Book Review Friday -- The Brontës Went to Woolworths: A Novel

It's Book Review Friday again, and this is one of my favorite books that I reviewed for Sacramento Book Review.

I've always loved reading about the Brontës.  I read biographies about them when I was a teenager, and even tried to write an itty-bitty novel in tiny handwriting, like they did.  (I was a Brontë wannabe.)  I loved various movies made of Jane Eyre.  Of course, I now realize what a creepy guy Rochester really was!  (Would you want your daughter to marry a man who kept his mad wife hidden in the attic, and said she started the very fire she died in?)   But Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights were favorite reads of mine.  Both were tightly written, suspensful books that kept me turning pages.  Those sisters knew how to keep a plot moving.

Likewise, I'm always charmed by how English writers can tell a tale.  So I was delighted to read a novel that had Brontës in the title, written by an English writer with a sly sense of humor.  The Brontës Went to Woolworths, a revived classic by Rachel Ferguson, does not disappoint.

One of the joys of writing reviews for Sacramento Book Review , by the way, is that they send me FANTASTIC BOOKS!  Go check out their site:  They have tons of fine reviews of great books by really good reviewers.


Here we go with today's shared review:

The Brontes Went to Woolworths: A Novel

By Rachel Ferguson
Bloomsbury Press, $14.00, 188 pages

The Carne family – a widow and three daughters – live in 1930s London.  Dierdre, a journalist in her twenties, is writing a novel.  Katrine, also in her twenties, studies Drama.  Shiel is young enough to have a governess – the distraught Miss Martin, ever befuddled by this family’s favorite entertainment.

The Carnes have invented a game turning actors, literary figures, even their dog and a doll into imaginary friends who ring them up and give them birthday presents.  They invent dialogues for these characters, quoting them in a heartbeat.  Miss Martin never is sure what’s real and what isn’t. 

Then Dierdre accompanies her mother to jury duty.  When Judge Toddington sweeps into court, he becomes woven into the game as “Toddy”.  One day Dierdre covers a charity bazaar where the real Lady Toddington has a stall.  Lady Toddington takes a liking to Deirdre, inviting her home.  Very funny scenes unfold as a friendship develops between the two families, just when Miss Martin is sure the relationship is fictional. 

In this sly tale, all of the characters captivate, including the governess and the Toddingtons. 

A séance brings the Brontes into the story.  So as not to be a spoiler, I’ll say no more. 

Book Review Friday -- The Ghost Downstairs, and Nocturne

It's Book Review Friday again, and today I want to mention two books: 

One I reviewed for Saramento Book Review , Nocturne, by L. D. Harkrader

One is an e-book I won in a giveaway contest, The Ghost Downstairs, by Molly Ringle.  

I'll share The Ghost Downstairs first:

The Ghost Downstairs   by Molly Ringle

For some reason I was not able to upload a picture of the jacket, but you can see it at Molly's site.  Normally I only review children's books or YAs on this blog, and this book actually falls closer to adult than YA.  But I love ghost stories, and I love a mystery.  This book has both, as well as a steamy romance (thus the "adult" comment).  

I don't want to give the plot away, because the whole idea is so original.  Let me just say that The Ghost Downstairs involves ghosts (two of them), broken hearts (two of them), manslaughter, suicide, and a young man with a mysterious past.  The story unfolds with one surprise after another and the ending was the biggest surprise of all.  Once I started reading it, I simply had to finish it.  Go check it out for yourself.  

And thanks, Molly, for an enjoyable read! 

Next is Nocturne, a YA novel with lots of atmostphere.  No ghosts , but  magic, mystery, and the question of who to trust. . . . .

Nocturne

By L.D. Harkrader
Mirrorstone, $9.95, 245 pages

Fifteen years ago, Flannery Lane was left on the doorstep of the village wizard, Monsieur Anatole. A mysterious note advised, she will do better with someone of her own kind. Monsieur Anatole has raised Flannery as his niece, admonishing her never to use her own magic. Why? Magic draws evil to itself.

“Flan squared herself before the immense gates, and as she stood there, searching for a bell or knocker on the fat stone pillar, the gates groaned and swung open.” 

But, it’s hard not to use natural talent. At fifteen, Flan surreptitiously dabbles in small spells. An incident at the local blacksmith’s earlier eroded villagers’ trust in Anatole’s protective magic. People come to him now only for simple amulets and spells. When a sudden curse weakens his powers, he becomes bedridden. Flannery tries to cure his curse while keeping his condition secret. Two mysterious strangers come to town. Each takes an interest in Flan: one claims he wants to become a vampire hunter. But, does he? The other claims he’s a relative of the last Viscount Blakely, the vampire hunter who protected the village when he was alive. But, is he? People disappear. A violin plays a nocturne in the still of the night.

This suspenseful tale brings new surprises on each page, and the author avoids a predictable ending.