2book

Children's & YAPicture Book

Get set for a super school year

Feature by Julie Hale

Put away the swimsuits and break out the backpacks—the first day of school is right around the corner! Read on for three totally terrific classroom tales that will help students shift gears and focus on fall. Prepare to have a straight-A school season!

BEFRIENDING THE BULLIES
Tammi Sauer’s Ginny Louise and the School Showdown is a rip-roarin’ classroom adventure that readers will love any time of the year. Chaos reigns at Truman Elementary thanks to a bad bunch of bullies. There’s Cap’n Catastrophe, a porcupine pirate; Destructo Dude, a mischievous pig; and Make-My-Day May, an outlaw raccoon. This “scowly, growly crowd” is perpetually disturbing the peace, kicking their classmates out of the sandbox and overturning bookshelves. But things change with the arrival of a new student named Ginny Louise. A happy-go-lucky hedgehog with a personality impervious to bullying, she extends friendship to the threesome and eventually wins them over. A spirit of camaraderie soon rules the school, and that calls for a celebration—a classroom hoedown, for which Ginny Louise breaks out her fiddle. Yee-haw! Lynn Munsinger’s irresistible illustrations of the Truman Elementary menagerie make this tale feel timeless. The takeaway here: Be kind to everyone—even (and especially) bullies.

END-OF-SUMMER ADJUSTMENT
Mike Wohnoutka turns the tables on the traditional back-to-school story with his fun all-ages picture book, Dad’s First Day. The summer weeks skip by for Oliver and his pop. They read books, play ball and generally pal around. On the first day of class, Oliver’s eager to go, but Dad’s dragging. He isn’t feeling well. He hides behind the couch and ducks into the closet. Oliver coaxes him out, and they drive to school at a snail’s pace. Whose first day is it, anyway? When Dad sees the fun that Oliver has in class, his anxiety ends, and he’s able to breathe easy again. As Wohnoutka demonstrates, no one is immune to first-day nerves! Providing loads of appeal, his gouache illustrations are filled with bold lines and bright colors. His playful tale is a reminder that the beginning of school is a period of adjustment for parents and pupils alike.

COURAGE IN THE CLASSROOM
A small student-to-be takes a large leap into the unknown—the classroom, of course—in Birdie’s First Day of School by Sujean Rim. First-day fears keep Birdie awake all night. She’s heard that school is “all work and no play,” with a teacher who’s “half werewolf.” When the big day arrives, she consults her dog, Monster, on important questions (what to pack in her bag, which outfit to wear) and—with encouragement from her mother—joins the other kids. She soon discovers that class is actually awesome, with new friends, fun lessons and a mind-expanding instructor (who, beyond a beard, bears no resemblance to a werewolf). That night, Birdie can’t sleep, but this time it’s because she’s too excited about school! The latest entry in Rim’s irresistible Birdie series is a visual delight, with collage-like illustrations composed of delicate watercolor washes, colored-pencil details and crayon scribblings. Class with Birdie is a blast.

Put away the swimsuits and break out the backpacks—the first day of school is right around the corner! Read on for three totally terrific classroom tales that will help students shift gears and focus on fall. Prepare to have a straight-A school season!

Children's & YAPicture Book

Picture books and the power of imagination

Feature by Julie Hale

No doubt about it—there’s a direct connection between dreaming and doing. Three new picture books prove the imagination is a mighty tool, indeed. We may be living in the digital age, but as these books demonstrate, good old-fashioned make-believe never goes out of style.

CHASING DOWN A DREAM
Persistence pays off in Brian Pinkney’s inspiring On the Ball. Owen is having a less-than-stellar day at soccer practice. A fall on the field gets him sent to the bench, and then, to make matters worse, he fails to keep the ball from bouncing away. Owen chases it across a stream and into some bushes, where—imagining himself as a cat—he’s primed to pounce on it. But he can’t stop the ball on its mad journey, and his pursuit turns into an unforgettable adventure. When at last he reclaims the ball and zips back to the soccer field, Owen discovers he has new skills (“It was like his feet had wings”), and he always—always—watches the ball. Featuring minimalist lines amped up with washes of watercolor, Pinkney’s less-is-more illustrations of Owen on the run are wonderfully kinetic. As his story shows, determination and imagination are winning traits for a team player. Goooaaal!

CONCOTING THE PERFECT PLOT
A little make-believe saves the day in Nicola O’Byrne’s clever Use Your Imagination. Rabbit is bored: “I wish something would happen,” he says, and straightaway Wolf appears. Although his big green eyes and sinister grin indicate otherwise, Wolf says he’s a librarian (indeed!) and thus an expert in the art of storytelling. Despite this not-quite-credible claim, Rabbit agrees to Wolf’s plan of making up a fairy tale, complete with the requisite plot elements: a forest, a hero (Rabbit himself) and a villain (guess who). To this traditional scenario Rabbit adds a few surprises, including a huge pink elephant, but his ideas are quickly nixed by Wolf, who has his own plot in mind. An unhappy ending seems imminent until Rabbit outsmarts Wolf—using his imagination, of course! O’Byrne depicts the duo’s test of wits in lively, colorful mixed-media illustrations. Her delightful tale is a testament to the power of pretending.

CREATIVITY REALLY COUNTS
Faye Hanson’s The Wonder features a small boy with a big imagination. Fascinated by the world around him, the young lad is easily distracted. At the park, he wanders onto the grass and gets scolded by the groundskeeper. At school, he’s warned about daydreaming. But when art period rolls around and he’s urged by the teacher to use his imagination, the boy is in his element. On paper, he creates a fantastical realm where anything is possible (and walking on the grass is encouraged). There’s a flying car piloted by a pair of rabbits and a marching band composed of polar bears. What will this artist-in-the-making dream up next? His artwork earns the teacher’s praise and makes his parents proud. Hanson renders the everyday world in browns, tans and beiges, the better to play up the energy and sparkle of the boy’s imaginings, which brim with color. Her marvelous mixed-media spreads make this a book that lives up to its title.

No doubt about it—there’s a direct connection between dreaming and doing. Three new picture books prove the imagination is a mighty tool, indeed. We may be living in the digital age, but as these books demonstrate, good old-fashioned make-believe never goes out of style.

Romance

Romance with a twist of faith

Feature by Lois Dyer

Triumph and tragedy, love and betrayal, danger and sacrifice—the powerful emotions packed within inspirational-themed romance novels are sure to bring hours of reading pleasure. So curl up in your favorite chair and settle in for a most excellent reading adventure tinged with the spiritual.

AN IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE
With her latest novel, Ties That Bind, New York Times and Christian Booksellers Association best-selling author Cindy Woodsmall begins a new series, The Amish of Summer Grove. Wise and compassionate, lovely Ariana Brenneman is determined to find a man to build a family with, and she believes Rudy may be that person. Still, she’s never been able to forget, nor forgive, her childhood love, Quill Schlabach. When Quill left their Amish community to live in the outside world, he broke her heart and shattered her dreams. She can’t seem to fully recover.

Quill has never stopped loving Ariana, but his convictions demanded he reject the strict rules of the Amish world. Worse yet in Ariana’s eyes, he feels called to aid other Amish who want to leave the community. He knows Ariana will never be able to forgive him for his actions. He also knows that she is a woman who cannot—and will not—leave her Amish community.

While Quill and Ariana tread carefully through the minefield that is their non-relationship, her parents receive shocking news. They need Quill’s help, and what they learn will forever impact Ariana’s life.

Woodsmall’s depiction of Amish life feels true, and Quill and Ariana’s struggle to come to grips with their feelings for each other and their place in the bigger world is absorbing. Readers will cheer for these two honorable, dedicated characters and impatiently await the next installment in this new series.

LOVE DURING WARTIME
Kate Breslin’s sophomore novel, Not By Sight, is a wonderful historical tale set in 1917 England. The British are caught up in World War I, and wealthy suffragette Grace Mabry is determined to make a contribution to the war effort. She plots to expose men avoiding military service, but she mistakenly assumes the handsome Earl of Stonebrooke, Jack Benningham, is a malingerer. However, he is actually a spy working on the home front. There is an instant spark of attraction during their first meeting, which is all too brief. Months later, they find each other again when Grace is assigned to a work crew at one of Jack’s family estates. Jack has been injured and is recovering at the beautiful country home.

Circumstance and attraction draw them together, and Grace and Jack both struggle with their feelings. A dark cloud of suspicion hanging over Grace complicates their situation, and Jack will have to unravel a sinister plot, uncovering lies and betrayal to find the real enemy. It’s by no means certain that they will find a way to defeat evil forces and reach a happy future together.

Breslin’s research and attention to historical detail is impeccable. Britain in 1917 comes alive with lush landscapes, colorful period costumes and cultural references. The hero and heroine are compelling, their romance emotionally satisfying and the plot absorbing. Readers of historical romance will thoroughly enjoy this tale set in “Downton Abbey”-era surroundings.

A SEASON FOR CHANGE
Best-selling author Lynn Morris transports readers to Regency England in her latest novel, A Sapphire Season. Lady Mirabella Tirel is the daughter of a Marquess and has led an idyllic life. She has a warm, loving, supportive family and when she decides to spend the Season in London, determined to find a husband, she’s accompanied by her three best friends. One of those friends is neighbor Sir Gyles Knyvet, a Baronet, who feels far more than friendship for Mirabella. Gyles is in love with her, but due to his family’s tenuous financial circumstances, he feels unable to declare his feelings.

The three begin the social whirl that makes up the British social elite’s Season. Mirabella makes a list of possible suitors, but the list gradually grows smaller as each name is eliminated. As the weeks slip by, the four friends find themselves gaining a different perspective and discovering new things about themselves and each other. But will Mirabella’s new view of Gyles come too late to guarantee a happy ending for the couple?

This novel is absolutely charming, with witty dialogue, honorable and intelligent characters and a character-driven plot that will thoroughly engage readers. Fans of Julia Quinn will enjoy this lovely tale.

Lois Dyer writes from Port Orchard, Washington. 

Triumph and tragedy, love and betrayal, danger and sacrifice—the powerful emotions packed within inspirational-themed romance novels are sure to bring hours of reading pleasure. So curl up in your favorite chair and settle in for a most excellent reading adventure tinged with the spiritual.
Children's & YAPicture Book

What’s better than books about books?

Feature by Lynn Beckwith

It seems I have been reading about the death of the printed book for half my life. And still we keep reading real books and writing about them, too. And now I find myself picking up so many wonderful picture books in which the main character is a book. It’s enough to bring a tear to this book lover’s eye and a smile to teachers and librarians everywhere.

A BOY FINDS HIS BOOK
One intriguing new book feels good to read. Its red cover and faux linen spine harkens back to the days when picture book covers were plain, with little more that the title and author on the cover. Perhaps that’s where the adage, “Don’t judge a book by its cover” comes from. The cover of The Good Little Book does have googly eyes and the hint of a smile inside the word “good,” but that’s it. It’s just a book. If you want to know more, you’re going to have to open the cover. Canadians Kyo Maclear and Marion Arbona must have had a ball with this one, imagining a bad little boy, sent to the book-filled study to “think things over.” This is not a book-loving boy, either, at least not until he reads The Good Little Book.

Wildly imaginative, colorful gouache and pencil illustrations and fabulous storylines amaze the boy so much that he finishes the book, and turns right back to the beginning and reads it again. And again. The book is the boy’s constant companion for months, until it is lost. He imagines the worst and searches for the book everywhere, even putting up posters and looking in the library.  Eventually, he “opens up to other stories,” which is just what a good book does. I'm not usually given to fables about books, but I'll make an exception for this little treasure and will read it aloud over and over, knowing its humor will lead many children to find their very own special book.

THE JOY OF LIBRARIES
Another book about books, this time a compilation of poems, is Jumping Off Library Shelves. It’s hard to say what’s more delightful, Jane Manning’s warm, watery gouache and pencil illustrations or the 15 carefully chosen poems selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins. Just when I think I have found a favorite, I turn the page and the next poem tugs at my heart. In the middle is Hopkins' lovely tribute to Augusta Baker, the groundbreaking African-American librarian who was heralded for her storytelling skills. Turn the page and smile to find a red-faced girl lifting a heavy dictionary, the perfect accompaniment to Deborah Ruddell’s "Dictionary Dare," which ends with the delicious “Raise me above your head / fell the quiet weight / of words.” This beautiful volume belongs in every library. Children and adults will find the poems easy to love and easy to memorize.

NARRATIVE FREEDOM
Young readers often want to write their own stories. And why not? It looks so easy! Rebecca Kai Dotlich teams up with illustrator Fred Koehler in One Day, The End: Short, Very Short, Shorter-Than-Ever Stories for a humorous but clever look at children’s storytelling. Any parent who has asked, “What happened today?” will recognize their child between the pages of this book. The first “story” is, “One day . . . I went to school. I came home. The End.” The “stories” continue with every page turn: The beginning and end are there, but the middle is missing, much like many a story in an early elementary writing classroom. While a teacher might tease out the middle of a classroom story, the illustrator provides all the details in his humorous, action-packed digital drawings. One can imagine teachers reading this book aloud and encouraging students to slow down and really explore the illustrations, catching details and nuance along the way. Beginning writers and storytellers are often told by their flabbergasted teachers, “You need more details in your story.” This picture book will allow the young writer to really understand what a detail is and how to add it to her stories.

It seems I have been reading about the death of the printed book for half my life. And still we keep reading real books and writing about them, too. And now I find myself picking up so many wonderful picture books in which the main character is a book. It’s enough to bring a tear to this book lover’s eye and a smile to teachers and librarians everywhere.

Children's & YAPicture Book

Spine-tinglers for the spookiest time of year

Feature by Julie Hale

The phrase “scared silly” takes on new meaning in these madcap tales of witches and monsters. Filled with mischievous fun, these thrilling Halloween reads will leave little readers shrieking—with laughter. Happy haunting!

WITCH VS. WEATHER
Halloween magic gets out of hand in Rebecca Colby’s It’s Raining Bats & Frogs. Delia, an adorable little sorceress, is excited about the annual Witch Parade until signs of rain dampen her spirits. When a full-on downpour soaks her broom-riding sisters, she takes matters into her own hands. Chanting an incantation, she transforms the raindrops into dogs and cats—a switch that goes hilariously haywire. Next, she summons a shower of hats and clogs, followed by bats and frogs, but her spells go awry every time. In the end, Delia realizes that rain is fine—even fitting—for parade day. Illustrator Steven Henry enlivens the witches’ wacky story with detail-filled drawings of marching scarecrows, juggling skeletons and horn-tooting ghosts, all of whom take part in the parade. As Delia learns the hard way, Halloween weather—like her magic spells—brings both tricks and treats!

THERE’S NOTHING TO FEAR
Sam Garton continues the adventures of Otter and her grown-up guardian, Otter Keeper, with the sweet seasonal treat, Otter Loves Halloween. Yes, Otter is excited about October 31, and it’s easy to see why! Preparations for the ghostly evening include a pumpkin-buying excursion (followed by Otter Keeper’s puzzlement over the carving process) and the hanging of decorations (glow-in-the-dark spider webs get stuck where they shouldn’t). Finally, it’s dress-up time. Otter dons a witch’s hat and cloak, and her stuffed pals Teddy and Giraffe get special costumes of their own. But when the trick-or-treaters arrive, Otter is terrified. She hides under the bed until Otter Keeper coaxes her out with an ingenious idea that sets her fears to rest. There’s lots to love about this delightful look at Halloween through Otter’s eyes. Her gentle personality shines through on every page, thanks to Garton’s genius digital illustrations. This is a great way to introduce young readers to the holiday.

READY, SET, SCARE!
A cute—and creepy—group of mischief-makers plans hijinks for Halloween in Ethan Long’s Fright Club. Vladimir the Vampire, Fran K. Stein, Sandy Witch and the rest of the Fright Club gang convene in their clubhouse to prepare for Operation Kiddie Scare. They review the traits of successful monsters (“ghoulish faces, scary moves, chilling sounds”), but their collective shock factor is a little low (to these guys, “scary moves” means ’70s disco steps). When their meeting is crashed by a timid-looking contingent of forest creatures who want to join the club, Vladimir scoffs and denies them entry. But the animals soon prove they’re skilled at being scary, and the two groups join forces for the spookiest Halloween the block has ever seen. Long depicts these eerie antics in black-and-white pencil drawings overlaid with classic monster-movie hues—sepia browns, sickly greens, macabre blues and purples. There’s plenty of fright-night fun to be had with his batty tale.

The phrase “scared silly” takes on new meaning in these madcap tales of witches and monsters. Filled with mischievous fun, these thrilling Halloween reads will leave little readers shrieking—with laughter. Happy haunting!

Romance

Tricks and treats in romance

Feature by Lois Dyer

It’s October, which means it’s time for spooky, sexy, supernatural romances in the spirit of Halloween. These three titles have enough romantic danger, mayhem and eeriness to satisfy the most demanding paranormal romance reader. Settle into your favorite comfy chair and enjoy!

SOUTHERN BLOODSUCKERS
Author Sandra Hill delivers the next installment in her Deadly Angels series with Even Vampires Get the Blues. This time, it’s Harek Sigurdsson’s turn to meet his life mate. The sexy vampire-angel and once-upon-a-time Viking is shocked and far from happy when he’s slammed with the scent of roses—the bonding scent—the moment his hand clasps that of Navy SEAL Camille Dumaine. He’s not ready to be mated, not even when the female is as enticing as Camille.

Camille is equally as uninterested in falling in love. However, the brilliant and sexy computer geek is assigned to an upcoming mission with her, so Camille has no choice but to spend time with him. But before the SEAL mission begins, Harek is ordered to accompany Camille to New Orleans, where her brother’s wedding is taking place. The festivities throw the two together, and given the heated attraction between them, intimacy is a foregone conclusion.

Their visit to New Orleans is over all too soon, however, and they must complete the dangerous assignment in Nigeria that originally brought them together. When an ambush surprises the SEAL team, Harek’s worst nightmare becomes reality: Just when he can admit he loves Camille, he may lose her forever.

This latest entry in the Deadly Angel series showcases the author’s talent for humorous dialogue, hot sexual tension, charming heroes, strong heroines and endearing secondary characters. Readers will relish this latest book and look forward to the next in the series with anticipation.

SCOTS MAGIC
​Best-selling author Terri Brisbin lures readers back to the Orkney Islands and 1286 AD in Raging Sea, part of her Stone Circles series. Landholder Soren Thorson and sea merchant’s daughter Ran Sveinsdottir grew up together in Orphir, a village on the windswept Orkney mainland off the northern coast of Scotland. Treachery tore them and their families apart, but now Ran has returned to Orphir. During the voyage home, she discovers a startling affinity for the water. The sea calls to her, welcomes her—and obeys her commands. Amazed and confused, she seeks an explanation from Soren’s wise grandfather, only to discover that the elderly gentleman has recently died. She is determined to avoid Soren, but when she learns he has tapped into a deep connection with the wind, storms and lightning, they agree to seek answers about their strange new powers together.

Soren and Ran soon learn that they’ve been called to defend humans from the terrifying threat of an ancient goddess. Imprisoned centuries prior for her crimes against humans, the goddess schemes to return and take vengeance. Only Soren and Ran, together with their allies, can stop her. But will they gain control of their newfound powers quickly enough to defeat the evil goddess and her minions? Or will humankind be erased from the earth in a wave of rage and death?

The setting for this supernatural tale of gods and goddesses is unique and intriguing, as are the creative legends supporting the plot. The hero and heroine are each strong and honorable, both in their dealings with each other and their answering of the call of destiny. 

CHICAGO'S VAMPIRE TOWN
Author Cat Devon brings her readers a spooky tale set in the world of Chicago’s Vamptown with Tall, Dark And Immortal. Reporter Keira Turner is still reeling from the discovery that her deceased grandfather was a vampire hunter when she confronts gorgeous detective Alex Sanchez. The entry in her grandfather’s journal is clear: “Seek out vampire Alex Sanchez in the Chicago Police Department. Trouble is coming.”

Alex is stunned by Keira’s story. Her grandfather was known as The Executioner, a legend among vampires. He doesn’t know whether the beautiful brunette is a serious threat or not, but he does know that she’s trouble—she could expose the existence of vampires to humans. Not to mention the fact that Keira carries The Executioner’s genetic code and bloodline. However, despite her grandfather’s legacy, Alex quickly discovers that she’s his mate—a detail he plans to keep hidden for as long as possible.

Unable to ascertain Keira’s true agenda, Alex takes her hostage, but it soon becomes clear that someone wants her dead. Is it the rival Gold Coast vampires or someone in Alex’s own group? What does Keira know that makes her a target? And is it connected to her investigation into a series of blood bank thefts?

The elements of the universe created by Devon are intriguing, and readers will enjoy the vampire-versus-vampire tension as both groups vie for dominance. Paired with the Chicago setting, this tale has an old-school, gangsters and cops vibe while still maintaining a contemporary feel.

Lois Dyer writes from her home in Port Orchard, Washington.

It’s October, which means it’s time for spooky, sexy, supernatural romances in the spirit of Halloween. These three title have enough romantic danger, mayhem and eeriness to satisfy the most demanding paranormal romance reader. Settle into your favorite comfy chair and enjoy!
NonfictionMemoir

Unwrapping holiday hilarity

Feature by Lily McLemore

The holidays can be a bit stressful, but luckily, laughter is an excellent stress reliever! So crack open one of the three books below and crack up around the Christmas tree.

HILARIOUS HOLIDAY ANGST
Nothing says the holidays like a nice fire, a warm cup of cocoa and getting into a massive fight with your family. Jen Mann, author of the wickedly funny People I Want to Punch in the Throat, feels your holiday-fueled pain. In her latest collection of essays, Spending the Holidays with People I Want to Punch in the Throat, she gleefully skewers Santa and all of his obnoxious Christmas acolytes. Mann grew up in a family of “holiday overachievers” (her mother has hundreds of Santa figurines), but even as a child, she was done with the excessive cheer and holiday perfectionism. In her book, she lambastes the humblebrag-filled Christmas letter, overzealous carolers and parents bent on giving their precious ones the perfect holiday. With Mann as my companion in animosity, I can feel a little less guilty about hating the holidays and dismiss it all with a good laugh.

BASSOON SOLO
You probably recognize Rainn Wilson as the galling Dwight Schrute from “The Office,” the hugely popular NBC TV show about the lives of a bunch of paper-pushers in Pennsylvania (indeed, “Dwight” writes the foreword), but Wilson delves deeper with The Bassoon King: My Life in Art, Faith, and Idiocy. Born as a “large-headed, pale horror” to admittedly odd, proto-hippie parents (hence the name “Rainn”) in Seattle, Wilson blossomed into a star high school athlete and had lots of girlfriends. Just kidding: He became a Dungeons & Dragons master and took up the bassoon. Filled with genuinely fascinating stories about his unusual upbringing, his entrée into the comedy world and his thoughtfully developed views on life, Wilson’s book is an unsurprisingly funny and surprisingly poignant entry in the cavalcade of celebrity memoirs. 

WISECRACKING
Jason Gay, the Wall Street Journal’s blithe and beloved sports columnist, offers up some excellent, if nontraditional, life advice in his hilarious Little Victories: Perfect Rules for Imperfect Living. Based on his popular “Rules” column, this book is filled with, as he writes, “both practical and ridiculous” advice, like his belief that everyone should allot a little more money to flowers, that one should never rent a PT Cruiser while on vacation and that the goal of attaining total happiness is total hogwash. Gay’s tidbits of hard-earned, unexpected advice and musings are truly hilarious, but as he reflects on his relationships with his loved ones and the big moments in his life, they’re also incredibly touching. Gay is a gifted writer, and I would say this book is a big victory. 

 

This article was originally published in the November 2015 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

The holidays can be a bit stressful, but luckily, laughter is an excellent stress reliever! So crack open one of the three books below and crack up around the Christmas tree.
FictionDebut Fiction

Two delectable debuts

Feature by Amy Scribner

“Food is our common ground, a universal experience,” said James Beard, and these two delicious new books are cases in point. 

Both feature a protagonist chasing a food dream, one in the Big Apple and the other all over Europe. And both have enough mouthwatering descriptions of meals to send you rummaging for something to munch on.

The fun, frothy Food Whore has traces of The Devil Wears Prada, except instead of a cruel magazine editor, the villain is the entire Manhattan restaurant scene. Tia Monroe dreams of writing cookbooks and enrolls in the prestigious New York University culinary masters program. But when her bid for an internship with a famous cookbook author is botched, Tia begins ghostwriting columns for weaselly New York Times restaurant critic Michael Saltz, who has lost his ability to taste food. 

It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement: Saltz gets to keep his coveted job at the Times, and Tia gets the thrill of seeing her words in print, albeit under someone else’s byline. She also gets access to Saltz’s private account at Bergdorf Goodman. In no time, down-to-earth Tia becomes a fashionista who breaks up with her steadfast boyfriend and starts dating one of New York’s hottest chefs. But Tia quickly learns how brutal it is in the culinary world, where restaurants will do anything to get a good review. 

Food Whore is the first novel from Jessica Tom, a Brooklyn writer who graduated from Yale University and, much like Tia, wrote restaurant reviews for the school paper. Tom nails the dog-eat-dog restaurant world, whipping up a remarkably entertaining debut.

In Vintage, Bruno Tannenbaum is on the other side of his career from young Tia. After years as a food columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times, Bruno is sliding into obsolescence. He once wrote a little-known novel he was proud of and a gimmicky best-selling cookbook he was less proud of. But now, he’s sleeping on his mother’s couch (wife kicked him out for cheating), unemployed (newspaper let him go) and drinking too much (see previous). When a Russian restaurateur enlists Bruno’s help in solving the mystery of a lost vintage of French wine, Bruno senses a story that could revive his career and prove to his family that he still has what it takes to provide for them.

Vintage is a whirlwind of a book, with the charmingly rough Bruno spinning through France, Moldova and Russia as he chases down the wine, which he believes was stolen by the Nazis during World War II. He finds romance with a French winemaker, intrigue in a Russian prison and answers where he never expected them. 

Author David Baker is the director of the documentary American Wine Story, and he delivers a walloping good time in Vintage. While the book is clever and funny, it’s also a tender meditation on the power of food and wine to heal even the sorest of hearts. Bruno is a character for the ages, a passionate foodie who finds his own winding road to redemption.

 

This article was originally published in the November 2015 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

“Food is our common ground, a universal experience,” said James Beard, and these two delicious new books are cases in point.
NonfictionBiography

Supporting roles in history

Feature by Alice Cary

It’s been said that behind every great man, there’s a great woman, and that’s certainly the case with these three political wives and their well-known husbands. In fact, history might have turned out quite differently without them.

THE ORIGINAL FIRST LADY
Flora Fraser’s new biography, The Washingtons: George and Martha, “Join’d by Friendship, Crown’d by Love”, is a dense but fascinating account of the nation’s first “first couple.” Using letters, journals, dispatches and a variety of authoritative texts, the British author documents George and Martha’s comings and goings as they managed his Mount Vernon estate and dealt with a host of relatives, friends and politicians. Both were in their 20s when they wed—she a wealthy, widowed mother of four. 

Before Martha, George loved but didn’t marry the wealthy Sally Cary Fairfax, and also remained close to Philadelphia socialite Elizabeth Willing Powel. Fraser wonders about one encounter with Powel late in George’s life: “Had she or Washington or both declared or acted on a feeling for the other that was forbidden, given his marriage to Martha?”

Regardless of what may or may not have happened, it’s clear that everyone adored Martha. Abigail Adams described her as “one of those unassuming characters which creates Love & Esteem.” During the Revolution, Martha endured winter encampments with Washington and was welcomed by officers who found that she brightened the general’s mood. Fraser concludes that the marriage was “the making” of George Washington, boosting not only his wealth but his confidence. 

When he died, Martha said, “All is now over, I shall soon follow him!” She never entered their bedroom again, sleeping instead in the attic.

LBJ’S SECRET DEPENDENCY
Betty Boyd Caroli uses a wealth of primary sources to explore the marriage of Lady Bird and Lyndon. She shapes the Johnsons’ story nimbly, beginning with a telling scene from their daughter Lynda’s White House wedding, explaining why Lady Bird remained so devoted to her brash, womanizing husband.

The glue that kept this presidential couple together, Caroli writes, is that LBJ was “insecure and needy” from the start, and when “faced with a huge problem or disappointment, he would go to bed and pull the covers over his head.” His wife was the only one who knew how to draw him out of these funks, so in that sense she was his savior, time and time again. Lady Bird was also a savvy businesswoman and a highly successful campaigner throughout her life.

Caroli skillfully weaves the couple’s personal lives together with the tumultuous political situations they faced. Her narrative is a soulful account that details the pair’s widely divergent family backgrounds and acknowledges that LBJ was indeed the “human puzzle” that one journalist called him, but also “head over heels” in love with his wife.

The feeling was mutual. Caroli shows that repeatedly, when deciding between her husband’s needs and those of her daughters, Lady Bird chose her husband. One secretary described Lynda and Lucy as “almost orphans in a sense.” 

Lady Bird acknowledged that LBJ humiliated her at times, but said, “he made me someone bigger and better than I would have been.”

CHURCHILL'S ADVISOR
Might the Allies have lost World War II if Winston Churchill hadn’t married his wife, Clementine? Winston himself claimed victory would have been “impossible without her.” The story of this behind-the-scenes pillar of strength is absorbingly told by British biographer Sonia Purnell in Clementine: The Life of Mrs. Winston Churchill.

Clementine was Winston’s closest and most influential political advisor, Purnell argues, and her role has been largely overlooked—not even discussed in Churchill’s own six-volume account of the war.

Purnell describes this tall, stunning, athletic woman as a fashionable trendsetter, “a precursor to Jackie Onassis.” She built a close friendship with another political wife of her day, Eleanor Roosevelt. Their relationship lasted for years, although, interestingly, neither liked the other’s husband.

Winston and Clementine’s relationship was not without its trials. Heated arguments weren’t uncommon, and Winston sometimes called his wife “She-whose-commands-must-be-obeyed.” The couple was devastated when daughter Marigold died of septicemia at age 2, sending Clementine into a deep depression. And in what Purnell calls Clementine’s most courageous act of the war, in 1943 she refused to tell Winston how serious his heart condition was, fearing the knowledge would impede his ability to conduct the war.

Purnell recounts a mesmerizing period from a never-before-seen vantage point, and readers will be spellbound from start to finish.

 

This article was originally published in the November 2015 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

It’s been said that behind every great man, there’s a great woman, and that’s certainly the case with these three political wives and their well-known husbands. In fact, history might have turned out quite differently without them.
Nonfiction

Welcome words of wisdom

Feature by Trisha Ping

Do you have someone on your gift list who could use a dose of inspiration? Or maybe you're the one looking for reading material to provide motivation and reflection as we head into 2016. Either way, these new books might be just the ticket.

YOUR BEST SELF
Before she wrote Wild, Cheryl Strayed worked as an advice columnist, Dear Sugar (she is now reprising the role via podcast with the writer Steve Almond). Readers of that column—and her book Tiny Beautiful Things—know that Strayed has a knack for delivering sage advice with compassion and wit. Her new book, Brave Enough, a tiny hardcover in a cheerful green binding, contains more than 100 quotes from Strayed's work that are as simple and straightforward as they are wise. From advice ("romantic love is not a competitive sport") to prompts that will make you re-evaluate your choices ("Ask yourself: What is the best I can do? And then do that.") this is a collection to contemplate and savor. 

SAYING 'YES' TO SUCCESS
The influence of Shonda Rhimes on the entertainment industry over the past 10 years is difficult to overstate. The writer, producer and showrunner is responsible for runaway hits like "Grey's Anatomy" and "Scandal." Rhimes' popular shows, which feature diverse casts, are often credited with cracking open a glass ceiling for non-white actors—much as Rhimes herself, who is black, has reached a level of success in the TV business that few women or African Americans had previously attained. In her first book, Year of Yes: How to Dance it Out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person, Rhimes talks about the pressures and pleasures of this role in a frank and personal tone ("If the first network drama with an African-American leading lady in thirty-seven years didn't find an audience, who knows how long it would take for another to come along?"). But she also discusses issues that the average woman can relate to—such as weight loss and the balance of work and home life—from a feminist perspective without holding back, even when her opinions might be controversial (for one, she says that motherhood is not a job, but a role). 

NEVERMIND THE END
Neurologist Oliver Sacks spent nearly 50 years treating patients, healing others even as he made a name for himself with his lyrical essays about the mind's many mysteries. He died of cancer on August 30, 2015, just four months after publishing his memoir. His final book, Gratitude, is a short compliation of Sacks' final four essays, which were written in the last two years of his life and previously published in The New York Times. All four focus on aging and coming to terms with mortality with honesty, from Sacks' perspective as a doctor-turned-patient. Sacks has a perspective on the human body and mind that most of us don't, and although his observations are more personal than clinical, his experience does contribute to a point of view that is matter of fact without being soulless. A brief introduction by Sacks' assistant, Kate Edgar, and his partner of eight years, Billy Hayes, gives context to these pieces, which serve as a fitting coda to a memorable body of work. 

Do you have someone on your gift list who could use a dose of inspiration? Or maybe you're the one looking for reading material to provide motivation and reflection as we head into 2016. Either way, these new books might be just the ticket.

Romance

Highland kilts and Scottish lilts

Feature by bookpagedev

There aren't many images more emblematic of the romance genre than a strong, kilted hero standing on the moors. To celebrate these burly heroes, we've reviewed three of the best recent Highland romances. Make sure you've got a tartan blanket and a hot toddy ready to enjoy with these novels!

STEALING KISSES
Jennifer Ashley’s latest installment in her Mackenzies series, The Stolen Mackenzie Bride, reaches back to the height of the Jacobite uprising in 1745 as this tale of courtship between two beloved Mackenzie ancestors unfolds.

English noblewoman Lady Mary Lennox is resigned to leading a dutiful, if not especially blissful, life as the soon-to-be-wife of one of her father’s political allies—until she locks eyes with Malcolm Mackenzie.

Mal has spent the past few years chasing skirts and enjoying his fair share of whisky, but one look at Mary and the mischievous Scot’s mind is made. She’s the elegant, passionate woman of his dreams, but he’ll have to find a way to break Mary’s legally cemented engagement—and break the fact of her British birth to his high-born Scottish father.

The politically unstable Edinburgh of the mid-18th century is not the most swoon-worthy setting for star-crossed love, and there are plenty of dark, violent moments that make this abundantly clear. Mary is given little choice in her life, and she is frequently used as a political bargaining chip by the warring sides, but the convention-breaking Highlander sparks her desire for respect and independence, and she makes some surprisingly daring decisions where she can. Mal may be a fierce, rugged warrior who gets what he wants, but his charm and emotional maturity make him an especially lovable hero. This is a sweeping saga in which a rare love blossoms in the shadow of war and political brutality.

AN UNLIKELY LOVE
The romance in Paula Quinn’s The Taming of Malcolm Grant, part of her MacGregors series, develops in the most unlikely of places. When the Grant brothers are in need of a bit of relaxation, the womanizing Highlander Malcolm knows the perfect place to unwind: his old friend Harry Gray’s brothel, Fortune’s Smile.

Unfortunately, almost immediately upon arrival, the brothers spark up a brawl with the wrong people. Malcolm and his brother, Cailean, are injured and in desperate need of medical attention. Luckily, Harry Gray is willing to hide the brothers above the brothel, and his sister, Emmaline, is a skilled healer.

Blinded at a young age by the fever that killed her parents, Emmaline has spent most of her life sequestered away, learning the art of healing. However, she has recently reunited with her brother, whom she barely knows. Uncertain what exactly to do with Emmaline and worried about her safety, Harry rarely allows her to leave her upstairs quarters above the raucous brothel, and never without a companion to guide her.

Malcolm is stunned to find the gentle likes of Emmaline in Fortune's Smile, but as she works to heal the gravely injured Cailean, Emmaline’s sweet-tempered demeanor and empathetic nature unexpectedly begin to heal Malcolm’s hardened heart, as well. Will it be the quietly confident Emmaline who finally tames the notorious Malcolm, or will a lingering threat end their relationship before it begins? 

QUITE THE MISTAKE TO MAKE 
When Riona Duff is awakened in her uncle’s York home by hand over her mouth and a gruff Scottish voice telling her to get dressed, she assumes the worst. But in The Wrong Bride, the first book in Gayle Callen’s Highland Weddings series, a bevy of assumptions are proven false. 

Lady Catriona Duff was promised to clan chief Hugh McCallum when they were both children, but her father now renounces the betrothal, and Hugh refuses to accept the slight. His clan desperately needs the money from Catriona’s dowry, and he believes he has no choice—he either claims his bride or his clan will suffer. Hence sneaking into the Duff’s estate in the dead of night and stealing Catriona away to his Highland keep. 

However, there is a flaw in Hugh’s plan. A large one: He’s stolen the wrong Duff woman. The very stubborn Hugh refuses to believe he’s made this big of a mistake, assuming that she is lying in an attempt to weasel out of their impending nuptials. But the woman is resolute: He is betrothed to her cousin, not her. 

However, this does nothing to abate the searing attraction between the two. Hugh is determined to court and seduce his wary bride, and Riona, who has spent a lifetime in the shadow of her sister, has a hard time resisting. Even though Riona knows she is not truly his betrothed, she finds herself tentatively falling in love with the burly laird. However, when Hugh’s scandalous past is revealed and Riona’s true identity is proven, their burgeoning hope for love may be dashed. Rich with historical detail and sexual tension, the first of Callen’s new series is a winner. 

 

There's not many images more emblematic of the romance genre than a strong, kilted hero standing on the moors. To celebrate these burly heroes, we've reviewed three of the best recent Highland romances. Make sure you've got a tartan blanket and a hot toddy ready to enjoy with these novels!
Pop CultureAnimals

Thinking out of the (gift) box

Feature by Linda M. Castellitto

It’s always fun to give a gift that’s truly memorable (in a good way, of course), and this trio of books won’t steer you wrong. Ordinary is overrated!

RODENT ROMANCE
Jane Austen’s books have been adapted, reimagined and mashed up in seemingly every possible way—until A Guinea Pig Pride & Prejudice, in which writer Alex Goodwin and set designer Tess Gammell join forces to offer an entirely new, adorably hilarious take on the classic story. As in the original, there’s all manner of matchmaking and dissembling afoot—but the feet here are tiny, and they belong to nine guinea pigs who make this photographic retelling most compelling indeed. Gaze into Elizabeth’s shiny black eyes and ponder their effect on Mr. Darcy; feel the tension as Darcy and Mr. Bingley have a rounded-nose-to-rounded-nose stare-down; sigh at Lady Catherine’s displeased moue and towering lavender hat! This affectionate, quietly dramatic homage is the perfect gift for Austen-philes, Austen-newbies, guinea-pig aficionados and anyone who appreciates a tale well told.

ALL ABOUT YOU
Most of us know about IQ tests, BMI charts, Myers-Briggs types and Rorschach blots, but those who want to more thoroughly plumb their own depths will be thrilled with The Test Book. It’s got 64 self-assessments in five sections: personality, health, career, lifestyle and beliefs. After all, as authors Mikael Krogerus and Roman Tschäppeler write, “When it comes down to it, people care about two things: understanding themselves and being understood by others.” These tests will help you reach those lofty goals, whether you’re the sort to read front to back (including the interesting introduction about the history of personality tests) or just jump in at random with tests like “Am I crazy?”or “How strong am I?” or “Who should I employ?” or “Is it love?” This book is the perfect gift for people who are inquisitive, competitive, contemplative or perhaps just want to entertain with something besides Pictionary at their next party. 

OFF-KILTER COMICS
Like many cartoonists, Reza Farazmand got his start in college, via UC San Diego’s student newspaper. These days, he has a popular web comic, which is at the heart of Poorly Drawn Lines: Good Ideas and Amazing Stories. It contains strips old and new, plus a few short stories and essays; those not immune to existential crises will enjoy think pieces like “Maybe There’s More to Life Than Standing Behind Babies at IKEA.” The comic’s outlandish characters run the gamut: There are chatty mountains, profane ants, a silently judgmental bird who prefers not to whistle and a dude who over-identifies with his beard. Comic fans will dig it, as will those who enjoy funny art but can’t commit to graphic novels and anyone who’s ever wondered if owls feel pressured by stereotypes (and feel compelled to memorize Wikipedia entries on the sly).

 

This article was originally published in the December 2015 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

It’s always fun to give a gift that’s truly memorable (in a good way, of course), and this trio of books won’t steer you wrong. Ordinary is overrated!
Fiction

A long, strange trip: 150 years of ‘Alice’

Feature by Julie Hale

It’s a story that never goes out of style: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll’s chronicle of an inquisitive girl lost in a parallel world of talking animals and pompous royals, is a tale unlike any other—one that celebrates the complexities of language, the singular genius of children and the absurdity that lurks just beneath the surface of reality.

In honor of the novel’s 150th anniversary, we’ve rounded up a trio of new Alice-related titles, all of which prove that Wonderland still has mysteries well worth exploring. 

DECONSTRUCTING 'ALICE'
David Day combines the expertise of an academic with the fervor of a true Alice enthusiast in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Decoded. In a remarkable act of literary excavation, Day exposes the historical references, classical allusions and subtly disguised symbols that he thinks Carroll embedded in the tale of Wonderland as lessons for his protégé, Alice Liddell. Day believes Carroll included these elements to round out the narrow education Alice would’ve received as a female in the Victorian age. It’s an intriguing theory, and he supports it impressively throughout Decoded. The volume includes Carroll’s novel in full, supplemented by Day’s observations as he painstakingly traces the various themes—music and philosophy, mathematics and poetry—that run through Carroll’s narrative, proving along the way that Alice, even as it celebrates the absurd, exhibits airtight logic. Richly illustrated, this is a book Alice addicts will find irresistible. 

A WONDERLAND HANDBOOK
No reader should plunge into Wonderland without taking Martin Gardner along as guide. The celebrated Carroll expert published The Annotated Alice in 1960 to great acclaim and popularity—more than a million copies are currently in print. In the intervening decades, Gardner, who died in 2010, continued to pick at the riddles of Wonderland—the numerical enigmas and verbal brainteasers that make the text so perplexing—and his findings are shared in The Annotated Alice: 150th Anniversary Deluxe Edition. This comprehensive volume collects all of Gardner’s notes, his correspondence with Carroll critics and his introductions to previous Alice-related works. Filled with breathtaking illustrations by a wide range of artists, including Beatrix Potter and Salvador Dalí, the book offers invaluable insights into the Victorian mores, literary movements and real-life elements that inform Alice’s adventure, including all manner of Carroll arcana (it seems the writer, like the White Rabbit, had a fixation on gloves). For the latest in Alice analysis, Gardner’s your man. 


The Nursery Alice (1890) from The Annotated Alice: 150th Anniversary Deluxe Edition.
 

DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE
As he proved in Wicked and Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister, Gregory Maguire is a wiz when it comes to taking a fresh angle on a classic tale and spinning it into a fully formed story—one that lives up to its distinguished lineage. In his new book, After Alice, he works his customary magic, using Carroll’s story as a springboard for his own inventive novel. Maguire casts Alice’s friend Ada (who is mentioned briefly in Carroll’s narrative) as a leading character. When Alice disappears down the rabbit hole, Ada pursues her. In Wonderland, she encounters the usual suspects (including the pipe-smoking Caterpillar and unsettling Cheshire Cat), as well as a number of new—and equally eccentric—inhabitants. Meanwhile, back in the rational world, Charles Darwin, Walter Pater and other Victorian-era personages provide a rich contrast to Ada’s surreal adventures. The blend of fact and fiction results in a magical addition to the literature of Wonderland. Maguire and Alice: It’s a pairing Carroll himself would’ve consecrated.

 

This article was originally published in the December 2015 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

It’s a story that never goes out of style: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll’s chronicle of an inquisitive girl lost in a parallel world of talking animals and pompous royals. In honor of the novel’s 150th anniversary, we’ve rounded up a trio of new Alice-related titles, all of which prove that Wonderland still has mysteries well worth exploring.

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