more than letters on a line today

  Someday I'll Find You C C Humphreys 4.5 stars  Pub date June 6, 2023  I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend to others interested in WWII history. Told through the perspective of 3 young people, Billy, Ilse and Klaus, each involved in the war, and shows how their lives intersect.    There is a musical theme that runs throughout and the chapter titles were a welcome and brilliant addition to the ‘tone’ of that section. It took me a chapter or two to notice this so you can thank me later! A well-done telling involving spies, an RCAF pilot, and a love story. The lives of civilians and what they do to adapt is interwoven with the action of the war and gives you some semblance of how life carries on regardless of circumstances. If you enjoy flying, old planes, noisy pubs, music and also have an appreciation of the hard times faced by the everyday person, this book is a worthwhile way to spend your time. This #Canadian author is one whose previous books I will...

  The Secret Life of Sunflowers Marta Molnar 2.5 stars (but keep reading my review for what I learned) Told through the voices of Johanna van Gogh (1887) and Emsley Wilson (current), this book held promise but failed to deliver. I was fascinated by the story of Johanna, who is largely unknown for her role in bringing her brother-in-law’s artistry to the public. She is the reason that I kept reading. The story line for Emsley, her character, and the challenge she faced was weak in holding my interest. I typically would not review a book here that I wouldn't recommend to a friend. So let me tell you why you are now reading this. van Gogh was certainly a tormented soul (as many true artist types were/are), but the way his fame and appreciation of his life became prominent was unknown to me. What this book offered me was the curiousity to look a little deeper into his fame and how easily the world would have been deprived of his talent. I found the author’s experience in adventure/rom...

  The Dictionary of Lost Words Pip Williams 4.5 stars A wonderful historic story of the creation of the first Oxford English Dictionary, and the words that were omitted.   Even as a little girl, Esme recognizes  that these discarded words, from the everyday woman are not included and will be forgotten.  Surrounded with an array of characters that teach her the importance of the words that they use each day.  She realizes that the words will disappear unless she saves them. And so for many years she saves the 'slips', makes her own, and creates a world where the lives of people are documented by the feelings behind their words. ...and when some kind of peace had been struck,  I’d begun to listen to the valley  like some would listen to music or a holy chant.  There was solace in its rhythm,  and it slowed the beat of my heart. There is so much beauty in this book, the emotions are immense but subdued, the pain is deep but borne with stoicism, ...