Our second art newsletter comes from the table beside my window in my apartment on 10th street in New York City. Many of the staff, myself included, continue to work at the Review remotely as our West Village office is being packed up and moved to a new building on the other side of Manhattan. […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/online/2022/10/19/bears-balmoral-and-buster-keaton/
Sophia Rose is here with a review of Sophie Go’s Lonely Hearts Club by Roselle Lim. Grab a pumpkin spice latte and check out her thoughts on this women’s fiction filled with magical realism.
Sophie Go’s Lonely Hearts Club
by Roselle Lim
Genres: Magical Realism, Women’s Fiction
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Rating: 
A new heartfelt novel about the power of loneliness and the strength of love that overcomes it by critically acclaimed author Roselle Lim.
Newly minted professional matchmaker Sophie Go has returned to Toronto, her hometown, after spending three years in Shanghai. Her job is made quite difficult, however, when she is revealed as a fraud—she never actually graduated from matchmaking school. In a competitive market like Toronto, no one wants to take a chance on an inexperienced and unaccredited matchmaker, and soon Sophie becomes an outcast.
In dire search of clients, Sophie stumbles upon a secret club within her condo complex: the Old Ducks, seven septuagenarian Chinese bachelors who never found love. Somehow, she convinces them to hire her, but her matchmaking skills are put to the test as she learns the depths of loneliness, heartbreak, and love by attempting to make the hardest matches of her life.
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After reading Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck and Fortune, I was very taken with Roselle Lim’s writing and characterizations. Her delightful portrayal of her Asian American backdrop and characters brought a gentle story into vivid life. I spotted this latest release set in Toronto, Canada, with another Asian heroine needing to find her way, and I confidently settled in for a comfy coze.
Sophie has recently returned from Matchmaker training in Shanghai and is setting up in her own lovely place within a condo complex in Toronto. She has confidence in her ability to be a successful matchmaker and establish herself right until her own mother sabotages her chances at an easy acquisition of clients by telling a whole social gathering her daughter is a liar and a fraud- she didn’t finish her training.
Her mother wants her living at home under her thumb, taking the bank job for steady, but boring existence, and never forgetting that mother knows best and Sophie needs to apologize and show respect.
Fortunately, Sophie’s one bid for independence and self-satisfaction in her work brought her into contact with a quirky group of seniors in her building who are called the Old Ducks. Most wouldn’t notice or would consider them too high maintenance, but Sophie’s big matchmaking heart sees hurting, lonely people who need her brand of help and she dives in to fun results.
Somewhere along the way, Sophie starts to find herself a bit of romance, and the importance of found family.
Sophie Go’s Lonely Hearts Club was light and quirky in general, but has some strong undercurrents of more. Her parents were toxic, to put it bluntly, and, because of the Asian culture, Sophie comes from, to defer and show respect for parents and elders. She has been trapped and her esteem is in tatters. She broke free long enough to get trained and learn to love her calling of matchmaking only to have her mother’s hooks back into her when she returns and it is a tug o’ war who will be in charge of Sophie’s life. Her mother was a particular over the top shrew of a character and I was waiting for the big money moment when Sophie would finally give her back some of her own.
While there is a bit of a romance for Sophie and I was cheering for her to step away from fear and doubt for the chance (she had been taught that matchmakers never got their own romance and her mother definitely didn’t give her what was needed to do well at a relationship), this is not a romance. This is the story of Sophie finding herself and finding the Old Ducks.
The Old Ducks were an impressive cast of seniors. They were a hoot and scrappy for their age even while they needed a different brand of stirring up. Sophie taught them that their old dreams of love and companionship could still be fulfilled. And, as they opened up and let her help work on their relationships, more of their lives grew colorful and exciting. The interactions with this group and Sophie was the best part.
Magical Realism fills the book with Sophie’s gift of seeing the potential connections or state of a person’s contentment with their romantic relationship situation as represented by red ribbons dangling from people that are only visible to Sophie.
All in all, it was a fun and poignant story that left me warmed and satisfied. It got frivolous at times, but this balanced with the serious elements, too. Those who want their chick lit or women’s fiction flavored with humor and diversity should give Sophie a go.
Amazon | Audible
Sophie Go’s Lonely Hearts Club by Roselle Lim delivered a fun & poignant story that will leave you warm and satisfied. #bookreview #SophiaRose #WomensFiction #MagicalRealism
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Roselle Lim was born in the Philippines and immigrated to Canada as a child. She lived in north Scarborough in a diverse, Asian neighbourhood. She found her love of writing by listening to her lola (paternal grandmother’s) stories about Filipino folktales. Growing up in a household where Chinese superstition mingled with Filipino Catholicism, she devoured books about mythology, which shaped the fantasies in her novels. An artist by nature, she considers writing as “painting with words.”
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Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.
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Original source: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2022/10/sophie-gos-lonely-hearts-club-by-roselle-lim.html
Ashe and Magdalena Stevens’ Lost in Beirut is a true story of love, loss and war. It is a work of non-fiction and narrates the lived experiences of Ashe and how he managed to escape the war in Lebanon. Beautifully written, this impactful book will immerse you in the story and keep you flipping the pages, wanting to find out what happens next.
Set in 2006, in the socio-political context of the early 2000s with America at war with the Middle East, the novel depicts the truth of the racism, stereotypes, and prejudices Middle Eastern individuals had to face at that time. The story follows Ashe, a rising star in Hollywood, and his best friends, who get a chance to organize a gigantic concert in Beirut, Lebanon.
For the first few months, Beirut seems like a dream come true as he falls in love with Aleyna and Beirut itself. This bubble of bliss bursts when Israel and Lebanon abruptly go to war. Stranded in a country where being an American is equivalent to having a target on your back, Ashe and his friends experience the devastation of war in Beirut. The authors, survivors of this war, give a real representation of the Middle East’s political situation and war crises. The writing is powerful and evokes strong emotions in the reader. We follow Ashe through love and happiness and then devastation and grief, feeling these emotions with him.
Lost in Beirut: A True Story of Love, Loss and War is the true story that took Ashe Stevens fifteen years to overcome his PTSD and recount how he escaped the devastating war in Lebanon. Definitely, a five-star read, Ashe and Aleyna’s story will leave you feeling a riot of emotions. Violence, love, and grief have been written beautifully and leave a lasting impact on the reader.
Pages: 189 | ASIN : B09MTGCWBT
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/10/19/lost-in-beirut/
I’m Done Aging for Good: How to Live Long and Healthy with an Age-Reversing Diet is the book you need if your goal is to lead a long, healthy, and fulfilling life. As a reader, you get advice from a health expert on what works and what does not work. As the author writes, I like that he encourages the reader to explore foods and not just restrict themselves to restrictive diets. You can enjoy all kinds of meals and still live a healthy life. This educational book is full of useful advice and health notes that can help you and your family. By the end of the reading, you will have changed your diet and your perception of food. Author Frederick Sabido’s advice comes from a professional point of view and also adds personal experiences that have helped him.
We all grow old every day, and the author is here to share with you how to age gracefully through what you consume. Frederick Sabido starts his discussions by writing about the causes and effects of aging and why we age as humans. I appreciate the author’s comprehensive approach when discussing this subject, as he delves further into sub-topics that will help the reader understand better what he is talking about. The author touches on cognitive decline and male vs. female fertility decline after a certain age, among other topics. The author then discusses issues like memory loss, mutations, and oxidative stress, among other causes of aging.
Other topics covered through the chapters include sexual health, the skin, hair, anti-aging foods, the significance of vitamins in the body, how to overcome aging, and finding time for Pilates. Frederick Sabido’s book is the ultimate health guide as the author writes about topics that will help you take care of all organs in the body. The author does not just talk about outer organs but also shares knowledge that will get you to improve kidney health, your heart, liver, lungs, and other organs. The author rarely uses technical terms when discussing topics and ensures that he has included definitions for vocabulary that may not be common knowledge. I like that the author ended the book by talking about injury recovery. The notes on recovery tips for injuries are as important as the notes on dieting.
I’m Done Aging for Good is a must-have if you care about your health. Some of the major lessons in the book will make you look and feel young and improve your lifestyle. This is an important read for anyone interested in nutrition, vitamins, and healthy lifestyles.
Pages: 145 | ASIN : B0B6GS7X83
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/10/19/im-done-aging-for-good/
Christmas Eve is a magical time for children and adults alike. Hope and excitement fill their hearts and minds as they anxiously wait the morning. This heartwarming picture book has three Christmas Eve memories from different family members. Each story is told from the perspective of a different stage in life, grandparent, mother, and child. Readers feel the excitement and anticipation through the pages as they wait to see Christmas morning arrive. The themes of family and hope shine through each page and give readers that warm fuzzy feeling that this time of year brings out.
Author Dr. Calvin James and illustrator Jordan Pizzuti have created a memorable story in Christmas Sunrise. Dr. James’s storytelling feels like sitting and listening to older relatives share what life was like when they were growing up. That feeling of nostalgia and comfort comes through each little story in this book. The artwork adds character and allows the readers, especially children, to relate to the story and the things that are happening. Children will feel the excitement and inability to sleep on the night before Christmas as they read the pages. They will be transported to that time in their life when they wait for sleep to overtake them so they can wake up in the morning to the joy of Christmas day.
Christmas Sunrise is a beautifully written picture book that encompasses the wonder of the season. The memories of wishing for a white Christmas, the anticipation of falling asleep and waking up Christmas morning, and the joy of being with family on this special day. Three generations are represented in this touching children’s book, and families will love reading it together.
Pages: 24 | ISBN: 173717894X
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/10/19/christmas-sunrise/
Don’t Let Me Go is a high school love story building up to marriage, but for Jenny and Adam, the true test starts after marriage. Jenny pushes Adam away for a reason unknown. Before she answers any questions, she gets kidnapped, and the chase starts. With Adam striving to find his love, a love who doesn’t want to be his wife anymore, this story will make you believe in real companionship.
Don’t Let Me Go by Jodi Artzberger is a romantic thriller that will keep you on your toes from the first page. The story starts with suspense and subtly weaves in romance while the plot maintains the thrill. The characters are relatable and interesting. Some parts will make you question the goodness of the characters. There is a clear distinction between good and evil, which supports the conventional story writing aspect but might lack the depth of characterization for some readers.
The author has taken her strong Christian values and infused her novel with a gospel-centered storyline. Faith plays a strong part in character development, as well as plot development. Readers that prefer a more Christian view on romance will find Jodie Artzberger has created relationships that center around God and model the values of the Christian faith.
As the story progresses, you can see faith building up. It aptly symbolizes how marital troubles are resolved in times of crisis. It also conveys that protecting our loved ones is done better by companionship. The book explores the themes of love, forgiveness, and faith. Many subplots run parallel to the main plot without interrupting its flow which adds depth to the narration.
Don’t Let Me Go is a suspenseful Christian mystery with a romantic story intertwined. The author is successful in building up tension and skillfully easing it out in the end. This was a great mystery, as well as a lesson on learning to forgive and trust the people you care about.
Pages: 251 | ASIN : B0B52F8T6T
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/10/19/dont-let-me-go/
The pandemic was difficult on all of us and still weighs heavily on many people’s minds. In When We Lost Touch by Susan Kraus, the reader gets a raw and intimate look at a group of intertwined characters’ experiences at the beginning of 2020, the height of the pandemic, all the way until the end of 2021. Whether you are reading about Grace, Katrina, or Max. All the characters experience their own struggles, ultimately coming out at the end not unscathed but having survived.
While Kraus uses fictional characters to paint the narrative, her plot is anything but fictional. It’s grounded in reality, touching on the issues of the pandemic, racial matters, January 6th, and even radicalism. She does not shy away from touching upon the tough subjects that have plagued the United States in recent years and does so in a heartfelt manner.
Her greatest talent is managing to balance the multiple POVs without confusing the reader. Each of them stands out in their own way. It can seem a little jarring at first, but once you are a few pages into the book, you won’t even notice.
This story isn’t for those that don’t like a dose of reality in their stories, especially for a subject that is still raw for many people. However, When We Lost Touch discusses these issues with sensitivity. It doesn’t hold back in showcasing the character’s struggles and how desperately they want to return to normal. At times, the reader is going to feel like they have been punched in the gut. This just proves how effective Kraus is at crafting this.
I am giving When We Lost Touch by Susan Kraus a five out of five stars. It might be a tough read for some, but most will be swept away by the realism and completely be able to relate to the characters. This is a work of historical fiction, but it is grounded in the realities we all faced in this time period.
Pages: 515 | ASIN : B0BHJ7DWK1
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/10/19/when-we-lost-touch/