Gone Girl Review

Gone Girl
by Gillian Flynn
From Goodreads:

Marriage can be a real killer.

One of the most critically acclaimed suspense writers of our time, New York Times bestseller Gillian Flynn takes that statement to its darkest place in this unputdownable masterpiece about a marriage gone terribly, terribly wrong. The Chicago Tribune proclaimed that her work “draws you in and keeps you reading with the force of a pure but nasty addiction.” Gone Girl’s toxic mix of sharp-edged wit and deliciously chilling prose creates a nerve-fraying thriller that confounds you at every turn.

On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer?

As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn’t do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?

With her razor-sharp writing and trademark psychological insight, Gillian Flynn delivers a fast-paced, devilishly dark, and ingeniously plotted thriller that confirms her status as one of the hottest writers around.

My Thoughts:  I listened to Gone Girl on audio, mostly in my car, but towards the end I was listening to it everywhere I went- bed, gym, grocery shopping, etc.  I came thisclose to just buying a copy on my Kindle because I had to know what was happening next!

Gone Girl is one of those books that really engages your mind.  Every time I stopped listening for the day, my mind would start to ponder what was going to happen next.  Every time Nick or Amy did something and things got worse, I'd brace myself for the possible outcomes of those situations.  I actually lost some sleep one night because I couldn't stop thinking about an impromptu press conference one character did, and I found myself reacting strongly to scene where Nick is speaking at a vigil for his missing wife and is basically sucker punched by his neighbor.

I even made my husband listen to some of the audio book when I had to pick him up at work one night, and I was eager to share the plot with him.  I will definitely have my book club read this when it comes out on paperback, because I want to discuss this book, I need to discuss this book. Amy and Nick, Go and Desi, Jeff and Greta, Noelle and every freaking character is worth dismantling and discussing.

I will definitely be re-reading this book in the future!  One of the best books I've read this year.

Gone Girl gets a Midnight Book Rating of:

 The cover gets a Midnight Cover Rating of:

I like it, but... the hair just seems... damaged, in a way that I cannot imagine Amy would ever let her hair look like on her anniversary.  It's not a bad cover, it's just not one I'm in love with.

I really want to read Flynn's other books, anyone read them that can give me some advice on which my next one should be?

Top Ten Bookish Confessions

When I saw the theme for this week, I just had to join in!  Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.  Today's question is:

Top Ten Bookish Confessions
Everyone has at least one bookish confession (and in my case I have six). Join us in spilling our deepest held secrets around one of our most beloved pastimes. Everyone has a bookish confession. What's yours? If you have one feel free to share it, if not feel free to commiserate with ours -Julia

1. I used BookSwim (which is like Netflix for books) for over a year simply because I am so horrible about returning library books on time and am afraid that they have me on some national library fine registry. Eventually I stopped using BookSwim because I was convinced I could do better at the library, and I did for awhile...

2. You know those 100 Books You Should Read Before You Die or 100 YA Books You Should Read Before You Die lists?  I always feel pressure to cheat on those.  I will often say I've read the His Dark Material series, but I actually quit a 1/4th of the way into the third book.  But I still count it.  And Wuthering Heights and Dracula, never gotten through either of them but I feel I've made enough attempts to count them.

3.  I love requesting books on NetGalley... I suck at actually reading the books I get approved for.

4. I used to read books aloud, imagining I had written them and was reading them to my fans/classmates/orphanage.

5. I don't read while I eat... I eat while I read.  Sometimes I will purposely eat food that's easier to handle with one hand if I'm reading a paperback.

6.  I love going to the book store and picking a pile of books off the shelves.  Then I like to sit down and read the beginning of each book, determining which ones are good enough to come home with me.

7.  I have read a lot of books for free at Barnes and Noble, and I don't feel guilty about it. Most stand out titles: Eating the Cheshire Cat, Living Dead Girl and Perfect.

8.  Some of the books that I display on my shelf aren't necessarily books I enjoyed reading, it's just I want people to know I've read them. On the flip side, there are definitely books I don't display for the opposite reason.

9. I totally read in the bathroom.

10.  I like big books, and I cannot lie, you other bloggers can't deny...

Delusion Review

Delusion
by Laura L. Sullivan
Release Date: 01.08.13
From Goodreads:

When two beautiful teenage stage magicians in World War II England meet a pair of handsome men who can do real magic, sparks fly. But is it illusion, or delusion? Opening-night jitters are nothing new for Phil and Fee Albion, who come from a long line of stage illusionists. The girls love to dazzle London audiences, but in the aftermath of the Blitz they're bundled off to the countryside, where they're safe from bombs and Nazis--and bored to pieces. Phil, always the passionate one, discovers a hidden college of real magicians led by the devastatingly handsome Arden. If only Phil can persuade these unworldly magicians to help England win the war! Daredevil that she is, she'll risk anything to give her country a fighting chance, even if it means losing her heart . . . or her life.

My Thoughts: I'm of two minds about this book, so I'll start with what I loved.  I really enjoyed Phil and Fee's close sisterly bond.  They weren't fighting over boys or friends, they supported each other, which can be a missing element in YA fiction, right Steph? *Steph and I were just talking about this yesterday, how boy's have bromances, but most female friendships in YA books aren't as positive.  I also loved how Delusion reminded me of the Disney movie Bedknobs and Broomsticks- for those of you that claim to be big Disney fans, you're not really unless you've seen this film because Disney didn't just start making movies in the 90s.  Dig deeper, there's some gems you've missed, I especially recommend the Witch Mountain movies, and anything Disney that stars Hayley Mills. ;)

While I'm a fan of real magic, I used to really dislike magic shows (I blame David Copperfield's eyebrows for scaring me away from stage magicians)

Who needs assistants when you have eyebrows like these?

Phil and Fee's magic acts in the books sound infinitely entertaining.  I would totally watch them, just not during a bomb raid in London.  Which is another thing I really liked about the book, the time period of World War II really interests me, and the reason I was very keen to read this book.

There are parts of Delusion that were just okay for me though.  The characters in the book seem to flip from amazingly mature to exhibiting childlike behavior.  I honestly think this book would have worked better as an adult novel, although it does handle the sexual components of the book if a fairly modest manner.

Sullivan does well with the small town characters Phil and Fee encounter after being shipped off to the countryside.  I really enjoyed the quirky, oblivious to the war townsfolk, and the way that Phil riles them up.  I just wanted more scenes with them. Communities pulling together during times of crisis will always please me.   It's also the way I felt about the school of magic, the reader doesn't really get to know enough of it.  Despite the fact that there were hundreds of magicians there, I needed to be told that fact because I kept forgetting it. 

While I liked the mix of real magic and Phil and Fee's illusions, the rules of the magic confused me.  I wanted more of the conflict between the English and German schools of magic.  The lengths that Arden goes to in order to protect the school seems far-fetched and not quite fitting for a YA book.  I think that plot line needed more fleshing out.

The ending felt rushed and most of the action happens "off screen", which was disappointing.  The build to the confrontation felt so much bigger than what happens, and Phil's transformation at the end of the book kind of made me roll my eyes with it's bit of Mary Sue-ness.  It's not enough to put me off the series, because I've come to care for Phil and Arden and Fee.  I care about the townsfolk, and I hope they are featured more in the next book.  More of everything, please!

Delusion gets a Midnight Book Rating of:

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review through Around The World ARC Tours*

Sundays In Bed With... Readathon and Giveaway!

Welcome to my Sundays in Bed With... Meme where I share what book I'm currently curled up with (or, as the case is today, what book I wish I had time to spend reading in bed this morning).

But now through Sunday September 16th each time you participate in my meme you'll be entered to win an ARC of Maggie Stiefvater's The Raven Boys!  This contest is open internationally.  Simply share what you're reading today, and each Sunday thru 9/16 and earn an entry.  Link up to your post each Sunday to the Mister Linky area at the bottom.  You will get an extra entry if you take a picture of the book you're reading (or wish you had the time to read) in your actual bed or wherever you are holed up this morning.  This morning I'm hanging with Kim and Steph and doing our own Readathon weekend.  I'm not taking my laptop with me so I don't have a pic to upload here, but I will on my Twitter account.  I finished The Raven Boys this week, and it is easily one of my favorite books of 2012!  Here's the pic I posted last week:

So let my know what you're curled up with this morning (or wish you were!), just add your link below!

Ten About Ten: Two

From Goodreads.com

Ten 
by Gretchen McNeil
Expected Publication: 09.18.2012
From Goodreads:

 And their doom comes swiftly.

It was supposed to be the weekend of their lives—an exclusive house party on Henry Island. Best friends Meg and Minnie each have their reasons for being there (which involve T.J., the school’s most eligible bachelor) and look forward to three glorious days of boys, booze and fun-filled luxury.

But what they expect is definitely not what they get, and what starts out as fun turns dark and twisted after the discovery of a DVD with a sinister message: Vengeance is mine.

Suddenly people are dying, and with a storm raging, the teens are cut off from the outside world. No electricity, no phones, no internet, and a ferry that isn’t scheduled to return for two days. As the deaths become more violent and the teens turn on each other, can Meg find the killer before more people die? Or is the killer closer to her than she could ever imagine?

I first read Ten right after I got back from BEA.  It was a book I was very excited about, even more so after meeting the adorable author and getting my book signed.  I thought instead of just doing a review I'd list ten things I loved about Ten by Gretchen McNeil in the next month and a half before it's September 18th release.

Check out my Ten About Ten: One post here.

 #2 of 10 Things I Loved About Ten by Gretchen McNeil:

Here's the second thing I love about Ten: the campaign!  I have never been apart of an actual book campaign before (I was a little slow to read Divergent and the whole Insurgent thing confused the heck out of me and blew my Google Reader up!), and I was already dedicated to doing this Ten About Ten posts just because I thought the book was so much fun and Gretchen McNeil is so cute and deserving of many, many fans, so joining the campaign to get the word out about the book?  No brainer!

If you're interested in helping Ten get some love, then go to The Army of Ten and get started!  Right now I'm working on my Sergeant badge, so I'm posting about it in order to earn the rank.

 Don't you think this would look good on me? ;)  Seriously though, a book army is pretty much the only army that will be asking me to sign up, although I'd be great to have on your team if you're stuck in a horror movie/zombie apocalypse.  It's pretty much what I've trained for all these years, but I'm a slow, clumsy runner, so chances are I'll get killed/eaten first.  Lucky you.

Interested in Ten yet?  It doesn't come with a puppy or cookies, but you can always tell your family that it came with both. ;)

Fifty Shades of Louisa May Review

Fifty Shades of Louisa May
by L M Anonymous
Release Date: 8.22.12
From Goodreads:

Louisa May Alcott, author of the classic Little Women, consort of Emerson, Thoreau and Hawthorne, beloved icon of professors of American 19th-century literature and perhaps less loved by their legions of students, had a lusty side that was less academic, and more . . . transcendental than any of us knew.

Brilliantly penned by a well-known writer who prefers the cloak of anonymity to the vulgar embrace of rude fame (of which s/he has no need), this hilarious little book reveals the unbridled passion-that-might-have-been of one of the world’s most popular authors.

A vividly written tome that just might tell us more about the sowing of transcendental wild oats than any ream of volumes on the subject, Fifty Shades of Louisa May is not for the weak of art, or for those who prefer their literary icons under glass. It imagines an unhinged Melville doing what comes naturally, a Centennial Ball unlike any heretofore described, Louisa May’s ardent encounters with her “Wooden Friend,” and much, much more.

Explicitly illustrated with X-rated woodcuts.

My Thoughts:  The setting and tone of this book makes the erotica all that more tantalizing and forbidden.  It was hard to be shocked by much in Fifty Shades of Grey because it's after the sexual revolution and Ana and Christian are perfectly free to play slap and tickle (since for a book that's supposed to feature BDSM, it contains very little actual BDSM... do I have the letters correct?  Bondage, Domination, Sadism and Mashochism?  Note to self: look it up.  Note to my readers: I'm too lazy to look it up.).  In Louisa May Alcott's time people may not have been any less horny, but they certainly weren't free to discuss it, especially women.

The book opens with a bang... in more ways than one.  Not the very first chapter, which is just an introduction to an elderly Louisa May about to put to paper her amorous history, but by the second chapter there is a "shot heard round the world."  And in less than 20 pages, this book manages to shock me more than 2 and 1/2 books of EL James' trilogy.  Of course, it's all told tongue in cheek, which sounds dirty but fits the narrative perfectly.  It's also illustrated, ranging from nice to naughty. ;)

So if you've passed on Fifty Shades of Grey because it was so poorly written, or felt that it put women back in the dark ages, have no fear.  Fifty Shades of Louisa May is superbly written (see, I just used the word superbly!) and Louisa May is no trembling, submissive, whisp of a girl.  She is in control, and she is full of lust.

Also, it's a short book, so it's perfect for all those upcoming readathon!

Fifty Shades of Louisa May gets a Midnight Book Rating of:

 ** I did get this in ebook form in exchange for my honest review and opinion**

Bout of Books: Goals and Update Post

So it's that time again, a week long readathon hosted by Bout of Books.  Just the thing I need to make up for all the reading I didn't do on vacation.

Here's some of the books I hope to get to:

A Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy (this is a re-read)

Let The Devil Sleep by John Verdon

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Origin by Jessica Khoury

Carnival of Souls by Melissa Marr

Plus hoping to make some more progress on the audio book Criminal by Karin Slaughter.

Time Devoted to Reading

I will be reading all week.

My Goals

• To read five books and make progress on audio book
• write 10 reviews
• comment on every bout of books participant at least once
• have a real presence on Twitter (I've been lazy about commenting and connecting since BEA, and there's no excuse- bad Midnight Book Girl, bad!)

Books to Read

• A Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy (this is a re-read)
  Let The Devil Sleep by John Verdon
  The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
  Origin by Jessica Khoury
  Carnival of Souls by Melissa Marr

Updates

Monday
Number of books I've read today: 1/4th of a book
Total number of books I've read: see above answer
Books: 103 pages in Let The Devil Sleep by John Verdon
Challenge: From Reading in Texas and  The Space Between comes this first challenge, simply tell what happens to your books after you read them.
My Answer: I usually keep them.  Sure, I'll lend them to friends and family, but I'm a book hoarder.  Occasionally I'll donate a large pile to Goodwill or the take some to a senior assisted living home, and I trade some on PaperBackSwap, but mostly I keep them.  I'm a re-reader, I like to re-visit old friends.  I get easily attached to books.  And of course, I also buy lots of ebooks too, so of course I keep those (and I don't have to feel guilty about that!).  I did sign up for BookCrossing and I'm going to give it a try just because it sounds cool and I looked, no one in my town has released any books in the Go Hunting section, so now I have to!

Tuesday
Number of books I've read today: read from one, listened to another on audio.
Total number of books I've read: still haven't finished one.
Books: Let the Devil Sleep and Criminal.
Challenge: Relocate! Hosted by The Grammarian's Review:  Use your current read. Now relocate the characters! How does this change the story?
My Answer: I'm reading Let the Devil Sleep which takes place in the Northeast, and right now the cold weather is acting as an atmosphere for the book. So, I'm taking the characters to...
Hawaii!  Retired NYPD officer Dave Gurney is now having to deal with the Good Shepard killer who instead of targeting rich Mercedes drivers in the past, will now have hunted down rich boat owners.  Gurney's injuries from the previous book are still bothering him, but the sunshine and tourists make his ill temper even worse.  I can see his NY attitude really being put to test by calmer, more laid back Hawaii 5.0. ;)

Wednesday
Number of books I've read today: Finished 1, listened to part of another
Total number of books I've read: Just one.
Books: Let the Devil Sleep by John Verdon.  Still listening to Criminal by Karin Slaughter.
Challenge: Word Search at The Musings of Almybnenr!

Thursday
Number of books I've read today: Reading 3, all in progress
Total number of books I've read: Still only finished one
Books: Read from The Raven Boys and Delusion, listened to Criminal
Challenges: Candy by Booksmartie.  She's asking whether we snack while we read (to which I said that I don't really eat while I read, but I sometimes read while I eat.  Meaning that I like to eat out by myself, but I always read while doing so.  My favorite places to do this are Panera, Starbucks and IHOP.  So other than full on meals, I don't do much eating and reading, but I do love curling up with a good book and a hot cup of coffee/tea/hot chocolate).

Friday
Number of books I've read today: Reading 3, all still in progress
Total number of books I've read: Yup, still just the one read completely.  I suck.
Books: Read from The Raven Boys and Delusion, listened to Criminal

Saturday
Number of books I've read today: Still reading 3 at once.
Total number of books I've read: 1, which is the loneliest number... in a Readathon
Books Still reading from The Raven Boys and Delusion, listened to Criminal

Sunday
Number of books I've read today:
Total number of books I've read:
Books:

*Goal post template provided by Bout of Books

Sundays In Bed With... The Raven Boys Giveaway!

Welcome to my Sundays in Bed With... Meme where I share what book I'm currently curled up with (or, as the case is today, what book I wish I had time to spend reading in bed this morning).

But now through Sunday September 16th each time you participate in my meme you'll be entered to win an ARC of Maggie Stiefvater's The Raven Boys!  This contest is open internationally.  Simply share what you're reading today, and each Sunday thru 9/16 and earn an entry.  Link up to your post each Sunday to the Mister Linky area at the bottom.  You will get an extra entry if you take a picture of the book you're reading (or wish you had the time to read) in your actual bed or wherever you are holed up this morning.  Here's what I'm reading:

My dog Emmy and my cat Riley staring each other down over my copy of The Raven Boys.  The Hubs and I tried to get our new kitten, Alabama, in the picture but she was running around like a lunatic.  It should be noted that this is as close as Emmy gets to Riley on purpose, because he's bigger than she is and she's terrified of him almost 99% of the time.  

I'm really loving The Raven Boys, plus it's set in Virginia.  When I was at BEA I was careful not to be too greedy with the books, and this is the only one I took more than one of (well, except the Michael Kortya book, but that was an accident!) to giveaway.  Looking forward to seeing what you're reading in bed this morning!

Saturday Ha-Ha

I have been a bit M.I.A this month.  Between vacation and work and even readathon, I haven't been on here as much as I should have been.  I'm still reading for #boutofbooks readathon, but I thought I'd post this since thanks to my handy dandy HTC update I can FINALLY take screen shots of the text messages on my phone (it's been a long time coming, Android!).  I meant to post this the morning after, but I still think it's funny:

* Bittner is Courtney from Abducted By Books.  Bittner is a nickname.  Please follow her blog.  But no creepy stalkers.  Unless you have lots of money, in which case I know where she lives and for a fee would be willing to sell that information.  Also, her phone number will cost you extra. 

Sundays In Bed With... Let The Devil Sleep

 It's time for my weekly meme Sundays In Bed With... where we share what book we're curled up in bed with this morning (or the book we wish we had time to hit the sheets with!).  I'm actually at the beach this weekend, but if all goes well I'll be spending time with this book:

Let the Devil Sleep by John Verdon, which I got from the lovely ladies at Wunderkind PR.  Our new kitty, Alabama, is settling in nicely and Riley and Emmy have accepted her into our family.  She also seems to be a book poser, just like Riley.  Hopefully someday soon I can get them in the same picture (of course 'Bama looks teeny next to hulkster Riley)!

Also happy 21st Birthday to my niece, Sam!  We've been celebrating her bday at the beach for years now, so I thought I'd share a picture of her during her very first trip to Ocean City:

 Don't worry, it's a virgin daiquiri which she got because it's what I ordered.  Sadly, right after this picture was taken, someone smacked her on the back and her face froze this way.  ;)

So what book are you reading today?  Link up below or leave a comment.  As always, I challenge you to take a picture of the book in your actual bed (or wherever you're chilling)!

Blog Hop August 10th

It's been way too long since I hopped! Head over to Crazy For Books to join in the fun.!

Who is your go-to author when you are in a reading rut?

I don't find myself in many reading ruts very often, but usually when I do I gravitate towards thrillers or an old favorite.  Right now I'm reading a lot of Lisa Gardner, but Stephen King and Dean Koontz are always there for me too.   Probably my favorite author to re-visit when I'm in a rut is Christopher Pike.  Love him!

So who's your go-to author?  Does yours change from time to time?

Want To Be A Good Author? Just Give Birth!

From Goodreads

Recently one of my favorite authors, Maeve Binchy, passed away.  I discovered her writing back in college after seeing the movie Circle of Friends that was based on her novel.  It was pretty much instant love between the two of us.  Over the years I have introduced her to my friends, and Courtney of Abducted by Books wrote a lovely post about the loss of Binchy. I really felt the world was mourning with me, but it turns out that one person, one author, was scheming to sell books by using controversy to attract attention.*

*At least that is my opinion, but I'm childless so obviously my opinion lacks emotional depth.

Last night, as I was watching the Olympics and catching up with my Google Reader, I came across Cuddlebuggery's Buzz Worthy News 6th August 2012 post.  If you haven't visited her site, you need to, because it's awesome.  There were lots of little bits and pieces of news, some topics that really caught my eye, but then I saw the mention of Maeve Binchy and Amanda Craig.  Inner turmoil, acid reflux and ranting commenced.

Amanda Craig wrote an article for the Telegraph entitled If Maeve Binchy Had Been a Mother..., in which she suggests that Binchy's novels, wonderful and charming as they were, would have been better if Binchy had been a mother.  Because, according to Craig, women authors must have children in order to truly understand the depths of love.

Now I have a lot of problems with that supposition.  That in order to be the best author you can be you must give birth.  Does that mean men authors are lacking since they don't have vaginas?  I know the whole idea of writing what you know is English Lit 101, but I'm grateful for authors that use their imagination.  Jane Austen never married, never had children, and yet she created one of the most enduring love stories of all time.  Of course, I'm sure Craig would concede that Pride and Prejudice is a good novel, it just would have been better if Austen had squeezed a baby out her vajayjay. 

I'm 35 years old, married and childless.  I would love to have children, but whether or not I'll ever experience the joys of motherhood remains to be seen.  Curious as to Binchy's opinion on having kids, I Googled it.  Something Craig perhaps should have done before dumping on the author for her childless status.  I found an article by Melanie Notkin from the Huffington Post and she reports here that Maeve Binchy did want to be a mother, but due to infertility was unable to do so- and she was citing Binchy's own words.

I may be taking Craig's opinion a bit personally.  I did restrain myself from sending hate email, but only because I was able to call Courtney up and rant last night.  I've never read any of Ms. Craig's six novels, so I have no idea what kind of author she is.  Maybe her writing did improve after she had children, perhaps she was a shallow, empty husk until she could be called Mommy.  But in her essay she just comes across as petty and jealous.  This is the last two lines from the Telegraph essay:

Binchy, whose first novel was about a 20-year friendship between two women, didn’t need the experience of motherhood to write about love and friendship in a way that charmed millions. But she might have dug deeper, charming less but enlightening more, had she done so.

It just feels like Craig is using the word charming as an insult.  Because it's not enough to be a beloved, popular author, you have to hit people over the head with enlightenment and deep, maternal love.  Ooookay. 

Now I want to make clear, I think having children, loving them and raising up wonderful tiny humans is a truly amazing experience and I have seen motherhood (and fatherhood) change some of my friends and family for the better, but it seems to me that a good author is successful because they are able to empathize with people and create characters that fully realized even if they haven't experienced all the characters have.  Not just because they gave birth.

So am I just being sensitive?  Am I wrong to find Amanda Craig's essay as an insult to Maeve Binchy (who, again, is dead and can't counter Ms. Craig's article)?  Does the simple act (simple for some people) of reproducing truly make for superior authors?  Or is Craig just stirring up the pot to get attention for her latest novel?  After all, she certainly got my attention. There no doubt is many forms of love, but does the love of children trump the love of spouse, or family or humanity in general? Discuss! ;)

Fifty Shades of Louisa May Interview and Spotlight

 Right before I left for vacation, the wonderful Emily from Wunderkind asked if I would consider reviewing or featuring the book Fifty Shades of Louisa May by L.M. Anonymous.  Emily, you had me at the title!  I'm currently reading the book, so look for my review.  Until then here's a little info about the book and a funny interview (which, sadly I cannot take credit for... I suck at author interviews, as some of you may remember when at BEA I told Veronica Roth that she looked so young and she replied, "Because I am young").   I can't wait to hear some of the speculation over who L M Anonymous really is!

Picture from Goodreads

About FIFTY SHADES OF LOUISA MAY

Louisa May Alcott, author of the classic Little Women, friend of Emerson, Thoreau and Hawthorne, beloved icon of professors of American 19th-century literature and perhaps less loved by their legions of students, had a lusty side that was less academic, and more . . . transcendental than any of us knew.

Brilliantly penned by a well-known writer who prefers the cloak of anonymity to the vulgar embrace of rude fame (of which s/he has no need), this hilarious little book reveals the unbridled passion-that-might-have-been of one of the world’s most popular authors.

A racy memoir that just might tell us more about the sowing of transcendental wild oats than any ream of volumes on the subject, FIFTY SHADES OF LOUISA MAY (OR Books; Publication Date: August 22, 2012; $15pbk/$10ebook) is not for the weak of art, or for those who prefer their literary icons under glass. It imagines an unhinged Melville doing what comes naturally, a Centennial Ball unlike any heretofore described, Louisa May’s ardent encounters with her “Wooden Friend,” and much, much more. All lovingly illustrated with X-rated woodcuts.

About LOUISA MAY ANONYMOUS

The award-winning author of FIFTY SHADES OF LOUISA MAY has published many highly regarded works of fiction, none of them under a pseudonym. Until now. For this book, "LMA" immersed her/himself in the literature of the Transcendentalists, reading literally thousands of pages by and about them. S/he is recovering, slowly.

An Interview with LOUISA MAY ANONYMOUS

Q: Why did you write this book? 
LMA: I wondered what Louisa May would have made of the Fifty Shades of Grey phenomenon. After all, she wrote “blood-and-thunder” romances and thrillers under pseudonyms. So it’s clear that she had a darker, more sexual side—one that she kept carefully hidden. My book unleashes the inner Louisa and lets her have her say. 

Q: So she was lusty, then?
 LMA: The real Louisa May probably died a virgin, so lust wasn’t central to her life. She was sickly, overworked, overmedicated, and unable to take much enjoyment from her remarkable success. Fifty Shades of Louisa May is an attempt to give her a second chance at life and sex. In it, Louisa May has a lot of sexual encounters—though they end up being more hilarious than erotic, as is frequently the case in life and literature. But why not let Louisa May cut loose and have a little fun for once?

Q: How did you write this book?
 LMA: I immersed myself in their world by reading dozens of books on Transcendental history and books of the era. I took field trips to Orchard House, Fruitlands, and other landmarks. Then the spirit of Louisa May entered me (won’t say where) and guided my hand. To write the book, that is.

Q: Why do so many people seem outraged by your book? 
LMA: Because they want to keep Louisa May in some kind of virginal vault that denies that she was a complex woman with desires, bad moods, grudges, and a sense of humor. They should lighten up. In my book, Louisa May never gets tied up or spanked, tempting as that was. She’s in charge.

Q: Aren’t you making fun of her? 
LMA: No, I’m having fun with her. If the book makes fun of anyone, it’s the sanctimonious men who surrounded her, from her loony father on down.

Q: Would she approve? 
LMA: Of course not. Are you kidding?

Q: Was it difficult to write about 19^th-century sex?
 LMA: Sex in any era is still sex. It’s not like we’ve come up with lots of great innovations in sex lately, beyond Internet porn, of course. The Transcendentalists are often thought of as fancy-thinking deities. Fifty Shades of Louisa May imagines them on a more human level, where they shed all of their pretensions. And their clothes.

Q: How did the Fifty Shades trilogy inspire a historical work?
 LMA:Well, it’s clear that the Fifty Shades of Grey phenomenon has hit a literary g-spot by revealing the inner desires of fictional characters. Fifty Shades of Louisa May just takes it further, revealing the sexual secrets of literary figures—Melville, Emerson, Thoreau, Hawthorne, and more. Luckily, all are too dead to sue.

Q: Isn’t this book just fan fiction for Fifty Shades?
 LMA: Hardly. First of all, I’m not a fan. Rich man + semi-submissive woman = avant garde sexuality? I don’t think so. Plus, the writing blows kraken whales (quoting Melville here).

So my book is neither parody nor homage. It hijacks the title, throws away the seriousness and the bondage, and lets legendary authors perform ridiculous and embarrassing sexual acts. As writers of any era often do. So call it lewditure. Call it literotica.

Q: What do you have against the Transcendentalists?
 LMA: They were proto-hippies who brought a critical line of free-thinking humanism to the world. They were way ahead of their times. But they weren’t saints. Thoreau was a grouchy trustifarian and onanist. Like a lot of writers, Melville was manic-depressive and delusional. Hawthorne was twee and neurotic as an indoor cat. Emerson seems to have been high on opiates a lot of the time. And the Peabody sisters were libertines in training. If the E! Network existed in their day, the Transcendentalists would have been all over it.

Q: What did you end up feeling for the actual Louisa May?
 LMA: Deep admiration. She was a remarkably hard-working, politically engaged writer who achieved incredible success back when women were still fighting to get to vote. That she became a captive to her success is tragic. That critics and readers have made her a poster-child for old-fashioned goodness is reductive, inaccurate, and unfair. She was a talented, creative soul who deserved a better life. Or at least a heart-thumping roll in the hayloft once in awhile.

Q: So who are you, exactly? 
LMA: Can’t tell. Though the answer’s hidden in the book if you look hard enough.

Q: Why the secrecy?

LMA: I write in a different genre and have committed readers (and publishers) all over the world. A book like this would confuse everyone. I wanted to write a book free of my own reputation for once—as Louisa May certainly must have wanted to in her day. Now’s the time.

Sundays In Bed With... The Princess Bride

Good morning, Midnighters!  Hopefully you're curled up in bed with a good book, and this is the meme to share your Sunday reads.  Let me know what you're reading today, or what book you wish you had the time to read today.

I just got back from vacation.  Of course I took more books than I could possibly read, but between spending time with my husband, my family, swimming in the ocean and watching the Olympics, I only read 2 books.  I know, you've a right to be ashamed. 

Also, I was looking for a kitty to add to our family.  Our girl kitty, Joey, died back in December and until recently we (and by "we" I mean the Hubs) wasn't ready to get a new companion for our male cat.  I decided it was time though when my husband insisted on bringing our cat Riley on vacation because while he'd been fine with a cat sitter in the past, leaving Riley all alone for hours was not something the Hubs could stomach. 

So Riley came to the beach... he did not enjoy the six hour drive, and he was less than thrilled with all the noise of my nieces and nephews running around the house.  The Hubs reluctantly green lighted Project Find Riley a Little Sister.  And I did.

This is our new kitty, Alabama (or Allie) with my Sundays In Bed With... read, The Princess Bride by William Goldman.  She just woke up, so she's a little blurry eyed, and it is one of the first times I've been able to get her to sit still long enough to take a picture. Alabama gets her name from The Hubs favorite movie, True Romance... which is fitting because Joey got her name after one of the Hubs favorite bands, The Ramones. 

Even though vacation reading was a failure and I have tons of books to read, I still wanted to re-read The Princess Bride (which I may or may not have been reading aloud to our new little fur baby).  It's one of my all time favorite movies, but the book is even better.  It's kind of fitting, since the first time I bought and read the book was at the beach I just got back from.  If you haven't read it, you are really missing out!

Now it's time to let me know what you're reading!  Join in the meme with the linky below, or leave a comment.  I know Sundays can be busy days for us, so it can just be a book you wish you were reading today.  And if you want, take a picture of your book in bed!

 

A Deadly Cliche Review

 A Deadly Cliché 
by Ellery Adams
From Goodreads:

 While walking her poodle, Olivia Limoges discovers a dead body buried in the sand. Could it be connected to the bizarre burglaries plaguing Oyster Bay, North Carolina? At every crime scene, the thieves set up odd tableaus: a stick of butter with a knife through it, dolls with silver spoons in their mouths, a deck of cards with a missing queen. Olivia realizes each setup represents a cliché. And who better to decode the cliché clues than her Bayside Book Writers group?

My Thoughts:  I am totally a fan of cozy mysteries now, and the first book in the Books By The Bay Mystery series was one of my first ever cozy reads (and a book club selection).  I got to meet Ellery Adams recently, and I got a copy of her third book since I downloaded A Deadly Cliché over a year ago.  I can't believe I waited so long to get to it!  Major book fail, midnighters.  I apologize. 

I probably liked this even more than a second book because Olivia opens up a bit more in this second installment.  Olivia is such a different type of person from me, and because she's so independent, that I felt that I was kept at an arm's length from her. But as A Deadly Cliche unfolds, Olivia does too.  She's made good friends, and she's learned to share herself with them.  I thought the way her love interests played out in the novel was very fitting to how she's... not necessarily changing, but becoming more herself.  Oh, Olivia still feeds Captain Haviland food fit for a king, but she also gets her hands dirty to help her town and her friends. 

I found myself drawn, once more, to the supporting characters.  I really love Laurel and her story line, and I want to see more!  The way Olivia supports her friends, from Laurel to Harris, is truly heartwarming.  It makes me want to move to Oyster Bay!  Again, I loved reading the excerpts from the writer's group's books.  I think Adams has a career in crossover genres if ever she decides to change things up.  I would totally read Millay's book!

I enjoyed the murder mystery part of the book too, the cliches left at the scenes of the crime were clever- oh, that's right, I love a good cliche!  But I honestly liked Olivia's personal drama, and Laurel's new intrepid reporter role even more.

Looking forward to reading book 3 whilst I'm at the beach this week!

A Deadly Cliché gets a Midnight Book Rating of:

**I own a copy of this book on my Kindle**