Despite the ups and downs of the weather this spring(experiencing quite the cold snap at the moment!), summer is not too far off and considering the financial state of the world these days, a good book is still the best staycation, if you ask me.
In highlighting this trio of upcoming romance reads, I decided to pair each one with what I consider to be the best song for their potential soundtrack in case of potential adaptations. Even if these particular titles remain page only pleasures, a little playlist fun only adds to the love factor there.
Let’s start with Romantic Hero by Kirsty Greenwood, due out in June, where a broken hearted writer finds quite the muse on and off the literary ranch series she’s created.
Gertie Bickerstaff has a two week deadline to deliver the last entry in her cowboy romance novel series but her recent breakup is stalling her writing skills big time.
While having a good crying session in her bathtub, Gertie is interrupted by one of her own fictional characters, River Oakley, the main villain of that world. He’s just as surprised to see Gertie (plus, not as bad of a guy as she’s made him out to be) and eager to return home.
In order to set things right, River offers to help Gertie get her exe back by pretending to be her new boyfriend and making said former lover jealous enough to make up with her. As time goes on, however, Gertie starts to wonder if she really needs to be back in that relationship or is this the start of something truly new and better with River?
I did throughly enjoy Greenwood’s prior book(The Love of my Afterlife) and this sounds like as much good quirky yet sincerely compelling storytelling here. As for my song choice, it’s a bit obvious but hey, worth holding out for:
Set for a July release is the latest from Christina Lauren, The Romantic Revival, a light and lively take on a classic sci-fi trope.
Dr. Emory Martin is as devoted to her work as a biomedical scientist as she is to her beloved husband Luca yet those two passions become one and the same most unexpectedly.
When Luca dies in a tragic accident, she uses her experimental project to hopefully bring him back to life. It does work, with the catch being that he has no memory of their life together.
In rebuilding what was lost, Emery decides to become the perfect partner that she felt that she wasn’t before. Yet, isn’t the best love not meant to be perfect?
Lauren’s work has dipped its toes in scientifically themed waters before and this sounds more about romantic chemistry rather than laboratory lore. That’s perfectly fine with me as this sort of reminds me of the oddly engaging 1987 romcom Making Mr. Right, where a quirky PR woman and an android she is supposed to teach to act more human have quite the interstellar romance.
The main love song from that film is extremely suitable for this offbeat tale of renewed love in my opinion (also, if you can find Making Mr. Right on streaming, definitely check it out):
Also due in July is Sea of Charms by Sarah Beth Durst, the third in her cozy fantasy SpellShop series.
We met Marin, who has been a sea faring supply runner for some time now, with a crew consisting of a friendly sea serpent and a sentient shrub.
Upon arriving at the capital city of Alyssium, Marin quickly realizes that there’s a fiery revolution going on and that her good friend Dax is in need of escape from the angry mob.
Rescuing Dax and giving him cover as a member of her crew comes with a price as Marin is in need of a fake boyfriend for the annual End of Harvest Festival back in her home town. The deal is made yet Marin begins to wonder who is actually getting the true benefit of this bargain indeed.
SBD has blossomed into quite the cozy fantasy/romance sensation with her charming characters and graceful writing that does cast a storytelling spell on its readers. Speaking of spellcasting, this magical cover of “Somebody to Love” from the 2004 adaptation of Ella Enchanted just feels so right for this one:
It may be extremely difficult to look forward to anything good right now but letting our spirits be permanently sunk low isn’t going to make things better.
Allowing ourselves moments of joy is important and celebrating the arts in all forms is vital to keeping our collective home fires burning, so to speak.Yes, romance novels are a part of that grand tradition and shouldn’t be scorned on that account.
I will be highlighting some more upcoming releases from other genres as summer grows near and like I said, books offer some reasonably priced vacation relief (especially when you calculate transportation costs alone!) there.
That doesn’t mean you have to constantly stay at home; for my birthday this weekend, I’m going to a special showing of a classic romcom that promises to be fun and audience participation friendly, just the kind of pop culture party many of us need right now.
Romance is a time honored genre with well known tropes that can still surprise and delight you when creatively written and presented. I have high hopes for this particular trio of love lorn stories that, much like a great song, can put a much needed spring in your step despite the season you’re currently in:
As my birthday comes closer, the urge to buy books grows stronger and since I fully intend to take a break from biblio purchases in May, getting an Aardvark book box definitely was a good choice right now.
For the main selection, I went with Love Galaxy by Sierra Branham,a debut science fiction novel that blends reality dating shows with interstellar drama.
As a trash collector on a remote planet, Artemis intends to do nothing more than help her ailing mother survive yet a chance encounter with visiting royalty gets her an invite to the ultimate love matchmaking event in the universe.
With Prince Nix finding her forthright ways appealing and his sister Spielan promising her more than enough money to save her mother and then some, Artemis signs up despite having a few doubts about what’s to come.
Those doubts were good to have as Artemis meets up with several unexpected challenges during the competition, including a murder. In addition to that, she also finds herself attracted to the princess all the while, talk of revolution swirls around them…
This just sounds like glorious galactic fun and I plan to read this during the summer for the Sci-Fi June readathon (more on that particular TBR to come!). It’s also the first in a new series, one that should be quite the rocket ship of romance indeed:
I paired that with a book that I have eyeing for some time here, Keith Rosson’s Coffin Moon.
Set in 1975, Duane is a Vietnam veteran who has enough trouble in his life before a vampire biker gang invades the bar run by his in-laws.
The leader of the gang, John Varley, makes a point of brutally killing Duane’s wife Heidi as well as her folks, leaving him with only his distraught niece Julia as the lone ally on a road trip of revenge.
The rough and ready vibes of this story have serious pulp fiction energy but I suspect there’s more to this terror tale than that. Nonetheless, this puts me in mind of Kathryn Bigelow’s sleeper classic , Near Dark, which showcased a more down to earth style of vampire and who knows, maybe this book will be a future popcorn thriller someday soon:
Meanwhile, I did have to make a library trip sooner than I intended (ran out of renewals on a book that thankfully I finished in time) and naturally, added on a couple of paperbacks to my library loan pile.
Interestingly enough, both books had TV themes- one having recently adapted to the small screen (yes, Heated Rivalry and looking forward to season two!) and the other being adapted from a sitcom classic.
Murder by Cheesecake is the first entry in Rachel Ekstrom Courage’s cozy mystery series featuring the iconic Golden Girls as sleuths.
We begin with Rose arranging a St. Olaf traditional wedding in Miami for her visiting cousin. Such an occasion has Dorothy seeking a date from a VHS dating service(something that Blanche has no need of!) and despite the caustic commentary from her mother Sophia, Dorothy thinks she’s found the right guy.
While Mr. Right turns out to be a dud of a date, Dorothy is determined to make the best of things, especially since Rose is anxious about the wedding. But when he is discovered to be dead, face first in a perfectly good cheesecake, it’s up to Dorothy and friends to solve the case before more than just the wedding goes off the rails!
As someone who’s seen numerous GG episodes over the years, this sounds like excellent escapist entertainment to dive into. The second book in this series, Death on the Lanei, is due out this summer and it’s great to get a chance to check this out first via my local library.
I do know this show well enough to hear the characters’ voices in my head, not to mention that there was at least one or two episodes where Dorothy revealed a talent for detective work that makes me regret that Bea Arthur didn’t have a Murder She Wrote type of show of her own back in the day. Well, these books may give us a great idea of what that could’ve been like:
Speaking of libraries, next week is National Library Week starting April 19 and ending on the 25th(my birthday, btw) and now more than ever, it’s a good time to appreciate all that those literary institutions do for us.
In addition to providing people of all ages with plenty to read, other benefits such as computer access, research opportunities for students and outreach for each particular community’s needs are available at your local library.
Sadly as funds are being cut by cold hearted politicians and censorship threats are becoming all too real, this oasis of intellectual freedom is one of the many targets under fire these days.
Fortunately, we still hold true to certain establishments that provide true and lasting benefits to our society and the library is the steadfast standard bearer in that battle for preserving the best in our collective selves.
I know that there is so much going on just about every day now but do try and spare a moment to look in on your nearest library to see what they have to offer. You might be pleasantly surprised there:
April is one of my favorite months, due in part to being my birthday month as well, which makes ordering my Book of the Month club box all the more special.
To that end, my main selection was a deluxe edition of Blood Bound by Ellis Hunter(a writing duo who combined their last names here), that is as beautiful looking as any gift wrapped gem.
Our story is set in a mythical realm where in order to save her people from a deadly plague, Astrid must take up her mantle as heiress to the throne as well as the last witch of her order and journey to the Kingdom of Vatra to duel with Prince Zryan for control over all magic.
This duel requires them both to ride dragons, which is challenging in more ways than one. Astrid winds up also having to deal with Skylar, whose mother was killed by the king’s guard and has since become part of a traveling band of entertainers.
When she fears her best friend has been forcibly recruited into the royal army, Skylar seeks her out among the regals that she despises, only to be thrust into this battle to the death that decides the fates of the many. Can both of these women find a way to save themselves from being destroyed by such manipulative forces or is victory truly theirs for the taking?
This is a debut novel that is meant to be the first in a series and I hope that BOTM keeps up with these books as this initial outing is quite the pop culture package. Not only does this book have sprayed edges and gorgeous endpaper artwork (check my Instagram for a better look!) the cover jacket is reversible to boot. The couple of extra dollars that I paid this time around was definitely worth it.
Plus, a plot line where a witch and a wicked prince have to duel while riding dragons? Such a “Yes, Please “ and a please pass the popcorn while you’re at it there:
One of the fun bonuses of Book of the Month Club is that longtime members can get a free book for their birthday month and one that I chose was rather fitting for a lifelong reader indeed.
Meg Shaffer’s The Book Witch has the enchantress of the title seeking out a literary character to aid her in a real life quest.
Rainy March enjoys following in the magical footsteps of her family’s ability to hop in and out of the pages of books as a means of protecting those fictitious worlds from enemies both without and within. One major rule of her profession, however, is not to cross the line between reality and the written word for the good of all concerned.
However, when her beloved grandfather goes missing right around the time a rare volume is stolen, Rainy’s best chance to solve both mysteries is by enlisting the aid of her favorite British book bound detective known as The Duke of Chicago.
This team up could get Rainy expelled from her literary coven(not to mention surrendering her powers) yet the risks may be well worth the reward in more ways than one.
I did enjoy Shaffer’s The Wishing Game(and will soon catch up with her other novel The Lost Story) very much and this latest work sounds like a real page turning treat with perhaps a touch of noir, we shall see!:
To round this set of new reads off nicely, my final selection here was This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews(another writing duo, this time a wife and husband; twice in one box no less!).
Our leading lady is Maggie, who has been reading and rereading her favorite fantasy book series for years while waiting for the final entry to be released. She knows it so well, she’s practically living in that world far more than the real life she has in Texas.
Well, imagine her surprise when Maggie wakes up one morning to find herself in the kingdom of Keir Toren, only to die before the first chapter ends!
That death is brief but her time as a resident of Keir Toren is not(think Enchanted meets Groundhog’s Day) soon she is known as Maggie the Undying, whose near immortal status and through knowledge of the plot makes her a formidable force to be reckoned with.
Hoping to avert the gruesome event that the books bring the characters (some of whom have become her new found friends), Maggie creates a motley crew of unlikely companions to aid in her mission. Even with the likes of a former swordsman, crafty crooks and cranky servants, Maggie soon realizes that even an unfinished tale can be hard to complete and perhaps not easy to lead towards a happy ever after.
This is my first time reading an Ilona Andrews novel ( which is also the first in a trilogy) and I am looking forward to this twisty time loop of a book that promises a fun mix of humor, pathos and magic for quite the reality bending ride:
You may have noticed that all of my picks have been from the fantasy genre and it’s not a complete coincidence there.
Given the ever growing horror that our daily news headlines have morphed into, is it any wonder that a fantasy realm filled with otherworldly dangers sounds ideal right now?
I’m not the first person wanting some sort of escape from a reality that’s truly getting out of control yet what little I can do about this includes still holding on to hope. Yes, greater things are happening that are in dire need of serious attention and those with the power to affect the possible outcome of such actions ought to be doing so as we speak.
That doesn’t mean that I or anyone else stuck here on the sidelines have to put our lives on hold while this is going on. Give voice to your concerns to those in charge but don’t let this disaster in waiting overrun your whole life.
We’re not the first generation to go through incredibly challenging times yet I do wish that once this crisis is resolved, that it’s a good long while until another arises that we’re better prepared for.
So I am still finding good things to focus on as we move forward and so can you.
Whether it’s a good book, an upcoming TV show or the Supergirl movie due out this summer, there’s nothing wrong in lighting that spark of inspiration for better things to come. Sorrow is strong but so is joy, even during our darkest hour:
The weekend before last, I made an unexpected trip to my local library; my sister suggested it as a good plan for the two of us and since I was feeling a little restless myself, it seemed like a good idea.
Turns out that was a much needed outing for me there(the reasons which I’ll get to in a moment) in more ways than one but first, let’s look at the books I borrowed that day:
First up was Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library by Amanda Chapman, set in modern day New York yet possessed of very Golden Age detective vibes.
Our leading lady is Tory Van Dyne, the curator of the title location in Greenwich Village, who spends her days caretaking the literary establishment set up by her late grandmother and is pleased to have such a quiet, uneventful life.
One evening as she’s closing up, a peculiar elderly lady has made herself comfortable in the building’s replica of Agatha Christie’s home library. This mystery guest is rather knowledgeable about the place and as she claims to be Mrs. Christie incarnate, it’s somewhat logical.
While Tory is convinced that her newfound friend is simply delusional, finding the right way to make her leave becomes rather awkward as she claims that her arrival from the great beyond is to help Tory solve a murder.
Just as Tory is about to send this charmingly determined woman packing, the doorbell rings and a series of events unfolds that does bring a murder mystery into Tory’s life, with her guardian angel of a writer popping in and out most conveniently to aid in the case. Is Tory being visited by the true Queen of Crime and if so, can such classic detective skills save the present day danger?
I am currently reading this novel right now and it’s one of those books that you have to make yourself put down in order to get your regular daily business tended to. Chapman has quite the flair for engaging characters and whimsical, screwball comedy mixed with true tension.
This is meant to be the first in a new cozy mystery series and I certainly hope it won’t be too long before this version of Mrs. Christie visits us:
My next find was R.F. Kuang’s Katabasis, which is about a literal journey into hell.
When grad student Alice realizes that the untimely demise of her mentor Professor Grimes will severely affect the status of her academic career, she undertakes a road trip through the netherworld to bring him back.
Forming a reluctant partnership with her rival Peter, Alice finds that many of the texts she’s studied regarding this realm are both more accurate than expected and yet not at all what they were said to be. Is this proverbial highway to hell worth the risk or are Alice and Peter just getting a jumpstart on their eventual damnation?
From I’ve heard about this novel, it should be quite the wild ride and some page turning perdition ought to be interesting indeed:
My last pick of that day was A Drop of Corruption , the follow up to Robert Jackson Bennett’s The Tainted Cup which introduces us to a fantasy world take on Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.
Here, our amazing detective is Ana Dolabra, whose senses are so keen, she has to wear a blindfold in order not to get too overwhelmed by every day activity. Her assistant Dinios Kol is rather capable in her investigations but not without a few surprising tricks up his sleeves as well.
As their recent assignment changes from a disappearance to a murder and then into a plot to take down the very empire that rules over them all. Ana and Din find themselves up against a nemesis that might be their own personal Moriarty , a challenge that could prove to be beyond their own formidable abilities to defeat.
Having found the first book in this series at the library, it is fitting that I was able to find the second entry there as well. While I’m not a major fan of Holmes & Watson, my familiarity with these particular pop culture templates makes this blend of mystery and fantasy very alluring, especially with a big league villain in play:
This spur of the moment library trip was a great success, as it kept me from brooding about a sad piece of news that I had heard that morning.
The recent passing of actor Nicholas Brendon, best known as one of the key cast members of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, was quite sorrowful to many of us in the fandom as it also followed the demise of another major cast member , Michelle Trachtenburg, last year.
In addition, the abrupt cancellation of the reboot of the Buffy series with Sarah Michelle Geller reprising her role as a mentor to a new generation of slayers was a bit of insult to injury there.
I know that most folks will be rolling their eyes and be quick to point out that there are far more important things going on these days to even be expending any emotional energy on this but you know what? There’s nothing wrong in mourning such losses.
As a fan of the original show(as well as it’s spinoff Angel), this wasn’t just about wallowing into nostalgia for some escape from reality; Buffy gave a lot of us a true sense of community back in those early internet days and many friendships were forged both online and off due to our shared love of supernatural metaphors and high school angst. A couple of friends that I made through this fandom are sadly no longer with us as well and they would be just as heartbroken about these recent events.
It’s a series that never got the respect it deserved for taking creative chances and even heading down some dark places as the characters matured. Sure, it didn’t always hit the mark in certain seasons and the behind the scenes horrors that happened to many of the actors, such as Charisma Carpenter ,took too long to come to light.
However, despite all of that, Buffy was a meaningful part of our lives and while it would have been great to have many of the bad things reversed, there is still some good remaining that is still helping old fans and new get through these tough times.
Going to the library in this case was very appropriate as Buffy’s Watcher Giles briefly made being a school librarian be seen as incredibly cool(probably inspired a few people to enter that profession, I dare say).
Regardless, both BTVS and the library do have one thing in common; they give us something to sing about during our darkest times. As a wise woman once said, the hardest thing in this world is to live in it.
That burden is lessened by good books and great art, which can give us a showstopper of heartfelt hope when we least expect it and truly need it all at once:
With the premiere of the BritBox series, The Other Bennet Sister, this month, much more interest in Miss Mary Bennet has been expressed by Jane Austen fans of late.
It greatly helps that, unlike most of the Bennet family members in Pride & Prejudice, Mary’s part in that iconic tale has minimal to say the least. This allows writers to dream up all sorts of engaging plot lines for her(such as Janice Hadlow’s book which is the basis of the new series) that either enhance her character or send her off in a bold new direction.
As it turns out, there are quite a few books featuring Mary Bennet out there and today, I’m here to recommend one that I truly like and two others that sound rather promising to check out:
The Shocking Experiments of Miss Mary Bennet:
Melinda Taub’s second novel regarding the Bennet sisters has Mary deciding to take the matter of her unmarried status in her own hands.
If she can’t find a suitable husband, then perhaps her knowledge of the scientific arts can allow her to make one for herself. In setting up this task, she receives assistance from a most unexpected ally; Georgiana Darcy, her sister in law whose troubles in the romance department are somewhat similar to Mary’s.
When their creation goes awry, Mary and Georgiana must work together to solve this problem before a rather deadly turn is taken. Yet, can their mutual passion for science also lead to a more pleasant solution to both of their situations or are they doomed to be authors of their mutual demise?
I have read Taub’s previous novel about another Bennet sister (The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch) and that book became a best of the year read for me. Seeing this writer give Mary a Frankenstein flip sounds like an awful lot of fun indeed:
The Pursuit of Mary Bennet:
Pamela Mingle keeps Mary in the spotlight as the awkward middle daughter tries to be more than just an afterthought amongst her family.
When her wayward sister Lydia flounces back home, flush with a new scandal, Mary and her sister Kitty are sent off to stay with their married sister Jane Bingley in order to avoid being caught up in such a messy situation.
While there, Mary meets Henry Walsh, a friend of her brother in law, who finds her to be quite charming. This opportunity for true acceptance and love is most unexpected but when other circumstances arise, can she find her own way to happiness or must she be set aside for the selfish whims of others?
I’ve read this book twice( and will probably do so this spring as well) and it’s a endearing look at a woman who wants to be more than what her relatives have already decided she should be. Granted, Mary has a few stumbles along the way (including reprising her skills at the piano) but her emotional journey is well worth the trip:
Being Mary Bennet:
This modern day YA take by J.C. Peterson has senior class overachiever Marnie realizing that her roommate’s declaration that she’s that particular P&P character is definitely not a compliment.
As a struggling middle child trying to gain status among her own boisterous siblings, Marnie hopes that her big project to create a program that gives kids the opportunity to read aloud to shelter dogs , will give her a shot at the Hunt Prize, a rare honor given to only one member of the senior class at her prestigious school.
However, her goals now also include being less of a Mary Bennet and with the help of said roommate and a rather handsome new acquaintance(plus a very cute dog), Marnie might be more successful than she had previously imagined. But, should she settle for not just being a Mary Bennet or any other fictional character than just being her real self?
This does sound like a good creative way to reimagine Austen for a new generation, much in the style of the Lizzie Bennet Diaries, and if I came across it, it certainly would be something to enjoy for sure:
While I haven’t seen The Other Bennet Sister(don’t have BritBox sadly) or read the book, I do think it’s great that a fresh take on Jane Austen’s work is being celebrated like this.
Plenty of people are already complaining about the upcoming Pride & Prejudice movie in the works from Netflix and granted, I was not thrilled with their version of Persuasion (they totally rewrote Anne’s character and not in a good way!), let’s give them a chance at getting this one right.
At the very least, that production might lead to more Austen themed projects such as Dear Miss Austen that thankfully went to PBS and will have a second season entitled Miss Austen Returns.
Given the chaotic state of the world these days, having a little bit of Jane Austen adaptation goodness to look forward to is a small treasure of hope to cherish indeed:
As we are at the official start of the spring season today, it’s only fitting that the signups for Seasons of Reading’s next readathon, Spring Into Horror , have begun.
Starting on April 1(no joke) running until the end of month, this reading event encourages you to read at least one scary book(mystery, thriller,etc are just fine) during this time. For me, I prefer to stay on theme and have a trio of terrifying tales that should be popcorn worthy indeed:
Speaking of popcorn, my first choice is Chuck Tingle’s Bury Your Gays, which takes on Hollywood and it’s hellish standards.
Screenwriter Misha has managed to achieve a good amount of success with both films and TV, even earning an Oscar nomination that highlights his career nicely.
However, when the producers of his latest hit series demand that he use the title trope against his favorite character, Misha’s refusal leads to a shocking set of violent attacks against him by people dressed up as horror monsters he created from past projects. Yet, are those would-be assassins really in costume or have they kept off the screen to exact their own personal revenge?
Tingle has an amazing gift for blending humor, horror and human pathos into a grand design of storytelling that makes their work instantly legendary. I’m beyond thrilled to have this book start off my springtime scary season here:
Next up is The Bane Witch by Ava Morgyn, which is said to have mixed Practical Magic vibes into a Gone Girl simmering stew of suspense.
The sorceress of the title is Piers Corbin, who faked her own demise to escape a troubled marriage and discovered that she’s the latest in a long line of poison magic makers.
While working as a waitress at her aunt’s cafe in a remote mountain town, Piers hones her deadly talents in order to rid society of as many evil men as she can.
When evidence of a serial killer’s handiwork in the area becomes well known, Piers decides that, despite the efforts made by the local authorities, this is a job that definitely requires her special skill set of magical vengeance.
I happen to have won a copy of this book via an online giveaway (that came with a signed bookplate!) awhile ago and thought it would be best to save this one for this particular occasion. The author has a new novel out this month(Only Spell Deep) but I haven’t read her previous work so this ought to be an engaging introduction.
The tone of this book feels very Poison Ivy meets Sleeping with the Enemy to me but we shall see what fearsome flavors arise from these pages very soon:
And for the finale, I selected Rachel Harrison‘s Such Sharp Teeth.
Our leading lady is Rory, who moves back to her hometown to help out Scarlett, her pregnant twin sister. Running into her mother, entrenched in denial about their childhood as well as a former high school crush, Ian, she is already regretting this trip home.
Dealing with the metaphorical ghosts of her haunted past, however, pales in comparison when a chance encounter with a mysterious creature causes Rory to literally howl at the moon.
This frightening changes do have some benefits as Rory begins to feel truly powerful for the first time in her life. Can she even out this mystical balance or is Rory doomed to become a true monster in the worst sense of that term?
Having enjoyed Harrison’s latest novel, Play Nice, last year, this book seems to be a good way to connect with more of her work. Plus, it does remind me a little of that Amy Adams ‘ suburban supernatural movie Nightbitch, which sounds like a suitable companion piece for sure:
If you’re interested in signing up , I have a link in the first paragraph of this post to check out. A thank you in advance to Michelle Miller at Seasons of Reading for setting up this sinister start to a new season of page turning terrors to behold.
Horror is truly on the rise these days as this past Oscar night has shown us. While this genre has occasionally garnered a few Academy Awards from time to time, this year’s ceremony showed that horror is no longer to be ignored.
From Del Toro’s Frankenstein winning a good number of technical awards to some awesome wins for Ryan Coogler’s Sinners(which includes a groundbreaking win for Best Cinematography and Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan!) and Amy Madigan ‘s iconic performance as Aunt Gladys in Weapons being given a Best Supporting Actress award, horror is really giving audiences and studios a real run for their money.
Let’s just hope they keep up this pop culture pace there as we really need to have this meta mirror reflect fully on our collective fears and learn to handle them for the betterment of all. That and have some pulse pounding fun along the way:
Well, despite the troubling news of the day(which is pretty much every day at this point!), the best way to keep your spirits up is with some good books on hand, if you ask me.
Fortunately, Book of the Month Club had plenty to offer this month, starting with their Book of the Year prize going to Charlotte McConaghy’s Wild Dark Shore that was my free selection-congrats to the author and happy to have this chance to see what climate fiction is like!
For my main selection, Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser was an instant must-have for me. This take on the Cinderella story has the “wicked” stepmother being more of a practical person as the death of her second husband leaves their family in genteel poverty.
When her standoff-ish stepdaughter Elin wins the hand of the local prince, Tremaine is suspicious about the sudden rush to marriage and begins to uncover a deep secret that may expose this fairy tale kingdom to a rather grim reality. More importantly, perhaps a secret worth keeping for the right price…
I do like fairy tale reimaginings and this element of court politics into the mix has a rather appealing flair. Also, it’s a debut novel that promises to be the belle of the bookish ball this season worth adding to my dance card:
Among the add-ons, I was thrilled to find B.K. Borison’s And Now, Back to You , her latest romance set in the same world as First Time Caller (a BOTY contender, btw!).
Here, we meet Deliah, an upbeat TV reporter whose charms are lost on Jackson, who covers traffic and weather with a very opposite attitude.
When a major snowstorm is set to hit the area, Deliah and Jackson are paired up by their bosses to cover the impact at a mountain retreat several miles away. Stuck together during the storm seems to bring out the best in both of them but a sudden kiss changes everything.
While that snowed in situation brought them closer together, once they get back home, discovering if those romantic sparks were simply seasonal or the start of am emotionally roaring fire proves to be challenging indeed.
Having already enjoyed FTC and more recently, Good Spirits (the latter is also getting a follow up that I hope is a future BOTM selection), I know that this will be a good time with some twists and turns that can make for an unpredictable storytelling storm of delight:
To make this a solid quartet of reading, my last add-on was Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett.
The title owner of this feline haven lives in Montreal during the 1920s and for the most part, has no real interest in the growing rivalry between various wizards and magicians within the city.
However, when damage has been done to her current cat dwelling due to a spell slinging bout, Agnes scrambles to relocate before the worst of winter is upon them. The only acceptable available space for Agnes and her beloved kitties is under the control of Havelock, a powerful sorcerer who happens to run a magical speakeasy of sorts in the building’s basement.
Willing to overlook the illegal spell trade going on around her, Agnes and her sister Elise are happy to be back in the cat adoption business yet things are not as pleasant as they seem.
For one, Agnes is torn between mourning the loss of her husband two years ago and yet finding herself interested romantically in Havelock(and the police detective going after him as well). For another, the safety of her kitty clientele may be in jeopardy with more and more of the rival magicians flocking to her new location. Can Agnes find balance in her personal life and professional calling or must one give way to the other?
I did read the first of Fawcett’s acclaimed Emily Wilde series and it was vastly entertaining. While I didn’t continue with those books, this new series feels more up my alley, especially as an unapologetic cat lady who feeds both indoor and outdoor kitties locally!
This book is being compared to the modern classic anime film Howl’s Moving Castle and while I haven’t seen that movie, the vibes are strongly appealing here. Perhaps this novel will inspire a viewing of that enchanting tale as well:
My book buying didn’t end there; I also went to Better World Books and picked up a nice copy of Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s The Bewitching.
Grad student Minerva is thrilled to be researching her favorite writer Beatrice Tremblay while attending the very same college that Tremblay has attended and possibly found inspiration for her best known work.
When Beatrice was a student in 1934, her roommate Virginia went missing amidst claims of being pursued by otherworldly creatures. As Minerva looks into that portion of Tremblay’s life, it appears that some of the studies being held by students and faculty alike may have opened a door to a realm that was too dangerous for mere mortals to venture into.
Recalling the many tales about witches that her grandmother Alba told her as a child, Minerva decides to seek the truth about what happened to Virginia before that strange fate falls upon her as well.
This novel received great critical praise along with wonderful word of mouth but when I looked into this book’s origins, it was interesting to learn that Moreno-Garcia sites Shirley Jackson as a major influence for this work.
Granted, I am mostly familiar with the film adaptation of The Haunting of Hill House, plus her famous short story The Lottery and her novel We Have Always Lived in the Castle yet Jackson’s eerily subtle approach to horror feels more modern as time goes by. Moreno-Garcia’s spin on that style should be amazing to behold here:
So, I’m doing my best to spread pop culture joy even in the midst of our collective daily horror show these days and while there’s much to be done, helping each other out in whatever ways we can(and that are available to us) is a small yet powerful thing. It may not seem like much but a touch of decency in a corrupt world has a ripple effect that ultimately reveals itself for the better.
Meanwhile, I intend to replenish my mental energies this weekend with the Oscars, which hopefully will give us a few excellent surprises in many categories this year.
My deepest hopes are for Sinners to make a strong showing (with a record setting number of nominations, my expectations are sky high) and having also seen One Battle After Another, will be fine with some of those wins as well (Sean Penn Does NOT need another Oscar but I think pitting him against his co-star Benecio Del Toro may divide the voting in that particular category).
While I haven’t seen Frankenstein, it should probably pick up a few technical awards (Best Hair and Makeup for sure) and it certainly seems like Jesse Buckley has a lockdown on Best Actress for Hamnet(didn’t see that one either).
My big rooting interest is in the Best Supporting Actress section as I have seen three out of the five performances nominated and will be happy for any one of those ladies to take the award home(if Amy Madigan wins, may she do the signature run to the stage from Weapons that she did on a previous awards show-that would be awesome).
Also looking forward to the performance of “I Lied to You “ from Sinners that promises to echo that pivotal scene from the movie with an incredible ensemble of musical talent scheduled to appear on stage.
Nothing against the K-Pop Demon Hunters song but Sinners deserves to get the win here! I do agree that all of the Best Song nominees should be included in the performances that night(Diane Warren is the Susan Lucci of this category for whatever reason but her song deserves it’s moment in the spotlight too!).
Despite who wins, loses or just makes a memorable moment, at the very least, we will be gathering together for a positive experience to celebrate the cinematic arts, which are a reflection on us as a culture and unlike a certain arrogant nominee’s opinion, are rooted in such live experiences such as opera, ballet and the theater that they wouldn’t have existed without them, both then and now.
All in all, this year’s Academy Awards should give us the emotional uplift that we need to keep going during these wild times.
The arts, in print or performance, have offered us these comforts before and will continue to do so, despite the efforts of a disconcerted few. Pass the popcorn and let’s be united in celebrating true joy:
