Post Olympic Gymnastics

Sat, 08/20/2016 - 9:47am by Lucy S

You Will Know Me by Megan Abbott

In her thrilling new novel, You Will Know Me, the world that Megan Abbott's characters inhabit will be familiar to her regular readers. This world of teenaged girls is truly Abbott’s domain, though the teenagers in this story are anything but typical. They spend most of their waking hours in the BelStars Gymnasium, opening a window to a second, equally fascinating world, that of competitive female gymnastics. As an explanation for why she chose this setting, Megan Abbott explained, in an interview on Electric Literature, that after watching the 2012 Olympics “I started to think about a novel centered on a pair of parents so devoted to their child’s talent. I started watching gymnastics obsessively, especially practices, and reading memoir after memoir — by gymnasts, former gymnasts and gymnast parents. And I started spending a lot of time in online forums devoted to parents, hearing their fears, anxieties, their pride and love.”

In You Will Know Me, Devon Knox is the star gymnast, a child prodigy headed for elite competition and possibly the Olympics. Her mother, Katie, is the closest thing we have to a narrator. Katie and her husband Eric have made Devon their world. Even Devon’s little brother, Drew, spends more time at the gym than anywhere else. Being Devon’s parents has provided the Knoxes with purpose and direction, “After all, who wouldn’t do anything for one’s child? Especially when that child worked harder and wanted something more than either of them ever had? Who wanted in ways they’d long forgotten how to want or had never known at all?”

Yet despite all the time they spend watching her, observing her, there remains something in Devon that is unknowable to the Knoxes, an innate determination and steeliness. “There Devon stood, on the competition floor. Four feet ten inches tall, nary a curve on her, but her dark eyes heavy with history, struggle. Squinting down, body pressing forward, Katie wondered at those eyes, that face. It was as if this weren’t her teenage daughter but a woman deepened by experience, a war-battered refugee, a KGB spy.” The core mystery that Abbott is offering is this idea of how well you can truly know somebody, and it is presented to us right away in Abbott’s apt and/or ironic title, almost as an imperative, You Will Know Me.

Parents may feel that they know their children and have difficulty recognizing when that intimacy diminishes. “‘Isn’t is a strange day, when you realize you have no idea what’s going on in your kid’s head? One morning you wake up and there’s this alien in your house. They look like your kid, sound a little like them, but they are not your kid. They’re something else that you don’t know. And they keep changing. They never stop changing on you.” When the Knoxes son Drew gets sick, he recovers from his illness as someone unfamiliar to Katie. He seems to possess an adult understanding of his surroundings that he didn’t have before. As the rash caused by his illness peels off, he even looks different to Katie. Her children grow apart from her, and Katie is asked to redefine her role in their lives. Abbott nicely provides us with other families representing a range of parental sensibilities. The forceful parents of the booster club stand out in particular. We, as readers, are left to wonder what urges drive these parents, if they are propelled by love, competition, a desire to do what’s right, or a need to defend family honor. “All three of them becoming as one. A united front. Confederates. That’s what families were, weren’t they? The strong ones, the ones that last. Not supporters or enablers so much as collaborators, accomplices, co-conspirators.” How important to Katie and Eric is Devon’s success, how much does it help them define their own? To what lengths will they go to ensure it?

Abbott’s writing throughout the book keeps us on edge. Her sentences are tightly wound, pointedly descriptive and fluid, like a well executed floor routine. We don’t care too much about any one character, nor or we meant to. We aren’t overly concerned with who committed the murder (yes, there is a murder). That’s not the point. We are meant to be left asking how we know one another, as parents, spouses, and teammates. Do we always want to know everything? What do we do with the knowledge we have? Abbott’s answers to these questions offer the real revelation of You Will Know Me. The mystery is in the secrets these characters are keeping. In her review of You Will Know Me in The New York Times, author Sophie Hannah shrewdly states, “Here the truth is no gold medal, no ace waiting to be played; first it’s a dark haze of menace circling out of sight, and later it’s an ordeal to be survived, possibly even a punishment.”

Fabulous Fiction Firsts #611 Spotlight on Psychological Thrillers

Fri, 08/19/2016 - 7:07pm by muffy

An August pick on Indie Next and LibraryReads lists, and a runaway UK debut bestseller, Behind Closed Doors * by B.A. Paris is one of the most terrifying psychological thriller you are likely to come across.

London attorney Jack Angel - movie-star-handsome and successful, sweeps Grace Harrington off her feet when he offers to dance with Millie, Grace's Down-syndrome younger sister under her care. The first sign that things are not what they seem to be is when Millie tumbles down a flight of stairs on their wedding day. On their honeymoon, Jack made clear his psychopathic plans, using Millie as leverage to ensure Grace's cooperation.

"Debut-novelist Paris adroitly toggles between the recent past and the present in building the suspense of Grace’s increasingly unbearable situation, as time becomes critical and her possible solutions narrow. This is one readers won’t be able to put down." (Booklist)

All the Missing Girls * , the first adult title by YA author Megan Miranda, is about the disappearances of two young women a decade apart. It has been 10 years since Nic(olette) Farrell left Cooley Ridge after her best friend, Corinne Prescott, disappeared without a trace. Now a cryptic note from her dementia-ravaged father brings her home. Within days of her arrival, her young neighbor Annaleise Carter disappears, reawakening the decade-old investigation that focused on Nic, her brother Daniel, boyfriend Tyler, and Corinne's boyfriend Jackson.

Told backwards from Day 15 to Day 1 since Annaleise's disappearance, Nic works to unravel the shocking truth about her friends, her family, and ultimately, herself. "Miranda convincingly conjures a haunted setting that serves as a character in its own right, but what really makes this roller-coaster so memorable is her inspired use of reverse chronology, so that each chapter steps further back in time, dramatically shifting the reader’s perspective." (Publishers Weekly)

The Trap by East German debut novelist Melanie Raabe is a fast, twisty read.

Reclusive novelist Linda Conrads hasn't left her home since she discovered her sister's body 11 years earlier. When she sees the face of the murderer on television, the same face that she saw leaving the crime scene, she goes about setting a trap by crafting her next thriller utilizing all the details of her sister's murder. But her careful plan goes horribly awry.

Film rights sold to TriStar Pictures.

* = starred review

If you liked Stranger Things…

Wed, 08/10/2016 - 9:22am by manz

The most talked about television show of the summer has been Stranger Things, a Netflix original that premiered on July 15. If you have not watched it yet, stop reading this and go watch it immediately.

Okay, you’re back. The 8-episode sci-fi horror series hit children of the 80s in the face like a bag of nostalgia that they didn’t know they needed so badly in 2016. Created by the Duffer brothers, it’s filled with enough suspenseful fright to keep you up at night (grab a buddy to watch with), but also adorned with well intended, adorable, adventurous kids to keep you smiling.

Set in 1983 the story follows four 12 year old boys who geek out over Dungeons and Dragons and the AV club. One of them goes missing and the others try to find him once his disappearance turns suspicious. Enter a small town police chief, a frantic mother of the boy gone missing (played effortlessly by Winona Ryder), a government lab, a mysterious alien creature, and a psychokinetic 12 year old girl… and well, you’ve got quite a story.

The show references so many 70s and 80s films it almost seems unreal. It’s an homage to Steven Spielberg and Stephen King. It’s Stand By Me meets Close Encounters of the Third Kind. It’s Cujo meets The Goonies. It’s Firestarter meets E.T. It’s IT meets Cloak and Dagger. It goes so far. And the music? Yes. An 80s soundtrack paired with eerie electronic music and John Carpenter-ish synth twangs, which fills another void you didn’t know existed. The first volume of a soundtrack will be released digitally this Friday, with a CD to follow.

As a fan of what I call “little boy adventure stories,” I was hooked immediately, and the nostalgia and soundtrack sealed the deal and created many late nights of watching the show.

Here is a list of books and movies that might be of interest to you if you finished season 1 and are jonesing for season 2 to begin, and yes, the Duffer brothers have claimed there are more seasons to follow.

Fabulous Fiction Firsts #606, Capitol Crimes

Wed, 07/13/2016 - 9:15am by muffy

The Second Girl * * by former D.C. police detective David Swinson is "an auspicious, and gleefully amoral, series debut" (Kirkus Reviews), featuring retired DC cop Frank Marr - damaged, damned, and an unrepentant drug addict who works sporadically as a private investigator for defense attorney (and occasional bed-mate) Leslie Costello.

When Frank breaks into a drug den to replenish his personal stash, he discovers a teenage girl doped up and chained to the bathroom. Rather than calling the authority and trying to explain his involvement, he hands her off to Leslie, but not before he manages to draw out all the details of her kidnapping. As the news of Amanda Meyer's return to her family, another suburban family with a missing girl hires him to find her, and Frank is not above administering his own brand of justice to get the job done.

"Swinson delivers an excellent addition to the noir genre as he unveils layer after layer of his gritty protagonist. Readers of Dennis Lehane and Richard Price as well as fans of The Wire will appreciate the bleak description of inner-city Washington, DC." (Library Journal)

The Dead Don't Bleed * by David Krugler is a mystery/police procedural/spy thriller set in Washington, D.C at the waning days of WWII.

With victory in sight, the suspicion of communist spies in the capitol is palpable, spies who seem to stop at nothing to get their hands on the atomic bomb project. When Naval Intelligence officer Logan Skerrill is found dead in a back alley of the Navy Yard, Lt. Ellis Voigt is called in to investigate.

With clues of the murder pointing to Skerrill's connection to a news-clipping service suspected of Communist affiliations, Voigt goes undercover. Pursuing crosses and double-crosses, he discovers a defecting German physicist, a top secret lab in Los Alamos, and Uranium-235 which suggest something far larger than the usual spy v. spy shenanigans.

"Voigt is an engaging character.... (History professor) Krugler’s portrait of wartime Washington, particularly the rivalries within ONI and the enmity between the FBI and ONI (Office of Naval Intelligence), is thoroughly absorbing." (Booklist) For fans of David Downing and Philip Kerr

* * = 2 starred reviews
* = starred review

TV Spotlight: Aquarius

Tue, 04/12/2016 - 9:06am by manz

Aquarius had an interesting premise regarding Charles Manson and I wasn’t sure I’d be into it, but as a fan of detective shows (and David Duchovny!) I had to give it a try, and I’m glad I did.

Set in Los Angeles in 1967, the story follows fictional detective Sam Hodiak (Duchovny). He starts to investigate the disappearance of an old girlfriend’s daughter, and he ends up teaming up with an undercover cop, and the investigation eventually leads to Charles Manson and his followers.

While inspired by real people and events, the bulk of the show, characters, and storyline are fictional.

The NBC show has been renewed for a second season, and creators would like to run it for five seasons, as they have content already mapped out leading up to the infamous Tate-Labianca murders in 1969.

Fabulous Fiction Firsts #588 “Women can accept the fact that a man is a rotter, a swindler, a drug taker, a confirmed liar, and a general swine, without batting an eyelash, and without its impairing their affection..." ~ Agatha Christie

Sun, 03/20/2016 - 10:07pm by muffy

It really was NOT my intention to revisit the topic of child abduction again so soon, but The Widow * by award-winning journalist Fiona Barton is NOT to be missed.

A week after her husband Glen is killed by a bus, Jean Taylor is again hounded by the press. This is nothing new. Ever since the abduction of 2-year-old Bella Elliott from her Southampton backyard five years ago, Glen has been the prime suspect. Though the police could not make the charges stick, public opinion has no trouble making him to be a monster. Jean remains the faithful, steadfast wife and an unwavering supporter of Glen's innocence, even after evidence of child pornography turned up on Glen's computers, both at home and at the bank where he was let go.

Told from the alternating perspectives of the widow, journalist Kate Waters, the lead police investigator Bob Sparkes, and Bella's single mother Dawn who still harbors hope that her daughter is still alive, the suspense builds and the intrigue intensifies. The burning question remains - how much does Jean know about Glen’s involvement, and whether she plays a part in Bella's disappearance. Readers who resist skimming to the end will be rewarded with a jaw-dropping conclusion.

Read-alike: Just Fall, a first novel by screenwriter/producer Nina Sadowsky, that begs the question - how can you find out that the person you love is a killer…and continue to love him anyway? "Guilt, sex, and double-crosses collide to produce a blazing inferno of heat and betrayal on a tropical island paradise."

* = starred review

Fabulous Fiction Firsts #587 “The only way you can truly get to know an author is through the trail of ink he leaves behind him. The person you think you see is only an empty character: truth is always hidden in fiction.” ~ Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Tue, 03/15/2016 - 8:18pm by muffy

Selected for the March Indie Next and the LibraryReads, The Madwoman Upstairs * by Catherine Lowell is "a mystery, a love story, and a very dark comedy with the Brontës...playing a role back there in the shadows."

20 year-old American Samantha Whipple is the last of the Brontë line and the presumed heir to a long-rumored trove of diaries, paintings, letters, and early novel drafts never revealed to anyone outside of the family. When she fulfills her father's dying wish to attend Oxford (his alma mater) almost immediately, she is the center of speculation and unwanted attention, especially among Brontë scholars and fanatics.

Soon long lost objects thought to have perished in the fire that killed her father begin relentlessly rematerializing in her life, compelling her on an elaborate and frustrating scavenger hunt, guided only by her father's cryptic notes. When she is emotionally and physically challenged to her limits, and a careless mistake places her at risk academically, help comes unexpectedly from her handsome but inscrutable tutor who is "as complex and passionate as his student." Together, they must decode the clues hidden within the Brontës’ novels in order to put the rumor to rest.

"Smart and surprising and fiercely funny." “An entertaining and ultimately sweet story." For fans of Juliet by Anne Fortier.

Companion reads:
Nelly Dean : a return to Wuthering Heights * * by Alison Case, that re-imagines life at Wuthering Heights through the eyes of the Earnshaws’ loyal servant, Nelly Dean. This is the first novel by a professor of 19th century fiction and poetry at Williams College.

Charlotte Brontë : a fiery heart by Claire Harman, is a "landmark biography (that) transforms Charlotte Brontë from a tragic figure into a modern heroine." The Brontës at Haworth by Ann Dinsdale paints a detailed picture of everyday life at Haworth, and provides fascinating insight into the lives of some of the most beloved authors of the 19th century.

* = starred review
* * = 2 starred reviews

Fabulous Fiction Firsts #586

Thu, 03/10/2016 - 7:32pm by muffy

Ways to Disappear * by poet/translator Idra Novey is what the NPR book reviewer called "a fast-paced, beguilingly playful, noirish literary mystery," about the disappearance of a famous Brazilian novelist and the young translator who turns her life upside down to follow her author's trail.

Celebrated author Beatriz Yagoda has vanished, last been climbing into an almond tree with a suitcase and cigar in hand. As soon as the news reach her translator in Pittsburgh, Emma Neufeld puts her life in on hold and hops a flight to Rio de Janeiro, leaving behind a seriously exasperated boyfriend.

Upon arrival, Emma is met by an angry loan shark who threatens violence if Beatriz does not repay the half a million dollars owed from online gambling. Joining Emma's search is Beatriz's two grown children - the practical, business-like Raquel and the exceedingly handsome Marcus. But before long, they realize they are way over their heads. Meanwhile, Roberto Rocha, Beatriz's publisher finds himself equally entangled, and he might be the only one who could save the day.

"Novey’s characters are hilariously impulsive, terribly misguided, hopelessly lost, relentlessly determined, and immediately sympathetic. An incisive meditation on the relationship between literature and life, a reflection on the cumulative result of everyday decisions, and a dazzling, truly memorable work of humor and heart."

For readers who enjoyed The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson; Mr. Penumbra's 24-hour bookstore by Robin Sloan; and The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery.

* = starred review

Fabulous Fiction Firsts #583

Tue, 02/23/2016 - 8:21pm by muffy

Winner of the 2011 prestigious Campiello Prize Not All Bastards Are From Vienna * marks the English debut of Venetian poet/children's author Andrea Molesini, and is inspired by his great-aunt’s wartime journals.

Reminiscent of Atonement (in its examination of class conflict and coming-of-age against a war-torn backdrop), Captain Corelli's Mandolin and Birdsong, the narrative unfolds in the autumn of 1917 in Refrontolo—a small community north of Venice, ravished by the bitter fighting between the Germans/Austrians and the Italians.

Villa Spada, is home to 17 year-old Paolo, recently orphaned; his eccentric grandparents; headstrong aunt; and a loyal staff, including the enigmatic estate steward Renato, a recent arrival with murky references. Times are hard, food is short, and life is perilous, but it does not deter family members from joining the resistance effort, right under the noses of the occupying German troops. When an aristocratic Austrian major takes possession of the villa, the Spadas’ resistance activities become even more vulnerable to betrayal.

Combining a comedic touch and vivid characterizations, "this is a powerful tale of endurance, sacrifice, love, and war’s suffering and cruelty."

* = starred review

The Reading List 2016

Fri, 01/15/2016 - 11:56am by muffy

At the ALA Midwinter in Boston, a committee of 8 librarians announced this past year's best of the best in genre fiction - the Reading List. The winner in each of the 8 categories are:

Adrenaline
Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter
Three sisters are driven apart in the aftermath of one’s disappearance. When a violent crime occurs new fears arise and relationships shift again. Long term effects of family grief are exploited by the compulsions of a psychopath. Brutal and disturbing, this is ultimately a story of love and empowerment.

Fantasy
Uprooted by Naomi Novik
In this enchanted old-world fable, villagers threatened by a blighted magical wood allow the resident wizard to take one daughter into servitude for ten years. When he chooses klutzy Agnieszka, she faces an unexpected future and confronts the dangers of a wider political world and the roots of magical corruption.

Historical Fiction
Crooked Heart by Lissa Evans
Raised by his eccentric ex-suffragette godmother to be a free-thinker, young Noel is thrown into chaos when the London Blitz forces him into the home of a scam artist loyal only to her layabout son. Thrust together, the two oddballs are forced to find a way through the wartime landscape.

Horror
The Fifth House of the Heart by Ben Tripp
Flamboyant antiques dealer Asmodeus “Sax” Saxon-Tang made his fortune by accidentally killing a vampire with a horde of treasure. To protect the only person he loves, his niece, he’s forced to return to old Europe to assemble an eccentric team of vampire hunters in this gory, witty caper.

Mystery
The Long and Faraway Gone by Lou Berney
Cold cases cast a twenty-five year shadow of grief and guilt on the lives of two survivors of traumatic teenage crimes. New leads and new cases bring them back to Oklahoma City as past and present intersect in this poignant and compelling story of lives forever changed by random violence.

Romance
Taking the Heat by Victoria Dahl
Sassy relationship advice columnist Veronica overcomes her commitment anxiety and gains confidence with the help of mountain-climbing librarian Gabe. Steamy romance evolves into a strong relationship as they scale a mountain of family conflicts and share secrets against a majestic Jackson Hole backdrop.

Science Fiction
Golden Son by Pierce Brown
Insurgent Darrow inveigled his way into high Gold society in 2014’s Red Rising. In this dramatic, high octane follow-up, conflicting loyalties and his own ambitions lure Darrow into an untenable web of deceptions. Bolstered by new alliances, Darrow battles to overthrow corrupt lunar leadership and bring freedom to Mars.

Women’s Fiction
Re Jane by Patricia Park
Anxious to escape the strict upbringing of her uncle’s Flushing grocery, Korean-American Jane accepts an au pair position in the pretentious household of two Brooklyn academics and their adopted Chinese daughter. Park has created a bright comic story of falling in love, finding strength, and living on one’s own terms.

Check out the complete list for a shortlist of honor titles in each category.