The Haunted Bookshop by Christopher Morley

The Haunted Bookshop by Christopher Morley
Grosset & Dunlap, 1919
Mystery; 289 pgs

Completed: 12/22/2007
Rating: (Very Good)


First Sentence: If you are ever in Brooklyn, that borough of superb sunsets and magnificent vistas of husband-propelled baby-carriages, it is to be hoped you may chance upon a quiet by-street where there is a very remarkable bookshop.

Reason for Reading: This book came recommended by a friend several years ago. I have an ancient copy of the book, cover tattered and falling apart, which I found on E-Bay after having no luck finding a new copy online or in the stores.

This is my 1910’s selection for the Reading Through the Decades Challenge and my 5th Selection for the Unread Authors Challenge.

Comments: If ever there was a book meant for booklovers, especially one who enjoys a mystery, a touch of romance and eccentric characters, this is it. Christopher Morley’s The Haunted Bookshop was a pleasure to read.

The Haunted Bookshop is actually the sequel to another of Christopher Morley’s novels, one called Parnassus on Wheels. I have yet to lay my hands on a copy of that particular book, sad to say. Having not read the previous book, I had no trouble following along or getting to know the characters. This is very much a stand-alone novel, however.

Roger Mifflin is an eccentric bookseller who owns and runs Parnassus At Home, otherwise known as the Haunted Bookshop. One day while Roger is running the shop alone, his wife off on an adventure in Boston, an advertising salesman wanders into the store and makes a pitch hoping to land a new account. Aubrey Gilbert is young and eager, but Roger is adamant that he does just fine with the word of mouth advertising his loyal customers provide him. Just the same, the two strike up a friendship.

The bookseller and his wife Helen had previously agreed to take in a nineteen-year-old girl at the request of her wealthy father. Mr. Chapman fears his daughter has taken in too many frivolous ideas, and he believes she is in need of a serious reality check. He thinks that working and living at the second hand bookshop is just what the young woman needs. Titania is a delightful and lovely young woman who turns many heads and yet is friendly and eager to begin this new enterprise.

Just before Titania’s arrival, a man comes to the shop looking for a particular book that Roger is sure he once had on his shelf. The book, however, is missing. When the book reappears later on, Roger couldn’t be more puzzled. Thus begins a mystery full of danger and intrigue. Aubrey is determined to uncover whatever nefarious plot there may be, fearing that the beautiful Titania may be at the greatest risk.

I was most taken in by Roger Mifflin and his obvious love for books as well as his job. While he is a bit of a book snob, it was hard to hold that against a man who understands the hold a book can have on a reader. Although not a prominent character, Helen is definitely a presence in the book. She is down to earth and sensible while Titania is sprightly in her youth. It is really Aubrey who carries the forward motion of the story, however, ever tenacious in his pursuits.

Christopher Morley has written a charming novel that is full of humor, while at the same time it is quite exciting. Set at the end of World War I, talk of peace and the politics of the war place this book more firmly in history as do the events that unfold with each turned page. I definitely plan to continue in my search for a copy of the prequel to this novel and perhaps venture onto some of the authors other writings. It was a pleasure to spend time with him and his characters.

Favorite Parts: I loved how Roger put together Bock’s kennel—a booklover’s haven for a dog.

The term librocubicularist, which refers to a person who is fond of reading in bed (a word completely made up by the author).

Cringe worthy quote: “He knew his disadvantages in literary conversation, for he had gone to an excellent college where glee clubs and theatricals had left him little time for reading. But still he was a lover of good books, though he knew them chiefly by hearsay.” [pg 16]

In response to the assumption that working in a bookstore is tranquil: “’Living in a bookshop is like living in a warehouse of explosives. Those shelves are ranked with the most furious combustibles in the world—the brains of men.’” [pg 19]

“’I tell you, books are the depositories of the human spirit, which is the only thing in the world that endures.’” [pg 50]

“’Did you ever notice how books track you down and hunt you out? They follow you like the hound in Francis Thompson’s poem. They know their quarry!’” [pg 132]
and
“’ It’s one of the uncanniest things I know to watch a real book on its career. It follows you and follows you and drives you into a corner and makes you read it.’” [pg 132]

Miscellaneous: We went to see The Kite Runner today, which was playing a little closer to home than expected. There are several other movies I am anxious still to see before the year is out. Atonement, Sweeney Todd, Juno, and Charlie Wilson's War are all on our list. I do not know if we will get to them all, but we will put in a good effort.

In A Lonely Place by Dorothy B. Hughes

In A Lonely Place by Dorothy B. Hughes
Femmes Fatales, 1947
Suspense/Thriller; 250 pgs

Completed: 12/21/2007
Rating: (Good +)

First Sentence: It was good standing there on the promontory overlooking the evening sea, the fog lifting itself like gauzy veils to touch his face.

Reason for Reading: I am sure this book was recommended by one of the author’s I heard speak at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books in 2006, however, I forgot to write it down. I do know that I walked away from the festival that April with a copy of the book, both my husband and I interested in reading it.

This is my 11th selection for the TBR Challenge, my 1940’selection for the Reading Through the Decades Challenge and my 4th selection for the Unread Authors Challenge.

Comments: In A Lonely Place is purported as author Dorothy B. Hughes best novel, a hardboiled noir set in postwar Los Angeles. Dix Steele is cocky and sure of himself as the novel begins. Although written in third person, the author never strays from the main character’s point of view as the world and the events in the novel filter solely through his viewpoint. He makes for an interesting protagonist, although never a likeable one. It is obvious from the first page he does not think much of women. Instead, sharp-eyed psychologist Sylvia Nicolai and the fiery Laurel Gray, who knows exactly what she wants and goes after it without hesitation, are the two characters who stand out and demand respect from readers. Dix falls hard for the beautiful Laurel Gray, a woman unlike any other he has come across before. She may just be his match and what follows is not at all what Dix could have anticipated.

Sylvia’s husband is none other than Detective Nicolai, Dix’s best friend. His latest case is tracking down a killer known as the Strangler who has left a string of female victims in his wake. Dix takes particular interest in the investigation.

For those who do not care for reading violent scenes, the novel is not at all graphic and instead is more psychological in its approach. Dorothy B. Hughes capably builds suspense and wonder throughout her novel. I cannot say that this particular novel stands out above some of the other serial killer novels of its kind I have read. Although cold and calculated, the killer was never really frightening as a character. Perhaps that in part was because the author did paint the killer as a somewhat sympathetic person. The murderer was smart, no doubt, but overconfidence and rationalization never failed to make the killer seem less so.

In A Lonely Place was an entertaining novel and also made for interesting reading as a period piece. Dorothy B. Hughes’ novel stepped outside of the lines during its day, offering up strong willed and intelligent women and challenging the societal notion that women shared the blame in their victimization. Dorothy B. Hughes certainly earned the high praise her book has received.

Favorite Part: Sylvia’s character most intrigued me, and I almost wish the author could have shone a light on her a little more. However, the novel would not have been quite so effective otherwise.

Miscellaneous: In A Lonely Place may be better known for the 1950 movie version starring Humphrey Bogart as Dix Steele. As often happens, movies are not exact reflections of the books they are based on, and, in this case, the movie definitely takes the story in a different direction than the novel takes the reader.

Friday Fill Ins #13

1. Snow is quite beautiful from a distance.
2. I'm looking forward to Christmas morning and watching my husband open his Christmas presents.
3. Sleeping in is the best way to start a vacation ever!
4. One of my favorite old TV shows is Little House on the Prairie.
5. I'm done with my Christmas shopping. Is that possible?
6. The most enjoyable things around the holidays are all the Christmas music, decorations, and smiling faces.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to driving through the city to see all the light displays, tomorrow my plans include going to the ARC Light Theater to see a movie or two (stupid limited release movies--make me drive all over creation and back again.) and Sunday, I want to settle in with some hot chocolate and read, read and read some more.

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Luck has been on my side recently! On a whim, I put my name in for a copy of Matrimony by Joshua Henkin at Dewey's site, The Hidden Side of a Leaf. I also decided to try for a copy of The Hours by Michael Cunningham, one of the prizes in Michelle's 12 Books of Christmas Giveaway at 1MoreChapter. In both cases, I won! Christmas this year could not be better.

Many thanks to both Dewey and Michelle for hosting the contests and offering these great books! I look forward to reading both books.

Booking Through Thursday: And the Nominees Are . . .

1. What fiction book (or books) would you nominate to be the best new book published in 2007? (Older books that you read for the first time in 2007 don’t count.)
2. What non-fiction book (or books) would you nominate to be the best new book published in 2007 (Older books that you read for the first time in 2007 don’t count.)
3. And, do “best of” lists influence your reading?

As you can well imagine, I am only able to speak to the books published in 2007 that I actually read. About a quarter of the books I have read so far this year were published in 2007, which is a decent standing. While none of this year's published books held that "wow" factor for me, I was rarely disappointed.

I admit I am having difficulty choosing just one fiction book that I would consider the best of the lot published in 2007 of those I read. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling, certainly was a great ending to a wonderful series. The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold was not only disturbing, but well executed in style and story. Forgive Me by Amanda Ward surprised me by starting off as a more light read and yet tackling very serious and hard issues surrounding the history of Apartheid in South Africa and the painful reconciliation process. There were also Karen Olson's Dead of the Day and Clea Simon's Cries and Whiskers that are terrific additions to two must read mystery series. Kelley Armstrong steps away from her paranormal series with Exit Strategy, an entertaining and dark thriller. Alex Carr's An Accidental American, another dark thriller, was both intriguing and compelling. All seven of these fiction novels rated very good on my personal rating scale.

Only two of the books I read fall under the category of nonfiction books published this year. Lauren St. John's Rainbow's End: A Memoir of Childhood, War, and an African Farm, a memoir set in Rhodesia/Zimbabwe earns the top honors in this instance. Lauren St. John took me into a culture and environment very different from my own and shared a part of herself with me.

As to whether "best of" lists influence my reading, much would depend on whose "best of" list it is. One of my favorite features this time of year is when bloggers post their "best of" lists, sharing their favorites with everyone. I do pay a attention to these lists, making note of titles that interest me. Of the more professional lists, I suppose I am influenced by them somewhat, although not always. I rarely seek out "best of" lists outside of the blogging and online reading group communities, preferring the more personal and "average joe" touch. At the same time, when I come across a link to the New York Times Notable list or some other "best of" list, I sometimes will read through it and may come across a book that sounds like it would be worth my time. I may not have noticed the book otherwise. Still, it is not the fact that the book made the list that is what draws me to it; rather, it is the subject matter of the book itself.

Song of the Cuckoo Bird by Amulya Malladi

Song of the Cuckoo Bird by Amulya Malladi
Ballantine Books, 2006
Fiction; 372 pgs

Completed: 12/16/2007
Rating: (Good +)

First Sentence: They took strips of coconut leaves and made dolls with them.

Reason for Reading: Amulya Malladi is one of my favorite authors and so there was no question that I would eventually read Song of the Cuckoo Bird. This is my 10th selection for the TBR Challenge.

From the Publisher: A sweeping epic set in southern India, where a group of outcasts create a family while holding tight to their dreams.

Barely a month after she is promised in marriage, eleven-year-old orphan Kokila comes to Tella Meda, an ashram by the Bay of Bengal. Once there, she makes a courageous yet foolish choice that alters the fabric of her life: Instead of becoming a wife and mother, youthful passion drives Kokila to remain at the ashram.

Through the years, Kokila revisits her decision as she struggles to make her mark in a country where untethered souls like hers merely slip through the cracks. But standing by her conviction, she makes a home in Tella Meda alongside other strong yet deeply flawed women. Sometimes they are her friends, sometimes they are her enemies, but always they are her family.

Like Isabel Allende, Amulya Malladi crafts complex characters in deeply atmospheric settings that transport readers through different eras, locales, and sensibilities. Careening from the 1940s to the present day, Song of the Cuckoo Bird chronicles India’s tumultuous history as generations of a makeshift family seek comfort and joy in unlikely places–and from unlikely hearts.

Comments: Song of the Cuckoo Bird is not just Kokila's story. It is the story of many of the residents and visitors of Tella Meda.

There is Ramanandam Sastri whose proclamation that his daughter Charvi is touched by the gods would dictate the rest of her life. People would flock to her for counsel and healing, her status as guru and goddess well known throughout the community. There is the loyal and faithful Subhadra, a surrogate mother to Kokila and her best friend, the outcast Chetana, the daughter of a prostitute. Then there is also the bitter, traditional widow who resents her life and strikes out at those who are different. Kokila herself is a bright woman, responsible and thoughtful. Her own life is not an easy one. The sacrifice of her marriage early one sets her up for a lonely life. And yet, she rarely complains, accepting her fate while at the same time seeking to make the best of what she does have and moving forward.

These are just a fraction of the cast of characters that walk through the pages of Amulya Malladi’s book. She paints them each with a careful brush, touching on their lives and offering the reader a look into their every day life and a glimpse into their thoughts and relationships. And yet the writing seemed a bit dry at times; the events in the novel unfold, time passes, and yet it is as if these events are being laid out for the reader in a matter of fact way rather than drawing the reader completely in. It was impossible not to come to care for the characters, however, and to feel invested in their individual stories, all of which were weaved so intricately together.

Life ebbs and flows in Tella Meda as Kokila and Chetana grow from girls into women, each coming into their own and facing the consequences of their own decisions. Song of the Cuckoo Bird is a novel that spans through 50 years of India’s history up until the modern day. As in real life, occasionally the events of the outside world influence life inside the ashram while other times they go by completely unnoticed. Amulya Malladi provides a timeline at the beginning of each chapter to set the stage for the chapter ahead, grounding the story in reality. She is effective in her use of historical facts and the cultural issues surrounding the country and the time period as well.

Because of the type of place Tella Meda is, readers are introduced to all sorts of societal outcasts, seeing more clearly the prejudices and injustices in general society. And yet it is also within this setting, that acceptance and the cultural richness are found.

Favorite Part: When television comes to the ashram. Charvi is reluctant to allow it into her home, but she finally relents at the insistence of so many of the other residents in the home. Of all the historical events that took place throughout the time line of the book, from war to assassinations of popular and powerful figureheads like the Ghandis, it was the television which seemed to bring the greatest change to life in the ashram. Suddenly meals and devotee visits were scheduled around must see television programs.

I also liked how the novel came full circle in the end. I always feel a sense of satisfaction when an author is able to accomplish that successfully.

For more information about the author and her books, visit the author's website. In my search for the website address, I also discovered Amulya Malladi has a blog you might want to check out.

Miscellaneous: Today was my unit Christmas lunch, and delicious food was had by all. It was nice to get away from the office for a couple of hours and just unwind. Our Secret Santa gift exchange went over well. Everyone left happy and full. I even received some unexpected gifts (including a Borders gift card)!

All of my holiday shopping is complete. Don't tell Riley, but I bought him a jingle bell collar for Christmas. I wonder who will feel tortured the most: him or my husband? One thing I find hard to do in the final stretch before the big day is not buying anything else. I am always tempted to get "one last item" even when I know it is completely unnecessary and probably unwise in consideration of my bank account. Does anyone else have this problem?