The Secret History of Bigfoot: Field Notes on an American Monster by John O’Connor

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

John O’Connor spent months writing a Sasquatch monster movie which was never produced—and that’s probably all to the good.  As O’Connor admits, research was limited and even that is a generous assessment.  Years later he became interested in the search for the apelike cryptid who goes by so many names:  Bigfoot, Yeti, Sasquatch, and even our own “Wood Booger.” He reached out to some groups who search for the creature and spent some time in the woods with them.  He even helped an attempt to re-create the famous Bigfoot footage shot by Roger Patterson in 1967.

However, don’t expect this book to prove Bigfoot exists.  And don’t expect it to prove that it doesn’t exist.  This book is more about human nature and why we believe or, more to the point, why we want to believe in the things we do.

Since we were doing a display on cryptids, I decided I’d give this one a try. Right off the bat, O’Connor lets you know that he doesn’t take himself too seriously and that the book is going to more light-hearted than most on the topic.  He makes some flippant remarks about some Bigfoot enthusiasts, but he obviously likes and respects the people he met.  They come from all walks of life, but they all bond over Bigfoot.  O’Connor does a good job of presenting the arguments for and against the existence of such a creature, and also compares the search to others—including the Ivory Billed Woodpecker, thought to be extinct until a researcher claimed to have evidence to the contrary. The jury is still out on that one as well.

For me, the book did take very seriously the question of belief.  I found that to be thought-provoking and made me consider some of my own biases.  It is definitely not an argument against believing in Bigfoot, ghosts, or Ivory Billed Woodpeckers but just asks the reader to ponder.  There is an epilogue which really puts it all in perspective and had a definite effect on the way I saw the book overall.

Nevermore: Things Past Telling, Summer Crossing, After World

 

Nevermore 6-4-24

Reported by Rita

Things Past Telling: a Novel by Sheila Williams

Loosely based on the author's real-life female ancestors, this story of Maryam Prescilla Grace, a midwife, born in West Africa around 1758, charts her journey across an ocean of years, as she gains and loses family, her culture, a husband, lovers and children

  Excellent read – highly recommend.      - KN      5 stars

 

Summer Crossing by Truman Capote

Seventeen-year-old Manhattan society girl Grady McNeil is free to pursue her illicit romance with Clyde Manzer, a Jewish parking lot attendant from Brooklyn when her parents decide to leave her alone for the summer.

 Loved it – will be reading more Capote.    – DC      4 stars

 

After World: a Novel by Debbie Urbanski

A sentient AI determines that all humans must be eliminated as the root of climate change and leaves a woman named Sen as a“witness” to record her observations on the end of humanity as the world begins to rewild.

Enjoyed the creativity, but it is a very bleak story.    – PP       3.5 stars

 

Other Books Mentioned

 

Into the Wilderness by Sara Donati

Know My Name: a Memoir by Chanel Miller

The Lost City of Z: a Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon by David Grann

British Killers by Guy Hadleigh

The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers: a novel by Samuel Burr

The Women by Kristin Hannah

Reclaiming Desire: 4 Keys to Finding Your Lost Libido by Andrew Goldstein

What a Fool Believes: a Memoir by Michael McDonald

The Hawk's Done Gone by Mildred Haun

The Great Society to the Reagan Era, 1964-1990 by William Loren Katz

The Maid: a Novel by Nita Prose

The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman

 

New Books

 

The Museum of Lost Quilts by Jennifer Chiaverini

Throne of Grace : A Mountain Man, an Epic Adventure, and the Bloody Conquest of the American West by Bob Drury

LOL Mysteries

 Love Janet Evanovich but you’ve finished Dirty Thirty and can’t wait until November’s Now or Never comes out? Here are some other authors who might just tide you over: 

With a heroine named Bubbles Yablonsky, Sarah Strohmeyer dives right into laugh-out-loud land in Lehigh, Pennsylvania. Bubbles is an investigative reporter whose native costumes might include leopard print, mini-skirts and high heels.  Strohmeyer also has written several stand-alone novels, both for adult and young adult audiences. The first in the series is Bubbles Unbound.

 Jesse Q. Sutanto writes in difference genres, including some truly warm, wonderful, and very very funny mysteries.  In Dial A for Aunties, Meddelin Chan accidentally kills her blind date and has to call her mother and aunties for help. Since they love to meddle in Meddy’s life, they’re only too happy to help her dispose of a body.  Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers features another determined mother. When Vera finds a body in her tea shop, she decides she is going to solve the crime.  After all, she’s watched many, many episodes of Law & Order. On the way, she’ll take charge of her suspects’ lives in ways they could never imagine. Intended as a stand alone novel, Vera’s fans have demanded more so a second book is in the works.

Michael Lee West (otherwise known as Piper Maitland) says she was raised by a tribe of wild Southern foodies, so it’s no wonder food plays a major role in her books. A sense of humor is also standard!  There are three books in her Teeny Templeton series, the first of which is Gone with a Handsomer Man 

Elle Cosimano started out writing YA fiction before debuting her adult mystery, Finlay Donovan Is Killing It.  Finlay’s life is chaos.  She’s a recently divorced author with two small children, deadlines she isn’t going to be able to meet, and bills piling up.  When she meets her agent to pitch a non-existant new book about a hit woman, someone overhears the conversation and believes Finlay is a killer for hire. She’s offering a lot of money—a LOT.  Surely it can’t hurt or Finlay just to take a look at the guy, right? This is the first book in a laugh-out-loud series with a full slate of memorable characters. 

Meg Lanslow is a blacksmith/artist who has a knack for solving mysteries in Donna Andrews’ long running series.  She has an interesting family, to say the least.  In Murder with Peacocks, she is the default planner for three family weddings with brides who keep changing their minds. Then of course there’s a murder…. The titles all have bird themes, mostly puns such as Owl’s Well That Ends Well.    

Carl Hiaasen writes very funny mystery stories that are set in Florida. Off-beat characters and outlandish situations are hallmarks of Hiaasen’s books, which makes trying to describe them rather difficult. Just to give you an idea, one of his most popular characters is Skink, a former Florida governor who lives off the land and eats roadkill. Hiaasen does have some series, but the books can be read as standalones.  He’s also an award-winning author of children’s books. 

Sophie Littlefield’s Stella Hardesty series is about a formerly timid housewife, who finally got fed up with her husband berating and abusing her.  Ever since she took care of her husband, Stella has been doling out vigilante justice to other philandering and just plain mean men.  Stella keeps the scoundrels in line and her women friends just a little bit safer. The first in the series is A Bad Day for Sorry.

 

Newly elected sheriff of Del Sol, New Mexico, Sunshine Vicram hits the ground running as she returns to her hometown. With a teenage daughter, a bad boy ex, an elderly flasher on the loose, and a kidnapped prize rooster, Sunshine has to prove (to herself) that she can make it in her new law enforcement career in this trilogy by Darynda Jones.The first title is A Bad Day for Sunshine. 

Jaine Austen—no, not THAT Jane Austen—is a freelance writer. While that sounds fancy, it really means she takes on writing commercials, jingles, personal ads, you name it.  She is looking for love, but tends to find Chunky Monkey instead.  Subplots usually involve her cat Prozac and her parents, both of whom complain about the other to Jaine. Breezy and over the top, Jaine never met a situation she couldn’t complicate in Laura Levine’s fun series.

The Southern Sisters mystery series by Anne George features two delightful but entirely opposite sisters:  Mary Alice (“Sister”)—the flamboyant, many times married, life of the party; and Patricia Anne (“Mouse”)—the calm, retired school teacher married to the same man for forty years.  Set in Alabama, this series is laugh-out-loud funny. The first in the series is Murder on a Girls’ Night Out.

Third Shift Society by Meredith Moriarty

Reviewed by Jeanne

Ellie is not having a good day.  Bills are due, well, okay PAST due, the landlady wants the rent, and when she goes into work, she finds she is now unemployed.  Desperate, she tries her hand at several jobs and manages to fail spectacularly.  As Ellie says, “Why am I so bad at adulthood?”

Her day may not get worse but it is about to get weirder.  As she walks down an alley, there’s a guy who looks as if he’s wearing a jack-o’-lantern for a head being attacked by some sort of dog thing with horns and a mane.  Impulsively, Ellie leaps in to help—and suddenly there’s blue fire coming from her hands.  Together they manage to subdue the dog/lion whatever and Ellie gets a job offer as a paranormal investigator.

And by the way, his head IS a pumpkin. And his name is Ichabod.

That’s the opening sequence for Third Shift Society, a graphic novel that began life as a web-comic.  Meredith Moriarty, Eisner Award nominee, does both the art and the script.  Ellie is definitely in for the ride of her life as she meets other supernatural beings, friendly or not, and helps Ichabod solve cases.  The artwork is wonderful, very expressive and vivid. I liked both the style and the color palette.   The characters are well developed, especially Ellie who is an appealing heroine:  brave and impulsive, but with a good heart. This is probably a good place to mention that she’s also a bit gullible. It’s very easy to get drawn into this world of curses, vampires, demons, and things that go bump in the night.

More and more web-comics are making the leap into print, and I definitely approve.  I now have several favorites which began life online such as Breaking Cat News, Swan Eaters, and Lore Olympus.  I had never heard of this particular web-comic until the book came out but I have now become a fan.  A second volume is in the works and I’ll look forward to reading it.

Nevermore: Figures in a Landscape, When the Jessamine Grows, Followed by Frost

 

Nevermore 5-28-24

Reported by Rita

 Figures in a Landscape: People and Places: Essays: 2001-2016 by Paul Theroux

Drawing together a fascinating body of writing from over 14 years of work, Figures in a Landscape ranges from profiles of cultural icons (Oliver Sacks, Elizabeth Taylor, Robin Williams) to intimate personal remembrances, from thrilling adventures in Africa to literary writings from Theroux's rich and expansive personal reading. Collectively, these pieces offer a fascinating portrait of the author himself, his extraordinary life, restless and ever-curious mind.

  Downloaded through the hoopla app – loved it – highly recommend.    – CD     5 stars

 

When the Jessamine Grows by Donna Everhart

With her husband and son off at war, and the burden of running the farm falling to her, Joetta, shunned because she doesn't support the Confederacy's position on slavery, finds one act of kindness, bringing her family to the edge of even greater disaster.

 Really interesting – liked it – worth reading.     – WJ     5 stars

 

Followed by Frost by Charlie N. Holmberg

After being cursed for her cold heart, seventeen-year-old Smitha is forced to retreat to the mountains, where she finds companionship with Death, an enigmatic being who would rather see her rule beside him in the Underworld than live such a frozen existence.

  Didn’t really like this book or author.    – MH    3 stars

 

Other Books Mentioned

 

Amazing Men: Courage, Insight, Endurance by Joyce Tenneson

Two Trains Leave the Station: A Meditation on Aging, Alzheimer's, and Arithmetic by Catherine Landis

The Lost City of Z: a Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon by David Grann

The Golden Apples by Eudora Welty

The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth by Zoèe Schlanger

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie

Lost Horizon: a Novel by James Hilton

The Husbands: a Novel by Holly Gramazio

 

New Books

My Beloved Monster: Masha, the Half-Wild Rescue Cat Who Rescued Me by Caleb Carr

The Rulebreaker: the Life and Times of Barbara Walters by Susan Page

The Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

Thara Celehar is a Witness for the Dead:  that is, he can touch a deceased person and sometimes ascertain the answers to questions.  He was once at Court, in the service of the young half-goblin Emperor but now he resides in Amalo, a city far away from the seat of power but still not immune from political machinations. When a young woman is found drowned, Celehar is asked to discover her identity and if she was a suicide.  A touch reveals that she was in fact murdered, but her name is not revealed so Celehar must investigate further.  Meanwhile, a wealthy family has two different wills and Celehar is asked to discover who was intended as the heir.

This description is dry, I’ll grant you. I picked this book up on a whim, not having read The Goblin Emperor which was the first one set in this world but is a standalone novel.  I was intrigued by the idea of someone who can have some limited communication with the dead to solve mysteries.  A Witness for the Dead is an advocate for the deceased, finding justice no matter where the truth leads, which can lead to some uncomfortable situations with the living. It didn’t hurt that there was a blurb from John Scalzi, a writer whose works I enjoy.

Also, I’ll admit, I was attracted to the slimness of the volume.  At 232 pages, I felt we’d get to the stories quickly.  Some books I have read of late have had a certain amount of padding to them, and while that can be entertaining there are times I want the author to just get on with the story.

At first I was a bit put off by the names and honorifics, but I was quickly drawn in by the characters and the world-building.  Celehar is empathetic, honorable, honest, humble, and haunted by things from his past.  He’s someone I would very much like to have as a friend.  The world-building is fascinating, both strange and familiar at the same time.  Most characters are described as elven or goblin, though I wonder if there are humans since some are “half goblin” or “half elven.” There are ghouls, ghosts, and other creatures as well.  There are several mysteries to be solved in the book, and while I’ll admit to getting tangled up in names at times I was fascinated and found it difficult to put the book down—“just one more section” syndrome was in full swing.  I would also classify it as a “feel-good” read, despite the various crimes taking place. It’s almost a cozy mystery, what with the characters having discussions over innumerable cups of tea.  There’s a bit of a homey feel to it, despite the odd names and fantasy trappings.

Addison excels at creating characters who seem real.  I cared what happened to Celehar, and genuinely liked many of the other characters—so much so that I had to find the second book and start it as soon as I finished the first.  Alas, the third book isn’t due out until 2025!

Dog Days! Books with Canine Stars

 

Enzo is a clever old dog who has learned a lot.  He adores Denny, an aspiring race car driver, and Denny’s daughter, Zoe, who is at the center of a custody battle. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein is a heartwarming novel with both tears and joy. 

A Dog’s Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron is the first in a series of dog books. Bailey the dog is searching for his purpose in life. He finds it in caring for his boy, Ethan. When that life comes to an end, Bailey becomes a police dog, but he knows he needs to find his way back to Ethan. This book will both touch and charm dog lovers!

 

One Good Dog by Susan Wilson follows the story of Adam March, who once had it all until one day he lost control.  Sentenced to community service, he ends up with Chance, a pit bull mix who has issues of his own.  Wilson has several warm and affectionate fiction books that revolve around the human-dog connection.

 

When widower Sam moves with his son to Christmas Street, Jack the dog welcomes them to their new home.  Jack was left behind when his owners moved, but this neighborhood stray has the knack of building connections between people. A Dog Called Jack by Ivy Pembroke is a wonderful feel-good story about community and the love of a dog.

 

Jet pilot Brady Cole is really attracted to his next-door neighbor, Lily, but he’s not much of a dog person.  The trouble is, to get to Lily he’s going to have to get through her opinionated, temperamental, destructive doggy companion, Doug.  And Doug does NOT like Brady.  Beware of Doug by Elaine Fox is a delightful rom-com with a canine twist!

 

When Dawn’s boyfriend dumps her, she turns to the one being she can count on for comfort:  her rescue dog, Chuck. Chuck has some thoughts on the matter, which much to Dawn’s surprise, she can hear. In fact, she can hear all dogs now and they are just full of advice. Merrill Markoe’s Walking in Circles Before Lying Down is about the search for love, the etiquette of peeing, and the joy of playing fetch.

 

 Dancing Dogs is a collection of sixteen stories by Jon Katz featuring a variety of dogs, from purebreds to mutts.  Katz is a noted dog lover who titled his memoir A Dog Year.  The tales run the gamut of emotions, but all are endearing.