Mailbox Monday: The on time for a change edition

So, this is hysterical.  You may have noticed that I post a different mailbox each Monday.  (I really liked last Monday's patinated copper mailboxes though.  If I ever decide to stick with one image, it's a contender.)  Anyway, as I look over the potential photos each week, I see examples of all kinds of crazy, clever boxes.  This week, I acquired a shark book, so I thought it would be fun to Google "shark mailbox."  Who knew there would be dozens for me to choose from?  I feel compelled to post several.  If I ever own a home, I'm definitely investing in a shark mailbox.

The good news this week is that I didn't purchase a single book.  Not a book sale.  Didn't use my Audible.com credit.  Not so much as a Kindle freebie.  These all came from outside sources.  And I'm not complaining, because some really excellent books showed up this week.  It really is kind of fun to check the mail at my home and office.

Demon Fish: Travels Through the Hidden World of Sharks
by Juliet Eilperin
Release date: 6/14/2011
Source: Paper galley from Amazon Vine program

I love sharks.  Once upon a time I worked in the laboratory of a world-renowned shark researcher.  I've studied them; dived with them.  I've been fascinated with these magnificent creatures my whole life.  And reading that squid book recently reminded me how much I truly love the subject of marine biology, which at one time I wanted to make my career.  I'm really delighted to have the opportunity to read and review this book.  And look, it's out just in time for beach reading season!

The Wise Man's Fear (Kingkiller Chronicles, Day 2)
by Patrick Rothfuss
Release date: 3/1/2011
Source: CD audiobook from Amazon Vine program

So, I don't know how I missed Rothfuss's much-lauded debut, The Name of the Wind, four years ago, but I did.  Fantasy isn't really my "thing."  Anyway, with the recent publication of this second book in the trilogy, I've heard too many emphatically good things about this author from too many respected people to ignore.  Only problem is that the first book, currently sitting unread on my Kindle is 600+ pages, and this one is over a 1,000!  For that reason, when Amazon offered me the opportunity to review the 43-hour audiobook, I thought, Why not?  Don't look for a review anytime soon.  But I'm good with that.  If it takes me four years to read the first 1,700 pages of the series, I'll be done just about on time for the publication of the conclusion.  You call it procrastination, I call it planning ahead.

The Map of Time
by Felix J. Palma
Release date: 6/28/2011
Source: Paper galley from publisher

Remember one second ago when I said that fantasy isn't really my "thing"?  Well, forget that.  Here's another 600+ page monster that I can't wait to dive into!  It's a time travel epic starring H.G. Wells as the protagonist, and it looks really, really cool!  It was translated, incidentally, from the author's native Spanish.  He's written lots of short stories, but I believe this is his first novel.  When the man decides to go long form, he really goes long form!

The Time Machine
by H.G. Wells
Release date: 1895
Source: Paper galley from publisher

So many galleys pass through my hands; I love it when a publisher does something clever like this: The novel above was packaged with a bonus copy of H.G. Wells' original which inspired it.  So that all the readers could bone up on the source material.  I haven't read this novel in decades, and it's so invitingly short, I will now surely do exactly that before embarking on the longer work.  Great marketing!

Noah Barleywater Runs Away
by John Boyne
Release date: 5/10/2011
Source: Paper galley from publisher

I noticed immediately that this middle reader novel was written by the same author who wrote The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.  This looks like a very different type of story, with several cute illustrations salted through the text.  But this book isn't for me.  I don't know if I've ever mentioned it here, but my friend and former boss Theopia works at Children's Hospital in Oakland.  At her suggestion, I'm gathering children's books for different ages that can be put out in the waiting rooms with labels inviting the kids to take home any book they start reading.

Never Knowing
by Chevy Stevens
Release date: 7/5/2011
Source: Paper galley from the publisher

For some reason two copies of this book arrived, both with the same mistakes in the address label.  Uh, thanks, St. Martins.  I'm not complaining.  I was interested in reading Stevens well-reviewed debut, Still Missing, last year, but never got around to it.  I'm pretty sure I've heard good things about this one, too.  I'm looking forward to reading it.  And guess what?  I smell a Humpday Giveaway!

A Time for Patriots
by Dale Brown
Release date: 5/10/2011
Source: Finished hardback from the publisher

I've never read Dale Brown.  I love thrillers, but his always seem a little macho for me.  Maybe I'll read a few chapters of this one and see what I think.  Any of you big Brown fans?

Graveminder
by Melissa Marr
Release date: 5/17/2011
Source: Paper galley from publisher

I was somewhat underwhelmed by Marr's YA phenom, Wicked Lovely.  Nonetheless, there's a reasonably good chance that I'll give this a read.  I'm not a big fan of these supernatural tales, but if this novel takes off, which it looks like it has the potential to do, I'll want to see what everyone else is reading. 

You're Next
by Gregg Hurwitz
Release date: 7/5/2011
Source: Paper galley from the publisher

I've been reading and a fan of Greg Hurwitz since very early in his career.  Among other things, I really like that he writes mostly stand alone novels.  The description of this one isn't the most exciting, but I have a lot of faith in his ability to entertain.

Books finished in the past week:

Love You More by Lisa Gardner

Bellwether by Connie Willis

The Skeleton Key by James Rollins (a novella)

Sweet Jiminy by Kristen Gore

Currently reading:

The Tragedy of Arthur by Arthur Phillips

One more note, I have to LOL.  My blog spiked huge this weekend when I wrote about Hugh Jackman.  Clearly A-list Hollywood stars are a bigger draw than books.  But, I'm back on track with the books, so I expect the new readers will be gone as quick as they came.  It was nice while it lasted!  Look out for new reviews this week.  :-)

Indulge me for a moment... of Hugh

I realize this is supposed to be a book blog, and most of the time I stay fairly on topic.  But I can't think about any dusty old books right now.  All I can think about is the lovely time I had at the Curran Theater where some friends and I saw Hugh Jackman perform his one-man show last night.  (Oh, and if you absolutely must insist on a literary tie-in, one of the friends accompanying me was NYT bestselling author James Rollins.)  It would be an understatement to say we had an awesome time.  I could barely sleep last night I was so jazzed!

So, why is action star Hugh Jackman singing and dancing in San Francisco for two weeks?  It really is rather random.  He was all set to fly to Japan to film the next Wolverine movie when the earthquake and tsunami hit, setting back production for a few months.  He had a bit of unexpected time on his hands, and the Curran Theater had a brief opening, and it all came together rather spontaneously.  Apparently the Aussie motto is "Let's have a go," and as Hugh explained, "This is us having a go."

This morning, I read about six different press reviews of his show.  There wasn't a negative one in the bunch, and the word of the day was "charisma."  The man is warm and winning, and he'll charm your socks right off.  (I speak from experience.  A mutual friend introduced us for one minute years ago after a performance of The Boy from Oz on Broadway.  Hugh addressed me as "darlin'."  I still get giddy thinking about it.)

So, what is Jackman doing for more than an hour and a half on stage each night?  He's showing off his considerable vocal talents backed by a 17-piece orchestra.  Not all fans realize that he has a long musical theater resume.  The evening opened with the song "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning" from Oklahoma!, a nod to his star turn in the 1998 London revival.  Another show-stopper, and piece of his past, was the song "Soliloquy" from Carousel.  My friend Jon was in the audience when he originally did this number in a staged concert production at Carnegie Hall.  Even out of context and on an empty stage, his performance was extraordinary.

Not every song was so heavy, or had such pedigree.  Hugh got to shake his hips to Elvis ("A Little Less Conversation" and "Jailhouse Rock") and sang Peggy Lee's "Fever" from a seat in the front row, while an audience member shook it good naturedly with the back-up singers on stage.  Speaking of "shaking it." Hugh did a little shtick about needing to stay muscled up for Wolverine and how jazz hands made Hollywood producers nervous.  Not good for the image.  He then launched into roughly the same "I Won't Dance" medley as he performed here on the Tony Awards back in 2007.

There were several medleys in the course of the evening.  One was full of favorite songs from the movies and included: “As Time Goes By,” “A Hard Day’s Night,” “Stayin’ Alive,” “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life,” “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” and “Lady Marmalade.” 

At one point, Hugh briefly left the stage to let his two backup singers do a number of their own.  Moments later he appeared in the mezzanine in full Peter Allen regalia.  From there, he quickly ran back to center stage where he sang several of Allen's songs from the show The Boy from Oz, including: "Not the Boy Next Door," "Don't Cry Out Loud," "Best That You Can Do," and "I Go to Rio." 

As he'd done on Broadway, he had fun interacting with the audience in character.

Hugh was definitely having a good time with the audience, and I get the feeling that the show is different every night. Apparently there were several mishaps on opening night, but Hugh just rolled with whatever was happening, often turning the spontaneous occurrences into the show's highlights. On that first evening, he split his pants doing fan kicks that would make a Rockette proud. He had his dresser bring a fresh pair, and donned them center stage. Alas, there were no such mishaps last night, but more than a few audience members called, "Take it off!" Hugh could not have been more comfortable or having a better time with the rambunctious San Francisco audience. I think we were all there to have a good time, and no one left the theater disappointed.

All through the evening he shared stories from his life and career, such as being awoken in London in the middle of the night by Steven Spielberg asking him to host the Oscars.  One of the most interesting things I learned was that he spent several months with the Aboriginal people deep in Australia's outback in his late teens.  It was clearly a powerful experience.  Despite his best intentions, he was unable to return for 20-some years.  He sang an unusual Aboriginal song, accompanied by two didgeridoo players which then led to "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."  The final song of the evening was a rousing "Luck Be a Lady" from Guys and Dolls.  I listed a lot of songs he sang, but truthfully, there were an equal number I didn't list.  It was a full night, and while ticket prices were steep, we got our money's worth.

Certainly none of us who saw this show last night would be surprised if he takes this show to Broadway some day.  It deserves to have a life beyond these 10 or 12 performances.  But how exciting to have had a chance to see this early incarnation in such a wonderful, intimate house!  We had such a great time, that my friend Jon and I are very much hoping to score some cheap student rush tickets to a performance next week.  Fingers crossed! 

Now, I promise to get back to the books, but be forewarned.  I'm off to New York for BEA and BBC in a couple of weeks.  There will be a lot of theater.  I'll try to control myself, but there are likely to be reports.  Thanks for indulging my enthusiasm!

Mother's Day Double Giveaway: Secret Daughter & Original Sin

In honor of Mother's Day falling this Sunday, I've decided to do a double giveaway this week, of two books that deal with the subject of what it is to be a mother very differently.  Intriguingly, they're both set in San Francisco, where I live, but that's where the similarity ends.  Of Original Sin, Library Journal says:

McMullen's debut introduces Lucy Hamilton, stay-at-home mom by day, spy by night. After giving up a stellar career as a government agent (code name: Sally Sin), Lucy finds herself drawn back into the underworld when her old nemesis, an arms dealer, resurfaces—and she's apparently the only one who can bring him to justice. High-spirited fun that will appeal to readers who enjoy sassy mystery heroines.

This book won't be released until July 12, 2011, so this is a trade paper pre-publication galley I'm giving away.

Secret Daughter, on the other hand, is full of exotic locations, culture, and melodrama.  In the Washington Post, Wendy Smith wrote:

Shilpi Somaya Gowda strikes a pleasing balance in her first novel, which draws upon the hot-button issues of female infanticide and overseas adoption…Secret Daughter tells a nuanced coming-of-age story that is faithful to the economic and emotional realities of two very different cultures…Gowda doesn't neaten up the messy complications of family life as she warmly affirms the power of love to help people grow and change.

This novel was published in hardback last year.  I am giving away a finished trade paperback.  You do not need to have given birth to a child in order to win (but if you have, that's a bonus).  Other than that, the usual rules apply:

• The winner of this giveaway is welcome to choose either or both of these titles.  If the winner wants only one, a second winner will be chosen, until both books are in the hands of someone who will enjoy them.  Other than that, the regular rules apply:
• The giveaway is open to anyone with a U.S. mailing address ('cause I'm footing the postage).
• To enter, all you need to do is post a comment below by Wednesday, May 11, 2011.
• At my discretion, if there are less than five respondents, I can cancel or extend the giveaway.
• Winner will be chosen by me with the help of a random number generator, and will be announced in the comments section of this thread.
• Please check back to see if you've won. If you have left a way to contact you, I will do so.
• The winner has one week to respond to me at suetu@yahoo.com with a mailing address, or I will choose a new winner.
• If a second winner fails to respond, the book automatically goes to the lovely members of my face-to-face book club.
• Previous giveaway winners are welcome to enter.
• Finally, if at all possible, please comment below only if you're entering the giveaway.

Good luck, happy reading, and happy Mother's day to all the moms out there!

Mailbox Monday: The Tuesday Edition

Mailbox Monday seemed like such a good idea when I started it.  I always enjoy seeing this sort of post on other people's blogs.  And, I definitely enjoy it when readers take the time to comment.  No, Mailbox Monday is still a good idea, I just have to get back in the habit of adding the books all week as they come in.  Otherwise, it's just a huge job on Monday.  I'll do better!

Original Sin
by Beth McMullen
Release date: 7/12/11
Source: paper galley from publisher

This looks like a cute, light summer read.  I've got a couple of copies, so this is likely a future Humpday Giveaway.

The Soldier's Wife
by Margaret Leroy
Release date: 6/28/2011
Source: paper galley from publisher

A drama, possibly heavier than I want to read.  I think I'll wait to hear more buzz before deciding.  I already gave away a copy this weekend in my face-to-face book club.

Love You More
by Lisa Gardner
Release date: 3/8/2011
Source: finished hardback from the publiscist

I just started reading this.  It's been years and years since I've read a Gardner, so I'm essentially reading this 5th in the series as a stand alone.  So far, it's off to an excellent start.

Secret Daughter
by Shilpi Somaya Gowda
Release date: 4/5/2011
Source: trade paperback from the publisher

This is so not my cup of tea.  Some other reader will really enjoy it.  It's definitely going to be a future blog giveaway.

Crunch Time
by Diane Mott Davidson
Release date: 4/5/2011
Source: finished hardback from publisher

Yes, there were a couple of duplicates this week.  The generosity of HarperCollins knows no bounds.  Perhaps I'll just look over the names from the last giveaway and choose the most enthusiastic commenter?

Lowcountry Summer
by Dorthea Benton Frank
Release date: 6/15/2010
Source: trade paperback from the publisher

Ditto what I said above.

The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives
by Lola Shoneyin
Release date: 6/29/2010
Source: finished hardback from publisher

I vaguely remember when this novel was first published last year.  I'm assuming the publisher sent a copy because the trade paperback is about to be released.  Do you ever want to read a book, just because of the format of it?  This is a petite hardback without a jacket.  It looks just like the photo to the left.  There is something so absolutely inviting about it, that I'm ready to pick it up and read.  Kudos to the designer!

Death by Midnight
by Carolyn Hart
Release date: 3/29/2011
Source: finished hardback from publisher

I've never read Carolyn Hart, have you?  I enjoy a good mystery.  Should I read this?

Come and Find Me
by Hallie Ephron
Release date: 3/22/2011
Source: finished hardback from the publisher

Hallie is the sister of Nora, Delia, and I believe one more writing sister?  In this case,  did read her debut thriller, Never Tell a Lie.  I found it to be a quick, entertaining read, but a mediocre, predictable book.  When I saw she had a new book out, I was certainly willing to consider reading it, but then saw a very unflattering review in PW.  It did not inspire me to pursue the book further.  Now that it's sitting in my hands, I may have to revisit the matter.

Winged Obsession : The Pursuit of the World's Most Notorious Butterfly Smuggler
by Jessica Speart
Release date: 4/5/2011
Source: finished hardback from publisher

This non-fiction book is being compared to The Orchid Thief for obvious reasons.  It sounds quite interesting and the author is attending Thrillerfest.  For all of these reasons, I am hoping to read it in the near future.

Cry of the Phoenix
by J. G.
Release date: unpublished
Source: the author

This image will serve as a spaceholder for this novel in progress, my latest editorial job.  I need to put down the other books and get crackin' on this one! 

The Breach
by Patrick Lee
Release date: 12/29/2009
Source: mass market pb picked up at book group

If Mr. Lee Googles himself and discovers this post, he will be very pleased to learn that I finally accepted a copy of this book because it was highly recommended to me by authors James Rollins and Boyd Morrison independent of each other.  Patrick, chase them down for a blurb!  I could have grabbed a copy of this when it was first published, but the science fictiony premise was somewhat off-putting to me.  We shall see.

Innocence
by David Hosp
Release date: 7/11/2007
Source: mass market pb picked up at book group

This was another of the thrillers that Maya was sharing the other day.  Thanks, Maya!  I've socialized with David Hosp, but I've never read him.  We have many friends in common, so I expect to see more of him.  Perhaps one of these days I'll check this out. 


There may have been a few other books last week, but who can remember at this point.  I need to wrap this up and begin listing this week's books, LOL.  I can tell you that so far this weeks books are fewer, but they're quite exiting!


Books finished in the past week:

The Two Deaths of Daniel Hayes by Marcus Sakey

Kraken: The Curious, Exciting, and Slightly Disturbing Science of Squid by Wendy Williams  - I also went to hear her speak last week.  She was great!  We had a really lovely discussion afterwards.

Jake Ransom and the Howling Sphinx by James Rollins


Currently reading:

Love You More by Lisa Gardner

So, what books did you acquire in the past week?  What are you reading?  Please let me know in the comments!

Walk like an Egyptian…

Jake Ransom and the Howling Sphinx
by James Rollins

James Rollins is a natural-born storyteller, of that there can be no doubt. As a long-time fan of his adult novels, I have absolutely no problem embracing a whiz-bang of a YA page-turner, and this one’s a doozy! The story began in Rollins’ YA debut, Jake Ransom and the Skull King’s Shadow. Mr. Rollins helpfully recaps the highlights of the first book, but I really think you’re going to want to read these books in order. As you may have gathered, Jake Ransom and his sister Kady are back. This book picks up their story just three months after the events of the first. The VVV (Vaguely Voldemortian Villain) that they defeated in the first novel is still gunning for them. In fact, a brief prologue set in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings involves the discovery of an ancient artifact and ends with these ominous words: “With this, I will make Jake Ransom suffer.”

Meanwhile, after barely escaping the lost world of Calypsos with their lives, both Jake and Kady have taken a sudden interest in self-defense. Jake studies tae kwon do, and when not cheerleading, Kady fences. The last book ended with a small clue to the fate of their missing archeologist parents. But suddenly others want to get their hands on the clue that Jake and Kady found. Something is definitely up. And the two have a strong suspicion that it has to do with an Egyptian exhibit that’s about to open in New York. They’re correct, as an artifact in the exhibit turns out to be the lock that fits their key—and abruptly they’re transported… Not back to Calypsos. They’ve landed in a scorching hot desert, in a land very much like Egypt—if Egypt had velociraptors!

I don’t want to tell much more. The fun is in the twists and turns, the thrills and chills. And, believe me, there are plenty! The pace of the novel gallops along breathlessly (much like a kid running from a dinosaur). Rollins introduced such terrific characters in the first novel, you’ll be happy to hear that even though the setting has changed, many of those characters are back. And there’s something so sweet about the relationships and interactions of these young protagonists, most of who are still at the hand-holding stage of life. Despite their youth, however, this is an impressive group. The adult characters don’t talk down to them. In addition to the returning friends, several new characters are introduced in this book, but none is more endearing than the wisling. I’m in love!

Always the most important relationship, and the catalyst for these stories, is Jake and Kady’s search for their parents. There are more questions, but also more answers in this latest installment. It ends with plenty of foreshadowing for the next novel and beyond. (“A great war is coming, spreading across time.”) I believe I heard there will be seven books in this series. Who knows where Jake, Kady, and I will be in our lives before it’s all over? One thing I do know is that I’ll be along for the duration of this wild, time-traveling ride!

An idle mind is the devil’s plaything

Devil's Plaything
by Matt Richtel

I first met Nat Idle when he appeared in Matt Richtel’s debut novel, Hooked. At the time, he won me over completely. It wasn’t merely that he was a likable, charming guy, it was that he exhibited my very favorite characteristic in a hero—fallibility. He wasn’t a superman. He was just an average guy doing the best he could under extraordinary circumstances. Nat narrates, “As a tough guy, I’m way out of my league; I’m a pen-wielding freelance writer, not James Bond, or James Dean; maybe James Taylor.”

And, at long last, he’s back. Let me start by saying that you don’t need to have read Hooked before reading Devil’s Plaything. Each book stands alone just fine. In this latest thriller, Nat has a buddy, and it’s not who you’d expect. His cohort in this misadventure is his elderly grandmother, Lane, with whom he has always been close. Lane, alas, has taken a turn for the worse. She is suffering dementia, but in recent weeks her decline has been precipitous. Nat realizes he really must spend more time with her, and it is on an outing to Golden Gate Park that the action begins.

While enjoying a leisurely sunset stroll, suddenly shots ring out, and Nat and Lane appear to be the targets. Well, Nat appears to be. Not everyone appreciates his occasional forays into investigative journalism. What could anyone have against a sweet octogenarian? What indeed? As this complex tale unfolds, Richtel seeds the book with any number of suspicious characters and red herrings. What is the deal with the high-strung manager of Lane’s assisted living facility? What is the secret from back in WWII that his grandmother has been keeping all these years? Who is “the blue man”? Why is Lane afraid of visiting the dentist? What is the story behind the Human Memory Crusade in which she’s been participating? And what is going on on Nat’s side of this mystery… What is his boss up to? Who is the mysterious investor Nat dubs “G.I. Chuck”? Who has delivered an encrypted thumb drive to him? Why? What does it say?

These are a lot of questions, and if the novel has a flaw, it’s just the sheer business of the plot. There are so many potential bad guys that, like Nat, you won’t know where to look next for answers. You will share some of his frustration, confusion, and paranoia. He asks, “Does the thumb drive have anything to do with the attack in the park and Grandma’s recent ramblings? Or is it coincidental, unrelated, some kind of joke?”

The pleasures of the novel, however, more than make up for any flaws. For starters, it’s a darn good mystery. I couldn’t unravel it on my own, and I seem to figure these things out all too often. It was nice being challenged. The story being told here is different; and as with his first novel, the plot veers off in unexpected directions, keeping readers on their toes. The relationship at the center of this novel isn’t typical, and it has a lot of heart. Both Nat and Lane are richly-drawn and appealing characters. And in addition to, you know, the fear and paranoia, there’s a lot of humor leavening the proceedings. San Francisco, where I live and the novel is set, takes more than a few pot shots: “I almost laugh at the idea of our nearly quintessential San Francisco death: gunned down by the driver of an environmentally friendly car.” “In San Francisco, you can get grief for carrying an obsolete gadget without a permit.” “The collective angst of several dozen drivers already frustrated by life’s deep unfairness—traffic, the Bay Area cost of living, the fact that they don’t yet own an iPad…”

Nat’s a witty guy, and it’s a lot of fun taking up space inside his head. He’s also a canny observer of the times we live in, and I have to credit the smart writing of his creator and counterpart, author Richtel. Matt Richtel not only shares a very similar name as his protagonist, but also the same day job—though he’s a considerably more successful journalist, having won a Pulitzer Prize writing for the New York Times a year ago. The man knows his way around a page and it shows. Looking ahead, I hope that Richtel can continue to find time for both fiction and non-fiction because clearly he excels at both.

NOTE:  This novel will be released in hardback from the Poisoned Pen Press on May 3, 2011.  For Readers who prefer to wait for the paperback, I'm pleased to tell you that you don't have to wait long.  The mass market paperback will be released by HarperCollins on May 31, 2011.  This is likewise the release date for the Kindle (and other e-book) editions of the novel.  So, pick your format, pre-order now, and you've got your first beach read of the summer lined up!

Mailbox Monday coming soon!

Mailbox Monday will be posted later today.  For now, I'll get the week started with a book review...

And now for something completely different...

The Door to Lost Pages
by Claude Lalumière

I don’t know that I would have seen this little book if it were not for an intriguing review in PW catching my eye. And I think what intrigued me is that this slight novella of linked stories was set around a bookstore. Surely I am not the only hard-core bibliophile that is immediately attracted to tales involving bookstores and booksellers?

The novella contains a brief (skippable) introduction, followed by a prologue and six stories spanning a number of years. The bookstore is not the primary setting or focus of all the stories, but it is one of the elements that link them. As is Aydee, the central character of the first story, who is introduced as a neglected and abused 10-year-old girl. The store, Lost Pages, came into her life at a time of need, as it had done for others over the years. It’s not your average, florescent-lit chain store. Rather, it had echoes of Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s Cemetery of Forgotten Books. And, readers, who among us isn’t seeking a mystical bookstore?

There are many other mystical/mythical elements to the tales, some of them rather new-agey for my liking. (But my tolerance is low, and there wasn’t so much that it was off-putting.) But those stories, some of them, were pretty “out there” and weird. This is another thing that can be off-putting to some readers and appealing to others. The stories contained a provocative mix of stark realism and fantasy, innocence and experience. Do know going in that there are repeated references to substance use and abuse. Additionally, there are graphic depictions of a broad spectrum of sexuality, some of it unconventional. What I’ll say is that I think Mr. Lalumière showed restraint and didn’t get too carried away with the weirdness. His writing is very strong, and the imagery was vivid and interesting.

Interesting. That’s a word I returned to time and time again while trying to describe this book to a friend. It seems like such a bland word, but I’m stuck with it. There was nothing bland about this book. And there are worse things than being “interesting.” And if I can’t ever find the door to Lost Pages myself, at the very least I hope to find more of these stories.

The ultimate serial monogamist!

The Ninth Wife
by Amy Stolls

What would you do if you learned the man you wanted to spend the rest of your life with had been previously married eight (!) times? Thankfully, that’s a question very few of us will ever have to ask ourselves. However, it is at the heart of Amy Stolls’ adult fiction debut, The Ninth Wife.

Bess Gray is successful, attractive, independent—and still single at 35. It’s not the life she thought she’d be leading. That sounds like the opening of a chick-lit novel, and while this rumination on the nature of marriage and the permanence of relationships does have some heightened, chick-lit-like elements, there’s actually quite a bit going on in this unusual novel. It’s the story of Bess and Rory—at long last, a man with whom she can see a future.

For the first 16 chapters, Part I of the novel, every other chapter is narrated by Bess or Rory respectively. Bess’s narrative details their meeting and courtship, leading up to his surprise marriage proposal and dropped bombshell. Rory’s narrative is essentially a monologue. Each of the eight alternating chapters is a marriage told in his own words. The reader is hearing Rory’s colorful matrimonial history as the two lovers inexorably head towards this difficult conversation. At one point speaking of a drunken, one-night mistake, Rory says:

“I don’t know what I’m trying to say. I guess I just get angry that people can have lots of relationships that no one would blink an eye at, but because mine have formal labels they get listed against me somehow, and they get lumped together as if they’re all equal, but they’re not. I’ve been married eight times, this is true, but Fawn shouldn’t count. She just shouldn’t. It was an evening that got out of hand. No casualties…”

Part II of the novel is the aftermath. Bess is understandably confused and concerned. Needing a little space to explore her feelings, Bess embarks on a cross-country road-trip, nicely set up in Part I, to drive her elderly grandparents to their new retirement home. In addition to an opportunity to learn more about her roots and observe the good, the bad, and the ugly of a 65-year marriage, it turns into an odyssey to connect with Rory’s various exes.

I really liked the structure of this novel, and there was a great deal to enjoy in the course of the story-telling. For starters, it’s not your everyday conundrum. I don’t believe this was ever tackled on an episode of Sex and the City. Bess and Rory (“the octo-husband”) are likeable, relatable characters. The plotting was a little unconventional, frequently surprising me. It was refreshing, as I wasn’t always sure where things were going.

My biggest problem with The Ninth Wife is that in the end it was neither fish nor fowl. What I mean by that is that Stolls’ kept adding wacky elements to an interesting adult dramedy. There was Gaia, the possibly clairvoyant earth mother, and Cricket the flamboyant gay neighbor—a last minute addition to the road-trip. I didn’t dislike their storylines, really, but I didn’t feel they added anything to the novel. They detracted (or perhaps distracted) a bit. I’m all in favor of a little comic relief, but I just felt like maybe they were in a different novel altogether.

This was my introduction to Ms. Stolls’ work. Despite the criticisms above, I found The Ninth Wife a surprisingly quick (at 496 pages) and engaging novel. Not being married, it gave me plenty of food for thought. And above all, it was simply entertaining. That’s enough for a thumbs up from me.