It's June, so welcome to summer my fellow people of the book! I've had several doctors appointments and am taking antibiotics for cellulitis in my left leg, but other than that I remain optimistic about this summer and our nation's recovery from the COVID 19 pandemic. I've been saving up lots of tidbits and four book reviews for you all, so grab an Arnold Palmer, a lemonade or a cool bottle of flavored water and join me on the veranda for book talk!
I wish I could visit this tiny bookstore, because it sounds delightful. But it's pretty far from where I live in Maple Valley, since it's out past SeaTac airport.
Three Trees Books 'Punches Far Above Its Weight'
Noting that the 240-square-foot Three Trees Books http://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/uz3642037Biz48636929 in Burien, Wash., "punches far above its weight," the Seattle Times profiled the indie http://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/uz3642037Biz48636930founded two years ago by Ingrid and Tim Miller, praising the space as "a clean, bright store that's packed to the rafters with books but which somehow doesn't feel overstuffed."
"Owning a bookstore was a dream project for me, one of those things I always wanted to do," Ingrid Miller said. "I had a career in online advertising for 25 years, but I decided I wasn't going to wait anymore.... I tried to imagine an airport bookstore, but with really good books."
Two years after opening, Miller said the bookstore "is still tiny and it is still highly curated, but it's more curated by the community than by us.... We have a couple of influencer customers who, the minute they pick up a book, I know I should order a lot of copies."
The Millers would like to find a space nearby where they could host readings that are too big for the bookshop, the Seattle Times wrote. "Encouraged by strong sales during the pandemic, they hope to eventually bring a bookseller or two on staff and expand the store's hours. It's a time of big possibilities for Three Trees Books, but the small storefront is still the center of it all."
I used to read my son Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (will there be enough room?) every single night for about two and a half years...he could never get enough of this book or other favorites like Jamberry. Her illustrations for "Chicka" were mesmerizing and entrancing for little ones worldwide. RIP Ms Ehlert.
Obituary Lois Ehlert
Lois Ehlert, the author and illustrator "whose cut-and-paste shapes and vibrant hues in books including Chicka Chicka Boom Boom put her among the most popular illustrators of books for preschoolers of the late 20th century," died May 25 at age 86, the Associated Press reported. Ehlert graduated from Milwaukee's Layton School of Art and worked in graphic design before she began illustrating children's books in her 50s, starting with 1987's Growing Vegetable Soup. In addition to Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, which has sold more than 12 million copies across all formats, Ehlert's works include Holey Moley; Hands; The Scraps Book; Mice; Ten Little Caterpillars; RRRalph; Lots of Spots; Boo to You!; Leaf Man; Waiting for Wings; Planting a Rainbow; and Color Zoo, which received a Caldecott Honor. "Every book Lois made grew out of her love of folk art, nature, and most importantly color," said Allyn Johnston, v-p and publisher of S&S Children's Publishing imprint Beach Lane Books, who edited 29 of Ehlert's 38 books. "She never took herself too seriously--in fact, her subtle and impish sense of humor was one of her biggest creative strengths. And what she cared about most was inspiring young children to pay attention to the beauty of our world, to make things of their own, and to laugh and have fun while doing it."
How exciting for this bookstore to be part of a movie with This is Us's Justin Hartley! I can hardly wait to catch this show on Netflix.
'Hollywood Comes to RJ Julia!'
This past weekend, RJ Julia Booksellers in Madison, Conn., was transformed into a movie set. "We're thrilled to have our store featured in the upcoming film adaptation http://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/uz3642037Biz48669172 of The Noel Diary by Richard Paul Evans," the bookstore noted in an notice to customers. The Netflix film stars Justin Hartley (This Is Us), Bonnie Bedelia and Treat Williams, with Hartley portraying "a bestselling author who returns home at Christmas to settle the estate of his estranged mother."
On Friday, the bookstore shared photos on Facebook, noting: "Netflix has Christmas-fied RJ Julia! Here's a sneak peek of the set decorations (with more to come). The only thing missing is the [snow]--and we hear that's on the way!"
The movie's assistant location manager told the Middletown Press how RJ Julia was chosen "We have a team of folks that are part of my department to get a look into the location scouts and we task them and say, 'We need to find the most charming book store that's straight out of a postcard,' and that happens to be in Madison."
I can't imagine Bridgerton being more charming than it already is during it's sophomore season, but Rupert Evans should certainly liven things up as the Bridgerton Patriarch.
TV: Bridgerton Season 2
Rupert Evans (The Man in the High Castle, Charmed) has joined the cast of Bridgerton http://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/uz3642037Biz48669191 for season two of the hit Netflix series based on Julia Quinn's novels.
The Hollywood Reporter wrote that Evans will play Edmund Bridgerton, "a loving and devoted husband whose true love match with Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell) gave them eight children. He's further described as an endlessly patient and kind father, who takes special pride in guiding his eldest son Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) through life."
Season two of the Shonda Rhimes drama will focus on Anthony, with production currently underway in London. Chris Van Dusen returns as showrunner for season two and is executive producing alongside Rhimes and Betsy Beers.
Evans "joins a bulked-up cast that includes franchise newcomers Simone Ashley (Sex Education), Charithra Chandran (Alex Rider), Shelley Conn (Liar), Calam Lynch (Benediction) and Rupert Young (Dear Evan Hansen)," the Hollywood Reporter noted. Phoebe Dynevor is back as Daphne Bridgerton "and remains a vital part of the story, as a devoted wife and sister, helping her brother Anthony navigate the upcoming social season and what it has to offer."
I wasn't able to visit this bookstore last year during the quarantine, but it is most definitely on my list of places to explore this summer and fall, post pandemic.
Happy Belated 10th Birthday, Ada's Technical Books & Café!
Congratulations to Ada's Technical Books & Cafe; http://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/uz3642037Biz48697376>, Seattle, Wash., which is celebrating its 10th anniversary a year later than anticipated. The bookseller posted on Facebook yesterday: "Happy Anniversary to us! After missing our 10 year celebration last year due to the chaos of pandemic, it feels particularly good to be able to celebrate our 11th year in business with all of you today! Stop by for some cake and an affogato if you're able, and if you're celebrating with us from afar, type in 'Happy Anniversary' in your order comments for a free Ada pin with any purchase of $30+."
Oh how I miss the sarcasm, wit and brio of Anthony Bourdain. Amazing chef and travelog, he was gone from this world too soon.
Movies: Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain
A trailer has been released for the documentary Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain http://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/uz3642037Biz48700183. Food & Wine reported that the movie about the world-renowned chef, author and travel documentarian "includes behind-the-scenes clips from Bourdain's various shows, as well as interviews with friends and colleagues, including Eric Ripert and David Chang. Bourdain, who died by suicide at age 61 in 2018, first rose to stardom with the breakout hit of his 2000 culinary memoir, Kitchen Confidential." Directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Morgan Neville (20 Feet from Stardom, Won't You Be My Neighbor?), Roadrunner hits theaters July 16.
Where the Light Enters by Sara Donati is a complex and dense historical fiction novel that was sold to me as more of a historical romance. However, in my experience, romances tend to be lighter, with fast-moving plots and lots of character development. Such was not the case with Where the Light Enters, which had baroque prose that was so overly detailed that it slowed the already labyrinthine plot to a crawl. Every detail of what the characters thought and felt and experienced, including descriptions of the houses, the rooms, the cities and the weather was laid out in every paragraph. It was like an overly sweetened cake that is so rich you can only take a bite or two before you're feeling nauseous about the whole thing. Here's the blurb: From the international bestselling author of The Gilded Hour comes Sara Donati's enthralling epic about two trailblazing female doctors in nineteenth-century New York
Obstetrician Dr. Sophie Savard returns home to the achingly familiar
rhythms of Manhattan in the early spring of 1884 to rebuild her life
after the death of her husband. With the help of Dr. Anna Savard, her
dearest friend, cousin, and fellow physician she plans to continue her
work aiding the disadvantaged women society would rather forget.
As Sophie sets out to construct a new life for herself, Anna's husband,
Detective-Sergeant Jack Mezzanotte calls on them both to consult on two
new cases: the wife of a prominent banker has disappeared into thin
air, and the corpse of a young woman is found with baffling wounds that
suggest a killer is on the loose. In New York it seems that the
advancement of women has brought out the worst in some men. Unable to
ignore the plight of New York's less fortunate, these intrepid cousins
draw on all resources to protect their patients.
Normally a book about 19th century groundbreaking female doctors, one of whom is a woman of color, would be right up my alley. But this story gets lost in the historical details (and medical/scientific details) so often that it's hard to follow the characters through the sand dunes of the plot to the story's conclusion. I also felt that Sophie and Anna seemed too much like modern day feminists to fit in with the mores and morality and blatant sexism/racism of the 19th century. I felt as if there would have been much more harsh consequences to their being free to practice medicine and to help investigate crimes related to women and children. In the end, neither Sophie nor Anna were able to help the children being drugged and abused in a local orphanage, though previously they'd seemed all powerful, especially Sophie with all her inherited money. She had the wherewithal to house, feed and care for many unwanted children, yet she seemed to not care about their plight beyond getting the minister who ran the place to be investigated for abuse. Hence I'd give this turgid novel a C+ and only recommend it to those who like dense historical fiction with anachronistic women protagonists.
Down Comes the Night by Allison Saft is an old fashioned fantasy/romance/fairy tale retelling of Beauty and the Beast that sets the old tale on it's head and comes out smelling like a rose. The prose is lovely and lush, without being fussy and the plot swoops in and engages the reader for a page-turning ride to the breathless ending. Add in some adventure and mystery and you've got a book that is nearly impossible to put down. Here's the blurb: Allison Saft’s Down Comes the Night is a snow-drenched romantic fantasy that keeps you racing through the pages long into the night.
He saw the darkness in her magic. She saw the magic in his darkness.
Wren
Southerland’s reckless use of magic has cost her everything: she's been
dismissed from the Queen’s Guard and separated from her best friend—the
girl she loves. So when a letter arrives from a reclusive lord, asking
Wren to come to his estate, Colwick Hall, to cure his servant from a
mysterious illness, she seizes her chance to redeem herself.
The
mansion is crumbling, icy winds haunt the caved-in halls, and her
eccentric host forbids her from leaving her room after dark. Worse,
Wren’s patient isn’t a servant at all but Hal Cavendish, the infamous
Reaper of Vesria and her kingdom’s sworn enemy. Hal also came to Colwick
Hall for redemption, but the secrets in the estate may lead to both of
their deaths.
With sinister forces at work, Wren and Hal realize
they’ll have to join together if they have any hope of saving their
kingdoms. But as Wren circles closer to the nefarious truth behind Hal’s
illness, they realize they have no escape from the monsters within the
mansion. All they have is each other, and a startling desire that could
be their downfall.
Love makes monsters of us all
It would be hard to discuss more about this book without wandering into spoiler territory, though I will say that the ending is beautiful and satisfying, and that Wren and Hal are a romantic duo for the ages. I also felt a bit concerned that Wren went from an unsatisfying lesbian relationship to a deeply felt and satisfying heterosexual relationship with such ease. I don't know if there was underlying homophobia involved or if it was some kind of sop to fans of so-called "conversion therapy," but it left me uncomfortable that Una, Wren's previous love interest, seems to not be interested in any real relationships at all. Still, this was a swift read that I really enjoyed, so I'll give it an A- and recommend it to those who like updates and modern retellings of fairy tales.
The City of Zirdai by Maria V Snyder is the second book in her Archives of the Invisible Sword series. I've read everything that Snyder has written, from her Poison Study series to her Healer and Storm glass series and her YA science fiction series. Snyder's prose is the gold standard, always clean and crisp and full of zest that moves along her swift and riveting plots like a roller coaster. I was only able to afford the ebook of City of Zirdai, but I enjoyed reading it on my Kindle Paperwhite the day that it debuted, so all's well that ends well. Here's the blurb: "It's suicide, Shyla. You're the prize they want."
Through
her courage and tenacity, Shyla Sun-Kissed has awoken the power of The
Eyes of Tamburah. But this feat only marks the beginning of the
challenges that the magical order, the Invisible Sword, faces to free
the underground city of Zirdai.
Though they have allies among the
monks and splinter cells inside the city, Shyla knows the Invisible
Sword doesn't have the strength to win. With the group fracturing due to
the strain of losses from their latest ordeal, thinly veiled suspicions
and endless disagreements, it's up to Shyla to forge a new united
order.
When both the draconian Water Prince and brutal Heliacal
Priestess learn of Shyla's new powers, life becomes even more
complicated as they will stop at nothing to capture Shyla and take the
magic of The Eyes for themselves. Hunted at every turn and unable to
hide, Shyla and the Invisible Sword must use every resource at their
command - and unearth new ones - in their race to save the city from
destruction. But their enemies always seem to be one step ahead. And the
cost to win the battle may be more than Shyla would ever be willing to
pay.
There's more adventure, battles, captures and magic wielding per paragraph in this book than I would have thought possible, especially with a romance subplot that kept making a nuisance of itself. But as usual, Snyder pulls it off with aplomb, and while I really felt that Shyla was a naive idiot and an immature optimist way too much of the time, I found that I loved the community she wrested into being, and her consistent bravery in the face of her own death was inspiring, if a touch too melodramatic. I was also not fond of her love interest, who seemed like a brute and a sexist jerk a lot of the time. Still, I loved the monks, the reveal about her parents, the new and old members of the Invisible Sword and the odd and intriguing variety of desert animals who keep the people of this world alive through the searing heat and withering cold. Truly a page turner that will keep you up for hours, I'd give this book an A, and recommend it to anyone who has read the first book in the series, and wants to know what happens next.
Project Kaitlyn by Grayson Avery was a light romance novel that I got for free for my Kindle Paperwhite. Turns out that is just about what it was worth, too, as this was about as cliche'd a novel as I've ever read. The prose reads like something written by a horny 14 year old boy, complete with sexist and ridiculous descriptions of the female characters breasts and bodies that made me want to vomit, repeatedly. All the female characters want to talk about is sex, in the most crude ways possible, and the male protagonist makes truly immature and embarrassing sexual observations about his female coworkers that would actually never be allowed in today's workplace (in this book, even the HR admin, a woman, is in on the swearing and crude sexual jokes and innuendo, unfortunately, which is totally unrealistic). Here's the blurb, which is also unrealistic: Sweet Water, we have a project....
Meet
Kaitlyn Colby, a clumsy, inappropriate blurter with self-esteem issues,
but also quite handy with an axe. She's certainly no superhero, but she
fights the battles of a single mom with sweet snarkasm. Between work
and pining for and co-parenting with her man-child ex (is there any
other kind?), Kaitlyn has no time to find that special someone. And if
she did, would he really want her anyway? Kaitlyn's sister and friends
(The Sweet Water Circle) say yes, so following a typical Kaitlyn slip
up, The Circle intervenes to force her out of the funk that she fell
into following her unwanted divorce.
When Kaitlyn makes a
decision to pursue her advertising career over love, she tumbles (like
no tumble you've ever seen…or heard) into the life of hunky, bay
breeze-drinking Hunter Dixon, an ad exec who is intrigued enough by
Kaitlyn that he hires her firm to revive a struggling project, much like
herself.
Can Kaitlyn become the woman she needs to be to land
the man of her dreams? Maybe. Maybe not. But you'll laugh out loud as
she tries. There's no doubt you'll be rooting for the lovable,
hilarious, and relatable Kaitlyn. And you'll probably love her friends,
too, which is good, because their stories are ready to be told in the
Sweet Water Circle series!
Project Kaitlyn could be the funniest book you ever read. It's a hilarious romantic comedy that speaks the truth (well, most of the time) about life and love, and…hiking thongs? What the heck is that? Well, you'll just have to read it to find out!
Seriously, unless you are a teenage boy, there is nothing funny about this embarrassing novel that makes jokes about every body function imaginable, including farts, a favorite of immature teenage boys everywhere. I rolled my eyes so many times I nearly gave myself a seizure. The prose is as immature and stupid as the characters, and the plot so easy to figure out that anyone with 5 working brain cells can tell you the ending after the first chapter. It boggled my mind that Kaitlyn was supposed to be 40 years old, when she acted like a 12 year old with pimples and braces, instead of a mother of two. Her sole contribution to motherhood seemed to be driving her children to school and activities and admonishing her ex and everyone else that they were to have NO SUGAR in their diet! Ever! I really wish that parenting were that simple, and that ex-husbands rallied around and tried to "get you back" after seeing you with another man, and then decided to be super-supportive and caring all of a sudden, anyway, just because. Men rarely have epiphanies that turn them from asshats into good husbands/fathers overnight, but this author would have you believe that it happens to the gals of the Sweetwater Circle all the time. Kaitlyn isn't really lovable, and her friends are awful, crude and foolish and immature. I couldn't wait for the end of this book, so I'd give it a D, and only recommend it to the 13 or 14 year old boys for whom it seems perfect, rife with boob and fart jokes as it is. Just be sure to park your brain elsewhere when you sit down to read it.
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