wednesday october 31
Okay, I know it’s Halloween, but how about some romantic fantasy that’s a little less creature-of-the-night than the current crop of vampire romances?
The authors of these books would describe themselves as fantasy writers rather than romance writers, but I think their books have plenty of appeal for readers of both genres. Whether your heart lies with high fantasy or with grand romance, you’ll find yourself swept away.
I wrote last year about War for the Oaks, Emma Bull’s fantasy about a rocker chick who gets caught up in a faerie war. Here are just a few more suggestions of fantasies with strong romantic elements—lots more where they came from! Teen readers might enjoy these, too.
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monday october 29
I had a whole year of South Carolina history in eighth grade, but the fact that rice was once grown there escaped me. Well, it was, from the end of the 17th century up through the end of slavery times. The eight counties that William Dusinberre calls "the Low Country" in his book Them Dark Days were in fact major producers.
The reason, of course, that the rice business did not continue long after the Civil War was because the labor involved in growing the rice was so difficult, and the conditions (malaria, again) so unhealthy in the South Carolina swamps that it was impossible to find paid workers to do the job. The swamps are now swamps again; one major plantation has become a wildlife refuge.
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During preparations for a Halloween party in the English village of Woodleigh Common, 13-year-old Joyce Reynolds boasts that she saw a murder years ago. Nobody believes her, until she is found drowned during the party in a tub for bobbing apples. Detective Hercule Poirot is on the scene to investigate in Halloween Party, another tale from master of suspense Agatha Christie.
Want to curl up with more Halloween-themed murder mysteries on October 31st? Try these spooky suggestions, also written by women:
Witches’ Bane by Susan Wittig Albert: When a Halloween prank ends in murder, herb shop owner and private eye China Bayles’ friend Ruby becomes a prime suspect after being accused of practicing witchcraft.
Hallowed Bones by Carolyn Haines: As Halloween approaches, Private Investigator Sarah Booth Delaney probes the controversial case of Doreen Mallory, accused of killing her handicapped infant daughter.
Trick or Treat Murder by Leslie Meier: While preparing for the annual Halloween festival in Tinker’s Cove, Maine, Lucy Stone investigates a series of arsons that are destroying the town’s historic homes, one of which claims the life of socialite Monica Mayes.
sunday october 28
"So, there's going to be this book festival, with 90 authors and 17 panel discussions, and activites for kids, and books for sale, and it's all free? Really? Where will it be - in Chicago? New York? Maybe Atlanta?" It is for real, and it is happening right here in river city on November 3rd, 2007. There may or may not be a truly viable "Banks Development Project", but the river itself does have banks, hence the name of the festival, Books by the Banks.
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friday october 26
Last year I wrote about some stunning pop-up books that adults might enjoy. There have been some new releases that you really shouldn't miss, especially if you are a fan of paper-engineered books.
Matthew Reinhart has come out with Star Wars: A Pop-Up Guide to the Galaxy (2007), an unbelievable treasure depicting the original 3 movies.
David A. Carter has followed up his terrific One Red Dot (2005) with Blue 2 (2006) and 600 Black Spots (2007), both as much fun as the first.
Alive: The Living, Breathing Human Body Book (2007) from Dorling Kindersley, engineered by Iain Smyth, is a fascinating look at the human body.
This year Robert Sabuda gave us Encyclopedia Prehistorica: Mega-Beasts (2007), a wonderful study in ancient animals. And you shouldn't miss How Many? (2007) by Ron Van Der Meer, an intriguing study in shapes and paper sculpture. The mechanics and complexity of the book make us see things in new ways.
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wednesday october 24
One of the more interesting aspects of getting a bit older is watching the fashions and pop culture of your youth come back into style again—what decade are we updating now, the 1980s? (Another of the interesting aspects of getting older is that it’s okay to admit you don’t know exactly where the cutting edge finds itself these days.)
Anyway, once you’ve been around once, you recognize how cyclical pop culture is. Read Flapper: A Madcap Story of Sex, Style, Celebrity, and the Women Who Made America Modern, by Joshua Zeitz, and you’ll be amused at how familiar it all seems in our Paris Hilton–jaded, media-dominated age.
Zeitz’s book is a social history of that cultural icon whom Zeitz calls “part reality, part invention,” the post–World War I modern girl whose racy lifestyle dismayed her parents and fueled a national craze.
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tuesday october 23
Whether it be Halloween, Christmas, etc., I love a good seasonal picture book. They’re perfect for when you feel like you’ve read the child in your life every one of their books, a million times. It’s great to share a fresh, topical story: although sometimes with all the picture book choices out there, it’s hard to single out the best ones. Lucky for you, that’s what I get paid to do. I have a great author/illustrator to recommend, for all of your holiday picture book needs. Dav Pilkey has sweet, funny books about Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter, so you will be all set, at least until the Fourth of July. In the meantime, here’s a few suggestions for you and your family, so, enjoy!
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