Wednesday, November 24, 2021

Review: The Nursery Frieze

The Nursery Frieze The Nursery Frieze by Edward Gorey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It is a simple concept: rare words such as one would never see decorating a nursery or classroom, illustrated with capybaras. I adore it and I want to have it actually encircling a room. I don't know how hard it would be to get a custom-printed wallpaper border. It might be easier to pick a room, measure the circumference, and scale it to fit. No doubt there's someone on the internet with a tutorial for turning something into a mural. And a converter to give me scale.

Personal copy within one of the anthologies

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Review: The Nursery Frieze

The Nursery Frieze The Nursery Frieze by Edward Gorey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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Tuesday, November 16, 2021

Review: The Book of Magic (Practical Magic #2

The Book of Magic (Practical Magic #2 The Book of Magic (Practical Magic #2 by Alice Hoffman
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

Ok, I have had enough summer now. Let's move on to All Hallow's Read, cooler weather, and a new witch book from Hoffman? Kthnx

***

p. 106

Many and many a time I have complained about novels in which no one reads and/or no one talks about books. Well St. Jerome or some nondenominational exalted and book-specific being that I can't think of at the moment interceded or something because The Library is the center of this story, and there are frequent references to beloved books and reading, and I couldn't be more delighted if it came with a bookstore gift card.




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Thursday, November 11, 2021

Review: Say Yes to the Marquess

Say Yes to the Marquess Say Yes to the Marquess by Tessa Dare
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Clio is a marriageable young woman, betrothed to a diplomat who is also a marquess. It isn't going well. After eight years of delays she's pretty much had it and doesn't have to put up with it anymore, because she has inherited a castle of her very own. So now her would-be-brother-in-law finds himself in the unfortunate position of trying to convince her to go through with the marriage, and when she states clearly that she has no interest in wedding plans, he has to take on all that as well.

As a series concept, giving castles to various single women is genius. Who doesn't love castles? Real life is sadly lacking in women receiving property in their own right, let alone castles that they can rebuild or redecorate to suit themselves. Why isn't there a genre about real estate? Finding true lasting love is good and all, but land lasts for ever. Surely that's part of the appeal of Gone With the Wind? So much real property in Scarlett's hands.

This is the novel for the woman who doesn't care about The Wedding. I know I'm not the only one who cared about nothing other than the tastiness of the cake (devil's food, and you?). Dare has tremendous fun making her heroine indifferent to the whole marriage business in favor of creating a business plan that makes best use of her new estate. And while the tropes are being upended, Dare gives us a professional boxing manager as wedding planner.

Historically, I have no idea what time frame this is supposed to be, nor do I care. There's an old and beloved dog, did I mention that? He puts me in mind ofThree Men in A Boat which is a happy place to be.

Library copy

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Monday, November 08, 2021

Review: Amara's Giraffe

Amara's Giraffe Amara's Giraffe by Mary Robinette Kowal
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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Review: Teddy Bear Habit or How to Become a Winner

Teddy Bear Habit or How to Become a Winner Teddy Bear Habit or How to Become a Winner by James Lincoln Collier
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

2007 August 25


A favorite from childhood with the comics-illustrating dad, and the village life. It still appeals.

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Review: The Book of Magic

The Book of Magic The Book of Magic by Alice Hoffman
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

Ok, I have had enough summer now. Let's move on to All Hallow's Read, cooler weather, and a new witch book from Hoffman? Kthnx

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Review: Hench

Hench Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

Review copy from Goodreads

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Friday, November 05, 2021

Review: Romancing the Duke

Romancing the Duke Romancing the Duke by Tessa Dare
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this so much I immediately requested the others in the Castles Ever After Series, because humor! and castles! and more humor! and books! set in some sort of generic historical period. Such fun.

Library copy

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