October 01, 2020

Crib Notes-Long Live The Queen!

October 01, 2020/ Donna Sherwood

Crib Notes-Long Live The Queen!

Agatha Christie is not just a famous mystery writer; she is the bestselling novelist of all time. Of all time! The Grande Dame of red herrings and mis-directions, she can always be counted on to provide unexpected twists and unforeseen denouements. All this in trim volumes that focus on plot, dialogue and setting in order to maximize intrigue. In this crib notes I have gathered four recommendations for a starter pack…enjoy!

September 29, 2020

He Started It - Samantha Downing

September 29, 2020/ Donna Sherwood

Thriller/Fiction

Rating: 8.5/10

Family dysfunction at its best! Darkly funny, fabulously clever and compellingly addictive. This author layers twist upon twist with a relentless pace that leaves the reader in wonderous freefall for the bulk of the book. My advice, buckle up, you are in for a bumpy ride!

September 24, 2020

A Bohemian Rhapsody: Books Set In The 1960's & 1970's

September 24, 2020/ Donna Sherwood

100 Years In Books: The Decades Series

Books of this period showed us embracing our better selves, fighting tirelessly not only for our own rights, but the rights of others. And popular fiction, the literary equivalent of the best sort of guilty pleasure, finally gets it’s due! If we weren’t shy about having sex, taking drugs or listening to the devil’s music, why shy away from books about those things, no matter how risqué others thought them to be.

September 22, 2020

HIs & Hers - Alice Feeney

September 22, 2020/ Donna Sherwood

Thriller/Fiction

Rating: 7/10

There are at least two sides to every story. Yours and mine. Ours and theirs. His and hers. Which means that someone is always telling a subjective version of the truth. Not the truth itself. Oh what a tangled web we weave…

September 17, 2020

The Nightworkers - Brian Selfon

September 17, 2020/ Donna Sherwood

Fiction

Rating: 7.5/10

This character driven novel chronicles the stories of a cast of misfits who came together in a cobbled version of a family, as their connection begins to fray at the seams.

September 15, 2020

Little Cruelties - Liz Nugent

September 15, 2020/ Donna Sherwood

Thriller/Fiction

Rating: 4/10

When this author debuted her first novel a couple of years ago, I was delighted to find a new writer that could offer up darkly comic domestic thrillers. With her second offering, my praise was restrained by a cast of characters that were diminished in both their level of impressiveness and provocativeness. And with this latest book, I’m out.

September 10, 2020

Severance - Ling Ma

September 10, 2020/ Donna Sherwood

Fiction (Dystopian)

Rating: 8.5/10

This novel will sneak up on you with one of the most hauntingly plausible end-of-the-world scenarios I’ve encountered in recent fiction. Have you ever wondered what would happen if The Office and The Stand commingled to create a an entirely distinct fictional narrative? Well here you go…

September 08, 2020

The Dilemma - B.A. Paris

September 08, 2020/ Donna Sherwood

Fiction

Rating: 7.5/10

A wife has recently discovered a secret about her daughter that she needs to share with her husband, but surely it can wait until tomorrow. Her husband is keeping his own secret, holding onto the reveal for a better time. And therein lies the dilemma.

September 03, 2020

The Summit: Books Set In The 1940's & 1950's

September 03, 2020/ Donna Sherwood

100 Years In Books: The Decades Series

As you would expect, at the outset of these decades stories of triumph over tragedy reigned supreme. A dominant trend in book publishing focused on wartime experiences and symbolized the fight for freedom. This period of the 20th century was overflowing with sorrow, patriotism and ultimately, hope for the dawn of a new era. As we emerged from the war it was said that the world “stood at the summit of change for the better”.

September 01, 2020

Crib Notes-Well-Versed...

September 01, 2020/ Donna Sherwood

Crib Notes-Well-Versed…

Poetry is having a moment and it’s resulted in a burgeoning popularity for novels in verse. For this crib notes I have compiled some of the most powerful and poignant of those titles the world of publishing has to offer!

August 27, 2020

Home Before Dark - Riley Sager

August 27, 2020/ Donna Sherwood

Thriller/Mystery

Rating: 9/10

Question: Who needs a tightly wound, brilliantly paced mystery that is also a haunted house/ghost story? Answer: umm…everybody! Buckle up if you choose to go on this ride!

August 25, 2020

Good Morning, Monster: Heroic Journeys To Recovery - Catherine Gildiner

August 25, 2020/ Donna Sherwood

Non-Fiction

Rating: 7/10

I hope you are sitting down for this…the shocking truth is out. Parents are really the worst culprits in terms of inflicting the damage done to grown children who enter therapy. At least as far as the adults whose stories are told in this book.

August 22, 2020

Smart Is Cool!

August 22, 2020/ Donna Sherwood

Learn Something New…

Astrophysics For People In A Hurry - Neil DeGrasse Tyson

A Short History Of Nearly Everything - Bill Bryson

Sapiens: A Brief History Of Humankind - Yuval Noah Harari

The Code Book: The Science Of Secrecy - Simon Singh

Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores The Hidden Side Of Everything - Steven D Levitt & Stephen J Dubner

The Gene: An Intimate History - Siddhartha Mukherjee

Homo Deus: A Brief History Of Tomorrow - Yuval Noah Harari

Thinking Fast & Slow - Daniel Kahneman

The Black Swan: The Imprt Of The Highly Impropable - Nassim Nicholas Taleb

Moonwalking With Einstein; The Art & Soience Of Remembering - Joshua Foer

Nine Pints: Journey Through The Money, Medicine & Mysteries Of Blood - Rose George

The Order Of Time - Carlo Rovelli

Infinite Powers: How Calculus Reveals The Secrets Of The Universe - Steven Strogatz

Eight Lessons On Infinity: A Mathematical Adventure - Haim Shapira

I Contain Multitudes: Microbes Within Us - Ed Yong

Immortality Inc: Renegade Science & The Quest To Live Forever - Chip Walter

You're Not Listening: What We Are Missing & Why It Matters - Kate Murphy

The Body Keeps The Score: Brain, Mind & Body In Healing - Bessel Van Der Kolk

Irresistible: Rise Of Addictive Technology & The Business Of Keeping Us Hooked - Adam Alter

August 22, 2020

The Stephen King Collection...

August 22, 2020/ Donna Sherwood

The Constant Writer…Rated!

11/22/63 – Reigns Supreme!

Bag of Bones – Throne Worthy!

Black House – Tarnished Crown!

Blaze – Throne Worthy!

Carrie – Reigns Supreme!

Cell – Throne Worthy!

Christine – Throne Worthy!

Cujo – Reigns Supreme!

Cycle Of The Werewolf – Throne Worthy!

Desperation – Throne Worthy!

Different Seasons – Reigns Supreme!

Doctor Sleep – Reigns Supreme!

Dolores Claiborne – Throne Worthy!

Dreamcatcher – Tarnished Crown!

Duma Key – Tarnished Crown!

Elevation – Reigns Supreme!

End of Watch – Reigns Supreme!

Everything’s Eventual – Tarnished Crown!

Finders Keepers – Reigns Supreme!

Firestarter – Reigns Supreme!

Four Past Midnight – Tarnished Crown!

From a Buick 8 – Tarnished Crown!

Full Dark, No Stars – Throne Worthy!

Gerald’s Game – Reigns Supreme!

Gwendy’s Button Box – Throne Worthy!

Hearts in Atlantis – Throne Worthy!

If It Bleeds – Throne Worthy!

Insomnia – Reigns Supreme!

IT – Reigns Supreme!

Joyland – Reigns Supreme!

Just After Sunset – Throne Worthy!

Lisey’s Story – Throne Worthy!

Misery - Reigns Supreme!

Mr. Mercedes – Throne Worthy!

Needful Things – Reigns Supreme!

Night Shift – Tarnished Crown!

Nightmares & Dreamscapes – Tarnished Crown!

Pet Sematary – Tarnished Crown!

Revival – Reigns Supreme!

Rose Madder – Throne Worthy!

‘Salem’s Lot – Reigns Supreme!

Skeleton Crew – Throne Worthy!

Sleeping Beauties – Reigns Supreme!

Storm of the Century – Throne Worthy!

The Bachman Books – Throne Worthy!

The Bazaar of Bad Dreams – Throne Worthy!

The Colorado Kid – Throne Worthy!

The Dark Half – Reigns Supreme!

The Dark Tower Series: The Gunslinger, Drawing Of The Three, Wastelands, Wizard & Glass, Wolves Of Calla, Song Of Susannah, The Dark Tower, Wind Through The Keyhole – Throne Worthy!

The Dead Zone – Reigns Supreme!

The Eyes of the Dragon – Throne Worthy!

The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon – Throne Worthy!

The Green Mile – Reigns Supreme!

The Institute – Reigns Supreme!

The Outsider – Reigns Supreme!

The Regulators – Throne Worthy!

The Shining – Reigns Supreme!

The Stand – Reigns Supreme!

The Talisman – Throne Worthy!

The Tommyknockers – Reigns Supreme!

Thinner – Throne Worthy!

Under the Dome – Tarnished Crown!

August 22, 2020

The Book Nerd Checklist...

August 22, 2020/ Donna Sherwood

Is This A Test? Might Be My First 100% In A While!

You've Read The First Chapter Of A Book In A Bookstore…

You've Read The Last Page Of A Book Before Starting It…

You've Fantasized About Being Locked In A Bookstore Or Library Overnight…

You've Told Someone "Sorry, I Already Have Plans" When You Wanted To Get Out Of Something To Go Home And Read Your Book…

You've Launched Into Conversations With Complete Strangers About What They Are Reading…

You've Had Full On Meltdowns At The End Of Certain Books; Sobbing, Screaming, Howling…

You Own Clothing Dedicated To Your Love Of Reading…Maybe More Than One Item…

You Get Twitchy If You Go More Than A Week Without Visiting A Bookstore…

You've Gotten Kinks In Your Neck Trying To See What Strangers Are Reading…

You've Been To A Midnight Release Of A Book…

You Always Have More Than One Book On The Go…

You've Called In Sick To Work Because You Just Wanted To Stay Home And Read…

You're Normally The First Person Someone Goes To For Book Recommendations…

You Read More Than 20 Hours Per Week…

You Cringed At Dog-eared Pages Or Cracked Spines…

You've Stayed Up Past Midnight Reading A Good Book…Or Gotten Up Before Dawn…

You've Read More Than One Book In A Day Before…And Not A Children’s Book…

You Consider Reorganizing Your Extensive Book Collection A Super Fun Time…

You Don't Understand People Who Don’t Read…But Love Them Anyway…

You Have Your Home Library Digitized…

You Are Proud To Be Called A Book Nerd!!

August 20, 2020

Crib Notes-Monster Mash!

August 20, 2020/ Donna Sherwood

Crib Notes-Monster Mash!

If you like your supernatural stories peppered with quirk and snark, the novels of A. Lee Martinez might be right up your alley! Think Buffy The Vampire Slayer television series put to page. Sadly you won’t get a musical episode here. At least not yet!

August 18, 2020

Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo - Taylor Jenkins Reid

August 18, 2020/ Donna Sherwood

Fiction

Rating: 8.5/10

Evelyn’s story is more than a gossipy delight. it’s one of overcoming adversity, racism and sexism to get to the top of her profession. Her failures as much as her triumphs will leave you riveted to the page!

August 13, 2020

The Constant Writer...Revamp

August 13, 2020/ Donna Sherwood

In Praise Of Stephen King…

“I try to create sympathy for my characters, then I turn the monsters loose.”

No better quote could sum up each encounter with a Stephen King book than this, penned by the master himself. He is the saviour of latchkey kids far and wide and his wicked imagination has no bounds. Join me for a glimpse into each of his books. If you dare…

August 11, 2020

Empty - Susan Burton

August 11, 2020/ Donna Sherwood

Memoir

Rating: 7/10

One of the key influences in disordered eating is a sense of unrelenting shame the sufferer feels. A word that implies one wants to stay hidden when in fact the physical effects of such disorders allow you to do anything but. This memoir shines a light into the dim corners that exist in these struggles.

August 06, 2020

In Five Years - Rebecca Serle

August 06, 2020/ Donna Sherwood

Fiction

Rating: 7/10

This is a delightful love story, but not the one you are likely anticipating. Prepare to have any rom-com expectations turned on their head! A perfect summer read…pick a sunny spot, a comfy chair and a cold sweet beverage and devour it!

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