Pop Culture Princess

Pop Culture Princess
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Monday, February 24, 2020

Put a Spring in your step with these March & April reads

Looks like those early spring weather predictions are coming true and as the outdoors becomes more enticing, just remember that your best walking companion is a book.

Not that you should block your vision while taking a leisurely hike or stroll through the park-books are great for those pitstop moments when you need to pause for a drink of water there. Better yet, if a nice shady tree happens to be on your path, a book is the very thing to have on hand for just such a spring time occasion!

So, I have a few recommendations for the upcoming March/April releases that should be suitable for some outside and/or inside reading this season:

EMOTIONAL JOURNEY INTO THE PAST:

The title of Louise Erdich's latest novel, The Night Watchman, refers to Thomas Wazhashak, whose job it is to guard the local jewel bearing plant that maintains the livelihood of the Native American residents of Turtle Mountain,North Dakota.

However, he has a higher duty as one of the tribal councilmen and in 1953, Thomas heads to Washington in order to testify to Congress regarding a new bill that would erase the current treaties his people have with the U.S. government. That potential new law could displace his entire community for generations to come.

Joining him on this trip is his niece Pixie, whose life is turbulent to say the least. Saving up as much money as she can to leave Turtle Mountain  and her alcoholic father for good, word of her older sister Vera's disappearance has Pixie putting her work and home life on hold to find her. While Vera proves hard to locate, Pixie does find the chance for a love of her own but can she pursue that quest along side the one for her sister?

Erdrich is well known for her mastery of heartfelt stories edged with realistic touches and this upcoming novel should strike several chords of literary brilliance in that regard(March).

SINISTER TALES OF KILLER SUSPENSE


Some murder mystery classics are given a gruesome spotlight in Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson, thanks to a blog post that bookstore co-owner Malcolm Kershaw lives to regrets.

During his early days at Old Devils Bookstore, he wrote up a list of mystery titles that had what he felt were the best fictional murders that could be gotten away with. Unfortunately, his now settled life is overturned by a visit from FBI agent Gwen Mulvey, who informs him that three of the murders that she's looking into have connections to his former reading recommendations list.

While Malcolm never intended for books such as Double Indemnity, The A.B.C. Murders and The Secret History to be used as blueprints for actual murders, things are more complicated for him as Malcolm has a connection to one of the inspired deaths that he's not willing to share with the authorities. Instead, he plans to do what he can on his own before another literary themed crime is committed.

This sounds like a lot of page turning fun, especially if you're a fan of old school murder mysteries, and should make for a great movie at some point as well(March): 



For something even more marvelously meta, Grady Hendrix has The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires all ready for your next group read.

Bored Charleston housewife Patricia Campbell decides to liven things up by getting her gal pals to form a true crime themed book club which goes over well enough with them. It's not long before Patricia finds herself rounding up her bookish buddies to solve a series of real life murders in their midst.

The main suspect here is James Harris, new to town and quite the charming fellow. However, his aversion to sunlight and some mysterious disappearances give Patricia pause as to just how nice of a neighbor he really is. Can Patrica and friends find out if James is a serial killing vampire or just a serial killer who thinks he's a vampire before raising some serious stakes here?

Hendrix is a devotee of nostalgic horror as his prior novels(My Best Friend's Exorcism, We Sold Our Souls) has shown in abundance. With this fresh take on fanged fiends, we might have a great excuse to binge watch True Blood again (April):


SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF THE STAGE:


In Actress, author Anne Enright introduces us to Katherine O'Dell, a renowned Irish  star of film and theater whose life story we learned from her daughter Norah.

To begin with, Katherine wasn't Irish-she was a London girl that started her theatrical career early in life and her rise in fortune was one paved with heartbreak and moments of despair. The pressure to stay to on top of her game combined with continuing poor choices in men lead Katherine towards a tragedy worse than any she ever had to perform in.

As Norah learns about the life and times of her famous mother, she examines her own emotional journey and one great mystery; the identity of her father. Enright's haunting tale of life and art from a mother/daughter viewpoint promises to be engagingly challenging to experience(March).


Debut writer Aaron Jackson showcases The Astonishing Life of August March, which chronicles the story of a man literally born to the theater but not exactly a part of it.

Young August was raised by a kind hearted laundress when his actress mother left the newborn backstage after giving birth to him during intermission. Over the years, he learned all of Shakespeare's plays due to listening to so many performances but being raised in secret became a problem upon the death of his foster mother and the destruction of the playhouse where August grew up.

His quick study skills lead him to a life of crime, only to be rescued from that by the actor Reginald Percyfoot, who enrolls him in school. August's flair for the theater provides him with more interest than a formal education yet will his talents take him down the proper road or one that leads to his doom?

This book sounds like Monty Python teaming up with Charles Dickens and that ought to be a show worth checking out. Hopefully, Jackson will bring us future flights of fancy here(April): 


As the warmer days approach, our love of reading can go hand in hand with enjoying the fresh bloom of the season. Just be sure to pack your reading material properly as well as lightly-it can be done!:

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