Two Classic Science Fiction Novels come to TV, Bookstore Cats, The Great American Read, The Lost Plot by Genevieve Cogman, These Vicious Masks by Tarun Shanker and Kelly Zekas, Miss Kopp's Midnight Confessions by Amy Stewart, and Romancing the Inventor by Gail Carriger

I am really looking forward to these series!

TV: Fahrenheit 451, Catch-22

HBO has released the first teaser for its adaptation of Ray Bradbury's

Fahrenheit 451

http://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/uz3642037Biz35730471,

which will air this spring. The Verge reported that the video

"highlights the most vivid part of the novel, showing a burning copy of

Crime and Punishment that's dropped onto a pile of other controversial

books, which is set on fire by a firefighter wielding a flamethrower."

Michael B. Jordan (Creed) and Michael Shannon (Man of Steel) star as

Montag and his superior Captain Beatty, respectively. Director Ramin

Bahrani (Man Push Cart, Chop Shop) told critics during the Television

Critics Association winter press tour that Bradbury's novel is

pressingly relevant this year, but the movie isn't designed as an

anti-Trump film. "I don't want to focus so much on [Trump] because I

don't want to excuse the 30, 40 years prior to that. He's just an

exaggeration of it now."

Catch-22

http://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/uz3642037Biz35730472,

a "high-profile limited series" based on the Joseph Heller novel, has

landed at Hulu, Deadline reported, adding that the streaming service

closed a deal for a six-episode straight-to-series order. George Clooney

stars and co-directs (with Grant Heslov) the project, which is written

by Luke Davies and David Michôd. Clooney and Heslov executive

produce via Smokehouse Pictures alongside Davies and Michôd, as

well as Anonymous Content's Richard Brown and Steve Golin. Filming is

slated to begin early this year.

Who doesn't love bookstore kitty cats? And I think it's a great idea for PBS to have a group reading program. I look forward to participating in it.

Bookstore Cats 'Worth Road Tripping For'

Showcasing "17 bookstore cats worth road

http://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/uz3642037Biz35730457

tripping for," Fodor's wrote: "There are plenty of reasons to plan road

trips, but there aren't any cuter itineraries than one full of America's

bookstore cats. Independent bookshops across the nation employ kitties

as greeters, lap-warmers, creative directors, and social media mavens,

combining two of the world's favorite joys: books and cats!"

PBS Unveils Details for 'The Great American Read 2018'

Margaret Atwood, Junot Diaz, Lauren Graham, John Irving, Bill T.

Jones, Devon Kennard, Gayle King, Diane Lane, George R.R. Martin and

Lesley Stahl are among the impressive list of authors, celebrities and

notable figures who will participate in PBS's The Great American Read

http://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/uz3642037Biz35730441,

an eight-part TV series and nationwide campaign exploring "the power of

books and the joy of reading through the lens of America's 100

best-loved novels, as voted on by the public." PBS will also partner

with literary organizations and its nearly 350 member stations

nationwide to extend the series' reach.

The ambitious initiative launches with a two-hour special event May 22,

at 8 p.m. on PBS stations (check local listings). Over the course of 15

weeks this summer, viewers can read and vote on favorite works of

fiction. The series then returns in the fall with additional episodes

exploring the nominated books through themes like "Heroes," "Villains &

Monsters," "Who Am I?," "What We Do for Love," "Other Worlds," and will

conclude with a finale and countdown to "America's Best-Loved Book." The

list of 100 titles, chosen from a demographically representative

national survey conducted by YouGov, will be made available to the

public prior to the launch episode in May.

Here are the latest books I've read, though I admit that I had some difficulty reading as much as I usually do because of a spate of Crohn's flares in the past two weeks, which have kept me too ill to read on some days. Still, I persisted! 

The Lost Plot by Genevieve Cogman is the 4th book in her Invisible Library series.

I've read all of them, and found them enjoyable, for the most part, and well written. Cogman's charming idea of having libraries in different parallel worlds (each with various time periods, from the Victorian age to the roaring 20s to the computer dominated future) where librarians with magical powers can travel and rescue books to bring back to the library for safekeeping is fascinating, and keeps the adventurous plot moving at breakneck speed. Her protagonist Irene is something of an outlier, having been born of two librarians and raised in the library itself, and she's been saddled with Kai, a dragon in human guise, as her apprentice, when dragons and the fae aren't supposed to become librarians because they're not human, and they are at war, in the sense of a cold war stand off. But Kai has fallen in love with Irene, which is also not allowed, and the two have traversed worlds and protected one another from a variety of villains. Here's the blurb:

After being commissioned to find a rare book, Librarian Irene and her assistant, Kai, head to Prohibition-era New York and are thrust into the middle of a political fight with dragons, mobsters, and Fae.
In a 1920s-esque New York, Prohibition is in force; fedoras, flapper dresses, and tommy guns are in fashion: and intrigue is afoot. Intrepid Librarians Irene and Kai find themselves caught in the middle of a dragon political contest. It seems a young Librarian has become tangled in this conflict, and if they can’t extricate him, there could be serious repercussions for the mysterious Library. And, as the balance of power across mighty factions hangs in the balance, this could even trigger war.
Irene and Kai are locked in a race against time (and dragons) to procure a rare book. They’ll face gangsters, blackmail, and the Library’s own Internal Affairs department. And if it doesn’t end well, it could have dire consequences on Irene’s job. And, incidentally, on her life...Publisher's Weekly: Time-traveling librarian Irene and her apprentice, the dragon prince Kai, become embroiled in the machinations of draconic nobility in this enjoyable fourth Invisible Library fantasy adventure (after The Burning Page). Minister Zhao of the court of the dragon queen of the Southern Lands has been assassinated. In order to fill his post, the queen sets a series of challenges for the two candidates, Qing Song and Jin Zhi. Irene confers with Kai after Jin Zhi approaches her for help and decides that she must proceed with the utmost caution. When it becomes apparent that another agent of the interdimensional library is already involved, Library Security has no choice but to assign Irene to investigate in order to maintain the library’s strict neutrality. Irene travels to a version of 1920s New York where mobsters and police have their own dangerous agendas, as do the two powerful dragons in human form competing for the ministerial post. Irene has the difficult task of deducing what is truly happening while evading capture by the various factions. Cogman nicely balances the political intrigue and action with the complex relationship between Irene and Kai.

This is a spoiler, so if you don't want to know, don't read any further, but I have never been a fan of Kai the dragon prince, because he seems to be only playing at being a librarian, just to be near Irene. He has been nothing but a pain and hinderance for Irene, because she's had to rescue him regularly and talk her way out of trouble with his relatives constantly, though that isn't her job at all. He's controlling, arrogant and possessive of Irene, and she somehow doesn't see these as the fatal flaws that they are, and falls for him as well, which makes no sense, as he's not even human. The fact that he "retires" from his apprenticeship at the end of this dragon debacle is noble of him, but then Irene flinging herself into his arms and setting off on an affair with him is completely out of character, and could put her job, which means everything to her, in jeopardy. I suppose the romantic "shippers" will be thrilled by this turn of events, but I don't read these books for the romance in them, and I was not at all thrilled. I wanted to grab Irene by the shoulders and shake her, and tell her to move ON, for heaven's sake, because this liaison can only end in tears. Anyway, I'd give this book a B+, and recommend it to anyone who has read the other three books in the series.

These Vicious Masks by Tarun Shanker and Kelly Zekas is one of those rare beasts, a semi-self published book that is actually a good read. Color me shocked, and frankly, delighted. This delicious magical steampunk fantasy is published by a Macmillan YA imprint, "Swoon Reads" and the prose is witty, warm and engaging, as is the dancing plot. Here's the blurb: Jane Austen meets X-Men in this thrilling Victorian adventure full of magic and mysticism, perfect for anyone who loves a confident, rebellious heroine, snappy dialogue, and a hint of romance.

England, 1882. Evelyn is bored with society and its expectations. So when her beloved sister, Rose, mysteriously vanishes, she ignores her parents and travels to London to find her, accompanied by the dashing Mr. Kent. But they're not the only ones looking for Rose. The reclusive, young gentleman Sebastian Braddock is also searching for her, claiming that both sisters have special healing powers. Evelyn is convinced that Sebastian must be mad, until she discovers that his strange tales of extraordinary people are true—and that her sister is in graver danger than she feared."Striking a strong balance between romance and mystery, this novel captures society’s rules just as well as it does the unbelievable powers of the main characters. Readers will easily be swept up in its fast pace and sympathetic narrator, who is filled with both self-doubt and resolve to do anything to protect those she loves. This is a perfect pick for someone who wants a little magic in their Victorian novels, and its combination of historical fiction and mysticism will remind readers of Libba Bray’s Gemma Doyle trilogy." —Booklist

Despite the comedic wit of the dialog, the protagonist is a strong and intelligent woman who fights the restrictions of society of that era to lead a meaningful life outside of marriage and family. Evelyn is protective of her sister Rose, and she is determined to rescue her, no matter the odds, and no matter how many men try to fling themselves in front of her to act heroic and gain her regard. I loved her toughness and her brilliant mind, and I gorged on the excellent storytelling and characters. I wasn't able to put the book down once I picked it up, and I read it in one day. I can only hope and pray for a sequel. Well done, authors! I'd give it an A, and recommend this fantastic novel to anyone who enjoys British fantasy or Steampunk fiction.

Miss Kopp's Midnight Confessions by Amy Stewart is the third book in the Kopp Sisters series. I've read the previous two books, and the first in the series was a book that we read in my library book group. Because the first book of this series was so well written, I assumed that the others would be equally well done. Unfortunately, they've continued to be less enthralling with each new volume. Here's the blurb: The best-selling author of Girl Waits with Gun and Lady Cop Makes Trouble continues her extraordinary journey into the real lives of the forgotten but fabulous Kopp sisters.
Deputy sheriff Constance Kopp is outraged to see young women brought into the Hackensack jail over dubious charges of waywardness, incorrigibility, and moral depravity. The strong-willed, patriotic Edna Heustis, who left home to work in a munitions factory, certainly doesn’t belong behind bars. And sixteen-year-old runaway Minnie Davis, with few prospects and fewer friends, shouldn’t be publicly shamed and packed off to a state-run reformatory. But such were the laws—and morals—of 1916.
Constance uses her authority as deputy sheriff, and occasionally exceeds it, to investigate and defend these women when no one else will. But it's her sister Fleurette who puts Constance's beliefs to the test and forces her to reckon with her own ideas of how a young woman should and shouldn't behave.
Against the backdrop of World War I, and drawn once again from the true story of the Kopp sisters, Miss Kopp’s Midnight Confessions is a spirited, page-turning story that will delight fans of historical fiction and lighthearted detective fiction alike.

I have to admit that I have never liked Norma, the grubby and rude Kopp sister who manages their hardscrabble farm and keeps carrier pigeons for scientific research. In this edition of the story, I truly loathed her, because she's gone from grungy nuisance to mean and controlling and horrible person who has to have her own way, and who cares nothing for the feelings or ambitions of her sisters. Her heartless actions nearly get her youngest sister Fleurette jailed (or put away in a reformatory for decades) for immorality, and put her elder sister Constance in the terrible position of having to choose between family and her work as a deputy. Constance's job is the only thing keeping the sisters from bankruptcy, yet Norma doesn't seem to understand that, and just barrels in and makes trouble, even after it is patently clear that Fleurette left home of her own accord because she wants a glamorous life on the stage as a chorus girl. Fleurette herself is a selfish, spoiled and stupid girl who completely takes for granted all the kind and loving things her sisters do for her to keep her in dance lessons and music and all the fabric and notions necessary for Fleur to make her own lavish wardrobe. She steals from Constance (who indulges her because she's actually Fleur's mother, not her sister, but Fleur doesn't know this) without a qualm,and she doesn't help with all the backbreaking farm work that Norma does every day. Fortunately, Fleur gets her comeuppance when, after paying way too much money for an audition (its actually a scam), she discovers that she's not as talented and ready for the vaudeville stage as she thought she was, so she begs to go along with the troupe as a seamstress, because she assumes that she can persuade the lead actress/dancer to eventually put her on stage when she needs a substitute. What she doesn't realize is that she's too short to be a chorus girl, who all have to be of a uniform height and weight, and her country bumpkin upbringing and lack of musical talent are the real impediments to her ambitions. So she ends up never seeing the glamorous side of the stage, as she's stuck  slaving away indoors fixing all of their tattered costumes for free. She lies on postcards to her sisters, saying she's killing it on stage when nothing of the kind is actually happening. So she returns home at the end, tail between her legs, but still arrogant enough to tell her sisters she's just back temporarily. Constance manages to fix everything, but as she's the only character worth a crap in the entire novel, I was not surprised. I'd give this book a B, and only recommend it to those who loved the first two books enough to tolerate the secondary Kopp sisters.

Romancing the Inventor by Gail Carriger is a novella that is a spinoff of her Parasol Protectorate series. I've read most of Carriger's books, from her Parasol Protectorate to her Custard Protocol and Finishing School series, and I've enjoyed a majority of them for their witty prose and fascinating characters. Carriger is an excellent storyteller, and these steampunk books are rife with magical creatures, diabolical inventions and amazing adventures. Here's the blurb:

A steampunk lesbian romance featuring a maid bent on seducing a brilliant scientist who’s too brokenhearted to notice. Or is she?
Imogene Hale is a lowly parlor maid with a soul-crushing secret. Seeking solace, she takes work at a local hive, only to fall desperately in love with the amazing lady inventor the vampires are keeping in the potting shed. Genevieve Lefoux is heartsick, lonely, and French. With culture, class, and the lady herself set against the match, can Imogene and her duster overcome all odds and win Genevieve’s heart, or will the vampires suck both of them dry?
This is a stand-alone LBGTQ sweet romance set in Gail Carriger’s Parasolverse, full of class prejudice, elusive equations, and paranormal creatures taking tea. Look for surprise appearances from popular Parasolverse characters and the occasional strategic application of cognac. Supernatural Society novellas can be read in any order.
Delicate Sensibilities? This story contains women pleasing women and ladies who know what they want and pursue it, sometimes in exquisite detail.

Readers can always count on Carriger's deliciously witty prose to keep you laughing and sighing, and thirsting for a good strong cuppa tea. This novella is no exception, but though I know some readers find novellas too short, I found it to be a precious jewel of a story that was just beautiful enough to last for a brief period of wonderment, like a soap bubble on a sunny day.  The protagonists are fascinating, and I was heartened to see the cross dressing Madam Lefoux in all her resplendence here, creating steampunk machines and being French, while Imogene struggled to get Lefoux to succumb to her feelings of love for the genius parlor maid. It was difficult for me to read about Imogene's abuse at the hands of a horrible footman and the Vampire Countess, but everything was set to rights in the end, thankfully, and there were appearances by Lord Maccon and Alexia, so that brought additional savor to the book. I'd give this novella an A, and recommend it to anyone who wants a bit of romantic LBGTQ steampunk in their lives, or who needs inspiration in their love life, no matter what the configuration.