"The Reader's Companion To The Hampshire Stories Series- Illustrated;" Author & Publisher: Joe Giampaolo; Publication Date: January 5, 2022

2/5/2022

As an avid reader and book reviewer, you long for a creative piece of work to come across your desk and meet your list of carefully cultivated expectations. Once in a while, it all comes together... a writer will pay special attention in the execution of their written words and in the final presentation of their book and delight you enough that you wish to add the book to your forever-favorite, five-star bookshelf. Well, it happened now with author, Joe Giampaolo's, smartly executed new book, "The Reader's Companion To the Hampshire Stories Series- Illustrated," published on January 5, 2022.

Delighted. Pleased. Satisfied. These are but a few words to relay to you my experience reading this book described as a "concise guide to the history, traditions and literature of 19th-century England." (Taken from the back cover description of the book).

The written information within this book is rich in detail, a true "companion" to Mr. Giampaolo's "Hampshire Stories Series." I have read both previous books in the series: "Hampshire Stories: A Collection of Tales Set in 19th-century England (The Hampshire Stories Series) and "The Farmer's Daughter: A Regency Romance (The Hampshire Stories Series)," so I can convey that "The Reader's Companion..." is a perfect accompaniment to the series. I particularly enjoyed learning the meaning of words I never heard of such as 'redingote' and 'burnous' and being privy to other informative tidbits from that era that rendered me much more educated.

This book serves as a desirous read for both a writer and a reader as:

1.) it serves as a plethora of information a writer can refer to when researching their own book set in the 19th-century. It is that detailed and accurate in its rendition; and,
2.) it serves as an informative book for the average reader who simply wishes to be casually entertained with the history and traditions of the 19th-century.

I found myself delighted by the section of the book paying homage to all the wonderful writers that came out of that time period. It makes for a wonderful reference list of authors.

I read the e-book and paperback versions of this book. My interest was held reading it twice. I was privy to both experiences and I can honestly convey to you that whichever version you may choose to obtain, I enjoyed the book. If, however, you are a reader who prefers or appreciates colored pictures in a book, then the paperback version is for you. I am very glad I have a copy of the paperback version. Such diligent care and accuracy is depicted in this book I can only describe the final result as a masterpiece... exquisite... with special attention paid to visual details. The photos, the descriptions and references, the neatly laid out Table of Contents and ultimately, the formatting of the book as a whole is spot on, conveying nothing but a professionalism that is yearned for by a discerning reader.

As this book riveted all my senses with its well-rounded execution, I can convey it deserves a 5/5 grading and nothing less.

Special Notes

You can find out more about the author, Joe Giampaolo, by visiting his Author Page at:
Amazon.com: Joe Giampaolo: Books, biography, log, audiobooks, Kindle

If you read a book, please remember to leave a review on any site of your choosing. It acts as an incentive for other readers to purchase an author's book. Writers are super appreciative of this kind act.

Book Reviewed: "The Reader's Companion To The Hampshire Stories Series- Illustrated;" Author & Publisher: Joe Giampaolo; Publication Date: January 5, 2022

Book Blog Copyright (C) 2022 Mary-Lisa Russo

Blog Author

You have stumbled into the writing world of Mary-Lisa Russo, an avid storyteller observing the universe around her and her humble place amongst the stars. “Excerpts From The Wandering Mind” is Mary-Lisa’s first collection of poems and she is currently working on her next book to be released in 2022. She recently created an e-book, namely, "Voices From the Universe," for her subscribers which is available for download via BookFunnel. She is a university graduate having majored in English Literature and continues to nurture her ongoing writing education at a local college. She is a member of the Ontario Poetry Society and various writers’ groups.