2008 Award Winners!

Last night was the 62nd annual Edgar Awards banquet. You can visit this site to see all of the nominees for this year's awards (accomplishments in 2007 publications).

Winner for Best Novel was John Hart's Down River. Have not read this one so here is a blurb from the starred review in PW:

"Five years earlier, Adam Chase was arrested for murder, largely on the basis of his stepmother's sworn testimony against him. He was acquitted, but nearly everyone, including his father, still thinks he did it, and Adam's deep bitterness has kept him away from home ever since. Now, at the request of a childhood friend, he's back in Salisbury, N.C., where all the old demons still reside and new troubles await. The almost Shakespearean snarl of family ties is complicated by a very modern struggle between economic progress and love for the land, between haves and have-nots. Throughout, Hart expertly weaves his main theme: that by their freedom of choice, humans are capable of betrayal but also of forgiveness and redemption. This book should settle once and for all the question of whether thrillers and mysteries can also be literature."

Winner for Best First Novel by an American Author was Tana French's In the Woods. This one has been on my to buy list for so long that the only I am waiting on now is the paperback release! Here's another blurb from PW:

"Irish author French expertly walks the line between police procedural and psychological thriller in her debut. When Katy Devlin, a 12-year-old girl from Knocknaree, a Dublin suburb, is found murdered at a local archeological dig, Det. Rob Ryan and his partner, Cassie Maddox, must probe deep into the victim's troubled family history. There are chilling similarities between the Devlin murder and the disappearance 20 years before of two children from the same neighborhood who were Ryan's best friends. Only Maddox knows Ryan was involved in the 1984 case. The plot climaxes with a taut interrogation by Maddox of a potential suspect, and the reader is floored by the eventual identity and motives of the killer. A distracting political subplot involves a pending motorway in Knocknaree, but Ryan and Maddox are empathetic and flawed heroes, whose partnership and friendship elevate the narrative beyond a gory tale of murdered children and repressed childhood trauma."

Tana French's follow-up, The Likeness, is due out in July.

This year's Stoker Awards were handed out on March 30. The winner in the best novel category was Sarah Langan's The Missing, the follow-up to her 2006 title The Keeper which was nominated for Best First Novel in '07. I have read The Keeper and here is my review from Bookbitch.com:

Susan Marley wanders the town of Bedford, Maine, leaving a trail of nightmares in her wake. Everyone in the town thinks of Susan at their worst moments. Thoughts and dreams of her come unbidden and are beyond the townspeople’s control. Then, Susan Marley is dead. Rather than relief, her death brings a plague of darkness and evil to the dying town of Bedford. Those who are able, leave before the worst of it begins. Everyone who remains hides a dark secret in their past, a secret that the dead Susan Marley can now release upon them. Sarah Langan’s Stoker nominated debut is an absolute must for horror fans. This creepy tale will, at times, remind readers of King’s Needful Things. Like King, Langan’s characters are not ideal small town folk. Most of them are barely able to keep their dirty secrets hidden from the prying eyes of gossipy neighbors. It is just this element that makes the people of Bedford more realistic, if grandiose, depictions of the worst sort of people today. Langan has an impressive voice that is all her own. I recommend you lock your doors and curl up with this book late into the night. The Keeper is only the beginning. Langan’s recent follow-up, The Missing, revisits the cursed town of Bedford.

Finally, the 2008 Stoker for Best First Novel went to the very deserving Joe Hill and his Heart Shaped Box in which rocker Jude Coyne, collector of the weird and macabre, orders a ghost on-line. Turns out it was something of a trick, though, and the ghost is hell-bent on revenge against Coyne himself. Joe Hill is the son of horror master King and is already a force to be reckoned with.

It's hard to find new and original stuff that holds up in the horror genre, but Hill has every bit of talent his father does. I loved Heart Shaped Box as did, I believe, every other person who read it. Hill's collection 20th Century Ghosts was another of my favorites last year. The collection features a wide range of stories, not all of them "horror" but every one of them amazing and fantastic. If you are not familiar with Hill just yet, I strongly encourage you to go out and find a copy of one of his books, you won't regret it!

Tomorrow's Blog, Today

I decided that I should post this before I lose my train of thought (it happens!). I am winding my way through the final chapters of Jane Johnson's debut, The Tenth Gift, probably about an hour away from finishing it up, and I decided it would be my next post.

I love books about books, when they are done right. I fall for every Da Vinci Code inspired title as well as the lost diary found stories. Of course this would include anything from "real" books as characters to the diaries mentioned above to the fictional tales of Shadow of the Wind. I love them. They're fun, they usually have a historical twist to them, and they fall into each and every category and genre there is. Some are strict mystery, I've come across horror that uses this theme, some are more literary titles. I'll give them all a shot. Yes, it is another of the patterned sort-of gimmicks that attracts my browsing attention in shops!

Author Jane Johnson is an interesting one herself. She has worked in the books industry for 20 years (per her website) and worked on Tolkien's titles, Peter Jackson's film adaptations of LOTR, has written a series of children's titles, and published separate titles under two pseudonyms. Today she works as the Fiction Publishing Director for Harpercollins UK (a title that would make any bibliophile envious). Now she's got a new title being released on May 6, the topic of which was inspired by research into her own family's history.

The Tenth Gift, aka Crossed Bones in the UK, involves two women who are linked through a common interest, but really much more than that. Present day, Julia Lovat's longtime lover has decided to break it off and try to make a go of it with his wife. As a parting gift, he gives Julia an old book called "The Needle Woman's Glorie," a centuries old piece featuring embroidery patterns of the time. Within the pages of the book is something of much more historical value than the patterns, though. It seems the original owner of the book was a girl called Catherine Anne Tregenna, Cat for short. In 1625, Cat begins to write her own story within the pages of the book. In July of that year, Cat is kidnapped by corsairs from Morocco and taken to Africa where she is to be sold into slavery. The more Julia learns of Cat's tale, the more questions she has about what happened to the girl. Cat's story will have a profound affect on Julia's own life and send her on an adventure that begins to resemble Cat's own. 

I have to say that this book is absolutely living up to each and every expectation I had for it. Johnson weaves an intricate tale that I can only compare to the likes of Carol Goodman. It's a literary adventure with a dash of mystery, romance, adventure, and history all woven together in a really great read!

Another Must Read From My Collection!

I know I've talked about her before, but I was searching on the internet and saw that even from over the pond, a blurb from my review of Hayder's Ritual made it to her site! Yay! Considering the fact that Hayder is one of my absolute favorites, this is pretty cool stuff!

This little book left was my introduction to Hayder - official since she had already been recommended to me. 

We got in this ARC along with a couple of others and I eyed this baby all through a meeting with our Loss Prevention dude at BN. It was actually like my first day, or week, or month at the new store and I think it was the first ARC I happened to see there. I can't for the life of me remember what else was sitting on that table, but this one intrigued me.

The Devil of Nanking is about a woman named Grey who travels to Japan to look for a piece of film from the 1937 Nanking Massacre. The film itself is only rumored to exist, but shows something so gruesome that for years people have told Grey she made it up. Grey has been institutionalized, for what we don't know until the very end of the book. She contacts a scholar she believes has this footage and he agrees to hand it over on one condition, Grey must find something for him first. Grey gets work in a men's club in Japan in an attempt to gain access to a local mob leader who has what the scholar wants. 

I promise you this is the ultimate in creepy, suspenseful, up-all-night reads! I have recommended it to numerous people, some of whom have come back and told me that this was the most disturbing book they'd ever read, and they loved it! It's gruesome and gory and everything that's missing from really great scary reads. As I've said before, though, none of it is gratuitous. 

Since then, I have become a severely impatient Hayder fan who just cannot wait for the American release. I ordered both Pig Island and Ritual from mystery bookstores who stock UK editions, so that I could get my Hayder fix. If you haven't read her yet, I envy you as I am now impatiently waiting for a book that will be at least a year in the making! 

Devil and Pig are both stand-alones. The remaining three titles all feature DI Jack Caffery, a damaged hero if ever there was one. First comes Birdman then Treatment (which I think was the most disturbing for me by far) and finally Ritual (can also be read as a stand-alone) which hits shelves in the states in September, but for the extra cost you can get it from High Crimes or The Poisoned Pen. 

Happy reading!

I must be missing out!

I moved away (far away) from teen books at a pretty early age. I sometimes revisited them if an author I was particularly fond of had one out (the recent Joanne Harris title Runestones, for example). Other than that, I pay attention thanks to my sisters.

I tried for years to get them reading. There are three of them by the way. One was a reading queen - she was super competitive and so was of the mind that she had to be the best at everything, including the AR goals. She's now into chick-lit and has less time to read than the other two because she is always worried about homework What's up with that? When I was in school I hardly had any. It's so not fair that kids have no time for anything else these days.

Anyway, of the other two, one absolutely fell in love with Eragon and has been a junior junkie since and the other was apparently always a closet junkie - reading when she was supposed to be sleeping so no one ever knew.

I actually had a copy of Twilight. Mike picked it up for me thinking it sounded like something I would like, and it did except that it was a teen title. Meanwhile, junior junkie #1 had moved on from dragons to vamps, so I sent it to her. She LOVED it! My copy was early so she was one of the first to read it. I managed to snag an early copy of the second thanks to a friend, but she had to make mom go buy her the third. Now she is on pins and needles for the 4th! At least she gets a reprieve. The Host is already on its way to her doorstep she just has to wait a few more days.

This one is sure to cause some trouble between junkie #1 and junkie #2 since they've been swapping books due to economic troubles - yeah, on my part! They have me buy them books and ship them across 4 states saying that they never know what to buy! I have to say, I have read The Host. It was fantastic and now I am really wishing that I had held onto Twilight long enough to read it myself. Am sorely tempted to head out and buy the paperback so that I can no longer be one of the ones missing out! I'm waiting for the movie with as much anticipation as my sisters.

My snobbery is not because I feel I am too old for teen titles. It's simply this, I have so much to read that I can't branch out to teen stuff as well! I can definitely make room for the occasional one, though, before being the good sister and passing it along. A good book is a good book either way and Stephenie Meyer has an amazing following amongst both teens and adults.

I'm rambling here. Like I said, after The Host, I want to go read about Bella and Edward! The Host, pictured right, is due out May 6 and I highly recommend it, even if you aren't normally into paranormal titles. In fact, it focuses more on one pocket of the human resistance after the alien invasion and Wanderer who is an outsider amongst her own kind. Super fun!

What I am working on

I have no blog today thanks to a visiting friend and the book pictured left. This is what I am currently working on. The book is going to the printer in June and I am trying to wrap things up so that it will be a complete book.

Anyway, like I said, this is what I am working on and today, the visiting friend (who is a bit hungover thanks to the reunion party that they had yesterday - read not feeling sorry one bit since I didn't drink) will be heading to Denver with a couple of us for lunch and bargain book shopping at the Tattered Cover! Should have some great (but really not necessary as the TBR shelves are overflowing) additions to my book collection this afternoon.

Stay tuned for a real blog tomorrow. Oh, and this is not going to be the real cover for GA. I have yet to pick the photos for that!

Weekly release update

Coming this Tuesday:

Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith - one of the most talked about debuts so far this year and it is worth all of the hype. How does one track down a serial killer in a country that has no crime?

The Lady Elizabeth by Alison Weir - historical fiction that traces the life of Elizabeth 1 from the age of three until the beginning of her monarchy.

The Deal by Adam Gittlin - a great "smart" thriller for fans of Joseph Finder and Stephen Frey

Cathedral of the Sea by Ildefonso Falcones - Spanish import that's been getting a lot of buzz

The Queen's Bastard by C. E. Murphy - Elizabethan based fantasy 

Darkest Night by Gena Showalter - first in a new paranormal romance series based on Pandora's box myth

These Boots Were Made for Strutting by Lisa Cach, Gemma Halliday, and Melanie Jackson - how the perfect pair of shoes really can transform a woman

Bloodstone by Nate Kenyon - Stoker nominated UK horror title

5th Witch by Graham Masterton

Fiancee at her Fingertips by Kathleen Bacus - when a "guy" designed to keep matchmakers off your back becomes just a little too real

One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost - Follow up to last year's paranormal mystery debut Halfway to the Grave

DVDs:

27 Dresses

New reviews up at bookbitch.com:

Child 44

The Lady Elizabeth

The Queen's Bastard

Darkest Night

The Deal

Them - A movie review

The film that terrified Europe...

Ok, with a tag line like that one, you know I had to find a copy of this movie. I walked to Target (not a long walk and with gas prices...). Nope, not in stock. I did, however, find the remake of Romero's Day of the Dead with Mena Suvari and Ving Rhames. As an aside, why all the zombie haters all of the sudden? I thought Day was getting a theatrical release ands instead it's straight to DVD! That's worse than Diary of the Dead which only played in Denver. 

Anyway, back to Them or Ils (the French title). Best Buy had copies and an ran over to get one. I then sat and waited for it to get dark. Again, with that tag line there, I needed the right atmosphere. 

The movie begins with a mother and daughter driving down the road, arguing, in Romania. The mother sees something in the street and crashes her van into a tree trying to swerve to avoid it. Of course she gets out to investigate and there is nothing there. Then, the car won't start. She gets under the hood while her daughter attempts to rev the engine. No dice. Then mom vanishes. Daughter gets out and investigates, yelling "mom" over and over until someone answers. Significantly freaked, she hops back in the car only to find that the keys are missing. She holds her hand over the door lock and tried to call the cops but gets put on hold! Then, predictably, while she was out looking for ma, one of the killers gets in the car and that's the end for daughter. All in the prologue.

Cut to Clementine and Lucas, a French couple who have been in Romania for 3 months. Clem's house just happens to be down the road from where the prologue incident occurred and she passes the accident site on her way home. The couple spend an uneventful evening together and settle down for the night. But, something wakes Clem at 3:45. Noises outside, car mysteriously sitting somewhere she didn't park it. Lucas goes to look, the car revs up aims at him a couple of times and then backs away, down the drive. They call the cops (who seem to be rather inefficient in this movie) and are told to call back in the morning regarding their stolen vehicle. Then the power goes out!

Ok, I think that's enough of a description. Sounds strikingly similar to the upcoming film The Strangers and though both movies are about a couple being harassed in their homes, and claim to be based on actual events (most likely a mish-mash of actual cases), and taking into account that I have not seen the Tyler/Speedman flick, I think that they are going to be very different outcomes. Course the outcome of Them is the creepiest aspect of the film.

Mike found it to be rather cliche, I thought it was pretty good and definitely f-ed up! Not much gore, not much blood, and it doesn't fall into the new torture porn genre either. No worries for the squeamish! Watch it in French with the subtitles!