Suspense Sundays (123) The Crisis of Dirk Diamond

Suspense was a radio series from 1942 to 1962.  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.  For Suspense Sundays I'll give a short review of an episode.

"The Crisis of Dirk Diamond"

Air date: October 18, 1959
Starring Bernie Grant

>>Episodes here<<

Mike Snyder writes the comic strip of the adventures of Dirk Diamond.  Sales for the Dick Diamond comic is going down and his editor demands that Mike create a better villain.  The editor asks him what truly scares him and Mike tells him how when he was a child he imagined a frightening man named Freddie.  The editor loves it and orders him to write him into the comic, but Mike is still a little frightened of Freddie.

A little frightened turns into A LOT frightened when Freddie starts turning up.  I really loved the premise of this episode - I thought it was genuinely creepy in the beginning and Freddie's voice is a little unnerving, but I think the ending was a bit abrupt and left me less than satisfied.  I think for such a great set-up it might have been hard to pull of an even better resolution though.  So for the ideas and the atmosphere this is a pretty good listen.

Star Trek DS9 Season 1 - Top 3 Favorite Episodes

I think it will always be rough transitioning to a new Star Trek series after I've become so fond of the previous one.  I was not feeling Star Trek TNG after watching The Original Series, but TNG eventually won me over so I'm sure DS9 will do the same* - apparently around the third season.  But at the moment, I'm disappointed in a few things with DS9 so far - the dullness of the space station aesthetically, the fact that we are stuck on a space station, and the time it's taking me to warm up to these characters.  The one good thing is that Quark is somewhat lessening my lack of patience with the Ferengi as a race.  I'm starting to see the fun in them as a plot device, but only as a secondary.  The episode that focused on Ferengi politics was very annoying to me.

With season 1 and 2 of TNG, I could only really pick three episodes that appealed to me in that season, and that's the case again for DS9.  Although really, in my choices below, there were only moments that appealed to me, because I was not enamored with the episodes as a whole.  I really struggled to get though this season unfortunately, and I'm so looking forward to getting past DS9's growing pains to the good stuff!

3. If Wishes Were Horses

The idea of thoughts becoming reality is a great one, and seeing such a mismatch of characters like Rumplestilskin, a famed baseball player and an alternate OOC Dax made for a quirky mystery as the crew try to understand why they came into being in the first place.  The solution to the mystery was much less interesting to me though - I was probably just disappointed that the imaginary characters didn't have more up their sleeve than it seemed.

2. The Forsaken

In this episode, a mysterious entity gets into the computer of the space station and starts to affect normal procedures, and meanwhile Lwaxana Troi and a group of ambassadors visit the station.  Lwaxana takes a romantic interest in the resident emotionally unavailable character - Odo - and makes a connection with him while they are stuck in the turbo lift.  The entity living in the computer was not as interesting to me as the added depth we see to the characters of Odo and Lwaxana when they open up to each other in the turbo lift.  I really loved seeing why Lwaxana is such a magnetic character - when she can be so compassionate and understanding.  And based on my history of favorite characters from the previous Star Trek series (Spock and Data) I wonder if Odo will become my favorite on DS9.... time will tell!  (And Rene Auberjonois was a voice in The Little Mermaid, so points in his favor!)  Definitely I empathized a lot with Odo's story in this episode.

1. Move Along Home

A new species, the Wadi, visit the space station and since they seem to really like games, they gravitate towards Quark's fine establishment.  But when Quark cheats them, they make him play their own game, which has seemingly high, and very disturbing stakes.  This was another episode that has a cool mystery in what exactly the rules of the game are, and it was fun to see members of the crew in the game and needing to figure out it's weird logic.  But the resolution was very convenient, and it was odd that there was pretty much no reason why they had to put real people in the game.  But I ranked this first in my list since I enjoyed it the most of this season.

*I'm happy to say that Season 2 of DS9 is much better!

Review: Killer Instinct

Killer Instinct (The Naturals #2)
by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
YA Mystery
Amazon  /  Goodreads

Plot Summary:

Seventeen-year-old Cassie Hobbes has a gift for profiling people. Her talent has landed her a spot in an elite FBI program for teens with innate crime-solving abilities, and into some harrowing situations. After barely escaping a confrontation with an unbalanced killer obsessed with her mother’s murder, Cassie hopes she and the rest of the team can stick to solving cold cases from a distance.

But when victims of a brutal new serial killer start turning up, the Naturals are pulled into an active case that strikes too close to home: the killer is a perfect copycat of Dean’s incarcerated father—a man he’d do anything to forget. Forced deeper into a murderer’s psyche than ever before, will the Naturals be able to outsmart the enigmatic killer’s brutal mind games before this copycat twists them into his web for good?

Review:

This series continues to be engaging with it's myriad of twists and turns, and details about behavior and psychology.  I think I enjoyed the second book a bit more than the first because the characters are further developed and they feel even more like a real team.  There's still a lot of issues they have with each other though, so there's plenty of emotional drama that each character needs to deal with.  Character development is necessary in this series because of how much it delves into psychology, and it's great fun to understand how they think.

Even though this story revolves around some gruesome murders (although thankfully it's not heavily detailed in that aspect) and it does follow the mindset of a serial killer, the story feels more like a light and entertaining read.  It's not overly grim which is a big plus for me.  I find it very interesting how the author maintains the lighter YA feel despite the darker aspects of the story.  While I did enjoy the psychological profiling information that we often get when Cassie evaluates other people, I did think it was a little too much at times - there were moments when I really wanted to advance with the story instead of stopping to go over the details of someone's face and posture.  I think the information was interesting, but sometimes wished it was balanced better with more action.

The first book has a bit of a love triangle, but the romance hasn't overwhelmed the story in both books so far which makes me happy.  With such terrible things occurring, it would not seem right if Cassie was more focused on which guy she liked more.  The resolution of this story was a highlight because it was so suspenseful and thrilling.  The mystery was set up well and delivered with many unexpected twists and revelations.  I really enjoyed this read, and am looking forward to the last book as I think it will address the mystery surrounding Cassie's mom which was set up in the first book!

(I received this book from the publisher or author for a fair and honest review.  I was not compensated for this review.)

The Refined Reader (31) The Case of the Vampire

The Refined Reader aims to take a look at the journey to where we are as readers today.  It's part history, part commentary - providing a brief, conversational summary of various aspects of our bookish past and comparing it to how it has affected us in modern times.  I love history, but I am no historian, and while I plan to do my research, if there are any errors, please let me know!  This is as much a learning venture for me as I hope it is for my blog visitors!

Last week I posted on the horror genre, and also asked about favorite supernatural creatures.  Mine is the vampire, and while reading up on horror fiction, I saw mention of two early documented cases that sparked vampire hysteria in Western Europe, which I found very interesting to read!  So I wanted to talk about it here.  Vampires - or blood-sucking entities have been around since ancient times - almost every culture has a legend concerning them, but our modern concept of a vampire comes almost exclusively from 18th Century Europe.

The first case concerns a Serbian peasant named Petar Blagojevich who died in 1725.  After he died, several people in his village died soon after, with nine deaths within eight days.  On their death-beds, the victims claimed to have been visited by Blagojevich at night.  The villagers demanded an investigation, and because Serbia at that time was part of the Austrian empire, Austrian officials and doctors looked into the matter which is why this is such a well documented case.  Although the investigators wanted to wait for permission from their superiors, the villagers did not want to wait so Blagojevich's body was exhumed and found to be in a state consistent to a 'vampire nature'.  The body was relatively undecomposed, there was hair and skin growth, as well as blood in the mouth.  The villagers staked Blagojevich and then burned the body.

The second case happened in another village in Serbia with a man called Arnold Paole.  When Paole first moved to the village, he claimed he had been attacked by a vampire, but cured himself by eating soil from the vampire's grave and smearing himself with the vampire's blood.  In 1725, Paole died from falling off a hay wagon and in the month that followed his death, four people claimed to have seen him, and all four died soon after.  The body was exhumed like with Blagojevich, and was found in the same state of seemingly abnormal decomposition.  Paole's body was staked - an apparently he groaned and bled from it, and the other four victims were also staked to prevent them from becoming vampires.

These cases were written about and spread throughout Europe, although officials and doctors maintained that vampires do not exist.  The Austrian Empress eventually passed laws against exhuming bodies and that led to the end of the vampire hysteria.  But the stories still persisted.  I should say that the state of decomposition described for these 'vampires' can happen realistically, and it's ignorance of that, that fed into the hysteria.

Do you have any favorite vampire stories?

Source:
Wikipedia / Wikipedia

Suspense Sundays (122) Infanticide

Suspense was a radio series from 1942 to 1962.  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.  For Suspense Sundays I'll give a short review of an episode.

"Infanticide"

Air date: October 11, 1959
Starring Santos Ortega

>>Episodes here<<

A young boy is found dead in his bed, and the episode follows the police interview of his step-father.  The step-father's issues with the mother of the boy and other personal problems abound.  But did the step-father kill his step-son?

Wow, this episode is Boring.  It's more like a dramatic character piece than a good suspense story unfortunately.  And the drama wasn't even that great - given that it's really hard to feel any sympathy with the step-father.  And there was no twist in the end to redeem it.  There's nothing I recommend about this episode - except if you are going to listen to this show, I recommend listening to another episode.

Review: Team Human

Team Human
by Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan
YA Fantasy
Amazon  /  Goodreads

Plot Summary:

Readers who love vampire romances will be thrilled to devour Team Human by Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan. Team Human celebrates and parodies the Twilight books, as well as other classics in the paranormal romance genre.

Mel is horrified when Francis Duvarney, arrogant, gorgeous, and undead, starts at her high school. Mel’s best friend, Cathy, immediately falls for the vampire. Cathy is determined to be with him forever, even if having him turn her could inadvertently make her a zombie.

And Mel is equally determined to prove to her BFF that Francis is no good, braving the city’s vampire district and kissing a cute boy raised by vampires as she searches evidence in this touching and comic novel.

Review:

This was a fun book to read - light on emotional investment when it comes to the characters, but full of quirkiness and a great sense of humor.  Having read Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan, I found that this book didn't have quite the number of jokes and one liners that I anticipated so instead I felt this story was amusing instead of laugh-out-loud funny.  The story did have some legitimate and interesting points of view in Mel and Cathy in their attitudes towards vampires.  It's interesting to see Mel grow from her almost irrational dislike of vampires to understanding, and because this is a bit of a parody of vampire stories, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Cathy is ultimately not belittled for her point of view as a character.  I don't want to reveal too much though about the choices the characters make in the story.

There is a nice romance between Mel and another character too which gave more dimension to the vampire vs. human aspect.  The romance is predictable, but sweet, and it was entertaining to see the little bumps in their romance along the way.  The story also features a side mystery with one of Mel's other friends, and that also became a bit predictable towards the end, but it contributed much to keeping the plot more interesting.

This wasn't a book I devoured so much as quietly enjoyed.  The message in the end is a great one for tolerance and choice however, and it was delightful to go on this journey with the characters.

Pippin: the Musical

I feel like this show is really popular with the hardcore musical fans, but I've never seen it or heard the music (except for a couple songs)... until now.  I saw it on tour in LA, twice now and I have to say, it's a fantastic show.  Comparing some clips from the original 1972 production to this new revival version, they really brightened it up and made it more of a spectacle which means it's a great show to see live. There are actual circus performers and some really cool acrobatics.  Oh yeah, and magic tricks!  This show is pretty much unlike anything I've ever seen - the concept is so unique, and the execution is brilliant.

Pippin starts out as a story being presented by a circus troupe, with the Leading Player setting the stage and the actors occasionally breaking the fourth wall.  And in one case, there is a sing a long with lyrics projected - so that definitely broke the fourth wall.  While I absolutely love the idea of such a stylized coming of age story being presented in a Brechtian manner (we're always aware that this is a show), I think the message of the show got a little muddled for me.  Pippin is a naive, unsophisticated youth, even though he is a prince, and throughout the show he's searching for some bigger meaning for himself.  And when he does find something special, he doesn't recognize it until the end because it's not extraordinary like he was hoping.  And him finally appreciating the ordinary I can completely agree with, but there is this underlying sense that he's giving up a lot to be 'ordinary', that he's "trapped but happy" and the Leading Player really looks down on him for it.  And that made me feel a little sad.  The show managed to end on a high note, but I still couldn't stop thinking that this show is a journey of self discovery with so many wonderful possibilities and Pippin kinda settles if he doesn't feel that what he has isn't extraordinary to himself.  Though seeing it the second time, I think it's a fitting ending for such a lavish show and I suppose that mirrors how the audience feels though, since after such a fantastic show, it's back to reality by the end.  This show has layers!

The L.A. tour featured two special performers - Andrea Martin (a legend!) who originated the Broadway revival role of Berthe and who was just fantastic.  She's a comedic genius, but also she's in amazing shape and performed some really difficult looking aerial acrobatics.  She's 67 years old guys.   And John Rubinstein played the father, King Charlemagne - and John originated the role of Pippin in 1972.  So cool! I was also thrilled that the original Pippin from the recent revival was in the role again because it's so great that both original Pippins are in the show!

The music is the highlight for me in this show - perfect, tuneful melodies - I'm obsessed with a handful of songs from the show now, but I'll only mention a couple here - "With You" which is a gorgeous romantic ballad with a satirical side that is not evident in the music and lyrics - it's only evident if you watch the show - but I completely disregard that side, because the music and lyrics are so sweepingly lovely, and I want to dwell on the romance of it.

Another song I want to mention is the opening number "Magic to Do" which is a wonderful piece.  Just from the opening chords there's this excitement brewing, and the energy of the number promises and delivers on that excitement.  The Tony Awards performance ends with their rendition of "Magic to Do" - after a performance of "Corner of the Sky" which is another fantastic song!  Oh my goodness, I'm obsessed with this show!  It's so funny and memorable and surprising and just plain exciting, and I love that that energy is put out there to be absorbed in a theatre.


 

The Refined Reader (30) Origins of the Horror Genre

The Refined Reader aims to take a look at the journey to where we are as readers today.  It's part history, part commentary - providing a brief, conversational summary of various aspects of our bookish past and comparing it to how it has affected us in modern times.  I love history, but I am no historian, and while I plan to do my research, if there are any errors, please let me know!  This is as much a learning venture for me as I hope it is for my blog visitors!

The elements of horror in fiction has it roots deep in our past with folklore and humanity's concern with death and the afterlife.  Gothic literature played an important part in the evolution of horror as it's own literary genre, since modern novels were more based in realism until The Castle of Otranto (1764), the first modern novel to incorporate supernatural explanations.  When The Castle of Otranto was first published, it was marketed as a found medieval story so when it came out that it was in fact written contemporary, it was not critically received very well.  But it became very popular.

Horror literature incorporates many supernatural elements such as ghosts, vampires, werewolves, witches and the occult, and creates emotional, psychological or physical fear within a reader, but in a controlled manner which can be exciting or a thrilling.  Our psychological interest in reading horror stories is an interesting point to explore and there's more of a philosophical discussion of it on the wikipedia page linked below.  There are some ideas that because we don't have to deal with fighting for survival on a daily basis like our ancestors did, horror stories supply that need for excitement or for an adrenaline rush.

Pioneers of the horror genre include Mary Shelley, Edgar Allan Poe, and Bram Stoker in it's earliest incarnations,  H.P. Lovecraft and his 'cosmic horror' (in his stories the insignificance of humanity is often a focal point).  Lovecraft could also be credited in creating the modern zombie tale, as well as Richard Matheson, author of I Am Legend.  Stephen King is a highly influential modern horror writer, who helped make the genre extremely popular in our time.

Personally horror stories that feature overly gruesome details or graphic depictions of death are not appealing to me, but horror stories that deal with the supernatural and psychological horror is very interesting to me.  I usually like to read older horror novels since they are not as disturbing to me.  So I'm a little bit of a wuss. ;)

What are some of your favorite horror stories?  Do you have a favorite supernatural creature?

Source:
Wikipedia 

Suspense Sundays (121) The Man Who Would Be King

Suspense was a radio series from 1942 to 1962.  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.  For Suspense Sundays I'll give a short review of an episode.

"The Man Who Would Be King"

Air date: May 31, 1959
Starring Dan O'Herlihy

>>Episodes here<<

Dan and Peachey - two con men - travel to Afghanistan to pretend to be kings/gods to the more primitive people in that land.  They lord it up, and enjoy their time, until Dan decides to take a wife.  But it is against their law for a woman to marry a god.  The woman is scared and bites Dan, drawing blood, which proves he's not a god at all.  And the people get angry.

This episode is based on a short story by Rudyard Kipling and is more of a sad tale in my opinion than a suspenseful one.  It's clear that thing would not go well for these two men, and their bluff, arrogant characterization in the show just confirmed that they would not deserve a happy ending.  It's an interesting story though for the idea of two people deliberately taking advantage of another people's culture.

Interview with N.B. Roberts, author of Halton Cray

On Wednesday I reviewed the Jane Eyre inspired novel "Halton Cray" by N.B. Roberts and I'm delighted that the author agreed to do an interview for my blog!  I hope you'll enjoy reading her answers as much as I did!  And if you are a fan of Jane Eyre, Gothic, paranormal, or suspenseful romance, definitely check out "Halton Cray"!

And find N.B. Roberts on:

Facebook

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Q: What is your "Jane Eyre" origin story? When/Why did you first read the novel and what were your first impressions?

I've always loved period dramas, and while subscribing to a ‘classics’ DVD collection in my mid-twenties, I received a free paperback copy of ‘Jane Eyre’. Up until that point, I struggled to find books that enthused me to turn pages, despite reading in various genres. I had been under the illusion that classic works were written in an archaic style I might not grasp. Having Jane Eyre (the book) in front of me, I determined to read it before cheating with the TV adaptation – and so glad I did; I discovered my kind of novel! Jane Eyre kindled my interest in reading other classic works too.

From turning those first pages, the relationship that Charlotte Bronte establishes with the ‘reader’ was the hook for me. Jane, as a child, has a love for books with pictures and exciting titles. I felt that she couldn't see a book as interesting otherwise; she couldn't see beyond the boring black text – what interest could that hold? That was me as a child; I resonated with that, and the fact that Jane has a tough time at school. Jane’s experiences in many respects put my own complaints to shame. Watching Jane mature and take control of her life was mentoring to me, and I felt I could be anything I wanted to be. Though I found the author’s wit and turn of phrase absorbing, the story became enthralling and truly entertaining when Rochester appeared. In short – I couldn’t put it down. It will always be a book I return to for encouragement, comfort, and comedy!

Q: "Halton Cray" has some very striking horror elements and is in many ways more Gothic than "Jane Eyre". What inspired you to make the story darker and introduce a paranormal element?

I have a *slight* fascination with the macabre anyway; a love for Edgar Allan Poe tales, Vincent Price movies, gothic horror in general – adaptations of Frankenstein and Dracula (1993) are among my favourites. It wasn't long after first reading Jane Eyre that I began compiling notes for Halton Cray. At that point I was reading the works of Robert Louis Stevenson. But I was keen to expand on the darkness I saw in Jane Eyre and explore. The horror in Bertha viciously attacking her own brother is only hinted at because Jane doesn't witness it first-hand. Even the way in which Bertha’s end was described to Jane is rather gruesome, and again, only a hint at the darkness of what happened. Jane also alludes to the supernatural to explain how she heard Rochester call her name from Ferndean,and he heard her reply. I saw an opportunity to magnify the darkness and weave my favourites together. Additionally, in Halton Cray, Thom is not the best behaved man on the planet. Therefore, my villain had to be really bad…

Q: Halton Cray, the house, is described in detail in the book, along with the workings of running a 'historic' home in England. What kind of fun research did you do for that aspect and is Halton Cray based on a real house?

The research was especially fun because I got to do something I love in exploring historic houses. I have a deep-seated admiration for the architecture and domestic stories. While writing, I was working as a software analyst, so I didn't have much of an idea on a curator’s responsibilities in a stately home: learning that role for Thom was an enjoyable challenge.

I feel lucky to have grown up within walking distance of a reputedly haunted Tudor manor, which provides my mental picture for the Halton Cray estate. Our National Trust manages it and they do a marvellous job. I am though a little sceptical about naming the house because I feel it may colour a reader’s interpretation of my setting. Having said that, if anybody is curious to know – I have had emails asking for more information – I will happily send them a link to this particular house. I spent the best days of my early teens there annoying the poor staff who were incredibly good to allow unaccompanied children inside. They were great too when I would phone them or turn up to ask odd questions such as ‘what would happen in a power cut?’

Q: What was your favorite scene to write in "Halton Cray" and why?

It’s difficult to pick one, but I’ll go for the blackout scene, which you mention in your review. That was a lot of fun to write, and I really enjoyed making dialogue dominant over general narrative. It was an exciting challenge to incorporate various elements of the book in one scene: the mystery, panic, and romance all thrown into the mix. It makes you wonder what you would do in that situation, whether you would stay cool or lose it.

Q:  I found the chemistry between Alex and Thom to be a highlight of the book - I was wondering if you had any tips for how to write/craft a good romance?

Thank you – I’m glad you felt that. It depends on what kind of romance would best fit a story. I don’t personally like insta-love. If going for a slow burn romance as I did with Alex and Thom, then the best advice I could give would be to read Jane Eyre (*grins*). A few key things I identified were:

1.  Establish good/clear motivations for why your characters are drawn to each other. A durable romance based on him falling for her because she looks good in a pencil skirt isn't going to add chemistry, because it isn't going to add depth or understanding from a reader’s perspective. To help create those motivations, look at what your characters need and give that to their intended.
2. Gradually does it. Don’t rush your characters in love. It is nothing new to have your lovers not even getting on in the beginning (Mr. Darcy and Miss Bennett are a well-known example); whatever works for your story to keep that build-up gradual, giving you plenty of time to have them challenge, explore, and appreciate each other. A misunderstanding, bit of jealousy, and the big will-they-won’t-they question never did any harm.
3. Last but certainly not least! And this is a must when following no. 2, your characters need to make some physical contact occasionally, and their reactions need to be highlighted. Don’t rely on the reader taking the hint. If your character liked that his fingers brushed against hers, say so. She liked it.

Q:  Will the rest of the books in the Shadows of the World series have some inspiration from Jane Eyre? Or another book?

As with Halton Cray, the sequel will certainly inherit some elements of Jane Eyre, but does continue on more of its own path, with the occasional nod to Brontë’s work.

Q:  Just for fun - do you have a film dreamcast for Alex and Thom?

This is a tough one to answer, because before now I have never put an actor’s face to any of my characters. I would love to see the wonderfully versatile and talented Abigail Breslin play Alex. And since this is a lot of fun, I would nominate two actors to play Thom: Sam Claflin as seen through Alex’s eyes; he’s such a cheeky looking guy as well as a superb actor. Plus, check out the dimples! – And Norman Reedus, but as seen through everybody else’s eyes, because to me he can look truly sinister. Ha!

DREAMCAST!  L-R: Abigail Breslin for Alex, Sam Claflin and Norman Reedus for Thom

Q:  And because I have to ask one more "Jane Eyre" related question - which adaptation is your favorite?

Despite it being a less than perfect production, the 1983 BBC adaptation is my favourite. It captures everything from the book I want to see on screen. I really enjoyed Zelah Clarke's spirited performance of Jane. And I just loved how Timothy Dalton captured Rochester: his exacting and rather compelling tone – particularly when teasing Jane – met up with my idea of the Byronic hero from the novel. I had previously seen Mr Dalton in various roles when I was a child, such as James Bond, but I really rated him as an actor after seeing this series. His portrayal even became an inspiration for me when writing Thom's teasing of Alex. Although Timothy Dalton is a deal too striking in looks, he is in every way the perfect Rochester, and is additionally deserving of the role for playing the part of the gypsy! which still makes me laugh aloud – ‘Off ye lendings!’

Of course, being a TV series gave it sufficient coverage of the book, but what I really appreciated was the ample interaction between Jane and Rochester to warrant the profoundly passionate connection they formed; that coupled with the use of original text, this is by far my favourite.

I have to say, if I was in a similar situation with the blackout scene in this book, how I would react would depend on two things.  One -is Thom there to save me?  Because then I wouldn't panic, and two - if there are other people panicking like crazy, then I would most definitely endeavor to keep my cool!  And about the dreamcast - I love the author's choices, but Sam Claflin I double love!

Thank you for your fantastic answers N.B.!  And please everyone check out "Halton Cray" on Amazon or Goodreads!

Review: Halton Cray

Halton Cray (Shadows of the World #1)
by N.B. Roberts
Gothic/Fantasy
Amazon  /  Goodreads

Plot Summary:

‘Yes, I’ve killed! I’ve killed as indiscriminately as God! And yes, I will kill again.’

‘Sometimes Death lurks after them for days, weeks, or even months, waiting for their time... Sometimes it doesn’t, and I’ve often raced that omnipresent Reaper to one portion of its work.’

When Alexandra Turner takes a job at the eerie Tudor mansion, Halton Cray, she needs all her wit and spirit to cope with the enigmatic Thom Rues. Whilst a near constant fog envelopes the estate, Alex begins questioning the bizarre things she’s seeing around him, as gossip circulates that Thom is more than just different. Determined not to let rumours influence her, Alex tries to learn who he really is, even as he provokes her with his dark sense of humour. But discovery of Thom’s terrible secret propels Alex’s life in a direction she could have never predicted.

Halton Cray is the first book in the Shadows of the World series, a contemporary paranormal romance and adventure inspired by Charlotte Brontё’s Jane Eyre.

Review:

Obviously the fact that this book is inspired by Jane Eyre made me want to read it - and I have to say in one aspect this book totally honors the connection.  That aspect being the chemistry between the two leads.  While I was a bit iffy on them initially - because Thom Rues was sometimes unattractively abrasive and I really wanted Alex to stand up to him more and keep up her side of the banter - but eventually their growing romance won me over.  The story itself doesn't really bear a lot of similarity to the plot structure of Jane Eyre, but draws more on the major elements, like the dynamic and the rocky progression in the romance, a very ominous house, and a big secret, and I think because it is more of it's own story, that helped make this a very absorbing read on its own.  Especially when it came to finding out what Thom was hiding.

I don't want to reveal too much about the secret because I think it's a great surprise, and the explanation behind it was really well done.  There's a real impact in the reason why Thom and Alex are separated because it is a conflict that is very difficult to resolve.  Often with stories inspired by Jane Eyre, that reason can seem pretty weak, but that is not the case here.  However, it is resolved somewhat in this book, and probably that plot point is the one thing I had the most problems with in the story.  Because the way the problem is done away with, really stretched believability for me even though this book does dabble a bit in fantasy.  It just took me out of the story, and I had to decide to go with it, to really start enjoying the book again.

This was an absorbing read for me though, because of the atmosphere and the gradual sparks between the two main characters.  Alex is a very relatable character, and Thom is so darkly magnetic once you get to know him (which is a great reflection on the character of Rochester.)  The suspense of not knowing Thom's secret in the first half the book really carried the story for me as well, because there are so many hints and clues, but it's nearly impossible to put them all together.  The author really created something very different with Thom.  The dark atmosphere is enhanced by some really creepy scenes in this book, and in particular a great scene where Halton Cray loses power in the middle of a big storm and in the middle of a party.  Some of the guests get a little panicky, and I was really caught up in the pervasive feeling of dread and suspense in that scene.

As a Jane Eyre fan, I would recommend this book as an interesting modernized version, but with the focus more on it being a great, dark Gothic tale.  It's a little overwrought, with tons of atmosphere which is just perfect in capturing the Gothic tone.   I'm definitely looking forward to the next installment of Alex and Thom's story!

(I was asked to review this book by the author, but obtained my copy through the Amazon Prime Lending Library)

On Friday, I will be featuring an interview with the author, N.B. Roberts.  There will be some burning questions about the romance in this book as well as the author's thoughts on Jane Eyre!

Review: The Rhino Who Swallowed a Storm + LeVar Burton signing

The Rhino Who Swallowed a Storm
by LeVar Burton and Susan Schaefer Bernardo
Children's Literature
Amazon  /  Goodreads

Plot Summary:

When little Mica Mouse is scared by thunder booming outside her cozy home, Papa Mouse reaches for just the right story to comfort her. Hugging her close, he begins to read The Rhino Who Swallowed a Storm. In this poetic book-within-a-book, a happy little rhinoceros is overwhelmed by a storm that sweeps away everything he loves. Swallowing the storm just makes him feel worse, so Rhino sets off on a whimsical journey toward healing. Along the way, he meets many friends, including a kind spider, a brave kangaroo, a wise tortoise, and an uplifting whale. With their help, Rhino lets go of the storm inside and learns to see the light in a world turned gray. Mica Mouse is soothed by the story and Papa’s gentle reminder that even though bad things sometimes happen, the world is full of people who care.

Review:

This was a lovely and charming read with a heartwarming and uplifting message.  Since it's a story within a story, the Rhino's tale serves as a kind of fable for kids to reach out to loved ones in times of trouble.  I think the message is a timely one, and it made me feel a little emotional in the hope that it's a message that more people are able to take to heart.  The illustrations are bright and enhance the poetic story beautifully.  This is really a lovely read for children - and even better, it's a great book for parents and teachers to read to children.

I don't read a lot of children books now, but this is a nice book for me to look over every now and again for it's message and charm.

The Book Signing

The book signing was a lot of fun!  There was a good amount of Star Trek talk among the people waiting for the event to begin, so already I was entertained.  Someone who worked on the set of the TV show and some of the films was talking about their experiences!  And I got to talk to the lady next to me about Doctor Who, and she had some very interesting viewpoints on science fiction as a genre which was very thought-provoking for me.  But anyways.

For the event, LeVar Burton gave a little speech about Reading Rainbow and why he wanted to write a book - he wanted to write something that Mr. Rogers (from Mr. Rogers Neighborhood) would have written.  And then LeVar read the whole book to us and the kids who were seated on the floor in front of him - and that whole experience was a delight.  He did voices and gave a great performance of the book.  After, there was a Q&A and I was intrigued by a couple of answers he gave - one that his favorite book as a child was Captain Courageous by Rudyard Kipling, which was so absorbing to him that he felt depressed when the book was over, and that to this day, when he's reading a great book, he slows down to make it last a little longer.  Which is something I have a very hard time doing, because even if a book is so good I don't want it to end, I do want to know how it ends and get that closure!

The other answer was to the last question of the night which was - why a Rhino out of all animals?  And it's because Rhinos are strong and if even they are brought down by pain and grief, and yet can move past it, then anyone can.  And as the editor points out, there are a lot of stories about elephants.

The signing part went by in a blur of course.  He signed for most of the kids first, which was adorbs, and then when it was my turn I told him how much I enjoyed the reading he gave, and his performance which made me enjoy the book even more.  And I also asked him if he has any favorite books that are not children's books, and he said he usually says the book he's reading right now, which is Game of Thrones.  But one of his favorite authors is Octavia Butler.

And then that was pretty much it!  I was so happy I went (and managed to not ask him about Star Trek, haha).  I do wish I had asked for a posed photo - his people were saying there wasn't time, but I think a few people asked anyways and got it!  But it was a very enjoyable evening, and well worth the traffic-heavy drive through downtown Los Angeles!

Suspense Sundays (120) The Beetle and Mr. Bottle

Suspense was a radio series from 1942 to 1962.  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.  For Suspense Sundays I'll give a short review of an episode.

"The Beetle and Mr. Bottle"

Air date: September 20, 1959
Starring John Gibson

>>Episodes here<<

Kind, sincere Mr. Bottle lives alone in a nice house with a garden he absolutely dotes on.  His daughter hints that maybe he might want to find a nice lady and re-marry before he retires, since he can't take care of his flowers all the time.  When Mr. Bottle goes to London for work, he bumps into a nice lady named Ethel, who is more than eager to get to know him.  Mr. Bottle doesn't know quite how it happened, but soon he marries her and brings Ethel to his little home to live.  Ethel however is not as nice as she seemed and is not happy with the house or the garden.  Or Mr. Bottle.

This is one of the top Suspense episodes I think - such an enjoyable and delightful story as Mr. Bottle is so sweet, and unfortunately marrying Ethel is a HUGE mistake.  It's fun to hear Mr. Bottle plot murder, and the resolution is absolutely perfect - a satisfying twist, given how nasty Ethel is to nice Mr. Bottle.  I highly recommend listening to this episode of Suspense, it's so good!

Review: Dangerous Girls

Dangerous Girls
by Abigail Haas
YA Mystery
Amazon  /  Goodreads

Plot Summary:

It's Spring Break of senior year. Anna, her boyfriend Tate, her best friend Elise, and a few other close friends are off to a debaucherous trip to Aruba that promises to be the time of their lives. But when Elise is found brutally murdered, Anna finds herself trapped in a country not her own, fighting against vile and contemptuous accusations.

As Anna sets out to find her friend's killer; she discovers hard truths about her friendships, the slippery nature of truth, and the ache of young love.

As she awaits the judge's decree, it becomes clear that everyone around her thinks she is not just guilty, but dangerous. When the truth comes out, it is more shocking than one could ever imagine...

Review:

I rated this book three stars - not because it's a poorly written or executed book, but because my personal enjoyment of it was marred by the ending.  And a bit by my frustrations with the characters.  But really this is a great, suspenseful read and it's only because I personally did not enjoy the journey I was taken on with the story, that I felt like I couldn't give this a higher rating.  This is a wonderful book in every objective sense.

The story takes an absorbing look at teenage friendships and experiences, as well as the horrible mania that can surround media publicity craziness.  It's really disheartening to know that people can make such blanket judgements based on biased media coverage.  What's also disheartening is the power of money over justice, and while it is true, this book can be so discouraging in that respect as we see people getting away with so much.

There are some moments of lightness as the author flashes back to tell Anna's backstory and that way of telling the story was so well done.  The whole book moves back and forth between what is happening in the present, and what happened in the past to get us to this point.  There's a real sense of joy in Anna and Elise's friendship which is dampened by knowing what has happened to Elise, but it's also wonderful to see such a strong and unique friendship grow between these girls.

But the real draw of this book is the mystery, which is very perplexing. There are so many threads that run through this, and so many possibilities that it's impossible to figure out until you get to the end.  And it is quite a twist.  I think because I was so disheartened by this book for the most part, I found it difficult to truly enjoy it.  It's really a personal issue, because this is a very well constructed mystery with some important and interesting commentary on our society.


[Spoilers]
For people who have read the book, I wanted to talk a bit about what I really found so disappointing about the story.  Really, I'm going to talk about the twist, so don't read this if you haven't read the book!  I feel like the twist was a bit of a cop-out since I was expecting something jaw-dropping, but I've seen this twist done before.  And almost expected it a bit before it was revealed.  It's disappointing to me that after all the time invested in believing Anna is innocent, she's not, and that there's still more injustice in the story.  And it seems extra unfair that Dekker, who is so awful throughout, was actually right.  I really don't like reading about blatant injustices that are not righted by the end, so for that reason really, I felt so dissatisfied with this book.

Review: The Lightning Thief

The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1)
by Rick Riordan
MG Fantasy
Amazon  /  Goodreads

Plot Summary:

Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school... again. And that's the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology textbook and into his life. And worse, he's angered a few of them. Zeus' master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect.

Now Percy and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus' stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.

Review:

This was such a fun adventure read!  The story is told in first person, and Percy Jackson's humorous way of telling his story elevated this simple story because he has such a down-to-earth and sarcastic way of seeing things.  The way Greek mythology is re-imagined in this modern setting was fun to explore as well - I think knowing a good deal about Greek mythology helps with the enjoyment of the story because it's nice to understand the references and the nuances to the characters.

There's a bit of a mystery in Percy's quest to find out what happened with Zeus' master lightning bolt, but it didn't take over the story, because there was more interest in Percy learning more about his powers and limits, and in how the Greek Gods are a part of modern society.  They all have their quirks too, and it's fun to read how the author tweaks them.

The story as a whole, is a light read - I wasn't so caught up in the story that I couldn't put it down - I would categorize it as a nice read, with lots of potential in the characters and the world building.  I am looking forward to knowing more about Percy and his adventures in the next books in the series.

The Refined Reader (29) Book Plates

The Refined Reader aims to take a look at the journey to where we are as readers today.  It's part history, part commentary - providing a brief, conversational summary of various aspects of our bookish past and comparing it to how it has affected us in modern times.  I love history, but I am no historian, and while I plan to do my research, if there are any errors, please let me know!  This is as much a learning venture for me as I hope it is for my blog visitors!

(Many thanks to Romi from Where the Reader Comes to Write for the idea of doing a post on book plates!  If anyone has any suggestions or questions about bookish history they would like to know the answer to, please let me know anytime, and I'll try to do a post on it!  I'll do the research, so you don't have to! :D)

The earliest known example of a book owner marking ownership of their book comes from around 1391 b.c. during the reign of Amenophis III of Egypt.  But marks of ownership evolved to printed papers denoting ownership which is what book plates have become today.   The need for them probably arose from how expensive and rare books were at the time, and how important it was to mark the owner of a particular book. The earliest example we have of a printed book plate dates from 1480, from a German monastery.  At this time, the designs were simple, but usually presented an armorial quality or some symbol or monogram that represented the owner.  It's believed that the practice of using book plates first spread from Germany.

The term Ex Libris (Latin for "from the books" or "from the books of") is often associated with book plates, and that term started to become widely used in 17th century France.  As book plates became more popular, they also became more ornate, and a rococo style of fanciful scrollwork which originated in France, became a predominant style.  In the 19th century however, styles were less rigid and encompassed many elements of previous styles such as heraldic and pictorial.

Book plates are not as widely used today, although I remember using them quite a bit as a child for my books.  Maybe my Mom was afraid I would lose my books!  But now,  I don't really like the idea of marking up my books with a pasted label or my name - it's part of my general aversion to writing in books.

Do you still use book plates or other ways to mark that a book belongs to you?

Source:
Wikipedia 
King's College Cambridge

Suspense Sundays (119) Death and the Escort

Suspense was a radio series from 1942 to 1962.  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.  For Suspense Sundays I'll give a short review of an episode.

"Death and the Escort"

Air date: September 1, 1959
Starring ---

>>Episodes here<<

A young couple, Ed and Jan are having breakfast, and Ed, notices a picture of a racketeer on trial for murder in the newspaper and realizes that he's seen the man before and can place him at the scene of the crime thereby ensuring the man's conviction.  Ed decides to come forward, even though his wife is scared that the racketeer's men will come after him for testifying.  Ed is foolishly dismissive of her fears.

Because of course they are coming after him.  What's surprising to me is how unconcerned most of the people are about this in the beginning!  The police do nothing to keep Ed's identity secret - I mean, Ed's name gets into the paper and no one seems concerned that his name and address is out there.  Until they get the threatening phone calls.  Of course the wife is wrong in not wanting Ed to go to the police, but the police aren't very good at protecting Ed!  Especially when someone tries to impersonate a policeman.  It's just luck that it all turns out right in the end.  And the lesson here seems to be don't completely trust the police! 

20 Things You Might Not Know About Me

I was tagged by the awesomely kind Romi from Where the Writer Comes to Write to do this meme, so here are 20 things you might not know about me!  If anyone else would like to do this too, please consider yourself tagged!

One. How Tall Are You?
5'9" so pretty tall.  My Dad would sometimes say 'It's great being tall, just ask short people.'  He has a funny old sense of humor. :)

Two. Do you have a hidden talent? If so, what?
Hmm, not really no - I wish I had something more interesting to add here!

Three. What's your biggest blog-related pet peeve?
Overly negative reviews annoy me.  It's fair if you didn't like a book at all, but I don't like to see bloggers bash a book unnecessarily.

Four. What is your biggest non-blog related pet peeve?
Well, since I just got off work and have work on the mind, people not picking up after themselves in lab, really annoy me.  Mostly because I feel compelled to do it for them, and it seems so obvious to me that if you lay something down somewhere else, you should put it back when you're done.  But I know that's not obvious to everyone...

Five. What's your favourite song?
Maybe I'm Amazed by Paul McCartney.  Although at the moment I'm crazy obsessed with "Let's Face the Music and Dance" as sung by Brent Spiner and Maude Maggart.

Six. What's your favourite etsy shop that isn't yours?
Wonderland Contraband make these delightful clay miniature people as charms and things.  They also do custom orders, so they made me Jane Eyre and Rochester charms that are just adorable.  (And for the record, I don't have an etsy shop.)

Seven. What's your favourite way to spend free time when you're alone?
Besides reading?  Probably watching something on Netflix or a DVD.

Eight. What is your favorite junk food?
Chips.  Even though I have such a sweet tooth, when I snack, I more prefer savory than sweet, and chips are my favorite!  Though I've tried not to eat as much of it lately what with sodium levels!

Nine. Do you have a pet or pets? If so, what kind and what are their names?
I did - I had two dwarf hamsters named Lyra and Pantalaimon (from the His Dark Materials series) and before that I had a pet mouse I named Adele (after the little girl in "Jane Eyre").  No pets currently though.   I really want to get a dog someday!

Ten. What are your number one favourite nonfiction and fiction books?
Hmmm. lemme think... possibly "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë for fiction?  I'm just picking that one off the top of my head. ;)  And for nonfiction, it's Derren Brown's just wonderful and humorous memoir "Confessions of a Conjuror."

Eleven. What's your favourite beauty product?
Right now, I really like Bite Beauty lipstick which is like a lip balm with color.  It goes on light and it's supposed to have antioxidants, so it's good for my skin I hope!

Twelve. When were you last embarrassed? What happened?

You know, I can't really think of a stand out recent moment, so I'll mention one that happened when I was much younger.  In eighth grade of elementary school I was in the student council and I had to help give morning announcements, so I would speak over the PA system.  One day I really needed to clear my throat, but for some reason I felt embarrassed to just do it when the whole school can hear, so I thought it was better to croak my way through the announcement...

Thirteen. If you could only drink one beverage for the rest of your life (besides h20) what would it be?
Tea.  It's so comforting and nourishing!

Fourteen. What's your favorite movie?
Discounting Jane Eyre (cause that's always my favorite everything) I'll say "All This and Heaven Too" which is an old black and white movie from the forties with more than a passing resemblance to Jane Eyre so...

Fifteen. What were you in high school?
Boring?  I wasn't very involved in extracurricular activities, but I did enjoy my classes and did well in them.  I also had a small circle of friends which made me feel very insulated from the kind of high school life I read about in YA books nowadays.  I would like to read before class, or while waiting for it to begin sometimes so that probably helped to isolate me.  But I generally enjoyed high school.  It was a good environment for me.

Sixteen. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?
100% England.  I love it there so much.  It doesn't even have to be London... anyone who might want to give me a job over there...

Seventeen. PC or MAC?
Mac - I'm just Apple everything - unfortunately (for my wallet) I really like their design aesthetic and ease of use.

Eighteen. Last romantic gesture from a crush, date, boy/girlfriend?
Oh well, not really applicable.

Nineteen. Favorite celebrity?
I'm afraid he's not very well known in the States, but for his portrayal of Mr. Rochester in a 70's version of Jane Eyre, Michael Jayston immediately became my favorite actor.  I really love his portrayal and seeing him in many things after, I think he has a great talent for playing a character's nuances.  (link goes to my fansite for the actor!)

Twenty. What Blogger do you secretly want to be best friends with?
Well I would love to be best friends with all the book bloggers I talk to more frequently because they are all awesome, but best blogging pals is a thing, right? :D

Review: The Winner's Curse

The Winner's Curse (The Winner's Trilogy #1)
by Marie Rutkoski
YA Fantasy
Amazon  /  Goodreads

Plot Summary:

As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions. One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction.

Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin. But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.

Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.

Review:

To be honest, the premise of this book didn't draw me in at first.  The plot synopsis has slave culture and gambling which are two things I'm not really interested in.  But from all the fantastic reviews for this, I picked it up, and I'm very glad I did.  This story really was all about the characters, and it was a beautifully written fantasy drama.

The individual conflicts for Kestrel and Arin were the best part of this story I think.  They both have such different backgrounds and goals, and yet they find themselves drawn to each other which causes them a lot of trouble.  It was easy to be sympathetic towards their plight, and the suspense of not knowing how their difficult situations would be resolved, made the plot very engaging.  The romance aspect - while appealing - was not as well drawn for me though.  I wish I understood clearer why they were so attached, after only a few conversations.  Especially for Arin who has so much to be bitter about.  It did make sense why they were drawn to each other in the first place though, as they were characters who didn't fit in with their roles and they did have some mutual interests.

The world-building was another highlight of this story.  The history and background was so vivid and realistic.  The Greco-Roman flair made it even more appealing to me as well because it made it even easier to imagine the elements of the culture and the architecture.  This was a very fast read for me, because I was so caught up in the twists and turns of the plot.  It's a perfectly-pitched drama with high stakes and heart-rending choices.  This was a fantastic read!

The Refined Reader (28) Book Illustrations

The Refined Reader aims to take a look at the journey to where we are as readers today.  It's part history, part commentary - providing a brief, conversational summary of various aspects of our bookish past and comparing it to how it has affected us in modern times.  I love history, but I am no historian, and while I plan to do my research, if there are any errors, please let me know!  This is as much a learning venture for me as I hope it is for my blog visitors!

1514 engraving by Albrecht Dürer

While there was a tradition of illustrated manuscripts going back into the beginning of the creation of books, book illustrations as we know them have their beginnings in the origins of European woodblock printing, and thrived as the printing press changed the accessibility of books.  With the printing press, woodblock printing was left behind and there were two predominant methods of creating book illustrations - etching and engraving.

Etchings were made by placing a "waxy ground" on a metal that was resistant to acid, and the artist would scratch off the ground with a needle to create the image.  The metal would then be dipped in acid, where the acid would eat into the exposed metal and would leave sunk lines in the metal plate.  The ground would then be washed off the plate, and ink would be applied which would fill the sunk lines.  The plate could then be applied to paper through a high pressure printing press to create the image.

Engravings have been around for much longer, but was harder to learn compared to etchings.  Engravings are the direct carving of images onto (traditionally) a copper plate, with practically the same methods used in transferring the image to print.  Sharp and precise tools, as well as artwork prepared in advance were usually more important for engravings.

In the middle of the 16th century, woodcut illustrations became less popular in favor of etchings and engravings.  Using etchings and engravings to create illustrations needed a different kind of printing press than for text, so illustrations were usually made separately which led to full page illustrations in books.  These methods also gave more defined, sharper images which aided in the printing of better maps.  Both methods could also be mixed on a plate to create the optimum print.  Mass production of book illustrations today have progressed much from these early beginnings, but it is incredible to see the amount of precision and detail in the old illustrations given the way they were illustrated.  The talent to create these on metal is very impressive.

What is your favorite illustrated book?  Or do you have a favorite book illustrator?

Source:
Wikipedia / Wikipedia / Wikipedia