Blog Post
Funke Fans--Have Heart!
by Sancho Panza
Fans of Cornelia Funke’s Inkheart will have to wait a little longer to get their hands on the final installment of the trilogy. According to Funke, the “working title is Inkdeath,” and it could be released some time in 2007. While you’re waiting, check out Funke’s new series for younger readers, Ghosthunters, or one of her fantastic novels for older kids, like The Thief Lord—I’m currently listening to the audio book, and it’s so good that I make excuses to get back into the car and listen to another chapter. Finally, if you’re especially patient, start counting the days until the Inkheart movie is released in 2008!
Blog Post
October New and Noteworthy
by muffy
You don’t need me to harp on about the mega-bestsellers but I would like to bring you each month, some of the easy-to-miss new fiction titles. They might be mainstream or quirky; unusual and trend setting; from a newcomer worth watching or a little-known foreign powerhouse who nevertheless deserves a closer look. Some are personal favorites (you can probably tell) but many are exciting new finds.
One Good Turn* by Kate Atkinson.
The story continues from Case Histories. Crackling one-liners, spot-on set pieces and full-blooded cameos make for another absorbing character study.
Spring and Fall by Nicholas Delbanco.
Sweetly satisfying tale of college lovers reunite after 40 years.
The Uses of Enchantment* by Heidi Julavits
The mystery of what did happened to Mary Veal, a 16 year-old abducted from a New England prep-school. Enthralling, atmospheric tale of "sick twisted love".
American Cookery by Laura Kalpakian
A versatile writer serves up tradition and innovation in a saga based on the joy of cooking, complete with 27 recipes.
The Other Side of the Bridge* by Mary Lawson.
Follow up to her much acclaimed debut novel Crow Lake. Moral quandaries and human drama in the Canadian North.
Bliss by O.Z. Livaneli.
Gripping contemporary story of three travelers who change each other, by an eminent Turkish writer.
New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
Much awaited sequel to her teen/vampire FFF Twilight* (See blog). Don’t miss this one!
The End of Mr. Y by Scarlett Thomas.
“(F)ast-paced mix of popular culture, love, mystery, and irresistible philosophical adventure” by a genre-blending young British writer and the author of PopCo. Edgy and worth a try.
* = Starred review(s)
Blog Post
Thievery Has Never Been So Good
by Brad B.
I feel like not many people know about this fantasy series by Megan Whelan Turner (see below). Maybe I am wrong; maybe it is not the secret gem I think it is, but, if not, if you're saying to yourself, "hey, dude, never heard of it", then check it out (both literally and figuratively!).
The first book, The Thief, won the newberry honor in 1997 and is a short novel with a clever twist (don't worry, I'm not spoilling anything; I knew there was a twist ahead of time and still couldn't figure it out!). Now, though I know people have heard of this first book, it's the second and third book in the series that I am not so sure people know about (but maybe I am wrong here). The second book,The Queen of Attolia, is where things really take off, in my opinion. The plot becomes much fuller, more complex, and more intense. Instead of one really great twist like in the first book there are several upon several until your head starts to spin a little. The characters are ones you fall in love with, as is the way with any good book, especially the brash, rude, young thief who is the main character. The Third book The King of Attolia, has just recently come out and continues the storyline.
Maybe I just like the characters a little too much, but to me, these are lesser known, good books.
Blog Post
Fabulous Fiction Firsts #29
by muffy
You might as well hear about it here, no doubt you will be hearing a lot about this book.
The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters was THE buzz among librarians and booksellers at the American Library Association annual conference. Some of us stood in line with a coupon in hand, just to pick up a preview copy. The reviews for this debut novel thus far have been mixed but the storyline is intriguingly complex, and the telling mesmerizing.
Miss Celeste Temple travels from her tropical island home to Victorian London in search of her fiancé after receiving a cryptic message from him breaking their engagement. This 768-page doorstopper is part adventure, part fantasy, part mystery, part romance, but 100% entertainment. It should appeal to Diana Gabaldon readers.
The author Gordon Dahlquist is an award-wining playwright and a director of experimental films. He lives in New York.
Blog Post
Beach Reads 2006 (#3)
by muffy
His Majesty's Dragon* by Naomi Novik. Alternate history set in the Napoleonic Wars, flying dragons and sea battles make for a fantastic read.
The Last Spymaster by Gayle Lynds. Young maverick CIA agent matches wit with a legendary spymaster. Complex and engrossing.
Looking for Mr. Goodfrog by Laurie Graff Searching for one's prince in the rather muddled urban dating pond. Deadly hilarious.
Love in the Present Tense by Catherine Ryan Hyde. An engaging encore from the author of Pay it Forward, on the many incarnation of love and the nature of family.
Make Him Look Good* by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez. Six women and their relationships with one Latin heartthrob. Sexy fun.
The Penultimate Chance Saloon* by Simon Brett. Comedy of sexual manners for a mature single guy, with wit and compassion. For fans of Julie and Romeo and Philosophy Made Simple.
The Virgin of Small Plains* by Nancy Pickard. Love and deceit behind a 17-year-old unsolved murder in a small town. A stand-along from the award-winning author of the Jenny Cain and Marie Lightfoot series. A must for Cold Case fans.
The World to Come* by Dara Horn. Two siblings are tangled up with a stolen Chagall of suspect provenance, Jewish folklore and family history. Intelligent and imaginative.
* = Starred reviews
Blog Post
Charles de Lint's latest tales from Newford
by emilyas
Charles de Lint's latest novel, Widdershins, was released last month and has received many positive reviews, including a starred review from Booklist. This novel continues the story of Jilly Coppercorn from de Lint's 2002 novel, The Onion Girl. In Widdershins, Jilly continues to recover from the car crash that left her crippled. She also struggles to come to terms with the inside of her own mind which still has not healed from deep childhood traumas. The story takes place as conflicts between the fairies and the native spirits threaten to a bring a war upon the world. De Lint encourages the reader to consider the environmental impact of humans and to analyze the relationships between both men and nations.
I recommend reading The Onion Girl first, in order to understand the complete history of this story. If you have never read a de Lint novel before, I also recommend giving any of his other books a try, such as Tapping the dream tree, Spiritwalk, Forests of the Heart or any of the Newford series.
Blog Post
Beach Reads 2006 (#2)
by muffy
School’s out. Grab these and head out for some fun and a little sun. Remember to sign up for the Summer Reading program.
The Attack by Yasmina Khadra. A Tel Aviv surgeon’s life is turned upside down by his link to a suicide bomber. Intense and timely.
Eye Contact by Cammie McGovern. Autistic Adam is the only witness and the prime suspect in another child’s murder. A gripping literary thriller.
The Mangler of Malibu Canyon by Jennifer Colt. Second crime-solving romp by the sleuthing McAfee twins on their pink Harley – this time involving a headless corpse in Aunt Reba’s Malibu digs. Wildly entertaining.
The Piano Man by Marcia Preston. A grieving mother tries to save the talented musician who received her son's transplanted heart. Compelling and graceful.
Proven Guilty by Jim Butcher. Modern crime fantasy series set in Chicago where wizards battle black magic to protect the mortal population. A TV pilot is expected to air this summer.
Restoring Grace by Katie Fforde. A sparkling, breezy read about an old crumbling mansion, three women in need of a home, and finding much more in the end. (Her previous titles are just as delightful).
Revenge of the Kudzu Debutantes by Cathy Holton. Three Georgian beauties exact revenge from straying spouses with aplomb and style. The Ya Ya Sisterhood meets the First Wives Club!
Slipstream by Leslie Larson, Drama, romance, and misfortune entangle the desperate souls working at LAX. Rich and seriously frightening.
Blog Post
Hounds of the Morrigan
by Brad B.
You want so much celtic mythology that it will seep out your pores? You want drippingly lush language? You want quests steeped in magic so strange and beautifully mad that it could only be Irish folktale? You want cackling witches that ride motorcycles and can scare a shark by showing their true faces? You want unfortunate frogs given guard post duty? Mazes made from fingerprints? Talking earwigs that think they are Napoleon?
Of course you do. Read The Hounds of the Morrigan by Pat O'Shea.
This book has been out for a while, but I just had to mention it as it is one of my favorites, and I was reminded of it again recently...A good read for the summer for teens or adults.
Blog Post
So Funny it Hurts
by Brad B.
When coming under a vicious, stinging fairy attack Clemency remembers her Peter Pan and firmly, quickly, and repeatedly asserts her disbelief in fairies... but her aim is a little off. Now she has to go on a quest to save all the fairies she killed.
Read Clemency Pogue: Fairy Killer, by J.T. Petty. So funny...so,so funny...tears...down the face...side-hurts-must-top-funny...
*This has become a recent favorite of mine so I had to mention it. Just curious though if anyone has listened to the audio version. I'm wondering if the clever wordplay translates well into the audio realm.