#urban myths: agatha christie

[papa-evershed]

Rob James-Collier | Urban Myths: Agatha Christie

[rose-of-oz]

Your turn! Share 10 facts about one of your OCs? :)

Thanks so much for this!! I decided to go with Amara Castro, one of my new Big Time Rush OCs, and thus I’m also tagging the BTR moots @partiallypearl, @dancingsunflowers-ocs, @bibaybe, and @manyfandomocs!! <3

She lives with her older siblings, Teo and Veronica, who are twins. The twins are also the only reason she can live at the Palm Woods in the first place, since she’s never had any of her writing published - they’re actors who have both had minor roles in a handful of shoes and movies.

She and her siblings also do not have a good relationship with their parents, which is why Veronica and Teo are Amara’s guardians. I won’t get into the exact reasons why, but the relationship is… pretty bad.

Her biggest writing influences are Agatha Christie, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Terry Pratchett, which is in part where she got the inspiration for the fantasy mystery novel she’s working on.

She likes to listen to music while she’s writing, usually the instrumental soundtracks of fantasy media like The Hobbit and Game of Thrones.

She really likes hard candies and caramels, which Carlos likes to tease her about being an old lady for.

She has read Little Women a grand total of ten times, and still tears up when Beth dies every time.

Her first celebrity crush was on Raul Julia as Gomez in the 90’s Addams Family movies.

She is, maybe predictably for a mystery writer, very into true crime shows and podcasts, as well as stories about urban myths and legends. She hopes to start her own someday, after she has some success as a writer.

She was never the biggest fan of pop music before meeting the boys, but they manage to turn her on to not only their music but that of many other pop artists.

She is terrified of grasshoppers. Don’t ask her why, she just finds them freaky.

[fearsmagazine]

ABIGAIL - Review

DISTRIBUTOR: Universal Pictures

SYNOPSIS: A group of low-level criminals are brought together to pull off a caper - kidnap and babysit overnight the 12-year-old ballerina daughter of a powerful underworld figure, the pay-off is a $50 million ransom. The hideout is an old isolated mansion. They try to settle in for the night but the rules go by the wayside as, one by one, the gangsters grisly and mysteriously meet their demise. The gloves come off and when they confront their prisoner, to their mounting horror, they discover that they’re the prisoners and are locked inside the mansion with no normal little girl.

REVIEW: Occasionally, screenwriters attempt to breathe new life into the vampire mythos by blending genres into their screenplays. While many of these scripts start off with a great promise, the final product often falls short of expectations. However, there are a few notable exceptions that have managed to capture the essence of the vampire genre. Examples include "The Lost Boys," "Innocent Blood," "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter," and "Vampires," the last two based on novels.

In Stephen Shields and Guy Busick's screenplay for ABIGAIL, elements of O. Henry's classic short story "The Ransom of Red Chief" and the 1990's film "Home Alone" converge, driven by the urban legend of Abigail's gangster father and tales inclusion of vampire mythology. The screenwriters incorporate subtle nods to Agatha Christie, creating humorous moments in the film. They skillfully weave in references to numerous films and TV shows, including "Reservoir Dogs," "Innocent Blood," and Kevin Durand's involvement in the vampire series "The Strain." The narrative is multi-layered, as the writers creatively rework the vampire myth to suit their story. What truly captivates the audience is Abigail's character arc and the motivations behind her actions. At its core, the story delves into a child's yearning for parental attention or the lack thereof, intertwined with the guilt experienced by parents. This complex exploration of parenting, children, and vampires sets ABIGAIL apart as a refreshing take on these themes since "The Lost Boys."

Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett masterfully orchestrate a symphony of tension, action, and shocks that ebbs and flows like an adrenaline-fueled thrill ride. Their ability to consistently surprise and engage the viewer stems from their skillful framing and editing of sequences, coupled with the captivating performance of actress Alisha Weir, who portrayed Matilda in the 2022 adaptation of the musical. Her portrayal is simply outstanding here.

The mansion in which the characters are hiding serves as an integral character in the film. The production design is remarkable, creating a subtle yet tangible atmosphere. While there were a few scenes in the third act that raised questions about potential escape routes, my engrossment in the film at that point prevented me from giving them much thought.

The combination of practical and digital effects in the movie created some truly impressive "wow" moments, especially in the fight sequences. The dental design and contact lenses used for the vampire look were particularly well done. My favorite scenes were the visual sequences showing the destruction of the vampires—a real treat for die-hard horror fans.

The film's musical foundation is a harmonious blend of classical melodies and a gripping score composed by Brian Tyler. Tyler, a renowned composer with a rich portfolio of screen and television scores, has masterfully created musical movements that seamlessly intertwine with the classical selections, escalating the film's action and horror. In other moments, his score complements the actors' performances and heightens the suspense and tension of the scenes, leaving a lasting impression on the audience.

The film features a talented cast with extensive horror experience. Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens, Kevin Durand, Kathryn Newton, and William Catlett have each starred in multiple horror films, bringing their expertise to the project. The cast also includes Matthew Goode and Giancarlo Esposito, who add their unique talents to their characters, enhancing the film's energy. This exceptional ensemble cast delivers a thrilling viewing experience, creating captivating characters that engage and entertain the audience.

ABIGAIL offers a "fangtastic" combination of a caper story and a vampire tale. It's one of the best horror-thrill rides I've experienced in theaters this year. In fact, I haven't had this much fun with a horror movie since "The Lost Boys" or "Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn." Not since Macaulay Culkin faced off against bumbling heist men has a kid's involvement in an action film been so entertaining. Yes, it's a bloody film, but families with tweens should venture to their local cinema for a killer good time.

CAST: Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens, Alisha Weir, Kathryn Newton, William Catlett, Kevin Durand, Angus Cloud and Giancarlo Esposito. CREW: Directors - Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett; Screenplay - Stephen Shields & Guy Busick; Producers - William Sherak, Paul Neinstein, James Vanderbilt, Tripp Vinson, and Chad Villella; Cinematographer - Aaron Morton; Score - Brian Tyler; Editor - Michael P. Shawver; Production Designer - Susie Cullen; Costume Designer - Gwen Jeffares Hourie; Prosthetics Designer - Matthew Smith; Dental Prosthetics - Dominic Mombrun; Visual Effects Supervisor - Andre Bustanoby; Visual Effects Companies - NEXODUS, Crafty Apes, & DNEG. OFFICIAL: www.abigailmovie.com FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/AbigailMovie/ TWITTER (X): www.twitter.com/UniversalHorror TRAILER: https://youtu.be/cOHf2qUZYBs?si=Kd0YefSxfpfRGpHd RELEASE DATE: In theaters April 19th, 2024

**Until we can all head back into the theaters our “COVID Reel Value” will be similar to how you rate a film on digital platforms - 👍 (Like), 👌 (It’s just okay), or 👎 (Dislike)

Reviewed by Joseph B Mauceri

[tinynavajoreads]

Red Book Stack

It's been hot hot HOT outside where I live and it's honestly making me and my honey miserable. Since it is so hot, I figured a red book stack would be a good way to reflect just what we're feeling right now.

And I've read 14 out of 20 books total! Whoo!!!

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy

Neverwhere by @neil-gaiman

God of Neverland by Gama Ray Martinez

The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Ann Older

Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History by Art Spiegelman

Boudoirs to Brothels: The Intimate World of Wild West Women by Michael Rutter

Indian Cities: Histories of Indigenous Urbanization by Kent Blansett

Red Dead Redemption: History, Myth, and Violence in the Video Game West by edited by John Wills and Esther Wright

Yasuke: the True Story of the Legendary African Samurai by Thomas Lockley and Geoffrey Giraf

Dragonsinger by Anne McCaffrey

The Cat Who Saved Books by Sosuke Natsukawa

Shutter by Ramona Emerson

The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa

Sparkling Cyanide by Agatha Christie

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia by Candace Fleming

The Chronicles of Pern: First Fall by Anne McCaffrey

Zombies, Run! By Naomi Alderman and Six to Start

How many red books do you have? How many have you read? Of these red books, what have you read and enjoyed?

[starryeyedforanarchangel]

In 1926 Agatha Christie disappeared...

It was the same year after her mother died. It was even shorter after Agatha was asked for a divorce by her first husband, Archibald Christie. He claimed to have fallen in love with a woman by the name of Nancy Neele. But these are only speculation. It was never written about by her autobiographer, even though it had become a huge event in the author’s life.

All that is known, concretely, is that after an argument Archie had declared that he was taking a weekend visit with friends, without his wife. That very evening Agatha left their home, and all that was found the next morning of her was her car, expired drivers license, and clothes. The Morris Cowley was sat above a chalk quarry, in Newlands Corner.

Agatha’s disappearance was quickly public, many wishing to know what happened to the famous author. The case was so big it made the front page of The New York Times and the Home Secretary pressured police to search. Even Sir Arther Canon Doyle employed the use of a medium, using one of Agatha’s gloves, to try and get them to key into her presence.

There are theories. Some say she was in a fugue state over her despair and having a breakdown. Some say Agatha disappeared intentionally to embarrass her husband and hadn’t expected it to turn into a huge melodrama, others believing the opposite.

It is curious...Agatha Christie disappeared for 11 days...

If you’re as fascinated as I, you can always read more or find a copy of Urban Myth’s True...ish Stories did, with The Mysterious Case of Agatha Christie. Anna Maxwell Martin plays the titular character, and once again I’m beside myself with the fact that she plays one of my favorite historical figures.

[inclineto]

Books, May - June 2021

Tess of the Road - Rachel Hartman [dnf]

A River of Stars - Vanessa Hua

The Sealed Letter - Emma Donoghue

Giant Bones - Peter S. Beagle

Moominsummer Madness - Tove Jansson *

The Beacon at Alexandria - Gillian Bradshaw *

The Phantom Tollbooth - Norton Juster *

Libertie - Kaitlyn Greenidge 

Stay - Nicola Griffith

Four Lost Cities: A Secret History of the Urban Age - Annalee Newitz [Thoroughly enjoyable, but also the sort of pop archaeology book where things like this happen repeatedly, and I’m sorry, but I laughed: “And then, as if by magic, the eminent University of Cambridge archaeologist Andrew Wallace-Hadrill appeared.” (As far as the narrative admits, they did not have an appointment; while they were wandering around Pompeii, collecting information about his speciality, he was wandering around Pompeii, happy to be encountered and become a source.)]

Teach Me - Olivia Dade

The Address Book: What Street Addresses Reveal About Identity, Race, Wealth, and Power - Deirdre Mask

We Are Watching Eliza Bright - A.E. Osworth [“I am not going to read the gamergate novel,” I said, “and especially not when it’s using 1st person plural MFA POV half of the time,” but then I voyeuristically devoured the gamergate novel which is, really, its point: “We are obsessed with what goes on where we can’t see it.”] *

Ivory Apples - Lisa Goldstein [what the hell?!? no.]

The Future of Another Timeline - Annalee Newitz

The Scarlet Seed - Edith Pargeter [the scenes that made me cry as a child still make me cry now, and that’s rather nice]

The Perilous Life of Jade Yeo - Zen Cho [Five books later, I’m prepared to admit that Zen Cho and I aligned for one glorious novel and some related characters (Sorcerer to the Crown; Rollo & Aunt Georgiana), and I’m mostly indifferent to everything else, but I keep trying because there’s always a sentence like this: “Being good-looking and interesting and having the heavy-lidded gaze of a romantic tapir does not excuse writing a foolish book.”]

Elementals - A. S. Byatt

Searching for Black Confederates: The Civil War’s Most Persistent Myth - Kevin M. Levin

What Katy Did Next - Susan Coolidge

Feed the Resistance: Recipes + Ideas for Getting Involved - Julia Turshen et al.

A Duke, the Lady, and a Baby - Vanessa Riley [dnf]

The Sibyl in Her Grave - Sarah Caudwell

Sabriel - Garth Nix *

Outcrossing - Celia Lake [dnf]

Mending Matters: Stitch, Patch, and Repair Your Favorite Denim & More - Katrina Rodabaugh [so I feel like this was a couple of blog posts inflated into a book]

Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake - Alexis Hall [extremely funny, made me want to bake during a heat wave, likely to suffer in reviews from mismatched genre expectations: it’s romantic comedy, not romance (I’ve just looked and yep! this is a major complaint)] *

Tales from Moominvalley - Tove Jansson

Goblin Fruit - Celia Lake [dnf]

Coffee Boy - Austin Chant [trying to do more than its length and thin characterization can carry, but also heartening in the main character’s explicit refusal to embody a limited and patronizing narrative of marginalized suffering; I wouldn’t want every trans romance to do this so overtly, just as I don’t want every queer romance to be about overcoming homophobia, but I want a few of them to (fair also to note that in contemporary settings, I find boss/intern scenarios really unappealing, and no, I don’t care if they talk about it; had it been longer I would almost certainly have bailed)]

Uncanny Valley - Anna Wiener [didn’t really plan to read this; definitely didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did - I thought it would be just another new adult navel-gazing indictment of tech bros, and it is, but it’s got seriously good style to go with it] *

Lord John and the Private Matter - Diana Gabaldon

Behind Closed Doors: At Home in Georgian England - Amanda Vickery

On Juneteenth - Annette Gordon-Reed

Salt Magic, Skin Magic - Lee Welch

Lord John and the Hand of Devils - Diana Gabaldon [read the first two novellas, but my tolerance for Diana Gabaldon’s Diana-Gabaldon-ness is relatively low and the second novel wore it out; dnf]

Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade - Diana Gabaldon

A Seditious Affair - KJ Charles [because once you’re 75+ comments into an increasingly-involved modern AU, the only reasonable thing to do is give in (looking back at the innocence of this mid-June annotation...oh, you sweet summer child)] *

Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America 1619-2019 - edited by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain [in the end, I’m not sure the organizing principles of 5 year chunks and short word counts really allow enough scope for many of the essays, but look for this to show up on Most Challenged lists and as a target of reactionary legislation anyway]

A Gentleman’s Position - KJ Charles [see prev. entry in series]

The Secret Adversary - Agatha Christie [sometimes you should not reread your childhood books]

Fire Watch - Connie Willis

The Ruin of Gabriel Ashleigh - KJ Charles [possibly shouldn’t be an entry, but what the heck, it’s sold separately; see prev. entry in series]

The City of Brass - S. A. Chakraborty

American Quilts: The Democratic Art - Robert Shaw [that subtitle tells you exactly what to expect from the text, but the quilts are lovely]

Engaging Diverse Communities: A Guide to Museum Public Relations - Melissa A. Johnson

Strange the Dreamer - Laini Taylor [dnf]

[mrs-pennylane]

Aidan Gillen’s works masterpost

Hello fellow Gilleners!

I’ve officially moved my Aidan directory to one drive! If you have the old link, the one from google drive, lemme warn you that you won’t find the files there anymore.

Anyway, here is the general link: https://1drv.ms/u/s!Ajw4wrmUY4_7lh6gLE6MOQPRXeWH?e=TXbQvu

Each work:

Trecle Jr.

12 Rounds.

Agatha Christie’s Poirot.

Beneath The Harvest Sky.

Bohemian Rhapsody.

Calvary.

Dave Allen At Peace.

Urban Myths.

Identity.

Mayday.

Maze Runner: Scorch Trials.

Project Blue Book.

Queer as Folk.

Shanghai Knights.

The Lovers.

Thorne - Sleepyhead.

Wake Wood.

You’re Ugly Too.

Buddy Boy.

Mojo.

Some Mother’s Son.

Trouble With Sex.

More will be added next year. Until then, happy new year!

[thomasbarrowlesbian]

Rob James-Collier as Colonel Archie Christie in Urban Myths: The Mysterious Case of Agatha Christie (2018)

[lordeasriel]

 On the daemon’s voice actors

Joe Tandberg is in The Innocents, as Vic, and he did the voice of Josera Snow on Telltale’s Game of Thrones (x) (link provided by Clayh5 on reddit)

Cristela Alonzo is a comedian, an actress and one of her works as a voice actress is on Cars 3 as Cruz Ramires (x)

Kit Connor has most recently been on Rocketman, and Player #1. Given his young age, I assume his normal voice shall be Pan’s voice, but that’s a guess.

Brian Fisher is also the puppeteer of Pikachu, in Detective Pikachu. He apparently is independent and you can check some of his work on his site (x)

David Suchet is famous for being in Agatha Christie’s Poirot as Poirot himself. He’s been, recently, in Urban Myths as Salvador Dalí and in a episode of Doctor Who.

Helen McCrory is known as Narcisa Malfoy from Harry Potter, Polly Gray in Peaky Blinders and Madame Kali in Penny Dreadful.

[artigas]

oh wow!! these are awesome questions, most of which I genuinely dont think I know the answers to for you?! woah. dude - william shakespeare and agatha christie please!!! (RIP to whoever asks you jonathan swift. im not asking.)

Questions you don’t know the answer to?! That’s so rad!! Thank you for messaging me ♡if you were to write someone’s biography who would it be? I could probably churn out at Mary Shelley biography by now, to be honest. I’ve read enough about her to be able to get annoyed by some of the nonsense some folks say both in academia and even here- like the fact that there is no evidence whatsoever to support the idea that Mary Shelley lost her virginity on her mother’s grave or the long-held academic notion that Percy wrote a lot of Frankenstein for Mary. Even the myth that she wrote the entire novel because of a horror story contest isn’t exactly right. ... okay, I’m getting into this. Yeah, a Mary Shelley biography and I think I’d be especially down to do some digging around the idea that she may have actually fallen in love with one of the women with whom Percy cheated on her with. Youch.

which mystery would you like to know the answer to? Hm. I think the Axe Man of New Orelans makes for some pretty haunting urban myth, so it’d be rad to get to the bottom of that. The murders at Keddie Cabin are so horrifying, too, that it’s kinda hard to stomach nobody ever paid for committing that crime. I feel like, as far as mysteries are concerned, it’s pretty funny that I have zero impulse to solve theological or metaphysical ones and my mind just goes to true crime. With maybe the only exception being - somehow being able to unravel the most anyone possibly could about dark matter and black holes. Scientific mysteries!! (ALSO ... You DIDNT ask so I shall not answer!!) 

[overlycaffeinatedwarmage]

So four of us were at MegaCon last weekend and we had a chance to talk KC’s ear off.  We also had a chance to listen to her a bit.  I, of course, took notes.  Here’s what I got.  Please feel free to ask questions about anything I have.  I will flesh out what I can!

Panel notes:

None of her characters are based on real people that she knows. Too much bad shit happens to them. An element of her work that she’s proud of: she uses her history degree with her writing. Favorite mythologies to write are about gods (didn’t mention one particular cultural pantheon). Lots of cross over with various mythologies throughout the world. Makes sense since people travel and talk. Many of the giddy traits cross over, some of the gods are identical across cultures too.

Mythology has everything that Urban Fantasy has in it, romance, heroes, monsters, etc. Really UF is a retelling of the old stories in a modern way. We even have similar stories across stories, just like they did. God in a jar mythology is a common theme (Artemis is in a jar right now dajuan note).

World building: Write what you need for first book, world building wise, never enough pages for world building per book. Don't do all at once. Too much, leave some for future books. Your editor will always tell you to cut it down anyway. You need to know the world and back story even if audience doesn't yet. Audience will know if you contradict something and they will tell you. But don’t box yourself in, don’t let others write your rules, break them if you need to.

Writing is a you learn as you go craft. When you read your old stuff, think to yourself "look how far I’ve come!" rather than cringe at it. You aren't perfect. Enjoy what you are now and learn from it and grow from it. Work on the story, that’s what people care about more than the grammar and perfect characters, those are important but secondary to the story itself.

She knows the major beats of story now, but not all the details yet. Mystery authors are her favorites (Agatha Christie was mentioned several times). Liked mischievous gods, assholes, they more fun. If they are good, watch out! (Daj note, I got big HINT vibes here! Artemis isn't as altruistic as she seems maybe?? Personally, I've been wondering about her for a while. There is definitely more going on with her.)

Stay in genre but make it new, fresh spin: take new things, Pythia, new abilities. Hard to make vampire different, same with witch. Pick new creature to explore. Go back to original myths Bonicon: ox type thing, napalm from butt (need to look up name, I am 100% sure I either misheard or misspelled it). Must do some digging to find new stuff.

Add some realism, how do the characters get money? Stuff like that (ie early Cassie and Billy cheating casinos) Mystery, how keep threat level up? Kill someone else! World expansion: story or character come first? It depends All characters must have an arc. Even supporting characters, must change or not believable. Five characters in a scene, all should have a distinct voice. A friend should be able to tell which character said a line a dialogue Character best friend? Rosier, she would hang out with him (we cheered, loudly).

Personal discussion:

Mircea always a rogue. No one should be surprised by his shit in RtS. It was telegraphed all the way back in TtD.

Cassie is an extrovert who had to learn to be introvert by upbringing. She is learning to let people in now.

Cassie has a woman’s strength, is girly and ok with it. Meant to be a character many women could relate to.

Dory by herself would be boring(?) Dorina is what makes her unique or interesting. She would be more cookie cutter character without Dorina.

KC doesn’t want to write cookie cutter characters or stories.

There are so many characters out there for all types of men (strong, weak, nerdy, whatever) but not all types of women. Cassie is an “everywoman" character that every woman could see an aspect of themselves in. Because think about it, if shit were to hit the fan what would you do? Go out guns blazing or hide behind the sofa? Probably hide behind the sofa.

There was a lot of Tolkien talk about the three whole female characters in those books. I’m a little foggy here because Tolkien is not my thing, (I had to ask who everyone was to be sure I understood, yes I was a little embarrassed). One character was the prize for the king, one was a warrior woman or essentially a “man with boobs," and one was actually a woman with her own agency. There have to be more roles for women in fantasy than this. We deserve better. There is nothing wrong with the warrior woman, but that’s not all woman and many can't see themselves like that. (Daj note I can't see myself in the warrior women and I'm stronger than the average woman. Strength, power is not my strength.  I’m excited to see a wider variety of role models for young women.)

There are at least 3 more books after BtT. Big stuff is coming! No, we didn’t ask what!

KC does not write romances! This has been said before but needs to be reiterated. She writes about people and people have romance, sex, friends, enemies, etc so of course there would be elements of that in the books. Otherwise the characters would not be believable. She does write damn good stories and characters though. All of her characters have arcs, they change because real people change. The bigger the character the bigger the arc. Smaller or side characters have arcs too, though, they just have smaller ones.

There are some obvious hints in books as to what is coming that we are all missing. (No, we didn’t ask what they were. We did our best not to blatantly ask for spoilers. There were things that we would say that she'd just smile at, but I'm not saying what. I'm doing *my* damnedest not to spoil people as well.) People will sometimes pick up the smallest of hints she thinks they will miss though.

Yes, Mircea has a foot fetish. Why not? It's mild as fetishes go really. (We had a good giggle about that.) Again, it's a thing that makes him real. Rian chose Casanova for a reason and it's a BIG reason. If you catch my drift ;) (More giggles and an embarrassing amount of discussion was spent here.)

Rosier speech "fake it, everyone else is too" has gotten her through a lot (daj note, me too. It’s my favorite speech in the series, I give and get it often.)

Again, any errors are mine. I do not speak for Karen Chance so do not hold her to anything that I have written here. Most of this is cobbled together from notes and exhausted, overexcited memory.  She is free to correct me on any errors that I have made, and I sincerely apologize for making them and potentially speaking out of turn. She was an absolute blast to chat with and I am honored to have been given the opportunity to spend a few hours with her this weekend. I will forever claim that she is one of the kindest authors and people that I have met. I know a lot of wicked cool people, so I don't give that praise lightly. Let me know if you have any questions. I’ll will try to answer what I can. If my roomies have anything to add, please feel free! @emberfaye @pritkinspalemoons @annalane

[papa-evershed]

Rob James-Collier || Urban Myths: Agatha Christie

[sophiarose1816]

It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading? #57

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week.  It’s a great post to organise yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment, and er… add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye’s Blog   and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date. And here we are!

What Did I Read This Last Week?

How the White Trash Zombie Got Her Groove Back by Diana Rowland

#4 White Trash Zombie

Urban Fantasy

Angel and the gang hit the Big Apple to save their friends.  Good action and interesting reveals.

Pet Trade by Carol Van Natta

#3.5 Central Galactic Concordance

Sci Fi Romance

This is a re-read, but it was as stellar as ever.  Loved the exotic pets, the in depth characters and exciting plot.

Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli, Narrated by Michael Crouch

#1 Creekwood

YA M/M Contemporary Romance

Secret correspondence lover, a blackmailer, and growing up!  Endearing story.

Embrace the Passion by SE Smith, Anna Hacket, Ruby Lionsdrake, Veronica Scott, Pauline Baird Jones, Carol Van Natta, Tiffany Roberts, Alexis Glynn Latner, ED Walker, JC Hay, and Kyndra Hatch

#3 Pets in Space

Sci-Fi Romance, Anthology

Fabulous variety pack of novellas.  Many familiar authors, some new to me, but no duds in the group.

The Dragon and the Pearl by Jeannie Lin

#2 Tang Dynasty

Historical Romance

Enemies to lovers, political intrigue, and a warlord vs a courtesan in a colorful and lavish Asian setting.

Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff, full cast

#1 Aurora Chronicles

YA Sci Fi

Underdog, misfit crew out to unravels some secrets and save the galaxy from a cunning evil villain. 

Slightly Sinful by Mary Balogh

#5 Bedwyn Saga

Historical Romance

Amnesia, Battle of Waterloo, brothel, conman, and a fake mates romance all rolled into this fab story.

Fatal Finds in Nuala by Harriet Steel

#4 Inspector de Silva mystery

Historical Cozy Mystery

Shanti and Jane play archeologist while trying to solve a villager’s murder that is the tip of the artifact.

Eun Na and the Phantom by Erica Laurie

Fantasy Romance, Korean Folk Tale

Myth and legend are brought together in this enchanting and sweet Korean folk tale variation that allows a village girl to save a cursed man through love and a young idle lordling and a village shaman the same with the efforts and whimsical aid of the dragons.

The Early Cases of Hercule Poirot by Agatha Christie

Historical Mystery

Fun reading these 25 short story mystery classics.

WHAT AM I READING NOW?

Wolf Rain by Nalini Singh

#3 Psy-Changeling Trinity, #18 Psy-Changeling

Paranormal Romance

WHAT WILL I READ NEXT?

White Trash Zombie Gone Wild by Diana Rowland

#5 White Trash Zombie

Urban Fantasy

[newstfionline]

I’m a Russian expat living in Britain and I’m sick of being told I’m trashy, evil and corrupt

Valerie Stark, The Independent, April 12, 2018

My name is Valerie Stark. But that’s not my real name. In fact, I don’t use the last name that I was given at birth for two reasons. First, it’s hard to spell and pronounce for non-Russian speakers. Second, after a few years of living in UK, I got tired of getting frowned upon or getting that commiserative look.

I quickly realised that acknowledging that you’re Russian in the UK is like admitting that you have a deadly disease and you have only few weeks to live. And it’s contagious. “Oh…” as a response to me talking about my national identity became the norm. I started to use my last name less and less. And eventually I completely dropped it.

Losing my last name didn’t mean the end of the troubles, but at least I managed to avoid that look when my name was called for a reservation in the restaurant or when visiting a beauty salon. I stopped being a hooker or a criminal coming to laser off her nasty Russian pelage. I became Ms Stark, the woman with a few unwanted hairs.

However, my social life wasn’t as smooth as my legs. Even though I wasn’t the most social creature on planet Earth (mostly due to my workload), I definitely used to have a pool of people back home. People who I could call in the evening after a hard day at work and pop to their place with a bottle of wine on very short notice. And a couple of very close friends who didn’t need any notice at all but needed two bottles of wine.

Things in London were very different. I struggled to make friends, and my nationality seemed like it was one of the main contributors to this problem. In fact, it started from day one when I arrived in London. I settled in the hotel, and after a short, refreshing walk, I went to the restaurant to have dinner. As I was waiting to be seated at the bar, I sparked up a conversation with two British men in their mid-twenties, and it was just a lovely chit-chat. Well, at least it was up until they asked me where I was from.

I don’t have that prominent Russian accent we’re all familiar with, and most of the time people struggle to detect it. I told the boys that I was born in Moscow and expected some cheesy, tipsy comment about polar bears or vodka. But instead, it was, “For f**k’s sake. Not Russian!”

I was shocked and, for a second or two, I tried to gather myself together to ask them why. But by that time, they were already gone.

Similar situations kept occurring, and each time they were more painful. At a yoga retreat, I was told by a yoga buddy to explain why “all Russian women dress inappropriately”.

A physiologist who I went to see for my pain in the neck (and I don’t mean my nationality here) asked me if I was Russian as she was manipulating my C-3. Her response after receiving yes as an answer made my trust in her, as someone who I wanted to work on my vertebrae, quickly disappear. Her words still stick with me today: “So many Russians with lots of money come here and buy all these expensive houses. You know we don’t like each other. Well. You might not remember, but your mother definitely does. Cold War and everything.” It was like a flow of really nasty diarrhoea coming from her mouth. She finished the session. I paid and walked away, and never went back.

Before moving to the UK, I had the impression that America and Europe were all about tolerance. Now I was coming to realise that tolerance and love towards other cultures isn’t something that comes together with a certain citizenship or upon completion of a yoga retreat. Rather, they’re achieved through education, life experience and challenging one’s own hypocrisies. Thinking that you’re better than someone else because you were born and raised in a particular country that is now boasting its tolerance is a big fat myth.

Russia has long way to go when it comes to tolerance and equality, but this is due to entrenched prejudices from a long and painful Russian history. Things are changing, whether you want to believe it or not.

There are many more of amazing Russians who are definitely not “criminals and hookers” and who feel sad when they are being profiled and judged just because they are who they are.

Don’t get me wrong--both I and many other Russians living in and outside the UK absolutely adore British culture. There is a cult of British literature, movies and Britain itself in Russia. Russians obsessively read Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, Dickens, Wilde, Austen, Tolkien and, of course, J K Rowling. Our publishing houses reprint the works of Lewis Carol with handwriting and sketches inside and then cover the edges of the pages with gold. I have never seen one of those in the UK.

We love Charlie Chaplin, discuss every outfit of Kate Middleton, have multiple geeky communities who dress like Beowulf and Grendel and even some which speak Elvish. We listen to Robbie Williams and want to marry David Beckham, though only if he comes with Victoria’s wardrobe.

I myself studied the History of Western Europe while living in Russia and then comparative literature and Anglo-Saxon history for my BA and MA in the UK. I also met many wonderful Brits, including my favourite history teacher, Robin Anthony, who also knows how to speak Elvish and tells the best stories about Henry VIII.

But unfortunately, and despite my love of Britain, my nationality still plays a big role in how people treat me. I decided to write this opinion piece after being sent messages including “Glad you’re going back to Russia soon” and “Russian whore”. Recent political events have dialled up the Russian-hating to 100.

I want people to hear about my experiences first-hand and not to buy into media speculations about Russians in Britain. What we need is more stories about self-made Russians who have assimilated happily into British life in the press, rather than articles and TV series which portray Russians solely as gangsters and corrupt oligarchs. We need movies about Russian culture, people and maybe even superheroes, rather than the same old storylines about spies and prostitutes. We need some of your love and respect and I believe we, as anyone else in this world, equally deserve it.

So far, what we have as a top definition of “Russian” in Urban Dictionary is “An accent you can do to prevent yourself from getting mugged in a dark alley”. Is that the best we can do?

[meganrosereads-blog]

2018 New Releases

I love finding new releases. There’s something just so satisfying (and smug) about being one of the first to read an amazing book before everyone else. I often like to trawl the web and find out about the new books and debuts that pique my interest and note them down, because who doesn’t love a good list right???

So here are the first 10 books to be released in 2018 that I have my eye on.

Glass Town by Steven Savile - UK release 13 January 2018 (Fantasy) - St Martin’s Press

“ In 1926, two brothers both loved Eleanor Raines, a promising young actress from the East End of London. But, along with Seth Lockwood, she disappeared, never to be seen again. Isaiah, Seth’s younger brother, refused to accept that she was just gone. It has been seventy years since and the brothers are long dead. But now their dark, twisted secret, threatens to tear the city apart. Seth made a bargain with Damiola, an illusionist, to make a life size version of his most famous trick, and hide away part of London to act as a prison out of sync with our time, where one year passes as one hundred. That illusion is Glass Town. And now its walls are failing. Reminiscent of Clive Barker’s Weaveworld and Neil Gaiman’s American Gods, Savile brings out the magic in the everyday. Glass Town is full of gritty urban landscapes, realistic characters, conflict, secrets, betrayals, magic, and mystery.”

Swan Song by Kerry Andrew - UK release 25 January 2018 (Literary Fiction) - Jonathan Cape

“ In this stunningly assured, immersive and vividly atmospheric first novel, a young woman comes face-to-face with the volatile, haunted wilderness of the Scottish Highlands. Polly Vaughan is trying to escape the ravaging guilt of a disturbing incident in London by heading north to the Scottish Highlands. As soon as she arrives, this spirited, funny, alert young woman goes looking for drink, drugs and sex – finding them all quickly, and unsatisfactorily, with the barman in the only pub. She also finds a fresh kind of fear, alone in this eerie, myth-drenched landscape. Increasingly prone to visions or visitations – floating white shapes in the waters of the loch or in the woods – she is terrified and fascinated by a man she came across in the forest on her first evening, apparently tearing apart a bird. Who is this strange loner? And what is his sinister secret? Kerry Andrew is a fresh new voice in British fiction; one that comes from a deep understanding of the folk songs, mythologies and oral traditions of these islands. Her powerful metaphoric language gives Swansong a charged, hallucinatory quality that is unique, uncanny and deeply disquieting,”

The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar - UK release 25 January 2018 (Historical Fiction/Magical Realism) - Harvill Secker

“One September evening in 1785, the merchant Jonah Hancock hears urgent knocking on his front door. One of his captains is waiting eagerly on the step. He has sold Jonah’s ship for what appears to be a mermaid. As gossip spreads through the docks, coffee shops, parlours and brothels, everyone wants to see Mr Hancock’s marvel. Its arrival spins him out of his ordinary existence and through the doors of high society. At an opulent party, he makes the acquaintance of Angelica Neal, the most desirable woman he has ever laid eyes on… and a courtesan of great accomplishment. This meeting will steer both their lives onto a dangerous new course, on which they will learn that priceless things come at the greatest cost. Where will their ambitions lead? And will they be able to escape the destructive power mermaids are said to possess? In this spell-binding story of curiosity and obsession, Imogen Hermes Gowar has created an unforgettable jewel of a novel, filled to the brim with intelligence, heart and wit.”

The Wicked Cometh by Laura Carlin - UK release 1 February 2018 (Historical Fiction) - Hodder & Stoughton

“ The year is 1831 Down the murky alleyways of London, acts of unspeakable wickedness are taking place and no one is willing to speak out on behalf of the city’s vulnerable poor as they disappear from the streets. Out of these shadows comes Hester White, a bright young woman who is desperate to escape the slums by any means possible. When Hester is thrust into the world of the aristocratic Brock family, she leaps at the chance to improve her station in life under the tutelage of the fiercely intelligent and mysterious Rebekah Brock. But whispers from her past slowly begin to poison her new life and both she and Rebekah are lured into the most sinister of investigations. Hester and Rebekah find themselves crossing every boundary they’ve ever known in pursuit of truth, redemption and passion. But their trust in each other will be tested as a web of deceit begins to unspool, dragging them into the blackest heart of a city where something more depraved than either of them could ever imagine is lurking … “

The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton - UK release 8 February 2018 (Mystery) - Raven Books

“A brilliantly original high concept murder mystery from a fantastic new talent: Gosford Park meets Inception, by way of Agatha Christie ‘Somebody’s going to be murdered at the ball tonight. It won’t appear to be a murder and so the murderer won’t be caught. Rectify that injustice and I’ll show you the way out.’ It is meant to be a celebration but it ends in tragedy. As fireworks explode overhead, Evelyn Hardcastle, the young and beautiful daughter of the house, is killed. But Evelyn will not die just once. Until Aiden – one of the guests summoned to Blackheath for the party – can solve her murder, the day will repeat itself, over and over again. Every time ending with the fateful pistol shot. The only way to break this cycle is to identify the killer. But each time the day begins again, Aiden wakes in the body of a different guest. And someone is determined to prevent him ever escaping Blackheath…”

The Coffin Path by Katherine Clements - UK release 8 February 2018 (Gothic/Horror) - Headline Review 

“ The Coffin Path by Katherine Clements is an eerie and compelling seventeenth-century ghost story set on the dark wilds of the Yorkshire moors. For fans of Michelle Paver and Sarah Waters, this gothic tale will weave its way into your imagination and chill you to the bone. ‘The vibrant new voice of historical fiction’ - Suzannah Dunn. Mercy Booth has lived at Scarcross, the old hall just off the coffin path, for all her life. The moors and the house are in her blood - and her soul. Ellis Ferreby is a mysterious, unpredictable outsider who arrives there unexpectedly and finds himself increasingly drawn into her world. But the house holds a tainted history. And the moor top hides something far darker…”

The Sealwoman’s Gift by Sally Magnusson - UK release 8 February 2018 (Historical Fiction) - Two Roads

“ In 1627 Barbary pirates raided the coast of Iceland and abducted some 400 of its people, including 250 from a tiny island off the mainland. Among the captives sold into slavery in Algiers were the island pastor, his wife and their three children. Although the raid itself is well documented, little is known about what happened to the women and children afterwards. It was a time when women everywhere were largely silent. In this brilliant reimagining, Sally Magnusson gives a voice to Ásta, the pastor’s wife. Enslaved in an alien Arab culture Ásta meets the loss of both her freedom and her children with the one thing she has brought from home: the stories in her head. Steeped in the sagas and folk tales of her northern homeland, she finds herself experiencing not just the separations and agonies of captivity, but the reassessments that come in any age when intelligent eyes are opened to other lives, other cultures and other kinds of loving. The Sealwoman’s Gift is about the eternal power of storytelling to help us survive. The novel is full of stories - Icelandic ones told to fend off a slave-owner’s advances, Arabian ones to help an old man die. And there are others, too: the stories we tell ourselves to protect our minds from what cannot otherwise be borne, the stories we need to make us happy.”

Folk by Zoe Gilbert - UK release 8 February 2018 (Fantasy/Literary Fiction) - Bloomsbury

“ Every year they gather, while the girls shoot their arrows and the boys hunt them out. The air is riddled with spiteful shadows - the wounds and fears and furies of a village year. On a remote and unforgiving island lies a village unlike any other: Neverness. A girl is snatched by a water bull and dragged to its lair, a babe is born with a wing for an arm and children ask their fortunes of an oracle ox. While the villagers live out their own tales, enchantment always lurks, blighting and blessing in equal measure. Folk is a dark and sinuous debut circling the lives of one generation. In this world far from our time and place, the stories of the islanders interweave and overlap, their own folklore twisting fates and changing lives. A captivating, magical and haunting debut novel of breathtaking imagination, from the winner of the 2014 Costa Short Story Award.”

The Toymakers by Robert Dinsdale - UK release 8 February 2018 (Fantasy/Historical Fiction) - Del Rey

“Do you remember when you believed in magic? The Emporium opens with the first frost of winter. It is the same every year. Across the city, when children wake to see ferns of white stretched across their windows, or walk to school to hear ice crackling underfoot, the whispers begin: the Emporium is open! It is 1917, and London has spent years in the shadow of the First World War. In the heart of Mayfair, though, there is a place of hope. A place where children’s dreams can come true, where the impossible becomes possible – that place is Papa Jack’s Toy Emporium. For years Papa Jack has created and sold his famous magical toys: hobby horses, patchwork dogs and bears that seem alive, toy boxes bigger on the inside than out, ‘instant trees’ that sprout from boxes, tin soldiers that can fight battles on their own. Now his sons, Kaspar and Emil, are just old enough to join the family trade. Into this family comes a young Cathy Wray – homeless and vulnerable. The Emporium takes her in, makes her one of its own. But Cathy is about to discover that while all toy shops are places of wonder, only one is truly magical… “

The Philosopher’s Flight by Tom Miller - UK release 13 February 2018 (Fantasy) - Simon & Schuster

“ A thrilling debut from ER doctor turned novelist Tom Miller, The Philosopher’s Flight is an epic historical fantasy set in a World-War-I-era America where magic and science have blended into a single extraordinary art. “Like his characters, Tom Miller casts a spell.” (Matthew Pearl, author of The Dante Club and The Last Bookaneer) Eighteen-year-old Robert Weekes is a practitioner of empirical philosophy—an arcane, female-dominated branch of science used to summon the wind, shape clouds of smoke, heal the injured, and even fly. Though he dreams of fighting in the Great War as the first male in the elite US Sigilry Corps Rescue and Evacuation Service—a team of flying medics—Robert is resigned to mixing batches of philosophical chemicals and keeping the books for the family business in rural Montana, where his mother, a former soldier and vigilante, aids the locals. When a deadly accident puts his philosophical abilities to the test, Robert rises to the occasion and wins a scholarship to study at Radcliffe College, an all-women’s school. At Radcliffe, Robert hones his skills and strives to win the respect of his classmates, a host of formidable, unruly women. Robert falls hard for Danielle Hardin, a disillusioned young war hero turned political radical. However, Danielle’s activism and Robert’s recklessness attract the attention of the same fanatical anti-philosophical group that Robert’s mother fought years before. With their lives in mounting danger, Robert and Danielle band together with a team of unlikely heroes to fight for Robert’s place among the next generation of empirical philosophers—and for philosophy’s very survival against the men who would destroy it. In the tradition of Lev Grossman and Deborah Harkness, Tom Miller writes with unrivaled imagination, ambition, and humor. The Philosopher’s Flight is both a fantastical reimagining of American history and a beautifully composed coming-of-age tale for anyone who has ever felt like an outsider.”

[bookwyrmshoard]

Ten Series I’ve Been Meaning To Start (But Haven’t Yet)

The Queen’s Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner. I really do plan to read this MG fantasy series set in an analog of ancient Greece/Turkey, but other books keep getting in the way. Every review I’ve read has been positive, and my daughter loved the first book.

The Shades of London trilogy by V. E. Schwab. I actually did start the first book, but got distracted by other things before I’d read more than a few chapters, and haven’t managed to get back to it, so I’m counting this has “haven’t started.” But I definitely plan to read this trilogy about four alternate Londons, each of which has a different magic (or none at all.) And I want to read them before the television adaption is released, whenever that is.

The Blackthorn and Grim series by Juliet Marillier. Marillier weaves fairytales and Irish myths into this adult fantasy series about a healer and her ex-convict companion. This is another where I started the first book but didn’t get far, and although I keep meaning to start over, I haven’t done so yet. The chapter and a half that I read were very good.

The October Daye series by Seanan McGuire. I’m not sure if these will be too dark for me, but they sound amazing: fantasy/urban fantasy about a half-human, half-Fae changeling, a former knight who renounced the fae world but gets pulled back into it.

The InCryptid series by Seanan McGuire. This is McGuire’s most lighthearted and humourous series, an urban fantasy series about a family of cryptozoologists who try to keep the mundane world from finding out about all the paranormal creatures out there.

The Great Library trilogy by Rachel Caine. The premise is so cool: an alternate fantasy universe in which the Library of Alexandria survived, but it controls all books and content, and personal ownership of books is outlawed. Now that all three books are out, I can start it without having to wait a year for the next installment. Except that I just discovered there may be more books coming…

The Leviathan trilogy by Scott Westerfeld. Another of Robin’s recommendations, and it sounds terrific: a YA steampunk/gaslamp alt-WWI-history in which the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne is on the run, accompanied by a British girl disguised as a boy (and he doesn’t know she’s a girl for at least a book or two.)

The Books of Bayern by Shannon Hale. I don’t know why I haven’t read this MG fantasy series yet, especially since Robin loves them. And the first, at least, is is a loose retelling of a fairytale — and I love fairytale retellings.

The Cotswold Mysteries by Rebecca Tope. England, Cotswolds, mystery. That should be enough to entice me right there. And if it weren’t, the fact that I’ve had four or five of them on my TBR shelves downstairs for about two years means I really should have started this series already.

The Kurland St. Mary mystery series by Catherine Lloyd. A Regency-era mystery series: think Jane Austen crossed with Agatha Christie. Sounds delightful, doesn’t it?