Artsy with Mya

 I honestly never expected to learn or even read so much about the stock market and business acquisitions from a biography but this book was surprisingly informative. about that stuff. There is a lot of information in this book that makes it a very weighty read or listen in this instance.  If you want to be technical about it, there isn't really a closure or an ending to this story. The reader does not know for sure what happened to Alfred Lowenstein and no one ever will at this  point in time - so long after these events took place. There is no 'a-ha' moment at the end, William Norris is reasonably sure that he knows the truth of what occurred that day and wrote the truth about what happened to Lowenstein, but there is no way to be 100% certain.  This audiobook was fine and I listened to it all the way through, but ultimately it is a little too dry and stock heavy for me to be fully drawn into the story or be interested in re-reading it.  I received this audiob...

 If asked to describe this book, the best answer would be "comforting" and "lovely". This story is all about family - the loss of it, the finding and building of it and most of all - all of the different feelings that come with having a family.  Olive as the main character, having just lost her last family member and is trying to figure out what she should do next in this weird time occurring after World War II. So when her old friend Margery comes back to town and decides to operate two different businesses including a boarding house and she wants Olive to manage it.  A classic drama book that manages to skillfully incorporate several ideas and themes from each character into the story. Themes like found family, ableism, living with disabilities and homosexuality are consistent throughout and are written very well. The ending of the story is such a beautiful ending where it is not absolutely perfect but Olive and the others are content and healing. Sometimes what h...

 Chock-full of history, names and details - some that are familiar and some that you probably haven't heard of before.  I really liked how each story and chapter was set up. The feeling of listening in as a grandfather tells his granddaughter and anyone else around about his passion for history is something that transports the reader right alongside the granddaughter. The reader can feel the passion that the grandfather has for this topic and the acceptance and even fun that the granddaughter has spending time with him.  There is a lot of details; names, dates and locations that can make this book a bit hard to read at times if you are not used to it. But the setup of the book works to alleviate that with its clear separation of each story and each assassination attempts.  Forgotten history, unique history and sometimes funny history - full of backstabbing's and plots. A wonderful approach to history and learning.  I received this book free from NetGalley and Cr...

 Whatever I thought that this book was going to be like when I started reading it -  it was so much better. This story has a really slow and steady plot pace and feels almost like a vintage detective story. Which could perhaps be attributed to both the setting of the story and the writing of it as well.  One thing was was really interesting to me during both the requesting and the reading of this book is how the author uses the setting (Paris at the start of Nazi occupation) to define the era and the plot, but it did not overpower it. We as the reader see what is happening through the eyes of the main character and this setting adds to all the characters and their dynamics with each other and the plot.  There are a few different plot lines throughout the story that connect to the main character in such a fun and interesting way. The twists that pop up in the story just come on one after another and really leave the reader wondering if they could have ever seen that c...

 This was a really, really interesting book. Full of fascinating facts, stories and artwork. However, the formatting and font of the book made it rather difficult to read in a e-book format. The words almost appear blurry on the tablet screen and it is rather hard to focus on the reading. So this is a book that I would recommend to definitely get in a print edition - especially a hardcover one.  This book is basically a really good coffee-table book that you wouldn't mind having out cause you'll actually read it.  The pictures, descriptions and stories included in this book are excellent. This does not shy away from the not so nice parts of the art movements and the artists in them.  A fun read, unique and full of details.  I received this book free from NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - White Lion to review and this is my honest review.  Four out of five stars

 If sexy, paranormal thriller is what you are looking for, then this book is a fantastic one to add to your list. However, more than just the sexiness of this, the characters make this story,  There are some really interesting themes throughout the story on being different and trying to fit in even when you know that nothing will ever change and you'll never fit in. The main lead of the story definitely has some abandonment issues and family-related trauma that can be seen throughout most aspects of her story. The secondary lead also has a lot of similar feelings and trauma as well which makes it more understandable that these two latch onto each other so fast and early in the story.  There is definitely a suspension of disbelief around the romance and domesticated love of the two characters, but really not any suspension than other romance/sexy books. It's a little bit of a wish fulfillment in that you as the reader want to have in all just like the main character - the ...

 I believe that this is an excellent translation of the original works insomuch that I can feel the emotions of the work and what the author intended to convey. However, I am not familiar with the works in the original language at all. The difficulties in translating these poems from one language to another was discussed quite in depth at the start of the book due to the meaning and intent behind the work and making sure that it was conveyed properly for the new readers.  This is a beautiful collection of poetry and I am glad that it was translated so that myself and other readers could experience this also.  I received this book free from NetGalley and Pushkin Press to review and this is my honest review.  Four out of five stars