Winifred Rudge writes children’s books, she has also written a best seller the royalties of which supports her. Working on a new book, a change from her usual fare, she travels to London for ‘research’. She normally stays with her old friend and cousin (by marriage) John Comestor, but when she gets to his house, she finds he is gone and the house is apparently haunted. Winnie becomes obsessed with finding out what has happened to John and who or what is haunting the house.

Included in the story is Winnie’s new novel, or the notes for it. Rather confusing at first because the thoughts spring up in the middle of Winnie doing something. However once I realized what was going on, I was able to follow the two story lines rather easily.

The story of the Ghosts of Christmas (A Christmas Carol) is interwoven in this account along with other stories I am not familiar with. This is ghost story involving old ghosts known for a long time, but not known and also recently discovered. Its all explained in the book.

There are two main characters in this story, two people that have lost something, Winnie and the ghost. The ghost is centuries old and has been searching for a long time, Winnie’s lose is more recent. In summary there is more then one plot line in this narrative and at times it can get confusing, however in the end, all the stories come together and sort of make sense.

Stars:

Gregory Maguire has taken the story of Snow White and transplanted it into 16th century Italy. He has changed her name to Bianca de Nevada and made her the daughter of Don Vicente, an expatriate Spanish widower, the roll of the evil queen is played by Lucrezia Borgia, who is lovely and vain. Her brother (and sometimes lover) Cesare sends Don Vicente on a quest, Bianca is left in the care of Lucrezia.

Have you noticed in fairy tales, the good mother dies and the loving father remarries a witch? Then the father is oblivious that his child is being mistreated by her step-mother? For that reason I was glad of how this fairy tale was rewritten. In this account, the father is forced to leave his child in the care of someone he does not trust, from afar he makes an effort to protect his daughter, upon his return he learns he was not successful and goes in search of her. The history of the Borgia’s is both borrowed from and twisted into the mold of the fairy tale, all the elements of the fairy tale are there, the magic mirror, the dwarves, the hunter with the task of killing the beautiful young girl (perceived to be a threat by the evil step- ), and a poisoned apple.

The book jumps around some, not being familiar with Gregory Maguire’s work, I had trouble following it, especially with the very short chapters and changes in narrators. There are still some things I didn’t quite understand, however, I still enjoyed reading this. I’m also not familiar with the history of the Borgia’s and am now interested in reading about them.

This was a diversion from all my books on serial killers and sexual sadists. It was a rather quick read and readers who enjoy fantasy would probably enjoy it.

Stars:

When T.J. and her family are forced to move from their farm to the Newford suburbs, she makes an unexpected new friend – Elizabeth, a punked-out teen runaway with a big attitude – who also happens to be a “Little,” standing just six inches tall. Her family lives inside the walls of T.J.’s house. T.J. and Elizabeth soon forge a prickly friendship that’s put to the test when each girl finds herself in dangerous territory, without any way to help the other. Both have to learn the hard way whom to trust, and how to rely on their instincts and find kindred spirits. Little (Grrl) Lost is Charles de Lint at his captivating best.

Like a normal teenaged girl, Elizabeth makes mistakes and bad choices. She also learns from them. T.J. also learns from Elizabeth and grows up a little by her experiences and the friends she makes.

Years ago I read about ‘Borrowers’ or ‘Littles’, I don’t remember much about the books so I don’t know how these compare, but in my fuzzy recollection, this book seems to be consistent with the previous book. Also the storyline follow a logical order, or as logical a story line can be that contains 6″ tall people, fairies, gnomes, goblins and a singular guy called the Rat-King.

This was an enjoyable, quick read.

Stars:

The Psychopathology of Russia’s Notorious Serial Killer
It was understood that there were no serial killers under a Communist regime. Apparently Andrei Chikatilo didn’t get the memo. That is a grave oversight considering he was a member of the Communist party for years, which is the reason he is called Comrade Chikatilo.

His first murder was committed on December 22, 1978, his last kill was on November 6, 1990. He raped, mutilated, and killed 53 young women, girls, and boy. In some cases he swallowed parts of their body. As a former teacher, he knew how to entice boys and girls. Sometimes all it took was chewing gum.

“The day before, she had told her friends about this man she knew who gave her chewing gum. She showed them a piece of gum in its pretty foreign wrapper. …. Her friends wanted it: you’d have to be crazy to turn down such pretty chewing gum!”

The book was compiled by two Russian writers. When something was reported by the murderer, that was unable to be proved, they were able to say if it was possible. This inside look at the country was fascinating, they tried to explain the reasons for some of the mistakes made by police, why some things may have been covered over. Besides giving an account of the criminal case, this book is also a look inside the country and the Russian criminal justice system.

The authors were able to interview many of the victim’s family members and others involved in the case. While not able to interview Chikatilo face to face, they were able to pass him written questions and receive his answers. Also included in this book are excerpts from his “autobiography” with comments on whether anything backed up what he claimed or according to their knowledge of the history of Russia, if it was possible.

The authors state they started the book in June and finished in October. They did an incredible job in such a short time. The book was finished after he was convicted but before any appeals were filed, if you are interested in what happened after the trial you can find this account in the Tru Crime Library site.

I found this account very readable, it had enough detail, there were no ‘gaps’ while not taking you through every little thing that happened. It covers the crimes, the investigations, mistakes made by investigators and the trial.

Here’s an excerpt:

A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 2,100 times in 2011. If it were a cable car, it would take about 35 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

Kurt Vonnegut: A Life

The first authoritative biography of Kurt Vonnegut Jr., a writer who changed the conversation of American literature.

In 2006, Charles Shields reached out to Kurt Vonnegut in a letter, asking for his endorsement for a planned biography. The first response was no (“A most respectful demurring by me for the excellent writer Charles J. Shields, who offered to be my biographer”). Unwilling to take no for an answer, propelled by a passion for his subject, and already deep into his research, Shields wrote again and this time, to his delight, the answer came back: “O.K.” For the next year—a year that ended up being Vonnegut’s last—Shields had access to Vonnegut and his letters.

When I agreed to read this book and write this review, the only thing I knew about Kurt Vonnegut Jr. was he had written “Slaughterhouse-Five”. After reading this biography, I know feel I know everything about him. Of course that’s not really true.

Mr. Shields covers Mr. Vonnegut’s life from beginning to end, cradle to grave, at the end is an appendix with more family history. In detailing what happens in his life, we also get an understanding of why he felt the way he did, his experience in life affecting his personality, as it does with all of us.

“I was a victim of a series of accidents, as are we all,” says his protagonist Malachi Constant in ‘Sirens of Titans.

This was how Vonnegut felt about his life, his family and society in general, a society that he felt had rejected him. Society that didn’t take him seriously as a writer, his life’s work.

As big as this book is, it cover’s 85 years after all, it is not boring. Mr. Shields coverage of Mr. Vonnegut is complete but not wordy and while bringing to us all the important details does not get bogged down in them, making for a very readable biography. A biography written the way a biography should be written.

Don’t Look Behind You: Ann Rule’s Crime Files #15 by Ann Rule ~ Kobo Book

both purchashed December 6, 2011

“I didn’t realize the importance of my iPad until I was sitting in my room this evening and didn’t feel like going downstairs to bring it up. Suddenly I was faced with getting out of my warm bed and trudging downstairs to get my iPad which is waiting patiently being charged for morning to go to work with me or pulling out my netbook on my nightstand with its Window’s operating system and MS Word to type up this review. For a moment as I typed on the keyboard I realized how much my life has changed because of one man and his irrepressible need to control things and people.

The biography was authorized and Isaacson assured Jobs he wouldn’t sugar-coat anything. Yet, somehow in not softening him I felt a strong sense of compassion in the admiration. Perhaps, the book should be required reading for CEO’s who need to understand that brilliance isn’t always easy to live with, in fact, we cannot afford to live without it.
Thank you, Mr. Isaacson. RIP Steve.”

**I have not been paid or compensated in any way for this review, the opinions expressed here are my own.**