#santaland mystery

[airplanes924]

Books I've Read in 2024

Number 48

Mrs. Claus and the Trouble With Turkeys by Liz Ireland

[blogthefiresidechats]

Best 10 Books in.....Mystery

I’ve comprised a list of the 10 best books from the mystery genre. This list is in no particular order and this list is only my opinions based on what books I’ve read in the past. Enjoy! This series follows Mordecai Tremaine who is a retired from running a tobacco shop and an amatuer sleuth. In each book, he works with the local police to find out who the murderer is. Perfect for fans of Agatha…

[hippolotamus]

top 9 books 📚

tagged by @eddiebabygirldiaz (who I constantly pest to write a book and will add to this list if they ever do 😘) @thewolvesof1998 @cowboy-buddie @your-catfish-friend @spotsandsocks Thank you loves 💖

I can say right now that these are in the moment picks. Books are far too special to narrow down to just 9.

Anthem by Ayn Rand

A short read about a society where people have careers and partners chosen for them. Everyone is addressed in collective terms and the word I is never used. It's been a long ass time, but I legit cried the first time I read it.

1984 by George Orwell

Another one that has fascinated me since the first time I read it, way back in the dark ages of high school. Dystopian society where Big Brother is always watching. The main character is lured into going against the grain only to ultimately be punished. That's a terrible excuse for a summary but here we are.

The Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris

Some satire and humor as the author details his time working as an elf during the Christmas season. If you don't wheeze and piss yourself laughing I really don't know what to tell you.

Psycho by Onley James

Book 2 of a MM series about 7 psychopath brothers. I love the series but August is my favorite.

Moth by Lily Mayne

Book 5 of a human/monster romance series. Moth is my very special baby. Look at him wrong and I'll maim you.

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

jfc how do I even summarize this? IDEK... battles, romance, platonic love, soulmates. Just go read it and have yourself a good cry.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Dear gods what a fucking fabulous book. Chronicles the life of the (fictional) mysterious hollywood actress, Evelyn Hugo, with an absolutely insane twist at the end.

The Christmas Box Collection by Richard Paul Evans

Technically a trilogy but I can't separate them. This begins by telling the story of a young family who move in with an elderly widow. It then moves on to the details of who the widow was before, starting at the very beginning with how she met her husband, and the reason for the large marble angel statue on the property.

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

One of my favorites from my youth. All about friendship and imagination and what happens when that gets ripped away. Again, a shit summary, but it's a fantastic read. I have absolutely considered an au about this one.

Bonus: When the Summer's Over by Anna Pollock

A m/f romance that's cute AF, written by one of my besties @walnuts-and-berries, with cover art by my beloved wife @lizzie-bennetdarcy. Minnesota farm gal meets city boy and is instantly disgusted. gasp can they overcome their differences and make it work?

no pressure tagging @stereopticons @blackandwhiteandrose @buddierights @apothecarose @spotsandsocks @shortsighted-owl @mysteriouslyyounggalaxy @jesuisici33 @lizzie-bennetdarcy and anyone else I normally tag (or don't) who wants to play 🥰

[rockislandadultreads]

Book Recommendations: More Cozy Holiday Mysteries

Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings by Liz Ireland

Love is full of surprises - though few compare to realizing that you're marrying the real-life Santa. April Claus dearly loves her new husband, Nick, but adjusting to life in the North Pole is not all sugarplums and candy canes. Especially when a cantankerous elf named Giblet Hollyberry is killed shortly after publicly arguing with Nick. Christmastown is hardly a hotbed of crime, aside from mishaps caused by too much eggnog, but April disagrees with Constable Crinkle's verdict of accidental death and sets out to find the culprit.

This is the first volume in the “Mrs. Claus” series. 

Twisted Tea Christmas by Laura Childs

Tea maven Theodosia Browning is catering a Victorian Christmas party at a swanky mansion in downtown Charleston. Drucilla Heyward, the hostess, is one of the wealthiest women in town. As the champagne flows and the tea steeps, Drucilla is so pleased with the reception by her partygoers that she reveals to Theodosia her plans to give her wealth away to various charitable organizations. However, before she can make the announcement, Theodosia finds her crumpled unconscious in the hallway with a syringe sticking out of her neck.

This is the 23rd volume in the “A Tea Shop Mystery” series.

Murder in Her Stocking by G.A. McKevett

Christmas has arrived in sleepy McGill, Georgia, but holiday cheer can't keep temperamental Stella Reid from swinging a rolling pin at anyone who crosses her bad side - and this season, there are plenty. First an anonymous grinch vandalizes a celebrated nativity display. Far worse, the scandalous Prissy Carr is found dead in an alley behind a tavern. With police puzzled over the murder, Stella decides to stir the local gossip pot for clues on the culprit's identity.

This is the first volume in the “Granny Reid” series.

How the Finch Stole Christmas! by Donna Andrews

Meg's husband has decided to escalate his one-man show of Dickens' A Christmas Carol into a full-scale production with a large cast including their sons Jamie and Josh as Tiny Tim and young Scrooge and Meg helping as stage manager. The show must go on, even if the famous - though slightly over-the-hill - actor who's come to town to play the starring role of Scrooge has brought a sleigh-load of baggage and enemies with him. And why is Caerphilly suddenly overrun with a surplus of beautiful caged finches?

This is the 22nd volume in the “Meg Langslow” series.

[theweirdladynextdoor]

Not for Everyone: A grand list of 143 weird books

This is my meticulously curated list of 143 of the weirdest books I’ve ever read.  Weird here can mean subject matter, the way it was written, or just that it’s off the beaten path.  It certainly does not include every weird book out there.  But it is a start if you are interested in reading weird lit yet have no idea where to begin.  I encourage you to dig in... if you dare.

 1.      Dirty Secret: A Daughter Comes Clean About Her Mother's Compulsive Hoarding by Jessie Sholl, (2010)

2.      Ghost Story by Peter Straub, (1989)

3.      My Life Among the Serial Killers: Inside the Minds of the World's Most Notorious Murderers by Helen Morrison and Harold Goldberg, (2004)

4.      The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson, (1977)

5.      Sophie Crumb: Evolution of a Crazy Artist by Sophie Crumb, (2010)

6.      The Farm: Life Inside a Women's Prison by Andi Rierden, (1997)

7.      On the Bus: The Complete Guide to the Legendary Trip of Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters and the Birth of Counterculture by Paul Perry, (1997)

8.      The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, (1959)

9.      Nightwork: Sexuality, Pleasure, and Corporate Masculinity in a Tokyo Hostess Club by Anne Allison, (1994)

10.  The A-Z Encyclopedia of Serial Killers by Harold Schechter, (1996)

11.  Not Without my Daughter by Betty Mahmoody, (1987)

12.  Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, (1915)

13.  Sybil: The Classic True Story of a Woman Possessed by Sixteen Personalities by Flora Rheta Schreiber, (1973)

14.  Electroboy: A Memoir of Mania by Andy Behrman, (2002)

15.  You Better Not Cry: Stories for Christmas by Augusten Burroughs, (2009)

16.  Snuff by Chuck Palahniuk, (2008)

17.  Pimp: The Story of my Life by Iceberg Slim, (1967)

18.  Black Hole by Charles Burns, (2005)

19.  My Lobotomy by Howard Dully and Charles Fleming, (2007)

20.  Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel, (2006)

21.  Hell’s Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga by Hunter S. Thompson, (1966)

22.  The Electric Kool-aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe, (1968)

23.  Hardcore Mother by Maxon Crumb, (2001)

24.  In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick,  (2000)

25.  House of Leaves and The Whalestoe Letters by Mark Z. Danielewski, (2000)

26.  Tweak: Growing up on Methamphetamines by Nic Sheff, (2008)

27.  Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream by Hunter S. Thompson, (1971)

28.  I Like You: Hospitality under the Influence by Amy Sedaris, (2006)

29.  Stranger than Fiction by Chuck Palahniuk, (2004)

30.  SantaLand Diaries by David Sedaris, (1998)

31.  Trout Fishing in America/ The Pill vs. The Springhill Mine Disaster/ In Watermelon Sugar by Richard Brautigan, (1989)

32.  The Long, Hard Road out of Hell by Marilyn Manson, (1998)

33.  Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs, (1959)

34.  She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb, (1992)

35.  Simple Times: Crafts for Poor People by Amy Sedaris, (2010)

36.  Voluntary Madness: My Year Lost and Found in the Loony Bin by Norah Vincent, (2008)

37.  The Cannibals of Candyland by Carlton Mellick III, (2009)

38.  The Sallie House Haunting by Debra Lyn Pickman, (2010)

39.  The Demonologist by Gerard Brittle, (1980)

40.  Off Season (Dead River #1) by Jack Ketchum, (1980)

41.  Room by Emma Donoghue, (2010)

42.  The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum, (1989)

43.  The Lottery and Other Stories by Shirley Jackson, (1949)

44.  When Rabbit Howls by Truddi Chase, (1987)

45.  Red Dragon by Thomas Harris, (1981)

46.  Dark Places by Gillian Flynn, (2009)

47.  The Hot House: Life Inside Leavenworth Prison by Pete Earley, (1992)

48.  Ted Bundy: Conversations with a Killer by Stephen Michaud and Hugh Aynesworth, (1989)

49.  Devil’s Knot: The True Story of the West Memphis Three by Mara Leveritt, (2002)

50.  The Ice Man: Confessions of a Mafia Contract Killer by Philip Carlo, (2006)

51.  The Complete Grimm’s Fairytales by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, (1812)

52.  Lost at Sea: The Jon Ronson Mysteries by Jon Ronson, (2012)

53.  Them: Adventures with Extremists by Jon Ronson, (2001)

54.  The Psychopath Test: A Journey through the Madness Industry by Jon Ronson, (2011)

55.  Life After Death by Damien Echols, (2012)

56.  The Nasty Bits: Collected Varietal Cuts, Usable Trim, Scraps, and Bones by Anthony Bourdain, (2005)

57.  Damned by Chuck Palahniuk, (2011)

58.  Party Monster: A Fabulous but True Tale of Murder in Clubland by James St. James, (1999)

59.  What Cops Know by Connie Fletcher, (1990)

60.  Mommie Dearest by Christina Crawford, (1978)

61.  I’m Down Mishna Wolf, (2009)

62.  Jesus Land: A Memoir by Julia Scheeres, (2005)

63.  Free For All: Oddballs, Geeks, and Gangstas in the Public Library by Don Borchert, (2007)

64.  Sickened: The Memoir of a Munchausen by Proxy Childhood by Julie Gregory, (2003)

65.  Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing by Ted Conover, (1999)

66.  Word Freak: Heartbreak, Triumph, Genius, and Obsession in the World of Competitive Scrabble Players by Stefan Fatsis, (2001)

67.  Napalm & Silly Putty by George Carlin, (2001)

68.  Crimson Stain by Jim Fisher, (2000)

69.  Are you my Mother? A Comic Drama by Alison Bechdel, (2012)

70.  The Complete Persepolis by Satrapi Marjane, (2003)

71.  Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury, (1962)

72.  Hunger Makes Me A Modern Girl by Carrie Brownstein, (2015)

73.  Drinking at the Movies by Julia Wertz, (2010)

74.  Calling Dr. Laura by Nicole J. Georges, (2013)

75.  The Devil in the Kitchen: Sex, Pain, Madness, and the Making of a Great Chef by Marco Pierre White, (2006)

76.  Food: A Love Story by Jim Gaffigan, (2014)

77.  American Splendor Presents: Bob and Harv’s Comics by Harvey Pekar and Robert Crumb, (1996)

78.  My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf, (2012)

79.  Cake Wrecks: When Professional Cakes go Hilariously Wrong

80.  Bedbugs by Ben H. Winters, (2011)

81.  Chicken: Self Portrait of a Young Man for Rent by David Henry Sterry, (2002)

82.  Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened by Allie Brosh, (2013)

83.  You Got Nothing Coming: Notes from A Prison Fish by Jimmy A. Lerner, (2002)

84.  Over Easy by Mimi Pond, (2014)

85.  Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo, and Me by Ellen Forney, (2012)

86.  SCUM Manifesto by Valerie Solanas, (1967)

87.  The Gallery of Regrettable Food: Highlights from Classic American Recipe Books by James Lileks, (2001)

88.  Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix, (2014)

89.  My Best Friend’s Exorcism by Grady Hendrix, (2016)

90.  A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay, (2015)

91.  This House is Haunted by Guy Lyon Playfair, (1980)

92.  The Sarah Book by Scott McClanahan, (2015)

93.  Crapalachia: A Biography of a Place by Scott McClanahan, (2013)

94.  The Black Hope Horror: The True Story of a Haunting by Ben and Jean Williams, (1991)

95.  $2.00 A Day: Living on Almost Nothing in America by Kathryn J. Edin and H. Luke Shaefer, (2015)

96.  The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit by Michael Finkel, (2017)

97.  True Crime Addict: How I Lost Myself in the Mysterious Disappearance of Maura Murray by James Renner, (2016)

98.  The Road to Jonestown: Jim Jones and People’s Temple by Jeff Guinn, (2017)

99.  Conversations with Ed and Lorraine Warren by T. Sealyham, (2011)

100.  Educated by Tara Westover, (2018) 

101.  North of Normal: A Memoir of My Wilderness Childhood, My Unusual Family, and How I Survived Both by Cea Sunrise Person, (2014)

102.  I’ll Be Gone In The Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara, (2018)

103.  Son of a Grifter: The Twisted Tale of Sante and Kenny Kimes, the Most Notorious Con Artists in America: A Memoir By The Other Son by Kent Walker and Mark Schone, (2001)

104.  Playing Dead: A Journey Through the World of Death Fraud by Elizabeth Greenwood, (2016)

105.  The Contortionist’s Handbook by Craig Clevenger, (2002)

106.  Selp-Helf by Miranda Sings, (2015)

107.  The Art and Science of Dumpster Diving by John Hoffman and Bruce Sterling, (1992)

108.  Strays: A Lost Cat, a Homeless Man, and Their Journey Across America by Britt Collins, (2017)

109.  My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh, (2018)

110.   A Father’s Story by Lionel Dahmer, (1994)

111.  The Gates of Janus: Serial Killing and Its Analysis by Ian Brady, (2001)

112.  Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh, (2015)

113.  IT’S ME Edward Wayne Edwards: The Serial Killer You’ve Never Heard of by John A. Cameron, (2014)

114.  We Sold Our Souls by Grady Hendrix, (2018)

115.  The Trauma Cleaner: One Woman's Extraordinary Life in the Business of Death, Decay, and Disaster by Sarah Krasnostein, (2017)

116.  The Psychopath Inside: A Neuroscientist’s Personal Journey into the Dark Side of the Brain by James Fallon, (2013)

117. Rising out of Hatred: The Awakening of a Former White Nationalist by Eli Saslow, (2018)

118.  Weekends at Bellevue: Nine Years on the Night Shift at the Psych E.R. by Julie Holland, (2009)

119.  The Phantom Prince: My Life with Ted Bundy by Elizabeth Kendall, (1981)

120.  High on Arrival by Mackenzie Phillips, (2009)

121.  Hell’s Gate: Terror at Bobby Mackey’s Music World by Douglas Hensley, (1993)

122.  From Cradle to Grave: The Short Lives and Strange Deaths of Marybeth Tinning’s Nine Children by Joyce Egginton, (1989)

123.  In The Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado, (2019)

124.  Love as Always, Mum xxx by Mae West, (2018)

125.  Solutions and other Problems by Allie Brosh, (2020)

126.  The Serial Killer Cookbook: True Crime Trivia and Disturbingly Delicious Last Meals from Death Row's Most Infamous Killers and Murderers by Ashley Lecker, (2020)

127.  Trixie and Katya's Guide to Modern Womanhood by Trixie Mattel, Katya Zamolodchikova, (2020)

128.  American Animals: A True Crime Memoir by Eric Borsuk, (2018)

129.  The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix, (2020)

130.  Couple Found Slain: After a Family Murder by Mikita Brottman, (2021)

131.  Broken (In the Best Possible Way) by Jenny Lawson, (2021)

132. You’ll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories about Racism by Amber Ruffin, (2021)

133.  Yearbook by Seth Rogen, (2021)

134.  Today a Woman went Mad in the Supermarket: Stories by Hilma Wolitzer, (2021)

135.  Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder, (2021)

136.  Chasing the Boogeyman by Richard Chizmar, (2021)

137.  A Killer by Design: Murderers, Mindhunters, and My Quest to Decipher the Criminal Mind by Ann Burgess, (2021)

138.  Tiger King: The Official Tell-all Memoir by Joe Exotic, (2021)

139.  The Minds of Billy Milligan by Daniel Keyes, (1981)

140.  Waiting for an Echo: The Madness of American Incarceration by Christine Montross, (2020)

141.  The Empathy Exams by Leslie Jamison, (2014)

142.  Murder Book: A Graphic Novel of a True Crime Obsession by Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell, (2021)

143.  Nobody's Fool: The Life and Times of Schlitzie the Pinhead by Bill Griffith, (2019)

[nitrosplicer]

so I’m trying to put together a syllabus for a writing in the humanities course (my semester doesnt start until the second week of september, if this seems late, that’s why) and I’m wanting to put together personal essays that people find memorable. for instance, I’m including DFW’s “a supposedly fun thing I’ll never do again,” jacqueline alnes’ “a runner’s mysterious illness, with her dad by her side,” david sedaris’s “the santaland diaries,” and jia tolentino’s “reality tv me.” What are some essays that have struck you as memorable?

[southernista]

OMG! OMG! Please let there be another Mrs Claus mystery coming out in 2022! It is almost 1:00am but I just couldn't put the down until I discovered who killed Tiny Sparkletoe! Also will April tell her bestie Clare the truth about her husband and her new life? What about Juniper's hot and heavy romance with Santaland's optician who is giving off plenty of red flags. Plus Santaland us celebrating Halloween for the first time ever and not everyone in Santaland is happy about this holiday that is the complete opposite of Christmas. If you have not read this series I highly recommend the Mrs. Claus mystery series by Liz Ireland who is a freaking genius! #lizireland #mrsclausmystery #cozymysteries #bookstagram #readersofinstagram #ilovecozymysteries #ilovebooks #ilovecozies #bookaddict #bookaholic #readaholic #bookobsessed #addictedtobooks #addictedtobooksforlife #bookworm #booksaremyheart #acozymystery #cozymysteryreader #cozymysteryreview #cozymysterybookclub #cozymysteryengagement #read #bookrecommendations (at Durham, North Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/CVzSU-0rIZH/?utm_medium=tumblr

[literaticat]

Hey Jennifer! When querying two books at once, if you get an offer on one book, do you need to include which manuscript got an offer when nudging all other agents? Or do you simply say that you have an offer? I don't want to hide/be deceitful about a different book than the one an agent has getting an offer, but I also know how busy agents are and I don't want to overcomplicate the nudge. Thanks!

There are several questions like this in my box and I have NO idea if they are from one person and just worded differently, or if it is multiple people -- so whatever, basically I'm just answering this one and you will all have to be content.

First of all, could you... NOT query two books at once? I mean that would be one way to avoid the problem. :-)

If you must, though, yes, you should obviously tell people information that they might need in order to make an informed decision. Like ????

"Dear Agent B,

I recently queried you with my cozy mystery A VERY GOOD MS, but it happens that I actually got an offer of rep for AN EVEN BETTER MS (another cozy, this one featuring a disgruntled Santaland Elf with a wit sharper than a candy-cane shiv, who is "one day from retirement" when he gets pulled in to a mystery involving the disappearance of Mrs Claus).

I realize that you haven't had a chance to look at AN EVEN BETTER MS, but if you are also interested in considering, I'd be very happy to send it to you. I've let the offering agent know I need two weeks to make a decision. etc.

[tyleroakley-obsessed]

Happy Friday, Memphis! Here are the five things you won’t want to miss this weekend, plus a few extras. Don’t forget to check out the Holiday Shopping Guide, the Holiday Events Guide, New Year’s Eve Events Guide, and list of places that will be open on New Year’s Day. Photo by Kevin Kern 1. Volunteer Odyssey Pop-Up Volunteer Party, 60 S. Main (The Washburn), Friday, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., free, all ages/kid-friendly If you’re downtown during lunch today, stop by the Pop-Up Party to complete super fast volunteer projects, grab free I Love Memphis Stickers, and meet the folks behind our monthly Give Back column. If you complete a project, you’ll get a token for free Aldo’s Pizza. This is the last Pop Up party of the year. 2. Phantom of the Opera, Orpheum Theatre, Friday – Sunday, $44 – $134, ages 4+, but probably more like 10 or 12+ He’s dark and mysterious, and he can sing. And he plays the organ. This weekend is your last chance to catch Leslie Knope’s* ideal man on stage in this stunning production of the classic musical Phantom of the Opera. My colleague Caroline went to see this and gives it an official ILM two thumbs up. There is a Student/Teach/Hero Rush for $20 cash tickets on Sunday; get details here. 3. Grizzlies Games, FedExForum, Friday and Saturday, prices vary, all ages The Grizzlies broke their losing streak, so say f*** it** and just go to a home game this weekend! They take on the Raptors at 7 p.m. on Friday and try to hold their own against the Thunder on Saturday at 8 p.m. 4. This weekend there are a bunch of one day holiday markets. Click for details. – Crosstown Seasonal Market on Saturday – Memphis Farmer’s Market Holiday Market on Saturday – Memphis Maker Holiday Market at Muddy’s Midtown on Saturday – Alternative Market at 1738 Galloway on Sunday – Holiday Gift and Art Market at the Memphis Jewish Community Center 5. Germantown Holiday Parade, Saturday, 2 p.m., free, all ages/kid-friendly West on Farmington from Kimbrough to Exeter, north on Exeter and ending at Germantown Athletic Club. Bring a new, unwrapped toy and uniformed Marines will collect them along the route for Toys For Tots. *I can’t resist a perfect Parks & Recreation reference. **Don’t click on this unless you’re ok with hearing a swear. plus a few extras… All Weekend (check links for exact days and times) – TN Shakespeare Company presents Waiting For Godot at Botanic Garden – Junie B. Jones The Musical at Circuit Playhouse (through Dec. 23) – Peter Pan at Playhouse on the Square (through Dec. 31) – Enchanted Forest at the Pink Palace (through Dec. 31) – Holiday Wonders at Memphis Botanic Garden (through Dec. 30) – Starry Nights at Shelby Farms (through Dec. 29) – Mistletoe Village at Starry Nights, Shelby Farms Park (through Dec. 29) – Memphis Arts Collective Market at 1501 Union Avenue (though Dec. 24) – Winter Arts at Park Place Centre (through December 24) – Gift: A Christmas Holiday Market at Saddle Creek (through December 24) –  Take the Soul Train to Christmas at Hattiloo Theatre (through December 16) – Santaland Diaries at Circuit Playhouse opens Dec. 1 (through Dec. 23) – This is absolutely hilarious and wonderful and you should go immediately. – Holiday Group Exhibition at L. Ross Gallery opens Dec. 1 – DeSoto Family Theatre Presents: A Christmas Carol (through Dec. 10) – Tia Pancha: A Christmas Story at Evergreen Theatre (through Dec. 9) – A Lifetime of Christmas at the Kroc Center (Thu. – Sun. through December 17) Friday – Last Day for Porter Leath’s Toy Truck at Bud Davis – Christmas Show at South Main Sounds – Terry Prince and the Principles EP Release Show at 831 S. Cooper – Inside Out/Dreamers in Memphis at CBU – Inaugural X-mas Onesie Party at Tin Roof – Mint Cream Studios Opening at 525 N. Main St. – The Kickback 80s + 90s Hip Hop Show at the Hi-Tone – Grizzlies v. Raptors at FedExForum – Pokey LaFarge at 1884 Lounge at Minglewood Hall Saturday – Shop Small Saturday at Ghost River Brewing + the start of “12 Days of Ghost River” – 16th Annual Toy Truck at Action News 5 – 2nd Saturday Legal Clinic at Central Library – Bike To Brunch, Revolutions to RP Tracks – Deck The Paws at the Humane Society – Holiday Classics Spectacular on Ice at Mid South Ice House – Book Lovers Appreciation Day at Toni Green’s Palace – Germantown Holiday Concert at GPAC – Elizabeth Von Trapp at Bartlett Performing Arts Center – U901 and Friends EP Release Show at CANVAS – Memphis Hustle v. Greensboro Swarm at Landers Center Sunday – Brunch Happy Hour and Live Music at most of the Huey’s – Brunch at the Brewery and Sunday Evening Slowdown at Ghost River – Memphis Hustle v. Oklahoma City Blue at Landers Center – Holiday Classics Spectacular on Ice at Mid South Ice House – Deck the Halls at the Humane Society – A Spiked Brunch at Luxx Lounge – Self Care Sunday at Your Inner Yogi – Wok’n In Memphis Pop-Up Restaurant at The Cove – Memphis Wind Symphony presents “A Christmas Festival” at First Baptist Church – Weekend Basketball Comedy Tour at Midtown Crossing Grill Are you a home owner in Memphis, with a broken garage door? Call ASAP garage door today at 901-461-0385 or checkout http://ift.tt/1B5z3Pc

http://ilovememphisblog.com/2017/12/5-things-to-do-this-weekend-128-1210/

[oselatra]

Places, please: 2017 Fall Arts theater preview

The curtain goes up for fall theater productions.

The stage offerings in Little Rock this fall include, but are not limited to, an original chamber musical version of O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi"; a staged memoir from the woman responsible for the Bechdel Test; Alton Brown and science-wielding puppets; a Sherlock Holmes mystery; and David Sedaris' middle finger to holiday cheer. Below, we highlight a few productions in Little Rock and beyond.

The Arkansas Repertory Theatre's 2017-18 season, which started in August, is the first to be programmed by new Producing Artistic Director John Miller-Stephany. The season opened with Carson McCullers' "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter," which ran through Sept. 10. Next, the theater takes on another adaptation: "The School of Lies," David Ives' snarky rewrite of Moliere's already snarky "The Misanthrope." It's performed completely in rhymed couplets, rap battle-style, and runs Oct. 11-29.

The Rep has programmed two shows for the holidays, wildly different in tone and with staggered curtain times; you could catch both in a single day. Forgoing the available stage versions of O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi," lyricist Maggie-Kate Coleman, playwright Jeffrey Hatcher ("Tuesdays with Morrie," "Compleat Female Stage Beauty") and composer Andrew Cooke (on staff at The Rep's Education Department) have created a new chamber musical version, to premiere Nov. 29-Dec. 24. Over at the black box in the theater's education annex (518 Main St.), a sardonic antidote to all things Christmas, David Sedaris' "Santaland Diaries," hits the stage Dec. 6-24. For more information, visit therep.org or see the Arkansas Times' March 2 story, "Farther Down the Road."

There's still time to catch one of a few final performances of "Little Brother," which runs through Sept. 30 at The Weekend Theater. Josh Costello's play examines questions of morality through the eyes of a teenager caught up in a terrorist attack who runs afoul of Homeland Security. Following that, TWT takes on Richard O'Brien's "The Rocky Horror Show," Oct. 20-Nov. 5. John Cariani's nine-vignette exploration of love, "Almost, Maine," gets a run Dec. 1-16. For tickets or more information, visit weekendtheater.org.

Whether or not you've read the graphic memoir, make a point to catch The Studio Theater's take on Alison Bechdel's "Fun Home," running Sept. 14-24. The theater's one of the first group of community companies to produce the "family tragicomic," adapted for the stage by Lisa Kron and Jeanine Tesori. Following that is another Broadway smash, Christopher Durang's 2012 hit "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike," Nov. 2-12, and a production of Hugh Martin and Robert Blane's "Meet Me in St. Louis," made famous by the 1944 MGM film version starring Judy Garland. It runs Dec. 1-17. See studiotheatrelr.com for more information.

There's a concurrent production of "Fun Home" running in Northwest Arkansas, too, at TheaterSquared's Walton Arts Center space through Sept. 17. Following that, the NWA company presents the world premiere of Amy Evans' Nina Simone-centric tale, "The Champion," Oct. 11-Nov. 5. For the holidays, TheaterSquared presents a live radio play version of "It's A Wonderful Life," Nov. 29-Dec. 31. See the full schedule at theatre2.org.

Celebrity Attractions, the production company that will bring touring Broadway shows like "The Lion King" to a newly outfitted Robinson Center Music Hall next spring, launches its run of "Kinky Boots" Oct. 13-15, followed by the Broadway production of Alton Brown's ("Good Eats") live show, "Eat Your Science," 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18. Starting Nov. 29, Robinson hosts a touring version of Claude-Michel Schonberg's "Les Miserables," the stage version made famous by British producer Cameron Mackintosh. It runs through Dec. 3. Visit celebrityattractions.com for tickets.

University of Central Arkansas's Reynolds Performance Hall is home to two touring productions this fall: "The Wizard of Oz," 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12, $27-$40. In December, a stage version of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16.

Over at Murry's Dinner Playhouse, celebrating its 50th year in operation, "The Savannah Sipping Society," a comedy from Jamie Wooten, Jessie Jones and Nicholas Hope ("Dixie Swim Club," "The Red Velvet Cake War") gets a run Sept. 26-Oct. 21, followed by the Ken Ludwig mystery "Baskerville," an adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes tale, "The Hound of the Baskervilles," Oct. 31-Nov. 25. Murry's rounds out the year with "Harvey," the 1944 Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy from Mary Chase, Nov. 28-Dec. 31. Check out the full lineup at murrysdp.com.

Over at Argenta Community Theater, preparations for a March run of Stephen Sondheim's "Follies" is already underway (those familiar with Sondheim will understand why this has to happen now), but the theater will still find time for a Dec. 13-23 run of Judy Goss' adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic "A Christmas Carol." Check out the theater's other offerings at argentacommunitytheater.org.

Places, please: 2017 Fall Arts theater preview

[blogthefiresidechats]

Books to read for Christmas....

Books to read for Christmas….

Now that Halloween is over, I can recommend some books to read for Christmas. Christmas is one of my favorite holidays. I also like to read when the weather turns colder. It gives me the chance to curl up on the couch with a good blanket and the cat curled up in my lap to help keep me warm while I read a good book. If you are looking for some books to read to get you in the holiday mood, then…

[blogthefiresidechats]

"Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings" by Liz Ireland

“Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings” by Liz Ireland

I finished another one. I was trying to have this finished by Christmas Day but it looks like I’m a little late. Oh well. I was happy with this book. I always enjoy a good mystery, regardless of what time of the year it is, but this was a good holiday mystery to get into the mood for Christmas. I found this book over the summer (totally by accident) at a book store about 45 minutes away and I…

[southernista]

Off to Santaland I go to find out whose trying to ruin Santaland's first Halloween celebration yeap you read it correctly Halloween in the land of Christmas. Whose trying to be a Halloween grinch? This 2nd book in the Mrs. Claus mystery series is just as delightful as the first book! Halloween in Santaland? Why not! #lizireland #mrsclausmystery #cozymysteries #bookstagram #readersofinstagram #ilovecozymysteries #ilovecozies #bookaddict #bookaholic #readaholic #addictedtobooks #mystery #mysteries #mysterybooks #cozymysteryreader #cozymysterylover #cozymysterycrew #bookworm #cozycrew #booksaremyheart #cozymysteryseries #cozymysterybookclub #cozymysterytribe (at Durham, North Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/CVgRTa7vIq9/?utm_medium=tumblr

[southernista]

August wrap up of what I read. I really enjoyed discovering new cozies this month especially Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Murders! Definitely my favorite read. Check out these authors: @breebakerbooks @julieannelindsey @meriallenbooks @mckinlayjenn #lizireland #seasidecafemysteryseries #mrsclausmystery #libraryloversmysteryseries #icecreamshopmysteryseries #melanietravismystery #cozymystery #laurienberenson #ilovecozymysteries #ilovecozies #bookstagram #bookworm #cozymysteries #cozymysterylover #cozymysteryseries #books #mysteries #mysterybooks #bookaholic #readaholic #addictedtobooks #addictedtobooksforlife #readersofinstagram #cozycrew #cozymysterycrew #bookaddict #bookaholic (at Durham, North Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTPpPHOnZvM/?utm_medium=tumblr

[southernista]

August wrap up of what I read. I really enjoyed discovering new cozies this month especially Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Murders! Definitely my favorite read. Check out these authors: @breebakerbooks @julieannelindsey @meriallenbooks @mckinlayjenn #lizireland #seasidecafemysteryseries #mrsclausmystery #libraryloversmysteryseries #icecreamshopmysteryseries #melanietravismystery #cozymystery #laurienberenson #ilovecozymysteries #ilovecozies #bookstagram #bookworm #cozymysteries #cozymysterylover #cozymysteryseries #books #mysteries #mysterybooks #bookaholic #readaholic #addictedtobooks #addictedtobooksforlife #readersofinstagram #cozycrew #cozymysterycrew #bookaddict #bookaholic (at Durham, North Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTPpAuunYgm/?utm_medium=tumblr

[southernista]

Started reading this cute cozy this morning. The great thing about book clubs is discovering new books! Thanks to #cozymysterybookclub for selecting this book. Even though I am a few pages in I was smiling and the premise of the book a murder of a elf one Giblets Hollyberry (loving the name) in Santaland and its up to newlywed April Claus to solve it before her husband Santa yes that Santa misses as she puts it going on the world biggest errand run. #mrsclausmystery #lizireland #christmascozy #christmascozymystery #cozymysteries #cozymysterylover #cozymysteryseries #ilovecozymysteries #ilovebooks #ilovecozies #bookstagram #bookworm #booklover #readersofinstagram #read #addictedtobooks #addictedtobooksforlife #mystery #whodunnit (at Durham, North Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSHcSD1HmQv/?utm_medium=tumblr