The New Girl by guest blogger Steven Head

In the current edition of Vanity Fair there is a short article about the late Swedish mystery writer, Stieg Larsson. There was mention of the possible reasons for his death at age 50, comparison to other Swedish mystery writers, and tidbits from his books in print. I took the bait, the hook was set, and before I knew it was caught in Larsson's net.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is the first of the "Girl" trilogy. I picked up the paperback on Saturday and ended up spending large chunks of the weekend with this page turner. Larsson does a wonderful job of using a limited third person narrative to reveal the action through the experience of Mikael Blomkvist, financial reporter and publisher, and Lizbeth Salander, the "Girl".

At the start of the novel we learn Mikael has been found guilty of libel, not exactly an endorsement of credibility for a main character. In short order we learn Lizbeth is an asocial computer savant with a history of institutionalization and suspected Aspberger's Syndrome. Clearly these are not main stream heroes. But the presenting problem is engaging, the depth of character development masterful, and just enough tangents to offer relief from the shocking elements.

The problem involves a retired and fading patriarch of a Swedish industrial conglomerate. Before passing to the next life he wants to commission a family biography, although the real reason is to determine who murdered his favorite niece when she was 16, some 40 years earlier. The murder was one of those 'locked-room' situations involving people on an island, the connecting bridge out of service, and no known boating traffic. All the suspects are identified and there are multiple photographs and a well documented time line. Along with the exhaustive written records of an official investigation that reached a dead end years earlier.

Like so many of the mysteries I write about, this one contains some graphic and shocking passages. Each of the title pages of the four parts of this book include a statistic about the mistreatment of Swedish women by men. Hopefully, this gives you an idea of the terrain this book travels. By the end of the book, order is more or less restored by the actions of our not-so-normal heroes, the reputation of our reporter hero restored, and a few rough edges of the Girl are polished.

As a frequent reader of mystery and detective novels I know someone is going to get murdered so there is a story to tell. Even though it is only fiction this can lead to a relaxed attitude about violent death. While telling a compelling story, Larsson challenges this comfort with death and examines the social as well as personal consequences.

If I have not scared you away, this book is now available in paperback as well as on CD. If you have a long drive, CD time reported at 16.5 hours, this will keep you awake although speed control could be an issue. The good news is that volume two, The Girl Who Played with Fire, is available in hard cover. I'm hoping someone gives it to me for Christmas.

No, this isn't our mystery blogger, Steve. It isn't Stieg Larsson, wither. It's Kevin. If you recall last week's post about our visit to Marshmallow World, you'll also remember that none of my pictures turned out. Luckily, Kevin took this self portrait with a cut-out of the character that started the whole MW adventure!

What am I reading? Just finished Shiver by Maggie Stievater. Werewolves! I have finally dug into my friend Loreen's manuscript called Tumor Board. More next time.

Thank you's come in all sorts of surprising forms...like the little piece of art above. Let me explain. IndieBound, an organization established to support Independent Booksellers throughout the United States, publishes a flyer each month highlighting bookseller recommendations. They send us advance copies, which read, and sometime eview in short blurbs. If a book receives twelve or more favorable reviews from across the country, the editors will choose one bookseller's comments to use in the flyer.

We are fortunate that, several times a year, our little comments are used. Sometimes I don't even know they are in the flyer until a customer points them out. But, just last week, I got a huge "Thank you" followed by a big surprise. I had written comments about a wonderful children's book called The Listeners, by Gloria Whelan, and IndieBound will use it in their upcoming young readers' flyer. The story is told by Ella May, a little slave girl. After her daylight work is done, Ella May has another important job. She listens beneath her owner's plantation window in hopes of gathering information about the fate of her family and other slave families. She must return to her home with sad news of slave auctions, and planned beatings. And, when the promise of freedom is discussed in hushed tones, Ella May is the first to hear about that as well.

The editor was so thankful that her book made the flyer that she called me personally. The next week, I received a copy of the book in the mail, along with a nice letter from the editor, and a hand written letter from Gloria Whelan. Also included in the gift package was one of the original concept drawing for the book. How lucky am I?

This is what the final art looks like.

Writers, editors, book buyers (and booksellers?) are good people. Let me tell you another story. A few years ago, I received a panic phone call from a Two Rivers teacher. One of her students was dying, and, more than anything else, he waned his dad to read him his favorite book by Mary Casanova. The teacher looked everywhere and came up empty. I found the book for her, and I called Mary's publicist and relayed the story. Within minutes, the wheels were turning, and Mary Casanova called the family. She also sent them several audio versions of her books for the young boy to enjoy.

Last year, I caught up with Mary at a trade show and gave her a small newspaper article I had been saving for her about the little boy. I don't know what she and the boy talked about over the phone, but she was truly moved by the experience, Mary told me that she begins all her speaking engagements with that story.

There are quality people in all our lives, aren't there? My friends are reluctant to blow their own horns, but I know they do good each and every day. The trick is to catch them at it and watch them get uncomfortable when praised. I had some fun with friends this past weekend. Terri, Chris, Kevin, Dan and I had a nice dinner together, with lots of silly talk, and catching up. Then we toured Marshmallow World. Our Heart-A-Rama friend, Rhonda, has a sister named Sherrie. There must be some crazy genes in that family, cuz Sherrie is as creative as Rhonda is exuberant. Years ago, Sherrie wrote a little storybook about a a village of marshmallow people which expanded into a lavish decorating of her house each year.

Every single room in her home is decorated to fit the chosen theme...yes, even her kids' bedrooms, and the bathrooms! Some years, the display is over the top, and I leave shaking my head in amazement and amusement. This year was a bit more subdued, almost elegant in parts, but still fun and impressive. My favorite part is that each year, Sherrie greets people at the door wearing a tree skirt as part of her holiday outfit. (Kevin, if you're reading this, my pictures didn't turn out...no big surprise, huh? so if you have any that I could share, send them along, please. Thanks.)

Thanks for stopping by. I'll try to keep the blog up during this holiday season, but if I miss a week or two, go ahead and read some old posts...or better yet, check out some of the Blog buddies listed at the side.

Hey...have a happy week.

Guilty Pleasure by guest blogger Steven Head

I can't think of a darn thing to say, except, thanks for the confession, Steve. I can name more than a handful of closeted Project Runway watchers. Truthfully, the subject often comes up at our book discussion meetings. Mary is a die-hard fan, and yup, I catch it when I can. But, I gotta say, the week they made clothes out of paper...just too silly! And now it's back to singing along with Ricky Ricardo to get my day going.

And now...Here's Stevie!

As part of a possible rehabilitation I must make a confession. It pains me to admit it but I am a regular follower of the former Bravo and now Lifetime program 'Project Runway'. It all started so innocently while cycling on my recumbent exercise bike, surfing the TV, and finding a PR marathon. During a 45 minute session of rpm's I watched the end of one episode and the start of another. Of course, I had to see how it ended and then bang, there was another. Before I knew it, my Thursday night schedule revolved around the new episodes. Guess this is how addictions start.

For those unfamiliar with this program, 16 fashion designer want-to-be's are assembled and given a challenge along with a small budget and a set time period to design and make a garment. In each episode, at least one contestant gets eliminated while another is declared the challenge winner, and maybe immunity for the next challenge. The challenges can get strange, like designing a costume for female wrestlers, or making a new dress from the wedding dress of a divorcee. The final 3 contestants each do a 12 piece runway show with the winner getting prizes, like money to start their own line and a Saturn car (at least in the past) and Elle magazine coverage. The only constants from one season to the next are model Heidi Klum and fashion guru Tim Gunn. And Heidi's repetitive sound bites like "In fashion, one day you're in and the next day you're out".

One thing that has allowed me to maintain interest in this show is a female friend with an knowledge of fashion and sewing and her willingness to talk about the show. We disagree about some parts of the show but are usually in sync on the contestants and our approval or disapproval of the weekly winner and loser. The other is the discovery of Una LeMarche at huffingtonpost.com and her play-by-play recap along with photos.

This season, which started late in the summer after a long hiatus, marked the move not only from Bravo to Lifetime, but from New York City to Los Angeles. This move meant the other constant, judges Nina Garcia of Elle Magazine, and designer Michael Kors, missed a number of challenges. So each week it was a case of musical judges. Show representatives are blaming the loss of Kors and Garcia as the reason the show has lost one third of the viewers from the Bravo period. Maybe so, maybe not.

The judging this season has been questionable. Even Tim Gunn was moved a time or two to openly question the decision of the judges. My friend thinks the problem is not the ever changing judges but that the show is running out of quality contestants. She contends the best of the current crop are merely dress makers and not designers.

This week is the season finale with the runway show at Bryant Park in New York City during fashion week. In reality, this was filmed months ago but the winner is still a secret except to the contestants and the show staff. In the old days I would have either hosted or found a finale party to attend. But this time I will either mix up some hot chocolate or dish up some ice cream, hoping it all hasn't been a waste of time.

Let me note the next season has already been filmed in which Heidi had to be pregnant for most of it. The show will return to New York City and there are hopes Garcia and Kors can restore the lost viewers. But the real question for me is, are the contestants worthy of my time. By the end of every season there have been whiners, egotists, opportunists, and people you would want to avoid. But all of that can be overlooked, for an hour a week, if they design and make great clothes. For me the burning questions will be, are there any more designers out there?

COMMERCIAL...if you're up for a fun night, stop at Time Out on Wednesday. Our Heart-A-Rama friends, Chad, Jen, and Andy run a fun trivial game show. For three dollars, you can put you name in the contestant pool. You can win a "way to go," high-five, pat on the back, or a box of Rice-A-Roni. The shows are played for various charities, and this week, money collected will go to Heart-A-Rama. Fun starts at 6:00. People come and go throughout the night; no obligation to get there at the start or stay till the end. Maybe we'll see you there.

The Accidental Tourist

On Friday night, my book group meets to discuss The Accidental Tourist, and I can't wait. Although I am not quite finished, I know this book will make it to my Top 10 Favorites list. This is not a new book, but I have avoided it for two reasons. First, I associate it with Geena Davis who starred in the movie...not my favorite performer. Second, I just don't like the cover. Now don't go all cliche on me here and start with the "You can't judge a book by its cover," business, because sometimes you can, and that will be left for a later discussion.

My predictions for Friday: Loved it...Valerie, Jess, and me (which is unusual, since Valerie and I generally disagree; hated it...Nancy and Mary (which is unusual since Mary and I always agree!); for Angie, this will be a take it or leave it book. Steph will say she disliked it, but her comments about it will show differently. We'll see.

Tyler's style was play-like which was it's first appeal for me. Then there was the Waiting for Godot theme. Macon and his wife divorce after their son's death. Many marriages are vulnerable following such an incident, but these two never had a warm relationship to begin with. And Macon...what a guy. He's OC, as is his entire family. He organizes instead of deciding. His over-intellectualizing dulls his emotions, and worst of all, he has never committed to his life. When a quirky, gypsy type invades his space, Macon finds his life going in unexpected directions, and for the first time in his life, he might have to make a decision that could result in accepting shades of grey as life's norm. Pretty disturbing for a guy who spends his life negotiating for perfect balance.

I wonder, is any decision better than no decision? How careful is too careful? If all our actions are always in perfect balance, is there a place for reactions? Don't be dissuaded from reading this book if all this sounds way too serious. Tyler's storytelling is actually quite light-hearted, with family foibles, and eccentricities becoming the platform for the more esoteric thoughts she constructs.

For some reason, I also thought it was time to tackle Anthony Burgess's dystopian novel, A Clockwork Orange for about the 10Th time. The invented language, a symbolic blend of English and Russian challenges me, and slows the reading down. The title comes from an old British saying, "queer as a clockwork orange," and now that I have finally bulldozed my way through, I understand. Fifteen year old Alex Madsat looks like a normal kid, but inside, he is anything but. He is programmed for violence, and Burgess uses his novel as a sort of warning of what the world could become if we don't attend to the ills of society. Even though Burgess, an an avowed anarchist, wrote "Orange" in 1962, his amplification of societal dysfunctions resonates strongly today. Alex, the anti-hero, is totally unapologetic about the mayhem he stirs up with his three companions. They burgal, steal, beat, rape, and eventually murder. Alex is enrolled in a experimental treatment program to cure him of his taste for violence. He is released into society where his victims seek revenge. Although Alex is now repulsed by violence, his victims lust after it, and the tables turn. How successful was the treatment?

Happier thoughts.....last week while browsing at St. Vinnies, I stumbled across 1915 edition of Under Canvas or The Search for the Carteret Ghost. Think about it. This book is almost 100 years old. Inside was the funniest inscription I have ever read - "Merry Christmas to a little boy with a fat neck. Jane and Phil."

What could that possibly mean? Who was the boy with the fat neck, why did he have a fat neck, and more inportantly, why did Jane and Phil think it was Ok to imortalize that fact?

Thanks for stopping by.

Notes Left Behind

Seldom do I get on the inspirational/self-help/miracle/find the easy answer/get rich quick/synchronicity book bandwagon. Much to the chagrin of many customers, I never read The Secret, the rampant popularity of which still baffles me. That's the book that asserts that if you think it, it will come to you. Want fame? Just think about it. Want good fortune? Kick back and wish it so. Sure, I am oversimplifying, but I am not alone in my skepticism. Sadly, my feelings about this book were in part validated a few weeks ago when three people died in a sweat lodge ceremony. The facts have not all been gathered yet, but the man who organized the sweat lodge, and promoted (for a fee) the practices held there, was quoted throughout The Secret. Does that make the entire book bad? Is guilt by association an all-inclusive way to judge someone or something? No, but the connection is troubling.

Onward. About that bandwagon....last week I saw a family being interviewed on a morning talk show, and knew that those inspired by Randy Pausch's The Last Lecture might seek out the book being discussed. It is sure to be a favorite among the soft-hearted crowd. In fact, I predict it will be one of our biggest sellers in the coming months. What impressed me was that the man and woman being interviewed hardly mentioned the book; as a matter of fact, they had to be prompted to promote it at the end of the segment. Their joy came from sharing the memory of their daughter,Elena. I ordered the book for the store, knowing full well that I would read the first chapter, and only the first chapter, just to get a taste, and then put it on display. Something about Elena's parents stuck with me, and so, one Sunday afternoon, and a box of tissue later, I closed the back cover.

Elena Desserich was diagnosed with a brain tumor at age five. Upon receiving the news that would forever change their lives, her parents, Brooke and Keith, made two decisions. First, they would keep a journal all about Elena. They were heading into a black hole, unsure of what waited at the core. In case Elena didn't survive, they wanted everything about her recorded so that her little sister,Gracie, could know her. Second, they vowed (I love this phrase) to squeeze every drop of sunshine out every single moment.

Elena understood that she was sick, but no one really knew the wisdom her little heart held. Elena's wishes were simple....a carriage ride, spaghetti at her favorite neighborhood restaurant, seeing one of her paintings hang in a "real" museum, a wedding dress, and a visit to the Eiffel Tower. All but the last were possible.

What kept me reading was the lack of sentimentality. Mom and dad took turns writing journal entries, focusing on the little questions, requests, and quirks that made their daughter who she was. The writing isn't refined, but it is honest. There are no great truths to be found here, just a simple story of a little girl who loved pink, and whose final request in life was to dance with her daddy.

During her illness, Elena wrote notes to her family. She hid them. Her parents find them tucked between the pages of her coloring books, hidden in drawers, canisters, and secreted into the tiny pockets of their messenger bags. Elena sealed only two notes in envelopes, one for each of her parents. Brooke and Keith say they will never open them. It comforts them to know there will always be one more note from Elena.

**********Here's the annual Halloween picture of my beast waiting for the trick-or-treaters. I spent a whole dollar on her get-up at The Dollar Store. She wore the horns for about ten seconds, but she had a grand time greeting space aliens, bums, and princesses.

Thanks for stopping by.