Honoring Harper Lee's literary legacy

It was sad indeed to hear of the passing of Harper Lee last week, especially since only last year she was once again thrust into the literary spotlight with the publication of Go Set a Watchman, an earlier take on the characters from her most famous work, To Kill a Mockingbird.

 I came to Mockingbird only recently, thanks to a wonderful documentary  about the ongoing inspiration that many readers of TKAM still have to this day, yet I do feel that we have lost a national treasure. Harper Lee's output as a writer may be small in number but it's the power of her words that makes it a true force to be reckoned with. It's influence among readers of more than one generation is astounding to behold.

One of the best ways to truly judge an author's impact is by seeing what their writing has inspired in other writers, so as my best attempt at a tribute, here are three book recommendations along the lines of "If You Like Harper Lee, Try This..."

THE HELP: Sure, this is almost an automatic go-to, particularly since TKAM is mentioned a few times within Kathryn Stockett's novel. Yet, do not be too quick to dismiss it as simply following in Harper Lee's footsteps.

For one, the story gives us the viewpoint of two African-American characters Aibileen and Minny, maids in Southern households during the early part of the 1960s, who are encouraged to share their work experiences with Skeeter, the young white back-home-from-college girl who feels out of place in her own section of that society.

That's something that TKAM wasn't able to do and understandably so, yet if not for that novel, The Help might not have created. Stockett's book brought up a lot of discussion both pro and con about it's depictions of those characters and that time period and yet, it also brought a lot of people closer by reading it. This is a book that I shared with my mother(who reminds me a lot of the outspoken Minny) and I know we're not the only mother-daughter to make this thoughtful novel our special book club for two selection.

The Help reawakened a look at race relations right in our homes, from all directions in America, and even it's author learned a few things about herself along the way. That alone make it worth taking up either for the first time or the second:

THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES: Sue Monk Kidd's first novel has a young girl named Lily Owens who, with the aid of housekeeper Rosaleen, flees her abusive home and takes refuge with a trip of bee keeping sisters, May,June and August Boatwright.

 Lily hopes to learn more about her mother's past, particularly since she herself bears an extra sense of guilt regarding her mother's death. Since the label on the jars of honey that the Boatwrights sell is similar to a picture found in her mother's things, she hopes that the sisters will have some of the answers that she seeks.

Monk Kidd has gone on to write other books such as The Invention of Wings, a historical fiction that was a headliner for Oprah's latest book club, yet this heartfelt tale that weaves in tragedy,love, race and regret is still a solid hallmark of her art. Like The Help, The Secret Lives of Bees was made into a movie but I still haven't seen it yet. Well, it's never too late to catch up on the good stuff and it'll give me another reason to enjoy the book again:

FOUR SPIRITS: The title spirits of Sena Jeter Naslund's novel set in the sixties refers to the four girls who died in the infamous church bombing in Birmingham and while story follows several characters, it's center is Stella Silver, a college student awakened by that tragedy to take part in the growing civil rights movement.

I haven't read this one yet but it's been sitting on my shelf long enough and I intend to add it to my active reading list this year. Naslund grew up in Birmingham, which gives her look at this moment in time a personal connection and having read a couple of her other books, I think this one should be interesting to explore.

In 2001, Sena Jeter Naslund won the Harper Lee Award from the University of Alabama's writing program for her body of work up to that point, which was two years before Four Spirits came out. That's more than enough reason to suggest this book but considering the current sociopolitical struggles that we're dealing with these days that hearken back to that particular decade of social change, Four Spirits may have found it's right place in literary time to be discovered:

Well, that's my list of Harper Lee-esque selections and I hope that at least one of them is new to you. I would also suggest that if you haven't read Go Set a Watchman yet, this might be a good time to do so.

If not, that's okay but if you are curious about what the fuss was all about, I do promise you an interesting read. You may not like it, for many reasons, but the book certainly offers a good amount of food for thought.

Something to keep in mind about Go Set a Watchman is that it was the starting point for Scout and Atticus, so perhaps if it were not for GSAW, TKAM might not have been written and that would have been an enormously great loss to us all, as much as the loss of Harper Lee feels to many of us right now:

Setting up some spring reading with these March and April book releases

 With the move from Groundhog's Day to Easter Bunny season getting faster, there's one thing that readers long to see as the start of spring time, even more than blooming flowers and that first sight of a robin; brand new books.

Sure, summer is a big book season but don't count out spring. Despite the shorter time span for that window to be open these days, those early stirrings of warm yet not sweltering hot weather are perfectly suited to encourage outdoor reading, not to mention being able to concentrate better on the words across the pages.

This set of March and April new titles should offer a nice bouquet of literary posies that create a interesting scent of imagination and knowledge for the budding book gardener:

AUSTEN REPLANTED: The latest modern take on Jane Austen's classic Pride and Prejudice comes from author Curtis Sittenfeld as part of the Austen Project yet I'm sure it will stand alone on it's own merits.

Eligible has Liz Bennet and her sister Jane living in New York but coming home to Cincinnati to check on their ailing father. With the family home in bad shape, their mother is eager to have all of her five girls line up for Chip Bingley's Bachelor-esque dating show in order to solve all of their problems.

Liz is not on board with that and also not happy to deal with Bingley's doctor buddy Darcy and his snobbish ways. Personally, I like the reality show element being added here as P&P has proven to be suitable for that style of story telling and Sittenfeld's new look at such a familiar story needs a sharp twist to be able to compete with the many retellings that are out there. This should be quite engaging to check out, indeed(April):

A TRIPLE PLAY OF LITERARY LADY POWER: I found at least three nonfiction titles due out this season that have to do with strongly solid creative women and while one of them happens to be fictional, each one brings a grounded in reality resonance to her legacy.

First up is Claire Harman's biography, Charlotte Bronte: A Fiery Heart, that focuses on how Charlotte's upbringing with her rather close knit family helped to bring about the emotional depths that lead her to write such passionate novels as Jane Eyre and Villette.

Even though Charlotte supported her sisters Anne and Emily with their own writing efforts, her own talents were manifold and lead to a life of artistic independence that brought her equal shares of sorrow and joy. By revisiting this author on the 200th anniversary of her birth, Harman presents a vivid portrait of Bronte highlighted by the frame of her Haworth home(March):

 With the recent announcement of a new Little House on the Prairie movie in the works, there is sure to be a revival of interest in Laura Ingalls Wilder, the creator of that iconic children's series that lead to the memorable TV series that many of us grew up with.

The timing couldn't be better for The Selected Letters of Laura Ingalls Wilder , which has both personal and professional letters that have only been available to scholars until now. Editor William Anderson includes among the bounty of letters some of the correspondence between Ingalls Wilder and her editor Ursula Nordstrom along with responses to the many fans of the books and contributions from her daughter(and later author/editor) Rose Wilder Lane.

Little House readers will find this immensely interesting but I do suspect that even newcomers to this bookish slice of Americana might see plenty to explore here as well(March):

Last but up,up and away from least, blogger Tim Hanley follows up his excellent examination of a DC Comics legend,Wonder Woman Unbound, with another take on an  iconic comic book heroine who is just as well known to the public and is just as underestimated.

Investigating Lois Lane traces the pioneering path of the woman that many simply write off as "Superman's girlfriend" and shows what an amazing character she truly is. Lois has had her unfair share of damsel in distress moments(not to mention bad romance times with the Man of Steel) yet she's also proven to be smart, brave and willing to take risks that are not backed up by super powers.

The book not only chronicles her ever changing image in the comic books, her live action and animated renditions of Lois are also included. Hanley's spotlight on Lois Lane promises to show what a true superhero this savvy lady is in her own right(March):

A DANCE HALL DEBUT: Short story writer Alison Love hits the dance floor with her first novel, The Girl From the Paradise Ballroom, that adds a new groove to a well worn routine.

Singer Antonio is surprised to realize that he has meet Olivia, the wife of his wealthy patron before. She instantly fears that her past as a dance hall hostess at the Paradise Ballroom will be revealed but with the approach of WWII, both she and Antonio find themselves drawn together for support in more ways than one.

 I received this book courtesy of Library Thing and even though the author is new to me,a good period romance is well worth the page turning. Love promises to provide a sweet steady beat with a few fresh steps that you can dance to(April):

 NOVEL LOOKS AT HISTORICAL LADIES: The life and times of birth control crusader Margaret Sanger are at the heart of Ellen Feldman's upcoming novel. Terrible Virtue follows Margaret from her days as a nurse seeking a solution for other women like her own mother, who was trapped by poverty and ill health from improper care during her many pregnancies.

Her struggles to begin a respectable women's health clinic in the early days of the twentieth century were met with various obstacles from religious figures and community leaders, forcing her at one point to leave the country. The toll on her personal and family life was harsh at times as well.

Nevertheless, Margaret persisted in her social justice work, with the aid of a few allies such as Emma Goldman, and her firm commitment paid off as her efforts resulted in the development of the birth control pill along with the foundation of Planned Parenthood. Granted, this is a novel but if you're looking for more backstory on the origins of the movement for a woman's right to choose, this book sounds like a fine introduction to me(March).

Allison Pataki continues her look at Empress Elisabeth of Austria-Hungary that began in The Accidental Empress with Sisi:Empress on Her Own. Here, she is no longer the blushing young bride but a woman who is now ready and willing to take up what reins of power are at her disposal.

While her husband Franz Joseph is distracted by maintaining political alliances, Sisi soon realizes that her input in such matters proves to be of true value yet that power play doesn't give her the deep down  personal satisfaction that she longs for.  In keeping a balance between head and heart, Sisi has to choose which one is worth sacrificing.

I also received this from Library Thing but will probably read The Accidental Empress first. I'm sure that this book can be enjoyed without having read that one yet I did enjoy Pataki's The Traitor's Wife and would like to indulge in the full literary feast that the author has prepared(March):

I do hope that this spring selection helps any of you out there seeking a new read for the warm days to come. Out of all of the struggles that a reader has to deal with, picking the next on your book waiting list is a challenge that knows no season to skip over:

Kitchen troubles on Downton Abbey, The Flash gets the chills from Killer Frost and more of How To Get Away With Murder

With all of the major plot lines on Downton Abbey this final season, it is nice to indulge in an amusing sub plot such as Mr. Carson getting his comeuppance for constantly fussing at his new wife about her cooking.

It's particularly galling of him since he knows full well that her household duties at Downton don't extend to food prep and it's bad form to keep comparing his wife's culinary skills to Mrs. Patmore's(one episode, Carson said "Mrs. Patmore" at dinner so many times that I was tempted to start up a drinking game!).

Fortunately, the former Mrs. Hughes is smart enough to find a way to subtly yet sharply put him in his place with a little ruse that had Carson find out what things were like on the other side of the kitchen table. She had a bit of an assist from Mrs. Patmore on that score, which was extremely suitable to the situation:

As engaged as I am in the main story lines(Will Edith marry Bertie and tell him the truth about Marigold? I certainly hope so and that Mary doesn't muck it up for her), light hearted bits like this are a welcome relief from the intensity of the drama.

Mrs. Patmore is still in sub plot land next week, as a secret regarding her is discovered  that causes some embarrassment or amusement, depending on who is talking about it. I just hope that it's not too bad for her sake:

The last couple of episodes of The Flash had Barry and Cisco heading up a rescue mission on Earth-Two, which allowed them to meet up with some very alarming alternate versions of their friends(and themselves).

The one deadly doppelganger that truly surprised them was Killer Frost, the E-2 take on Caitlin Snow. Here, the icy villainess was paired up with Deathstorm(the bad boy version of Firestorm) as lackeys for Zoom.

Her loyalty to Zoom was limited,however, once her lethal love interest was executed by the grim speedster, along with Cisco's bad ass evil twin Reverb(bet the actors had a lot of fun playing bad guys there!).

  I know that some people felt that having Killer Frost as an E-2 enemy was a bit of a cheat, since her character was originally part of Earth One but with character origins that change over the course of time due to reboots, you need to go with the flow sometimes. Besides, this may not be the last we see of Killer Frost as Barry did promise to rescue a certain iron masked captive of Zoom's. Also, Killer Frost is too much fiendish fun to have just once:

How To Get Away With Murder returned to the TV line-up last week, with Annalise still reeling after her near fatal gun shot wound as well as the legal mess of the Hapstall case. At least she has some seriously styling PJs to do that in.

The rest of her staff and students aren't faring any better, with Asher insisting that his father's death was due to murder, not suicide(a way of avoiding his guilt over mowing down that bitchy D.A., if you ask me) and Wes dealing with what he did to Annalise, plus wondering why she called him "Christophe". Yep, another mystery to be revealed!

One thing about this show that never fails, even as convoluted as it gets at times, is to keep your interest in these character going long enough to see them through to the end of their twisted story lines. So looking forward to seeing how the remainder of this second season unravels and keeping my fingers crossed for a sweet set-up for season three:

RANDOM NOTES:

THE GRAMMYS: Congratulations to Alabama Shakes, Ghost(who received their award for "Cirice" in the pre-show section) and the Broadway musical Hamilton for their much deserved wins that night and while there may be questions regarding the many musical tributes given that evening(I did like Lady Gaga's Bowie salute), just about everyone agrees that seeing that opening number for Hamilton was one of the best moments:

Announcing my Year with Hemingway

It's funny how things turn out; originally, my year long blog project was going to be face-offs between books with similar themes(aka Book Bouts) but in the very first match-up, I still haven't finished the second book. I'll probably complete The Novel(yes, that's the actual title) at some point but even in short form, James Michener is rather slow going.

However, one of my general goals this year was to try some Ernest Hemingway and during the Winter's Respite readathon, I did just that, completing The Sun Also Rises with enough time to tackle another book before time was up. Since that went well, I figure why stop there?


So, my new yearly blog project is My Year with Hemingway, in which I will take on some more of the big man's works, plus a few additional choices that should fit in with the theme nicely.

I'm considering my Winter's Respite review of TSAR as the starting point and my next selection is The Old Man and The Sea, which will be read along side the nonfiction memoir The Hemingway Club of Kosovo by Paula Huntley that highlights TOMATS quite a bit.

I know the basic set-up of the bare bones plot, a lengthy battle of wills between aging fisherman Santiago and the huge marlin that he manages to catch after a long dry spell. However, there is much more to this tale than the seemingly simple man vs. nature challenge and I look forward to learning all about it:

Other titles from Hemingway that are on my list include his short stories(The Snows of Kilimanjaro and In Our Time) one of his memoirs( A Movable Feast) and two more of his major novels, For Whom The Bell Tolls and A Farewell to Arms.

Out of all his writings about wartime, A Farewell to Arms seems to be the one that many people consider his most autobiographical book. The story of ambulance driver Frederic Henry and nurse Catherine Barkley has strong resonance due to Hemingway's own experiences during WWI and also on a romance that didn't work out for him.

An air of dark romanticism surrounds the book,which should be interesting to explore and separating the true facts of Hemingway's time in Italy from the fictional version he gave the world promises to be quite a game of cards there:

Since Paula McLain's The Paris Wife got me started on this Hemingway kick, I will be including a pair of novels that also focus on him through the women in his life. It's interesting that women authors seem to be the ones who are intrigued enough by Hemingway to examine him through fiction these days.

Mrs. Hemingway by Naomi Wood takes a gander at all four of his wives while Erika Robuck's Hemingway's Girl combines two possibly real life female figures into a fictional heroine. 19 year old  Mariella happens to run into Hemingway in Key West, where a desperate bet on a boxing match leads to an unlikely friendship.

Mariella becomes even more part of his life when his current wife Pauline hires her as their housemaid.  As she tries not to get too involved with the troubles of the Hemingway household, a romance with Gavin, WWI veteran working on the Overseas Highway, is severely dividing her loyalties. I read Robuck's The House of Hawthorne last year and that was a pretty engaging book so my hopes are high for this one:

I might throw in some movie watching, as most of these books have been adapted for film and there is even one about Hemingway's real life love story that helped to inspire A Farewell to Arms called In Love and War. Not sure how believable Chris O'Donnell is as a young Hemingway but if I can find on Netflix, it should be worth a shot.

Hemingway was never assigned to me at school and I have read a bit about him in the past, when I had a major jones for learning more about Sylvia Beach, who founded the original Shakespeare & Company book store in Paris. He was one of her patrons and even helped her out during the aftermath of WWII.

Mainly, I have had a small interest at best in writers during that whole Lost Generation period, so I never bothered to know more than I needed to before about Hemingway. Yet, as you get older, your world view hopefully expands and it's never too late to catch up on the classics. With my Year with Hemingway, I hope to know more about and perhaps appreciate better his literary legacy:

Jane and the Waterloo Map leads you to a true treasure of a mystery tale

In signing up for this blog tour for Stephanie Barron's latest entry in her Jane Austen mystery series, Jane and the Waterloo Map, I was a little concerned about how easily I could get into the story.

 After all, this is the thirteenth novel in a series that I've always been meaning to read at some point yet never have gotten beyond the first couple of pages with any of the prior books. Well, I'm happy to report that J&TWM was as comfortable to slip into as a pair of gloves, with a nice new lining that made it feel fresh and new.

It does help greatly if you're familiar with Jane Austen's bio, as our story begins in 1815 where Jane has gone to London to look after her brother Henry, who is experiencing some ill health and a bad run on his finances, due to the outcome of the recent war with Napoleon. Her visit is twofold, as preparations for her next novel Emma are underway and while she waits for the galleys for her editorial approval, an unusual invitation comes her way.

The Prince Regent's chaplain, James Stanier Clarke, extends an offer on the behalf of HRH(who happens to be a fan of her novels) to take a tour of Carlton House and even make use of the royal library to work in while she's in town. Despite her keen distaste for the Prince Regent, Jane is well aware of how beneficial to her book sales such a connection would be, so she accepts the invitation and endures the rattling company of Clarke, who has a lot more in common with a certain Mr. Collins that he realizes:

During her visit, Jane is encouraged to dedicate her new novel to the Prince Regent, which would certainly boost the profits to be earned from it.

 Before she can properly consider that idea, a shocking discovery in the library changes the course of the day quite completely In a corner, a dying man is discovered and as Clarke rushes off to get the court physician Matthew Baillie, Jane alone hears his last words:"Waterloo map!"

The victim turns out to be a military man, Colonel MacFarland, who  was one of the heroes of the battle of Waterloo. The map in question is soon found in a book and has a brief letter written in French on the back, urging it's intended reader to protect the map as it leads to something that Napoleon himself would be eager to claim upon the outcome of the battle:

While Jane is strongly encouraged not to look into the matter, she can't resist learning more about it, particularly when she comes across evidence that Col. MacFarland was poisoned.

In her quest to find the killer as well as discover the true purpose of the map, Jane enlists the aid of Raphael West, son of renowned artist Benjamin West, who happens to also be a government spy.

Even her visiting niece Fanny does a little undercover work, posing as a budding painter in order to draw out the actual artist who drew up the map and who also might be the murderer:

This investigation is not without risks, as Jane rather painfully discovers and while her injuries are slight, the real danger to her allies is all too heavy to bear. Can the Waterloo map lead them all to justice or to more horrible crimes yet to come?

Stephanie Barron has a sure and steady hand in creating this mystery realm for Jane Austen and her blend of fact and fiction(well assisted with a few historical footnotes) makes for a tempting tea cup of tension that is worth slowly sipping through page by page.

I do wish that I had taken on her books much sooner but regrets in reading can be quickly remedied by a good book or two and fortunately, the pleasure of catching with this engaging series is soon to be mine. Jane and the Waterloo Map may be a unlikely start for a newcomer but it's a very agreeable one and there is no doubt that regular fans of this series will be pleased with this current gem.

I hope that everyone is enjoying this delightful blog tour for Jane and the Waterloo Map and if you are interested in winning one of the prize packs from Stephanie Barron's website at the end of it, please leave a comment at this post as well as one at the review that Austenprose is posting today.

You can also leave comments at the other tour stops, such as the next stop at Mystery Fanfare on Monday and Laura's Reviews on the following Tuesday. The deadline is February 29 and the winners will be announced on March 3 at Stephanie Barron's official website, so make haste, I beg you!

And in the spirit of the day, I wish you all a very happy Valentine's Day with a special hope that Jane Austen's wonderful world of romance adds greatly to your happiness:

Sample some Jane Austen sweetness at Pemberley Digital on Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day weekend is upon us and while many of us on the East Coast will be seeking warmth for other than the heart, this is also a holiday that many Jane Austen fans take special delight in. After all, when it comes to her writing, love is always in the air for most of Austen's characters.

However, it can be a little overwhelming as well since there are so many Austen related pop culture venues to choose from. If you can't decide whether or not to reread the original novels or their post modern sequels, not to mention choose which movie version of Pride and Prejudice to watch, there might be a simple solution.

No doubt, most Austen admirers are familiar with Pemberley Digital, where modern day sensibilities meet with timeless story telling by creating web series out of several literary classics, namely the works of Our Dear Jane. With all of them being readily available online, they provide the perfect opportunity for holiday themed binge watching or could be your av version of a box of chocolates. You could devour them all at once or just nibble at a few of your favorite episodes. Either way, let's see what on display at this Austen-tatious candy shop:

EMMA APPROVED: With this year being the 200th anniversary of the book many consider to be Austen's masterpiece, this engaging web series truly captures the charismatic magic of Emma Woodhouse, who in this version runs an agency that offers life style coaching, plus a bit of match making on the side.

What's really great about this take on Emma is how well the story adjusts to such modern day settings and social media, not to mention the chemistry between the leads. Joanna Sotomura and Brent Bailey click together so well as the headstrong Emma and "snarky" Knightley, just about any scene with them is well worth watching(and they became a real life couple to boot!):

THE LIZZIE BENNET DIARIES: The series that started it all and gave rise to a wonderful revival of interest in Jane Austen's best known and well beloved tale, Pride and Prejudice.

 I also recommend checking out the companion novel The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet and it's sequel of sorts, The Epic Adventures of Lydia Bennet, the latter showing what happens to everyone after the LBD series has run.

The LBD is actually the longest of the three Austen adaptations that Pemberley Digital has done so far(not counting the spin-offs within the actual run of the series such as Collins and Collins), so sampling a few at a time might be the way to go here. Sure, you can go right for those delightful Darcy moments but it's just as fun to see Lizzy mock him in her home theater reenactments:

WELCOME TO SANDITON: Since this webseries is based on an unfinished novel of Austen's, this might be a lovely surprise for Austen fans looking for something new.

Also, the open narrative allows a lot of leeway in the story lines and character development as the struggling seaside town of the title deals with infighting as residents are feeling forced into changing their businesses in order to create a haven for the health conscious.

There's a bit of a crossover from LBD as Georgina "Gigi" Darcy arrives to beta test a new app for her brother's company, which aids a budding romance between Clara, the owner of the local ice cream shop that is being pressured to become a juice bar, and Edward, geeky minion of the Mayor who just wants to make everyone happy but neglects himself. If you're in the mood for a taste of summer loving, Sanditon Scoops should have the right flavor combination there:

Pemberley Digital offers non-Austen fare as well, such as Frankenstein M.D., if you're in a non-romantic mood, and The March Family Letters, with some episodes featuring love of family along with possible love connections. Which ever you choose, have a lovely Valentine's Day both on and off line, keeping in mind that Jane Austen was always in favor of true devotion in whatever form it came into her heroine's lives:

Beyonce, Lady Gaga and why singing women scare some people

The headliner at this year's halftime show for the Super Bowl was Coldplay but all that anyone seems to want to talk about is the performance that Beyonce gave.

She mixed her new song "Formation"(the video being released the day before) with Bruno Mars doing his hit "Uptown Funk" and while it was certainly a show stopper, certain people are simply losing their minds over that number and not in appreciation.

One of the biggest complaints is  claiming that she was doing a tribute to the Black Panthers because of her mock military outfit(something that both Janet and Michael Jackson have done in their careers without that connotation being placed on them), that her dancers wore berets and they formed a letter X during the show-hello, the song is called "Formation" and they also formed an arrow as well!

Yes, the video does have a lot of sociopolitical visuals that reference Hurricane Katrina, Black Lives Matter, in particular "hands up, don't shoot" and the antebellum South. Beyonce's Super Bowl performance, however, was mostly focused on the entertainment elements of the song and used an edited version, due to it's adult content(particularly a reference to Red Lobster as a reward for love making). I suspect most of the protesters saw part or all of the official "Formation" video and are basing their anger about the number on that rather what actually was seen on TV that day:

Lady Gaga sang The National Anthem at the Super Bowl earlier that day and received a good amount of praise for her vocal range.

Yet a writer for the NYT decided to find fault with Gaga's overall career path in an article that compared her to Beyonce, based on their joint appearance in the video for Gaga's "Telephone" several years ago to where each of them is at in the pop music world right now.

He wondered why Gaga was doing "an opening act" when only a few years ago, she was a headliner and seems to be happy with a retro vibe. In his opinion, Lady Gaga has turned into an older ready for Vegas retirement version of herself :

"Her work now is like a long-term art project that’s put 50 years on her persona, and at 29, she’s five years younger than Beyoncé. She’s been cooing with Tony Bennett on their “Cheek to Cheek” tour; she’s wearing stuff that you’d find on Fanny Brice. Her Gucci pantsuit could have been from the Céline Dion collection or from Liza Minnelli’s closet. So, too, could the strength of her singing and chest thwaps. She’s given herself a coating of the geriatric, of respectability, of Vegas."

Well, first of all, singing the National Anthem at a major sporting event such as the Super Bowl is hardily an "opening act" and secondly, there is nothing wrong with any singer doing standards as a way to regain their inspiration. Linda Ronstandt did it and so did Natalie Cole. He also sees her singing the Sound of Music at the Oscars last year and winning a Golden Globe for her role on American Horror Story: Hotel as signs that she's decided to call it a day in terms of being a superstar unlike Beyonce.

The biggest problem with this entire line of thought is in comparing Gaga and Beyonce. Just because they did a song together once, that does not mean that they are on the same career track or should be. Gaga's experiences and goals are very different from Beyonce's and vice versa. While they are contemporaries, that doesn't have to mean one is gaining ground over the other.

 As to Gaga not doing her over the top entrances and outfits that helped launch her into the limelight anymore, she's not the only artist to have been there, done that and moved on. The late David Bowie(who Lady Gaga will be doing a tribute for at the upcoming Grammys) and the still with us Elton John eventually put away their costumes and set pieces as part of their artistic maturation. What all three have in common is that they were great singers to begin with and once the spotlight is steady on them, the need for masquerade is over:

In seeing both of these uproars about these talented ladies at the Super Bowl, my conclusion is that there are some folks(quite a few of them male) who have a problem with women who are completely capable of choosing to control their own careers. They don't like either one of them stepping outside of the pop culture boxes that they believe each female performer is in and would rather have them not express their opinions through their art or follow their own muse.

That's too bad for the dissenters because more and more female singers are bursting out of those pop culture confines and making a place for themselves, thanks to their talent and fans who appreciate what they're doing. It takes a long time for standards to change, even in the arts, but it does happen if you hold on long enough. You don't have to like every song or style but trying to tear them down just because you want to make your problems theirs is the wrong way to go.

With the Grammys next week, it'll be a good idea to see if you can spot the next new female singing sensation and while she's not scheduled to perform, Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes is one to watch. Her band is up for several awards and they really deserve to get a few of them.

 Who knows, maybe one day Brittany Howard will have Beyonce or Gaga do a song with her or maybe all three of them will form a power trio that brings the haters to their knees. Talent calls to talent and girl power is a force to be reckoned with, in the best sense of the term. So, critique fairly, my friends or you might find it hard to be part of the cool concert scenes to come:

Adding a touch of spice to your Valentine's Day reading

With Valentine's Day soon to arrive, romance is in the air and on the shelves for many readers looking for that special holiday feeling as they turn the pages of old favorites like Pride and Prejudice or newer classics such as The Time Traveler's Wife.

However, there is also a call for literature that's a bit more heart pounding that heart rendering in that category. For those like me who don't mind a bit of spicy flavor to their romantic reading but not quite willing to go with a ghost pepper level of heat, there are a couple of books that I've been enjoying lately that might suit your literary palate just fine.

Ashley Warlick's The Arrangement focuses on a particular period of time in legendary food writer MFK(Mary Frances Kennedy) Fisher's life, starting in 1934 when she and her husband Al are living in L.A.. Mary's desire to become a writer and her interest in food is somewhat tolerated by Al but not actively encouraged, unlike the positive feedback that Tim Parrish, her husband's best friend is providing her.

Almost on impulse, Mary begins a passionate affair with Tim just as his own marriage to ambitious actress Gigi is on the edge of implosion. While Al and Mary step in to help Tim as he tries to obtain a quick and easy divorce that won't threaten Gigi's career, the physical connection between two out of the three here sparks up even more, leading to an "understanding" that locks the trio into a relationship that offers pleasures as well as perils.

So far, the book has a leisurely pace that makes entering this part of the past as easy as walking into a dinner party and asking for a drink. Looking into Mary Frances' inner life, where she longs to find that sense of purpose and passion that she felt a grasp on during her time in France, and how it is leaking into her dealings with the people in her outer life is as tasty as a slowly simmering stew that packs a wallop of savory goodness in every bite.

When I do finish this book, I do intend to read some of MFK Fisher's actual works, many of which showcase her take on living that was rather forward thinking for that day. It's great how one book can lead you to another, especially one that lets you look at life in ways that you couldn't imagine for yourself:

Speaking of one book that leads to another, The Naughty Girls' Book Club by Sophie Hart offers a sizzling list of suggested reads that do more than simply titillate the characters.

When struggling divorced mother Estelle begins a book group at her bakery Cafe Crumb, she intends to cover serious literature but the low turnout at the first meeting prompts her to give sexy books a try.

Her group first takes up the latest raunchy bestseller Ten Sweet Lessons(a fictional take on 50 Shades of Grey) and then move on to classics like Lady Chatterley's Lover and sexy sagas such as Riders by Jilly Cooper. As the ladies and one gentleman read these eye brow raising titles, each of them starts to loosen up emotionally and even take chances that they normally wouldn't or just didn't have the nerve to.

 Despite their reading material, the boldness embraced by the characters isn't always sexual, although moody about her marriage Rebecca does manage to reignite a spark with her husband.

 Retiree Sue is bored with the humdrum life that her also retired husband is quite happy to settle down in while shy Reggie and feisty librarian Gracie find a bit of love and friendship together. Even overworked Estelle is surprised to discover that she has more to offer people than freshly baked treats.

At this point, the story is a great bookish delight that I don't want to rush through but when I do turn that last page, I might check out some of those Cafe Crumb selections. Just because it's labeled as a "dirty book", that doesn't mean that you can't have a little good clean fun with them:

Romance is a genre that often gets a bad rap and erotica even more so. Even when a story takes on a few elements from either side of that fictional fence, blushes and eyes lowered in embarrassment often accompany it's readers. However, when a tale is well told and laden with sincere emotion, those uneasy feelings are soon tucked away to make room for the growing interest in seeing how it all turns out, which is the true heart of any romance:

Supergirl battles Bizarro, a rather shocking dinner party moment at Downton Abbey and a devilish look at Lucifer

This week on Supergirl, Kara faced off against her own Bizarro doppelganger, created via experimentation at the behest of Maxwell Lord(a origin reboot given to that foe in prior Superman venues).

Watching Kara fight Bizarro was fun and interesting, since her confused counterpart's powers are the reverse of Supergirl's(freeze vision and fire breath,for one) and while she had to defend herself and others, it was clear to both Kara and the audience that Bizarro was a victim of Lord's twisted manipulations.

On another front, I'm happy to report that Winn seems to be back with Team Supergirl in a positive way and willing to get over his nonstarter romance with Kara to the point of encouraging James to pursue her(possibly due to both guys being a little jealous of Kara's brief relationship with Cat Grant's son, Adam).

While James is obviously attracted to Kara, he doesn't want to hurt current girlfriend Lucy by another break-up ,although Winn had a point about not being with someone who you really didn't want to be with wasn't a good plan either. After dealing with the Bizarro version of Supergirl,however, James ought to act on his true feelings towards the original edition before a new crisis hits them both(and yes, he can do it without being awful to Lucy):

There was quite the conversation stopper at a dinner party on Downton Abbey during the latest episode, as Lord Grantham spewed streaks of blood across the table, thanks to a burst ulcer.

I was expecting him to get sick, as he's been complaining of a lower body pain for several episodes now and when he rose from his chair(during a debate over control of the local hospital which has become a death match between Countess Violet and Isobel), I thought he was about to announce a heart attack.

Instead we got what my sister charmingly described as, upon hearing my retelling of that supper time surprise, "the gory chocolate in my peanut butter British coma"(she's not a fan of PBS dramas, let's put it that way).  Fortunately, Lord Grantham will survive that gruesome brush with death but it certainly did shake things up there for characters both upstairs and down:

 One of the consequences of that uproar was Lady Mary catching a mention from Countess Violet about why Marigold is a true blood member of the Crawley family which put her antenna up there. If she really does figure out that Edith is the biological mother of Marigold, I hope that Mary acts upon what spark of goodness is left in her heart and doesn't hassle her sister about it.

 Edith is slowly but surely preparing to make a life of her own away from Downton and has no intention of contesting Mary for control of the estate, so the least that her big sister could do is let the matter drop. There's plenty enough going on as it is without adding another family feud into the mix:

So, I've watched two episodes of the new series Lucifer and it's been a wicked blast so far. Based on the DC Vertigo comic, the main premise has the devil himself(played by smoldering sleek Tom Ellis) deciding to take a break from running Hell by hanging out in L.A.

While he runs a nightclub with a few of his faithful minions and takes great delight in using his ability to draw out hidden truths from humans, Lucifer does have a few troubles on his plate such as regular visits from the angel Amenadiel(D.B. Woodside), who warns of dire consequences if he doesn't return to his place in the underworld.

Lucifer is not about to take that threat seriously but when the murder of a mortal he knows well happens right in front of him, he teams up with police detective Chloe Decker(Lauren German) to solve the crime.

Turns out Chloe not only doubts his claims to be the Prince of Darkness but is truly immune to his supernatural charms, which spurs Lucifer into becoming her impromptu partner.

Sure, this is pretty cheesy but it's also fun and funny at times. Ellis has a good balance on the character and knows when to bring the mirth and the menace when called for. Also, I'm interested in seeing how Lucifer and Chloe's relationship develops over time and I hope that this is not simply going to be a romance meant to reform Lucifer. At the very least, it's a welcome diversion from some of the real world devilry going on these days:

RANDOM NOTES:

GREASE:LIVE: I didn't watch the show but wish to commend Vanessa Hudgens for going on with her performance as Rizzo, despite the death of her father not long before the production started that night. My sincere condolences to her and her family, as well as my firm belief that,based upon what I've heard and seen afterwards, that she honored his memory very well by doing that:

Taking a magical mystery tour with Jane and the Waterloo Map

For once, February 2 has more to be noted for than Groundhog's Day, as it marks the beginning of the book blog tour for Stephanie Barron's latest Jane Austen mystery novel, Jane and the Waterloo Map.

Hosted by Austenprose, this tour will offer guest posts, interviews and reviews of the thirteenth entry in Barron's series of stories that have Our Dear Jane solving a variety of crimes that seem to fall across her path in life. This particular tale is set in 1815, during the aftermath of the infamous battle of Waterloo, and Jane has gone to London to aid her brother Henry, whose financial troubles are threatening his health as well.

While in town, Jane is offered an opportunity to meet the Prince Regent(a man she despises for his morals) through the royal chaplain, who urges her to dedicate her upcoming new book Emma to His Majesty. Seeing the financial wisdom in such a move, Jane is willing to take the meeting but winds up discovering a dying man upon the carpeted floor of the Regent's library.

The victim is one Colonel McFarland, whose last words are "Waterloo map...", a phrase that starts Jane off on a quest to find out the truth behind the murder and the map. Much like her clever heroine Emma, Jane uses her sharp wits and intelligence to unravel the clues around, even if she is not very well liked for that:

I have signed up for the tour and plan to have a review of the book by Valentine's Day(Austenprose will also have one that day) and I am really looking forward to checking it out.

For years now, I have been intrigued by these books and meant to read them earlier but wasn't as into Austen themed literature as I am now. Also, jumping into a new series of books can feel pretty daunting, especially if there's a good number of them to go through.

However, since I am a bit more familiar with Austen's life and times that I once was and this series appears to be one that allows you to chose just where you would like to begin, this book sounds like the perfect place to do so. No doubt other newcomers to Barron's style of Regency mysteries would enjoy hearing from another fresh set of eyes to this series:

The Jane and the Waterloo Map tour will run until February 22 and there will be three prize packs given away to those who leave a comment at one of the official tour stops(not at this post,btw-wait for my Valentine's Day review to enter here!).

Among the various goodies to be awarded are signed copies of Jane and the Waterloo Map, plus an Austen inspired game, stationary and Regency cookie cutters. The contest will end on February 29 and the winners to be announced at Stephanie Barron's official website, so I urge you all to attend as many stops on the JATWM tour as you can in order to increase your chances of winning!

The book is now out for sale, so if you're in the mood for some Austen delights with a dash of mysterious flavor, this might be your cup of tea or perhaps a future gift for a certain romantic day of this chilly month? Certainly would be a nice change from the usual candy and flowers, no question about it.

Jane and the Waterloo Map might also be a good way to learn more about the battle of Waterloo or at the very least, find out why Napoleon did surrender as well as see why that history book on the shelf is always repeating itself:

American Crime Story starts off with a real game changer

One of the big television events this winter season is the debut of FX's American Crime Story series this Tuesday night, which takes a look at actual law and order situations that made a strong impact on the cultural landscape.

Produced by Ryan Murphy, this ten part saga is not shying away from covering a major story as the first season tackles the infamous OJ Simpson trial. Yep, getting right into the thick of things with this one, that's for sure.

The People Vs. OJ Simpson takes it's script from author Jeffrey Toobin's nonfiction book entitled The Run of His Life and has a vast array of stars in the cast such as Cuba Gooding Jr. as OJ, John Travolta as Robert Shapiro, Sarah Paulson as Marcia Clark and David Schwimmer as Robert Kardashian(yes, the dad of Kim and her numerous sisters).

Unlike Murphy's American Horror Story, the tone of this piece promises to be a bit more grounded in reality yet for some of the younger generation, this celebrity murder trial might appear to be stranger than fiction. Many of us can still remember where we were when OJ was charged and made his break for freedom in the Bronco, not to mention the entire trial that played out on TV practically in real time and seemed as if it would never end:

ACS intends to give the audience a behind the scenes look at what it was like for the people involved in this case, from the prosecutors who were quickly overwhelmed by the media coverage to the "dream team" looking for any which way to defend their client and finding very surprisingly successful tactics that ultimately lead to OJ being not guilty.

That focus should be pretty interesting to watch as it develops over the course of the show.  This trial became the gateway for rather dubious fame for a number of the players, even police witness Mark Fuhrman whose testimony wound up helping the defense way more than the prosecution.

 I'm most intrigued by how Marcia Clark(who is now a novelist) is going to be portrayed. She intended to present this case as a professional yet was being constantly judged by the media for her hair and clothing choices, not something that most male attorneys in the same position would have to deal with. That doesn't excuse her from the mistakes made on her side of the legal fence but it does play a part in what did happen,in my opinion:

From what I've heard, the show is not about retrying the case, it's more to do with the impact on society both then and now that this true crime three ring circus made.

During the trial and for years afterward, the pop culture riffs alone that this celebrity murder case created were of Frankenstein proportions. Some considered it cashing in  on a tragedy while others saw it as a natural consequence of such a widely talked about criminal trial.

One of the weirder aspects is the dark humor that came forth from the case, with stand-up and late night comedians having prime monologue material from this to joke books, parody magazine covers and reoccurring skits like "the dancing Itos"-the latter being a odd shout-out to Judge Lance Ito, who became unexpectedly famous to the point that he got fan letters, including one from late night host Arsenio Hall.

 However, credit goes to Jay Leno for the chorus line of Itos paraded out on a regular basis on the Tonight Show, with Marcia Clark showcased as lead dancer, something that I'm sure made her cringe:

An interest in true crime is something that has always been with us but the OJ Simpson case took that to new levels, which still resonate to this day.

You can argue that a whole new wave of coverage of court room proceedings came out of this one trial, with new elements of how race and fame can play into a prosecution or defense, along with inadvertently making criminals into multimedia superstars. Even the ongoing success of Judge Judy could be seen as an example of turning officers of the court into small screen icons.

At this pop culture moment, a revival of interest in true crime has come via podcast(Serial) and documentaries for cable and streaming services(Making a Murderer, Jinx), so will this series add more fuel to that fire or make the OJ Simpson trial phenomenon look bizarrely quaint? Either way, I hope that ACS: The People Vs. OJ Simpson will give us all plenty of food for thought, even if some of it is hard to digest: