Books

This panel from Batman, #159, drawn by Sheldon Moldoff for Bob Kane, suggests how Alfred saw the relationship between Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson—and thus how scripter Bill Finger (credited with this story in the Grand Comics Database) saw it shortly before the arrival of the “New Look.”This is one of the “imaginary stories” featuring a putative son of Bruce Wayne and Kathy (Batwoman) Kane, as pictured by Alfred. The story refers to Dick Grayson as Bruce’s “ward.” But it also matter-of-factly refers to him twice as “uncle” of redheaded Bruce Wayne, Jr.Thus, Dick wasn’t an older brother to Bruce’s son, as a later generation of scripters would portray his relationship to Jason Todd, Tim Drake, and Damian Wayne. Instead, he was a younger brother to Bruce himself.

Reviewed by Jax Kepple Marnie and Nelly have just buried their two deadbeat, drug addicted parents in the backyard of the Scottish housing projects. Now what? The Death of Bees begins with this interesting kick off, and takes us through the crazy life of these two sisters trying to fend off questions about their missing parents from friends, drug dealers and the authorities, and their elderly neighbor who has noticed that they’re all alone and craves some companionship. Lisa O’Donnell keeps the pace moving with short chapters told from three points of view: Marnie, the brilliant 15-year-old who tries to keep it together while experiencing her first true love and taking care of her younger sister; Nelly, the violin prodigy who doesn’t communicate well with others and who bonds easily with father figures; and Lennie, the old neighbor who is lonely after his partner dies and loves to cook and entertain. The girls and Lennie form a family of sorts, with Lennie both making dinner and disciplining the girls, until out of nowhere, the girls’ maternal grandfather shows up and tries to make amends for years of neglect. The crux of the book is: who do we count as family? The people who gave you life or the people who gave you a reason to live? You see how the pattern repeats itself with the girls’ selfish grandfather, who tries to force piety and obedience onto two girls who have been left alone to fend for themselves their entire lives and have their own way of coping. I would have liked to see the story about the girls adjusting from the chaotic life with their parents to the stable life they built for themselves more fleshed out; at times the story seemed to skip over the details of how they fared with no money. Sex and relationships are also touched upon, with Nelly and Marnie both experiencing wanted and unwanted attention from the opposite sex, but no resolutions were made in that aspect, which was frustrating. Closure of those story lines would have helped me adjust to the ending, which also left a bit to be desired – you see the girls getting better and getting more acclimated to life and then pulled away. However, it is an excellent story about resilience and perseverance, and I enjoyed the unique setting. A quick, satisfying read. Rating: ★★★★☆ Jax is in an accountant at a hedge fund. She resides in NYC with her husband. Review copy was provided free of any obligation by Harper. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received. Pin It

• I’ve tried to remain optimistic about the reboot of the 1960s series Ironside, which NBC-TV has finally added to its fall 2013 schedule. However, a new video preview has raised my doubts. I’m particularly disappointed in the idea that “tough, sexy but acerbic”--and wheelchair-bound--former chief of detectives Robert Ironside (played here by Blair Underwood) has been moved to New York City, rather than keeping him and his crew in San Francisco, where the original Raymond Burr series was set. Watch the trailer for yourself here. • In the aftermath of the poorly received 1998 movie version of The Avengers, I haven’t heard of any other serious efforts to adapt that durable, 1961-1969 British TV spy series for the big screen. However, if someone does decide to take on such an endeavor at any time soon, I hope he or she will consider a recommendation--spread recently on Facebook--to hire English starlet Jenna-Louise Coleman into the role of Emma Peel. The 27-year-old actress, currently appearing as Clara Oswald in Doctor Who, has demonstrated the requisite sass and style for the part (created by Diana Rigg), and she sure knows how to wear a black leather catsuit. • Crime Factory No. 13 is now available. • So is the fifth edition of ThugLit. • And Black Scat Books, the small press started by California artist/author Derek Pell (of Missing Mysteries fame), has just released a paperback collection called Nickle Noir: The Art of John Nickle. Even if you’re not familiar with Nickle’s name, you may well know his artwork: he created the covers for Black Lizard’s line of Martin Beck novels, for instance. Nickle Noir contains the illustrator’s “best cover art and illustrations produced over the past 25 years,” including “moody crime scenes for novels by the likes of Ross MacDonald, James Swain, [Maj] Sjöwall and [Per] Wahlöö, and many others.” Examples of work from the book can be enjoyed here.

Tomorrow 21 May at Sotheby's in London, at 19:30, there will be An auction of fifty contemporary first edition books, annotated by their authors, with all proceeds benefiting English PEN . Check out all the lots -- some great stuff here -- and if you're in London you can view the items before the sale, today and tomorrow. See also the Sotheby's official page.

SaharaReporters has a Q & A with Wole Soyinka -- mainly about Chinua Achebe. Interesting stuff, including his early doubts about the Heinemann African Writers Series (whereby Sri Lanka might not be the best example -- given how little-known Sri Lankan literature remains abroad, a series might have been damn helpful ...). Of course the Nobel comes up, too -- which Soyinka won and Achebe didn't. As I noted a few days ago, the Swedish Academy has just settled on the five finalists for this year's prize. As a laureate, Soyinka can submit a name each year -- not that he gives much away here: As a 'club member,' however, I can nominate, and it is no business of literary ignoramuses whom, if any, I do nominate. My literary tastes are eclectic, sustainable, and unapologetic. That sounds promising, at least.

Telegram Books have been publishing Icelandic author Sjón's books in the UK for a while now, and now he finally gets the proper treatment in the US as well, as Farrar, Straus and Giroux brought out a trio of his novels last week; two of them are the most recent additions to the complete review: The Blue Fox The Whispering Muse

From the desk of Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy“This book is for anyone who has experienced that intense first love and still holds a small piece of it in their heart….This story is about "going home" and finding yourself again….. This was a heartwarming love story, and I will definitely read more by this author.”Urban Renewal review from Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Urban-Renewal-ebook/dp/B00BOK9XVW Somehow Memorial Day – and the three day holiday weekend attached to the observance – has become the unofficial kick off for the summer season in the US. The ads in my Sunday paper yesterday were chock full of barbecue grills and patio furniture, swimwear and picnic goods, swimming pools and movie stars. Oh, wait. Swimming pools, yes. Movie stars, no. The movie star connection comes from my March release from Champagne Books, Urban Renewal. It’s earning some rave reviews and selling copies at all the major online retail sites. Since it has a scene centered around Memorial Day, I thought I’d focus on it the first part of this week and share the scene. I’ll also add a shorter snippet with some heat between Marie and Joe just for fun!Here’s the cover and the blurb:Movie star Mercedes Montague has it all – the fame, the fortune, and the glittering celebrity lifestyle. But she lost herself somewhere along the way. On a publicity tour for her next movie she realizes she’s just fifty miles from her hometown. Mercedes – real name Marie Dillard – decides to bolt and go home to see if she can find what’s left of herself. Hiding away in her grandparents’ old home in a working class neighborhood she’s haunted by memories and reminders of her first and only love, Joe Shelby. Marie’s stunned when Joe shows up at her door. Passion kindles between them from the first moment their eyes meet but she won’t let it consume her unless it’s going to include a lasting love. As they renew their relationship, Marie and Joe face many struggles.Can a movie star return to reality or is love just a distant dream? Memorial Day themed excerpt: “I’ll clean up my mess and get dressed.”So, the star of the new movie, Tempest,filled up the old deep sink with water and did the dishes. Marie wiped down the table and stove. She dressed in simple jeans and a comfortable aquamarine scoop-necked blouse. She brushed back her long hair and left it down although she secured it with a pair of barrettes. By the time Joe walked out of the bathroom wearing nothing at all, she’d done her minimal make-up and was ready to go. Clean shaved, he exuded man energy and she wanted him with a rush of desire. But Marie could wait, she decided, until after they made their rounds. Then they would enjoy a leisurely lovemaking session together.At the small discount chain up on the north end of St. Joe Avenue, Marie selected silk wreaths for her grandparents and smaller bouquets for other relatives. Joe grabbed a couple for his deceased family members and they headed out.“Where do you want to go first?”“Mount Mora,” Marie said. “That’s where Ma and Pop are buried.”“I remember,” Joe said. So did she. Pop’s funeral on a bitter February day still hurt to think about but Joe, wearing a heavy old sheepskin style coat, had never left her side. Marie recalled the ankle deep snow, cold and heavy as it seeped into her shoes. Joe carried her back to the funeral home limo, something she would never forget. When she came home to lay Ma to rest, on a beautiful autumn day with yellow leaves drifting down from the maple tree nearby, she looked for Joe but of course he hadn’t come. He would have still been in the Army, then.At the old cemetery he entered through the gates and wound past Mausoleum Row where some of the city’s earliest rich folks took their eternal rest. Joe parked near where her grandparents were buried, about three rows up from the road beneath a pair of huge cedar trees. She placed the red and white wreath on Ma’s side of the double upright marker and Joe helped set the festive ye

Title: The Indigo SpellAuthor: Richelle MeadSeries: BloodlinesBook #: 3Pages: 401Reading Level: YABook Rating: Goodreads Rating: 4.50Published: Feb. 12th, 2013In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she finds herself struggling to draw the line between her Alchemist teachings and what her heart is urging her to do. Then she meets alluring, rebellious Marcus Finch--a former Alchemist who escaped against all odds, and is now on the run. Marcus wants to teach Sydney the secrets he claims the Alchemists are hiding from her. But as he pushes her to rebel against the people who raised her, Sydney finds that breaking free is harder than she thought. There is an old and mysterious magic rooted deeply within her. And as she searches for an evil magic user targeting powerful young witches, she realizes that her only hope is to embrace her magical blood--or else she might be next.Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, the Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive—this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone’s out for blood.Taschima's POV:"Whatever logic and reason I normally possessed had melted away. There was nothing but flesh and fire left, and I wasn't going to lie to myself—at least not tonight. I wanted him. I arched my back, fully aware oh how vulnerable that made me and that I was giving him an invitation. He accepted it and laid me back against the table, bringing his body down on top of mine. That crushing kiss of his moved from my mouth to the nape of my neck. He pushed down the edge of my dress and the bra strap underneath, exposing my shoulder and giving his lips more skin to conquer."... and I just can't get enough.Even though Adrian always goes after the unavailable girl, even though there is side drama going on between Jill/Eddie/Angeline (barf), and even though witches were thrown into the mix (wtf?), I just can't get enough of the Bloodlines world. I am not as in love with it as I was with Vampire Academy, where I devoured the book seconds after it was published, but I still have a healthy dose of love towards this series. I think the culprit for this is not Adrian specially (though, come on, he is charmingly hot, and even BETTER in this book since he got over the whole Rose debacle and is all manly and protective and loving!), but Sydney.Sydney is so different from Rose, but that isn't a bad thing. She is tough as nails, and quite honestly a little more relatable. After her debacle with Adrian in the last book (kissing disaster) Sydney is more adamant than ever to avoid Adrian at all costs, though that doesn't seem to be working too well since they are both kind of involved in the same mission to keep Jill hidden. She also needs a partner in crime when it comes to everything she has to solve."Sure enough, I glanced back at the tank and found the calistana regarding me adoringly. He was even wagging his tail."No," I said sternly. "This isn't a Disney movie where I have my adorable sidekick. You aren't coming out."I think Indigo Spell was great! I like how it is in the same world as Vampire Academy, but it still is completely different. First off I love the magic component. Sure I wasn't expecting it at first, but now Sydney kicks ass!! It has a little bit of everything to keep you enthralled, a crazy witch trying to suck the life out of other witches, the Alchemists and Warriors of Light secret schemes, Marcus Finch (I'll get to him in a minute) and of course some serious Sydney/Adrian action (SWOON).Now, Marcus Finch. I was a bit disappointed about him. Since he was portrayed as being a BIG ass deal (with all the marketing around the blogsphere and all) I thought he was going to be something for Adrian to contend with. But, he is just not that impressive. At least to me he wasn't. Sydney on the other hand... she i

Sound of Music Sing-longOrdway TheaterI had the amazing fortune to be able to see this last night at the Ordway Theater in downtown St. Paul as part of another Blogger Night. I don't think I've had that much fun in a long, long time.For those of you not familiar, this event is a showing of the movie Sound of Music in beautiful technicolor. You get a goodie bag of props to use at specific points during the film, subtitles to help you sing your little heart out and witness a pretty fun costume contest. The emcee was a blast as well!I had not seen this movie in its entirety in years. My friend and +1 however, is an addict. We are talking Twilight level of fandom here, people (and she wasn't the only one). The shouting, the whooping when they kissed. The booing of the Baroness. Oh, how the audience got feisty for their faves.It was a lot of fun. Unfortunately it was only for one day with two performances but it's something I definitely think all fans should participate. Really, to sing all those songs that most people know and love, it just brought on a whole other level of endearment. There are a host of wonderful events coming to the Ordway this summer. Next in line, starting May 28-June 2 is the Flint Hill International Children's Festival. Check out the Ordway website to learn more.I leave you with one of my favorites from the film, Edelweiss.Happy Listening and as always, thanks for stopping by!red headed book child

… The University Bookman: Copperheads, Community, and Those Who Have Lost. (Hat tip, Dave Lull.)