Book Talk – November 2024

Even though November was full of blog reading I managed to get through four books. Don’t ask me how. Probably because of bouts of insomnia. Anyway here is a quick book talk for my November books.

Woman on Fire by Dr. med. Sheila de Liz | ★★★★★

Goodreads says: Germany’s most popular gynecologist knows: the menopause is cooler than we think! Hot flushes, weight gain, mood swings – hardly any woman is relaxed about the menopause. Yet our image of the perimenopause is hopelessly outdated and urgently needs a makeover. Many women today suffer unnecessarily, and none of them “have to go through it”. Once the symptoms have been identified, we can do a lot for our health and well-being – and still feel strong and sexy in the second half of our lives.
What I thought: I really really learnt a lot. Not sure it made me look forward to what is coming and I am still at times not happy I will have to undergo this but it seems somewhat manageable. Good tips and lots of helpful info. So much so that just listening to audio I again have not picked up everything and my listen to it again. Or get the book.
Medium: audiobook through library
Original Language and Title: German
Publications: no translations
Recommend to: Everyone wanting to know and needs to know about all things menopause. I think it should be a mandatory read… also for medical staff.
Author’s Origin: born in New Jersey, U.S.A. | 1969

Echo of old books by Barbara Davis | ★★★★☆

Goodreads says: Rare-book dealer Ashlyn Greer’s affinity for books extends beyond the intoxicating scent of old paper, ink, and leather. She can feel the echoes of the books’ previous owners—an emotional fingerprint only she can read. When Ashlyn discovers a pair of beautifully bound volumes that appear to have never been published, her gift quickly becomes an obsession. Not only is each inscribed with a startling incrimination, but the authors, Hemi and Belle, tell conflicting sides of a tragic romance.
With no trace of how these mysterious books came into the world, Ashlyn is caught up in a decades-old literary mystery, beckoned by two hearts in ruins, whoever they were, wherever they are. Determined to learn the truth behind the doomed lovers’ tale, she reads on, following a trail of broken promises and seemingly unforgivable betrayals. The more Ashlyn learns about Hemi and Belle, the nearer she comes to bringing closure to their love story—and to the unfinished chapters of her own life.
What I thought: This was a cute little story about a bookworm and some special gift tracing the stories and getting to know the people who read these books. I enjoyed the magical realism part. of course there is a love story but I feel it was not overly cheesy and not the hallmark template.
Characters: Ashlyb Greer – book dealer, Hemi – book character (?), Belle – book character (?), Ethan – descendant of book character?
Setting: Book store, mansion, remote cabin
Medium: eBook through Kindle unlimited
Original Language and Title: English
Publications: German title “Das Echo vegessener Bücher”
Recommend to: Everyone loving a good story surrounding books, some magic realism and a love story.
Author’s Origin: born in Fair Lawn, U.S.A. | June 28th, 1961

Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher | ★★★✶☆

Goodreads says: There’s a princess trapped in a tower. This isn’t her story.
Meet Toadling. On the day of her birth, she was stolen from her family by the fairies, but she grew up safe and loved in the warm waters of faerieland. Once an adult though, the fae ask a favor of Toadling: return to the human world and offer a blessing of protection to a newborn child. Simple, right?
But nothing with fairies is ever simple.
Centuries later, a knight approaches a towering wall of brambles, where the thorns are as thick as your arm and as sharp as swords. He’s heard there’s a curse here that needs breaking, but it’s a curse Toadling will do anything to uphold…
What I thought: This was a fun read. Thanks to Engie for recommending. I liked Toadling with all her quirks and insecurities. I like the dynamic between her and the
Characters: Toadling – a half faerie, a knight – not a successful one, a princess – who isn’t what she seams
Setting: A hedge around a castle
Medium: eBook through Kindle library
Original Language and Title: English
Publications: no translation found
Recommend to: Everyone loving a fairy tale retelling from a different perspective.
Author’s Origin: born in Japan | May 28th, 1977

The Shape of Ideas by Grant Snider | ★★★☆☆

Goodreads says: What does an idea look like? And where do they come from? Grant Snider’s illustrations will motivate you to explore these questions, inspire you to come up with your own answers and, like all Gordian knots, prompt even more questions. Whether you are a professional artist or designer, a student pursuing a creative career, a person of faith, someone who likes walks on the beach, or a dreamer who sits on the front porch contemplating life, this collection of one- and two-page comics will provide insight into the joys and frustrations of creativity, inspiration, and process–no matter your age or creative background.
What I thought: This was a nice little graphic novel/ cartoonish book that explored the different shapes ideas, the creating process and the struggles entail. Reading it as en ebook however was not the best choice. The illustrations were at times too small to read so I skipped a few here and there. Also this is just not the medium for graphics. I think through that the book lost a bit of magic for me. Some sketches were fun ands spot on but overall it didn’t engage me too closely so I read it through my bouts of insomnia hoping to fall back to sleep.
Medium: eBook through Kindle unlimited
Original Language and Title: English
Publications: French and Spanish found but no German
Recommend to: Everyone loving to create and needs to feel seen.
Author’s Origin: born in San Diego, U.S.A. | 1985

Books I couldn’t finish

Keeping track of the books that weren’t right for me. This month it was:

• Too much lip by Melissa Lucashenko – recommended by Melissa, abandoned at 8% due too slang that I couldn’t get into
• The sun will rise and so will we by Jennae Cecelia – contemporary (Genz Z) poetry which I find bla, boring and uninspiring, stopped at 24%
• A History of the World in Twelve Shipwrecks by David Gibbins – abandoned at 19%, this was just boring (sorry Engie I know you loved it that is why I bought it), I found the whole description of the wrecks superficial and not enough photos and maps to really know where and what we were looking at. I didn’t care about how great Gibbins is.

New books on the shelves

Always buying books even though I am trying to reduce my TBR pile. Here is this month purchases. Please hold me accountable and ask if I read them or just piled them up.

• Das inoffizielle ChatGPT Handbuch by Oliver Bock, Florian Knust – it was a freebie and so I snatched a digital copy as well after getting the printed one last month
• The Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow – a kindle deal for 0,99€
• The Fabulous Face Creams by Jenny Kings – kindle freebie
• Upon a Frosted Star by M.A. Kuzniar – a kindle deal for 1.19€
• The Kingdom of Watetu and Songaland an African Fairytale by Ntailan Lolkoki – a free little library find

Did you manage to read anything besides Blog posts in November? Any good fairy tale you have read lately? Do you enjoy magic realism? Your last book that moved in at your home? any thoughts on contemporary poetry?