Welcome to a chilly mid-winter edition of Butterfly Books Reviews and Book News! Though We only have icy cold rain here in the Seattle area, I'm hoping those of you in the Midwest and East are bundling up and snuggling under cozy blankets with a hot beverage and a nice long page-turning book! I've been reading my way through a diverse and exciting TBR, with books from Powells and Amazon and Half Price books...so lets get the ball rolling on the tidbits and reviews.
I've been a Barnes & Noble member since the early 90s, and I'm thrilled that they're opening new stores, though of course I'd prefer to get my books from Independent booksellers. Since I no longer drive that's been a barrier for me to get books from anywhere but the internet or stores close to where my son drives to shop, like SouthCenter Mall, which has both a B&N and an HPB.
Barnes & Noble to Open 50 New Stores in 2024
A good year means that Barnes & Noble looks to expand in 2024. While sales were strong, sidelines were down, which was attributed to some of the space for non-book items shrinking in B&N stores. CEO James Daunt shouts out a new Sarah J Maas book specifically for reasons to feel good about 2024 sales. And while I dread it, the election year will probably stimulate interest in political and current events titles, in much the same way that a hurricane warning drives up demand for canned goods. Good if you are in the canned goods business, but something for the rest of us just to weather the best we can.
This is a tragedy, that an indie bookstore has suffered so much water damage. I hope that everything gets fixed soon and that they're back in business before you know it. Kent is only a small town away from Maple Valley, so my family goes there fairly often.
Page Turner Books, Kent, Wash., Suffers 'Devastating Water Damage'
Page Turner Books, a new and used bookstore in Kent, Wash., was "dealt a devastating blow" on Sunday, suffering extensive damage from burst water pipes https://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/x/pjJscQXelOgI6a9jcBonSw~k1yJoKXv-hs8x6nCDJWgpoMLg-gVdw.
In a Facebook post, the bookshop noted that it rents a space in a building that has an unoccupied unit above it and the water pipes upstairs froze, subsequently bursting in two places and causing flooding into the bookstore below. A $10,000 GoFundMe campaign has been launched to assist with recovery expenses.
Co-owner Wayne Curran said the amount of loss is considerable, including credit card machines, the cash register, phone, router, all of the most valuable books kept behind the front counter, portions of book sections, and items like puzzles, figures, etc. "With the damages being this exponential, for a small business like Page Turner Books, we will need help from the community if we are to weather this storm," Curran said. "We definitely don't want to close our doors forever. Being a part of this community means the world to all of us."
Yesterday, the bookstore posted: "Today we are working inventory of all of the damages. We have had a few people ask if they can come and help today. You can!
Just come to the back door. If you have a tablet or laptop with Excel and want to help or just help with organizing and separating, you are welcome to. We have a station set up in the back of the store the front door is locked."
Thank heavens for the 5th circuit court of appeals striking down the ridiculous book banning law in Texas. I hope that Iowa's book banning law is also stricken down, in the name of Free Speech which is in the Constitution.
Quotation of the Day
A Thanks for an Appeals Ruling Against Texas's 'Sexual Rating' Law
"We are grateful for the Fifth
Circuit Court of Appeals' decisive action in striking down this unconstitutional
law. With this historic decision the court has moved decisively to
ensure the constitutionally protected speech of authors, booksellers,
publishers, and readers, and prevent the state government from unlawfully
compelling speech on the part of private citizens. The court's decision
also shields Texas businesses from the imposition of impossibly
onerous conditions, protects the basic constitutional rights of the
plaintiffs, and lets Texas parents make decisions for their own children
without government interference or control. This is a good day for
bookstores, readers, and free expression."--Valerie Koehler, owner of Blue Willow
Bookshop, Houston; Charley Rejsek, CEO of BookPeople, Austin;
Allison K. Hill, CEO of the American Booksellers Association, et all.
I love that there's an award for being a "literary champion" which sounds like being a "knight of the realm" from some old fairy tales. Congrats to David Baldacci.
David Baldacci Named Pen/Faulkner Literary Champion
Author and philanthropist David Baldacci has been selected as the 2024 PEN/Faulkner Literary Champion https://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/x/pjJscQXexu8I6a9jcEtzGA~k1yJoKXv-hs8x6nCDMenpoMLg-gVdw, an annual commendation that recognizes a lifetime of devoted literary advocacy and a commitment to inspiring new generations of readers and writers. Baldacci will accept his award, along with this year's PEN/Faulkner Award winner and finalists, in a celebration to be held Washington, D.C., on May 2.
"David Baldacci, whose novels have captivated millions of readers worldwide, has been a paragon of service to the literary community," said executive director Gwydion Suilebhan. "PEN/Faulkner is dedicated to the idea that fiction creates empathy within and among communities and advances civil discourse, and Baldacci's devoted philanthropic work in promoting literacy has ensured that countless Americans have access to those possibilities."
Baldacci commented: "Like most writers, I was greatly influenced from an early age by books. Books take us out of our comfort zones, and encourage us to see the world from other perspectives. Reading increases empathy--perhaps the finest of all human qualities--and the ability to read is a powerful tool against homelessness, hunger, and poverty. Thus, when someone tells you that books are magical, believe them. I am thrilled and honored to accept this award from PEN/Faulkner, an organization that stands for everything I believe in about the miraculous power of words."
The PEN/Faulkner Foundation created the PEN/Faulkner Literary Champion in 2020, on the occasion of the organization's 40th anniversary. The inaugural recipient, recognized in 2021, was LeVar Burton, followed in 2022 by Oprah Winfrey and in 2023 by Terry Gross.
Yes, in answer to the question posed by Book Riot newsletter, we have achieved peak awareness, which is actually a good thing, as it's making people angry enough to try and overturn these fascists claiming to be "Christians" who want to curate what people read, based on their own beliefs and prejudices. This is grossly unfair to those who may have different beliefs or religions.
Have We Hit Peak Book Banning Awareness?
The current wave of book-banning efforts has been cresting for more than a year now. There have been more challenges, laws, bans, counter-laws, and other events than I can count. But I came across two stories today that led me to wonder if we are reaching peak awareness of book bans. The first is that Bill O’Reilly has become an unlikely fellow traveler for those fighting book bans, as it has come to his own books. The second is that there is now going to be a banned book award, named after Eleanor Roosevelt, with the inaugural ceremony including none other than Judy Blume. Neither of them are meaningful events on their own, but I wonder if they are manifestations of a different phase of this era. What would peak awareness look like, if not this?
I've always wanted to visit Vroman's, which is in Pasadena, where my friend Jenny Z lives. It's been updated and upgraded, and now apparently will be sold, which is harrowing news. Hopefully the person who buys it will be vetted as a real reader and bookseller, and they will be able to take Vroman's into the next few decades with pride and joy.
Vroman's Bookstore for Sale
One of the oldest and most highly regarded bookstores in the country, Vroman's Bookstore https://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/x/pjJscQSIl-UI6a9jdxpwTw~k1yJoKXv-hs8x6nDWpatpoMLg-gVdw, Pasadena, Calif., is for sale.
Joel Sheldon, whose family has owned the store for most of its 130-year history, said in an announcement, in part, "For almost 50 years, I have had the privilege of serving as Vroman's owner and steward, preceded by generations of leadership by my father, grandfather, and uncles. As I approach my 80th birthday, it's time to begin the process of retiring and finding new ownership outside the Sheldon family. Vroman's deserves new ownership with the vision, energy, and commitment necessary to take it successfully into the future.... This was not an easy decision for me, but it is in best interest of Vroman's, our employees, our customers, my family, and our community."
Sheldon said his family, which "has poured our hearts and lives into Vroman's," will seek "the right new ownership--someone who shares our core values and who is committed to preserving Vroman's as a community treasure."
He asked the community for its "continued support" through the transition and thanked employees "current and past. We've been very fortunate to have such a talented and dedicated group over the many years."
Vroman's was founded by Adam Clark Vroman in 1894. Upon Vroman's death in 1916, a group of employees that included Joel Sheldon's great-grandfather took over ownership. Vroman's bought Book Soup in 2009 after the death of owner Glenn Goldman.
I would LOVE to see this, as it combines two of my favorite things, literature and plays/musical theater. However, I must note that I think F Scott Fitzgerald's best novel is NOT Gatsby, but Tender is the Night, or even one of his short stories.
On Stage:The Great Gatsby Musical
The Great Gatsby https://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/x/pjJscQSIl-UI6a9jdxonSw~k1yJoKXv-hs8x6nDWpatpoMLg-gVdw, the new musical based on F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel that made its world premiere at New Jersey's Paper Mill Playhouse in October, will open on Broadway this spring. Playbill reported that the cast will again be led by Jeremy Jordan (Newsies, Smash) and Tony nominee Eva Noblezada (Hadestown, Miss Saigon) in the title roles. Additional casting will be announced. Previews begin March 29, with opening night scheduled for April 25.
Chunsoo Shin, the lead producer and a prominent figure in Korean theater, said, "I am passionate about producing this show because it provides a modern audience with the true essence of idealism that is expressed eloquently in the novel and now on stage. The Great Gatsby is a masterpiece that grows and changes as it's experienced by each new generation, in every culture, and people--and yet, still maintains its uniqueness, with its fascinating characters that burst with vitality."
The production features music and lyrics by Tony nominees Nathan Tysen (Paradise Square) and Jason Howland (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical) and a book by Jonathan Larson Grant winner Kait Kerrigan (The Mad Ones). [The women] are kind of given short shrift in the novel, and painted as very two-dimensional," Kerrigan said. "I was excited about trying to explore the actions that they take, and trying to make sense of them. So that, not that you sympathize with them, but that you understand them."
The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston is a time-traveling romance that should make even Doctor Who fans happy, particularly those who are fans of the more romantic Doctors like David Tennant and Matt Smith. The prose was so beautiful and engaging that I couldn't put this delicious book down until I finished it. The plot was as smooth as cream, and had a lovely HEA. Here's the blurb: An overworked book publicist with a perfectly
planned future hits a snag when she falls in love with her temporary
roommate…only to discover he lives seven years in the past, in this
witty and wise new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Dead Romantics.
Sometimes, the worst day of your life happens, and you have to figure out how to live after it. So
Clementine forms a plan to keep her heart safe: work hard, find someone
decent to love, and try to remember to chase the moon. The last one is
silly and obviously metaphorical, but her aunt always told her that you
needed at least one big dream to keep going. And for the last year, that
plan has gone off without a hitch. Mostly. The love part is hard
because she doesn’t want to get too close to anyone—she isn’t sure her
heart can take it.
And then she finds a strange man standing in
the kitchen of her late aunt’s apartment. A man with kind eyes and a
Southern drawl and a taste for lemon pies. The kind of man that, before
it all, she would’ve fallen head-over-heels for. And she might again.
Except, he exists in the past. Seven years ago, to be exact. And she, quite literally, lives seven years in his future.
Her
aunt always said the apartment was a pinch in time, a place where
moments blended together like watercolors. And Clementine knows that if
she lets her heart fall, she’ll be doomed. After all, love is never a matter of time—but a matter of timing.
This book reminded me of The Ghost and Mrs Muir, though it was more satisfying because both the male and female protagonists were alive, just often inhabiting an apartment in the past. I loved so many little intricacies of this book, from the nickname that Iwan/James gives Clementine ("Lemon") to the way that they love each others external and internal scars. I don't want to get too Spoilery, so I will just give this novel an A, and recommend it to anyone who has a broken heart and finds love the second time around, as well as healing and hope for their lives.
A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid is haunting romantic YA historical mystery that was a page turner that started with a slow burn and worked its way up to en fuego. Here's the blurb:
Bestselling author Ava Reid makes her YA debut in this dark academic fantasy perfect for fans of Melissa Albert and Elana K. Arnold.
Effy Sayre has always believed in fairy tales. Haunted by visions of the Fairy King since childhood, she’s had no choice. Her tattered copy of Angharad—Emrys Myrddin’s epic about a mortal girl who falls in love with the Fairy King, then destroys him—is the only thing keeping her afloat. So when Myrddin’s family announces a contest to redesign the late author’s estate, Effy feels certain it’s her destiny.
But musty, decrepit Hiraeth Manor is an impossible task, and its residents are far from welcoming. Including Preston Héloury, a stodgy young literature scholar determined to expose Myrddin as a fraud. As the two rivals piece together clues about Myrddin’s legacy, dark forces, both mortal and magical, conspire against them—and the truth may bring them both to ruin.
Part historical fantasy, part rivals-to-lovers romance, part Gothic mystery, and all haunting, dreamlike atmosphere, Ava Reid's powerful YA debut will lure in readers who loved The Atlas Six, House of Salt and Sorrows, or Girl, Serpent, Thorn.
Effy and Preston are quite a match, and though I loved their romance, I found the whole fairy king's destruction and his relationship to Angharad more compelling in some ways, because it read like a myosgynistic fairy tale from way back. Still, the book redeemed that fairy tale by the end, and the strong prose helped get the winding road of the plot to a satisfying conclusion. While it was a bit too melodramatic for my taste, I'd still give this book a B, and recommend it to anyone who is a fan of re-told fairy tales and dark romances.
House of Marionne by J. Elle is a gorgeously made epic fantasy/romance with secrets, magic and dark & dangerous assassins. Seriously, I would have bought this book for the cover art and the beautiful end papers alone, with the artistic and lush font that made for easy reading. But fortunately, the story within the lovely wrapper was thrilling and enthralling enough that I read through the over 400 pages in a day. Here's the blurb: BURY YOUR SECRET OR DIE FOR IT.
17-year-old
Quell has lived her entire life on the run. She and her mother have
fled from city to city in order to hide the deadly magic that flows
through Quell’s veins.
Until someone discovers her dark secret.
To
hide from the assassin hunting her and keep her mother out of harm’s
way, Quell reluctantly inducts into a debutante society of magical
social elites called the Order that she never knew existed. If she can
pass their three rites of membership, mastering their proper form of
magic, she’ll be able to secretly bury her forbidden magic forever.
If caught, she will be killed.
But
becoming the perfect debutante is a lot harder than Quell imagined,
especially when there’s more than tutoring happening with Jordan, her
brooding mentor and assassin-in-training.
When Quell uncovers
the deadly lengths the Order will go to defend its wealth and power,
she’s forced to choose: Embrace the dark magic she’s been running from
her entire life, or risk losing everything, and everyone, she’s grown to
love.
Still, she fears the most formidable monster she’ll have to face is the one inside.
Brimming with ballgowns and betrayal, magic and mystery, decadence and darkness, House of Marionne
is perfect for readers who crave morally gray characters, irresistible
romance, dark academia, and a deeply intoxicating and original world.
I agree with the blurb, this magical, romantic and scintillating world that J Elle has built sweeps the reader away for an irresistible story that keeps you guessing with it's twisty plot and shadowy characters. I loved that Quell was so determined and passionate about getting rid of her magic, until she discovers that there's a place for so-called dark magic, just as there's a place for daylight magic. There's a yin to every yang, in other words, and once Quell realizes the politics that have corrupted the situation needs to change, she goes full force into attempting to deal with it appropriately. Yagrin/Octos and Jordan, his brother are also amazing characters who seem to be one thing at first, but are revealed to be something else entirely by the end of the book. The ending, BTW, was something of a cliffhanger, and from what I can tell there's no sequel on the horizon yet, so if you're the kind of person who can't live without an HEA or a HFN ending, this is not the book for you. I'd give it an A-, mainly because of the ending, but the book itself and the story are well worth the aggravation of awaiting a sequel to end the storyline. I'd recommend this to those who like fantasy/romance/adventure YA novels, and who can appreciate a publisher who is willing to spend some money on creating an eye-catching novel that is beautiful to behold.
The Song of the Marked by S. M. Gaither is a historical fantasy with a romantic enemies to lovers sub plot that provides readers with a post-COVID allegory of love in a time of epidemics, fear and loss. Here's the blurb:
The old gods are growing restless. An ancient evil is stirring. Can they stop the coming storm?
Mercenary Casia Greythorne cares about two things: Completing whatever her latest job is, and earning enough coin to buy the expensive medicine that’s keeping her mentor alive.
So when the king himself offers her a job, she can’t resist the massive reward he offers—even if it means working with Captain Elander, the arrogant, mysterious right-hand to that king.
Her partner may be infuriating, but at least their mission seems simple and quick enough: Investigate the origins of the strange plague that’s been ravaging their empire, help find a cure, and then call it a day.
But in a land brimming with old magic and meddling gods, nothing is ever that simple, and nothing is ever what it seems.
As the bodies pile up and strange monsters begin to wreak havoc throughout the realms, Cas and Elander will have to work together to protect their world whether they like it or not. Because one thing is clear: Something ancient and evil is stirring in the shadows of that world.
And their empire will not survive its full unleashing.
Filled with luscious world-building, banter-filled enemies-to-lovers romance, and epic battles, this first book in the Shadows and Crowns series is the perfect next read for fans of Throne of Glass.
Cas reminded me a lot of Seanan McGuire's October Day, because she's one of those people who will do anything, even sacrifice herself, to keep those she loves alive. While that's very noble of her, I couldn't help feeling that Cas didn't have the maturity to realize that at some point, you have to let people go on their final journey. Death is hard for everyone, but often it's the relatives of the dying person who can't accept the upcoming loss of their parents or lovers or other relatives. So they scream and cry and make deals with the devil, all in an effort to stop the unstoppable march of time and decay. That said, I did enjoy Cas and Elander's bantering, burgeoning relationship, and I was glad that some of the gloom lifted for the two of them working together and falling in love. I found the "balance" of magic idea in this book, ie after Cas uses her powers to help keep those with the plague alive, huge monsters appear to tear up entire towns, thus providing a "this for that" ideal, to be refreshingly logical and fascinating. So many fantasy novels have magic users doing all sorts of high powered magic without any repercussions at all. I remember reading a book that had the phrase "Magic uses you just as much as you use it" in it and that made complete sense to me, (Perhaps that was a Harry Dresden quote, via the incomparable prose of Jim Butcher?). All in all, a great "snowy evening by the fire" read. I'd give it an A, and recommend it to those who enjoy the Dresden Files or the October Day series.
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