Review: Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear

Hello Bookworms!,

            I’ve got a brand new review for you all today! I’ve read the first in a mystery series set in 1920’s England! Let’s explore Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear!!

Summary

            Brilliant, beautiful Maisie Dobbs came from humble beginnings/ The daughter of a struggling costermonger, Maisie is sent to work for Lord Julian and Lady Rowan. When her brilliance is discovered by Lady Rowan, who is looking for a way to promote the lower classes, Maisie is introduced  to Dr. Maurice Blanche who teaches Maisie to use her mind.

            Years of education and one horrific war later, Maisie is taking over Dr. Blanche’s practice as an investigator. But her first case is more that it appears. What was to be a simple case of proving or disproving whether a man’s wife is having an affair, Maisie will uncover the sinister truth behind a well-guarded facility for disfigured war veterans and potentially save the life of Lord Julian and Lady Rowan’s son James…But how much will Maisie’s experience with the war affect her judgement?

Review

            Oh my word readers…I am in awe! Jacqueline Winspear has created a masterpiece  in Maisie Dobbs. The New York Times Book Review said it best when they said “be prepared to be astonished”.

            Maisie Dobbs is a smashing heroine using her mastery of psychology (a subject I love), her keen intellect, and resourcefulness to bring truth to cases that are out of the ordinary. And yet she does it all with an amazing heart for other people. Maisie’s compassion for her clients is incredible.

            And every character in the Maisie Dobbs book is amazing! No character is wasted; everyone has something to contrub ite to the story. The cast of characters who will most likely become staples in the Maisie Dobbs series all have incredible depth and are as entertaining as they are insightful.

            For history buffs, this story is an amazing portrait of how World War I changed England forever and at what price. The journey through the year just before, during, and immediately after the war is sure to please those who have ample knowledge or simple a mild curiosity about English history.

            This writing is worthy to stand among the greats such as Sherlock Holmes and Miss Marple. I have been made an instant Maisie Dobbs fan through the reading of this book and I have every intention of reading the rest of the Maisie Dobbs series!

            I highly recommend that you read Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed!

Buy MaisieDobbs

 

Until next time,

            Lizzie <3

Review: Not My Father's Son by Alan Cumming

Hello Bookworms!,

          April is National Child Abuse Awareness Month and in this month, I want to bring you a review of a book that will shed some light on what abused children go through. So this year, I want to review Not My Father’s Son by Alan Cumming!

Summary

          Alan Cumming is a well-known celebrity, having played roles in GoldenEye, The Good Wife, Caberet (on stage), hosting PBS’s Masterpiece Mystery. But before that, he was a young boy growing up on Panmure Estate in Scotland, the son of head Forestry worker Alex Cumming.

          Alex Cumming was an extremely harsh man who put both Alan and his brother Tom through years of torment and abuse. This abuse has had lasting effects on both boys even into adulthood.

          When the popular Genealogy show “Who Do You Think You Are?” asks Alan to be a guest, and takes him on a journey to discover the truth behind his Maternal Grandfather who went missing, and a tabloid ignites Alex Cumming’s rage again, Alan’s life suddenly becomes very complicated as new revelations about himself and his family come in waves.

Review

          Alan uses this book to brilliantly illustrate what it was like to grow up abused and to live as an adult in the aftermath of the abuse. At first, the constant switching between the past, the recent past, and the present seems haphazard, but as one continues, it becomes clear that the book is arranged this way to show how each experience is linked.

          The use of telling his own story and telling his grandfather’s story side by side is brilliant. Alan highlights the similarities between the life experiences of himself, his mother, his grandmother, his grandfather, his father, and his brother to show patterns in life experiences of different people who all took very different paths in their lives and how these similarities all meant different things for each person.

          This book is brilliant look into what it is to be abused and to try to overcome the effects of abuse from the mind of a person who ahas lived it. It is a great book to read if you are looking to understand what kind of effect abuse has on a child into their adulthood. I also love that Alan admits that he has had therapy to help himself overcome the abuse and you can see the positive application of the things Alan has learned in therapy in his daily life and in moments of crisis throughout the book.

          I applaud Alan Cumming for being so honest because it sheds a lot of light on the plight of abused children. If you are being abused, or know a child who is being abused, say something. Silence hides violence and allows it to continue. It IS your business and your responsibility to say something if you know a child is facing abuse. Speak to the proper authorities. Call DFACS or CPS, the school social worker, or the police and report what you know.

          People saw evidence that Alan was being abused, but no one did anything. Alan only escaped when he became and independent man. He was more fortunate that the many who die as a result of abuse every year.

If you know something, say something.

 

Buy Not My Father’s Son

 

Until next time,

                   Lizzie <3

Mysteries May Help Dyslexic Children Enjoy Reading!!

Hello Bookworms,

            For children and adults with dyslexia, reading may not always come up on their list of favorite hobbies. Fortunately, Dyslexia doesn’t have to define you or take away your enjoyment of reading.

 

On Tuesday, March 24^th, 2015, award winning actress and author Octavia Spencer (of The Help & Mom the TV Sitcom) admitted that dyslexia presented her with a challenge when trying  to read growing up. Octavia (I just LOVE that name! Don’t  you?!?! ) told the ladies of The Talk that she struggled to engage with most stories.

            What helped her learn to love reading? MYSTERIES!! Octavia said that mysteries were the stories that actually engaged her and encouraged her to finish the book.

            The Talk guest host Kelly Osborne also admitted to having Dyselxia and credited mysteries with helper her read as well. Kelly said that reading about crimes and investigations were helpful because it was based on seeking facts and once those facts were discovered in the story they remained concrete and there was one aim, solve the crime and that helped her.

            Have a child with Dyslexia? Are they struggling to enjoy reading? Try introducing them to mystery books! It could be the answer to helping them learn to reading!

            Don’t get discouraged if your child doesn’t like the first book they try. Be willing to try different mysteries by different authors because each author has a different writing style and chances are, your child will find one they really love.

            Have you already tried this with your Dyslexic child? What stories did they gravitate towards? Share the titles here and help other parents and Dyslexic children find books that will help their child love reading!!

            Another benefit of reading Mysteries? They introduce your child to deductive reasoning which builds their ability to think and reason in other areas of their lives!

 

Until next time,

            Elizabeth Gaskins

Henry Winkler Breaking New Ground with Childrens Books!!

Hello Bookworms!,
            For those of my bookworms who have or work with children, I want to draw your attention to a new development in children's books!


            Many of you will remember the actor Henry Winkler for his work as "The Fonz" on Happy Days. But Henry Winkler has also written children's books with Lin Oliver. His series, Hank Zipzer: The World's Greatest Underachiever includes 9 books so far and is about a 4th grader who, as an added twist, has dyslexia.


             Mr. Winkler, 60, has had dyslexia all of his life and remembers how hard it was for him and has always had a place in his heart for other children and adults living with dyslexia. But what Mr. Winkler has done to help Dyslexic children with the Hank Zipzer books is amazing!


           Christian Boer, 33, from Holland has invented a new font called "Dyslexia font" which makes it easier for those with dyslexia to read. Henry Winkler's new Hank Zipzer books are the first books in the United States to use this font!!


Well done Mr. Boer and Mr. Winkler!!!!


Another fun fact about Henry Winkler? He prefers you to buy books from independent bookstores!! :D


           Pick up a copy of Hank Zipzer in your local indie bookstore, at Amazon, or order them for your school!!


Until Next Time,
               Lizzie <3

Wedding Wipeout by Jacob M. Appel

Hello Bookworms!,

        A few months ago, I won a book on goodreads.com. The book was Wedding Wipeout by Jacob Appel. This was my first time reading a book by Mr. Appel, though I understand that this was not his first book published. The following is what I thought:

Summary

        Two spinsters have been prevented from marrying by a terrible stipulation in their late father’s will: If one sister marries, she is disinherited and the other sister takes the whole fortune.  Suddenly, Florence decides that this stipulation no longer matters to her and she is married but not before 3 extraordinary things happen. First, she tells her family that she’s broken the will. Second, she fights horribly with the one nephew she truly loves. Third, her sister whom she’s lived with and never fought with refuses to come down stairs for the wedding.

        While all these happenings are strange enough, everything changes when Florence is found dead in her bed. Soon, one of Florence’s lawyers will turn to a Rabbi who enjoys proving that every problem has a rational explanation. That Rabbi is Rabbi Kappelmacher.

Review

        I always like a good mystery. When I looked at Wedding Wipeout on Goodreads it seemed like it might be really good.

        The mystery of Florence Einstein’s death was good. The explanation took thought. Unfortunately, there were too many red herrings. It took almost ten pages near the end just to address them and the Rabbi and other members talked in circles so much that it became a headache to keep all the information straight.

        A major issue I had with Wedding Wipeout was Rabbi Kappelmacher’s character. He rarely explained things to his assistant, yet when his assistant asked questions, Rabbi Kappelmacher berated Assistant Rabbi Steinmetz. It was upsetting to read and felt totally uncalled for. Also, Rabbi Kappelmacher is supposed to be a man of faith yet he lies constantly, is very self-centered, is rude, and smokes like a freight train. All of this plus the fact that several elements of the storyline were extremely unrealistic really ruined the story for me.

        Personally, I was just pretty glad when this book was over and I don’t think I’ll be reading any more Rabbi Kappelmacher Mysteries. However, I saw many people who gave the book 5 stars so if you like mysteries, It might be worth a try (Though for me, I’d rather have G.K. Chesterton’s Father Brown. ;) ).

View Wedding Wipeout on Amazon

Until next time,

                Lizzie <3

International Book Giving Day!!

Hello Bookworms!!,
            Every February, we all race to the stores to buy good gifts for our sweethearts! Candy, Cards, and Roses oh my! But there is another holiday on February 14th! International Book Giving Day!!


            On International Book Giving Day, the goal is to spread the love of reading to children  by doing something to put books in children's hands! Donate to a local book drive or library! Give books to an after school program or doctor's office! Have children of your own, little brothers and sisters or nieces and nephews? Give them a book with their candy on Valentine's Day!


            Don't have a child but do have a sweetheart? A book is still a great gift! Give your girlfriend a love story with the flowers that will entertain her for hours! Ladies, give your guy a book he'll enjoy with a red cover to fit the Valentine's theme (like Eldest from the Eregon series or A good James Patterson mystery with a red cover!)!


Remember FEBRUARY 14TH IS INTERNATIONAL BOOK GIVING DAY!!! Help spread the love of reading to a new generation!!


What to know more about the organization working to help kids learn to love to read each year? Click HERE! or Follow them on Twitter: @giveabook and take a look at the hashtag #giveabook!!


Until next time!!,
                 Lizzie <3

A Look Back at 2014!

Hello Bookworms,

          2014 was a great year! In this post I’d like to take a moment and review the highlights of this year’s blog!

Let’s start with interviews!

          This year See Lizzie Read brought you two great reviews!

          This summer I was privileged to get to interview the Countess of Carnarvon, the current lady of Highclere Castle, the setting of Downton Abbey, and author of two books about Highclere’s history!

          This fall I was privileged to interview Maisie Dobbs author Jacqueline Winspear about her famous female detective and her brand new stand-alone novel The Care and Management of Lies!

There were many great reviews as well of fiction and non-fiction, novels as well as short stories! I was able to read 25 books this year and while I haven’t published reviews on all of them yet, I can tell you which 5 (in no particular order) were my favorites!

1. The Sherlockian by Graham Moore
2. Out of the Shadows by Georgina Doyle
3. Hobbit Lessons by Devin Brown
4. The Lost Library by A.M. Dean
5. C.S. Lewis, My Godfather by Laurence Harwood

          I thoroughly enjoyed 2014 and I cannot wait to share more reviews and interviews with you in 2015!!

Until Next Time,

                   Lizzie <3