This picture book reveals how Eva Sommaripa starts her produce business in Massachusetts on a small patch of land between the ocean and the woods. Soon she is growing more herbs than she and her family can eat. So she drives into Boston and offers her herbs to restaurant chefs. The chefs love her herbs and ask her to bring more. Her business booms. This book emphasizes the science of gardening, especially the soil.
Lots of information after the biography.
-Borrowed from the library.
This exciting novella was originally published in 1919.
Roger Mifflin and his wife Helen (once owners of the moving book wagon, Parnassus) now own a second-hand bookshop in Brooklyn, NYC. To give him time away from the shop, Mifflin agrees to hire his friend's daughter, Titania, as his assistant. Aubrey Gilbert, a young man in the advertising business, stops by to convince Mifflin to advertise. Instead, Mifflin lures him into conversation about books and philosophy. Seeing Titania, Aubrey is enamored with her. Then some sinister, suspicious events occur, convincing Aubrey that he needs to protect Titania. In a week's time a dangerous plot is revealed . . . all within a second-hand bookshop!
Bibliophiles will delight in reading this book. Mifflin fills pages with his philosophies (I don't agree with his view on God/Bible and politics) and his book recommendations (I only knew a handful of the titles . . . . .maybe because the titles are so old?? or maybe I am not well-read.). My mind wandered a bit while I read some of Mifflin's monologues.
I did not like when Aubrey became angry and wanted to hit Titania because she was so beautiful and captivating. Maybe it did not mean what it means today?? The word d**n is included throughout the book (not often).
-Borrowed from the library.
I could have read this book in one sitting! It is witty and unique.
Ms. Hanff, a writer who lives in New York City, spends twenty years corresponding with Frank Doel, a book seller for England's Marks & Co. book store in London, England, requesting rare or specific books. She wants to own beautiful books. It is easier for her to write to London to buy books than walk blocks to a bookstore in her own city. Eventually other employees from Marks & Co. and Frank's wife and daughters write to Ms. Hanff over the years. This book contains the letters that were exchanged over the twenty years. Surprisingly, the reader feels like they enter the world of Ms. Hanff and her correspondents and are rooting for them through these simple letters.
*Highy recommend (a couple of swear words, I don't agree with her political affliliation; it's not focused upon nor belabored.)
The sequel is only available via interlibrary loan. A movie was made based on this book!
-Borrowed from the library (although my local bookstore is selling it and its sequel, The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street, in one book. . .maybe I will purchase it!)
A fascinating contrast of the lives of two men-Henry David Thoreau, an essayist and poet and Frederic Tudor, an entrepreneur. Both men utilize Walden Pond in different ways!
Superb writing and clever text layout. An enjoyable way to learn about little-known piece of history
Beautiful illustrations with eye-catching layouts.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
#3 in series
When I asked my library director to purchase the first book in this series, she ordered all three books. Oddly, only book #3 has arrived so far, so I am reading the series backwards! Sally Clarkson mentioned book #1 on her podcast recently.
Ms. Owen relates her family's farming adventures on the Yorkshire Dales. Very interesting and humorous at times! I like James Herriot's writing and stories a lot better. Sadly, when I "googled" Ms. Owen and her farm, I discovered that she and her husband Clive have recently separated.
-Borrowed from the library.
