Suspense Sundays (30)

"Now let's see... Suspect... Suspectant... Suspend... Ah here we are, Suspense.  The condition of mental uncertainty usually accompanied by apprehension or anxiety.  Fear of something that is about to occur, as 'Do not keep me any longer in SUSPENSE.'"

Suspense was a radio series from 1942 to 1962, claiming to be "radio's outstanding theater of thrills."  I have a fondness for "Old Time Radio" as we call it now, and Suspense is my favorite show.  It sets up weird, dark, scary, or intriguing stories with a plot twist in the end, and all in half an hour.  I love the old-fashion story-telling and I thought it would be fun to give a short review of an episode every Sunday.  

{My archive list of episodes}

"Thieves Fall Out"

Air date: November 16, 1943

Starring Gene Kelly

>>Episodes here<<

Art Kramer is part of a group of black market thieves.  His take for the month has been all used up because of a truck accident and other mishaps.  When one of his group invites him to his house for a little rest, he gets an idea.  Kill his host, take his money and then frame another group member who is staying close by.  Unfortunately, these thieves seem to think alike.

Even though I'm bound to enjoy anything with Gene Kelly, I found this episode a little convoluted and dry.  There's a lot of set-up and characters, but a really brilliant twist that makes it worth it.  Gene Kelly playing against type also helps make this a much more interesting story to listen to.

Books to Music: By Jeeves

"It's just another episode
Of the Wooster moral code"

Here's a rather under appreciated Andrew Lloyd Webber musical based on the Jeeves and Wooster books by P.G. Wodehouse. One of my favorite series of books EVER!   The musical weaves different scenarios from various books to form the story, and the fun thing about the cast recording are the alternate tracks of Jeeves and Wooster talking to each other about what is happening in the plot, which means listening to the recording is like listening to a radio show with music.  Very easy to follow, and humor is interjected with Wooster's reactions to events because he doesn't really remember what happened.  And of course events become increasingly farcical and outrageous.

Although it's hard not to compare this to the BBC series "Jeeves and Wooster" with the perfect Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry, the voices of the actors capture just the right tone of Wodehouse's world and the songs are charming and reminiscent of the period - the 1930s.  It sounds like a simple small jazz band, which means the focus is on the voices and the humor.  P.G. Wodehouse's books are all so gently and cleverly humorous and the music captures that whimsy perfectly.

Song Spotlight: Half a Moment
Two people in love, but kept separate because her father wouldn't approve.  And they sing of their devotion in this lovely romantic ballad.  I love how it begins especially because it can move so easily from spoken ardor to song.  The main conceit, that even half a moment is so full of their love that it is like eternity (time they say is relative) is so gorgeous!  Seriously the lyrics of this song touches me with it's simplicity and beauty and cleverness.  It really echoes Wodehouse's style in that way.

Review: Vigilare

Vigilare
by Brooklyn James

Plot Summary:

Where One System Fails, Another Never Gives Up!

Detectives Gina DeLuca and Tony Gronkowski investigate a string of murders among Vanguard's most loathsome population, rapists and pedophiles. With fed up citizens, the city is on the verge of a vigilante uprising in support of their seemingly superhuman Vigilare with the sparkling emerald green eyes.

Friend or foe, Vanguard Police Department has a job to do in bringing the vigilant one to justice, causing their own internal battle with right and wrong, immoral and just. Following their leads, Detectives DeLuca and Gronkowski find themselves pulled into a mysterious world of super blood and super powers, and closer to the Vigilare than ever expected.

It's a race to the finish between Detectives DeLuca and Gronkowski and the Vigilare to figure out who she is and why she exists. The first in a Trilogy. Vigilare-the one who watches over-comes to light.

Review:

This story begins as told through the eyes of an awakening superhero.  The suspense is derived from reading about the Vigilare coming into her powers but not understanding how or why that power has been given to them.  The direction the author takes this aspect of this story was definitely unexpected, especially in when almost all is revealed in the end.

The other side of the story, the police procedural, is driven by the dynamic personalities of Detectives Gina and Tony and their exchanges are full of biting sarcastic wit and competitive rivalry as they investigate the serial murders.  Their rapport is very entertaining and the author has created two very appealing characters with great chemistry.  The writing overall in this story is very sharp and vividly detailed, with an abundance of sarcastic barbs coming from most of the main characters.  Because the story takes the point of view of both the police and the victims of the rapists and pedophiles that are being stalked by the Vigilare, there is an interesting commentary on the nature of justice and the roles of government officials.  It's thought-provoking, and deals with the theoretical conflict between superheroes and the police very intelligently.

The story has fast-paced, thriller elements, and well-paced courtroom scenes which are balanced very well within the narrative.  The mystery and suspense of who and what the Vigilare is builds til the end, when there are some very surprising reveals.  I found this a very enjoyable read.

review copy kindly provided by the author

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Weird Circle - Jane Eyre

I've wanted to review all the radio adaptations of Jane Eyre that I have (Warning! I have a few!) for awhile now.  A year ago I would have put this on my website for Jane Eyre adaptations but now, I want to post them here and maybe interest a reader into listening to the episode. They are all mostly from the forties and fifties and really entertaining.  Check out all the radio adaptations of Jane Eyre here.

I'll start off with the adaptation for the radio series "Weird Circle" that aired December 26, 1943.  Unfortunately I have been unable to find any information on the cast.  Amidst the sound of rolling waves it begins:

In this cave by the restless sea, we are met to call from out of the past, stories strange and weird.  Phantoms of a world gone by speak again the immortal tale... Jane Eyre.

Dramatic much?  This should be called Weird Adaptation because it doesn't really take much from the book.  Absolutely none of the original dialogue is used, pretty much all scenes disregarded except for the interrupted wedding, goodbye faithful characterizations, and Mrs. Fairfax is inexplicably changed to Mrs. Campbell and clearly ripped off from sinister Mrs. Danvers from Rebecca.  (Rebecca the film was released in 1940 by the way)  The creep factor is turned way up by Mrs. Campbell's sneering threats, very unnerving noises coming from the attic, and a Bertha who maniacally says she likes death and fire.  But let's get back to the plot being pathetically stripped down to just include scenes that indicate 1) timid Jane has a new position as governess, 2) Something strange is going on in that attic 3) poor Adela is scared 4) Mr. Rochester and Jane have nice conversations (off microphone) but even Jane is surprised by how abruptly he declares his love, 5) Interrupted wedding, 6) as Jane is leaving she turns around and sees the house afire, and 7) she sits by Rochester's bed waiting for him to wake up so she can love him.  Wow.  I guess this vaguely reminds me of Jane Eyre.

Obviously this is a ridiculous, over the top adaptation.  It turns the multi-faceted story into a hackneyed ghost story with no ghost.  And yet I find it hilarious and very entertaining.  I'll leave you with my favorite part - twice Jane asks Mr. Rochester about the noises in the attic and this is what she gets:

Jane: Then why is the attic shut off that way?
Rochester: It saves fuel.
Jane: Well that's nonsense, the attic's heated.
Rochester: Let's say it saves fuel, and let us go with that.

Rochester: You had a nightmare probably, Jane
Jane: It wasn't the first time I heard those footsteps.
Rochester: Probably Mrs. Campbell rummaging up there.  She has insomnia at times.
Jane: Mrs. Campbell doesn't walk on all fours, Edward.
Rochester: Well, uh, probably the wind.
Jane: Adela heard it too.
Rochester: Let's say it's the wind and forget it, shall we?

Omigod what?  Jane, you are INSANE to just let those feeble answers go!   It's so terrible it's kind of brilliant!

Awesome Adaptations (21) - Avenue Q

Awesome Adaptations is a weekly bookish meme, hosted at Alisa Selene’s books blog, Picturemereading.  Anyone can play along! Each week there is a new category of adaptation to blog about. Any format (television series, film, web series, etc.) is acceptable as long as it is based in some form on a book. If you’re playing along on your own blog, just mention Picturemereading in your post and include the banner above. Let them know which film you’d pick and why it is an awesome adaptation worth watching. Oh, and don’t forget to share the link to your own post in the comments for that week’s challenge so that everyone can read your thoughts!

An Awesome Adaptation Musical with Puppets!

Title: Avenue Q

What is my life going to be?
Four years of college and plenty of knowledge
Have earned me this useless degree
I can't pay the bills yet
Cause I have no skills yet
The world is a big scary place.

I'm totally cheating on today's Awesome Adaptations post because Avenue Q is not an adaptation of a book.  It's just a musical I really like with puppets.  I could not think of a good pick for this week's theme!  I don't watch enough films with puppets sadly.

Avenue Q is a stage musical with puppeteers who are onstage as they manipulate their puppet characters and some human characters thrown into the mix.  The show is like Sesame Street for adults, where the puppets learn real life problems that include post-college adjustment, relationships, making money, racism and homosexuality and just growing up in general.  It's about finding your direction in life, with little nuggets of wisdom in every song.  It's hilarious and irreverent - definitely not for people who are easily offended.  And what adds to the humor is the contrast between seeing these very nice puppets saying and doing such um... unexpected things.  And my favorite puppets are definitely the Bad Idea Bears.  They look and sound so sweet, but do not listen to them!

I've seen the stage show a couple times, and I think part of the fun of seeing this show live is seeing how the actors manage the different puppets - many double up on manipulating one, and some play more than one character. It's even interesting to see the actors faces as they play the puppets.  They are emoting along with them.   What I love so much about the story is how it moves from silly and fun to poignant and thoughtful, with such an upbeat but realistic resolution.  The music is catchy and almost every song has that unexpected-direction punchline that keeps you laughing.  It's so entertaining!

Review: Flowers in the Attic

Flowers in the Attic
by V. C. Andrews

Plot Summary:

Such wonderful children. Such a beautiful mother. Such a lovely house. Such endless terror!

It wasn't that she didn't love her children. She did. But there was a fortune at stake--a fortune that would assure their later happiness if she could keep the children a secret from her dying father.

So she and her mother hid her darlings away in an unused attic.

Just for a little while.

But the brutal days swelled into agonizing years. Now Cathy, Chris, and the twins wait in their cramped and helpless world, stirred by adult dreams, adult desires, served a meager sustenance by an angry, superstitious grandmother who knows that the Devil works in dark and devious ways. Sometimes he sends children to do his work--children who--one by one--must be destroyed....

Review:

So many thoughts for this book!  The things that happen to these children are so horrific and disgusting, I just wanted to stop listening (I had an audiobook) but I couldn't.  I wanted the children to fight back, to wise up, to get the heck out of the attic!  But it was so insidious how this story is unfolded.  It's idyllic at first, with a loving mother and father and four loving, beautiful children - such a perfect family.  But then the father dies, and it's just the start of an utterly uncontrollable nightmare for these children.  The mother has promises and keeps the children complacent with hope and trades on their ignorance.  And gradually each layer of gilded gold is stripped away and the children as well as the reader becomes aware of the horror of what these children have to endure.  I think what is so compelling about the story is how much helplessness is imbued in the characters and in their actions. They are forced to comply with their Mother and their Grandmother's plan, and having everything the reader knows filtered through the the preteen narrator Cathy, keeps the reader handicapped as well.  So much is going on outside the attic that with each visit and small revelation made by their Mother and Grandmother, the sense of foreboding grows.

Cathy as the narrator is easy to empathize with.  She's innocent and naive, but strong-willed and intuitive. And her older brother is equally admirable (so when certain things happen with him, it's a pretty big blow) but all the Dollanganger children are so likable and sweet - it makes it doubly horrific to see everything stripped away from them.  Grandmother's antagonist role as the religiously fanatical, cold-hearted attic-prison keeper is strikingly villainous and yet complex to define because with the complicity of the children's Mother it's hard to see who truly is at fault.

This is certainly a strange story yet sensational, so it's understandable that it was so popular when it was first released.  It's very poignant and earnest, yet there was such a sense of oppressiveness when I listened to this book because of how these horrible things were so inevitable.  It was so brilliantly crafted by the author, yet so difficult to bear sometimes.  It's like this book isn't just a story, it's an experience.  And one that I think is going to stick with me for a very long time.

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Review: A Rendezvous to Die For

A Rendezvous to Die For
A Cassandra Cassidy mystery
by Betty McMahon

Plot Summary:

Photographer Cassandra Cassidy landed in the picturesque northern Minnesota town of Colton Mills, and started photographing weddings to pay the bills, but got her creative kicks making portraits of some noble, and some not-so-noble Indians on and off the nearby rez.

The Duluth, Minnesota newspaper hired Cassandra to cover a local 1830s Rendezvous reenactment. There would be trappers, mountain men and, of course, Indians. So Cassandra and her cameras headed north -- not knowing that her nemesis Eric Hartfield, a defrocked newspaper reporter, was heading there as well.

Not long after settling in and photographing some of the Rendezvous’ colorful characters, she and Eric crossed paths and exchanged some scathing words on the very public Rendezvous grounds. She would live to regret her parting taunt to Eric: “The next time I see you, I’ll fire two warning shots – straight into your head!”

The sheriff took their verbal scuffle into account after Cassandra discovered Eric in an Indian sweat lodge outside the grounds—with a tomahawk buried in his skull. Eric was well beyond any future such scuffles.

But a dead Eric may have the last laugh over his adversary as Cassandra becomes the main suspect in Eric’s demise. Now she’s up to her f-stops trying to sort out who is responsible.

Can a female photographer-amateur-sleuth, dragged into such a nightmare situation somehow dig herself out – and reveal the real murderer?

Review:

A photographer turned amateur sleuth must solve the mystery that increasingly casts suspicion on herself.  It's a great premise, and especially the idea of the camera being the one to catch all the little clues that can help solve the mystery is smart.  I didn't feel like this story completely delivered on it's promise however.  The structure of the mystery felt haphazard, as clues and information were revealed in too many coincidences and in reconnaissances that felt illogical or at least a jump in logic.  It made the story feel a little unrealistic and that took me out of the story.  I do like mysteries that make you feel that in the end you could have figured it out because the building of it was so methodical and well-designed.  With this novel I felt the way the information was presented was too slapdash and rushed sometimes to give a proper perspective on the solution, which made the reveal of the murderer feel like it was shoehorned to fit the expected least likely suspect.

But.  Although the mystery is a little flat for me, the characters that made up the small town and Cassandra's list of suspects were well fleshed out and dynamic. There was also a great attention to detail of the reality of people who participate in historical reenactments, photographers and cowboys.  I liked the gradual reveal of some of Cassandra's mysterious and troubled background and how she had to use her experiences from her past to deal with her present.  As a mystery I wanted more, but as a set-up for a new sleuth series, I think this series shows a lot of promise.

a review was requested by the author

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Suspense Sundays (29)

"Now let's see... Suspect... Suspectant... Suspend... Ah here we are, Suspense.  The condition of mental uncertainty usually accompanied by apprehension or anxiety.  Fear of something that is about to occur, as 'Do not keep me any longer in SUSPENSE.'"

Suspense was a radio series from 1942 to 1962, claiming to be "radio's outstanding theater of thrills."  I have a fondness for "Old Time Radio" as we call it now, and Suspense is my favorite show.  It sets up weird, dark, scary, or intriguing stories with a plot twist in the end, and all in half an hour.  I love the old-fashion story-telling and I thought it would be fun to give a short review of an episode every Sunday.  

{My archive list of episodes}

"Cabin B-13"

Air date: November 9, 1943

Starring Margo and Philip Dorn

>>Episodes here<<

Ann and Richard Brewster board an ocean liner for their honeymoon trip to Europe.  Since they have $10,000 in cash for their three month trip, Richard takes it to the ship's purser for safekeeping while Ann goes on deck to watch the departure.  While talking to a nice Austrian Doctor she discovers that the ship has no cabin number 13 for superstitious reasons.  But that is her room number!  And no one believes her.  And no one has heard of Richard Brewster.

That is a brilliant plot set-up for a mystery.  Ann mentions the urban legend of the Vanishing Lady to her husband in the beginning which sets up the basis of this mystery.  In short, The Vanishing Lady is about a mother and daughter who visit the World's Fair in Paris in 1889.  The mother is ill, and the daughter is sent out by the hotel doctor to get some medicine.  When she returns her room is different, her mother is missing, and no one knows what she is talking about.  The answer given in the show is that her mother died of the bubonic plague, and there was a huge cover-up so other tourists wouldn't get scared off.  That's not exactly what's happening in this story, and I don't want to give anything away.  It is pretty easy to figure out, but because the scenario is so chilling, this episode gets high marks.

Books to Music: Jane Eyre the Musical

Musicals make up a large part of my iTunes content,  so I wanted to try out this possible weekly feature on my blog where I talk about a cast recording or sometimes one song that is from a musical based on a book.  I really want to focus on the music and not the stage show, and talk about how the music captures the novel for me.

Jane Eyre was my gateway musical to theatre love.  I liked a couple of musicals before I listened to this, but I wouldn't say I generally liked the genre.  Being the obsessed Jane Eyre fan, I finally got around to listening to this recording and at first wasn't too impressed! There were aspects and a song or two that I liked, but I feel like the transition from straight story to story told through song does need getting used to.  There is something in me that clicked after a few repeated listens in which the beauty of the story shone through the lyrics and music of the songs.  Now it's almost always that way for me.  If I see the show for the musical, it is much more likely I will add the cast recording to my collection.  I need the context, because my understanding of the story and the emotion behind the scene can transfer to how I enjoy the songs.

With Jane Eyre, the mood of the music is the first thing that drew me in.  It's haunting and meditative, and dark and intense at times.  It matches the power and passion of the novel, and with Marla Schaffel's glorious mezzo-soprano voice, she brings that down to earth, proper quality that fits Jane's character so well.  Her voice does sound more mature than I would wish Jane to sound, but the passion Marla brings to the character makes up for that.  James Barbour's powerful baritone is perfect for Rochester and sounds fantastic matched to Marla.  I love the inflections that James brings to certain songs as well - especially when imitating Celine or teasing Jane in the Proposal song.

Some songs adapt some surprising scenes.  The Gypsy song - a scene often omitted from adaptations of the novel - is included and captures Rochester's whimsy as he talks to his guests and then to Jane in song.  This musical also makes the interesting choice to have a 'greek chorus' narrate Jane's story at times, with interstitial songs sung by the cast that help build the Gothic, sometimes foreboding tone of the music.  It's a wonderful atmospheric recreation of the story that is often more faithful to the book than some of the film adaptations.

Song Spotlight:  Brave Enough For Love
This song isn't my favorite from the album (that would be "Sirens") but I picked this song because the themes that have been building throughout the musical - of love and forgiveness - are woven together perfectly in this finale.  And the title "Brave Enough For Love" echoes musically and lyrically Helen Burn's advice to Jane from the song "Forgiveness".  Beautiful call-back!  This song completely captures the lessons and experience that Jane and Rochester have learned throughout the show, and that is why I think this song is a fantastic example of the beauty and intelligence of this musical.

The Dead Authors Podcast

I love listening to podcasts, and I wanted to share the only literary related podcast that I listen to (though it is more comedic than enlightening, but they do sometimes read from the works of the featured author/s)  The podcast is hosted by comedian Paul F. Tompkins - oops!  I mean H.G. Wells, author of The Time Machine.  But in this world, H.G. Wells' time machine is real and he uses it to transport famous authors to present day Los Angelees and interview them in front of a live audience.  (You can get tickets to see the show in L.A.)

Recent episodes have seen H.G. interview the Grimm Brothers, the Gospel writers, Mary Shelley, J.R.R Tolkien, Arthur Conan Doyle and on and on.  Hopefully he'll have Charlotte Brontë on sometime soon!  The show/interview is mostly improvised as H.G. Wells and the actor/comedian representing the featured author have a conversation about their life and their work.  The first episode had Andy Richter as Emily Dickinson whose first reaction was outrage that anyone knew about her poetry.  Hilarious.  There are some anachronistic references but that is of course explained by the fact that there is TV and internet in the time machine for the guests to enjoy.  I love the irreverent, silly humor and the hilarious characterizations the comedians bring to the dead authors. H.G. seems to delight so when an unexpected and/or unlikely facets of the author's personality or obsessions are revealed. (P.G. Wodehouse and donkeys!)   H.G. Wells' antipathy towards Jules Verne's uncreative science fiction (as he sees it) always makes me laugh too - an episode with an H.G and Jules faceoff would be awesome!

It's for charity, it's completely free to listen to the podcast, and it's funny, silly, and entertaining.  Check out the links below!

Official Website  -   Itunes  -    Facebook

Review: Amongst the Ruins

Amongst the Ruins
by Saewod Tice

Plot Summary:

In the year 2220, only about 15% of Earth's population have survived and thrived after the Nuclear Disaster of 2020.

With the collapse of modern society, the population has regressed into eight clans.

Amongst these clans, an unusual girl grows from child to adult.

Raised on the run and in hiding, Shilo wants to be free of the expectations of women. But in a ruined world where anyone could be an enemy, only the radiation-twisted mutants are clearly identifiable. A fertile female is a precious treasure, and any lapse in caution can mean a loss of the freedom she longs for.

Training as hard as a soldier would, in order to free herself from social constraints, she finds herself faced with an offer from a new clan--an offer that provides her with what she desires. But her recently found independence brings discovery, and discovery brings two very different men from her past—and each of them is determined to claim her.

One is obsessed with owning her, the other desires her as the only person who can make him love again.

Review:

A great, fast-paced dystopian romance, with a strong female heroine who has to battle the expectations set on women's roles in society.  The author's vision of a post-apocalyptic society where repopulation is the major goal is especially vivid and detailed.  The story moves quickly as Shilo and her family go from one clan to another, in an effort to survive since the military state of society doesn't really give her many choices.  I loved how fierce and spiky Shilo is despite her feminine beauty, and how many times she gets to kick major butt in her sparrings and battles.  I also felt her confusion over her sexual attraction to men when she really wasn't interested in becoming a man's property was an intriguing angle to work the romance, especially with Kain who is interested in her, but has trouble showing that.

The story takes many twists and turns as Shilo learns to fight and realizes her need to be independent.  The author explores many different clans, and I was impressed by how well all the information was worked into the story - with a pace that never flagged.  The many different characters that Shilo met, that shaped her personality were well-delineated and believable.  The romance wasn't as strong - it really only kicks in during the last third of the book, and I would have liked it to have seen more of it.  But the story is more about Shilo's journey.  But the cliffhanger though!  I don't know what to think!

Although I felt at rare times, the writing had awkward moments and some typos, I really enjoyed this story for the action and the romance, and I hope to continue reading the series sometime.  This is highly recommended!

a review copy was kindly provided by the author

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Awesome Adaptations (20) - The Reichenbach Fall

Awesome Adaptations is a weekly bookish meme, hosted at Alisa Selene’s books blog, Picturemereading.  Anyone can play along! Each week there is a new category of adaptation to blog about. Any format (television series, film, web series, etc.) is acceptable as long as it is based in some form on a book. If you’re playing along on your own blog, just mention Picturemereading in your post and include the banner above. Let them know which film you’d pick and why it is an awesome adaptation worth watching. Oh, and don’t forget to share the link to your own post in the comments for that week’s challenge so that everyone can read your thoughts!

An awesomely action packed adaptation

Title: The Reichenbach Fall from the TV show "Sherlock"

Adapted from The Final Problem by Arthur Conan Doyle

Omigod, this series.  Every episode could be featured somehow on Awesome Adaptations.  And maybe it will be!  But for now I want to focus on my current favorite episode of the show's run, and the one episode that had me shocked, scared, crying, and curled in the fetal position as I tried to process everything that just happened.  In terms of action packed, this episode has so many highs and lows and shocks and surprises, it truly is mind boggling.   If you haven't seen the recent BBC update of Sherlock hie you to Netflix post haste!  And meet your new obsession. :)

In terms of adaptation, this episode uses only a little from the original story.  Moriarty in the story is more of a plot device to end Sherlock Holmes.  His master criminal efforts are described and Holmes' efforts to find enough evidence to convict him and his whole agency of criminals are mentioned but nothing concrete is described.  The story is not a mystery at all, but Holmes on the run.  However in the TV show, Moriarty's behind-the-scenes criminal activities are fleshed out throughout the run of the two series.  So when you come to this episode (3rd episode of the 2nd season), you know all about Moriarty's villainy and especially of his character.   Moriarty of the show is especially complex - unhinged, obsessed and sinister.  He sees Sherlock as his equal and is determined to match wits with him to the death.  Moriarty's agenda drives the action and the choices Sherlock must make in this episode.  It is Sherlock on the run again, but this time Moriarty is calling the shots.  From committing outrageous crimes and getting away with it, to spreading lies and rumors about Sherlock that takes away all public regard for his accomplishments; Moriarty undermines Sherlock's beliefs and tests his mental acuity.  All leading to the fall Moriarty wants Sherlock to take.  The final scenes of this episode are tense to the extreme and brilliantly played by all the actors.

I don't want to reveal too much about what happens in this episode because it is more fun to be taken on the roller coaster ride of insanity.  This episode is absolutely compelling.  It's audacious.  Suspenseful.  Emotional.  Brilliant.  And of course, awesome.

Review: The Mist on Brontë Moor

The Mist on Brontë Moor
by Aviva Orr

Plot Summary:

When fifteen-year-old Heather Jane Bell is diagnosed with alopecia and her hair starts falling out in clumps, she wants nothing more than to escape her home in London and disappear off the face of the earth.

Heather gets her wish when her concerned parents send her to stay with a great-aunt in West Yorkshire. But shortly after she arrives, Heather becomes lost on the moors and is swept through the mist back to the year 1833. There she encounters fifteen-year-old Emily Brontë and is given refuge in the Brontë Parsonage.

Unaware of her host family’s genius and future fame, Heather struggles to cope with alopecia amongst strangers in a world foreign to her. While Heather finds comfort and strength in her growing friendship with Emily and in the embrace of the close-knit Brontë family, her emotions are stretched to the limit when she falls for Emily’s brilliant but troubled brother, Branwell.

Will Heather return to the comforts and conveniences of the twenty-first century? Or will she choose love and remain in the harsh world of nineteenth-century Haworth?

Review:

I love the Brontës.  I find their short, insulated lives fascinating, especially given their writing genius.  So when I read the synopsis for this book I was very keen to read this YA take on a day (or days rather) in the lives of the Brontë family.  Heather has a great character arc - her insecurities due to her alopecia makes it difficult for her to open up to her family and friends but with the Brontë sisters and Branwell, she can gradually forget her fears.  The infatuated love she feels for Branwell who - true to the real man - is charming and troubled at turns, was well captured by the author's prose.  I felt she brought teenage love and angst to life in this story, even creating a Victorian equivalent that slightly mirrors elements of Wuthering Heights.  This added a welcome element of danger and suspense to what is a simple time travel romance and coming of age story.

What I most appreciated about this story was the faithful re-imagining of the teenage Brontës and their lives in Haworth.  The author obviously did much research and used real life facts to support her characterizations and drama.  I felt like I was really seeing into their minds, and I loved how well the author brought them to life.  The historical details makes this an excellent immersive read that made me feel the cold and beauty of the moors in the nineteenth century and the unique relationships between the Brontë family.

This is a relatively short, sweet novel about acceptance and love with the bonus of including such dynamic personalities as the Brontës.  I would highly recommend it to readers who like character-driven stories with historical fantasy elements and light romance.

a review copy was kindly provided by the author

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Review: City of Dark Magic

City of Dark Magic
by Magnus Flyte (Meg Howry and Christina Lynch)

Plot Summary:

Once a city of enormous wealth and culture, Prague was home to emperors, alchemists, astronomers, and, as it’s whispered, hell portals. When music student Sarah Weston lands a summer job at Prague Castle cataloging Beethoven’s manuscripts, she has no idea how dangerous her life is about to become. Prague is a threshold, Sarah is warned, and it is steeped in blood.

Soon after Sarah arrives, strange things begin to happen. She learns that her mentor, who was working at the castle, may not have committed suicide after all. Could his cryptic notes be warnings? As Sarah parses his clues about Beethoven’s “Immortal Beloved,” she manages to get arrested, to have tantric sex in a public fountain, and to discover a time-warping drug. She also catches the attention of a four-hundred-year-old dwarf, the handsome Prince Max, and a powerful U.S. senator with secrets she will do anything to hide.

City of Dark Magic could be called a rom-com paranormal suspense novel—or it could simply be called one of the most entertaining novels of the year.

Review:

From the title, and a little from the plot summary I thought this novel would have more magical elements, but after reading it it seemed more in the vein of The Da Vinci Code with secrets long buried in history, and a thriller pace as Sarah and Prince Max try to discover who is behind the disruptive plots against the planned opening of the fabulous Lobkowicz museum.  There is a lot of historical detail, murder, intrigue, and the very cool idea of a time-traveling drug.

The characters of Sarah and Prince Max were engaging, and perfect to take us on this journey through the underside of Prague.  The writing is also clear and fast-paced - with the historical details never bogging down the pace of the story.  In fact, I found all the additional information about Beethoven's life and Prague's past especially fascinating and I loved how it was all worked into the narrative.  The only problems I had with the novel were the details over the "hell portals" which felt vague yet were important in the story and the sex scenes that seemed unnecessary and didn't really add much to the characters' development. Mostly it seemed like a shortcut for developing the characters' romance.  But these are small issues I had with the book because I found it very difficult to put it down and was drawn on by the many surprises and the gradually unfolding mysteries.  This is a great story with richly immersive detail, and excellently written characters.  I highly recommend this book!

a review copy was kindly provided by the publisher through Netgalley

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Suspense Sundays (28)

"Now let's see... Suspect... Suspectant... Suspend... Ah here we are, Suspense.  The condition of mental uncertainty usually accompanied by apprehension or anxiety.  Fear of something that is about to occur, as 'Do not keep me any longer in SUSPENSE.'"

Suspense was a radio series from 1942 to 1962, claiming to be "radio's outstanding theater of thrills."  I have a fondness for "Old Time Radio" as we call it now, and Suspense is my favorite show.  It sets up weird, dark, scary, or intriguing stories with a plot twist in the end, and all in half an hour.  I love the old-fashion story-telling and I thought it would be fun to give a short review of an episode every Sunday.  

{My archive list of episodes}

"Will You Make a Bet With Death?"

Air date: November 10, 1942

Starring Michael Fitzmaurice and Leslie Woods

>>Episodes here<<

Robert Pendrall's Uncle invites him to make a bet.  The Uncle, Mr. Destry, wants to commit murder and if Bob Pendrall can escape him for six months he will give him $25,000.  Bob accepts for the money and to show his rich Uncle he can't get everything he wants.  It's now the last day, and Bob is a bundle of nerves.  He gets on a Haunted House ride at the fair and meets Betty Andrews to whom he tells his story.  He only has five hours left to escape his Uncle, but his Uncle has promised that his method for murder has never failed...

Clever twists!  There are two of them - revealing how Mr. Destry planned to kill his nephew, and how the whole story eventually ends.  It's so interesting how Mr. Destry plays with his nephew and uses expectation to do most of his work for him.  I think their strange, hating relationship could be an interesting story in and of itself.  This is a great, suspenseful story to listen to!

Blogspiration (12) - Chance and Happiness

Blogspiration is a weekly meme hosted by GrowingUpYA and Saz101. The meme was created to help spark inspiration among bloggers, readers and writers alike. An inspirational quote/picture/video is posted weekly, on the day of the author's choosing, so that it may inspire creativity, conversation or just a little SOMETHING.

Another bit of wisdom from Jane Eyre.   I believe it is up to us to be happy in the simplest sense.  We can make the decision to do what will bring us happiness.  Stretch out our hand for it, as it were.  And I've always liked why Mr. Rochester would say that to Jane - he wanted her to show some interest in him.  So devious, and so cute. :)

Radio Adaptation: Clarissa or The History of a Young Lady

Clarissa or The History of a Young Lady
by Samuel Richardson
Adapted for radio in four parts by Hattie Naylor
First Aired: March 2010
Starring: Zoe Waites, Richard Armitage, Oliver Milburn, Stephen Critchlow, and Sophie Thompson

I thought I'd post some thoughts on a radio adaptation I listened to recently based on this 1747 novel. It is one of the longest novels in the English language, so maybe that is why I'm not in a mood to tackle reading it at the moment, and add to that the tragic nature of it's hapless and powerless heroine,  I much preferred listening to this radio adaptation.  Especially when it stars Richard Armitage as the devilish rake Robert Lovelace.  Oh Richard, why must your smooth baritone always indicate that you are dangerous?

The plot basically follows Clarissa who is being forced to marry a creepy old guy for his connections and to make sure she doesn't get involved with that libertine Robert Lovelace who has professed some interest in her.  Clarissa's family is surprisingly jealous of her virtue and beauty, and reduces Clarissa to desperation when she finally allows Lovelace to carry her off.  She was definitely not thinking clearly.  Lovelace's assurances that he wants only to help her get away from her family's clutches is belied by the fact that he keeps her imprisoned in a house of ill repute, and because of his own experience with the fickleness of women, has decided to test how virtuous she really is.  Oh, he finds out all right.

Richard Armitage gives Lovelace that charm that is necessary but completely unfair given how the character is completely irredeemable.  He does some truly horrible things.  And his attempts to trick Clarissa are relentless and continually inventive.  And the way Lovelace slips into his completely-for-love act is mesmerizing and odious - he is so likable and hateful at the same time.  Lovelace also continually treats Clarissa as some object to control, and Clarissa (being a woman in the 1700s) must fearfully put off his advances with appeals to her virtue and his (worthless) promises.  It's frustrating to listen to Clarissa's meekness and ineffectual attempts to get away from Lovelace, but she does have an inner strength that Lovelace can not get at and Zoe Waites captures all this fantastically in the adaptation.  The story moves along quickly, and though it is a tragic tale, I found it an entertaining listen, and loved the 1700s need to create a redemptive end for the characters.

More information on the radio serial on this wonderful Richard Armitage site

Review: The Silent Governess

The Silent Governess
by Julie Klassen

Plot Summary:

Believing herself guilty of a crime, Olivia Keene flees her home, eventually stumbling upon a grand estate where an elaborate celebration is in progress. But all is not as joyous as it seems.

Lord Bradley has just learned a terrible secret, which, if exposed, will change his life forever. When he glimpses a figure on the grounds, he fears a spy or thief has overheard his devastating news. He is stunned to discover the intruder is a scrap of a woman with her throat badly injured. Fearing she will spread his secret, he gives the girl a post and confines her to his estate. As Olivia and Lord Bradley's secrets catch up with them, will their hidden pasts ruin their hope of finding love?

Review:

This novel has a plot with an interesting set-up - Olivia Keene is kept on at the Brightwell estate because Lord Bradley is afraid of her revealing his secret, and Olivia is content to stay hidden away at the estate because of a secret of her own.  But the story then continues at quite a leisurely pace that gave almost episodic scenes where Olivia interacts with other characters and gradually finds out more about the people she is working for.  The clues for the answers to the mysteries are well laid out, and the way the author wraps up all the loose ends, even the ones that seemed unimportant, is masterly.  The building romance between Olivia and Edward Bradley was also very sweet and every mention of their confused, heartfelt feelings for each other was a treat.

The author also comments a lot on the lonely lot of the governess at that time, which I found very interesting to read.  Books like Jane Eyre makes the job seem like a dream, but if you are not marrying your employer, it doesn't seem like a very desirable post at all.  I liked seeing the other side of governessing in this story, though of course there is a happy ending.  The story overall held my interest, even if the pace flagged at times, but character development was solid and with all the attention to detail to the story and character relationships, some parts in the ending did touch me to tears.  This is a perfect clean romance read for curling up in a comfy chair on a rainy day.

First book of 20 in the 2013 Books of Eyre Challenge

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Awesome Adaptations (19) - Austenland

Awesome Adaptations is a weekly bookish meme, hosted at Alisa Selene’s books blog, Picturemereading.  Anyone can play along! Each week there is a new category of adaptation to blog about. Any format (television series, film, web series, etc.) is acceptable as long as it is based in some form on a book. If you’re playing along on your own blog, just mention Picturemereading in your post and include the banner above. Let them know which film you’d pick and why it is an awesome adaptation worth watching. Oh, and don’t forget to share the link to your own post in the comments for that week’s challenge so that everyone can read your thoughts!

A forthcoming adaptation I'm awesomely excited about

Title: Austenland by Shannon Hale

Picture source: Entertainment Weekly
Pictured: Jennifer Coolidge, James Callis, Kerri Russell, JJ Feild,  Georgia King, and Ricky Whittles

"Obsessed with the BBC production of "Pride and Prejudice", a woman travels to a Jane Austen theme park in search for her perfect gentleman."

I did a retro review of this book a few months ago, and there you can read some of my comments on it.   And now I'm so excited about this adaptation it's starting to become a problem!  I CAN NOT WAIT.  I loved the book so much - it became an instant favorite seconds after finishing the story with cheeks that ached from smiling so much.  It's a tongue-in-cheek, affectionate homage to Austen's characters and legacy and the hopeless romantic fangirls that love those stories and the chivalric gentlemen that inhabit them.  

There has been precious little news about the film adaptation (and not even a trailer!) but it is going to the Sundance film festival this month, and I hope that once it takes the whole festival by storm, they will have some release dates and a trailer to unveil for the public.  This promo picture (there have been a few others) is all I have at the moment, and I love it so much!  The anachronistic elements amidst those gorgeous Regency costumes captures the spirit of the novel so well.  And the actors look the parts perfectly.  I've been a fan of J.J. Feild since he was on Northanger Abbey, so I am especially excited to see him as Mr. Nobley.  (and probably love him a whole lot more after this film!)

There have been some very complimentary reviews and comments on the film, and the cast seems to get along really well so I'm so looking forward to seeing how their chemistry plays out on film!  Now if only I can win tickets to the Sundance film festival....

2013 Books of Eyre Challenge

Happy New Year everyone!

I so enjoyed completing The Musings of ALMYBNENR's Books of Eyre Reading Challenge last year, that I'm joining again, and now I can start it off right, and join on the very first day.  Amber has added some new levels, so I'm going for the highest one - the Mrs. Rochester level with 20 books.  Wish me luck!  Here's hoping I'll be Mrs. Rochester by the end of the year. ;)

Check out all the information on the challenge by clicking the button below, and possibly join up!

 

This post will also keep track of my progress for this challenge.

JANUARY

The Silent Governess by Julie Klassen

APRIL
Death of a Dowager by Joanna Campbell Slan

MAY
Eyre House by Cait Greer

JUNE
Jane Eyre Austen by Doyle MacBrayne

SEPTEMBER
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

DECEMBER
Jane, le renard, et moi by Fanny Britt and Isabelle Arsenault