Capturing the Devil by Kerri Maniscalco

 This is review 2 for today.

This book has an absolutely gorgeous cover.  It was also highly recommended by our book vendor, Follett.  And it happens to be about one of my favorite serial killers, H.H. Holmes. 

That really didn't come out right...

H.H. Holmes was the Devil in the White City, which is the title of the Erik Larson book about him as well.  He killed numerous people in the famous Chicago Murder Castle he custom built next to the World's Fair.  There's also a strong suspicion he's actually Jack the Ripper.  H.H. Holmes disappears and reappears in the United States the exact same years Jack the Ripper was active in England.  History Channel did a series on it.

Anyway.

What I didn't realize is this is book 4 in a series, book 1 being about Jack the Ripper.  I was able to follow it, but I think I would've preferred reading at least book 1 if not all 3 first.  There were character developments that I really needed background info on to understand their motivations.  

Now, warning, this is pretty gruesome.  I wouldn't try to read it on a full stomach.  A goat is beheaded in the first few pages.  It's not for the faint of heart.  

Hope you are all safe and warm. 

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W. 

Foreshadow Pan and Suma, eds.

 I know.  I know.  I have been atrocious at keeping up with reviews.  Lotta stuff going on...

But, I have been reading.  So, this morning will be a two-fer.

First, Foreshadow.  This is a short story collection, but it's different in most in that it is also a writer's craft text.  Each short story is by a new and upcoming YA author, introduced by a pillar in the genre--think Jason Reynolds, Becky Albertalli, Nicola Yoon, and Laurie Halse Anderson to name a few.  Then there is a writing prompt, utilizing a technique from the short story.

I loved this.  I can honestly say I liked every single short story, and I truly wanted to write along with the prompts afterwards. I literally emailed Mrs. Bennett, our ELA Coordinator, and our English Department Chair Ms. Deninger to recommend it.

I will be donating this on Monday! Stay safe and warm everyone!

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W. 

Thoughts of Dog by Matt Nelson

Thoughts of Dog and WeRateDogs are probably the reason I actually stayed on Twitter during the election coverage.  Matt Nelson is behind both accounts.  Thoughts of Dog is inspired by Golden Retrievers, and my Shandy fits the stereotypes perfectly.  If you aren't a follower, check out Dog, Human, stuffed elephant Sebastian, and the Small Neighbor Human.  You will smile.

So, this.  This is really a picture book with captions in Doggo--a language that goodest bois might use if they could text (and had opposable thumbs, something Dog laments frequently).  It's quick--like if you really worked hard it would take five minutes tops.  But it is also heartwarming, in a time we really need heartwarming.  There's also a new set in the book not on the Twitter feed that made me cry, especially remembering my sweet Sienna and Savannah, who were also Goldens.

If you like Thoughts of Dog, look up Pixie and Brutus, the stories of a Military War Dog Shepherd and an innocent kitten.  I hope they put out a book soon too!

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.  

Lovely War by Julie Berry

World War I and II are all the rage in YA literature lately, so when our vendor Follett's Titlewave catalog suggested this, of course I ordered it.  The premise is that the Gods and Goddesses of ancient Greece are still meddling in human affairs, including these terrible conflicts.  What I was not expecting was this to be more mythology than historical fiction.  More romance and romanticized Goddesses than fact.  Many members of the Pantheon make an appearance, as if this was the Trojan War in the 12th Century BC rather than 1942.  It's almost set as a play.  I had visions of A Midsummer Night's Dream...

I hate to say I was not a fan.  I definitely rolled my eyes a few times at the silliness of some of the scenes.  Would someone who likes romance prefer it?  Or mythology?  Probably.  Not my particular cup of tea.  

If you are interested, I hope we will be back in person soon so that you can check it out.  Don't forget to check out the Public Library's electronic offerings at whpl.lioninc.org

Stay safe and well.

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.   

 

Smoke, Roots, Mountain, Harvest by Lauren Angelucci McDuffie

 Amazon recommended this to me a few weeks ago.  It really sounded like a memoir interspersed with recipes, so of course I bought it!  However, after reading it, it's more a cookbook interspersed with memoir.  Unfortunately I do not feel it is enough of a  memoir to shelve it as one that could be used for the senior reading.  Instead, it will be shelved in our still impressive cookbook section.  Hopefully soon Covid will be gone and our Culinary program can resume making their award winning cuisine!

I had expectations this would be like Bruculinu, America or Prison Ramen or Crook to Cook or The Best Cook in the World, all reviewed here.  But this was mostly recipes with brief, reflective tidbits.  Now, that's not to say it's a bad book!  There are recipes in here that are really mouth-watering, albeit unlikely for us here in New England to find some of the ingredients at Shop Rite.  The photography is beautiful as well, which makes sense since when I read the author's bio, she's a food blogger and photographer.  The recipes are arranged seasonally, with a suggested menu pairing of courses.  

I will be adding this to our collection today.  I hope you'll be able to check it out once we are back in person.  In the meantime, take the opportunity to peruse our Public Library holdings at whpl.lioninc.org. 

Please stay safe and well!

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W. 

Awesome Bill from Dawsonville by Bill Elliott

If you know me AT ALL or have followed this blog for any length of time, you know racing is my sport. And the past few days as a Chase Elliott fan have been surreal.  I've already got my plane tickets for Talledega 2021, and that trip will include a stop in the now re-famous Dawsonville, GA!  Please, before you read this review, look up Chase's victory parade through the tiny town of 2700ish residents.  The GA Racing Hall of Fame, City Hall, and the Moonshine distillery are all in the same building, with the Dawsonville Pool Room and its siren just a ten minute walk away. 

Anyway.  My Dad's favorite driver was Chase's dad Bill.  We know our phones track everything we do, so Amazon recommended this memoir to me.  I am happy to donate another racing memoir to our collection.

First things first, this is from 2006.  Chase is a feisty little boy, not the 24 year old we know and love.  Bill takes the reader through his humble beginnings in, what on the surface is, sleepy Dawsonville.  The realities though are the running of 'shine through the woods in the middle of the night fast becoming a sport of its own.  He talks about his father and uncles' love of cars, his families roots in the town, his meh attitude toward school (which Chase inherited, see attached), and why he neither smokes nor drinks.  

Most people do not know Chase has two older half-sisters.  Bill admits his failures as a father to his two older girls (the oldest from his first marriage, the middle from a brief relationship).  It was much like Dale Sr.'s relationships with Kerry, Kelley, and Dale Jr.  It wasn't until youngest Taylor that he kinda got his act together as a parent.  Bill talks about wanting to be not just a father, but a DAD to Chase.  Certainly anyone watching Sunday's race knows that was true.  

I look forward to hearing that siren ring again in the 21 season and eating lunch at the Pool Room.  Til next year, Elliotts...

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W. 

Cabal of the Westford Knight by David S. Brody

 

If you've followed this blog for any length of time, you're aware of my Templars in American obsession.  My family roots start in Nova Scotia circa 1732, and I am absolutely convinced SOMETHING is buried on Oak Island (show returns in November!) near my family's former land. There are suspicions the Templars (via Henry Sinclair) traveled up and down the New England and Canadian Maritimes, leaving stone markers along for later explorations and possibly settlements.  This theory includes the Newport Tower.  Now, what's almost bizarre here is that I've chaperoned a bunch of trips to Newport which have included bus tours around the town and local history.  NEVER has any tour gone by or even mentioned the Tower.  

So, Mrs. Alissa Ficaro gave me this knowing my obsession, and my husband saw me reading it.  I got to visit the Tower this past Saturday as part of his surprise weekend!   

This is a fictional account of a lawyer representing an elderly couple from a "developer's" land grab.  The elderly couple's backyard is believed to be where Sinclair and his party camped in the small town of Westford.  If you aren't familiar with Westford and its claim to fame: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westford_Knight (Now, I've seen the Westford Knight and believe, but it is REALLY hard to see the knight's carving without the right light and a little imagination.).

What ensues is a cat and mouse game similar to The DaVinci Code through hidden and suppressed-by-the-church history, circling back through Jesus's blood line, the Holy Grail, the Templars, and early exploration of North America (why the Mikmak have red Templar crosses on their flags, why Columbus had red Templar flags on his ships, why many New England and Maritime Canadian tribes have light eyes and reddish hair...)

On the actual book, though, have to say I didn't like the ending.  Much like The DaVinci Code, the ending hasn't actually happened (we don't have any DNA proof of Jesus's bloodline or posses the Grail if it is really a cup or anything else that might be buried on Oak Island...yet), so that part is fictional.  And I really didn't like it!  However, I know it's a set up for the next book in the series.  I believe there are 7 or 8 at this time.  Thanks to Mrs. Ficaro who has donated the first four!

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.