Ridgecrest Books Opening in Shoreline, WA, Quote of the Day, Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires Comes to TV, When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A Parker, The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett, Ocean's Godori by Elaine U Cho, and Rook by William Ritter

Hello book friends! July is almost over, and as we make our way into the month I like the least (hotter than the devil's backporch and no real holidays and a lot of people die at the end of the summer), I'm reading up a storm and sipping tea indoors whilst avoiding broiling like a lobster in the sun. Anyway, here's some book news and reviews to distract you all from the heat and humidity.

 

Shoreline, like Everett, used to be towns that were considered crass and crappy stopovers for sailors and others looking to get drunk and have a good time. It's only been in recent history that Shoreline has cleaned up its shore and its image and has tried to become more family-friendly. I think this new bookstore is yet another step in the right direction.

 

Ridgecrest Books Finds Footing in Shoreline, Wash.

Since opening in Shoreline, Wash., this spring, Ridgecrest Books has been finding its footing and getting to know its community, the Seattle Times reported https://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/x/pjJscVDek7gI6a5kdhpyHw~k1yJoKXv-hs8x6mXDJLwpoMLg-gVdw.

Co-owners Becky Merilatt and Kevin Roberts officially opened the

bookstore in April. Located at 512 NE 165th St., Ridgecrest Books

carries a variety of new and used titles for readers of all ages,

alongside puzzles, journals, and other nonbook items. Its event

offerings include a monthly book club, children's storytime sessions,

and author readings. The shelves have been designed so that almost

everything is at eye level, and in the store's children's section, the

floor is higher to make sure kids can see things at eye level, too.

Both co-owners have prior experience in bookselling. Merilatt has worked

at Elliott Bay Book Company as well as at Secret Garden Books, where

Roberts also worked. Roberts told the Times: "When Becky told me she's

always dreamed of opening up a bookshop, the time was right and the

location was right and we decided to go for it."

Merilatt described the store as residing in a "pocket" of local

businesses within a "very residential area." While not many people

outside of the area know about it, the "neighborhood is so supportive of

its businesses."

So far, the children's section and the science fiction section have done

very well, which was expected; the owners have been pleasantly surprised

with how well translated fiction and small press titles have done.

Standout titles include Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang

Bo-reum, Ocean's Godori by Elaine U. Cho, and There's Always This Year

by Hanif Abdurraqib.

This is TRUE! Yet another reason why Maple Valley can never lay claim to being a cool community...we have no bookstores. The closest one is 20 minutes away in Enumclaw.

Quotation of the Day

"One of the biggest joys for me, in my long career of publishing

twenty-something books, has been meeting the independent booksellers. It

doesn't matter if you're in Houston, or Wichita, or Mobile, or

Nashville, or Miami, or Portland--you get the point--If there's an

independent bookstore, there's a cool community, because the independent

bookstores serve those communities.

"The support I've gotten from indie booksellers is kind of unprecedented

and it embodies the spirit of the yellow bus. It fills her with joy when

she is serving others. And I feel like independent booksellers do that

same thing. They get joy when they put a book into a customer's hand."

--Loren Long, author.

 

I read this book a long time ago, and found it to be amusing and kind of like a cross between Steel Magnolias and Buffy the Vampire Slayer...plenty of Southern charm with a Southern sensibility, like a better breed of True Blood (which is a horrible rip off of Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse mysteries).  I can hardly wait to see it come to the small screen on HBO.

 

TV: The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires

A comedy series based on Grady Hendrix's 2021 bestselling novel The

Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires has landed at HBO, with the author writing alongside Danny McBride and Edi Patterson (The Righteous Gemstones). Deadline reported that the project "was previously in development at Amazon with Patrick Moran's PKM Productions but has now moved to the Warner Bros. Discovery premium network without Moran's involvement."

 

When The Moon Hatched by Sarah A Parker is a mammoth adventure romantasy (romantic fantasy), full of the requisite tortured female protagonist and the brooding obsessed male protagonist who make out but don't have actual sex until the end of the book or halfway through the second book in the series, which seems rather mean, considering readers have to wade through 700 pages of excruciating detail about every emotion that both have, and every yearning lustful gaze. YAWN. I have a strong feeling Parker read Sarah J Maas's Court of Thorn and Roses series, and decided to write her own fanfic version of same, while adding even more horror, torture and darkness, just to titillate those Maas readers who've already danced this dance several times. Even the author's prose is a rip off of Maas, who has her Fae characters call men "males" and used specific language to describe the world around the characters so it was similar to a watered down Tolkien novel. Here's the blurb: 

The bestselling phenomenon, When the Moon Hatched, is a fast-paced fantasy romance featuring an immersive, vibrant world with mysterious creatures, a unique magic system, and a love that blazes through the ages.

The Creators did not expect their beloved dragons to sail skyward upon their end. To curl into balls just beyond gravity’s grip, littering the sky with tombstones. With moons. They certainly did not expect them to FALL.

As an assassin for the rebellion group Fíur du Ath, Raeve’s job is to complete orders and never get caught. When a rival bounty hunter turns her world upside down, blood spills, hearts break, and Raeve finds herself imprisoned by the Guild of Nobles—a group of powerful fae who turn her into a political statement.

Crushed by the loss of his great love, Kaan Vaegor took the head of a king and donned his melted crown. Now on a tireless quest to quell the never-ebbing ache in his chest, he is lured by a clue into the capitol’s high-security prison where he stumbles upon the imprisoned Raeve.

Echoes of the past race between them.

There’s more to their story than meets the eye, but some truths are too poisonous to swallow.

The blurbers lie when they claim the magic system is unique (and fast-paced...HA). It's not, trust me. If you've read any of Maas's books or Seanan McGuire's October Daye series, you've already read about how magic works in the world, several times. There's nothing new here under the moon, and again, the author rips off a lot of different fandoms, including GRRM's dragons from Game of Thrones and the heroine from ACOTR and McGuire's long-suffering, eating disordered Toby Daye. All of these women have in common horrible parents, (or parents who abandoned them at a tender age), being raped/whipped and physically/mentally tortured/abused by men or one particular evil man throughout the rest of their childhood, and then being honed into a killing machine by some kindly guy who takes pity on the beaten/starving waif and sends her out to assassinate bad guys. Of course, the female protagonist always hates herself, for some odd reason, and is, though she's barely skin and bones, massively attractive to men far and wide because she's "independent and spirited" and small enough that they can fulfill their pedophilic fantasies by drooling over the petite starveling. Insert shudder of disgust here. While it wasn't at all original, I did find the narrative compelling enough to wade through all 700 pages, though the ending wasn't terribly satisfying. I'd give this turgidly plotted, poorly edited book a B-, and recommend it to anyone who has it bad for SJM and GRRM's works.

 

The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett is a fantasy mystery derived from the style of Sherlock Holmes but with an Asian influence and a Rapancini's Daughter-esque poisonous plants story arc that will keep you guessing right up until the plot twist in the final chapters of the book. Here's the blurb: A Holmes and Watson–style detective duo take the stage in this fantasy with a mystery twist, from the Edgar-winning, multiple Hugo-nominated Robert Jackson Bennett
In Daretana’s greatest mansion, a high imperial officer lies dead—killed, to all appearances, when a tree erupted from his body. Even here at the Empire’s borders, where contagions abound and the blood of the leviathans works strange magical changes, it’s a death both terrifying and impossible.

Assigned to investigate is Ana Dolabra, a detective whose reputation for brilliance is matched only by her eccentricities. Rumor has it that she wears a blindfold at all times, and that she can solve impossible cases without even stepping outside the walls of her home.

At her side is her new assistant, Dinios Kol, magically altered in ways that make him the perfect aide to Ana’s brilliance. Din is at turns scandalized, perplexed, and utterly infuriated by his new superior—but as the case unfolds and he watches Ana’s mind leap from one startling deduction to the next, he must admit that she is, indeed, the Empire’s greatest detective.

As the two close in on a mastermind and uncover a scheme that threatens the Empire itself, Din realizes he’s barely begun to assemble the puzzle that is Ana Dolabra—and wonders how long he’ll be able to keep his own secrets safe from her piercing intellect. 

The is the second of Jackson Bennett's books that I've read, and while his prose is clean and militant, his plots seem to meander until suddenly you're on a roller coaster full of twists and turns to the end. I honestly thought that I knew where the whodunnit was going until the final few chapters, which surprised the heck out of me. I also have to say that while Ana Dolabra was a wierd and wonderful Holmes, the story really rested on the shoulders of Dinios Kol, who was the most fascinating character in the book, because he seemed young, inept and idealistic, but was still a tough pragmatist when it counted, and in the end, he got the job done, despite all the double-dealing BS around him. The poisonous plant extract that literally turns people into tree food was a riveting MacGuffin that seemed bizarre but simple to understand, at first. It was only later that readers realize that there are monsters outside and inside the walls of this world, and that the problem isn't the monsters, it's the people that use them to rise in this caste-driven society.  I'd give this book a B+, and recommend it to anyone who likes odd detective duos on magical worlds.

 

Ocean's Godori by Elaine Cho is a science fiction/romance/cozy space adventure that was so well written and plotted that I could not put it down. It's one of those books you pick up and begin reading in the morning, and before you know it, 8 hours have gone by and it's supper time and you're aching because you've finished yet another book that you never wanted to end (and you really, really have to go to the bathroom). I find myself flummoxed by the fact that this is Ms Cho's debut novel. Where has she been hiding all this storytelling talent over the years? The book is somewhat similar to Martha Well's "A Prayer for the..." books, with some Blade Runner (the original film from the 80s) and a bit of Star Trek's space family  and Firefly's ship full of misfits added in for good measure. Here's the blurb: Becky Chambers meets Firefly in this big-hearted Korean space opera debut about a disgraced space pilot struggling to find her place while fighting to protect the people she loves.

Ocean Yoon has never felt very Korean, even if she is descended from a long line of haenyeo, Jeju Island’s beloved female divers. She doesn’t like soju, constantly misses cultural references, and despite her love of the game, people still say that she doesn’t play Hwatu like a Korean. Ocean’s also persona non grata at the Alliance, Korea’s solar system–dominating space agency, since a mission went awry and she earned a reputation for being a little too quick with her gun.

When her best friend, Teo, second son of the Anand Tech empire, is framed for murdering his family, Ocean and her misfit crewmates are pushed to the forefront of a high-stakes ideological conflict. But dodging bullets and winning space chases may be the easiest part of what comes next.

A thrilling adventure across the solar that delivers hyperkinetic action sequences and irresistible will-they-won't-they romance alongside its nuanced exploration of colonialism and capitalism, Ocean’s Godori ultimately asks: What do we owe our past? How do we navigate our present while honoring the complicated facets of our identity? What can our future hold? 

First of all, I must say that Ocean Yoon is my heroine forever and always. I loved her strong heart and smart sensibility and her refusal to give up on those she loves, no matter what the circumstances. Secondly, sexy Korean fashion and design? Yes, please! Though I was a bit put off by Teo and his childish weakness, eventually he grew a spine and was able to help, instead of harm the situation. I also liked the Spock-ish Sasani doctor who provided a perfect foil to Ocean's reckless desire to save everyone else, even at the cost of her own life. And of course the rebel crew, captained by the leonine Phoenix was a hilarious lightening agent for all the battle scenes. I don't want to ruin the ending, but I will say that I would read anything else that Elaine Cho writes without hesitation. I'd give this marvelous space adventure an A, and recommend it to anyone who liked Firefly, or Blade Runner, or any of Martha Well's wonderful sci-fi. Get on board this ship and hang on for the ride of your life!

Rook by William Ritter is a stand-alone British/American historical mystery/fantasy novel set in the world of his famed book Jackaby, which I read and loved. This particular story takes place after Jackaby has (SPOILER) passed on his aura and ghost-seer powers on to the female protagonist, Abigail Rook, who is having a hard time controlling these new powers when she needs them most. Here's the blurb: This standalone adventure set in the world of the New York Times bestselling Jackaby series brims with humor, heart, and—of course—a hefty dose of supernatural mayhem.
 
Abigail Rook never intended to be the mortal bridge between the human and supernatural world. But now, the power of the Sight--and all the chaos that comes with seeing the essential truth of everything, every human, fairy, werewolf, enchanted slip of paper, and municipal building, at all times--is hers alone. With this overwhelming new gift, she should be able to solve crimes and help New Fiddleham, New England find calm in its supernatural chaos. 

The only problem? She has no idea what she’s doing.
 
And New Fiddleham isn't waiting for Abigail to be ready. Local witches and other magical beings are going missing, as tensions between human and supernatural residents curdle into a hatred that could tear the city apart. Abigail's fiance, Charlie, works alongside her to unravel the magical disappearances, but as a shapeshifter, he's under threat as well. Then Abigail's parents appear, ready to take her back to England and marry her off to someone she's never met. Abigail has no choice but to follow her Sight, her instincts, and any clues she can find to track a culprit who is trying to destroy everything she holds dear.

This tantalizing ebook reminded me of the PBS series "Miss Scarlet and the Duke" with the added dose of the Sookie Stackhouse supernatural mysteries by Charlaine Harris and a dash of the Maisie Dobbs mysteries by Jacqueline Winspear (that series has just ended, and I will miss it desperately). Ritter's prose is rich and sumptuous without being too fancy, and his plot glitters with good humor and compassion.  I remember how much I enjoyed Jackaby, and now that I've read his latest novel, I'm looking forward to more books in this world/series. All in all I'd give it an A-, and recommend it to those who like bantering British-style crime-solving duos with a supernatural bent.

Obituary for Dr Ruth, Lee Movie, Ursula LeGuin Fiction Award Shortlist, Miss Morgan's Book Brigade by Janet Skeslein Charles, The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer, The Library of Borrowed Hearts by Lucy Gilmore, My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine, and Still the Sun by Charlie N Holmberg

Greetings my fellow sweltering book dragons! It's hot outside but cool indoors, where I've been reading up a storm lately. I've got more than a few books to review, so here we go! Keep cool, my friends!

 

I used to love watching Dr Ruth on TV interviews and sometimes listening to her on the radio...her accent was so robust but her voice sounded like a chatty grandmother's, and her advice was, for the time, illuminating and amazing. She also remained positive and happy, never allowing the prudes and nay-sayers to get her down.

RIP Dr Ruth.

 

Obituary Note: Ruth Westheimer 

Ruth Westheimer https://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/x/pjJscVDawroI6a5kJksiGQ~k1yJoKXv-hs8x6mXCMPypoMLg-gVdw, "the grandmotherly psychologist who as 'Dr. Ruth' became America's best-known sex counselor with her frank, funny radio and television programs," died July 12, the New York Times reported. She was 96.

Westheimer was in her 50s when she began answering listeners' mailed-in

questions about sex and relationships on WYNY's Sexually Speaking, a

15-minute segment heard after midnight on Sundays. The show was such a

hit that she quickly became a national media celebrity and a one-woman

business conglomerate.

In addition to her widespread media celebrity, especially in the 1980s,

Westheimer published more than two dozen books on sexuality, including

Dr. Ruth's Guide to Good Sex (1983), First Love: A Young People's Guide

to Sexual Information (with Nathan Kravetz, 1985), Dr. Ruth's Guide for

Married Lovers (1986), Sex and Morality: Who Is Teaching Our Sex

Standards (with Louis Lieberman, 1988), Dr. Ruth Talks to Kids (1993),

and Who Am I? Where Did I Come From? (2001). Her other books include All in a Lifetime: An Autobiography (1988) and Conquering the Rapids of

Life: Making the Most of Midlife Opportunities (with Pierre A. Lehu,

2003).

In her memoir Musically Speaking: A Life Through Song (2003), she

described in great detail the band concerts, folk tunes, and popular

songs she had known as a happy young child in Frankfurt, Germany.

When people wondered at her ebullience, she said, "the answer I always

gave was that the warmth and security of my early childhood

socialization had a remarkable power and influence.... But now I have

realized that there is another part to the answer. And that is music."

Westheimer was born Karola Ruth Siegel in Wiesenfeld, Germany in 1928,

the only child of an Orthodox Jewish couple. Her father was a notions

wholesaler in Frankfurt, and together with her parents and grandmother,

she lived a comfortable life largely shielded from the reality that

Germany was becoming ever more perilous for Jews, the Times noted,

adding: "When the Nazis took her father away in 1938, her mother and

grandmother managed to get her included in a group of children sent to a

school in the Swiss mountains. There, she later recalled, she was

educated only through the eighth grade and served for all practical

purposes as a housekeeper for the Swiss children. She never saw her

family again; they were all presumed murdered at Auschwitz."

At the height of her popularity, Westheimer had syndicated live call-in

shows on radio and television, wrote a column for Playgirl magazine,

lent her name to a board game and its computer version, and began

publishing guidebooks on sexuality. College campus speaking appearances

alone brought in a substantial income, and she appeared in ads for cars,

soft drinks, shampoo, typewriters, and condoms.

Columnist William E. Geist, who visited her for a New York Times

Magazine article in 1985, observed that "she looks for all the world as

though she is about to tell us in her cheery Mittel-European accent how

to make a nice apple strudel.... But when she opens her mouth it's

Code-Blue-in-the-family-room all across the country. She sends forth on

radio and television the most explicit insert-tab-A-into-slot-B

instruction in sexual manipulation, stimulation and satisfaction."

Dr. Ruth made the most of her attendance at old ABA, BookExpo, and

Frankfurt shows, and many book world veterans have amusing stories about

her cheerful, resolute ways of promoting her books and being in the

spotlight. We'll miss you, Dr. Ruth.

This movie looks fascinating...I can hardly wait to see it!

Movies:Lee

A trailer has been released for Lee https://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/x/pjJscVDbkuwI6a5kJR11HA~k1yJoKXv-hs8x6mXCZOkpoMLg-gVdw, a film that "centers on a decade in the life of Lee Miller, who was formerly a model and muse for male artists before traveling to Europe to report from the frontline during World War II," IndieWire reported, noting that Kate Winslet "is embodying the iconic American war correspondent and photographer." The cast also includes Josh O'Connor, Andrea Riseborough, Andy Samberg, Alexander Skarsgaard, and Marion Cotillard.

Ellen Kuras directed the film from a screenplay by Liz Hannah, John Collee, and Marion Hume, and story from Hume, Collee, and Lem Dobbs. The project is an adaptation of the 1985 biography The Lives of Lee Miller by Antony Penrose.

I really miss the late, great Ursula LeGuin, whose ground breaking science fiction changed the landscape of the genre. Every time I heard her speak at a book event, she lamented the fact that most literary awards (80 percent of them!) go to male authors, many of them mediocre, instead of stellar women authors whose books were bestsellers and often of classic quality. I'm so glad that there's this award, established in her name, that gives consideration first and foremost, to female authors. 

Awards: Ursula K. Le Guin Fiction Shortlist

A shortlist has been released for the $25,000 Ursula K. Le Guin Prize

for Fiction, which is "intended to recognize those writers Ursula spoke of in her 2014 National Book Awards speech--realists of a larger reality, who can imagine real grounds for hope and see alternatives to how we live now." The winner, chosen by a panel of authors, will be named on October 21. This year's shortlisted titles are:

The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera (Tordotcom Publishing)

The Skin and Its Girl by Sarah Cypher (Ballantine Books)

It Lasts Forever and Then It's Over by Anne de Marcken (New Directions)

Orbital by Samantha Harvey (Grove Press)

Sift by Alissa Hattman (The 3rd Thing)

The Library of Broken Worlds by Alaya Dawn Johnson (Scholastic Press)

Those Beyond the Wall by Micaiah Johnson (Del Rey)

The Siege of Burning Grass by Premee Mohamed (Solaris)

Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh (Tordotcom Publishing)

Mammoths at the Gates by Nghi Vo (Tordotcom Publishing)

Miss Morgan's Book Brigade by Janet Skeslein Charles is a powerful work of historical fiction with a thread of romance throughout its wonderful chapters. I found that once past the first few slow pages, the novel picked up speed and was a real page-turner. Here's the blurb: From the New York Times bestselling author Janet Skeslien Charles and based on the true story of Jessie Carson—the American librarian who changed the literary landscape of France—this is a moving tale of sacrifice, heroism, and inspired storytelling immersed in the power of books to change our lives.
1918: As the Great War rages, Jessie Carson takes a leave of absence from the New York Public Library to work for the American Committee for Devastated France. Founded by millionaire Anne Morgan, this group of international women help rebuild destroyed French communities just miles from the front. Upon arrival, Jessie strives to establish something that the French have never seen—children’s libraries. She turns ambulances into bookmobiles and trains the first French female librarians. Then she disappears.

1987: When NYPL librarian and aspiring writer Wendy Peterson stumbles across a passing reference to Jessie Carson in the archives, she becomes consumed with learning her fate. In her obsessive research, she discovers that she and the elusive librarian have more in common than their work at New York’s famed library, but she has no idea their paths will converge in surprising ways across time.

Based on the extraordinary little-known history of the women who received the Croix de Guerre medal for courage under fire, Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade is a rich, glorious, life-affirming tribute to literature and female solidarity. 

 

I loved learning of these intrepid women who brought nourishment of the mind to hundreds of children and adults in the latter stages and aftermath of WWI, at a time when the need for beautiful stories was at it's peak. Charles prose is simply elegant and helps along the sturdy plot to it's courageous end. I'd give this book a B, and recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction around women at work during wartime.

 

The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer is a tender and charming story about a young woman who becomes a "death doula" who, like pregnancy doulas, helps people on their journey, in this case out of life, rather than into it. It's so well written and lovely that it almost qualifies as a "Cozy" novel, though it's about a subject that's still taboo in much of society. Here's the blurb:

Named a Best Book of 2023 by NPR

"This weird, lovely and sweetly satisfying novel [is] engaging and accessible...Clover’s emergence from a shuttered life is moving enough to elicit tears, and Brammer’s take on death and grieving is profound enough to feel genuinely instructional." ––The New York Times Book Review

What’s the point of giving someone a beautiful death if you can’t give yourself a beautiful life?

From the day she watched her kindergarten teacher drop dead during a dramatic telling of Peter Rabbit, Clover Brooks has felt a stronger connection with the dying than she has with the living. After the beloved grandfather who raised her dies alone while she is traveling, Clover becomes a death doula in New York City, dedicating her life to ushering people peacefully through their end-of-life process.

Clover spends so much time with the dying that she has no life of her own, until the final wishes of a feisty old woman send Clover on a trip across the country to uncover a forgotten love story––and perhaps, her own happy ending. As she finds herself struggling to navigate the uncharted roads of romance and friendship, Clover is forced to examine what she really wants, and whether she’ll have the courage to go after it.

Probing, clever, and hopeful, The Collected Regrets of Clover is perfect for readers of The Midnight Library as it turns the normally taboo subject of death into a reason to celebrate life.

I loved Clover, though I felt for her in her fear of opening up her life and heart to the possibilities of the outside world. I also liked Hugo, her paramour, and all the people that she helps, most importantly Claudia, who teaches Clover to live life with zest and explore the world. The poignant prose in this novel is the perfect pitch to sing along the sweet and swift plot. I would give this book an A, and recommend it to anyone who has ever had to live with someone who is dying, or who has regrets that they need to attend to within their own life.

 

The Library of Borrowed Hearts by Lucy Gilmore was a romantic contemporary bookish fantasy novel that is sweet and savory, and for "beach" reads, just what the doctor ordered. I found it hard to put down, and read it in one sitting. Here's the blurb:

A.J. Fikry meets The Bookish Life of Nina Hill in this charming, hilarious, and moving novel about the way books bring lonely souls together.

Two young lovers. Sixty long years. One bookish mystery worth solving.

Librarian Chloe Sampson has been struggling: to take care of her three younger siblings, to find herself, to make ends meet. She's just about at the end of her rope when she stumbles across a rare edition of a book from the 1960s. Deciding it's a sign of her luck turning, she takes it home with her―only to be shocked when her cranky hermit of a neighbor swoops in and offers to buy it for an exorbitant price. Intrigued, Chloe takes a closer look at the book only to find notes scribbled in the margins between two young lovers back when the book was new…one of whom is almost definitely Jasper Holmes, the curmudgeon next door.

 

When she begins following the clues left behind, she discovers this isn't the only old book in town filled with romantic marginalia. This kickstarts a literary scavenger hunt that Chloe is determined to see through to the end. What happened to the two tragic lovers who corresponded in the margins of so many different library books? And what does it have to do with the old, sad man next door―who only now has begun to open his home and heart to Chloe and her siblings?

In a romantic tale that spans the decades, Chloe discovers that there's much more to her grouchy old neighbor than meets the eye. And in allowing herself to accept the unexpected friendship he offers, she learns that some love stories begin in the unlikeliest of places.

This novel reminded me more of A Man Called Ove, since one of the central characters was the curmudgeon next door who learns to open up his heart again and care for others, after a devastating loss in his past. I was also thrilled that this book was about the life-changing nature of books and libraries, and also about poor kids who are abandoned by their parents, so that the eldest must give up her dreams to come home and raise her siblings (who were otherwise split up into different homes in foster care). That said, I think Trixie, Noodle and Theo needed to realize that their sister Chloe had given up her life and future for them, and was doing her best to keep a roof over their heads and food in their bellies. All three seemed to delight in getting into major trouble that required funds Chloe didn't have to get them out of. I didn't like the kids at all, and felt that they needed more discipline and consequences for their bad choices that often hurt others. I also loathed the four kid's mother, who seemed like a complete idiot, and who should never have had children in their first place. Though the ending is somewhat bittersweet, it was still tied up nicely. I'd give this tidy novel a B-, and recommend it to anyone who has had to sacrifice a lot of life to help siblings abandoned by terrible parents.

 

My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine is a contemporary rom-com that is a bit too spicy, but still enjoyable for your summer reading list. The prose is light and bouncy, and the plot breezy and fast-paced. Here's the blurb: True love is at stake in this charming, debut romantic comedy.

Cassie Greenberg loves being an artist, but it’s a tough way to make a living. On the brink of eviction, she’s desperate when she finds a too-good-to-be-true apartment in a beautiful Chicago neighborhood. Cassie knows there has to be a catch—only someone with a secret to hide would rent out a room for that price.

Of course, her new roommate Frederick J. Fitzwilliam is far from normal. He sleeps all day, is out at night on business, and talks like he walked out of a regency romance novel. He also leaves Cassie heart-melting notes around the apartment, cares about her art, and asks about her day. And he doesn’t look half bad shirtless, on the rare occasions they’re both home and awake. But when Cassie finds bags of blood in the fridge that definitely weren’t there earlier, Frederick has to come clean... Cassie’s sexy new roommate is a vampire. And he has a proposition for her. 

 

This novel is what Twilight could have been in the hands of someone who knows how to write. That said, there's more than a few tropes, in terms of what vampires can and can't do or tolerate that lead to a bit of cringe-worthy scenes. Still, I loved Fitzwilliam and his hilarious anachronistic ways, especially his letters to Cassie on fine paper, written with a fountain pen and sealed with a wax signet. I felt that Cassie was almost too stupid to live, however, because most women would easily have twigged to Fitzwilliam being a vampire much, much sooner that she did. I was also rather saddened by her description of her "multi media" artworks, which sound childish and ugly. But horny vamp Fitz loves her trashy artwork because he loves Cassie, not necessarily because it has any intrinsic value. And I have to say that I just do NOT get why young women in these books find dead men, with no heartbeat, no breath and cold skin "sexy" or so attractive that they lose their tiny minds. Necrophilia is gross, folks...seriously. Dead bodies aren't sexy at all. Shudder. Anyway, I'd give this freaky and funny novel a B- and recommend it to those Twilight fans who can't get enough of vampire/human sex and relationships. 

 

Still The Sun by Charlie N Holmberg is a fantasy/adventure/romantasy that takes place on a world far away, where a hand-full of humans try to survive on a scorched desert planet. Here's the blurb:

An ancient machine holds the secrets of a distant world’s past for two intimate strangers in the latest romantic fantasy adventure by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Charlie N. Holmberg.

Pell is an engineer and digger by trade—unearthing and repairing the fascinating artifacts left behind by the mysterious Ancients who once inhabited the sunbaked planet of Tampere. She’ll do anything to help the people of her village survive and to better understand the secrets of what came before.

Heartwood and Moseus are keepers of a forbidding tower near the village of Emgarden. Inside are the remnants of complex machines the likes of which Pell has never seen. Considering her affinity for Ancient tech, the keepers know Pell is their only hope of putting the pieces of these metal puzzles together and getting them running. The tower’s other riddle is Heartwood himself. He is an enigma, distant yet protective, to whom Pell is inexplicably drawn.

Pell’s restoration of this broken behemoth soon brings disturbing visions—and the discovery that her relationship to it could finally reveal the origins of the tower’s strange keepers and the unfathomable reason the truth has been hidden from her.

 

The story of Pell the engineer, who is really so much more than human, was so compelling that I read it through in one sitting. Though I felt there were a few too many info-dumps on "how machines work" and "how to fix machines with primitive tools and limited materials," I still rooted for Pell and Heartwood to overcome the obviously evil Moseus, who is trying to find a way to destroy the universe via the small planet with the smart engineer, who is also a minor goddess. Smart women are often reduced to minor or sidekick roles in novels, especially ones with romance, the thought there being that men can't handle or engage with women who are smarter than they are (See: the fragile male ego). Holmberg, who is a fine wordsmith who wastes no words on her slick and satisfying plots, isn't having any of that nonsense, and instead proudly displays her smart gals at the very center of her novels. YAY! I'd give this fascinating tale an A-, and recommend it to anyone who likes a blend of alien mythology and science in their fantasy adventures.

 

Gaiman Accused of Sexual Assault, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil Musical, Imprint Bookstore for Sale, Words of Literary Wisdom, Robert Gray Review of Shopkeeping, When Grumpy Met Sunshine by Charlotte Stein, Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett, The Women by Kristin Hannah, The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst, and Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong

Hiya bibliophiles! Welcome to the end of the second week of July. It's been scorching hot here in the PNW, which is unusual for us this time of year, especially with no rain in sight and sunny skies ahead in the coming weeks. I can only imagine the high temps on the way in August, my least favorite month of the year. I'm not a fan of the sun's radiation, nor of hot weather and sweating, so I am glad that I tend to stay indoors in the AC, with few forays into the steamy outdoors. I was thinking this week about my blog hitting 1000 posts by either the end of this year or a few months into 2025. By 2025, it will have been 20 years since I began this blog, and while I've enjoyed working on it over the years, it's become a bit of a slog. Anyway, here's the latest tidbits and reviews.

 

This news just makes me physically ill, as a long time fan of Gaiman's work, especially his Sandman series and his Good Omens books and TV streaming series, where he always had powerful women in protagonist roles. He's also called himself a feminist, and to read that he's sexually abused young women previously just sickens me. For shame, NG!

 

Neil Gaiman Accused of Sexual Assault

Two women, referred to as Scarlett and K, who were 20 and 23 at the time of the alleged events, have accused Neil Gaiman of sexually assaulting them. The allegations were revealed during an exclusive four-part podcast from British outlet Tortoise Media.

K, a fan of Gaiman’s work, met the author at a book event she attended when she was 18 and he was in his mid-40s (he is now 63). They began a relationship a few years later, during which she alleges that he engaged in acts that were non-consensual. Scarlett was 23 when she was hired as a nanny to Gaiman’s child and alleges that he first assaulted her within hours of their meeting in February 2022. Per Tortoise‘s reporting, Gaiman “strongly denies any allegations of non-consensual sex with the women,” attributing K’s accusations to “her regret over their relationship” and Scarlett’s to “a condition associated with false memories at the time of their relationship.” Tortoise  notes that the latter “is not supported by [Scarlett’s] medical records and medical history.”

 

I liked this book a great deal, and I'd really love to see how they turned it into a musical.

On Stage: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil Musical

Video highlights have been released from Midnight in the Garden of Good

and Evil, the new musical based on John Berendt's 1994 nonfiction book. Playbill reported that the Jason Robert Brown and Taylor Mac production, which began previews at Chicago's Goodman Theatre June 25, officially opens July 8 in the Albert Theatre. Performances continue through August 11.

Rob Ashford is directing, and Tanya Birl is choreographing. The cast is

led by Tony winner J. Harrison Ghee as The Lady Chablis; Tony nominee

Tom Hewitt as Jim Williams; and Olivier nominee Sierra Boggess as Emma

Dawes.

Wow...what I wouldn't give to have the money to buy this bookstore and live in a gracious Victorian home in beautiful Port Townsend! I've visited the place twice, and was impressed by the close community and all the wonderful businesses, like this bookstore and old fashioned movie theater, that are hallmarks of this one-time seaport. I hope that someone wealthy buys this place and keeps its traditions going!

 

Imprint Bookstore and Writers' Workshop, Port Townsend, Wash., is for sale.

The store wrote in part: "Have you ever dreamed of owning a charming

bookstore in a beautiful seaport town? Well, here is your opportunity to

take the reins of a successful business that has been operating in Port

Townsend for nearly 50 years! Centrally located in historic downtown,

The Imprint Bookstore & Writers' Workshop has been serving locals and

tourists alike with a well-curated selection of new books, creative

writing workshops & engaging, one-of-a-kind events. With a strong online

presence and exciting potential for growth, this business is primed and

ready for its next chapter." For more information, contact Sophie Elan

via e-mail: SophieElan@windermere.com.

Words of Literary Wisdom

“They say a person’s memory generally activates at around four or five. Some remember before that, but apparently those are made-up memories. When you were little, you could eat very hot food. Look at this photo, you were always dragging around a yellow blanket . People listen to stories like that and make up memories. When the comments are specific enough, the imagination can produce false memories. Like fearlessly biting down on a spoon hot from the pot, or the texture of a yellow blanket that has long been lost. But I don’t know if it’s right to call them false. Memories are subjective, after all. The reason we’re able to recall vivid details after hearing a brief comment or seeing a single picture must be because a very similar memory is living somewhere inside our brains. How can we call such things fake?”— A Magical Girl Retires by Park Seolyeon

This book sounds fascinating, and I enjoy Gray's take on shopkeeping as a profession and how it directly relates to bookstores.

 

Robert Gray: 'You Never Get to Hear from a Shopkeeper'

There is a tradition of shopkeeping, a tradition of codes, etiquette,

and customs. For the most part, it is an oral history, passed along

person to person. You learn to be a retailer not by going to college,

but by going to work. You learn from people who have learned how to run

a shop.--from Shopkeeping: Stories, Advice, and Observations by Peter Miller

Shopkeepers have not traditionally garnered high praise. Henry David

Thoreau, for example, wasn't impressed: "When sometimes I am reminded

that the mechanics and shopkeepers stay in their shops not only all the

forenoon, but all the afternoon too, sitting with crossed legs, so many

of them--as if the legs were made to sit upon, and not to stand or walk

upon--I think that they deserve some credit for not having all committed

suicide long ago."

On the other hand, a 1922 New York Times article headlined "Shopkeeper

of Shakespeare and Company" described legendary Parisian bookseller

Sylvia Beach as "efficient and determined, but with her efficiency and

determination there was understanding besides."

"You never get to hear from a shopkeeper," he writes. "Here are some

thoughts, and notions, and what I have learned in forty-five years of

shopkeeping."

Miller is the owner of Peter Miller Books in Seattle, Wash. In a 2023 Seattle Times profile of the bookseller, Paul Constant noted that "his monklike commitment to elegant design and his impeccable curation eventually attracted a committed fan base.... And now design aficionados from all over the world flock to Peter Miller Books to meet the man who devoted his legendary bookselling talents to Seattle design before there was a coherent Seattle design to speak of."

In the introduction to Shopkeeping, architect Steven Hall observes: "His

space has always been much more than an architectural bookstore--it's a

cultural space of education, meeting, and interaction. It's a space

radiating the joys of life via Peter's contagious enthusiasm."

Customers do not witness the behind-the-scenes complexity of a

shopkeeper's day. Many bookstore patrons, for example, see only an ideal

job that involves bookish conversations in a soothing environment, and

good booksellers sustain the illusion by remaining calm and cordial,

even when their work day--an endless cycle of shelving, ordering,

straightening, cash register duty and other responsibilities--devolves

into an angst-inducing blur.

"Books are shy," Miller writes in Shopkeeping. "They take longer than

everyone else. They spend most of their lives vertically on a shelf,

spine side out, with only a title and author and a publisher's icon to

announce them. They open, and open up, only if you open them. They

cannot take any sun or liquid at all. Even a copy of King Lear can be

outshouted by a rubber duck. Books are shy."

Shopkeepers, however, are their perpetual advocates. That 1922 Times

profile of Sylvia Beach noted that she "surrounded herself with the

books and the background and the atmosphere she wanted, and it was just

that quality of individuality Sylvia expressed that other book-lovers

wanted. She understood what she was doing, and her goal was something

more than mere business efficiency." --Robert Gray, contributing editor

When Grumpy Met Sunshine by Charlotte Stein is, as is obvious by the title, a "grouch vs optimist" romance that tries to be a rom-com, but never quite gets there. Anyone who knows me realizes that I'm not a fan of the persistent trope of the tiny blonde woman with big boobs who is the pinnacle of sexual desire for every man in romance land, who falls for the great big guy who is usually very successful as an athlete or movie star or billionaire, and who is just aching to have sex with a woman who is the size of a child, just with bigger breasts and butt and a pretty face. She's always insecure about her looks, of course, and believes herself hideous and unlovable, and has been abused by either her family or a previous boyfriend or both. She also never knows how to dress herself in flattering clothing and is nearly autistic in her shyness and avoidance of any but a select few people. Sigh. It takes the patient love of the huge guy to bring her out of her shell, and into a hot sexual relationship. I've read so many contemporary romances like this I could tell you how things will happen from the first chapter onward. Here's the blurb: 

A steamy, opposites-attract romance with undeniable chemistry between a grumpy retired footballer and his fabulous and very sunshine-y ghostwriter.

When grumpy ex-footballer Alfie Harding gets badgered into selling his memoirs, he knows he’s never going to be able to write them. He hates revealing a single thing about himself, is allergic to most emotions, and can’t imagine doing a good job of putting pen to paper.

And so in walks curvy, cheery, cute as heck ghostwriter Mabel Willicker, who knows just how to sunshine and sass her way into getting every little detail out of Alfie. They banter and bicker their way to writing his life story, both of them sure they’ll never be anything other than at odds.

But after their business arrangement is mistaken for a budding romance, the pair have to pretend to be an item for a public who’s ravenous for more of this Cinderella story. Or at least, it feels like it’s pretend—until each slow burn step in their fake relationship sparks a heat neither can control. Now they just have to decide: is this sizzling chemistry just for show? Or something so real it might just give them their fairytale ending?

Curvy, in this case (and all others involving romance novels) is code for fat. But not just any fat, since Mabel is our female protagonist, she's also "petite", so short, and has a socially acceptable big bum/rump, (and big breasts, of course, because all men drool over women's tits) while also being cupcake-cute and wearing child-like flowery or cartoonish clothing, making this seem even more like a pedophile style relationship...which is a hallmark of the type of romance novel that is popular now.How utterly predictable and sexist. The prose was full of script-style banter that was meant to be witty, but came off as rote. The plot was mediocre and cookie-cutter. I'd give this paint by numbers effort a C+ and only recommend it to those who like reading books that don't require a lot of brain power.

 

Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett is a dystopian adventure fantasy that is rather more gory that I expected it to be. The author also seemed bent on including tons of explanations/info dumps on the physics and science surrounding the "magical" devices his characters use to try to get to their magical key, which is infused with the spirit of a wizard/alchemist. Here's the blurb: In a city that runs on industrialized magic, a secret war will be fought to overwrite reality itself—the first in a dazzling new series from City of Stairs author Robert Jackson Bennett.
 
Sancia Grado is a thief, and a damn good one. And her latest target, a heavily guarded warehouse on Tevanne’s docks, is nothing her unique abilities can’t handle.
 
But unbeknownst to her, Sancia’s been sent to steal an artifact of unimaginable power, an object that could revolutionize the magical technology known as scriving. The Merchant Houses who control this magic—the art of using coded commands to imbue everyday objects with sentience—have already used it to transform Tevanne into a vast, remorseless capitalist machine. But if they can unlock the artifact’s secrets, they will rewrite the world itself to suit their aims.
 
Now someone in those Houses wants Sancia dead, and the artifact for themselves. And in the city of Tevanne, there’s nobody with the power to stop them.
 
To have a chance at surviving—and at stopping the deadly transformation that’s under way—Sancia will have to marshal unlikely allies, learn to harness the artifact’s power for herself, and undergo her own transformation, one that will turn her into something she could never have imagined.  

Every time Bennett starts to blather on about how the "magic" devices work, the plot slows to a crawl, and readers like myself want to toss the book against a wall and move on to something more interesting. I don't know if its the author's ego trying to prove he's able to create his own system of science that defies reality's laws of physics and math, or if he's just blowing scientific smoke up reader's arses, to try and get young male nerds to obsess over his magic system, but either was it really got in the way of Sancia's story. There weren't many people to root for here, as most of the magical houses that own the technology are run by batshit-crazy wealthy royalty who are power-hungry and evil. Still, "everyman" character Sancia does all the heavy emotional lifting in the book, which has a weirdly unsatisfying ending. I'd give this overly complex book a B-, and only recommend it to those who are big fans of imaginary math and science.

 

The Women by Kristin Hannah is a brilliant contemporary fiction novel based on the real women who worked as military nurses (think MASH) during the unpopular Vietnam war. Here's the blurb: From the celebrated author of The Nightingale and The Four Winds comes Kristin Hannah's The Women—at once an intimate portrait of coming of age in a dangerous time and an epic tale of a nation divided.

Women can be heroes. When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances "Frankie" McGrath hears these words, it is a revelation. Raised in the sun-drenched, idyllic world of Southern California and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing. But in 1965, the world is changing, and she suddenly dares to imagine a different future for herself. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path.

As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is over-whelmed by the chaos and destruction of war. Each day is a gamble of life and death, hope and betrayal; friendships run deep and can be shattered in an instant. In war, she meets—and becomes one of—the lucky, the brave, the broken, and the lost.

But war is just the beginning for Frankie and her veteran friends. The real battle lies in coming home to a changed and divided America, to angry protesters, and to a country that wants to forget Vietnam.

The Women is the story of one woman gone to war, but it shines a light on all women who put themselves in harm's way and whose sacrifice and commitment to their country has too often been forgotten. A novel about deep friendships and bold patriotism, The Women is a richly drawn story with a memorable heroine whose idealism and courage under fire will come to define an era. 

I loved this book, and though my mother was a nurse for 43 years, she didn't like it at all, for some reason I can't fathom. At any rate, Hannah's near-perfect prose is on display here as it glides along her rich and fascinating plot, which delineates an era of American history that most tried to forget. I was a child and then a teenager during the Vietnam war, so, though I lived through this time, I wasn't able to protest or to go to Vietnam to help. By the time I took nurses training the war was over. I do remember how deeply cynical the war and the fall/resignation of President Richard Nixon, or "Tricky Dick" as he was called then, made society turn to angry rock and folk songs, and shows that made fun of everything and everyone,(but especially political figures) like Saturday Night Live, or MAD magazine, or even Laugh In, and the very popular MASH, which lasted twice as long as the Korean war where it was set. This book captures what it was like for young women of the 50s and 60s, who wanted to do something other than be housewives and mothers, to sacrifice themselves to the impossible work of healing soldiers fighting a losing battle in the jungles of Southeast Asia. the protagonist, Frankie, comes off as way too naive and somewhat stupid, but her growth both during and after the war was heartening. I'd give this book, which is a page-turner that I read in one day, an A, and recommend it to anyone who is curious about this time in American history.

 

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst is a cozy rom-com fantasy that really hits the spot of those of us who love Alice Hoffman and Sarah Addison Allen's works. I found the prose to be deliciously robust and the plot swims along like a Mer-horse on a mission. Here's the blurb: The Spellshop is Sarah Beth Durst’s romantasy debut–a lush cottagecore tale full of stolen spellbooks, unexpected friendships, sweet jams, and even sweeter love.

Join Kiela the librarian and her assistant, Caz the sentient spider plant, as they navigate the low stakes market of illegal spellmaking and the high risk business of starting over.

Kiela has always had trouble dealing with people. Thankfully, as librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, she hasn’t had to.

She and her assistant, Caz, a magically sentient spider plant, have spent the last eleven years sequestered among the empire’s most precious spellbooks, preserving their magic for the city’s elite. But when a revolution begins and the library goes up in flames, she and Caz save as many books as they can carry and flee to a faraway island Kiela was sure she’d never return to: her childhood home. Kiela hopes to lay low in the overgrown and rundown cottage her late parents left her and figure out a way to survive without drawing the attention of either the empire or the revolutionaries. Much to her dismay, in addition to a nosy—and very handsome—neighbor, she finds the town neglected and in a state of disrepair.

The empire, for all its magic and power, has been neglecting for years the people who depend on magical intervention to maintain healthy livestock and crops. Not only that, but the very magic that should be helping them has been creating destructive storms that have taken a toll on the island. Due to her past role at the library, Kiela feels partially responsible for this, and now she’s determined to find a way to make things right: by opening the island’s first-ever secret spellshop.

Her plan comes with risks—the consequence of sharing magic with commoners is death. And as Kiela comes to make a place for herself among the kind and quirky townspeople of her former home, she realizes that in order to make a life for herself, she must learn to break down the walls she has built up so high.

Like a Hallmark rom-com full of mythical creatures and fueled by cinnamon rolls and magic, Sarah Beth Durst’s The Spellshop will heal your heart and feed your soul.
I loved the female protagonist, Kiela, though all of her supporting cast of characters were equally magnificent and fascinating, especially Caz and Meep, her sentient plants (Caz reminded me of the old actor Don Knots, who played "lilly-livered" characters who were brave when they had to be). I knew just how gutted Kiela was when her library burned, too, being a huge fan of libraries and bookstores myself. I could also relate to her need to start over and build a life for herself far away from the problems of the city. The magical characters, like the mermaids and water horses (weren't they called Kelpies at one time?) were interesting, but I also liked the practical application of magic to abate storms and keep crops and trees healthy and bearing fruit for the townspeople to eat. The ending was very satisfying as well. I'd give this book an A, and recommend it to anyone who loves cozy magical romances.

 

Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong is a dark fantasy adventure that had a surprisingly slow plot and meandering prose not typical of the previous fantasy novels of Armstrong's that I've read. Of course, those were paranormal romance and mystery novels, so perhaps this is a foray into a new genre for her. Here's the blurb: In this dark fantasy trilogy opener by a bestselling author, twin sisters prepare to fight shadows to save their empire.

In the Forest of the Dead, where the empire’s worst criminals are exiled, twin sisters Moria and Ashyn are charged with a dangerous task. For they are the Keeper and the Seeker, and each year they must quiet the enraged souls of the damned. Only this year, the souls will not be quieted.

Accompanied by a stubborn imperial guard and a dashing condemned thief, the girls make their way to warn the emperor. But a terrible secret awaits them at court—one that will alter the balance of their world forever.

With all the heart-stopping romance and action that have made her a #1 New York Times–bestselling author, and set in an unforgettably rich and dangerous world, this first epic book in the Age of Legends trilogy will appeal to Kelley Armstrong’s legions of fans around the world—and win her many new ones. 

I found a lot of this book difficult to follow, and I loathed the cowardly and insecure sister Ashyn, throughout the book, as she only makes things worse for herself and others by being so "shy" (which is code these days for an autistic character who can't deal with more than one person at a time). The other sister, Moria, is outspoken and confident, but that manifests as mean and spiteful a number of times. I didn't really like either protagonist, and the men that they're paired with were scoundrels and criminals who were only interested in using the sisters to help solve their own problems. Blech. I'd give this novel a C, and only recommend it to those who enjoy horror/fantasy hybrids.