Strand Bookstore in NYC Opens Cafe Fred, Lincoln in the Bardo Movie, Rival Radio by Kathryn Nolan, The Forgotten Book Club by Kate Storey, The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood and Fries and Alibis by Trixie Silvertale

The final week of a rough and tumble February has arrived...this means March and Easter and Spring are right around the corner. Time to fill your Easter baskets with chocolate and books, my fellow readers! I've been gathering lots of new and used books for my TBR, which now stands as a proud tower of tantalizing wordsmithing atop my bureau in my room, and in my bed and on my book cart. Though its been snowing on the East Coast, here in the PNW, its been chilly and raining, but so far, no snow. At the end of the week, my son leaves for Canada to visit his fiancee, and I will have to fend for myself for a bit. Still, books have been my constant friends, so they should see me through. I've got some interesting tomes to talk about, so listen up, amigos and amigas!

NYC has been on my bucket list for a long time, not only because of the wonders of Broadway, but also because of iconic bookstores like the Strand, which I would love to visit at least once in my lifetime. Now it looks like they not only offer a staggering collection of books, they also offer tea and pastries! Hurrah!

Strand Bookstore Opens Cafe Fred in Flagship Store

The Strand Bookstore, New York City, has opened a cafe in its flagship Union Square store. Named Cafe Fred in honor of Fred Bass, the late longtime second-generation owner of the Strand, this is the second Cafe Fred, which made its debut in the Strand's Lincoln Center store.

Cafe Fred serves coffee from La Colombe Coffee Roasters, pastries from Ole and Steen, and tea.

Nancy Bass Wyden, third-generation owner of Strand Bookstore, said, "Naming Cafe Fred after my dad felt like a natural choice. He loved books, people, and New York City, and he believed The Strand should always be a place where everyone is welcome. Cafe Fred is a tribute to his spirit and a way to honor the warmth and literary community he brought to the store every day."

I have to confess that I DNF'd this book (did not finish) but I should have given it another go and been more patient, as I'm told its one of those books that stays with you long after you've finished reading it. Now its coming out as an animation hybrid movie with Tom Hanks, which should be fascinating. So perhaps I don't have to grab another copy and try to read it again, I can just see the movie (I can hear you gasp, fellow "Books are always better than their movie adaptation" people). Sorry.

Movies: Lincoln in the Bardo

Tom Hanks will play Abraham Lincoln in Starburns Industries' live-action/stop-motion animation hybrid movie Lincoln in the Bardo, based on the 2017 Booker Prize-winning novel by George Saunders, Deadline reported.

Hanks is also producing through his Playtone label with partner Gary Goetzman. Production will take place in London. Saunders is adapting his novel with filmmaker Duke Johnson (Anomalisa), who will direct and produce.

Lincoln in the Bardo "will employ a unique blend of stop-motion animation and live action to explore one of the most intimate moments of Lincoln's life, centering on his relationship with his recently deceased 11-year-old son," Deadline wrote. "The movie will explore themes of love, empathy and human capacity in the face of grief as the story unfolds through an ensemble of characters, both living and dead, historical and invented."

Rival Radio by Kathryn Nolan is an enemies to lovers rom-com with lots of spicy action and witty banter. Because my husband was involved in radio for over 20 years, I'm always intrigued to read how others view what goes on behind the microphone at a radio station, when radio is becoming a dinosaur medium. Here's the blurb: All’s fair in love and radio…

Dr. Theodore Chadwick is an expert on everything that I hate. On air, he’s the charming host of “True Romance,” giving advice to lovelorn listeners searching for their soulmates.
But off air? We’re at each other’s throats 24/7.

My romance-obsessed adversary might be stupidly attractive—with unfairly broad shoulders—but his cocky arrogance and cool demeanor only lead to constant bickering. Which is just fine by me. I prefer arguments over candle-lit dinners anyway. My radio show, “Choosing Yourself,” is all about embracing being single. And since being left at the altar by my no-show groom, I’ve built a career out of rejecting love and romance.

Until a budget crisis at our radio station forces us into the same sound booth, answering listener calls about love, sex and romance…together. Sure, our opinions are diametrically opposed. But if we can manage to keep it friendly on the air, our combined popularity might just save the station.
If we can keep it friendly.

And in the close quarters of the sound booth, it gets harder and harder to remember that Theo and I have sworn to hate each other.
I've always found good, rich voices to be terribly sexy, (Thurl Ravenscroft's rendition of "You're a mean one, Mr Grinch" used to thrill me as a child, before I even knew what sexual attraction was), so I totally get romantic attraction to men on air hosting radio shows. My husbands witty and funny demeanor the times he was on air drew me to him like a moth to a flame. So I get where Daria's coming from in her attraction to handsome Theo. Still, I found his overly sentimental attitude toward "romance" and "love" to be immature and grasping, because he was seeking to replace the parental warmth and acceptance he didn't receive with love and passion from a "romantic" mate, to whom he then becomes possessive and clingy, so he won't be abandoned again. Waaahhhhh. What a big baby. So NOT sexy, and a big red flag, but our heroine, who was abandoned and humiliated at the altar also is seeking someone to love her and stand by her as a stalwart mate, though she claims to be more interested in learning to love herself, which I fully support as a message for women. They do eventually come to realize that the other has a point, and once they start an affair, of course Daria immediately becomes accommodating and stupid, willing to do whatever it takes to get dick from handsome Theo. UGH. I hate it when women abandon all their principles and career for a man. Its so infantilizing and sexist. At any rate, the book's prose was smooth as silk, and I enjoyed the plot, which was straightforward, for the most part. I'd give it a B, and recommend it to anyone who is enamored of When Harry Met Sally.

 

The Forgotten Book Club by Kate Storey is a "women's fiction" story about friendship and grief and renewing your love of a reading a good cracking yarn. Here's the blurb: 

Life can begin with a single story. You just have to Bring Your Own Book…

For three decades, Grace supported her husband Frank’s passion for books, despite not being a reader herself. Since his passing, their shelves echo longingly, and Grace’s heartache has only grown.

When Grace’s grandson suggests joining Frank’s old book club to feel closer to him again, Grace reluctantly agrees. Yet, upon arrival, she discovers this isn’t a typical book club: here, members settle in for an hour of reading… in silence.

Disappointed by the sparse attendance and confused by the lack of chatter, Grace flees. But when fellow member, Annie, convinces her to stay, Grace is determined to ensure that neither Frank – nor his beloved book club – are forgotten.

And as she breathes new life into the group, Grace might just find this is where she truly belongs. Because this next chapter of life could just be the beginning of her story…

The perfect story for book lovers everywhere.

This is one of those books that you pick up because you think its going to be about one thing, aka bibliophiles, and then discover that it's actually about moving beyond grief and depression to start life anew. Being a bibliophile myself, I expected to love this book about a book group, but was then caught up in Grace's story of isolation and depression after the death of her husband Frank, and her discovery of his friends in the group and his journals reviewing all the books he was excited to read. Slowly she climbs out of the pit of despair and becomes a big part of the group, infusing it with her new ideas and energy, and in the process discovers her inner bibliophile who is ready to take on life again. Having just lost my husband, though he wasn't a nice reader like Frank (he was an abusive alcoholic), I could empathize with Graces feelings of fear and her isolation making her feel safe from the loud and cruel world. I've also lost my library book group that I lead for over a dozen years, and I dearly miss it. So I understood Grace's cowardice and cringing away from social interaction. I was glad that she allowed people in the book club to help her get back in the groove, and regain a full life. I sincerely wish that I could find a group to do the same for me, but I am fortunate to have my son to keep me from being a complete hermit since his father's death. I'd give this sweet novel a B+ and recommend it to anyone who has lost someone important to them and become isolated in their grief.

 

The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood is a ghostly/paranormal romcom about a young woman who only realizes how she's wasted her life once she's dead. Here's the blurb: A recently deceased woman meets “the one” in the afterlife waiting room, scoring a second chance at life (and love!) if she can find him on earth before ten days are up.

If she wasn’t dead already, Delphie would be dying of embarrassment. Not only did she just die by choking on a microwaveable burger, but now she’s standing in her ‘shine like a star’ nightie in front of the hottest man she’s ever seen. And he’s smiling at her.

As they start to chat, everything else becomes background noise. That is until someone comes running out of a door, yelling something about a huge mistake, and sends the dreamy stranger back down to earth. And here Delphie was thinking her luck might be different in the afterlife.  

When Delphie is offered a deal in which she can return to earth and reconnect with the mysterious man, she jumps at the opportunity to find her possible soulmate and a fresh start. But in a city of millions, Delphie is going to have to listen to her heart, learn to ask for help, and perhaps even see the magic in the life she’s leaving behind. 

What's interesting about this book is that the whole "afterlife angel gives you a deadline, literally, to find your random soul mate" trope is a total set up, (SPOILER) courtesy of the male protagonist, Cooper's dead twin sister. Yes, you read that right, the guy who Delphie actually falls for, her grumpy neighbor, has a dead twin sister whom he misses terribly, and who plots in the afterlife to find him a mate by sending Delphie on a wild goose chase back down on earth for 10 days of life...the only thing she has to do to get her life back is to have this red herring guy kiss her first, and then she can live out the rest of her life and have a lot of do-overs because she botched it the first time around. So this is really something of a "grumpy meets sunshine/manic pixie dream girl, all clumsy and adorably childlike" story that is so common in romance novels it needs its own genre, or sub genre. Gah. There's some good humor here, and witty bits that keep the plot moving, but I felt the prose needed cleaning up by a hardened, experienced editor. Still, it was a fast read, and I've give it a B-, and recommend it to anyone whose favorite old movies are The Ghost and Mrs Muir and It's a Wonderful Life.

 

Fries and Alibis by Trixie Silvertale is a self published large print trade paperback paranormal cozy mystery that was written, I believe, under a pseudonym (the author's name reminds me of a line from the wonderful TV series Lucifer: "Trixie's a hooker's name." Trixie, a child, responds, "What's a hooker?" Lucifer says "Ask your mother."). Mitzy Moon, the protagonist, inherits a magical bookshop, complete with a caracal cat (native to Africa and parts of Asia) and her grannie's ghost, to help her navigate her new home and her new reality, as she learns that she's not an orphan after all, and she's certainly not a murderer. Here's the blurb: 

A gift that’s too good to be true. A murder she didn’t commit. A barista in a latte trouble…

Mitzy Moon believes she’s an orphan, so she’s dumbstruck when a special delivery to her low-rent apartment reveals a family. But her shock turns to awe when she discovers her grandmother left her a fortune and a bookshop of rare tomes brimming with magic.

No sooner does she set foot in the quirky village of Pin Cherry Harbor to claim her inheritance, than the handsome sheriff catches her standing over a corpse. Desperate to prove her innocence, she’s forced to accept help from her granny’s entitled cat and a spirit from beyond the grave.

Can Mitzy and her otherworldly helpers uncover the real killer before the long, sexy arm of the law hauls her to jail?

Fries and Alibis is the first book in the hilarious paranormal cozy mystery series, Mitzy Moon Mysteries. (Complete series available now!) If you like amateur sleuths, small town intrigue, and a dash of the supernatural, then you’ll love Trixie Silvertale’s twisty whodunit.

There's a lot of hijinks in this story, and a wild ride tone that keeps the prose light and the plot swift and zingy. Still it reads as if it were written by someone immature, or inexperienced and trying too hard to be Travis Baldree or Lillian Jackson Braun. And while everyone's got to start somewhere, I believe that young and/or inexperienced writers should team up with writing mentors or experienced editors who can teach them how to frame a story and add depth. That said, I did like Mitzy and the town and bookstore, and I feel that within a few books, Ms Silvertale will probably hit her stride (at least I hope so). I'd give this freshman effort a B-, and recommend it to anyone just starting the cozy paranormal mystery genre, and looking for something light and playful.

 

A Literary Town Like Alice, Margo's Got Money Troubles Comes to TV, Robert Heinlein Award Goes to Andy Weir, The Last Wish of Bristol Keats by Mary E Pearson, Drinks and Sinkholes by S Usher Evans,Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood and Stolen Midnights by Katherine Quinn

Welcome to the third week of February, and I've got some interesting books to review. I've been stocking up on titles because Nick is flying to Canada for two weeks in March, so I will be without access to Half Price Books or grocery stores or any appointments while he's gone. But having enough to read is, for me, as essential as having enough to eat or drink, so I'm making sure I'm all squared away with a hefty TBR this month. Without further ado, here's a few tidbits and four new book reviews. Stay warm and dry, bibliophiles!

I remember reading a Town Like Alice back when I was a preteen, and it opened up a whole new world for me, as prior to that I don't think I'd read anything about Australia or its denizens. Later this would come in handy when the whole "Thornbirds" craze began, and everyone started reading CMcC books that took place there. 

A Literary Town Like Alice

Alice Springs "has become one of Australia's most prolific literary towns," ABC News reported, noting that from Nevil Shute's A Town Like Alice to Bruce Chatwin's The Songlines, the town "has long captured the imagination of writers seeking solitude, inspiration, and a deeper connection to the Australian landscape.

Bronwyn Druce, manager of Red Kangaroo Books, said, "A Town Like Alice and Songlines are both classics and still selling strong, but there are now more books being published, particularly by First Nations authors, telling their own stories of growing up and living on Arrernte country." 

Named Australian Bookseller of the Year in 2023, Red Kangaroo Books is the only bricks-and-mortar bookshop within a 900-mile radius and it plays a central role in supporting local writers, ABC News noted, adding that Central Australia "is home to its own Indigenous publishing house, alongside an active Northern Territory Writers Centre, which regularly hosts readings and storytelling events--often outdoors, under the stars."

"I can only separate nonfiction and fiction. In the kids' top 10, eight books are by First Nations authors and local," Druce said.

This has an all-star cast and crew, and it sounds wonderfully heartwarming and funny. I will have to re-up my Apple TV subscription later on, when I can afford it.

TV: Margo's Got Money Troubles

Apple TV released teaser for Margo's Got Money Troubles, based on Rufi Thorpe's bestselling novel. The eight-episode series, starring Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer, Nicole Kidman, and Nick Offerman, premieres globally on April 15 with three episodes, followed by new episodes every Wednesday through May 20. David E. Kelley serves as showrunner, writer, and exec producer.

Margo's Got Money Troubles "is a bold, heartwarming, and comedic family drama following recent college dropout and aspiring writer, Margo (Fanning), the daughter of an ex-Hooters waitress (Pfeiffer) and ex-pro wrestler (Offerman), as she's forced to make her way with a new baby, a mounting pile of bills and a dwindling amount of ways to pay them," Apple TV noted.The cast also includes Marcia Gay Harden, Greg Kinnear, Michael Angarano, Rico Nasty, and Lindsey Normington. Dearbhla Walsh directs the pilot and serves as an executive producer.

Andy Weir more than deserves this award, as his "Martian" and "Project Hail Mary" are exemplary science fiction novels that carry a sociological burden of reflecting a part of society (learning to live with alien cultures, accepting "the other") we tend to ignore, much to our cultural impoverishment. 

Awards: Robert A. Heinlein Winner

 Andy Weir won the Robert A. Heinlein Award, which honors "outstanding published works in science fiction and technical writings that inspire the human exploration of space." Weir's books include The Martian, Artemis, and Project Hail Mary.

Organizers cited Weir's novels, "which have blended the best elements of science fact with the aspirations of traditional science fiction with a flare for engaging a new generation of readers." The award will be presented on May 22, during opening ceremonies for Balticon 60, the 60th Maryland Regional Science Fiction Convention. Balticon and the Robert A. Heinlein Award are both managed and sponsored by the Baltimore Science Fiction Society.

The Last Wish of Bristol Keats by Mary E Pearson is the second half of a duology that I had high expectation of, after reading book 1. Unfortunately, though the prose was smooth and clear/clean, the plot rambled and bumped along, taking every opportunity to flashback and go on a tangent, until most readers would be ready to chuck the book out of a window in frustration. Here's the blurb: Be wary of the legends you hear. Who knows, one day you may be a legend yourself.

After Bristol Keats nearly loses her beloved King Tyghan to the monsters her mother had unleashed, their love deepens to a whole new level. Together, Bristol and Tyghan work to understand and reconcile their differences, moving forward with their common goal of saving Elphame. But when a daring rescue attempt turns into a disaster, and a beloved knight dies, Bristol is forced to confront the fact that her mother is more powerful than she could have ever imagined―and more dangerous. Meanwhile, Tyghan’s heart is laid bare when he encounters his former best friend and betrayer again, Bristol's own father, and must wrestle with a new secret that throws everything he thought he knew about his past into question.

Bristol is Elphame’s last chance for survival, but where do her loyalties truly lie? If she fully embraces the magic that has always been her birthright, she could become a different kind of monster from her mother. Is she willing to risk losing the people she loves most, if it means keeping them safe?

Brimming with dark secrets, lush world-building, and addictive romance, The Last Wish of Bristol Keats is the unforgettable conclusion to New York Times bestselling author Mary E. Pearson's first adult series.  

I disagree with the blurb, the romance was pedestrian and the love scenes paint-by-numbers, and the immaturity level of Bristol K became rather irritating by the second chapter. I also found Bristol's determination to bring her parents, who were psychopathic killers, "home" to our world, and to save her sisters and herself from the people set to kill them in revenge for their evil exploits, to be ridiculous. If your parents are monsters who continue to act out their rage fantasies at the expense of an entire people, you certainly don't want to bring them back to a world where they'd get frustrated by the lack of magic and wreak havoc on the population there, possibly of their own daughters. Bristol's overly optimistic attitude and attempts to save her parents is nothing short of needy and pathetic. The books ending is also very sentimental and syrupy, complete with marriage and children, which are deemed the only way for a woman to be truly happy (gag). I would give this lackluster sequel a B- at best, and only recommend it to those who insist on knowing what happened after the events of book 1. 

 

Drinks and Sinkholes by S Usher Evans is a cozy fantasy/mystery that is a fast and satisfying read, though some of the prose is a bit immature. Here's the blurb: 

Warm beds, cozy mysteries, and the best rosemary bread this side of Pigsend Creek. Welcome to the Weary Dragon Inn.

Bev may not know who she was before she showed up in the quaint village of Pigsend five years ago, but that doesn't bother her much. She's made a tidy little life for herself as the proprietor of the Weary Dragon Inn, where the most notable event is when she makes her famous rosemary bread.

But when earthquakes and sinkholes start appearing all over town, including near Bev's front door, she's got to put on her sleuthing hat to figure out what—or who—might be causing them before the entire town disappears.

Drinks and Sinkholes is the first book in the Weary Dragon Inn Series, a cozy fantasy mystery by award-winning author S. Usher Evans.

Though the prose is simple and clean, the plot is way too easy for an adult cozy mystery. There's some silliness that keeps readers laughing, but Bev is just too transparent as a main character, and she allows others to control her in various passive aggressive ways. The town characters are all tropes and allegories, and the mystery is easily figured out. I'd give this book a B- and recommend it to teenagers looking for something different.

 

Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood is a spicy romantic novella by a famed YA rom-com novelist. Having read several of her previous novels, I expected this to be a solid effort, and I was not disappointed. Here's the blurb: An enemies-to-lovers spicy novella set in the world of video gaming from the New York Times bestselling author of Problematic Summer Romance.

 
Viola Bowen has the chance of a lifetime: to design a video game based on her all-time favorite book series. The only problem? Her co-lead is Jesse F-ing Andrews, aka her archnemesis. Jesse has made it abundantly clear over the years that he wants nothing to do with her—and Viola has no idea why.

When their bosses insist a wintery retreat is the perfect team-building exercise, Viola can’t think of anything worse. Being freezing cold in a remote mountain lodge knowing Jesse is right next door? No, thank you.

But as the snow piles on, Viola discovers there’s more to Jesse than she knew, and heat builds in more ways than one.

Even if you're not a videogamer (as I am not) or a member of the generation of kids who grew up playing them, like millenials or gen Z,  female protagonist Viola will speak to women young and old with her struggles to be seen and recognized for her talent at creating videogames instead of her sexual orientation. I enjoyed the spare plot and the sleek and concise prose, all leading to a Hallmark conclusion that was disappointing because the female gives up her independence for a relationship with the male protagonist, seemingly with ease. Now instead of building the videogame of her dreams, she is only co-producing the game with her former sexist enemy, now her lover, Jesse. Booo! Still, I'd give the book a B, and recommend it to those who liked Gabrielle Zevin's Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow.

 

Stolen Midnights by Katherine Quinn is the first book in a YA romantasy duology  by veteran romance author Quinn. The book is gorgeously produced, from the gilt cover illustration over a midnight blue background to the pink rose endpapers that will draw the eye of artistic readers who enjoy luxury editions as collectibles. Here's the blurb: The first in a new magical young adult romantasy duology from the bestselling author of To Kill a Shadow. A palace darling and a thief join forces after he unwittingly steals a necklace with the power to change their world forever.

In the city of Andalay, the ruling Fates bestow gifts among society’s most favored. When Damien, a cold and hardened thief, is hired to steal one of those gifts—meant for the “princess” of Ward One, Wren Hayes—he finds himself entangled in a web of secrets.

The gift? A locket containing his own photograph.

Once the locket is opened, hidden truths unravel, shedding light on the ruthless ways of the upper class. Yearning for the three Fates and the magical gifts they bestow, the lords of Andalay will go to any length to keep their power—including murder.

Brought together by destiny, and fighting a temptation that neither understand, Wren and Damien navigate a seedy world where the truth can destroy not only their lives, but the city itself. 

This book reads like the Disney version of a romantic fantasy, ala Cinderella or Aladdin or The Little Mermaid. While that is not a bad thing per se, its overly simple plot and cartoonish characters tend to lose their appeal about halfway through the book, because we've seen these stories and fairy tales before, and we know how they end. Quinn's prose is sterling, however, and the book hooks you in and will keep you turning pages until the wee hours of the morning. I'd give this pretty and sweet novel an A-, and recommend it to anyone who enjoys their romantasy clean and predictable. 

 

 

WAPO Fires Reporters and Closes Books Section, Monkey and Dog Books Had Bookstore Baby, Dragonfly Books Celebrates 15 years, The Cliff's Edge by Charles Todd, The Seven Miracles of Beatrix Holland by Rachael Herron, The Gingerbread Bakery by Laurie Gilmore, Daisy's Run by Scott Baron, Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo

The second week of February, and Valentine's Day are upon us! Book Lovers should find a plethora of reasons to go shopping in bookstores for book genres we love. Along with some hot tea, coffee or cocoa, and a warm blanket and a peaceful place to read, with or without a beloved pet, this weekend is the perfect time to celebrate the love of books by snuggling in and reading and enjoying yourself. Ignore the horrors of the outside world, and read something uplifting and/or fun. Hugs to all of you, my fellow bibliophiles.

This is quite disturbing, as WAPO used to be a newspaper of record. I never, in my wildest dreams as a reporter, thought that all the community and city newspapers would disappear within a decade and that we'd only eventually be left with the Gray Lady, the NY Times, as our only newspaper in the US able to sustain real reporters/journalists doing their job everyday to enlighten, entertain and inform. The problem with internet news is that it is not fact checked or reliable, and usually has someone with an agenda behind it who is trying to sell you snake oil or propaganda, neither of which has a passing acquaintance with the truth or reality. So Bezos, who amasses a huge fortune everyday, could easily have sustained and supported the WAPO for decades to come, if he were at all community minded. Instead, he withdrew his support and has left them to the wolves. This breaks my heart. I sincerely hope that someday actual paper newspapers will make a comeback, and that someone will revive the art and science and craft of journalism and journalistic ethics. Please God....don't let the NYT fall prey to the oligarchs and evil politicians. 

 

Washington Post Closes the Books Section Amid Layoffs 

On Wednesday, the Washington Post, "at the behest of owner Jeff Bezos,"  cut a third of its workforce with layoffs affecting "every corner of the newsroom," including the Books section. NPR reported that "with the job cuts, the storied newspaper narrows the scope of its ambitions for the foreseeable future. It is a remarkable reversal for a vital pillar of American journalism that had looked to Bezos--one of the wealthiest people on Earth--as a champion and a financial savior."

Calling the move "a strategic reset," executive editor Matt Murray said the Post will shutter its sports desk, while keeping some sports reporters to write feature stories. It will also close its Books section and suspend the podcast Post Reports. The international desk will shrink dramatically.

The Associated Press noted that the Book World, "a destination for book reviews, literary news and author interviews, has been a dedicated section in its Sunday paper."

The Post Guild, which represents staffers, is planning a rally today outside the paper's headquarters. "These layoffs are not inevitable. A newsroom cannot be hollowed out without consequences for its credibility, its reach and its future," the union said. "If Jeff Bezos is no longer willing to invest in the mission that has defined this paper for generations and serve the millions who depend on Post journalism, the the Post deserves a steward that will." 

The layoffs included Ron Charles, the highly respected longtime book critic for the Post. On his Substack, in a piece headlined "I've Been Laid Off. I'm Not Done," he wrote: "After 20 years at the Washington Post, I’m suddenly on my own--and still writing about books.... Wednesday morning, I learned that my services as a book critic at the Washington Post were no longer needed. My job, along with many others, was eliminated in the paper's latest effort to reinvent itself. How a major national newspaper will carry on without someone on staff to summarize the plots of midlist literary novels is beyond me. But I'll leave that challenge to the august managers who must now carry the Post forward."

Noting that in recent years, "there were plenty of warning signs at the Post that trouble was brewing--departing colleagues, shrinking sections, four horsemen in the heavens--but I vainly imagined I might hang on a few more years.... For book critics, getting laid off is practically a rite of passage--usually the last rite of the final passage. "Ironically, I received my layoff notice from Human Resources while I was eating one of the two remaining Harry & David pears that the Post sent to celebrate my 20th anniversary at the paper.... In any case, I'm not rich enough or tired enough to retire quite yet. So long as I can flip pages--and publishers send me galleys--I intend to keep nattering on about books, authors and our imperiled literary culture.

I LOVE this! I wish I'd been in a bookstore when my water broke, but considering my son was 2 months early, I think it was a good thing that it broke at home in Ballard in the middle of the night, and I was whisked away to downtown Seattle and the NICU at Swedish Hospital on Pill Hill, which was just far enough from the WTO riots to be unaffected by the protests, and my son could be born via C-section on November 27. He is now a tall and handsome 6ft2" adult who is employed at a tech company and has a partner, Sylvie, in Canada whom he plans to marry. These folks are so fortunate that the bookstore tracked them down and gave them presents for themselves and baby Leo.

Bookstore Baby: Monkey and Dog Books 

Earlier this month, a mother went into labor while browsing at Monkey and Dog Books in Fort Worth, Tex., "setting off a chain of events that quickly captured the attention and hearts of the community," WFAA reported.

"It's just so exciting for the shop," said owner Seth Burt. "We've had people propose in the shop, people celebrate birthdays here. This was a first.... This lady comes out of the bathroom and tells our bookseller, 'I am so sorry--my water broke.' "

The parents rushed from the store to a nearby birthing center, leaving behind no names or contact information. Burt said he felt determined to find out how the story ended: "The mission was to figure out who the mysterious book baby was." 
After Hurt posted a video on the bookstore's Instagram page explaining what had happened, people across the community became invested in learning the outcome and helping the owners find the couple. "That's what the post tried to do--bring people together," he noted.

Within 24 hours, the family was identified, and two weeks later the mother returned to Monkey and Dog Books with her newborn son, Leo. "I didn't expect to go into labor in a bookstore," she said. "I was just excited.... It was the way it was supposed to be."
The bookstore's owners "presented Leo and his mom with a gift basket and discounted books for life: a fitting perk for the so-called 'bookstore baby,' " WFAA reported, adding: "A story that began between the shelves now serves as a reminder that sometimes, the best stories are the ones no one sees coming."

I love this, too, and I remember visiting Decorah, Iowa, when I was a kid growing up in the suburbs of Des Moines. The passing of the torch to the next generation is a brilliant move, and I wish this lovely bookstore many more years of success in their community.

Happy 15th Birthday, Dragonfly Books and Its New Owners!

Congratulations to Dragonfly Books, Decorah, Iowa, which celebrated its 15th anniversary last week with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, 15% discounts through Saturday--and a toast to founder Kate Rattenborg Scott's 50th birthday, her retirement, and the passing of ownership to daughters Sarah Krammen and Rachel Rattenborg. 

 
The store noted that "Sarah has been a familiar face at Dragonfly Books for most of the past 15 years and currently manages inventory, marketing, and events. Rachel has lived all over the country, always looking for a place to call home before realizing that northeastern Iowa was it. She has a strong history of customer service and retail experience in almost every kind of business, and manages accounting, staffing, and customer experience at Dragonfly Books." 

Kate Rattenborg Scott said "It has been an honor to carry on my family's legacy in Decorah through Dragonfly Books. I have felt grounded and anchored through the small business community throughout the past 15 years. I am excited and proud to be passing the torch to the next generation. A big thank you to our customers and community for making my dream a reality!" She plans to remain an active board president of the Oneota Valley Literary Foundation, and will retain ownership of the Silver Birch, a Christian book and gift shop located four doors down from Dragonfly Books, which she purchased in 2019. She said she is most excited to spend more time with her husband, Paul, and travel, attend community events, build LEGO, work on jigsaw puzzles, and finally read a book for fun. 

Dragonfly Books carries 15,000 individual books as well as gifts and educational items for customers of all ages and backgrounds, specializing in Scandinavian fiction in translation and regional nonfiction. The store also highlights authors from Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, many of whom have visited Decorah for book readings and signings.

In 2022, the store helped created the Oneota Valley Literary Foundation which supports Dragonfly Books' event series which included more than 80 author and community events last year. By partnering with regional schools, museums, public libraries, and other nonprofits, the foundation has given more than 9,500 books to the community since its inception. 


The Cliff's Edge by Charles Todd is a historical mystery that takes place after the Great War (WW1) and features protagonist Bess Crawford, amateur sleuth and former nursing sister during the war. I've read the previous dozen Bess Crawford mysteries, and this one is a real corker that starts out slow, but begins to gather steam and comes to a roaring ending that will leave readers breathless. Here's the blurb: 

In the aftermath of World War I, nurse Bess Crawford is caught in a deadly feud between two families in this thirteenth book in the beloved mystery series from author Charles Todd, (a mother-son writing team). 

Restless and uncertain of her future in the wake of World War I, former battlefield nurse Bess Crawford agrees to travel to Yorkshire to help a friend of her cousin Melinda through surgery. But circumstances change suddenly when news of a terrible accident reaches them. Bess agrees to go to isolated Scarfdale and the Neville family, where one man has been killed and another gravely injured. The police are asking questions, and Bess is quickly drawn into the fray as two once close families take sides, even as they are forced to remain in the same house until the inquest is completed.

When another tragedy strikes, the police are ready to make an arrest. Bess struggles to keep order as tensions rise and shots are fired. What dark truth is behind these deaths? And what about the tale of an older murder—one that doesn’t seem to have anything to do with the Nevilles? Bess is unaware that when she passes the story on to Cousin Melinda, she will set in motion a revelation with the potential to change the lives of those she loves most—her parents, and her dearest friend, Simon Brandon.

The problem with that blurb is that Simon Brandon is on the outs with Bess at the opening of the novel, and by the end, he's not aware (Bess hasn't had the time to tell him) of the devastating news that Bess has uncovered about his heritage and parentage that he's been long seeking. Meanwhile, though, there's a lot of blood, bruises, death and mayhem in this installation of the series, which, since half of the Todd writing team (the mother) has passed on, makes me wonder if the co-writer son would prefer to write manly gore-infested thrillers and is now infusing Bess's stories with violence because there's no one left to say him nay. At any rate, I felt that the more compassionate notes were missing from this installation of the Bess stories, so I'd give it a B-, and recommend it only to completists who feel the need to read all the books in any given series, the good, bad and ugly.

 

The Seven Miracles of Beatrix Holland by Rachael Herron is a magical fantasy that charms the reader into believing in magic. I was engrossed in this book, which takes place on an Island in the PNW (my neck of the woods) from about the 25th page onward. I was surprised by the toughness and disbelief of the narrator/protagonist, who clings to her belief in "non magical reality" with a ferocity that I found to be somewhat OCD or autistic. Beatrice is an accountant who only believes what she can count, see, feel or touch. Anything out of the ordinary sends her into a tailspin of research to find a plausible scientific or mathematical explanation. When she finds herself in a situation where the existence of magic cannot be denied, she nearly has a nervous breakdown, and predictably, has a panic attack. Here's the blurb: 

 

The instant bestseller that is a "warm, witchy, and wonderful" family story that is the queer love-child of Practical Magic and The Parent Trap as one woman is about to discover that she's a witch with powers beyond her understanding.

Beatrice Barnard doesn’t believe in magic. She definitely doesn’t believe the predictions of the celebrity psychic who claims that she will experience seven miracles and that she will die. And as it turns out, her husband is cheating on her. Bea, now in desperate need of solitude, flees to Skerry Island, off the Pacific Northwest coast. Immediately upon arrival, she finds her life on the line as a rogue woodchopper blade almost kills her. Her survival is almost like a miracle.

And then things get more miraculous when she discovers her twin sister, Cordelia, and her mother, Astrid, who supposedly died when Beatrice was two years old. Astrid and Cordelia reveal that Beatrice (given name Beatrix) is an immensely powerful witch who can commune with the dead. When Cordelia and Beatrice’s twin magic is joined, it shines like a beacon on the malevolent spirits who are locked in an age-old struggle for magical dominance over the Hollands.

Beatrice doesn’t know what to believe, but she begins to fear that the seven predicted miracles may occur and that her death is near. But when her niece, Minna, goes missing, Bea’s own life suddenly seems much less important. Beatrice must join her mother and her sister to save Minna even if she dies in the process.

Though this was a well written, scintillating novel, I found that the protagonist did and said a number of things that didn't add up for me...like falling in parental love with her niece, who is a real piece of work. Manipulative, spoiled and cruel in her disregard for anyone else's life or for anything that doesn't serve her agenda, Minna is one of those characters that I know we're supposed to find lovable and adorable, when I just wanted to punch her in the face and send her off to boarding school in the Swiss Alps. No one, including her mother, seems to have the guts to tell her NO, and thus she's a monster with no boundaries, wreaking havoc wherever she goes. I also found it hard to believe, and sad, that Bea's mother and sister didn't have the spine to tell her of their existence, nor did her father, whom she worshipped, though he LIED to her her entire life. For shame! And she finds it difficult to not forgive him, though again, I wanted to throat punch the lying asshat. The same goes for her husband and best friend, who have been screwing one another for years, even before he married Bea. Who are all these sh*tty people?!? Bea was much better off by herself on the Island, until she went all mom-gaga over her niece and decided to sacrifice everything in order to protect Minna from her evil father, who wanted to syphon off her power and then kill her. Ugh. I won't spoil the weak ending, but I will say that this book, though engrossing in its swift plot, doesn't deserve better than a B-. I'd recommend it to anyone who is OCD enough to believe that there is no magic or miracles left in the world.

 

The Gingerbread Bakery by Laurie Gilmore, is the 5th romantasy novel of hers that I've read. These books are cozy enough to represent small town life in the shiniest way possible, kind of like the Hallmark Channel films in book form. Here's the blurb: 

As owner of her beloved Gingerbread Bakery, Annie Andrews should have a love life to match her business; sugary and sweet. But instead, she’s locked in a game of words with the irritatingly upbeat bar owner down the street.

Mac Sullivan has everything he wants, except the girl he dreams of. It’s easier to argue with Annie than get her to talk to him but with Jeanie and Logan’s wedding coming up, they're about to spend a lot more time together.

As the snowflakes fall and with romance in the air, will Annie see that the one she loves to hate might just be her perfect match after all?

The Gingerbread Bakery is a cozy romantic novel with an enemies to lovers dynamic, small-town setting and a HEA guaranteed!

'The atmosphere of the small town of Dream Harbor envelops you from the very first pages: snow-covered streets, the aroma of freshly baked gingerbread, and a sense of community that only exists in a close-knit and friendly community’ 

 

There are a lot of reasons to love this series...its prose is sweet and funny and easy to read, the plot is clean and straightforward with little to no surprises and nary a plot-hole in sigh, and the characters are predictable but lovable, so you feel welcomed into their town immediately. That said, something that is a bit cookie-cutter from book to book can become boring when you know what's going to happen in nearly every chapter. Still, I found it soothing and heartwarming in these troubled times for our nation, to read about a place where very little changes from day to day and year to year. I'd give this book a B, and recommend it to anyone who just wants the distraction of a sweet tiny town romance where nothing horrible ever happens and there's a lid for every pot.

 

Daisy's Run by Scott Baron is a science fiction haunted house novel that is reminiscent of Outlander or Gravity or Legend...SF movies meant to discomfit you with the reality of a dystopian future for mankind. Of course, because this book was written by a man, as most science fiction traditionally is, the main character, Daisy, is lusty and enjoys frequent sexual escapades with another (male) crew member, and the illustration of her on the cover is a misogynistic representation of a busty woman in a space suit that emphasizes her breasts, which seems to be a theme with male SF authors, even the gay ones. Of course Daisy's smart as a whip, but not smart enough to figure out, until halfway through the book, that her lover is a "Terminator" style hybrid of flesh over machine parts. Here's the blurb: Life in deep space could be a drag sometimes, but Daisy supposed things could have been worse. They were still alive, after all, which was always a plus in her book. Now if only she could figure out who, or what, was endangering her return home, things would be just peachy. It had been one hell of a way to start the day––being rudely snapped from a deep cryo-sleep, and in the middle of a ship-wide crisis to boot––but Daisy was pleased to note that the ship had not decompressed, the crew hadn’t been blasted into space, and, most importantly, they hadn’t simply blown up. At least not yet. So, they had that going for them, but being stuck on a damaged ship in the inky depths of space as it limped toward Earth was not exactly the relaxing trip home she’d imagined. With the powerful AI supercomputer guiding the craft beginning to show some disconcerting quirks of its own, and its unsettling cyborg assistant nosing into her affairs, Daisy’s unease was rapidly growing. Add to the mix a crew of mechanically-enhanced humans, any one of whom she suspected might not be what they seemed, and Daisy found herself with a sense of pending dread tickling the periphery of her mind. Something was very much not right––she could feel it in her bones. The tricky part now was going to be figuring out what the threat was, before it could manifest from a mere sinking feeling in her gut into a potentially deadly reality.

I actually disliked Daisy's smart mouth and her rude attitude toward everyone else on the cryo ship, only to discover that she should have been even more angry and ruthless toward a crew full of mecha-humans who lied to her and didn't explain that she's the last of the humans left after a devastating alien attack wiped out life on earth over 100 years ago. So everything's moving along and Daisy's solving the mystery of why her ships falling apart, when suddenly, plot twist, she is told and discovers that everything and everyone she's ever known on her home planet is a pile of dust, and the aliens are stripping her world of resources before they blow it up once it has nothing left to give them. Quelle suprise! And readers are supposed to just laugh this off and go "okay, we're screwed but perhaps there's something we can do to get these greedy alien bastards off our planet" end of story. Since this is the first book in a series, I guess that was to be expected. Still, I was disappointed that the book devolved into the dystopian horror genre so quickly. And as everyone knows, I dislike horror novels. Baron's prose is straightforward and unembellished, and his plot strides along like a gladiator, until the bitter end. I'd give this tough SF novel a B- and recommend it to anyone who likes their SF horrific and painful.

 

Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo is a YA epic fantasy and the second book in the King of Scars duology. This nearly 600 page behemoth is full of all the intrigue and political manuvering that many came to love in the Game of Thrones series. Bardugo is a better, cleaner writer than GRRM, however, so readers will be delighted to know that they won't have to wade through half as many political discussions and infodumps as they would reading any other epic fantasy. Here's the blurb: Discover what comes next for the daring rogue Nikolai in the riveting sequel to King of Scars from Leigh Bardugo.

The Demon King. As Fjerda’s massive army prepares to invade, Nikolai Lantsov will summon every bit of his ingenuity and charm―and even the monster within―to win this fight. But a dark threat looms that cannot be defeated by a young king’s gift for the impossible.

The Stormwitch. Zoya Nazyalensky has lost too much to war. She saw her mentor die and her worst enemy resurrected, and she refuses to bury another friend. Now duty demands she embrace her powers to become the weapon her country needs. No matter the cost.

The Queen of Mourning. Deep undercover, Nina Zenik risks discovery and death as she wages war on Fjerda from inside its capital. But her desire for revenge may cost her country its chance at freedom and Nina the chance to heal her grieving heart.

King. General. Spy. Together they must find a way to forge a future in the darkness. Or watch a nation fall. 

I disagree with the blurb in that, though the prose is striking, its not really riveting stuff. In fact, I found myself falling asleep after reading a chapter or two, which is not usual for me. Though I've loved Bardugo's other novels in the Grishaverse, mainly because they didn't require you to read all the books that came prior to enjoy the book you're currently reading, I was shocked by how the plot stalled more than once for explanations and unnecessary detours that anyone who has read any of the Grishaverse books would already know about...though of course, as I said, its great to know that all the other novels aren't required reading. Just the first book in the duology, so you're primed and ready to go for this big tome. What I loved about this book was the often funny dialogue and the banter that characters set up with one another. I'd give this beast of a book a B, and recommend it to anyone who wants to know how it all ends up, and storylines converge.

 

 

Eloise Movie, Quote of the Day, Outlander's Final Season on March 6, the Housekeeper Movie, The Seamstress of New Orleans by Diane C McPhail, Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall, The Paris Notebook by Tessa Harris, and Mystic Pieces by Ada Bell

First of all, welcome to February, the month of Valentines Day and when spring is just around the corner, as temps warm and the earth springs back to life. I'm so excited to read some great new books and finally get our home cleared of Jim's malevolence following his death this past December. Whenever it all seems overwhelming, I sometimes wander over to the great science fiction writer John Scalzi's humorous web blog, Whatever, to hear what's new in his world. He never disappoints. Here's a link to his page. Enjoy! https://whatever.scalzi.com/

I used to read the Eloise books, and I loved them because they were so far outside of my experience as a child of middle class suburban Iowa. This movie should be fantastic, especially with Gilmore Girl's Amy SP on hand to direct.

Movies: Eloise

A live-action movie adaptation of Eloise is in the works, with Netflix recently boarding the project to distribute, Deadline reported. Based on the children's book series written by Kay Thompson and illustrated by Hilary Knight, the film will be directed by Amy Sherman-Palladino from a script she co-wrote with Hannah Marks and Linda Woolverton.

The cast includes Ryan Reynolds, Sally Hawkins, David Haig, Victor Garber, Max Casella, Isaac Bae, and Mae Schenk. Reynolds will produce through his Maximum Effort company, along with George Dewey, Ashley Fox and Johnny Pariseau. Woolverton will also produce, with Molly Milstein and Sophia Travagliae exec producing for Maximum Effort.

"The family film's logline is currently under wraps but will be a wholly original adventure," with Reynolds playing a new villain, Deadline noted. Independent film and TV studio MRC acquired rights to Eloise in 2019 and is overseeing production. Handmade Films will work in conjunction with MRC on the production. MRC is collaborating on the film with the Thompson estate, Knight, and Simon & Schuster, the book series' publisher.

HECK YEAH! We need to stand up, as a people, to the jack-booted thugs of the current fascist POTUS and his evil eradication of anyone who doesn't believe in his cruel sexist, racist and homophobic administration and its policies. I can hardly believe this is happening in a peaceful place like Minneapolis. 

Quotation of the Day

'Time for Us to All Stand Up Together'

"At least 8 people have died at the hands of ICE just this month, including Alex Pretti and Renee Good who were brutally killed in Minneapolis. The people of DC know what it is like to have armed goons roaming the streets accosting and even abducting our friends and neighbors. We have been living under federal occupation for the last six months, and there is no end in sight. Across the country, every day, ICE, Border Patrol and other enforcers of Trump's racist agenda are going into our communities to kidnap our neighbors and sow fear. It is time for us to all stand up together in a nationwide shutdown and say enough is enough!

"The people and small businesses of Minnesota have shown the way for the whole country--to stop ICE's reign of terror, we need to SHUT IT DOWN. "So, on Friday, January 30, join in a nationwide day of no school, no work and no shopping."Solid State Books will be closed tomorrow in support of this national shutdown.

"As much as we hate closing our doors, we believe in standing up for what is right and supporting the rights and safety of our neighbors. So please join us in this nationwide strike if you can, but, above all, deprive the big corporations of their commerce for the day. This Friday, do not shop on Amazon, at big box stores, or buy from the tech companies that sell us out."--from an e-mail to customers from Solid State Books

I can't believe its been 8 seasons of the delight that is Outlander, though there are parts that were extremely difficult to watch. As a rape survivor, it seems impossible to me that Claire has been raped so many times, and yet seems to suffer no long-lasting PTSD from it, and just goes back to her near perfect relationship with Jamie, where she welcomes his sexuaThe Housekl attention. I could barely look at a man after I was raped, for over a year. The drift here seems to be that if you have someone who loves you with all their heart, you will be just fine in no time, which is unrealistic and misogynistic at the same time. Still, I will watch the final season, just to see how they end it.

TV: Outlander, the Final Season

STARZ has released an official trailer for the eighth and final season of Outlander, which is inspired by Diana Gabaldon's bestselling novels. The time-traveling drama returns on March 6, with new episodes streaming weekly on Fridays, on the STARZ app and all STARZ streaming and on-demand platforms in the U.S. The first seven seasons are available on STARZ platforms.

Outlander stars Caitríona Balfe as Claire Fraser, Sam Heughan (Jamie Fraser), Sophie Skelton (Brianna MacKenzie), Richard Rankin (Roger MacKenzie), John Bell (Young Ian Murray), David Berry (Lord John Grey), Charles Vandervaart (William Ransom), and Izzy Meikle-Small (Rachel Murray). 

STARZ noted that as season eight begins, "Jamie and Claire find the war has followed them home to Fraser's Ridge, now a thriving settlement that has grown and flourished in their absence. With new arrivals and changes made during their years away, the Frasers are confronted with the question of what they are willing to sacrifice for the place they call home and what, more importantly, they would sacrifice to stay together.

While the Frasers keep a united front against outside intruders, family secrets finally coming to light threaten to tear them apart from the inside. Although they've left the war for America's freedom behind, their fight for Fraser's Ridge has only just begun."

This movie has a huge and magnificent cast, and it sounds like they adapted the book into a great script. I will be keeping an eye out for its premier.

Movies: The Housekeeper

Helena Bonham Carter, Caitríona Balfe, Emma Laird, and Anthony Hopkins will star in The Housekeeper, directed by Richard Eyre (The Children Act) from a screenplay by Rose Tremain that is based on her short story and forthcoming novel, Deadline reported. Shooting will begin this month.

"Rose Tremain has written a brilliant screenplay which is dark and surprising and mysterious, and we look forward to making a film which lives up to its promise," Eyre said. 

Producer Julia Taylor-Stanley of Artemis Films added: "Assembling a cast of such caliber speaks to the power of Rose's storytelling, and to Richard's standing amongst the great British directors. We are excited to be working with our talent on bringing this compelling story to the screen."

The film's synopsis: "Set against the wild, brooding landscape of Cornwall, Danni (Balfe) is the housekeeper at Manderville Hall, a grand historic house owned by the wealthy and widowed Lord Grenville-Whithers (Hopkins). When the young writer Daphne du Maurier (Laird) arrives, Danni is drawn into a clandestine and intoxicating affair. For one, it is an all-consuming love; for the other, an awakening of long-suppressed desires. Their fragile secret threatens to unravel under the watchful gaze of Adelaide (Bonham Carter), Lord Grenville-Whithers' calculating niece."

 

The Seamstress of New Orleans by Diane C McPhail is a historical turn of the 20th century novel with just enough romance and intrigue to keep readers glued to the page. Here's the blurb: Set against the backdrop of the first all-female Mardi Gras krewe at the turn-of-the-century, the acclaimed author’s mesmerizing historical novel tells of two strangers separated by background but bound by an unexpected secret—and of the strength and courage women draw from and inspire in each other.

The year 1900 ushers in a new century and the promise of social change, and women rise together toward equality. Yet rules and restrictions remain, especially for women like Alice Butterworth, whose husband has abruptly disappeared. Desperate to make a living for herself and the child she carries, Alice leaves the bitter cold of Chicago far behind, offering sewing lessons at a New Orleans orphanage.

Constance Halstead, a young widow reeling with shock under the threat of her late husband’s gambling debts, has thrown herself into charitable work. Meeting Alice at the orphanage, she offers lodging in exchange for Alice’s help creating a gown for the Leap Year ball of Les Mysterieuses, the first all‑female krewe of Mardi Gras. During Leap Years, women have the rare opportunity to take control in their interactions with men, and upend social convention. Piece by piece, the breathtaking gown takes shape, becoming a symbol of strength for both women, reflecting their progress toward greater independence.

But Constance carries a burden that makes it impossible to feel truly free. Her husband, Benton, whose death remains a dangerous mystery, was deep in debt to the Black Hand, the vicious gangsters who controlled New Orleans’ notorious Storyville district. Benton’s death has not satisfied them. And as the Mardi Gras festivities reach their fruition, a secret emerges that will cement the bond between Alice and Constance even as it threatens the lives they’re building.

The prose is elegant and detailed enough that the reader can feel themselves falling down the rabbit hole of life in 1900, and yet the unusual circumstances that these women find themselves in, wherein they must battle society and its conventions as well as gangsters and evil wealthy men set to exploit them, is relentless enough that you just keep turning pages until there are no more left. The plot is full of twists and turns, yet it never lets the dry details slow its progress. I'd give this fascinating book a B+ and recommend it to anyone interested in fabrics, sewing or fashion in historical New Orleans.

 

Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall is a historical (1963) coming of age novel about a young girl's journey to find her mother and find a family to love and care for her in the deep South. Here's the blurb: 

From an award-winning author comes a wise and tender coming-of-age story about a nine-year-old girl who runs away from her Mississippi home in 1963, befriends a lonely woman suffering loss and abuse, and embarks on a life-changing road trip.

Whistling past the graveyard. That’s what Daddy called it when you did something to keep your mind off your most worstest fear...

In the summer of 1963, nine-year-old Starla Claudelle runs away from her strict grandmother’s Mississippi home. Starla’s destination is Nashville, where her mother went to become a famous singer, abandoning Starla when she was three. Walking a lonely country road, Starla accepts a ride from Eula, a black woman traveling alone with a white baby. Now, on the road trip that will change her life forever, Starla sees for the first time life as it really is—as she reaches for a dream of how it could one day be.

 

This book, as noted by one critic, is a deft marriage of Stocket's "The Help" and "To Kill A Mockingbird," with a protagonist who, after running away from her nasty abusive and cruel grandmother, sets out to find the idealized dream of her mother, whom she's not seen since she was a baby. Unsurprisingly, she discovers that her mother is an alcoholic waitress who isn't a famous singer, and who really doesn't want to care for or raise her daughter because, like many alcoholics, she's a selfish, cruel and vain person who can't be bothered with her adult responsibilities. Sadly, her father isn't much better, but at least he believes Starla when she explains how horribly she's been treated by his mother. While on the road, Starla meets an abused black woman, Eula, who has taken in an abandoned white baby, and whose husband is a murderous abusive asshat. Fortunately, Eula knows how to parent and love children, so Starla and little James soak up her kindness and love like sponges on their road trip fleeing their horrible pasts. The prose takes a dense and painful subject and floods it with light and life and humor, making the plot streak past like a rocket. I'd give this novel an A, and recommend it to anyone interested in road trip women's movies and in the national zeitgeist in 1963, which was the year JFK was assassinated. 

 

The Paris Notebook by Tessa Harris is a WWII historical fiction book that looks at the war from the angle of a librarian who discovers that a professor she knows was once Adolf Hitler's psychiatrist. He wants her to type up his medical findings about what a nutter Hitler is, and scuttle his rise to power. Here's the blurb: 

A secret big enough to destroy the Führer’s reputation. . .

January 1939:

When Katja Heinz secures a job as a typist at Doctor Viktor’s clinic, she doesn’t expect to be copying top secret medical records from a notebook.

At the end of the first world war, Doctor Viktor treated soldiers for psychological disorders. One of the patients was none other than Adolf Hitler. . .

The notes in his possession declare Hitler unfit for office – a secret that could destroy the Führer’s reputation, and change the course of the war if exposed. . .

With the notebook hidden in her hat box, Katja and Doctor Viktor travel to Paris. Seeking refuge in the Shakespeare and Company bookshop, they hope to find a publisher brave enough to print the controversial script.

But Katja is being watched. Nazi spies in Paris have discovered her plan. They will stop at nothing to destroy the notebook and silence those who know of the secret hidden inside. 

I found this book fascinating, as it would totally make sense for any mental health professional to realize that Hitler was a meglomaniac after treating him for hysterical blindness. The fact that he developed a cadre of other sick and twisted men around him who would stop at nothing to gain power and wealth didn't surprise me as much as the reality that so many European and American newspapermen and diplomats and government officials refused to publish the notes or take the step of showing the world how ruthless and horrifying Hitler and his regime could be. No one wanted to take any risks, (unless you count the protagonists), and their cowardice cost millions of lives. It seems to me that the "greatest generation" has more than a few people who should have spent their post war years hanging their heads in shame. I'd give this novel of vigorous prose and stalwart plot a B, and recommend it to historical fiction fans who might not have known of this part of Hitler's life.

 

Mystic Pieces by Ada Bell is a paranormal cozy mystery with light and zingy prose and a fast plot that reels you in and doesn't let you go until the final page. Here's the blurb: 

Aly doesn't believe in psychics. Too bad she just had a vision.

Between finishing her biology degree, taking care of her nephew, and starting a new job at the antique store while drooling over the owner's gorgeous son, Aly has no time for visions. But when cranky customer Earl is killed, and Aly's new boss Olive is the prime suspect, she must use her newfound power to save the only person who understands Aly's gifts. Who hated Earl enough to kill? Police would rather make a quick arrest than investigate, so it's up to Aly to clear Olive's name.

This small town is reeling from the first murder in decades. If Aly can get her hands on the right object, she'll know what happened. Can she learn to control her visions before the killer sets their sights on her?

Welcome to Shady Grove: where science meets seances. Mystic Pieces is the first book in the Shady Grove Psychic Mystery series, which is perfect for readers who like small towns, antiques, supernatural sleuths, and slightly nerdy STEM heroines. Okay, really nerdy heroines. Fans of Stella Bixby, Annabel Chase, Amy Boyles, Lily Harper Hart, and Samantha Silver will be captivated by the secrets of Shady Grove. Join Aly on a suspense-filled journey to prove her boss's innocence.

 

This is a book that I would consider a "palate cleanser" to read after you've indulged in a heavy 400-500 page novel that pulls on all your heartstrings and leaves you wrung out and slightly depressed (some call it a book hangover).  I liked Aly and her newfound powers, though I always get impatient with the women in these books who get all faint-hearted when they learn magic is real...just go with it and enjoy, already! I was surprised that I didn't know "Whodunnit" before the final chapter, but once Aly walked everyone through her vision in the bowling alley, it all made sense. I'd give this cozy mystery a B-, and recommend it to anyone interested in small town shenanigans.

 

 

Pageturner's In Iowa Relocating, Masque of the Red Death Movie, NYC Mayor Makes Book Free During Winter Storm, Newt's Emerald by Garth Nix, The Wartime Book Club by Kate Thompson, Nineteen Steps by Millie Bobby Brown, Twelve Months by Jim Butcher, and Star Crossed Letters by Sarah Deeham

Welcome my fellow book lovers! Its the last week of January (so soon!) and I've been hunkered down with cozy blankets and hot tea and lots of good books. We're fortunate here in the PNW, in that we only have frost on the ground that melts rather quickly in the sun, or the cold rain, and our temps are generally in the 40s and 50s during the day. The cold weather, with lots of snow and ice storms rampaging through the Eastern US and the Midwest haven't made it past the mountains and valleys of the Southwest and Western US, including the West Coast. But Spring is on the way, and by March I think the snow and ice will have dissipated into a shivering memory. Meanwhile, here's some tidbits and reviews.

I remember visiting Indianola, Iowa, back when I was a kid, for their spectacular balloon races, which were thrilling and colorful. My mother has always been a fan of ballooning, and having ridden in them a couple of times, was happy to ride in one here in Eastern Washington for her 70th birthday as a gift from myself and my husband. Though she was only up there for a short time, she loved it. I wish that I could pay to take her up again, but she's 88 now and in a nursing home in Altoona. But I think this move by Pageturners sounds like a cracking good idea!

Pageturners Bookstore, Indianola, Iowa, Relocating

Pageturners Bookstore in Indianola, Iowa, is moving to a new space,the Independent Advocate reported.

The bookstore, which sells new and used titles, is relocating from 101 E. Salem Ave. to 103 W. Salem Ave. The new space is larger, allowing for more bookshelves along the walls, and there is a loft that will become a cozy reading area.

Owner Kathy Magruder, who founded Pageturners in 2014, told the Independent Advocate the move came about quickly once she learned that a boutique called Pamela's Place would be closing. Less than an hour after seeing a video announcing the closure, she was inquiring about the space.

"I thought that would be just such a wonderful bookstore, so I called her about a half an hour later," Magruder said. "I said, 'I know you're probably a little bit overwhelmed right now, but have you thought about renting the place, and would you think about renting it to me'?"

Magruder is still figuring out the logistics of the move, but expects it to happen in late February, followed by a grand opening in the new space in early March. She noted that many customers have volunteered to help with the move, and the general reaction has been "so positive."

I've been an EA Poe fan for decades, especially after reading his creepy stories and poetry as a pre-teen. This new take on the story sounds fascinating, especially in light of post-COVID America.

Movies: The Masque of the Red Death

Palme d'Or-winning French actress Léa Seydoux (France, Blue Is the Warmest Colour) will star opposite Oscar winner Mikey Madison (Anora) in The Masque of the Red Death, the new film from A24 and Picturestart, "billed as a revisionist and darkly comedic take on the short story of the same name by Edgar Allan Poe," Deadline reported.

The project is from writer-director Charlie Polinger (The Plague). Julia Hammer and Erik Feig will produce for Picturestart, alongside James Presson and Lucy McKendrick, with Polinger exec producing. A24 willdistribute the film worldwide. 

I've always wanted to visit NYC, for the theaters, of course, but also for the iconic bookstores and the NYC Public Library, with its famed lions out front. This idea to share this very popular gay romance novel for everyone to read via ebook during the East Coast snowstorms is GENIUS by the Mayor. Enjoy, NYC bibliophiles!

NYC Mayor Mamdani's Snowstorm Survival Tip: Read Heated Rivalry

"The snow is coming down heavily across our city," New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said on Sunday in a winter storm update that also included a book recommendation: "And I can think of no better excuse for New Yorkers to stay home, take a long nap, or take advantage of our public library's offer of free access to Heated Rivalry on e-book or audiobook for anyone with a library card."

Here's the New York Public Library's offer: "If you're in line for Heated Rivalry and other books in the Game Changers series--GET OUT OF LINE. Starting today, and through Valentine's Day on February 14, e-book and audiobook copies of Heated Rivalry--currently the most popular romance novel in the U.S.--and all five other books in the Game Changers series are immediately available (no wait!) to anyone with an NYPL library card. Read or listen to one or all of the books through the Libby app."

Newt's Emerald by Garth Nix is a YA paranormal romantasy that is fun and concise and well worth the price for the few hours it will take you to read through this page-turner. If you're at all familiar with Nix's Sabriel series, then you know how engrossing his stories are, and how his whimsical characters fascinate. Here's the blurb: 

Romance crackles in magical Regency London in this dazzling tale of a stolen jewel and the heroine who will do anything to retrieve it—even don a disguise and work with a high-handed-but-attractive stranger who is not what he seems. 

 On her eighteenth birthday, Lady Truthful Newington—nicknamed “Newt”— is dreaming about her upcoming trip to London, where the streets are filled with magic and eligible young lords. Before she goes, she is to inherit her family’s treasure: the Newington Emerald. A dazzling heart-shaped gem, the Emerald contains mysterious and powerful magic.

When the Emerald is stolen, Newt sets off to recover it. Her plan entails dressing up as a man, mustache included, as no well-bred young lady should be seen out and about on her own. While disguised, Newt encounters the handsome but insufferable Major Harnett, who joins the hunt for the missing Emerald. Offended by her new ally’s high-handedness but eager for assistance, Newt strives to conceal her true identity from Harnett, little guessing that he too is not as he appears.

A sweeping adventure ensues filled with sinister fey, fancy dresses, witty banter, daring seaborne escapes, grand balls, and a sorceress whose evil plot threatens everyone from Newt herself to the Prince Regent. And as Newt and Harnett face danger together, each realizes there is more to the other than meets the eye—and more alarming yet, they may actually be falling in love.

Though the prose is clean and crisp and the plot well gelled, this short novel reads like a middle-grade book, very easy to understand and unravel the mystery, and the character's motivations. I would recommend it for young teens and pre-teens who enjoy historical romance or watching "Bridgerton" on Netflix. Still, its a page-tuner, fun and fascinating take on Regency society lords and ladies with magical talents. I'd give it a B+.

 

The Wartime Book Club by Kate Thompson is a WWII historical fiction novel that contains a lot of wonderful bibliophiles and information on the power of books to transport, soothe and provide hope during dark times...there's also a thread of romance through the novel that, while not all sweetness and light, is realistic for the pain and suffering of wartime England. Here's the blurb: Inspired by true events, The Wartime Book Club is an unforgettable story of everyday bravery and resistance, full of romance, drama, and camaraderie and a tribute to the joy of reading and the power of books in our darkest hour.

The Isle of Jersey was once a warm and neighborly community, but in 1943, German soldiers patrol the cobbled streets, imposing a harsh rule.
 
Nazis have ordered Grace La Mottée, the island's only librarian, to destroy books that threaten the new regime. Instead, she hides the stories away in secret. Along with her headstrong best friend, she wants to fight back. So she forms the Wartime Book Club: a lifeline, offering fearful islanders the joy and escapism of reading.
 
But as the occupation drags on, the women's quiet acts of bravery become more perilous – and more important – than ever before. And when tensions turn to violence, they are forced to face the true, terrible cost of resistance.

 

This book reminded me of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, which I read in 2009, and was about a similar (almost identical) subject, of English people on an Island occupied by the Nazis in WWII who are starved, beaten, and often killed for ridiculous reasons by the jack-booted thugs of the Third Reich. Yet in this novel, which is not as epistolary as "Guernsey" Grace the librarian struggles to save those fleeing the Nazis as she also tries to keep banned books in circulation. This novel is all based on real people in Jersey and other places whose valor, or lack thereof hasn't really been much talked about in the past 80 years since the war ended. There's photos and letters in the back of the book that tell the tale of the wars survivors and those who gave their lives for freedom. Though the book is too long (well over 500 pages), the excellent quality of the prose and the skillful plot keep the pages turning long into the night. I became invested in the characters right away, and was so glad that Grace got her HEA, though it came at the expense of another. I'd give this book an A-, and recommend it to anyone who loves real stories of heroism during WWII, and details about how everyday people, from librarians to postal workers, resisted the Nazi regime at great cost to their lives.

 

Nineteen Steps by Millie Bobby Brown (yes, the actress from Stranger Things/Enola Holmes) is an historical romance set during WWII that I believe is geared to the YA crowd. Here's the blurb: 

Love blooms in the darkest days…

It’s 1942, and air raid sirens continue to wail around London. Eighteen-year-old Nellie Morris counts every day lucky that she emerges from the underground shelters unharmed, her loving family still surrounding her.

After a chance encounter with Ray, an American airman stationed nearby, she becomes enchanted with the idea of a broader world. Just as she begins to embrace an exciting new life with Ray, a terrible incident occurs during an air raid one evening, tearing her world apart. But when it seems all hope is lost, Nellie finds that, against all odds, love and happiness can triumph.

Nineteen Steps is a deeply affecting, mesmerizing page-turner based on a true story from the author’s family history. An epic story of longing, loss, and secrets, Millie Bobby Brown’s propulsive debut introduces an unforgettable, brave young woman and boldly portrays the strength in the power of love.

“Inspired by my Nanny Ruth, this book is very personal and close to my heart. I grew up listening to stories about her time living through the war. I’m honored to keep her story alive.”—Millie Bobby Brown

I really wanted to like this book, but any well-read bibliophile can tell that it was written by a first-time novelist. The writing is immature, and the plot is lumpy and unsteady. While she's penning a story based on family lore, which is sweet, she needs to take some classes on prose style and deepening characters, as the people who populate her book are thinly disguised and flimsy. However, it was a nice distraction for an afternoon of reading about life in a different time and place. I'd would give it a B- and recommend it to teenagers enamored with WWII history.

Twelve Months by Jim Butcher is the 18th (19th if you count all the short stories in the Dresden Files) book in the Dresden Files series, one that I have never been unable to resist, though, having met Butcher, (and finding him lacking as a person), I shouldn't be supporting his literary efforts. But no one writes urban fantasy like Butcher, and no one else could create the raft of utterly wonderful characters that he's created and set free in the literary world with such deft aplomb. Once I met the title character, Chicago's most famous wizard, Harry Dresden, I was in love, and I couldn't gulp down this series fast enough. I even watched the one and only season of the TV series that debuted back in the 90s (It made me really like Paul Blackthorn). And no one can write action fantasy prose that's as powerful as Jim Butchers. His Chicago, full of vampires, fae, werewolves, Angels and Wizards is utterly real-seeming and totally engrossing. I dare you to try to put down a Dresden Files novel, once you pick it up and start reading. Here's the blurb: 

Harry Dresden, Chicago’s only professional wizard, has always managed to save the day—but, in this powerful entry in the  bestselling Dresden Files, can he save himself?

One year. 365 days. Twelve months.

Harry Dresden has been through a lot, and so has his city. After Harry and his allies narrowly managed to save Chicago from being razed to the ground, everything is different—and it’s not just the current lack of electricity.

In the battle, Harry lost people he cared about. And that's the kind of loss that takes a toll. Harry being Harry, he’s doing his level best to help the city and his friends recover and rebuild. But it’s a heavy load, and he needs time.

But time is one thing Harry doesn’t have. Ghouls are prowling Chicago and taking out innocent civilians. Harry’s brother is dying, and Harry doesn’t know how to help him. And last but certainly not least, the Winter Queen of the Fae has allied with the White Court of vampires—and Harry’s been betrothed to the seductive, deadly vampire Lara Raith to seal the deal.

It's been a tough year. More than ever, the city needs Harry Dresden the wizard—but after loss and grief, is there enough left of Harry Dresden the man to rise to the challenge?

After reading all 18 books, there's still one nitpick that bothers me, and that is Harry's creepy sexual attraction (that he thankfully never acts on) toward Molly, his best friend Michael (the Archangels) daughter, whom he's watched grow up and who he helped learn the ways of magic. I mean, he babysat this woman as a child, and wanting to sleep with her is pedophilia at its most heinous, because he knows that she had a crush on him as a teenager. EW. Butcher should have nipped this in the bud early on and then never mentioned it again....but now every single time Molly appears in any of the books, Harry reminisces about his longing to get in her pants. Gross. Get laid with someone your own age, Harry and then STFU about it. Throughout the book, he is grieving the loss of Karrin Murphy, his cop bestie and girlfriend, and feeling guilty for not saving her, when she made it clear that her actions were under her own agency. But, like most guys, Harry has that hero complex that tells him he's responsible for the lives of everyone around him, especially the infantilized "damsel in distress" who was his girlfriend (she really was a badass and didn't need his protection or rescue at all). At any rate, there's a few great Easter eggs from previous Dresden Files novels, and there's plenty of kicking ass and teaching his new apprentice, who shows great promise. The plot flies by  and I couldn't put this book down (I read it in a day). I'd give it an A, and recommend it to anyone else who has read the Dresden Files series, and misses reading about Harry getting the crap beat out of him by otherworldly creatures, again. 

Star Crossed Letters: A Celebrity Pen Pal Romance by Sarah Deeham is a fun and flirty, spicy romance complete with a "meet cute" over typewritten letters. This was a free ebook that sounded like it was right up my alley, as I love epistolary books, even if they evolve into text messages sent between the two main characters. Here's the blurb: One girl with a typewriter + one movie star = anonymous pen pals, a secret crush, and a steamy, slow-burn summer to risk it all.

The bookshop barista…
When I sold a vintage typewriter, I never imagined its new owner would become my pen pal, best friend, and secret crush.
We have two rules: no photos and no real names.

Over the years, “Remington” and I go from typewritten notes to daily texts, but our rules stay the same. And so does my life. I’m a wannabe writer who can’t complete a novel, and I’ve fallen for a guy who I’ve never met.

So when I receive a letter my Nanna wrote before she died encouraging me to embark on a summer of risks—my first on the list is to break all the rules.

& the celebrity...
I hate keeping secrets from my pen pal, the one woman I care about. But I’m Hollywood’s hottest celebrity, and my fame is toxic. If I get close to a girl, she becomes vulnerable, stalked by the tabloids, trolls, and superfans.

Our anonymous friendship works until “Typewriter Girl” suddenly ghosts me. Now, I’ll do anything to ensure she’s safe, including stepping out from behind the screen and leading a double life.
 

Sadly, like a lot of romance or rom-com novels, the male protagonist becomes a knuckle-dragging caveman who wants to "possess" and control the female protagonist, who is nearly always a virgin, which is a turn on for the guy, because he knows that he's the only one to get his dick wet with her, and therefore feels he has a lifelong claim on her body and soul. He also "introduces" her to light BDSM, because of course what young virgin wouldn't be thrilled by having their hair pulled painfully or their bottom spanked?! EWWWWW. There are many, many women, young and old, who do not derive pleasure from pain. Apparently its a fairly common fantasy among douchebag guys, who are allowed to have as many sexual partners as they want, but the woman must remain "pure" until their tender ministrations turn her from an introverted shy virgin into a rampaging, blow job giving sex slave (of course she "naturally" knows how to give a primo BJ, though she's never done it before, because she's read romance novels!) UGH. So much misogyny! Make it stop! Even though he stalks her, again, he's given a pass because he's a "gorgeous" celebrity, and their looks give them a pass on everything. Oh, and he's damaged by women who have treated him badly in the past (oooh, poor baby!) and he hates the fact that he's wealthy beyond is wildest dreams now, but of course he's had to give up his privacy (again, poor baby!) so he's willing to work behind the camera and produce projects now so he can marry the manic pixie dream girl who is only slightly overweight (enough so she can have a big butt and boobs) and they can have a family and a life together. Awww. Except she will have to be a trad wife who is under his control, of course. The prose was simplistic and the plot moved at an even pace. I'd give this painfully sexist novel a C+ and recommend it to anyone who writes fan fiction that "Ships" various characters together....this is right up your alley.