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.

 

Obituary for Erich von Daniken, Quote of the Day, A Reading Road Trip Across America Video, The Inn at Thistledown Hollow by Devon Yates, The Prisoner of Heaven by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, Queen of Thieves by Beezy Marsh, and Kneading a Spark by Lia Duchaine

It's the third week of January, already, and I'm gearing up for another long week of reading some intriguing new titles that have just come out. Meanwhile, here's some reviews and tidbits, including the obit of the weird and hilarious author Erich von Daniken, who was really popular in the late 60s and early 70s when I was a pre-teen and easily influenced by flim-flam authors who spouted nonsense that they somehow got published, like EVD's "Chariots of the Gods". I was also reading a lot of science fiction and fantasy, and wanted to believe that some of that wonder and scientific magic actually existed, if not on this earth, on some faraway planet. This was a time when Star Trek, the Original series was in heavy rotation on Iowa TV stations, and the Apollo space missions were happening, so it didn't seem so far-fetched that humans were close to discovering life on other planets. I know, it seems silly now, but then it was exciting and forward-thinking, and so much better than the world of our "square" and staid parents, who grew up during the later part of the Depression and WWII, so they seemed boring and unimaginative, working for the "man" of big corporations and the government. 

I read, along with everyone I knew under the age of 30, Chariots of the Gods, and watched the documentary and the movie, though the premise was utterly ridiculous. Still, this guy had a handle on the national zeitgeist, and was able to capture the imagination of the counter-culture and those who wanted to be "free" of the staid lives of their parents and grandparents. Critics saw through his BS, but all the hippies and free thinkers wanted to believe. Thus Erich VD made his nut off of the national gullibility of the youth of America.

Obituary Note: Erich von Däniken

Erich von Däniken, the "bestselling Swiss author and self-styled maverick archaeologist who propagated the theory that thousands of years ago an advanced alien species visited Earth, mated with ancient humans, and gave them the technology, and the intelligence, to erect such marvels as the Great Pyramids," died January 10, the New York Times reported. He was 90.

Von Däniken was a 32-year-old hotel manager in Davos, Switzerland, when he published his first book, Chariots of the Gods (1968). "In breathless prose, saturated with exclamation points and folksy interjections such as 'Hey, presto!' Mr. Von Däniken posited that virtually the sum of human knowledge and ability had been bestowed by extraterrestrials," the Times wrote.

He claimed that the Egyptian pyramids could have been built only with alien expertise: "Is it really a coincidence that the height of the pyramid of Cheops multiplied by a thousand million--98,000,000 miles--corresponds approximately to the distance between the earth and sun?"

Critics were unimpressed, with one anthropologist writing that the book was "a warped parody of reasoning, argumentation, as well as a vigorous exercise in selective quotation, misrepresentation and error based on ignorance."

Astrophysicist Carl Sagan said of von Däniken: "Every time he sees something he can't understand, he attributes it to extraterrestrial intelligence, and since he understands almost nothing, he sees evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence all over the planet." Nevertheless, Chariots of the Gods sold hundreds of thousands of copies and inspired documentaries, comic books, and a movie.

"But for a certain kind of reader--and, to scientists' alarm, there were many of them--Mr. von Däniken's theories registered not only intellectually but also spiritually, constituting something like the catechism of an enlightened new faith," the Times noted, adding that the book "positioned itself squarely against the establishment, scientific or otherwise--not a hard sell in 1968."

Over the next 50 years, von Däniken published more than 40 books, though none offered much variation from his original themes or ideas. The titles include Gods From Outer Space, The Gods Were Astronauts, and Arrival of the Gods. Collectively, his books sold more than 70 million copies.

 I agree with Laura Dave...bookstores (and Libraries) are like home, no matter where I find them. And for me, my undergrad college provided the breath of fresh air of people who were also readers and wanted to discuss books and ideas, instead of the hierarchy of teenage life, and the harassment of those on the bottom rung of that hierarchy (myself and anyone who was "different.")

Quotation of the Day

'Every Town I Go to, the Indie Bookstore Is the First Place I Go'

"I know last time we talked a lot about DIESEL, A Bookstore, which is still my home away from home.

"For me, books are always like a coming home. I love them more than anything. One of the reasons I loved graduate school so much is it was a group of people with which you could talk about books (and reading and writing and poetry and plays) and they all cared. They all wanted to talk about it. And that's what an indie bookstore feels like.... Every town I go to, the indie bookstore is the first place I go." --Laura Dave, whose novel The First Time I Saw Him 

This looks to be the kind of series that is right up my alley...bookstores and libraries and regional great authors...I can't wait for the segment on Washington state and Iowa.

Video: American Stories: A Reading Road Trip

The Library of Congress, in partnership with its Affiliate Centers for the Book and PBS Books, has launched the new video series, American Stories: A Reading Road Trip. The cross-country streaming series "uncovers the literary treasures of individual states and territories within the U.S. and the expansive storied heritage of the country," the Library said.

Timed with America's 250th birthday, each installment of American Stories: A Reading Road Trip will showcase the influence that local writers, poets, and raconteurs have had on the cultural identity of their region, inviting viewers to explore the heart, history and creative spirit of the U.S. through the lens of books and storytelling. Episodes include iconic authors, books, hidden-gem bookstores, libraries, and the locations that inspired great works.

In addition, each episode will share highlights from local programs and events hosted by each state's Affiliate Center for the Book, as well as showcase items in a variety of media from the online collections of the Library of Congress--maps, photographs, sheet music and more--that help illustrate the stories and reveal surprising connections.

"We are delighted by this partnership and the resulting programs," said Lee Ann Potter, director of Professional Learning and Outreach Initiatives at the Library. "It embodies 'E pluribus unum' ('Out of many, one'). Each episode is unique, just like the state or territory it focuses on, and together the series will present a full-length literary portrait of our nation at its semiquincentennial."

Thus far, the series has featured seven states: Rhode Island, Georgia, Ohio, Wyoming, Louisiana, Alaska, and Indiana. Episodes launching in early 2026 feature Washington state (scheduled to air February 4), the U.S. Virgin Islands, Arkansas, Iowa, and Nevada.

Episodes can be viewed at the Library's Center for the Book webpage, and the series is streaming from PBS Books. All future episodes will be added to the Library's website once they are released.

The Inn At Thistledown Hollow by Devon Yates is a (self published) cozy fantasy that is poorly edited in spots, but still has a load of sweetness in its storyline of self discovery, found family and magical tea. Here's the blurb:

When burned-out city herbalist Wren Alderidge inherits her estranged aunt's mysterious inn in the magical village of Thistledown Hollow, she plans to sell it and return to her failing urban life. But the Lavender Fox Inn has other ideas—and so does Kip, the sharp-tongued fox who insists the tea won't brew itself.

As Wren discovers her gift for brewing emotions into tea and helping lost souls find their way home, she's drawn into a world where magic lives in everyday moments. From healing broken marriages with specially crafted blends to managing guests who transform furniture into butterflies, Wren learns that true magic isn't about power—it's about creating space for people to remember who they are.

With the help of her found family—including a patient carpenter, grieving guests who become permanent residents, and a village baker with strong opinions about proper scone technique—Wren must decide whether to embrace her inherited destiny as innkeeper or flee back to the safety of her old, empty life.

Perfect for fans of cozy fantasy, The Inn at Thistledown Hollow is a heartwarming tale of second chances, magical tea ceremonies, talking animals, and the transformative power of choosing community over isolation. Set in an enchanting world where ghosts offer guidance, greenhouses grow hope along with herbs, and every cup of tea carries the possibility of healing, this novel celebrates the magic found when people choose to care for one another.

A story about coming home to yourself, building chosen family, and discovering that the most powerful magic is often the simplest: showing up for each other with love, patience, and perfectly brewed tea.

This book could have used an editor to get rid of the typos (which were glaring) and grammos, as well as trimming down the redundant 'tear-jerking' episodes within each chapter in the second half of the book. Those later chapters ended in what felt like a natural stopping point, only to come up with yet another melodramatic theme to wrap up with character acceptance and love and grief...only for it to happen all over again in the next chapter. Its like some editor told the author that she needs to expand the number of pages in this slender volume, so she padded it out by doing the same thing over and over, only with a slightly different environment and POV on the problem. Still, Yates added enough sweetness to rot reader's teeth, though, as with bakery treats, half the fun is savoring the flavor in the moment. I'd give this light and fluffy, endearing and relatable novel a B, and recommend it to anyone who needs a break from pain and death and cynical political stuff that surrounds each of us with its cacophony every minute of the day.

 

The Prisoner of Heaven by Carlos Ruiz Zafon  is the third book in his "Cemetery of Forgotten Books" series of mystery/thriller book adventures, set in Spain during the 1950s. I've read 7 of Zafon's other novels, each a hidden jewel of literary excellence that will leave readers breathless for more. Here's the blurb: 

“A deep and mysterious novel full of people that feel real. . . .An enthralling read and a must-have for your library. Zafón focuses on the emotion of the reader and doesn’t let go.” — Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Internationally acclaimed author Carlos Ruiz Zafón creates a rich, labyrinthine tale of love, literature, passion, and revenge, set in a dark, gothic Barcelona, in which the heroes of The Shadow of the Wind and The Angel's Game must contend with a nemesis that threatens to destroy them.

Barcelona, 1957. It is Christmas, and Daniel Sempere and his wife, Bea, have much to celebrate. They have a beautiful new baby son named Julián, and their close friend Fermín Romero de Torres is about to be wed. But their joy is eclipsed when a mysterious stranger visits the Sempere bookshop and threatens to divulge a terrible secret that has been buried for two decades in the city's dark past.

His appearance plunges Fermín and Daniel into a dangerous adventure that will take them back to the 1940s and the early days of Franco's dictatorship. The terrifying events of that time launch them on a search for the truth that will put into peril everything they love, and will ultimately transform their lives.

 Though this novel is 13 years old, the prose is so lush and gorgeous that it never feels dated or cliche'd. I remember reading The Shadow of the Wind and being stunned at the excellence of the wordsmithing, and of the miracle of a translator who managed to keep the prose and the story arc tight and enthralling while translating the book from the original Spanish to English, no mean feat. The Angels Game wasn't as exciting as Shadow of the Wind, because it felt rushed to me as a reader. Prisoner of Heaven pulls out all the stops, though, and smoothly glides back to Shadow of the Wind's easy elegance and thrilling paragraphs of danger and intrigue. I loved each and every paragraph of Fermin's story, and as usual, felt as if Zafon's characters are so well written that they breathe off the page. This riveting story, brilliantly told, deserves an A, and a recommendation to anyone who read and loved the seductive Shadow of the Wind, and its Cemetery of Forgotten Books (which will tantalize bibliophiles the world over). 

 

Queen of Thieves by Beezy Marsh is a post-WWII crime/adventures in gangland novel that follows women's POV in a male society bent on forcing women into slavish, subservient roles. Though the author's name sounds like some country-club scion from a wealthy family, (BEEZY?!? Really?), Marsh's prose is sturdy and earthy, and her plot as swift and straightforward as a razor. Here's the blurb: 

An electrifying historical adventure about a ring of bold and resourceful women thieves in post-World War II London.

Gangland was a man’s world. Or so they thought. The women knew different. London, 1946. The city struggles to rebuild itself after the devastation of the Blitz. Food is rationed, good jobs are scarce, and even the most honest families are forced to take a bit of “crooked” just to survive.

Alice Diamond, the Queen of Thieves, rules over her all-female gang with a bejeweled fist. Her “hoisters” are expert shoplifters, the scourge of London’s upscale boutiques and departments stores. Their lucrative business stealing and fencing luxury goods always carries the threat of violence; Alice packs a razor, and has been known to use her heavy rows of diamond rings like brass knuckles.

Young Nell is a teenager from the slums, hiding a secret pregnancy and facing a desperately uncertain future when Alice takes her under her wing. Before long, Nell is experiencing all the dangers—and glamorous trappings—that comes with this underworld existence. Alice wants Nell to be a useful weapon in her ongoing war against crime boss Billy Sullivan’s gang of rival thieves. But Nell has a hidden agenda of her own, and is not to be underestimated. The more she is manipulated by both Alice and Billy, the more her hunger for revenge grows.

As Nell embraces the rich spoils of crime and the seedy underbelly of London, will she manage to carve out her own path to power and riches? Might she even crown herself the Queen of Thieves?

 Though the plot twist was easily deduced from the start of the novel (SPOILER, the rival gangs are run by a brother and sister who loathe one another), getting to that discovery proves quite intriguing, with fascinating characters forced by fate into questionable moral dilemmas. I found that the female protagonist's journey from a frightened, starving and pregnant foolish girl to a woman fully capable of supporting herself by thievery and ambition and street smarts to be utterly riveting stuff, especially at the time, when women were being boxed into strict societal roles of wives and mothers who were completely dependent on men for survival. Though the ending is a bit improbable and leaves things open for a vengeful sequel, I still felt that this gritty book deserves a B+ and a recommendation to those looking for an historical feminist POV in the mid-20th century.

Kneading a Spark by Lia Duchaine is a self published romantic comedy by a local author whom I had the great good fortune to meet a few weeks ago. After chatting with Lia a bit, I bought her novel and the more gothic novel of the author next to her at the same table, who was also a local. I had high hopes for both books, but found that only Lia's was engaging and exciting, full of enthusiastic prose and memorable characters. Here's the blurb: 

Jasmine Browne has been passionate about baking since she was four years old whipping up brownies in her Easy Bake Oven. Now, twenty five years old, she is a proud owner of her own baking company that she runs out of a converted shed in her backyard. She keeps busy spending time with her friends and working hard on her flourishing business but there is one major distraction. And his name is Tanner Hayes. The adorably goofy, attractive firefighter who has been her friend with benefits since they met on their trip to the Bahamas a few months ago. Will she be able to multitask keeping her business afloat and keeping her heart safely intact?

Tanner Hayes was fourteen years old when he decided he wanted to be a firefighter. If people ask he jokingly tells them it’s to get women. Because who could resist all of that in a uniform? But only a few people know the real reason why. He is happy with where he is at in life. He has his best friends, who are essentially family, and his steady job. And he has Jasmine. The feisty, beautifully charming baker who has become his good friend. His good friend that is also his friend with benefits. But it won’t be anything more because relationships are a no go for him. How could he invite love in to only have it ripped away from him….again.

This story of two closed off people who have walled up their hearts due to the trauma of losing loved ones, is especially pertinent in this day and age, when young people struggle with work/life balance and marriage/children and elderly parent care coming at them from both sides. Finding a well-paying job and working toward independence is a nearly 

Sisyphean

 task under the oligarchical and fascist rule of our current clown/POTUS. Seeing these young people in this novel struggle and ultimately succeed is heartwarming and welcome after so much cynical or saccharine literature covering the same ground with ill effect. Lia never falls prey to either, and her delicious prose glides along a well-thought-out plot that never bogs down into info-dumping or repetition. All in all, I'd give this lovely rom-com an A, and recommend it to anyone looking for something fresh and fascinating in the realm of romantic literature.