“Top Books of 2022: A Guide to the Year’s Most Popular Titles”

After a year of retirement that was anything but normal, I am thrilled to report that 2022 was a great year for books! I read the most books I ever have – 148 and counting – and I was never short of excellent stories. Last week, I shared my favorite debut novels of the year and this week, I’m sharing my Best Books of 2022. It was difficult to narrow it down to just 12 books, but these are the ones that spoke to me loudest and stayed with me longest. I’m confident that anyone who reads them will be just as moved as I was. Here’s to a wonderful year of reading in 2022!

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The Prince, The Showgirl and Me – The Colin Clark Diaries
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The Prince, The Showgirl and Me – The Colin Clark Diaries

‘The Prince, The Showgirl and Me’ are a set of extracts from the Diaries of Colin Clark for the six months he was on the sets of a movie starring Laurence Olivier and Marilyn Monroe. The movie, ‘The Prince and the Showgirl’ was shot in its entirety at Pinewood Studios, on the outskirts of London and … Continue reading The Prince, The Showgirl and Me – The Colin Clark Diaries…

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February 22, 2023 No Comments
Book Reviews
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Marjorie Grant’s 1921 Novel “Latchkey Ladies”

I have been having a rather good month reading things for #ReadIndies all of which have turned out to be great. Latchkey Ladies by Marjorie Grant was a Christmas present from family, and one of three Handheld Press books I have tbr. I am glad I chose this one as it turned out to be […]…

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February 21, 2023 No Comments
Book Lists
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Picture Books to Prepare Kids for the School Year

Back-to-school season is always so exciting. I remember the thrill of new backpacks, new pencils and notebooks, and even new shoes! But, not every kid finds the season as fun as some do. For some kids, it can be depressing, scary, or just plain intimidating to return to a new or old school. The great thing about books, however, is that they strive to cover a wide range of experiences — and that’s what this list of back-to-school picture books is about. Whether your kids love school or dread the first day of school, there’s an encouraging tale for them on…

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February 21, 2023 No Comments
1930s
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D.E. Stevenson’s Novel “The Empty World”

Did you know that D.E. Stevenson had written a post-apocalyptic novel? I didn’t, until I read the description of this one and was intrigued by how different it sounded from her usual light romances and family sagas. First published in 1936, it’s available in ebook format from independent publisher Lume Books. I’m not sure whether … Continue reading The Empty World by D.E. Stevenson…

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February 21, 2023 No Comments
Book Lists
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Exploring Middle Grade Graphic Novels for Girls

Graphic novels are such a unique format — for kids and adults alike — and I cannot make enough lists about them. Really, we have an entire series of graphic novel recommendations by age (for ages eight, nine, ten, and eleven). This list of middle grade graphic novels for girls is for graphic novels featuring female protagonists. Of course, the books on this list aren’t only for girls but may appeal more to them!
The post Middle Grade Graphic Novels for Girls appeared first on Reading Middle Grade….

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February 20, 2023 No Comments

Exploring the Historical Accuracy of Real People and Fictional Characters in Musings #78

Welcome to my monthly post on all things historical fiction! This month, I’m going to look at two different kinds of historical novel – those that insert fictional characters into historical settings and those that focus on real historical figures. The second type of book is sometimes referred to as a ‘biographical novel’ and ranges … Continue reading Historical Musings #78: Real people or fictional?…

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February 19, 2023 No Comments