Ivy Smoak Announcement!

If you have been reading and loving the Empire High series you'll be very excited about the news I get to help share today! It concerns the next book in the series, Empire High Betrayal, and its upcoming release. There may also be another piece of news that will definitely excite fans.

 Ivy Smoak has an exciting announcement she'd like to share! 

Thank you all so much for your support of the Empire High Series!  All the outpouring of love for Brooklyn and Matt has been so amazing.  And I have some good news that I can't stand to wait any longer to tell you!  Actually I have good news and more good news!!  First - You didn't really think I'd make you wait till January for Betrayal, did you?!  I love you guys and I seriously couldn't wait any longer for you to read the next installment.  So I'm releasing Betrayal two months early on Nov 12th!!!  Yes, it's just 2 weeks away!!!  And the second part of the good news...there is going to be at least one more book in the Empire High Series.  Schedule to come out spring of 2021.  So get ready for a crazy book 3!

Add EMPIRE HIGH BETRAYAL to Goodreads

Join Ivy's Reader Group for more details

AUTHOR INFORMATION: Ivy Smoak is the international bestselling author of The Hunted series. When she's not writing, you can find her binge watching too many TV shows, taking long walks, playing outside, and generally refusing to act like an adult. She lives with her husband in Delaware.   

FIND IVY SMOAK:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Bookbub | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon

Waiting On Wednesday ... Mind the Gap, Dash and Lily

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pick is Mind the Gap, Dash and Lily by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

*** minor spoilers for the first two books in the series ***

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Timed to the release of DASH AND LILY on Netflix comes a new helping of love--this time across the pond as best-selling authors Rachel Cohn and David Levithan send Dash and Lily to jolly old England.

Dash and Lily are feeling closer than ever...it's just too bad they're also an ocean apart. After Dash gets accepted to Oxford University and Lily stays in New York to take care of her dogwalking business, the inseparable couple are struggling to make a long distance relationship work. And when Dash breaks the news that he won't be coming home to New York for Christmas, Lily makes a decision: if Dash can't come to New York, she'll go to London. But will Lily pull off the ultimate surprise--or will Christmas in London backfire?

The wait for this one isn't very long at all seeing as it comes out next week. If the first two books are any indication this will be an excellent holiday season read!

These books are just adorable and remind me of a warm cup of candy cane hot chocolate.

If you haven't read the first two please do so immediately. There is also a Netflix series coming out November 13th to entice you to read at least the first book before it comes out.

Expected release date - November 3, 2020

Fifth Avenue, 5 A. M. by Sam Wasson

Fifth Avenue, 5 A. M. by Sam Wasson 

Release Date - June 22, 2010

Publisher Website - Harper Collis Canada
Publisher Social Media - Twitter/Facebook/SavvyReader/Frenzy

Pages - 231 pages
My Rating - 4/5
**borrowed from the library**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Audrey Hepburn is an icon like no other, yet the image many of us have of Audrey—dainty, immaculate—is anything but true to life. Here, for the first time, Sam Wasson presents the woman behind the little black dress that rocked the nation in 1961. The first complete account of the making of Breakfast at Tiffany's, Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M. reveals little-known facts about the cinema classic: Truman Capote desperately wanted Marilyn Monroe for the leading role; director Blake Edwards filmed multiple endings; Hepburn herself felt very conflicted about balancing the roles of mother and movie star. With a colorful cast of characters including Truman Capote, Edith Head, Givenchy, "Moon River" composer Henry Mancini, and, of course, Hepburn herself, Wasson immerses us in the America of the late fifties before Woodstock and birth control, when a not-so-virginal girl by the name of Holly Golightly raised eyebrows across the country, changing fashion, film, and sex for good. Indeed, cultural touchstones like Sex and the City owe a debt of gratitude to Breakfast at Tiffany's.

In this meticulously researched gem of a book, Wasson delivers us from the penthouses of the Upper East Side to the pools of Beverly Hills, presenting Breakfast at Tiffany's as we have never seen it before—through the eyes of those who made it. Written with delicious prose and considerable wit, Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M. shines new light on a beloved film and its incomparable star. 

5th Avenue, 5 A.M. refers to the location and time in which THAT infamous Breakfast at Tiffany's scene was filmed. The iconic shot of Audrey Hepburn in that little black dress helped launch a few careers and definitely launched the fashion trend of the LBD (aka the little black dress). This book gives a snapshot of filming this movie while also giving a few details about the people behind it.

If you are looking for an in depth look at Audrey Hepburn's life this is not the book for you. This is a snapshot of a very specific chunk of time. It walks through the big events that shaped the creation and filming of the movie while sometimes giving pertinent background information on the people involved. 

Audrey is given plenty of attention and the author does not shy away from the sadder elements of the story. He mentions Audrey's miscarriages and marriage troubles because it impacted her while filming. Also discussed are the tensions on set thanks to nobody liking George Peppard. 

The story of the dress and Audrey's relationship with Hubert de Givenchy starts before Breakfast at Tiffany's. The book captures the moment when Audrey is sent to get clothes for the movie Sabrina and it launches a professional relationship that changes fashion. It is definitely the stuff of goosebumps when you realize how iconic and influential Audrey's style via de Givenchy was.

It was fascinating getting to know the details behind the filming of the infamous party scene. It, quite frankly, sounds exhausting and the opposite of fun but it certainly looks good on camera.

Those Mickey Rooney scenes that everyone finds problematic are referenced. Turns out they were included as a means to make the movie funnier. It does not translate as the entire bit is not funny in the slightest. I have always found those scenes out of place with the rest of the movie and really wish they would have taken them out. The context given here does not make them fit any better or make them any less problematic.

Truman Capote is given his share of space within these pages. I find it fascinating that he hated the movie and did not visit the set even once. He was not a fan of Audrey Hepburn's casting at all which baffles me because it is now one of her most well recognized roles. I definitely want to do a deeper dive into Truman and his 'Swans' now and learn more about all these women who claimed to be the inspiration for Holly Golightly.

A well researched look at a piece of American film culture. I am fairly certain that nobody on the set knew exactly what they were creating while filming Breakfast at Tiffany's and that makes the behind the scenes gossip even more interesting. It is also a testament to the talent involved because of the careers that springboarded from this movie. I highly recommend this if you are a fan of the film or just a fan of Audrey Hepburn. Just make sure you have time to watch the movie afterwards because you will definitely want to.

Weekly Obsessions

The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every weekend. 

This is a bit late and that is because I forgot to actually check that it posted.

This week  is filled with movie and television trailers. Some exciting things coming up!

TV/MOVIES

Dash and Lily Trailer

I really enjoyed the book by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan. It's cute and is perfect for the holiday season as the trailer showcases.

I think the music chosen compliments everything else perfectly. This is one I am going to be binge watching as soon as it is released.

All My Life Trailer

This movie looks like one that you'll need to have tissues handy for. It's based off a real life couple's love story and looks like a real tearjerker.

I started crying as soon as he meets her with the dog because you instantly know what it means. This one is, apparently, coming to theatres in November.

The Flight Attendant Trailer

This trailer caught my attention to the point that I immediately ordered the book this television series is based on. I hope to read it before the end of November when the show premieres. 

I love a good mystery and I especially love that the victim doesn't disappear from the story right away. It seems like he is going to be a hallucination of hers for a little while at least. 

What are you obsessed with this week? Let me know in the comments.

Lords of Chaos by Michael Moynihan and Didrik Soderlind

Lords of Chaos by Michael Moynihan and Didrik Soderlind

Release Date - November 1, 2003

Publisher Website - Feral House
Publisher Social Media - Twitter

Pages - 391 pages
My Rating - 3/5
**purchased**

**content warning for talk of murder and suicide**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Growing up under his punk rocker dad's spotlight, eighteen-year-old Luke Greenly knows fame and wants nothing to do with it. His real love isn't in front of a crowd, it's on the page. Hiding his gift and secretly hoarding songs in his bedroom at night, he prefers the anonymous comfort of the locally popular podcast he co-hosts with his outgoing and meddling, far-too-jealousy-inspiringly-happy-with-his-long-term-boyfriend twin brother, Cullen. But that’s not Luke’s only secret. He also has a major un-requited crush on music blogger, Vada Carsewell.

Vada's got a five year plan: secure a job at the Loud Lizard to learn from local legend (and her mom's boyfriend) Phil Josephs (check), take over Phil's music blog (double check), get accepted into Berkeley's prestigious music journalism program (check, check, check), manage Ann Arbor's summer concert series and secure a Rolling Stone internship. Luke Greenly is most definitely NOT on the list. So what if his self-deprecating charm and out-of-this-world music knowledge makes her dizzy? Or his brother just released a bootleg recording of Luke singing about some mystery girl on their podcast and she really, really wishes it was her? 

In the late 1980s/early 1990s a group of Norwegian young men created a new type of music and plenty of newspaper headlines. They are now known for church burnings, a suicide, and multiple murders just as much as they are for their music. Lords of Chaos breaks down not just the murder of Øystein Aarseth but the entire scene.

I was already pretty familiar with the case thanks to the well researched three part series from the guys over at Last Podcast On The Left (episode 285 if you want to listen) and the equally captivating movie adaptation of this book. I couldn't help but compare the three to each other. The podcast and movie firmly focus on Aarseth's murder while the book more fully examines the scene as a whole.

The biggest difference is that the book digs more into the beliefs the people in this group had and how they may have created the conditions that led to the church burnings and deaths. The book focuses on the fact that some of the people involved in the black Metal scene were also racists much more than the movie does. They make a pretty good case for there being some overlap there and how this fact may have played a role in the larger picture at the time. It breaks down all these connections in a way that instantly allows the read to connect all the pieces. It also looks at various members religious beliefs and how Satanism may or may not have played a role.

The pacing felt a little uneven for me. The beginning breezes by and it stagnates a little in the middle and end sections. It felt repetitive at times as we kept hearing the same thing from various members of this scene said just in different ways. This may hammer home the point the authors are trying to make but left me a little underwhelmed as a reader.

There is also the question of how much the reader should believe. The movie based off the book touts that it is “based on truth, lies and what actually happened." Which should tell you everything. There is a mythology there to some of the actions attributed to various key players. You have certain people believing one thing that others swear is a lie. Lies are certainly plausible because for many people involved it was an act and they did and said things to make themselves seem a specific way. Nobody knows for sure if members of the band Mayhem really wore pieces of their fellow band member's skull as necklaces after he committed suicide or if they were pieces of animal bone. This entire thing is filled with things like this that may be overblow. Related is the scrutiny that should be given to the people being interviewed. The authors did a lot of research and interviews and they present these in a very unbiased, straightforward way. They let the subjects of their interviews speak for themselves without injecting opinions or commentary themselves. This means that there are going to be things that many readers will not agree with. Some have questioned why these people should be even given a voice but I think the message the book is presenting is a worthy one - even if I wanted to scream every time a murderer talked about their victim. It was rage inducing to have them say whatever they wanted about the victims because they are not around to tell their side of things thanks to the whole being murdered thing. I don't personally find anything a murderer says about their victim very reliable. 

This book basically left me with the same mindset that I had after watching the movie. These were a bunch of bored young men who were trying to one up each other. They ran wild and things basically turned into Lord of the Flies. It is a fascinating look at a specific point in music history and at a true crime case that leaves you with plenty to to think about. I recommend this for anyone wanting a deep dive into the Norwegian black metal scene as it is certainly detailed and thorough.

Waiting On Wednesday .... If The Shoe Fits

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pick is If The Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

From #1 New York Times best-selling author Julie Murphy comes the first in a brand-new adult series inspired by the classic fairy tale stories we all know and love, perfect for adult readers who crave contemporary, escapist rom-coms.

After having just graduated with a degree in shoe design, and trying to get her feet on the ground, Cindy is working for her stepmother, who happens to be the executive producer of America’s favorite reality show, Before Midnight. When a spot on the show needs filling ASAP, Cindy volunteers, hoping it might help jump-start her fashion career, or at least give her something to do while her peers land jobs in the world of high fashion.

Turns out being the only plus size woman on a reality dating competition makes a splash, and soon Cindy becomes a body positivity icon for women everywhere. What she doesn't expect? That she may just find inspiration — and love — in the process. Ultimately, Cindy learns that if the shoe doesn't fit, maybe it's time to design your own.

Fairytale retellings are some of my favourite books to read so I was especially excited to hear about this one. It not only is written by an author whose work I enjoy but is the start of an adult book series from Disney. 

This Cinderella inspired story sounds amazing. I love that she is interested in fashion.  I also love the nod to the classic Cinderella dress but made more modern.

Here is hoping these become Disney+ movies in the future.

It sounds like a perfect summer read to enjoy with some ice cream. I cannot wait!

Expected release date - August 3, 2021

#2020PopCultureResolution - Gaslight

Gaslight

Director: George Cukor

Length:  114 minutes

Cast: Charles Boyer, Ingrid Bergman, Angela Lansbury

Release Date:  May 11, 1944

Synopsis: After the death of her famous opera-singing aunt, Paula (Ingrid Bergman) is sent to study in Italy to become a great opera singer as well. While there, she falls in love with the charming Gregory Anton (Charles Boyer). The two return to London, and Paula begins to notice strange goings-on: missing pictures, strange footsteps in the night and gaslights that dim without being touched. As she fights to retain her sanity, her new husband's intentions come into question.

***********************************************

Gaslight: to manipulate (someone) by psychological means into questioning their own sanity.

While many of us are familiar with the term gaslighting we may not be as familiar with its origins. The phrase originated thanks to the 1938 play Gas Light, of which Gaslight is an adaptation of, and its use of gas lights in tormenting its lead character. 

I picked Gaslight for October's movie because I figured it would fit the spooky season. It does in a way but is much more of a psychological thriller.

I could easily see this being a Hitchcock film. It has many of the same markers of a Hitchcock film along with a similar tone to some of his movies. It certainly has the suspense one associates with his movies.

The tone and atmosphere is owed to its pacing. Paula's confusion and doubt is gradual. It makes the situation a little more believable as a result. Her certainty in herself is chipped away a little at a time making her descent all the more heartbreaking.

Ingrid Bergman is captivating as Paula. She never overdoes her acting which would be easy to do with a role like this. She keeps it restrained but still manages to seem like someone coming unhinged. It is the perfect balance needed for this character.

Charles Boyer is chilling as Gregory. He plays it perfectly and while the plot is predictable it is made by these performances. Angela Lansbury was a welcome surprise and a delight in her role as Nancy.

The movie was infuriating at times because we are familiar with gaslighting and how it works. I wanted to scream at my television so many times while watching. I concede however that this probably would have been more revolutionary at the time the play was released. It is a mirror for those who cannot see they are being gaslit when it is happening. 

Overall a strong psychological thriller that I would recommend to any lovers of classic film that may not have seen it.  It is certainly essential viewing for those who enjoy Ingrid Bergman performances.