strange and random happenstance

So last year I did this end of year/beginning of the year tally to see what I've read, and also, what I remember and it turned out to be a ton of fun, so therefore, new tradition! As Terry Pratchett has said, twice equals tradition. Because the true strength of a book is not the impression right after you read it, but the impression that remains. You might think that a book you read yesterday was the greatest thing since sliced bread, but a month, or even a week later, you can remember nothing. So, without further ado, my 116... reads of 2012, and yes, that means I did reach my reading goal and beat last years total of 114 books! Yeah for sticking to at least one New Year's resolution! Sure it meant reading more than eighteen books in December, but I was game.

Also, stay attuned to this site, because for the rest of January I'll be counting down my best reads of 2012! That's right, you will get to read about the cream of the crop, the best of the best. The ones you can skip ahead and read and avoid all the really bad reads of the past year... because you can't have awesome books without a few bad ones, at least in my experience.

1) Something Borrowed, Brenda and Effie Book 2 by Paul Magrs: Loved that it expanded on Brenda's past and while I loved the more episodic nature of the first book, this style shift made room for a longer running series with more overall arcs.

2) Death Comes to Pemberly by PD James: So bad! I was hoping for some Wickham death, and what did I get? A live Wickham and hundreds of pages of Regency rural procedural law, snore.

3) The Adventures of TinTin Volume Two by Herge: So far, I'm not really seeing the appeal of TinTin... and why does a "kid" have a gun to thwart all these people who want to kill him? And why do they want to kill him? Just weird all around.

4) Cinder, Lunar Chronicles Book 1 by Marissa Meyer: Cinderella meets Firefly! I think I'm in love! Though boo for a cliffhanger I have to wait a year to get resolution to. Also, I have a feeling each book will be a cliffhanger till the forth and final book, so a few years of this to come. Also I got to meet Marissa this year and she's really nice.

5) Sweet Revenge, A Lady Arianna Regency Mystery Book 1 by Andrea Penrose: I thought it was a fun little Regency romp with yet another broody, drug riddled man to reform. Not sure I liked the interruption of the story with modern day chocolate recipes, but it's a current fad and they're easy to skip over. Will totally be picking up the second book.

6) The Girl Who Played with Fire, Millennium Book 2  by Stieg Larsson: Still not getting why these where such a hit. Plus, the only reason to read them is for Lisbeth, and she was MIA for, oh, the entire book, which ended on a cliffhanger I might add!

7) Shades of Milk and Honey, Glamourist Histories Book 1 by Mary Robinette Kowal: Jane Austen with magic! But so much more. I adore the world that Mary Robinette Kowal has created and how she has devised and explained her world's magic. I have high hopes for this series.

8) And Only to Deceive, Lady Emily Book 1 by Tasha Alexander: Since I was finally going to meet Tasha (yeah, Tasha is awesome), I figured I'd better get to work and read at least one of her books. I really enjoyed how much antiquities played into the story and I really really really wanted her husband to not be dead.

9) A Poisoned Season, Lady Emily Book 2 by Tasha Alexander: Tasha does a French themed version of Wilkie Collins's The Moonstone.

10) Bunny and Biscuits, A Very Dorrington Valentine's Day by Lauren Willig: Fabulous, and it felt like it was written just for me. Side note, I won the naming competition for this, and then name did influence a few things in the story, so yeah, it was like it was written for me! BEST VALENTINE'S GIFT EVER!

11) Timeless, The Parasol Protectorate Book 5 by Gail Carriger: Great ending to the series. So happy that Gail didn't drag it out and flog it like a dead horse. Also, love that it was in Egypt and that Prudence is like the cutest little monster in the world.

12) A Storm of Swords, A Song of Ice and Fire Book 3 by George R R Martin: Easily my favorite book in the series, aside from the random Lesbianism. Also Joffrey dies!

13) Silent in the Grave, Lady Julia Book 1 by Deanna Raybourn: Another Victorian series with another widow heroine? Please no.

14) Fables Volume 1: Legends in Exhile by Bill Willingham: Everyone's been telling me to read these Graphic Novels about Fairy Tales in the real world for years... kind of a shaky start.

15) Tintin in the Land of the Soviets by Herge: Ok, not as over the top evil Soviets as Eloise in Moscow, but still, easy to forget how scared we where of them for so long, even in the comics!

16) The Sandman Volume 5: A Game of You by Neil Gaiman: OK, am I just missing the boat here? I mean EVERYONE is always going on about how awesome The Sandman books are and I have yet to even slightly like them, and in most cases am freaked out or disturbed by them.

17) Fair Game, Alpha and Omega Book 3 by Patricia Briggs: While no Mercy Thompson this year (sigh) at least Briggs delivered a strong story set in the same world, and firstly, really gripping serial killer story, secondly, the last few pages, man, that's going to throw this universe into turmoil. I can't wait!

18) Chi's Sweet Home Volume 8 by Kanata Konami: Whenever I'm in need of a kitty fix, this is where I go. Meow.

19) Soulless the Manga Volume 1 by Gail Carriger: Great manga adaptation of Gail's first Parasol Protectorate book, also great recap if you're starting to get a little fuzzy on the details.

20) A Feast of Crows, A Song of Ice and Fire Book 4 by George R R Martin: Ok, so better than I remembered, because, well, mainly I was just pissed last time that I only got half a book.

21) Sparkling Cyanide by Agatha Christie: The thing I find interesting about Christie is that you are always in the moment with the book, totally loving it and following all the twists and turns, but a short while later, you've totally forgotten it, so you can re-read it at leisure.

22) Coraline by Neil Gaiman: Re-read for school (I know, sometimes homework is so awesome). Also, the book throws into stark relief how bad the movie was, story wise. You just don't mess with the perfection of a Neil Gaiman story (at least a Neil Gaiman story that is perfect, like this one is.)

23) Fables Volume 2: Animal Farm by Bill Willingham: Getting better, though I could do without the headless pig... just saying...

24) A Dance with Dragons, A Song of Ice and Fire Book 5 by George R R Martin: Five years and this is what I get!?! You're dead to me GRRM, hear that? No resolutions, just more mysteries and you are so never finishing this. So therefore, you are dead to me. 

25) Glamour in Glass, Glamourists Histories by Mary Robinette Kowal: Awesome! Just the way Mary Robinette Kowal has continued to build her world and also create not just the most romantic couple out there, but a loving couple that works together and takes care of each other. Also, the heroine kicks some serious ass. The French history and all that is just an extra awesome bonus.

26) A Bride's Story Volume 3 by Kaoru Mori: The problem I have with this series is that quite literally all the characters look the same, and therefore I get horribly confused. So the story may be awesome... it just requires a more dedicated person than me. I mainly by them for the hilarious afterwards now.

27) The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Arnim: Hated it. Oh, everyone's life is so hard at this magical villa that makes everything perfect in the gorgeous Italian seaside. Poo on you all.

28) Fables Volume 3: Storybook Love by Bill Willingham: Snow White hooking up with The Big Bad Wolf... interesting, not sure if I by it.

29) Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed: I still don't get why this book was so popular. It was a quick read, but if I wanted to read about a woman who cheated on her husband, did heroin and had an abortion and then ended up eating her own mothers ashes... I wouldn't have picked up a book about HIKING! Bait and switch and eww. Also, changing her last name to Strayed... seems a bit too, "I'm a precious artiste" for me.

30) Start and Run a Graphic Design Business by Michael Huggins: Mildly boring but mostly helpful guide to working as a freelance graphic designer, and yes, I read it for school, how did you guess?

31) Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, Dirk Gently Book 1 by Douglas Adams: Amazing how little I remember of this book, which I picked up as a re-read after my interest in Dirk was rekindled by the amazing new tv series. Thanks for cancelling that stupid BBC.

32) Dead Reckoning, Sookie Stackhouse Book 11 by Charlaine Harris: Obligatory re-read of the previous Sookie book to prepare for the new one... fairies are up to something... some other things happen... Eric is engaged, right? See, at this point, it doesn't really matter.

33) Deadlocked, Sookie Stackhouse Book 12 by Charlaine Harris: I like the clearing of the decks mentality of this one. All unnecessary supes and characters dead or gone. Come on happy ending with Sam! Also, so happy that there's only one more book, sometimes a series just needs to end.

34) Introducing Aunt Dimity Paranormal Detective: The First Two Books in the Beloved Series by Nancy Atherton: The first book was so blah I couldn't understand why people liked it, but the second was far more entertaining and kind of like British Gothic mystery light in Cornwall with some Du Maurier overtones. Don't know if I'll read more though, especially if the rest star the protagonist of the first dull as dishwater book.

35) Fables Volume 4: March of the Wooden Soldiers by Bill Willingham: Wooden soldiers that are just as creepy as Pinocchio... at least his creepy level in this series I should say.

36) Princess Academy by Shannon Hale: Loved the re-read to prepare for the sequel, which I still have to get around to reading. I love when a book is just as good or better than second time around.

37) The Reincarnationist by M.J. Rose: So, so stupid. Firstly, the title is impossible to say, secondly, just totally invalidate everything your book set out to do in the last page and give us no ending. Oh, and don't forget the steamy shower sex scene, with the hero... with just the memories of sandalwood and jasmine. That's right, time for some sexy masturbation with memories of your past life love. Eww.

38) Some Girlfriends Can by Stephanie Burgus: Boring and stupid story about a girl whose boyfriend's ex is a Greek goddess and how this makes said girlfriend feel inadequate. Lesson, just don't date anyone still into their ex, especially if they where a goddess. Ok, note taken.

39) The Uninvited Guests by Sadie Jones: Was so excited when this took a supernatural bent, but then it went on too long. Would have been a great novella or short story, look to Shirley Jackson and editing.

40) Seriously, Just Go To Sleep by Adam Mansbach: Not funny. The "cleaned up" version of Mansbach's hilarious book was just dull.

41) A Discovery of Witches, All Souls Trilogy Book 1 by Deborah Harkness: I really liked the beginning of this book with a kick ass independent heroine into books and rowing, then she became all damsel in distress and it was like an adult version of Twilight... so, things to love and hate about it. 

42) The Sandman Volume 6: Fables and Reflections by Neil Gaiman: Again, still not digging The Sandman.

43) Fables Volume 5: The Mean Seasons by Bill Willingham: Bigby's back!

44) Fables Volume 6: Homelands by Bill Willingham: The Fables' homelands are a little more interesting to me than their new community in our world.

45) Fables Volume 7: Arabian Nights (and Days) by Bill Willingham: Blah. Could have been interesting but came off kind of racist.

46) Fables Volume 8: Wolves by Bill Willingham: Bigby's dad, while not really a nice guy, is awesome, mainly because his dad is the North Wind!

47) Phoenix Rising, The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Book 1 by Philippa Ballantine and Tee Morris: So so awesome. New series to love. I just love the hero's book nerdiness that covers his past of hard military training and a harsh life with no love, couple with the feisty heroine, perfect combo, hope the writer's play out their relationship right...

48) Tales from the Archives Collection 1, The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences by Philippa Ballantine and Tee Morris: Mixed bag, several very awesome. Wish there was an appendix for all these extra agents.

49) Tales from the Archives Collection 2, The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences by Philippa Ballantine and Tee Morris: More of the same.

50) Tales from the Archives, Sins of the Father, The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences by Tee Morris: Wellington's father is not nice, end of story.

51) Tales from the Archives Collection 3, The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences by Philippa Ballantine and Tee Morris: More mixed bag.

52) Tales from the Archives, A Swan in Siam, The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences by PJ Schnyder: All I remember is I didn't like this one.

53) Tales from the Archives, Women of the Empire, The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences by JR Blackwell: Really stupid one which is all about vibrator jokes... lame.

54) Tales from the Archives, The Emperor's Fist, The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences by JR Murdock: Was this the one with the monkey? Sometimes reading a lot of short stories in succession isn't the best because you forget things.

55) Marine Biology by Gail Carriger: Such a cute story about a young gay werewolf finding his place in the world. Extra love because it's in the same "world" as Gail's series!

56) Ender's Game, Ender's Saga Book 1 by Orson Scott Card: Hated! Racist, hate spewing doggerel with Scott Card's own homophobic feelings exuding from the pages. It was hard to even finish it. Also, boring.

57) Jack of Fables Volume 1: The (Nearly) Great Escape by Bill Willingham: Why does Jack get a spin off? He's such a boring character. Also, I'm sorry, but I don't think Jack and the Beanstalk could ever get a Lord of the Rings like following... just saying.

58) The Janus Affair, The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Book 2 by Philippa Ballantine and Tee Morris: Totally let me down. High hopes, but if they are coming stateside, I don't think I will like it...

59) Everyone's Reading Bastard by Nick Hornby: Stupid and pointless short story about a jackass and how his ex exploits him in the media. Also ended very abruptly.

60) Tales from the Archives, The Wrong Camera, The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences by Catherine Ford: I kind of want a camera that can show the future... only kind of mind you.

61) The Long Earth by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter: So good I forgive Terry for blowing up my home town. Also, I can't wait to see where this goes, as this was kind of an introduction to the world Terry and Stephen have created.

62) A Midsummer Tights Dream, The Misadventures of Tallulah Casey Book 2 by Louise Rennison: Gaw. I need to stop. I thought these would be good, but they're falling prey to the same faults of Rennison's first series only faster. Also, again, only a few weeks for the story... she needs to write more mature and longer material. Make it substantive!

63) The Arctic Marauder by Jacques Tardi: Ok, I read this because of his shout out in his other series where he was obviously pissed that no one bought this. I get why no one bought it, it's a boring story about an iceberg that is really a ship, the end, nothing else happens.

64) Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall by Bill Willingham: So amazing! I have always thought that the failings of the Fables comics was in the traditional and boring handling of the interior artwork. Here other artists where given free reign and it is a work of art. Words and images in perfect synch. LOVE.

65) Shadow of the Night, All Souls Trilogy Book 2 by Deborah Harkness: Unlike most people, I liked this more than the first. I enjoyed the history and was interested, though I could have done with a few less icky sex scenes.

66) Fables Volume 9: Sons of Empire by Bill Willingham: Um... don't really remember this one, was the war starting?

67) Conjugal Rites, Brenda and Effie Book 3 by Paul Magrs: Frank is back for Brenda, and it doesn't go how anyone expected, making it all the more fun!

68) Jack of Fables Volume 2: Jack of Hearts by Bill Willingham: Vegas, Gary and his disappearing/reappearing mustache using lady luck, who is real and not figurative. So don't cheat at slots, because fables get mad at you.

69) Fables Volume 10: The Good Prince by Bill Willingham: About the Frog Prince, Ambrose, who is one of the more interesting characters in these comics.

70) The Shrinking of Treehorn by Florence Parry Heide: Ok, if my kid started shrinking I would take him to the hospital, not ignore him.

71) Middlesex by Jeffery Eugenides: So well written, but just all the different varieties of stories and how sometimes each section was wrapped up too fast ended up turning me off the book. Dare I say it might have worked as different volumes or as a longer book?

72) Warehouse 13 Graphic Novel by Ben Rabb: Horrid. Everyone out of character and not looking anything like the actors. One of the, if not the worst graphic novel from tv series I've ever read. That's including all the bad Dr Who and Kevin Smith stuff I've read.

73) Boneshaker, Clockwork Century Book 1 by Cherie Priest: Ok... not that I had a fear of zombies before, but I think I might now. Amazing worldbuilding, and totally claustrophobic.

74) The Guild: Knights of Good by Felicia Day: More fun! Don't know why they didn't include the Fawkes one-shot though.

75) Hell's Belles, Brenda and Effie Book 4 by Paul Magrs: Horror films with curses plus Brenda and Effie equals their best book yet!

76) Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell: Funny and cute and really not as dull or full of death as the miniseries made it appear.

77) My Lady Ludlow by Elizabeth Gaskell: So long and boring, I didn't need a treatise on every member of Lady Ludlow's staff or a couple hundred pages on the French Revolution. Pick one and stick with it. And pick the Revolution, because the servants are dull as dirt, Julian Fellowes you aren't.

78) Tales from the Archives, A Trick of Strong Immagination, The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences by Alyson Grauer: Write a rip off of The Night Circus only 1000 times worse, why not, I'll never read it again.

79) Chi's Sweet Home Volume 8 by Kanata Konami: Kitty!

80) Mr. Harrison's Confessions by Elizabeth Gaskell: Wow, Mr. Harrison is full of himself and really annoying. So far improved for the miniseries, which I find shocking.

81) Glitches, Lunar Chronicles Prequel by Marissa Meyer: Backstory on Cinder! So interesting seeing her first interactions with her "evil step-mother". Oh, can't wait for the next book!

82) The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern: Awesome. Also, re-reading, you can see so much foreshadowing about Marco and Celia's fate that I'm shocked I didn't see it the first time.

83) The Affinity Bridge, Newbury and Hobbes Book 1 by George Mann: Didn't expect to love it so much, but I did. Also I never ever want robots or cyborgs or any kind of automaton ever, thank you. 

84) The Bride That Time Forgot, Brenda and Effie Book 5 by Paul Magrs: Brenda goes B.C. in a very camp way. Not my favorite, but still a ton of fun.

85) 666 Charing Cross Road by Paul Magrs: I'm all for Helene Hanff parodies, but this sometimes dragged a bit. Like it was going to be more books and instead all these ideas where shoved in one. Also, apparently high fatalities...

86) The Angel's Kiss: A Melody Malone Mystery by Justin Richards: A book that is like reading River Song's mind. A MUST for all Dr Who fans!

87) The Ninnies by Paul Magrs: Evil Roald Dahl! LOVE IT!

88) The Frozen Deep by Wilkie Collins and Charles Dickens: Arctic expedition actually made interesting through creating a love interest and paranormal aspects.

89) Dodger by Terry Pratchett: Terry Pratchett perfectly re-creating Dickens's world with a very artful Dodger at it's center. Pure Dickens and pure Pratchett combined together wonderfully. I hope he writes more.

90) Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife by Mary Roach: Mary Roach, despite at the end declaring herself a believer, seems skeptical and hostile to many people she meets, especially Allison Dubois, who the show Medium is based on. Also, you will NEVER get the images from the ectoplasm chapter out of your head. NEVER!

91) Speaking From Among the Bones, Flavia De Luce Book 5 by Alan Bradley: Another great Flavia installment, which was nicely twisty and turny and had a doozey of an ending.

92) Etiquette and Espionage, Finishing School Book 1 by Gail Carriger: Wanted to love it, ended up hating it. Just too cliched and... just not what I was expecting. Juvenile and blah.

93) Where's My Cow by Terry Pratchett: Because Sam Vimes teaching his son an Ankh Morpork version of "Where's My Cow" is awesome. Buggerit.

94) Tales from the Archives, The Cross of Columba, The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences by Doc Coleman: Awesome Loch Ness monster story, made all the better because I read it with a kitty asleep on my lap.

95) The Warden, The Chronicles of Barset Book 1 by Anthony Trollope: Dull... not as dull as I thought it might be, but church minutiae is dull. Funny the cracks against Dickens that Trollope makes.

96) The Inheritance by Louisa May Alcott: Boring tale of girl finding true love despite thinking she was a penniless orphan... I liked the tv movie better.

97) The Dangerous Alphabet by Neil Gaiman: So cool how not only it's dark and bleak, but if you look carefully, there are so many awesome words starting with each letter in each section. Look for some shrunken heads and dead penguins!

98) Kaoru Mori: Anything and Something by Kaoru Mori: So odd. Many of the items where so random and oddly assembled, that I couldn't get any entertainment out of it.

99) The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Book 1 by Douglas Adams: One of THE books that got me really into reading. Re-read it for book club and I can see that I don't think I'd recommend anyone to read it later than their teens, it loses something if it's not already a part of you.

100) A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens: I finally read something fully Dickens! And it was dull.

101) How to Tell if Your Cat is Plotting to Kill You by Matthew Inman: Bobcats alone are worth the price of this book. Everything else is just awesome extras. MUST OWN for people who are the servants of cats.

102) Silent in the Sanctuary, Lady Julia Book 2 by Deana Raybourn: Ok, I was really digging the Christmas vibe but the fact that the ending played out exactly as I had guessed AND ripped off Agatha Christie pissed me off.

103) Tales from the Archives, In the Spirit of Christmas, The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences by Tee Morris: A Christmas Carol parody! YES! I needed this after my first reading of A Christmas Carol and being bored to tears.

104) Jack of Fables Volume 3: The Bad Prince by Bill Willingham: Umm... I know I just read this, but it's just more of Jack being Jack... they where in the Grand Canyon right? Oh wait, this had the funny sword in the stone stuck through him!

105) Daughter of Smoke and Book, Daughter of Smoke and Book Book 1 by Laini Taylor: Really wanted to fully love it, came close, and did make me desperate for the sequel. Also, I want to be surrounded by friendly monsters.

106)  Fables Volume 11: War and Pieces by Bill Willingham: Finally, once we have the war we won't have to deal with it anymore right?

107) Jack of Fables Volume 4: Americana by Bill Willingham: Not what I was expecting, which was Jack in the olde thyme US, not a fable "homeland", so boo for that.

108) Jack of Fables Volume 5: Turning Pages by Bill Willingham: Wow, they are now having war over in this one too... war war war, too much war.

109) Tales from the Archives, Curtain Call, The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences by Shaun Farrell: Horrid, creepy and ick. Avoid.

110) Doctor Who: Devil in the Smoke by Justin Richards: Dr Who Victorian style, I love it! Also, Strax, last seen in A Good Man Goes to War, best comic relief ever!

111) Jack of Fables Volume 6: The Big Book of War by Bill Willingham: War again, sigh.

112) Fables Volume 12: The Dark Ages by Bill Willingham: War over... and now it's repercussions of war, sigh, new story line please.

113) Soulless Manga Volume 2 by Gail Carriger: Just as great as the first manga, but not my favorite, mainly because this is my favorite book and it just couldn't do it 100% justice. It's close...

114) Days of Blood and Starlight, Daughter of Smoke and Book Book 1 by Laini Taylor: I could not put this down!

115) Peter and Max by Bill Willingham: Just an amazing book set in the Fables world, but you don't need to have read those comics to get this awesomeness in your life. So amazing and gripping, like Fairy Tale serial killers!

116) A Friendly Game of Murder by JJ Murphy: The newest Algonquin Road Table book didn't fail to delight. What I loved about this was it was basically a locked room mystery in a locked room mystery all set on New Year's Eve with Arthur Conan Doyle as the guest start!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 8 comments  

So, a year has finally past. And what a year it's been, with many ups, many downs, and more downs, and well, let's put it this way, I'm very happy it has drawn to a close and that now with January there will be a fresh start. Health crises, friends moving away, you name it, it happened. But for all the sad, there was many a happy. New friends, friends having new babies, new books, school drawing to a close, which is whistful and therefore goes under neither category. Hopefully this year will be awesome and wonderful and I invite every one of you to come along with me as I continue blogging about my love of books and Brits and banalities... and yes, there will be good books this year, I can just feel it. A happy New Year one and all!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

A Friendly Game of Murder by J.J. Murphy
Published by: Signet
Publication Date: January 1st, 2013
Format: Mass Market Paperback, 336 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Why should Dorothy Parker’s friends be the only ones making “enviable names” in “science, art, and parlor games”? Dorothy can play with the best of them—as she sets out to prove at a New Year’s Eve party at the Algonquin Hotel. Since the swanky soiree is happening in the penthouse suite of swashbuckling star Douglas Fairbanks, some derring-do is called for. How about a little game of “Murder”?

Each partygoer draws a card to be detective, murderer, or victim. But young Broadway starlet Bibi Bibelot trumps them all when her dead body is found in the bathtub. No one knows who the killer is, but one thing is for sure—they won’t be making gin in that bathtub.

When more partiers are put in peril, it becomes clear the game is indeed on, and it’s up to Dorothy, surprise guest Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and the members of the Round Table to stay alive—and relatively sober—long enough to find the killer…"

THE BOOK I've been waiting over a year to read! I just adore this cozy series.

Fonduing Fathers by Julie Hyzy
Published by: Berkley
Publication Date: January 1st, 2013
Format: Mass Market Paperback, 304 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"White House executive chef Olivia Paras has enough on her plate. But after gaining new information about her father’s death, the First Family isn’t the only family Olivia is concerned about…

Olivia has always believed that her father was an honorable man—until a trip to visit her mother reveals that he was dishonorably discharged from the army. Olivia is even more shocked to learn that he was brutally murdered because someone at his company suspected him of selling corporate secrets. Refusing to believe that her father was a scoundrel, Olivia won’t rest until she proves his innocence.

Enlisting the help of her boyfriend, Gav, Olivia must reach out to her father’s colleagues to discover the truth behind his murder. What she’s about to discover may not only put her at risk, but threaten national security as well…"

My Mother's favorite cozy series, which sadly comes out after Christmas, but right before her birthday, score!

Touch of Demon by Diana Rowland
Published by: DAW
Publication Date: January 1st, 2013
Format: Mass Market Paperback, 448 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Kara Gillian is in Seriously Deep Trouble.

She's used to summoning supernatural creatures from the demon realm to our world, but now she's the one who's been summoned. Kara is the prisoner of the demonic Lord Mzatal, but quickly discovers that she's far more than a mere hostage. He has his own plans to use Kara and keep her from Rhyzkahl-the demonic lord she is sworn to serve. However, waiting for rescue has never been Kara's style, and she has no intention of being a pawn in someone else's game.

Yet intrigue and treachery run rampant amongst all lords, and Kara is hard pressed to keep her wits about her. Her abilities as a homicide detective are put the the test as she seeks the truth about FBI Agent Ryan Kristoff, Rhyzkahl, and herself. But, the answers she finds only raise more questions. She soon discovers that she has her own history in the demon realm-one that goes back farther than she could have ever imagined. But that history may yet spell her doom as she’s faced with a peril beyond mortal comprehension.

She’s going to need all the strength and tenacity she’s developed as a cop and a summoner, or the hell she endures may well last forever."

I haven't read this series of Rowland's, being familiar with her Zombie White Trash series, but, according to Felicia Day it's "amaze-balls" so I'm sold.

Catherine by April Linder
Published by: Poppy
Publication Date: January 1st, 2013
Format: Hardcover, 320 Pages
To Buy

"A forbidden romance. A modern mystery. Wuthering Heights as you've never seen it before.

Catherine is tired of struggling musicians befriending her just so they can get a gig at her Dad's famous Manhattan club, The Underground. Then she meets mysterious Hence, an unbelievably passionate and talented musician on the brink of success. As their relationship grows, both are swept away in a fiery romance. But when their love is tested by a cruel whim of fate, will pride keep them apart?

Chelsea has always believed that her mom died of a sudden illness, until she finds a letter her dad has kept from her for years -- a letter from her mom, Catherine, who didn't die: She disappeared. Driven by unanswered questions, Chelsea sets out to look for her -- starting with the return address on the letter: The Underground.

Told in two voices, twenty years apart, Catherine interweaves a timeless forbidden romance with a compelling modern mystery."

After the way she handled Jane Eyre, it will be interesting to see what she does with another Bronte classic!

The Tutor's Daughter by Julie Klassen
Published by: Bethany House
Publication Date: January 1st, 2013
Format: Paperback, 416 Pages
To Buy

"Emma Smallwood, determined to help her widowed father when his boarding school fails, accompanies him to the cliff-top manor of a baronet and his four sons. But soon after they arrive and begin teaching the two younger boys, mysterious things begin to happen. Who does Emma hear playing the pianoforte at night, only to find the music room empty? And who begins sneaking into her bedchamber, leaving behind strange mementoes?

The baronet's older sons, Phillip and Henry Weston, wrestle with problems—and secrets—of their own. They both remember the studious Miss Smallwood from their days at her father's academy. But now one of them finds himself unexpectedly drawn to her...

When suspicious acts escalate, can Emma figure out which brother to blame and which to trust with her heart?"

Oh, kind of a Jane Eyre Jane Austen vibe going on, which I don't think I can pass up.

The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen by Syrie James
Published by: Herkley Trade
Publication Date: January 1st, 2013
Format: Mass Market Paperback, 432 Pages
To Buy

"The minute I saw the letter, I knew it was hers. There was no mistaking it: the salutation, the tiny, precise handwriting, the date, the content itself, all confirmed its ancient status and authorship…

Samantha McDonough cannot believe her eyes--or her luck. Tucked in an uncut page of a two-hundred-year old poetry book is a letter she believes was written by Jane Austen, mentioning with regret a manuscript that "went missing at Greenbriar in Devonshire." Could there really be an undiscovered Jane Austen novel waiting to be found? Could anyone resist the temptation to go looking for it?

Making her way to the beautiful, centuries-old Greenbriar estate, Samantha finds it no easy task to sell its owner, the handsome yet uncompromising Anthony Whitaker, on her wild idea of searching for a lost Austen work--until she mentions its possible million dollar value.

After discovering the unattributed manuscript, Samantha and Anthony are immediately absorbed in the story of Rebecca Stanhope, daughter of a small town rector, who is about to encounter some bittersweet truths about life and love. As they continue to read the newly discovered tale from the past, a new one unfolds in the present--a story that just might change both of their lives forever."

Syrie James had some success with her Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte lost memoirs, and here she is, hopefully back in stride with those.

The Garden Intrigue by Lauren Willig
Published by: NAL
Publication Date: January 1st, 2013
Format: Mass Market Paperback, 448 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Secret agent Augustus Whittlesby has spent a decade undercover in France, posing as an insufferably bad poet. The French surveillance officers can’t bear to read his work closely enough to recognize the information drowned in a sea of verbiage.

New York-born Emma Morris Delagardie is a thorn in Augustus’s side. An old school friend of Napoleon’s stepdaughter, she came to France with her uncle, eloped with a Frenchman, and has been rattling around the salons of Paris ever since. Now widowed, she entertains herself by holding a weekly salon, and loudly critiquing Augustus’s poetry.

As Napoleon pursues his plans for the invasion of England, Whittlesby hears of a top-secret device to be demonstrated at a house party. The catch? The only way in is with Emma, who has been asked to write a masque for the weekend’s entertainment. In this complicated masque within a masque, nothing goes quite as scripted—especially Augustus’s unexpected feelings for Emma."

What kind of friend would I be if I didn't promote the lovely paperback edition of Augustus finally getting his lady? Who I like to picture as Bernadette from The Big Bang Theory.

Grave Sight by Charlaine Harris
Published by: InkLit
Publication Date: January 1st, 2013
Format: Hardcover, 160 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Lightning-struck sleuth Harper Connelly and her stepbrother Tolliver are experts at getting in, getting paid, and then getting out of town fast—because the people who hire Harper have a funny habit of not really wanting to know what she has to tell them. At first, the little Ozarks town of Sarne seems like no exception. A teenage girl has gone missing, and Harper knows almost immediately that this girl is dead. But the secrets of her death—and the secrets of the town—are deep enough that even Harper’s special ability can’t uncover them. With hostility welling up all around them, she and Tolliver would like nothing better than to be on their way. But then another woman is murdered. And the killer’s not finished yet…"

So, I've always like Harper Connelly more than Sookie, even if some people think there's some grosser aspects to these stories, I'm still a fan. I have also been waiting for this to come out in one edition so I didn't have to hunt up all the issues. What's with Harper looking like Doctor Manhattan from Watchmen though?

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Charlaine Harris, Diana Rowland, Fonduing Fathers, Harper Connelly, J.J. Murphy, Julie Hyzy, Julie Klassen, Lauren Willig, Pink Carnation, The Garden Intrique, Touch of Demon, Watchmen

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Published by: Everyman's Library
Publication Date: 1843
Format: Hardcover, 180 Pages
Rating: ★★
To Buy

Ebenezer Scrooge is not a nice man. Miserly and miserable. On this Christmas Eve, the seventh anniversary of the death of his business partner, Jacob Marley, the fates will try to change this man forever. Upon arriving home he is visited by the ghost of Marley who tells Ebenezer that tonight he will be visited by three spirits who will try to change his fate. If he doesn't head their warnings he will be forced to carrying the chains of his own making when he leaves this earthly coil. The ghosts will show him the past, present, and future, and they hope that what they have to show will bring joy and love into Ebenezer's heart... or he too will be cursed as Marley's ghost is.

One of my earliest holiday memories is watching Mickey's Christmas Carol, which had a surprising lack of Mickey, being relegated to the role of Bob Cratchit. But then again, it was only right that it stared Uncle Scrooge... who, while created in the fifties, was in fact based on the Victorian penny pincher. Because of this early exposure, not only was the story ingrained on my very being at a young age, but all other versions tend to be judged by this one, even the source material has to be placed side by side with this magical memory. In my lifetime alone their have been eight feature film adaptations, from Muppets to Murray, to scary Jim Carrey performance capture of 3-D horrors, and twelve adaptations for television, including the Patrick Stewart version which I felt was so flat that it should be excised from the cannon. This doesn't even take into account parodies, which category I technically think Scrooged should really be put in... but you get the picture. A plethora of versions exist and each one has been set up as some kind of "special event." None of them seemed that special to me, but were used as an excuse for family time each time.

I remember going to see The Muppet Christmas Carol in the theaters for New Years in 1992. Now I'm the biggest Muppet fan there is, yet still, it was missing something. Now that I have read the book I think the flaws are in the book, not in the adaptations. Mickey's Christmas Carol is beyond censure because of the glow of youthful memories. I'm sure if I were to watch it now it would make me cringe... but that's how our memories work. Somehow shows like Gummy Bears and She-Ra remain wonderful in our memories, but have you ever tried to re-watch them? I actually did with both these shows... the experiment was painful and shall never be repeated, I'd rather have my memories intact regardless of the truth of the situation. Scrooged is also exempt because it takes the material and goes beyond. It becomes this weird, violent, satirical, horrifying, yet oddly touching movie that you can't look away from. Only by going beyond or mocking the source material has any modern adaptation worked and this is all because of the flaws in the book.

One of my friends chided me saying "Bah! Hum-wha? I thought it was mandatory to love this book?" Maybe that's why I dislike it, because by some mysterious alchemy that I can not conceive of, this book has achieved this hallowed place in literature and the holiday season. Now if I was in a theater listening to Dickens read it to me, well, I might see the appeal. But as it lies there on the page, it was just flat and lifeless. Scrooge, as he is written, is a bit of a milquetoast. He is not as bitter and vitriolic as he has been portrayed over the years. What really got me was that his "goodness" seemed to be buried very shallowly. All it took was the the Ghost of Christmas Present to show him a party with games and Scrooge is all, "can we stay and play games, this is fun." Excuse me!?! You're this bad ass evil man, your name is synonymous with any miserly person, it is in the dictionary for Pete's sake, and just one game and you're ready to throw off your evil ways and help everyone? Sheesh. I expected better of this book, but in the end, I was not swayed... it's lucky those ghosts weren't trying to do a number on me!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens, Dickensian Denouement, Gummy Bears, Mickey's Christmas Carol, Muppets, Patrick Stewart, Scrooge, Scrooged, She-Ra, The Muppet Christmas Carol

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night! (Which it should be with Dr. Who, Downton, and Miranda)

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Unusual Uses for Olive Oil by Alexander McCall Smith
Published by: Anchor
Publication Date: December 25th, 2012
Format: Paperback, 224 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Life is so unfair, and it sends many things to try Professor Dr Moritz-Maria von Igelfeld, author of Portuguese Irregular Verbs and pillar of the Institute of Romance Philology in the proud Bavarian city of Regensburg.There is the undeserved rise of his rival (and owner of a one-legged dachshund), Detlev Amadeus Unterholzer; the interminable ramblings of the librarian, Herr Huber; and the condescension of his colleagues with regard to his unmarried state. But when his friend Ophelia Prinzel takes it upon herself to match-make, and duly produces a cheerful heiress with her own Schloss, it appears that the professor's true worth is about to be recognised.Maddening, idiotic and hugely entertaining, von Igelfeld is an inspired comic creation."

The Professor finally returns in the 4th book in this series... one of like fifty series he's writing, seriously, how does he write this much?

What a Ghoul Wants by Victoria Laurie
Published by: Signet
Publication Date: December 25th, 2012
Format: Mass Market Paperback, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"M. J. Holliday has the unusual ability to talk to the dead. But when it comes to a vengeful ghost and a mysterious drowning, this time she may be in over her head….

THAT SINKING FEELING

Kidwella Castle in northern Wales is rumored to be haunted by a deadly ghost—the Grim Widow, who allegedly drowns unsuspecting guests in the castle’s moat. Not long after M. J. and her crew arrive at the castle to film their ghost-hunting cable TV show, Ghoul Getters, two new victims are added to the Widow’s grisly roster.

Fear ripples through the castle, especially when it’s discovered that the victims may have had help into their watery graves from the land of the living. The local inspector suspects father-son serial killers, but M. J. thinks that theory is all wet. To catch the true culprit she will need to dive deep into the castle’s past and bring some long buried secrets to the surface."

Get ready, it's time to go ghoul hunting!

Guilded by Karina Cooper
Published by: Avon
Publication Date: December 25th, 2012
Format: Paperback, 384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In the gleaming heights of Victorian London, a world of deception awaits an unconventional Society lady whose taste for adventure makes her a most formidable adversary . . .

Though Society demands that I make a good marriage, I, Cherry St. Croix, have neither the time nor the interest. I am on the trail of a murder with no victim, a mystery with no motive, and the key to an alchemical formula that could be my family's legacy.

Yet the world is not so kind as to let me pursue simple murder and uncomplicated bounties. Above the foggy drift, an earl insists on my attention, while my friends watch my increasingly desperate attempts to remain my own woman. From the silken demands of the Midnight Menagerie—to whose dangerously seductive ringmaster I owe a debt—to the rigorous pressures of the peerage, all are conspiring to place before me a choice that will forever change my life."

What about this book doesn't scream me? Also, yeah for breaks from school and tons of time to read!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Alexander McCall Smith, Ghost Hunter, Gilded, Karina Cooper, St. Croix Chronicles, Victoria Laurie

Little Dorrit
Based on the book by Charles Dickens
Release Date: October 26th, 2008 – December 11th, 2008
Starring: Claire Foy, Matthew Macfadyen, Tom Courtenay, Emma Pierson, James Fleet, Arthur Darvill, Alum Armstrong, Judy Parfitt, Sue Johnston, Eddie Marsan, Rosie Cavaliero, Ron Cook, Andy Serkis, Russell Tovey, Bill Paterson, Amanda Redman, Maxine Peake, Freema Agyeman, Eve Myles, Anton Lesser, Pam Ferris, Jason Watkins, Annette Crosbie and Ruth Jones
Rating: ★★★★★
To Buy

Arthur Clenham has returned from the Orient with his father's dying words on his mind, as well as an entreaty from that man to his wife to "put it right." Upon reaching England, Arthur begs of his mother to not only abide by her husband's dying wishes, but to tell Arthur what he meant by "put it right." Consumed with righting the wrong that his family did, without knowing who the wrong was against, Arthur grasps at a straw. The straw is that recently, his mother took a young Amy Dorrit into her care. His cold, harsh mother who does not believe in charity. Arthur therefore gets it into his head that somehow it must be the Dorrits to whom his family must pay reparations... if only he could figure out exactly how to go about this or even figure out more about the Dorrits.

The Dorrits have spent many, many years in debtors prison. Amy was even born there, earning her father the moniker, the Father of the Marshalsea, which is the prison in which they reside. Yet Amy's life is a happy one, taking care of her father and being his connection to the outside world. The arrival of Arthur Clenham changes everything. It's not only that through his investigations and trials with the circumlocution office that he is able to release the Dorrits from their debts, and therefore prison, it is that he has unknowingly stolen Amy's heart. Though Arthur's work has risen the Dorrits and Amy's father views Arthur as an unsavory connection. Anyone with knowledge of their past ignominy is unsuitable. Therefore the family relocates to Venice, where their lives will be changed, for better or worse, only they will know. But Amy's heart will forever be with Arthur, even if she should know better than to associate with him anymore. Sometimes she dreams that life would be easier if she had never met Arthur... and perhaps she is right.

The cast made me know in my bones that I would love this miniseries. So many names from Doctor Who and of course, Matthew Macfadyen. I have loved Matthew for over a decade now and have watched everything he has ever been in (he owes me for the atrocities of Any Human Heart). But I am a fickle person, I was so excited to watch this originally, I was hesitant to start it in the first place. Obviously, I finally did and I loved it. Perfect and funny and, well, the ending was rushed and confusing and made me thing that our hero and heroine where brother and sister... which, thanks to Wikipedia I learned they are not, because that would have been too eww even for Dickens. I even found things like the absurdity of Andy Serkis's character, the murderer Rigaud to be menacing and enjoyable, diverging with what most critics thought. But overall, I adored it.

Therefore I was a bit hesitant to re watch it for my blog. What if it wasn't as good as I remembered. What if it was the opposite of me and Bleak House and instead of finding more to love in it I found things that bothered me and I then hated the miniseries!?! Yes, I was truly thinking this way. And when I started I was not immediately in the miniseries. There was that part of me going, "oh dear, I was wrong wasn't I?" I wasn't as worried about the confusing ending, having done my Wikipedia research, and also learning from my friend Amy that the book actually is that confusing so it was Dickens's not Andrew Davies fault. But something happened and half way through I was again in love with Little Dorrit. I guess I didn't realize until re watching that it wasn't until the Dorrits had achieved wealth and thrown their old life into stark contrast that everything sort of finally came together. Also, who couldn't love Venice and empathize with Amy (the character not my friend) and the strange new world she was thrust into.

Though with everything I still have gripes... but I won't dwell there, I will dwell on the one thing that makes this miniseries transcendent, and no, I'm not talking about the amusement I feel seeing Arthur Darvill, Rory from Doctor Who being a little pudgy in the face and a lot of a dick. I'm talking about Russell Tovey. Personally, while I love Matthew Macfadyen, I really think that Amy should have ended up with John, the character played by Russell Tovey. I know that Dickens is showing that we can't always choose what the heart wants or who it will love, but Tovey broke my heart. When he is rejected by Amy and has his little soliloquy about the mortal remains of John Chivery, I defy you not to be broken. That is some of the most emotional heartbreaking acting you will ever see. Sure, Tovey has become a master of the sad, lonely and broken hearted in his acting, but this is unparalleled.

"Here lie the mortal remains of John Chivery, Assistant Turnkey and later Chief Turnkey of the Marshalsea Prison for Debt. He was unlucky in love and endured a good deal of sorrow, but he rose above it and performed many an act of kindness, even to his rival. And always engraved, on stone, deep into his very heart, is the name of "Amy Dorrit"."

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Arthur Darvill, Bleak House, Charles Dickens, Claire Foy, Doctor Who, Little Dorrit, Matthew MacFadyen, Russell Tovey

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9 Volume 2: On Your Own by Joss Whedon
Published by: Dark Horse
Publication Date: December 18th, 2012
Format: Paperback, 144 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"With the Scooby gang on the skids, Buffy finds herself increasingly alone. When faced with some tough decisions grounded in "real world" problems (i.e., not the slaying of pesky demons), Buffy is determined to make her own choices, but that doesn't mean she won't need a little handholding along the way. Cue Spike, compelled to stand by his best friend in her moment of need. Together they'll tackle the increasing zompire population and a rogue Slayer out for blood. The smash hit Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9 continues with Andrew Chambliss, Scott Allie, Georges Jeanty, and Cliff Richards!"

Ok, so apparently the week before Christmas is NOT the week that people buy books so there are no new releases. The publishers must assume that all the people who where buying books as presents had already done their shopping and that after Christmas would be the people who got gift cards, so this is limbo book week... except for geeks, who live alone and will venture forth in the cold and the snow for Buffy. Not sure where in the arc this set lies, it might be where it started to go a little too weird for me, less human problems, more bugs in space problems... but still, Buffy is Buffy, and I will read it.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Buffy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Christmas, Comics, Dark Horse Comics, San Francisco, Spike