It's almost All Hallows Eve/Halloween/Samhain, folks, and that means November is on the horizon! All the final books of the year are being pushed by booksellers, and my husbands and sons birthdays are up next month, followed by my 65th on December 12, which I am really looking forward to. Unfortunately, I also have an endoscopy/colonoscopy scheduled for a few days after my birthday, so I will have to really enjoy myself before doing the dreaded flush-out/prep needed before those tests. Meanwhile, I'm reading up a storm under cozy covers and while drinking hot tea and taking delicious afternoon naps. Here are reviews of some of my latest reads, along with tidbits culled from Shelf Awareness.
I've always been a fan of Dumas' the Count of Monte Cristo, because I like to believe in the revenge aspect as a sort of karma for those who wrong others and think they can get away with it. This sounds like a great new take on this classic tale.
TV:
The Countess of Monte Cristo
The Countess of Monte Cristo, a
reimagining of the classic novel by Alexandre Dumas, has begun
filming an eight-part mini-series for TF1 & Netflix. Starring and
produced by Audrey Fleurot (HPI), the project's cast that also
includes Simon Ehrlacher, Zabou Breitman, Kad Merad, Thierry Godard,
& Eric Elmosnino, and Olivia Crote, Deadline reported.
The series is being directed by Djibril
Glissant and Leonardo D'Antoni,
with shooting taking place in Malta and
the Czech Republic. Fleurot is
co-producing under Bahia Blanca, the
production company she founded with
her partner Glissant, alongside
Itinraire Productions, the
production house behind HPI.
"This is what will allow me to
turn the page on HPI without grieving too
much, because I'm opening another one
where I'm also a producer," said
Fleurot. "I've really followed the
project from A to Z, I'm very
involved, it's really my baby. I'm
excited and it scares me too. But at
least if it's not good, I'll only have
myself to blame."
I read Susan G's works on rape, pornography and gender politics, and the misogyny rampant throughout society/culture. She was brilliant and angry and she will be missed. RIP.
Obituary
Note: Susan Griffin
Susan Griffin, an influential poet,
playwright, and prolific feminist author "who pioneered a unique
form of creative nonfiction, blending propulsive,
poetic prose with history, memoir and
myth in books like Woman and
Nature: The Roaring Inside Her,"
died September 30, the New York Times
reported. She was 82. Griffin focused
on the effects of a patriarchal
Western belief system, exploring "how
capitalism, science, religion and
even the porn industry have subjugated
the natural world to its
detriment and ours, and how that
subjugation is a gendered one."
She was one of the first poets
published by Shameless Hussy Press. In
1975, Griffin won an Emmy Award for
Voices, a play about the experiences
of five women that was shown on public
television and later staged
around the world.
Griffin's book Woman and Nature (1978),
however, "made her a feminist
rock star," the Times wrote,
adding that it focused on "the violence
that men have perpetrated on the
natural world, and on women, and how it
would benefit the planet to rethink the
more dangerous advances of
modernity and technology."
She dedicated the book to her friend,
the poet Adrienne Rich, who called
it "perhaps the most extraordinary
nonfiction work to have emerged from
the matrix of contemporary female
consciousness, a fusion of patriarchal
science, ecology, female history and
feminism, written by a poet who has
created a new form for her vision."
Rebecca Solnit, the feminist author and
activist, called Griffin "one of
the senior public intellectuals of
Berkeley.... I can't think of anyone
else who brought that kind of poetics
and visionary quality to writing
about intensely political subjects."
Her other books include Rape: The
Politics of Consciousness (1979),
Pornography and Silence: Culture's
Revenge Against Nature (1981),
Unremembered Country: Poems (1987), A
Chorus of Stones: The Private Life of War (1993), The Eros of
Everyday Life: Essays on Ecology, Gender and Society (1995), Bending
Home: Selected New Poems, 1967-1998 (1998), What Her Body Thought: A
Journey into the Shadows (1999), The Book of the Courtesans: a
Catalogue of Their Virtues (2001), and Wrestling with the Angel of
Democracy: On Being an American Citizen (2008).
Poetry is "like music,"
Griffin told the Times in 2024. "It expresses
things you haven't quite integrated
into your rational mind. It's the
cutting edge of social change. Things
would come out in poetry that
later could be articulated in policy or
ideas."
This sounds amazing, and I look forward to streaming it when it lands on whichever service gets it first.
Movies:
In Love
George Clooney and Annette Bening are
set to star in a film adaptation
of Amy Bloom's memoir, In Love: A
Memoir of Love and Loss.
The project will be directed by Paul
Weitz, who co-wrote the script with
Bloom, Deadline reported, calling In
Love "an illuminating, modern love
story about two people who make an
impossible decision together that
honors their enduring commitment to
each other."
"Amy's memoir is a contemporary
fable of love, wit and existential
stakes," Weitz said. "I can't
wait to do it justice with this amazing
cast." "I have been so lucky to work with
Eddie and Julie, so lucky to write
with Paul and so grateful that this
story of lasting love gets to be
told on the screen, in Paul's gifted
hands, by two of the greatest
actors in America," Bloom said.
YES! The First Amendment has taken a beating in recent years due to the fascist pumpkin POTUS in the white house, but fortunately there are a number of people and companies willing to fight back, though its hard to do in this day and age where propaganda is substituted for the truth.
Quotation
of the Day
Penguin Random House on Trump Suit: 'We
Continue to Stand for the First Amendment'
"With a second attempt, this
lawsuit remains meritless. Penguin Random
House will continue to stand by the
book and its authors just as we will
continue to stand for the important
fundamental principles of the First
Amendment."--Penguin Random
House's response to President Trump's refiled $15 billion defamation
lawsuit against PRH, the New York Times, and three New York Times
reporters--originally filed in September and
thrown out by a judge
Last Night Was Fun by Holly Michelle is a contemporary rom-com that was fun to read and had strong prose with a zippy plot that never stalled going for it. Here's the blurb: This frothy and fun sports & sand rom-com really delivers the perfect beach read with just the right amount of spice. I loved that it focused on women succeeding in male-dominated career fields, and I enjoyed the witty banter of their texting. I would give this cheap ebook a B+, and recommend it to anyone on vacation looking for something distracting during those long plane rides.
The Long Way Home by Robin Pilcher was yet another ebook contemporary romance, written by famed author Rosamund Pilcher's son, Robin. Unfortunately, Robin didn't inherit the family writing talent, and this cliche-ridden novel was full of typos and grammos that detract from the story in a big way. Here's the blurb: In the vein of Maeve Binchy, Rosamunde Pilcher, and Nicholas Sparks, New York Times bestselling author Robin Pilcher returns with his most enchanting novel yet, filled with captivating twists and turns of heart.
Claire Barclay has returned to the home in Scotland where she spent her teenage years, affording her the chance to spend time with her much-loved stepfather, Leo, her only living parent. But recognizing that Leo's health is jeopardized, Claire extends her stay, becoming more and more frustrated as his own grown children seem more concerned about preserving their financial assets than their father's health.
Meanwhile, Claire is desperately trying to avoid Jonas, the old flame who broke her heart many years ago. In the intervening years, he has become Leo's neighbor and trusted confidant. Soon he's asking Claire to trust him again, on a matter which will profoundly affect Leo. Can she forget the past and put her faith in someone who once hurt her so deeply?
This enchanting story From New York Times bestselling author Robin Pilcher takes us into the heart of a family, reminding us that sometimes the only way forward is by revisiting the past.
Claire Barclay has returned to the home in Scotland where she spent her teenage years, affording her the chance to spend time with her much-loved stepfather, Leo, her only living parent. But recognizing that Leo's health is jeopardized, Claire extends her stay, becoming more and more frustrated as his own grown children seem more concerned about preserving their financial assets than their father's health.
Meanwhile, Claire is desperately trying to avoid Jonas, the old flame who broke her heart many years ago. In the intervening years, he has become Leo's neighbor and trusted confidant. Soon he's asking Claire to trust him again, on a matter which will profoundly affect Leo. Can she forget the past and put her faith in someone who once hurt her so deeply?
This enchanting story From New York Times bestselling author Robin Pilcher takes us into the heart of a family, reminding us that sometimes the only way forward is by revisiting the past.
This story was just plain odd, and hard to read because there were so many typos and words missing that it felt like it was written by AI or someone for whom English is a second language, and poorly translated. The plot was weird and difficult to understand, while the characters were all stupid and two-dimensional. I wonder why Robin felt the need to go into the family business when its obvious he has very little writing talent? At any rate, I'm glad this ebook was on sale for under 2 dollars, because it wasn't really worth more than that. I'd give it a C, and only recommend it to those who like color by numbers romances with weak characters and holey plots.
Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher is a dark retelling of the Snow White fairy tale, complete with strange magic and one cool cat. Here's the blurb: This is a gorgeous hardcover edition of T Kingfisher's latest masterwork featuring bright
green sprayed edges, a foil stamp on the casing, and custom endpapers
illustrated by the author.
From New York Times bestselling and Hugo Award-winning author T. Kingfisher comes Hemlock & Silver, a dark reimagining of “Snow White” steeped in poison, intrigue, and treason of the most magical kind
Healer Anja regularly drinks poison.
Not to die, but to save―seeking cures for those everyone else has given up on.
But a summons from the King interrupts her quiet, herb-obsessed life. His daughter, Snow, is dying, and he hopes Anja’s unorthodox methods can save her.
Aided by a taciturn guard, a narcissistic cat, and a passion for the scientific method, Anja rushes to treat Snow, but nothing seems to work. That is, until she finds a secret world, hidden inside a magic mirror. This dark realm may hold the key to what is making Snow sick. Or it might be the thing that kills them all.
From New York Times bestselling and Hugo Award-winning author T. Kingfisher comes Hemlock & Silver, a dark reimagining of “Snow White” steeped in poison, intrigue, and treason of the most magical kind
Healer Anja regularly drinks poison.
Not to die, but to save―seeking cures for those everyone else has given up on.
But a summons from the King interrupts her quiet, herb-obsessed life. His daughter, Snow, is dying, and he hopes Anja’s unorthodox methods can save her.
Aided by a taciturn guard, a narcissistic cat, and a passion for the scientific method, Anja rushes to treat Snow, but nothing seems to work. That is, until she finds a secret world, hidden inside a magic mirror. This dark realm may hold the key to what is making Snow sick. Or it might be the thing that kills them all.
Creepy mirror-worlds and the silver apples that grow there, plus a Sherlock-style poison specialist take center stage in this fascinating fairytale reboot. The divine prose that we've all come to expect from Kingfisher dovetails with a twisty and strange plot to make this book almost impossible to put down. I was engrossed from page one, as I have been with every other novel of hers that I've read. I had no idea that she was also a quality artist, but the illustrations in this book are also top notch. Though I'm in no way a botanist, I found myself riveted by the various uses of plants and herbs brought to bear in this novel, and the cruel family dynamics that seem to be "normal" for young royal women of a certain era. I'd give this secretly obsessive novel an A, and recommend it to anyone interested in a fresh take on the Snow White legend...trust me when I say you'll never look at a mirror the same way again.
Silvercloak by L.K. Steven is an action/adventure dark romantasy that posits the idea that pain is sexy and love is a liability, which I completely disagree with. Here's the blurb: An addictive new fantasy series where magic is
fueled by pleasure and pain and an obsessive detective must infiltrate a
brutal gang of dark mages—knowing that one wrong move will get her
killed.
Two decades ago, the Bloodmoons ruthlessly murdered Saffron Killoran’s parents, destroying her idyllic childhood. Hell-bent on revenge, she lies her way into Silvercloak Academy—the training ground for her city’s elite order of detectives—with a single goal: to bring the Bloodmoons to justice.
But when Saff’s deception is exposed, rather than being cast out, she’s given a rare opportunity: to go undercover and tear the Bloodmoons down from the inside.
Descending into a world where pleasure and pain are the most powerful currencies, Saff must commit some truly heinous deeds to keep her cover—and her life. Not only are there rival gangs and sinister smuggling rings to contend with, but there’s also her growing feelings for the kingpin’s tortured son, with his vicious pet fallowwolf, his dark past, and the curious prophecy foretelling his death at Saffron’s hand.
With each day testing her loyalties further, Saff finds her web of lies becoming harder to spin. And when one false step could destroy everything and everyone she’s ever loved . . . the detective who’s dedicated her life to vengeance just might die for it.
This depressing torture porn with romantasy interwoven in a sick way tries to get readers to believe that drug addiction is a viable way to deal with grief...I feel strongly that it's not. But apparently therapy is not an option for those in this book. The prose was repetitive and the plot dour and pain-filled, so that it was horrific and dull at the same time. I was hoping for the female protagonist to triumph, but she she falls into a helpless love-thrall with the evil male protagonist who hasn't got any redeeming qualities except his good looks, which apparently rule over all other reg flags. How utterly shallow and ridiculous. I felt that this sad novel deserved a C+ at best, and unless you're a masochist who enjoys reading about pain and suffering, I can't really recommend it to you. Needless to say I will not be seeking the sequel.
Two decades ago, the Bloodmoons ruthlessly murdered Saffron Killoran’s parents, destroying her idyllic childhood. Hell-bent on revenge, she lies her way into Silvercloak Academy—the training ground for her city’s elite order of detectives—with a single goal: to bring the Bloodmoons to justice.
But when Saff’s deception is exposed, rather than being cast out, she’s given a rare opportunity: to go undercover and tear the Bloodmoons down from the inside.
Descending into a world where pleasure and pain are the most powerful currencies, Saff must commit some truly heinous deeds to keep her cover—and her life. Not only are there rival gangs and sinister smuggling rings to contend with, but there’s also her growing feelings for the kingpin’s tortured son, with his vicious pet fallowwolf, his dark past, and the curious prophecy foretelling his death at Saffron’s hand.
With each day testing her loyalties further, Saff finds her web of lies becoming harder to spin. And when one false step could destroy everything and everyone she’s ever loved . . . the detective who’s dedicated her life to vengeance just might die for it.
This depressing torture porn with romantasy interwoven in a sick way tries to get readers to believe that drug addiction is a viable way to deal with grief...I feel strongly that it's not. But apparently therapy is not an option for those in this book. The prose was repetitive and the plot dour and pain-filled, so that it was horrific and dull at the same time. I was hoping for the female protagonist to triumph, but she she falls into a helpless love-thrall with the evil male protagonist who hasn't got any redeeming qualities except his good looks, which apparently rule over all other reg flags. How utterly shallow and ridiculous. I felt that this sad novel deserved a C+ at best, and unless you're a masochist who enjoys reading about pain and suffering, I can't really recommend it to you. Needless to say I will not be seeking the sequel.
The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk by Carissa Broadbent is a dark fantasy/horror novel that has 63 pages up front of pure torture porn, complete with prose that is dry and excruciating and a plot that grinds to a standstill and never recovers, but limps along for all the pages that you can tolerate reading (it depends on how inured you are to horror fiction...I'm not a fan of the horror genre, myself). The next 100 pages pick up a bit, and around then a quest for magical "god" items gets underway in fits and starts. Here's the blurb:
Carissa Broadbent returns with a brand new novel in the Crowns of Nyaxia series, The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk.
Mische
made the ultimate sacrifice to save those she loves – and plunged the
world into an eternal night. Now, imprisoned by the gods and obsessed
with revenge, Asar is desperate to find her again.
When
a goddess offers them a final path to redemption – and back to each
other – Asar and Mische embark on an extraordinary mission. Together,
they must seize the power of the god of death so Asar may do the
impossible: ascend to true divinity.
Their journey
will take them through mortal and immortal realms, alongside both old
friends and ruthless enemies. But as the underworld teeters on the brink
of collapse and the gods prepare for a war, Asar and Mische must decide
what they are willing to sacrifice for the power to defy death. In a
game of vengeful gods and ancient betrayals, there are some debts that
even love may not be able to repay.
All the melodramatic suffering and woe is like reading a tedious psychopath's handbook, if you don't mind being bored by reading the same bloody paragraphs over and over. The gods/goddesses in the book are all evil narcissists who are so hateful to humans that its difficult to imagine humans worshiping them. Try as I might, I couldn't make it beyond 180 pages of this dreadful work of fiction. Therefore I'd give this half of this awful novel a D, and I can't think of anyone to recommend it to, its that awful.
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