Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close - Jonathan Safran Foer

This book had been very subtly creeping around in my periphery for years.  While it was actually published in 2005, it got quite a bit of publicity with the 10th anniversary of 9/11...some even heralded it THE quintessential piece of 9/11 fiction.  Then, as things are wont to happen, I went to SIBA11 and the representative for Mariner Books pulled me aside and gave me a glowing summary of it.  He showed me the pictures.  Then he said the magic words "they are making it into a movie".  I will admit, my heart was racing when I walked away with it in my hands.

Synopsis:  Nine year-old Oskar Schell isn't like other boys his age.  He is scary smart.  He is precocious.  He looks at life differently than most people, with an insatiable desire to understand.  And he lost his father in 9/11.  This gives him some "heavy boots", because he longs for an answer, a story, about how his father died.  All he knows is that his father was in Windows on the World in the Twin Towers when the planes hit, and that he called and left messages on the home phone that he was OK.  Messages that Oskar hid from his mother.

One day when Oskar was in his parents' closet, he finds a hidden key in an envelope marked "Black".  Could this be a clue that will connect him with his father once again?  He and his father had always played a sort of smart version of a scavenger hunt, and perhaps this will be a chance for one more game.  Oskar embarks on a journey to figure out what this key opens, and in the process, encounters dozens of survivors from all walks of life that help this aching little soul to begin to live again.

My thoughts:  I completely fell in love with Oskar.  He delighted me with his combination of innocence and wisdom beyond his years.  He also was the perfect representative for those who had lost a loved one in 9/11.  He was confused, he was plagued with nightmares of his father's last moments, and he longed to move on with his life but at the same time couldn't let go.  He spent hours looking at photos of people jumping, spent hours analyzing his father's voicemails, trying to find answers that made sense.

Oskar's story is supplemented with a creative use of photographs, scribblings, and notes.  Things you don't expect in a novel, and this was exciting.  Different is so so good.  It brought Oskar's mission to life.

But I had one big issue with the story, and that was a part of the plot that I have yet to mention.  The narrative jumps back and forth between Oskar's adventures, and the story of his grandparents.  Sometimes the grandmother speaks and sometimes his grandfather speaks, recounting their past, how they met, their tortured relationship, their individual pieces of baggage that kept them forever psychologically stunted.  Foer is brilliant, so I am sure there is a beautiful and meaningful reason for this plot thread, but in Oskar's words, it gave me heavy boots.  These sections stopped me in my tracks, confused me, brought me down so low that I wanted to stop reading. I'll be interested to see how this section of the book translates to film (if at all).

So what of the movie?  I had to show you the trailer.  It makes me cry.  I have very high hopes.  Please watch:



   
4 out 5 stars (5 out of 5 for Oskar)

        

The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt - Caroline Preston

Without planning it, I guess this week should have been entitled "Treasures from SIBA11"!!  Earlier this week, I reviewed Kadir Nelson's gorgeous pictorial history of African Americans in "Heart and Soul".  Yesterday I reviewed the emotionally devastating "A Monster Calls" by Patrick Ness.  Today, I'm bringing you the utterly enchanting "The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt" by Caroline Preston.

Caroline Preston was one of our authors featured in the last event at SIBA, The Moveable Feast, where every 10 or 15 minutes, a new author comes to visit your lunch table to talk about their book.  When she showed us what she had been working on, my heart started to beat a little faster, and put her book way way at the top of my list of things to read as soon as I left Charleston.  If you are in the mood for something visual and clever, stop right where you are and check this out.

Summary:  Frankie Pratt has always wanted to be a writer.  So when she got a blank scrapbook from her mother for her high school graduation, she was determined to practice her skills while documenting her life as a young woman in the 1920's.

Frankie's father died when she was young, so things had always been financially challenging for her and her mother.  Instead of going to college, Frankie got a job to help out at home, but when she became entangled with a married man, Frankie's mother made "arrangements" to fund Frankie's education at Vassar.  From there we see Frankie go to Greenwich Village, and then across the Atlantic on an ocean liner to Paris.  She meets all sorts of colorful personalities, makes friends, and lives the high life, all the while looking for love.  Despite all the exciting places Frankie has lived, she does find love in the place she least expects.

Frankie's story is told completely through the items she includes in her scrapbook.  Theater tickets, advertisements for clothing and other items, of programs and pressed corsages and menus.  She also journals her thoughts and her experiences with her dad's old Corona typewriter.  Prepare for a visual delight while you journey through the 1920's with this very likable young woman.

My thoughts:  I mentioned this when I reviewed "Chopsticks" last week, but if this is a trend in literature, I am completely on board.  Telling stories through pictures isn't a new thing - graphic novels themselves have been around forever.  But the craft has taken a turn into territory that is fairly uncharted...ultimate scrap booking.

Make no mistake, Frankie can stand on her own two feet.  She is young and full of idealism, wants to find love, make her mark as a writer, and have fun along the way. I found her charming and sweet, if not a tad innocent.

But when you tell her story through vintage memorabilia - memorabilia that was lovingly collected and pieced together by the author (no photo shopping!) it takes on a whole new meaning and takes it to a whole new level.  You can read this story in a day, but you will find yourself wanting to sit in a quiet room in the house so you can pour over all the beautiful details.  It reminded me of the I-Spy books my kids used to read...you see something new each time you look at it.

I really wanted to provide examples of the pictures for you, but I couldn't find anything that would do it justice, so I'm including this video of Preston talking about the process of putting together this book.  I remember thinking that Preston said she was working on a sequel to Frankie, or was that a dream?  I truly hope it wasn't, because I'd love to see what Frankie is up to next!


     

4.5 out of 5 stars
   

A Monster Calls - Patrick Ness

Back when this book was released in the UK, Ana from Things Mean Alot reviewed "A Monster Calls".  If you read the review, I'm certain it went directly to your list of books that must be read before you die, because Ana was pretty persuasive.  She said it "shattered her", and that the book was "restrained" but "perceptive and emotionally genuine".  I wasn't really prepared to pay for shipping from the UK, so I waited.  I knew the book would throw itself at me eventually.

And it did, at SIBA11.  There were ARCs available there, and I snagged one, all the while giggling.  The representative for the publisher, Candlewick Press, stepped in and warned me "now please understand, this is not a happy read".  I knew that, but I'd been waiting for this book for four months, and that was worth celebrating.

Synopsis:  Thirteen year-old Connor O'Malley has had better years.  He is bullied at school (or worse ignored), his father left for the US with a younger woman, his mother is fighting a battle against cancer, and he suffers from terrifying nightmares that he can't discuss with anyone.  One night, an old yew tree from across the field comes to life in the form of a monster and visits him.

  

Over a period of several nights, the monster comes to visit and tells Connor three stories, all very disturbing and dubious in message.  While it is obvious that the stories have lessons attached, these aren't your standard fables, but ones where there is little distinction between right and wrong, good and evil.  What is the monster's purpose?  What does he represent?  Only a monster, terrifying and powerful, can help Connor navigate his way through the landmines of his life, understand the complexities of relationships, and come to terms with human mortality.

My thoughts:  I've been sitting and looking at the phrase "my thoughts" for two days now, and I still don't know what to say, but I have to get on with it.  This story is life in its most simplest form.  Friendship, struggles, loss, and growing up.  I suppose we've seen it hundreds of times in stories, but never quite so pure or organic. 

The monster is ancient and terrifying, but with a higher purpose that the reader must admire and is strangely drawn towards.  The monster is wise.  The monster is an unyielding force.  The monster will not be ignored. 

I must repeat Ana and tell you that this story IS devastating.  A 13 year-old, perched at the brink of adulthood but still with childhood insecurities, is such a fragile human being.  To see one such boy attempting to cope with a life-altering loss is something that threatened to take away my breath.  This is not the first time I've read about the reaction of teenagers to a sick parent...the acting out, the anger, the alienation...as a mother I can't even imagine such a situation.  It is inevitable that each reader is going to imagine themselves somewhere in this scenario, even though it is so uncomfortable to comprehend.

But despite the dire topic, the story is never cloying or hokey.  It sneaks up on you in its simplicity, it comes around through the back door to deliver the goods.  So beware, and keep the tissues at hand, no matter how strong you may feel. 

The ultimate bittersweet beauty of the thing are the illustrations, which as you can see, are stunning.  Jim Kay, the illustrator, has managed to harness all of these troubling and terrifying emotions and bring them to life.  Even the pictures are bound to make you cry.

Often we are not inclined to reach out for a book we know will make us sad, but I would implore you to make an exception.  Everyone has lost someone close to them, and this book I believe can make a difference in the healing.  The book is relatively short and can be read in a couple of hours.  Just plan ahead and set aside the time.  I think you'll be glad you did.

5 out of 5 stars 

Heart and Soul - Kadir Nelson

Kadir Nelson was one of the first featured speakers to present at SIBA11.  We filed into the ballroom, and were given a copy of each book from each author who would be presenting at that meal.  Before the lights were dimmed, I'd already paged through this one, and I was awestruck.  The illustrations rendered me speechless.  But that was nothing compared to how I felt once Kadir took the stage.  He was incredibly handsome, and passionate about his work.  This was one talented man.

Kadir told us a story about when he visited the Capitol, and viewed all the beautiful artwork in the rotunda.  He saw "Declaration of Independence", "Landing of Columbus", "Baptism of Pocahontas", and others that document the history of the US.  But it was glaringly obvious that one large piece of our history was missing - that of the African American.  Which inspired Kadir to write and illustrate this book, something his whole life's work had been leading him towards.

"Heart and Soul" tells the story of the birth of the United States from the viewpoint of the African American...from slavery, to abolition, the Civil War, the migration westward, suffrage, and civil rights.  He tips his hat to Frederick Douglas, Harriet Tubman, the Freedmen, the Buffalo Soldiers, Booker T. Washington, Joe Louis Barrow and Dr. King, as well as members of his own family.  It is a thorough lesson in history, be you black or white, all narrated in the voice of an elderly family member telling the story of "how it was back then".        

But the most breath-taking part of the book are the paintings that Kadir has produced.  Yes, they are paintings, each and every one of them, that have been transcribed to the page.  Even by showing you examples, you cannot appreciate the true beauty unless you see them in person.  Each and every one is worthy of framing.

Kadir explained that he either photographs himself or someone else in the correct position so the painting is as realistic as possible.  In the photo of the young boy above, he had a neighbor boy put on an adult-sized shirt.  In the painting of the slave ship, he used actual profile shots for each figure.  The hands below are of an elderly woman that lives on his block.  In one instance, he took an actual photo of his grandmother (whom he loves, which is endearing) and regressed her features to that of a young girl for the book.

I can't think of a single human being that wouldn't benefit from such a thoughtful and gorgeous book.  It would work in a classroom, it would work for teenagers or adults, and it would look great on a coffee table (the size is substantial enough to showcase his artwork).  This one needs to be on everyone's Christmas list!

Kathy (BermudaOnion) reviewed this book as well, please take a look.  She also featured a YouTube video that is worth watching.  Here it is:


 



5 out of 5 stars

Chopsticks - Jessica Anthony and Rodrigo Corral

While I was meandering through the showroom floor at SIBA11, trying my hardest to be good and only take books that made my pulse race, I stopped by the Penguin table.  And The Temptress, also known as Doni Kay, put this book in my hands and told me I had to read it.  She gave me the top-line synopsis (young piano prodigy's descent into madness told via pictures, scrapbook items and direct messages) and off I went, predictably, with my pulse racing.  I read the book that night in the hotel, despite my exhaustion.  And came back the next day to talk about it.  This book really WAS all that and an order of fries.  Let me give you a little more info about this creative mind-twister...

Synopsis:  Glory is a teenage piano prodigy that has been raised by her widowed father, and remembers her mother only through old photo albums and old wine bottles that she had collected.  One day, a handsome artistic boy moves in next door, and Glory becomes infatuated with him, creating tension between her and her father.  Glory steadily unravels and soon the only thing she can play on the piano is "chopsticks".

But as the story ends, the reader questions what is real and what is fantasy.

In a story told completely with photos, drawings, ticket stubs, Youtube links (that are real), direct messaging, and clipped newspaper articles, it is all about the power of observation and noticing the little details.  Guaranteed to inspire multiple re-reads.  (Publication date tentatively 11/1/11, marketed to ages 7th grade and up.)

My thoughts: My first regret is that I cannot show you pictures within this book...they are what makes this read something special.  Unfortunately my copy is an unfinished one, and Penguin isn't releasing the illustrations until the book is officially published.  But the concept is quite clever.  It is part scrapbook, part graphic novel, part "I-Spy" game, all telling a story that is a mystery. 

It may seem at first glance that you can flip this book casually, when you are killing a few minutes here and there.  If you do, you certainly are not going to pick up on the subtle clues buried within the pictures.  You are going to want to pay attention.

Which is, in fact, both the beauty and the downfall of this book.  Once you figure out what is really happening in the story, you break out into a big smile and go "Ohhhhhhhhh", then immediately flip back through the pages.  But the real question is, will the reader "get" it?  My 8th grade daughter read it and had no clue what was going on.  After Kathy finished it, she and I had to text awhile to talk through it.  I almost think it would be best to market this book by emphasizing the twists hidden within, so the reader knows to look for it.

I'm thrilled at this concept of scrapbooking stories, and letting pictures talk.  It goes beyond the graphic novel to something more visual, more intuitive, more tangible.  I saw one other novel at SIBA11 that was very similar called "The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt" by Caroline Preston (review coming next Friday) that equally engages both sides of the brain.  I look forward to this new trend in literature.

4 out of 5 stars 

SIBA11: The Books

Oh, the overstimulation!  At SIBA11, you get to touch and smell and hear about thousands of books that have recently been published or will soon be published.  Being a newbie to these types of events, I fear I spent most of the time wide-eyed and slack-jawed, wondering how on earth I was going to read all these wonderful novels.

But a few caused a more visceral reaction...sweating palms, racing heart, and fangirl foolishness.  Please, allow me:


A FEAST FOR THE EYES
Chopsticks - Jessica Anthony and Rodrigo Corral (Penguin Teen).  The story of a young piano prodigy Glory, her relationship with the boy next door, and her descent into madness, is told through pictures, newspaper clippings, youtube links and DMs.  Not only is this book incredibly creative, but it messes with your mind as well.  Review to come soon.  Releases November 2011.

The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt - Caroline Preston (Harper Collins).  Frankie Pratt receives a scrapbook as a high school graduation present in 1920, and begins collecting memorabilia that documents her life.  The author lovingly collected thousands of actual items to tell this story of Frankie and of America - nothing is photo-shopped.  Releases November 2011.


A REUNION OF OLD FRIENDS
Pandemonium - Lauren Oliver (Penguin Teen).  The sequel to the much-loved "Delirium".  Need I say more?  No, I'm not going to, else I spoil it for those who have not read this incredible YA experience.  Releases March 2012.  This gives you five months to read the first one!

Agent 6 - Tom Robb Smith (Simon and Schuster).  I loved "Child 44", but was a bit disappointed with its sequel "The Secret Speech".  The solid attraction to the series, however, is the protagonist Leo Demidov...once entrenched in the Stalinist Russia secret police, but a good guy at heart.  In this installment, Leo is headed with his wife and kids to America.  I'm holding out for the audio for this one.

A Grown Up Kind of Pretty - Joshilyn Jackson (Simon and Schuster).  I cannot get enough of this author.  She is everything a Southern author should be, her books make me laugh and make me cry.  I shudder to think of how I would act if I ever met her. Releases January 2012.  Because Jackson narrates her own audio books, this is the only way I will read them.


BRING THE TISSUES
Unsaid - Neil Abramson (Center Street).  I know better than to read books about animals, but when I heard this author speak, I knew I had no choice.  Drawing from his knowledge of a real-life vet (his wife), he tells the story of a vet who has passed away but cannot move on until she reconciles her feelings of guilt for her personal relationships and the animals that passed through her care.  There wasn't a dry eye after Neil finished speaking.

Praying For Strangers - River Jordan (Penguin).  I was hearing about this book prior to SIBA, after Kathy read it and told me it was a must read.  River Jordan tells of her personal journey, as her sons leave for Iraq and Afghanistan, of "uncovering the needs of the human heart as she prayed her way through the year for people she had never met before."

A Monster Calls - Patrick Ness (Candlewick).  While this book has been out in the UK for some time, it was just released here and I got my hands on a copy.  I know this read is going to devastate me, but like "Unsaid", I feel it is reaching out to me.  The story is about a young boy, a monster from his nightmare, and loss.   


A FEW OF MY OBSESSIONS
The Watch That Ends the Night - Allan Wolf (Candlewick).  My daughter and I love to read about the Titanic...who doesn't?  But a book about voices from the Titanic?  In verse?  Reading things in verse is my newest love, after reading "Song of the Sparrow" and "Exposed".

Monsters in America:  Our historical obsession with the hideous and the haunting - W. Scott Poole (Baylor).  I've spent my whole life enthralled with horror movies, ghost stories, true crime, Salem witches, and various beasts.  This historical account of all things that go bump in the night might just explain why this is.

The Rebel Wife - Taylor M. Polites (Simon and Schuster).  It could have gone either way.  I could easily have talked about Taylor on last week's post about the authors.  Taylor is a debut author and is a happy, hilarious, joyful person who loves his Gone With the Wind.  His first novel has hints of this classic, with a strong heroine fighting for her life.  Look out for this one next February! 



So how do these sound?  Are there any that will end up on your lists?
  



     

SIBA11: The Authors

During the four days spent at SIBA11, I met many authors and listened to even more of them speak about their books.  Amongst them all, however, there were a few that made a distinct impression on me, or took time to talk with us.  I'd like to dedicate this post to those authors.

1.  Kadir Nelson - author of "Heart and Soul:  The Story of America and African Americans" (Harper Collins).  Kadir seemed to me to be the definition of heart and soul as he spoke to us at our first lunch.  Even though your first impression of him would be his devastating good looks, he exuded passion for telling the story of the African American people.  He not only wrote this book, but his illustrations are stunning.  Stay tuned for a review upcoming.

2.  Wylie Cash - author of "A Land More Kind Than Home" (William Morrow).  While we are on the topic of handsome good looks and charm, I have to mention Wylie.  His debut novel, to be released May 2012, has been compared to the works of John Hart and Tom Franklin, and is a "literary thriller about the bond between two brothers and the evil they face in a small North Carolina town."  That aside, he has a personality that is impossible not to love.

3.  Jennifer Niven - author of "Velva Jean Learns to Fly" (Penguin).  I am intrigued by Jennifer's Velva Jean series about an independent heroine living during WWII.  However, we learned while talking to her that she started her career by writing two non-fiction books ("The Ice Master" and "Ada Blackjack") about Arctic expeditions in the early 1900's.  Looks like I'm going to have a Jennifer Niven project on my hands!

4. Alma Katsu - author of "The Taker" (Simon & Schuster).  I read the book.  It blew my mind.  And I wondered what kind of woman came up with such a thing.  I never in a million years would have imagined it would be this tiny lady with a wicked sense of humor and an aura that made you feel like she was one of your girlfriends you would meet for a drink after work.  Alma talked to us about her previous work, the editing process of "The Taker" and of its sequel "The Reckoning" (she just started working on the final trilogy installment).  If we didn't have to leave for another panel, I think we would have chatted for hours.

5.  Susan McBride - author of "Little Black Dress" (William Morrow).  I've never read any of Susan's books before, but hearing her speak and meeting her was like finding an old friend.  She is a woman's woman, who has had hard knocks in her life (usually occurring while writing under a deadline!) and has come out victorious.  She made us all laugh when she and Wylie Cash were talking about the benefits of stretch jeans, and what one can hide in them.


6.  Tom Franklin - author of "Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter" (William Morrow).  I don't know too many people who have not completely loved this book, including the people handing out awards.  One of my book clubs was fortunate enough to talk to him over the phone, so we knew he was an incredibly nice guy, as well as humble and charming.  But I got confirmation of all that when I met him right before the author auction.  I was prepared to plunk down my kids' college fund to bid on him and take him to dinner, but we ultimately decided we needed to share. 

Authors we bought at the auction:  For the two years I've attended SIBA, they have featured The Writer's Auction Block where attendees are able to bid on an author and take them to dinner.  Proceeds benefit a charitable organization supporting literacy.  The four bloggers (Kathy, Swapna, Heather and myself) bid on three of them, and a fourth joined us as a bonus.  Here were our dinner partners for the evening:

Wendy Wax - author of "Ten Beach Road" (Penguin)
Jim Minick - author of "The Blueberry Years" (Thomas Dunne)

Marybeth Whalen - author of "She Makes It Look Easy" (David C. Cook)

Lisa Patton - author of "Yankee Doodle Dixie" (Thomas Dunne)

Each one of these authors made it a special evening for us.  They were gracious, and had dozens of hilarious stories about their lives and book publishing experiences.  (I'm not telling...what happens at dinner stays at dinner.)  We laughed uproariously as we drank beer and wine and ate delicious Southern food. We were sure that all the other authors must have been jealous because we did have the best table!  It was nice for all of us to take off our blogging and writing hats and just have a good time.         



Top left to right:  Heather, Marybeth, Jim, Wendy
Bottom left to right:  Swapna, Kathy, Me, Lisa



In my next SIBA update, coming next Monday, I'll talk about upcoming books that have my heart racing!

Spotlight on the UCF Book Festival: Trail of Blood - Lisa Black

The next book that I am highlighting for the UCF Book Festival is "Trail of Blood" by Lisa Black.  I originally received this book at SIBA last fall, and even was able to get it signed by the author.  It has been on the "must read soon" stack" since then, and I'm thrilled to be able to bring it to you today.

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Synopsis:  In 1935, amidst Elliott Ness's shakedown of a corrupt Cleveland police department, the Torso Killer slayed and dismembered over a dozen victims, and was never caught.  One police officer, James Miller, attempting to resist a crooked life like his partner, is hot on the trail of the killer.  One night, however, he becomes another victim, is beheaded and sealed in a hidden closet.  All assume he has abandoned the force and his family.

Seventy-five years later, when the building is scheduled for demolition, his body is discovered.  Theresa McLean, forensic scientist, is assigned to the case with her cousin and police officer Frank.  Soon after the discovery, a new series of murders begin that emulate the Torso Murders so many years ago.  In alternating and synchronized narratives, we follow James Miller in his last days investigating the original murders, and at the same time accompany Theresa in her pursuit of the modern-day copycat.

My thoughts:  Here I am again, picking up a book that is third in a series.  You'd think I did this on purpose!  That being said, the book stands alone fine on its own, with a few references to events that occurred in the first and second installments. 

I loved the way the author wove the two stories together.  I've not seen many murder mysteries where we not only discover long-dead bodies, but then go back and get to walk in the victim's shoes and understand how they met their fate.  Additionally, the murders committed by both the original and the copycat were perfectly choreographed between the two narratives.  Therefore the plot flowed perfectly. 

I also thoroughly enjoyed the characters.  I was almost immediately in James Miller's corner, an honest man, dedicated to his family and doing what was right. His fate, known to us from the very beginning, was heartbreaking.  It was easy to fall into step with Theresa as well.  In this installment, she turns forty, and is fighting the effects of age and moving past her prime.  I am intrigued enough to dip into the back list.

BUT.  I'm not bragging or anything, but people, I guessed the modern-day killer within fifty pages.  I sniff out literary evil-doers I guess.  And this was a little disappointing.  I like to be surprised.  And why OH WHY does the protagonist always have to come head-to-head with the killer at the end, and survive magically when others have not?  Argh. It's not just this book, but 90% of them fall into this trap. 

This complaint, however, was eclipsed by a very solid and compelling narrative, some grisly murders, and the atmosphere of Elliot Ness's Cleveland...very noir, very intriguing, very entertaining.

And you true crime lovers are going to dig this.  There really WAS as Torso Killer in the 1930's in Cleveland, and some of the evidence discussed in the story really existed.  Also very cool tidbit...one of the present day victims in the novel, Kim Hammond, was the name of a woman who won a character name auction in 2009.  Very similar to the auction I won with Connie May Fowler last year (do you think Connie will kill me off?). 

4 out of 5 stars
   

Spotlight on the UCF Book Festival: The Improper Life of Bezellia Grove - Susan Gregg Gilmore

The second book I'm highlighting for the UCF Book Festival is one that I originally picked up at SIBA, where I also was lucky enough to meet the author, Susan Gregg Gilmore. Susan was not only drop-dead gorgeous, but the epitome of graciousness and friendliness, and incredibly easy to talk to. I'm hoping we will get to cross paths at the Book Festival next month!

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Rich and saddled with the baggage of an generations-old family name, Bezellia is not living the life that society would think. With a father who works at the hospital more than he is home, and a mother who cares more about her standing in society and her gin and tonics than her kids, Bezellia and her younger sister are raised by their black servants. They grow to fear their mother's drunken temper, and breathe a sigh of relief when she is ushered off for "vacations". As a result, Bezellia learns to fend for herself and is forced to accept adult responsibilities long before she should.

We follow Bezellia as she grows up in the South in the '60's, from her first kiss, to a summer love, to the love of her life who happens to have the wrong color skin. She encounters racism in her home, in the community, and throughout her young adulthood, which is confusing and frustrating since her servants are the closest family she has. In college, she is exposed to feminism and equal rights, and she grows to be a flawed but empowered woman that you can't help but love.

While this is a coming-of-age tale, Southern style, Gilmore gives it to us straight and unadorned. She not only captures the sticky, humid feel of the deep south, the euphoria and confusion of young love, but the hatred and turmoil of the era, and all characters, black and white, are flawed and human.

My thoughts: I really had no expectations going into this novel, except that it was Southern fiction. Imagine my surprise and delight when I read it in record Sandy-time, which was about two days. I couldn't put it down, the writing was so compelling. It swept me up in it's depth of emotion, it's serious historical value, and it's charm.

I've seen some criticism for the character of Bezellia, accusing her of being an unrelatable character. I really don't get this at all. I think Gilmore nailed her as a plucky, teenage girl who grew up wanting love, wanting to please her parents, wanting independence. She was no puritan either - she was curious about boys and she experimented. She made mistakes, her relationships were complicated, and she didn't necessarily ride off into the sunset to live happily ever after. All of this was refreshing as hell.

I also appreciated the historical references...Martin Luther King Jr., Vietnam, an impassioned speech by Gloria Steinem, and even Loretta Lynn singing out of a garage studio in her early years, all seen through Bezellia's eyes. It makes the story relevant and helps us better understand the environment that influenced our heroine.

Although this book could be considered Young Adult (although I'm not sure if it has been officially categorized as such), I would suggest some caution for young teens as there are some sex scenes, though not graphic.

Bottom line - read it. Now.

5 out of 5 stars

Made From Scratch: Discovering the Pleasures of a Handmade Life - Jenna Woginrich

Bear with me for a minute...I'm going to digress.

I have any number of crazy fantasies that will probably never happen in my lifetime, and they are not based on anything even close to reality, but on fluff and sunshine. One of them is to live on a farm and make sheep and goat cheese (I've seen this life in situ in Poland, and having visited this woman twice, I am hopelessly wooed by the idea). Never mind that I USED to live on a farm when I was young, and could have probably tried this if I had asked my dad, but didn't. I was too busy worrying about how to get off the farm.

So anyway, I was discussing this fantasy with a rep from Storey Publishing at SIBA last fall. I have no idea how we got on the topic. And the rep excitedly shoved this book in my hands and said I had to read it. That it would totally feed my fantasy, and maybe even expand my dreams to raising chickens, bees and rabbits.

Synopsis: Jenna Woginrich seems to have always had a little Mother Earth in her. She grew up in Tennessee, and at a young age had an interest in spinning fabric into yarn, and playing old musical instruments. But after college, when she got a computer design job in northern Idaho, she decided she wanted to try homesteading. She found a mentor, rented a place with some land, and dove in head first.

Jenna is fearless. She got chickens first, then bees (STINGING ANGRY INSECTS!), then rabbits. She explains patiently, as a person who has started from square zero, how to approach these projects. She planted a garden. She uses her huskies as work dogs and also takes them sledding. She taught herself to play the banjo, the fiddle, and the dulcimer, and has jam sessions with other old time music lovers. She buys her kitchen gadgets at antique stores. She knits and sews her own clothes, sometimes from the sheared fur from her angora rabbits. She bakes bread, makes her own pasta, and cans her garden produce.

Her new lifestyle hasn't been without strife, and she is very forthright about it. Her dogs got into her baby chicks and killed them. She accidentally killed her bee queen. One of her rabbits injured itself and had to be put down:

"How simple was the simple life? Clearly, it's complex enough to make a Buddhist vegetarian kill a rabbit at point-blank range, then go buy a gun. Your lifestyle preferences are not considered when it comes to caring for the lives of others on a farm. Not everything can be as simple as we'd like."

At the back of the book, Jenna provides simple sewing projects, recipes, and resources for all of her endeavors. She makes even the most overwhelming projects achievable, whether you live in New York City or on 200 acres in Montana.

My thoughts: This book was a whole lot of fun to read, and it absolutely did expand my fantasies to chickens, rabbits and gardens (not bees). Realistically, with the pace of my life right now, and the nasty, scavenging varmints that think it is their right to eat anything on my property and poop in my pool, I probably won't be adopting vulnerable animals or planting greens anytime soon. But the seed has been planted (pun intended).

My ultimate goal, once my kids move away to college, is to move into a condo on the beach. So maybe the idea will stay a seedling forever, but you never know. And as Jenna states in her book, you can grow herbs on your windowsill, you can train your dog carry food home from the farmer's market, and you can bake your own bread and make your own pasta. I am completely open to this, and actually have been known to make my food from scratch. See! I can be green!

Throughout the book, several thoughts kept swirling in my mind, besides visions of my own fresh eggs. One was "there is nobody in my life that even comes close to being a personality like Jenna". As somebody who often makes her own tomato sauce with slow-roasted tomatoes and makes her own ricotta, I am already a lonely minority amongst my friends. Another thought was "this is definitely one lady I'd love to have dinner with. Just to see what makes her tick and listen to her stories". And actually you can listen to her stories, because she has a blog called Cold Antler Farm.

Hey, she now has sheep, and she loves goat cheese. On those topics alone, I could talk for hours.

4 out of 5 stars

Turtle in Paradise - Jennifer L. Holm

"Turtle in Paradise" was another book I picked up at SIBA last fall. The folks at Random House were pushing it in a big way, singing its praises. But it was only after months had gone by, and enough long-ish books had been read, that I picked it up because...it was short! I know, I am making you all cringe.

What I didn't know or expect is that it would charm my brains out. If I could eat it with a spoon, and chocolate syrup on top, I would. Hang on for some gushing.

Synopsis: Turtle has never known her father, and her mother has a bad habit of loving the wrong men, and having her head in the clouds. When her mother gets a job as a housekeeper, and the employer hates kids, Turtle is shipped down to Key West to live with her aunt, back where her mother grew up.

Turtle isn't sure this is a good idea. She has three dirty rude boy cousins, nobody wears shoes and has dirty feet, everyone has weird names, and everyone is kind of poor. It is 1935, after all, and times are tough. But Turtle is a fighter, refuses to be ignored, and pretty soon she finds she is fitting right in.

Her cousins call themselves the Diaper Gang. During the day, they pull around an old wagon, filled with the island's "bad babies". In other words, they are babysitters, rescuing harried mothers for an hour or two from teething, colicky infants. They have a secret cure for diaper rash, and they are in high demand. They work for candy. There is an old cranky woman, who Turtle finds out is her grandmother, who hates children, but might be susceptible to Turtle's charms. She befriends an old sailor, a rum runner, and a writer who hangs around alot and goes by the name of Hemingway.

But when Turtle finds a treasure map hidden in her grandmother's termite-infested piano, and the kids steal a boat to hunt it down on an uninhabited key, they get more than a bag of booty. Enter the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane. (Haven't we been there recently? Doesn't everyone know they aren't supposed to be in Florida on Labor Day of that year?)

On this shabby, dirty island, Turtle learns many valuable lessons and finds her own paradise. She learns that money doesn't equal happiness. That family is everything, even if they do mess their pants. And that even a hard-shelled turtle has a soft underbelly.

My thoughts: Who would ever believe that so much comfort, humor and preciousness could be packed in a 185-page middle grade book? I was so tickled with it, I was giggling and squeaking for the two hours it took me to read it. I absolutely loved the character of Turtle. She was clever, and witty, and full of piss and vinegar. The residents of her Key West were just as memorable - everyone an eccentric, everyone with a story (which is the way it still is today).

The local references were all authentic. The dangers of scorpions, the term "alligator pear" for an avocado, sugar apple ice cream, Pepe's Cafe, the afternoon activity of a cut-up (gathering and cutting wayward pieces of fruit and vegetables into a bowl and topping it with lime juice and hot sauce), the efficiency of the rumor mill called the Conch Telegraph...this is all Key West-isms. Even the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane was a real event in history that devastated the Keys and a majority of the Florida coast.

In fact, Holm's great-grandmother emigrated to Key West from the Bahamas in 1897, and she grew up hearing the stories of her ancestors, which explains why this book rings true. Some of the characters in the book were based on real people, and she has provided black and white photos from Key West during the Depression era.

What all of this adds up to is a heart-warming story that will be loved by readers, whether they are 7 or 70. You may learn a little history about Key West, and you will most assuredly fall in love with a 10 year old girl named Turtle.

5 out of 5 stars

An Object of Beauty - Steve Martin

When I picked up this ARC at SIBA last fall, I had no idea it was written by THE Steve Martin. I had no clue he had written the novella "Shopgirl" for example. I just thought he was a wild and crazy guy that I loved in The Jerk and made a bad career choice by starring in those awful Pink Panther remakes. Where have I been?

Imagine my shock! I did some poking around, and not only is Martin an accomplished writer of adult and children's literature and actor, but is an award-winning banjo player with CDs and everything. And he is an avid art collector, and his years of observation of the business was his muse for this novel.

Synopsis: Set in the decadent 1990's and cautious 2000's in Manhattan's swanky art society, our narrator Daniel Frank, an art journalist, tells the tale of his long-time friend Lacey Yeager. Lacey is one of these fascinating creatures that demands attention when she walks into a room (a fact of which she is highly aware) and will do whatever it takes to get what she wants. And what she wants is lots of money and the prestige to make it big as an art dealer. Daniel retraces Lacey's steps to this end goal...a grunt position at Sotheby's, sleeping with clients, some questionable deals, some lucky investments, a job at a high-end gallery, eventually opening her own gallery, and alot of hard work.

We also get to experience a real behind-the-scenes view of the art world. Martin interlaces real personalities with fictional ones (which are which?), capturing the fevered passion of collecting, the breathtaking beauty of oil on canvas, the fickle nature of the market, the theft and the scams. There is a whole sub-culture not privy to us middle income earthlings, until now.


My thoughts: I'm not sure what I expected when I started this book, but it wasn't conversational prose and smart, snappy characters. Who knew this guy could write? Apparently not I.

I can't say that I actually LIKED Lacey. She is every woman's nightmare (and girls, we all know one or two of these don't we?) who will steal your man if it suits her agenda. She is so self-absorbed, she has no idea the path of destruction she leaves in her wake or the people she ruins in her climb to the top. She is also smart though, and I found her undeniably witty and hard not to be mesmerized by her when she is "on".

The supporting characters (and everyone in Lacey's orbit is the supporting cast) were all amusing and believable. It was hard not to sympathize with one of Lacey's conquests, a European collector, as he loses his heart to her. We know full well he will be cast aside when she is done with him. I enjoyed the eccentricities that are permitted to the New York's filthy rich (food sniffing? telling bad stories over and over again?). Some have criticized that the characters came straight out of Vogue or Sex and the City. Maybe, but who says that is always a bad thing?

Another bonus afforded to the reader (except recipients of ARCs - boo!) is with the mention of every famous piece of art, we are treated with pictures. Oh, how I would have LOVED to have seen some of these works of art! Yes, I know, I could have googled them, but that requires too much effort. Next time I'm at Barnes & Noble, though, I'm going to sit down and have a good look.

On the downside, there is very little plot, except that it is twenty-ish years of Lacey-cam that includes the aftermath of 9/11 and the financial blowout of Wall Street. I was waiting for something big to happen, and there is a reveal, if you will, about an illegal activity, but it wasn't all that shocking or climatic. I didn't much mind though. I was too busy having fun.

4 out of 5 stars

Exposed - Kimberly Marcus

A little update on my year of reading what I want...it totally rocks. Proof positive was this book. I'd finished The Cypress House and was shopping my bookshelves, specifically the stack of beauties I'd obtained from SIBA last fall. Ah! A YA novel, just what I needed! So I started thumbing through the pages, to get a feel for it, and ended up finishing it in two hours. Serious impact, minimal time investment. This is one you should all read.

Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Liz is a photography genius, destined for journalistic success. Her forever-best is Kate, a talented dancer. They've been friends since childhood, and they couldn't imagine a day where they wouldn't always have their Saturday Night Slumber, their Friday nights at Salvatore's pizzeria, and be there for each other through thick and thin.

Shockingly, however, that day comes. Kate avoids Liz at every turn, refuses to talk to her or even look her in the eyes. When Kate finally reveals to Liz what is troubling her, Kate's world implodes...her family is devastated, and she stands to lose everything that is important in her life.

In this emotionally-wrought debut, written in free verse, Marcus brings us nose-to-nose with a very serious, very prevalent issue in society today.

My thoughts: This free verse thing is new to me. I first experienced it recently with "Song of the Sparrow", and found it very easy to read and very impactful in its sparseness and simplicity. Why haven't I tried this before? It's wonderful! Marcus employs this method of prose so skillfully, it nearly brings you to tears. Her chapters are short and each have titles, like little journal entries or shapshots. You'd think, then, that the content would be superficial, but that couldn't be further from the truth.

Marcus has chosen a topic that has been covered before, but it doesn't make it any less raw for those involved, or for the readers. (And no, I'm not telling! This story deserves to be protected!) And she NAILS it. All of it...the emotions, the repercussions, the distraught, confused, angry voice of the teenage narrator. Each entry a sucker punch to the gut, leaving you gasping for breath, but turning the pages faster and faster.

I'd call this one a no-brainer. Get it, read it in one sitting, then sit back in awe and wonder at how this debut author has got it all going on.

5 out of 5 stars

The Cypress House - Michael Koryta

My first experience with Michael Koryta was in reading "So Cold the River", a mystery thriller with a supernatural edge, all set in the town of French Lick, Indiana, at the historical West Baden Resort. I've actually stayed at this resort, and it is a one-in-a-million kind of place, where you instantly become hypnotized with it's charm and beauty. If you look out the corner of your eye, you feel that you might even catch a glimpse of a ghost. So reading this book was a unique experience.

Then I actually met Koryta at SIBA this past year, and was able to get a signed copy of his latest novel, "The Cypress House", which released on January 24th. Totally different setting, but again one I'm familiar with...Florida. Only this is 1935, during the most intense hurricane to make landfall in US history (I suspect most Floridians have heard about this one). If you have lived through a hurricane, your stomach probably just went knots, because it is a wholly terrifying experience. This is ready-made atmosphere, something it seems Koryta knows something about.



Synopsis: Arlen Wagner has a haunting gift. In the final hours of someone's life, Arlen does not see a breathing human, he sees a skeleton, and smoke where their eyes should be. And he sees a trainload of these skeletons as he and his buddy Paul are en route to assist in building a bridge in the Keys. (Little do they know, they are all traveling straight into the path of the most devastating hurricane in US history.) Arlen cannot convince the group to disembark, so he and Paul take off on their own, and hitch a ride with a man who takes them to The Cypress House.

The Cypress House is a seemingly forgotten fishing resort, settled on the ocean, and run by the withdrawn but beautiful Rebecca Cady. But bad things start to happen as soon as they arrive. Their mysterious driver goes up in flames inside his car. Arlen and Paul are taken in for questioning, and find themselves up against a crooked police officer and judge. And there is an ugly hurricane bearing down on them. As they stay to help Rebecca recover from the aftermath of the storm and rebuild Cypress House, it slowly dawns on them that all is not well in this corner of paradise. And this underlying evil could be the undoing of their friendship, the undoing of deeply buried secrets, and possibly the undoing of their lives.

My thoughts: I really had a good time with this one. It had everything going for it. The underlying theme of the deadly 1935 Labor Day Hurricane immediately set the stage for impending doom. You have the oppressive, sultry atmosphere of rural, coastal Florida. Koryta also has conjured up some really memorable, well-drawn characters that come alive on the page. Arlen is the epitome of an anti-hero...a swaggering ex-Marine who nips at his flask a little too often in order to escape some persistent ghosts. His young, innocent protege. The quiet and sexy damsel in distress with a story of her own. And some real backwater badasses that make Hitler look like a girl scout.

You know almost from the beginning that it is going to get down and dirty before it is all resolved, and all the reader has to do is hold on tight and enjoy the ride. Koryta doesn't hold back either. Blood is drawn, people die, body parts are severed, and victims hung up by their ankles. You will find yourself immersed in a mucky swamp, infested with a nest of angry water moccasins, and the dead who have a thing or two on their mind. It is wild and woolly and I enjoyed every minute of it, with my heart pounding until I'd turned the last page.

Don't let the supernatural slant deter you. At it's heart, this is a mystery thriller that is slathered with creepy, full of piss and vinegar, and Arlen's little "talents" are just the cherry on top that complete the package. In fact, I'd even say that the supernatural aspects made the story a better one, adding an additional level of complexity and offering a perspective that you don't get in most books.

4.5 out of 5 stars

A SIBA Recap: Literary Hedonism

As some of you know, I attended the SIBA (Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance) conference this past weekend. This was my very first literary event, so bear with me if I seem like a loopy, giddy teenager. Before I forget all of the details (as my brain is wont to do these days) I want to share with you some of the highlights.

Because of family obligations (football game!), I was not able to attend the entire convention, which ran from Friday to Sunday. Instead, I drove up to Daytona on late Saturday afternoon and stayed through until Sunday afternoon. The exhibits were just closing down when I arrived, so I chased down my buddies Heather (Raging Bibliomania) and Kathy (Bermudaonion) for some drinks and dinner. Heather lives in Orlando, and I had met her before (you can't find a nicer, sweeter person), but I'd never met Kathy before. This was a huge highlight for me, because she and I have been online friends for a long time, and I think very highly of her. We didn't miss a beat...it was like we had known each other in real life for years. By the way, she is just as special in reality as you would imagine her to be. We met up with Natalie (Coffee and a Book Chick) and her husband for drinks before they headed back to their home in Jacksonville, then headed out for a chatty dinner.

On our way to dinner, we ran into Rebecca (Book Lady's Blog), Susan Gregg Gilmore (author of "The Improper Life of Bezillia Grove"), Jim Minick (author of "The Blueberry Years") and Lisa Patton (author of "Whistlin' Dixie in a Nor'easter"). They were on the way out for putt-putt and hot dogs, and were definitely a group ready for fun. A flurry of hugs and business cards and pictures were exchanged.

Left to right: Me (with football game hair), Kathy, Susan, Lisa, Heather and Jim. Rebecca is taking the picture.

The next morning, we met early and headed off to the exhibits. I've never been to BEA, but based on what I've heard, that event is HUGE and pretty crowded. This was not really the case with SIBA. There were about a hundred exhibitors, which is plenty but not overwhelming, and included big guys like Hachette, HarperCollins, Random House and Penguin. There were also small publishers and vendors selling bookmarks, reading glasses, and jewelry. There were several authors present for book signings as well. I was easily able to make my way through most of the tables and talk to anyone I wished. There were very few lines and you could literally chat up a kindred soul for 20 minutes if you wanted to.

In three hours, I accumulated over 60 books (see my top picture). I had to make multiple trips to my car, and I think I threw my back out of joint. It was being like a kid in a candy store!!! I was trying hard not to be a pig, but everything sounded appealing. I'd love to tell you absolutely everything I got, but that would get tedious I'm afraid. But a few highlights were: Hachette's one and only copy of the newest Cornelia Funke novel "Reckless", Algonquin's one and only copy of "The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating" by Elisabeth Tova Bailey, and a copy of "The Knife of Never Letting Go" that I found hiding behind other books. (I felt like I'd found a buried treasure.) But that was before lunch...more excitement was in store there.

The big hoorah of the conference was "The Moveable Feast", a lunch event that you had to purchase a ticket to attend (Kathy my hero got me one before they sold out). One of twenty authors sat at each table, and while we were all eating, they would have about 15 minutes to talk about their newest book and answer questions, then they would move on to the next table. Each table was able to visit with six authors. After that, we all moved to a different room for a book signing of any of the featured authors' newest releases. Just about more than a little blogger can handle, right?

Heather and I were at the same table and had a great group of authors. We heard from A. Manette Ansay (Vinegar Hill, Good Things I Wish), Lou Dischler (My Only Sunshine), Mark Mustian (The Gendarme), J.S. Chancellor (Guardians of Legend Trilogy), Jim Minick (The Blueberry Years) and T. Marie Benchley (Once Wicked Always Dead). Folks, this was fascinating stuff! These wonderful authors poured out their hearts, thought processes, frustrations, muses and inspirations, plans for the future, and personal lives for us, despite the fact that they had to be exhausted and sick of talking. I fell in love a little bit with each one of them - it was very intimate. Can I just say that I found Mark Mustian one of the most humble, endearing men I have ever met? I wanted to pack him up in my trunk and take him home. I would have loved to have heard from Michael Koryta (author of So Cold the River, who now has a new book coming out called The Cypress House) and Karen White (author of a million books, including On Folly Beach). But never fear, I got signed books!

At the end of the day, I got a huge number of signed books. In my top picture, my "signed" stack is on the left. Once I have gently read these and reviewed them, they will be donated for auction for our annual Adult Literacy League silent auction next year. I fear they will regret ever asking me to help them!!!

So that was my 24 hours worth of SIBA. A whirlwind for me, that left me high as a kite, dazed and exhausted. And determined, NO MATTER WHAT, to attend next year in Charleston. Heather and I are road-trippin' baby. I want to give a shout out, from the bottom of my heart, the organizer and general diva of this conference, Wanda Jewell, who makes it all happen. If you are even remotely interested in attending, please contact me and I will convince you this is where you need to be! You can go with Heather, Kathy and I, and participate in the literary hedonism with us!