A Hoyden's Look at Literature

The Dust of 100 Dogs - A.S. King

2009-10-15T14:28:00.000-04:00

*** 1/2 - This was definitely a different take on a pirate tale, and I enjoyed a great deal of it. But the book definitely hit one of my hot buttons - it simplified a complex issue and conflict (the U.S. Civil War) to the point of trivializing it. And in a book packed full of 'gray' moral and sexual choices, I found it jarring and insulting.

It's pretty much a given that an Irish childhood is a difficult one - but things are more difficult still for Emer Morrisey who was growing up during Cromwell's invasions into Ireland. But Emer is not one to be daunted easily. So when she is torn from her childhood love and meant to be married off to a Frenchman, she turns notorious pirate instead! And what's a pirate without a curse?

Saffron Adams is born in the 1970s in a trailer park with all of Emer's memories (and bloodthirsty inclinations) - and a drive to get the heck out of her dreadful life with her dull parents and nasty brother, grab her buried treasure and live a life of ease. After some initial difficulties, she hops over to Jamaica to see if she can't find the gold - and runs into some trouble with an odd lecherous middle-aged man who may or may not be the reincarnation of that very dastardly Frenchman.

I wanted to like this book so much. It's got a fun premise (who doesn't love pirates, or teenagers that dream of popping the eyeballs out of their algebra teacher?), dogs, and all kinds of quirky. And parts of it, I really did like - I was swept away by Emer's childhood in Ireland, and I enjoyed reading about her slow burgeoning romance with Seanie. But round-about the time she turns pirate, I stopped liking her much.

I admired Emer's strength in getting herself to Jamaica, but I was pretty pissed off about her sexual choices. Let me be abundantly clear here, I don't have a quarrel with the author or her presentation of Emer's decision. This is a very honest and real portrayal of a dilemma young women face (in a less drastic form) and Emer's decision to have sex with a man she doesn't love to 'get it over with' essentially isn't glorified or condemned. The decision, and its consequences, are dealt with in an unflichingly honest way - everything is very much shades of gray. My quarrel is thus not with the author, but with the character. I didn't like the character's decision. It made me lose respect for Emer. And that wasn't the only section where the sexual undercurrents of the novel squicked me out. The entire situation with the middle-aged creep in Jamaica gave me the heebie-jeebies.

As to the dog facts - I liked some of them, some were incredibly sad, several were irritatingly preachy (the one about the Civil War just made me downright irate). What I didn't quite get was how they tied into the rest of the novel. They seemed largely random with no real connection to what was going on in either Emer or Saffron's stories - and that made them seem more like a gimmick than anything, which was a bit disappointing.

Given my reaction to a lot of the moral dilemmas and the moral stances the author throws into the mix, this was never going to be a favorite of mine. But with the cover and the premise, I expected something with more swashbuckling adventuring in the past life, maybe some entertaining sections in math class about keelhauling someone. So I was taken aback by the novel's tone and by its grittiness. While others found a lot to love in Saffron and Emer's stories, The Dust of 100 Dogs just wasn't the story for me.

Interested in other opinions?

Presenting Lenore (plus Interview)

The Book Muncher (plus Interview)

Fame (2009)

2009-10-13T22:17:00.000-04:00

I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm a huge dance movie fan. I've seen a ton of them that came out relatively recently while knowing full well that they would be over-the-top and silly. I saw Step Up (though I wasn't desperate enough to see the sequel), Take the Lead, Center Stage, Mad Hot Ballroom. Some of them, I loved. Some were decent to pass the time. None were as dull as Fame.

Fame (for those of you unfamiliar with the 80s version) is about a bunch of kids at a performing arts high school in New York City - these kids study, audition and dream of a shot at the limelight. The movie follows them from audition day all the way to graduation, but it really didn't seem like it.

The entire movie was a host of vignettes (largely uninteresting) interspersed with all too infrequent large-scale dance production numbers or songs. Many of the scenes weren't really related, there was little in the way of over-arching story arc. And to me, there didn't seem to be any feeling of time passing - particularly not 4 years...

To be honest, the only story I liked was the pianist/R&B singer, and even that was quite ludicrously unrealistic, because (SPOILERS) if I was offered an honest to goodness record deal? Those guys who mixed me? They can stay in freakin' high school, because I'd be on my way to FAME!!! But that entire possibility is just shrugged off. Bizarre for a school that's meant to propel its graduates to stardom...

I also quite liked the cute boy who sang in his father's restaurant - but again, it just didn't seem to go anywhere at all. It was like he was only at the school to be the lackluster romantic interest of the woodenly untalented girl who just wants it too much to realize she's never going anywhere. And, honestly? For all her 'wanting it', I just didn't care. Weren't there some sort of guidance counselors urging these kids to consider other careers if they just couldn't cut it?

So - yeah, the numbers, when they happened were pretty cool. I loved the scene in the cafeteria where everybody starts a huge musical/dance mashup. But they were too infrequent and just not connected enough to the storyline to elevate Fame above ho-hum.

The Tudor Rose - Margaret Campbell Barnes

2009-10-11T12:55:00.000-04:00

**** - I knew very little about Elizabeth of York before reading this book - I knew that the Wars of the Roses ended through an intermarriage of the houses of York (white rose) and Lancaster (red rose), but I wasn't even sure which house contributed which spouse... so this was a real eye-opener for me.

Thank you to Sourcebooks for providing a review copy!

The Tudor Rose is the story of Elizabeth of York - the woman who would found the Tudor dynasty, the mother of Henry VIII, and the sister of the Princes in the Tower. The novel opens with Elizabeth trying on her wedding dress - and hearing that her betrothal is being broken off. It's a lovely beginning that brings home both to the reader and to Bess how much she (and her marriage) is being used as a political tool. The novel deals with several hot-button issues from The Wars of the Roses: the Princes in the Tower, the pretenders to the throne after Henry VII comes to power, and Richard III in general. And I was well-satisfied with all of them.

I first encountered Margaret Campbell Barnes when I read her book about Henry VIII The King's Fool, which offered an intriguing and multi-faceted portrayal of the king notorious for his temper and his many wives. In The Tudor Rose, Barnes offers the same interesting portrayal of Elizabeth of York, but also of her oft-reviled uncle Richard III.

I thoroughly enjoyed Barnes' version of Richard. He's charming, witty, and intelligent, but he is also thoroughly dangerous and capable of ruthlessness. Richard truly comes alive through the pages, and I found his depiction wonderfully complex (though by no means a positive one). Despite his actions, Richard is quite admirable in his own way, particularly when contrasted with the eminently practical and dispassionate Henry VII - who is easily his equal in ruthlessness.

I was charmed by intelligent and passionate Bess, who loved so fiercely, grieved so deeply for her lost brothers, and who nonetheless straightened her shoulders and did what she thought best for her realm. Given how strong she was, and how deeply she was prepared to love, I found much of her story very sad. She is betrayed on all sides and she can never quite shake her yearning to find her brothers again - I actually loved her interaction at the end with Perkin Warbeck - it was a beautifully slippery exchange!

I enjoyed The Tudor Rose a great deal, though I was a bit confused as to what was happening outside the palace during the Wars of the Roses - not surprising as the entire situation was pretty confusing. Elizabeth of York is shown as a lovely, strong and passionate woman, and her story is well worth reading. Just keep a hot cup of tea (or your comforting thing of choice) handy.

Interested in other opinions?

Musings of a Bibliophile

The Maze Runner - James Dashner

2009-10-01T14:49:00.004-04:00

**** - I'm a big fan of dystopian novels, so I've really been looking forward to James Dashner's The Maze Runner. It didn't disappoint me, either - full of mystery, betrayal, and palpable danger The Maze Runner is certain to appeal to teenagers, and boys in particular.

A big thank you to Random House for sending me the ARC!

Coming OCTOBER 6, 2009!

When Thomas comes to, he finds himself in a brand-new society called the Glade composed entirely of teenaged boys - and he can't remember anything about himself or the past. All he knows is his first name, and he has a niggling sensation that he must join the ranks of those boys who spend their days mapping out the dangerous maze surrounding the boys' 'home base'. Because Thomas is sure he holds the key to their escape, and time is quickly running out...

I was really impressed with The Maze Runner - Dashner does a fantastic job keeping the reader invested by doling out revelations to Thomas' (and our) many questions. The society is well-thought-out and interesting. It's impressive to see how the boys have organized themselves into 'guilds' almost and how despite their best efforts at civilization, the barbarity of their surroundings has left its mark upon them as well. The horror of the maze is utterly heart-stopping. Dashner perfectly treads the balance between describing the Grievers and leaving it up to the terror produced by our own imaginations. And it works amazingly well - I stayed up late to finish this because I just couldn't bear to put it down while Thomas could still be in danger!

What did bother me a bit was the cliff-hanger ending. I wasn't aware that The Maze Runner was going to be the first in a series (though, I guess I should have known better - are there still stand-alone YA novels? ;) ), so I found the lack of resolution disconcerting. Actually, it struck me a lot like one of those movies where the last shot exposes a hidden twist... and, now that I'm honest with myself - I find those utterly frustrating, but I adore them anyway...

So if you like thrillers and/or dystopian novels? This is definitely the book for you. I really enjoyed it, even while it terrified me!

Interested in other opinions?

Medieval Bookworm

Kittling: Books

September Roundup

2009-09-30T18:00:00.023-04:00

Books Finished: 15

Favorite September Book:

Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran

I adored Michelle Moran's Cleopatra's Daughter! I'm working on a review for it, so keep your eyes peeled.

What's so wonderful about Cleopatra's Daughter? Well, it's a story of power wielded (both the obvious and the more subtle) and succumbed to, the story of life in Rome - largely aristocratic but without ignoring the seedier sides of the Empire. I loved the way Selene worked hard to become useful and keep her wits sharp, and I enjoyed her love story a great deal. This was clearly a tale written with me in mind - a strong, intelligent young heroine in an intriguing historical setting - and I stayed up all night reading it! If you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend it.

Intrigued? Buy at Amazon or IndieBound

Author Encounters:

Over at Seductive Musings one of my favorite authors, Anne Gracie asked what we would like to see more of in historicals. My answers?

What I'd like to see more of in historicals is humor. It doesn't have to be slapstick (although I find Katie MacAlister's screwball Regencies hilarious), but I'm just not a fan of brooding tortured heros. I want someone who will make me laugh - which is why I'm still madly in love with Gideon from A Perfect Rake :)

Anne replied:

Lana, thanks for loving my Gideon. You know, I was trying for a dark and dangerous hero, and he just strolled on the page, being funny and flippant and madly charming instead. I fought him for ages before i decided to go with him, rather than against him. I can't always control my characters. I suspect Nash is shaping up to be a bad boy character, a bit like Gideon. We'll see.

Another thought:

I'm back again, and I thought of something a little more specific that I would love to see in a historical!

Vienna! I've been looking everywhere for a historical set in Vienna. In a city known for waltzes, champagne, masquerades, music and trick riding horses... I thought it would be an ideal setting to shake things up a bit, but I can't seem to find any romances set there at all.

Anne's response:

Lana, Vienna is a beautiful city and I'd also love to set a book, or at least part of a book there. And in the regency, my preferred time period, Vienna had so many things happening.

Have you read Eva Ibbotson's books? They're only *just* historicals -- set around the 1920's-30's-- and some of them are set in pre-war Austria. Gorgeous books. Try a Song For Summer.

I'm such a fangirl! I definitely grabbed A Song for Summer - such a gorgeous cover, it can hardly be

Books Read:

1. The Tudor Rose - Margaret Campbell Barnes

2. A Pearl Among Princes - Coleen Murtagh Paratore

3. Shrinking Violet - Danielle Joseph

4. Once a Witch - Colleen MacCullough

5. A Marquis to Marry - Amelia Grey

6. Psych Major Syndrome - Alicia Thompson

7. Cleopatra's Daughter - Michelle Moran

8. Suffer the Little Children - Donna Leon

9. The Book of Lies - Brad Meltzer

10. The Lost Symbol - Dan Brown

11. Practice Makes Perfect - Julie James

12. Me, My Elf & I - Heather Swain

13. Give Me Liberty - L.M. Elliott

14. Love on Cue - Catherine Hapka

15. The Season - Sarah MacLean

A Marquis to Marry - Amelia Grey

2009-09-30T08:00:00.002-04:00

*** 1/2 - This is the second book in The Rogue's Dynasty trilogy, but it stands alone. I was charmed by Race and Susannah, the running joke of Lord Snellingly's dreadful poetry & Gibby.

Thank you to Sourcebooks for sending me a review copy!

Alexander Raceworth is anything but keen when he hears that a Dowager Duchess has business with him and refuses to leave until she has seen him. But he was raised to be polite to ladies - and is he ever glad when it turns out the dowager is the young and beautiful Susannah. The tension between them instantly sizzles, but conflict rears its ugly head when Susannah insists that he hand over the pearls he inherited from his grandmother.

I very much enjoyed watching Susannah and Race spar with one another. I loved the little (incorrigibly presumptuous) notes Race sends her, the way she keeps her name a secret, and how straightforward Race is about wanting to spend time with her. It's charming to have a hero who's not running away from relationships. That said, he does have some maturity issues - and a tendency to flounce off and sulk when things aren't going his way. He gets over himself by the end, and as everyone is quick to discover - he could charm a leopard out of his spots.

Although I liked Race, Susannah kept drawing me further into the story. Susannah's independence and her determined efforts to discover who had the necklace (rather than allowing Race to do all the investigating for her). But she also had a vulnerable side that made her wary of flouting Society's rules. I loved how much of a role music played in her life, how she held on to keepsakes from Race, and how strong she was to overcome her own fears to give Race a chance. I really admire Amelia Grey's heroines - even more than her dashing heroes - and Susannah in A Marquis to Marry certainly doesn't disappoint on that front!

Book 1: A Duke to Die For

Book 2: A Marquis to Marry

Book 3: An Earl to Enchant

Interested in other opinions?

Guest blog at The Book Fairy Reviews

Love Romance Passion (Guest blog)

The Trials of the Honorable F. Darcy - Sara Angelini

2009-09-28T08:00:00.005-04:00

**** 1/2 - One of the best contemporary Austen re-tellings I've read. This really gets across the depth of emotion between Darcy and Lizzie without tying its story too closely to the original work.

Thanks to Sourcebooks for sending this my way!

Judge Fitzwilliam Darcy is seriously contemplating packing up and leaving California to return to his estate in England when Elizabeth Bennet walks into his courtroom. Her quick wits (and of course her fine eyes) soon make an impression on Darcy - both professionally and personally - but the ethical problems of a relationship between the two of them cause plenty of difficulty.

There is so much to love in The Trials of the Honorable F. Darcy - far from simply taking Pride and Prejudice and inserting the story into a modern setting, Angelini took the characters and wrote the love story they would have had as modern people. Darcy is always tough to pull off, but I thought Angelini's Darcy was wonderful. He really comes alive when he's around Elizabeth, and I found the scenes where he realizes the depth of his feelings for her while they're at his estate breath-taking. The scenes of them falling in love evoked all the sweet, breathless, silly things I remember so well.

I enjoyed that there was no Wickham, the way the first 'rejection' was pulled off. I loved how truly funny so many bits were (Jane going after Bingley, the entire karaoke business), and Angelini certainly didn't shy away from the bedroom! But it never seemed voyeuristic or unnecessary - instead it was part of the characters growing to know and love each other, part of the reason they couldn't stay apart. That's important - it was only a part. I never got the impression that this was just a physical thing or that their relationship would peter out as their desire was sated. Angelini really managed to convey the characters' emotional involvement.

There was very little I didn't love about The Trials of the Honorable F. Darcy. If I had to pinpoint something, I'd probably say that the entire Caroline/Lizzie jealousy thing. I'm tired of ploys to make people jealous - it never seems to turn out well for anyone. But that's really a minor quibble. I adored both Will and Lizzie. They were both smart, both occasionally did something stupid (as we are all wont to do), and both NICE people - people I was rooting for and wouldn't mind hanging out with.

So if you're looking for a modern P&P re-telling, look no further! This one was utterly fantastic (and I love the Legally Blonde look-alike cover).

Interested in other opinions?

Chat at The Good, The Bad, The Unread

Bright Star

2009-09-27T10:52:00.006-04:00

Romantic poet John Keats (Ode on a Grecian Urn) had a tragically short career- he died of consumption at the tender age of 25. But despite his all-too-early demise, Keats wrote beautiful poetry and experienced a deeply felt love affair with the girl next door - the witty fashion designer Fanny Brawne. Money troubles, family disapproval, and Keats' illness conspire to separate the young lovers, but Fanny remains his steadfast Bright Star.

I was very excited to see Bright Star when I heard it was coming out. A BBC production, a period piece, Romantic poets, tragic love. It sounded like a movie I would really enjoy, and the critics were nigh-universal in its praise. I'm sure you can all hear the 'But' coming. So I'll just skip to that -I didn't really care for it. I was prepared for a slow pace, slowly growing affection and a great deal of subtlety, but I felt the movie dragged.

The story focuses almost exclusively on the relationship between Keats and Fanny, which is why I was disappointed in the manner they came to fall in love. True, there are some charming moments when they first meet (the mirror scene is cute and awkward), but I didn't really understand what they saw in each other. Keats disapproved of Fanny's 'frivolous' interest in fashion, flirting and dancing - and I never understood when or why he changed his mind. Nor did I get a sense of why Fanny became so completely devoted to Keats - other than boredom or simple proximity. While I often enjoy a slowly developing film, when there doesn't seem to be any plot unfolding...well, Bright Star seemed to be a lushly photographed montage of walking scenes...

There were several very evocative scenes where I got a real sense of the potential of the movie - there's a lovely scene with butterflies, Fanny's gut-wrenching reaction to the news of Keats' death. But much of the potential remained unrealized in my opinion. Much could have been made of the effects of Keats' break-up attempts or the lovers' last parting. But while sweet, I didn't get a sense of the consuming passion I expected.

Bottom line: I wasn't nearly as enamored with Bright Star as the critics. I would wait for the DVD.

And as parting, the sonnet that inspired the title of the film:

Bright star! would I were steadfast as thou art—
Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night,
And watching, with eternal lids apart,
Like Nature’s patient sleepless Eremite,
The moving waters at their priestlike task
Of pure ablution round earth’s human shores,
Or gazing on the new soft fallen mask
Of snow upon the mountains and the moors—
No—yet still steadfast, still unchangeable,
Pillow’d upon my fair love’s ripening breast,
To feel for ever its soft fall and swell,
Awake for ever in a sweet unrest,
Still, still to hear her tender-taken breath,
And so live ever—or else swoon to death.

http://englishhistory.net/keats/poetry/brightstar.html

Interview with Jen

2009-09-15T08:00:00.006-04:00

Hi everybody! For Book Blogger Appreciation Week, I've got an interview with Jen of Jen's Book Thoughts for you. I really meant to snazz this up more to do Jen and her fantastic blog justice - but life has really come down hard this month, so here she is - largely unedited and unfortunately unsnazzed. Luckily she's fascinating even without my help!

First off, congratulations on your BBAW nominations!

Thank you. I was actually pretty surprised by all the nominations I ended up with. I encouraged my readers to vote, but didn’t think five nominations would come for ME!

For your Mystery nomination, what posts did you send in? Which of your reviews are you particularly proud of? Any post that didn't make the cut, but you wish you could have sent?

For my Mystery nomination I wanted to include as much variety as I could in my submissions. So, I included my review of Craig Johnson’s ANOTHER MAN’S MOCCASINS because not only am I proud of that review, but it’s also a review of an audio book. I read print books but also listen to quite a few audio books.

So that was a look at my reviewing of not only a book but a reader as well. I also included the events I attended for Michael Koryta recently. I oscillated between my recap of the L.A. Times Book Festival and Michael’s event. I thought I probably did a better job of writing on Michael’s event, so I ended up with that one. I also have two series posts that I do: Monday Mystery Backlist and You Have the Right to Six Words. So, I included one post from each of those.

The Monday Mystery Backlist post is actually written by my friend Kaye Barley as a guest spot. I have been trying to encourage readers to submit their titles for Monday Mystery Backlist so I’ll have a much more diverse offering of backlist mysteries – not just what I prefer. Then “You Have the Right to Six Words” is an incredibly popular post each week. It was hard to pick just one for my Mystery nomination but I ended up with Week 3. The author combination was especially popular with folks. But, how can you go wrong with Ken Bruen and Michael Connelly? ;)

And the fifth post I chose was one of my author interviews. I recently interviewed Gregg Hurwitz, who is not only an incredibly talented thriller writer, but he’s also a super nice person. His interview came out great, but the credit really has to go to him. He’s fun; he’s fascinating; and he was completely open to any of the questions I sent. That interview practically wrote itself. It was a popular one.

And yes, there were quite a few I wish I could have sent as well. I syndicate my blog through BlogBurst, and another of my reviews of Craig Johnson’s books, DEATH WITHOUT COMPANY, was picked up by three newspaper sites. I would have liked to include that one. My reviews of BREATHING WATER, DOUBLE EXPOSURE, KILLER KEEPSAKES are all reviews I’m especially proud of and that received a lot of attention when they were posted. There were also several other interviews that I would have enjoyed sharing with the committee. Simon Lewis I think is absolutely fascinating and I enjoyed that interview. Alafair Burke is a great writer and a fun person. Her interview was one of my favorites, too. I’ve grown a lot with my interviews since hers – she was one of my first – but it will probably always be one of my sentimental favorites. Yikes. I guess I probably gave you a little more than you actually wanted to know on that question, huh? (Actually, I thought it was great :) )

I saw that you were nominated for your "You Have the Right to Six Words" feature (which is very cool). How did you come up with the idea? How do you get all these well-known authors to participate? What's your favorite Six Word Memoir so far?

The six-word memoirs have really become my baby. The idea actually started with my interviews. I had read the book NOT QUITE WHAT I WAS PLANNING: SIX-WORD MEMOIRS OF WRITERS FAMOUS AND OBSCURE. And it was interesting what people came up with. So, then I would always ask people in my interviews what they thought their six-word memoir should be. Authors being interviewed and the readers both liked the question so much I decided to do something special with it and that’s how “You Have the Right to Six Words” was born.

As far as getting the authors to participate, I am still a bit stunned at the responses I’ve received. I simply started sending out emails. If the author had a direct contact email on his/her website, I sent the request there. If not, I tried contacting PR folks, publishers, whatever info I had for the author. I had quite a few not respond at all. Only three actually said “no.” But the rest were very receptive to the idea. I’ve had great feedback from many of them. And really the project has just been fun. People of the crime fiction community are great people all in all. And I’m working on a scrapbook version of everyone’s memoirs to take to Bouchercon so the authors can sign their memoir page. We’ll see how that part of the idea turns out!

My favorite – oh, that’s a hard one to answer. Ken Bruen’s “I acted like I understood life” is so vivid. As is Adrian McKinty’s “stillness, iceberg, crash, listing, sinking, stillness.” I think Tom Shreck’s is so apropos, but since his hasn’t been posted yet, I can’t reveal it. Really, almost all of them have been incredibly insightful and revealing. I had a lot of people say, “I didn’t know that about him” when Michael Connelly said “I wanted to be a detective.” And James Lee Burke’s “I never ran out of stories” was the one that made me say “awww.” And Marcus Sakey’s, which you’ll have to visit the blog to read, was very energetic and got a lot of great feedback. You just have to love Sophie Littlefield’s spunk with “Ain’t gonna be who I’m not.” So, I guess each one is a favorite in its own unique way.

It looks like your blog focuses mainly on mysteries and thrillers - what are some of your favorite subgenres?

I tend to favor the hardboiled crime fiction most. I love police procedurals and PI fiction. I also enjoy the forensic science books. About the only thing in crime fiction I shy away from is the real wacky, off-the-wall stuff. I don’t tend to like the bumbling idiot protagonist who inadvertently stumbles on the answers the police couldn’t come up with. I also haven’t really found any spy thrillers that truly hook me. I think it has more to do with my need for realism, and the bumbling idiot and secret spy require you to let go of your grip on reality.

What really draws you into a mystery?

The same thing that draws me into any other book: character! I am a fan of character. I need to connect with the characters in the book in some way. It’s one of the reasons I enjoy a series so much. I have the opportunity to see a character grow and change and develop. If you don’t have a dimensional character, he/she will never make it in a series.

And what are your 'turnoffs' when it comes to plots? Characters?

I guess I kind of answered that earlier, huh? I don’t click with books that require me to let go of reality. Time travel, paranormal, anything that would have me saying, “like that would really happen.” I don’t know intricate details about weapons and procedures and whatnot, so I’d never pick up on things that are incorrect there, but if I can’t imagine it happening and the author hasn’t written it so I’m convinced it could happen – it’s a turnoff. I don’t like detailed sex scenes and gruesome horror. And I am also a critic when it comes to a lot of fluff. I prefer a tight plot that doesn’t pad the pages with unnecessary detail or subplots. If it doesn’t advance the plot, it doesn’t need to be there.

Do you post reviews for every book you read? Just the ones you liked/loved?

So far this year I’ve posted reviews for all but two books, I think. I have five waiting for their reviews to be written – got a little behind. I didn’t review the two because of time factors. They weren’t awe-inspiring, but I didn’t not like them. I just needed to get caught up. Once in awhile if I get behind on my audiobook reviews I may review a couple together and shorten the reviews, but I try to review everything that I finish.

My blog's pretty eclectic, but of the mysteries/thrillers I've read, most of them tie into other interests of mine (authors as sleuths, art, strong romance subplots) - anything you'd recommend to those of us with a more romantic persuasion looking to cross over to the mystery side of things?

Well, there’s actually a bit of a subgenre that does cross the mystery/romance realm. Some of the authors I would recommend there are Hank Phillipi Ryan and Toni McGee Causey. I don’t necessarily think I’d lump it in with romance by you might enjoy Jane Cleland’s Antique Mystery Series. The relationships in the book are magnificent and the main character, Josie, owns an antiques auction house. You might also like a series that Karen Olsen started with a book called THE MISSING INK. It’s about a tattoo artist in Las Vegas. It’s quirky and fun. People (including myself) are speaking very highly of it. There is a thriller by Gregg Hurwitz called THE CRIME WRITER. It’s written in first person and the narrator is a crime fiction writer. If

you haven’t read that one, you may enjoy it. It’s very fast-paced and incredibly well-written.

Ooh! I see you have two

dogs! Tell me about them! Any particularly fun antics?

You don’t even know the land mine you just stepped on! ;) I can talk about my dogs for-EVER! I have two chocolate labs: Hershey, who is 8, and Nestle, who will be 6 at the end of October. Hershey I got as a puppy, and Nestle we adopted just before she turned 3. There isn’t a day that goes by that there aren’t some kind of antics going on with these two. They are typical labs, so we’re outside chasing toys constantly. Hershey does not like small tennis balls. Instead he has a full-size soccer ball and a full size football that he chases. Nestle chases a toy made from firehose. Labs are murder on toys; I’ve cleaned up more stuffing in their life times. They also like to get the little bladders out of the toys – the devices that make them squeak. So, I can’t leave them alone with stuffed toys or they start trying to get inside and find those bladders. They also like to play tug-of-war with their toys. If I don’t watch them they’ll pull all their toys apart. (I had a Doberman who used to do the same thing!) The coolest thing about these two is how much they adore each other. I don’t at all look forward to the day something happens to one of them and the other is left alone.

Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions, Jen! I loved to get to know your blog a little, and you've certainly added to my TBR pile! To the rest of you, please head over to Jen's Book Thoughts to take a look at her features, reviews and an interview with yours truly!

Digging for Cleopatra's Daughter

2009-09-14T21:00:00.000-04:00

Don't forget to check out Michelle Moran's treasure hunt that starts September 15th! None of the locations are near me, but maybe you'll have better luck.

Historical Fiction Bloggers Round Table

2009-09-14T14:25:00.008-04:00

SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK:

Monday,Sept. 14th: Enchanted by Josephine receives Royal Heiress of the Day: Heather
Guest Post: Fact or Fiction…The Death of Cleopatra

Giveaway: Leonardo's Swans - Karen Essex

Also on Monday,Sept. 14th: The Burton Review receives Royal Heiress of the Day: Allie
Guest Post: Mary, Queen of Scots: A Queen Without A Country

Giveaway: Cleopatra's Daughter - Michelle Moran (fantastic book!)

Tuesday, Sept. 15th: Hist-Fic-Chick receives Royal Heiress of the Day: Amy
Guest Post: Elizabeth I

Wednesday, Sept. 16th: Passages to The Past receives Royal Heiress of the Day: Lucy
Guest Post: The Royal Granddaughter…Another Josephine

Giveaway: Royal Panolply: Brief Lives of the English Monarchs - Carolly Erickson

Also on Wednesday, Sept. 16th: Historical-fiction.com receives Royal Heiress of the Day: Lizzy
Guest Post: Catherine Howard, The Rose With Out a Thorn

Giveaway: The Boleyn Inheritance - Philippa Gregory

Thursday, Sept. 17th: The Maiden’s Court receives Royal Heiress of the Day: Arleigh
Guest Post: Eleanore of Equitaine: Mother of a Dynasty

Friday, September 18th: Historically Obsessed receives Royal Heiress of the Day: Marie
Guest Post: Me & Anne Boleyn

AND... GIVEAWAYS!

Does this look great, or what? I know there are a lot of fascinating blog topics on this list, and I can't wait to learn more about them!

Waiting on Wednesday

2009-09-09T15:38:00.003-04:00

Into the Wild Nerd Yonder by Julie Halpern

From the back cover:

It's Jessie's sophomore year of high school. A self-professed "mathlete," she isn't sure where she belongs. Her two best friends have transformed themselves into punks and one of them is going after her longtime crush. Her beloved older brother will soon leave for college (and in the meantime has shaved off his mohawk and started dating...the prom Princess!)...

Things are changing fast. Jessie needs new friends. And her quest is a hilarious tour through high school clique-dom, with a surprising stop along the way--the Dungeons and Dragons crowd, who out-nerd everyone. Will hanging out with them make her a nerd, too? And could she really be crushing on a guy with too-short pants and too-white gym shoes?

If you go into the wild nerd yonder, can you ever come back?

Why I'm Waiting:

I was totally a nerd in high school, though more in a book way than a Dungeons and Dragons sort of way. I did hang out with kids who did role-playing in college and played occasionally. But I never really got into it beyond an occasional casual afternoon. That said, I really prefer reading about kids who do something imaginative and geeky rather than reading about back-stabbing and such. So this looks like a LOT of fun!

Interested? Pre-order at Amazon or IndieBound

Just the Sexiest Man Alive - Julie James

2009-09-09T12:00:00.000-04:00

**** - This was so much fun! Taylor is quick-witted and determined, and Jason is too charming for anyone's good. The fast-paced dialogue definitely makes this one a keeper for me - it would make a great movie, too!

Taylor Donovan is a hot-shot sexual harassment lawyer on her way to the top. But the top means keeping the partners happy, and the partners just asked her to babysit movie star Jason Andrews (who's preparing for his next role). When he blows off their appointment to go play in Vegas, Taylor is ticked - and all of his Sexiest Man Alive charm does nothing to change that. He's intrigued, after all, this is the first time in at least a decade that a woman hasn't simply fallen at his feet. And let the banter begin!

Just the Sexiest Man Alive is full of my favorite kind of romance - the bantering, bickering, witty kind. I mean, how could you not love a sexual harassment lawyer who uses the phrase "call me when someone sees a penis!"? I was instantly in love. She's driven, determined, and smart, and she actually bills the firm for at least one of Jason's dates because he's a client. Maybe it's the 'just graduated from law school' in me, but that made me laugh.

As to Jason - I wasn't nearly as instantaneously sold on Jason. I mean, he's a movie star who's spoiled absolutely rotten and is used to having people cater to his every whim if he just dazzles them with a mega-watt smile. And let's face it, that kind of entitlement can be irritating. There are definite moments where Jason is an idiot - but he's a realistic idiot falling into the same traps as most guys (the old 'make her jealous' trick for instance). He's also thoroughly charming and sweet both to her and to her friends once he's gotten over his bruised ego. Underneath all the glitz, he's a genuinely nice guy and intelligent, too.

And watching the two of them intellectually spar and try to outwit each other is absolutely hilarious and wonderful. I am full of love for them both - my main issue? I just wish the ending had been a little longer - it seemed a little abrupt. Heck, I wish the whole thing could have been longer. I wasn't ready to walk away from Taylor or Jason just yet.

Interested in other opinions?

Excerpt

A Pearl Among Princes - Coleen Murtagh Paratore

2009-09-08T08:00:00.002-04:00

Thank you so much to Penguin for generously sending me a copy for review!

*** 1/2 - A Pearl Among Princes is a completely charming fairy tale. I had thought it was a YA novel, but once I adjusted my expectations to a somewhat younger crowd (think the same girls who love Ella Enchanted) I very much enjoyed it.

Gracepearl Coal is cook's daughter on the island of Miramore - where everyone is bound in service to the twelve royal branches. The only way off the island is to capture the heart of a prince. This isn't quite as hard as it may sound - after all, Miramore is home to the charm school all princes in training attend in the summer. Now Gracepearl must choose between the destiny her dreams hint at and her childhood love, the stablehand Mackree.

I devoured A Pearl Among Princes in one sitting. I was so completely charmed by Gracepearl, her friends, and the princes (some of whom are very charming indeed) that I just didn't want to leave their world. I enjoyed the inclusion of nursery rhymes, though I wasn't always sure how they were meant to fit into the plot. But most of all, I liked the way Grace's relationship with Mackree was handled - it was simultaneously simple and complex, and I felt a real connection to their pain and confusion at their difficult circumstances.

I had a lot of fun catching glimpses of the princes' lessons (important dates to remember, amongst other things), and I liked Gracepearl's willingness to put her friends first rather than many stories now that focus on backstabbing. It was lovely to see the three girls care for each other - and even to accept a new friend they had formerly disliked.

I was looking for a fun fairy tale, and I certainly found that, but the story had an unexpectedly deep heart to it that really endeared Gracepearl and her friends to me. I'd definitely pick up a copy for the princess-obsessed girl in my life!

Interested in other opinions?

Books By Their Cover

Free Kleypas Short Story!

2009-09-03T15:10:00.006-04:00

As part of a promotion for Lisa Kleypas' Tempt Me at Twilight, Macmillan is emailing PDF copies of a new Kleypas short story called A Hathaway Wedding about the many mishaps facing Kev and Win before they're legally wed. I haven't been keeping up with the Hathaways (shame on me!), but really enjoyed the story! Go check it out!

Stupid Cupid Contest

2009-09-03T12:53:00.002-04:00

Stupid Cupid (book 1)—coming December 22, 2009!

Felicity Walker believes in true love. That’s why she applies for a gig at the matchmaking company Cupid’s Hollow. But when Felicity gets the job, she learns that she isn’t just a matchmaker…she’s a cupid! (There’s more than one of them, you know.)

Armed with a hot pink, tricked-out PDA infused with the latest in cupid magic (love arrows shot through email), Felicity works to meet her quota of successful matches. But when she bends the rules of cupidity by matching her best friend Maya with three different boys at once, disaster strikes. Felicity needs to come up with a plan to set it all right, pronto, before she gets fired…and before Maya ends up with her heart split in three.

You may remember this from my Waiting on Wednesday post back in March. I'm excited to tell you that Sharon Loves Books and Cats is holding a contest for a copy! If you, like me, can't wait until December, drop on by and enter!

Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff - Christopher Moore

2009-09-02T10:30:00.000-04:00

*** - There was a lot to laugh at here, but after a while the 'knob-polishing' got pretty old. Not something I'm likely to re-read, but I will be looking at some other Christopher Moore books to see if I find something more to my liking.

Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal is the funny, quirky story of the lost years of Jesus' (here Josh) young adulthood. According to Biff, the Prince of Peace had no compunction about smacking Biff on occasion (usually well-deserved). The two of them travel to visit the three Magi in Afghanistan, China and India where Josh learns various kinds of magic, meditation and kung fu! I was actually surprised that any poking fun at Christianity seemed largely good-natured rather than mean-spirited (that was my impression, but a devout Christian might feel otherwise).

I was far more entertained by this than I expected to be. The scenes with Raziel the archangel (especially the ones involving Soap Opera Digest) had me giggling the whole time. I really enjoyed the parts of Josh and Biff's childhood running around Nazareth and such. Once they started going off on their travels, I was less impressed. An awful lot started to revolve around sex jokes, and I'm just not that interested or amused by Jesus learning kung fu or Biff getting it on with eight concubines... That said, Josh is exposed to some real spiritual lessons in his travels that could easily have informed his teachings.

So, it was funny, definitely. Not all the bits that were supposed to be funny worked for me, but enough did that I'm glad I read it. I just enjoyed the frame story more. I'm now looking forward to a chance to read Moore's Fool.

Interested in other opinions?

He Followed Me Home...Can I Keep Him?

August 2009 Roundup

2009-09-01T08:00:00.006-04:00

Books Finished: 19

Favorite August Book:

Just the Sexiest Man Alive by Julie James

I've been hearing great things about Julie James' romances all around the blogosphere lately, so I decided to give her a try - even though I'm not usually that fond of contemporaries and even though I've been trying to avoid the whole 'lawyer' thing post-bar exam.

And it definitely paid off. This is one of those books with hilarious snappy dialogue and great characters. I loved Taylor and how talented and driven she was. I loved Jason with all his movie-star cockiness getting a set-down. This is one of those romances that I would love to see as a movie. It was just sooo much fun!

How could you not love a romance where the heroine gets exasperated and says (in court!) "Call me when someone sees a penis.") :) (need a little context? Read the excerpt)

Buy on Amazon or IndieBound!

Books Read:

1. Just the Sexiest Man Alive - Julie James

2. The Book of Fate - Brad Meltzer

3. The Dust of 100 Dogs - A.S. King

4. The Maze Runner - James Dashner

5. Nur der normale Wahnsinn - Sina Sol (review in German on LT)

6. The Reluctant God - Pamela F. Service

7. False Impression - Jeffrey Archer

8. The Trials of the Honorable F. Darcy - Sara Angelini

9. Lamb: the Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal - Christopher Moore

10. Mieses Karma - David Safier (review in German on LT)

11. The Associate - John Grisham

12. The Rules of Gentility - Janet Mullany

13. Pickpocket Countess - Bronwyn Scott

14. The Teashop Girls - Laura Schaefer

15. My Soul to Lose - Rachel Vincent

16. The Juliet Club - Suzanne Harper

17. Running Out of Time - Margaret Peterson Haddix

18. And Only to Deceive - Tasha Alexander

19. How To Tame a Modern Rogue - Diane Holquist

High Heeled Alibi - Sydney Ryan

2009-08-27T08:00:00.000-04:00

** 1/2 - Bitsy is a feisty heroine (not synonymous with TSTL), but I couldn't figure out at all why she fell for Mick because he came across as a giant jerk. And I couldn't have cared less about the suspense storyline if I tried.

Halloween night found Bitsy Leigh working at the funeral home, but even on a night as eerie as this, she never expected one of her corpses to get up and start talking to her. Or that being his alibi for an assassination attempt would put her in danger of being assassinated herself. But secret agent Mick James is determined not to take the fall for this one - and to unveil the conspiracy behind it.

So - Mick is being framed as an assassin, and he has to keep Bitsy around (and unharmed by the copious henchmen that turn up) because she's his alibi. Personally, I'm not sure why people kept kidnapping her instead of just putting a bullet through her head, but I suppose that would make the plot more difficult. Anyway, since Bitsy has more sense than to hang around quietly with corpses that get up and start walking, she's a rather unwilling accomplice to all of his super-sleuth-dom - which mostly seems to involve car chases and treks through the woods rather than any form of intelligence-gathering. And because she's unwilling, he does an awful lot of holding-her-at-gunpoint. An unfortunate way to sustain a romantic relationship, and I just don't get why with all of the threatening to kill her, shoot her kneecaps and the general caveman hauling her about by the hair (which happens a LOT), she wants to do anything at all with him other than kick him in the balls.

So the romance part wasn't really doing it for me, despite Mick's golden hotness (which may have been diminished by body odor, sweat, dirt, blood and general caveman-ness). The suspense plot seemed vaguely Manchurian candidate, but there wasn't a lot of intelligence going on, so I'm not even entirely certain what was going down on that front. There were people in his own agency trying to set him up. They were constantly on the run. I couldn't even tell you the resolution to the suspense stuff except I'm pretty sure the bad guy gets shot.

So the one line summation? I liked her, thought he was a colossal jerk, and the plot is one long chase scene. Fine as an afternoon read if you like your heros alpha, but nothing memorable.

I couldn't help myself - the snarkiness in me will out, but I didn't want to clutter up this blog. If you're interested in the blow-by-blow of High-Heeled Alibi, check it out here

Waiting on Wednesday

2009-08-26T08:00:00.003-04:00

Rapture of the Deep: Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, Soldier, Sailor, Mermaid, Spy is due out

September 28, 2009!!

On the very day that Jacky Faber is to wed her true love, she is kidnapped by British Naval Intelligence and forced to embark on yet another daring mission—this time to search for sunken Spanish gold. But when Jacky is involved, things don't always go as planned.

Jacky has survived battles on the high seas, the stifling propriety of a Boston finishing school, and even confinement in a dank French prison. But no adventure has quite matched her opportunistic street-urchin desires—until now.

Why I'm Waiting: Because I love Jacky and all the craziness she inevitably brings with her. I fell in love with her in the first of the series Bloody Jack which had all of my favorite things - cross-dressing, naval ships, just enough romance, an overly involved subtitle and plenty of gumption. And I've yet to outgrow her. She's constantly getting into trouble, but her quick wits always manage to get her back out. Really she reminds me of Huckleberry Finn in a lot of ways.

If you haven't gotten to know Jacky yet, I'd definitely recommend Bloody Jack - it's funny and full of adventure!

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. Drop in and say hello. What are you waiting for?

False Impression - Jeffrey Archer

2009-08-25T08:00:00.000-04:00

*** 1/2 - I've apparently been on an art thriller kick lately (The Art Thief and Murder at the National Gallery).Not that this is surprising, given my fondness for art (and thrillers). As far as this one goes... there's not much art history to it beyond the occasional reference. But it's not about Caravaggio! Aren't you proud?

Anna Petrescu is the resident art expert for an unscrupulous bank which loans money at exorbitant interest rates in order to get their hands on various expensive artwork put up as collateral. She is also about to be fired for her recommendation that one of their clients sell her prized van Gogh to pay off her debt. Soon Anna finds herself involved in a string of murders, art thefts and double crosses as she attempts to sort out the mess - all with the FBI on her trail.

This is one of the few (the only?) novel I've read that is set during and amid the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11th. And to be honest, I'm not sure that was such a great choice - more importantly, I don't see WHY it needed to be set during Sept. 11th. A lot of people still feel very, very strongly about the 9/11 attacks. And although I thought Archer's description of the attacks was largely well-done (there were a few odd metaphors and blatant symbolism that struck me as a bit much), that entire episode really didn't tie into the rest of the plot for me. For one, Anna, our main character, was actually IN the North Tower when it was hit. But over the next two weeks, she travels merrily throughout the world with nary a nervous or emotional breakdown in sight... I mean, WOW. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to shake off a near-death experience that rocked the entire globe so lightly.

Once I got through the Sept. 11th section, things settled down to be more along the lines of a typical thriller. Anna is being trailed by a Romanian gymnast turned assassin and the ever-suspicious FBI (though I don't understand this so much as they don't have jurisdiction outside of the US). She hops through various cities always toting the bright-red case housing her stolen van Gogh:

She does a relatively decent job shaking her surveillance on occasion, but mostly she manages to evade both parties solely based on dumb luck. And she apparently has a ton of that... Unfortunately I didn't learn much here about art or art history, and I found the final showdown quite distasteful (couldn't she just have a knife held at her throat like a normal victim? *shudders*). There wasn't much new here, but it was a decent action thriller quite suitable as a fast-paced beach read (though I would avoid reading it on an airplane...).

Interested in other opinions?

Author's Website

Curled Up With a Good Book

Debra Hamel at The Book-Blog.com

Blog Critics.org

The Book of Fate - Brad Meltzer

2009-08-24T12:48:00.000-04:00

*** - Mostly what was wrong with this book was the marketing. It's pushed as a thriller based on Freemason secrets, but there's not really any of that in the novel. There's a snippet of lore here and there, but nothing that really ties into the plot. As a straight up thriller, it was fine - fast-paced and interesting. An airplane read.

Wes Holloway was once an ambitious aide to the President of the United States. When an assassin's bullet permanently disfigures Wes and kills one of the President's closest friends Boyle, Wes is wracked with guilt. But when Boyle turns up, seemingly unscathed, eight years later, Wes is determined to uncover what really happened.

I like a good twisty airplane thriller just as much as the next person, and this novel had some incredibly interesting bits and pieces - a conspiracy between members of various intelligence agencies, a crazed assassin on the loose, a code hidden among doodles on a crossword puzzle. Added to that, I loved the fact that Wes was not one of your typical strong, cocky heroes. In fact, he's incredibly emotionally vulnerable after the incident, and his mental health is largely supported by his devotion to the former President. I loved watching him wrestle with the idea that his 'rock' could be involved in this kind of plot - and that he might be responsible for everything. Wes' vulnerability both increases the stakes and sets this apart from many thrillers.

On the other hand, there was a lot here that didn't really seem to fit. The entire Masonic undertones that the marketing played up were barely there - shuffled off in a monologue or two about the city plan of Washington, D.C. and then never mentioned again. Not that I needed a far-fetched conspiracy involving the Freemasons - but when that sort of thing features so prominently on the cover & jacket copy... well, WHERE are my Freemasons?

What it boils down to is, if you're looking for something Da Vinci Code-like with artifacts and secret societies, this isn't your book despite the marketing. If you want a thriller more along the lines of The Manchurian Candidate with presidential assassins and lots of betrayal? You should pick this one up. It's fast-paced and certainly an interesting read.

Interested in other opinions?

The Website (with book trailer)

Book Reporter's Author Q&A

Mostly NF

Duffbert's Random Musings

Magic Under Glass Contest!

2009-08-23T22:40:00.002-04:00

Coming 12/22/09 from Bloomsbury...

Nimira is a music-hall girl used to dancing for pennies. So when wealthy sorcerer Hollin Parry hires her to sing accompaniment to a mysterious piano-playing automaton, Nimira believes it will be the start of a better life. In Parry's world, long-buried secrets are about to stir. Unsettling rumors begin to swirl about ghosts, a madwoman roaming the halls, and Parry’s involvement in a group of corrupt sorcerers for whom the rules of the living and dead are meant to be broken for greater power. When Nimira discovers the spirit of a dashing fairy gentleman is trapped within the automaton, she is determined to break the curse. But even as the two fall into a love that seems hopeless, breaking the curse becomes a perilous race against time. Because it's not just the future of these star-crossed lovers that's at stake, but the fate of the entire magical world.

Want to win an ARC with original sketches from the author inside? See http://fabulousfrock.livejournal.com for details!

Doesn't that look incredible? I'm incredibly excited!

Book Blogger Appreciation Week Nomination!

2009-08-20T13:21:00.004-04:00

Hi everybody!

I just wanted to thank everyone reading my blog. I just received an email from Amy (who is putting together Book Blogger Appreciation Week) and heard that one of you lovely people nominated me as Best Romance Blog. I'm super excited that anyone thought so highly of A Hoyden's Look at Literature, and so... well, I just wanted to say thanks (in between leaping up and down squealing).

Thank you so much!

For my posts, I've decided to do one in each of the major romance subgenres, and a snarky review just because...

Regency: Vexing the Viscount by Emily Bryan
Historical: Libertine Lord, Pickpocket Miss by Bronwyn Scott
Contemporary: Talk Me Down by Victoria Dahl
Paranormal: Tiger Eye by Marjorie Liu
Snark: Lara by Bertrice Small

Eyes Like Stars - Lisa Mantchev

2009-08-19T11:13:00.000-04:00

**** - Really liked this one. The premise is right up my alley (YA + Theater + Shakespeare characters) and the execution was a ton of fun. I was giggling so much!

Beatrice Shakespeare Smith grew up in the theater. And not just any theater, but the Theatre Illuminata - a magical theater that houses every play that was ever written. But Bertie's been a troublemaker for a long time (hanging out with the fairies from A Midsummer Night's Dream will do that to you), and finally the Theater Manager has had enough. Unless Bertie can make an invaluable contribution to the theater, she will have to leave for good...

This is definitely a book to make all theater people happy - there's a Green Room that magically delivers food that corresponds to its mood. The scene changes are magical (and wonderful) - hungry? Cue a French bistro complete with warm gooey pastries. There's a giant prop room where the Chorus boys tend to sneak out the Caterpillar's hookah from Alice in Wonderland. It's just quirky, clever and full of theater disasters on a more magical scale. You try dealing with surly Hamlet at rehearsals...

My favorite parts were definitely those that involved the fairies. There's a hilarious bit involving jellybeans. I also liked the more romantic angle - Ariel was interesting, both dangerous and seductive. And Nate was just charming, though I'm growing tired of perpetual love triangles between the 'dangerous' boy and the 'sweet' boy. I enjoyed the trope of figuring things out by staging them as mini-plays, but I was disappointed in Bertie's plays for the most part - too simple or drab or something. They didn't hold the power that was suggested.

Also, I wasn't really impressed by Bertie's plan to re-stage Hamlet in ancient Egypt. It wasn't particularly original, nor were the bits that we were shown different or interesting. It seemed a bit ludicrous to me that such a basic reworking of the play (they weren't even going to change dialogue?) would result in anything even approaching a sold-out house. I mean, essentially all Shakespeare plays I've seen have been re-staged in a different time period...

While I had some quibbles with the plot, I really enjoyed the way Ms. Mantchev brought her characters to life (although I certainly could have done without Bertie's smoking...gross). Ariel, Ophelia, the irascible stage manager, the creepy sea witch. They were all distinctive and incredibly interesting, and the book certainly made me laugh! I would recommend this to Shakespeare aficionados and theater enthusiasts, and I'm excited to read Perchance to Dream!

The Theatre Illuminata website (complete with Behind the Scenes look at the Full Cast Audio production! and an excerpt!)

Interested in other opinions?

Presenting Lenore (with author interview)

The Compulsive Reader