Time. It is a concept we have no control over. But we can control how we spend time, to make each second of our lives more productive. I often here people saying they have no time to read a book. Well, it is not a big stretch to make time, even if it is an hour every day set aside. You are the master of your own life and in that life, making time is a possibility. Spend less time on your cell phone or computer and delve into a brave new world, where books are an escape from the complexities of life. Even more reason to read a book this month is the fact this is a leap year, and you have an extra day, February 29, to do anything you want. Why not spend that day with a book, which is where Shelf Life enters the picture. In this issue, you will find more than thirty titles, for all reading tastes. Surely there is one to pique your interest. And if you do find a book, write us and let us know what you thought about it. Hopefully it will turn into time well spent
Paul Sutter
Editor/Publisher
Like us on Facebook
—————————
*** Fiction Section ***
*** Best February Fiction ***
The Never Game
by Jeffery Deaver
(Putnam – 37.00 – 400 pages)
“Jeffery Deaver is a most consistent author…whatever he tackles means top drawer fiction.”
Rating: 5 bookmarks
The Family Upstairs
by Lisa Jewell
(Atria – $36.00 – 340 pages)
“It slowly and subtly works its way into your psyche…”
Rating: 5 bookmarks
*** Rest of February Fiction ***
The 19th Christmas
by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro
(Little Brown – $37.00 – 348 pages)
“(The Women’s Murder Club) has been through so much over the years, and the latest is a thriller to the end.”
Rating: 4 1/2 bookmarks
Hudson’s Kill
by Paddy Hirsch
(Forge – $34.99 – 315 pages)
“…a most enjoyable atmospheric thriller, making us want to see Justy Flanagan again in book three.”
Rating: 3 1/2 bookmarks
Cursed! Blood of the Donnellys
by Keith Ross Leckie
(Douglas & McIntyre – $22.95 – 368 pages)
“…does an excellent job of giving a fictionalized account of their life and deaths.”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
A People’s History of Heaven
by Mathangi Subramanian
(Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill – $39.95 – 290 pages)
“…a brilliant and moving debut novel, featuring a group of young girls who band together to make a difference.”
Rating: 4 1/2 bookmarks
The Secret of Cold Hill
by Peter James
(Macmillan – $29.99 – 330 pages)
“…a classic ghost story, showing Peter James’ range of writing talents.”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
Trouble on the Books
by Essie Lang
(Crooked Lane Publishing – $22.99 – 329 pages)
Reviewed by: Tori Levang
“…offers readers an exciting cozy mystery story that provides the perfect read any time of year.”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
Big Sky
by Kate Atkinson
(Doubleday Canada – $32.95 – 358 pages)
“The book was worth the near decade wait for Jackson Brodie to surface again.”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
A Witch In Time
by Wm. Mark Simmons
(Baen – $34.00 – 301 pages)
“…the reader gets to experience even more of (Simmons’) brilliance with this engaging offbeat series.”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
The Chestnut Man
by Soren Sveistrup
(Harper – $23.99 – 516 pages
“The suspense level keeps rising a few notches each chapter, offering a terrific read… ”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
In the House In the Dark of the Woods
by Laird Hunt
(Little Brown – $29.00 – 214 pages)
“It is the uncertainty of where the book is heading, along with motivations of some of the characters that gives the book its most intriguing appeal.”
Rating: 3 1/2 bookmarks
Savage Country
by Robert Olmstead
(Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill – $39.95 – 293 pages)
Reviewed by: John M. Milner
“…the reader…can’t help but be swept up in the magnificent almost lyrical prose…
Rating: 4 1/2 bookmarks
Watcher in the Woods
by Kelley Armstrong
(Doubleday Canada – $24.00 – 400 pages)
“Armstrong still provides a terrific work of mystery to fans to Rockton and people who generally like a great pieces of fiction.”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
The Only Woman In the Room
by Marie Benedict
(Sourcebooks Landmark – $25.00 – 260 pages)
“The book is a triumph of the human spirit, and how one person, although beaten down, did not give up.”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
The Big Kahuna
by Janet and Peter Evanovich
(Putnam – $37.00 – 303 pages)
“…there doesn’t seem that something extra in the sometimes absurd and serious nature of the plot.”
Rating: 3 1/2 bookmarks
Undercard
by David Albertyn
(Spiderline – $19.95 – 322 pages)
“…definitely a top of the reading pile type of book.”
Rating: 3 1/2 bookmarks
The Poppy Wife
by Caroline Scott
(William Morrow – $21.00 – 425 pages)
“The prose is eloquent and filled with great humanity.”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
*** Non-Fiction Section ***
*** Best February Non-Fiction ***
Me
by Elton John
(Henry Holt – $38.50 – 376 pages)
“Now finally, we get to read the story of Elton from the man himself.”
Rating: 5 bookmarks
If You Tell
by Greg Olsen
(Thomas & Mercer – $23.95 – 420 pages)
“…one of the most gripping, graphic, and sometimes unbearable books read in some time.”
Rating: 5 bookmarks
**** Rest of February Non-Fiction ****
Best Places to Bird in Ontario
by Kenneth & Michael Burrell
(Greystone – $24.95 – 278 pages)
“For a most thorough book, BEST PLACES TO BIRD IN ONTARIO should take flight to your book shelf.”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
The Perfect Predator (A Scientist’s Race to Save Her Husband from a Deadly Superbug)
by Steffanie Strathdee & Thomas Patterson
(Hatchett – $36.50 – 337 pages)
“…the perfect feel good story of survival, when it appeared all hope was gone.”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
The Marvel Book – Expand Your Knowledge of a Vast Comics Universe
by Stephen Wiacek
(DK Books – $32.00 – 256 pages)
“…studies the characters that contributed to this fabulous world of fantasy.”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
Snow: A Scientific and Cultural Exploration
by Giles Whittell
(Atria – $34.00 – 246 pages)
“Combining the whimsical with the serious, Whittell proves there is no business like snow business.”
Rating: 3 1/2 bookmarks
Next Level Thinking
by Joel Osteen
(Faith Words – $31.50 – 208 pages
“…he offers, as the cover notes, ’10 powerful thoughts for a successful abundant life.'”
Rating: 3 1/2 bookmarks
3 Ingredient Baking
by Charmaine Christie
(Robert Rose – $29.95 – 224 pages)
“Three is definitely your lucky number when it comes to baking, so get to it and cook up a triple ingredient storm.”
Rating: 3 1/2 bookmarks
The Complete Michael Jackson (The Man, the Moves, The Magic)
by Chris Roberts
(Carlton – $45.00 – 256 pages)
“…a most comprehensive book, detailing the extent of Jackson’s career.”
Rating: 3 1/2 bookmarks
To Feel the Music
by Neil Young & Phil Baker
(BenBella Books – $32.50 – 260 pages)
“…the book is still sweet music for audiophiles, and a tribute to Neil Young and his musical vision.”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
Home Work: A Memoir of My Hollywood Years
by Julie Andrews with Emma Walton Hamilton
(Hachette – $38.00 – 325 pages)
“In this twenty-three year assessment of her life and movies, we discover even more to appreciate about this actress.”
Rating: 4 1/2 bookmarks
Still Here (The Madcap Nervy, Singular Life of Elaine Stritch)
by Alexandra Jacobs
(Farrar, Straus & Giroux – $36.50 – 330 pages)
“The book covers all facets of her life, and although noted for her binge-drinking, she still knew how to entertain an audience.”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
Waiting to Detail (Ryan Adams and Whiskeytown, Alt-Country’s Brilliant Wreck)
by Thomas O’Keefe & Joe Oestreich
(Skyhorse – $29.99 – 252 pages)
“The book will appeal to fans of the band and Adams as well. It may be a rather unmemorable read for music lovers in general”
Rating: 3 bookmarks
Whatever Gets You Through (Twelve Survivors on Life After Sexua Assault)
Edited by: Stacey May Fowles & Jen Sookfong Lee
(Greystone – $22.95 – 220 pages)
“This is a book that will resonate within your psyche for a long time to come…”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
Changing Tides (An Ecologist’s Journey to Make Peace with the Anthropocene)
by Alejandro Frid
(New Society Publishers – $19.99 – 190 pages)
“It is poetic at times, but of all thanks to (Alejandro Frid) we hold answers in our hands.”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
How To Not Wear Black
by Anna Murpy
(DK Books – $32.00 – 260 pages)
“With lots of pictures and plenty of hints and challenges for you, by the time the book is finished, you will be more than red carpet ready.”
Rating: 3 1/2 bookmarks
Shelf Life Magazine 
Recent Comments