Zine Making and Book Binding: A Beginner’s Guide in 25 Projects by Lauren Simkin Berke

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

Way back in the olden days, when mimeograph was the standard and off-set printing an expensive proposition, I discovered zines.  Short for “magazine,” these were largely fan-produced publications with assorted content, depending on the fandom: they could have stories, poems, reviews, news, etc.  Flash forward a few decades and all at once it seemed people were talking about zines again. This time many seemed to be the product of a single author/artist, but still a creative outlet.

When this book first came in, I didn’t examine it thoroughly because I am not the creative type and didn’t think it applied to me.  Some time later I picked it up and discovered that it’s actually more about the physical creation of a personal book and was intrigued.

I was very impressed with the first chapter, which went over the parts of the book, tools, needed, and some terms to know.  I had no idea what a “bone folder” was, so had to look that up. (It’s a tool used to score paper, and is indeed traditionally made of bone.) The book press was like the flower press that the Jones Center for Creative Arts, Technology, and Workforce Development helped folks make a year or so ago.  Some of the tools are ordinary things (a ruler, glue cup) while others are more specialized like, well, the bone folder.

Berke also talks about the different types of bindings, including perfect bound (glued) or other sewn bindings as well as coil binding and other methods.

All this is just to get one started in the process of making a book.  The rest of the chapters are devoted to step by step instructions on how to make your own sewn book, on how to do the paper folds, creative pop-ups, or expandable book forms.  The section on making accordion book forms includes how to make book ornaments.

In short, this is a very good resource for anyone interested in making their own books or zines.  There are also other resources listed, and the information is up to date. Alas, there is no index but there is a pretty thorough chapter list in the front of the book.

Art of Murder by Elaine Viets

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

Helen Hawthorne has held a lot of dead end jobs in her time—it’s a long story, but involves an ex-husband who wanted alimony—but she’s settled into being a private eye. This time around, she was just touring a wonderful historic home when a woman in an art group dies suddenly.  It appears to be natural causes at first, but Helen one of the woman’s friends insists Annabelle must have been poisoned and hires Helen to investigate.  Helen goes undercover as an aspiring artist to try to discover who had motive, means, and opportunity. 

Meanwhile, Helen’s new husband Phil has a case of his own, involving a thief who targets upper floor condos and who may have murdered one of the residents.

Viets has done several series, but the Dead End Jobs series in one of my favorites. As Helen takes on new temporary positions, I learn about what it takes to be a salesperson, telemarketer, etc.  And yes, Viets really did work all of these odd jobs in real life, so she knows her subjects!

I also thoroughly enjoy the south Florida setting and the strong supporting cast who all live at an older apartment building with a spritely landlady.  I love mysteries, but I also like well-developed characters who change and grow as a series progresses.  I may have figured out whodunit before the end of the book, but the journey was a pleasure—helped along, I have to say, by Phil’s hare-brained scheme to catch a thief which had me giggling as I walked on the treadmill. The mix of interesting characters, well-considered plots, good locations, and a dollop of humor is just up my alley.

Sadly, this was the last in this series so I would advise starting with an earlier book. In order:

Shop Till You Drop

Murder Between the Covers

Dying to Call You

Killer Blonde

Just Murdered

Murder Unleashed

Murder with Reservations

Clubbed to Death

Killer Cuts

Half-Price Homicide

Pumped for Murder

Final Sail

Board Stiff

Catnapped!

Checked Out

The Art of Murder

Viets is the author of several different series, so be sure to check them out!

Cat Nap by Brian Lies

Reviewed by Jeanne

A sleeping kitten is awakened by the scurry of a mouse, and the chase is on! But this is no ordinary chase: they’re running through the Metropolitan Museum and darting in and out of works of art as they go in this absolutely charming picture book by Caldecott Honor Award winning artist Brian Lies.  The first piece is an Egyptian carving, then on to an illuminated manuscript, and then other works, including an African mask, a stained glass panel, and a Georgia O’Keeffe painting.  Both cat and mouse take on the characteristics of the art, appearing as statues with a Mexican ceramic dog and as pen and ink near a Japanese drawing. 

While the storyline is simple and has a fun repeated phrase, the art is more realistic while still being fun itself.  It’s really a delight. There is so much attention to detail in this book, from the jacket cover to the actual book cover underneath, not to mention little art bonuses all around.  I especially loved all the images of the sleeping cat around the title page, as well as the different types of art used to make the letters in the title.

I don’t usually review children’s picture books for the blog but this time I couldn’t resist.  There have been a number of picture books on this theme and I have enjoyed many of them.  This one stands out to me because the images are so playful and there’s so much attention to detail.  I also love that the author didn’t choose the most famous works but instead chose representative works.  A handy key in the back identifies the real object found in the Met, with some information about it.

What I really, REALLY love about this book is the author’s note in the back.  He has photos of his process: he actually made replicas of the art to go along with his art kitten and mouse so they all fit together.  He explains that while he could have taken a photo of the art and then digitally put Dylan (his Russian Blue / Siamese cat mix) in the picture, just as people are now using computers and AI to create lots of things.  As he says, “But where’s the satisfaction in that? The computer created it, not us.”  He points out the fun of creating things on your own, be it a picture or a story or a statue.

That’s what this book is really all about:  the joy of creation. 

This is a book I will treasure.  And just maybe, I’ll try to do a little painting of my own.

Ornithography: An Illustrated Guide to Bird Lore and Symbolism by Jessica Roux

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

Previously, I reviewed Jessica Roux’s Floriography, which is a beautifully illustrated book about Victorian flower language—a romantic and/or secret way to send messages based on the plants used.  In this book, Roux looks at the folklore associated with birds.  While the text is brief, the glorious illustrations are indeed worth a thousand words. 

Starting with Albatross and continuing through to Woodpecker, Roux gives a meaning associated with a bird as well as some information.  The content varies depending on the bird, naturally.  For example, for Crow Roux notes they symbolize cleverness and retells the Aesop story about how a crow figures out how to get a drink of water from a bottle and refers the reader to the related Raven and Magpie.  While the majority of birds are familiar to North American readers, there are some species native to other continents.  Similarly, the folklore comes from a variety of cultures. 

The artwork is stunning.  The color choices tend to give the pieces an old-fashioned feel but are frequently also dramatic.  This is a splendid browsing book, one in which the illustrations will command as much if not more attention than the text.

I found this another wonderful example of Roux’s artistry and love of folklore.

The Butterfly Trap by Clea Simon

Reviewed by Jeanne

 

Greg is an ambitious young doctor who should have it all.  He’s not like his friend Pete, who’s out for a good time and who changes girlfriends like he changes his shirts.  Greg wants a wife, the house, the kids, the whole domestic scene.  While acting as reluctant wingman for Peter, Greg meets Anya at a party and is instantly smitten.  When Anya cuts her foot on a broken bottle, Greg is able to come to her rescue and bandage her wound like the gallant knight he wants to be.  Soon they’re dating and Greg is determined to give Anya everything she could ever want, even if he has to change his life to make his butterfly happy.

Anya is an artist, working part time at a gallery while she paints.  She’s struggling, not only financially, but in seeking her own style and a breakthrough in the arts scene.  When she meets Greg, she likes that he seems sweet and more of a gentleman than some men she’s dated.  It’s obvious that he doesn’t understand her art (or really, any art) but he’s supportive in his own way.

Is this a romance for the ages—or a disaster waiting to happen?

The Butterfly Trap is one story, told from two different points of view.  The first half of the book is Greg’s story; the second half is Anya’s, and while they are describing the same events, their perceptions are quite different.  The reader may spot red flags that the characters are oblivious to, ratcheting up the tension as the story plays out.

This is a bit of a departure for Simon, who has written a number of cozy mystery series as well as some grittier standalone novels such as Bad Boy Beat.  I found it most readable, and was reluctant to put it down.  When the story comes to a climax just a few pages from the end, it’s both expected and shocking at the same time. 

While this isn’t my usual cozy or classic mystery, I certainly enjoyed it and found it memorable.  The characters are well-developed, and the setting is vivid, especially the peek inside the serious art scene of galleries and exhibitions.  It’s not a finger-pointing type of book:  one character isn’t totally right and the other totally wrong, but two people who misread each other.  Greg especially tends to project his ideals onto Anya, but Anya fails to see how deeply invested Greg is in the relationship.  The pacing is very good; the story never dragged for me.

Recommended for anyone who likes relationship suspense with strong characters and a good sense of place.

Rock Painting for Beginners: A Complete Guide to Techniques and Supplies with 50 Original Designs to Inspire You by Christine Rechl

Reviewed by Jeanne

Remember when everyone was painting rocks and leaving them in public spaces for others to find?  While the craze may have slowed down, it was still a fun thing to do, and a small rock is nowhere as intimidating to many folks as a big white canvas.  I even painted a few in a group project. While I wasn’t satisfied with the finished product, I did enjoy the painting itself and even went out and bought a bucket of rocks and some paint to do some at home.

Needless to say, that didn’t happen, but every time I see that bucket of rocks, I think I should really do something about them.  I thought this book might just jump start the process.

Author Rechl is all for fun, but she also sees rock painting as a serious business- though not in the monetary sense, as she is in favor of giving the rocks as personal gifts.  She discusses the best place to find rocks (not at the rock yard where I got mine) and how to evaluate the ones you find.  She likes the process of finding rocks and being inspired by them, seeing the potential in their size, texture, and shape.  She suggests using sandpaper if the rock has some rough patches and putting down an undercoat.  

Nearly a third of the book is devoted to selecting the right paints and tools, and offering tips on using the various kinds.  There are acrylic paints, acrylic inks, glass paints, color blockers and so on, not to mention brushes, pens, and even special dotting tools. It could be a bit overwhelming but Rechl has wonderful photographs to illustrate each concept.  Also, while discussing each part, she shows a technique using the specific material or tool. 

She points out things such as if you want to put the stones outside, be sure and use waterproof paint/ink—and that not all that claim to be waterproof really are.  Non-toxic is something else to keep in mind no matter where you plan to leave your rocks. 

Finally, there are step by step instructions on creating different types of designs, whether you’re doing abstract designs, monster faces, comments, or cute animals.  There are also templates for those among us ungifted in drawing our own figures.

What I liked most was seeing some pretty abstract designs, spirals, dots, stripes, etc. that would be easy to do and yet looked very nice indeed. 

Now if all that paint I bought hasn’t dried up yet, I’ll be set!

Art, Annotated: Your Expert Guide to 500 of the World’s Greatest Works of Art

Reviewed by Jeanne

I like art.  Ever since a long-ago college course in Art History, I’ve been fascinated by it.  My taste is admittedly pedestrian, of the “I know what I like” variety, but I just enjoy looking at various works.  This art book by DK, a publisher known for beautiful illustrations, is a hefty tome but packed full of beautiful pictures and interesting tidbits.  It’s not scholarly, which for me is a point in its favor.  I don’t know enough about painting techniques or art theory to appreciate it on that level.  This one takes a chatty but informative approach, aimed at enhancing the reader’s appreciation of a pretty picture—which I love.

It’s arranged more or less chronologically, starting with cave paintings. Items of interest are pointed out and explained briefly, including sometimes what the item represents or how a line focuses the viewer’s attention.  It’s not just paintings, though; sculpture also makes up a number of entries.  There’s the famous bust of Nefertiti, the Chinese terra-cotta army, Olmec heads, Greek pottery, and Assyrian bas relief.  I learned a lot about items I thought I already knew, giving me a new appreciation for the piece. 

For example, there’s the Venus de Milo— otherwise known as that sculpture of the lady with the missing arms.  From another fragment of the statue found, it appears she might have been holding an apple in one hand; perhaps it was a reference to the myth about the “Judgment of Paris,” though it could also have been a pun as “Milos” sounds like apple in ancient Greek.  Her earlobes are missing, possibly broken off during a theft, as the statue was once adorned with jewelry.

Just as intriguing are some of the works that I didn’t know, which opened new worlds for me.  I prefer older works, but this book also tried to explain modern art to me in ways I could almost understand.

In short, this is a magnificent browsing book, one that can be picked up and enjoyed over and over. 

Floriography: An Illustrated Guide to the Victorian Language of Flowers by Jessica Roux

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

I’ve been intrigued by the Victorian Language of Flowers for years, ever since I first encountered the concept as part of an Agatha Christie mystery.  The idea that you could send a message in a bouquet was very intriguing.  As a result, I’ve dipped into various books on the subject over the years and even done reviews for the bookblog.

This one, however, I picked up because of the artist.  Jessica Roux is a Nashville based artist who likes to use solid, unpatterned backgrounds for her work, making the images pop.  It’s an arresting look that I quite like—so much so that I picked up one of her prints at HollerHouse. The one I chose had a cat in it, because of course it does. 

It was seeing her work there that alerted me to this book.  While the text is brief, the illustrations are showstoppers.  Every other page is a full color painting of the flower being discussed, with its meaning and a list of other plants to pair it with in order to send the message intended.  There’s also a handy section with ideas for bouquets for various occasions (wedding, sympathy, warning, courting, etc.) and a list of meanings with the flowers associated so you could build your own.  For example, pansies mean “You occupy my thoughts” while lily of the valley means “Better times ahead,” making it a nice way of letting someone know that you’re thinking of them and wishing them well.

Even if you aren’t interested in flower meanings, this is wonderful book to browse just for the art. 

You can see more of her work at her website https://www.jessica-roux.com/

And yes, she did two ornaments for the recent Adorn sale at HollerHouse! I think they went very quickly.

 

(Note:  Do I retain much of what I’ve read?  Er, no, I’m usually too busy admiring pictures, so if I send you a bouquet, don’t look for any hidden messages!)

The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules by Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg

 

Reviewed by Kristin

Martha Andersson has had a good life, but is having a little trouble adjusting to conditions at Diamond House, a Swedish old age pensioners’ home. The problem is that Nurse Barbara is cutting corners. Profits are down, or at least not as high as the new director desires, and suddenly sticky buns and cake are no longer in the budget. Other amenities are likewise limited, and Martha and her friends are chafing a bit in the sparse accommodations.

Martha hatches a plan with Christina, Anna-Gretta, and the men—nicknamed Brains and Rake. They are going to become art thieves. After all, no one would suspect a group of oldies walking with the aid of Zimmer frames to be the ones kidnapping art from the National Museum. “The League of Pensioners” is born, and they are stomping their orthopedic shoes on their way to riches.

The pensioners hone their skills with a small robbery at a nearby hotel, then move on to the big times. The police have no idea how those paintings (Monet and Renoir!) disappeared or who tried to ransom them. They dismiss the old people as dithering fuss-budgets who are just confused, bless their hearts.

Told with humor, The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules is achingly clever, and funny even to those of us who haven’t reached retirement age yet. This book reminded me of the Elderly Lady series by Helene Tursten. Those short volumes (An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good and An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed) are also set in Sweden and are laugh out loud funny.

This is the first book in the series.

Day of the Dead: More than 24 Projects that Celebrate Dia de Los Muertos by Kerry Arquette, Andrea Zocchi & Jerry Vigil

 

 Reviewed by Jeanne

If the colorful Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) decorations have caught your eye, here’s a craft book which will help you create your own.  The book opens with a brief overview of the history of the holiday with roots primarily in Mexico. It’s a day for honoring and remembering the dead, and a holiday that emphasizes family. It’s usually celebrated on November 1 and 2, but can be observed on other days as well.

I like looking at craft books even though I rarely attempt any sort of craft these days.  (I have a closet full of materials for projects that I thought I would do and haven’t.  It hasn’t been a total loss, though, as the cats have found the pipe cleaners to be the best toys ever!) Anyway, this is a gem of a book that I thoroughly enjoyed.  It not only gave me information about the holiday but it highlighted the work of various artists. 

The first chapter was on ofrendas, which are altars to encourage the dead to visit their living families.  These are often set up in homes, but can be done in public spaces or in cemeteries.  Color photos show different styles, and then illustrate various elements of the altar: photos of the deceased, favorite foods, candles, and so forth.  The photos showed personal altars, altars for groups of people, and even for famous people like artist Frida Kahlo.  I especially liked that most of these had some background information from the various artists.  The next section shows how to construct a small altar, which actually looks both nice and like something I could do.  (The only iffy part is that they suggest using a cigar box.  I’m trying to remember the last time I saw a cigar box….)

The second chapter is devoted to Calaveras, the skeletons who play a big role in the decorations.  Again, there is an explanation of their role in the holiday as well as information on the materials often used to construct them.  There are some wonderful photos of different calaveras in elaborate settings, and made from various materials:  polymer clay, sticks, cloth, metal, and fabric. The book has very detailed instructions for the polymer clay ones.

The rest of the book does much the same, highlighting examples of the work as well as the artists who created them, and then supplying some instruction. I view this book as more inspirational than instructional, though clever people will be able to make

Mostly I just loved looking at the photos and admiring the artistry.  I also enjoyed learning more about some of the figures, cultural aspects, beliefs, and history.  I only wish it had been a coffee table type book with larger photos but then that would have made it less useful as a craft book.

Non-crafters could enjoy this book. Even if I never make any of the crafts, I have already had a great deal of enjoyment from the photos.  Now I want to watch “Coco” again—I think I’ll understand the symbolism behind the decorations more.

Art Nouveau by Rosalind Ormiston and Michael Robinson

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

 

An often overlooked gem of our collection is the Oversized Books.  While there are books on many topics, from cake decorating to NASCAR, many of the books are on art.  One new to us entry is Art Nouveau:  Posters, Illustration & Fine Art from the Glamorous Fin de Siecle by Rosalind Ormiston and Michael Robinson. While the title sounds ponderous, the contents are not.  Art Nouveau refers to a style that became popular around the 1890s-early 1900s in Europe and in America. It tended to feature natural elements like flowers and trees, and flowing lines.  Women have beautifully draped clothes and wonderfully curling hair, along with wavy or circular design elements. Many well-known posters of the era used art nouveau design, most notably Alphonse Mucha’s posters for Sarah Bernhardt or Theophile Steinlen’s cat posters advertising everything from theater performances to beer to chocolate. In fact, advertising posters are perhaps the best known examples of Art Nouveau, as struggling artists found that a more lucrative way to make a living than waiting for commissions or hoping to sell paintings. These are instantly recognizable, even if you don’t know the artist or the particular work. “Le Chat Noir” or “Moulin Rouge” are among the best known.  American Louis Comfort Tiffany’s famous lampshades and windows are another famous example of that style as is Gustav Klimt’s painting “The Kiss" which adorns the book's cover.

The book itself is a gorgeous compilation.  Although posters and paintings form the bulk of the book, there are pieces of furniture, stained glass, and stunning jewelry included as well.  Ormiston is an art teacher and Robinson writes on British art and design, so they are well suited to provide the text.  It’s both readable and informative, if one can take one’s eyes off the glorious art long enough. 

While I recognized several names, there were new ones to discover as well.  I also hadn’t realized the influence of Japanese and other Asian art on the Art Nouveau movement, and there are literary influences as well.  I like that the authors show examples along with the definitions to help me see exactly what is meant.

As an added local bonus, the William King Art Museum in Abingdon has “The Art of Advertisement” exhibit going on now until October 27, 2024 which features Art Nouveau posters from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts collection. The Museum is free and if you enjoy this style, it’s well worth a visit. There are other exhibits as well, including one on the Highlands Festival.

Oversize Books: Mucha, Thing Explainer, Egyptian Book of the Dead, Atlas of Shipwrecks and Treasures

 

One area of the library is sometimes a bit overlooked:  our Oversize Book collection. As the title implies, these are large books that don’t easily sit on the regular book shelves and so are relegated to a special section with more space.  All are non-fiction and are on a number of topics from NASCAR to cake decorating.  Here are some favorites:

Alphonse Mucha was born in what is now the Czech Republic and showed talent as an artist at a young age. His big break came while he was in Paris, working for a publishing house.  The noted actress Sarah Bernhardt called, requesting a new poster in honor of her play and wanting it done immediately. Mucha designed the poster, which was an immediate sensation.  It proved so popular that Bernhardt ordered several thousand copies and hired Mucha to design future posters for her.  Much of his early work was for advertising or promotional purposes.  It was bright, beautiful, and eye-catching.  Once you have seen some of his work, his style is unmistakable and still influences artists today.  We have Alphonse Mucha:  Masterworks which has some wonderful examples of his works, beautifully reproduced along with his biography and information about the individual pieces.

The Egyptian Book of the Dead:  The Book of Going Forth by Day is a translation with photos of the Papyrus of Ani, the most complete such papyrus to be found.  Books of the Dead found in Egyptian burials contained information that the deceased might need in the afterlife:  directions, spells, hymns to the gods, and so forth.  There is not one definitive version.  The original papyrus of this one is housed in the British museum and was created for the Scribe Ani and his wife Tutu.  This book has a translation of the papyrus by Dr. Raymond Faulkner with commentaries by Dr. Odgen Goelet.  Each page shows a section of the papyrus with the translation below.  The artwork is lovely, and it is fascinating to see the hieroglyphics. 

Randall Munroe’s The Thing Explainer:  Complicated Stuff in Simple Words is a wonderfully informative book about, well, lots of stuff.  There are graphics and words showing everything from the Earth’s past to how they live on the International Space Station.  Munroe is accurate but also has a sense of humor. For this book, he decided he was just going to use the most common ten hundred words (the word “thousand” is not among them) so that people would understand and not be led astray by jargon or unfamiliar words. I think my favorite is the section on the sky at night with the wonderful names of the constellations using those same common words:  “pretend flying horse,” “water animal with hand cutters,” and “little dog.”  Some of them sent me to astronomy books to figure out what they were! In this same section, he offers tips about stargazing such as the best kind of “looking glass” to use to look at space as well as “put warm things over people” because it’s cold at night. Since I am one of those who can never see constellations, I particularly enjoyed the aside with the stick person looking at a drawing of a constellation named after a cat and commenting, “Have the people who named this ever seen a cat?” This book is just plain fun and very engaging.

When it comes to illustrated books, you can’t go wrong with anything published by DK.  That certainly goes for The Atlas of Shipwrecks & Treasure:  The History, Location, and Treasures of Ships Lost at Sea by Nigel Pickford. The book is divided up both by era and type of ship; for example, the first sections deal with Bronze Age, Viking, and Chinese Junks. Later sections deal with pirates, liners (such as Titanic), and World War II wrecks. There are sections about specific ships, both with the history of the ship and the history of the discovery and salvage, as well as overviews of multiple ships in a time period. The second part of the book is the gazetteer, with maps showing locations of various wrecks no matter the time period as well as a list of ships. 

These are just a few of the delights that await in the Oversize collection.  Check them out!

Red String Theory by Lauren Kung Jessen

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

Dedicated New Yorker Rooney Gao is an artist.  She uses the pseudonym “Red String Girl” for her art because she wants to make a name for herself, not for the fact that she has a famous mother. The name also reflects her use of string in her art, a manifestation of the Chinese legend that everyone has a red string that attaches to their one true love.  For Rooney it means some things are just fated to be.

Enter Jackson Lui, a senior engineer at NASA, who is in New York City to do a presentation which he hopes will help earn him a long sought after promotion.  The two meet up at a print shop, and then again at a party.  Rooney is beginning to wonder if it could be fate, but there’s a small problem or two:

Jack doesn’t believe in fate.

And he lives in California.

Yes, I have now read two romances so far this year, which may be some kind of record for me.  It’s not that I have anything against love, but I do tend to bog down in the overwrought drama that many of those books feature. I get frustrated with the characters because they could usually clear things up with one conversation but it seems to be more fun to wail and fuss.

That’s not the case here.  Rooney and Jack are two adults. They’re attracted to each other from the start and have a magical date. They actually talk about things that matter. I loved (no pun intended) how we got to know the characters, how they discussed their beliefs and respected one another.  I learned a bit about art, about Mars, about chance, about Chinese folklore, and probability, and found two fictional characters that I like a lot.  I enjoyed how the two meet up again, and the way they reconnect.

If more romances were like this one, I’d read more romances.

Death of a Wandering Wolf by Julia Buckley

Reviewed by Jeanne

Hana Keller is thrilled to find a valuable china figurine of a wolf at a garage sale.  It’s a Herend, the product of a famous Hungarian pottery, and priced at only $5.  Hana tells the seller it’s worth much, much more, but he says it came from someone he doesn’t trust and he wants rid of it. He also has some beautiful paintings he’s selling for far less than they’re worth. Hana loads up, and lets a friend who owns an antique shop know about the amazing sale so he can check it out.

Unfortunately, when she shows her prize to Eric Wolf, her detective boyfriend, he doesn’t seem nearly as enchanted.  In fact, he’s downright upset.  The wolf has a tiny metal tracking device attached, meaning whoever has the figurine is being tracked by someone else.  Eric and Hana head back to the seller’s house, only to find that he has been murdered.

This is the second in the Hungarian Tea House Mystery series, following Death in a Budapest Butterfly.  I was anxious to read it because I loved the first one.  Hana and her family run a traditional Hungarian Tea House, so the reader learns not only about Hungarian food but customs and folklore as well.  There’s a touch of the supernatural in that Hana’s grandmother reads tea leaves with uncanny accuracy, and Hana is beginning to realize she may have inherited this gift. 

The plot is more cozy than classic mystery, which is to say that some clues come from supernatural sources and there is as much interest in interpersonal relationships as in the mystery. The characters are interesting and entertaining, and I quite enjoyed meeting Eric’s twin sisters.  That said, I would have liked a bit more action with Hana’s grandmother because she is more steeped in Hungarian ways which is one of the book’s attractions for me.

Death of a Wandering Wolf did not disappoint.  There is a fascinating mystery tied up with an historical event involving Hana’s great grandmother as well as character development.  We’re introduced to some of Eric’s family, Hana explores her gift, and there are wonderful descriptions of art and food.  I’m not one of those who reads cozy mysteries for the recipes—I have to replace smoke detector batteries every time I cook—but I am sorely tempted to try the haluska which involves cabbage, noodles, and butter, three of the major food groups.

I don’t think you would have to read these in order to enjoy them, but I prefer to read series that way.  The first book had more Hungarian folklore and culture, and I was especially intrigued by the various “witches” who populated the folktales.

I already have the third book in the series, and I fully expect it to be a delight as well.

Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan

 

 

Reviewed by Ambrea 

Tales from Outer Suburbia is a collection of short stories written and illustrated by Shaun Tan.  It features a mystical—but taciturn—water buffalo, several mysterious visitors, a dugong, strange machines, and otherworldly adventures.  Each tale is followed by interesting art:  some of it lovely and entertaining, some of it strange and haunting, some of it weird and disconcerting.

I placed a hold on Tales from Outer Suburbia after hearing about Tan’s work in the award-winning book The Arrival.  After doing some more research online and investigating his books, I decided to give this particular collection a shot and—well, truthfully, I’m not sure what to make of it.

Tales from Outer Suburbia is—and there’s no other way to describe it—a very strange book. 

I loved the variety of artwork found in the pages—different mediums, different colors, different styles—and I liked that Tan combines his stories and artwork, allowing them to complement each other.  I particularly liked the stories titled Eric, which is about an unusual exchange student, and Distant Rain, a story about what happens to all the poems people write but never share. 

But, like I said, it’s also a very strange book.  It features magical things beneath the mundane, and it’s filled with stories that have no context.  Some stories, like Night of the Turtle Rescue and Broken Toys, feel like you’ve just been plopped into the middle of something unfinished, like you’ve been dropped onto a baking hot sidewalk in suburban Australia, trying to figure out what in the world is actually happening.

I spent most of my time feeling just a little confused, but I won’t say that’s a bad thing.  Truthfully, I found I savored the stories more and studied them even longer, because I wanted to understand them.  I liked puzzling over the stories and the artwork, and I’m sure every reader will take something a little different from each story—a meaning behind the art and the words that’s totally unique. 

Overall, I enjoyed Tales from Outer Suburbia.  Despite its short length, it’s one of those books I could tirelessly flip through and ruminate on all the little details I missed at first.