Posted Thursday, 25 February, 2016 by jorielov Emmy Nation series, Emmy Nation: Undercover Suffragette, L. Davis Munro, Self Published 2 Comments
Acquired Book By: I was selected to be a part of the blog tour for “Emmy Nation: Undercover Suffragette” wherein I received a complimentary copy of “Emmy Nation: Undercover Suffragette” direct from the author L. Davis Munro in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.
I am appreciating reading Feminist Historical Fiction:
I believe part of me was drawn into this sub-focus of historicals long before I cued the titles into my reading queues as I fondly recall seeking out strong female characters where the arc of the stories were not only focused on their lives but focused on how women could succeed in a highly dominated men’s world. For a girl who arrived on the scene and grew up in the decades where Working Girl and Baby Boom attempted to make a point about how successful a woman could be if she thought outside the proverbial box and/or wrote her own lifepath out of what was generally expected of her – you could say I was growing up in a potboiler of a new generation of Feminism without realising it!
What I find most inspiring by digging through the historical past via authors such as I am finding now, is this whole new plethora of stories wherein the women who rose out of the shadows to “effectively turn the tides of change” are brought so beautifully to life and within their characters journey we see bits of ourselves; where we can ascertain a focal point in history where women started to say ‘No’ and started to voice not only their opinions but their rights – to be wholly whole and true to themselves without having to back down due to socioeconomic pressure, familial protocol or society’s expectations which held them under a drowning sea of expectations.
I definitely am akin to reading more Feminist Historical Fiction and anxiously await where my next read will generate itself – this is to say, I can find a third author who whets my palette of thirst before either Ms Flynn (the Rebellious Times series) or Ms Munro (Emmy Nation series) complete their next books in sequence of their debuts!
Emmy Nation
Subtitle: Undercover Suffragette
by L. Davis Munro
Source: Author via iRead Book Tours
Being an independent woman in 1913 London is certainly empowering, but Emmy Nation is tired of the inescapable damp seeping through her worn shoes and the hopeless grumblings of her stomach.
When she receives an offer from Scotland Yard to boost her typist income by spying on the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU), Emmy jumps at the chance. But as she grows closer to the WSPU women the lines begin to blur, and when a painful part of her past resurfaces Emmy begins to question her choices.
How far are you willing to go to secure your equality?
Genres: Feminist Historical Fiction, Historical Fiction, Women's Fiction, Women's Studies Places to find the book:
Add to LibraryThing
ISBN: 9781517529673
Also by this author:
Published by Self Published
on 22nd November, 2015
Format: POD | Print On Demand Paperback
Pages: 336
About L. Davis Munro
L. Davis Munro holds a master’s degree with a focus on women’s suffrage theatre and works in theatre and dance. She currently lives in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, with her husband and her dog.
Author Links Updated: January, 2018
Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 2016 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge
Posted Thursday, 25 February, 2016 by jorielov in 20th Century, Biographical Fiction & Non-Fiction, Blog Tour Host, Britian, Debut Author, Debut Novel, England, Feminine Heroism, Historical Fiction, Indie Author, Jorie Loves A Story Cuppa Book Love Awards, Self-Published Author, the Nineteen Hundreds, The Writers Life, Vulgarity in Literature, Women's Fiction, Women's Rights, Women's Suffrage
Posted Wednesday, 24 February, 2016 by jorielov Friesen Press, Len Richman, Shivers and Signposts 0 Comments
Acquired Book By: I was selected to be a part of the blog tour for “Shivers and Signposts: the Journey Continues” hosted by iRead Book Tours. As I signed up for the blog tour, I realised the book being featured is a sequel to “Raindrops Glimpses Moments” which is why I requested to see if I could read both together rather than to enter the narrative without knowledge of the former. I received a complimentary copy of “Shivers & Signposts: The Journey Continues” direct from the publicist at iRead Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.
This continues my entreaty into a duology of memoirs by a Canadian author who has found clarity and personal re-collective insight in his retirement years wherein he has devouted time to recount and digest everything that percolated inside his mind’s eye. Bookended together, these are volumes of personal living truths and the insights of a well-lived life wherein the author directly highlights and engages his readers into self-examining their own living truths as they take the sojourn with him back through his own passages of time.
Shivers and Signposts
Subtitle: The Journey Continues
Shivers & Signposts: The Journey Continues is Len Richman’s second exploration of a life measured out by a distinct rhythm of his own devising. Picking up where his first memoir, Raindrops Glimpses Moments: An Unconventional Memoir of an Unplanned Journey, left off, Richman shows in Shivers & Signposts that he still has much to do, and much to say.
Richman attacks life with uncommon vigour. Never motionless, he moves forwards - and sometimes backwards - suffusing each manoeuvre with unique energy…vitality and constant evolution.
Shivers at the thought of growing old, of becoming stale…occasional alienation and loneliness, Richman, is driven onwards by “a pressing need to redefine and redirect his innermost self”, a self that he continually re-evaluates through the lens of modern technology, literature, theatre and film.
These are the signposts that guide him through his fascinating quest for renewal of spirit and self…Let us hear his decisive commentary on modern social and cultural mores, his unapologetic tackling of issues from racism to materialism to present-day psychoanalysis. Let us listen to the music of Richman’s own Love Song, about the love of a life well-lived – and still well-worth living. Let us be challenged, through Richman’s examination of his own life, to ask of ourselves: How should we presume?
From the “Introduction” by Stuart Lubarsky, M.D.
Places to find the book:
Add to LibraryThing
ISBN: 9781460269534
on 13th August, 2015
Pages: 184
About Len Richman
Len Richman has a long history with the Thomas More Institute of Montreal: student, course designer/ leader, Board of Directors member, and Chair of the Accreditation Committee.
He holds a teaching certificate from McGill University’s MacDonald College; a B.A. from the University of Montreal (Literature); an M.A. in education from Concordia University (Outdoor Education), and a post-graduate Comprehensive Certificate from TMI (Culture and Identity Studies.)
Travel, work and field background continue in parts of Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, South Pacific, and Canada’s northern communities. An educator in the areas of literature, wilderness/ outdoor pursuits, adult learning programs, international and multi-cultural studies for decades, a “redirection” of interests after 60 resulted in his becoming engaged in the performing arts: acting, directing, producing and writing. He is presently associated with Quebec Drama Federation (QDF), Black Theatre Workshop (BTW), Advisory Board of Pointe Claire Library, English Language Arts Network (ELAN), Quebec Writers’ Federation (QDF), Playwrights’ Guild of Canada (PGC), and Alliance of Canadian Cinéma Télévision & Radio Artists (ACTRA).
Born, bred and residing in and around Montreal (his favourite city next to New York, Prague, Budapest, and Dawson City, Yukon), he and his wife have three sons who have provided almost “free entertainment” with six grandsons and two “bonus” granddaughters from six to twenty-six years of age. He hopes to maintain sharing his wondering and wandering from his previous book, Raindrops Glimpses Moments: An Unconventional Memoir of an Unplanned Journey, to the present Shivers and Signposts: The Journey Continues, and beyond.
Website | Goodreads
Posted Wednesday, 24 February, 2016 by jorielov in 21st Century, Biographical Fiction & Non-Fiction, Blog Tour Host, Indie Author, iRead Book Tours, Journal, Memoir, Modern Day, Non-Fiction, Self-Published Author, The Writers Life, Vignettes of Real Life
Posted Wednesday, 17 February, 2016 by jorielov Len Richman, Llumina Press, Raindrops Glimpses Moments, Self Published 0 Comments
Acquired Book By: I was selected to be a part of the blog tour for “Shivers and Signposts: the Journey Continues” hosted by iRead Book Tours. As I signed up for the blog tour, I realised the book being featured is a sequel to “Raindrops Glimpses Moments” which is why I requested to see if I could read both together rather than to enter the narrative without knowledge of the former. I received a complimentary copy of “Raindrops Glimpses Moments” direct from the author Len Richman in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.
Seeking more non-fiction and memoir:
I started noticing that I was appreciating reading selected non-fiction and Creative Non-Fiction for awhile now, and before the New Year began I felt I should continue this quest to seek out writers who are penning their life story rather creatively moreso than traditionally. I become more invested when non-fiction is not set to the tone of traditional releases as I find them a bit difficult to get involved with personally as it’s more bone fact than personable touches of a lived life.
Whilst keeping my eyes open for non-fiction, I am also mindful of the fact I have been appreciating reading more literature by Canadian writers, as I enjoyed my discoveries through Rebelight Publishing in [2015]. I am hopeful to find a few more stories from them this year, but until they’re published, I am happily finding more #CanLit authors are being introduced on blog tours across the board. This is how I found myself interested in reading Mr Richman’s duology of memoirs.
Raindrops Glimpses Moments
Subtitle: An Unconventional Memoir of an Unplanned Journey
Len Richman creates an atmosphere of candor with a broad scope, describing inspirational people, books, moving flashes of insight, and passionate views of ordinary and extraordinary places, disclosing clues as to why life unfolded as it did. Richman's writing projects an attitude of appreciation for images of beauty, a participation in understandings achieved, a sharing of experiences assimilated, and obstacles overcome.
He has an unabashed love for people and nature, an unshakable confidence in life, and an abiding enthusiasm for communicating it. From working class asphalt-urban-immigrant beginnings to wilderness treks, literary explorations, international adventures and back to the wonders found close to home, this is a voyage of self-discovery, a passionate, probing, eclectic, and energetic journey. About the Author Born and raised in Montreal, Québec, Canada,
Len Richman finds joy transforming his "academic accumulations" into realities of "raindrops, glimpses, moments" with books, outdoor projects, overseas adventures, and more recently, the performing arts. He and his wife continue to juggle a varied schedule that includes three sons, six grandsons and a bonus granddaughter. Richman continues his association with the Thomas More Institute, and is currently writing a play.
Places to find the book:
Add to LibraryThing
ISBN: 9781595268372
on 28th March, 2008
Pages: 192
Published By: Llumina Press (@lluminapress)
Formats Available: Paperback
About Len Richman
Len Richman has a long history with the Thomas More Institute of Montreal: student, course designer/ leader, Board of Directors member, and Chair of the Accreditation Committee.
He holds a teaching certificate from McGill University’s MacDonald College; a B.A. from the University of Montreal (Literature); an M.A. in education from Concordia University (Outdoor Education), and a post-graduate Comprehensive Certificate from TMI (Culture and Identity Studies.)
Travel, work and field background continue in parts of Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, South Pacific, and Canada’s northern communities. An educator in the areas of literature, wilderness/ outdoor pursuits, adult learning programs, international and multi-cultural studies for decades, a “redirection” of interests after 60 resulted in his becoming engaged in the performing arts: acting, directing, producing and writing. He is presently associated with Quebec Drama Federation (QDF), Black Theatre Workshop (BTW), Advisory Board of Pointe Claire Library, English Language Arts Network (ELAN), Quebec Writers’ Federation (QDF), Playwrights’ Guild of Canada (PGC), and Alliance of Canadian Cinéma Télévision & Radio Artists (ACTRA).
Born, bred and residing in and around Montreal (his favourite city next to New York, Prague, Budapest, and Dawson City, Yukon), he and his wife have three sons who have provided almost “free entertainment” with six grandsons and two “bonus” granddaughters from six to twenty-six years of age. He hopes to maintain sharing his wondering and wandering from his previous book, Raindrops Glimpses Moments: An Unconventional Memoir of an Unplanned Journey, to the present Shivers and Signposts: The Journey Continues, and beyond.
Website | Goodreads
The intangible nuances of ordinary life become the embodiment of Richman’s memoir as he allows time and memory to arch over the chronicles of his life to expound upon certain extraordinary lessons of clarity. It’s an internal respite from living life forward and turning introspective to ruminate about where you’ve been and how your experiences have both defined you and inspired you to be where you are now. It’s an interesting perspective to begin a memoir, as Richman takes a winding path towards arriving us into where he begins this part of his story; to begin is to remember and by remembering he tries to ground us in his mindset as he set down the bones of what would become this first volume of his living memories. Read More
Posted Wednesday, 17 February, 2016 by jorielov in 21st Century, Biographical Fiction & Non-Fiction, Blog Tour Host, Debut Author, Debut Novel, Indie Author, iRead Book Tours, Journal, Memoir, Modern Day, Non-Fiction, Self-Published Author, The Writers Life, Vignettes of Real Life
Posted Tuesday, 16 February, 2016 by jorielov Emmy Nation series, Emmy Nation: Undercover Suffragette, L. Davis Munro, Self Published 8 Comments
I have happily been focusing on a concentration of Women’s Studies, Feminist Historical Fiction and Women’s Rights on Jorie Loves A Story lately; wherein I am sleuthing out a bit of Women’s History *ahead!* of the official kick-off of Women’s History Month which is in March. One of the key reasons I’ve been growing in curiosity about strong female centred literature is due to the nature of today’s gender inequality and the continuous journey we are taking to make inroads towards progress where Equality is secured for everyone without limitations or conditions.
I was recently challenged by the author of a Feminist point-of-view narrative involving a women’s rights leader (Victoria Woodhull) wherein I took encouragement from a modern day Feminist who is advocating for reading stories which not just challenge our perceptions but challenge us to go further with our readings than we might even realise we could go previously. Herein I am referring to Emma Watson. For the full ruminations and how Ms Watson’s movement of #OurSharedShelf played a role in my readings of The Renegade Queen kindly read my review.
It is by coincidence that I would find Emmy Nation so close to discovering The Renegade Queen as both parlay across similar themes and insights into the legacy of women fighting to pave a way towards progress for later generations. It is on the merits of their work (early Feminists, Suffragettes and civil rights advocates) that we are able to have the freedoms and equal rights we have now but we still have a ways yet to go before all our rights are truly acknowledged.
For this interview, I wanted to get to know this author’s inspiration and connection to a period of history that is dearly showcased moreso now than it has been in the past, and to gain insight into what inspires an author to re-examine this window of History.
Being an independent woman in 1913 London is certainly empowering, but Emmy Nation is tired of the inescapable damp seeping through her worn shoes and the hopeless grumblings of her stomach.
When she receives an offer from Scotland Yard to boost her typist income by spying on the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU), Emmy jumps at the chance. But as she grows closer to the WSPU women the lines begin to blur, and when a painful part of her past resurfaces Emmy begins to question her choices.
How far are you willing to go to secure your equality?
How did you conceive the idea to retrofit a personalised delivery for pre-orders of “Emmy Nation” (from Fly Girl Fitness) because it was quite classic and ingenious; you wrapped the books, added tags and bookmarks, whilst packing them into your basket of your bike. Have you come up with other creative ways to inspire a smile from your readers where something retro yields to more joy?
Munro responds: I really wanted the pre-ordered books to be something special. These people bought the book based on nothing more than the hope that it would be good and the back cover copy and the trailer. It was very generous of them all to buy copies before it was even published. I wanted to really get the chance to say thank you. It was also nearing Christmas, so I thought I would wrap them up like presents. I wanted to make them look pretty and also have the space to write a little thank you to each person. The bike just happens to be my main form of transportation until winter hits! Read More
Posted Tuesday, 16 February, 2016 by jorielov in 20th Century, Biographical Fiction & Non-Fiction, Blog Tour Host, Britian, Debut Author, Debut Novel, Feminine Heroism, Historical Fiction, Indie Author, Self-Published Author, the Nineteen Hundreds, The Writers Life, Women's Fiction, Women's Rights, Women's Suffrage
Posted Saturday, 28 November, 2015 by jorielov Race to Tibet, Self Published, Sophie Schiller, Tradewinds Publishing 0 Comments
Acquired Book By:
I was selected to be a tour stop on the “Race to Tibet” virtual book tour through Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours. I received a complimentary copy of “Race to Tibet” direct from the author Sophie Schiller, in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.
Interest in reading:
I have held an appreciation for World Religions since I was quite young – one of my favourite World Religions to research and read about is Buddhism which led me to readings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Anyone who becomes familiar with his texts, will start to see the traditions of Tibet emerge and a cultural heritage that was nearly taken out. Tibet has been the centerpiece of novels, motion pictures and non-fiction releases for quite a long time now. The expeditions to Tibet are legendary and they were fraught with difficulties – both to the people on the expedition and to the conditions the expediters found themselves inside.
I appreciate seeking out novelists and writers who hold a like-minded appreciation for Tibet and honour the legacy of Tibet through positive and well-researched stories; when I saw this book coming back round the blog tour circuit, I felt perhaps I should re-consider my original instinct to fear it was too much for me to consume and take a chance on reading it now. This novel previously toured with France Book Tours, and I had turned it down in the Spring (of 2015) to review but decided perhaps, I had been a bit too quick in that assessment. Thus, I am re-approaching it in the Autumn by having the chance to participate on the HFVBTs blog tour instead.
Race to Tibet
By 1889 Tibet is the last unexplored country in the world. Gabriel Bonvalot is determined to be the first Westerner to reach Lhasa but lacks a sponsor. When the Duke of Chartres promises to pay his expenses Bonvalot agrees, even after he learns he must bring along the Duke's wayward son, Prince Henri d'Orléans. Along the way Bonvalot meets Camille Dancourt, the wife of a missing surveyor, who attaches herself to the expedition in order to find her missing husband. During the journey the intrepid explorers are besieged by freezing temperatures, volatile winds, mountain sickness, hostile Tibetans, and duplicitous Chinese Mandarins. Nearing collapse, Bonvalot realizes they will have to resort to force if they ever wish to escape Tibet alive.
RACE TO TIBET is an adventure thriller that will take you on a suspenseful journey to the Roof of the World.
Places to find the book:
Borrow from a Public Library
Add to LibraryThing
ISBN: 9780692254097
on 26th January, 2015
Pages: 342
Self-Published By: Tradewinds Publishing
Available Formats: Paperback & Ebook
About Sophie Schiller
Sophie Schiller was born in Paterson, NJ and grew up in the West Indies amid aging pirates and retired German spies. Among other oddities her family tree contains a Nobel prize-winning physicist and a French pop singer. She loves stories that carry the reader back in time to exotic and far-flung locations. She was educated at American University, Washington, DC and lives in Brooklyn, NY. She is currently working on a new historical thriller set in the Caribbean.
Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 2015 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge
Posted Saturday, 28 November, 2015 by jorielov in 19th Century, Action & Adventure Fiction, Ancient Civilisation, Bits & Bobbles of Jorie, Blog Tour Host, Equality In Literature, Fly in the Ointment, Historical Fiction, Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours, Indie Author, Mental Health, Multi-cultural Characters and/or Honest Representations of Ethnicity, Self-Published Author, Vulgarity in Literature
