strange and random happenstance

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling
Published by: Educa Books
Publication Date: June 26th, 1997
Format: Hardcover, 368 Pages
To Buy (different edition than one reviewed)

I like to brag a bit about my mom being way ahead of the curve with regard to Harry Potter. Harry Potter was just starting to get buzz stateside by the fall of 1999 when Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was released, following swiftly on the heals of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets which was released that June in the US. By the time Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was released in 2001 they were having midnight release parties at bookstores and everyone was awaiting the release of the first film, a deal sealed in late 1998. Summer of 1999 my mom spent every minute talking about owls delivery mail and magical ceilings that reflected the night sky. Prepping for displays for her library when school started in the fall our dining room became a veritable owlry. We had so many stuffed animal owls pictures from my 21st birthday have A LOT of owls in them. Thankfully my friends were really good at doing owl impressions so it's a cherished memory. I personally didn't get around to reading the first three books until I got sick over the Christmas holidays. I remember as the new century dawned I was ensconced in my bed reading about "The Chamber of Secrets" and totally understanding for the first time why my mom subjected us to the summer of owls.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Harry Potter, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J.K. Rowling, Owls, These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder by T.A. Willberg
Published by: Park Row
Publication Date: December 29th, 2020
Format: Hardcover, 336 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The letter was short. A name, a time, a place.

Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder plunges readers into the heart of London, to the secret tunnels that exist far beneath the city streets. There, a mysterious group of detectives recruited for Miss Brickett's Investigations & Inquiries use their cunning and gadgets to solve crimes that have stumped Scotland Yard.

Late one night in April 1958, a filing assistant at Miss Brickett's receives a letter of warning, detailing a name, a time, and a place. She goes to investigate but finds the room empty. At the stroke of midnight, she is murdered by a killer she can't see--her death the only sign she wasn't alone. It becomes chillingly clear that the person responsible must also work for Miss Brickett's, making everyone a suspect.

Marion Lane, a first-year Inquirer-in-training, finds herself drawn ever deeper into the investigation. When her friend and colleague is framed for the crime, to clear his name she must sort through the hidden alliances at Miss Brickett's and secrets dating back to WWII. Masterful, clever and deliciously suspenseful, Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder is a fresh take on the Agatha Christie-style locked-room murder mystery, with an exciting new heroine detective."

HERE FOR ALL THE LOCKED-ROOM MYSTERIES!

To Fetch a Felon by Jennifer Hawkins
Published by: Berkley
Publication Date: December 29th, 2020
Format: Paperback, 336 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Emma Reed and her beloved Corgi move from London to Cornwall with the dream of opening a tea shop - but first they’ll have to collar a criminal in the first book in a charming new series.

Emma leaves London and her life in high finance behind her and moves to an idyllic village in Cornwall, with its cobblestone streets and twisting byways. She plans to open a village tea shop and bake the recipes handed down to her from her beloved grandmother, and of course there’ll be plenty of space for her talking corgi, Oliver, to explore. Yes...talking. Emma has always been able to understand Oliver, even though no one else can.

As soon as Emma arrives in the village she discovers that the curmudgeonly owner of the building she wants to rent for her shop hates dogs and gets off on the wrong foot with Oliver. Although some might turn tail and run, Emma is determined to win her over. But when she delivers some of her homemade scones as a peace offering, she finds the woman dead. Together, Emma and Oliver will need to unleash their detective skills to catch a killer."

FINALLY! Corgis coming into their own in cozies! Also, That corgi on the cover is beyond adorable which goes into cuteness overload when you see the fox.

The Dark Archive by Genevieve Cogman
Published by: Ace
Publication Date: December 29th, 2020
Format: Paperback, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A professional spy for a mysterious Library which harvests fiction from different realities, Irene faces a series of assassination attempts that threaten to destroy her and everything she has worked for.

Irene is teaching her new assistant the fundamentals of a Librarian's job, and finding that training a young Fae is more difficult than she expected. But when they're the targets of kidnapping and assassination attempts, she decides that learning by doing is the only option they have left...

In order to protect themselves, Irene and her friends must do what they do best: search for information to defeat the overwhelming threat they face and identify their unseen enemy. To do that, Irene will have to delve deeper into her own history than she ever has before, face an ancient foe, and uncover secrets that will change her life and the course of the Library forever."

I'm always reading for the next Invisible Library book! 

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Corgis, Cornwall, Cozies, Foxen, Genevieve Cogman, Jennifer Hawkins, Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder, T.A. Willberg, The Dark Archive, The Invisible Library, To Fetch a Felon, Tuesday Tomorrow

"By loving friends you are surrounded, oh be not blind to this I pray. They wish that joy and mirth unbounded my crown your happy Christmas day."

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Christmas

Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster
Published by: Everyman's Library
Publication Date: 1912
Format: Hardcover, 224 Pages
To Buy

Here we go people! Another orphan story! Can't say my mom wasn't consistent! She liked unconventional families, be they big and rambling, or the families you found after being an orphan. And isn't it the time of year for orphans? It's very bleak Dickensian Christmas to be one... Anyway, my mom became obsessed with this book because of the 1955 film starring Fred Astaire and Leslie Caron. Now usually it's me that falls in love with books after first seeing the movie, but I guess that turns out to be hereditary... The thing is she had issues with the movie, she thought it odd that a young girl would fall in love with her benefactor and the age difference she found creepy. So she read the book to see how much was changed and fell in love with the book, which is quite different and told in a wonderful epistolary style. In fact she was so obsessed with Daddy-Long-Legs that when she learned there was an out of print sequel, Dear Enemy, she spent months scouring shelves of used bookstores for a copy. So one year, for Christmas, I found a copy online, a first edition inscribed "Christmas 1915" and gave it to her. I think she liked it. She oddly didn't read it for quite a few years. I think by that point she was worried it would disappoint her and then it came back into print and I found her reading a paperback copy one day but she wouldn't comment on it being good or bad. So I at least know the first book in the series is a classic... the second is up in the air.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Adaptation, Charles Dickens, Christmas, Classic, Daddy-Long-Legs, Dear Enemy, Families, Family, Film, Fred Astaire, Jean Webster, Leslie Caron, Orphan, These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

Love to Bake by Paul Hollywood, Prue Leith, and the Bakers
Published by: Quercus
Publication Date: December 22nd, 2020
Format: Hardcover
To Buy

The official patter:
"Love to Bake is The Great British Bake Off's best collection yet - recipes to remind us that baking is the ultimate expression of thanks, togetherness, celebration and love.

Pop round to a friend's with tea and sympathy in the form of Chai Crackle Cookies; have fun making Paul's Rainbow-coloured Bagels with your family; snuggle up and take comfort in Sticky Pear and Cinnamon Buns or a Pandowdy Swamp Pie; or liven up a charity cake sale with Mini Lemon and Pistachio Battenbergs or Prue's stunningRaspberry and Salted Caramel Eclairs. Impressive occasion cakes and stunning bakes for gatherings are not forgotten - from a novelty frog birthday cake for a children's party, through a towering croquembouche to wow your guests at the end of dinner, to a gorgeous, but easy-to-make wedding cake that's worthy of any once-in-a-lifetime celebration.

Throughout the book, judges' recipes from Paul and Prue will hone your skills, while lifelong favourites from the 2020 bakers offer insight into the journeys that brought the contestants to the Bake Off tent and the reasons why they - like you - love to bake."

It's days until Christmas, what do you get for your friend or family member who loves to bake and has done nothing but during quarantine? This. You get them this.

Scones and Scofflaws by Jane Gorman
Published by: Blue Eagle Press
Publication Date: December 22nd, 2020
Format: Kindle, 266 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"When a gorgeous man dressed as Bridgette Bardot buys her a Scofflaw and asks her out on a date, Anna McGregor begins to suspect her murder investigation has taken a wrong turn. Her previous work as a medical anthropologist exposed her to a variety of unexpected situations, but none quite like this.

It all seemed so simple: fix up the Cape May Victorian mansion she’d inherited from Great Aunt Louise and re-open it as the exceptional B and B it used to be. Everything’s going great, until her very first guest turns up dead at the breakfast table, crumbs from Anna’s blueberry scones scattered on the lace tablecloth.

As the town’s gossip mill goes into overdrive, Anna leaps into the fray to save her reputation, her business and Great Aunt Louise’s legacy.

With help from a handsome handyman eager to solve all of Anna’s problems and a young police officer new to murder investigations, Anna does her best to convince the town - and her future guests - that while her scones may be killer, someone else was responsible for this murder."

I was sold at Bridgette Bardot.

Reckless by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips
Published by: Image Comics
Publication Date: December 22nd, 2020
Format: Hardcover, 144 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Sex, drugs, and murder in 1980s Los Angeles...And the best new twist on paperback pulp heroes since The Punisher or Jack Reacher.

Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips, the modern masters of crime noir, bring us the last thing anyone expected from them - a good guy - in a bold new series of original graphic novels, with three books releasing over the next year, each a full-length story that stands on its own.

Meet Ethan Reckless: Your trouble is his business, for the right price. But when a fugitive from his student radical days reaches out for help, Ethan must face the only thing he fears...his own past."

I'm loving how much new Brubaker and Phillips we've been having lately!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Bridgette Bardot, Comic, Ed Brubaker, GBBO, Jane Gorman, Love to Bake, Paul Hollywood, Prue Leith, Reckless, Scones and Scofflaws, Sean Phillips, Tuesday Tomorrow

Saffy's Angel by Hilary McKay
Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Publication Date: 2001
Format: Paperback, 256 Pages
To Buy (different edition than one reviewed)

Again, leave it to my mom to fall in love with another series that is impossible to find stateside. In fact, despite being an Anglophile myself there's a strong likelihood that the majority of my overseas book purchases over the years have been down to my mom. Once again it's a large rambling non-conventional family and the adventures they get up to, this time in the wake of their grandfather's death and his bequests to the Casson family. What my mom loved most about this series is that all the children are named after paint colors. Or should I say colours because this is a British series? My mom was always going back and forth between books and art and loved when the two commingled. Though what I am most grateful for is that this series didn't come out until long after I was born. I don't think I could be a Saffron or a Cadmium or a Indigo and definitely not a Permanent Rose! It's a very cool concept for a fictional family, but I don't think it would work without a few raised eyebrows in the real weird. But if you want to escape for awhile into a family that you wish you could be a part of, quirky names and all, then start with Saffy's Angel, because this series might just be for you!   

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Anglophile, British, Cadmium, Casson Family, Family, Hilary McKay, Indigo, Permanent Rose, Saffron, Saffy's Angel, These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

Heidi by Johanna Spyri
Published by: Everyman's Library
Publication Date: 1880
Format: Hardcover, 384 Pages
To Buy

Before my mom moved into a nursing home for some reason she became a little orphan obsessed, Anne of Green Gables, Heidi... many of our Children's Classics pulled off our library shelves and read and oddly reshelved all dealing with orphans. The reshelving is actually how I found out what she was reading. My mom was a wicked fast reader so I often didn't know what she was reading at any given time as a book could be picked up and completed in an afternoon and if I hadn't checked on her in awhile, well, the book was already done and dusted when I checked in on her. I have actually not read Heidi, I know, an oversight on my part but in fairness the beautiful Everyman's Library Children's Classics edition was just published last fall and I picked it up when at a Joe Hill event in Milwaukee. But I was mildly obsessed with Heidi when younger because I was a TV addict and the old movie stations would air it a lot. I'm not sure if it was the original Shirley Temple version or the later sixties version, I just remember being obsessed with the Alps and the gorgeous house. When I was little I often didn't care about story, it was all about setting for me. Could I lose myself in the sets and the place? Well yes I did. Perhaps that's why to this day I think the settings in books are so important, and give me a big country house any day and I'll be happy! 

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Alps, Anne of Green Gables, Children's Classics, Everyman's Children's Classics, Heidi, Joe Hill, Johanna Spyri, Milwaukee, Orphans, Setting, Shirley Temple, These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

Pretty Broken Things by Melissa Marr
Published by: MM Ink
Publication Date: December 15th, 2020
Format: Hardcover, 300 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Heavily-tattooed and erratic, Tess hides in plain sight, off-the-grid in New Orleans. Tess is a survivor with more secrets than even she knows. Her clearest memories are tattooed on her skin, memorials to the missing dead.

No one knows who Tess is - or that she's still alive. That is, until writer J. Michael Anderson appears in town looking for someone with an irresistible story he can use to revive his flagging career.

In Durham, North Carolina Juliana Campbell comes face to face with death every day, but nothing in her mortician's training prepares her for the bodies that have started to appear on her table. With each body her anger grows, and she becomes ever more driven to find the murderer.

In the shadowy edges of the French Quarter, these three lives collide as long buried secrets and one woman's harrowing past ensnare them in the sights of the killer."

A new Melissa Marr in time for Christmas!?! Insert Kermit arm flail here.

The Queen's Gambit by Walter Tevis
Published by: Vintage
Publication Date: December 15th, 2020
Format: Paperback, 256 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Engaging and fast-paced, this gripping coming-of-age novel of chess, feminism, and addiction speeds to a conclusion as elegant and satisfying as a mate in four. Now an acclaimed Netflix series.

Eight year-old orphan Beth Harmon is quiet, sullen, and by all appearances unremarkable. That is, until she plays her first game of chess. Her senses grow sharper, her thinking clearer, and for the first time in her life she feels herself fully in control. By the age of sixteen, she’s competing for the U.S. Open championship. But as Beth hones her skills on the professional circuit, the stakes get higher, her isolation grows more frightening, and the thought of escape becomes all the more tempting."

Because everyone has watched the series by now and wants more, so here's the book! 

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Chess, Kermit, Melissa Marr, Netflix, Pretty Broken Things, The Queen's Gambit, Tuesday Tomorrow, Walter Tevis

Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild
Published by: Bullseye Books
Publication Date: 1936
Format: Paperback, 281 Pages
To Buy (different edition than one reviewed)

Fun fact time. My mother wasn't a fan of ballet. Extra odd because she was a Russian major and I know studied the Ballets Russes. So either she didn't like ballet because of her studies or it was just something she said to me because she didn't want me to do it. In fairness I would have been a horrible ballet student and she was just heading off a battle before it started. But here's the thing, I couldn't care less about ballet. I never wanted to take ballet, the shoes just transfixed me the first time I saw them in a store window at West Towne Mall. So if my mom's outward dislike of ballet came about because I was eyeing those shoes, I feel bad that we couldn't unite in our dislike. Despite her "dislike" of ballet she adored Ballet Shoes. In fact, she adored any book written by Noel Streatfeild, an author that is shamefully underrepresented on US shelves with only a handful of her many "shoes" books available here. In fact I had to often order her books from England for my mom because she couldn't get enough of her writing! Thankfully Noel Streatfeild's books are a little more accessible stateside after the adorable 2007 adaptation of this book staring Emma Watson. So if you're an author whose books aren't showing up on the shelves just get a movie adapted of your work staring someone from Harry Potter and you're set apparently! As to why it's a favorite of my mom's? She loved historical fiction about children foisted into situations meant to test their mettle. Extra points if they're an odd conglomeration of a family with lots of quirks and ambitions. And if that's your jam this book will be up your alley too.   

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Adaptation, Ballet, Ballet Shoes, Ballets Russes, Emma Watson, England, Family, Harry Potter, Historical Fiction, Mall Rats, Noel Streatfeild, Russia, Shoes, These Are a Few of My Favorite Things, West Towne Mall

The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall
Published by: Yearling
Publication Date: June 14th, 2005
Format: Paperback, 288 Pages
To Buy

If you haven't been paying attention you might not have noticed a trend in my mother's favorite books. That trend is a love for big families and summer vacations that seem to last forever. My mom has four siblings. Two of her three elder sisters were married when my mom was young, making several of her nieces and nephews closer to her own age than her sisters. Family was always around, be it her nieces or nephews or cousins, her love of a large family unit was born through her experiences as a kid. As for idealized summer vacations... from what I've gathered any vacation usually was an excruciatingly long ride to somewhere only my grandfather was interested in, often insisting everyone stay in the car while he went off and did what he wanted to do. Alone. I can picture my mom in all those cars dreaming up a vacation worthy of a family like the Penderwicks. So I think it's easy to say that she longed to have the perfect family summers that books, like The Penderwicks, encapsulated and she devoured by the shelf. When this series was first published it was obviously going to be an instant favorite with my mom, I mean, seriously, just look at the cover and the fact that it's basically combining Magic by the Lake with The Secret Garden. Timeless tales of youth and a golden summer that she dreamed of having. Well, if you can't have it in life at least you can have it in literature.    

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Edward Eager, Family, Frances Hodgson Burnett, Jeanne Birdsall, Magic by the Lake, Sisters, Summer, Summer Vacation, The Penderwicks, The Secret Garden, These Are a Few of My Favorite Things, Vacation

A Promise of Ankles by Alexander McCall Smith
Published by: Anchor
Publication Date: December 8th, 2020
Format: Paperback, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The latest, delectably witty installment of Alexander McCall Smith's sumptuous 44 Scotland Street series.

For the residents of 44 Scotland Street, life in Edinburgh's intriguing New Town is a thing to be relished. After all, there are new faces to excite Domenica's anthropological imagination, precious moments with his triplets for Matthew to savor, and the prospect of a trip to the promised land of Glasgow for young Bertie.

But there are mysteries that need solving too. Could Angus Lordie's dog, Cyril - the only dog in Scotland with a gold tooth - have unearthed a Neanderthal skull? Does the long-suffering Stuart have any hope of kindling a new relationship when Bruce, ever the navel gazer and consummate seducer, effortlessly steps into his pas de deux? And how will the patrons of Big Lou's cafe react to the menu's imminent culinary transformation?

The stories of this wonderfully vibrant cast may take unexpected turns, but the warmth and humor at Scotland's most recognizable address will ultimately affirm the joy life brings us all."

It makes me sad that my mom isn't around to read the latest installment of her favorite series. 

When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain by Nghi Vo
Published by: Tor.com
Publication Date: December 8th, 2020
Format: Paperback, 128 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The cleric Chih finds themself and their companions at the mercy of a band of fierce tigers who ache with hunger. To stay alive until the mammoths can save them, Chih must unwind the intricate, layered story of the tiger and her scholar lover - a woman of courage, intelligence, and beauty - and discover how truth can survive becoming history.

Nghi Vo returns to the empire of Ahn and The Singing Hills Cycle in When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain, a mesmerizing, lush standalone follow-up to The Empress of Salt and Fortune."

Such cover lust! It's so rich and luscious! 

A Universe of Wishes edited by Dhonielle Clayton 
Published by: Crown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: December 8th, 2020
Format: Hardcover, 416 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"From We Need Diverse Books, the organization behind Flying Lessons & Other Stories, comes a young adult fantasy short story collection featuring some of the best own-voices children's authors, including New York Times bestselling authors Libba Bray (The Diviners), V. E. Schwab (A Darker Shade of Magic), Natalie C. Parker (Seafire), and many more. Edited by Dhonielle Clayton (The Belles).

In the fourth collaboration with We Need Diverse Books, fifteen award-winning and celebrated diverse authors deliver stories about a princess without need of a prince, a monster long misunderstood, memories that vanish with a spell, and voices that refuse to stay silent in the face of injustice. This powerful and inclusive collection contains a universe of wishes for a braver and more beautiful world.

AUTHORS INCLUDE: Samira Ahmed, Jenni Balch, Libba Bray, Dhonielle Clayton, Zoraida Córdova, Tessa Gratton, Kwame Mbalia, Anna-Marie McLemore, Tochi Onyebuchi, Mark Oshiro, Natalie C. Parker, Rebecca Roanhorse, V. E. Schwab, Tara Sim, Nic Stone."

Because who doesn't want to read a story about saving yourself? 

Mercy by Mirka Andolfo
Published by: Image Comics
Publication Date: December 8th, 2020
Format: Paperback, 192 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Mercy, a goth-inspired, Victorian monster series explores topics of "otherness," damnation and redemption, and what it means to be a monster in a horror graphic novel perfect for fans of Penny Dreadful, Crimson Peak, The Alienist, Parasol Protectorate, and Dark Shadows.

This new graphic novel by acclaimed creator Mirka Andolfo (Unnatural) is a gothic horror tale where mysteries and unspeakable sins are blended together in a unique and sensual way.

Washington State, late nineteenth century. During the frenzied historical era commonly known as the Klondike Gold Rush, a mysterious woman arrives in Woodsburgh, a small mining town close to the Canadian border.

It's been a few years since the Swanson mine was closed following the terrible accident that claimed the lives of so many men and women, including the owner's and the city it's still struggling in search for a new place on the map of the country.

Elegant and extraordinarily wealthy, Lady Hellaine arrives in the city accompanied by her faithful butler Goodwill and settles in one of the most luxurious mansions in town. A lifestyle that contrasts sharply with that of the majority of the population, forced to choose between humble crafts and illegal activities.

No one is aware of the reasons that led such a classy lady to move from Seattle to the small village, but her arrival certainly did not go unnoticed. Especially in the eyes of Lady Swanson, widow of the late mine owner and leading figure of the local bourgeoisie. Lady Hellaine's plans will bring her on a collision course with the powerful Lady Swanson, who, for reasons not entirely rational, distrusts the newcomer.

Meanwhile, the streets and surroundings of Woodsburgh are flooded in blood: a heinous creature is killing incautious citizens, wreaking havoc on their bodies. Enough to induce local authorities to impose a strict curfew after sunset.

And with the falling of the first snow, the "Woodsburgh Devil"'s fury seems to have even increased. What's the connection, if any, between this disturbing presence and the ivory-skinned stranger?

Who is Lady Hellaine, really? And what's her secret agenda?

Collects Mirka Andolfo's Mercy #1-6"

I picked up this series because it ticked so many of my Gothic boxes, but I stayed because it became something uniquely it's own. 

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: 44 Scotland Street, A Universe of WIshes, Alexander McCall Smith, Comics, Crimson Peak, Dhonielle Clayton, Gothic, Mercy, Mirka Andolfo, Nghi Vo, When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain

The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
Published by: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: 1967
Format: Paperback, 240 Pages
To Buy

My mom has always been a fan of Zilpha Keatley Snyder. She's one of the few authors I was allowed to order from my school book program. I have an old Scholastic copy of The Egypt Game and I was obsessed with that cover. In fact, I had many books when younger that I was meaning to read which instead I would just look at the cover and make up my own story in my head. I was convinced that The Egypt Game would be too scary. This was probably due to my Dad and brother. While me now has a deep abiding love of all things Egyptian, I literally can not get enough, me then was convinced mummy curses were real and they were coming for me. Actually I still think mummy curses are real, they're just not coming for me because I'm not stupid enough to mess with them. But I remember going to Chicago to see King Tut. It was a big family trip where we were meeting up with my cousin and Aunt who lived down there and all going to The Field Museum to see Tut. We got there and my Dad and brother informed me that if I looked on the boy King I would get the curse. I spent the trip in the stairwell crying. Therefore reading a book called The Egypt Game that I got around this same time seemed dire folly. YOU DO NOT MESS WITH MUMMIES! Though I'm glad I didn't read the book then, just making my nightmares worse, because now I can enjoy it with hindsight and the knowledge I'm reading yet another book my mother loved.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Chicago, Curses, Egypt, King Tut, Mummy, Scholastic, The Egypt Games, The Field Museum, These Are a Few of My Favorite Things, Zilpha Keatley Snyder

The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene
Published by: Grosset and Dunlap
Publication Date: 1930
Format: Hardcover, 180 Pages
To Buy

I will fully admit that until recently I was never really on board with Nancy Drew. As a kid I never read her adventures, though I do remember the spinning book rack in my middle school library, the one my mom worked at for many, many years, was larded with Nancy Drew books and I did pick up The Secret of the Old Clock one day and stopped about two pages in. The story just didn't grab me and at that time in my life I was a reluctant reader. I remember Northern Exposure's Nancy Drew parody with Maggie more than the books themselves! So while not being a Nancy Drew fan I still enabled my mom's addiction. She adored the books when little, checking them out from the library as summer reading. So needless to say when they started issuing reproductions of the original books my mom was over the moon. I helped her hunt them down in our local stores. From Borders to The University Bookstore for Kids, we anxiously awaited the new re-releases was scanning the shelves for any other books that might want to come home with us. I now have these reprints and can not wait to read them for the first time as I have become a Nancy Drew addict because of the new CW TV show. I didn't expect it. I only watched it at first because it was paired with Riverdale and was another "dark retelling" but this time the supernatural aspects were real. As time went on Nancy Drew quickly became my favorite show, and Riverdale fell by the wayside, though I did like their own take on "Nancy Drew," AKA Tracy True, this season. The only real regret I have is that my mom never got to see this adaptation and the resurgence in Nancy Drew's popularity. I think she would have been on board.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Bookstores, Borders, CW, Library, Nancy Drew, Northern Exposure, Reissues, Riverdale, Summer Reading, Supernatural, The Secret of the Old Clock, Theses Are a Few of My Favorite Things, Tracy True

Under a Gilded Moon by Joy Jordan-Lake
Published by: Lake Union Publishing
Publication Date: December 1st, 2020
Format: Hardcover, 414 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"From the bestselling author of A Tangled Mercy comes an enthralling novel of secrets, a tumultuous war of ideas, and murder as classes collide in the shadow of Biltmore House.

Biltmore House, a palatial mansion being built by the Vanderbilts, American "royalty," is in its final stages of construction in North Carolina. The country's grandest example of privilege, it symbolizes the aspirations of its owner and the dreams of a girl, just as driven, who lives in its shadow.

Kerry MacGregor's future is derailed when, after two years in college in New York City, family obligations call her home to the beautiful Appalachians. She is determined to distance herself from the opulence she sees rising in the Blue Ridge Mountains, however close its reach. Her family's land is among the last pieces required to complete the Biltmore Estate. But something more powerful than an ambitious Vanderbilt heir could change Kerry's fate as, one by one, more outsiders descend on the changing landscape - a fugitive from Sicily, a reporter chasing a groundbreaking story, a debutante tainted by scandal, and a conservationist prepared to put anyone at risk to stoke the resentment of the locals.

As Kerry finds herself caught in a war between wealth and poverty, innocence and corruption, she must navigate not only her own pride and desperation to survive but also the temptations of fortune and the men who control it."

Murder! Biltmore! YAS!

Murder on a Midnight Clear by Sara Rosett
Published by: McGuffin Ink
Publication Date: December 1st, 2020
Format: Hardcover, 282 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A snowbound country mansion, a missing butler, and a Christmas case...

Olive and Jasper have never been closer-except in one area. Jasper is still reticent about his frequent disappearances from polite society. With the holidays approaching and no paying client on the books, Olive decides to shadow Jasper when he's unexpectedly called away. Her search brings her to Holly Hill Lodge where an eclectic group has gathered to celebrate an old-fashioned English Christmas.

The guest list includes a celebrated lawn tennis champion, a fussy scientist studying snowflakes, a persuasive luggage salesman, a famous lady explorer, and the family's eccentric aunt who has a fondness for the newfangled drinks called cocktails.

When the butler goes missing, Olive and Jasper must work together to solve the Christmas crime-as well as the secret Jasper hides. Murder on a Midnight Clear is the latest installment in USA Today bestselling author Sara Rosett's popular High Society Lady Detective series.

Unwrap this 1920s Christmas mystery with all the trimmings-carols, a Yule log, plum pudding...and murder."

Now THIS is exactly the book for me in December. EXACTLY!

The Wicked Hour by Alice Blanchard
Published by: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: December 1st, 2020
Format: Hardcover, 304 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The day after Burning Lake’s notorious, debauched Halloween celebration, Detective Natalie Lockhart uncovers a heartbreaking scene - a young woman, dead and lying in a dumpster. There’s no clue to who she is, save for a mystifying tattoo on her arm, and a callus underneath her chin. She’s not from around here. No one knows who she is.

As Natalie retraces the young woman’s steps leading up to her death, she uncovers a deeper, darker horror - a string of murders and disappearances, seemingly unconnected, that may have ties to each other - and explain the abrupt disappearance of her best friend years ago.

As she digs deeper within the mind of the hunter, Natalie finds a darkness she could never have imagined. And as she draws closer to the truth, the killer is weaving a trap for her that may prove inescapable."

A book perfect for the waning year with melancholy and murder.

Criminal Deluxe Edition, Volume 3 by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips
Published by: Image Comics
Publication Date: December 1st, 2020
Format: Hardcover, 400 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Brubaker and Phillips' hard-to-find Criminal hardbacks are finally back in print, and joining them is the long-awaited Criminal Deluxe Edition, Volume 3.

This oversized deluxe hardback collects several short stories and novellas from the most award-winning team in the history of comics in a fantastically-designed book full of extras - illustrations, selected articles, interviews, behind the scenes looks, painted covers... and much much more Collects the Savage Sword of Criminal and Deadly Hands of Criminal magazines, the novellas My Heroes Have Always Been Junkies and Bad Weekend, and issues 1 and 4 of the newest run of the Criminal monthly series, two full length short stories about the Lawless family.

A true collector's edition must-have for any fan of the best in crime comics."

Plus in five months you won't be able to find it anywhere so get it now! 

My Little Golden Book About Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Shana Corey
Published by: Golden Books
Publication Date: December 1st, 2020
Format: Hardcover, 24 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A Little Golden Book biography about Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, written for preschoolers.

This Little Golden Book is a compelling introduction to an inspiring woman, written for the youngest readers. From a young age, Ruth Bader Ginsburg knew that she wanted to fight for girls and women to have equal rights. She studied and worked very hard and became just the second woman - and the first Jewish woman - to be a United States Supreme Court Justice. This is a terrific read for future trailblazers and their parents! Look for these other Little Golden Book biographies: My Little Golden Book About Frida Kahlo, My Little Golden Book About Jackie Robinson, My Little Golden Book About Martin Luther King Jr., My Little Golden Book About George Washington, My Little Golden Book About Abraham Lincoln, My Little Golden Book About Balto, and My Little Golden Book About Johnny Appleseed."

I literally can not think of someone more deserving of a Little Golden Book.

Sometimes You Have to Lie by Leslie Brody
Published by: Seal Press
Publication Date: December 1st, 2020
Format: Hardcover, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In this inspiring biography, discover the true story of Harriet the Spy author Louise Fitzhugh - and learn about the woman behind one of literature's most beloved heroines.

Harriet the Spy, first published in 1964, has mesmerized generations of readers and launched a million diarists. Its beloved antiheroine, Harriet, is erratic, unsentimental, and endearing - very much like the woman who created her, Louise Fitzhugh.

Born in 1928, Fitzhugh was raised in segregated Memphis, but she soon escaped her cloistered world and headed for New York, where her expanded milieu stretched from the lesbian bars of Greenwich Village to the art world of postwar Europe, and her circle of friends included members of the avant-garde like Maurice Sendak and Lorraine Hansberry. Fitzhugh's novels, written in an era of political defiance, are full of resistance: to authority, to conformity, and even - radically, for a children's author -  to make-believe.

As a children's author and a lesbian, Fitzhugh was often pressured to disguise her true nature. Sometimes You Have to Lie tells the story of her hidden life and of the creation of her masterpiece, which remains long after her death as a testament to the complicated relationship between truth, secrecy, and individualism."

The life! The legacy! I can't think of anyone who shouldn't read this book! 

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Alice Blanchard, Biltmore, Biography, Ed Brubaker, Harriet the Spy, Joy Jordan-Lake, Little Golden Book, Louise Fitzhugh, Murder on a Midnight Clear, RBG, Sara Rosett, Sean Philips, Under a Gilded Moon

Basil of Baker Street by Eve Titus
Published by: Whittlesey House/ McGraw Hill
Publication Date: 1958
Format: Hardcover, 96 Pages
To Buy (different edition than one reviewed)

Basil of Baker Street is a long lost book in that it's been subsumed in the wake of Disney's The Great Mouse Detective. I'm glad that everyone got to watch the adventures of Basil on the big screen, and no one could have been happier than my mother who audibly told me she was so glad to not have to see another My Little Pony or Care Bears film, I was only seven at the time and my brother was four, so those type of films were kind of our wheelhouse, but we got on board with Basil. It's not just that it's a clever reinterpretation of Sherlock Holmes for a younger audience, if you hunt up the books which were just re-released in a beautiful boxed set, you will see what a gifted author Eve Titus was. She was able to create a gripping mystery as well as a loving homage to Conan Doyle. This series combined the great literature loves that my mother instilled in me, a love of mysteries and a love of anthropomorphic animals. It's murder meets Wilbur and Charlotte! Though Charlotte's Web is already a little bleak... and the adding of murder would kind of skew it towards Animal Farm... but digression aside, these books are my jam. My mom and I spent hours pouring over the shelves in used bookstores trying to find all of Basil's adventures. I remember one time I was out and found a copy of Basil in Mexico at Half Price Books in one of those paperback boxed deals and when I got home my mom was beyond excited I'd found a missing Basil! Though ironically not Basil and the Lost Colony.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Animal Farm, Arthur Conan Doyle, Basil of Baker Street, Care Bears, Charlotte's Web, Eve Titus, My Little Pony, The Great Mouse Detective, These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Published by: Everyman's Library
Publication Date: 1910
Format: Hardcover, 318 Pages
To Buy

Here's a not very secret secret I'll let you in on, I hate The Secret Garden. Love the concept, love most of the adaptations of it, hate the actual book and the pompous little shits Dickon, Mary, and Colin. They are spoiled obnoxious brats who happen to be cruel and taunt the locals by imitating their Yorkshire accents. So if you're into books with kids who have cold-blooded superiority in their hearts this book is for you! And yet it is easily one of my mom's favorite books. I'm not saying she necessarily found the children's bad behavior amusing, though that could have been a factor, I know it would have bemused my paternal grandmother, I'm saying she loved it for the garden. My mom loved her garden, an inheritance from her own mother. She spent years getting it perfect, making it all the more sad when her Parkinson's made it impossible for her to work in it. When we were recently moving I found several photo albums of our garden during different years. All those flowers brought to life and loved, from those that were at the house when we moved there to those transplanted from other family gardens and loved for their ancestry. Therefore her love of The Secret Garden makes sense, a perfect garden tucked away that is all your own. She collected many editions because she adored the illustrations of all the different flowers. Her favorites were those done by Tasha Tudor and Inga Moore. At one point I suggested culling her numerous editions and she agreed as long as we kept the ones with the best illustrations. I think maybe one left our shelves that day.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Bookshelves, Classics, Frances Hodgson Burnett, Gardening, Gardens, Illustrations, Inga Moore, Parkinson's, Tasha Tudor, The Secret Garden, These Are a Few of My Favorite Things, Yorkshire

Masterpiece: America's 50-Year-Old Love Affair with British Television Drama by Nancy West
Published by: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers
Publication Date: November 24th, 2020
Format: Hardcover, 264 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"On a wintry night in 1971, Masterpiece Theatre debuted on PBS. Fifty years later, America's appetite for British drama has never been bigger. The classic television program has brought its fans protagonists such as The Dowager Countess and Ross Poldark and series that include Downton Abbey and Prime Suspect. In Masterpiece: America's 50-Year-Old Love Affair with British Television Drama, Nancy West provides a fascinating history of the acclaimed program. West combines excerpts from original interviews, thoughtful commentary, and lush photography to deliver a deep exploration of the television drama. Vibrant stories and anecdotes about Masterpiece's most colorful shows are peppered throughout, such as why Benedict Cumberbatch hates Downton Abbey and how screenwriter Daisy Goodwin created a teenage portrait of Queen Victoria after fighting with her daughter about homework. Featuring an array of color photos from Masterpiece's best-loved dramas, this book offers a penetrating look into the program's influence on television, publishing, fashion, and its millions of fans."

Wait, why does Benedict Cumberbatch hate Downton Abbey!?! I NEED to know! 

Dark Tides by Philippa Gregory
Published by: Atria Books
Publication Date: November 24th, 2020
Format: Hardcover, 464 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"#1 New York Times bestselling author Philippa Gregory’s new historical novel tracks the rise of the Tidelands family in London, Venice, and New England.

Midsummer Eve 1670. Two unexpected visitors arrive at a shabby warehouse on the south side of the River Thames. The first is a wealthy man hoping to find the lover he deserted twenty-one years before. James Avery has everything to offer, including the favour of the newly restored King Charles II, and he believes that the warehouse's poor owner Alinor has the one thing his money cannot buy - his son and heir.

The second visitor is a beautiful widow from Venice in deepest mourning. She claims Alinor as her mother-in-law and has come to tell Alinor that her son Rob has drowned in the dark tides of the Venice lagoon.

Alinor writes to her brother Ned, newly arrived in faraway New England and trying to make a life between the worlds of the English newcomers and the American Indians as they move toward inevitable war. Alinor tells him that she knows - without doubt - that her son is alive and the widow is an imposter.

Set in the poverty and glamour of Restoration London, in the golden streets of Venice, and on the tensely contested frontier of early America, this is a novel of greed and desire: for love, for wealth, for a child, and for home."

I'm always here for a new Philippa Gregory book, but start it on Midsummer's Eve and it's a must read no matter the author! Unless it's the play Miss Julie.

How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories by Holly Black
Published by: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: November 24th, 2020
Format: Hardcover, 192 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Return to the captivating world of Elfhame with this illustrated addition to the New York Times bestselling The Folk of Air trilogy that began with The Cruel Prince, from award-winning author Holly Black.

Once upon a time, there was a boy with a wicked tongue.

Before he was a cruel prince or a wicked king, he was a faerie child with a heart of stone. #1 New York Times bestselling author, Holly Black reveals a deeper look into the dramatic life of Elfhame's enigmatic high king, Cardan. This tale includes delicious details of life before The Cruel Prince, an adventure beyond The Queen of Nothing, and familiar moments from The Folk of the Air trilogy, told wholly from Cardan's perspective.

This new installment in The Folk of the Air series is a return to the heart-racing romance, danger, humor, and drama that enchanted readers everywhere. Each chapter is paired with lavish and luminous full-color art, making this the perfect collector's item to be enjoyed by both new audiences and old."

I love ancillary books! 

Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline
Published by: Ballantine Books
Publication Date: November 24th, 2020
Format: Hardcover, 384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The highly anticipated sequel to the beloved worldwide bestseller Ready Player One, the near-future adventure that inspired the blockbuster Steven Spielberg film.

AN UNEXPECTED QUEST. TWO WORLDS AT STAKE. ARE YOU READY?

Days after winning OASIS founder James Halliday’s contest, Wade Watts makes a discovery that changes everything.

Hidden within Halliday’s vaults, waiting for his heir to find, lies a technological advancement that will once again change the world and make the OASIS a thousand times more wondrous - and addictive - than even Wade dreamed possible.

With it comes a new riddle, and a new quest - a last Easter egg from Halliday, hinting at a mysterious prize.

And an unexpected, impossibly powerful, and dangerous new rival awaits, one who’ll kill millions to get what he wants.

Wade’s life and the future of the OASIS are again at stake, but this time the fate of humanity also hangs in the balance.

Lovingly nostalgic and wildly original as only Ernest Cline could conceive it, Ready Player Two takes us on another imaginative, fun, action-packed adventure through his beloved virtual universe, and jolts us thrillingly into the future once again."

"The highly anticipated sequel" is it though? Also I hate Joust. 

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Benedict Cumberbatch, Dark Tides, Downton Abbey, Ernest Cline, Holly Black, Masterpiece No Longer Theatre, Philippa Greogry, Ready Player One, Ready Player Two, The Folk of Air

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
Published by: Everyman's Library
Publication Date: 1908
Format: Hardcover, 256 Pages
To Buy

The Wind in the Willows has always been odd to me. There's a disconnect between the animals being occasionally very animal like and then occasionally being anthropomorphic with Toad and his car. Unlike many of my mother's other favorite books she never read The Wind in the Willows to me, just bought me a lovely slipcased edition and expected me to read it on my own, which I don't think I did until I was in my twenties. Therefore I think I was too old to gloss over the more annoying characteristics of Toad and suspend disbelief. The result of this is I have been drawn to the art more than to the story, something that helped enable my mom's love of buying beautiful editions of all her favorite books. There's our edition illustrated by Michael Hague, a little cartoonish but nice, the newer Robert Ingpen edition, the anniversary Ernest H. Shephard edition, cohort of A.A. Milne, my slipcased edition illustrated by Inga Moore, Everyman's Library's Arthur Rackham edition, and favorite of all, the Charles van Sandwyk edition. Charles van Sandwyk is a Canadian artist whom everyone should know. He has the technique of Rackham but there's more richness and humor than Rackham was ever able to capture. Sadly this edition during various moves has been misplaced. So the least we can do to honor my mother is buy myself, buy yourself, this edition and try to suspend disbelief and go along for a ride with Mr. Toad.  

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: A.A. Milne, Anthropomorphic, Arthur Rackham, Charles Van Sandwyck, Ernest H. Shephard, Illustration, Kenneth Grahame, Mr. Toad, The Wind in the Willows, These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Published by: HarperCollins
Publication Date: 1937
Format: Hardcover, 352 Pages
To Buy

If you're a girl from Wisconsin there is one given, and that's you're a fan of Laura Ingalls Wilder. It's in our DNA. It was sure in my DNA. I don't know if I remember a time before I knew about Laura and her family up in Pepin but that's all down to my mom. She didn't just love the stories she loved the illustrations. Garth Williams will forever be a favorite illustrator of our family inculcated from some of my very first picture books to my earliest chapter books; Three Bedtime Stories, Bedtime for Frances, Little Fur Family, The Cricket in Times Square, and of course, Charlotte's Web. But back to Laura. I think growing up on a dairy farm in Lone Rock made my mom see a lot of herself in Laura. But interestingly enough my mom's favorite book in the series wasn't when Laura and her family lived a typical pioneer life but when they lived an atypical one in a sod house on the banks of a creek. My mom would talk rapturously about living in this little hideaway made of dirt and grass. She loved the story about when Garth Williams was researching his illustrations for the reissue of the books that he went to Minnesota and found the indentation of where their house was. I think this was my mom's favorite in the series because it appeals to the very heart of what it is to be a child, making a home out of the nature around you and living a carefree life. Of course the life Laura lived in this book was far from carefree, but that house does spark in the imagination something primal, something fantastical, something straight out of childhood daydreams.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Bedtime for Frances, Charlotte's Web, Childhood, Garth Williams, Laura Ingalls Wilder, On the Banks of Plum Creek, The Cricket in Times Square, This Are a Few of My Favorite Things

Hot to Trot by M.C. Beaton
Published by: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: November 17th, 2020
Format: Hardcover, 256 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Beloved New York Times bestseller M. C. Beaton's cranky, crafty Agatha Raisin - now the star of a hit T.V. show - is back on the case again in Hot to Trot.

When Private Detective Agatha Raisin learns that her friend and one-time lover Charles Fraith is to be married to a mysterious socialite, Miss Mary Brown-Field, she sees it as her duty to find out what she can about the woman. Coming up empty, Agatha - out of selfless concern for Charles, of course - does the only sensible thing she can think of: she crashes their wedding, which ends in a public altercation. Nursing a hangover the next morning, she gets a phone call from Charles, with even more disturbing news: Mary has been murdered.

Agatha takes on the case, and quickly becomes entrenched in the competitive equestrian world, in which Mary had been enmeshed - as well as the victim’s surprisingly violent past. Agatha finds no shortage of motives among a wide range of characters, from Mary's old riding competitors, to enemies from her schoolgirl days, to her surly father, who threatens Agatha to mind her own business. Meanwhile, the police department has its money on another suspect: Agatha. Will she track down the criminal in time, or end up behind bars herself?"

It seems fitting that my mother is no longer around now that M.C. Beaton is no longer around. At least her characters will live on.

Murder in the Snow by Verity Bright
Published by: Bookouture
Publication Date: November 17th, 2020
Format: Paperback, 274 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"An English Christmas has mince pies, cheerful carols, a twinkling tree...and a murder? Thank goodness Lady Swift is on the scene!

Winter, 1920. Amateur sleuth Lady Eleanor Swift is feeling festive. She is playing host to the entire village at Henley Hall for gifts, games and gingerbread. She's also purchased perfect presents for each of her household - not forgetting the biggest bone in the butcher's shop for her partner in crime, Gladstone the bulldog - and is looking forward to celebrating her first English country Christmas.

As snowflakes fall, Eleanor is cheering on contestants in the traditional Christmas fun run in the grounds of the Hall. But tragedy strikes when one of the runners drops dead at the finish line. Dashing Detective Seldon is convinced it's just a heart attack, but Eleanor isn't so sure. When she finds a rather distinctive key where the man fell, Eleanor knows she'll never rest until she finds out the truth about what happened in her own home.

Next the vicar is taken ill with what looks like poison and Eleanor starts to wonder if the two cases are linked. When someone tries to frame her by planting poisoned berries in her own kitchen, she knows speed is of the essence. But the entire village was at Henley Hall for the festivities and Eleanor has enough suspects to stuff a town full of turkeys. Can she nail the true killer and clear her name in time for Christmas?

Christmas won't be complete without it! A festive treat for fans of Agatha Christie, TE Kinsey and Lee Strauss."

Yes, I am that person you know who lines up their Christmas murder mysteries in advance to spend as little time as possible interacting with anyone over the holidays.

Tales from the Folly by Ben Aaronovitch
Published by: JABberwocky Literary Agency, Inc.
Publication Date: November 17th, 2020
Format: Paperback, 238 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Return to the world of Rivers of London in this first short story collection from #1 Sunday Times bestselling author, Ben Aaronovitch. Tales from the Folly is a carefully curated collection that gathers together previously published stories and brand new tales in the same place for the first time.

Each tale features a new introduction from the author, filled with insight and anecdote offering the reader a deeper exploration into this absorbing fictional world. This is a must read for any Rivers of London fan.

Join Peter, Nightingale, Abigail, Agent Reynolds and Tobias Winter for a series of perfectly portioned tales. Discover what’s haunting a lonely motorway service station, who still wanders the shelves of a popular London bookshop, and what exactly happened to the River Lugg...

With an introduction from internationally bestselling author of the Sookie Stackhouse series, Charlaine Harris."

While I'm very excited about a new Rivers of London book, could they at least have tried with the cover art a little?

Backtrack Vol. 1 by Brian Joines, Jake Elphick, and Dough Garbark
Published by: Oni Press
Publication Date: November 17th, 2020
Format: Paperback, 144 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A former criminal driver is given the chance at redemption by entering a car race but there's just one catch: each leg covers a different period in history.

If you had a chance to fix a mistake from your past, would you take it? Alyson Levy would.

Guilt weighs heavy on former criminal "wheelman," Alyson, who led an illicit life that left hers shattered. Enter Casper Quellex, an eccentric businessman who offers her the break of a lifetime: a massive cross-country car race that grants the winner an opportunity to correct a single mistake in their life. But here’s the catch - each leg covers a different period in history. As if keeping the cars on the often-questionable (sometimes nonexistent) roads and staying ahead of competition wasn’t enough, the drivers will now have to contend with medieval warriors, dinosaurs, and natural disasters…it's all a possibility. Only the one who survives it all will be proven the winner, and like that, Alyson and the rest of the drivers find themselves in a gut-wrenching race through time and quickly learn that they must band together to form any chance for survival. But for an opportunity to turn back time, Alyson will drive from the Big Bang to the death knell of the universe."

Taking the car race premise to a WHOLE. NEW. LEVEL!

The Bright and Breaking Sea by Chloe Neill
Published by: Berkley
Publication Date: November 17th, 2020
Format: Paperback, 2384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Chloe Neill brings her trademark wit and wild sense of adventure to a stunning seafaring fantasy starring a dauntless heroine in a world of magic and treachery.

Kit Brightling, rescued as a foundling and raised in a home for talented girls, has worked hard to rise through the ranks of the Isles’ Crown Command and become one of the few female captains in Queen Charlotte's fleet. Her ship is small, but she's fast—in part because of Kit’s magical affinity to the sea. But the waters become perilous when the queen sends Kit on a special mission with a partner she never asked for.

Rian Grant, Viscount Queenscliffe, may be a veteran of the Continental war, but Kit doesn’t know him or his motives - and she’s dealt with one too many members of the Beau Monde. But Kit has her orders, and the queen has commanded they journey to a dangerous pirate quay and rescue a spy who's been gathering intelligence on the exiled emperor of Gallia.

Kit can lead her ship and clever crew on her own, but with the fate of queen and country at stake, Kit and Rian must learn to trust each other, or else the Isles will fall...."

I always listen to my friend Johnnie's book recommendations and Johnnie says to read this book.

The Rise of Knight and Sword by Miriam Wade
Published by: Zenith
Publication Date: November 17th, 2020
Format: Paperback, 318 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Avalon, city of kings. Sky towers and airships dominate its skyline, dinosaurs roam freely throughout its parklands, and bounty hunters lurk in its shadows.

Guinevere has always lived on the outskirts of Avalon, working as an archivist in the central library. While corruption runs rampant throughout the city, her life is fairly mundane and predictable. That is, until she discovers the map to Excalibur and uncovers a plot to usurp the throne.

Finding herself on the run from these would-be king-slayers, Guinevere sets out to find the mythical sword. But with no one to trust and no where to hide, she must form an uneasy alliance with a pair of notorious bounty hunters.

"My future, and the future of Avalon are forward."

Rise of Knight and Sword is the first installment of the One Sword Saga. It reimagines Arthurian legend in a steampunk fantasy world at the height of the 1920's. Follow Guinevere and crew as they face off against smugglers, wild dinosaurs, hidden motives, and mistrust."

This ticks all my boxes, 1920s, Camelot, Steampunk!

This is Not a Ghost Story by Andrea Portes
Published by: HarperTeen
Publication Date: November 17th, 2020
Format: Hardcover, 288 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Nothing is as it seems in this chilling, twisting tale by bestselling author Andrea Portes, perfect for fans of Madeleine Roux and Danielle Vega.

Rife with dark humor and chilling twists, This Is Not a Ghost Story is American Horror Story meets There’s Someone Inside Your House. It will have readers flipping back to the very first page after the shocking finale.

I am not welcome. Somehow I know that. Something doesn’t want me here.

Daffodil Franklin has plans for a quiet summer before her freshman year at college, and luckily, she’s found the job that can give her just that: housesitting a mansion for a wealthy couple.

But as the summer progresses and shadows lengthen, Daffodil comes to realize the house is more than it appears. The spacious home seems to close in on her, and as she takes the long road into town, she feels eyes on her the entire way, and something tugging her back.

What Daffodil doesn’t yet realize is that her job comes with a steep price. The house has a long-ago grudge it needs to settle...and Daffodil is the key to settling it."

Yas, houses with grudges!

Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics by Dolly Parton
Published by: Chronicle Books
Publication Date: November 17th, 2020
Format: Hardcover, 380 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics is a landmark celebration of the remarkable life and career of a country music and pop culture legend.

As told by Dolly Parton in her own inimitable words, explore the songs that have defined her journey. Illustrated throughout with previously unpublished images from Dolly Parton's personal and business archives.

Mining over 60 years of songwriting, Dolly Parton highlights 175 of her songs and brings readers behind the lyrics.

- Packed with never-before-seen photographs and classic memorabilia

- Explores personal stories, candid insights, and myriad memories behind the songs

Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics reveals the stories and memories that have made Dolly a beloved icon across generations, genders, and social and international boundaries.

Containing rare photos and memorabilia from Parton's archives, this book is a show-stopping must-have for every Dolly Parton fan.

- Learn the history behind classic Parton songs like "Jolene," "9 to 5," "I Will Always Love You," and more.

- The perfect gift for Dolly Parton fans (everyone loves Dolly ) as well as lovers of music history and country

Add it to the shelf with books like Coat of Many Colors by Dolly Parton, The Beatles Anthology by The Beatles, and Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen."

I have seen Dolly on so many talk shows lately I think I'm now obligated to buy this book. 

Egyptomaniacs: How We Became Obsessed With Ancient Egypt by Nicky Nielson
Published by: Pen and Sword History
Publication Date: November 17th, 2020
Format: Hardcover, 224 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The Greek historian Hecataeus of Abdera declared during the 4th century BCE that the Egyptian civilization was unsurpassed in the arts and in good governance, surpassing even that of the Greeks. During the Renaissance, several ecclesiastical nobles, including the Borgia Pope Alexander VI claimed their descent from the Egyptian god Osiris. In the 1920s, the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb in the Valley of the Kings prompted one of the first true media frenzies in history. For thousands of years, the Pharaonic culture has been a source of almost endless fascination and obsession. But to what extent is the popular view of ancient Egypt at all accurate?

In Egyptomaniacs: How We Became Obsessed With Ancient Egypt, Egyptologist Dr Nicky Nielsen examines the popular view of Egypt as an exotic, esoteric, mystical culture obsessed with death and overflowing with mummies and pyramids. The book traces our obsession with ancient Egypt throughout history and methodically investigates, explains and strips away some of the most popular misconceptions about the Pharaohs and their civilization."

I feel so seen.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Agatha Raisin, Andrea Portes, Backtrack, Ben Aaronovitch, Chloe Neill, Dolly Parton, Egypt, M.C. Beaton, Miriam Wade, Verity Bright

Magic by the Lake by Edward Eager
Published by: Turtleback Books
Publication Date: 1957
Format: Hardcover, 208 Pages
To Buy

My mom had one mandatory author I had to love and that author was Edward Eager. Thankfully things worked out or who knows, I might have been disowned. But these books consumed me, as did the artwork by the amazing N.M. Bodecker. Sometimes aspects of a book have so inspired me I've tried to make them real. After reading The Time Garden I was obsessed with planting thyme anywhere my mom would let me in the hopes I'd be able to time travel. As an aside woolly thyme is adorable. I also would imitate Bodecker's style in my artwork creating a Romeo and Juliet comic in high school. The only problem is Edward Eager only wrote seven books, three duologies, two of which are linked, and a standalone. That is not nearly enough! I will always be eager for more! Yes, I know that's a groanworthy pun, but it felt necessary. Interestingly enough until a Christmas where I hunted up all seven first editions for my mother as a present she only had one of Eager's books, Magic by the Lake. This was chronologically the second book in the series though released third and followed Martha, Jane, Mark, and Katharine's further adventures as they went on vacation. While I always loved this volume because it seemed plausible on one of my many trips to Door County that I'd run into a magical turtle I think it was my mom's favorite because of a very bad vacation she took with her family. I don't remember what year it was but when my mom was younger the whole extended family rented a cabin and it was going to be the best summer ever, instead they were trapped inside all day by rain. The one picture that remains is a portrait in misery or great hilarity depending on if you're viewing it from my mother's POV or her dad's, the photographer. I believe that Magic by the Lake became her favorite Eager book because this was the summer vacation she dreamed of and never got. 

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Door County, Edward Eager, Magic by the Lake, N.M. Bodecker, Photography, Romeo and Juliet, Summer, Summer Vacation, The Time Garden, These Are a Few of My Favorite Things, Thyme, Vacation

The Ship That Flew by Hilda Lewis
Published by: Criterion Books
Publication Date: 1939
Format: Hardcover, 180 Pages
To Buy (different edition than one reviewed)

My mom was rather notorious for her dislike of pottery. I was never able to really figure out where this came from other than she gave me a vague feeling that the potters she'd interacted with when she was in art school made her dislike all potters. This is extra ironic because the two known pieces of my mom's pottery extant when I was a child where rather good. There was a coil pot that was rather muppety that eventually suffered a breakage and a viking ship. When I was little I adored that viking ship. Screw when I was little, I STILL adore that viking ship. The detail, the heft, I wanted my mother to make an entire fleet, but sadly there was only the one. One day when I was looking around the house for books to read for school, I went to a Catholic school that took a very punitive track when it came to homework, besides the eight hours of homework a night you had to read two additional books a month to write book reports on, there was The Ship That Flew on my mom's prized bookshelf. I took it down and loved the historical adventures our heroes and heroines take on a viking ship. I instantly made the connection to my mom's creation and asked her if this is why she made it. I needn't have asked, of course it was. As I myself have done all my life she also loved to make things from books become real. Now if only her pottery ship flew in time and space...

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Book Report, Hilda Lewis, History, Homework, Pottery, School, The Ship That Flew, Theses Are a Few of My Favorite Things, Viking Ship, Vikings

Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz
Published by: Harper
Publication Date: November 10th, 2020
Format: Hardcover, 608 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Featuring his famous literary detective Atticus Pund and Susan Ryeland, hero of the worldwide bestseller Magpie Murders, a brilliantly complex literary thriller with echoes of Agatha Christie from New York Times bestselling author Anthony Horowitz.

Retired publisher Susan Ryeland is living the good life. She is running a small hotel on a Greek island with her long-term boyfriend Andreas. It should be everything she's always wanted. But is it? She's exhausted with the responsibilities of making everything work on an island where nothing ever does, and truth be told she's beginning to miss London.

And then the Trehearnes come to stay. The strange and mysterious story they tell, about an unfortunate murder that took place on the same day and in the same hotel in which their daughter was married - a picturesque inn on the Suffolk coast named Farlingaye Hall - fascinates Susan and piques her editor’s instincts.

One of her former writers, the late Alan Conway, author of the fictional Magpie Murders, knew the murder victim - an advertising executive named Frank Parris - and once visited Farlingaye Hall. Conway based the third book in his detective series, Atticus Pund Takes the Cake, on that very crime.

The Trehearne’s, daughter, Cecily, read Conway’s mystery and believed the book proves that the man convicted of Parris’s murder - a Romanian immigrant who was the hotel’s handyman - is innocent. When the Trehearnes reveal that Cecily is now missing, Susan knows that she must return to England and find out what really happened.

Brilliantly clever, relentlessly suspenseful, full of twists that will keep readers guessing with each revelation and clue, Moonflower Murders is a deviously dark take on vintage English crime fiction from one of its greatest masterminds, Anthony Horowitz."

Ever since he adapted Midsomer Murders for the screen Anthony Horowitz is the king of "dark takes on vintage English crime fiction!"

The Camelot Betrayal by Kiersten White
Published by: Delacorte Press
Publication Date: November 10th, 2020
Format: Hardcover, 384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The second book in a new fantasy trilogy from New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White, exploring the nature of self, the inevitable cost of progress, and, of course, magic and romance and betrayal so epic Queen Guinevere remains the most famous queen who never lived.

EVERYTHING IS AS IT SHOULD BE IN CAMELOT: King Arthur is expanding his kingdom's influence with Queen Guinevere at his side. Yet every night, dreams of darkness and unknowable power plague her.

Guinevere might have accepted her role, but she still cannot find a place for herself in all of it. The closer she gets to the people around her - Brangien, pining for her lost love Isolde; Lancelot, fighting to prove her worth as Queen's knight; and Arthur, everything to everyone and thus never quite enough for Guinevere - the more she realizes how empty she is. She has no sense of who she truly was before she was Guinevere. The more she tries to claim herself as queen, the more she wonders if Mordred was right: she doesn't belong. She never will.

When a rescue goes awry and results in the death of something precious, a devastated Guinevere returns to Camelot to find the greatest threat yet has arrived. Not in the form of the Dark Queen or an invading army, but in the form of the real Guinevere's younger sister. Is her deception at an end? And who is she really deceiving - Camelot, or herself?"

I would gladly just live in Camelot. Backstabbing and all!

Tsarina by Ellen Alpsten
Published by: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: November 10th, 2020
Format: Hardcover, 480 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Before there was Catherine the Great, there was Catherine Alexeyevna: the first woman to rule Russia in her own right. Ellen Alpsten's rich, sweeping debut novel is the story of her rise to power.

St. Petersburg, 1725. Peter the Great lies dying in his magnificent Winter Palace. The weakness and treachery of his only son has driven his father to an appalling act of cruelty and left the empire without an heir. Russia risks falling into chaos. Into the void steps the woman who has been by his side for decades: his second wife, Catherine Alexeyevna, as ambitious, ruthless and passionate as Peter himself.

Born into devastating poverty, Catherine used her extraordinary beauty and shrewd intelligence to ingratiate herself with Peter’s powerful generals, finally seducing the Tsar himself. But even amongst the splendor and opulence of her new life - the lavish feasts, glittering jewels, and candle-lit hours in Peter’s bedchamber - she knows the peril of her position. Peter’s attentions are fickle and his rages powerful; his first wife is condemned to a prison cell, her lover impaled alive in Red Square. And now Catherine faces the ultimate test: can she keep the Tsar’s death a secret as she plays a lethal game to destroy her enemies and take the Crown for herself?

From the sensuous pleasures of a decadent aristocracy, to the incense-filled rites of the Orthodox Church and the terror of Peter’s torture chambers, the intoxicating and dangerous world of Imperial Russia is brought to vivid life. Tsarina is the story of one remarkable woman whose bid for power would transform the Russian Empire."

Don't deny it, I know you're just as obsessed with the opulence of Tsarists Russia as I am.

In the Lion's Den by Barbara Taylor Bradford
Published by: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: November 10th, 2020
Format: Hardcover, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"From New York Times bestselling author Barbara Taylor Bradford comes the highly anticipated second book in the House of Falconer saga.

James Lionel Falconer has risen quickly from a mere shop worker to being the right-hand man of Henry Malvern, head of the most prestigious shipping company in London. With Malvern's daughter Alexis running away to the country after a terrible tragedy and refusing to return, James' ascent to head of the company seems inevitable. But even a charmed life like James' is not without its setbacks.

A terrible fire threatens to end his merchant career before it's had a chance to truly begin. Mrs. Ward, James' former paramour, has a secret that could change his life forever. And his distaste for Alexis Malvern is slowly growing into feelings of quite a different sort. Can James continue to be the master of his own fate, or will all of his charm, intelligence, and wit finally fail him when he has to enter the lion's den?

Spanning the years from 1889 to 1892, In the Lion's Den is Barbara Taylor Bradford at her historical storytelling best."

I might be more than a little obsessed with anything during Victoria and Bertie's reign of late and I've been feeling a withdrawal setting in, thankfully Barbara Taylor Bradford has come to the rescue.

A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow by Laura Taylor Namey
Published by: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: November 10th, 2020
Format: Hardcover, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Love and Gelato meets Don’t Date Rosa Santos in this charming, heartfelt story following a Miami girl who unexpectedly finds love - and herself - in a small English town.

For Lila Reyes, a summer in England was never part of the plan. The plan was 1) take over her abuela’s role as head baker at their panadería, 2) move in with her best friend after graduation, and 3) live happily ever after with her boyfriend. But then the Trifecta happened, and everything - including Lila herself - fell apart.

Worried about Lila’s mental health, her parents make a new plan for her: Spend three months with family friends in Winchester, England, to relax and reset. But with the lack of sun, a grumpy inn cook, and a small town lacking Miami flavor (both in food and otherwise), what would be a dream trip for some feels more like a nightmare to Lila...until she meets Orion Maxwell.

A teashop clerk with troubles of his own, Orion is determined to help Lila out of her funk, and appoints himself as her personal tour guide. From Winchester’s drama-filled music scene to the sweeping English countryside, it isn’t long before Lila is not only charmed by Orion, but England itself. Soon a new future is beginning to form in Lila’s mind - one that would mean leaving everything she ever planned behind."

It's like the book industry just knew we needed a whole heck of a lot of romantic escapist literature after last Tuesday.

Cobble Hill by Cecily von Ziegesar
Published by: Atria Books
Publication Date: November 10th, 2020
Format: Hardcover, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Gossip Girl series, a deliciously irresistible novel chronicling a year in the life of four families in an upscale Brooklyn neighborhood as they seek purpose, community, and meaningful relationships - until one unforgettable night at a raucous neighborhood party knocks them to their senses.

Welcome to Cobble Hill.

In this eclectic Brooklyn neighborhood, private storms brew amongst four married couples and their children. There’s ex-groupie Mandy, so underwhelmed by motherhood and her current physical state that she fakes a debilitating disease to get the attention of her skateboarding, ex-boyband member husband Stuart. There’s the unconventional new school nurse, Peaches, on whom Stuart has an unrequited crush, and her disappointing husband Greg, who wears noise-cancelling headphones - everywhere.

A few blocks away, Roy, a well-known, newly transplanted British novelist, has lost the thread of his next novel and his marriage to capable, indefatigable Wendy. Around the corner, Tupper, the nervous, introverted industrial designer with a warehose full of prosthetic limbs struggles to pin down his elusive artist wife Elizabeth. She remains...elusive. Throw in two hormonal teenagers, a ten-year-old pyromaniac, a drug dealer pretending to be a doctor, and a lot of hidden cameras, and you’ve got a combustible mix of egos, desires, and secrets bubbling in brownstone Brooklyn.

Smart, sophisticated, yet surprisingly tender, Cobble Hill is highly entertaining portrait of contemporary family life and the colorful characters who call Brooklyn home."

As long as NONE of the colorful characters happens to be a Humphrey I'm happy.

Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur
Published by: Avon
Publication Date: November 10th, 2020
Format: Paperback, 384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"With nods to Bridget Jones and Pride and Prejudice, this debut is a delightful #ownvoices queer rom-com about a free-spirited social media astrologer who agrees to fake a relationship with an uptight actuary until New Year’s Eve - with results not even the stars could predict!

After a disastrous blind date, Darcy Lowell is desperate to stop her well-meaning brother from playing matchmaker ever again. Love - and the inevitable heartbreak - is the last thing she wants. So she fibs and says her latest set up was a success. Darcy doesn’t expect her lie to bite her in the ass.

Elle Jones, one of the astrologers behind the popular Twitter account Oh My Stars, dreams of finding her soul mate. But she knows it is most assuredly not Darcy...a no-nonsense stick-in-the-mud, who is way too analytical, punctual, and skeptical for someone as free-spirited as Elle. When Darcy’s brother - and Elle's new business partner - expresses how happy he is that they hit it off, Elle is baffled. Was Darcy on the same date? Because...awkward.

Darcy begs Elle to play along and she agrees to pretend they’re dating. But with a few conditions: Darcy must help Elle navigate her own overbearing family during the holidays and their arrangement expires on New Year’s Eve. The last thing they expect is to develop real feelings during a faux relationship. But maybe opposites can attract when true love is written in the stars?"

Sigh, happy rom-com time.

Whispering Hearts by V.C. Andrews
Published by: Gallery Books
Publication Date: November 10th, 2020
Format: Hardcover, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"A desperate young woman’s bargain with a wealthy couple is not what it seems. From the #1 New York Times bestselling author and literary phenomenon V.C. Andrews - whose books are now major Lifetime TV movies (Flowers in the Attic, Heaven, Ruby) - comes a gothic tale of big city dreams gone wrong.

The English countryside is beautiful, but for Emma Corey it cannot compare with the bright lights of New York City. Tired of performing only in pubs and at church, she announces she’s moving to America - and her conservative father disowns her on the spot.

Distraught but undeterred, Emma will become a Broadway star - or die trying. Leaving the comforts of her youth is a thrilling adventure. The largeness of the city, her new friends, the boundless opportunities make everything shine with promise. However, New York has a way of chipping away at a newcomer’s resolve. First a robbery. Then a low-wage job. Then the realization that such a city attracts the young and the talented - competitors all.

Just when it seems like Emma might have to admit defeat and return to the UK, she is introduced to a peculiar couple: a wife that cannot bear children of her own, and a husband who would pay Emma to solve that problem.

Emma’s father once told her, "Money is life." But when Emma trades one for the other and moves into the couple’s remote estate to participate in an elaborate ruse, there’s no telling what kind of life she’ll have once she’s taken the money."

I love how good V.C. Andrews is in creating the Gothic in environments where you don't think a Gothic vibe would flourish.

This Time Next Year We'll Be Laughing by Jacqueline Winspear
Published by: Soho Press
Publication Date: November 10th, 2020
Format: Hardcover, 312 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The New York Times bestselling author of the Maisie Dobbs series offers a deeply personal memoir of her family’s resilience in the face of war and privation.

After sixteen novels, Jacqueline Winspear has taken the bold step of turning to memoir, revealing the hardships and joys of her family history. Both shockingly frank and deftly restrained, her story tackles the difficult, poignant, and fascinating family accounts of her paternal grandfather’s shellshock; her mother’s evacuation from London during the Blitz; her soft-spoken animal-loving father’s torturous assignment to an explosives team during WWII; her parents’ years living with Romany Gypsies; and Winspear’s own childhood picking hops and fruit on farms in rural Kent, capturing her ties to the land and her dream of being a writer at its very inception.

An eye-opening and heartfelt portrayal of a post-War England we rarely see, This Time Next Year We’ll Be Laughing chronicles a childhood in the English countryside, of working class indomitability and family secrets, of artistic inspiration and the price of memory."

I know know, we're all sad there's no Maisie Dobbs this year, but hopefully this will fill the void for you until the next installment comes out.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Alexandria Bellefleur, Cecily von Ziegesar, Cobble Hill, Jacqueline Winspear, Laura Taylor Namey, Maisie Dobbs, This Time Next Year We'll Be Laughing, V.C. Andrews, Written in the Stars