Vampires and Werewolves and Witches, Oh MY!

I thought in honor of the Halloween season, it might be fun to examine some alternate explanations for some of our favorite things that go bump in the night:

Werewolves or Serial Killers?

"Many authors have speculated that werewolf and vampire legends may have been used to explain serial killings in less rational ages. This theory is given credence by the tendency of some modern serial killers to indulge in practices commonly associated with werewolves, such as cannibalism, mutilation, and cyclic attacks. The idea (although not the terminology) is well explored in Sabine Baring-Gould's seminal work The Book of Werewolves."

from Wikipedia

I first stumbled across this idea in a lecture in undergrad (a Halloween lecture) on the history of witchcraft and similar scary things given by a man who came to be one of my favorite professors. But it slipped my mind until I saw it again months ago when I was reading Mind Hunter by John Douglas - the memoir of an FBI profiler who worked on many of the most famous serial killing cases of our day. He throws in a quick mention on p.18 with the idea that these legends may have been a way of explaining deaths so hideous that people couldn't believe that they were the work of human beings like themselves.

Some of the discussion in the Wikipedia article certainly seems to support the idea that these 'monsters' may have been very real people - and very similar to serial killers today. Particularly the cyclical aspects of serial crimes seem to hearken back to legends of werewolves - the uncontrollable drive to kill with the full moon. In addition, doesn't this sound like killers who return to the grave sites of their victims, often to take souvenirs?

"After returning to their human forms, werewolves are usually documented as becoming weak, debilitated and undergoing painful nervous depression. Many historical werewolves were written to have suffered severe melancholia and manic depression, being bitterly conscious of their crimes. One universally reviled trait in medieval Europe was the werewolf's habit of devouring recently buried corpses, a trait which is documented extensively [...]"

from Wikipedia

Whether true or not, this is certainly an interesting alternate explanation for the origins of werewolves.

Rabies or Vampirism?

"Folkloric vampirism has been associated with a series of deaths due to unidentifiable or mysterious illnesses, usually within the same family or the same small community. Tuberculosis and the pneumonic form of bubonic plague were associated with breakdown of lung tissue which would cause blood to appear at the lips. Dr Juan Gómez-Alonso, a neurologist at Xeral Hospital in Vigo, Spain, examined the possibility of a link with rabies in the journal Neurology.

The susceptibility to garlic and light could be due to rabies-induced hypersensitivity. The disease can also affect portions of the brain that could lead to disturbance of normal sleep patterns (thus becoming nocturnal) and hypersexuality. Legend once said a man was not rabid if he could look at his own reflection (an allusion to the legend that vampires have no reflection). Wolves and bats, which are often associated with vampires, can be carriers of rabies. The disease can also lead to a drive to bite others and to a bloody frothing at the mouth."

from Wikipedia

In early folklore, vampires were most commonly associated with dogs, wolves, and bats (just re-read Bram Stoker's Dracula, and you'll see links to all of the above). Interestingly, these are the animals most often associated with transferring rabies to humans.

In some cases people with rabies will wander around with their lips curled and their teeth exposed. They cannot swallow, so they tend to froth at the mouth often mixed with bloody vomit. Because rabies attack the limbic system of the brain, rabies sufferers often become very aggressive and attack those near them. They are particularly prone to biting.

Rabies can also lead to hypersexuality - which is another interesting coincidence considering how often vampirism and eroticism tend to be linked. In earlier stories in particular, not in a good way, but more akin to sexual invasion and violence.

There was a major rabies epidemic in Hungary (home of the Transylvanian region) in the early 18th century (1721-1728) - and soon thereafter (1730) Europe could speak of little other than vampires. It's an interesting coincidence if nothing else.

A link to Gomez-Alonso's article (it's a little tough to read because of formatting).

Food Poisoning or Witchcraft?:

One of the more common theories regarding symptoms of bewitchment, particularly in the Salem Witch Trials, is that those suffering severe symptoms (though not those at the trials which were almost certainly faked) were the victims of a fungus, ergot, that often grows on rye and which produces hallucinations and pinpricking sensations. In fact, ergot was the substance from which scientists derived LSD.

Some of the symptoms of ergotism:

" The convulsive symptoms that can be a result of consuming ergot tainted rye have also been said to be the cause of accusations of “bewitchment” that spurred the Salem witch trials. This medical explanation for the theory of “bewitchment” is one first propounded by Linda R. Caporael in 1976 in an article in Science. In her article, Caporael points out that the convulsive symptoms, such as crawling sensations in the skin, tingling in the fingers, vertigo, tinnitus aurium, headaches, disturbances in sensation, hallucination, painful muscular contractions, vomiting and diarrhea, as well as psychological symptoms, such as mania, melancholia, psychosis and delirium were all symptoms reported in the Salem witchcraft records. Caporael also notes the abundance of rye in the region as well as perfect climate conditions for the tainting of rye. In 1982 historian Mary Matossian revitalized Caporael’s theory in her article in American Scientist. In her article, Matossian builds on Caporael’s theories and also notes that according to English folk tradition all the symptoms of “bewitchment” resemble the ones exhibited in those afflicted with ergot poisoning."

from Wikipedia

If you get a chance to watch it, the PBS special The Witch's Curse is a really interesting look at the discovery process, it includes not just the Salem Witch Trials, but also the ergotism outburst in Pont St. Esprit in Southern France (although there are also theories that the sickness in France was caused by mercury poisoning instead). All of this is very interesting indeed. Caporeal links most major witch persecutions and executions with heavy rye-growing regions - making the theory that the symptoms of ergotism may generally have been seen as witchcraft.

This is one of my favorite theories. Personally I find it extremely plausible that the original outbursts at Salem were due to disease which were followed by the girls' desire to remain the center of attention, and the inability to extricate themselves from the mass hysteria.

The original article by Linda Caporeal linking ergotism and the Salem Witch Trials: here
Here's the site PBS put together for their episode of Secrets of the Dead: The Witch's Curse.

What are your favorite alternate explanations? Are you convinced by any of these? Feel free to post others (or articles refuting these) in the comments!

Halloween Movies - or my horror favorites

I've tried to avoid spoilers of these movies. After all, the bits I like best about this are the psychological impact. Please try to keep comments spoiler-free or obviously marked. Thanks!

The Others:

An upper-class wife and mother lives in her darkened house on the fog-shrouded Isle of Jersey waiting for her husband to return from the Second World War and tending to her children. The children have a rare photosensitivity that means they cannot be touched by direct sunlight, and the family lives under strange rules. When a group of servants come to the house and the daughter Anne begins to report strange occurences, Grace and her children must come to terms with the dark secrets of the house.

The Others is a completely creepy, atmospheric thriller. This is exactly my kind of scary. Gothic scary. It's hard to tell whether we're going insane, whether the characters are insane. There's a lot of gloom and fog, vague hints about dire secrets in the past. And the plot is full of twists, more than I expected, and personally I didn't see them all coming.

Even more remarkable, this is one of those creepy movies that you can actually re-watch. I got so much more out of it this time around, picking up on subtle clues and nuances. I love this movie, and I highly recommend it for people who enjoy this kind of atmospheric psychological thriller rather than things that jump out at you.

Moment of complete and utter horror? The old lady with the strange eyes.

The Sixth Sense:

Is there anybody that hasn't seen this one? A huge hit several years ago, and one that I was lucky nobody spoiled for me even though I came late to the viewing game (due to my horror movie wuss factor).

So, in case you didn't know. Young Cole sees dead people. Child psychologist Malcolm Crowe is determined to help this child since he failed another of his patients who had similar problems.

This is just complete blow-me-away awesome. The completely iconic twist - no I didn't see it coming. And yes, it gains more and more awesome with each subsequent viewing. This is a psychological thriller of the best kind, and deservedly catapulted M. Night Shyamalan to fame (though whether he deserved to stay there is another story). It plays on people's fears of the unseen and the unknown. Rather than gore, this relies on implied danger, creepy music, jumpcuts. It's terrifying and wonderful.

Moment of utter, inescapable terror? "Do you know why you're afraid when you're alone? I do...".

The Exorcist:

If you're a giant horror wuss like I am, DON'T watch this alone. But can you really not watch probably the scariest movie of all time? I couldn't not see it. And I'm so glad I did - even if I did sleep with the lights on for a week.

The story? If you didn't know, an adolescent girl is possessed by some sort of demon and begins acting very strangely indeed. A priest from nearby Georgetown is brought in to help deal with it. There's really no describing why or how this is so terrifying.

But the moment that really got to me? Umm yeah, the crucifix... Creeeeepy

Psycho:

Again an icon of the horror genre. And oh my god, does it deserve it. Hitchcock is the master of the psychological horror movie, and this... this tops my list of Stuff that's Incredibly Scary. The less you know about this one, the better. But that shower scene that makes you think you don't need to watch this because you know what happens? Yeah, that's just the beginning. Completely terrifying moment? The bit with the raven looming over his shoulder...

That face? I made it when I discovered immediately after watching this the first time that I still needed to take a shower...

AHH How could I forget Dead Again?

Ok, so it's a horror noir movie. Kenneth Branagh the detective finds this woman hanging out at his old orphanage. She can't talk, and she has no idea who she is, but she wakes everybody up every night screaming. He decides to try to find out what's going on.

In a parallel story, we have the amazing composer Roman who was executed for the murder of his beloved wife (same actors, black and white). There are some crazy reincarnation theories being bandied about so they go to a hypnotist to see if they can regress the answer out of Emma Thompson.

I love the black and white scenes, the parallel unfolding stories. I love Andy Garcia. I just love this movie. There, I've admitted it.

At times amazingly cheesy, Kenneth Branagh really knows how to take the scary out of a climactic scene. But at the same time, it made me laugh, so points for it. And up to that point, I was completely entranced and creeped out. So worth it. If for nothing else, to see Robin Williams as the grocery store employee/psychologist.

What are your favorite horror movies? What kind of horror do you like? Gory? Gothic?

Interested in what others have to say?

Check out HerculesRob's post on The Entertainment Blur

See The Book Smugglers week of Halloween movies (be sure to check out the posts after this too for vampire, possession, werewolf movies).

Please don't post any spoilers in the comments unless clearly marked. Thanks!

Tuesday Thingers

This week's question: Legacy libraries. With which legacy libraries do you share books? Tell us a little about a couple of them and what you share.

I share a classic or two with most of the Legacy Libraries, but I was really surprised to discover that I share the most books with Ernest Hemingway.

Let's just go ahead and get out of the way that I really dislike Hemingway. My writing teacher in high school praised his writing as something mine should be more like (apparently I am too fond of adjectives). And when we read The Old Man and the Sea, it was a definite wall-banger for me. I get that it's an allegory of the pride of mankind, etc. etc. etc., but really? Cut the darned fish in half and PUT IT IN THE BOAT. Problem solved. Plus, I'm repulsed by Hemingway as a person from what I know about him. So I really can't stand Hemingway.

But apparently we have somewhat similar reading tastes (although he seems considerably less interested in romance novels than I am). You have to appreciate that the macho to end all manly men Hemingway has Pride and Prejudice, Gone With the Wind, and Jane Eyre. Take note, fellas, if Hemingway could read them, you have NO excuse.

We share a love for (the considerably more manly) adventure stories: Treasure Island, Hornblower novels, Three Musketeers. And the dystopia: 1984, Lord of the Flies.

Maybe Hemingway and I would have had something to talk about after all. And maybe I could have given him a plot pointer or to... PUT THE FISH IN THE BOAT!

A Girl's Guide to Vampires - Katie MacAlister

**** - This was a re-read for me, but it's been quite a while. This was my first venture into paranormal romance, and one of the first romances I read outside of the Harlequin line. And the one thing that's held true even upon re-reading is that Katie MacAlister always cracks me up. This is no exception. I originally thought that I'd be able to share this one after this re-read. I was mistaken. This is staying on my shelves! Buy your own!

Joy Randall is a little on edge. Her Wiccan friend Miranda has foretold that Joy will meet two men, and that choosing the wrong one will result in her eternal doom. Not that she believes in that sort of thing, but still it's pretty creepy. So is the claim that she may meet a vampire on her travels - which her buddy Roxy is completely excited about. Joy's skepticism soon gets a heavy blow when she starts seeing visions from a vampire - the first step of Joining. And while she's not really a fan of the idea of vampires, when one of her suspects is the extremely sexy security expert Raphael St. John...

Joy is feisty, funny and stubborn. While occasionally irrational (and aren't we all), she never crossed the line into Too Stupid To Live territory. I found her escapades hilarious, especially when she was describing her attraction to Raphael. The metaphor with the cheerleaders in her crotch holding a carwash to raise funds for a fieldtrip to his comes to mind. In case you couldn't tell from that, this novel never takes itself terribly seriously. I love that. It's clever and witty, and the chemistry between Raphael and Joy is completely smokin'.

While I personally am a big fan of humor during sex, it's not everybody's cup of tea. And this doesn't even take itself seriously during the love scenes. Not that they aren't sexy, but they definitely aren't serious and tender. My emotional stake in the outcome wasn't particularly high, but for light fun (yes, even with Dark Ones) plus a ton of plot twists, Girl's Guide is the way to go!

Untouchable - Kate Brian

*** - So Not Fair. Yes, that is my quick, summarized reaction. So Not Fair. The series is getting better for me (or maybe I'm just more tolerant), but the cliff-hanger in this one is just brutal. I'll have to go out and snag the next one ASAP.

So, at the end of Invitation Only, Reed Brennan's ex-boyfriend Thomas Pearson (popular, charismatic, perpetual drunkard) turned up dead - effectively killing the buzz from sneaking out to the most exclusive party that ever was. Oops. Inconvenient of him.

But in the aftermath of Thomas' death and the police questioning, life at Easton starts to feel very different (thank goodness). Taylor is bursting into weepy fits at the drop of a hat. Kiran can't seem to go an hour without a spiked drink, Noelle is actually attempting niceness, and the chemistry between Josh and Reed makes a run for the moon.

Who would have thought that it would only take a murder investigation to turn this series around? Finally, finally, Reed starts to see through the perfect, pretty exterior of the Billings Girls and suspect that their showering her with materialistic gifts doesn't necessarily mean that they like her. Or that she owes them undying loyalty forever and ever. Nor does she think the only way she'll ever become anything is by copying their exploitative, manipulative ways. Instead she actually tries to STUDY! And she finally, FINALLY begins to question. What's going on with Taylor that everyone is trying to hide from her? Why is Noelle trying to destroy the one relationship that makes Reed feel like she's alive again?

My only big gripe? I really, really liked Josh. I liked the fact that he was a nice guy. And I'm annoyed that for the second time in three books, Reed learns a deep, dark secret about the boy she falls all over immediately after (BIG FAT SPOILER) sleeping with him. (Also I'm annoyed by the 50s fadeout sex, although I can appreciate that these are meant to be kept PG-13. If you can't come right out and say: we had sex, while constantly going on and on about your lost virginity...*sighs*). Couldn't there be one decent person on campus (and no, Reed totally doesn't count. See last book. See first book for that matter)?

And the book ends on this huge, gigantic cliff-hanger. Two actually. Yes, I'm simultaneously dangling over two separate precipices. So I'd advise you to have the next installment on hand. Because this on actually made me want to read further. Not in the begrudging - I really want to know what happened, but I hate the thought of trudging to the solution amidst these obnoxious characters - way. Because I finally care some of the characters (Taylor and Josh, I'm still on the fence about Reed).

If you've made it this far, this is definitely not going to be the book that turns you off the series.

Interested in the others?
Book 1: Private
Book 2: Invitation Only
Book 3: Untouchable
Book 4: Confessions

More Contest

I somehow missed this one, and that would be a crying shame since I'm so excited about Moonstone coming out.

In happy happy news, BookMuncher is giving away two copies of this here. Go, enter, be lucky... (but maybe be less lucky than me?)

Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye - Victoria Laurie

**** - This was a re-read because I wanted something light, but still Halloween-appropriate. I loved this first book in the series. There's fun psychic aspects, but while her psychic sense gives clues, Abby's readings never give the game away. The chemistry with skeptical cop Dutch is sizzling (YUM!), and Abby's voice is funny and slever. The tone of the book reminds me of some of Katie MacAlister's - a good sign since she cracks me up.

Abby Cooper is a professional psychic (the real deal) with a distinct distaste for the police. After reading stories of psychics who were accused of crimes because they knew too much when they were only trying to help has made her understandably wary. But when she reveals her insights into a kidnapping case to impress her blind date, Abby gets in trouble. Because the skeptical but irresistible Dutch Rivers is a police detective, and he's convinced she knows something about this case - not to mention the murder of one of her clients. And soon Abby's snooping ends up putting her in danger.

The story is lightweight, witty, and fun, and the chemistry with Dutch is definitely there. Not to mention that there's room for the relationship to grow in the sequels. I actually really liked the fact that although there was definite romantic interest, the two leads weren't a firm couple never to be separated by the end of the novel - especially as it was fairly short.

I very much enjoyed the descriptions of how her psychic abilities worked and how they manifested themselves (not to mention that her friends worked completely differently). It seemed quite plausibly vague, yet specific enough to be helpful in investigation. And if Abby the amateur sleuth seems a little dense at times - and a little too willing to ignore her psychic warnings, at least she never reaches the level of too stupid to live - and, hey, she's new at this game. She'll get better in the next books in the series (which I'm definitely going to be reading).

Cozy mystery meets paranormal chicklit. What more could you want?

Interested in other opinions?

Wendy's Opinion on Books

Victoria Laurie's website

Book 1: Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye

Book 2: Better Read Than Dead (excerpt)

Tuesday Thingers

Today's question: Series. Do you collect any series? Do you read series books? Fantasy? Mystery? Science fiction? Religious? Other genre? Do you use the series feature in LT to help you find new books or figure out what you might be missing from a series?

Do I read series? Ohhhh yes. I read fantasy series, romance series, young adult series, mystery series... I'm a huge series fan. I love the idea that I'll be able to spend more time with characters if I fall in love with them. Plus there's always that anticipation waiting for the next book to come out. A reason to go to the bookstore. Authors to keep an eye on.

But I don't really collect series. I only very rarely will keep an installment that I disliked just to have a complete series - unless, of course, there's a better book after the one that I didn't like. But that rarely happens. Once a series jumps the shark for me, it only rarely manages to win me back over. But that said, I do like to make sure my series' books match. It's not an absolute necessity. I won't go out and buy hardbacks if I got into the books in paperback (usually), but it makes me mad when people change the style of the cover-art mid-series (grr!).

So about the LibraryThing Series feature - I use it. But mostly as a tool to figure out reading order once I've picked up a book in the middle of a series. Only rarely do I actually find out about other books in the series that way. Generally I just pop over to the author's website (provided they have one) and everything's good. But the series feature is a handy way to organize my own tags (which start out with a series tag for easy sortability!).

And now for the necessary plug of my favorite series: (I'll spare you my agony at having to pare these down to just one off the top of my head)

YA: Bloody Jack - L. A. Meyer (aboard ship with a clever fast-talking girl who occasionally dresses like a boy and ALWAYS manages to finagle what she wants!)

Romance: The Bridgertons - Julia Quinn (funny and emotional - my favorite combination)

Sci-Fi: Mageworlds - Debra Doyle & James MacDonald (Space Opera at it's utter finest)

Mystery: Amelia Peabody - Elizabeth Peters (Victorian archaeologists in Egypt solving murders and generally running everything)

Fantasy: The Letter Game series (Sorcery & Cecelia is the first) - Patricia Wrede & Caroline Stevermeyer (two Regency girls embroiled in magical derring-do and coping with a Season, brilliant!)

The Great Contest Post

Fashionista-Piranha is running a fantastic contest - Monarchy Mania! She is offering copies of 5 different books (monarchy related of course):
The Last Queen - C.W. Gortner; The Heretic Queen - Michelle Moran; The Tsarina's Daughter - Carolly Erickson; The Other Queen - Philippa Gregory; and a mystery book to be revealed when 50 people enter the contest.
Sound exciting? I thought so! Head on over to enter! End date: Nov. 15

Lori's Reading Corner is holding a giveaway for an ARC of Angel's Tip by Alafair Burke - a police procedural where NYPD detective Ellie Hatcher senses that there may be a connection between the latest body she discovered and some past cases, but her bosses don't agree... End date: Oct. 24

Book Room Reviews is giving away 5 sets of Hachette Book Group's Halloween Spooktacular which includes The Heretic's Daughter (amazing), The Historian, Dracula, and many other spooky titles (for ten total). End date: Nov. 1

She is Too Fond of Books is giving away a signed copy of Creepers by Joanne Dahme - a creepy young adult novel that's been getting good reviews. Perfect for October! End date: Midnight Halloween

Kathleen at Kathleen's Book Reviews is giving away a signed copy of Violet in Private - third in the popular Violet series about a young woman's adventures in the modeling world.

Elizabeth at As Usual I Need More Bookshelves is celebrating her 100th blog post by giving away a Surprise Pack from Bas Bleu. It sounds really cool, so hop over and congratulate her on her achievement!

Booking Mama is giving away copies of Sarah's Key, Lost Diary of Don Juan and The Space Between Before and After.

Shana at Literarily is giving away a copy of The Lost Diary of Don Juan as well as two other books (separately). Pop over to comment on her great reviews!

Spirit - J.P. Hightman

*** 1/2 - This was just the sort of read for a dreary October day. It really got me in the mood for Halloween. There's a great twist in the narrative that I really appreciated and plenty of scariness (without an overdose of gore). For my personal tastes, the writing was a bit too cinematic - I prefer my horror/ghost stories to be more atmospheric and creepy, insinuating terrors. I like the psychological creep factor. This was much more action-driven. So it reads more like a movie - a good read, but not as character-centric as I would have liked.

I picked this up because I just couldn't resist the cover and the blurb on the back which promises secret tribunals to deal with the real witches of Salem and Victorian-era investigations into the paranormal. Creepy atmosphere, seances, and witchcraft. That's what I was looking for. But the cover blurb in particular is very misleading. So what's the story really about?

Tess and Tobias Goodraven hunt ghosts. Ever since they first met in the aftermath of a theater fire that orphaned them both, they have felt drawn to the supernatural, and they have developed an extra sense for people's emotions and the presence of spirits of the dead. So when the couple hears of a winter carnival being held in a small village near Salem where a Romeo-and-Juliet type tragedy occurred, and where a true witch of Salem may still lurk, the Goodravens can't resist the pull of the supernatural.

The Good: I loved the descriptions of Tess and Tobias' perceptions, especially the way they size up their fellow passengers. I liked their differing reactions to the tragedies that have made up their lives (although I'm not sure how I felt about their relationship, it was pretty weird). The use of the nursery rhyme as a guide to bringing down the witch is very clever, as are the twists and turns in the plot - most of which caught me unawares and were nothing like I expected. That's always a good sign.

The author has Tess bring up the ergotism theory of claims of witchcraft! (One of the explanations I find most fascinating).

The Not-so-Good:

First of all the back of the book is completely misleading. Not the author's fault, I know. But it bothers me.

So on to the actual book. I didn't like that the Prologue never ties into the actual narrative at all. I would have preferred the prologue to be the story of Wilhelm and Abigail under the circumstances. Since the story was so linked to the Salem Witch Trials, I wish there had been some sense of how those events tied into this story. Was the Widow Malgore responsible for the torment of those people?

There never seems to be a whole lot of investigation - so we never really find out much about the Widow Malgore - why is she evil? Most of the story centers around escaping the witch and her vast supernatural powers. And really, the main characters don't really seem to do a whole lot. Luck saves them, or others save them. And even the final showdown seems to go pretty quickly and without too much trouble from a creature who has been gaining malevolent power for two centuries.

There's a lot of action (which certainly isn't bad), there just isn't a ton of character-development or knowledge of motivations. This may be more of a gripe because of what I was led to expect of the book based on the cover blurb. It's certainly a personal thing - I prefer my horror stories atmospherically creepy (think Sixth Sense, The Others, Rebecca to some extent - candle light and creaking floorboards). I'm a big fan of the Gothic.

The Take-Away: What it boils down to is the manner of story-telling. Spirit is fast-paced and full of action. It's a good kind of spine-tingling scary. It's a fun read. But despite what you may expect from the cover and back blurb, it's not particularly Gothic.

Temptations - Elizabeth Bernard

*** - Okay, so you remember how I kept whining about how in-your-face morally didactic these books were? I take it back (for this one at least). This was actually a really fun addition to the series, and I thought the dilemma Leah had to go through was realistically portrayed. It's always good when you're proud of the character at the end for the way she handled things - and excited to see what's up next!

Leah Stephenson's ballet career is really taking off. After the exposure she got from an arresting full-page picture in a ballet magazine, she's been tapped as a model for a dance-wear campaign, AND (even more exciting by far) her former partner James Cummings and Russian ballet star Andrei Levintoff are filming a ballet movie right at the academy. And the producer wants Leah to star!

With such a huge jumpstart to her career, it's inevitable that Leah be inundated with advice - both to stay in school and continue her traditional dance education, and to take up the immortality and chance of a lifetime that comes with a starring movie role. And Leah only has a short week to decide.

I approached this with some trepidation. After all, Leah's 'all about me' attitude tends to get on my nerves, and what better showcase for that kind of behavior than a modeling studio or a movie set? But I was pleasantly surprised. Leah has to cope with the less glamorous aspects of the media industry - samples, demanding photographers, envy of her peers, pressure from her would-be partners. Leah vacillates convincingly between the two options, and for me at least the outcome was sometimes doubtful (I didn't peek ahead).

The not-so-good aspects include the by now inevitable storming-off-in-a-self-righteous-huff rivalry with Alex and the complete disappearance of Pam as a character (what happened to her?). But I really liked the way things were resolved. I liked that Leah didn't end up being the golden child in the audition she didn't prepare for (although the director's insistence that he really wanted *her* was a bit over the top, I felt), and I loved the resolution of the Alex-tension at the very end. Hurray for the entrance of boys!

I have to say, I liked this one best out of all the books I've read in this series. Maybe I'm growing more tolerant of the characters or maybe the writing has just moved closer in line with my tastes. Either way, I'm looking forward to the next one. And I'm really glad to finally say that.

Re-reading childhood addictions can be rough.

Interested in the others?
Book 1: To Be a Dancer
Book 2: Center Stage
Book 3: Stars in Her Eyes
Book 4: Changing Partners
Book 5: Second Best
Book 6: Curtain Call
Book 8: Stepping Out
Book 9: Chance to Love
Book 10: Rising Star
Book 11: Starting Over
Book 12: Summer Dance

Tuesday Thingers

Today's question: Early Reviewers- do you participate? How many books (approximately) have you received through the program? Have you liked them generally? What's your favorite ER book? Do you participate in the discussion group on LT?

I do participate in the Early Reviewers program! It's a great way to get a look at books that are coming out soon, though they don't often have much in the way of genre fiction. And I'm just not really a literary fiction sort of gal. That said, I usually find a few on the list that get me all pumped up.

So far I've gotten 3 (I think)

Winter Haven
The Arthurian Omen
The Fire

Unfortunately I haven't found anything that I was really enthusiastic about. All of them have been about average reads - though I was so excited about The Arthurian Omen (title, blurb and cover art ) that I was really disappointed that I didn't like it more.

I have noticed that I tend to hold back some on ER reviews compared to my regular reviewing. I try to find more things that are positive, which makes me a bit uneasy, really. I excuse myself in the first case (Winter Haven) because it was Christian fiction, and I have a gut-clench aversion to the genre and I had to work around it. Maybe that just set the tone for me, I'm not sure.

Does anybody else find themselves, not sugar-coating, but holding back or being kinder in ER reviews (or in ARC reviews in general)? Does it bother you?

The Specialists: Down to the Wire - Shannon Greenland

**** - I liked this a lot (though not quite as much as Model Spy). The highlights are the cat burglar scenes with the lasers. So extremely cool! There's high adventure and high stakes, and a complete cliff-hanger of an ending. A fun YA read.

Wirenut has made a reputation for himself as a cat burglar - one who can bypass even the most sophisticated security systems, and who leaves a yellow ribbon as his trademark. So when the Specialists are hired to track down the somputer-encrypted whereabouts of a dangerous neurotoxin, Wirenut and GiGi are put on the case.

I guess I had expected this to be told from the point of view of Wirenut, not GiGi. On the one hand, that was definitely good. I grew very attached to GiGi in the last book, and I really liked seeing her continued point of view. But I was looking forward to hearing the voices of the other characters. Luckily, the main focus is certainly on Wirenut, his (extremely cool) talents, and his backstory.

There are scenes with diving, an amazing laser cat burglar scene that reminded me a lot of the movie Entrapment, and a bit of a predictable sideplot with a rival cat-burglar. It's action-packed and a really quick read. I just love this series, there's no getting around it. Be forewarned - this installment ends on a doozy of a cliff-hanger about GiGi and David's relationship. I'll be rushing to the next book The Winning Element.

Interested in other opinions?

Review and cool author interview at Presenting Lenore

On Why I Read My Blogroll

I'm going to come right out and say it. I hate book reviews. Not reviews by bloggers or the guy next to me in the Borders. Not the comments in the margins of books I found at used book stores. But professional book reviews - the much-lauded NY Times or Publisher's Weekly reviews, newspaper reviews, etc. I hate them.

I hate that reviews always read like some sort of lit crit paper. I hate that reviewers are either in raptures about something that I later find trite and unbelievably emotionally manipulative, or they're completely impossible to please because they're judging an airplane thriller by completely irrelevant criteria. Added to this, they always seem to want Growth or Meaning or something, because how else would they fill a page in their newspaper?

To me, the entire focus of professional book reviews - the objective assessment of 'quality' and where it fits in a 'literary canon' or some such - is not only boring or irrelevant. It's downright counterproductive. They feel the need to reveal all sorts of spoiler-y plot points. So why would I read these reviews before I read the book? Because the thing is, I don't want to know what happened in the second half that was so evocative of Joyce... (ergggh). I want to know whether it was a Good Read - not whether you can write a paper about it. I want to know whether the reviewer liked it, whether he could put it down, whether she laughed or cried. What was the voice like? Was it FUN?

Maybe part of my problem is that I have tastes that are apparently very different from mainstream. I disliked The Kite Runner, The Lovely Bones, The Time Traveler's Wife, The Curious Incident of the Dog in Night-time, The Poisonwood Bible, etc. I think the Twilight books are creepy. I despise Ender's Game. All of which seem to send not only critics but a whole lot of people into spasms of adoration.

Even amongst my genres of choice, I seem to be a bit of an outlier (I prefer my heros less alpha, and if they're the ever-popular 'tortured but redeemed hero' I want nothing much to do with them). But for me, that's all the more reason not to trust professional reviews - instead I read book blogs. Because y'all tell me what does or doesn't work (for you), you talk to me about characters, pet peeves, you snark about strange fantasy spelling. You rant about books that you just had to throw at the wall and rave about the ones you will never ever let out of your hands ever again. And I don't agree with you all the time. But there's a connection there. Your reviews aren't dry intellectual exercises in showing off your own cleverness. They're full of what seems to be impossible to find in professional reviews: Opinions and Reactions.

So thanks to everybody on my blogroll and to all the other blogs I stumble across. You've increased my TBR pile exponentially - and in all honesty, professional reviews are more likely to make me want to put the book back...

What about you? Do you read professional reviews? What do you (dis)like about them?

Apparently this is popular around the blogosphere -
Isn't It Romance?

Update

I'm really behind in my reviews (keep an eye out for my post with links to the back reviews), but I'll need to crank them out before the library books have to go back tomorrow...

I had to post here, though, because my (admittedly torn up) copy of The Lost Queen of Egypt came in the mail yesterday! I'm so excited...

Escape from Botany Bay - Gerald & Loretta Hausman

*** 1/2 - Mary Bryant's story is truly fascinating. A young woman plots a daring escape from the penal colony at Botany Bay in an extraordinary voyage often compared to that of William Bligh - but Mary has no seafaring experience. Amazing. I'm completely grateful to this book for introducing me to the inimitable courage of its heroine. But this particular telling fell emotionally flat for me - hence the rating.

Caught stealing a silk bonnet, teenaged highwaywoman Mary Bryant is sentenced to transportation to the new penal colony at Botany Bay in Australia. Locked in squalor onboard the convict's ship, Mary turns to one of her jailer's for protection, and must marry one of the other convicts when she becomes pregnant. Unhappy in the miserable conditions of the penal colony, Mary and her husband begin to plot an escape from the injustices and violence of Botany Bay, but the only route away is the danger-fraught voyage thousands of miles across the open sea.

Told in the first person as a sort of transcription of Mary's story, the Hausmans create a clear voice for their narrator. Mary's story is told simply and straight-forwardly, much the same sense the reader gets of her character. In that way the novel succeeds remarkably well. Not to mention that this is the first book I've seen dealing with this subject matter. For that - kudos to the authors. I was also very impressed with Mary's strength of character and the portrayal of the Australian natives, particularly the cooperative relationship Will forms with one of the families.

I had the sense that this was being marketed to the wrong crowd (at least where I found it in the library). I would put this firmly in the middle-grade category. Although there's a discussion of violence (including a rather nasty massacring frenzy), those scenes and those about Mary's situation with her Marine guard are talked about very obliquely. Personally, I wasn't sure how far their relationship had gone until she turned up pregnant. I think the older crowd will find Mary's story fascinating (I certainly did), but the level of detail provided in this telling (only 220 pages) was frustratingly low for my tastes. I wanted to know more about what Mary felt, what she was going through, especially during that fateful voyage.

A good place to start if you know nothing about Mary Bryant's amazing escape story. I'm still looking to see if I can find a good adult novel (which I prefer over non-fiction) about her. Let me know if you have any recommendations!

[Random Trivia Moment: Botany Bay was originally 'discovered' on Captain Cook's first voyage with the HMS Endeavour. It was named after the copious botanical specimens found by Joseph Banks on the expedition. Later on the colony was moved a bit up the coast to Sydney.]


Interested in Mary Bryant?

The Wikipedia article has a bibliography at the end that might provide some ideas for further reading, or possibly a different place to start. I needn't warn you that the summary of her life includes Spoilers for the book. Obviously.


Though personally I prefer the account by the Eureka Council History Pages.


There's also a TV movie based on her life: The Incredible Journey of Mary Bryant which I couldn't help but grab from Netflix. I'll keep you posted.

Rosetta Key - William Dietrich

**** - This is so up my alley. It's a sort of historical Indiana Jones story full of adventure, romance, hard-to-kill villains and daring escapes. We have Templars, Egyptian deities, and Napoleon (let's not forget Napoleon). Nobody skimps on the swashbuckling. Complete escapist fun with some real history thrown in for good measure. Very much a boys-own sort of adventure.

After his escapades in Napoleon's Pyramids (which I have not read, but you probably should before attempting this one), American adventurer Ethan Gage finds himself in the Holy Land searching for the mysterious Book of Thoth, a magical object that can bring great power to those able to unlock its secrets. His narrow escape from Napoleon at the end of the last story has given him a miniscule lead over others seeking the scroll of wisdom and over Napoleon's invasion of the Holy Land. But he must outwit and outmaneuver French, English and other agents in his quest to discover the book's whereabouts.

That summary really doesn't do the book justice. I'm sorry. But then again, a summary for an Indiana Jones movie would be similarly ridiculous. And this reads a lot like an Indiana Jones adventure. Ethan studied under Ben Franklin and he brings all kinds of esoteric knowledge (especially electrical) to bear. We have amazing war machines, damsels in distress, battles galore coupled with even more daring escapes. There are mathematical and other puzzles (much like in Raiders of the Lost Arc). And of course, Gage ends up finding the Rosetta stone while he's gallivanting (or fleeing, whichever you prefer) across Egypt.

I knew I was going to love this book from the first sentence: "Eyeing a thousand musket barrels aimed at one's chest does tend to force consideration of whether the wrong path has been taken." That is quintessential Ethan Gage. Funny and self-deprecating but also cocky as anything even in the face of mortal peril. He's definitely somebody I'd want on my side as he always manages to land on his feet...somehow.

The one drawback for me was how Gage treats women (but it's no different than standard adventure hero fare). And at least the women in question have brains and guts enough not to stand around playing damsel in distress.

So, yeah, action-packed adventure, archaeological puzzles, Indiana Jones, and I even learned something here and there. Honest! I definitely recommend it if you like this sort of thing. I can't resist historical swashbuckling and derring-do. Can you?

Interested in other opinions?

Fantasy Book Critic

September Reading Roundup

A good month for books!

Books read in September: 14

Favorite book(s) of September:
Model Spy by Shannon Greenland
The Heir and the Spare by Maya Rodale

Least favorite:
Invitation Only by Kate Brian

Author Encounters:

Elizabeth Boyle left a comment on my post awarding Hoyden Awards

Maya Rodale responded very nicely to my email & review. She also said to keep an eye on the adventures of Darcy Darlington (an online serial novel) while waiting for her next book.

Bruce Coville signed my copy of Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher at the Baltimore Book Festival.

Patricia Wrede signed my copy of Mairelon the Magician at the BBF.

Tamora Pierce shook my hand (squeal!) and signed my copies of Melting Stones and Song of the Lioness.


Books Read:
1. The Heir and the Spare - Maya Rodale
2. The Fire - Katherine Neville
3. The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing: The Pox Party - M.T. Anderson
4. Primavera - Mary Jane Beaufrand
5. The Treasure of Savage Island - Lenore Hart
6. Forged in the Fire - Ann Turnbull
7. I Am Rembrandt's Daughter - Lynn Cullen
8. Pirattitude - John 'Ol' Chumbucket' Baur and Mark 'Cap'n Slappy' Summers
9. The Land of Silver Apples - Nancy Farmer
10. Invitation Only - Kate Brian
11. The Red Necklace - Sally Gardner
12. The Specialists: Model Spy - Shannon Greenland
13. Curtain Call - Elizabeth Bernard
14. The Forgery of Venus - Michael Gruber

Book Festival!

This weekend I faced a terrible dilemma - Neil Gaiman and Phillippa Gregory at the National Book Festival? Or trek out to Baltimore to see Patricia Wrede, Bruce Coville, and Tamora Pierce. For those of you who read my tribute to Tammy's books, I suppose you've guessed how I resolved the dilemma...

The weather was definitely not cooperating with the book festival plan - it was muggy, hot, and raining sporadically throughout the afternoon. But all told, I'm so glad I went out. I love to meet authors when they make me feel like I would like them as people as well as their writing. It's been somewhat disappointing in the past when children's and YA writers have pretty well dismissed me in favor of their shorter fans - understandable, but disappointing. Luckily for me, that was not to be the case this time around.

Due to train difficulties, I missed hearing Bruce Coville speak, but I did get him to sign my (ragged) copy of my favorite book of his Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher! He was really nice to me, too, and mentioned how that was one of the really nice things about writing for kids - they kept hold of their favorite books as they grew up, and that it's great to be the recipient of the deep affection that comes with having written someone's childhood favorite. Well, he said something like that. He was more witty about it.

Next up was Patricia Wrede who talked about writing - particularly about not having to write short stories to start out with. I honestly wish someone had told my creative writing teacher in college. (My biggest problem with writing has always been sustaining characters and plot for more than a few scenes - pulling it all together. And short stories really did nothing to help that...) For all that Wrede claims that she is a novelist and that she doesn't really DO short stories, her Book of Enchantments is truly great fun. It was one of these stories that I brought in as a 'snapshot' (like you would bring into a salon) of what I wanted my writing to be like.

She also mentioned her upcoming book and talked some about the Letter Game books. Apparently before they were reissued, copies of the mass-market edition of Sorcery and Cecilia were going on ebay for $400+. Complete craziness, but the series really is fun. Sadly I didn't have my copies of that one with me. Nor did I have the Enchanted Forest Chronicles with me, ignore the cartoon covers and pick these up - they're fantastic fractured fairy tales! But I did get a signature on my copy of Mairelon the Magician, which is probably my favorite (aside from the Frying Pan of Doom story).

Last of the afternoon came Tamora Pierce. I squealed and bounced up and down. I just couldn't help myself. She talked about her characters, about Alanna's relationship with George, about Alanna's refusal to speak to Jonathan over First Test and his treatment of Kel. I loved hearing about the backstories and to hear the lives and thoughts of my favorite characters. It was great to hear about progress on Bloodhound (finished!) and what's coming next (Beka's third book, Briar and Rosethorn at war and NUMAIR!). But most of all I enjoyed hearing about her writing process and her relationship with her spouse-creature, and to hear her talk about the important aspects of romantic relationships.

At the very beginning of her talk, Tammy pointed out that she was NOT NICE. And I suppose that's true. She doesn't pull punches or sugarcoat. She's not sweet. But however prickly she may be, however tough, she's very caring when it comes to her friends, her animals, and her fans. I was so happy to get to talk to her - even for a little bit. I told her (from Pete) that boys loved her stuff, too. She made sure to chat a little bit with each of the fans that came up to her - telling them stories, listening. She made the experience feel very individual and unrushed despite the long line stretching to have books signed. And best of all, I finally got to shake her hand, to tell her thanks for everything. And to get to tell her through that, even if I couldn't in words, how much she and her books have meant.

So a GREAT way to spend a few hours on a Saturday - I'm just disappointed I didn't make it out there earlier.

The Heretic's Daughter - Kathleen Kent

**** - I had the good fortune to win this in a giveaway over at Literarily. Thanks Shana! I'm so glad I got a chance to read this. Really interesting, and despite the setting far less about the Salem Witch Trials themselves which form more of a backdrop to the relationship between mother and daughter.

"It is easier to kill a tyrant with a sword than disassemble whole counties in the grip of superstitious dread."

p. 308, The Heretic's Daughter

The Heretic's Daughter is so much more than a book about the Salem Witch Trials, though throughout the story the reader is aware of the gradually growing underlying tension that will eventually give way to the hysteria that led to the deaths of over 200 men and women. And we also know that the narrator's mother, Martha Carrier is one of the first victims of the Salem Witch Trials.

Sharp-tongued, strong-willed and unwilling to participate in Puritan church life, it is no wonder that Martha Carrier and her family were targeted by the animosity of the community. It is even less of a surprise when we learn of a acrimonious dispute over land that has sundered family ties. And Martha's daughter Sarah, the narrator and titular character, cannot help but feel hostile towards a mother more often harsh than affectionate, especially since the two of them are alike in too many ways to allow for harmony between them.

When Sarah takes refuge from the smallpox with her aunt and uncle, she is exposed to their more affectionate family life. How she yearns for that kind of closeness, and how she misses the companionship of her cousin. But despite their good qualities, the reader sees the less attractive side of the Toothaker family. While affectionate with his family, Sarah's uncle is closed-minded and downright vicious when it comes to Native Americans, or 'outsiders' in general. And although Sarah's own mother is vitriolic and short-tempered at times, she is brave enough to stand up for what she believes in - even to the point of losing her own life.

Possible Spoilers:

But the aspect of the story that really appealed to me was that in her martyrdom, Martha Carrier displays none of the closed-minded zeal that I so often find repugnant in those willing to die for their beliefs. Although she refuses to knuckle under to her oppressors, she ensures that her family will live - even if it means that they must lie and denounce her to the judges.

(end spoilers)

This is a thoroughly touching story not so much about the Salem Witch Trials themselves as about a mother-daughter relationship. The Witch Trials form a sort of crucible for mother and daughter. A very interesting read, and emotionally compelling. I definitely recommend this for anyone who is interested in historical fiction.

Boston Bibliophile
Bookworm's Dinner
Literarily
Reader for Life
Fashion Piranha
Literary License
She Reads and Reads
Once Upon a Bookshelf

Gaskella

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