Tag Archive: Fiction



Station ElevenStation Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I want to thank my friend, Yvensong, and her book club for recommending this book. It was a fun adventure. And it is an adventure. It is nearly too hard to get a good night’s sleep after reading some chapters of this book. Well, I listened to Kirsten Potter, narrator. She did an excellent job. BUT I had times that I got confused. Whose point of view? What part of the history was this part of the story? Happened a lot at first. I think having the physical book would have helped me look it up at the moment.

I love the musical point of view and the performance elements. Yes, we will need to do more than survive if we end up in a dystopian post-apocalyptic world.

I will try to listen to the book again soon, as I will know who is who now. I do have the Audible version, so I can listen when I choose. Give it a try. You might like it, too.

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A Lesson in Secrets: A Maisie Dobbs NovelA Lesson in Secrets: A Maisie Dobbs Novel by Jacqueline Winspear
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As the next world war is just rumors and philosophical differences, Maisie works for Scotland Yard to help sort things out at a college. She takes the role of a professor to learn what she can.

As usual with this whole series, the story feels immediate, real. Jacqueline Winspear writes with all the research handy and dispels it in all the senses so you feel you are there.

With Orlagh Cassidy’s narration, the scenery and characters are alive.

I highly recommend this series. I can’t review them fast enough. I am already three reviews behind! I have to get into the next one as soon as I finish the first. So I’ve already borrowed #11 from Libby so I need to write these quickly!

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The Mapping of Love and DeathThe Mapping of Love and Death by Jacqueline Winspear
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love, love, love this series! I have a hard time separating individual books as they blend in together after a while. Especially if I finish at an early hour, during my bedtime reading, and I have to check out the next one on the Libby app.

But this book caught me with the search for the wartime map maker. I have always loved maps. I miss them in our new GPS age. That just shows the road you are on and maybe a bit more, but a map gives you a freedom to know more areas, other roads to enjoy. But who thinks about the importance of a map during a battle? This book taught me a lot about how important that aid can be.

Orlagh Cassidy’s voice gives all Jacqueline Winspear’s Maisie Dobbs a feeling of being in the story. Even better than radio. I can see what is happening, the characters, and the surrounding area.

Thank you, Kay, and Libby for these books!

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A Deadly Education (The Scholomance, #1)A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a fun, young adult read. The writing amused me. Naomi Novik presented literary fun.

Anisha Dadia narrated the audiobook from Libby, which I was privileged to read. Sometimes I wish I could have glanced at a word in a real book. There were fantasy/magical words that I didn’t recognize. Still, Ms. Dadia kept the characters and story more fun than I think it would have been in a dry paper book read.

I think if I were into YA right now or Harry Potter-type stories, I would love this, but I just didn’t love it. I think it is me not the book. So I don’t think I will move on to the rest of the series. But, hey, you may love it. Give it a try!

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Among the Mad (Maisie Dobbs, #6)Among the Mad by Jacqueline Winspear
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This might be the best book of the series and the most frightening. I must admit to having a nightmare or two from reading it at bedtime.

What is weird and special is that the author, Jacqueline Winspear, has taken historical events and shows us lessons we should have learned. In this particular book, the troubles of PTSD, homelessness, and depression are on display within the context of sophisticated British literature and history.

Orlagh Cassidy (Narrator) has the acting chops to keep the reader (listener) engaged with each character. She finds a way to make each person individual.

This series is one of the best. I thank my friend, Kay, for recommending it to me. I highly recommend all the Maisie Dobbs books so far!

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Tiopa Ki LakotaTiopa Ki Lakota by D. Jordan Redhawk
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a beautiful love story. It was so unique seeing two women, a white, Irish woman, I think, and a Lakota two-spirit woman. The author takes you into both points of view during a time in American history when the whites were on the westward ho, conquering and killing as they moved.

But here is what was happening to one particular woman and her tribe, and a little about their philosophy.

I think the only thing that might have made this story better would have been to have it narrated by a person who could speak the language. The problem with Text-to-Speech is how badly Kindle’s voice pronounces words that are not English.

Still, I am happy I finally got around to reading this story. I’ve had it in my ‘currently-reading’ shelf since 2016. I highly recommend this read.

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An Incomplete Revenge (Maisie Dobbs, #5)An Incomplete Revenge by Jacqueline Winspear
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This series is so fulfilling. Each book sees the character, Maisie, and her life progressing within a well-researched historical England. Equally, life continues as do illness, death, or personal conflicts. All of this kept me in another world, exploring life at another time. I hated leaving the book to go to sleep. I felt I could reach out and chat with the characters; that’s how well Jacqueline Winspear writes.

Orlagh Cassidy narrates in such a way that there is no confusion between characters, which helps increase the story’s realism.

If you get the opportunity to read this series, please give it a try. I highly recommend the Libby audiobook version. My friend, Kay, recommended it to me, and she rarely leads me to dull books!

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Messenger of Truth (Maisie Dobbs, #4)Messenger of Truth by Jacqueline Winspear
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This one was particularly bittersweet. The art world of the day was brought to light. But also, there was a deep sadness for our main characters.

These story bits were mixed into the murder mystery. Was it a murder? Another part of the mystery.

I highly recommend these books. Jacqueline Winspear’s research and writing abilities keep the story engaging. So far, I have been able to read/listen to the audio version of the books on Libby. Orlagh Cassidy (Narrator) brought it all to life.

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Apples Never FallApples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a very serendipitous read. I ran out of story before sleep took over. I looked up ready to borrow books from Libby and this one was ready.

At first, I thought it was too meandering. It seemed all over the place. There were a lot of characters and points of view. But soon, curiosity took hold of me, and I found I just wanted to know what was happening and why.

Caroline Lee (Narrator) gave the story depth and the Australian accents needed to bring authenticity to the tale. There were times when the accents or t

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Into the Uncut GrassInto the Uncut Grass by Trevor Noah
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was not expecting a picture book on audio. I was expecting an autobiography or memoir. But honestly, this was a cute story. Now I wish I had seen the picture book.

Libby had it ready for me in a few weeks. It might be a fun one to read with your children. Trevor Noah did the narration, so it is worth it in every way. Take the adventure.

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