Friday Favorites: Holiday reading list!

The following is my first stab at an exhaustive list of December holiday-themed fiction for adults and kids. Books that I have read and recommend are indicated with an asterisk (*). I've linked each title to Goodreads so that you can see reviews and click through to your vendor of choice. (Amazon is featured most prominently, of course, but if you click "stores" you'll find other vendors.)

I know I've missed so many titles. If you don't see one of your favorites, please list the title in a comment and I'll happily add. (There must be more MG, YA, and adult fiction involving Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, yes?)

[books alphabetized by title]

For (so-called) adults
Burning Bright: Four Chanukah Love Stories, by Megan Hart et al.
Christmas at Fairacre, by Miss Read
Christmas at Rose Hill Farm: An Amish Love Story, by Suzanne Woods Fisher
A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Writings, by Charles Dickens
*Christmas in Cornwall, by Marcia Willett
Christmas Journey, by Anne Perry
*A Christmas Party (Envious Casca), by Georgette Heyer
*Christmas Pudding, by Nancy Mitford
The Doctor's Christmas, by Marta Perry
*An English Murder, by Cyril Hare
Festival of Deaths, by Jane Haddam
Hercule Poirot's Christmas, by Agatha Christie
*High Rising, by Angela Thirkell
Hogfather, by Terry Pratchett
Holiday Miracles: A Christmas/Hanukkah Story, by Ellyn Bache
Lighting the Flames, by Sarah Wendell
An Informal Christmas, by Heather Gray
A Merry Little Christmas, by Anita Higman
A Midnight Clear, by William Wharton
Miracle and other Christmas Stories, by Connie Willis
The Mistletoe Promise and *The Mistletoe Inn, by Richard Paul Evans
Old Christmas, by Washington Irving
The Old Peabody Pew, by Kate Douglas Wiggin
Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Dogs, by Eleanor Hallowell Abbott
A Redbird Christmas, by Fannie Flagg
Shepherds Abiding, a Mitford Christmas Novel, by Jan Karon
*The Sittaford Mystery, by Agatha Christie
*The Sugar Queen, by Sarah Addison Allen
Tied up in Tinsel, by Ngiao Marsh
*Winter Solstice, by Rosamund Pilcher

For teens, kids, and kids-at-heart
*The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, by Barbara Robinson
*The Box of Delights, by John Masefield
*The Children of Green Knowe, by L.M. Boston
*A Child's Christmas in Wales, by Dylan Thomas
Christmas After All: The Great Depression Diary of Minnie Swift, Indianapolis, Indiana, 1932 (Dear America), by Kathryn Lasky
Christmas Fairy Tales, by Neil Philip
*The Dark is Rising, by Susan Cooper
Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares and The Twelve Days of Dash & Lily, by David Levithan & Rachel Cohn
The Family Under the Bridge, by Natalie Savage Carlson
Greenglass House, by Kate Milford
Let It Snow: Three Holiday Romances, by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle
*Letters from Father Christmas, by J.R.R. Tolkien
*The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis
London Snow, by Paul Theroux
*My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories, edited by Stephanie Perkins
Nutcracked, by Susan Adrian (forthcoming in 2017!)
The Nutcracker, by E.T.A. Hoffman
The Power of Light: Eight Stories for Hanukkah, by Isaac Bashevis Singer,
What Light, by Jay Asher
When Christmas Comes Again: The World War I Diary of Simone Spencer (Dear America),
by Beth Seidel Levine
Winterspell, by Claire Legrand

Picture books
Babar and Father Christmas, by Jean de Brunhoff
Bear Stays Up for Christmas, by Karma Wilson
Chanukah Lights, by Michael J. Rosen
The Christmas Day Kitten, by James Herriot
The Christmas Mouse, by Elisabeth Wenning
Christmas Time, by Sandra Boynton
Eight Winter Nights: A Family Hanukkah Book by Laura Krauss Melmed
The Golem's Latkes, by Eric A. Kimmel
*A Guinea Pig Nativity, by Bloomsbury Publishing
Hanukkah! by Roni Schotter
Hanukkah Bear, by Eric A. Kimmel
Hanukkah Haiku, by Harriet Ziefert
The Hanukkah Mice, by Ronne Randall
Hanukkah Moon by Deborah daCosta
Kevin's Kwanzaa, by Lisa Bullard
The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming: A Christmas Story, by Lemony Snicket
The Legend of the Poinsettia, by Tomie dePaola
The Lost Gift: A Christmas Story, by Kallie George
Maccabee!: The Story of Hanukkah, by Tilda Balsley
The Miracle Jar: A Hanukkah Story, by Audrey Penn
My First Kwanzaa, by Karen Katz
My First Kwanzaa Book, by Deborah Chocolate
*The Night Before Christmas, by Clement C. Moore
*The Polar Express, by Christ Van Allsburg
Seven Spools of Thread: A Kwanzaa Story, by Angela Shelf Medearis
Snowmen at Christmas, by Caralyn Buehner
The Story of Hanukkah, by David A. Adler
*The Story of Holly and Ivy, by Rumer Godden
The Tailor of Gloucester, by Beatrix Potter
Together for Kwanzaa, by Juwanda G. Ford
The Twelve Days of Christmas: A Peek-Through Picture Book, by Britta Teckentrup

Books/series with lovely Christmas chapters
Harry Potter series, by JK Rowling
Little House in the Big Woods (& sequels), by Laura Ingalls Wilder
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith
The Wind in the Willows, by Kenneth Grahame

Next week I'll feature one of the novels listed above for my December "Tea and a Book" post, so stay tuned!

[Cross-posted at Livejournal]

Friday Favorites: Disney Magic

It's been a week since we returned from a Disney World trip with my nieces, and it surprises me how much I miss the place. There was a time when I thought I was too old for Disney, but now I find myself already fantasizing about another visit. What is it about Disney that keeps calling me back? I had a little think about it, and here's what I came up with:


1. There's something deeply satisfying about hugging a large furry creature you recognize from childhood stories.
We booked several character meals -- all for my nieces, right? Well, the grownups enjoyed them just as much. My very favorite dinner was at the Crystal Palace, where we met characters from Winnie-the-Pooh. How lovely to get a hug from Pooh Bear! Tigger was particularly cuddly, and we all had fun pulling mopey faces with Eeyore. One of my favorite pics of a character hug, however, is this one of Steve with Olaf. Doesn't Olaf seem absolutely delighted? ;)


2. I still love Disney rides!
Above you see us riding the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and the camera caught me mid-scream. We're all familiar with that rush of adrenaline--that fear/joy combination of losing control. But Disney also offers the opportunity to take control, at least in our imaginations. Interactive rides like Toy Story Mania, Test Track, and even Tomorrowland Speedway give you the illusion of control while being entirely safe and family-friendly. My favorite, Mission: Space, was utter fantasy -- nothing I did affected the outcome of our journey to Mars, but IT FELT GREAT. I was Han Solo, you guys! Or better yet, Samantha Carter! I DID A SLING-SHOT MANEUVER AROUND THE MOON! I haven't screamed or whooped that much in a long time.

(Note: I love the "green" level of Mission: Space. The girls wanted to try "orange," which offers spinning and g-forces. They were perfectly fine, but I was a bit urpy afterwards. No more orange for me.)


3. Even old fogies like me still experience moments of "the flash" at Disney.
"The Flash" is the best phrase I could conjure, and I stole it from Lucy Maud Montgomery. Her character, Emily Starr, defined it as being:

very near to a world of wonderful beauty. Between it and herself hung only a thin curtain; she could never draw the curtain aside -but sometimes, just for a moment, a wind fluttered it and then it was as if she caught a glimpse of the enchanting realm beyond -only a glimpse- and heard a note of unearthly music.

As a kid at Disney, I would often have moments where I sensed the fairy world all around me and, at times, could almost see it. I felt "the flash" when walking through Cinderella's castle and when riding "It's a Small World" and other "little kid" rides. (I know some folks hate "It's a Small World," but as a kid it filled me with joy to see scads of beautiful children who, apparently, HAD ALL THE POWER. No adults necessary!) I even felt the flash as a teen in the World Showcase, when visiting the different countries and feeling, for a moment, like I was actually in those foreign lands. As an adult, I have a different sort of flash -- that feeling of connecting with my younger self. I felt it on all the kiddie rides. I felt it when my nieces met Anna and Elsa and other characters. I certainly felt it during the Frozen sing-along. And it nearly overwhelmed me at the Beast's castle (see above).

It seems "Disneyfication" is a bad word these days. People crave authenticity, and I for one love to visit real castles, cottages, villages, mountains, and lakes. But I am also a total sucker for Disney magic. Yes, it's all a [very expensive] illusion. There are crowds, there is HEAT, there are meltdowns all around. But there also are moments of joy and wonder that take me straight back to childhood. I'm so glad we've been able to experience Disney World twice with my nieces. They definitely contributed to our sense of enchantment!

Okay, Disney fans -- what have I missed? What do YOU love about Disney?

[cross-posted at Livejournal]

Friday Favorite: Charlotte Brontë

Charlotte Brontë turned 200 yesterday.

The Brontë blog offered a plethora of cool links, and The Brontë Parsonage Museum is celebrating in grand style. So it seemed fitting to celebrate here by sharing some CB-related favorites (and future favorites?).

Favorite Charlotte Brontë novel and film adaptation:


While Lucy Hughes-Hallet makes a good argument for why Villette is better (and I do love Lucy Snowe), my heart will always belong to Jane Eyre. There's quite a pile of film/TV adaptations, but my favorite is the 2011 film directed by Cary Fukunaga (and this will be news only to more recent blog followers). It does compress the story, and perhaps Fassbender and Wasikowska are too pretty, but for me this movie nails Jane's quiet strength and Rochester's anguished yearning. (I also enjoyed the Toby Stephens/Ruth Wilson mini-series and probably need to watch it again soon.)

Favorite non-fiction books about Charlotte/The Brontës (click photos for more details):



Non-fiction books I've partly read/plan to read:



A fun thing I just discovered:


There are so many modern riffs on Jane Eyre, but this is the first middle grade option I've seen!

Thirteen-year-old Charlotte is obsessed with Jane Eyre. She dreams of living in a Gothic Mansion in the Yorkshire countryside instead of attending Harraby Comprehensive School. Charlotte's love-life is pretty much non-existent, except for the gorgeous Jack Burley, who doesn't seem to notice her. Resigned to her boring life for the time being, she decides to find a Mr. Rochester for her mum. Charlotte's prayers are answered in the form of the dark, handsome new French teacher. But Charlotte has to control her imagination and aspirations of being a bridesmaid, because Mr. Grant turns out to be not nearly as charming as his sideburns had promised.

The book is only available from used book sellers, but you can find the audio (with sample) at Audible.com.


Me in Haworth, many years ago...

[Cross-posted at Livejournal]

Friday Favorites: Holiday reads

You know me -- during this season I love to listen to Christmas music, watch Hallmark Christmas movies, and read Christmas-themed fiction. I have four books to recommend, two of which were intended for children (tho they certainly have appeal for adults, as well).

The Children of Green Knowe (1954), by Lucy Boston. Young Tolly is sent to stay with his great-grandmother over Christmas and soon learns that the looming, castle-like house is haunted (!!!). But these child ghosts are long-dead family members, and over the course of the story Tolly learns what happened to them, and eventually must face a dark force that threatens the house. There are more Green Knowe books, and I love the fact that the house is based on a real medieval manor in Cambridgeshire owned and restored by Lucy Boston herself. (It's open to visitors by appointment!) I highly recommend the audiobook with its lovely voice performance from Simon Vance.

Charlotte Fairlie (1954), by D.E. Stevenson (also known as The Enchanted Isle). Ever since enjoying Miss Buncle's Book, I've sought out all the Stevenson books I can find, and this one, with its headmistress heroine who visits a pupil's family castle in remote Scotland, certainly seemed right up my alley! The book is very difficult to find in print, but luckily there is a satisfying and readily available audiobook from Audible.com. I suppose it's a bit of a cheat to include this one--the Christmas bit only comes in toward the end and seems a bit "tacked on"--but it's a beautiful season for bringing everyone together. The romantic impediment strains credulity, but I didn't care! I just enjoyed spending time with these people.

Christmas at High Rising (a collection of stories published in the 30s & 40s), by Angela Thirkell. Only two of the short stories in this collection have anything to do with Christmas, but I especially liked seeing Laura Morland and her son Tony during the holiday season. I also enjoyed the story from Thirkell's own childhood experience of celebrating Christmas at the house of her grandfather, Edward Burne-Jones! If you're interested in reading this anthology, I recommend first reading Thirkell's High Rising, which is linked below (and is set almost entirely during the Christmas/New Year season).

Box of Delights (1935), by John Masefield. Having left boarding school for the Christmas holiday, young Kay Harker comes into possession of a magic box, which he must use to thwart a gang with evil intentions. This story brought to mind many favorites: C.S. Lewis' Narnia books, Edward Eager's Magic series, and Susan Cooper's Dark is Rising series. (I wonder if Masefield was as influenced by E. Nesbit as Lewis, Eager, and Cooper were?) The story has been adapted into several BBC radio shows over the years, and also has a 1984 BBC TV adaptation that I'd love to get my hands on (though I shudder to think of the special effects). It's available in a lovely New York Review Children's Litarature edition (see link above) or on audiobook. My favorite thing about Box of Delights is the character Maria, a very young girl who talks tough and acts even tougher, and no one in the book ever asks her to behave like a lady or any of that rot--so refreshing in a book written so long ago! All in all, the story is not quite as magical as those of Lewis, Eager, or Cooper, but it is unique and charming, and from it I finally learned how to make a posset: fill a bowl with hot milk, an egg, a spoonful of treacle, a grating of nutmeg, "and you stir 'em well up, and you get into bed and then you take 'em down hot." Supposed to revive the weary!

Previously featured Christmas reads:
High Rising, by Angela Thirkell
Winter Solstice, by Rosamund Pilcher

How about you? Any Christmas reads to recommend?

[Cross-posted at Livejournal]

Friday Favorites: Prince Edward Island

At long last here are a few photos from our trip to Canada. I've wanted to visit PEI since I was a child, and many (many!) years later the dream finally came true. We enjoyed one day in Halifax before driving up to the island. Everywhere we went the locals were unfailingly friendly and helpful. Best of all, we were a little ahead of the tourist season, so we didn't have to fight crowds at all.

Here's a smattering of things we enjoyed:


Beach walks! This is Cavendish beach -- L.M. Montgomery herself must have walked here, right? I took this photo on a cool, windy day, but even later on a hot day, the water was ice-cold. (I could only manage up to my ankles -- how do people throw their whole bodies into that?) We enjoyed watching the Cormorants (I think) swoop down from the red cliffs. When they fly overhead they seem quite intimidating, almost like small dragons.


Wooded walks! Oh how I loved the trees on PEI -- particularly the pine and birch trees. In this photo Steve and I are posing for a selfie along "Lover's Lane" near Green Gables. Here's the quote from the book:

Lover's Lane opened out below the orchard at Green Gables and stretched far up into the woods to the end of the Cuthbert farm. It was the way by which the cows were taken to the back pasture and the wood hauled home in winter. Anne had named it Lover's Lane before she had been a month at Green Gables.

"Not that lovers ever really walk there," she explained to Marilla, "but Diana and I are reading a perfectly magnificent book and there's a Lover's Lane in it. So we want to have one, too. And it's a very pretty name, don't you think? So romantic! We can't imagine the lovers into it, you know. I like that lane because you can think out loud there without people calling you crazy."

By the way, I bought that hat in Halifax, and it is NOT an Anne hat! She wore a boater. Just saying. ;)


Green Gables! We were so lucky to get here before the swarm of tourists descended. Here's a little info from the brochure:

Green Gables has become famous around the world as the inspiration for the setting in Lucy Maud Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables. In real life, this farm was the home of David Jr. and his sister Margaret, cousin's of Montgomery's grandfather. Although Montgomery never lived at Green Gables, she came to know her cousin's farm through her explorations of the surrounding woodlands.

My favorite part of the L.M. Montgomery experience was visiting the Cavendish (or Macneill) Homestead and crossing through the "Haunted Wood" to Green Gables. I particularly enjoyed the short lecture from Jennie Macneill, whose father-in-law was LMM's first cousin. Here's a little blurb from the website:

Uncle John's grandson, John, still lives on the family property with his wife Jennie Moore Macneill, a retired teacher. John's father, Ernest, was LMM's 1st cousin, "A letter from Myrtle came today, saying Ern Macneill's wife had a son. So perhaps the old place may remain in the Macneill name yet. I hope so anyway" (Selected Journals of L.M. Montgomery, Vol 4. p. 63).


Lighthouses! This is Pt. Prim lighthouse, the oldest on PEI and the only one we were able to climb to the top. We saw many pretty lighthouses along the way, but this was my favorite.


Delicious seafood! I'm pretty sure Steve ate lobster for every evening meal while we were on PEI. I've never been a fan of this particular crustacean, but I have to admit that the bits he shared with me were fresh and tasty (almost like sweet corn?). We also enjoyed fresh salmon, mussels, crab, and haddock.

I have many more pictures from the trip. If you'd like to see them, please check out my Flickr album. I winnowed the collection down to 33 photos so as not to bore you with endless shots of birch trees!

Happy Friday everyone!

[Cross-posted at Livejournal]

Friday Favorites: L.M. Montgomery

It's news to no one that I'm a huge fan of L.M. Montgomery. But it was news to me to discover a Montgomery book I'd never read before!*

Recently, after giving up on another book (something I hate to do, but it was necessary for my sanity), I turned to my TBR shelf for inspiration. And there I found the lovely new edition of Jane of Lantern Hill I'd purchased at Reading Rock Books in Dickson, TN, when visiting my friend, Michelle.


So pretty and retro, right?**

I started reading, certain I'd remember the plot of the book. After all, I had the mass market paperback on my shelf upstairs--which meant I'd read it before, right? Wrong. The story seemed entirely new to me. I suppose I might have read the first couple of chapters long ago, but for whatever reason I never continued with it.

This reading was an absolute pleasure. No way was I putting the book down! The trials and joys of quirky, lovable, and feisty Jane gripped me until the very end.

[Eeek, there's a movie version! It looks so wrong.]

I put Jane down with a happy sigh, but I wasn't quite ready to leave Maud. I started Lucy Maud Montgomery: The Gift of Wings, which is impressing upon me that LMM was very clever and ambitious. (I think if I could have met her in person, I would have been very intimidated. She, on the other hand, would likely have been bored.) Maud's brilliance, productivity, and constant pushing of the boundaries for "proper" womanhood and wifehood (why didn't I know her husband was a minister?) are so fascinating to me, especially in the light of her continual struggles with depression. Such a fascinating lady.

In addition to the biography I also ordered the Annotated Anne of Green Gables to study and enjoy before . . . wait for it . . .my birthday trip to Prince Edward Island in May. Hooray!

Do you have a favorite L.M. Montgomery novel? Favorite heroine? Have you read other books that remind you of Montgomery's style? Do share!

[Cross-posted at Livejournal]

____________________

*Full disclosure: I haven't read all the Anne books. For some reason I lost interest once Anne married and had a family. I should go back and try again, right?
**This cover might be even nicer. Virago has such fabulous cover art!

Friday Favorites: solo in the city

This past week I traveled to NYC with Steve. While he attended a conference, I did a little exploring on my own.


After a breakfast meeting with my editor, I explored Central Park. So pretty! And so cold.


I loved the views looking out of the park, too.


I visited the Museum of Modern Art for the first time. It was a stressful experience due to construction and the general craziness of tourists and school groups, but this Chagall calmed me down. The best part was seeing the special exhibit of Matisse Cut-Outs.


After fighting the MoMA crowds, I returned to an old favorite, the Morgan Library, to have a little afternoon tea all to myself. Delicious!

[Cross-posted to Livejournal]

Friday Favorites: It started with a photograph

A couple of things to share today, and though it may seem like a stretch, they actually are related.

Favorite thing #1. More than thirty years after first seeing it, I re-watched Michelangelo Antonioni's Blow-Up (1966), starring the late David Hemmings.


I first saw this film as a child during a weekend visit at my dad's house. Dad had that wonderful new invention called "Cable TV" and through its magic I was introduced to all sorts of interesting movies, current and classic. Unfortunately I didn't catch Blow-Up from the very beginning, but I managed to tune in at a critical moment -- Hemmings' character, an arrogant and affected photographer (parodied delightfully in Austin Powers years later) wanders London with his camera and ends up taking photos of a couple embracing in a park. The woman approaches him, agitated, and asks for the film back. But when she comes to his flat later, he gives her the wrong film. He then develops the actual roll from the shoot, and through a series of blow-ups, discovers that something sinister may have happened at the park.

The scene depicting his discovery is so beautifully shot and compelling, but the resolution (or lack thereof) was incredibly frustrating to me as a kid. I thought maybe I'd missed something at the beginning of the film, and I've been wondering for decades what it all meant. Well, in re-watching it this past weekend, I realized the film really isn't about the mystery of a possible murder. Rather, it is a fascinating character study. Roger Ebert described it best:

The film is about a character mired in ennui and distaste, who is roused by his photographs into something approaching passion. As Thomas moves between his darkroom and the blowups, we recognize the bliss of an artist lost in what behaviorists call the Process; he is not thinking now about money, ambition or his own nasty personality defects, but is lost in his craft. His mind, hands and imagination work in rhythmic sync. He is happy. (See the entire review here.)

As a kid (who really wasn't old enough for the film anyway) I wanted the story to be about the mystery, and I desperately wanted that mystery to be solved. 30+ years later I appreciate the film for its ambiguity.

Favorite thing #2, in which we come to the related topic (yes, really!) of Ghostlight and the fact that ARCs are out in the world!


First of all, Weeeeeee!

Now to the connection . . . we have a film for adults (considered nearly pornographic in its day -- take it from me, those scenes are the least compelling element) and a book for middle grade readers (& up). What could these two things possibly have in common? Well, somewhat like in Blow-Up, the mystery in Ghostlight starts with a photograph. This photograph features something it logically shouldn't, which leads to a project, a betrayal, and, ultimately, an investigation. Though this "clue in a photograph" idea is not particularly unique, I know the seed for it was planted in my brain all those years ago when I watched Blow-Up and really wanted that mystery to be solved. Also, strangely enough, I think one of the characters in Ghostlight was probably, subconsciously, inspired by the main character in Blow-Up. Julian Wayne isn't quite as reprehensible as Thomas (though he was darker in earlier incarnations of the story). He is similar, however, in that he's arrogant and obsessive and grows pretty impatient with people who don't appreciate his passion for filmmaking.

And look here -- we have official flap copy!


Isn't that creepy image of the window SO COOL? Please allow me to type out the plot blurb, in case you can't quite read it in the image:

Nothing ever happens on Avery's grandmother's sprawling farm, where she and her brother spend the summers. That is, until Avery meets Julian, a city boy with a famous dad, whose family is renting a nearby cottage. When Julian announces his plan to film a ghost story, Avery jumps at the chance to join him.

Unfortunately, Julian wants to film at Hilliard House, a looming, empty mansion that Grandma has absolutely forbidden her to enter. As terrified as Avery is of Grandma's wrath, she finds the allure of filmmaking impossible to resist.

When the kids explore the secrets of Hilliard House, eerie things being to happen, and the "imaginary" dangers in their movie threaten to become very real. Have Avery and Julian awakened a menacing presence? Can they turn back before they go too far?

So there you have it! I no longer have to ramble nonsensically about the premise of this book, for that sums it up pretty nicely. Perhaps I'll give one of these ARCs away before too long? Stay tuned! And HAPPY FRIDAY!!!

[Cross-posted at Livejournal]

Friday Favorites: good endings

My three Spring reality competition shows have ended, and weirdly enough, I found myself most enamoured with Dancing With the Stars. (And I wouldn't have seen any of it had my dad not lured me into watching when I visited TN.)

The last time I cared about DWTS was when Evan Lysacek was competing, but I have to say this field was so much stronger. And yes, I totally got sucked into Meryl and Maks.


HOW COULD YOU NOT GET SUCKED INTO THIS?


Adored this tango!


And their freestyle was lovely.

Whether or not M & M are involved in real life**, I'm truly grateful for the romantic intensity of their dance partnership. They were magical together.

**But I totally wouldn't complain if they DID marry. And had two burly boys, each nicknamed "Bear."

[Cross-posted to Livejournal]

Friday Favorites: ghost movies for your weekend enjoyment

It's that time of year when I especially crave ghost movies, so this past week I revisited some old favorites and tried a couple of new (to me) ones. I have two American and two foreign films to offer. All of them are character-driven, slow burn sort of horror films -- not the type to rely on cheap scares. Maybe you'll see something you want to try this weekend?

Old Favorites


The Changeling (1980), starring George C. Scott.
A grieving man rents a beautiful old house in Portland with the hope of moving on with his life and career. But something in the house disturbs his peace. Goofy murderous rocking chair aside, this is a very atmospheric story with an incredibly sympathetic protagonist. (Oh! If you don't feel for him after the first scene, you have no heart.) The camera work is gorgeous -- long tracking shots that make you feel as though you're wandering through the house. There's an excellent séance scene, too. I love the fact that Alejandro Amenábar, director of The Others, has praised The Changeling as one of his all-time favorite horror films. It is very dated, yes, but so lovely and eerie! (I'm not linking you to the trailer because it's pretty silly.)


El Orfanato/The Orphanage (2007), starring Belén Rueda.
A woman purchases the orphanage that sheltered her as a child, planning to turn it into a home for special needs children. Her son makes a friend within the house -- an invisible but very insistent friend -- and soon thereafter disappears. I saw this film in the theater when it first came out, and I remember screaming during one scene, but overall, it utilizes tension and dread rather than sudden shocks. It contains one of my favorite paranormal investigation scenes EVER, featuring the gloriously spooky Geraldine Chaplin. Like The Changeling, this one will pull at your heartstrings, and I defy you not to cry at the end. (Here's the American trailer, but I warn you that it's a bit overblown.)

New Favorites


Below (2002), starring Bruce Greenwood (and a gaggle of familiar actors)
Okay, all I have to say is this -- HAUNTED SUBMARINE. It gives me chills thinking about it even now, because I can't imagine a location more claustrophobic than a submarine. Anyhoo, this film starts with a WWII American submarine crew picking up survivors of a sunken boat, one of whom happens to be a female doctor. Disruption and spookiness ensue. This film is much more about suspense and tension than horror, and I'm shaking my head as to why I've never heard about it until now. It was directed by the guy who did Pitch Black and the screenplay was co-written by Darren Aronofsky! Plus it features LOTS of familiar faces, including the already mentioned Bruce Greenwood (Captain Pike!), Matthew Davis (Alaric in Vampire Diaries), Scott Foley (Noel! Jake Ballard!), and the always spectacular Olivia Williams (who was lovely in Miss Austen Regrets, among other things.) Very cool film, very much over-looked. (Check out the trailer--same annoying voice-over guy. *sigh*)


Janghwa, Hongryeon / A Tale of Two Sisters (2003), starring Jung-ah Yum and Su-jeong Lim
I'm not sure I can be articulate about this Korean film. It is CREEPY. Definitely the most horrific film on my list. But it's also gorgeous, mysterious, and haunting on multiple levels. So difficult to explain the plot, so I will just tell you it's about two sisters with a history of mental illness, an evil stepmother, and a ghost. I need to watch again to fully comprehend the timeline and backstory of the characters because it's a subtle, complex film that leaves a lot of the work up to the viewer, which I appreciate so much. It shook me up more than any ghost film I've seen recently, but keep in mind that it is slow-paced and enigmatic. And so much better than the 2009 American remake, The Uninvited, which was fine, but not nearly so powerful. (Watch the trailer -- blessedly free of voice-over!)

As always, let me know if you have any suggestions. I'm getting to the point where I feel like I've SEEN ALL THE GOOD GHOST MOVIES. It's a very sad state of affairs . . .

[Cross-posted to Livejournal]

Friday Favorites: TV addictions

I have a lot of book-related obligations looming, so how do I cope? Well, I do crack. Actually, I watch TV, but it's just as addictive. Want a hit of some of this?

1. So You Think You Can Dance
Travis and Amy. Holy moly. It's a dance about "an irresistible player" and the girl he's trying to play. I've lost count of how many times I've watched this. The song is perfect, Amy's muscles are mesmerizing, and the choreography from Travis is crazy good. Do me a favor and watch this full screen. I promise you won't regret it!


Go ahead, watch it again! (If you prefer to watch the full segment with intro, dance, and judges swooning, go here.)

2. Scandal
I think my interest in this started with Entertainment Weekly. A feature, perhaps, but it might also have appeared in some sort of "shows to marathon" article. I was intrigued but decided to leave it on the back burner. Then friend/crackdealer Kim Harrington tweeted about being hooked, and I leapt straight into that downward spiral of addiction. Oh, this show. It can be so damn contrived sometimes. BUT . . . it's like a master class on sustaining tension. And the cliffhanger endings? Half the time I feel like I'm going into cardiac arrest. At the center of it all is a pair of star-crossed lovers. They really can't be together and, speaking of addictions, I think they're rather hooked on the drama of their situation. (Olivia Pope says about has much to the man who is actually free to marry her.) Anyhoo, there's something very compelling about Fitz and Olivia, and I like this scene of them sublimating their passion into a mutual awe over the U.S. Constitution:



3. Supernatural
Speaking of friends who deal TV crack, my pal Glenda has managed to get nearly all my childhood friends hooked on this show. The beginning of Season 6 has been weird for me, but "Weekend at Bobby's" made it all worthwhile. Who'd have thought that the best episode of the season (so far) would feature the father-figure secondary character? This scene of him telling Dean and Sam to "sack up" is one of my favorite Supernatural moments ever. (Warning for mild language.)


And how lovely is it that Jensen Ackles directed? *happy sigh*

So . . . what's your TV crack these days? Go ahead, deal it to me. Clearly, I have no self control.

[Cross-posted at Livejournal]

Friday favorites

Favorite thing #1: You know how I love to give away books, so just thought I'd let you know that these lovely people won books and/or swag in the last giveaway:

Tiffany D.
N Marie M.
Tiffany A.
Jenna J.

Thanks to everyone who entered!

Favorite thing #2: Amy Plum! If you're still keen for a DARK BETWEEN advance copy, Amy will be offering one for her next Contest Monday. Check her webpage on June 17!

Favorite thing #3: Daylilies!



The top left and bottom right look a lot alike in the photos, but the bottom right is actually more orangey-yellow. They are all very pretty and have just started blooming. Sadly, we will miss their best days while we are overseas.

But that brings me to Favorite thing #4: OXFORD!


We're off again for another summer at Brasenose College in Oxford. This year we're leaving a little early so that Steve can attend a conference in Zurich, Switzerland. (My first time in this country!) In addition to our Oxford frivolities (or "work" as Steve would call it), we'll spend a weekend in Cambridge getting photos and film footage related to THE DARK BETWEEN. Prepare thyself for photo spamming. :)

Now must return to getting the house ready for our wonderful house sitter. (Cedric is very smitten with this individual.)

Any exciting summer plans of your own to share?

[Cross-posted at Livejournal]

Friday Favorites: Christmas Edition

Hooray for Christmas!

As happens every year, my joy is tinged with panic. There's the panic of shopping lists and travel plans, yes, but there's also the fear that I'll let the season slip by without savoring every moment. With that in mind, I'd like to use this space to dwell on some favorite things and hopefully get your input, as well.

Christmas Music
I've never been a fan of the pop star Christmas albums, or anything too
contemporary (with the exception of Loreena McKennit or Vince Guaraldi, if you can even call the latter contemporary). I am more drawn to Rennaissance and Baroque music, or stuff that approximates them. Here's a sampling of what I've been listening to:

Mistletoe and Wine from Mediaeval Baebes (This is sort of a contemporary/Medieval hybrid, right?)
The Baroque Christmas Album
Baroque Christmas Masques
Renaissance Holiday, from Mannheim Steamroller (but not REALLY Mannheim, according to reviews?)

As mentioned above, I also love Charlie Brown Christmas, and many years ago when I worked for an indie bookstore in Milwaukee, WI (the now defunct Audubon Court Books), I bought Noel! by the Griffith-Hanser Duo (which isn't available anymore? Wah.). So I'm wondering . . . do you have any recommendations for me?

Christmas Movies
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe--the book and movie always put me in the Christmas mood!
The Holiday--the first time I saw this one, I scoffed a little at its sentimentality. What a jerk! I adore it now. (Though I still have to look away when Jude Law is crying at the end.)
You've Got Mail--not exactly a Christmas movie, but the holiday bits are nice, aren't they?

What am I missing? I'm not a huge fan of It's a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, or even A Christmas Story. I respect them as beloved classics, but I never personally connected with them. I know some of you would mention Love Actually, but the Emma Thompson/Alan Rickman story is unbearable for me. And I prefer stories with a more restricted cast, anyway.

ETA: Here's an exhaustive "Roundup" of Holiday movies! I didn't know In Bruges had anything to do with Christmas--I'm not a huge Colin Farrell fan, but Bruges is one of my favorite cities, so perhaps I should check this out? Oh, and I forgot all about Bridget Jones' Diary! Love that one. And The Family Stone. I might be ready to watch The Dead again, too. What a great list!

Christmas Books
Other than the aforementioned The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, I find myself at a loss. Little Women? Sort of Christmassy. I should probably read A Christmas Carol. (Performing in the play a 100 times is not the same thing.) Actually, the novel I'm reading now--the fabulous Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz--feels Christmassy because of its Dickensian orphans and villains. But what books am I forgetting? Anyone have Christmas related novels to recommend? Particularly COZY MYSTERIES? (Oooh, look at this! Seems like I've read Rhys Bowen before, but my memory is foggy . . .)

Next week: Christmas tea and baked goodies!

[Cross-posted to Livejournal]

Friday Favorites: I CAPTURE THE CASTLE and journaling

My hardcover edition

Dodie Smith's I Capture the Castle ranks among my top ten favorite books. Along with brilliant writing, it features the sort of characters and plot elements that make me giddy:

-- a brainy, bookish girl who wants to be a writer
-- a ramshackle castle setting
-- an eccentric, artsy family
-- a pair of handsome, rich American boys as landlords and love interests.
-- kissing and dancing
-- yearning and heartbreak, but also PLENTY of laughter.
-- English countryside, English manners, English vicars
-- did I mention THE CASTLE?

Cassandra and Simon--this scene always makes me cry!

I rewatched the 2003 film adaptation this past weekend, and it sent me into swoons of ecstasy. Yes, in most cases the book is better than the film, but I have to give this screenplay credit for condensing the plot without sacrificing the emotional core of the story. And the cast! Romola Garai is perfection, as always, but in addition there are admirable performances from Bill Nighy, Tara Fitzgerald, Henry Cavill (so innocent prior to all that rutting about in The Tudors), and even Sinéad Cusack (Mrs. Thornton!) as wealthy, straight-talking (and vulgarly American) Mrs. Cotton. Still not quite sure about Henry Thomas as Simon Cotton, but this doesn't diminish my enjoyment of the film. The point of it all is Cassie, and Garai nails it.

Bonus wonderful thing -- while watching I wondered if the gorgeous soundtrack could possibly be available on iTunes. It is! And it was composed by Dario Marianelli, who also brought us the lush soundtracks for Pride and Prejudice (2005), Atonement, and Jane Eyre (2011), among others. Oh, and how fitting that Marianelli is rather handsome in a thinky and soulful way, which has nothing to do with anything except that I like to swoon.

Cassandra, her journal, and her castle

Best of all (and don't laugh at me), watching this film has renewed my zeal for journaling. And by that I mean actual writing in an actual bound journal, where I can say anything because it's meant only for me. After watching, I was just itching to write, but my current journal did not inspire. I bought it a few years ago at a lovely shop in New Orleans (Papier Plume), and it's charmingly compact and leather-bound, but I NEVER WANT TO WRITE IN IT. My hand doesn't fit! The lines are too narrow. I've only managed to write insipid stuff in this little book, which is an insult to the careful, loving way in which it was crafted. I'd promised myself that I wouldn't start a new journal until this one was filled, but when I looked at the long, long gaps between entries, I decided enough was enough. The little leather book has been put away, and now I am writing each day in my teNeus CoolNotes journal. It fits me! My thoughts spill forth onto its creamy, wide-ruled pages!

(I'm too old, however, to write in it while sitting in the sink.)

Are you a fan of I Capture the Castle--book and/or film? Do you keep a paper journal? If so, tell me all about it!

[Cross-posted to Livejournal]

Friday Favorites: the collateral joys of seeing HUNGER GAMES

I finally saw HUNGER GAMES this past Tuesday.

Yeah, it was great, but one thing that really thrilled me that night was finally getting to see the Prometheus trailer on the big screen. Even if this film gets the worst reviews ever I'll still be running to the theater because, you guys, Ridley Scott! Space Horror! And this cast? Guy Pearce, Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, and IDRIS ELBA WITH A SOUTHERN ACCENT? Get outa town! It looks so gorgeous and creepy. See for yourself:



Another striking discovery that's more directly related to HUNGER GAMES was The Civil Wars' contribution to the soundtrack. I've been stuck in a music rut for soooooo long that it was nice to finally have a new band to download. I'd heard of them before, but never actually heard them until the movie. I'm sure all you cool cats were in the know already, but remember, I've been living in the music cave of lame, and they are big news to me. Heh.



P.S. Turned in my revisions! Time to work on the shiny new thing. :)

Friday Favorite: SCBWI

It's taken me days to recover, but I'm finally here to tell you I had a great time at NYSCBWI last weekend.


Got to hang out with agent Jenn and some of her super cool clients, including Ward Jenkins (seen above), Kristen Kittscher and Mara Rockliff -- kindred spirits, to be sure!

Other highlights:

-- enjoying tea with my editor at the Morgan Library and Museum (love that place!).

-- hanging out with the illustrious Maddee James of xuni.com.

-- meeting new friends and catching up with old ones. (Thanks for being my Saturday buddy, Maurissa Guibord!)

-- learning revision techniques from Cheryl Klein. (Just go ahead and buy her book, you guys.)--(Oh, and check out Maurissa's post on this.)

-- coming to the realization that I should think of my career more in terms of the long haul. It's easy to fixate on what I want NOW, but what about my entire writing career? What would that look like? Am pondering this.

Have a grand weekend, everyone!

[Cross-posted from Livejournal]

Friday Favorite -- speaking engagements

Last week I had the honor of presenting at the State of Sequoyah Conference in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, during the Cherokee National Holiday. I was on a panel with distinguished scholars -- all PhDs or ABD -- which was more than a little intimidating. Still, I always have fun talking about the history behind The Revenant.

Here's a newspaper article about my talk. Thank you, Betty Ridge!

I also have to thank Brandi Barnett for inviting me over for breakfast the morning of my presentation. It was very soothing to spend time with you, my friend!


Thursday night the presenters and attendees were invited to a hog fry at the Cherokee Heritage Center. It was sooo hot, but the food and company were great. Got to spend some time with Karen Cooper (one of my Tahlequah-based critique buddies) and her husband. And I finally got to try frybread!


Here are members of the Cherokee National Youth Choir. You can see a short video I made of the young ladies singing here.


During Friday's banquet I sat with Richard Allen, policy analyst for the Cherokee Nation, and his lovely wife Shelly and daughter Emma. Richard read an early draft of The Revenant and was generous with suggestions. Emma is a graduate student at Northeastern State University, and she told me that Seminary Hall gave her some creeps after she read my book. As you might imagine, that MADE MY DAY.


This lovely lady is Dr. Lynda Dixon, professor at Bowling Green State University and member of the State of Sequoyah commission. She is gifted with a warm personality that instantly puts one at ease.


And this is Dr. Ellen Cushman, professor at Michigan State University and another State of Sequoyah commissioner. She introduced our panel on Thursday and went out of her way to make me feel welcome.


It was a privilege to sign books with Jim Northrup on Friday. He shared thoughts and several moving poems about Vietnam during that morning's session on "Warriors and War."

Overall, the State of Sequoyah conference was quite an illuminating experience!

Tomorrow I will be speaking at SCBWI OK's fall conference in Chandler. Hope to see you there!

[Cross-posted from Livejournal]