Today's Read & Giveaway: The Woman Who Died a Lot by Jasper Fforde

What's a retired SpecOps enforcement officer to do when called back to active duty? Thursday Next is expecting to be head of the Literary Detectives but instead ends up as chief librarian of the Swindon All-You-Can-Eat at Fatso's Drink Not Included Library. Besides adjusting to the new job and recuperating from an assassination attempt (not to mention remembering the name of that library), Thursday is also worrying about her kids—the two she knows about and the one who, for now anyway, exists only in her memory.

Everything comes to an end. A good bottle of wine, a summer's day, a long-running sitcom, one's life, and eventually our species. The question for many of us is not that everything will come to an end but when. And can we do anything vaguely useful until it does?

In the case of a good bottle of wine, probably not much—although the very act of consumption might make one believe otherwise. A well-lazed summer's day should not expect too much of itself either, and sitcoms never die. They simply move to a zombielike existence in rerun heaven. Of the remaining two—the end of one's life and that of our species—regular subscribers to my exploits will recall that I had seen myself die a few years back, and given my past record, it was probable that much useful work would be done between then and now. As to the end of our species, the possibility of annihilation was quite real, well documented, and went by the unimaginative title of Astroid HR-6984. (p. 1)

—The Woman Who Died a Lot by Jasper Fforde (Penguin USA / Viking, 2012)

The Giveaway: Thanks to the generous marketing team at Viking, I have a hardcover finished copy of Jasper Fforde's The Woman Who Died a Lot, the latest Thursday Next novel, to give away to one of my readers. Because I'm doing the mailing myself, this giveaway is open internationally. To enter for a chance to win, just fill out the following form. I'll pick a winner on November 13 using a random number generator. All personal information will be deleted once a winner is confirmed. Good luck!

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Review: Man in the Blue Moon by Michael Morris

On the edge of a cypress swamp in Dead Lakes, Florida, Ella Wallace comes one day closer to losing her land. If only she had listened to her aunt's warnings about gambler, charmer Harlin Wallace. If only she hadn't given up her dream of studying painting. But it's too late now to look back: she has a general store to run and three boys raise. Harlin ran off to devote himself to his true love, opium.

Whether it's Narissa, a Creek Indian, who came looking for temporary work six years earlier, or the stranger Lanier Stillis, who paid to have himself shipped to the store, Ella has a way of getting help when she needs it. But what's the cost of being one of her saviors?

Set in the Florida panhandle in the closing months of World War I, Man in the Blue Moon is, in a general sense, a story of class divisions in the Deep South. The overriding plot is Ella's determination to hold on to the land that's been in her family for generations, land her husband mortgaged to pay for his gambling and drugs. Greed and jealousy drive the local banker to do whatever is necessary to make sure Ella forfeits on the loan and is thrown out of her home.

The novel is, however, much more complicated than that and has at least two other principal story arcs. In addition, Michael Morris's characters have their own versions of reality, leaving the reader to wonder just who is telling the truth. This is especially the case with Lanier. Is he the good man he claims to be, or is he just as worthless as his cousin Harlin? And, come to think of it, is there any reason to believe he's really who he says he is?

Although the action in Man in the Blue Moon is often intense, it's the characters that draw the reader into the story. Each person in Ella's life is easy to envision. For instance, we sympathize with the embittered spinster schoolteacher who no longer understands Ella, her girlhood friend, and we're shocked at how some of the townsfolk treat Ruby, the mentally disabled daughter of a widower who drinks too much. And then there's Ella herself, a complex woman whose potential and dreams, although trampled by circumstances, still smolder in a deep corner of her being.

Other major themes in Man in the Blue Moon are faith, hope, friendship, family, and prejudice. In particular, Morris examines several styles of spirituality and upholders of the faith, including a local reverend, an evangelist, and a faith healer. Although these characters are somewhat stereotypical (the evangelist comes across as greedy and ultra conservative), Morris uses them to talk about broader issues, especially intolerance.

Michael Morris's latest novel is an intimate look at small-town Southern life of a century ago. This is not a nostalgic story, but a masterfully constructed tale of a family in crisis and a town blinded by local history and the fear of those who are different.

Man in the Blue Moon is the She Reads book club selection for November. To see what other club members thought of the book, to enter a great giveaway, and to join the conversation, visit the She Reads website.

Buy Man in the Blue Moon at an Indie or at a bookstore near you. This link leads to an affiliate program.
Published by Tyndale House, 2012
ISBN-13: 9781414368429
Rating: B+
Source: review (see review policy)
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy)

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Weekend Cooking: The World Atlas of Beer by Tim Webb and Stephen Beaumont

Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, beer, wine, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page. More information at the welcome post.

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Any book that starts with the following words is bound to be both fun to read and informative:

Wine may accompany dinner and fine whisky a good book, but beer always seems to go better with life. Yet as with any companion, it should be chosen well and properly understood.

And indeed The World Atlas of Beer by Tim Webb and Stephen Beaumont delivers on both accounts. Further, this oversize, glossy book is also beautiful to look at, with its large photographs, colorful graphics, and clear design.

But don't be fooled by first impressions. The World Atlas of Beer is much more than a coffee table book. It starts with a section titled "The Nature of Beer," which is a history of the beverage, from its origins in ancient Mesopotamia to the modern-day craft brewer. In several short chapters, the authors cover an amazing range of topics, such as:

• How beer is made
• The characteristics of the different beer styles
• Beer glassware, including their pros and cons
• Beer and food pairings

The latter was one the chapters I turned to first because I don't know very much about how to pick a beer to go with a particular dish. Fortunately, Webb and Beaumont make it easy by providing a handy chart for quick reference. One thing I learned is that beer is often a better pairing with a cheese board than is wine. I can't wait to do some exploring along those lines.

The bulk of the book is, as the title tells you, an atlas of beers. From Old World to New and from West to East, Webb and Beaumont traveled the world visiting breweries and tasting and describing more than 500 beers. Their goal was to present a variety of representative styles made in traditional and upcoming brewing regions. They make little mention of the mass manufacturers and limit each brewery to only one type of beer. The authors clearly state that they had no intention of creating a best-of-the-world list but instead wanted to highlight the great variety of beers available to 21st-century drinkers.

Each regional section of the atlas introduces us to the types of beer, describes some of the breweries, and provides a short history. You'll find a chart of the local best-sellers, a map of where to find the breweries, photos of bottles and labels, and tasting notes. Scattered throughout are stories about individuals, festivals, and ingredients. In other words, there's an amazing amount of information in The World Atlas of Beer.

One of the great features of the atlas is that Webb and Beaumont made sure the book could be used in a number of ways. For example, as you plan your next vacation, check the atlas to learn about the beers local to your destination. For more immediate fun, don't forget to plot out some local adventures as well. No matter where you live in the world, there are bound to be nearby breweries.

Thumb through the atlas before your next visit to the beer store. Wouldn't it be fun to take a world tasting tour right in your own living room? Check out the food pairing advice for your next party and impress your friends. Learn about a beer festival and make arrangements to attend. Or simply read The World Atlas of Beer to increase your knowledge of this ancient drink.

Tim Webb and Stephen Beaumont must have felt extremely lucky when they set out to explore the world of beers, from the familiar bocks and porters to the extreme beers flavored with exotic ingredients. Beer lovers across the globe can look forward to many hours reading and using The World Atlas of Beer.

The scans are of pages 78 and 117 in the book, chosen to give you an idea of what you'll find in the atlas. Needless to say, the quality of the book far exceeds the quality of my scans. Click the images to enlarge them.

Buy The World Atlas of Beer at an Indie or at a bookstore near you (link leads to an affiliate program).
Sterling Publishing / Sterling Epicure, 2012
ISBN-13: 9781402789618
Source: Review (see review policy)
Rating: B+
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy).

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Imprint Friday: A Look to the Future

Welcome to Imprint Friday. On a normal Friday, you'd be reading about a don't-miss title from one of my favorite imprints. And, in fact, I have a post already written about a book you will not be able to put down (hint: it's from Amy Einhorn Books). However, because so many people are still offline in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, I've decided to delay that post until next week.

Instead, I want to look to the future. It's hard to believe that next month is the third anniversary of Imprint Friday, which started out showcasing every book published under the Amy Einhorn Books imprint, which remains at the top of my list of outstanding imprints. Over the years, I've added other imprints that publish book after book I can't wait to read and share with you.

This past year has seen quite a lot of changes in my small corner of the publishing world. Some are huge (the Penguin-Random House merger) and some are small (publicists and marketing managers moving on to other jobs). In addition, I've become fond of other imprints whose catalogs for the coming seasons are just too exciting to ignore.

So what does this all mean? I'm still absolutely committed to the imprints I've featured here on Imprint Friday and on Today's Imprint Read (very sporadic Tuesdays). I will continue to keep you up to date with quality fiction and nonfiction in a range of genres from those imprints. However, I plan to mix things up a bit, bringing some imprints into the foreground while letting others take a temporary backseat. I also plan to change the format of my Imprint Friday posts from time to time, taking occasional breaks from standard reviews to write features, share videos, conduct interviews, or offer author guest posts.

Finally, I'm working on adding one more imprint. I hesitated about this, because my intention with Imprint Friday is to feature the imprints that I recommend without hesitation and that make up the vast bulk of my personal reading list. I don't consider this feature to be a gimmick or just another way to review books or share good reads. Imprint Friday is my way of endorsing imprints I want to hand sell.

At the same time, during the last three years, other imprints have, naturally, caught my eye. Thus I'm taking the leap to make these changes. If all goes as I think it will, I'll introduce a new imprint to Beth Fish Reads soon, maybe as early as December.

I should make it very clear that Imprint Friday could not exist without the help and backing of the imprints in question. I can't begin to tell you the support I've gotten from Amy Einhorn, Ecco, Harper Perennial, and Algonquin. The publicity/marketing staff at these imprints are simply the best. Imprint Friday is truly a joint venture, which makes it such a pleasure to share the books from these imprints. The same goes for Riverhead Books and Picador USA, both of whom have been part of my Today's Imprint Read feature and will now be seen more often on Fridays.

I'm excited about these changes and hope you'll be sticking around for the next three years.

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Review: My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece by Annabel Pitcher

Annabel Pitcher's My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece was a difficult book for me. There is quite a bit that's excellent about this story of a 10-year-old boy and his family. On the other hand, I found it to be somewhat depressing, which naturally colors my thoughts.

Jamie and his family are still grieving five years after his older sister Rose was killed during a terrorist bombing in London. In the last few months, Jamie's mom found comfort in the arms of another man and walked out on her family. His father uprooted the kids and moved them out of the city to the Lake District to start over. Dad finds comfort in a bottle and by honoring Rose's ashes, which are kept in an urn on the mantelpiece.

Fifteen-year-old Jasmine, Rose's identical twin, has turned Goth, found a older boy to hang around with, and stopped eating. Jamie is left alone, holding on to the belief that his mother will come back to him. To make matters worse, the only friend Jamie has made in his new school is Sunya. And she's a Muslim, meaning, according to Dad, that she's personally responsible for Rose's death.

Pitcher so exquisitely relates a young boy's loneliness and confusion about his family's situation that it was almost painful to read his story. Jamie doesn't know how to reconcile his feelings about Sunya with his dad's prejudices, and he can't remember Rose well enough to feel the proper grief. Your heart breaks as he makes excuses for why Mum didn't remember his birthday or for why she doesn't come to visit.

It's the incredible realism that makes the book almost too much to handle. Pitcher doesn't back down from the hard issues, including death, mourning, bullying, and prejudice, but neither does she leave her readers dangling. The novel has a satisfying, although not necessarily predictable, ending and gives readers much to think about.

The advertised target age for My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece is 10 to 14, which is probably because Jamie is so young. I, however, would recommend the novel for high schoolers. Just as Jamie is too young to fully understand and accept his circumstances, young readers may not grasp the complexities of the story.

I listened to the unabridged audio edition (Hachette Audio; 6 hr), read by David Tennant, who brilliantly voices Jamie's thoughts. Tennant's expression, tempo, and attitude are perfectly suited for a young protagonist. I was impressed with the way he telegraphed Jamie's moods and emotions, which made the audiobook difficult to turn off despite the intensity of the story. It's no wonder My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece won an Earphones award from Audiofile magazine.

I've embedded the trailer, which includes an extract from the novel. The short video doesn't convey the sadness of the book, but it's very well done and gives you a sense of Pitcher's style.

Buy My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece at an Indie or at a bookstore near you (link leads to an affiliate program).
Hachette Book Group / Little, Brown for Young Readers, 2012
ISBN-13: 9780316176903
Source: Review (see review policy)
Rating: B+
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy).

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