strange and random happenstance

This week I'm profiling the author Jerome Peterson. Jerome has a great book out, Thumb Flagging, that maybe you might find yourselves tempted to buy for others this holidays season... I'd recommend it. Jerome will be stopping by this week to answer a few questions. I will also be posting my review and of course, what would an author profile week be without a giveaway!?! That's right, Jerome has kindly sent me a signed copy for one lucky reader of my blog. So stop in throughout the week, learn a little but about Thumb Flagging and perhaps get yourself your next great read!

Here's the books official patter to whet your appetites:
"The lure of the open road and the undeniable wanderlust of the heart have overtaken the life of young, kindhearted Jay Patterson. When he meets confident, free-spirited Willy Jacobs, Jay hesitantly becomes a bohemian of the highway in this tale set in the late seventies. Their unforgettable cross-country journeys by hitchhiking and riding the rails lead them to extraordinary situations beyond their imaginations.

Willy is a friendly street-smart drifter who applies his zany roadside therapies to help Jay overcome his crisis of confidence. As the unlikely pair travel, Willy philosophizes and uses his strong personality and energy persuading Jay into becoming a hitchhiking junkie. The vagabonds meet with unexpected encounters and come face-to-face with themselves and the harsh realities of the open highway.

They stumble upon many others who are traveling and tending to their own physical, psychological and emotional wounds. Paranoia strikes at the heart of their journey as they cross the path a number of times with a mysterious psychopathic couple.

While traveling alone from Arizona to Maine, Jay meets a female drifter. The decisions they make could result in a magical relationship or a tragic goodbye. Jerome Peterson lives in Sonora, California, and works for a park and recreation district. He has hitchhiked across country, which included riding the rails. His next book is Jesus Is a Gardener, and he is preparing a poetry manuscript and a book of short stories."

Now onto the giveaway!

The Prize:
Thumb Flagging, Signed by the Author Himself!!!

The Rules:
1. Open to EVERYONE, just because you haven't been following me all along doesn't mean you don't matter.
2. Please make sure I have a way to contact you if your name is drawn, either your blogger profile or a link to your website/blog or you could even include your email address with your comment(s).
3. Contest ends December 20th 11:59PM CST
4. How to enter:

Answer me this: If you could hitchhike anywhere, where would you go?

5. And for those addicted to getting extra entries:

• +1 for answering the question above
• +2 for becoming a follower
• +5 if you are already a follower
• +10 for each time you advertise this contest - blog post, sidebar, twitter (please @MzLizard), etc. (but you only get credit for the first post, so tweet all you like, and I thank you for it, but you'll only get the +10 once). Also please leave a link!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:17 AM 2 comments  

Labels: Arizona, Hitchhiking, Jay Patterson, Jerome Peterson, Jesus Is a Gardener, Maine, Thumb Flagging, Willy Jacobs

Muse and Reverie by Charles De Lint
Published by: Tor Books
Publication Date: December 8th, 2009
Format: Hardcover, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Muse and Reverie is an all-new collection of short fiction in Charles De Lint’s “Newford” universe—the fifth such collection since 1993, and the first since 2002. Previous collections are Dreams Underfoot, The Ivory and the Horn, the World Fantasy Award-winning Memory and Dream, and Tapping the Dream Tree.

The city of Newford could be any city in North America, bursting with music, commerce, art, love and hate, and of course magic. Magic in the sidewalk cracks, myth at the foundations of its great buildings, enchantment in the spaces between its people. In this new collection, De Lint explores that magic and those spaces, shedding new light on the people and places that readers of novels like Moonheart, Forests of the Heart, The Onion Girl, and The Mystery of Grace have come to love."

A new Charles De Lint short story collection... what could possibly make it better? One of the best covers by John Jude Palancar ever! It's just so beautiful and conveys a kind of magic that is winter... if only the blizzard that is bearing down on the Midwest was this beautiful. Also it was at my bookstore early... so I already have it in my hands!

La's Orchestra Saves the World: A Novel by Alexander McCall Smith
Published by: Pantheon
Publication Date: December 8th, 2009
Format: Hardcover, 304 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"From the best-selling author of The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency series comes a delightful and moving story that celebrates the healing powers of friendship and music.

It is 1939. Lavender—La to her friends—decides to flee London, not only to avoid German bombs but also to escape the memories of her shattered marriage. The peace and solitude of the small town she settles in are therapeutic . . . at least at first. As the war drags on, La is in need of some diversion and wants to boost the town's morale, so she organizes an amateur orchestra, drawing musicians from the village and the local RAF base. Among the strays she corrals is Feliks, a shy, proper Polish refugee who becomes her prized recruit—and the object of feelings she thought she'd put away forever.

Does La's orchestra save the world? The people who come to hear it think so. But what will become of it after the war is over? And what will become of La herself? And of La's heart?

With his all-embracing empathy and his gentle sense of humor, Alexander McCall Smith makes of La's life—and love—a tale to enjoy and cherish."

New Alexander McCall Smith. I know it's not to one of his more "successful series," in fact being a stand alone, but this man is a great writer and I think everyone should check it out. Plus, being a stand alone, you don't need to have read any of his previous works. Sometimes it's nice reading a book that isn't part of a series, because don't you occasionally get the feeling that you should have swotted up and studied a bit before reading it if it's part of a long standing series?

Fallen by Lauren Kate
Published by: Delecort Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: December 8th, 2009
Format: Hardcover, 464 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"There's something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price's attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He's the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce--and goes out of his way to make that very clear--she can't let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.

Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, Fallen is a page turning thriller and the ultimate love story."

I've been waiting for this book for awhile. Besides and awesome cover this looks to be a great read! So go on treat youself. Go on... go on go on go on go on go on as Mrs. Doyle would say.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:16 AM 3 comments  

Labels: Alexander McCall Smith, Charles De Lint, Fallen, John Jude Palancar, La's Orchestra Saves the World, Lauren Kate, Muse and Reverie, Newford, The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Tuesday Tomorrow

Like boys the world over, here comes our Lord Richard Selwick... a little late, but still looking devilishly hansom! Let's here it for this Sunday's boy... our knight in shining armor.

Name: Bradley James

Dream Character Casting for the Lauren Willig Miniseries: Lord Richard Selwick


First Impression: The cute illegal boxer in the second season of Lewis' most confusing case ever. When the characters keep having to repeat plot points so they can sort out who the characters are and what they have to do with the East German Secret Police, you know you have no chance in figuring out what's happening.

Why they'd be the perfect actor for the Lauren Willig Miniseries: Because, I have to face the facts, Cary Elwes is too old and too fat. He is exactly who I picture, but time has not been kind to the Dread Pirate Roberts and I have moved on to Bradley James. He is gorgeous, funny and can really act. So here's to the next generation of hotness! Here's to Bradley as Richard.

Lasting Impression: Arthur on Merlin... just the right level of good acting, humor and camp while never taking himself too seriously. The unicorn episode, priceless and I loved The Princess Bride reference... which helped in choosing him as Cary's replacement.

What else you've seen them in: Lewis. He really has only the two big credits, but as long as Merlin doesn't go on too long and he doesn't get pigeonholed I expect great things of him. Also hopefully he'll age better than Cary Elwes.

Can't believe it's them: Blue Peter... come on, that's just tacky even if it is in your BBC Contract.

Wish they hadn't: Nothing yet, fingers crossed... though he could stop by and try to explain that episode of Lewis to me. It might be hard to concentrate with him there... but I'm willing to invest the time... and take as long as it needs.

Bio: Seeing as Merlin is partly filmed in France I think it would be very easy to just lure him to Paris to be in my Pink Carnation dream miniseries.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:22 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Arthur, Blue Peter, Bradley James, Cary Elwes, Frances, Lewis, Lord Richard Selwick, Merlin, Paris, Pink Carnation Spotlight, The Princess Bride

In celebration of the newest upcoming book by Lauren Willig I thought I'd share with you what goes on in my head. I know, I know, a terrifying thought at any time, but at least this might amuse. I admit, whenever I read books I kind of dream cast them in my head if it were to become a movie or a miniseries... so obviously I've cast all Lauren Willig's books. Therefore combining my new little known BBC actor spotlight series with the Pink Carnation books seemed the next logical step. Plus if I see them in something Regency... Jane Austen, Elizabeth Gaskell... it's very easy to picture them in the books, and no fair saying I'm typecasting! Cause, so what? It's my imagination. I plan on unveiling my star couples every weekend leading up to the release of The Betrayal of the Blood Lily (which incidentally you could win on my blog right now!) Therefore, without further ado... I bring to you the heroine of The Secret History of the Pink Carnation...

Name: Felicity Jones

Dream Character Casting for the Lauren Willig Miniseries: Amy Balcourt

First Impression:As Catherine Morland in Andrew Davies' Northanger Abbey

Why they'd be the perfect actor for the Lauren Willig Miniseries: Her portral made me instantly think she would be perfect for Amy, with that little winsome smile, but don't forget her overactive imagination would be perfect for a girl capable of creating a famous spy moniker.

Lasting Impression: Doctor Who... not so much for the role she played (though being a jewel thief is awesome), but just the fact she was on Doctor Who, how cool is that really!?!

What else you've seen them in: Besides being the best Catherine Morland ever, as well as being in the Agatha Christie episode of Doctor Who, "The Unicorn and the Wasp", she was the unicorn, she's also making a foray away from the small screen to the big one at a theater near you. She portrayed the youngest Flyte in the newest Brideshead, starred alongside Michelle Pfeiffer in Chéri and will soon be in the highly anticipated first movie of the genius team behind The Office and Extras, Ricky Gervais' and Stephen Merchant's Cemetery Junction.

Can't believe it's them: The Worst Witch, the tv series. Which I have to admit, I haven't watched much of, due to the fact I worship the original movie and don't really want to taint my feelings for it. But I'm sure Felicity does a great job as Ethel Hallow.

Wish they hadn't: We'll have to see about this one, but Julie Taymor is doing The Tempset... I still can't quite look at Laura Fraser without seeing her sans hands and tongue... who knows what she'll do to Felicity. Shudder to think.

Bio: Has rapidly gone from relatively unknown theater and miniseries actress to being hotly in demand. I'd put money on her making it bigtime.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:10 AM 5 comments  

Labels: Amy Balcourt, Andrew Davies, Brideshead Revisited, Doctor Who, Felecity Jones, Northanger Abbey, Pink Carnation Spotlight, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, The Office, The Worst Witch

Hogfather
Based on the book by Terry Pratchett
Release Date: December 17th, 2006
Starring: Ian Richardson, David Jason, Michelle Dockery, Marc Warren, Nigel Planer, Tony Robinson, Terry Pratchett
Rating: ★★★
To Buy

Having just finished reading Terry Pratchett's Hogfather awhile back, I decided it was time to give the miniseries another chance. I'd only ever watched the first part of the two part adaptation and felt a little lost, having only just started reading Discworld. Then after the dreadful adaptation of The Color Magic (dreadful for the horrendous miscasting of Rincewind, he's supposed to be young-ish, tall and skinny, in other words, not David Jason, aka a short 69 year old). I was hesitant to watch Hogfather in the chance that something would really piss me off (still bitter about David Jason, especially because I thought Sean Astin would be awful and he turned out to be good). But overall this was wonderfully cast and perfectly done if not for DEATH. The problem is technical, nothing else. Ian Richardson was superb as the voice of DEATH, it's DEATH's appearance I have qualms with. In my mind, my interpretation of Terry Pratchett's DEATH is very nebulous, lots of cloak and a vague creepy chilling sensation that overcomes you. Yes he's a seven foot tall skeleton, but the less seen, the creepier, like Jaws. The fact that you can never quite put your finger on what bothers you when you're in his presence, just that you want to get away. Taking a character that I akin to something you see out of the corner of your eye and literally making him a seven foot tall kind of cartoony skeleton does not work. It looks comical and not in the least bit scary. The rest of the cast, in particular Marc Warren as Teatime and Michelle Dockery as Susan were so perfectly cast you feel they ARE the characters.

Aside from DEATH, I just had the feeling that this was a sub-par adaptation of one of the best Pratchett books. But the thing is, upon reflection, I don't think there really is a way to make a successful Pratchett adaptation. The way his books are written don't lend themselves to a visual translation that's to be broadcast fortnightly. I think this might be the lack of overall narrative exhibited in his writing. There is an arc and an end point but it's the little side journeys that matter, the little revelations he makes along the way that are culled for an adaptation. And the thing is, once all these little moments are cut here and there the overall feel is different, the lose of faith and the need for belief that are so integral to this book seems almost non existent in the miniseries. It was ok, just not the brilliance one associates with Pratchett. Although not to fully discount the adaptation, there was one moment of perfection which had me on the floor laughing. But first a history lesson, so you can fully appreciate the joke and not think I'm insane, anymore than you already do: Ian Richardson's most famous role ever was Frances Urquhart in the House of Cards trilogy. His most famous line: "You might think that, but I could not possibly comment." You can only imagine my glee when DEATH said this to his faithful henchman Albert! Brilliant! Look for it, it's in part one.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:33 AM 5 comments  

Labels: David Jason, DEATH, Discworld, Frances Urquhart, Hogfather, House of Cards, Michelle Dockery, Seasn Astin, Terry Pratchett, The Color of Magic

Great news for the fans of BBC's Merlin, as of just a few short hours ago the series, which is currently airing Saturday nights in England, has been renewed for a third season. I'm addicted to this show which has just the right campy level of magic and humor... plus Giles from Buffy. The show has been consistently bringing in over a 30% share of British audiences and is quickly becoming a success worldwide. This season, which will hopefully air stateside this coming summer, has seen some of the cream of the BBC Costume Drama crop with stars from Charles Dance to Sarah Parish to Emilia Fox to Mackenzie Crook in guest starring roles. I hope this show continues to get the success it deserves because this is how entertaining television should be made.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 8:22 PM 2 comments  

Labels: Anthony Stewart Head, Buffy, Charles Dance, Emelia Fox, Giles, Mackenzie Crook, Merlin, Sarah Parish

So here is the breakdown of my book buying breakdown of the month. It wasn't as bad as past months, though a few of the items were a bit more on the pricey side, but I'd been looking for them for awhile. As I see it, if it's on my list of books that I'm looking for (yes, I have a list, it's alphabetized and in my wallet, and no that's not strange) then I allow myself the splurge, seeing as I usually hunt for bargains on everything else. Also I went to a library sale... there were many books purchased there not on this list... but I only spent $20 and a lot of them are for all you, my lovely blog readers. That's right, I was stocking up on giveaways as I stocked up on Elizabeth Peters novels for myself. Anyway... onto the list of damages:

1) 84 Charing Cross Road and The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street by Helene Hanff - I can't believe I finally found The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street!!! I can give my friend back her copy and stop drooling over the $40 editions online. I found mine at a quirky downtown bookstore for $7! $14 for the pair.

2) Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - I can't help it, I see pretty leather bound editions that are to those mega sets through the Easton Press and I have to buy it! $50.

3) The Man with Two Left Feet by P.G. Wodehouse - FREE! Went to Borders the other day and spent all this time trying to decide if I should get the final volume I needed to complete my Jeeves and Wooster collection seeing as I'm short on funds. The book obviously won, I don't know why I thought it could be otherwise... so I get to the register and I somehow have $25 in Borders bucks! Free book! Score!

4) A Touch of Dead by Charlaine Harris - From my friends at Murder by the Book, signed to me at her big Huston event this past month.

5) Grave Secret by Charlaine Harris - Again my friends in Huston don't let me down. There was also another author there who I got a book from, but seeing as one of my friends reads this blog I don't want to spoil her Christmas present. Needless to say, it too was awesome!

6) New York Public Library Editions: O Pioneers! and Other Tales of the Prairie by Willa Cather, Up from Slavery by Booker T. Washington and Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman - I have a confession... I covet these New York Public Library Editions! When they were released quite a few years back I wanted them and didn't get them and then they went out of print as books I like tend to do. I've spent many years hunting down a complete set. My friend Matt can attest to the weird maniacal glee that happened earlier this summer when at Half Priced Books I found half the set in mint condition for sale. After these three I only need Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, with a dust jacket... I found a crap edition but still I hope. Decently priced, I got a sweet deal on one and another was a little overpriced, so it balanced out.

7) Lady Macbeth's Daughter by Lisa Klein - I've really been wanting this but didn't feel justified spending the money and then I found it for $5.

8) The Pale Assassin by Patricia Elliot - Found at Frugal Muse for $5, didn't realize until after I bought it that it was the same Patricia Elliot who wrote the book Murkmeer which I loved, the cover almost more than the book.

9) Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte - The Twlight Tie-In Edition. I can't help it, I don't like the Stephenie Meyer books but their design is brilliant, so at least this is a book I love designed the same. Plus only $4.

10) The Case of the Missing Servant: A Vish Puri Mystery by Tarquin Hall - It looks so fun and I found it for $6!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 1:47 AM 6 comments  

Labels: Charlaine Harris, Helene Hanff, Jane Austen, Lady Macbeth's Daughter, Patricia Elliot, PG Wodehouse, The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street, The Man WIth Two Left Feet, Wuthering Heights

So, Masterpiece No Longer Theater announced there Classics line-up today, and it looks solid. Some expected, some known and some surprising. Those who liked Laura Linney will be pleased she's back, being the first host to be asked to return since the relaunch of Masterpiece. So... lets get to the lineup!

First up we have Return to Cranford (January 10-17) followed by Emma (January 24-February 7), as expected. After Emma they're throughing in some previously shown Austen to round out February with Northanger Abbey (February 14) and Persuasion (February 21). Next up we have the new adaptation of The 39 Steps (February 28). While I'm a huge fan of the star, Rupert Penry-Jones I find that this isn't such a "new" show to be showing, mainly because it was released in England in 2008... but alas, the time gap can be great between England and her colonies. Also I think that when Hitchcock does the original, even if it's based on a book like Rebecca, it just shouldn't be remade. Following that we get the two newest Sharpe movies, with Challenge (March 28) and Peril (April 4). Challenge is from 2006! So while we get the newer 2008 installment, I'm thinking most people who follow Sharpe have seen these already, especially cause it aired on BBC America already... Plus it's a hard series to just watch in installments, you need to be a watcher of the whole series to enjoy. Then we get the new adaptation of The Diary of Anne Frank (April 11), which boats a stellar cast and was made in 2009. The final installment is Small Islands (April 18-25), which hasn't even aired yet anywhere. This looks most promising with the tangled lives of two couples in post war Britain.

So what's my take on the coming season... I'm interested that they chose such a wide gap of time periods, ranging from Regency to Post War Britain... But overall it's not that exciting. Real BBC nuts will be sad that it's not newer material and those who long for the costume drama won't be seeing too many Empire waists but more modern fair. Also, I know this isn't their fault because the BBC has been blamed... no Dickens!?! He's become the mainstay and the reason for PBS's Renaissance and to leave him out seems foolish. What had I hoped to see might be the logical question as to why I'm disappointed? Desperate Romantics for example? The new movies Enid and Gracie? Starring Helena Bonham Carter and Jane Horrocks... They've never shown Fanny Hill yet... perhaps that is too racy... The new Garrow's Law? Land Girls? I could keep listing... but I just have a feeling they'll never listen.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 4:05 PM 3 comments  

Labels: Classics, Desperate Romantics, Emma, Masterpiece Theater, Northanger Abbey, Persuasion, Return to Cranford, Sharpe's Challenge, Sharpe's Peril, Small Islands, The 39 Steps, The Diary of Anne Frank