Monday, March 18, 2024

Bittersweet in the Hollow by Kate Pearsall

Reviewed by Jeanne

The first James woman walked alone out of the Forest in Cabal Hollow, West Virginia generations ago.  Since then, all the James women have had certain gifts. The current James family has them too.  They are somewhat small gifts as magic goes; for example Rowan James knows when someone is lying and Sorrel James can charm bees.  Linden James can taste emotions: she knows exactly what people are feeling, whether or not she wants to.

What Linden can’t do is remember what happened last summer when she went missing in the woods during the festival.  She was found with a head injury and no memory of what happened or how she ended up where she was.  Some people seem dubious about her claim of amnesia, but then the James women have always been the object of suspicion even as people come to them for tonics and creams.

Now the summer solstice is here which means festival time:  the Moth Festival, celebrating the legend of the Moth-Winged Man, a folkloric figure who may bring death or at least warn of death. Linden’s friend Dahlia Calhoun has come home from college for the festival.  Dahlia is the reigning Moth Queen, and it’s time for her to relinquish her crown.

But Dahlia goes missing the night of the festival, only to be found dead. Linden knows that she is going to have to discover what happened to her the year before if she is going to be able to solve Dahlia’s murder. She’s also going to have to uncover a lot of secrets—including some about her own family.

Sometimes a novel just has you by the opening paragraph.  That’s what Bittersweet in the Hollow did for me.  I liked the writing and the imagery from the start, and the story just drew me in. This is a beautifully written YA novel set in West Virginia. Appalachian traditions are represented without condescension or judgment.  The book is a wonderful blend of mystery with some supernatural elements, romance, coming of age, and family.  Characters were well developed, and the setting was very vivid.  I liked that Pearsall took the Point Pleasant’s Mothman legend and reshaped it into something else, drawing more on traditional lore. I was drawn to all the characters and the book left me wanting more.  I liked all the sensory descriptions Pearsall employed.  In some ways, the book reminded me of those written by one of my favorite authors, Sarah Addison Allen. 

I understand there is going to be another book in the series, and I’m already looking forward to it.

Friday, March 15, 2024

Sleepytime by Joe Brumm



Reviewed by Kristin

Or, a love letter to the creators of Bluey books and episodes, from Kristin

In case you haven’t heard of Bluey, she is a cartoon dog. She has a little sister named Bingo, and they live in Australia with Mum and Dad. The show has attracted worldwide attention and is now showing on Disney Plus. The shows and the books can be viewed and read on many different levels, which seems to be why adults like Bluey as much as their kids.

Bluey and Bingo love to play. You won’t find any alphabet songs, number games, or learning to go potty here. They learn through play with their friends and their parents. They go with Mum and/or Dad to the creek, the beach, or the playground. They have cookouts and picnics with family friends. There is much laughter, silliness, and love. The background music is often classical, and the theme song is an earworm.

I have found that some of the paperback books published are a little stilted, as if someone decided to take a show script and copy and paste it into a book. That’s not entirely a bad thing, as adults may want to avoid screens with their young children, whether at bedtime or not.

Sleepytime, however, is another story (no pun intended). Both the episode and the book are beautifully presented. Little sister Bingo is the focus of this story, as she decides that she wants to do a “Big Girl sleep” and wake up in her own bed. Mum has read Bingo a bedtime story or two, tucks her in, and says, “Remember, I’m always here if you need me.”

Bingo drifts off to sleep and begins to dream of floating through the universe. Her bunny Floppy floats along with her, swooping past suns and planets. It’s about this point that I realized Bingo’s dreams are actually related to her sleepwalking into a variety of other beds. As she finds a really big planet and decides it’s fun to jump on, Bluey joins in (as they both kick Dad, aka the big planet).

As Bingo continues to travel the universe (and her blanket slips off) she becomes cold, and is drawn to an approaching warm sphere of light, which of course, is Mum. Mum tucks Bingo in again, and says, “Remember, I’ll always be here for you. Even if you can’t see me. Because I love you.” (Cue the tears from the adults…)

I highly recommend this as a peaceful bedtime story for toddlers and pre-schoolers.

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Read It Before You See It!


There are a lot of books being made into movies or TV shows these days. Here are some of the ones getting a lot of buzz:

 


Shogun by James Clavell: This story of an Englishman making his way in Japanese feudal society was a surprise bestseller in 1975.  The 1980 mini-series starred Richard Chamberlain and was a blockbuster success. Main does own a copy of it on DVD.  The new F/X version is also a ratings winner and is receiving much praise for its careful recreation of a place and time.


Another 1975 book getting a second mini-series treatment is Stephen King’s ‘Salem’s Lot.  This tale of vampires invading a town was first filmed in 1979; the second version should air later this year on MAX.



This year’s Academy Award went to Oppenheimer, the story of the scientist who helped create the atomic bomb. It was based on the book American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin. It also netted acting Oscars for Cillian Murphey and Robert Downey, Jr.  The library owns a DVD copy of the movie.


Fool Me Once is the latest Harlan Coben book to be turned into a film. Maya’s nanny cam captures an image of her husband, Joe, playing with their daughter. The catch is that Joe was murdered two weeks earlier. . . . The filmed version is on Netflix.


Dune 2 is still in theatres, but if you want to know what happens next you may want to read Dune by Frank Herbert. This is the first in the series which continues with Dune Messiah, Children of Dune, God Emperor of Dune, Heretics of Dune, and Chapterhouse: Dune. The series (and prequels to the series) have been continued by Herbert’s son Brian and Kevin J. Anderson.


A Russian count is placed under arrest in a hotel during the Revolution.  Ewan McGregor stars in  A Gentleman in Moscow based on the book by Amor Towles. It will air on Paramount+ and Showtime.


The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris has been a very popular book at the library. Based on a true story of the man who was tasked with tattooing numbers on Jewish prisoners and who falls in love with one of them, the mini-series is scheduled to air on Peacock.



Monday, March 11, 2024

Erin Go Bragh! Irish series

 



With St. Patrick’s Day on the horizon, it seems a good time to mention a few book series with an Irish setting. 

Finfarran Peninsula series by Felicity Hayes-McCoy starts with The Library at the Edge of the World. Hanna Casey thought she’d left rural Ireland behind when she married an English barrister and began living an upscale, sophisticated lifestyle.  That ended when she found her husband in bed with another woman. Now she’s back in Lissberg working as a librarian and trying to restore an old cottage left to her by a great aunt.  Readers are introduced to a wonderful cast of characters in a memorable setting.  While other books in the series do continue the stories of the villagers, the main characters sometimes change from book to book.  A grand read!


 Irish Country series by Patrick Taylor is set in 1960s Ireland and recount the stories of some rural doctors and their patients.  Taylor was born in Ireland and practiced medicine there before moving to Canada in 1970, so this is familiar territory for him. He draws on those experiences to create memorable stories with a strong sense of place and time. He doesn’t ignore some of the era’s problems, but handles them in an even-handed manner.  The first in the series is An Irish Country Doctor, in which young Dr. Laverty finds himself apprenticed to Fingal O’Reilly, a larger than life character who cares deeply for his community despite his gruff exterior.  Apprentices may come and go but Dr. O’Reilly is a constant.  These can be read out of order, but I found it rewarding to at least start with the early titles.



Inishowen Peninsula series by Andrea Carter is set on the coast of County Donegal.  Solicitor Benedicta “Ben” O’Keefe usually is kept busy with mundane legal issues such as drawing up wills, but she’s also proven adept at solving murders. The first book in the series is Death at Whitewater Church.



Dublin Murder Squad series by Tana French has been described as a cross between a police procedural and a psychological thriller.  The main characters are police officers but each book tends to highlight a different character.  In the Woods is the first in the series, all of which have been best-sellers. There was also a BBC TV series Dublin Murders which adapted the first two books.

Compiled by Jeanne

Friday, March 8, 2024

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.

Wednesday, March 6, 2024

March New Books!

 March New Books



Banks, Russell  American Spirits

Black, Cara  Murder at La Villette

Bohjalian, Chris  The Princess of Las Vegas

Bowen, Rhys In Sunshine or in Shadow (Molly Murphy)

Cavanagh, Steve  Kill for Me, Kill for You

Coelho, Paulo  Maktub:  An Inspirational Companion to the Alchemist

Colgan, Jenny  Studies at the School by the Sea


Cosimano, Elle  Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice

Fisher, Tarryn  Good Half Gone

French, Nicci  Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter?

French, Tana  The Hunter

Gardner, Lisa  Still See You Everywhere

Gentill, Sulari  The Mystery Writer

Gudenkauf, Heather  Everyone is Watching

Hall, Tamron  Watch Where They Hide (Jordan Manning)

Jones, Stephen Graham  The Angel of Indian Lake

Michaels, Fern  Wild Side


Orange, Tommy  Wandering Stars

Pandian, Gigi  A Midnight Puzzle   (Secret Staircase)

Peterson, Tracie  A Love Discovered

Raybourn, Deanna  A Grave Robbery

Robinson, Marilynne  Reading Genesis (non-fiction)

Rose, Karen  Cheater (San Diego Case Files)


Sanderson, Brandon  The Sunlit Man (Cosmere)

Serle, Rebecca  Expiration Dates

Steel, Danielle Never Too Late

St. James, Simone  Murder Road

Unger, Lisa  The New Couple in 5b

Monday, March 4, 2024

Comfort Reads: Miss Read, James Herriot, and Sarah Addison Allen

 Sometimes I just need a good book that soothes the spirit while being entertaining and well written.  Here are three authors who fit the bill for me: 



Miss Read: “Miss Read” was the pen name of Doris Jessie Saint. Her books are set in quaint English villages after World War II and follow the everyday lives of her characters.  I am especially fond of the ones set in Fairacre and center around the teacher, Miss Read.  She works with elementary school children, sometimes including the “infants,” which I take to be kindergarteners in a sort of two room school.   It’s not all sweetness and light; there are problems and challenges, some of which may not be easily resolved.  Some of the characters have annoying habits, but they’re real: we all know people like them, and the characters are fully developed. That’s the key: I want to know what happens to them or even just to visit with them for awhile.  Miss Read herself is compassionate and kind, but she can also be rather tart.  She’s not to be bamboozled.  The books do not have to be read in order.  The Miss Read ones are also known as the Fairacre books, after the name of the village, while the others are set in Thrush Green.



James Herriot: I remember laughing almost constantly when I first read these tales of a young veterinarian in Yorkshire, dealing with sometimes suspicious locals, a mercurial boss in Siegfried Farnon, and a host of animals.  All Creatures Great and Small was the start of a marvelous series for me, with characters I loved. Some of the stories move back and forth in time, but are generally in the period from the late 1930s and 1940s. Based on the experiences of Alf Wight, the books introduced me to the Dales. There’s humor, romance, mysterious ailments, and a marvelous setting, beautifully described.  There have been two television series based (sometimes very loosely) on the books, but the books are the best, in my biased opinion. (Note: the titles in the series vary quite a lot; some of the titles are from the UK publication while others are U.S.  Some of the U.S. titles actually contain more than one book from the UK publication.)


Sarah Addison Allen: With one exception, all her books are standalones.  The settings are always in the American South, usually one of the Carolinas and food is an important part of the story.  There’s also some touches of magic, but the books’ real strength is in characters and relationships.  They’re whimsical in a very good way.  My favorite characters include an apple tree, a white alligator, an invisible bird, and a little old lady who has a compulsion to give strange items to people because she knows they will need them. I love them all, but my favorite is probably Garden Spells.  Although my first favorite was The Girl Who Chased the Moon.  A new favorite is Other Birds.  You get the idea.  I'll end up listing them all if I'm not careful!  All the books have warmth and hopeful endings.  Sometimes you just need that.


List by Jeanne