Linda Jo Martin

Writer, Artist, YouTuber

  • About
  • Journal
  • Fiction
  • Art
  • Home
  • The Art of Writing
  • Book Reviews
  • Lists & Challenges

Books of many genres that are worth reading.

An Anthology of California Short Stories

May 30, 2020 By Linda Jo Martin 5 Comments

It's All In the Story: California

I’m reading It’s All in the Story: California (an anthology of California short stories) during 2020 – aiming for at least 4 stories per month. There are 24 short stories and so far I’ve liked all that I read. I created this page to make notes on the stories so I can remember them.
[Read more…]

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak – Book Lady’s Review

October 7, 2017 By Linda Jo Martin 2 Comments

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

I’ve read a lot of novels and memoirs set during World War II. The Book Thief was added to the world’s arsenal of WWII novels in 2005 and quickly became a best-seller. Author Markus Zusak is a young writer whose parents lived in Europe during the war. Their stories inspired this book. [Read more…]

Forgive and Love Again: Healing Wounded Relationships – Book Lady’s Review

September 12, 2017 By Linda Jo Martin 2 Comments

Forgive and Love Again

Forgive and Love Again: Healing Wounded Relationships is a comprehensive Christian overview of forgiveness, which is essential to Christian life. When asked how many times we should forgive, Jesus Christ advised, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” In other words, forgiveness should not end – it should continue so long as it is needed. Forgiveness is not the same as reconciliation – that’s a different matter and does not have to follow forgiveness, except in Christian marriage relationships.

[Read more…]

This Boy’s Life, a Memoir by Tobias Wolff – Book Lady’s Review

September 10, 2017 By Linda Jo Martin Leave a Comment

This Boy's Life, a memoir by Tobias Wolff

A childhood is a unique thing. We all have one, and I like to think of them as our life challenge. We almost invariably experience traumatic events, then have the challenge of dealing with the fallout the rest of our lives, or until we gracefully recover. The childhood of Tobias Wolff was no different, yet it was unique in its own way. His memoir is best known for honesty to the extreme.
[Read more…]

Abusive Men: Why Does He Do That? – Book Lady’s Review

May 7, 2017 By Linda Jo Martin Leave a Comment

Sad woman

My review of Why Does He Do That? – by Lundy Bancroft. This is a book about his work with and observations of angry, controlling, and abusive men. He explains why they seek to subjugate women.
[Read more…]

Hillbilly Elegy – Book Lady’s Review

April 22, 2017 By Linda Jo Martin 2 Comments

I seem to have the same background as author J.D. Vance, but I’m a few generations removed. I’ve done research on Ancestry.com and discovered some great-great grandparents who came from places like Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky and Georgia, on our Scots-Irish family’s journey to the west coast. I was born in California. My mother and her parents were born in Oklahoma.
[Read more…]

Shadow Over Avalon: A Sci-Fi Book Review

January 1, 2017 By Linda Jo Martin 2 Comments

What are Nestines? What’s under Sanctuary? Who are Arthur’s parents? If you want to know, you’ll have to read Shadow Over Avalon, a futuristic Earth-based sci-fi fantasy novel by C.N. Lesley.
[Read more…]

Gelli Printing – A Book Review and the Art Experience

December 17, 2016 By Linda Jo Martin Leave a Comment

I learned about Gelli printing while watching videos on YouTube, and had to try it. I bought an 8×10 Gelli Arts monoprinting plate, and a beginner’s book to tell me more about how to use it.
[Read more…]

Pulling Down Strongholds by Derek Prince – A Book Review

October 21, 2016 By Linda Jo Martin 5 Comments

Book Review: Pulling Down Strongholds by Derek Prince

I love Christian books with humor, and Derek Prince doesn’t disappoint. This non-fiction book is about spiritual warfare – not only recognizing and defending oneself against demons, but also, recognizing the “strong man” controlling us and our countries, and the “high places” causing problems in our lives.
[Read more…]

The Newbery Project

April 30, 2016 By Linda Jo Martin Leave a Comment

Newbery Medal

I’m a participant in The Newbery Project, a group collaboration blog with reviews by people who have agreed to read and review Newbery Medal winning books. The Newbery Medal is awarded annually by the American Library Association (ALA) for the most distinguished contribution to children’s literature in the USA, the prior year.
[Read more…]

Art & Fear – Review of the Book by David Bayles & Ted Orland

March 13, 2016 By Linda Jo Martin 2 Comments

Art Fear Review

Welcome to my Art & Fear review. Art & Fear is a classic philosophical non-fiction art book by David Bayles and Ted Orland. It is deep enough to become ponderous at times, but readable enough to keep my attention from start to finish.
[Read more…]

Green Leaf in Drought Time: Isobel Kuhn Backstory and Book Review

February 27, 2014 By Linda Jo Martin Leave a Comment

green-leaf-in-drought-time

Authoress Isobel Kuhn was a dedicated missionary to the Lisu people of China in 1950 when she was warned to evacuate the country due to a new political situation. The Chinese Civil War ended the year before, in 1949, and the People’s Republic of China took over, sending down a “Bamboo Curtain” of hostility toward foreigners, including well-meaning missionaries.
[Read more…]

Next Page »

A recent video on my Booktube channel, at YouTube

To receive blog update notifications via email, enter your email address:

About Me

Hi, I'm Linda, the Book Lady, and I'm excited about reading. A book is a gift you give yourself. It is so much fun to open that cover and discover what was hidden within. Books share the wisdom of the ages with us. Who wouldn't want that? So I read frequently and encourage reading. If you're a reader, let me know by becoming my friend on GoodReads.


My novel, River Girl, is about a girl living in the Klamath River Valley.

Here's a link to my prayer website:
Prayer Power.

My childhood memoirs: ljm memoirs.

Professional Reader
I use Amazon affiliate links on this site and appreciate it very much when you purchase from my links.

California Reading

California Reading

California Reading
5 members

This group is for anyone wanting to read California based fiction or nonfiction.

Our recommended shelf

The World Rushed In: The California Gold Rush Experience
The World Rushed In: The California Gold Rush Experience
by J.S. Holliday


Hillinger's California: Stories from All 58 Counties
Hillinger’s California: Stories from All 58 Counties
by Charles Hillinger





View this group on Goodreads »


My Art

Bird Art by Linda Jo Martin - http://lindajomartin.com
Acrylic
Wild and Precious - art by Linda Jo Martin
Watercolor / pen
Summer Afternoon - art by Linda Jo Martin
Pen / Watercolor

If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.” ? Cicero - Art by Linda Jo Martin http://lindajomartin.com
Acrylic
Acrylic
Angel art by Linda Jo Martin
Sketchbook

Psalm 91:9-11 - Angel art by Linda Jo Martin http://lindajomartin.com
Sketchbook
Art: Idaho Hills, by Linda Jo Martin
Junk journal, acrylic
March Mystery Madness 2020, art by Linda Jo Martin
Gouache journal

Plan A to Z - lettering by Linda Jo Martin
Lettering class project
A daring adventure - art by Linda Jo Martin
Fountain pen ink journal
Small Joys
Watercolor sketchbook

Watercolor sketchbook
Valley of decision.
Bible journaling
Mount Glittery by Linda Jo Martin - mountain climbing quote by John Muir
Acrylic painting

Watercolor sketchbook
“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.” ? Ralph Waldo Emerson ... watercolor painting by Linda Jo Martin
Watercolor sketchbook
Imagination Soars, by Linda Jo Martin - http://lindajomartin.com
Watercolor sketchbook

Plant Seeds
Watercolor sketchbook
The Prayer by Linda Jo Martin
Acrylic painting
A basket of flowers, by Linda Jo Martin - http://lindajomartin.com/writing/art
Fountain pen ink journal

RSS My Most Recent Book Reviews

  • Little House in the Big Woods (Little House, #1)
  • Middlemarch
  • Gulliver's Travels
  • A Perfect Weakness
  • Around the World in Eighty Days
  • The Turn of the Screw
  • Calico Captive
  • The Big Tiny: A Built-It-Myself Memoir
  • Mr. Midshipman Hornblower
  • More After the Break: A Reporter Returns to Ten Unforgettable News Stories

RSS Goodreads Status Updates

  • Linda Martin is 29% done with North and South
  • Linda Martin is on page 176 of 239 of Little House in the Big W
  • Linda Martin is 17% done with North and South
  • Linda Martin is 6% done with North and South

You can find me on Pinterest

Visit Linda Jo Martin, Book Lady's profile on Pinterest.

My art is at Zazzle.com

Dating Palms
Linda Jo Martin Art and Photography
Buy Scrivener for Windows (Regular Licence)
I love Scrivener, and use it for all my writing. It is a fantastic writing software that organizes a novel, ebook, or screenplay efficiently while I write and revise.

Follow me on Twitter

My Tweets

© 2023 - LJ Martin Web - Legal Notices
Linda Jo Martin is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program,
an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for
sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.Com.