Comparing original to new...Rebecca v. Alena

When I was in high school I actually listened to my father (who was also my high school librarian) one day when he recommended the book Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. I fell in love with du Maurier's book immediately. In fact, I loved it so very much I became penpals with the author. The most pressing question I had for her was the protagonist's first name. As I read I was constantly watching for her name to be mentioned. She was always referred to as "the second Mrs. de Winter". I sent my letter to Ms. du Maurier asking if the second Mrs. de Winter was actually a Rebecca as well. Her response ~ she had never really considered it and could never come up with a name that suited her for the heroine. She also felt the character did not need a name since she was narrating the story. After reading Alena, I believed Ms. Pastan had overlooked this major characteristic of Rebecca by naming the narrator in her book Cara, which truly confused me since I had read in a number of places, "our heroine - who remains nameless, like the heroine of Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca."  However upon writing to the author (very much like my relationship with Ms. Du Maurier, but with e-mail) I learned the word cara is Italian for "dear" or "darling". I am so glad I contacted Ms. Pastan in order to clear up my confusion because it struck such a chord in me when I first read the word.

Alena
written by Rachel Pastan

Almost thirty years after reading it for the first time, Rebecca remains my second favorite book, the first being Gone with the Wind. When my husband came across Alena on his recent trip to Philadelphia during the American Library Association's Midwinter Conference he immediately grabbed a copy and had it autographed by the author (Yes, I do have an amazing husband!) I started reading it as soon as I finished the book I was in the middle of when he returned. I was so excited, but a little concerned because how could anyone actually try to mirror a classic?

So, I'm not going to say it surpasses Rebecca, but Ms. Pastan did an interesting job of thinking outside the box when she outlined the story. One has to remember the definition of homage - "something that shows respect or attests to the worth or influence of another - tribute". I have to say the author does this very well.

A number of variations and similarities in the books can be made.

• For instance, the protagonist, a curatorial assistant at the Midwestern Museum of Art, travels with Louise Haynes, the curator, to Venice for the Biennale in Alena. Where the main character in Rebecca travels to Monte Carlo as a paid companion to Mrs. Edythe Van Hopper. 
• When Ms. Pastan's character meets Bernard Augustin they explore art together, while in du Maurier's classic the protagonist creates art - her drawings as she sits overlooking the Mediterranean while Maximilian (Maxim) de Winter courts her. 
• Alena's heroine and Bernard do not have a romantic relationship. She becomes the curator for Bernard's Nauquasset Contemporary Museum a "very small...vanity museum", known as the Nauk. As is obvious in the character's name, the "second Mrs. de Winter" and Maxim do have a romantic relationship. Following a two week courtship the main character marries Mr. de Winter and they travel to Manderley.
• Agnes, the business manager at the Nauk, is a great parallel character to Rebecca's Mrs. Danvers, the housekeeper at Manderley. Both charcters remain extremely loyal to the main character's predecessor in each book, undermining and subtly suggesting each could never truly fill the shoes of Alena or Rebecca.
• Another great parallel is a short scence, which might be overlooked by some readers is the visit Barbara (Bernard's sister) and Alena's heroine go on to meet Willa Somerset, referred to as "Aunt Willa" although I could not find any reference to an actual family connection. She not only serves on the museum's board, but also donated the land on which it sits. Rebecca's heroine travels with Beatrice (Maxim's sister) to visit Gran, their ailing grandmother. Both of these senior characters become disoriented during the visit, asking for Alena and Rebecca, respectively.

I will not ruin the storyline of Alena for those of you who will want to pick this book up to read. Like Rebecca there is mystery to Alena's death. Some reviewers have been extremely harsh with their comparisons of the two books. I will simply say Ms. Pastan has truly created an homage to Rebecca in the truest sense of the word. She has created her own story in which similarities can be seen throughout. I would recommend Alena, not only for the resemblance to one of my favorite books, but also because it is a delightful read. I'm sure those who love Rebecca will be see many instances of equivalence, however Alena can stand on its own merits as a rainy day, weekend, or beach book.

Top Down: A Novel of the Kennedy Assassination

Top Down: a Novel of the Kennedy Assassination
by Jim Lehrer

I was going to start this post by saying, "I'm not sure where my interest verging on obsession to the Kennedy assassination came from.", but that would be a lie. As far back as I can remember my father talked about November 22, 1963. At the time of the assassination my parents were attending North Texas State University (now University of North Texas) in Denton, about 40 miles north of Dallas. They did not travel into Dallas that fateful day. They did, however, drive into Irving to visit my maternal grandmother the following Sunday. This visit was particularly memorable because Oswald had just been shot by Jack Ruby and the news had just been released surrounding Lee Harvey Oswald's connection to Irving (where his wife Marina lived with her friend Ruth Paine). Evidently they ran up onto her front porch and started banging on the door, which scared my grandmother terribly.

I was not born at the time of the Kennedy assassination, but living my entire life in Dallas County, it is difficult not to know at least a little about the assassination. I was always fascinated by the triple underpass and the School Book Depository.

Top Down is another book hoping to achieve notoriety by being published in the year of the 50th anniversary of President Kennedy's assassination. I have to say this book did not follow the path I thought it was going to based on the blurb. I'm not sure I agree with the statement, "a page-turning historical novel with the beating heart of a thriller," but it was a good read. Of all the fictional accounts of the assassination I have to say, Stephen King's 11/22/63 (even with all of the geographical mistakes) is still one of the best I've read. It better fulfilled my desire to know, "What if?".

Lehrer pulls from his own experience as a journalist covering Kennedy's visit to Dallas, but I wanted more. When the question is posed in the blurb, "...will it also change the course of history?" I assumed (my mistake because we all know what happens when we assume!) there would be more speculation as to what would have happened if the bubble top had remained on the limousine that doomed Thursday. I believe the storyline could have been better developed and not cut so short (the entire book is less than 190 pages). I liked the book and I would recommend it to others who are interested in this topic, but I would not add it to my must read book.

The next Kennedy related book on my list is Frame 232 by Wil Mara.

Leaving Nelson - update

In July I wrote about a wonderful book written by Kim Moss I had the privilege to preview. I excited to announce the book will be available for everyone to read later this year. You can read more about the author on her website, connect with her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter. She is a fabulous author, a phenomenal teacher, but most importantly she is an amazing friend. I am so excited for her, but also for you because soon you will be able to read the first book in the trilogy about Bailey Baxter and her family. Here's to the start of something wonderful for you Kim!

NEW Update to the Update!!

Kim's book was released TODAY (3/18/14) on Amazon. Be one of the very first to read this wonderful new book by an extraordinary writer.

My Absence

I want to apologize for not posting reviews for such a long period of time. My excuse, I have been very ill. I did, however continue to read, of course. I just will not be posting reviews of all of the books.

Here are the books I read while I was out of commission.

Gone
by James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge

Left for Dead
by J.A. Jance

Merry Christmas, Alex Cross
by James Patterson

The Fault in Our Stars
by John Green

My Cousin Rachel
by Daphne Du Maurier

The Goldfinch: a novel
by Donna Tartt

Second Honeymoon
by James Patterson

 So, you can see that I continued with my passion for reading for these oh so many months. I will probably go back and write a few words about some of these books, because in all truthfulness they deserve it. I am currently writing a review on the latest book I finished reading Alena by Rachel Pastan, but I have a question for the author prior to posting my review. I want to make sure the information I publish is accurate.

Keep reading, because you know I will!

A Witness to History

When I first heard about the movie, Lee Daniels' The Butler, I was immediately drawn to the storyline. How fascinating it must have been to be in the presence of such great leaders in time with so much change, excitement, and chaos. I knew this would be a movie I would want to see. Well, I have yet to see the movie, but was thrilled when I saw Wil Haygood's book The Butler: A Witness to History. I knew, based on experience, this book would be so much better than any movie. Again, I have not seen the movie, but I have to say the book did leave me a little disappointed. I guess I have to say this because it was not what I wanted it to be. I wanted the book to be about Mr. Eugene Allen who served under either presidents from Harry Truman to Ronald Reagan. Don't get me wrong it was about this man, but it wasn't as much about the stories he could have told, his experiences. I wanted so much more. Who else could say they were in the White House when so many historical events took place - President Eisenhower signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1957, President Kennedy pledging the United States would land a man on the moon in 1961 and his widows arrival back to the White House after the fateful trip to Dallas.

I would think all of these historical events were well etched in Mr. Allen's mind and in his heart based on his portrayal by Haygood, but his ethical spirit would not allow his personal revelations on these events. Through the pages of the The Butler, Haygood represents Mr. and Mrs. Allen as respectable people. He was a person who wanted to do the very best job he could for the people he served while in the White House. He would not allow himself to be persuaded to reveal any details or accounts of events that took place in his presence. Oh, what a story he could have told. I'm disappointed because I wanted more, but I am happy to know that Mr. Allen was such a dedicated employee that he took his stories to the grave.

I would recommend this book for those who are interested in Mr. Allen and the movie Lee Daniels' The Butler. The second half of the book has a lot of information about the production of the movie. There are also photographs of Mr. Allen and his wife, as well as the Presidents for whom he served.

*To comply with new guidelines introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, Atria Press has provided a complimentary electronic copy of this book for review purposes. My review is in no way influenced by the author or publishing company and is solely my opinion.

Learning Colors with Dorothy and Friends

The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum is one of the most beloved children's books ever written. As I have said before my cousin, Charlotte, and I love all things Oz. I have already driven all around my hometown searching for the new McDonald toys for the 75th Anniversary of the movie release. So, you see, I'm a die hard fan.

The Wizard of Oz: Colors
by Jill Kalz and illustrated by Timothy Banks

Every time I see an Oz themed book, I have to grab it up and see if the author has been true to the classic. I have to say Jill Kalz's The Wizard of Oz: Colors illustrated by Timothy Banks does a nice job of presenting the story in a very simplified manner while introducing young children to colors. Through rhyming text and bright colorful illustrations the story is presented in a very child friendly format. Not only is the basic premise maintained, but a plethora of more complex words are used in order to increase the child's listening vocabulary. There is a glossary presented at the end of the book providing a brief definition of some of these words, including bluff, dazzle, and wicked. Also included at the end of this book (which is available in the following formats: library binding, board book, and ebook PDF) is a list of suggested readings and Internet sites, an index, and a synopsis of the actual book, The Wizard of Oz.

This is one of four books in this series published by Capstone Press. Others in the series include : The Wizard of Oz: ABCs, The Wizard of Oz: Counting, and The Wizard of Oz: Shapes. I have not had the opportunity to see these titles, but if they are anything like the Colors book, I would definitely add them to not only my personal collection, but also to my library's collection. Adults who grew up loving The Wizard of Oz will enjoy sharing these concept books with the new generation and continue the love for these classic characters.

*To comply with new guidelines introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, Capstone Press has provided a complimentary electronic copy of this book for review purposes. My review is in no way influenced by the author or publishing company and is solely my opinion.

Is it really the end for Dexter?

I have enjoyed reading suspense novels ever since I read my first mystery. I'm not sure if it is thrill of anticipation, or the suspenseful conclusion that makes my heart race. I also love when the bad guy "gets it in the end". Well, with Dexter Morgan, I had it all rolled into one. Now, I am not saying Dexter is my Knight in Shining Armor, he is more like the Dark Knight watching from around the corner. I found the character of Dexter immediatlely intriguing when I discovered Jeff Lindsay's first novel about the sociopathic vigilante, Darkly Dreaming Dexter. I read this wonderful book soon after it was released in 2004. The very next year I devoured Dearly Devoted Dexter. I was not at all surprised when in 2006 Showtime aired the first season of the series Dexter based on the first book. I have to admit, once I saw Michael C. Hall as Dexter I never veered from his image in my mind while reading. Even though I only watched the first four seasons, I was sitting on the edge of my seat every Sunday to see what injustice Dexter would try to rectify.

A few years ago I found Jeff Lindsay's Facebook page and Liked it, since I actually do love his writing and his characters. Last month Mr. Lindsay posted a link to Doubleday's fan giveaway. They were giving away 25 advanced copies of the newest (and supposedly final) book featuring Dexter, Dexter's Final Cut. I was THRILLED a few weeks after entering the contest to have a copy arrive at my front door. I know the book went on sale almost two weeks ago, so I am not posting any information die-hard fans don't already have access to, however I will not ruin anything for loyal readers or even new recruits.

Dexter's Final Cut
by Jeff Lindsay

Lindsay does not disappoint, well actually ~ he does ~ in the sense this is the FINAL book. I guess it could be considered unnatural to say I love Dexter, but as a character who takes care of those who have performed terrible acts of violence on innocents, he is like a modern day Robin Hood. I know it is a sin to kill, but he justifies his killings based on "Harry's Code" (his father's eye for an eye like theory). I will admit this book is not as graphic as the previous books (or if you have seen the series, not as bloody), but the storyline is suspenseful and hard to put down.

The introduction to the book took me by surprise and I was a bit concerned about Dexter. The first sentence, "It's not that bad being dead." almost caused me to close the book. I just couldn't face the fact that Dexter could be dead! Again, back to the creepy part about me really liking this person who in reality (or literary reality) is a serial killer. These are not the people you are supposed to be drawn to as a normal human, right?!? Thankfully I did not stop reading. I mean, how could Lindsay possibly kill off this iconic character in the first sentence? So, I kept reading.

Come to find out, Dexter and his sister, Deborah become involved in a new police drama which will be filming in Miami. Dexter is going to be shadowed by Robert Chase (a television heart throb - adored by Dexter's wife Rita) while Deborah will be shadowed by Jackie Forrest who will be starring in the drama as a character very much like Deborah - "a hard-as-nails woman detective" (pg. 13).  Being an active police detective and blood-splatter expert, Deborah and Dexter are quickly wrapped up in a murder investigation. This is where the blood and gore is introduced and the action begins.

I felt like I saw a new side to Dexter in this book. I know he has developed over the years from a bachelor, to a husband and instant step-father, but he seemed to show a little more depth and emotion (if you can actually call it that for a sociopath) in this "final cut". The title could be interpreted as a double entendre, which obviously was Lindsay's intent, but ironically Dexter doesn't actually do very much cutting in this book.

Like I said earlier, I did not watch the series after the infamous Trinity Killer, Arthur Mitchell ~ wonderfully portrayed by John Lithgow (who won a Golden Globe and a Primetime Emmy for his character). Since I was a fan of the books, I didn't want the show to take away my desire to read each new book that was released. I guess I was afraid I would be disappointed by the series because it couldn't live up to the movie I had created in my head.

I am not going to say our devilishly, divine Dexter is dead and gone. I am not going to say he is dwelling in Denmark, Dubai, or even one of the Dakotas. All I will say is Lindsay has provide a unique manner in which to create an entirely new series as a spin off. I would love to see how he would develop this daring design. I don't mean to deviate from my devotion to Dexter. Hmmm, I guess you could say I am a fan.

Now that I know the books and the series (which actually veered away from the books and were developed with their own storylines in the seasons following the first) have ended I might decide to go back and watch the four seasons I missed. I guess when you think about it, Dexter is Lindsay's character, and whether the words are written in a book or portrayed on the television by an awesome actor like Hall, I will always remember the thrill of learning about Dexter, especially through his own words, "I am a very neat monster." (Darkly Dreaming Dexter, 2004)

Thank you to Mr. Jeff Lindsay for posting the information about the online contest. Thank you also to Doubleday for sending me a complimentary advanced reader's copy of Dexter's Final Cut.

*To comply with new guidelines introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, Doubleday for providing a complimentary electronic copy and paperback advanced reader's copy of this book for review purposes. My review is in no way influenced by the author or publishing company and is solely my opinion.