Diary of the Cat Named Carrot

Diary of the Cat Named Carrot is a sweet picture book formatted as a diary written from Carrot's point of view. Due out 30th March 2021 from HCI Books, it's 160 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

This is a sweet and wholesome photo album book with accompanying diary written by Carrot herself, with some help from her human mom, Erin Merryn. The entries cover roughly a year, from Carrot's kittenhood til her young adulthood alongside the small humans in her adopted family. Carrot and her family have a large following on social media and this would be a perfect gift for a fan/follower. It would also make a great read-along selection with young kids, as well as anyone who loves adorable cat pics. The (human) author is a Christian and there are some mentions of her faith in the introduction and text. I didn't find them intrusive or objectionable, but they are there. Four stars. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Barn Club A Tale of Forgotten Elm Trees, Traditional Craft and Community Spiri

Barn Club is the story of community, continuity, tradition, and craft by Robert J. Somerville. Due out 11th March 2021 from Chelsea Green Publishing, it's 272 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

More and more in the last decades has -all- of the emphasis been on producing more in less time. Efficiency studies are a multi-billion dollar industry to train people how to work "smarter" not "harder". If there's been one positive thing from the pandemic, it's being forced to slow down and become more connected to our own slower rhythm. Many of my circle of friends have picked up knitting needles, planted gardens, learnt embroidery, learnt to cook from scratch, and other traditional handcrafts. It's deeply satisfying to feel a connection with countless generations who have gone before us. 

In this philosophical and reasoned narrative the author, who is a woodworker, gathers together a group of volunteers to raise a barn using traditional timber framing methods which have been nearly vanished for 150 years. He delineates the process alongside the philosophical, musing on the fate of millions of elm trees in the 70s and their gradual resurgence. He discusses the processes of design and construction which they used, and how the project and process came together. 

The narrative throughout is enhanced by the inclusion of simple hand drawn line illustrations which show different construction details and small schematics. 

Five stars. This is a different, relevant, and philosophically appealing book. It is in absolutely no way a "how to" or tutorial guide. I highly recommend it to readers of natural history, philosophy, traditional lifestyle, self sufficiency, homesteading, and allied genres.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Malala Yousafzai (Pequeña & Grande)

 

Malala Yousafzai is a new biography aimed at young readers in the Little People, Big Dreams series. Due out 16th March 2021 from Quarto on their Frances Lincoln Children's imprint, it's 32 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

Isabel Sánchez Vegara writes accessibly in clear and understandable language.  The illustrations are colorful, whimsically engaging and very well done. The art by Manal Mirza is very appealing and rich in small subtle details which invite a closer look. The text is always honest and explains scary things (the Taliban for example) in age-appropriate and non-confrontational language. 

Well written and appealing, I am really enjoying all of these little books. This one is a worthy addition. It also includes a short photo timeline with some highlights from Malala's life thus far.

Five stars. This would make a superlative reading circle book, classroom library book, or gift.  Malala Yousafzai is an incredible, intelligent, gifted, and brave young woman, the youngest Nobel Laureate, and a wonderful  role model.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

Transient Desires (Commissario Brunetti #30)

 

Transient Desires is the 30th outing for Commisario Brunetti & co. by Donna Leon. Due out 9th March 2021 from Grove Atlantic on their Atlantic Monthly Press imprint, it's 288 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.

As always, this series is wonderfully relevant, with deeply considered and nuanced philosophy, characters who really live and breathe and who aren't complete paragons or evil caricatures. Leon is certainly one of the deftest writers currently writing and her novels are a joy to read.

Although some interactions between Brunetti and his colleagues and family will resonate more deeply with long time fans, this book works perfectly well as a standalone (but I recommend the whole series - it's wonderful).  The author is adept at providing enough backstory to keep new readers engaged and current without info-dumping.  I love his interactions with his colleagues and especially with his family - always loving, always philosophical. His children are growing up and approaching young adulthood. Their questions (especially his daughter's philosophical probing) had me nodding along in sympathy with Brunetti's occasionally fraught conversational forays.  

The inter-agency cooperations between the Italian Coast Guard, the Carabinieri, and the State Police (Brunetti's office) are impressive and faithfully rendered, complete with initial distrust and testing of one another. There's also a great deal of subtle local posturing and teasing between the Neopolitans and Venetians and the different local cultures which can cause friction. 

The antagonist in this volume is suitably awful and the tension and plotting are, as always, top notch. My major problem with the book (which dinged a half mark off the final) was the absolutely car-crash *abrupt* ending. It. Just. Simply. Ended. It was so abrupt that I literally went looking for more pages (checked both eARC formats which I received for review - it truly does just *end* that abruptly apparently). 

The language is relatively clean, a few minor swear words, nothing worse. Some of the themes (prostitution, smuggling, human trafficking, homophobia) elicit a world-weary resigned feeling from Brunetti and the official police, which some readers might find distressing. 

Highly recommended for fans of procedurals. The whole series is worthwhile and one that I revisit regularly. 

Four and a half stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Sustainable Gardening: Grow a "greener" low-maintenance landscape with fewer resources

Sustainable Gardening is a tutorial and gardening guide written by Vincent A. Simeone. Originally published in 2013 as Grow More With Less, this reformat and re-release is due out 16th March 2021 from Quarto on their Cool Springs Press imprint. It's 176 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats. 

I just read an article that stated flatly that decades of exploitative mega-farming has completely depleted and destroyed the soil we literally depend on to provide us with food. Home gardeners and ecologists are always looking for ways to trap carbon, reuse, build up, and replenish the soil. This is a layman accessible, relevant, and usable manual full of tips to improve soil, grow plants and food, and do "more" with "less". 

The introduction includes a good section on planning and philosophy/strategy followed by a good introduction for intentionally choosing plants which are suited to the place they're being planted and expected to grow. The author spends some time troubleshooting ways to manage garden pests whilst encouraging and supporting wildlife and the health of the biome. Water is (obviously) an important consideration for maintenance, and there's a solid chapter on managing and using water responsibly and effectively. There has been a philosophical movement in home gardening to reduce the amount of open unornamented lawn and Mr. Simeone gives some compelling reasons why adopting a more natural and low maintenance planting (with less law) makes sense in terms of resource use and renewability. There's a final chapter with some good advice on soil building and maintenance. The author has also included a short links and resources list (aimed at North American readers, but useful for readers in other areas) and a cross referenced index. 

The photography is very well done; clear and plentiful. Graphically, the layout is spare and easy to follow with double column text and highlighted text boxes for important points along with inset photographs and illustrations. 

This would be a good selection for community gardens, public or school libraries, or for the home gardener's library. Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Fatal Fried Rice (A Noodle Shop Mystery #7)

 

 

Fatal Fried Rice is the 7th Noodle Shop mystery by Vivien Chien. Due out 9th March 2021 from Macmillan on their St. Martin's Press imprint, it's 320 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

This is a very cozy series featuring a sweet heroine who is a manager of her family's Chinese restaurant. Main character Lana Lee is plucky and loyal but she's not too saccharine sweet or perfect. Despite working at her family's Chinese noodle restaurant, she's never learned to cook and she gets drawn into yet another murder mystery when she discovers her cooking school instructor literally stabbed in the back. 

The background story is well interwoven in the book, and it works as a standalone without needing to have read the previous books. (I can heartily recommend them as well, if you're looking for a new light cozy series to binge read).

It's a little longer than most cozies at over 300 pages but the plotting is tight and it doesn't drag.   Lately I've gotten my fill of southern catering homestyle bookmobile cat loving bakery shop ladies; this young woman with a great best friend, brightly colored changeable hair, and good relationship with her parents and her boyfriend is such a breath of fresh air.  There's a lot of warmth and humor here.  The book is relatively clean, with only a sprinkling of 'hell' and 'damn' and nothing more objectionable than implied consensual overnight stays from her boyfriend (a police detective) in the book.  Definitely safe for reading at work or on the bus.

I joke around about the death count in her immediate vicinity - she always finds out whodunit, but at this point I would imagine the sheer statistical impossibility would make her a real life typhoid Mary. (Oh, it's okay Lana, you don't have to come to the wedding! Just send a card *nervous laughter*). 

Four stars, delightfully fun light cozy mystery.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Step-by-Step Studio: Drawing Concepts: A complete guide to essential drawing techniques and fundamentals

Step-by-Step Studio: Drawing Concepts is is a tutorial and technique guide for drawing and rendering subjects aimed beginning to intermediate artists. Previously published in 2009, this reformat and re-release is due out 16th March 2021 from Quarry on their Walter Foster imprint. It's 144 pages and will be available in paperback format.

This volume has a similar format to the other familiar (and beloved) volumes in the series. The introduction covers tools, materials, some texture techniques, and some general drawing info (very basic). The following chapters contain the tutorials, arranged thematically: tonal studies and shading, composition, textures, and individual skill building exercises. Each of the tutorials contains step by step line drawing from basic outline to finished drawing. I felt some of the steps hopped over a lot of intermediate refinement, but all-in-all they're followable and clearly illustrated.

I could see this booklet, bundled with a good graphite drawing set making a superlative gift for a young artist up to adult age. The drawings are detailed enough to look quite professional, but not so extremely advanced that they would frustrate a keen beginner.

Four stars. I love that there are high quality tutorial books available from this classic art-publishing imprint and that reprints are readily available to a new generation of students.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Rocks, Minerals, and Geology of the Pacific Northwest

Rocks, Minerals, and Geology of the Pacific Northwest is a comprehensive and well written field 1guide to the geophysical Pacific Northwest of North America aimed at laymen and written in accessible and understandable language. Due out 16th March 2021 from Workman Publishing on their Timber Press imprint, it's 360 pages and will be available in flexibound format.

The authors have written an information dense and accessible guide for readers looking for an introduction to earth science as well as a good field guide to rocks and minerals. The book has a logical layout: a short (easily understandable, not too technical) intro on general geology followed by the field guide. The authors are upbeat and enthusiastic about their subject and that comes through very well in the text.

The chapters cover geology, rocks, minerals, meteorite and fossil identification, macro-structures, geomorphology, and interpreting the physical landscape to tease out the hidden history of an area. The book also includes extensive useful appendices and resources including a solid bibliography and links lists for further reading, a glossary, and a cross-referenced index.

The photography is simply gorgeous. Nearly every page has full color photographs and illustrations. 

Five stars. This is a useful resource. It would make a superlative choice for public or school library acquisition, community hiking/rockhound groups, home library, and for hobbyists.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Heartbreak Bay (Stillhouse Lake #5)

Heartbreak Bay is the 5th Stillhouse Lake procedural thriller by Rachel Caine. Due out 9th March 2021 from Amazon on their Thomas & Mercer imprint, it's 336 pages and will be available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

This was a well written book with an engaging protagonist and very well built up scenery and an undeniable sense of place. Ms. Caine writes very capably and the setting was very real for me throughout. Although this is the 5th book in the series, I had no trouble reading it as a standalone book or keeping track of the characters and understanding their relationships with one another secondary to the plot. 

My only problems came from the graphic brutality and on-page violence. This is, admittedly, clearly marketed as a procedural serial killer thriller - I'm definitely not placing the blame elsewhere than my own curiosity in picking it up. The writing and pacing are quite good, the plotting and narrative arc move along at a solid pace, and the climax and denouement were tension filled and scary. I think the elements which were drawbacks for me personally will be counted as advantages for fans of the genre. 

Scary and tense but well written. Four stars. I would recommend it for fans of Thomas Harris, Kendra Elliot, Jeffrey Deaver, and John Sandford. *brr*.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.  

The Noose's Shadow (Master Mercurius Mysteries #4)

The Noose's Shadow is the fourth Master Mercurius mystery by Graham Brack. Released 8th Dec 2020 by Sapere Books, it's 209 pages and available in paperback and ebook format. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

Despite being a huge fan of historical murder mysteries, I was previously unfamiliar with this exceptional series. Set in the late 17th century in the Netherlands, the protagonist, Master Mercurius (a theologian)  is intelligent, amiable, honest, and insightful. He's drawn into the investigation of a local farmer when suspicion falls on a neighbor and the neighbor's pretty wife begs Mercurius to clear her husband's name and find the culprit. 

It's been a while since I was truly enthralled by a book. This one drew me in immediately and I found myself thinking about the narrative even when I wasn't actively reading; mulling over the clues and the characters. The dialogue is pitch perfect and the characters are varied and very well rendered. The clues are presented fairly and the murder mystery itself is satisfyingly convoluted. I will confess that I -did- actually figure it out before the end, but the denouement and resolution are so well written that it was a pleasure to read. 

I can't remember the last time I dropped my fairly rigid TBR list and immediately acquired the previous books in a series. (I review 700+ books a year, so it's always a bit of a press). This is a very well written book. I sincerely hope Master Mercurius has many many more stories for us.

Five stars. Very highly recommended to fans of the genre.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.  

Mary Anning (Pequeña & Grande)

 

Mary Anning s a new biography for young readers in the Little People, Big Dreams series. I've reviewed a number of these titles and all of them are delightful and exuberant little books which cover the lives of famous cultural, science, arts, and innovative icons while maintaining an age-appropriate level of detail. Due out 2nd March 2021 from Quarto on their Frances Lincoln imprint, it'll be 32 pages and will be available in hardcover, and ebook formats.

The text and story by Isabel Sánchez Vegara are written in clear accessible language.  The gentle and sweetly humorous illustrations were well done. The art by Popy Matigot is quirky and has an almost linocut collage look. 

Well written and appealing, I am really enjoying all of these little books. This one is a worthy addition and especially welcome as a glimpse into a womens lives and challenges in historically male-dominated STEM fields. The author doesn't shy away from saying in the text that the (invariably male) scientists of the time used Mary's work as their own without credit to her. 

Five stars. This would make a superlative reading circle book, classroom library book, or gift.  Mary Anning was an intelligent, determined and accomplished woman in an unfair and prejudiced world which arrayed its power against her but never managed to thwart her. There is a short timeline included at the back of each of these books with some titles and resources for further reading.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

The Many Lives of Pusheen the Cat

 

The Many Lives of Pusheen the Cat is a cute illustrated collection dedicated to everyone's favorite internet sensation, Pusheen. Due out 16th March 2021 from Simon & Schuster on their Gallery imprint, it's 192 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.

This is exactly as described; a collection of color pages of Pusheen and friends in hundreds of poses with short, often humorous descriptions of a few words. The cartoons are from one to multiple panels and contain Pusheen in different guises and with different settings. 

The chapters are arranged around Pusheen's different incarnations: Pusheen, Pusheenicorn, Super Pusheenicorn, Mermaid Pusheen, Dinosheen (& Pusheenosaurus), Pastel Pusheen, Dragonsheen, Detective Pusheen, and Pugsheen. The collection includes an absurd abundance of Pusheen doing adorable stuff. 

Four stars. This would make a great public or classroom library acquisition, gift for a Pusheen fan, or potentially nice choice (bundled with drawing supplies?) for a young artist. Lots of fun. I've never met anyone who doesn't love Pusheen.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Monarch Butterflies: Explore the Life Journey of One of the Winged Wonders of the World

 

Monarch Butterflies is a beautifully illustrated guide to the life cycle of the monarch butterfly. Due out 2nd March 2020 from Storey Publishing, it's 48 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

Butterflies are perennial favorites, fascinating to watch and beautiful. Currently facing massive habitat loss and sensitive to climate changes and pollution, they're disappearing at an alarming rate. This book is aimed at young readers (1-2nd grade) and discusses the life cycle of the monarch butterfly in age appropriate and accessible language. The illustrations are clear and colorful, and support the simple text well. There is a cool tutorial showing the different types of milkweed which can be planted to support and provide habitat. (I'm a very keen gardener and a huge fan of natural/native planting and I learned quite a bit from the milkweed tutorial). There's also some cool info about tagging and counting monarchs for data collection. 

The author has included a useful abbreviated glossary as well as a links list for further reading and conservation information.

Well written, engaging, and factually accurate, this would make a superlative selection for school or classroom library, home library, or gift for a young reader who likes animals and natural science. This book would have attracted 7 year old me in an instant.

Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

In Search of Mycotopia: Citizen Science, Fungi Fanatics, and the Untapped Potential of Mushrooms

 

In Search of Mycotopia is an informative and journalistic look at mycology and how it intersects different communities - written and presented by Doug Bierend. Due out 10th March 2021 from Chelsea Green Publishing, it's 336 pages and will be available in hardcover format.

This is a surprisingly engaging book about people who love fungi. There are scientists (both academics and laypeople whose love of all things mycology brings them together), producers, counter-cultural-citizen-mycologists, educators, foragers, ecologists, and ethnobotanists in a sort of network of advocates over a broad range of the population. 

The book is layman accessible, and I found it a fascinating read. It's rigorously annotated (and the chapter notes and index make for fascinating further reading) but doesn't get bogged down in overly academic language. This is popular science writing - not a "how-to" guide. There are no tutorials here. The author does present a number of eccentric personalities from the counter-cultural vanguard, and always manages to do so with respect and affection. There are a handful of popular science and zoology writers who have the gift of writing layman accessibly and engagingly on their topics of expertise. Doug Bierend is one such. 

Four stars. Heartily recommended for readers of science, ecology, ethnobotany and similar subjects.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

The Age of Dinosaurs: The Rise and Fall of the World’s Most Remarkable Animals

 

The Age of Dinosaurs is a well written scientifically correct and exciting book about the time of the dinosaurs by paleontologist Dr. Steve Brusatte. Due out 2nd March 2021 from Harper Collins on their Quill Tree Books imprint, it's 272 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

Although this is published on a children's imprint, I found the book engaging and can recommend it for all ages. The author has an accessible style of writing. He makes what is essentially crawling around in the mud in often inhospitable remote areas getting eaten by mosquitoes sound both exciting and worthwhile (which it clearly is). His descriptive powers allowed me to picture the scenery very well. The language is simple but he doesn't avoid technical language and uses the proper nomenclature for animals and geological features. New terms are defined in context in the text. The author has also included a number of appendices: bibliography and links for further reading, a glossary, pronunciation guide, and a cross referenced index.

The book itself is arranged roughly chronologically starting with the earth's history up through the rise of the dinosaurs, continuing through the mesozoic period, with chapters considering the indigenous species of North America, Asia, the South, and Europe, on to flight, and extinction.

It's full of interesting illustrations and lots of dig photos. This would make a superlative classroom or library book, as well as being a wonderful pick for any paleontology fans in your circle of friends or family. 

Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Eat Plants Feel Whole: Harness the Healing Power of Plants and Transform Your Health (AdventHealth Press)

 

Eat Plants Feel Whole is a tutorial and recipe plan guide to plant based whole food diets and lifestyle changes which promote health presented by Dr. George E. Guthrie. Released 15th Oct 2019 by AdventHealth Press, it's 420 pages and available in hardcover and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is an evidence-based science forward look at plant based whole foods and the benefits they provide in terms of health and wellness. The author writes authoritatively and enthusiastically (he's a medical doctor with additional qualifications in nutrition studies). 

The book's language throughout is layman accessible; most readers with a basic education won't have any trouble following his reasoning or the advice he gives on diet, food, and lifestyle adjustments. Dr. Guthrie has developed a plan which he outlines: the food (including a fairly brutal assessment of the typical modern diet - full of trans fats, meats, refined sugars, and preservatives), lifestyle,  and the "Eat Plants Feel Whole" plan - including a quickstart guide to do for 18 days to see immediate benefits.  The foods and recipes included are quite specific and the author explains how to choose foods (where there are choices) for different situations and benefits.

Throughout the book the author discusses chronic illness (specifically obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease) and cautions readers to be aware if they are using specific medications or have been diagnosed with specific conditions and when to seek advice from caregivers before changing diet or exercise regimes abruptly. 

The book contains a number of good supportive resource materials including pantry/fridge/freezer checklists, daily meal plans (and the recipes), comprehensive bibliography and links lists, and a cross referenced index.

With the understanding that lifestyle and diet changes can provide remarkable health benefits, this could be the impetus that some readers need to begin to make a difference in their health and lives. My only quibble is that occasionally during reading it felt like the author was fervently and zealously proselytizing and marketing his system (including ads for educational materials, tote bags, and tumblers in the back of the book). The author's personal faith is mentioned in context a few times through the book which wasn't a problem, but might be for some readers. 

Four stars. There's a lot of very useful information here and evidence based practice supporting these changes for improved health. Definitely worth a read and a trial run (18 days isn't long at all to give a good solid try). 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

GrowVeg!: 45 Easy Ways to Grow Your Own Food

 

GrowVeg! is a comprehensive and fun tutorial primer aimed at new gardeners written by Benedict Vanheems. Due out 2nd March 2021 from Storey, it's 200 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

Given the state of the world, the themes of food security, healthy outdoor activity, mental health, healthy eating, exercise, and mindful productive lives seem more critically important than in any other time in recent memory. We can't travel, many of us can only recently go outside into our own gardens, so there's a boom in new gardeners. 

This is a superlative first gardening book. It's laid out logically, it's written in good accessible layman language, it's not overly complex or full of impenetrable overwhelming information for the average reader. The chapters are arranged in a nice progression, from the very basics of why garden, to how to get started, container gardening, starting slow and building on successes to build confidence and learning, through what and how to choose varieties for different purposes. The author presents lots of options for gardening from containers to beds so that (pretty much) anyone can succeed with gardening. 

After the introductory chapter, the following chapters expand on the initial info by adding proven varieties for production and taste, planning and gardening in small spaces, emphasizing and utilizing nature to support pollinators and indigenous plants. There are also chapters on indoor gardening, and focus drawing features for outdoor gardens (including a really good tutorial on making and using straw bale gardens). It includes some lovely photography, both of the plants covered and some garden shots in situ. I liked that the bulk of the book is arranged around short achievable tutorials for a myriad of gardening tasks and presentations.

Very very well done. Five stars. There's a lot of info here for more advanced gardeners as well as beginners.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Paul Robeson: No One Can Silence Me

No One Can Silence Me is a biography written for older teens and young adults adapted from Duberman's 1989 biography covering the life of Paul Robeson. Due out 9th March 2021 from The New Press, it's 288 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. 

This is a very well written and plainspoken recounting of the life of Paul Robeson. The author has chosen to cover the subject roughly chronologically from Robeson's early life and upbringing, his time at Rutgers, through his burgeoning career, his wartime efforts, and his eventual declining health. The book is illustrated throughout with photos and is very well annotated with ample chapter notes and resources for further reading. 

There was a great deal about Robeson's life about which I was unaware. I knew him mostly in his role as advocate and activist writer. He was a renaissance man, a talented entertainer, intelligent and well spoken activist, a man with a definite eye for the ladies, well educated, athletic, urbane, and very intelligent. 

He was (and continues to be) an important American in history, and worthy of study. The content contained here is mostly written in age appropriate language for older tweens/teens (12-18ish). He was a complex man and not a saint and I think the author gives a good overview of the highlights of his life and society at the time. 

Four stars. I would recommend it for public or home library acquisition, school use, supporting resource for American culture/history and allied studies. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Burning Girls and Other Stories

 

Burning Girls and Other Stories is a collection of short fiction, vignettes, and thought experiments by Veronica Schanoes. Due out 2nd March 2021 from Macmillan on their Tor / Forge imprint, it's 336 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

One reason I prefer collections and anthologies is that short fiction is really challenging.  It's spare and the author doesn't have a wealth of wordage to develop characters or the plotting.  Well written short fiction is a delight. I also love collections because if one story doesn't really grab me, there's another story just a few pages away. 

The author has an interesting and unflinching voice in many of these stories. There's a strongly folkloric quality (in the old-world bloody and sometimes brutal way that folklore had before it was sanitized by the Brothers Grimm and Mother Goose). Some were very strange, or uncomfortable to read, and several were very very good. The standouts for me personally were the titular Burning Girls, Phosphorous, and Rats (an homage to two departed cultural icons - no spoilers).

This is a very well written but uncomfortable read. There's very little smiley cuddly happiness here.

Four strong stars. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

The Mitford Trial (Mitford Murders #4)

The Mitford Trial is the fourth Mitford Murders mystery by Jessica Fellowes. Released 19th Jan 2021 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 368 pages and available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. 

These are very well written and plotted books with fictionalized accounts intertwined with real historical events and people. The author is quite adept and it's not always easy to tell where fiction shades over into actual history. The descriptions of the settings and the relationships of the glitterati of the interwar period and the "regular" people who served them makes for engaging reading. The characterizations are spot on (even though I have a distinct antipathy for Diana Mitford Guiness of long standing which colored my reaction to her fictionalized counterpart). Definitely a readable historical mystery and a well crafted book.

The author's historical notes on the plotting and murder itself added a lot of background detail (don't read it until the end of the book as it contains spoilers). The author has also included a bibliography and reading list for readers who are interested in filling in the backstory.

Four stars. Well written, well paced and plotted, satisfying and undemanding read.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.