Pen & Sword Review: Yearbook of Astronomy 2023, Edited by Brian Jones

  • Edited by Brian Jones
  • Imprint: White Owl
  • Pages: 336
  • ISBN: 9781399018449
  • Published: 1st August 2022
  • £18.99

Blurb

Maintaining its appealing style and presentation, the Yearbook of Astronomy 2023 contains comprehensive jargon-free monthly sky notes and an authoritative set of sky charts to enable backyard astronomers and sky gazers everywhere to plan their viewing of the year’s eclipses, comets, meteor showers and minor planets as well as detailing the phases of the Moon and visibility and locations of the planets throughout the year. To supplement all this is a variety of entertaining and informative articles, a feature for which the Yearbook of Astronomy is known. Presenting the reader with information on a wide range of topics, the articles for the 2023 edition include, among others, The Incomparable Sir Patrick Moore; Shining a Light on Jupiter’s Atmosphere; A Brief History of the End of the Universe; The Closing of Historic Observatories; The Ability to Believe: Bizarre Worlds of Astronomical Antireality; Optical SETI at Harvard; The Future of Spaceflight; and Male Family Mentors for Women in Astronomy: Caroline and William Herschel.

This iconic publication made its first appearance way back in 1962, shortly after the dawning of the Space Age. Now into its seventh decade of production, the Yearbook continues to be essential reading for anyone lured and fascinated by the magic of astronomy and who has a desire to extend their knowledge of the Universe and the wonders it plays host to. The Yearbook of Astronomy is indeed an inspiration to amateur and professional astronomers alike, and warrants a place on the bookshelf of all stargazers and watchers of the Universe.

My Review

This book is a comprehensive yearbook covering the skies of both northern and southern hemispheres, with monthly notes and a wide selection of articles. It’s a slickly produced, full-colour, yearbook that will appeal to astronomy enthusiasts.

I found it fascinating, although my knowledge of astronomy is not as extensive as I would like it to be. I think I have learnt something from reading this book.

Review: Cookfulness: A Therapeutic Approach To Cooking by Ian Taverner  

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Clink Street Publishing; Illustrated edition (29 Oct. 2020)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 154 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1913568792
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1913568795

Create Space For The Happy Stuff!

This cookbook is crammed full of new and innovative ways, hints and tips, designed specifically for people with chronic pain and mental health conditions, by me, a fellow sufferer.

It is all to help you WANT to cook, not have to!

Cooking really can be a therapy. Cooking really can ignite your passions. Cooking really is possible!

If you are having a bad day, I want to make it better. If you are having a better day, I want to make it good. If you are having a good day, I want to make it great. If you are having a great day, good on you!

Continue reading “Review: Cookfulness: A Therapeutic Approach To Cooking by Ian Taverner  “

Promo Post: The Children of Moonstone Beach by F V C Miller

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Clink Street Publishing (30 Sept. 2021)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 190 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1913962911
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1913962913

Do you have a moonstone tucked away at the back of a drawer? If you do, then dig it out, hold it close and read this heartfelt adventure, because you are invited to dive wholeheartedly into the magical world of Moontide, where almost anything can happen with a moonstone in your hand.

Join four unlikely friends as they are thrown together on a beach far away from their homes in London amidst the chaos of the Covid pandemic as it hits the UK.

Troubled, lost, sad and with hearts searching for more, they unknowingly kickstart a chain of events which sees them swept up into a new and spellbinding world; one that has been waiting patiently for their arrival for a very long time.

With royal dragons, howling wolves, evil magic-maker pirates, a sea nymph, a bog monster, flying cats and a war to wage, the children must find out who they really are before they can embrace the magic they hold within.


Review to follow.


Review: Hound on a Scrounge, written by Maria Bucci, illustrated by Martynas Marchiusm

Hound on a Scrounge

“Sniff, Snuffle, Sniff!”

“Can you smell the delicious aroma coming from this book?

It’s time for afternoon Tea…Slurrrp!”

Meet Buddy.  He loves food, food and more food.  But he’s not just a hound on a scrounge – Buddy has a wonderful true story about afternoon tea that he would love to share with you.

“I hope you can join me…ooh, but hurry! They’re bringing out the food…Woofety Woof!

Purchase Links

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hound-Scrounge-Choice-Award-Winner-ebook/dp/B0B1VZYCJZ/US – https://www.amazon.com/Hound-Scrounge-Choice-Award-Winner-ebook/dp/B0B1VZYCJZ/

Continue reading “Review: Hound on a Scrounge, written by Maria Bucci, illustrated by Martynas Marchiusm”

Review: Santa’s Christmas Countdown, by Kath Jewitt and Sebastien Braun

Information about the Book

Title: Santa’s Christmas Countdown
Author: Kath Jewitt
Illustrator: Sebastien Braun
Publisher: Townhouse Publishing Ltd
Release Date: 1st October 2022
Genre: Board Book (Touch & Feel)

Summary

Santa is getting ready for Christmas Eve, but he’s lost his list of jobs to do! This large format board book tells a fun rhyming tale of Santa who is getting ready to deliver presents around the world. Toddlers will love the large touch and feels, especially his curly beard and velvet hat.

Illustrator Socials

Website: https://www.sebastienbraun.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/braunsebastien
Instagram: http://instagram.com/braunsebastien

Continue reading “Review: Santa’s Christmas Countdown, by Kath Jewitt and Sebastien Braun”

Promo Post: Intuitive Eating by Lucia Bartoli

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Clink Street Publishing (28 July 2022)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 136 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1915229553
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1915229557

Feel, listen and give yourself permission. Learning how to be guided by your intuition when it comes to eating allows you to fully enjoy food once again. No more diets and no more guilt. Learn how your taught behaviors have a profound effect on how you eat and feel about your body, and learn how to reprogram these behaviors to healthy and empowering ones. With over 40 plant-based recipes inside, this book also includes useful daily meditation exercises, mindful prayers and stunning affirmations. “The reason why I decided to go down the path of Intuitive Eating was because I wanted to change my whole relationship with food. Food, for me anyway, is one of the most enjoyable and natural pleasures on this planet and didn’t want to spend the rest of my life having a bad relationship with such a natural and essential part of life. I wanted to be able to eat foods that I love and enjoy every moment of it, without feeling bad about it afterwards.”

TBR Pile Review: August Kitko and the Mechas from Space, by Alex White

When an army of giant robot AIs threatens to devastate Earth, a virtuoso pianist becomes humanity’s last hope in this bold, lightning-paced, technicolor new space opera series from the author of A Big Ship at the Edge of the Universe.

Jazz pianist Gus Kitko expected to spend his final moments on Earth playing piano at the greatest goodbye party of all time, and maybe kissing rockstar Ardent Violet, before the last of humanity is wiped out forever by the Vanguards–ultra-powerful robots from the dark heart of space, hell-bent on destroying humanity for reasons none can divine. 

But when the Vanguards arrive, the unthinkable happens–the mecha that should be killing Gus instead saves him. Suddenly, Gus’s swan song becomes humanity’s encore, as he is chosen to join a small group of traitorous Vanguards and their pilots dedicated to saving humanity. 

Continue reading “TBR Pile Review: August Kitko and the Mechas from Space, by Alex White”