Five Decembers by James Kestrel
I received an Advance Reading Copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Those who know me know that I’m a big fan of the Hard Case Crime label. I collect the novels and make a commitment to read at least one a month. Publisher Charles Ardai has made a point to reach out extensively to the HCC fan community; passing out ARCs and bonus copies before they go on sale. A few months ago, some of us got an […]
City of Thieves by David Benioff
Because I’m always a billion years behind popular culture, I had no idea that the David Benioff of the Game of Thrones TV show was also an author. And a good one! In applying for a freelance job that wanted an analytical summary of the first three chapters of City of Thieves, I was hooked and had to read the whole thing. I didn’t get the job, but I really enjoyed the novel. City of Thieves is a historical fiction surrounding the siege and starvation of […]
The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson
I’ve read most of Erik Larson’s books, and you really can’t go wrong if you want an interesting (some say cinematic) take on history. That said, I had more trouble becoming engaged with The Splendid and the Vile than I have some of his other works, my interest in London during the Blitz notwithstanding (and really, will Larson ever be able to top Devil in the White City?). Slow to get going, the book picks up in the second half, and it’s definitely worth sticking out to […]
Hornet Flight by Ken Follett
Ken Follett is an author that I always enjoy. His novels are always highly detailed glimpses into a piece of the past. They usually feature smart, kick ass women. Hornet Flight is no different. In this instance, it’s set in the early days of the Danish Resistance in World War II. At its heart, Hornet Flight is a novel of connections. The British are suffering staggering losses in their bombing campaign against the Nazis. They can’t figure out why. The Danish have surrendered without a fight to […]
Gardens for Victory by Jean Marie Putnam & Llyod C. Cosper
In a box my grandmother hadn’t opened for probably fifty years, she found a swath of old family documents, and in it was this book, Gardens for Victory, a comprehensive guide to teach Americans how to supplement their ration cards during World War II with sustainable gardening. We have no idea how the little pamphlet never got thrown away; the spine was very bent and the pages dog-eared, meaning my great-grandparents probably followed its instructions during the war for their own gardens. The fact that it had […]
