Nevermore: Poe, Wishing Thread, How to Rate a Cat

Reported by Rita

 

Poe: Birth of the Detective Story by Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe is often cited as fathering the modern detective story. His trilogy of stories follows amateur detective C. Auguste Dupin as he tries to perfect the idea of "ratiocination" or the "art of reasoning and rational." The trilogy begins with the 1841 short story, "The Murders in the Rue Morgue," which follows Dupin trying to solve a double murder in Paris. The sequel, 1842's "The Mystery of Marie Roget," again follows Dupin as he tries to solve the murder of Marie Roget, whose body is found in a local Paris river. The final installment in the series, 1844's "The Purloined Letter," follows Dupin's attempt to recover a letter stolen from a private sitting room.

It is an interesting choice of stories. I found them very dull. - PP 3 stars

 

The Wishing Thread by Lisa Van Allen

For fans of Jennifer Chiaverini and Sarah Addison Allen, The Wishing Thread is an enchanting novel about the bonds between sisters, the indelible pull of the past, and the transformational power of love.

I found it a little far-fetched, but it was a nice, easy read. - GP 4 stars

 

How to Rate a Cat: Rate Any Feline Friend from Their Boopable Nose to Their Sweet Toe Beans by Matthew McGlasson

If you consider yourself a pet parent, love looking at cute kittens online, or are just an all-around animal lover, then this is the book for you. From their spiky bedhead to their adorable paw beans to everything in between, identify, recognize, and celebrate what makes each kitty special and unique. Become an expert cat-rater based on signature characteristics.

This is so cute and enjoyable. I loved it! - MS 5 stars

 

Other Books Mentioned:

The World of the Pronghorn by Joe Van Wormer

The Boxcar Librarian by Brianna Labuskes

The Girls of Good Fortune by Kristina McMorris

The Man with the Golden Arm by Nelson Algren

The Wayward Bus by John Steinbeck

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie

Extreme Survival: Lessons from Those Who Have Triumphed Against All Odds by Michael J. Tougias

The Dirty Life: On Farming, Food, and Love by Kristin Kimball

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick

The River Knows Your Name by Kelly Mustian

Lies on the Serpent's Tongue by Kate Pearsall

Eleanore of Avignon by Elizabeth DeLozier

Speak to Me of Home by Jeanine Cummins

Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray

A Month in the Country by J.L. Carr

Hear My Sad Story: The True Tales That Inspired "Stagolee," "John Henry," and Other Traditional American Folk Songs by Richard Polenberg

Over the Edge by Jonathan Kellerman

Book of Shadows by Phyllis Curott

James Acaster's Classic Scrapes by James Acaster

Working Girl Blues: The Life and Music of Hazel Dickens by Hazel Dickens, Bill C. Malone

Friendliest Town on the Trail: Damascus, Virginia by Bunny Medeiros

Walking to Wijiji: ... my journey overcoming loneliness by Bunny Medeiros

 

New Books:

The Salmon Cannon and the Levitating Frog: And Other Serious Discoveries of Silly Science by Carly Anne York

The Afterlife of Malcolm X: An Outcast Turned Icon's Enduring Impact on America by Mark Whitaker

Mind Magic: The Neuroscience of Manifestation and How It Changes Everything by James R. Doty

Blonde Dust by Tatiana de Rosnay

I Know What You Did Last Summer by Lois Duncan

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

Four teenagers are heading home after an evening of fun.  Driving down a mountain road, the car hits a young boy on a bicycle.  The teens panic; Barry, the driver, is eighteen and considered an adult.  If they report this, he’ll do jail time.  The four agree, somewhat reluctantly, to keep the accident a secret, but Ray and Julie are deeply troubled about it. Ray insists on at least calling 911 to try to get help for the boy.

That was a year ago.

Julie, once a bubbly cheerleader, has become a more somber, studious girl.  Helen’s life has only changed for the better: she’s a TV personality with her own apartment away from her struggling family. Football hero and only child Barry has finished his first year of college and is looking forward to a backpacking trip to Europe, away from his doting parents. He’s also more than ready to put some distance between himself and Helen.  They aren’t sure about Ray.  He left town after the accident, headed to California.

Then Julie gets a letter with no return address.  “I know what you did last summer” is all it says.  Is it a prank—or a threat?

Back in the day, mystery titles for children were mostly those featuring sleuths such as Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, Hardy Boys, or the Three Investigators.  There were a few others, including a personal favorite, Brains Benton. From there it was on to adult authors like Agatha Christie.

Then a few authors began writing books that were edgier, books about real teens who found themselves in dire situations. I Know What You Did Last Summer came out in 1973 and created quite the stir. These teens had committed a crime! They mention smoking pot! They drink beer! (None of which is portrayed.) They have a stalker who means bodily harm!

This was definitely not a Nancy Drew book.

Naturally, this attracted the attention of Hollywood who optioned the novel for a movie.  Duncan was thrilled. When the movie opened, she was in the theater with her popcorn ready to see her book on the screen. She did wonder why there a man with a hook.

She soon found out.

She didn’t even eat her popcorn.

Former teen librarian Pam Neal said Duncan wrote an apology to all her fans, regretting that her suspense novel had become an urban legend slasher film. In an interview Duncan said she was “horrified.” The violence was sensationalized, which was particularly painful because Duncan’s daughter Kaitlyn had been shot to death by an unknown person just a few years before the movie.

Now the rebooted version of the I Know What You Did Last Summer is in theatres and from all reports it bears even less resemblance to the book than the first movie did.  I decided it was a good time to go back to the source material, so I picked up a copy of the book, albeit a slightly altered version.  In 2010, Duncan revised her book a bit, adding mentions of things like cell phones and GPS which didn’t exist back in 1973. She changed the war in the background to Iraq instead of Viet Nam, and made a few other changes to suit the times. Of course, that was fifteen years ago; there are a few things that seem slightly dated now but not so much that it took me out of the story.

Overall, I think the book has held up well. While more modern books may have grittier plots, the core parts of the book—the characters and the suspense—still work for me. This was a groundbreaking book in YA literature, one that led the way for such authors as Joan Lowery Nixon, Holly Jackson, and Karen McManus. It makes me sad that the novel is so little known.

As for the movie, I’ll pass.

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.

Nevermore: Something for the Pain, Eli the Good, Heartwood

 Reported by Rita

 

Something for the Pain: Compassion and Burnout in the ER by Paul Austin

An ER doctor's memoir describes the psychological impact of his profession, explaining how his daily exposure to critical illness, injury, and tragedy in the industrial setting of a modern hospital rendered him bitter and estranged from his family.

So real. This book is the best medical book I've ever read. - DC 5 stars

 

Eli the Good by Silas House

In the summer of 1976, ten-year-old Eli Book's excitement over Bicentennial celebrations is tempered by his father's flashbacks to the Vietnam War and other family problems, as well as concern about his tough but troubled best friend, Edie.

Very detailed and beautifully written. It feels very autobiographical. - MD 5 stars

 

Heartwood by Amity Gaige

Heartwood takes you on a journey as a search and rescue team races against time when an experienced hiker mysteriously disappears on the Appalachian Trail in Maine.

It is dramatic and cinematic with a cliffhanger ending. - AH 5 stars

 

Other Books Mentioned: 

Hola Papi!: How to Come Out in a Walmart Parking Lot and Other Life Lessons by John Paul Brammer

My Name is Emilia del Valle by Isabel Allende

Revenge of the Tipping Point: Overstories, Superspreaders, and the Rise of Social Engineering by Malcolm Gladwell

Levi Strauss: The Man Who Gave Blue Jeans to the World by Lynn Downey

Mind Games by Nora Roberts

A Month in the Country by J. L. Carr

Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson

Dance of the Four Winds: Secrets of the Inca Medicine Wheel by Alberto Villoldo

Cave and Cosmos: Shamanic Encounters with Another Reality by Michael J. Harner

The Indian's Secret World by Robert Hofsinde

American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins

All Systems Red by Martha Wells

Lies on the Serpent's Tongue by Kate Pearsall

How to Rate a Cat: Rate Any Feline Friend from Their Boopable Nose to Their Sweet Toe Beans by Matthew McGlasson

 

New Books:

Mark Twain by Ron Chernow

Poets Square: a Memoir in Thirty Cats by Courtney Gustafson

Cat in the Stacks Mysteries by Miranda James

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

As usual, Book Bingo has enticed me to pick up books I’ve been meaning to read but somehow haven’t gotten around to.  I’ve been reading and enjoying the Cat in the Stacks series for several years now, but somehow had gotten distracted and had missed some titles.  Since I found a copy of The Pawful Truth in the library Gift Shop, it fit one of the squares.

The series is set in Athena, Mississippi, a small town where Charlie works as a librarian at the local college.  He’s a long-time widower who lives in a house left to him by his great aunt of fond memory.  He has a housekeeper/cook, Azalea, a host of friends, and an enormous Maine Coon cat named Diesel.  These are low-key, cozy mysteries with all the trappings: lovingly described food, Southern charm, and a dead body or two just to keep the story moving along.

While this is not a series that has to be read in order, there are a few changes over the course of the series.  Charlie’s children get married, grandchildren arrive, and he acquires a fiancée but nothing that one can’t pick up on in the first few pages of any book in the series.

In The Pawful Truth, Charlie decides to take a medieval history course at the college.  History has always been a favorite subject, and he has heard glowing reviews of the young professor who is teaching the course. While the class gets off to a promising start, an argument between the professor and a student piques Charlie’s interest—and even more so when one of them turns up dead.

Since I enjoyed The Pawful Truth, I decided to pick up another in the series for the square “Read a book NOT written by James Patterson.”

Cat Me If You Can is an atypical story in that Charlie, Diesel, and Charlie’s fiancée Helen Louise are travelling to a classic mystery lover’s retreat set up by the charming and formidable Ducote sisters.  The elderly grand dames of Athena society have rented out a boutique hotel to host a gathering of their mystery loving friends with plans to hold discussions of Golden Age mysteries in beautiful Asheville, North Carolina. What should have been a delightful stay turns ugly when an uninvited person shows up and demands to join the group.  His stay doesn’t last long—he turns up dead, and the only suspects are the members of the murder club.

I have to admit that a lot of my enjoyment from this title had to do with Charlie and Helen Louise visiting Biltmore and the surrounding area.  They were appropriately complimentary and appreciative (murder notwithstanding.)

If you want a break from hustle and bustle, the Cat in the Stacks series is a pleasant diversion.  I’m ready to read another but, alas, I don’t have any bingo squares to fit.

Bless Your Heart: A Field Guide to All Things Southern by Landon Bryant

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

First a confession:  I hadn’t heard of Landon Bryant until this book came in. I’m sure I read a review and saw the name, but I didn’t know about the videos or online presence or else I’d probably have snapped this up sooner. 

Landon Bryant is not only one funny guy but he’s a very observant one.  I laughed and nodded almost every point.  Even better, he allowed for a difference of opinion, unlike some of the books which want to be the absolute authority on all things Southern.  I name no names.  Landon (I feel that he would not mind me calling him Landon) is open to different versions of the Southern experience.  Nowhere was that more obvious to me than in his discussion of dinner vs. supper: when do you eat which meal?  Now, many folks today would argue that dinner as in “going out to dinner” is an always an evening meal but my grandparents always referred to the mid-day meal as dinner.  People took their food to work in “dinner buckets,” after all and “Sunday dinner” is usually in the middle of the day.  I for one was just happy that Landon brought this up, as I suspect a lot of people nowadays never heard the mid-day meal as “dinner.”

My grandparents didn’t know what to make of “lunch.”

Anyway, Landon is fine with whichever you want to do with, just as long as the food’s good.

Speaking of food, he also addresses other controversies such as chili—beans or no beans, how to construct a proper pear salad and how to eat it (just ignore that bed of lettuce, nobody eats that), the hierarchy of foods served at a gathering and who is allowed to bring them, and best of all, handy charts to determine if something is a salad or a vegetable or a meat. 

Also I would note that he is of the “no sugar in the cornbread” camp, and I am in full agreement on that.  As one of my coworkers used to say, “If God had meant for there to be sugar in cornbread, He would have called it cake.”

This hasn’t even scratched the surface of all the topics Landon handles.  He can tell you all about emotional states like “bein’ ugly” or “hissy fits” or “come to Jesus” meetings, conditions such as “lollygaggin’” and “I’d have to feel better to die.” He also provides helpful information about nature, from bugs to creepy crawlies to the weather. Holidays, cast iron skillets, the differences in grocery stores or dollar stores, Landon covers it all.

There is just a sweetness behind all of this that I find appealing.  He is not one to judge (after all, he has an aluminum Christmas tree) but he does have opinions, like which eye of the stove (and it is an eye, not a burner) to use.  But I also feel that if I were to disagree about which eye to use, he would not be upset with me.

The only thing it lacks is an index so that I could quickly locate sections to compare, say, “piddlin’” and “lollygaggin’” but there is a pretty good table of contents for that.

And while I find it to be basically very true to my experience, it’s also very, very funny.  I may buy copies to give as Christmas gifts.  I’m sure Landon will approve.

Nevermore: River Town, Growing Old, Hola Papi!

 

Nevermore 6-24-25: River Town, Growing Old, Hola Papi!

Reported by Rita

 

River Town by Peter Hessler

This book chronicles the author's experiences as a Peace Corps English teacher in the small Chinese city of Fuling, during which he witnessed significant events, including the death of Deng Xiaoping, the return of Hong Kong to the mainland, and the construction of the Three Gorges Dam.

A wonderful book full of wisdom. - DC 5 stars

 

Growing Old: Notes On Aging with Something Like Grace by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas

Part memoir and part life-affirming map all of us may follow to embrace our later years with grace and dignity, this look at the social and historical traditions related to aging explores a wide range of issues connected with growing older.

I found it uplifting, positive, and highly relatable. Excellent! - CD 5 stars

 

Hola Papi!: How to Come Out in a Walmart Parking Lot and Other Life Lessons by John Paul Brammer

The popular LGBTQ columnist and writer presents a memoir through a series of essays that chronicle his life growing up as queer, mixed race kid and offers advice for young people facing the same journey.

It was a quick read; I couldn't put it down. It was witty, funny, and sweet. - HM 5 stars

 

 

Other Books Mentioned:

Change of Habit by Sister Monica Clare

Boxcar Librarian by Brianna Labuskes

The Curse of the Wise Woman by Lord Dunsany

The Thunderbird by Ryan Murdoch

The Hidden Life of Dogs by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas

Fall From Grace by Richard North Patterson

If You Want to Make God Laugh by Bianca Marais

The Missing Half by Ashley Flowers

 

 

New Books:

A Botanist's Guide to Rituals and Revenge by Kate Khavari

Validation: The New Psychology of Influence by Caroline Fleck

When It All Burns: Fighting Fire in a Transformed World by Jordan Thomas

Someone in Time: Tales of Time-Crossed Romance

 

Someone in Time: Tales of Time-Crossed Romance

Edited by Jonathan Strahan

Reviewed by Kristin

With stories by Alix E. Harrow, Zen Cho, Seanan McGuire, Sarah Gailey, Jeffrey Ford, Nina Allan, Elizabeth Hand, Lavanya Lakshminarayan, Catherynne M. Valente, Sam J. Miller, Rowan Coleman, Margo Lanagan, Sameem Siddiqui, Theodora Goss, Carrie Vaughn, Ellen Klages

Reviewed by Kristin

For the past couple of years I have been drawn to time travel tales. Even when I don’t realize a book may contain some really funky timeline shenanigans, I still find them, check them out, read them, and usually enjoy them.

When I saw Someone in Time: Tales of Time-Crossed Romance, I had previously read several books by Sarah Gailey and just one by Zen Cho (Black Water Sister). Since I had recently finished the Cho book and loved it, I checked this out through Tennessee READS where both the ebook and audiobook are available. (Thanks, Tennessee READS!)

The stories are varied, with time travel being accomplished by different characters in many different ways. I enjoyed some of the stories much more than others, but didn’t dislike any of them.

One of my favorites was set in a used bookstore, where a gap in the shelves serves as a connection between a young woman in modern times and a young man in 1914, on the verge of World War I.

Another included another young woman sent back in time to recover a missing scientific paper from a female scientist in the mid-1950s, with surprising and deliciously pleasing consequences.

The collection title is a play on words on the 1975 novel Somewhere in Time (aka Bid Time Return) by Richard Matheson, which was also made into a movie in 1980 starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour.

The characters are diverse and I found the time travel aspects more weighted than the romance, although both are there. This has definitely opened me up to a few new authors.

The Merlot Murders by Ellen Crosby

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

Lucie Montgomery fled to France after a crippling automobile accident, leaving behind her father, her sister and brother, and the family vineyard.  When the call comes that her father has died, Lucie returns to Virginia for the funeral.  She is shocked by the changes in two years:  not only is the family home and business in trouble, but her siblings Eli and Mia seem to have turned into people she doesn’t know any more. Even more shocking, they both seem to want to sell the land that has been in the Montgomery family for generations.  Upset, Lucie refuses to agree to the sale, angering her brother.

There’s more to come. Fitz, Lucie’s godfather, tells her of his suspicions that her father’s death was no accident and promises to support her in her decision not to sell the vineyard. This isn’t an idle gesture:  along with Lucie, Eli, and Mia, Fitz has a vote in what happens to the property.  But when Fitz turns up dead at the winery, Lucie starts asking questions that someone doesn’t want answered.

I picked this up as a Book Bingo category book; I’d heard good things about Crosby’s mysteries but just had not taken the time to read one.  I was very pleasantly surprised by the amount of history and discussion of winemaking that I found in its pages, not to mention a dandy mystery with interesting, well-developed characters.  Lucie herself is a prickly protagonist, stubborn and reluctant to trust anyone—often with good reason.  Her former boyfriend and the cause of her accident is now having an affair with her sister; her brother seems in thrall to his wife, desperately trying to win her approval at every turn. Quinn, the new vintner hired by her father, appears arrogant and dismissive of Lucie, and he has a shady past.

I thoroughly enjoyed the history. Crosby has done her research, and it shows. Thomas Jefferson is often invoked because of his determination to make splendid American wines, but I hadn’t realized how long settlers had tried for good wine in Virginia. There’s also some interesting information about making wine itself, and I found myself thinking about all the local wineries that dot the Southwest Virginia landscape these days.

The only thing I could have wished for was a bit more time spent after the dénouement. I wanted to see the reactions of some of the characters to the revelations but that’s a small quibble.  Besides, it makes me want to go to the next book!

Books in the series are:

1. The Merlot Murders

 2. The Chardonnay Charade

3. The Bordeaux Betrayal

4. The Riesling Retribution

5. The Viognier Vendetta

6. The Sauvignon Secret

7. The Champagne Conspiracy

8. The Vineyard Victims

9. Harvest of Secrets

10. The Angels' Share

11. The French Paradox

12. Bitter Roots

13. Deeds Left Undone (2025)

Nevermore: The River We Remember, Sipsworth, The World According to Garp

 

Nevermore 6-17-25

Reported by Rita

The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger

When the body of a wealthy landowner is found floating in the Alabaster River on Memorial Day in 1958, Sheriff Brody Dern, a highly decorated war hero, struggles to solve this murder that has the town of Jewel, Minnesota, up in arms, while putting to rest the demons from his own past.

This was a great book. I fell in love with the characters and found them really relatable. - HM 4 stars 

Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy

Moving back to the English village of her childhood after the loss of her husband and son, reclusive widow Helen Cartwright, whose only wish is to die quickly and without fuss, becomes a creature of habit until a chance encounter with a mouse sets her on an unexpected journey.

I thought this was lovely; a light-hearted and quick read with a twist ending. Wonderful! -AH 5 stars 

The World According to Garp by John Irving

T. S. Garp, a man with high ambitions for an artistic career and with obsessive devotion to his wife and children, and Jenny Fields, his famous feminist mother, find their lives surrounded by an odd assortment of people, including teachers, whores, and radicals.

Easy and entertaining. I couldn't put it down. -PP 5 stars

 

Other Books Mentioned

Something for the Pain by Paul Austin

A Necessary Woman by Helen Van Slyke

The Agony and the Ecstasy by Irving Stone

Poe: Birth of the Detective Story by Edgar Allan Poe

Sisu by Aura Levitas

Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt

River Town by Peter Hessler

Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) by Jesse Q Sutanto

The Disciple by Stephen Coonts

Living in the Light by Deepak Chopra

Powder Burn by Carl Hiaasen

Trap Line by Carl Hiaasen

A Forger's Life by Adolfo Kaminsky

On Muscle by Bonnie Tsui

 

New Books

The Boxcar Librarian by Brianna Labuskes

The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner

The River Knows Your Name by Kelly Mustian

Lies on the Serpent’s Tongue by Kate Pearsall

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

Growing up in Caball Hollow, West Virginia, Rowan James is used to being shunned. She comes from a long line of James women, all of whom have supernatural gifts of some sort.  Rowan’s gift is that she knows when someone is lying. She can smell the lies, whether a small white lie or a falsehood so dark that it reeks of rot and sulfur.  It’s hard to always know that people around you are lying, and it’s made Rowan grow up to be angry and suspicious. Her temper flares once too often, so her grandmother insists that she needs to go work at the forest fire tower to learn some patience.

It isn’t long before Rowan finds herself involved in more than one mystery.  A young man is found unconscious in the woods, with no clue as to his identity or what he was doing there.  A paranormal group is also hanging around, looking for evidence of the Moth-Winged Man. Not only does Rowan feel there’s something off about the group, but other things are happening around her: non-native creatures like magpies are appearing even as other things go missing—both physical items like necklaces but also people’ memories. Then there are the ginseng poachers, seeking to steal a fortune in the valuable roots from protected land.

Enter Hadrian Fitch, who had worked as a handyman for Rowan’s family before leaving without even a goodbye.  Rowan had a fraught relationship with Hadrian because of her gift: she knew he was lying, but not about what.  Now a battered Hadrian has come to Rowan for help.  She can’t trust him, but he may hold the key to solving the other mysteries—and saving her family.

I loved the first book in the series, Bittersweet in the Hollow, which featured Linden James, the sister who can taste the emotions of those around her.  That book introduced readers to the James family as well as some of the area legends—including that of the Moth-Winged Man. I was definitely intrigued and was anxiously awaiting the second book.

I will admit that Lies on the Serpent’s Tongue seemed to get off to a bit of slow start, but it soon picked up steam; and once Rowan reunited with her family the story flowed better for me. While the plot in the book is self-contained, I would strongly recommend that readers start with the first book to understand some of the characters and relationships.  Pearsall does an excellent job of blending myth, magic, and folklore into a realistic Appalachian setting, and the James women are all interesting characters. While the books focus on the sisters, all of whom are young adults, I’m equally intrigued with their mother and grandmother. I also like the way Pearsall writes, which is descriptive and emotional in a good way.

I’m looking forward to future books.  While nothing has been announced as yet—and I do check fantasticfiction.com on a regular basis—fans suspect that the next book will feature either Juniper or Sorrel.  I will just be happy to be back in the company of this fascinating family. (Note:  while some classify this as a YA book, my feeling is that a good book is a good book, no matter the age of the intended audience.)

The Little Encyclopedia of Enchanted Woodland Creatures: An A-to-Z Guide to Mythical Beings of the Forest by Jason Lancaster

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

I picked this one up because I had rather enjoyed The Little Encyclopedia of Fairies:  An A-to-Z Guide to Fae Magic.  It had brief entries but the worldwide focus was interesting. Enchanted Woodland Creatures has equally brief entries and a worldwide focus but the choices for inclusion seem a bit… odd.  I think it’s the word “enchanted” in the main title. 

You see, there are entries for Bigfoot, the Jersey Devil, and even Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox which I don’t really see as being “enchanted.” Folkloric, yes.  Enchanted, no.  The same can be said of several other entries. The subtitle Mythical Beings of the Forest is more accurate, but there's also an entry for a real bird though a bit of folklore connected with it is included. 

That said, there are some interesting entries for both mythological creatures as well as cryptids.  The entries are very brief, and some are accompanied by illustrations by Kate Forrester. I like her style and it’s worth looking through the book for those alone.  Only the cover is in color; the rest are black and white, and some look as they might be woodcuts or else pen and ink.  I thought they were charming.  In fact, I liked them well enough that I searched for the artist online and found she’s done a number of book covers. She is now on my radar as an artist I admire.

The limited information given in the entries was interesting, and I did like the long list of sources at the end.  The entries are well written.  This is a fun browsing book, despite the sometimes perplexing choices.

I did enjoy it, even if I didn’t fit it into a Book Bingo square.

Nevermore: On Muscle, Sipsworth, Remarkably Bright Creatures

 

Nevermore 6-10-25

Reported by Rita

 

On Muscle: The Stuff That Moves Us and Why It Matters by Bonnie Tsui

From the bestselling author of  Why We Swim comes a mind-expanding exploration of muscle—from our ancient obsession with the ideal human form to the modern science of this amazing and adaptable tissue—that will change the way you think about what moves us through the world.

I found this quick read to be both informative and entertaining.     -KM     5 stars

 

Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy

Over the course of a single week, a woman who is ready to die discovers an unexpected reason to live. Following the deaths of her husband and son, Helen Cartwright returns to the English village of her childhood after living abroad for six decades. Her only wish is to die quickly and without fuss. Helen retreats into her home on Westminster Crescent, becoming a creature of routine and habit. Then, one cold autumn night, a chance encounter with an abandoned pet mouse on the street outside her house sets Helen on a surprising journey of friendship.

This book is simple yet incredibly beautiful. Very touching.    - NH      5 stars

 

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

 

After Tova Sullivan's husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she's been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over thirty years ago.

Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn't dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors--until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova.

Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova's son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it's too late.

This was a hopeful and heart-warming story. I couldn't put it down.    -GP     5 stars

 

 

Other Books Mentioned

River Town by Peter Hessler

Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (On a Dead Man) by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Something for the Pain by Paul Austin

A Necessary Woman by Helen Van Slyke

The March of Folly by Barbara Tuchman

The Piano Lesson by August Wilson

An Arabian Journey by Levison Wood

Not My Father's Son by Allan Cumming

Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt

Morbidly Yours by Ivy Fairbanks

 

New Books

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Wartime Book Club by Kate Thompson

The Golden Road by William Dalrymple

My Name is Emilia Delvalle by Isabel Allende

A Change of Habit: Leaving Behind My Husband, Career, and Everything I Owned to Become a Nun by Sister Monica Clare