Delaney has a new project called “Storytellers:”

What do one-legged crows, space trains that traverse a sky colored “between navy blue and royal,” and huge smiling Unicorns – all have in common?

They all make appearances in Delaney’s latest project, a series of e-books called “Frank Delaney Storytellers.” And they’re all part and parcel of the fabric of modern myth, invented in homage to a particular ancient discipline: that of the itinerant storyteller, who drew upon fantastic leaps of the imagination, actual history of local lands, and a trove of national mythology. The Storyteller’s mission reminded his countrymen of their own past, recycled their traditions and created great entertainment in the doing.

You can get a taste of the magical, lyrical world of Frank Delaney’s writing for free for the next two days. The first two stories in the “Storytellers” series are currently available free for Kindle readers (and you can download a free Kindle app for your computer or iPod or iPhone): The Druid and The Girl Who Lived on the Moon. Each story also includes the first chapter of The Last Storyteller.

Enjoy!

© CarrieK for BOOKS AND MOVIES, 2012. | Permalink | 6 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: ebooks, frank delaney, freebies, irish fiction, short fiction, short stories

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Back cover blurb: Before she wrote Rebecca, the novel that would cement her reputation as a twentieth-century literary giant, a young Daphne du Maurier penned short fiction in which she explored the images, themes, and concerns that informed her later work. Originally published in periodicals during the early 1930s, many of these stories never found their way into print again…until now.

Tales of human frailty and obsession, and of romance gone tragically awry, the thirteen stories in The Doll showcase an exciting budding talent before she went on to write one of the most beloved novels of all time. In these pages, a waterlogged notebook washes ashore revealing a dark story of jealousy and obsession, a vicar coaches a young couple divided by class issues, and an older man falls perilously in love with a much younger woman – with each tale demonstrating du Maurier’s extraordinary storytelling gifts and her deep understanding of human nature.

Daphne du Maurier is a brilliant writer, and these stories definitely showcase this talent. However, the main impression I was left after finishing was that she has a very poor opinion of romantic relationships. Actually, I don’t think she liked people in general! If there was a cohesive theme in this collection, it was that true love doesn’t ever work out the way you expect, that people are manipulative and petty and unfaithful, and that romance is not really worth a person’s time.

That said, I don’t regret having read this collection, because it makes me want to read Rebecca again – it’s been a long time. And there were a couple of stories that I enjoyed: “Frustration,” in which a honeymooning couple is repeatedly foiled in their attempts to consummate their union; and “Week-End,” in which a couple madly in love on Friday afternoon can’t stand each other by Sunday night.

I think I would have enjoyed these stories more if I had sampled it slowly – dipping in and out, reading one at a time. Then I wouldn’t have experienced such a steady dose of cynicism and darkness. Because this is du Maurier, I still rated the book three stars, as you simply can’t ignore how beautifully she puts words together.

© CarrieK for BOOKS AND MOVIES, 2011. | Permalink | 15 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: short fiction

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The Secret Lives of People in Love is Simon Van Booy’s first short story collection. He deals with life, love, loss, relationships – and sets the stories all over the world. His prose is breathtakingly beautiful, and he completely captures the ups and downs of the human condition; the little moments of pure beauty and joy, as well as the depths of devastation and despair.

Like many short fiction collections, there were some that I loved, some that I didn’t care for, and some that were just okay. What pushed me over the edge of the three-star cliff firmly into four-star territory was the sheer gorgeousness of Van Booy’s writing. He puts words together like few other authors. I’d read a story that didn’t resonate with me, but the next one would have passages that simply took my breath away.

As this was his first collection, I have a feeling that his second collection would be less uneven. And I also know that I can’t wait to read his novel and see what he does with a longer work. And just in case you think I’m exaggerating about how splendid his writing is, I marked a few passages to share with you:

“My memories are arranged like puddles – they are littered throughout the present moment. It seems arbitrary, that which the mind remembers, but I know it is not.” ~ from the story “The World Laughs in Flowers”

“He observed how each raindrop united with its closest other and then, split open by its own weight, ran down the glass in one even corridor.” ~ from the story “The Reappearance of Strawberries”

“I miss autumn – the season when summer takes on the memory of its own mortality. And then winter. And then the miracle season, when everything begins again fearlessly.” ~ from the story “Distant Ships”

“It only seemed like yesterday that small broken wings of snow had silently fallen against the shop window; only yesterday he’d boiled his daughter’s diapers on a frozen winter morning in Russia. Without memory, time would be no use to mankind, Serge thought.” ~ from the story “Apples”

I am not being facetious when I say I could literally open this book to a random page and find another passage just as magnificent.

© CarrieK for BOOKS AND MOVIES, 2011. | Permalink | 15 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: literary fiction, short fiction

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Harper Collins is offering a great deal in honor of the release of Simon Van Booy’s new novel, Everything Beautiful Began After. For those of you with e-readers, you can purchase a copy of his short story, Love Begins in Winter, for only $1.99.

I’ve read several of his short stories – and will be touring The Secret Lives of People in Love in August – and I can tell you he is a beautiful writer. This would be a terrific way to get a taste of what people are talking about when it comes to his work.

You can purchase the e-book from Amazon for Kindle, Barnes and Noble for Nook, and also through Google e-bookstore.

© CarrieK for BOOKS AND MOVIES, 2011. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: e-books, short fiction, simon van booy

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This is an excellent collection of speculative short fiction. I believe it is considered YA fiction, but I would say some of the content is on the upper age limit of YA. The first story, The Coldest Girl in Coldtown was my favorite; the last, the title story, my least – but most of them are great. Most of them are also very short, so this is the perfect book for dipping into when you only have a little while to spend reading.

Title: An Irish Country Christmas
Author: Patrick Taylor
Genre: Contemporary fiction, Irish fiction
Publisher: Forge Books
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Source: Print copy from my personal library
First line: Barry Laverty – Doctor Barry Laverty – slammed the door of Brunhilde, his elderly Volkswagen Beetle.

This is another delightful installment in Patrick Taylor’s series about rural doctors Laverty and O’Reilly. All of the things that make the series such fun are there: Kinky, O’Reilly’s fey housekeeper; the eccentric newlyweds, Maggie and Sonny; Arthur, O’Reilly’s dipsomaniac dog; redheaded schemer Donal Donnelly; and unusual – and, often, hysterical – medical cases. This story throws in some medical competition for the doctors, a potential love interest for O’Reilly, and possible trouble for Laverty’s budding romance with Patricia. I’ve enjoyed every hour I’ve spent in Ballybucklebo with the Irish doctors, and hope Taylor writes many more.

Title: Coventry
Author: Helen Humphreys
Genre: Historical fiction
Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Source: Print copy I won from Jennifer at Literate Housewife
First line: The swallow arcs and dives above the cathedral.

Excellent short historical fiction surrounding the bombing of Coventry, England, in World War II, resulting in the destruction of Coventry Cathedral. The story follows two very different women, with flashbacks revealing their history, and leads up to the devastating events that bring them together. Highly recommended for fellow lovers of World War II fiction.

Title: The Pilot’s Wife
Author: Anita Shreve
Genre: Contemporary fiction
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Source: Print copy from my personal library
First line: She heard a knocking, and then a dog barking.

This is the second book by Shreve that I’ve read, and she has a wonderful way of getting inside the heads of her characters and describing the mental turmoil they undergo in times of stress. The wife of the title loses her pilot husband in a crash, and the book follows the aftermath of the catastrophe, her grief, and the discovery of secrets her husband had kept hidden. It had me turning the pages long after I should have been sleeping.

© CarrieK for BOOKS AND MOVIES, 2011. | Permalink | 14 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: contemporary fiction, historical fiction, holly black, irish fiction, paranormal fiction, patrick taylor, short stories, world war ii, YA fiction

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In this collection of short fiction, Lahiri tells the stories of Bengalis who have emigrated to America, the challenges that they and their children face living in the US. This was my first experience with Lahiri’s work, and now I know why she is hailed as such a brilliant author. While I enjoyed some stories more than others, this is overall a strong collection.

Audio notes: The narrators reading these stories were adequate, but nothing particularly amazing.

Title: Belong to Me
Author: Marisa de los Santos
Genre: Contemporary fiction
Publisher: William Morrow
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Source: Audiobook from the public library
Audiobook reader: Julia Gibson
First line: My fall from suburban grace, or more accurately, my failure to achieve the merest molehill of suburban grace from which to fall, began with a dinner party and a perfectly innocent, modestly clever, and only faintly quirky remark about Armand Assante

Marisa de los Santos is one of those authors who I wish I could bribe to write faster. More books, longer books, right now, please! This was a reread for me, and I again fell completely in love with Cornelia and Teo and Claire and Dev. The author has a new book coming out soon, and I am really hoping that she continues their stories, but even if she doesn’t, I will definitely be reading it.

Audio notes: While it took a while to get used to a different voice for Cornelia, Julia Gibson’s reading won me over and I soon forgot that I had heard a different person read the prequel, Love Walked In.

Title: Wrapped in Rain
Author: Charles Martin
Genre: Christian fiction, contemporary fiction
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Source: Audiobook from the public library
Audiobook reader: Tom Stechschulte, Ed Sala
First line: Maybe it’s the July showers that appear at 3:00 p.m., regular as sunshine, maybe it’s the September hurricanes that cut a swath across the Atlantic and then dump their guts at landfall, or maybe it’s just God crying on Florida, but whatever it is, and however it works, the St. Johns River is and always has been the soul of Florida.

I have heard Charles Martin mentioned on several blogs as an exceptional author of Christian fiction, and I can’t agree more. This is excellent Southern fiction, and would appeal to anyone who loves good writing, regardless of faith. Tucker Mason, a photographer running from an abusive past, finds himself the unlikely caretaker of his schizophrenic brother, a single mother, and her son. Their stories intertwine in a way that brings redemption and healing.

Audio notes: Ed Sala reads the majority of this book, and I’ve very much enjoyed his work in the past. He has an all-American voice that is perfect for Southern or Western fiction.

Title: So Brave, Young, and Handsome
Author: Leif Enger
Genre: Historical fiction
Publisher: Grove Press
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Source: Audiobook from the public library
Audiobook reader: Dan Woren
First line: Not to disappoint you, but my troubles are nothing – not for an author, at least.

Oh, I had such high hopes for this book! Leif Enger’s first novel, Peace Like a River, is one of my favorite books – it always makes an appearance when I try to name my top ten. Unfortunately, his sophomore effort doesn’t have the same impact. The quality of writing is there, but the story is just mildly entertaining, not life-changing.

Audio notes: Dan Woren captures the narrator’s observational style perfectly, and probably helped me enjoy this book more than I would have in print.

© CarrieK for BOOKS AND MOVIES, 2011. | Permalink | 8 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: audiobooks, christian fiction, contemporary fiction, historical fiction, short stories

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~ Family maid files suit against Kathryn Stockett, author of The Help.

~ Kiersten White reveals the cover of Supernaturally, the upcoming sequel to Paranormalcy.

~ Unknown Enid Blyton novel found in archive.

Discussion starters:

~ English Major’s Junk Food: An Essay? Isn’t that the thing I had to write in school?

~ Book Journey: Book Trailers – pro or con? Why or why not?

~ Bookstore People: Favorite wedding or romantic scene in a book?

~ My Friend Amy: What makes a book a favorite?

Reviews and blog posts that have me adding to my to-read list:

~ Hereville by Barry Deutsch, reviewed by Vasilly at 1330v

~ Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John, reviewed by Michelle at GalleySmith

~ Someone Else’s Garden by Dipika Rai, reviewed by Vasilly at 1330v

~ The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter, reviewed by Pam at Bookalicious

~ The Poison Tree by Erin Kelly, reviewed by Candace at Beth Fish Reads

~ Divergent by Veronica Roth, reviewed by Lenore at Presenting Lenore

Book to movie news:

~ Robert Downey Jr. may star in film adaptation of Thomas Pynchon’s Inherent Vice.

~ Martin Scorcese and Leonardo DiCaprio team up for film version of Jordan Belfort’s memoir, The Wolf of Wall Street.

~ Steve Carell may star in film adaptation of Carolyn Parkhurst’s Dogs of Babel.

Other bookish links:

~ Mel at The Reading Life is hosting Irish Short Story Week from March 14th through the 20th, in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. This would be especially perfect for any of you participating in the Ireland Reading Challenge.

Here’s a video for those of you who love grammar as much as I do:

And I’ll leave you with a video that you’ve probably already seen, but just in case you haven’t:

© CarrieK for BOOKS AND MOVIES, 2011. | Permalink | 17 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: book to film, grammar, ireland reading challenge, reading challenges, short stories, TBR list

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Author news:

~ R.I.P. Brian Jacques

~ Jeffrey Eugenides has new book coming out this fall.

~ Natalie at Book, Line, and Sinker was lucky enough to interview Janet Evanovich, author of the Stephanie Plum series.

~ Though we have to wait until 2012 to actually read it, those of us anxiously awaiting the next book from Jamie Ford, author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, now have an actual title to look forward to.

Discussion starters:

~ Things Mean a Lot: “Who needs libraries? Books are so cheap!”

~ Bookalicious: Authors helping authors – down with bad reviews!

~ My Friend Amy: What is faith-driven fiction?

Reviews and blog posts that have me adding to my to-read list:

~ Songs of Love and Death, edited by George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois, reviewed by Fyrefly at Fyrefly’s Book Blog

~ Amaryllis in Blueberry by Christina Meldrum, reviewed by Jen at Devourer of Books

Reading challenges:

~ I really thought I was done signing up for reading challenges for the year, but the Birth Year Reading Challenge has my interest piqued – I love the idea of reading titles that came out the year I was born. And, there’s no minimum requirement.

Other bookish links:

~ Harry Potter’s Butterbeer Recipe Uncovered

© CarrieK for BOOKS AND MOVIES, 2011. | Permalink | 10 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: author news, short stories, TBR list

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by Maggie Stiefvater (audiobook):

Lies by Michael Grant (read-aloud to the kids): Page-turning dystopian fiction with truly evil villains, authentic characters/dilemmas.

Feed by M.T. Anderson: Terrifying vision of the future, protagonist’s voice a tad annoying.

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White: Fun beginning to new paranormal series, unique premise, great heroine.

Arcadia Falls by Carol Goodman: Gothic mystery set in fine arts school; atmospheric, riveting, excellent.

The Night Bookmobile by Audrey Niffenegger: Ode to the love of books, bit of cautionary tale.

The Exile: An Outlander Graphic Novel by Diana Gabaldon and Hoang Nguyen: Disappointing, artwork just okay, though Jamie’s bum is quite yummy.

Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich (audiobook): New character, familiar plotline, no Ranger or Morelli. Just okay.

How to Breathe Underwater by Julie Orringer: Extraordinary short fiction, an author to watch, couldn’t get enough.

© CarrieK for BOOKS AND MOVIES, 2010. | Permalink | 20 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: audiobooks, contemporary fiction, diana gabaldon, dystopian fiction, fantasy, graphic novels, janet evanovich, mysteries, paranormal fiction, science fiction, short stories, YA fiction

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Official challenge site: Rob Around Books
Details: The goal is to read 100 short stories. This is an ongoing challenge – there is no date limit set.

1. Three by Andrea Lee
2. Gold Boy, Emerald Girl by Yiyun Lee
3. Ghosts by Edwidge Danticat
4. Spinning Sugar by Morag Prunty
5. At Least There’ll Be Diamonds by Martina Devlin
6. Part-time Lover by Tina Reilly
7. Deep Throat by Clare Dowling
8. Facades by Patricia Scanlan
9. Irish Girls Are Back in Town by Suzanne Higgins
10. How Emily Got Promoted by Sarah Webb
11. The Wake by Una Brankin
12. Waiting by Amos Oz
13. The Calling by Cecilia Ahern
14. You, Me and Tallisker by Julie Parsons
15. Blue Murder by Joan O’Neill
16. Flesh and Blood by Marita Conlon-McKenna
17. Insight by Annie Sparrow
18. A Life of Two Halves by Deirdre Purcell
19. First Love by Mary Ryan
20. Carrot for Breakfast by Rosaleen Linehan
21. Secret Letter Writers by Catherine Foley
22. Dinner with Annie by Gemma O’Connor
23. The End of (Their) Affair by Aine Greaney
24. The Kiss by Guy de Maupassant
25. The Limner by Julian Barnes
26. The Missing Statues by Simon Van Booy
27. Free Radicals by Alice Munro
28. Soldier’s Joy by Antonya Nelson
29. The Shell Collector by Anthony Doerr
30. The Iron Shroud by William Mudford
31. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F. Scott Fitzgerald
32. Daughters of the Vicar by D.H. Lawrence
33. The Harvest by Amy Hempel
34. A Scandal in Bohemia by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
35. The Red-Headed League by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
36. A Case of Identity by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
37. The Boscombe Valley Mystery by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
38. The Five Orange Pips by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
39. The Man With the Twisted Lip by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
40. The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
41. The Adventure of the Speckled Band by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
42. The Adventure of the Engineer’s Thumb by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
43. The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
44. The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
45. The Adventure of the Copper Beeches by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
46. Julia and Byron by Craig Raine
47. The Color of Shadows by Colm Toibin
48. PMQ by Robert Harris
49. The Wonder Spot by Melissa Bank
50. A Tiny Feast by Chris Adrian
51. Visitation by Brad Watson
52. Last Requests by Giles Smith
53. Peter Shelley by Patrick Marber
54. The Department of Nothing by Colin Firth
55. I’m the Only One by Zadie Smith
56. NippleJesus by Nick Hornby
57. After I Was Thrown in the River and Before I Drowned by Dave Eggers
58. Luckyb*tch by Helen Fielding
59. The Slave by Roddy Doyle
60. Catholic Guilt (You Know You Love It) by Irvine Welsh
61. Walking into the Wind by John O’Farrell
62. A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
63. Silver Blaze by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
64. The Hunter’s Wife by Anthony Doerr
65. So Many Chances by Anthony Doerr
66. For a Long Time This Was Griselda’s Story by Anthony Doerr
67. The Adventure of the Yellow Face by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
68. The Tale of the Unknown Island by Jose Saramago
69. The Stock-Broker’s Clerk by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
70. My Massive Feelings by Laurie Weeks
71. Are You There God? It’s Me. Also, a Bunch of Zombies by Jake Swearingen
72. The Gloria Scott by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
73. Y by Marjorie Celona
74. Heaven-Hell by Jhumpa Lahiri
75. The Musgrave Ritual by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
76. The Reigate Puzzle by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
77. The Crooked Man by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
78. The Resident Patient by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
79. The Grecian Interpreter by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
80. The Naval Treaty by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
81. The Final Problem by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
82. The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe
83. The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant
84. Darkness by Andrew Sean Greer
85. The Hotel Malogo by Helon Habila
86. Ayana by Stephen King
87. Cake by Patrick Tobin
88. Where We Must Be by Laura van den Berg
89. The Elegant Rube by Malerie Willens
90. Servants of the Map by Andrea Barrett
91. The Fireman by Rick Bass
92. Think of England by Peter Ho Davies
93. Labors of the Heart by Claire Davis
94. The Mourning Door by Elizabeth Graver
95. After Cowboy Chicken Came to Town by Ha Jin
96. Brothers and Sisters Around the World by Andrea Lee
97. Boys by Rick Moody
98. Rug Weaver by Barbara Klein Moss
99. Post and Beam by Alice Munro
100. The Raft by Peter Ortner

I didn’t keep up with reviewing very well, did I?

© CarrieK for BOOKS AND MOVIES, 2010. | Permalink | 11 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: reading challenges, short stories

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