Jim Takes a Look at a Selection of WWII Mysteries

There are probably as many novels as there are people who experienced the devastation and ultimate freedom of World War II. But there is no novel - featuring either the Korean, Vietnam, or Middle East conflicts, that continue to be considered popular literature. An exception is Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes, about the struggle from the perspective of all the Nam participants, in what was then a divided nation. Another is Lotus Eaters by Tatjana Soli about a woman photojournalist’s role, in relationships and conflict, weeks before the Saigon airlift. While there are surely more, these two are the most recent that that come to mind.

As of today there are three new extraordinarily engaging titles, again with the backdrop of WWII. In Peter Robinson’s Before the Poison, an American, Chris Lowndes, buys an English country home, sight unseen. Only after he’s moved-in does he hear the story of former owner, Grace Fox, murdering her husband. She was then being executed for the crime, now fifty years before Lowndes moved in. After learning about Grace, Lowndes sets out to prove Grace’s innocence. She was living a seemingly idyllic marriage and the few who remember her, knew her for her kindness and generosity. How could this fine woman murder anyone? That’s what Chris Lowndes wants to find out.

Philip Kerr’s Prague Fatale continues the tale of the cynical detective Bernie Gunther who reluctantly serves as a bodyguard to the Nazi’s Reinhard Heydrich, who fears for his life. He is so good at his job that the country’s leaders overlook his anti-Nazi sympathies. (Gunther is introduced in Kerr’s trilogy Berlin Noir). Gathered in a country home are many of the Gestapo’s key leaders where Heydrich hopes Gunther can reveal the conspirators. Gunther’s new girlfriend is his only break during a difficult assignment, and she tells Gunther she spends her days with friends.

Alan Furst’s Mission to Paris has movie star Frederic Stahl in Paris to shoot a movie, just as the German army makes its presence and demands known to the French. Stahl’s international fame is a Nazi propaganda prize and they prod and then force the star to host a Berlin film festival. He finds a way to help the Allied cause, even if he is reluctantly going to Berlin. This spy thriller is a classic example of Furst’s unquenchable talent.

Each of these mysteries provides a fascinating reading experience. I trust there are other stories from conflicts that can be as successful transferred into fiction.

Jim is a bookseller at Warwick's

Warwick’s Staff Presents: Summertime Reading

It is summer, time to head out to the beach, grab a spot on the sand and pick up a new book. Need a little inspiration? Here’s a brief glance into the summer reading lives of the Warwick’s staff.

Adriana, bookseller: The Master’s Muse by Varley O’Connor. Fans of The Paris Wife will not want to miss out on O'Connor's brilliant portrayal of Tanaquil Le Clercq. the prima ballerina, muse, and last wife to the brilliant ballet master, George Balanchine. Struck with polio in the middle of a European tour at the young age of 26, Le Clercq would never walk, let alone dance, again. Extensively researched, O'Connor gives voice to a very private one and gives us a theoretical peak into one of the most fascinating marriages of the twentieth-century. Intense, heartbreaking, and life affirming, The Master's Muse will have you reading long into the night.

John, book buyer/bookseller: Having recently attended an event with and been bowled over by Carlin Romano, I feel even more enthusiastic as I read his wonderful America the Philosophical. Against cultural commentators and historians dating at least back to Alexis de Tocqueville, Romano argues that America is the most philosophical culture in the history of the world. He defends his claim with an eye-opening, vigorous, and entertaining narrative history of American thought and thinkers. I am finding this book — and I have never said this of a book before — unputdownable.

This summer will see the release of The Lost Prince, the second novel of Selden Edwards. Edwards happens to be the author of one of the most entertaining novels I have ever read, The Little Book. Pat Conroy and Garth Stein have already gone on record in support of The Lost Prince, both of these authors finding it to be even better than The Little Book. Enough said! I am crazy excited to read The Lost Prince and delighted that Edwards will be returning to La Jolla to discuss and sign his new book at Warwick's. My summer suggestion to everyone: devour The Little Book as soon as possible and join me in eagerly awaiting the release of The Lost Prince.

Julie, Director of Events: Summer Reading for me is not any different from the rest of the year...give me a good piece of fiction please! So, on my stack for this summer...Zafon's The Prisoner of Heaven, Karen Thompson Walker's The Age of Miracles, Selden Edward's The Lost Prince...and a little guilty pleasure...Deborah Harkness' Shadow of Night!

Jolene, Gifts: Before the Poison by Peter Robinson. Intriguing story—going from present day to half a century ago—where the protagonist goes on a hunt to discover if a murderess actually killed her husband in the house he has just purchased.

Barbara, bookseller: I’m looking forward to reading Heading Out to Wonderful by Robert Goolrick because I loved his first novel A Reliable Wife!

Samantha, bookseller: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. The first time I read To Kill a Mockingbird, I was in 7th grade. Eight years have since passed and I’ve now read Harper Lee’s only novel as many times. To Kill a Mockingbird is the first book I read every summer, and I love it a little more every time.

Heather, Marketing Coordinator: I think the question is more what am I not reading this summer! From Shine Shine Shine by Lydia Netzer and David R. Gillham’s City of Women, to Simon Mawer’s Trapeze, I’m hitting the fiction pretty hard, although I will be taking a break from the new stuff to read Victor Hugo’s classic Les Miserables, a book I’m afraid to say I’ve never actually read before. Here’s to a new reading experience.

Emily, Local Author Coordinator/bookseller: More Baths Less Talking by Nick Hornby. I am a huge fan of everything and everyone British, especially Nick Hornby. I cannot wait to read this book before it comes out in August.

Janet, bookseller: This summer I plan on scratching 2 items off my “bucket list”, well…at least vicariously. One is ballet, The Masters Muse by Varley O’Connor and The Cranes Dance by Meg Howrey—both highly recommended by Adriana should cross that off my list. Hiking is another activity that sounds good, but so far I haven’t taken it up, so instead I plan on reading Wild by Cheryl Strayed. It’s a summer of attempting to be adventurous, but in my own way…by reading about it.

Margie, Office Supplies: This is my summer of “kind” and “compassionate” books. The ultimate of these being Wonder by R.J. Palacio, which I absolutely love, love, love! If you get a chance, please read Wonder, you will love it just as much as the Warwick’s staff did.

Acacia, bookseller: The Cove by Ron Rash. Every year I like to kick-off summer by reading something that’s guaranteed to give me chills and beat the summer heat. This year, Ron Rash’s unusual love story set in WWII Appalachia with its dark backdrop of early American superstition and folklore, transported me to a way of life that is long gone.

Jim, bookseller: Before the Poison by Peter Robinson. An American purchases a home in the English countryside, site unseen, and soon finds out why it was so underpriced: A woman killed her husband and was executed 50 years ago. But is she truly guilty?

I’m also reading The Invisible Ones by Stef Penny. Gypsies in England hire a detective to solve a puzzling murder. This is full of fascinating information about the Roma culture and their relationship to the non-Roma culture.

Lynn, Office Supplies: I just finished Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith. I wanted to read it before the movie came out. I loved the book…not sure if the movie can compare.

Kim, Office Supply: I’m reading Teach Your Children Well by Madeline Levine, Ph.D. This book about parenting choices focuses on core values and authentic success. Life her first book The Price of Privilege, Levine reminds me of all the options in raising my child.

Teen Guest Blogger Reviews "Tiger Lily"

In continuation of our Teen Blogger series, 13 year old Maggie reviews Jodi Lynn Anderson's new novel Tiger Lily.

Tiger Lily was something of a magical book. I was immediately captivated just by looking at the front and back covers, but as I quickly began the first chapter, my interest for the story diminished with every page. It wasn’t for poor character development, or boring plot, or cheesy writing, it was more a lack of all three. The first quarter of the book simply was too slow, and with each page I read, it felt like I was trudging through an endless stretch of thigh-high mud.

 And then, right around page eighty, something peculiar happened. Almost like a bursting dam, everything that makes a story amazing came out of nowhere. Intriguing characters, fascinating plot, romance, adventure, wit, wisdom, and the pure delight of a good book exploded onto the pages and suddenly I had my nose to the paper, soaking up every word as if they would disappear in seconds. I read and reread paragraphs that I loved, laughed out loud at the bumbling and goofy Lost Boys, smiled at the young Sky Eaters, and let my heart devour Peter and Tiger Lily’s romance. When I figured I should take a break from reading, I closed it up and put it down for about five seconds, and then I felt like I had let the book down, like if I had a minute or two more to read, why shouldn’t I?

I ended up reading around two hundred pages in one night, just because of that theory. And once I closed its magical pages for good, I lay in bed, unable to go to sleep because certain lines, twists, and tidbits from Tiger Lily floated around in my head, never going to let go. Tiger Lily might’ve not won me over at first, but I know now that sometimes you have to dig a little deeper than normal to find the gems you want. Jodi Lynn Anderson has crafted a fantastic novel for fans of Peter Pan and a good book alike, and it is certainly destined to become a star.

“If You Like This…” Vol. 2: Children’s Summer Edition

Last month the Warwick’s staff gave readers an “If You Like This…” suggestion list and we had such a positive response that we have decided to try and make it a regular series. As school gets out more and more parents having been wandering around our children’s book section looking for that perfect book for their kids. Whether it’s for a long drive, flight, or just to keep them away from the television, parents are spending more and more time looking for summer books. So, this month’s edition of “If You Like This…” is dedicated to our younger readers.

Middle Readers:

If you like Jeanne Birdsall’s Penderwicks series…

Try Summer at Forsaken Lake by Michael D. Beil. This is a book that perfectly captures the summer adventures of young children. The book, like the Penderwicks series is humorous with just enough mystery to enthrall readers. A great summer read for kids’ ages 8-11.

If you like Inkheart by Cornelia Funke…

Storybound by Marissa Burt is a great book to pick up. Storybound follows a 12-year-old orphan girl, Una, who magically gets sucked into the mysterious Land of Story, a place where everyone is a type of storybook character; heroes, villains, sorcerers, princesses; all training to become part of their own stories. Only, what is young Una doing there and who wrote her into this magical land? A fun book, with great adventure, magic, and dastardly villain, Storybound is a sure hit.

If you like Wonder by R.J. Palacio…

Wonder is a book that the Warwick’s staff just can’t stop talking about and now our readers are right on board with our staff. Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine is just the right book to follow Wonder. Mockingbird is told from the prospective of 10-year-old Caitlin who has Asperger’s Syndrome and must deal with the death of her older brother and protector Devon. Like Wonder, Mockingbird deals with the issues of special needs children, family life, and fitting into a school when you are different. A great book for parents and kids to read together and discuss.

Teens:

If you like I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith…

Like a little visit to the past? Try Keeping the Castle by Patrice Kindl. Much like the beloved I Capture the Castle, this book rests upon the shoulders of a young heroine, bearing the burden of her family as they live in genteel poverty. While Kindl’s book takes readers to 19th-century England (as opposed to the 20th-century), it’s pacing and characters have the same charm as Dodie Smith’s, creating a funny, romantic, and engaging new story.

If you love books like Eon by Alison Goodman or the Eragon series by Christopher Paolini…

For magic, adventure, dragons, and hidden identities pick-up the newly released Seraphina by Rachel Hartman. This wonderful new book is the perfect tale for readers who enjoy Eon and Eragon, but don’t want to necessarily delve full on into paranormal. For the slightly older teen looking for the same qualities, but with a touch of romance, and even more danger look at the Firelight series by Sophie Jordan. A good series, this is definitely aimed more at the crowd who has enjoyed books like Maggie Stiefvater’s Shiver or other Twilight-esque reads, while staying with the dragon theme.



If you like If I Stay by Gayle Forman or Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher…

John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars, a heart-breaking story of young love, loss, and life is for you. It perfectly creates three-dimensional characters that deal with the tragedies of their lives in different ways. Readers that enjoy more poignant stories that deal with real life issues and don’t hold anything back will find a goldmine in the pages of this book.

If you like…a quick guide…

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg: Read The Sixty-Eight Rooms series by Marianne Malone

Melissa Marr’s Wicked Lovely series: Try Julie Kagawa’s Iron Fey books

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater: Check out the Raised by Wolves series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Tamora Pierce’s Tortall books: Look at Heather Brewer’s The Legacy of Tril: Soulbound

Don’t see something that appeals to your specific tastes here? That’s fine; our Children’s Booksellers are the best in the business and love talking about some of the great new (and not so new) books available for kids and teens. So feel free to stop by and ask away, we can’t wait to hear from you!

Guest Blogger: A Young Reader Reviews "Monument 14"

Every so often we are able to get kids and teens from our community to read new books and give us feedback. This week, Matthew, an 11-year-old reader, gives us his take on the newly released teen book Monument 14.

Monument 14 is a fantastic book. The story is based in the 2020’s, but unlike most books that are in the future, the world of Monument 14 is fairly similar to 2012, except that they have upgraded iPads called “Big Tabs”. In this book, Dean is just a regular high school kid who has a ridiculous crush on senior Astrid, the popular girl. On the way to school, a 10-foot long piece of hail cracks the bus windshield, which is just the beginning of a giant hailstorm. Following that hailstorm, a chemical spill and a mega tsunami hit. This leads to fourteen kids, some who are 18 and some as young as 6, taking shelter in a superstore.

This book teaches you teamwork and how to work together. It makes you feel several emotions in different parts of the story, such as anger or sorrow. Now, in this book you might find whining Chloe, or brave and courageous Niko, but you will never find two characters the same. The author, Emmy Laybourne expresses each character’s personality very well and detailed—like how Jake is the “dumb jock” and likes silly things, and hates to lose at anything. I think Emmy wrote Monument 14 very well, and she has also made it feel as though you are Dean, living the same experiences as he is. Overall, this book was very well written and it blew my mind. So, thank you Emmy Laybourne.

Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne is currently available in the Warwick's Young Adult section and on our website: www.warwicks.com.

Matthew, an avid reader, is a 5th grader at Stella Maris Academy

Lost in Persuasion

I’m about to say something that is sacrilegious to many readers. I am not a big Jane Austen fan. Go ahead and gasp, throw something, or think belittling thoughts about me and my reading preferences, but I’m just not. People who know me are probably shocked by this statement, most likely because I own every Jane Austen novel—sometimes multiple copies (Pride & Prejudice), but that’s mostly due to gifts, inheritance, and an odd feeling that every bibliophile is required to own them (also they tend to be pretty). The thing is, I like the stories, the characters, the witty banter, but I tend to tune out during the prose—you see, I prefer the movies. Go ahead and curse me again, I understand. I love the screen versions of Emma, Pride and Prejudice, and Mansfield Park, but I just can’t extend that love to their written forms. I’m not saying I hate the books, far from it; I just don’t love them as other readers do. That being said, for some reason I have always been drawn to Persuasion and most particularly to the books that try to reimagine that narrative. For some reason I am utterly drawn to that tale. I don’t know if it’s the slight tang of melodrama that reels me in, the love-loss story of Ann Elliot and Captain Wentworth, or just a connection with Ann on some subconscious level, that draws me in every time. Whatever the reason, be it psychological on my part, or that it is entertaining for me on a level the other novels cannot attain to, I can’t get enough of Persuasion. 

In that vein, I have, over the last several years, found some reimaginings of this novel that have brought me great enjoyment. One is The Family Fortune by Laurie Horowitz, a contemporary look at the tale that takes place in the literary world between the daughter of the founders of an impoverished, yet famous foundation established to help budding writers and an author, once spurned for his lowly station—who is now highly successful. The perfect mix of comic and tragic, this modern romance is a wonderful blend of “chick-lit” and Austen homage.

Another, a teen-aimed retelling with a post-apocalyptic style twist, For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund (release date 6/12/12) is a fun reintroduction to Ann and Wentworth’s love story. Set in a distant future, where the destruction of scientists’ genetic engineering has rendered many of the population into “Reduced”—people with severe mental handicaps, “Luddites” now rule what is left of the world, living as though it were once again the 19th century. Elliot North, the daughter of an esteemed Luddite family falls in love with Kai, a “Post”—descendant of the “Reduced”—lacking any of the malformations of his ancestors, but refuses to run away with him for the sake of saving her ancestral estate and those people who are dependant upon it for life. When years later an impoverished Elliot is forced to take on Post borders, she finds herself once again in Kai’s presence, but now he is the prosperous and famous Captain Malakai Wentworth, filled with a heart-wrenching loathing for Elliot and her past decisions. Despite the post-apocalyptic theme, this book is remarkably true to Austen’s original narrative. She faithfully recreates Ann, her struggles, her narcissistic family, and her seemingly unreciprocated love for Wentworth in the characters of Elliot and Kai. Author Diana Peterfreund was able to evoke in me the same feelings of frustration with (Kai) Wentworth’s actions and his persecution of (Elliot) Ann’s actions. I cursed Kai, and wept for a despondent Elliot, wanted her family packed off to Timbuktu, and hoped for a dramatic reconciliation (although, it was never really in doubt). All the things that drew me to Persuasion I found alive within this book. The addition of futuristic science was also interesting and innovative, recreating the past within a new world, while holding onto the essence of Austen’s original plot. Despite the horrid title—I consistently mess up the title when talking about this book to people, because it is just too convoluted, regardless of it’s underlying meaning to the story—I found myself being drawn in just as much as I was with Austen.

So, while I still stumble through the works of Austen, hoping to someday catch the fever that enthralls so many, I will remain on the outside looking in on enthusiastic readers. Who knows, maybe there is hope for Jane and me in forthcoming years, but for the time being I will hold tightly to my enjoyment of Persuasion and it’s many reincarnations. For now, I will be happy with the newest, For Darkness Shows the Stars, will revisit The Family Fortune, and await whatever the literary world throws at me in the future.

*Just a note: After this blog was written (we write the reviews right after we read them and then schedule the blog for the book's release date) the Los Angeles Times selected For Darkness Shows the Stars as one of it's summer reads for 2012. Check it out here.

Review-"The House of Velvet and Glass"

As 2012 is the centennial anniversary of the Titanic’s sinking one would be hard pressed to not come across a book, be it fiction or non-fiction, regarding the ill-fated luxury liner. Such is the case with Katherine Howe’s sophomore effort The House of Velvet and Glass, which begins its narrative just outside of the Titanic’s grand dining room on the evening of April 14, 1912. What could quickly become yet another over dramatized, maudlin look at the sinking of the ship, smoothly transitions to Boston, 1915 where a group of survivors and family members of the deceased are together in a spiritualist’s parlor attempting to ease their grief in any way possible. It is here that readers meet Sybil Allston, a 27-year-old woman whose family was devastated by the loss of her mother and younger sister. As the novel unfolds, it delves into Sybil’s life as she struggles to deal with her excruciating loss, her father’s dark moods, and her ne'er-do-well younger brother’s destructive tendencies. As Sybil tussles with the mounting issues at home and the increasingly erratic behavior of her brother she is thrown into a series of events that will dramatically change her life, and forever alter her view of the past.

Much like Howe kept this novel from being an exercise on sinking ships, she also avoids a novel full of survivor’s grief. Instead, readers follow Sybil as she grapples with the staid path her life has taken, and with a deft little twist, Howe uses chapter breaks to flit between Sybil’s father’s past as a sailor in Shanghai, and her mother and sister’s last night aboard the Titanic. The changing narratives help to weave an intriguing story, bringing in the same hint of the occult that made her first book The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane such an entertaining and unexpected marvel. For the sake of the revelation, I won’t go into these supernatural elements--I enjoyed how they so unexpectedly unfolded far too much to divulge them to readers, but I will say Howe uses her scholarly grasp of history in unique and wonderful ways.

The House of Velvet and Glass’s multiple narratives present a rich look at the lives of one family as they deal with love, loss, self-discovery, war, and a touch of the supernatural. The characters are full-bodied, rushing through the pages with remarkable realism, and at times gut-clenching decision-making and the prose is intricate, without being boring in it’s historical accuracy. This is a well-written multi-layered novel that perfectly displays the writing talents of author Howe--a wonderful and engrossing novel to read.

“If You Like This…”

Booksellers are extraordinary. They know what book it is when you ask for “Fifty Grey’s of Something”, they know that the book with the purple cover that someone spoke about at some time in the store is Richard Harvell’s The Bells, and not only do they know the New York Times reviewed Nell Freudenberger’s The Newlyweds, but they will also tell you how to meet her at our June 4th event. Are booksellers psychic? No, of course not, but they know their books. One question that never fails to get an enthusiastic response from a bookseller at Warwick’s is the “I like ---- can you find me something similar”. It’s the classic “If you like this” question and booksellers are always eager to introduce readers to new authors. So, in honor of the question I hear everyday outside of my office here is a little list of suggestions.

If you like Kate Morton (The Forgotten Garden, The Distant Hours)…

Try Katherine Howe author of The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane and The House of Velvet and Glass. Like Morton, Howe’s narratives weave back and forth through time, alternating between character point of view, to create a rich and wonderful novel. Her writing style is smooth and entertaining and the combination of the prose with her thorough knowledge of history (Howe is a historian) grabs the reader in a way few novels of this ilk can. Either novel is a perfect pick-up for fans of Kate Morton’s writing.

If you like Tana French (The Likeness, Faithful Place)…

French’s brilliant thrillers are a perfect blend of edge of your seat psychological suspense and literary skill. The writing is unusually rich and complex, not run-of-the-mill mystery text. Similar writers who are more than capable of hitting that literary suspense vein are Erin Kelly (The Poison Tree) and Rosamund Lupton (Sister and Afterwards). Also notable is Nicci French, whose recently released Blue Monday evokes the same police dynamic of the other French, but with the added aspect of a lead character who is a psychotherapist, and deeply troubled in her own right.

If you like M.C. Beaton’s Hamish Macbeth series…

Love quaint and entertaining mysteries like those so wonderfully produced by M.C. Beaton? Check out Rhys Bowen’s Her Royal Spyness Series that follows Lady Georgiana Rannoch, 34th in line to the throne in 1930’s England and decidedly without funds. Bowen’s series is utterly enchanting with greedy aristocrats, comedy of errors, occasional whimsy, a touch of romance, and of course murder. For an added bonus the audio versions of these books are probably the some of the best I’ve ever come across—truly worth a listen.

In the same genre, author Carola Dunn and her Daisy Dalrymple series, which follows the Honourable Daisy Dalrymple a writer who invariably walks into murders, is an enjoyable option. This is another fun series, clean, light, and perfect for fans of writers like Beaton.

If you like Jodi Picoult…

Try Heather Gudenkauf (These Things Hidden, The Weight of Silence and One Breath Away (July ’12)). Gudenkauf writes compelling contemporary fiction, hitting on issues like school shootings, teen pregnancy, adoptions, and so forth, but in a less pointed way than Picoult. Her novels effortlessly weave hot button issues into gripping plots, without hitting readers over the head. Readers (and reading groups) who enjoy Picoult’s fiction will take pleasure in the intricate and moving novels of Heather Gudenkauf.

If you like…a quick guide…

Beth Hoffman’s Saving CeeCee Honeycutt: try author Sarah Addison Allen (Garden Spells, The Girl Who Chased the Moon, The Peach Keeper)

Dan Brown: pick up a book by Steve Berry (here at Warwick’s on May 16, 4pm to sign The Columbus Affair)

Christopher Moore, Chuck Palahniuk, and Christopher Buckley: read Max Barry (Jennifer Government, Company, Machine Man)

Neal Stephenson’s Snow Crash: try Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Obviously this list could go on indefinitely, that’s where our booksellers come in, they are wells of book information waiting to be tapped, and eager to give you their own “If you like” recommendations. So, the next time you find yourself in need of a book, ask one of the Warwick’s booksellers, and you will be introduced to some amazing new books and authors.

Mini-Review of Veronica Roth's "Insurgent"

This follow-up to 2011's Divergent is a high-paced, action filled, novel that engrosses readers from page one. Taking off exactly where its predecessor ended, Insurgent follows Tris Pryor and the other survivors of the Erudite/Dauntless attacks as they find themselves scouring the city for allies amongst the other factions, and the surprisingly organized Factionless. Alliances form, war is waged, and a shocking betrayal turns Tris’s world into an almost unrecognizable battlefield, as she must determine the course of the future. Highly engaging, author Veronica Roth proves the ability to deftly handle the intricacies of war and the need to survive when there is seemingly nothing left to survive for. Beware, like Divergent, the ending is a shocking cliffhanger that leaves readers frothing at the mouth for more. This is the sequel to read, a must for fans of The Hunger Games, Legend, or Matched, guaranteed to absolutely glue you to the page.

"The Selection"—read it before you see it.

Before it gets sucked into the land of CW and it’s array of paranormal dramas and general teen fodder, I wanted to mention The Selection, the first book in what looks to be a promising new series by relative newcomer Kiera Cass. Set in a distant future where many Wars have eliminated the United States as a high powered democracy turning it into a new country, broken into eight very specific casts and ruled by a monarchy, The Selection follows seventeen-year-old America Singer as she is thrown into an situation that will propel her from life as a lower middle class artist, to the tops of the aristocracy.

The Selection, for which the book is named, is essentially a “Bachelor-esque” contest in which 35 girls, one from each district (slightly reminiscent in concept to The Hunger Games) are brought to their ruler’s palace to compete for the hand of their Prince, Maxon. Selected, America must leave her family and love interest behind as she is thrown into a world of wealth, war, and cutthroat feminine sabotage—all for the sake of a royal marriage and cast climbing. Did I mention that this is all done as a mandatory-to-watch, nationally televised show?

 At first glance The Selection really just seems like the authors attempt to cash in on the popular dystopic trend, while adding a touch of reality television, another, albeit more obnoxious trend, but in actuality Kiera Cass manages to elevate the text above that nonsense, creating an interesting group of characters with much more at stake than receiving that (in Bachelor terms) final rose. America, Maxon, and the other teens thrown into this situation have depths and motivations beyond their 15 minutes of fame—they seek food and pay for their families who live paycheck to paycheck, they seek companionship, and in the case of Maxon—they seek someone to share the burdens of a country, and care about what happens beneath those glitzy false public images. Now, don’t get me wrong, this book is not a work of art, but there is more to it than meets the eye, and it’s entertaining without being mind numbing.

In the fall, we could very well be seeing a pilot episode of this new book on the CW, a station that has taken teen books such as Gossip Girl and The Vampire Diaries, and turned them into popular television shows with rabid followings. While, the studio has brought up book sales, and actually, in the case of The Vampire Diaries, turned an ok book into an entertaining show, it is always possible that what is great about The Selection could be destroyed in it’s translation to television. So, my suggestion is to read the book now, enjoy it for what it is, prepare for the next in the trilogy, and in the fall, take a peak at the pilot. If it’s good, great—if not, well at least you have a fun book under your belt with just the right amount of romance and intrigue.

Books for Troops

As many of you know, Warwick's has been running a Books for Troops drive for the last month and we have thus far collected over 200 books that will go out through "Operation Homefront". The staff has been amazing in their commitment to this book drive, and none more so than bookseller extraordinaire Jim Stewart (seen on the right). In fact Jim has been so instrumental in the success of this book drive that we just had to share his letter to the La Jolla Light.

Excerpts from Letter to the Editor, La Jolla Light April 19, 2012: (Did you know that) soldiers are getting books from Warwick's before they deploy? In cooperation with Operation Homefront, customers can buy any book in the store as a gift to the troops. A selection of books is on the front counter for ideas.

We’ve had customers give us $100 or $50 to buy books (for donation), selected by the Warwick's staff. Staff members are also giving books to send. We have at least 200 books and would love to at least triple that before the drive ends.

Our hearts (and thanks-to-you) books go out to troops as they deploy for bases around the world.

Young men and women are giving their most productive years in service to our great country. This is a good time to give back, even in such a small way. -Jim Stewart, bookseller

If you haven't yet had the chance to participate, we will be collecting books through May 4, 2012--in time for them to be distributed by Memorial Day.

*UPDATE (May 4, 2012)*
We have now collected over 500 books and counting! We would like to extend a special thank you to New York Times bestselling author Deborah Harkness, who personally donated signed copies of her book A Discovery of Witches to the Books for Troops drive. We are astounded at how so many have gone above and beyond in their generosity toward our troops!

Pick the Pulitzer

Pick the Pulitzer!

The Committee couldn't decide, can you?

Some of you might be aware of the hullabaloo surrounding this year's Pulitzer Prize Awards, namely that the fiction category was left in the dust. That's right, for the first time since 1977 a fiction prize was not awarded. So, what does this mean? Well, it means that out of the three finalists: Train Dreams by Denis Johnson, Swamplandia! by Karen Russell, and The Pale King by David Foster Wallace, the committee could not agree on a clear winner, and thus, despite the fact that the three fiction judges read approximately 300 titles and narrowed it down to these three, there will be no award.

So, now it is your time to speak out (and get a prize for your actions). Vote for your favorite of the three on The Warwick's Blog (comment section), Facebook, reply on Twitter (@warwicksbooks), or email heather@warwicks.com,  and don't forget to let us know why that particular book should have won.

Haven't read them yet? We will be offering 20% off the price of Train Dreams, Swamplandia!, and The Pale King through May 31st* so everyone can participate. And if you find that you too cannot decide between the three, write in your own vote and why it was the best published book of 2011.

We will draw five random people from the entries, who will receive $25 Warwick's gift cards. Winners will be announced on our Blog, Facebook & Twitter accounts on June 4th.

We can't wait to see who you pick!

*Train Dreams is currently on backorder at the publisher so we may extend the contest while we wait for a reprint. This will give you a great head start on Swamplandia! and The Pale King.

Janet Reviews Rosamund Lupton's 'Afterwards'

Clear your schedule because you won't want to stop reading this once you start! Rosamund Lupton has done it again. If you loved her first novel, Sister, then you will truly appreciate the style of storytelling that she has now perfected. The finely tuned plot of Afterwards twists and turns weaving timely and relevant women's issues into the story of a mother and daughter locked in a harrowing struggle between life and death. When a fire erupts at a private school and a teenaged girl is trapped inside, her mother rushes to save her. What really happened to cause the disaster? You'll be holding your breath and sitting on the edge of your seat as you delve deeper and deeper into each character's motivations and wonder how will the truth play out. A fascinating behind-the -scenes drama only adds to the suspense involving both former and current staff of the upscale, Sidley House School. Everyone guards their own secrets! Danger flares and tension mounts in every page-turning moment in this dramatic and compelling literary thriller that answers every mother's question: How far would you go to protect your children?

Afterwards will be released on Tuesday, April 24, 2012.

Janet is a bookseller at Warwick's

Heather (briefly) Reviews "Anatomy of Murder"

Imogen Robertson’s sequel to 2011’s Instruments of Darkness reintroduces readers to anatomist/forensic specialist Gabriel Crowther and the seemingly indomitable Mrs. Harriet Westerman, as they are once again thrown into the midst of murder and intrigue. Anatomy of Murder is a more finely crafted work than it’s predecessor, with fuller character development and a smoother (yet still intricate) plot involving spies, opera, and murder. It’s gripping prologue, a Navy battle involving Harriet’s husband Captain Westerman, draws to mind scenes from a Patrick O’Brien novel, and instantly sucks readers into an era of intrigue and American rebellion.

It is in this sequel that Robertson delves a bit more into her main characters, particularly that of the appealing Harriet Westerman, giving readers a bit more insight into her thought process, showing kinks in her rather impenetrable armor, while also providing depth and understanding to her unusual partnership with the somewhat dower Crowther. This depth adds yet another layer to an interesting narrative, filled with more loops and turns, than one might expect at first glance. This is a series that gets remarkably better with each book (the third Island of Bones comes out 10/15/12 and is proving to be even more enjoyable). The characters are slowly gaining more dimensions, the mysteries and story development are stimulating, and Robertson’s overall writing seems to grow by leaps and bounds, almost as though she is honing her craft right before the readers eyes as we progress through her books.

This Georgian era suspense is a perfect fit for fans of such period mysteries as produced by Anne Perry, Jacqueline Winspear, and C.S. Harris. Its characters are appealing and the plot both interesting and entertaining. A great new mystery series to have on your bedside table.

Not Another "Dystopic"--Okay, Maybe One More

As everyone knows, The Hunger Games comes to the theaters today (well, technically at 12:01 this morning) and it’s almost all anyone can talk about. I can’t blame the world, I’m right up there with everyone else and right after work I will in line with the masses to partake in this pop-culture phenomenon. As regular readers of The Warwick’s Blog know I have a slight penchant for dystopic stories. Well, maybe more than slight. I tend to devote a lot of blog and recommendation time to this genre, so recently I have made a concerted effort to specifically mention many of the non-genre books I read that are equally as fantastic and close to my heart. Because of this attempt to diversify my review writing I have mistakenly let a really captivating and rather innovative book go by the wayside. So, in honor of The Hunger Games movie release, I am courteously and briefly going to suck readers back into my obsession with post-apocalyptic/dystopic fiction.

Pure by Julianna Baggott has been available for the past couple of months, and thanks to my misguided attempts to diversify, has gone largely unnoticed here in the Warwick’s Young Adult section. Pure is yet another of those post-apocalyptic books where society has been split apart by war (in this book, the Detonations), with some members of the population secluded within a rigidly controlled, sterile environment and others, outside, starving in what remains of a world that no longer really exists. While this is not an unfamiliar premise in the least, what sets apart Pure from the other novels of similar vein is fusing. Those who live on the outside under an autocratic rule, with little food, and much fear are fused; meaning that during the Detonations (nuclear strikes), some were horribly scarred and disfigured, and others became fused with the environment surrounding them. Mothers became fused with their children—children who are never capable of physically growing, forever tied to their mothers arms, one boy has a flock of birds fused to his back, another is forever fused with the desert floor to become a monster of the worst and most frightening proportions, and our heroine, Pressia has a hand fused to a baby doll—its blinking eyes forever attached to what was once a hand. It is only those within the domed autocratic society that are unmaimed, or rather, “pure”. When Partridge, a pure with the highest of lineages, escapes the confines of the domed society in an effort to find the truth of his brother’s suicide and his father’s machinations, he discovers Pressia and her world of survivors. It is there that the two, along with an unlikely band of fused, uncover a plot and connections between Partridge and Pressia that take them all into a danger beyond their wildest imaginings.

What seems at first glance to be an absurd plot with a concept that could easily become cheesy and idiotic, is in actuality a brilliant use of imagination. The fusing is described in such a way that it actually makes sense from a scientific angle (at least for a layperson), and the fuses themselves—whether they are alive, like the children or birds, or inanimate like Pressia’s doll head—are almost characters in themselves, as Baggott makes clever use of them throughout this first book in, what is to be a series. It’s actually amazing how such a seemingly odd, and possibly ruinous plot point ends up “making” the story and when genetic manipulation, paramilitary groups, authoritarianism , and revolution are thrown into the mix, readers can’t help but become engrossed.

I won’t say that if you read one genre book this year, Pure is the one to read—there are too many well-written vehicles out or about to be released, but I will say, that should you choose to partake, Pure is one to give more than a second glance to.

For a bit of entertainment, check out the book trailer below.

Warwick's Gets Reviewed in Japan

A short time ago a few members of the Warwick's staff had the pleasure of being interviewed for a Japanese newspaper. We recently received copies of the article (there are to be two, the next coming out on March 30th) in both print and web-version. We had so much fun with this international exposure that we decided to share part one with our loyal readers. Check out the article below in Japanese, or go to this link for a translation (you must click translate in your Google tool bar, be prepared, as "lost in translation" very much applies here). We hope you have as much fun with this as we have.

第１回 サンディエゴの独立系書店・ワーウィックス（上） ワーウィックス(Warwick's) 住所：7812 Girard Avenue La Jolla,California 92037 写真＝長田美穂 小さな店に有名人が多数来店。なぜ？ 私の住むアメリカ・シアトルの書店を訪ねるこの連載。今回、カリフォルニアのサンディエゴに行く機会があったので、どこか書店を訪ねたい。地元の知合いに尋ねると、「ワーウィックス（Ｗａｒｗｉｃｋ’ｓ）があるわ」と即答された。 　「週に1回は行ってるわ。本のセレクションがいいから、つい椅子に座って、長居してしまうの」という。 　ワーウィックスはサンディエゴ北部、ラホヤという地域にある。全米有数の高級住宅街だ。富豪として知られる共和党の大統領候補ミット・ロムニー氏も、何軒目かの家を構えている。海岸からすこし離れた高級ブティックが並ぶ一角に同店は位置している。 ギフトショップと書店の２本立てで運営されており、書店部分は約60坪。日本でいえば小さめの中型書店サイズといったところか。 　およそ2万5000タイトルの書籍が揃えられている。壁際で、客と話し込んでいる店員がいた。ジョンだ。店のサイトでは、ジョン・ヒューズさんをはじめとするスタッフ10人が、顔写真つきで、自分のお薦め本のレビューと、今読んでいる本のタイトルを公開している。 　「ワーウィックスの特徴は、それぞれの店員に固定客がついていることなんです」。客の相手を終えたヒューズさんがやってきて、言った。「自分が読んで興奮した本を紹介すると、彼らはそれを買っていき、次は『あんなにすごい本があるなんて、信じられない』と感想を伝えに来る」。 　同店は個性ある品揃えを特長とする。売れ筋ランキングは店員が紹介した本が中心で、ＮＹタイムズのベストセラー・リストとはかなり異なる。商品の入替えは、むしろ遅い。チェーン店バーンズ＆ノーブルなら2カ月しか置かないベストセラーを、6、7年は置くこともあるという。 　自叙伝を出した政治家やセレブが、よく来店することでも知られる。「政治家ならマーガレット・サッチャーに、ヒラリー・クリントン。ミュージシャンのオジー・オズボーン、女優のダイアン・キートンも来たわ。出版社は分かっているの。うちは小さな店だけれど、パワフルな人たちを客に抱えているって」。イベント担当のジュリー・スラビンスキーさんが話してくれた。 （長田美穂・フリージャーナリスト） (2012年3月16日更新　 ／ 本紙「新文化」2011年3月8日号4面掲載) ワーウィックス（下）へつづく---（3月30日更新予定） 長田美穂氏のプロフィール 長田氏は1967年奈良県生まれ。東京外国語大学を卒業後、日本経済新聞社に入社。99年に退社し、2010年秋よりシアトル在住。著書に『ガサコ伝説「百恵の時代」の仕掛人』（新潮社）、『問題少女―生と死のボーダーラインで揺れた』（ＰＨＰ研究所）がある。   　　　その他バックナンバーへ ホームへ戻る

"Shantaram":1,400 Sold and Counting

Several years ago I read Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts and this incredible tale continues to be one of my favorites. After selling a thousand paperbacks, it seems many customers agree.

The author wrote the story based on his real-life experiences escaping from an Australian prison and hiding in the slums of Bombay. He joins the Indian Mafia as a counterfeiter. Lastly, he’s gunrunning to Afghanistan to support their struggle against Russia. Shantaram is touted as fiction, but he had to be there to write such a detailed account of the prison, Standing Babas, fire racing through the slums, the wounds that forces him to become an unofficial medic, his criminal role in India, among another dozen stories. What is not in the book is what happened afterward. Roberts was captured, jailed, and returned to Australia to finish his prison sentence. This is when he wrote this amazing tome, not once but twice. His first copy had been confiscated.

Since the book was released in 2004, Warwick's has sold 250 hardbacks and the rest in paperback. Johnny Depp has wanted to make and star in a movie version and in the works is a sequel titled The Mountain Shadow, rumored to take place in part in the Kahneri caves near Mumbai. Shantaram.com provides links to Roberts many accomplishments. He’s been to many cities, but is unable to be in the US to the US because he’s a felon. This is despite the fact that Shantaram means “man of God’s peace.”

All this is to say that Shantaram is a book you will want to read, if you haven’t, and will find it one of the most engrossing page-turners you’ve ever read.

I’d be interested in your comments about this, so please email me at jim@warwicks.com.

Jim is a bookseller at Warwick's.

More "Wonder" Love: A Teen Guest Blog

We've already told everyone how much we love R.J. Palacio's fantastic book Wonder and now we are here to show our readers how much teens are loving this amazing debut. 14-year-old Warwick's blogger Maggie perfectly describes her love for the novel here:

If I could only use one word to describe Wonder, I would call it, well, a wonder. There are so many reasons why, from the characters to the plot to the style to the fact that it was the first book I would hide behind my binders just so I could read it during class without getting into trouble.  

I picked up this book, expecting a standard, tried-and-true plot about an underdog rising above expectations, conquering his fears, and living happily ever after. However, after the first couple of pages, it was clear this was not the case. August Pullman, the fifth-grade protagonist with severe facial deformities, and the stories behind him were intriguing and enthralling, not at all the softy stuff found in most books. Author Palacio’s style of short, choppy chapters kept me from growing bored and although the plot lacked spice, it was a strong portrayal of day-to-day life from the eyes of those we commonly dismiss as the disabled and handicapped.

 Overall, Wonder is a wonderful book that I connected to on so many levels. It made me smile, laugh, and cry all in a span of a few pages. Reading the final words on the last page left me with a lingering sense of satisfaction and I can’t wait for a sequel of August’s adventures or even another novel from this amazing new author.

 Maggie, the Warwick's staff couldn't agree with you more!

The Extraordinary Tale of Wonder

Wonder by R.J. Palacio is one of those remarkable books that manages to utterly captivate; it makes you grin, it makes you cry, and it, at times makes you a little angry (righteous anger to be sure, but anger none the less). A simple story about a boy with an extraordinary face, getting through his first year in a real school, Wonder is anything but ordinary.

Told in multiple narratives, readers get a glimpse into the life of a ten-year-old Auggie, disfigured from birth with extreme facial abnormalities, as he tries to maneuver his way through the harsh world that is middle school. Readers hear from Auggie, his family, and friends as they all struggle to deal with the everyday ups and downs of existence, while also dealing with the sometimes cruel realities of life for someone who is anything, but ordinary. In a time where more and more of the novels for kids and teens deal with dysfunctional families, teen angst, and substance abuse, Wonder is a breath a fresh air. The family, despite dealing with such a heart wrenching issue, is shockingly ordinary. The parents are married (to each other), they care about their children and actually spend quality time with them. The kids have the same issues as most kids do—fighting with friends, struggling through homework and school, dealing with the changes of getting older. This is an average family just doing their best to be happy. I love that for once, I can pick up a book that features a group of people put into one of the most extraordinary circumstances, and instead of imploding and turning on one another, they actually support each other and work together. It sounds sappy and Walton-esq, but it isn’t. They still have their problems, serious ones at that, it’s just the handling of it is a bit more real and relatable to the average reader.

I really can’t recommend this book enough. A book for all ages, Wonder is astonishing in its ability to capture so much in such a simple way. For such an unpretentious book it packs a lasting punch. It’s charming, funny, moving, and everything else you could ask for in a novel. A truly worthy read.

Teen Guest Blogger Reviews Jenny Valentine's "Double"

Double is an amazing story about a 16 year old boy named Chap, who’s life changes when he decides to take on a life that’s not his own. He takes the place of a boy who was believed missing for two years and expects Cassiel - the boy he’s replacing – to have the perfect friends and family he’s always dreamed of. While Chap is living Cassiel’s life to the fullest (or so he thinks) he starts to learn things about Cassiel’s actual disappearance & finds something horrifyingly shocking about it.

I thought this book was interesting from beginning to end. I couldn’t put it down; it was like watching a mystery unravel itself right in front of you. So detailed and specific. So good that if they made a movie out of this book you would be pretty mad if it wasn’t as good as when you read this book. I thought that how the story was letting you learn about Chap’s past while knowing what was going on at the moment, was like if you were learning more about Chap as you kept reading. I honestly have to say that this is one of my favorite books I’ve ever read. I love the story considering that it ended the way a movie would have. The ending was unexpected which is what you look for in a book when you’re reading.

This book was reviewed by Esmeralda, a young student at Audubon K-8.

Heather Reviews Debut Novel "Red Ruby Heart in a Cold Blue Sea"

In a departure from my current list of mysteries, dystopics, and paranormal fantasies, I took a breather and picked up Morgan Callan Rogers’ Red Ruby Heart in a Cold Blue Sea, a smartly told coming of age story set in 1960’s Maine. The story follows young Florine Gilham as she comes to terms with the sudden disappearance of her mother and her own burgeoning womanhood. Told in Florine’s crisp Yankee dialect, the reader is given an intimate look at Florine’s internal struggles—from coping with the mysterious loss of her mother, to her father’s sudden relationship with another woman, to her efforts to understand the changes in her own body as she moves from a playful eleven-year-old girl to a headstrong eighteen-year-old woman.

This was one of those books that really captivates. It’s not so much the story, as there are many holes that are left unfilled and some scattered MacGuffins that almost detract from the ultimate point of the novel (Florine’s coming-of-age), but the character of Florine whose voice is so remarkably honest and fresh, that draws readers in. Florine is brilliant, flaws and all, as she maneuvers her way through the unexpected emotional hardships of her teen years. She’s blunt, yet also prone to sentimental and beautiful imaginings of her lost mother, as she tries to make sense of her changing world. In some ways Florine reminds me of characters from Southern fiction writers like Rebecca Welles, Beth Hoffman, and Fannie Flagg, in that while the voice maintains its Yankee-ness, the language of place and character takes on the spin and beauty similar to that of what is thought of as Southern Fiction. The small town feel and quirky characters almost feel as though they are hushed away in a small Georgia town just slightly on the wrong side of the tracks. Of course, that image lasts only in snippets as the lobster fisherman and dialect take you right back to Coastal Maine. It’s this sense of place and character that really wins readers over more so than the plot itself.

Red Ruby Heart in a Cold Blue Sea is a good novel, a nice snippet of life in a small northern coastal town, and a candidly told narrative of growing up and moving on. It was an enchanting rainy day read and a delight to sink into.

A Warwick's Teen Blogger Reviews "The Sweetest Thing"

Jeremiah, a teen blogger for Warwick's, takes a look at debut author Christina Mandelski's novel
The Sweetest Thing, a story about Sheridan, a cake decorating teen learning to deal with family drama and boy-trouble.

The Sweetest Thing wasn’t at all what I expected it to be. My first thoughts on this book were cheesy and unrealistic; as I continued to read the book, however, I started liking it. The Sweetest Thing was much deeper: divorce, change, counting on people, moving forward with life, and knowing you hurt someone precious to you. Those are the things that made this book feel real. I loved the way Mandelski wrote the novel. It was sarcastic, showed what was going on in the chapters, and it helped me understand the protagonist’s feelings and thoughts.

I do have to admit to having a few issues with the main character, Sheridan. I felt she was too easy to predict and a little annoying. IShe acted like a little brat because she couldn’t accept that her mom left. Her dad says,”….There isn’t a minute that goes by that I don’t think about what she put you through and what I can do to make up for it.” His voice shakes and his eyes are glassy. The anger in me is now oozing out of every pore. My chin is up. My eyes are set, my voice even. “….You are wrong about her.” She doesn’t even have the conscience to pity her own dad and admit he is right. I also felt her to be stubborn; when people tried helping her understand she had much more talent than she knew, she would not believe in it or more specifically in herself. “….Thankfully, we don’t become exactly what our parents are; we have gifts of our own to develop and explore.” Father Crowley kindly told her this; however, she took this as an insult to her mom, which I found to be immature, but realize it was used to show her later growth as a character.

Despite my eventual enjoyment of the book it was not without flaw.  I thought there were too many problems for the Sheridan to deal with, from finding her mom, to having a boyfriend, or her dad not giving her the time of day. It was a lttile too much drama for one book. I also found the general concept to be typical, considering Sheridan was the “not very social, stay at home” kind of girl, her guy best friend liked her, and the popular guy suddenly becomes interested in her, but those flaws could be overlooked when seeing the creativity of the author.

Not to spoil the plot, but I liked the ending of the book because it teaches readers to forgive and move forward towards the future. At the end, she wrote: “I give the cake another look, not sure I should trust what I’ve just heard. But I look around the room, at my friends and family, and I know the cake is perfect just the way it is. So I let go. Finally.” The ending had me at no surprise (which is why I will quote from it here), yet I felt like a happy ending and a new adventure sufficed for the closure of this particular book. It was a “sweet” ending.

Jim Takes a Look at the Newbery Award

Before joining Warwick's I was an administrator at La Jolla Country Day and The Gillispie School. During that time, one of my favorite discoveries was the list of Newbery Award winners for best writing of children’s books. I have read many of those titles and most often they were a really good stories. Award-winners cover a range of styles and tales. The American Library Association’s gold imprint is placed on the top books, and silver for the honor books.

The 2012 medal winner is Jack Gantos’ Dead End In Norvelt, a semi-autobiographical tale of a boy’s extraordinary summer. Sometimes crazy and funny, but other times there are bits of history, all written to appeal to young readers.

Some of my many Newbery favorites include The Graveyard Book by Neal Gaiman, Johnny Tremain by Esther Hoskins Forbes, Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, and Louis Sachar’s Holes. We carry these and many more in the children’s section. A list of winners since 1922 is at http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/newberyhonors/newberymedal.

Readers who enjoy different genres, dipping into some of these titles can be entertaining.

Jim is a bookseller at Warwick's

Reading Fairy Tales

Fairy Tales are “in”. If you don’t know that fact you must be living in a dark, dank tunnel with blinders and earmuffs on. With dueling Snow White movies about to start showing, a 3-D reissue of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, a Jack in the Beanstalk in the works, a 2013 Hansel and Gretel film; and that’s not even mentioning the two television shows with fairy tale ties—Grimm, the fairy tale cop show and Once Upon a Time (my personal favorite), the sprawling epic from the writers of Lost. It seems as though Hollywood has found it’s current muse in the realm of fairy tales and not surprisingly, so has the book world.

Actually, I should change my wording on this one—the book world has never forgotten this magical realm—there have always been new editions of Grimm’s, Hans Christian Anderson stories, and so forth; there have also been some great retellings, although it’s more typical to find them in the children’s section of your local bookstore, than with the classics or fiction—it’s just that as usual Hollywood takes the credit (at least in the eyes of the non-readers). In reality, Hollywood is running a half second behind publishing, taking its cues from what’s hot in books (as an example: Hunger Games, The Descendants, Hugo, and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), so it’s really no surprise that there are a few really good retellings of classic tales out right now in book form.

I have long been a fan of fables. Starting with my old Read-Along versions (cassette of course) of Hans Christian Anderson’s The Little Mermaid and Aesop’s Fables, to the Leslie Anne Warren version of Cinderella (which I have on dvd), to the old Fairy Tale Theater with Shelly Duvall, and graduating to my hardbound edition of Grimm’s Fairy Tales (all 700 pages of it), I have never outgrown, and can never quite get enough of the fairy tale world. Since I’ve always had a free flowing access to books, thanks in first to my Book Buyer grandmother, and then to my own employment, I have been fortunate enough to have an unusual amount of opportunities to read these retold fairy tales—and there are more of them than any of us could possibly count. So, in light of the renewed fairy tale craze, I thought I might mention a few worth visiting.

Brand new, and the start of what is to be a quadrilogy, is Marissa Meyer’s Cinder, a fascinating reimagining of the Cinderella tale (made popular by both the Brother’s Grimm and Charles Perrault), taking place in a rather bleak future, where our heroin is a cyborg with an unusual and rather special past. I know, “cyborg’ probably turned many of you off, it did me too, but having promised to read it, I was surprised to find myself completely captivated by the characters and the rather fantastic tale. Cinder holds that undercurrent of darkness from the original tale, actually, there is more death in this book than you might imagine, and it unwinds itself just enough to pull you in as a reader, and then dump you off into an abyss of endless possibilities at the end when it makes you wait for the next in the series. This one is highly imaginative, and perfect for those readers who like a bit of that sci-fi, dystopic edge to their fantasy tales. Now, I understand that the word dystopic is overused and is now turning many a book buyer to drink, so if that’s not your cuppa, I suggest an older retelling of the Cinderella story, Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix. This is a slightly more feminist version, gritty, grounded more in reality, without the traditional magic, or in the case of Cinder, science. Just Ella is a quick read, but it is unforgettable and wonderfully told; a perfect way to revisit an old favorite.

Diane Zahler is also a wonderful author who reworks lesser-known tales very well. In February 2012 she has a great new book based loosely on Grimm’s The Six Swans, called Princess of the Wild Swans, and in 2011 she released another novel The Thirteenth Princess that retells the more well know story of The Twelve Dancing Princesses. Both books are aimed at a younger audience than the two mentioned above, but hold enough of the magic of the original tales to charm more mature readers.

If, like me, you want a taste of the original to go with the new, there are some beautifully made editions of these fairy tale collections put out by Dover Publications, currently available; English Fairy Tales retold by Flora Annie Steel, Grimm’s Fairy Tales with illustrations by Arthur Rackham, The Sleeping Beauty and Other Fairy Tales retold by Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch, and Norton’s edition of The Annotated Hans Christian Anderson. Each of these is a beautiful addition to your bookshelf, but more importantly they are filled with wonderful stories capable of transporting you to other lands and times, if only for as brief moment.

Fairy tales aren’t going anywhere. They will continue to exist and expand into whole new concepts. These stories offer us the baselines to so many of our favorite forms of entertainment. So why not take a moment to revisit these tales of old—whether in their more original form, or in one of the retellings available out there, you are sure to find a nugget of brilliance, or at least a moment of enjoyment.