Saturday, July 23, 2022

Nook & Cranny Books Opens in Seattle, Pennie's Pick is Back, Happy 50th HPB, The Buccaneers on TV, The Graveyard Book Movie, The Clear Lake, IA Book Project, Blade of Secrets by Tricia Levenseller, Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn, The Bluebonnet Battle by Carolyn Brown, The Witch Collector by Charissa Weaks, My First, My Last, My Only by Denise Carbo, and Neuromancer: a Novella by Lish McBride

Greetings fellow bibliophiles! It's nearly the end of July, and I've been reading and binge-watching and procrastinating about reviewing books on this blog for nearly 10 days. But I figure it's summertime, and I deserve a slower, vacation-like vibe for awhile.  So here's a bunch of bookish tidbits and at least 5 reviews. Enjoy the sunshine under a beach umbrella with a good book!

I would really like to visit this bookstore in Seattle, it sounds delightful.

Nook & Cranny Books Opens in Seattle, Wash.

Maren Comendant opened Nook & Cranny Books https://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/x/pjJscALek-8I6aozIEtyEw~k1yJoKXv-hs8x6jFDJKnpoMLg-gVdw earlier this month at 15th Ave E. in Seattle, Wash., formerly the site of the Oh Hello Again bookshop. The Capital Hill Seattle blog reported that in March, Kari Ferguson had announced she was seeking a new owner for Oh Hello Again "after just over a year of business at the little bookstore where she introduced the idea of retail bibliotherapy to Seattle with a shop organized by topics--'mental health, everyday problems, bettering yourself, relationships, travel and many more.' "

Comendant purchased the business, including Ferguson's stock, and set about shaping her own shop. She has stuck with the bibliotherapeutic organization, saying she and Ferguson share "a very similar literary aesthetic.... They are books I wanted to read, mostly."Active in the city's arts and drama scene, Comendant is still working as a catering chef. Although her original dream was to have a book cafe where she hoped to mix her love of the written word with food and drink, after learning about the bookshop's availability she decided to build from the book side of things.

Comendant said she is happy to see regulars returning, and that the space has turned out to be a perfect starting point for her journey in bookselling, with a steady stream of passersby and foot traffic in the busy commercial neighborhood. Thoughts of a book cafe still linger even in this smaller, simpler form."I want to celebrate the stories in my community," she said. "More than what is printed in the books.... My mission has not changed."

I used to really enjoy the Costco newsletter, mainly for Pennie's Picks, which were always intriguing. Now she's started her own book newsletter, and it sounds delightful.

Pennie Inspired: New Venture from Pennie Clark Ianniciello

Pennie's Pick is back. Pennie Clark Ianniciello, longtime book buyer at Costco who retired last year https://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/x/pjJscALcxL0I6aozIUh2Gg~k1yJoKXv-hs8x6jFDsX1poMLg-gVdw after 32 years at the company, is launching a new venture, Pennie Inspired https://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/x/pjJscALcxL0I6aozIUh2Gw~k1yJoKXv-hs8x6jFDsX1poMLg-gVdw.

She noted that during her time at Costco, "I was able to help shape the narrative for reading by launching many new writers, highlighting favorites that needed some attention and creating compilations of my favorite works all while increasing sales and working hands on with both sides of the industry, publishers and writers."

And so Pennie Inspired will "bring my insights" and help "re-engineer the way books are created, sold and read. I have been fortunate to have wonderful relationships with writers who have become family and will continue to work with them in all areas along with offering consulting service and new ways to share great content. From the start to the end of creative process, the hands on approach is the best formula for success."

She is offering monthly picks to "build upon the great audience we've built over the years to launch talent, create new conversations and reinvent the discussion.

"I'm passionate about books and will be looking for great literature in a variety of genres, including diversity of both subjects and authors. I hope you will add me to your publicity, marketing and mailing lists, as I want to know what you're promoting.

"Finally, I will be sending out a fun but informative newsletter in the near future to elaborate on Pennie's Picks with opportunities to announce new releases. So please keep me updated." For more information, contact Pennie via mailto:pennieinspired@gmail.com

My husband and I used to live not too far from a great HPB store in the U District, but that one, along with several others, closed down, though there's still one HPB left in Tuckwilla, near the Southcenter Mall. I've not been there in at least a decade, but I do enjoy perusing all the good deals that they have on their shelves. Sadly, HPB doesn't give much in the way of credit or money for the used books and memoribilia that you bring in to trade, so I haven't used that part of their business since I can get a much better deal at Powells City of Books in Portland, OR. Still, I am glad that there's that one lone store left, and I hope to visit it again sometime this year or next. Meanwhile, Happy Birthday HPB!

Happy 50th Birthday, Half Price Books!

Congratulations to Half Price Books https://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/x/pjJscALdlb0I6aozIUwkTg~k1yJoKXv-hs8x6jFD5T1poMLg-gVdw, which is turning 50 this year. Founded in 1972 in Dallas, Tex., by Ken Gjemre and Pat Anderson, the company now has more than 120 stores around the country that sell new and used books, DVDs, CDs, magazines, video games and more.

D Magazine has a long tribute to Half Price Books, now headed by Pat Anderson's daughter Sharon Anderson Wright, better known as "Boots." The article includes interviews and photographs of a range of customers, who love to buy--and sell--at Half Price Books.

"Half Price Books is a 50-year social experiment," D Magazine wrote. "By design, the store you visit Sunday won't be the same Monday. It's a living organism in a continuous state of evolution. One man purges, another consumes, each Half Price location a creation of its own unique community."

And in the words of co-founder Pat Anderson, the Half Price motto remains, "Be fair to customers and our employees, promote literacy, be kind to the environment and remain financially viable so we may continue."

 Oooh, I loved the Kate Beckinsale version that was on TV about 25 or 30 years ago! This one looks to be just as fascinating, and I adore Christina Hendricks, who is gorgeous.

TV: The Buccaneers

Christina Hendricks has been cast as Mrs. St. George in a TV series adaptation of Edith Wharton's unfinished final novel, The Buccaneers https://www.shelfawareness.com/ct/x/pjJscALdlb0I6aozIUwiGA~k1yJoKXv-hs8x6jFD5T1poMLg-gVdw.

Deadline reported that the six-time Mad Men Emmy nominee joins buccaneers Kristine Froseth, Alisha Boe, Josie Totah, Aubri Ibrag, Imogen Waterhouse and Mia Threapleton in the Apple TV+ drama series. Written by Katherine Jakeways and directed by Susanna White, the untitled series is produced for the streamer by the Forge Entertainment. Production is under way in Scotland.

I love Neil Gaiman's books, and this one was a good read for both myself and my son, who was 8 when it came out. I bet that the movie will be sublime.

Movies: The Graveyard Book

Marc Forster is set to direct the Walt Disney Studios adaptation of Neil Gaiman's 2008 novel The Graveyard Book https://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/x/pjJscALdn-QI6aozIBp1Hg~k1yJoKXv-hs8x6jFD56spoMLg-gVdw, Deadline reported. His producing partner, Rene Wolfe, will produce through their 2Dux2 banner along with Gil Netter. Ben Browning is also producing. David Magee is adapting the script.

Disney, Forster and Wolfe previously worked together on the Winnie the Pooh live-action movie, Christopher Robin, which 2Dux2 also produced. Forster is currently in post-production on two films he produced and he directed: White Bird, the sequel to Wonder, written by R.J. Palacio; and A Man Called Ove, based on the novel by Fredrik Backman and written by Magee, who also penned the script for Forster's Finding Neverland.

 I love that there's a bookmobile in Clear Lake, Iowa! What fun! I wish they'd had something like this in Ankeny when I was a preteen.

The Clear Lake Book Project Comes to Clear Lake, Iowa

The Clear Lake Book Project <https://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/x/pjJscALek-8I6aozIEtzTA~k1yJoKXv-hs8x6jFDJKnpoMLg-gVdw, a mobile bookstore based out of a renovated 24-foot trailer, has opened for business in Clear Lake, Iowa. According to 3 News Now, owner Ashley Bruce Lumpkin carries predominantly used titles with a small selection of new books and sets up shop weekly at Clear Lake's Thursdays on Main event.

The Book Project carries titles for all ages in a wide selection of genres. Bruce Lumpkin has started a book club that meets on Mondays; the club's first selection is Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. While the mobile bookstore is open only one day per week at the moment, Bruce Lumpkin is looking to expand her hours. As the school year approaches, she also plans to start donating books to local teachers.

Bruce Lumpkin found the trailer that would become her bookstore on Facebook Marketplace while on a trip to Minnesota. She and her husband, Sean Lumpkin, had to drive home to Iowa and borrow someone's truck to return to Minnesota and bring the trailer home. Renovations and redecoration took several weeks. She noted that it takes only about 15 minutes for her to set up and break down the bookstore during appearances.

With the nearest bookstore about an hour away, the Clear Lake Book Project has seen a strong community response. "It's just been really cool to see all the people excited," Bruce Lumpkin told 3 News Now.

Blade of Secrets by Tricia Levenseller is a remarkable YA fantasy that includes a neurodiverse heroine who is a blacksmith and doubtless has some form of Autism. The writing is fresh and engaging and the plot slick and quick. Here's the blurb:

In Blade of Secrets, a new YA fantasy adventure from the author of Daughter of the Pirate King, a teenage blacksmith with social anxiety is forced to go on the run to protect the world from the most powerful magical sword she's ever made.

Eighteen-year-old Ziva prefers metal to people. She spends her days tucked away in her forge, safe from society and the anxiety it causes her, using her magical gift to craft unique weapons imbued with power.

Then Ziva receives a commission from a powerful warlord, and the result is a sword capable of stealing its victims' secrets. A sword that can cut far deeper than the length of its blade. A sword with the strength to topple kingdoms. When Ziva learns of the warlord’s intentions to use the weapon to enslave all the world under her rule, she takes her sister and flees.

Joined by a distractingly handsome mercenary and a young scholar with extensive knowledge of the world’s known magics, Ziva and her sister set out on a quest to keep the sword safe until they can find a worthy wielder or a way to destroy it entirely.

I enjoyed Ziva and her sister Temra looking out for each other and trying to keep their magical weapons out of the hands of evil warlords (in this case, it's a warlady who is evil, so points to the author for making sure that there's equality of jobs in this universe) while also dealing with their feelings for various guys in their life, including the handsome mercenary Kellyn and the scholar Petrik, whom it turns out is the evil warlady's neglected son. My only problem was that it took the entire book for them to even admit to having feelings for each other, and even then, we're left on something of a cliffhanger at the end. Still, I'd give this spritely fantasy a B+ and recommend it to those who liked The Black Cauldron and LOTR and the Hobbit.

Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn is a contemporary romance featuring yet another child-like, overly shy and wimpy heroine who is afraid of her own shadow and yet manages to use passive-aggressive writing to thwart the marriage of a couple whom she's jealous of (she can hardly admit that she finds the guy attractive). Of course, the male protagonist is emotionally unavailable, stoic and grim, tense and has a job as a quant mathematician on Wall Street. Reid didn't know he needed the Manic Pixie Dream Girl in his life to shatter the stone around his heart, of course, until he confronts Meg about the coded message that she drew into his wedding announcement that no one but a big genius like himself could see (It spelled MISTAKE in fairies, so I find it hard to believe no one else could see it, even those of average intelligence). Throughout the novel, Meg grows less wimpy at the behest of her friends, but she's still childlike, even during sexual encounters with Reid, where she admits she's (GASP!) never had an orgasm! Big granite-like Reid to the rescue, because again pedophile fantasies of deflowering child-like women is a huge trope/cliche in romance novels, and apparently turns some people on... BLECH. Here's the blurb: In this warm and witty romance from acclaimed author Kate Clayborn, one little word puts a woman’s business—and her heart—in jeopardy . . .
 
Meg Mackworth’s hand-lettering skill has made her famous as the Planner of Park Slope, designing custom journals for her New York City clientele. She has another skill too: reading signs that other people miss. Knowing the upcoming marriage of Reid Sutherland and his polished fiancĂ©e was doomed to fail is one thing, but weaving a secret word of warning into their wedding program is another. Meg may have thought no one would spot it, but she hadn’t counted on sharp-eyed, pattern-obsessed Reid.
 
A year later, Reid has tracked Meg down to find out how she knew that his meticulously planned future was about to implode. But with a looming deadline and a bad case of creative block, Meg doesn’t have time for Reid’s questions—unless he can help her find her missing inspiration. As they gradually open up to each other, both try to ignore a deepening connection between them. But the signs are there—irresistible, indisputable, urging Meg to heed the messages Reid is sending her, before it’s too late.

Sadly, there was very little wit in this overly detailed and glacially plotted novel. The prose was so riddled with every stray thought and redundant anxiety spiral from Meg that I had to put it down before reaching page 100, because it was so boring it was putting me to sleep. The plot slows to a snail's pace every time the author starts on one of her descriptive info-dumps, usually details about letters and terms used to describe them, including point size, and kerning (spacing between letters) and on and on....if you're not a typography/lettering expert, all these paragraphs of jargon are going to make you nod off. Hence I'd give this book a B-, (mainly because it picks up in the last quarter of the book, and has an HEA), and only recommend it to those who pore over font sizes and lettering styles.

The Bluebonnet Battle by Carolyn Brown was a cheap Southern romance ebook that I thought might prove to be a fun and distracting read. Alas, it was not to be. This book is so cliche-riddled it reads like a comic book from the 50s or early 60s. The tropes and stereotypes dominate the entire text, from the spiteful, grudge-keeping, trash-talking hidebound old biddies who insist on "family tradition" no matter how outdated, to the younger/middle aged crowd who are just as vicious, but more subtle about their brutal family feuds.  Of course the older grannies cook the most deliciously destructive cuisine that no one in town can stand to be without at every occaision, especially funerals, which seem to happen frequently in small towns. It's also right on stereotype for these sweet-tea drinking, gun-toting mamas and grandmamas to wear tacky bling-encrusted clothing with makeup and sky high heels, even to the grocery store, because it's all about showing off in this idealized southern small town.  Here's the blurb:

New York Times bestselling author Carolyn Brown’s heartwarming novel about old rivalries, young love, and a lemon meringue pie to die for.

In Bonnet, Texas, Liddy Latham, the queen of funeral dinners, keeps a southern comfort-food tradition alive—until fancy-schmancy Matilda Monroe moves back to town. She wants room at the table for her own style of consolation and closure: healthy, modern, and vegan. But this is about more than fried chicken versus tofu turkey. Matilda’s return is also stirring up their volatile, unresolved history. And just when they thought it couldn’t get more personal…

Matilda’s son, Nick, and Liddy’s niece, Amelia, have met and the sparks are flying. For Matilda and Liddy, their precious kin’s romance is their worst nightmare. Now, it’s all Nick and Amelia can do to survive a family feud that has the whole town talking.

The battle for the funeral dinner crown is on. As two strong-willed women wrestle for control, making peace with the past may be the only way to serve the star-crossed lovers a happy ending.

I found very little heartwarming scenes in this book, and in fact, if I were a Southern person of either gender (the men are mostly just stupid, gluttonous and horny) I'd be insulted by this ridiculous depiction of a small Texas town that hasn't an ounce of nuance in it's characters or originality in its plot. So grab a sweet tea, bless your heart, and put on your best prejudiced sneer (and loathing of any vegetables that haven't been cooked in bacon grease, or any modern cuisine like tofu) and whip though this Romeo and Juliet re-telling that holds no surprises at all and sets the women's rights movement back 70 years. I'd give it a barely competent C.

The Witch Collector by Charissa Weaks was a delicious fantasy romance that, as an under 5 dollar ebook, I was surprised to find sturdy, bright and well written, with enjoyable three dimensional characters. Here's the blurb:

Every harvest moon, the Witch Collector rides into our valley and leads one of us to the home of the immortal Frost King, to remain forever.

Today is that day—Collecting Day.

But he will not come for me. I, Raina Bloodgood, have lived in this village for twenty-four years, and for all that time he has passed me by.

His mistake.

Raina Bloodgood has one desire: kill the Frost King and the Witch Collector who stole her sister. On Collecting Day, she means to exact murderous revenge, but a more sinister threat sets fire to her world. Rising from the ashes is the Collector, Alexus Thibault, the man she vowed to slay and the only person who can help save her sister.

Thrust into an age-old story of ice, fire, and ancient gods, Raina must abandon vengeance and aid the Witch Collector or let their empire—and her sister—fall into enemy hands. But the lines between good and evil blur, and Raina has more to lose than she imagined. What is she to do when the Witch Collector is no longer the villain who stole her sister, but the hero who’s stealing her heart?

Raina is a tough-but-fair and righteous woman who soon realizes that her long held beliefs don't coincide with the facts, and instead of whining or lamenting having her world-view spun on it's axis, Raina grows up and goes into battle, getting her hands dirty to protect the people she loves. In fact, she's often too good, insisting that those who can't be saved be put on ice until she can find a way to save them. The prose is crisp and evocative, and the plot sings along with nary a bump in the long road through battles and bereavement. I enjoyed this book, though I'm not a fan of gory, bloodly battles. Still, it's well worth an A, and I'd recommend it to those who liked the LOTR books or other magical fantasy adventures. 

My First, My Last, My Only by Denise Carbo was a cheap ebook romance that was lightweight, beach-read that I was expecting very little from, and therefore only slightly disappointed when that's what I got. Here's the blurb:

A second chance at love or heartbreak…

Socially awkward and prone to accidents, Franny Dawson has a brand new project—herself. Owning the local bakery, The Sweet Spot, has taken all her time and energy and she's neglected the social aspects of her life. The small lakeside town of Granite Cove, New Hampshire is full of quirky residents eager to help and hinder her new plan.

Mitch Atwater, an award-winning director, returns to town. He has an agenda of his own and is wreaking havoc with her goals and her heart.

Can Franny outwit her nemesis, overcome her perfect sister's surprise return, and escape the cocoon of her own insecurities to take a chance on love and get her very own happily ever after?

 Though it wasn't as poorly written or plotted as some of the other romances I've reviewed, there were still a few too many tropes that got in the way of me enjoying it to the fullest. The heroine is a klutz (but in a cute way, of course) who prat falls and drops things and dumps liquids on herself and anyone nearby at every opportunity. I think the author was modeling her a bit after Lucile Ball of I Love Lucy fame. But perhaps because of this, Franny was infantilized by her inability to deal with mean girls (one in particular whom I would have smashed in the face), or her crappy unsupportive parents or even her own ambitions to own her bakery outright and move out of her parent's house. Instead she hides away, keeping her desires secret from everyone and allowing the world to treat her like a doormat. Once you're past your teenage years and into your late 20s or early 30s, I just don't understand this type of behavior...GROW A SPINE already! And why manly men find this kind of immature and shy, wimpy and clumsy woman so appealing sexually is beyond me...what is sexy about being a wee timorous cowering beastie? The prose was decent and the plot easy-breezy, but I couldn't give this book anything above a C+, (maybe a B- in a pinch). I'd recommend it to anyone who is looking for a lightweight beach read.

Necromancer, a Novella of Death And Waffles/Hold me Closer Necromancer by Lish McBride is basically a collection of a few dark fantasy short stories from a series. I got this collection for free as an ebook, so I was delighted that it was fairly well written and plotted, and not a complete waste of epages. Here's the blurb:

DEATH AND WAFFLES: A Short Story by Lish Bride, author of HOLD ME CLOSER, NECROMANCER

Matt's childhood friend, Ashley, has been stopping by a lot lately. That might seem pretty normal, but Ashley died years ago and now she's Death.

And tonight she wants waffles and fries.

INCLUDES AN EXCERPT OF
HOLD ME CLOSER, NECROMANCER…

Sam leads a pretty normal life. He may not have the most exciting job in the world, but he's doing all right—until a fast food prank brings him to the attention of Douglas, a creepy guy with an intense violent streak.

Turns out Douglas is a necromancer who raises the dead for cash and sees potential in Sam. Then Sam discovers he's a necromancer too, but with strangely latent powers. And his worst nightmare wants to join forces . . . or else.

With only a week to figure things out, Sam needs all the help he can get. Luckily he lives in Seattle, which has nearly as many paranormal types as it does coffee places. But even with newfound friends, will Sam be able to save his skin?

I enjoyed the Seattle background of these tales, and I liked the witty asides and the realistic characters. I also liked that Death was/is a young gal, ala Neil Gaiman's teenage goth Death in the Sandman series. The prose, though workmanlike, had some lovely silly bits and the plot was much more complex than I thought it would be...yet both flow really well, enough so that I finished this collection in about 3 hours. I'd give it a B- and recommend it to those who are into paranormal tales that often cross the line into horror genre fiction.

 

 

 


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