate in Amsterdam where he will have the soul destroying job of telling people who are desperate for a visa to the USA that they are ineligible due to lack of paperwork, knowing that many he denies will be terminated for merely existing when Hitler invades. 

The other day I was reading an article about the upcoming N American election. In a poll, more people were concerned about ‘the cost of living’ than ‘democracy’. I was speechless. 

My grandfather was a Marine in WWII, on the front lines; his war experiences were not something he spoke of. I remember my grandparent’s friends, the older ladies and men with numbers tattooed on their arms. How people who seemed happy could have such shadows and sadness in their eyes. I saw this living history while growing up; it was something we were well aware of. 

I don’t comprehend how people can listen to the former president, 45, and not hear him for who aspires to be in this country. I fully comprehend the cost of living crisis (I live here too), but democracy? 

As an adult, I read a lot of history, and the book banning and whitewashing of history for our young people concerns me immensely. Both are among the reasons why I homeschooled my now adult children.

Everyone who thinks that it couldn’t happen today should read this book. To see what losing freedom looks like under the power of a hate filled, power hungry (wannabe) despot. 

TL;DR? Read this book!!!! 

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the DRC 

[bucolicbook]

Complete Starter Guide to Bonsai:  Growing from Seed or Seedling - Wiring, Pruning, Care, and Display (Creative Homeowner) Beginner-Friendly Details for the Japanese Art of Bonsai Tree Care by David Squire

US pub date - 7/2/24

After moving to the country from the nearly constant sun of the Mojave desert, I found myself suffering seasonal depression in the gray gloom of winter and early spring. Along with daily meditation (✔️) and a light therapy lamp (also ✔️), I decided that getting a couple of plants would be a good thing. One of the plants I’ve been wanting is a bonsai, even though the idea of having and caring for one has been very intimidating to me. Reading this book was truly helpful in providing accurate information and guidance. 

Along with the guidance and knowledge in the pages of this, there are photos and illustrations that are advantageous for beginners. 

I really appreciated reading an early copy of this and will likely pick up a copy when I’m ready to take on the responsibility of caring for a tree of my own. 

Thank you to Creative Homemaker and NetGalley for the DRC

[bucolicbook]

Buried Deep and Other Stories by Naomi Novik US pub date - 9/17/24

I saw this on April 5. 2024; some books I wait a little before requesting - others I don’t, this was definitely one of the latter. The powers that be over at Random House Del Rey smiled upon me and gifted me this ❤️

Naomi Novik is one of those authors whose writing really really works for me. Growing up I loved The Chronicles of Narnia, and then Stephen King’s The Eyes of the Dragon - I’ve loved other fantasy novels and series but those were the original two for me. I still love them (even though I have some issues with TCoN) and Naomi Novik’s work hits me the same way. Discovering her books (the first I read was Spinning Silver) was just like how I felt when I first read the Lewis and King stories - like I had discovered something I would love forever. Reading these short stories I felt all that magic once again. 

Excellent to read through (you might not want to go quickly - these are long enough to really take your time to savor each one individually) - these ranged from fun to funny to heartrendingly beautiful. 

This was a stellar short story collection - Ms Novik’s powerful storytelling talent truly shines in these brightest gems. This has my strongest recommendations. 

Will be preordering the audiobook. 

Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for the DRC

[bucolicbook]

Rewitched by Lucy Jane Wood 

US pub date - 9/17/24

4.5 stars, rated up

*that cover 😍

*magick

*super cozy 

*Gilmore Girls / Practical Magic vibes with a UK setting 

*bookstore 

*found family 

*slow burn romance 

*heartwarming 

*visual writing 

*fully formed characters 

I won’t share anything spoiler-y, and will just say that I thought Rewitched was a fantastic debut that I utterly adored ❤️ 

I’m hoping for more stories set in this world and look forward to reading Ms Wood’s future work! 

Fun autumn reading and recommended. 

Thank you to Ace and NetGalley for the DRC

[bucolicbook]

The Seemingly Impossible Love Life of Amanda Dean by Ann Rose

US pub date - 9/17/24

If the road to true love ever runs smooth, it was a road unknown to Amanda Dean. 

With character evolution, lessons learned, failure, and triumphs alike, we go on the twisty path with Amanda as the book opens on her wedding day and then goes into flashbacks until we return to the present day and discover who Mandy’s person is. 

Both incredibly fun and heartwarming, The Seemingly Impossible Love Life of Amanda Dean is a winner and a recommendation from me 🙂

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the DRC 

[bucolicbook]

The Banned Books Club: A Novel by Brenda Novak

US pub date - 9/17/24

Well written and engaging, I enjoyed my reading of this and I wanted to learn more about Gia and Margot. It held my interest and I read this, curious to find out more about both women. 

Written in a concise style (though requiring a greater than usual suspension of disbelief in parts and a somewhat rushed ending, imo), it had no trouble keeping my interest. The characters come across realistically and I appreciated the author’s bringing banned books into the story enough to be part of the title. 

Thank you to MIRA and NetGalley for the DRC

[bucolicbook]

The Doll’s House: A Short Story by Lisa Unger 

US pub date - 9/12/24

2.5 stars, 

Well written and it kept me turning the pages but there was nothing new or unique here - a lot of cliches, a lot of tropes. 

This was my first time reading the author; I’d heard of her before but never took the plunge. I will read more. 

Thank you to Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for the DRC

[bucolicbook]

Love Story by Lindsey Kelk 

US pub date - 9//17/24

3.5 stars, rated up 

Having trouble sleeping (falling asleep at an earlier hour than 4 am, hot flashes waking me mostly) thanks to perimenopause has been giving me headaches during the day, to the point where this particular day’s headache made me vomit and feel generally like garbage. This was the day that I began Lindsey Kelk’s newest novel Love Story. 

So I started this one because I knew if anything would make me feel better on this day, it was this new book (it did help). 

*instalove

*enemies to lovers 

*a capital ‘B’ for banter 

*forced proximity

*third act issues/breakup

What I didn’t love - 

*secondary characters - many of them were such jerks that I was aggravated because Sophie didn’t put some boundaries in place

*the consistent TikTok / social media mentions 

*instalove (sort of) 

*the ending - this really needed an epilogue as it just felt so abrupt after the buildup of the story 

Ms Kelk is an autoread author for me but this one wasn’t my favorite. Absolutely looking forward to reading more in the future.

Thank you to Harper360 and NetGalley for the DRC

[bucolicbook]

Rachel Weiss’s Group Chat by Lauren Appelbaum US pub date - 9/24/24

I love Pride and Prejudice - it’s one of my favorite rereads (but I have to be in the mood because Mrs Bennet is horrific and I need to be in the proper frame of mind for that bs). I also adored Bridget Jones’s Diary when it came out back in the day and re-read the series every so often.

So when I saw that this was contemporary retelling, I was really looking forward to it. 

… alas… 

Rachel Weiss is no Lizzy Bennet. She makes fun of sexual assault victims, doesn’t seem to learn from her mistakes and the consequences of those, lacks empathy, and is a wholly unlikeable character. 

It’s also poorly written. 

I was appalled by this novel, regret reading it, and don’t recommend. 

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the DRC

[bucolicbook]

The Bean Book: 100 Recipes for Cooking with All Kinds of Beans, from the Rancho Gordo Kitchen (A Cookbook) by Steve Sando

US pub date - 9/10/24

As a vegan, I love beans, love them. From oven roasted spiced garbanzo beans, northern white bean dip with home baked bread, to a non-tahini garlic hummus like dip (severe allergies), three bean chili, and soups galore, beans are a giant staple of my diet and I was so excited to see a new bean cookbook, and am so thankful to have received an early copy. 

This book is laid out cleanly, with an easy to read font, and extremely appealing photons.

Recipes I’m particularly interested in - it’s currently still too hot for soup but I am awaiting the cooler months so I can make a bunch of these. 

*Summertime White Bean and Tomato Panzanella - making this over the upcoming weekend to nosh on with sourdough. 

*Red Beans tossed with Wilted Arugula and Pumpkin Seeds (no eggs) 

*Fennel, Potato, and White Bean Soup with Saffron (with vegan butter)

*Poggio Etrusco’s Classic Tuscan Vegetable-Bread Soup

*Jeremy Fox’s Yellow Eye Soup

*Midnight Black Bean Soup

*Staffan Terje’s Royal Corona, Swiss Chard, and Mushroom Stew (with vegan parm)

*Lalabi 

*Arnab Chakladar’s Chana Masala 

*Italian Pasta E Fagioli (minus pancetta, with vegan parm) 

I could go on with my list, but I’ll leave it the current ten. 

This isn’t a fully vegan cookbook, or even a vegetarian one, but a vast number of the recipes are vegan, or easily veganizable, and the end results look absolutely amazing and delicious. 

My one issue with this cookbook that didn’t work was most of the recipes measurements were in cups, not metric. 

Issue aside, this is one I’ll be getting for my ‘frequent-use cookbooks’ collection. 

Thank you to Ten Speed Press and NetGalley for the PDF 

[bucolicbook]

Christmas Sweater Weather by Jacqueline Snowe 

US pub date - 10/8/24

Give me a single dad where his best friend’s younger sister has a lifelong giant crush on him, and I’ll read it… this isn’t always the best decision. 

I was hopeful starting this one, but my hopes were quickly dashed.

*it comes across as exceedingly juvenile (I had to check to make sure it wasn’t YA),

*the characters are one dimensional,

*plot was thin,

*Hallmark movies are more in-depth 

I wasn’t the reader for this. 

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the DRC 

[bucolicbook]

The Sky Beneath Us by Fiona Valpy

US pub date - 9/10/24

I wonder if every mother facing an empty nest has a bit of an identity crisis - who are you (now, as well as still)? Daisy travels to Nepal to find out. 

Sooo well written! I was quickly drawn into the stories and kept turning the pages to read more of the vibrant descriptions. Utterly captivating. 

Strong recommendation. 

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the DRC 

[bucolicbook]

The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife: A Novel by Anna Johnston 

US pub date - 9/10/24

After reading the synopsis for this (plus former listening to - and loving to the point of buying - audiobooks of The Pilgrimage of Harold Fry (❤️Jim Broadbent) and Remarkably Bright Creatures (❤️Marcel)), I knew that I wanted to read this. 

When I first started this, I felt like maybe I had made a terrible mistake in requesting this - I was looking for cozy and heartwarming - and this brought up the real global problem of homelessness, an accidental burial at sea, as well as an ill child. So, I was wary. 

Needlessly, as it turned out, (and okay, I did really have to work to engage my suspension of disbelief), but I very much enjoyed this; I smiled, I got teary, and I adored Frederick. 

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the DRC 

[bucolicbook]

Wish You Were Here: Postcards from Franz Kafka by Bernadette Watts US pub date - 9/10/24

An absolutely lovely story that I’ve loved for a few years now after seeing a social media post featuring the story. Bernadette Watts’s new book, Wish You Were Here tells the tale with gorgeous, vividly colored illustrations that are a joy to look at. 

The book is charming and heartwarming, its illustrations utterly beautiful, and it’s a wonderful story to share (and one I fully recommend) with new and older readers alike.  This deserves a spot on bookshelves - my own children are nearly grown but I’ll be getting a copy of this for our bookshelf anyhow. 

Recommended.

Thank you to NorthSouth Books and NetGalley for the DRC 

[bucolicbook]

Sunshine and Spice by Aurora Palit

US pub date - 9/10/24

*Bengali culture 

*Canada setting 

*mother and aunties who make their own plans for the MMC

*matchmakers for arranged marriages 

*fake dating

I loved the synopsis and I thought the premise sounded both interesting and adorable. 

Unfortunately, I wanted to like this one more than I did; it’s a perfectly serviceable romance but I wanted more from the story. 

I will read more by Ms Palit in the future, but this one wasn’t a favorite. 

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the DRC

[bucolicbook]

How to Hide in Plain Sight by Emma Noyes

US pub date - 9/10/24

How to Hide in Plain Sight is seriously heavy. There’s a lot in here - OCD, depression, death of a family member, grief, disability, a very dysfunctional family. 

There’s also hope and love. The mental health rep is terrific. 

But then it draaaaaaagggggggged but the ending was painfully rushed. 

But it’s a really, realllly good story and I do recommend it. 

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the DRC 

[bucolicbook]

The Company: The Chilling, Gothic Thriller by J.M. Varese

US pub date - 9/10/24

Lucy is a strong and resilient MFC who’s trying to keep her family together, and brother in good health to run their family’s legacy business - wallpaper colored with arsenic - afloat after the deaths of her father and his business partner (I won’t go any further into the synopsis).

The Company is a wonderfully written and compulsively readable Gothic thriller that pulled me in right away as it set the stage for atmosphere and the paranormal. 

The not-so-good (for me) - 

*Lucy was the only notable character, the others fade into the background 

*I found the ending anticlimactic 

Despite the not-so-good aspects, I couldn’t stop reading. 

Thank you to Baskerville and NetGalley for the DRC