The Spectacular by Fiona Davis

 

Hello everyone. I hope your day is perfection.

When you are from New York State (notice I capitalize "state" as we consider it a specific place) and we say we're going to the city it doesn't mean Buffalo or Syracuse.  Going to the city means New York City. When I was a kid, we got all "the city" TV channels, along with small town locals. There is a downside to that...Crazy Eddie commercials.  Don't know what they are?  Count yourself lucky!  They were commercials for this guy that sold small appliances.  He was loud, gruff, and screamed at the camera.  He ended each commercial with "Crazy Eddie, his prices are insane!" You can see them on YouTube, but don't say I didn't warn you. 

My parents went to the city often, leaving us kids at home.  Sometimes we would go as a family. One time I went alone with my parents, no sisters. They wanted me to experience something very special, The Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular.  The building itself is amazing, but I don't remember it.  What I do remember is the music, beautiful, room filling, and live.  I remember the stage actually being three stages and they moved up and down.  Most of all, I remember the Rockettes.  They were so pretty and smiling.  They danced perfectly in sync. The costumes were like the best Christmas decoration you could ever imagine, full of color and sparkle. It was wonderful and many decades later, I still remember it.  What a fantastic tribute to those women, that decades later, a little girl (now practically old lady) still remembers them.

I recently read The Spectacular by Fiona Davis. This is the story of a young dancer, Marion, in 1956 who goes through the exhaustive audition process to win a spot as a Radio City Rockette.  She is shunned by her father who wants her to have the life of a lady, married, at home, having a family.  Marion wants to dance and experience independence.  The book includes a cast of interesting characters including a young doctor specializing in mental health.  He believes he has developed a way to profile criminals by their behavior and the clues they leave behind.  This proves useful as he and Marion are pulled into an investigation of a bomber who has been terrorizing the city for 16 years yet remains at large.

This book is historic fiction, but don't let that scare you off. The story is completely engrossing.  Loads of research has been done into Radio City's workings and what it takes to be a Rockette.  In addition, the history of the bomber is real.  This adds a mystery/thriller component to the tale of a young woman trying to follow her heart and live her life and not the one that others want for her. The book reads smoothly and moves along with just the right amount of description to transport you to 1956 Manhattan. You'll cheer for Marion and cry for her, this is the complete storytelling package.  You can kick up your heels for this book, a delight from beginning to end.

Now would be the perfect time for Crazy Eddie as this book is insanely good!

Zero Days by Ruth Ware

 

Hello everyone.  I hope your week is going well.

Well, the part of the year I dislike immensely is here.  Hurricane season, typhoons for you in the east.  So many areas seem to have a bullseye on them, coastal North Carolina is one of them.  There are two storms in the Atlantic already and it is only June.  Of course, I'm watching them like a hawk.  I drive my husband bananas checking each update, looking at all the spaghetti graphs, trying to decide which model looks the most reliable.  It's exhausting and frightening.  If you've never been through a hurricane, count yourself lucky.  I remember one of my first storms, I think it was Gloria.  My apartment was on the Chesapeake Bay and was sure to get a lot of water and wind.  My boyfriend (now husband) wanted me to come stay with his family.  I kept putting it off, baking several coffee cakes.  Don't laugh, for some reason, I thought my mother's coffee cake could work magic.  It is a darn good coffee cake but warding off hurricanes is a bit beyond its abilities. My sisters who still adore that cake and have never been through a hurricane would disagree, don't listen to them. By the time I drove to my boyfriend/hubby's house, the wind was so bad I was terrified. I took in town roads, afraid of the elevated interstate. I literally thought my little car was going to flip just from the wind. The roads were flooded, there was only a tiny passable area in the center of four lanes, and the storm hadn't even hit yet.  I made a huge fool of myself, leaning to the side whenever I had to stop, to prevent blowing over, and bracing myself certain I would be blown miles away, fancying myself as Dorothy without the sparkly shoes. Finally, I arrived at hubby's house regaling him with my harrowing experience and how I had defied death just to see his face, when his mother arrived home.  She, ever the gentile southern lady, took off her coat and straightened her hair, lipstick still in place and said sweetly "I think we're going to have some water to feed the flowers." It was practically a monsoon with cataclysmic winds, and she isn't the least bit rattled with un-smudged lipstick.  I think perhaps she traveled through a worm hole. By the way, she scrubbed floors on her knees with perfect clothes and full make up too...only one step away from Leave it to Beaver's mom's pearls.  I must have given everyone quite a laugh but I'm certain leaning was necessary! This has nothing to do with the book below, but hurricanes are good reading times if you have any lights.  I'm sure I can scrape up a book or two around here (that will make hubby roll his eyes).

I recently read Zero Days by Ruth Ware. I'm not sure if you're aware of it but Ruth Ware and I have a "thing" going on.  It's off and on, hot and cold.  I've read everything she has written.  I have really liked most of her books, really didn't like One by One, and count The Death of Mrs. Westaway as one of my ALL TIME favorites, for the setting alone. I'm thrilled to say, Ruth Ware and I are happily allied again, reader and author.  Zero Days is about a husband (Gabe) and wife (Jack) team, they work as penetration specialists. They are paid to break into buildings to see what security measures are too lax. They are working at a client's business late at night, with Jack inside the building. Gabe, a computer specialist, at home on his computer, directing Jack through the building and around security through her earpiece. Suddenly Gabe stops answering and Jack gets caught, taken to police.  While trying to get Gabe to explain their business to the police, he stops answering the phone. Exhausted herself, Jack finally drives home, mad that Gabe has obviously fallen asleep, leaving her to deal with the cops alone.  Only when Jack gets home, she finds her beloved husband murdered.  The story goes from bad to worse when the police have only one suspect, Jack. 

This is the best thriller I've read this year.  Nothing even comes close to Zero Days.  I am a slow reader, I received the book yesterday morning and had it finished this morning, something I've never done. I wanted to stay up all night reading it, I didn't but wanted to.  It is smart and twisty; the pacing is relentless.  This book does not stop, it grabs you, shakes you by the shoulders and asks cockily "How did you like that?"  Start to finish, a great story and edge of your seat thriller.  If there was thriller writing school, this would be the textbook.  

Mastering the Art of French Murder by Colleen Cambridge

 

Hello everyone. I hope you're having a wonderful week.

I love having a whole roasted chicken in the fridge, it's so homey and I feel like I can make a million different meals from that one ingredient.  Yes, I know I mention chicken roasting ad nauseam here, but believe it or not I can cook other things.  I can trim a whole beef tenderloin, clean and sectioned, in under 15 minutes.  I can make stuffed, braided bread, chocolate pot de creme, ice creams, seafood, ratatouille, or biscuits that will make you cry out in joy. Surprisingly, I don't have that many cookbooks, preferring books that teach not just feature recipes.  Of course, many people, including me, have the classics like The Joy of Cooking or the ever-famous Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child.  I have my mother's copy of Julia Child's famous book, even in 1970 it was in its 19th printing, it's still going strong today.  Pretty amazing for a book not to be relegated to a backlist, all these years later. Of course, me cooking anything out of this book likely looks like Lucy and Ethel in the chocolate factory, while standing on banana peels and being pelted with eggs, but I imagine I'm a world class chef. The hot, boob-a-licious kind of chef with dazzling smile and great hair, not the grumbling old man with dirty towel tucked under his apron.

I recently read Mastering the Art of French Murder by Colleen Cambridge.  The first thing that you'll notice in this mystery is the cover, which looks very much like Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking only with a chef's knife plunged through the middle with blood running down it.  An amusing start without even opening the book.  This is the story of Tabitha Knight and her pal, Julia Child in 1949 Paris.  The book opens the day after a party held at Julia and husband Paul's apartment.  Tabitha and Julia are food shopping.  Julia has undertaken the task of teaching her friend to cook so is introducing Tabitha to various vendors and how to pick the best vegetables.  Upon returning to Julia's apartment, they discover something amiss, one of the guests from the previous night's festivities is dead in the building basement.  Not only is the death of a young woman terrible enough but she has been stabbed in the chest with Julia's own chef's knife.  Quickly, Julia and Tabitha become the main suspects in the brutal murder.  The only way out is to help solve the murder.

This book will be delightful for any fan of Julia Child, post-war Paris, cooking in general, or mystery lovers.  While Julia is present throughout, she does not overwhelm the story nor does the author treat the book as her term paper about all her Child research.  A pleasant read, with plenty of twists, the story will "stir" your imagination as you "strain" through the characters to figure out this "well-seasoned" who-dun-it.  Okay, I'll stop, but seriously, this was lots of fun.

I have to go start making dinner, hope I can find my chef's knife.

Episode Thirteen by Craig DiLouie

Hello everyone.  I hope you're having a great day.  

Did you ever watch scary movies when you were a kid?  I've already told you I snuck into the family room to see a minute of The Exorcist, which was way too frightening for me.  We would often watch less vomit-is (I'm certain that is a real word) movies. We'd be on the floor, on our stomachs, chins propped on hands, elbows on the floor. Now, even if I could get in that position, which I can't, I'd fall asleep in two seconds. As a kid, it was a favorite way to watch TV.  Two For a Guillotine and The Legend of Hell House (a great book) were two of our favorites.  As adults, the latest thing is ghost hunting shows. In fact, an episode of the TV show A Haunting was filmed in our Victorian house.  People go through houses looking for things to move or voices, hoping to see an entire ghost. Frankly, I thought it was all baloney, until things started happening in our house.  When you hear hard-soled shoes coming up your long wooden staircase repeatedly, but there is never anyone there, you don't dismiss the paranormal as easily.

I recently read Episode Thirteen by Craig DiLouie.  This is the story of a ghost hunting TV show called Fade to Black, filming their thirteenth episode.  The show stars a married couple, Matt and Claire, who are very excited to be able to explore Foundation House in Virginia.  This house was previously owned by the Paranormal Research Foundation whose members conducted odd experiments in the house before they all went missing. As we learn about the filming crew and the previous owners, the house begins to come alive in a terrifying way.

This book was long. 433 pages.  It really didn't need to be so long.  Considering the length, the character development was minimal, and I just didn't care about them as you would expect with so much page real estate. In the writer's defense, this story is told through texts, journals, film clips, etc. So, making the characters endearing may have proven difficult.  In addition, because of the style the book reads very quickly.  Do not find the length intimidating. I think most will find the plot unique and imaginative.  I wonder, though, if the author has watched many of these types of shows.  He has the group getting an EVP (electronic voice phenomenon) where you can hear ghosts talking on a tape recorder.  I've heard hundreds, sometimes it's singing or whistling, sometimes it's talking but it is always short, rarely more than a single sentence and often very difficult to hear.  In this book, the author has the team getting a clear EVP of 399 words!  Please, figure out some other way to get the info into the storyline, this broke the mood. Despite my criticism, which I really don't mean that way, the book was fun.  If you like ghost hunting shows, horror books, imaginative stories, you'll likely find this very enjoyable.

Despite my thinking of Casper as the ghost gold standard and the most sperm shaped cartoon, I think what was in our house was female, protective and kind...thankfully.

Wait...what was that noise?

Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl by Renee Rosen

Hello everyone.  I hope you're having a wonderful day.

When I moved out of my parents' house I settled in coastal Virginia.  I had saved a thousand dollars and thought it was a million.  I got a tiny apartment on the Chesapeake Bay.  I mean, on the bay...walk out the door and onto the beach.  If you've never lived on a huge body of water with a pretty sandy beach, you're missing out.  Do it while you're young, as you age the storms, traffic and frankly, the sand that travels into every ounce of carpet and every part of your body, becomes highly annoying. I found a job, making barely $12,000 a year and was convinced I was six months from becoming CEO.  One of the first purchases I made with my new "grand" lifestyle was a piece of high-end makeup.  An item, just one, I couldn't afford it but it was certainly necessary for someone in my elevated position. I went to a department store and bought a blush, an Estee Lauder blush.  It came in a beautiful cream color compact with a raised gold square in the middle with an etched scripted E.  I can hear the snickering out there, but that blush became such a symbol of my independence that I kept it for years.  If you watch the movie Home Alone, the mom pulls out the same compact while on the plane.  Now anyone who has a TV show has a cosmetics line, but back in the day, there were classics and Estee Lauder was among the best.

I recently read Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl by Renee Rosen.  This is the story of Estee Lauder as she tries to sell the creams she makes in the kitchen of her apartment.  She dreams of becoming a major player in the beauty industry and is determined to become the best. The story, told from the perspective of her best friend, Gloria, is endearing.  We learn that Gloria has a secret past which she wrestles with as it threatens to ruin her life.  Meanwhile, Estee has secrets of her own.  The story progresses as the women grow as people and in their careers, following Estee from selling one cream in the corner of hair salons to icon.  Gloria goes from being on the verge of being homeless to an executive in cosmetics buying for Saks Fifth Avenue. Each woman struggles to learn what happiness and success means to them.

This story is well written and rich with character development.  While historic fiction, it is far from a history textbook moving quickly telling its evolving story. In addition, it gives us a peek behind the scenes of the beauty industry and how it is very competitive.  If you've ever been at the makeup counter and received a "gift with purchase" or had a consultation, you need to read this book.  If you've ever gotten mascara in your eye, read this book. If you love lipstick, read...oh heck just read the book if you like makeup.  If you aren't a cosmetics enthusiast know that this is a good and interesting story with characters you will care about.

I wonder if I need to try Estee Lauder's wrinkle products...no comments necessary!

First Born by Will Dean

Hello everyone.  I hope you are having a great day.

I've mentioned way too many times that my sisters are triplets.  You know what would have been nice growing up? A brother, especially one with hot, available friends.  Now that I'm more...ahem...mature, hot is a man that is comfortable in his skin.  Someone who can buy female hygiene products without the least bit of embarrassment.  A man who despite his size and dominance is so sweet with a little dog.  When you're a teen though, the male ideal is somewhat different. While my knees are not happy for maturity, my opinion of men is far better.  Anyway, I was left without a beloved brother and instead got three bratty sisters.  They all have similar personalities, but two look nearly identical.  Yes, they look "different" to me (read that sarcastically), but a stranger would think they are twins. I think they were one egg that split, and the other triplet was her own egg, or quite possibly had her own twin that she no doubt strangled in a game of umbilical cord jump rope, just so she could have all the attention. Did you know that twins occur naturally in one in 250 pregnancies, but triplets are only one in 10,000.  Figures, one simple brother, was that too much to ask? No, I had to have the one chance in 10,000 to get Satan's spawn for siblings (joking, don't write me).  

I recently read First Born by Will Dean.  This is the story of twins, Molly and Katie Raven.  Katie has been found dead in her apartment in NYC where she lives far away from her family in England.  When twin, Molly, discovers that Katie has been murdered she vows to find out who killed the sister she loved so much.  Molly finds that Katie's life was much different than she thought, despite being a college student, she was into things that seem to be much darker.  As with most fiction, you must accept things that aren't likely or practical, but it is fiction, a story, an escape from the everyday. 

This psychological thriller is an easy, quick read.  The fast pacing is full of twists that you'll never see coming.  For thriller readers, this has everything including loads of suspense and constant questions that need urgent answers.  The author supplies answers and an ending that will leave you smiling and satisfied.  Get some snacks and a big cup of coffee, once you start reading First Born, you won't stop.

If only my sisters were as clever as this book. I can hear the phone calls now!

With My Little Eye by Joshilyn Jackson

Hello everyone.  I hope you're having a fantastic day.

Ever watch any of those old shows on MTV?  I know, it's ancient and not really my thing either, but have you seen those programs that used to show lots of college kids on Spring Break in Florida?  Inevitably, they would show some guy, that obviously was on his 5th case of beer for the afternoon, run off the diving board and do a big old belly flop.  (I could picture my brother-in-law doing that in his younger days, even without the beer.) It is not just a run of the mill belly flop either, this guy would really think he could fly, with body perpendicular to the water, arms extended no doubt thinking if he flapped those arms he would take off like big bird.  The pain of hearing the water slap into his body was terrible.  He appears from the water bright red from the impact but with the drunken grin of someone proud of himself and still being cheered on by a crowd.  There are books like that, only I'm not cheering.  By the way, my dad was the king of the cannonball.  If you announced that you didn't want to get wet he would get a running start and launch a super soaker cannonball in your direction.  He wouldn't be red when he broke the surface of the water, but he would be smiling, just like Spring-breakers.

I recently read With My Little Eye by Joshilyn Jackson.  I have read books from her before and enjoyed them, Mother May I comes to mind.  She hasn't disappointed me.  Further, I often read thrillers from William Morris publishing first. They have always been excellent, which I credit them working with good authors and having great editors.  Both my bubbles were burst with this book.

With My Little Eye is about an actress, Meribel Mills, who keeps getting strange and threatening letters from a fan.  They are written in fruit-scented marker and get progressively more worrisome.  Meribel goes to the police, but they are little help.  Meribel has a young daughter, Honor, to deal with who is autistic but brilliant.  To keep them safe, Meribel moves from Los Angeles to Atlanta, ready to start her new life.  Sadly, the letters, along with postmarks follow her.  There are several other characters and they each have their own stories, some as interesting of a thriller as the main plot of the book. Making an appearance are; Cooper the helpful neighbor, Addie his ex-girlfriend, Shelia who is Addie's daughter and Honors friend, Meribel's ex-husband and a homeless girl.  The reader can suspect any of them as the mysterious stalker.

Where do I begin?  It takes too long in the beginning to start making the reader consider which one of the characters is the stalker. The pacing is too slow.  Next the book falls apart for me on page 260. When I've paid for this book AND invested my time then something absolutely ridiculous happens leaving all the head shaking questions unanswered...well that just ticks me off.  When it happens when I've read 80 percent of the book, I'm really mad.  If you're going to make me very angry, do it early on so I can move on to the other gazillion books I have sitting here begging for me to read them.  This late in the story "reveal" just feeds into an ending I might have liked but now I feel resentful toward.  Having this come from an author I enjoy and look forward to reading, makes disappointment extra brutal.

I'm giving up on reading for the day.  Wonder if MTV still exists.