A saucy tale - a Yiddish flashback of an angel born to a Jewish couple. . .and this clever little baby is full of stories of where he's just come fromA saucy tale - a Yiddish flashback of an angel born to a Jewish couple. . .and this clever little baby is full of stories of where he's just come from - Paradise!
Stories of holy celebrities, of monsters (the Behemoth), of winged beings who are not as floaty and heavenly as you'd think they should be, of prophets and other famous folk who've made it big in the scriptures. Meanwhile this little guy is making the rounds, mixing in with David, Bathsheba and the New Girl brought in to keep David warm. . .it's raucous and crosses lines all over the place. For a baby who was a former angel, he is quite brilliant about the Human Condition.
Written by Itzik Manger, this was my first foray into his work and his world, so googling was required - and He, Himself was a remarkable human who needed satire to make it through the life he lived. This was his only novel - he contributed more usually in stories submitted to Jewish publishers, and it was written just before WWII - not exactly the easiest time to be Jewish, a writer or flaunting authority figures.
I'm sure I've missed a lot in this book, but I'll come back to it and Manger in future reads.
*A sincere thank you to Itzik Manger, Pushkin Press, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #TheBookofParadise #NetGalley...more
It took a bit of perseverance to stay in the tales to figure out where the author wants a reader to go. I am still Hmm. pondering. . .odd stuff, this.
It took a bit of perseverance to stay in the tales to figure out where the author wants a reader to go. I am still not sure I found it, but suspect I did.
The Artichokies are endearing beings, who are working through their experiences in their world(s), and if you stay with them, you'll see it is not unlike your own. They are motivated by our general senses (being an Artichokie does not seem to imbue them with any super-sensory powers or aspects that are much different than yours or mine, other than artichoke hair -in all places. go figure). Still the responses and solutions to the obstacles they face are relatable. Sorta, kinda.
By the end, if you stayed, you'll probably feel like I do at the end of every meaningful read. Wistful, and wondering . . . is it what was given what you have taken away? exactly or in part? at all ?
My wondering has persisted, and wonders on, but with a melancholic fondness....more
This was recommended to me by my 16-year old grandson. "Don't start Discworld at the first books. . .start with Hogfather, you'll love it." He was notThis was recommended to me by my 16-year old grandson. "Don't start Discworld at the first books. . .start with Hogfather, you'll love it." He was not wrong.
As a seasonal reader, I'm always looking for fresh meat at the end of the year and oh boy did I find it in Terry Pratchett's Hogfather. This is a Christmas satire at its very best. Only, mind you it's not Christmas, it is Hogwatch, that famous celebration on the 32nd of every December, where Hogfather goes from home to home to check in on occupants to ensure that behaviors are up to snuff and accountability standards are upheld and properly awarded.
Only this particular year. . .the subject of TP's book. . .something has gone terribly wrong. Not to worry, there are Gods (oh-gods, too) for that. To take care of the necessary troubleshooting. That goes south as well. You may not have known it, but the day was saved, and the read is the record thereof.
Who knew that Death had such a clever grand-daughter??? No wonder there are so many Susans in the world. Hero worship, I'm thinking.
I'll be reading this again, maybe even before the end of the year. July might be good. . .
Cordelia & Ruby!!! I'm looking forward to more from these two!
If you have some extra disbelief lying around, come and suspend it with this likely readCordelia & Ruby!!! I'm looking forward to more from these two!
If you have some extra disbelief lying around, come and suspend it with this likely read. . .there are a number of things that will stretch a reader's tolerance for some over.the.top situations, but if you've done it before (as we all have. . .humpty-dumpty anyone?) you understand that in for a penny, in for a pound, right?!~? Right.
A New Lease on Death has all the boxes checked for cozy mysteries, but has the bonus of ghosts and afterlifers wafting in and out. Rather than depending on scary tensions to move the story along, Olivia Blacke has humor take over - but humor requires a tricky ingredient, communication. . . .and how does a human and a haunt get over that hurdle? Well, these two ladies manage it handily (so to speak).
There's a promise of more to come from these two. I'm perched and ready.
*A sincere thank you to Olivia Blacke, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.*...more
It seems Kit McKinley is born with a gene that coordinates with Western calendar's February leap year. . .and since being born on that once in 4 yearsIt seems Kit McKinley is born with a gene that coordinates with Western calendar's February leap year. . .and since being born on that once in 4 years date (the 29th), she has a yearly growth rate that is 1-to-4 compared with other children. In other words, when she has been alive 8 years she's aged only to the stage of a two year old. Eight years of diapers (if she was a late learner) would be challenging.
Lucky for the long line of her caretakers who also have to move often, and become adept at ID fraud, Kit is precocious - sorta - and her adventures kept me reading. I wanted to bond with these characters with this problem that is fresh and new, but I didn't. Her keepers are in thrall to her as an 'experiment' and the end was rather dismaying - potentially she could live for centuries. Usually that presents as an intriguing promise in a read. . .for me, in this one, that feels like a sentence.
Unless. . . .she goes undercover and becomes a spy???!!? Ok. Maybe then I'll stay in. (So, 2.5 stars, rounded up.)
*A sincere thank you to Shelley Wood, RBmedia, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.*...more
Oh! Book #2 did exactly what this reader wanted - fed the fire that started in the first book in the Lost Bride Trilogy! More of Sonya and Cleo, and tOh! Book #2 did exactly what this reader wanted - fed the fire that started in the first book in the Lost Bride Trilogy! More of Sonya and Cleo, and that wicked witch Hester!!!!
Bring on #3, Please!
*A sincere thank you to Nora Roberts, St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.*...more
WARNING: This is Probably Not Your Kind of Book. Think Before Proceeding.
At first didn't think it was my kind. . .until I started in and was flipping WARNING: This is Probably Not Your Kind of Book. Think Before Proceeding.
At first didn't think it was my kind. . .until I started in and was flipping pages as fast as possible - had to get a hold of myself, and limited myself to 1 story, or not more than 10 pages. That lasted one day, 40 pages.
These are fractured fairytales at their best. . .dark, devious and not a bit sorry about it. No regret here. I've turned total fangirl for this author, and that's really not becoming at this late date in my journey here, but I'm going with it. You'll need to deal. If you're wincing at that, then my first sentence stands. Here's the bones (TOC) and a drop of my favorite bits in each:
Sundown at the Eternal Staircase Rules, warnings and cautionary tales about the Eternal Staircase (Heaven? Hell? Limbo? Amusement Park?) A Diviner's Abecedarian Divination methods described by and through sassy, spell-casting students The Thread Boy MY FAVORITE - if you only read one. . .read this one. . . Fox Jaw A steamy tail. Tale. The War of Fog This must have been pulled from a larger archived catalog of Named Wars (as opposed to Numbered Wars). Most interesting - having only lasted 9 days, but such damage. . . Drowning Lessons Sibling power here, for sure! The Autumn Kill Beware this one. . .still. . .we should appreciate the warning words, advice for what's ahead. Fifty Beasts to Break Your Heart A whimsical collection of 50 - WITH ILLUSTRATIONS! Huzzah! I'm intrigued by the Corvosts, Lylits, and Rausts. A Lily is a Lily Just another quirky relationship tale. . .or maybe something a lot darker. . . Dear Henrietta Surely a welcome letter from an old friend. . .or. . . Possessions A swiss knife is involved, as well as a rooster who expressly denies being cocky. Homebody Paint, painting and considerations thereof, and the remarkable consequence thereby. (Keep your Office Jobs, people!) A Haunted Calendar Specifically, a 31-day month. Would be a different tale entirely for a 30-day month, I suspect. The Plums at the End of the World Just what you long for - a 12-chapter tale with a needy yet alluring goat, an understanding vampire who fixes everything, and plums for the taking. (I just ate one myself, as the story seemed to require it.)
If you had the least bit of interest, I dare you. Probably a perfect book for one of your Halloween reads. . .or Samhain Festival. From me, to GennaRose? All the stars. Odd Perfection 'tis. Awl the Stars. . .
*A sincere thank you to Gennarose Nethercott, Vintage Anchor, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #FiftyBeaststoBreakYourHeart #NetGalley...more
This author is new to me, so I traveled slowly through Hecate's world.
I loved the map, the griffin, Hecate's backstory and her sensitivity to all thiThis author is new to me, so I traveled slowly through Hecate's world.
I loved the map, the griffin, Hecate's backstory and her sensitivity to all things paranormal. Also enjoyed the fiance found, all the haunts, the supportive family, as well as the many tangibles with minds of their own - totally enjoy this kind of fantasy.
My three stars suffered from an ending that fell short - considering all that had been sacrificed to arrive at that last page, I needed more than I got. But. . .did get the griffin and that was Not Nothing. Will be reading more of this author!
*A sincere thank you to Paula Brackston, St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.*...more
Hilarious!!!! Starring Cats and Dolphins (who steal the show) and The Nicest Guy around - that would be Charlie Fitzer.
Charlie is the guy next door, wHilarious!!!! Starring Cats and Dolphins (who steal the show) and The Nicest Guy around - that would be Charlie Fitzer.
Charlie is the guy next door, who's self-contained, thoughtful, thinks before he speaks, and isn't inclined to volunteer. At the point we meet him he's a substitute teacher with a backstory that has higher profiles in his professional and personal endeavors, but he's ok with the calm waters of where he's at now. After all, he has Hera - his cat, and new baby Persephone, a kitten who found him out wandering (yeah, I mean it the way you think I do).
Then an Uncle-Out-Of-The-Blue turns up and changes Charlie's world. And that's where I leave you. Because if I tell you about the Dolphins. . . .NO. You just have to crack the book open yourself to get that kind of exposure.
Warnings: falling dangers present (laughing); weird violence due to odd perps; union action is prevalent throughout - beware if allergic.
Have read this story so many times. . . .this old friend is a different beast altogether than other stories we tell each other when its almost but notHave read this story so many times. . . .this old friend is a different beast altogether than other stories we tell each other when its almost but not quite bedtime. It's surely Once Upon a Time, but not quite Happily Ever After, but there's a wonder and a worry, a ponder and a peril that never ever leaves you.
?what would I do?
This I now know: it is Time to read this with the grandkids.