The Girl in the Spider's Web by David Lagercrantz

Goodreads Synopsis:
She is the girl with the dragon tattoo—a genius hacker and uncompromising misfit. He is a crusading journalist whose championing of the truth often brings him to the brink of prosecution.

Late one night, Blomkvist receives a phone call from a source claiming to have information vital to the United States. The source has been in contact with a young female superhacker—a hacker resembling someone Blomkvist knows all too well. The implications are staggering. Blomkvist, in desperate need of a scoop for Millennium, turns to Salander for help. She, as usual, has her own agenda. The secret they are both chasing is at the center of a tangled web of spies, cybercriminals, and governments around the world, and someone is prepared to kill to protect it . . . 


My Review:
I was worried I wasn't going to like this since it wasn't Stieg Larsson putting his final touches on it, but I really enjoyed book #4 in the Lisbeth Salander series. It's a bit slow in the beginning, but give it time. I think David Lagercrantz did a pretty good job reflecting Larsson's style and the Salander/Blomkvist bond that I absolutely love was expressed perfectly. 

There's also quite a bit of plot and drama going on in this one & that's just speaking of Lisbeth's storyline. It definitely delves deeper into her childhood and keeps you wanting to find out more. This does have some sensitive subject matter and references to abuse/rape, but I don't think it's to the same extent as the first book. If you enjoyed the first three books in this series but were hesitant to keep reading after Larsson's death then definitely give #4 a try. It looks like a fifth book came out last year, "The Girl who Takes an Eye for an Eye."

The Author

Author Tidbit: David Lagercrantz is a Swedish journalist.

Favorite Quote: "The doctor said that what matters is not that we believe in God. God is not small-minded. What matters is for us to understand that life is serious and rich. We should appreciate it and also try to make the world a better place. Whoever finds a balance between the two is close to God."

The Uninvited Guests by Sadie Jones

Goodreads Synopsis:
One late spring evening in 1912, in the kitchens at Sterne, preparations begin for an elegant supper party in honor of Emerald Torrington's twentieth birthday. But only a few miles away, a dreadful accident propels a crowd of mysterious and not altogether savory survivors to seek shelter at the ramshackle manor—and the household is thrown into confusion and mischief.

Evening turns to stormy night, and a most unpleasant parlor game threatens to blow respectability to smithereens: Smudge Torrington, the wayward youngest daughter of the house, decides that this is the perfect moment for her Great Undertaking.

The Uninvited Guests is the bewitching new novel from the critically acclaimed Sadie Jones. The prizewinning author triumphs in this frightening yet delicious drama of dark surprises—where social codes are uprooted and desire daringly trumps propriety—and all is alight with Edwardian wit and opulence.



My Review:
I looooooooved this book. This entire novel spans one evening of merriment and madness that is almost dream-like. The characters enter the story already well-developed, the dynamics of each relationship understood and entertaining. The problem these characters face seems simple at first. But there is a dark twist towards the end that throws everything into new light.

My absolute favorite character is the youngest daughter, nicknamed Smudge. Her Great Undertaking is a hilarious balance for what the rest of the characters are going through in their grown-up dinner party. The author creates a wonderful romantic tension between the younger characters as they see each other with new eyes, but the underlying menace of their mystery guest creates a darkness that stretches for the novel's duration. 

Another added treat is the author's use of language and imagery. When describing the dinner scene, she actually makes ox tongue sound sexy. Her style made me think of Elizabeth Cunningham's "The Wild Mother." Both have that delicious combination of English propriety set against the Wild Primitive. Sadie Jones can write a story.

The Author

Author Tidbit: Sadie Jones's first novel, "The Outcast," was adapted for television by the BBC.

Bite the Biscuit by Linda O. Johnston

Synopsis from Goodreads: 
Carrie Kennersly, a veterinary technician, has become known for offering healthy and popular dog treats at the clinic where she works. When the local bakery's owner moves away, Carrie jumps at the chance to convert it into the Barkery, a shop to make and sell her canine delights.

But Myra Ethman, co-owner of another pet product store, hates the new competition. At the Barkery's opening party, she badmouths Carrie's homemade dog biscuits, insisting she'll find a way to shut the place down. So when Myra is found dead with a Barkery biscuit beside her, Carrie must prove she didn't do it before she's collared for murder.

My Review:
If you're looking for a light cozy mystery then this book should meet your needs. The bakery environment gives it a cozy touch, but I would have been happy with more baking scenes. (In the author's bio she does mention that she doesn't cook very much and this shows in her novel.) Laura Childs is a mystery author who does a really good job making you salivate while reading. I wonder if she is a foodie? 

The main character was average. I didn't love her and I didn't hate her. I liked the pet element, but again, it could have been a bit more. Maybe give the main character two dogs instead of one and describe the interaction between the two animals. Pets can create a lot of humor that way. 

The writing style was very descriptive. Sometimes to the point of walking you through the entire day which wasn't always necessary. I've caught myself doing this while writing. After seeing it as a reader, I'll have to try to avoid that! As far as the mystery goes, the author does a pretty good job throwing suspicion around. This is a good read when you have stressful stuff going on. It doesn't require a ton of brain power and it's not emotional. Just a fun mystery.

Author Tidbit: Linda O. Johnston also volunteers at Pet Orphans of Southern California.

The Autumnlands: Tooth and Claw Vol. 1 by Kurt Busiek & Benjamin Dewey

Goodreads Synopsis:
The debut collection of the hit epic-fantasy series. When the wizards of the Autumnlands reach through time to bring back a legendary hero, they don't get the savior they expected. But in a shattered, besieged city, he's their only hope of survival—and possibly their entire world's, as well.

My Review:
Volume 1 was awesome. The storyline, written by Kurt Busiek, is intriguing, even more so the characters. And the artwork, by Benjamin Dewey, is powerful. Color and motion drive the story forward visually and the plot will leave you wanting to read the next one. I'll keep the review short since you'd probably rather see artwork from the book. There are currently 2 trade paperback volumes available. I'll have to buy the second one soon.

Kurt Busiek's other work: Astro City, Avengers, Conan & more

If you fall in love with the artwork, you can see more of Benjamin Dewey's work in the "Tragedy Series" and "I Was the Cat."

The Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman

Goodreads Synopsis:
Coralie Sardie is the daughter of the sinister impresario behind The Museum of Extraordinary Things, a Coney Island boardwalk freak show that thrills the masses. An exceptional swimmer, Coralie appears as the Mermaid in her father’s “museum,” alongside performers like the Wolfman, the Butterfly Girl, and a one-hundred-year-old turtle. One night Coralie stumbles upon a striking young man taking pictures of moonlit trees in the woods off the Hudson River.

The dashing photographer is Eddie Cohen, a Russian immigrant who has run away from his father’s Lower East Side Orthodox community and his job as a tailor’s apprentice. When Eddie photographs the devastation on the streets of New York following the infamous Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, he becomes embroiled in the suspicious mystery behind a young woman’s disappearance and ignites the heart of Coralie.

My Review:
This is a uniquely told love story. In fact, the characters don't even officially begin to interact until halfway through the book. The author uses the first half of the book to establish the temperaments, back stories and current states of her two main characters, Coralie and Eddie. As you read, you're able to watch two very different people from two very different places slowly make their way to each other. And once that meeting happens there is nothing that can change their course together.

As always, Alice Hoffman tells a seamless story. With elements of history and fairy tale, she creates another lyrically beautiful novel that shows all the facets of love, even the dark ones. And she throws in a bit of mystery too. Hoffman also gives us an educational perspective on the New York scene around 1911 and the working condition of factory workers. You'll walk away with a better understanding of that time and place and you'll feel like her characters are your friends. I will always recommend Alice Hoffman. For further reading, try her collection of short stories, "Blackbird House."

The Author

Author Tidbit: The movie, Practical Magic, was based on her novel (same title). After being treated for breast cancer, she started the Hoffman Breast Center at Mount Auburn Hospital.

Favorite Quote: "There was sorrow in the seams of his clothes, but he was used to death. It seemed that life was a bolt of cloth to him, and he was there to fold it and set it in a drawer. He said the prayers over the open grave, then, after being paid, quickly went on to his next appointment. I shoveled the dirt onto the coffin, as was the custom of our people, while the gravediggers looked on, arms folded across their chests. In our faith we are instructed to bury our own, and in doing so grant them that last favor."

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

Goodreads Synopsis:
Under the influence of their charismatic classics professor, a group of clever, eccentric misfits at an elite New England college discover a way of thinking and living that is a world away from the humdrum existence of their contemporaries. But when they go beyond the boundaries of normal morality they slip gradually from obsession to corruption and betrayal, and at last - inexorably - into evil.

My Review:
Well, I guess this is kind of a mixed bag for me. Let's start with some positive first. Donna Tartt's writing style is sharp, lush and beautifully bitter. You could settle down into it like a warm, dark blanket. And the way she describes the emotional & physical states of her characters is incredibly perceptive. In fact, if you were a fan of Fyodor Dostoevsky's "Crime and Punishment" you'll hear echoes of his talent for human psychology in Tartt's writing. Even the premise is similar as she goes into impressive detail over how her characters react/suffer after killing a close friend in their group. The focus of the book isn't the murder itself but what it does to the people who have committed it.

Some things that I wasn't as crazy about were that I had no emotional attachment to any of the characters, especially the narrator. When I come across books like this it takes an extra push of energy to finish them. But that's probably my shortcoming. While I wasn't able to connect with any of the characters, I was still entranced by them and wanted to find out how they would progress through the novel. The second thing I was a bit disappointed with was how small of a role their Greek professor played. When you read the synopsis and then start the book, you're under the impression that Julian is going to influence his students more directly. You expect him to be this sinister element, but he really doesn't show up very often. I feel like he could have had more of a presence, but maybe the author wanted the students to be held responsible for their moral deterioration. The worst of the characters (and the most captivating) is somewhat redeemed at the end, but overall the novel never loses the dark cloud hanging over it. 

After going online to find photos for this review, I found quite a following for the book. There are some beautiful photo montages, hopeful cast picks for a movie that has yet to be made, and fan fiction (not surprising in the least). 

The Author

Favorite Quotes:

Call It Courage by Armstrong Sperry

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Mafatu was afraid of the sea. It had taken his mother when he was a baby, and it seemed to him that the sea gods sought vengeance at having been cheated of Mafatu. So, though he was the son of the Great Chief of Hikueru, a race of Polynesians who worshipped courage, and he was named Stout Heart, he feared and avoided tha sea, till everyone branded him a coward. When he could no longer bear their taunts and jibes, he determined to conquer that fear or be conquered-- so he went off in his canoe, alone except for his little dog and pet albatross. A storm gave him his first challenge. Then days on a desert island found him resourceful beyond his own expectation. This is the story of how his courage grew and how he finally returned home. This is a legend. It happened many years ago, but even today the people of Hikueru sing this story and tell it over their evening fires.

My review:
This book was recommended by a friend of mine (and fellow bookworm) so I gave it a shot. Written for young readers, this story can easily be enjoyed by adults as well. Armstrong Sperry writes in a wonderfully descriptive and knowledgable voice that quickly brings Mafatu's surroundings to life. Originally published in 1940, Sperry's vocabulary and tone have that old-fashioned feel that's oddly comforting when you settle into the story. And Mafatu's tale is one that anyone can relate to. Filled with fear, he thinks himself a failure for not being brave like his people. As he sets out to prove himself, the one thing that keeps him moving forward with courage is the thought of making his father proud. As a character, Mafatu is so endearing that you catch yourself cheering him on as he overcomes each obstacle put before him. The fact that his two constant companions are a seagull and a dog makes it an even more endearing.

The copy I read was the hardcover edition illustrated by the author himself.  His artwork has a very distinct look that is simple but emotive. I am absolutely in love with the way he uses lines to shade and highlight. If you can get a copy of this edition, I'd recommend it. You'll be dedicating as much time to the drawings as you do the words.

Sperry sums up his book best when accepting the Newbery Medal for this title, "I had been afraid that perhaps in Call It Courage, the concept of spiritual courage might be too adult for children, but the reception of this book has reaffirmed a belief I have long held: that children have imagination enough to grasp any idea, and respond to it, if it is put to them honestly and without a patronizing pat on the head."
"Call It Courage" was filmed for television in 1973 and later made into a musical play in 2010.

The Author

Author Tidbit: Sperry's love of the ocean was inspired by his great-grandfather who was a brave sea captain.

New Amsterdam by Elizabeth Bear

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Abigail Irene Garrett drinks too much. She makes scandalous liaisons with inappropriate men, and if in her youth she was a famous beauty, now she is both formidable--and notorious. She is a forensic sorceress, and a dedicated officer of a Crown that does not deserve her loyalty. She has nothing, but obligations. Sebastien de Ulloa is the oldest creature she has ever known. He was no longer young at the Christian millennium, and that was nine hundred years ago. He has forgotten his birth-name, his birth-place, and even the year in which he was born, if he ever knew it. But he still remembers the woman who made him immortal. He has everything, but a reason to live. In a world where the sun never set on the British Empire, where Holland finally ceded New Amsterdam to the English only during the Napoleonic wars, and where the expansion of the American colonies was halted by the war magic of the Iroquois, they are exiles in the new world--and its only hope for justice.


My Thoughts:
This is the first in a series so if you love it then there's more. I'm probably not going to commit to the series, but that might have more to do with having way too many books to read. Despite that, I found myself really enjoying the characters and the way they interacted with each other. Bear is a wordsmith so keep a dictionary handy. She doesn't go overboard with it, just enough to make you wonder how on earth she managed to know that word and use it in a way that makes it settle down naturally into the sentence like "no big deal." 

I absolutely loved Abigail Irene Garrett, but how can one not love a female forensic sorceress working in the late 1800s? Sebastien grew on me and the subtle competition between Abigail and Jack (for Sebastien's attention) was always entertaining. Even more so, the friendship that grows out of it. All in all, this is definitely a book for someone who enjoys fantasy/mystery driven by its characters. That is what will keep you reading, not the plot. Just a heads-up, this book does not read like a typical novel. It's more like a collection of isolated mysteries that the characters float in and out of while performing their own special detective work. In fact, the first character mentioned in the synopsis doesn't even show up until the second chapter (62 pages in). Each story has its own thorough imagery (Bear gets 5 out of 5 stars for setting a scene), but do not expect continuity between each story.

The Author

Author Tidbit: Elizabeth has done a little bit of everything. She's worked as a stablehand, traffic manager, typesetter and donut maker.

Fevre Dream by George R. R. Martin

Goodreads Synopsis:
Abner Marsh has had his wish come true - he has built the Fevre Dream, the finest steamship to sail the Mississippi. Abner hopes to race the boat some day, but his partner is making it hard for him to realise his dreams. Joshua York put up the money for the Fevre Dream, but now rumours have started about the company he keeps, his odd eating habits and strange hours. As the Dream sails the great river, it leaves in its wake one too many dark tales, forcing Abner to face down the man who made his dreams become reality.



My Thoughts:
All in all, a fantastic book. It's a bit slow-going in the beginning, but once it picks up IT PICKS UP. By the end of the book, I became extremely fond of the characters Abner Marsh and Joshua York. It's an unlikely bond, but a memorable one. Martin does a good job with developing the main players without going overboard (...although a fan of his series A Song of Ice and Fire, I'm thrilled he didn't create 200 characters just to have half of them die a few sentences later). Woo hoo! 

What I enjoyed most, surprisingly, was Martin's obvious enthusiasm for steamboats. I've never really been a steamboat kind of girl (insert dirty joke here) but he got me into the history and lifestyle of that time. He really did his late-night boat reading and I always love when an author takes the time and care to research something in depth. About halfway through, you can tell that if you ever got stuck on an elevator with George R. R. Martin and said the word "steamboats" he'd launch into a 2-hour conversation about them with a silly grin on his face. I can envision him spending hours riding these things in a Captain's jacket and jotting down notes. Plus, there's only so many ways to describe water. I'll give two thumbs up for him not sounding redundant. 

If you're a vampire fan then you should give this a read. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Martin takes a very interesting and thoughtful angle on the whole sucking blood business. That being said, I don't read a lot of vampire fiction so you can yell at me in the Comments section if I'm wrong. I was going to explain his angle on it, but I'm thinking it might be a bit of a spoiler...so nope. Just the read the book. It's good.

Subterranean Press has put out a fancified deluxe illustrated edition for super fans. Here's one of the illustrations by Justin Sweet (props to his talent and ability to capture the mood & characters):

The Author

Author Tidbit: Martin's father was a longshoreman (waterfront manual laborer). He grew up by the water and sold monster stories to other kids to make a few pennies.

We still love you though

Casual Vacancy by J. K. Rowling

Synopsis from Goodreads:
When Barry Fairbrother dies in his early forties, the town of Pagford is left in shock.

Pagford is, seemingly, an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, but what lies behind the pretty façade is a town at war.

Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils ... Pagford is not what it first seems.

And the empty seat left by Barry on the parish council soon becomes the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen. Who will triumph in an election fraught with passion, duplicity and unexpected revelations?


My Thoughts:
Wow. Hot tea and razor blades are the images that come to mind. I had heard mixed reviews of this book from customers at the bookstore, but I'm glad I still read it. If you are reading this because you loved Harry Potter and you want it to be just like that then...you irritate me. I wouldn't be surprised if most of those customers were expecting something as epic as the Boy Who Lived. I think it takes guts to keep writing after writing something that TREMENDOUS. Talk about pressure. And, of course, what winds up happening is the author lets people down. Those people irritate me. 

This is an amazing book. And not for the reasons that Harry Potter was amazing. Remove the fantastical background, the mythological creatures and the magic as the author shines a light on a regular town with regular people. This could easily be boring in anyone else's hands, but Rowling delivers. Yet this story isn't action-packed like her previous books. Instead it's driven forward solely by the depth or shallowness of its characters; their fears and shortcomings, their hopes. But more than anything, by their secrets. Rowling has a jarring insight into human nature and what makes us tick.

Her language is simple but precise with unexpected passages that leave you open-mouthed. She speaks with brutal sincerity. Her characters are people you pass on the street everyday and, while reading about their lives, you feel almost ashamed for spying yet have to read more. And Rowling weaves each character's life into the next character's with effortless skill- the final spider web building into disaster. 

Read this book, but forget Harry Potter. That's hard for me to say because I LOVE Harry Potter. But this book is not kid-friendly. It's written for adults and there are some difficult scenes. Authors get the short end of the stick after they write a bestseller. Especially when it's a bestselling series turned into movies turned into theme park. Expectations are high and people expect that author to deliver the same great amazing masterpiece again and again and again. This book is a much more subtle masterpiece and I'm grateful she took the time to flex her muscles when it comes to plain old character development. A+ Rowling, I don't care what anyone else says!

Oh and (my absolute favorite part) the main character is a dead guy. Not a ghost. Just a guy that recently bit the dust and you get to see how that dust falls on all of the people around him. Enjoy.

The Author

Author Tidbit: Like many others, J. K. Rowling suffered from clinical depression. This inspired the soul-sucking Dementors from her Harry Potter series. 

The Secret of Excalibur by Andy McDermott

Book Synopsis from Goodreads:
Excalibur . . . Legend has it that he who carries King Arthur’s mighty sword into battle will be invincible. But for more than a thousand years, the secret to the whereabouts of this powerful weapon has been lost . . . until now.

Archaeologist Nina Wilde is hoping for a little R&R with her fiancé, former SAS bodyguard Eddie Chase. But the couple’s plans are dashed when a meeting with an old acquaintance propels Nina and Eddie into a razor’s-edge hunt across the globe—battling a team of elite mercenaries who will stop at nothing in order to claim a prize every treasure hunter has coveted since the final days of Camelot. Nina and Eddie must do everything they can to keep the legendary blade from falling into the wrong hands. Because the truth behind the sword’s power—and those who seek it—will not only shock the world but plunge it into a new and more devastating era of war.

My Thoughts:
Soooooo....I couldn't finish this book. I tried, I really did. I don't usually read books like this but I gave it a try in hopes that the Arthurian legend/history would keep my attention. Unfortunately, half way through and there wasn't that much legend or history. But there was action sequence after action sequence! So much that it started to drown out any chance of character development. Oh well. I think the chips were stacked against me because I don't read much from this genre. I think someone who does read a lot of books in this genre would probably enjoy it. So if you like books where action scenes dominate give it a try. 

Homestead by Rosina Lippi

Book Synopsis from Goodreads:
Each life has its place, and every variation ripples the surface of the tiny alpine village called Rosenau. Be it a mysteriously misaddressed love letter or a girl's careless delivery of two helpless relatives into Nazi hands, the town's balance is ever tested, and ever tender. Here is a novel spanning eighty years -- years that bring factories and wars, store-bought cheese and city-trained teachers -- weaving the fates of the wives, mothers, and daughters in this remote corner of Austria. To quote Rosellen Brown, "the women in this haunting book are deeply and uniquely of their place, yet they speak (often wordlessly) of women's longings and satisfactions everywhere."

My Thoughts:
Rosina Lippi weaves a story the way Bob Ross throws a landscape onto canvas; masterfully and without hesitation. This is a collection of moments, of memories both sweet and painful for several women who live in the same alpine village. Some of them are family, but all are connected in one way or another. The imagery is haunting and delicate fueled by words that have a razor sharpness beneath them. Her descriptions will stick with you. This is what I want in a book when I'm looking for something of substance. Since the narrations change from woman to woman it can become difficult to keep track of the different perspectives, but the author does provide family trees that you can refer to. Any woman who reads this will find a piece of herself in it and that's what makes this book magic.

The Author

Author Tidbit: Rosina Lippi won the 1999 Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award for "Homestead." She also has a degree in linguistics and is a fiber artist.

Lythande by Marion Zimmer Bradley

Synopsis from Goodreads:
A Pilgrim Adept of the Blue Star, Lythande had mastered all the true magics of the world. But the power of an Adept was always bound to a Secret, and whoever discovered this sorcerer's Secret could steal away the Blue Star power, leaving the Adept defenseless, fit only for death.

And Lythande's secret was perhaps the most dangerous of all, setting the mage apart from all humanity, forcing Lythande to war against spell beast, sorcerer, thief, swordsman, and the magic of the gods themselves.…


My Thoughts:
Just a headsup, this is not a novel but a collection of short stories. I have a harder time getting into short stories, but these were engaging enough for me to get past that. I also enjoyed the short description before each story where Bradley goes into her thought process or the reason for writing it. She was criticized by some feminists for the character she created and the world she travels in and it was a treat to hear Bradley's response to some of these criticisms. 

The character of Lythande (pronounced Lee-THOND) is really interesting. She became a sorcerer in a school that only teaches men their secrets. Only when she has learned their secrets and become a Pilgrim Adept does she reveal her gender. But from then on she must travel from city to city under the guise of a man and if anyone discovers her secret they can then use it to take away her power. While Lythande is mostly stoic and pragmatic, you get a really intriguing perspective during her vulnerable moments. Especially when she's around other women who think she's a man.

While my favorite work of Bradley's is "The Mists of Avalon," I think she did a good job rounding out this very unique character and giving her an endearing balance of strength and fragility.

The Author

Author Tidbit: In 1966, Bradley helped found the Society of Creative Anachronism (a living history group that studies and recreates mostly Medieval European traditions).

Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya

Synopsis from Goodreads: 
Antonio Marez is six years old when Ultima enters his life. She is a curandera, one who heals with herbs and magic. 'We cannot let her live her last days in loneliness,' says Antonio's mother. 'It is not the way of our people,' agrees his father. And so Ultima comes to live with Antonio's family in New Mexico. Soon Tony will journey to the threshold of manhood. Always, Ultima watches over him. She graces him with the courage to face childhood bigotry, diabolical possession, the moral collapse of his brother, and too many violent deaths. Under her wise guidance, Tony will probe the family ties that bind him, and he will find in himself the magical secrets of the pagan past—a mythic legacy equally as palpable as the Catholicism of Latin America in which he has been schooled. At each turn in his life there is Ultima who will nurture the birth of his soul.

My Thoughts: 
Bless me, Rudolfo. I tried. I really tried. But after forcing myself to finish the 5th chapter, I just couldn't justify making myself read a book I couldn't get into. Life's too short! Now that being said, I appreciated Anaya's language and imagery. He writes with a fierce connection to nature which is why I'm so bummed I couldn't get into the story. What made me put this book down was the slow-moving story and the lack of connection I felt with the characters. Ultima was the most colorful and interesting of the bunch, but it still wasn't enough to make me keep reading. 

         Who knows, maybe this book gets REALLY good in chapter 6. If so, then I missed out on it. Give the book a try and maybe it will be different for you. Just because it didn't grab me doesn't mean it's not worth reading. Rudolfo Anaya is praised in the Chicano literature canon so it can't be for nothing. 

The Author

The Wild Mother by Elizabeth Cunningham

Book Synopsis from Goodreads:
The delicate relationship growing between Adam Underwood and Eva Brooke is nearly destroyed with the reappearance of his former wife, Lilith.

*This synopsis doesn't even cover the half of it, but I can't judge because writing a synopsis was never my strong suit.*

My Thoughts:
Oh my goodness. I just finished this an hour ago and I'm still trying to untangle myself from it. Except I really don't want to. I feel lucky this book found its way to me and I plan on getting my hands on every other book this wonderful lady has written. Where to start?

This book reads like a dark fairytale. It doesn't lack in archetypes and symbolism. The imagery is bold and haunting with plenty of PRIMAL to go around. This is not a book about any particular religion, however, it does resurrect the biblical roles of Adam, Eve and Lilith while emphasizing the sacred feminine. Elizabeth Cunningham finds a beautiful balance between these two, often contradicting, themes.

So, now the characters. The dynamics developed between each character is subtle and real. The author doesn't impose action or drama on her plot, she lets her characters develop, change and react naturally and that moves the plot forward. And yet there is plenty happening in this story. What makes a book really special to me is when a relationship within it changes unexpectedly. Even more so when enemies become allies or when an author underplays a character's capacity to love and SHOW love. So that when they do open up it's a thousand times more special because it's so rare. This book overflows with these moments and by the end of it, yep, I was crying like a toddler. And that's not because this is a really sad book. It's not. It's a breath of fresh air in its reminder that we need to open our eyes to the world around us and the people in it. Especially the ones we take for granted. 

The strongest element in this book is the bond between a mother and her daughter. Blood or otherwise. And the book is appropriately named. The main characters in this element are Ionia and her wild mother, Lilith, who comes from the Empty Lands and must return there or die. Ionia's human father, Adam, holds Lilith captive in their home while the children and grandmother eventually plot Lilith's escape. And while the bond between Ionia and her mother strengthen, there are other maternal bonds that play out as the story progresses. Each one of the author's characters meets a pivotal moment that projects them through a very critical change. Each undergoes their own transformation and, by the end of it, it creates a beautiful patchwork of what FAMILY truly is.

I will not be lending this book out, so if you know me, don't even ask! This will go on the shelf with "The Books of Great Alta" and "The Mists of Avalon." It's a keeper. Thank you, Elizabeth Cunningham!

The Author

Author Tidbit: Elizabeth Cunningham is a tenth generation Episcopal priest and was ordained an interfaith minister and counselor in 1997. She is also a poet and musician.

Reservation Blues by Sherman Alexie

Book Synopsis from Goodreads: 
The life of Spokane Indian Thomas Builds-the-Fire irrevocably changes when blues legend Robert Johnson miraculously appears on his reservation and passes the misfit storyteller his enchanted guitar. Inspired by this gift, Thomas forms Coyote Springs, an all-Indian Catholic band who find themselves on a magical tour that leads from reservation bars to Seattle and New York--and deep within their own souls.

My Thoughts:
Prepare yourself for heavy. This is not a light inspirational story. It's inspirational, but there are moments that are incredibly bleak. This was my first Sherman Alexie title and he definitely has a unique way of writing. He doesn't utilize the typical novel format, but instead branches out in an almost cyclical way giving you quick short perspectives of the whole. My favorite element of his writing style is his use of symbolism and magical realism.  It offers a sometimes shocking contrast to the reality of the characters.
            As far as the characters and subject matter goes, you get a very intimate glimpse into each character's past and their lack of direction and sadness become your own. What I appreciated most was how Alexie describes how reservation life really is. I grew up watching movies that romanticized Native Americans and probably to their detriment. Reading this book was an eye-opener and if his portrayal is anywhere near the truth it should be told more so that the romanticized version can be put to rest. In the face of all the other issues this country deals with, it seems as if awareness of reservation poverty is nonexistent. Considering that one of the first reservations was created in 1758, it's a problem that has been around for awhile. This almost doomed tribal fate becomes the fate of each character in the book as they struggle to keep moving forward despite circumstances continuously bringing them down. It's an eye-opener. Do not read this if you're wanting a light read. Read it because you want to be informed. And especially read it if you're caught up in the romanticized version of the Native American. This is their side as it stands today.


Favorite Quote:
"In a dream, Chess, Checkers, and Thomas sat at the drum with Big Mom during the powwow. All the Spokane Indians crowded around the drum, too. They all pounded the drum and sang. Big Mom taught them a new song, the shadow horses' song, the slaughtered horses' song, the screaming horses' song, a song of mourning that would become a song of celebration: we have survived, we have survived. They would sing and sing, until Big Mom pulled out that flute built of the bones of the most beautiful horse who ever lived. She'd play a note, then two, three, then nine hundred. One for each of the dead horses. Then she'd keep playing, nine hundred, nine thousand, nine million, one note for each of the dead Indians."

The Author

Author Tidbit: Alexie grew up on the Spokane Reservation. He was born with hydrocephalus and had to have surgery at 6 months old. His chances of surviving were slim and doctors expected him to, at the best, have mental disabilities. Instead, he's become a well-respected writer. "Reservation Blues" won 1 of the 15 American Book Awards in 1996 and he has gone on to receive several other awards including having a film (Smoke Signals) based on his collection of short stories, "The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven."

The Night of the Moonbow by Thomas Tryon

Book Synopsis from Goodreads: In this spellbinding novel of idyllic childhoods torn apart by the blossoming terror of child pitted against child, Tryon spins a tale of the hidden horrors that lurk behind children's innocence, and an inevitable explosion of evil.

My Thoughts:
While this was a story that kept me interested in the fate of the main character, I would not call this horror. Even the review on the front cover, "A chilling nightmare...spine chilling terror..," is totally misleading. This is reminiscent of Lord of the Flies, suspenseful but not terrifying. 

The main character, Leo, is a tragic one but the book reviews would make you think he's another Damien.  Not so. But despite that, this book stands its ground as an example of how quickly society (and our civilized nature) can disintegrate. Acts of cruelty are balanced with characters that are both noble and compassionate.  The time period, 1938, provides a great parallel between the young boys turning against Leo and the beginning of Hitler's attempt to commit genocide.

What I most enjoyed was Tryon's writing style.  He has an extremely elegant way of writing that you don't see often in more contemporary writers. It's always nice when an author makes you go to the dictionary without being obnoxious about it. This is worth the read. Sad and bittersweet with a bit of hope at the end.

But my favorite Tryon novel is "Harvest Home." Want something to freak you out? Read that one. It's not a slasher, gore or hardcore horror piece. It's a lot more subtle than that. What makes it so creepy and a story that sticks with you is that it could actually happen. 

The Author

Author Tidbit: Thomas Tryon was an actor before he became a published writer. Some of his roles included the title role in The Cardinal and the Walt Disney television character Texas John Slaughter.