Botanical Drawing in Color

Wendy Hollander's instructional guidebook on drawing botanicals in colored pencil is a beginner's guide to mastering the realistic form of plants.  As colored pencil artists know, in every colored pencil book there are the usual chapters on art supplies, how to use colored pencils, and color theory.  This book is no different.  What is different are the instructions on mastering this particular subject matter. These may include how to depict elements that overlap, understanding the form of plants, determining what parts of a plant to include and ignore in your drawings, measuring your subject matter in perspective, and how to plan a composition.

The book is filled with exercises for readers to practice.  The author recommends that the reader practice each exercise even if they already know how to do the exercise.  While many of the author's own drawings are shown, she prefers that readers not use them as a guide for exercises.  It is best to use your own plants and learn your own style of drawing.  The exercises fill about 75% of the book and cover topics such as how to draw a cup and a ribbon that twists and turns, taking a flower apart and drawing each part of it separately before drawing the entire flower, and drawing under magnification.

If the reader follows the author's advice and uses their own plants in the exercises, they will come away with knowledge on how to create their own drawing designs in the future.  In this regard the book helps an artist become creative on their own.  Personally, I have been taking my time with the exercises and am considering a thirty to sixty day plan for working on them daily.  I then should be able to create a final design.  Right?  We shall see.

Lilith

Christine De Melo took a big turn from her usual Italian Renaissance stories to write this novel of Old Salem, Massachusetts. The book features many historical figures such as Increase and Cotton Mather.  All twenty of the Salem citizens who were executed in 1692 are characters.  What makes this historical fiction novel unique is it's supernatural component.

The publisher's summary:

"Lily Healer is a reclusive albino with incredible spiritual power.  Mass hysteria and terror sweeps through her community in the year 1692 when the village children complain of being  tormented by witches.  The arrival of Marcus Wiseman, an intimidating Puritan nicknamed the "Hammer" (Malleus Maleficarum), strikes fear into the hearts of many.  His mission is to help the reverend find those who have signed the Devil's Book.  Lily avoids the fearsome man at all costs until a shocking dream reveals the truth.  Her life changes drastically after that fateful night, for she knows that their destinies are intertwined.  Together, they must combat the Puritanical tyranny threatening Salem Village."

I found this book to be amusing.  While the historical aspects of the book were interesting, I chuckled throughout the book when Lily Healer spiritually battled demons while young girls were screaming about witches controlling them.  SPOILER ALERT!  The demons were inside the real witches in the community - the Puritan ministers!  Instead of the twenty accused Salem residents controlling the girls, it was actually the clergy controlling them.

The world of seventeenth century Salem was well researched by the author.  She made the setting come alive through the characters as they attended the required church services, some attending in fear of the authorities, and keeping a distance from anyone and everyone who might find a reason to make a false accusation against them.  It was interesting to me that most of the citizens knew in their hearts that the accusations were false, yet they did not speak up.  Everyone feared the authorities but it seems to me that if a group of people banded together to stop these trials and executions of their neighbors, they would have been able to stop the terror that gripped their community.

Lilith was an enjoyable read.  I am rating it 5 out of 5 stars.

Creation

Sylvia Nickerson's graphic novel Creation was a big disconnect for me. Creation is the story of the gentrification of her neighborhood in Toronto.  While the plot is good, the story suffered at the midway point as the author alternated between giving her own story of self-discovery as a mother and telling the story about the changes in her neighborhood. I did not see the connection between the two.

The artwork did not help this story in any way. She used graphite pencils throughout the book. I could not understand why she drew people with blob figures and shaded her drawings in deep gray. The book cover is quite colorful and gives a happy feeling but this feeling is not carried out through the book.  It's rather depressing. When I bought this book I had not seen the inside so when it arrived in the mail I was surprised.

It is almost impossible for me not to like a graphic novel but this book was a big disappointment. Skip it. 

Trap Door

Trap Door is pure suspense.  This psychological thriller was published last month on February 11, 2020.  It is scary and I had shivers down my spine as I read it.  I think you will like it.  Here is the publisher's summary:

"100 years ago young women were killed in this workplace.  Is history about to repeat itself?   

Rachel, a young woman in serious debt, needs to find a job fast before she's made homeless.  She gets a lucky break when she is offered a great position in a successful company.  Then she discovers that the building was once a Victorian sweatshop with a tragic history. Is this why Rachel feels something increasingly sinister?  Soon her new job becomes a living nightmare.  Rachel desperately wants out, but she has no other way of escaping her debts.  She's trapped.  Then she makes a shocking discovery.  Haunted by the death of others and as the present and past begin to close in, Rachel needs to find ans 

What is really going on in her workplace?  And can she ever escape her inner demons?"

I loved this book!  It had many subplots and shocking twists that kept me reading until I finished the book in one sitting.  Secondary character Keats was an interesting character, more so than the protagonist Rachel.  Keats is quirky and has secrets of her own. In fact, I did not even know that she was female until the midway point!  Rachel seemed like the typical whiny, privileged girl who cannot stop spending money.  She was not as compelling as Keats but the plot was intriguing and that kept my interest in the book.

I will definately read author Dreda Say Mitchell's other books.  She is a fantastic writer.  After reading her online biography I learned that she received a MBE from Queen Elizabeth II this year for her service to literature and educational work in prisons.  She received several other awards and has written for the Guardian, Independent and Observer newspapers in Britain.  I feel like a dummy for never having heard about her until I found this book on Kindle.

Mystery and suspense lovers need to read this book.  5 out of 5 stars!

Apartment 6

Apartment 6 was just published two months ago and it is one heck of a spellbinder. This gripping psychological thriller opens with a five-year-old Meagan trying to help her mother who has been physically abused by her husband. The story then switches to the present day with an adult  Meagan trying to cope with her abusive husband Rob. The novel alternates between twenty years past and the present.

The publisher's summary:

"Do you have the courage to escape?  Be careful what you wish for.  When Meagan was five years old her mother was viciously attacked and murdered.  Now as an adult, she herself is the victim of an abusive relationship.  Meagan is so desperate to escape but doesn't have the courage to leave.  So, when Meagan meets Oliver, a decent guy who is on the rebound after a failed relationship, the two strike up a connection.  But when Meagan confesses that her husband is abusive, it leads Oliver down a dark and dangerous path.  Just how far would you go to protect someone?  Oliver is about to find out and be pushed to his very limits."

This book was written in Hitchcock style. Every chapter ended with an eerie, suspenseful cliffhanger. The tension begins with the first chapter and continues through the unexpected ending.   If you decide to read it, prepare yourself with some snacks and a beverage because you won't be able to put it down.  I am still spellbound 3 days after reading this book.  It is that good.

5 out of 5 stars!

Song of the Siren

C. P. Lesley's Song of the Siren is the first book in her Songs of Steppe and Forest series. It takes place in16th century Poland/Russia and covers the life of Juliana Krasilska.  The publisher's summary of the plot is below:

"Since childhood Lady Juliana has depended on her allure for survival.  So when a sudden, debilitating illness robs her of her looks, her sense of place in the world is shattered.  The court that once idolized her spurns her.  Who is she, if not the siren of men's dreams? Enter Felix Ossolinski - scholar, diplomat, Renaissance man. A riding accident in his teens forced him to redirect his energies from war to the life of the mind, and alone among the men of the sixteenth-century Polish court he sees in Juliana a kindred spirit, a woman who has never appreciated her own value and whose inner beauty outweighs any marring of her face. At Felix's suggestion the Polish queen offers Juliana a way out of her difficulties:  spy for the royal family in return for a promise of financial independence.  Facing poverty and degradation, Juliana cannot refuse, although the mission threatens not only her freedom but her life. Felix swears that he will protect her. But no one can protect Juliana from the demons of her past."

I loved this novel!  Part of the attraction is that it takes place in Poland, Lithuana and Russia. There are not many historical fiction books that take place here and it added a new excitement for me. It is always enjoyable to find a new place to read about other than the usual books taking place in Italy and England. While it is my first book of Lesley's that I have read, I did not need to have read her prior books concerning the Juliana character in order to follow the plot.  In addition, Carolyn Pouncey, who writes as C. P. Lesley, is a historian by trade and her knowledge of this era was abundantly evident. She wrote into the story plenty of background information on the political climate in Poland, Lithuania and Russia. Several historical figures were also woven into the story. 

I am looking forward to reading the second book in this series!  4 out of 5 stars.

The Violinist of Venice

The Violinist of Venice is about the world renowned composer and priest Antonio Vivaldi and his fictional student Adriana d'Amato.  Forbidden to play music by her wealthy merchant father, Adriana secretly visits Vivaldi at night to ask him to teach her to play the violin. He agrees but after a few lessons they quickly fall in love and begin to make love after each lesson. Adriana has to sneak around her strict father to practice her instrument and continue to visit Vivaldi. Her father is showing her off to several noble Venetian families in hopes of arranging a marriage for her. Adriana wants Vivaldi but is he willing to give up the priesthood for her? That will mean giving up his ability to work in music as well.

While this book has been described as "a story of Vivaldi," the main character is actually Adriana. It covers thirty years of her life, most of it lived without him but still pining for him. However, his music is prevalent throughout the novel. The author has written into the plot plenty of information on violin techniques and on how to compose music. Both characters are shown playing the instrument exquisitely and the reader can hear the music coming off of the pages. Pardon the pun, it makes the book sing.

Writing a musical romance was a brilliant idea. Perhaps the author has a series here where she can feature a different musician in each novel. 5 out of 5 stars!

Fasting Feasting

The title of Anita Desai's 1999 novel uses food as a metaphor.  The first half of Fasting, Feasting takes place in India where food is celebrated. The second half takes place in America. There are two families who are primarily featured in the book.  The Indian family, which includes Mama, Papa, Uma, Aruna and Arun, use food as a way to commune with each other and with their friends. When son Arun travels to Massachusetts to attend college, he stays in a dormitory during the school year and with the Patton family during summer vacation. The Pattons are a typical American family who use food as an isolation tactic, never sharing a meal.

The theme of the novel is family relationships. The Indian family contrasts sharply with the Pattons. Their story is mainly concerned with Uma, the oldest, who is used as a servant by her parents. She has not been able to make a successful marriage so she stays at home with her parents raising her brother Arun, ordering around the cook and has plenty of house cleaning to do.  Arun, on the other hand, does not seem to fit in anywhere. He prefers to be alone, his own isolation tactic, after a lifetime of having to do whatever his family decides that he will do.  The Pattons, by contrast, have no bonds of connection.  Each member of the family does whatever they want to do and whenever they want to do it.

Fabulous reading!  5 out of 5 stars.

Ruthless

Ruthless is the story of Agata, a fourteen-year-old girl from Verona who has been forced by her father to marry Nunzio.  After a year of marriage with no child yet conceived, Agata's father-in-law, Alvino, decides to bed her himself. When he later is caught by Nunzio, Alvino defends himself by claiming that Agata is a witch. In order to avoid a witchcraft trial Agata flees to Venice where she is forced to become a prostitute in order to survive. In Venice Agata learns that in order to survive she must be ruthless in her dealings with men.

Agata's story was compelling but it did not resonate with me as much as other books that I have read by this author.  Part of the novel was about the Lord of Verona and his politics. While Agata did have a relationship with him, she was never involved with the politics of Verona or Venice.  The parts of the book concerning the Lord's political issues seemed out of place. When the story stayed on Agata's plight it was entertaining.

3 out of 5 stars.

Book of the Month: February

My best book for February is Saga: Compendium One. This comic book is a science fiction and fantasy comic strip that has been serialized for the past seven years. The compendium contains strips 1 through 54.

I just loved this book. I was hooked from the first page and had a hard time putting it down. With 1300 pages to read I did have to take breather while reading it but I still got it done in 2 days.

Rosewater and Soda Bread

Rosewater and Soda Bread is the story of three Iranian sisters who lived in a small village in Ireland. The lives of Marjan, Bahar and Layla Aminpour are continued from Pomegranate Soup, the author's first novel. Unfortunately, author Marsha Mehran died a recluse six years ago at the age of 36. The Aminpour sister novels were intended to be a seven book series but only two were published.

The book begins one year after the sisters arrival in the tiny Irish town called Ballinacroaugh. Their restaurant, The Babylon Cafe, is a huge success, offering customers the spicy, fragrant fare of their Persian heritage. Marjan, the oldest, is mainly in charge of the cafe with middle sister Bahar waiting on customers. Layla is only 14 but helps with cleanup and waiting tables. When Marjan's friend Estelle finds a young woman unconscious and bloodied, the woman's pale skin, webbed hands and awful secret send the villagers into an uproar.

I loved this story! The unfolding of the young girl's secret fit seamlessly into the setting of the cafe where food is always being prepped. Food is a big theme here. Almost every page contains mouthwatering descriptions of how to blend ingredients together into a perfect recipe. The reader always finds the sisters in the kitchen blending their magic while discussing the day's events. It took me back to a time when I was very young, spending time with my mother as she made dinner.

The characters were engaging, from the sisters to the secondary Irish characters who made the village a pleasurable place for the sisters and readers alike. Some were definitely stereotypes of Irishmen but these characters brought a sense of neighborliness to the story. Again, the author took my mind back to my youth and the small Illinois town that I grew up in. All small towns are alike with everyone knowing your business but you don't care because when you're down your neighbors will take care of you.  I laughed at the older women who participated in the weekly Bible study but gossiped about their neighbors instead. I know these church ladies well.

Rosewater was an enjoyable read. 5 out of 5 stars!

The Spymaster's Brother

The final book in the Francis Bacon Mystery series by Anna Castle centers around the protagonist's brother, Anthony Bacon.  When the story opens Anthony has returned to England after living in France for 13 years. While he was in France Anthony built a huge intelligence network throughout Europe. He and Francis are seeking a wealthy patron and offer Anthony's services to the highest bidder. Since he is suffering with severe symptoms of gout, Anthony has trouble walking unassisted and with his self care. When a dead body is found next to Anthony's coach, Francis thinks his brother killed someone because the dead man had been spreading vicious rumors about Anthony that could ruin his reputation and the value of his network. Francis's sidekick Tom Claraday believes Anthony's secretary committed the murder and the two of them set out to find the killer.

This series has been highly entertaining. I love the two sleuths, Francis and Tom. They work well together and their different personalities do not hinder their investigations. It actually helps them determine the identity of killers. While reading the Spymaster's Brother, I became so intrigued about Anthony Bacon's life that Internet research into his life occasionally interrupted my reading of the book. His life story is fascinating. It was intriguing enough to overshadow my enjoyment of the book. I feel my independent research was more interesting than the plot. Had I not checked out Anthony's life story, the story probably would have been another entertaining read for me.

The period details are another enjoyable part of the series. The author wrote the setting descriptions well enough for me to want to visit England, especially Cambridge where Tom Claraday was at school in the early books in the series. Ms. Castle's knowledge about the Elizabethan time period shined throughout the series. I hope she continues to write historical fiction.

4 out of 5 stars. Anna Castle take note, a series based on Anthony Bacon and his assistant living in France building that spy network would be great reading. 

Year of the Rabbit

Year of the Rabbit is Tian Veasna's graphic memoir about life growing up under the bloody reign of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. He was born three days after the Khmer Rouge came into power and escaped with his family into a Thai refugee camp at age five. They eventually settled in France. The story covers the experiences of his mother Lina, father Khim, the baby Chan and their extended families.  After he became an adult the author interviewed his relatives to obtain information for the book.

The book opens with the families leaving their homes in Phnom Penh for safety. They expected to return in a few days but along their route they learned that the city was being permanently evacuated by the Khmer Rouge. The author, Chan, was born while his parents walked for months seeking safety. A bad decision to use forged travel permits gets them sent to a re-education camp where, for the next five years, they witness firsthand the regime's brutality.

Year of the Rabbit is first and foremost a well told story. The artwork enhances it by bringing passion into the pages. The overwhelming fear and hopelessness felt by the refugees is drawn on each page. What was interesting to me was that as Chan's family ran into old friends during these years, these friends did not stop being their friends. They offered spare food or helpful information. I expected that people would behave the opposite. The capacity of the Cambodian people for good is the amazing part of this story.