Celeste, Author at A Literary Escape

ARC Review: The Mirror of Simple Souls by Aline Kiner

Published on June 13, 2024June 7, 2024 by Celeste4 Comments

Today’s review is about THE MIRROR OF SIMPLE SOULS by Aline Kiner, translated from French by Susan Emanuel. It’s a historical drama set in early 14th century Paris amidst a beguinage. Likely an unfamiliar term to many today, it’s a community of women who, broadly, haven’t sworn vows or remarried. Instead, they work together as their own cloistered community. THE MIRROR OF SIMPLE SOULS features the arrival of a young teen girl. Her presence heralds an eventual dilemma of whether to silently rebel against the burgeoning religious repression of the era.

Author: Aline Kiner, Susan Emanuel (Translator)
Series: None
Age Category: Adult
Publisher: Pushkin Press
Publish Date: June 25, 2024
Print Length: 320

Want to support local bookstores? Buy a copy of The Mirror of Simple Souls on Bookshop.org!*

*These are not affiliate links and I do not make a commission from any purchase made using these links.

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Blog Tour: Belly Woman by Benjamin Black

Published on June 10, 2024June 8, 2024 by Celeste8 Comments

Today is the last day of The Write Reads blog tour for BELLY WOMAN by Benjamin Black, for which I have a review. BELLY WOMAN is a memoir of Black’s time on the frontlines of the ebola epidemic in Sierra Leone. While there he advocated for the importance of maternal healthcare during and after the epidemic.

Author: Benjamin Black
Series: None
Age Category: Adult
Publisher: Neem Tree Press
Publish Date: May 7, 2024
Print Length: 368

Want to support local bookstores? Buy a copy of Belly Woman on Bookshop.org!*

*These are not affiliate links and I do not make a commission from any purchase made using these links.

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On My Radar: May 2024

Published on June 7, 2024June 4, 2024 by Celeste11 Comments

Well, better late than never, but here’s the May 2024 On My Radar list! I’m a few days late because I was on vacation. Here are a few of the posts on my radar around the blogosphere in May. Notably, check out Jodie’s post on Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week 2024, also listed below in the “Bookish Miscellany” section. Hopefully this introduces you to a few more bookish posts you might’ve missed last month!

Reviews

ARC Review – Swordcrossed by Chris at Biblio Nerd Reflections
Book Review: The Library of the Unwritten by A. J. Hackwith by Sarah at Exploring All Genres
Review: HOW TO BECOME THE DARK LORD (AND DIE TRYING) by Django Wexler by Caitlin at Realms of My Mind
Book Review: A Sorceress Comes to Call by Kate at Blogging With Dragons
A Villian’s Story: A Long Live Evil Review by Daniel at Just A Dream
Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan by Jodie at Witty and Sarcastic Bookclub
A Short Walk Through a Wide World by Douglas Westerbeke by Jodie at Witty and Sarcastic Bookclub
Review: Daughter of the Merciful Deep by Leslye Penelope by Nathan at Before We Go Blog
Post-Apocalyptic Fantasy—Reviewing “Celestial Academy: Essence” by Anca Antoci at Summon Fantasy
The Love of my Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood – ARC Review! by Becky at Becky’s Book Blog
Book Review: Artificial Wisdom by Thomas R. Weaver! by Esther at Cozy With Books

Discussion

Let’s Talk Bookish: AI and Books by Raji at Worlds Unlike Our Own
Authors: How NOT to Ask a Book Blogger for a Review by Cat at The Strawberry Post

Bookish Miscellany

Eurovision 2024 Looks as Fantasy Book Covers by Ariana at The Book Nook
The Cosymeter by Ellie at Curiosity Killed the Bookworm
Disabled and Neurodivergent Books and Comics out in 2024! by Heather at Just Geeking By
Master Your Reading List: 10 Practical Tips for Avid Readers by Gina Rae Mitchell
Happy 11th Blogiversary to Me by H.C. Newton at The Irresponsible Reader
Most Anticipated June 2024 Book Releases by Chris at Biblio Nerd Reflections
Paws and Portals is Out in the Wild! by Ellie at Curiosity Killed the Bookworm
Book Blogging in 2024 Survey by Jo Linsdell
Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week 2024! by Jodie at Witty and Sarcastic Bookclub

June 2024 TBR

Published on June 6, 2024June 5, 2024 by Celeste10 Comments

Just like last month, I still have some older ARCs that I have yet to read. For the sake of brevity I only listed their titles this time. I also have a ridiculous number of books started, which I included here in the hopes of finishing them this month. My June 2024 TBR is light on ARCs, which I’m happy about. I have a grand total of one June ARC and I already read it. This gives me a little bit of breathing space (if I choose to ignore my backlist ARCs). My June 2024 TBR is also a little different than my typical TBR and includes books in genres other than fantasy. It’s good to mix it up sometimes! Onward!

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May 2024 Book Blog Wrap-Up

Published on June 5, 2024June 4, 2024 by Celeste13 Comments

May was a bit of a blur in terms of blogging for me. I scheduled an entire month of posting by the first week of May in anticipation of vacation time. As a result I didn’t post a ton of reviews. But thank goodness for Wyrd and Wonder with the event prompts! So this May 2024 book blog wrap-up is a smidge shorter than ones past. (But not by much, so don’t get too excited.)

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