Little Women and Werewolves in an Arizona Bookstore February 27, 2012
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My niece sent me this shot from a bookstore in Arizona. I’ll just have to keep getting excited about this book until my next one finds an agent and gets picked up. (Any day now!)
Magic’s Raining Down From the Sky Today February 23, 2012
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Today is a magical day! For two reasons. The first is that the male Red Winged Blackbirds have returned. Many black birds have been omens of death through the ages, but these happy little guys portend the death of winter, so I am always thrilled to see them. Winter is not over when they arrive, but it is getting there. In a few weeks, the females will join their mates and move into the nesting spots the males have claimed.
Today’s second magical experience is that the ending for my novel popped up out of nowhere, when I wasn’t even thinking about the book, and bonked me hard on the head. I was still in the final stages of rewriting, plumping, plucking, tweaking and coloring and had settled for an ending. The book is strong and I wanted to leave it open for a sequel, so felt the ending was fine, even though I wasn’t thrilled with it. But then, Ka-boom! A perfect ending was thrown down at me from the heavens, as glittery and magical as New Years Eve confetti. I’m glad I didn’t duck.
AIN’T HE SWEET ? February 18, 2012
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In celebration of being able to upload photos into my blog once again, I would like to share a picture of my baby, Sammy, who is 140 pounds of pure delight.
THE ARTIST OF DISAPPEARANCE By Anita Desai February 6, 2012
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THE ARTIST OF DISAPPEARANCE is a tiny collection of two short stories and a novella. The first story was this reader’s favorite, although the ending broke my heart. It sang of the apathy and pompousness of those who do their jobs at only a surface level. The second was an interesting story about writing aspirations and the third, although my least favorite, still contained interesting characters and a setting that will remain in the mind. The first half was wonderful, but the second changed tone and did not resonate as fully with me as the other tales had. But all in all, this is a book worth reading since Desai, an Indian author, is a wonderful writer who can enliven and animate with her words. And reading it won’t take you much time.
A MONTH OF SILENCE February 5, 2012
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I just realized that it’s been more than a full month since I entered a posting. That’s the longest I have gone since began this blog. I don’t know what to blame it on since I’m doing the same things, except I am getting in very little reading. The reading I am doing is research for my books, so I am determined to find a wonderful fiction piece that I can read for pure pleasure. I hate hearing people say “I don’t have the time for that,” which is often said regarding reading. That is usually applied to things they choose to not make a priority, and reading for the pure joy of it should definitely be a priority. So the computer is being turned off now and I am going to settle down with a cup of tea and a book.
I had a picture to share, but suddenly cannot post any photos on this blog. I fussed it with for some time, and now I have given up. WordPress changed something in that time I was on hiatus, and I tried every option numerous times. They showed me! If anyone has any tips to help me, please get in touch. I am able to upload the photo and get all the way to the point where one may click to insert it into the post. And that is where it all ends — nothing happens.
Happy 2012 !!! December 29, 2011
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HAPPY 2012 EVERYONE! It’s going to be a great year. (The photo was taken last year by my friend, George Koch.)
THE WINTER GHOSTS By Kate Mosse December 27, 2011
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The Lycan Librarian didn’t expect this book to actually be a ghost story, but she was intrigued by the 1928 setting in the French Pyrenees so plucked it from the “New Book” shelf. Well hooray, hooray. It truly is a yarn about ghosts reaching out from the past and requesting the help they need to rest. Although this reader is reluctant to reveal too much of any plot in a review, she doesn’t feel this tidbit will come as a surprise to anyone who opts to enjoy this selection .
Freddie is traveling after a stay in an institution. He is unable to come to terms with the death of his brother, who was lost in WWI. He has been only half alive since that event, and this book, and its ghosts, stress the importance of living fully, of looking about and reveling in life. In being aware of your place and purpose during your own time.
The book has short chapters and is a very quick read. It is easy to keep saying, “Oh, one more chapter,” and then, “Oh, just one chapter more.” Then, before you know it, you have closed the back cover and finished the novel. The ghosts’ stories are based on true and very horrific historical events. If you are a reader who enjoys old novels discovered in the corner of resale shops and buried deep in erratic piles of goods at flea markets, then you will appreciate this selection. It has a timeless sense to it, so while it doesn’t read exactly like a modern novel, it can still be happily devoured by todays’ bibliophiles.
I am going to try another Mosse selection, as the book jacket proclaims this to be her third novel and I very much enjoy her writing style.
Happy 2012! This is going to be a terrific year!
DRAMA: AN ACTOR’S EDUCATION by John Lithgow December 22, 2011
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This book is a memoir, not an autobiography, so those of you hoping to sneak a peek at what it was like on the set of 3RD ROCK FROM THE SUN or DEXTER will not get what you are hoping for. Rather, readers can expect an interesting and unique tale of an unusual man and his equally unusual life. His family hopped from place to place a lot while he was growing up, and acting was introduced to Lithgow at a very young age — it was his father’s passion. For those who live in the area where I grew up, Northeast Ohio, you will get a bonus in the fascinating little tidbits about places such as the Stan Hywet mansion, and a walk down that proverbial old lane named memory. This is a delightful read about an actor’s introduction and education to the stage, and about how he was groomed from a very young age to appreciate that being different is a gift.
HUGO — A Rave Review December 18, 2011
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Having read and loved the Brian Selznock novel, the Lycan Librarian was very, very excited to see this movie. And for good reason. This is one of those precious and rare cases when the book and movie are both excellent. First, let me boast about the good luck that followed the librarian around this day. Imagine going to a Saturday matinée with a friend. being surrounded with lines of bouncing children, retreating into theater 7, and being the only ones in the space. Strange, but true. Christmas shopping and the array of other kids’ movies being shown left us blissfully alone. No whispering, no rustling of cellophane bags, no coughing or laughing at inappropriate times. Ahhh!
With or without distractions, this is a film that takes the viewer out of their environment and transports them into its magical world. I had no awareness of being in the theater or in my body. The 3-D was amazing, and all the actors, even the three dogs, were magnificent in their roles.
This story is about a 12-year-old boy, an orphan who lives in the walls of a Paris train station and secretly keeps the clocks running on perfect time. His story is braided with those of the merchants who sit, daily, at their booths in the station selling flowers, toys or croissants. But the toy seller is the one whose story is most intriguing, and the lesson found in viewing this fantastic visual treat is that it is never too late to dream, to create, and to live in wonder. Dreamers of all ages will love it. 
CLASSICS FOR PLEASURE By Michael Dirda November 28, 2011
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This is a selection the Lycan Librarian was delighted to stumble upon. It’s not a book that she had heard about, but was drawn to it immediately and is now very happy to have it in her clutches. Pulitzer Prize winner, Dirda, has compiled a collection of essays about his favorite authors. Don’t be turned away by the word “classics,’ because Dirda is very open-minded in using the term. For example, it was fun to see a section for authors such as Edward Gorey, those who are blessed with a “playful Imagination.” There isn’t much that has to be said about this book, except that the essays are thoughtful and very interesting. I doubt anyone who loves books and reading can close the cover on this selection without having compiled a list of their own — a list of books they simply must either read or reread. And what luck! I bring this to your attention just in time for you to add it to your list for Santa.
