Monthly Bookshelf Review - May 2021

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May's Books Completed and Reviewed

The Silver Shadow by Liz Tolsma - Reporter Polly Blythe teams up with detective Edwin Price to find out who has been attacking women in 1900 Denver - and why.  (Read my full review HERE)

The Anatomist's Wife by Anna Lee Huber - Lady Kiera Darby gets drawn into the investigation of a murder because of her artist's knowledge of anatomy, earned while she was forced by her late husband to make the illustrations for his book. She finds purpose in her pursuit of the truth as she works with investigator Sebastian Gage. (Read my full review HERE)

Daughters of Zion: Biblical Retellings by C.A. Gray - A collection of short stories that are retellings of stories from the Bible. This collection features women of the Bible. (Read my full review HERE)

Feed the Birds: Attract and Identify 196 Common North American Birds by Chris Earley - This is a great field guide and how-to book. Beautiful vivid photos, helpful identification guides, and practical feeder ideas. (Read my full review HERE)

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien - My co-op Lit class finished the year by reading this classic. My summary post is coming up soon! I should have done it a couple weeks ago.

During May I started reading:

Heart of a Runaway Girl by Trevor Wiltzen - Mabel, the owner of a small town motel and diner, is sure that the wrong person was arrested for a murder and starts doing her own detective work.

Mortal Arts by Anna Lee Huber - I'm re-reading the second Lady Darby mystery along with the author and many other fans in the Lady Darby Read-Along group on Facebook. 

Beekeeping: A Handbook on Honey, Hives & Helping the Bees by Joachim Petterson - I was looking at this book for my May Online Book Club pick so I've read most of it. A full review is coming soon.

     

 During May I shelved:

A Wicked Conceit by Anna Lee Huber - since I'm re-reading the series in order, and had a couple of other books I needed to prioritize, I put this latest in the Lady Darby series on hold for a little bit.

Coming Up in June!

The Inviting Life by Laura Calder

The Only Woman in the Room - Marie Benedict

A Grave Matter - Anna Lee Huber

        

On my blogs recently . . . 

Besides the reviews, here on Just A Second you'll find:

Scripture and a Snapshot posts

Share Four Somethings - May 2021

Wordless Wednesday - Fledgling

What I'm Reading - May 10, 2021

When God Says No

Wordless Wednesday - Impromptu Greenhouse Tour

Share Four Somethings - April 2021

And on HS Coffee Break:

Five Minute Friday posts

May Photo Album

Online Book Club - Wrapping Up May: Spring

High School Writing Tip Sheets - Proofreading Properly

Currently - May 2021

Online Book Club: May Theme - Spring

April Photo Album

Online Book Club - Wrapping Up April: Migration

This post will be linked at the May 2021 Wrap-Up Roundup and Giveaway hosted by Feed Your Fiction Addiction; and at the weekly reading list meme hosted at Book Date.

 

©2008-2021 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. 

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Scripture and a Snapshot - Blessed Are . . .

Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

~Matthew 5:3-10~

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I also link up at Sunday Scripture Blessings, hosted by Peabea's Photos 'n Scribbles; and at Selah, hosted by A Spirit of Simplicity.

©2008-2021 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

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Share Four Somethings - May 2021

This post contains affiliate links - using affiliate links from Just A Second helps supply books and coffee. 

I'm running a bit late in sharing my Something Loved, Something Read, Something Treasured and Something Ahead for the month of May. I have to get started on today's to-do list soon, so here's a quick round-up of things to share!

Something Loved

In an effort to be motivated to walk more and to do it consistently, my husband and I decided to try out Conqueror Virtual Challenges. You purchase one of the virtual tours that suits your goals, put the app on your phone, and then enter your miles to see your progress along a virtual map of someplace exotic! My husband walks a LOT at his job, so he chose a longer distance challenge - he is walking the Great Ocean Road in Australia. I'm much more limited because of my current joint problems, so I chose a short trail - Mount Fuji in Japan. So even though I am walking the same section of country road near our house every time, I'm virtually climbing Mount Fuji. There are street views of your challenge in the app, and you get virtual postcards from the places you visit. And when you complete the challenge, you get a really cool medal. A real medal they send you in the mail!

Something Read

I completed five books during the month. That's more like it! You can see more about my reading in my Monthly Bookshelf Review for May 2021 which should be live tomorrow.

The Silver Shadow by Liz Tolsma

The Anatomist's Wife by Anna Lee Huber

Daughters of Zion: Biblical Retellings by C.A. Gray

Feed the Birds: Attract and Identify 196 Common North American Birds by Chris Earley

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

  

   

Something Treasured

Graduations! Just yesterday I was able to attend the commencement ceremony for the homeschool group we were part of, and celebrate about a dozen young people finishing high school and moving on to their next chapters. A couple of very good friends of my daughter's were in the Class of 2021 and many of the parents are my good friends. Some of the grads had been my students in co-op classes too. What a joy to reflect on all the memories, to see all the hard work the young people and parents have put into their education and upbringing, and to see them continue achieving great things!

This weekend and next we will continue to celebrate with the grads we know by attending their parties. And this coming week, our daughter will graduate from community college. That ceremony will be drive-thru, so not nearly as meaningful, but we will definitely celebrate her achievement!

Something Ahead

We are trying to make vacation plans for the summer, and have one weekend trip planned for Father's Day. We'll need to stay close to home in July, but hopefully we can plan something fun for August! 

Also still working on the admissions and registration (and financing!!) for our daughter to the university she's chosen. A new adventure for us, and so many unknowns, but we're taking it one step at a time.

This post will be linked at Share Four Somethings hosted by HeatherGerwing.com

©2008-2021 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Recent Reads - Feed The Birds

This post contains affiliate links - using affiliate links from Just A Second helps supply books and coffee. 

Feed the Birds: Attract and Identify 196 Common North American Birds by Chris Earley - I found this large field guide at my library and since I still have it handy to refer to, I think I might want to look into buyng my own copy. The book is divided into two main parts - Attracting and Feeding Birds, and Identifying Birds. Earley introduces his book with some anecdotes, info about why to feed birds, suggestions for getting kids of different ages involved, and some organizations, resources, and projects to check out (such as the Great Backyard Bird Count). Even photography tips! And the photographs throughout the book are amazing.

There's a lot of excellent and detailed information on what to put in feeders, which foods and feeder types are suited to different types of birds, and more. Another section is dedicated to making backyards wildlife friendly. It includes many practical ideas for what kind of habitats to provide, how to make sure there's adequate shelter to attract birds, and what kind of nesting boxes and materials birds will use. The only part of this I thought impractical was the focus on keeping cats indoors or in cat patios and that sort of thing. Squirrels are a plague for many people's bird feeders, and there are some suggestions for dealing with them as well. Bonus: some plans to build your own feeder boxes and platforms!

I really enjoyed the details on bird behaviors. The text itself was fairly brief, but there were excellent photos showing the different behaviors. This section led nicely into the second half of the book, Bird Identification. Earley starts off this section with general information and definitions, and then provides a photo-rich identification guide by bird type. Sparrows, Blackbirds, Woodpeckers, Jays, Pigeons and Doves, Finches, and the list goes on. Lots of photos, a summary of information about each species, and some interesting little stories and tidbits sprinkled throughout.

This is a very practical and attractive book. It's larger than the pocket field guides, so it's probably not the bird identification guide you want to take on a hike, but it's perfect for a reference as you watch birds through your kitchen window. I would strongly recommend it for homeschoolers wanting to add some well-informed birdwatching to their educational pursuits!

The original version of this review originally appeared on Homeschool Coffee Break as part of the Online Book Club for April 2021. Why do I keep forgetting to post here? I'll get the May review up soon, I hope!

©2008-2021 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Recent Reads - The Anatomist's Wife

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The Anatomist's Wife by Anna Lee Huber - I recently re-read the first Lady Darby mystery, in which portrait artist Kiera, the widow of an anatomist, assists investigator Sebastian Gage in solving a murder. 

Set in Scotland in the 1800s, it takes place entirely at the country estate of Lady Kiera Darby's sister and brother-in-law. Several guests are in attendance, and the story opens with the startling discovery of a murder victim. Without any clear indication of who the murderer is, all the guests are confined to the estate until the procurator fiscal arrives to take charge. While they are waiting, their host Philip asks Sebastian Gage to investigate and recommends that Kiera assist. Her knowledge of anatomy was during her marriage, as her late husband had her do the illustrations for the book of anatomy he had been working on. The knowledge - and Kiera's instinct - comes in handy as they examine the body and start piecing together the clues.

The story is told in first person by Kiera, so we find out her background little by little; and we only see other characters and events from her viewpoint. She is a scarred and wounded character for several reasons. She didn't quite fit in society in the first place, then was trapped in a loveless marriage and forced to witness and illustrate her husband's dissections, and finally she was accused of 'unnatural tendencies' after his death. She is a convenient scapegoat for the suspicion and spite of some of the guests, so part of her motivation to find the murderer is to vindicate herself and be sure that someone innocent is not ruined by a misplaced accusation.

There is an attraction brewing between Kiera and Gage, and the promise that a romance could be in the works. Seen only through Kiera's viewpoint, Gage's character is not clearly developed though. Kiera's conflicting emotions and troubled past overshadow her assessment of his personality and her interactions with all the characters. The murder mystery and investigation is suspenseful and the solution is a bit of a surprise. I thought the climax of the story was overly dramatic, but considering the murderer is a madman I accepted it. The dialogue and expressions used are often more in line with modern speech than what I would expect from British upper class of the time period, but I didn't think the differences were glaring and they certainly didn't take away from the story or feel obviously anachronistic. 

(Check out the Lady Darby Read-Along group on Facebook if you're interested.)

By the same author: The Anatomist's Wife (my first reading in 2014), Mortal Arts; A Grave Matter, A Study in Death, A Pressing Engagement, This Side of Murder, As Death Draws Near, A Brush With Shadows. Treacherous Is The Night, An Artless Demise, Secrets in the Mist, Penny for Your Secrets, A Stroke of Malice, A Pretty Deceit

©2008-2021 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Scripture and a Snapshot - Like Rain

Listen, you heavens, and I will speak;

hear, you earth, the words of my mouth.

Let my teaching fall like rain

and my words descend like dew,

like showers on new grass,

like abundant rain on tender plants.

I will proclaim the name of the LORD.

Oh, praise the greatness of our God!

He is the Rock, his works are perfect,

and all his ways are just.

A faithful God who does no wrong,

upright and just is he.

~Deuteronomy 32:1-4~

********************

This the beginning of The Song of Moses. This happens near the end of Moses' life as he is giving final instructions to Israel. In Deuteronomy 31, God tells Moses to write down the words of the song and teach it to the Israelites. And in the days and years to come, when Israel forgets and fails to keep the covenant, God says the song will be a reminder and will testify against them, because they and their children will not forget the words of the song. The song starts with a call to worship and then recounts all the mighty works of God in saving his people and bringing them out of slavery, and the many times he forgave them when they rebelled. 

God says they will forget to keep the covenant, but they won't forget the words of the song. Music has a way of getting stuck in our heads and our hearts, and the words of songs we haven't heard in years will come back to us. May the songs we sing and learn and remember be songs that remind us that God gave us the songs in the first place.

********************

 

Moses came with Joshua son of Nun and spoke all the words of this song in the hearing of the people. When Moses finished reciting all these words to all Israel he said to them, "Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you - they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess."

~Deuteronomy 32:44-47~

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Thank you for joining Scripture & A Snapshot. Leave a link to your own post sharing a Scripture and a Snapshot. Take time to visit some of the other links and bless each other with comments.

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I also link up at Sunday Scripture Blessings, hosted by Peabea's Photos 'n Scribbles; and at Selah, hosted by A Spirit of Simplicity.

©2008-2021 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Wordless Wednesday - Fledgling

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Several very similar photos, I know. I happened to notice a robin chasing other birds away from our feeder and birdbath but not sticking around at all. Turned out there was a fledgling in the adjacent bush, quite low to the ground. I went out onto the porch and was able to watch and get a few photos. The parent bird brought food to the fledgling and they 'talked' several times. Eventually the fledgling made it out to the grass, and then over to the tree where I believe the nest is located. So far as I know the robin family is all safe! Apparently the local farm cats were all busy elsewhere that morning, for which we were grateful.

This post will be linked at the Wordless Wednesday hosted by Life on Chickadee Lane, and at the Wordless Wednesday hosted by Tots and Me . . . Growing Up Together!

 

©2008-2021 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/ 

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.