It's the third week of March and I've been in a state of torpor, reading and barely moving from my bed unless I have to cook or clean or exercise or feed the neighbor's kitty. But what I have read has been some great stuff that was exciting and kept me binge-reading until the wee hours. It has also been cold and wet outside, so that's the perfect kind of weather for reading and taking cozy naps. St Patrick's Day is coming up, so I hope you all enjoy the American celebration of the Irish, while I get my Inflectra infusion at St Elizabeth's in Enumclaw (no green beer or other alcohol for me, thankfully! I'm not a fan of inebriation).
I've read a couple of Tove Jansson's books, and found them delightful, especially in the optimistic prose style that lights up each chapter, so I'm looking forward to seeing the adaptation of his work on the big screen.
Movies:
The Summer Book
Glenn Close and Anders Danielsen Lie
will star in a film version of ToveJansson's novel The Summer Book
https://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/x/pjJscFDdxukI6ak1Kh4iSw~k1yJoKXv-hs8x6iXD8ehpoMLg-gVdw,which Charlie McDowell is directing and
producing with his Case Study Films, Deadline reported. Originally
published 50 years ago, the book has been translated into 35 languages.
"I'm deeply honored to be adapting
one of my favorite novels, Tove Jansson's The Summer Book, and to film
in Finland, the beautiful country in which this story is based,"
said McDowell. "It's long been a dream of mine to work with Glenn Close. I've
long admired her thoughtfulness, immense versatility, and deeply
captivating presence both on the stage and on screen. I first discovered
Anders Danielsen Lie from his brilliant collaborations with Joachim
Trier and he's quickly become one of my favorite actors out of
Scandinavia. I can't imagine a more magnificent duo to collaborate with on
this film."
Jansson's niece, Sophia Jansson, added:
"The Summer Book is dear to many readers around the world. It is my
favorite of Tove Jansson's books, and it holds a very special place in my
heart. Every word of it ushers in vivid childhood memories of my beloved
grandmother--her voice, her way of relating to and moving around the
island. Seeing that story finally come alive on the big screen will be
fantastic and moving on a deeply personal level."
I'm a big fan of the mother of science fiction and feminism, both Marys, and I would love to have a copy of this book to read about their struggles and their journeys.
Book Review: Her Lost Words
Both Mary Wollstonecraft and her
daughter Mary Shelley (who never knew her mother) longed to take the world by
storm. Stephanie Marie Thornton delves into the literary, emotional and
financial struggles of both women in her eighth novel, Her Lost
Words, charting their journeys with compassion and insight. The result is a
fascinating account of two women whose prodigious talent and work ethic
was sometimes dampened, but never extinguished, by the challenges they
faced.
Thornton begins her narrative in 1775
with Mary Wollstonecraft, who escapes her miserable childhood and
flees to London with a head full of feminist ideas and dreams of
becoming a published author. She finds a sympathetic publisher in
Joseph Johnson, and makes a few acquaintances in London's literary
scene. Eventually, she travels to post-revolutionary Paris, where she falls in love with a
blockade-running American, Gilbert Imlay, and bears his child. When it becomes
dangerous for British citizens to remain in Paris, Wollstonecraft and her
daughter return to London, only to find Imlay uninterested in marriage,
and increasingly dismissive of Wollstonecraft. To her surprise,
Wollstonecraft ends up building a life with philosopher William Godwin, who
supports both her domestic and literary endeavors.
Thornton intersperses this narrative
with the life story of Wollstonecraft's second daughter, Mary
Shelley (born Mary Godwin), who has grown up in the shadow of her
mother's fame, but longs to know what kind of person she truly was.
Frustrated by life with her father and stepmother, though fond of her sisters,
Fanny and Claire, Mary welcomes the passionate eruption of poet Percy
Shelley into her life. Thornton's narrative traces Mary's relationship
with Percy, as well as Claire's tempestuous affair with Lord Byron, and
the travels and trials of this unconventional foursome as they each
pursue happiness in their own ways.
Though she had always been a reader
rather than a writer, Mary eventually picks up a pen and creates
Frankenstein in 1817, the story that will put her name on the map
(though Percy receives much of the early recognition for it).
Drawing extensively on the known
historical facts about each woman (and their spouses, lovers and children),
Thornton creates two protagonists whose brains and emotions blaze
brilliantly on the page. She depicts poverty, childbirth and Paris's Reign
of Terror in gruesome detail--but also portrays beautiful moments of
affection, inspiration and love. As passionate and fiercely intelligent as
its protagonists, Her Lost Words is a fitting tribute to two women whose
literary achievements reshaped the world. --Katie Noah Gibson;
blogger at Cakes, Tea and Dreams
Having read this book with my book group a year or so ago, I was looking forward to the TV adaptation, but it appears that the show won't be moving forward, sadly.
TV:
The Devil in the White City Will Not Be Produced
Hulu will not be moving ahead with The
Devil in the White Cityhttps://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/x/pjJscFDekO4I6ak1chgnSQ~k1yJoKXv-hs8x6iXDJGmpoMLg-gVdw, the long-gestating adaptation of Erik
Larson's 2003 historical nonfiction book. Deadline reported that
Keanu Reeves originally was attached to star but exited in October,
and director Todd Field left soon after. An effort was made to
replace them, with offers that ultimately did not pan out.
The eight-episode series was targeted
for a 2024 launch, with production not expected to commence until this
year, Deadline noted. From ABC Signature in Association with Paramount
Television Studios, The Devil in the White City was set to be executive
produced by Martin Scorsese, Rick Yorn, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer
Davisson, Stacey Sher, Sam Shaw, Lila Byock and Mark Lafferty. ABC Signature
remains committed to the project and hopes to find a new home.
I am so saddened by this news, as I read several Olivia the spunky piglet books to Nick when he was little, and he loved them...he was also a huge fan of Kevin Henkes little mouse girls Wemberly and Lily of the purple plastic purse fame. These stories of brave wee creatures seemed to comfort him as he launched himself into the big world as a toddler and three year old. It horrifies me that Olivia's creator was my age when he died recently...that seems way too young. RIP Mr Falconer.
Obituary
Note: Ian Falconer
Children's book author and illustrator
Ian Falconer https://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/x/pjJscFDew-oI6ak1ch8nGg~k1yJoKXv-hs8x6iXDMKipoMLg-gVdw, whose beloved Olivia book series has
been translated into many languages and adapted into an animated TV series,
died March 7, NPR reported. He was 63.
Initially created as a Christmas gift
in 1996 for his then three-year-old niece Olivia, the first
Olivia book was published in 2000. It has sold more than 10 million
copies and won numerous awards. He went on to illustrate and write
seven sequels, culminating with Olivia the Spy in 2017.
Falconer began illustrating covers for
the New Yorker in 1996, producing 30 magazine covers over his career. NPR
noted that "it was this work that first caught the eye of Anne
Schwartz, then a children's book publisher at Simon & Schuster. In
an interview with NPR, Schwartz said she planned to commission Falconer to
illustrate another author's book project, but he was more interested in
showing her what was then the 100-page draft of Olivia." "You could tell immediately that
this was something really, really special," she said. "I
thought to myself, this is unlike anything I've ever seen before. I've just really
gotten lucky here."
I've been reading Laurie Halse Anderson's works for years, and I'm thrilled that she's been named the Lindgren Memorial laureate. Well deserved award, Ms Anderson! I'm a huge fan of Speak and Wintergirls.
American author Laurie Halse Anderson
has been named laureate of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award
https://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/x/pjJscFOIlOoI6ak1ckggTA~k1yJoKXv-hs8x6iUWpWipoMLg-gVdw,
which is given annually to authors, illustrators, oral
storytellers and reading promoters "for their outstanding
contribution to children's and young adult literature." The winner
receives five million Swedish kronor (about $466,200). The award ceremony
will be held May 30 in Stockholm.
The jury's citation said: "In her
tightly written novels for young adults, Laurie Halse Anderson gives
voice to the search for meaning, identity, and truth, both in the
present and the past. Her darkly radiant realism reveals the vital role
of time and memory in young people's lives. Pain and anxiety,
yearning and love, class and sex are investigated with stylistic precision
and dispassionate wit. With tender intensity, Laurie Halse Anderson
evokes, moods, and emotions and never shies from even the hardest things."
Anderson is the author of more than 30
books, including Shout; Speak; The Impossible Knife of Memory; and
Wintergirls. The prize organizers noted: "In her richly expressive
novels for young people--all narrated in the first person--Anderson gives
voice to the adolescent experience with sometimes brutal honesty. Here is
resignation, even desperation, but also a determination for change
kept alive by the search for meaning, identity, and truth. The
yearning for love and belonging is a recurring theme for Anderson....
Alongside her writing, she is powerfully committed to issues related
to sexual violence, diversity, and book censorship."
Falconer began illustrating covers for
the New Yorker in 1996, producing 30 magazine covers over his career. NPR
noted that "it was this work that first caught the eye of Anne
Schwartz, then a children's book publisher at Simon & Schuster. In
an interview with NPR, Schwartz said she planned to commission Falconer to
illustrate another author's book project, but he was more interested in
showing her what was then the 100-page draft of Olivia." "You could tell immediately that
this was something really, really special," she said. "I
thought to myself, this is unlike anything I've ever seen before. I've just really
gotten lucky here."
A Sinister Revenge by Deanna Raybourn is the 8th novel in her delicious Veronica Speedwell steampunk/romantic fantasy/mystery series. I've read all of Raybourn's clever mysteries, and I eagerly anticipate each new books arrival on my doorstep so that I can catch up on the latest in the romance of Veronica and Stoker, whose tempestuous relationship gets more engaging with each chapter. Here's the blurb:
Veronica must find and stop a devious killer when a group of old friends is targeted for death in this new adventure from the New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award–nominated author Deanna Raybourn.
Veronica’s
natural-historian beau, Stoker, has been away in Bavaria for months and
their relationship is at an impasse. But when Veronica shows up before
him with his brother, Tiberius, Lord Templeton-Vane, he is lured back
home by an intriguing job offer: preparing an iguanodon for a very
special dinner party.
Tiberius has received a cryptic
message—along with the obituaries of two recently deceased members of
his old group of friends, the Seven Sinners—that he too should get his
affairs in order. Realizing he is in grave danger but not knowing why,
he plans a reunion party for the remaining Sinners at his family estate
to lure the killer out while Veronica and Stoker investigate.
As
the guests arrive and settle in, the evening’s events turn deadly. More
clues come to light, leading Veronica, Stoker, and Tiberius to uncover a
shared past among the Sinners that has led to the fatal present. But
the truth might be far more sinister than what they were prepared for.
This book was a thrill ride from the first chapter to the last, especially considering that Stoker and Veronica are having a lover's spat and trying to sort out their feelings on a long term relationship with one another and how that would look in terms of lifestyle, especially for Veronica, who knows that women (especially in the 19th century) were expected to marry and produce children, when she realizes that she cherishes her independence and has no interest in marriage or children, ever. Though Veronica obviously loves Stoker, I was afraid that she might indulge herself with a brief affair with Stoker's brother Tiberius, who would welcome her attentions (I mean I realize a women has needs, but Stoker would never forgive her 'cheating' on him with his posh older half brother). Still, it all ends well, and Raybourn's lush and evocative prose danced along her well-trimmed plot that never faltered, though there were several twists and turns. I'd give this book an A, and recommend it to anyone who has read the other books in this series.
A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross is a Celtic-centered fantasy mystery with all manner of gorgeous world building and beautifully realized characters that nearly walk off the page. Here's the blurb: House of Earth and Blood meets The Witch's Heart in
Rebecca Ross’s brilliant first adult fantasy, set on the magical isle
of Cadence where two childhood enemies must team up to discover why
girls are going missing from their clan.
Jack
Tamerlaine hasn’t stepped foot on Cadence in ten long years, content to
study music at the mainland university. But when young girls start
disappearing from the isle, Jack is summoned home to help find them.
Enchantments run deep on Cadence: gossip is carried by the wind, plaid
shawls can be as strong as armor, and the smallest cut of a knife can
instill fathomless fear. The capricious spirits that rule the isle by
fire, water, earth, and wind find mirth in the lives of the humans who
call the land home. Adaira, heiress of the east and Jack’s childhood
enemy, knows the spirits only answer to a bard’s music, and she hopes
Jack can draw them forth by song, enticing them to return the missing
girls.
As Jack and Adaira reluctantly work together,
they find they make better allies than rivals as their partnership turns
into something more. But with each passing song, it becomes apparent
the trouble with the spirits is far more sinister than they first
expected, and an older, darker secret about Cadence lurks beneath the
surface, threatening to undo them all.
With unforgettable characters, a fast-paced plot, and compelling world building, A River Enchanted is
a stirring story of duty, love, and the power of true partnership, and
marks Rebecca Ross’s brilliant entry on the adult fantasy stage.
Cadence, the world this fantasy/legend is built in reads like historic Scotland, a place where fae creatures are placated and feared for their ability to wreak havoc on their magical human counterparts. So there's a tension that is created between the beauty and function of magic and the magical creatures whose agenda seems to be in direct conflict with that of the humans, who are often looked upon with derision and disgust by the very creatures of air/water/fire and earth who see them as prey. Though I realize that Adaira is the female protagonist to Jack's male protagonist, I thought she was unnecessarily cruel and unpleasant, even after she marries Jack for somewhat murky reasons (she claims to eventually love him, but I don't really buy it). On the other hand, Jack seemed to lack spine, and was wishy-washy in his decision-making of whether to stay or go off the Island. This novel, like good Scotch whiskey, is meant to be sipped and savored for it's divine prose and dreamy plot. I'd give it an A, and recommend it to fans of TJ Kline and Patricia McKillip. Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne was recommended to me because I liked the delightful Legends and Lattes series. Fortunately, it did not disappoint, with an LGBTQ character-driven plot and mesmerizing prose that kept the characters (and setting) interesting. Here's the blurb:
"You like tea. I like books. Care to open a shop and forget the world exists?"
All
Reyna and Kianthe want is to open a bookshop that serves tea. Worn
wooden floors, plants on every table, firelight drifting between the
rafters… all complemented by love and good company. Thing is, Reyna
works as one of the Queen’s private guards, and Kianthe is the most
powerful mage in existence. Leaving their lives isn’t so easy.
But
after an assassin takes Reyna hostage, she decides she’s thoroughly
done risking her life for a self-centered queen. Meanwhile, Kianthe has
been waiting for a chance to flee responsibility–all the better that her
girlfriend is on board. Together, they settle in Tawney, a town nestled
in the icy tundra of dragon country, and open the shop of their dreams.
What
follows is a cozy tale of mishaps, mysteries, and a murderous queen
throwing the realm’s biggest temper tantrum. In a story brimming with
hurt/comfort and quiet fireside conversations, these two women will
discover just what they mean to each other… and the world.
While there is a bit of pandering to fantasy and lesbian romance tropes in this book, it's all done with a lightheartedness and genuine love of books and tea that fairly flies off the page and lands in your tea mug. Reyna and Key are fun characters, but I felt that for all her power, Kianthe, or Key, as Reyna calls her, comes off as somewhat immature and spiteful and silly, pouting like a teenage girl when she doesn't get her way. Fortunately Reyna has spine and strength enough for both of them, but at times I wondered if they didn't find each other's foibles tiresome. Still, this is a fantasy world I'd happily return to, if any sequels are in the offing. I'd give it a B+, and recommend it to fans of Legends and Lattes.The Cybernetic Tea Shop by Meredith Katz is a science fiction/romance novella that could be considered a short story, though it's well written enough that it leaves readers thirsting for more tales of the spunky AI repair gal and the 275 year old AI Cybernetic shop assistant who pines for her former owner by keeping her tea shop alive. Here's the blurb:
Clara Gutierrez is an AI repair technician and a wanderer. Her
childhood with her migrant worker family has left her uncomfortable with
lingering for too long, so she moves from place to place across
retro-futuristic America.
Sal is a fully autonomous robot. Older
than the law declaring her kind illegal due to ethical concerns, she is
at best out of place in society and at worst vilified. She continues to
run the tea shop previously owned by her long-dead master, lost in
memories of the past, struggling to fulfill her master's dream for the
shop while slowly breaking down.
They meet by chance, but as they begin to spend time together, they both start to wrestle with the concept of moving on...
A
F/F retro-future sci-fi asexual romance. A story about artificial
intelligence and real kindness, about love, and the feeling of watching
steam rising softly from a teacup on a bright and quiet morning.
This is one of those stories that is just a jewel of beautiful prose and a heartwarming storyline combined with unforgettable characters that stays with you your whole life.There isn't much I can say without spoiling it for future readers, other than to note that I fell in love with sad and sweet Sal, whose heart outpaced that of the humans around her by a factor of 10. Katz's prose and storytelling reminded me of a combination of Ray Bradbury's masterful short works and Ursula LeGuins tender futuristic lovers who don't let their sex define them. Seriously, READ THIS STORY. It shouldn't take more than an hour or two to do so, and you will be glad you did, even if it makes you cry, as it did me (got me right in the feels, as the kids say today). I'd give it an A, and recommend it to every sentient being on the planet. This is art in word form, and it will move you, I guarantee it.
Unraveled (Elemental Assassin #15) by Jennifer Estep was the latest installment of the tale of Gin Blanco, Southern BBQ diner owner and assassin extraordinaire, that I managed to snag for a decent price as an e-book for my Kindle Paperwhite. Though the stories are beginning to get redundant and have a familiar story arc that readers can easily anticipate, I have come to see Estep's Spider books as something of a palate-cleanser. I can read one of her books when I'm between books and need to get something heavier out of my mind before I move on to the next tome awaiting me on my TBR pile. Here's the blurb: Danger and new enemies await Gin Blanco, aka the Spider—the world of Ashland’s most fearsome assassin—in Unraveled, Book 15
What could go wrong when you’re trying to unravel a decades-old conspiracy?
As the current queen of the Ashland underworld, you would think that I,
Gin Blanco, would know all about some secret society controlling things
from behind the scenes.
I might be the Spider, the city’s most
fearsome assassin, but all my Ice and Stone elemental magic hasn’t done
me a lick of good in learning more about “the Circle”. Despite my
continued investigations, the trail’s gone as cold as the coming winter.
So when Finnegan Lane, my foster brother, gets word of a surprising
inheritance, we figure why not skip town for someplace less dangerous
for a few days? That place: Bullet Pointe, a fancy hotel resort complex
plus Old West theme park that Finn now owns lock, stock, and barrel.
At
first, all the struttin’ cowboys and sassy saloon girls are just hokey
fun. But add in some shady coincidences and Circle assassins lurking all
around, and vacationing becomes wilder—and deadlier—than any of us
expected.
Good thing this assassin brought plenty of knives to the gunfight!
This particular installment takes place in a "Wild West" theme park, and there are so many cliches and tropes woven into the story that you have to laugh at how clumsy and ridiculous the action gets at times. And of course, as usual, Gin is left to save the day and save her friends, who rarely seem to be able to get their sh*t together long enough to not be used as leverage to kill Gin or be put out of action by their own stupidity. These are people who are Gin's family and lover, and they always claim to be ready to "save" her or help her with the book's latest villain, but they just can't seem to cut it, and Gin ends up half dead, wounded and bloody, every time in the end. With friends and family like that, who really needs enemies? If I were Gin I would have dumped these numbskulls a long time ago, but no, she's all sentimental and wears rose colored glasses where they're concerned. The least she could do is tell them to stay behind in Ashland or get them to go home at the first sign of trouble, so they can't be held hostage and used against her. Sigh. Anyway, it all ends well, of course, but I found it more than a bit of a let down, and the story arc was flimsy and silly. Esteps prose is competent, and her plots usually whip along fairly quickly, thank heaven, but I'm inclined to leave this rodeo with a C+ and a recommendation only to serious completists who have to read a series in it's entirety.
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