The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

Monique Grant is working for Vivant magazine, hoping to make a name for herself as a reporter when the incredible happens: Evelyn Hugo (or rather, her staff) reaches out to the magazine about doing an interview-- and Evelyn only wants Monique.

Evelyn Hugo is a star. She lit up the box office and the gossip magazines with her performances and with her off-screen life.  Then she became reclusive and elusive. She doesn’t walk the red carpet or visit talk shows or give interviews—at least, not until now.  This will be a huge coup for the magazine and for Monique.

With more than a bit of trepidation, Monique goes to meet Evelyn. It turns out that Evelyn doesn’t want to do an interview.  She wants Monique to write her biography. She doesn’t want a puff piece or a hatchet job. Monique is tasked with writing the truth.

And so Evelyn begins to tell her story, one that starts in Hell’s Kitchen and then heads to Hollywood, through husband after husband, scandals, love affairs, and secrets.  But the biggest secret, why she chose Monique, she saves for last.

Ah, Book Bingo! The way I finally get around to tackling many titles on my TBR list. This was my choice for “Read a historical novel,” since the story begins in the 1950s and continues to the present, more or less. I had heard great things about this book and I must say it lived up to the hype.  I grew up reading the old movie star magazines like Photoplay before moving on to reading novels and biographies of Hollywood, so Evelyn’s story had the ring of truth.  While Evelyn herself is a fictional creation, author Reid has said that she drew from the lives of stars such as Rita Hayworth and Elizabeth Taylor for inspiration.

Evelyn is a fascinating creation. In many ways, she’s a woman before her time.  She isn’t an innocent waif bedazzled by the bright lights:  she sees Hollywood as a way out to build the life she wants and she does what she needs to in order to achieve her goals. I think what intrigued me most is that while Evelyn has regrets, she’s not about to apologize.  She did what she felt she had to.  Agree with her or not, she doesn’t care.

I found Evelyn to be mesmerizing.

Love her or hate her, you will certainly remember her.

We actually had an earlier (and better written) review of this book back in 2019 but I was so enchanted with Evelyn that I had to throw in my two cents.   You can read Christy’s review here.

NLW: Staff Picks: Tonia, Don, Jenna, Christy, Luke

Tonia

 Stoner by John Williams

 

Stoner is one of those rare novels that quietly breaks your heart. I wasn’t expecting to be so deeply moved by this story, but it completely caught me off guard. It’s a beautifully told, understated portrait of a man’s life—his relationships, his quiet struggles, and the choices he makes that ripple out in profound and sometimes painful ways. The story follows William Stoner, a quiet man who becomes a professor and lives a life that, on the surface, might seem ordinary—but the way it’s told makes each moment feel incredibly meaningful and deeply human.

What struck me most was the honesty. There’s nothing flashy here, just real life—how it unfolds, how it disappoints, and how sometimes even the smallest decisions can change everything. It made me think about how fleeting time is and how the choices we make—good or bad—shape us. I teared up at the end, not because of any dramatic twist, but because of how beautiful and honest it was. 

Don

Cinema Speculation by Quentin Tarentino

Determined:  A Science of Life without Free Will by Robert Sapolsky

Jenna

Babel by R.F. Kuang

House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune

Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar

The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo    

Christy

Mrs. Quinn's Rise to Fame by Olivia Ford 

Life Among the Savages by Shirley Jackson 

Yours Cruelly, Elvira by Cassandra Peterson 

The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo  

Luke

Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

A.K.A. Lucy: The Dynamic and Determined Life of Lucille Ball by Sarah Royal

 

Reviewed by Christy

            Thanks to Nick at Nite, I’ve been a lifelong I Love Lucy fan. But, for whatever reason, it wasn’t until I came across Sarah Royal’s A.K.A. Lucy that I finally picked up a biography of Lucille Ball. (I’m sure the eye-catching cover helped, too.) A wonderful hybrid of a coffee table book and a biography, A.K.A. Lucy is a delightful, engaging read.

            In the introduction, Royal explains that this is not a typical biography. In it, Lucille’s life is not documented chronologically but instead by categories: early life, movie career, marriage, tv career, children, etc. I really liked this approach. It kept it interesting and plus, it was nice reading about Desi and Lucy “back together again” in the tv section after just reading about their divorce in the marriage section. It’s also just a stunning book to look at. Gorgeous photos and pops of color from the graphics make it a treat to flip through.

            I also enjoyed getting to know a little bit about Lucille’s real personality. She was known for being brusque in real life but according to Royal, she certainly did not like hurting anyone’s feelings and admired Desi’s ability to give negative feedback in a gentle way. A skill she just did not possess. She also didn’t think she was very funny either, for that matter. What she was was a hard worker. She never claimed any natural talent but instead attributed her success to her relentless work and rehearsals. I, however, do think she was naturally funny because this anecdote from the book made me laugh out loud:

[A friend] recounted a memory of being on set when everyone was particularly chatty after lunch and director Bruce Bilson was trying to get everyone to be quiet so they could resume rehearsal. Bilson pointed at various people in turn, saying, “I don’t care what YOU had for lunch, or what YOU had for lunch,” until his frustrated hollering hushed everyone up. “Everyone sat there, mouths shut, afraid of making another peep…but then about 15 seconds later, Lucy opened her mouth and cried out, “I had the salmon!”

            I’m sorry, Lucy, but that is funny. And since everyone around her cracked up after this, I’m not the only one who thinks so!

            This is a great read and starting point for any Lucy fan who may be intimidated by the overabundance of Lucy books to sort through. I think I’ll even purchase a copy for my coffee table.

We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer

Reviewed by Christy

Eve is home alone when she hears a knock at the door. It's a family of five, and the father claims he used to live here and would it be ok if he showed his family around? It will only take fifteen minutes, tops. Eve is not comfortable with this. But she's even less comfortable with awkward conversations and telling people no. If her girlfriend Charlie were home, she would tell them to scram without hesitation. But it's just Eve, and she reluctantly allows them to come in. The family quickly overstays their welcome.

            This is fundamentally a "haunted house" story with a unique twist that I found refreshing. As soon as Eve lets the family in, strange things start to happen. Eventually Eve starts to question her sanity, and as readers we, too, do not know what is real and what isn't. To be perfectly honest, I wasn't sure how I felt about the book for a large portion of it. I didn't really know where it was going or even if I was enjoying it. But when it picks up, it really picks up and becomes quite a page turner. I also appreciate the mixed media aspect. Sprinkled through are transcripts, news articles, and Reddit posts that give the story a little more dimension. There are even some interactive bits like Morse code or Norwegian phrases if you're up for translating via Google. It's fun but not necessary to fully enjoy the story. Because of this, this book has been compared to House of Leaves. I understand the comparison but I found We Used to Live Here much less tedious.

            Though I didn't always love Kliewer's somewhat plain writing style, it's not bad by any means, and there are some genuinely unsettling moments that had me unable to stop reading. The absolute dread that builds throughout this book is awful and wonderful. Nobody wants strangers or unwelcome guests in their home, so it's easy to relate to Eve. Many times, a book ending can ruin the whole book for me but fortunately, I believe that Kliewer really stuck the landing as well. I highly recommend this for fans of haunted house stories, epistolary novels, or just a spooky, wintery read!

Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller

 

           

Reviewed by Christy

Lula Dean is out to cleanse her small Georgia town of “filth” and protect young, impressionable minds while doing so. She has ignited a campaign against questionable material in the school and public libraries, and if she gets a little much deserved attention while doing so - well, what’s wrong with that? Lula sets up her own little free library in her front yard, filled only with wholesome, Lula-approved books. But a prankster has switched out the book jackets. Instead of the Nancy Drew series or The Art of Crochet, readers are really getting Gender Queer or Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret. Chaos ensues.

            I’m not sure I’ve ever read a book before that was simultaneously fun and enraging. There are some seriously heavy topics discussed in this book as well as general small-town wackiness. Kirsten Miller balances them well. It’s also a book with an “ensemble cast”, so to speak. You get to know a little bit about all the townspeople, and I love books like that. A woman finds out her husband is cheating so she leaves him and becomes a witch? Love it. Discovering Lula’s desperate need for attention and acclaim ramped up after she failed to make the high school cheerleading team? Love it. The local florist blackmailing the bank manager into giving her a loan simply by sending his mistress a bouquet of flowers? Love it. Ok, I’m realizing maybe I just love small-town gossip. But it’s so fun!

While I really enjoyed this book, it does have an After School Special quality to it. The Good Guys have long, righteous rants that are scathing but still eloquent. The Bad Guys get their comeuppance (or even more surprising - see the error of their ways). It’s all tied up very neatly with a bow at the end. And you know what? I love that, too. I get the sense that Miller was not trying to write a totally realistic depiction of these matters. Instead, she was more interested in the idealistic version – a version of life where (most) people react with love and understanding instead of hatred and fear. Sometimes that's just the kind of story you want to read.

A Season with the Witch by J.W. Ocker

 Note:  This blog was first run in 2018 but we thought it was worth running again!

Reviewed by Christy

            J.W. Ocker likes to travel quite a bit. But his destinations are almost always weird – so much so that he regularly documents his adventures in the travelogue blog Odd Things I’ve Seen. He’s written several books on his travels including Poe-Land: The Hallowed Haunts of Edgar Allan Poe.  To write  A Season with the Witch, he moves his wife and daughters into Salem, MA for the entire month of October to observe and participate in their Haunted Happenings. Anyone with a love of history and all things weird and creepy would probably get a kick out of Salem during the month of Halloween. Just be sure to book many, many months in advance.

            Ocker begins with a brief overview of the Salem Witch Trials and America’s fascination with them. He describes historical sites pertinent to the trials including grave sites, judges’ homes, and where the gallows supposedly stood. (Behind a Walgreens now, in case you’re interested.) He then goes on to discuss the various kitschy museums around town and even throws in some pirate and maritime history for good measure. He interviews street performers, street preachers, shop and restaurant owners, actual witches who live and practice in Salem, and regular every day Salemites. He eats carnival food and drinks Candy Corntinis. (Any autumn or Halloween themed cocktail he sees, he tries.) He visits the filming locations for movies like Hocus Pocus, The Lords of Salem and a string of Salem-related episodes of Bewitched. He also talks in depth about the often-maligned statue of Elizabeth Montgomery. On the big night he and his wife take their daughters trick or treating down a street where the residents sit on their porches to hand out candy. (And in one case, pumpkin pie jello shots for the adults!) One cheery resident wrote down where each trick or treater was from (she was already up to six different states), and another proclaimed he had given out 900 pieces of candy the previous year. And that’s not even getting into the wild party that is Essex Pedestrian Mall on Halloween Night.

            This book was so much fun to read. Ocker’s writing is warm, conversational, and often times laugh out loud funny. As a self-described “spooky person”, he was clearly having a blast living in and writing about Salem, and it’s contagious.  Although I would love to visit Salem myself one day I already feel like I’ve at least passed through.

            The only negative thing I can say about A Season with the Witch is that it is full of simple grammatical and spelling mistakes. He gets names wrong (including Jack Skellington and Rob Zombie’s wife), and it seems as if a more thorough proof reading was skipped. I’m not sure why that would be unless they were rushing to get it out in time for Halloween. Regardless, while irritating, it wasn’t enough to damper my enjoyment. I think anyone who is interested in history, pop culture, travel, or Halloween will enjoy this book immensely.

The Auctioneer by Joan Samson

 

Reviewed by Christy

In Paperbacks from Hell, Grady Hendrix covers the history of the horror paperback boom of the 1970s and 1980s. Some of these novels had a lasting impact on the horror genre but were still lost to time. Thanks to the small printing press Valancourt Books, several of these titles were re-released with their original cover art. The Auctioneer, published in 1976, was one such title. In it, author Joan Samson tells the story of a hardscrabble New England town helplessly taken over by a smooth talking auctioneer who comes once a week to ask for donations for his auction. But what if you've given up everything you're willing to part with? Well, the auctioneer has ways to be very convincing.

            Admittedly, this was a very slow read for me. It is meandering and repetitive and because of that, I was never in a big hurry to get back to it. John, one of the protagonists, is an obnoxious character. Seemingly always simmering with rage over his family's plight, he constantly hesitates to do anything about it. Even when his wife pleads for them to leave. I understand that's one of the themes of the story: why does an entire TOWN go along with this? But it still makes for a frustrating read.

            Despite this, I'm glad I read it. I think it's worth checking out, especially if you're interested in the history of the horror genre as a whole. Unfortunately, the topic of gentrification is one that still resonates to this day. Some negative reviews suggest "others have done it better" (specifically Stephen King with Needful Things), and maybe that's true but I still think there's value in reading the origins of inspiration. Particularly if a forgotten female writer gets her day in the sun.

          

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

 

Reviewed by Christy

In August 1975, camp counselor Louise discovers one of her 13-year-old campers is missing. And not just any camper – Barbara Van Laar. Barbara is the daughter of the wealthy owners of the summer camp. Working class Louise knows her livelihood and her dreams of bettering her younger brother's future are at stake if Barbara is not located quickly. What follows is a sprawling drama centering the Van Laar family, its many employees, and the surrounding townspeople in their shadow.

          What I enjoyed most about this novel is that there is no one protagonist. Moore spends time with multiple characters (Tracy – Barbara's bunkmate, TJ – the camp director, Judy – a young detective, and many more). It also isn't a linear timeline, jumping from the 1960s to the 1950s to earlier in the summer of 1975. Moore keeps a handy timeline before each chapter with the current time in bold, which I found immensely helpful. I have recently discovered a love for expansive character studies, and Moore really executes this particular style well. I can't say the characters sounded terribly different from one another but that didn't bother me. The storytelling was too engaging for me to mind.

          There are many wealthy, terrible people in this novel who are deeply frustrating to read about but that's what makes the tragic aspects of the story so much more impactful. We know that there are rich people who will always get away with being rude, entitled, and so much worse long after we finish the final page. Moore's prose is simple but moving, and I found myself unable to shake the heaviness I felt while reading even after I put the book down. When I initially started reading, I was not expecting to be affected so much but I'm really glad I read it! I would rather a book make me sad than make me feel nothing at all.

        

     

The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo

 

Reviewed by Christy

            In Chinese mythology, the fox spirit can take many forms and, depending on the story, can be benevolent or malevolent. In Yangsze Choo's The Fox Wife, Snow is a fox who looks like a young woman, and who is on a mission of revenge. Bao is a private investigator in his sixties, hunting down whoever is responsible for a young woman found frozen to death. As their points of view alternate, their stories slowly start to converge.      

            This isn't my usual type of reading but the cover would catch my eye every time I came across it. I picked it up on a whim, and I'm glad I did! I really enjoyed Snow's chapters – her quiet frustration with silly humans and her wry humor. I struggled more with Bao's chapters mostly because procedural detective stories are not generally my thing. But Bao is a sweet man who is hard to dislike, and he grew on me even more as their stories came together.

            Choo occasionally leaves little footnotes throughout to explain some of the mythology. As she clarifies in her notes at the end of the book, footnotes and reactions in the margins are a Chinese literary tradition. She wanted to fill the book with such annotations but was afraid of alienating her readers, so she used them sparingly (personally, I loved them).

            If I had to give a critique, the book is often very slow with not much happening. It can also be a little repetitive with the clandestine meetings and whispers between the same characters. Even so, there is still something engaging about the story and specifically the character of Snow. There's also a few minor reveals that keep things interesting.  And I enjoyed learning about the fox folklore!

Mrs. Quinn's Rise to Fame by Olivia Ford

 

Reviewed by Christy

            Jenny is 77 and has been married to her beloved Bernard for almost 60 years! Unlike some of her friends, Jenny never had any grandchildren of her own so she spends her time baking and doting on her late sister-in-law's grandchildren Poppy and Max. Poppy seems keen on baking herself, and Jenny loves to share her old family recipes with her. Jenny has built a quiet and happy life but she can't shake the feeling that the time for adventure might be over. And she doesn't like that. She doesn't like that at all.

            One night Jenny impulsively applies to be a contestant on Britain Bakes, a very popular baking competition show. She doesn't think anything will come of it, and her mind starts to settle once that is out of her system. But, of course, she is accepted. Through a whirlwind of currants and cameras, jam and judges, Jenny relies on family recipes to inspire her. Many of these recipes conjure up old memories – including a long-buried secret no one knows. Not even Bernard.

            I've been drawn to "character study" types of books lately, and this novel caught my eye (the colorful cover didn't hurt either!). I expected a cozy, wholesome read with descriptive baking passages (and it was that), but I did not expect to cry as much as I did. Jenny and Bernard are so sweet and still in love, and it was a delight to read about them. I only wanted good things for them! Jenny's shameful secret is devastating, and I felt so awful that anyone would have to go through what she did. (Though I don't think what she did was particularly shameful. How others treated her, however, certainly was.)

            Ford's writing is very sentimental, almost saccharine at times, but I loved it. It worked for me because all of it felt genuine. And I just wanted Jenny to be happy! This was a wonderful read and my first five star read of the year.

The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling

 

Reviewed by Christy

            During our January snow days, I was suddenly struck with the desire to read a gothic book. The Death of Jane Lawrence had been on my mental back burner for quite some time (I couldn't get that gorgeous cover out of my head), and since it was available on Libby, I decided to snatch it up. Jane is a very practical woman who is good with numbers. After doing the necessary calculations, she creates a short list of suitable husbands-to-be with Dr. Augustine Lawrence at the top. Augustine is reluctant to marry anyone; however, he cannot deny the spark between them. He accepts the proposal with both parties agreeing to keep the arrangement strictly business. Less messy that way. Augustine's one stipulation is that Jane must never visit his crumbling ancestral home Lindridge Hall, while he will sleep there every night.

            I really enjoyed the first third of the novel, as the pace was enjoyably slow yet still felt like it was building to something intriguing. My interest waned in the middle but I still held hope for a climactic ending. I'm sorry to say it built to not much of anything, with the final third becoming a bit of a slog. It was a disappointment as I really liked both characters and didn't even mind their instant love. I also enjoyed Starling's writing for the most part. Without giving too much away, the reasons for all the strange occurrences felt under developed. At one point, I remember thinking, "Oh. Okay, I guess this is happening now." I just felt like, in the end, a lot of things were being thrown at the reader and none of it was sticking for me.

            I did find the conclusion to be interesting and satisfying, and it helped save the book the tiniest bit in my eyes. But overall, I was very underwhelmed, and I am still on the hunt for a great gothic read – even though our snow days won't be back for quite some time.

Our Favorite Books Read in 2023: Taylor, Christy, Ashley

 Since it’s the start of a new year, the Bristol Public Library and Avoca Branch Library staffs were asked to name their favorite books read in 2023. There were no other restrictions: the books could be old or new, adult or juvenile or YA, picture books, non-fiction books, long books, short books, audio books, ebooks, whatever.  We’ll be running the responses over the next week or so.

 

Taylor:  My favorite I read last year was Notes from a Sickbed by Tessa Brunton. It's a YA graphic novel about living with an undiagnosed chronic illness that really resonated with me.

 

Christy: All Hallows by Christopher Golden (neighborhood drama/light horror)

 

The Widow of Rose House by Diana Biller (gothic romance with a ghost side plot)

 

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murders by Jesse Q. Sutanto (heart warming, cozy mystery)

 

The Night of the Hunter by Davis Grubb (noir/thriller)

 

Heartwood Hotel by Kallie George (very cute children's book about hotel for woodland creatures)

 

Forever Home by Jenna Ayoub (sweet graphic novel about a young girl who makes friends with the ghosts in her house. surprisingly funny!)

 

Ashley:  My favorite book of 2023 was Weyward by Emilia Hart.

I wasn't sure if I'd enjoy it.  I'm typically not keen on multiple timelines in a story,  multiple POVs often lose me, and there were a few content warnings that had me uncertain.  In other words, from what I’d heard there were a lot of things working against it when it comes to my preferences! But I ended up just absolutely adoring it and going through it rather quickly! 

  

I will admit that I almost gave up on it once; I found it decent enough by the end of the first section, but the next day  I couldn't decide if I wanted to bother with picking it up and finishing it. I'm remarkably glad I decided to, as that second section was when the book absolutely picked up for me. 

 

I immediately recommended it to two friends, one of whom later messaged me to thank me for nudging her toward it because she had enjoyed it as well~ (I'm not certain the other friend has gotten around to it yet, haha)

 

Overall, I found the characters fantastic and I adored the subtle magic weaved into the worldbuilding. Each of the storylines were unique and interesting, and each wrapped up in a way I found out remarkably satisfying. 

The Widow of Rose House by Diana Biller

Reviewed by Christy

            It’s 1875, and Alva Webster has fled her abusive husband while living in France. She becomes quite the scandal amid upper crust society (thanks to her estranged husband feeding salacious and false stories to the press). While trying to work up the courage to file for divorce, Alva’s husband goes and dies, sending the rumor mill into a frenzy. Hoping for a fresh start, Alva finally returns home to New York City. There she purchases a rundown mansion in the hopes of fixing it up and maybe even publishing a book about her decorating skills. Unfortunately, the house appears to be haunted, and it’s very hard to find good workers when a ghost keeps scaring everyone away.

            Alva has a hard time believing in ghosts but eccentric scientist Samuel Moore wants to believe and would love nothing more than the opportunity to research it thoroughly by setting up camp in Alva’s manor. After much cajoling, Alva agrees and the odd pair start working together to solve the mystery.

            This was a very fun and engaging read. Though it deals with heavy themes (domestic violence, general oppression of women in the 19^th century, etc), it still manages to have an air of light-heartedness that I found refreshing in what is essentially a gothic romance. And the romance part is great! Alva and Sam have wonderful chemistry. Though they lean a little into the Insta Love trope, which I am not a fan of, I’m willing to overlook it because their dialogue made me laugh out loud a few times. Their banter reminded me a little bit of the screwball comedies from the 1930s. The ghost story is really more of a side plot but I think it’s done very well – a little scary but mostly heartbreaking.

            This ended up being one of my favorite reads of 2023, and I highly recommend it for the dark winter months.

           

All Hallows by Christopher Golden

 

Reviewed by Christy

            It's 1984, and a neighborhood in Massachusetts is gearing up for Halloween night. There'll be a big party at the Koenigs', a haunted woods attraction down the road, and of course trick or treating. Mixed in with the superheroes and rock stars are a few kids in vintage, ratty costumes and crumbling makeup. They beg the trick-or-treaters to keep them safe from The Cunning Man.

            The meat of the spookiness doesn't even really start until more than half way through the book (although there are glimpses here and there throughout.) The story unfurls very slowly, and honestly, I loved it. The whole story takes place on a single street on a single night, and we get to know the neighbors gradually. This containment worked well and provided a great sense of atmosphere. I love a "simmering secrets" plotline anyway so to have that with a little dash of horror was a perfect recipe for me. It also helps that it's very well done with engaging characters that I cared about.

            I also appreciated that Golden did not hit readers over the head with 1980s references. They're there, sure, but it's natural and sporadic. I suspect the only reason it's even set in the 1980s is to simplify the story: no texts, no Ring cameras, no social media, no easy way to check in with the kids (which also adds another element of dread).

            If you're in the mood to settle into some neighborhood drama (that devolves into Halloween horror and maybe even some tears), I really can't recommend this one enough. I've already added it to my favorites list.

Theme Music by T. Marie Vandelly

 

Theme Music by T. Marie Vandelly

Reviewed by Christy

            Dixie wasn't even two years old when her entire family died tragically on Thanksgiving Day in 1992. The deaths of her mother and three brothers at the hands of their father shocked the entire nation and made headlines for years to come.

            Now in her late twenties, Dixie is aimless in life and struggling to piece together what happened that night. The aunt who raised her never liked to talk about the crime, so Dixie decides to take matters into her own hands. When the house where the murders occurred goes up for rent, Dixie snatches it up in the hopes of feeling more connected to her family. She even goes so far as to decorate it with her parents' furniture she discovers in storage. This leads her down an investigative path to discover the truth of that day.

            The premise caught my attention but unfortunately, I kind of hated this book. The writing style is incredibly off-putting and unpolished. The prose is muddled at times, which resulted in re-reading several passages to fully grasp what was happening. The tone, however, was the worst part for me. I think the author was going for sarcastic and slightly cheeky but it only reminded me of an edgy teenager desperately trying to get a reaction. There was just no tact whatsoever when discussing child murders or sexual assault, and it got to be a little too much for me.

            I kept reading because I did find the central mystery intriguing but even that came to a disappointing conclusion. There's just so much to pick apart about this book (and I haven't even touched on all of Dixie's deeply troubling issues that are glossed over). I was relieved to finish it and get out of Dixie's juvenile mind. There are so many wonderful thrillers and mysteries out there. Save your valuable reading time and skip this one.

Cute Graphic Novels to Get in the Autumnal Spirit!

 

Reviewed by Christy

            I love middle grade graphic novels. They’re the perfect antidote to a reading slump or if you’re just in the mood for something light. To celebrate the upcoming season, here are some recent ones I have loved. So let’s pretend it’s crisp outside and not 80 degrees!

Garlic and the Vampire by Bree Paulsen

            A lonely witch creates some vegetable friends to help her tend her garden. (Don’t worry, only some of the food is sentient. The ones who go into soups are definitely not!) But when a vampire moves into the creepy castle on the hill, everyone, including the witch, is frightened by the possibilities. Naturally, someone volunteers Garlic to protect them and kill the vampire. Timid Garlic feels she can do nothing right, and she certainly can’t fight a vampire! But with the encouragement of her best friend Carrot maybe she can surprise even herself.

            This one is so sweet and the art and coloring just evokes autumn. It’s also a perfect spooky book for kids because it’s really not too spooky at all. There is a sequel called Garlic and the Witch that I’m very excited to pick up.

Crabapple Trouble by Kaeti Vandorn

            Callaway is a little apple girl who lives in a village with other fruits and veggies. Her friends are getting ready for the harvest festival where everyone can show off their special recipes. This makes Callaway very anxious. When Callaway gets too anxious, her little apple head starts to vibrate, then POPS off. This is very troublesome, indeed. Luckily, a fairy named Thistle is here to help Callaway calm her nerves and maybe discover not everyone has to be in the spotlight to be successful.

            Vandorn’s art is so whimsical it’s hard not to love it. I also appreciate the book’s messages: it’s normal to have anxiety. And it’s ok if you’re good at something different than what your friends are good at.

Forever Home by Jenna Ayoub

Willow is an army brat. The longest she has stayed in one place is about two years. But her parents have just purchased the old Hadleigh House, and they have promised her they are going to finally put down roots. Unfortunately, Willow discovers that her new home is haunted by the two elderly Hadleigh sisters, a young World War I soldier, and a weeping lady in white. (Also, a demon in the back bedroom but honestly, just pay her no mind.) Willow is determined to stay put in her new home though, and nothing is going to stop her.

This book was utterly delightful. Is there a stronger word for “charming”? Because it’s that. The art is gorgeous, and I laughed out loud several times.

 

I enjoyed these books so much that I think I will buy each one of them because they are so re-readable. I highly recommend them if you need more cuteness in your life!

It Came from the Closet: Queer Reflections on Horror, edited by Joe Vallese

 

Reviewed by Christy

            I love horror. Well, most horror. I'm generally not into body horror, extreme gore, or most slashers (though I do have a soft spot for the Scream franchise and the original Halloween). This kind of leaves me out of step with a lot of horror fans. But regardless, I still enjoy hearing differing viewpoints and experiences when it comes to horror, which is why I picked up It Came from the Closet.

            Although I'm not a member of the LGBT community myself, I think it's important to listen to perspectives from people different than me. And what a more interesting way than through scary movies! As with any collection of essays or short stories, there are hits and misses. The ones that stood out to me most were Carmen Maria Machado's "Both Ways" (Jennifer's Body), Jen Corrigan's "Three Men on a Boat" (Jaws), Sumiko Saulson's "Centered and Seen" (Candyman), and Tucker Lieberman's "The Trail of His Flames" (The Nightmare on Elm Street). I enjoyed quite a few others but these were particularly engrossing to me. The one that made the most impact, however, was Joe Vallese's "Imprint". Vallese details his and his husband's journey to parenthood through surrogacy. A close friend had such easy pregnancies with her own children that she was delighted to be a surrogate for her friends. Unfortunately, she would go on to have more than one miscarriage. Each time was devastating but the second one was particularly heart breaking. Amanda, the surrogate, got pretty far long in this pregnancy - well past the point that was considered tenuous. They knew it was a girl due around Easter, and everyone called her Chickie. But the baby didn't make it. To say this essay packs a punch would be an understatement; I had to take a break after listening to it. Surrogacy is a controversial topic but I think many people will feel deep sympathy as Vallese mourns a child that will never be. (Vallese and his husband are now proud parents to a little boy.)

            As with the essay mentioned above, a lot of these are emotionally heavy. But I do think they're worth checking out! The authors tell their personal stories while also giving readers a new way to think about their favorite scary movie. I feel like I learned a lot.

The Night of the Hunter by Davis Grubb

 

Reviewed by Christy

            I saw the 1955 Robert Mitchum film The Night of the Hunter many years ago. I loved it so much that I immediately bought the DVD as well as the 1953 novel it was based on. I put it on my bookshelf, and there it sat year after year, collecting dust. Recently, however, one of the podcasts I listen to just so happened to do an episode on the movie. Unspooled originally started as a podcast where the two co-hosts would watch every movie on the American Film Institute's top 100 films, and discuss whether it deserved to be there. Now that they've finished the list, they've moved on to other movies: classics, blockbusters, foreign films, underappreciated gems, etc. I love hearing behind-the-scenes tidbits about the movies, and I always come away with a new understanding on how the movie could be perceived (whether I agree with that perception or not, it's still fun).

            The episode was the push I needed to finally pick up the book, and I’m so glad I did. It kind of took me by surprise how much I ended up loving it. It was very slow and methodical, and I’ll admit early on I struggled to return to it. However, when it picked up the pace it started to read like a modern-day page-turner. Having seen the movie, I knew what happened, and I still found myself holding my breath at certain parts.

            It’s the Great Depression, and Ben is desperate for money. He robs a bank, and is arrested shortly after. Before the “blue men” take him away, he hides the money and makes his young son John promise to never, ever tell anyone where it is. Not even his mother. Ben’s cellmate knows about the money, however, and he will do anything to get it.

            Grubb’s prose is beautiful and touching when you least expect it. I found myself re-reading sentences throughout just because they were so lovely. My favorite section of the book is the last fourth, when a new character is introduced: Rachel Cooper. Rachel’s story-within-the-story is sudden (and heartbreaking) but she is written with such tenderness and depth, that it doesn’t feel particularly jarring to jump into her life with so little of the book left. I loved her immediately.

            I’m very excited to re-visit the movie but I’m so glad I finally read the book. The ending is much more warm and hopeful which, to be honest, I definitely needed after the bleakness of the novel.

I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai

 

Reviewed by Christy

            Bodie, a successful film professor and podcaster, has made a living on examining the treatment of women, particularly famous women. Her podcast delves deep into how Hollywood and society in general treated the likes of Rita Hayworth and Judy Garland. (Spoiler alert: it wasn’t great.) In between seasons of her show and deep into research of her next topic, Bodie is invited back to teach at her high school Granby - a fancy boarding school in New Hampshire where rich parents send their kids. Bodie’s family was not rich. She wound up at Granby after a series of unfortunate events and in large part due to wealthy benefactors. A 90s teen, Bodie saw herself as a grungy outcast though she did have a small group of friends. In the spring of her senior year, Bodie’s popular roommate Thalia was found dead in the school swimming pool. The death became a media sensation and continued to be fodder for speculation 25 years later.

            Bodie has mixed feelings about returning to her old stomping grounds. She’s excited to see some old friends who live and work on campus but she isn’t exactly looking forward to revisiting her turbulent adolescent years. And of course, there’s the Thalia of it all. They weren’t exactly friends (different social groups and all) but they were friendly. And anyway, someone you’ve shared a room with meeting their early demise is bound to shake up anyone. Bodie has tried not to dwell on the murder too much throughout the years since graduation but she’s recently fallen down the rabbit hole of YouTube and Reddit and internet sleuthing. It certainly doesn’t help when one of her students decides to do her class project on the Thalia murder.

            I thought this novel presented a really good mystery with some thought-provoking social commentary. Bodie has a critical eye for the true crime genre and those who ravenously consume it as if it’s a personal puzzle just for them. Then the author deftly switches back to the central Thalia mystery that pulled me in so quickly and easily that I thought, “Oh, maybe I’m part of the problem.” There is also some discussion of the Me Too movement and the sexual harassment and assault women face, which is an easy connection to make when discussing crimes against women. I don’t think these are groundbreaking observations or anything but still worthy of reflection.

I also appreciated that as we got to know some of the popular girls, we learn that they didn’t have an easy go of high school either. It was just a little reminder that we can never assume someone’s experience.

            This was a quick read that didn’t have any easy answers wrapped up in a bow. If I had to give any criticism, it would be that sometimes the novel feels a little crowded. There is a subplot with Bodie’s estranged husband that does tie into the overall conversation of the Me Too movement but it’s mostly about Bodie’s reaction. Granted, it adds some depth to her character as she struggles to even know how to feel but I’m not entirely sure this storyline is needed. At the very least, there is probably a more streamlined way to develop Bodie as a person.

            Overall, I would definitely recommend this novel - an engaging mystery with some substance.