Written by the woman who sees to the staff of the Queen’s Dressers, designs some of her clothes and curates her remarkable jewelry collection, we peek into the process that creates and maintains her remarkable wardrobe for the Jubilee year. This is a beautifully done picture book, lovingly rendered. You only need an hour or two with it, but I’m glad I took the time. Who knew umbrellas came in all those colors!   posted Jun 10, 2013 at 10:03PM

Smith’s book is a touching tribute to the Queen and her years of service to the Commonwealth along with stories of her family and her passion for horses and horse racing. This author is kinder to Prince Phillip than most writers about the royal family. I didn’t learn a lot new—being a long-time royal watcher--except about the horse racing and horse breeding. It’s hard not to admire her.   posted Jun 1, 2013 at 3:25PM

We follow the lives—and lives they are—of Ursula Todd and her family and friends at Fox Corner, a little corner in the English countryside, during all the years of her life, which encompasses much of the last century but particularly her young adulthood during WWII. How interesting that today when I read this day’s The Writer’s Almanac it would close with this quote of Ralph Waldo Emerson [who] wrote: "Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense." It could have been Ursula saying this. This book will disappoint many of Kate Atkinson’s mystery fans, but I came to love it after a slow start.   posted May 25, 2013 at 5:55AM

‘Retired’ SIS officer Thomas Kell is called into to follow the new ‘C’ when she seemingly disappears from a painting class in France and heads to Tunisia. Who is the young man Kell sees her with? Lover? Or, someone more important? I’ve heard this is the first of three thrillers for Cumming with this character. That’s great. I couldn’t put this book down! Better yet, Colin Firth is in line to play Thomas Kell in a movie version. Perfect. Now we just have to wait for more.   posted May 17, 2013 at 12:36PM

Samuelsson tells the story of his life so far, born in Ethiopia, adopted into a Swedish family, a globe-trotting young man learning the chef’s trade to the award-winning New York restaurateur we’ve come to know. He’s so self-deprecating and funny, passionate and competitive, a real citizen of the world. I’m his new biggest fan.   posted May 13, 2013 at 9:30PM