Waiting On Wednesday ... A Certain Appeal

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 A Certain Appeal by Vanessa King

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

A sparkling contemporary retelling of Pride and Prejudice set in the tantalizing world of New York City burlesque, perfect for fans of The Kiss Quotient and The Roommate.

After a betrayal derailed her interior design career, Liz Bennet found a fresh start in New York. Now an executive assistant by day and stage kitten by night, she's discovered a second home with the performers at Meryton, Manhattan's top-tier burlesque venue. Love's the last thing on her mind when she locks eyes with Will Darcy across the crowded club. The spark between them is undeniable--that is, until she overhears the uptight wealth manager call her merely "tolerable."

Bennet is determined to write Darcy off, but once their besties fall head-over-heels, they're thrown into each other's orbit again and again. Each encounter begins to feel more heated than the last, but is their chemistry enough to topple that terrible first impression? What's more, when a charming newcomer arrives on the scene with accusations against Darcy, his claims leave Bennet torn. And when a sudden development leaves Meryton's fate in jeopardy, she will have to decide who to trust in time to salvage her design dreams, her heart, and the stage she shares with her found family... 

I instantly wanted to read this novel.when I heard it was a Pride and Prejudice retelling set in the world of burlesque. It sounds flirty and fun.

The fall release ensures that this will pair nicely with a pumpkin spice latte and a cozy blanket.

Expected release date - November 2, 2021

#PopCultureResolution -The Stepfather

The Stepfather

Director: Joseph Ruben

Length: 89 minutes

Cast: Terry O'Quinn, Shelley Hack, Jill Schoelen

Release Date: January 23, 1987

Synopsis: Jerry Blake (Terry O'Quinn) is a family man, but he happens to have a series of families, with each one on the receiving end of his murderous ways. When Jerry sets his sights on a lovely widow named Susan (Shelley Hack) and her headstrong daughter, Stephanie (Jill Schoelen), it appears that his brutal pattern of killings will continue. However, Stephanie begins to suspect that there's something wrong with the seemingly well-adjusted Jerry, and a violent confrontation is inevitable.

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The Stepfather is another 'based on a true crime' selection that made my list this year. It's (very) loosely based on the murders that John List committed but only in the simplest of terms. I was curious enough to add it to my list because I had good things, and it's pretty much a classic.

It's a solid, quick horror that I think will appeal to even those who are not horror fans. It has its horror filled moments but still manages to feel more like a thriller at times. Those who are not a fan of bloody scenes will still want to skip this one though because those are definitely still present.

The movie is at its most memorable when it focuses on Terry O'Quinn's Jerry. It's a fantastically unsettling performance. He manages to make whistling something that can send shivers down your spine. He excels are both the charming face that lures in women and the murderous opposite he eventually shows himself as. It's the performance, for me at least, that stands out in this movie.

The refreshing thing about these types of films is that they are the tightly packed, easily consumable pieces of entertainment. A majority run around the 90 minute range, especially if they are older, and that is because they know their audience. They know what the horror fan wants and that is on display in the screenplay here. It's a fast paced, tightly constructed story that feels even quicker than it actually is. Sometimes this works with the story being told and other times it leaves you wanting more. I did feel like some elements could have been fleshed out more, or expanded on, but that doesn't take away from the fact that it is a strong example of what often works in this genre.

The Stepfather ends up being a solid watch with a central performance that is the key to the movie. This has been remade and has inspired plenty of other movies so I may be swayed to check out a few of those as well. As for the big question that I answer at the end of these - was it scary? Well, it depends. The idea of it is certainly scary. The ones that feel a little more plausible always are. There are certainly scary moments in it, but I would classic this as a more of a thriller that keeps you tense. throughout. 

Mouthful of Forevers by Clementine von Radics

 

Mouthful of Forevers by Clementine von Radics

Release Date - April 7, 2015 

Publisher Website - Andrews McMeel Publishing
Publisher Social Media - Twitter

Pages - 115 pages
My Rating - 5/5

**borrowed from a friend**

Twelve Books/Twelve Friends Selection

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Titled after the poem that burned up on Tumblr and has inspired wedding vows, paintings, songs, YouTube videos, and even tattoos among its fans, Mouthful of Forevers brings the first substantial collection of this gifted young poet’s work to the public.

Clementine von Radics writes of love, loss, and the uncertainties and beauties of life with a ravishing poetic voice and piercing bravura that speak directly not only to the sensibility of her generation, but to anyone who has ever been young.

My Twelve Friends/ Twelve Books reading challenge has certainly been expanding my reading horizons. None have expanded it quite the same way this poetry collection has. 

I do not usually read poetry. It is not that I don't like it but it is not something I instinctively gravitate toward. Out of all the books recommended to me by friends I was most curious about this one because it is not something I typically read. This has showcased that I should definitely search more out because I loved every minute of reading this collection.

This book is filled with beautifully written poems that touch you in various ways. Some are bittersweet reflections on lost loves. Some are gut punches that deal with trauma and heartbreak. Some are wistful and contemplative. All linger and stay with you. I started noting the titles of the poems I enjoyed the most to keep track and it got to the point I was adding all of them to my list. There is easily at least one line from each poem that is worthy of being highlighted. 

There are plenty of poems about one within these pages but there are just as many that cover other topics. There are poems that touch on disability and others that deal with loss. It offers a diverse breadth of topics even though they all deal with topics of the heart.

If you, like me, don't read as much poetry as you should I recommend starting to change that with this collection. I am going to go ahead and assume that if poetry is already a staple for you that you are already familiar with von Radics and their work.

Hollywood Babylon by Kenneth Anger

Hollywood Babylon by Kenneth Anger

Release Date - January 1, 1975 

Publisher Website - Penguin Random House
Publisher Social Media - Twitter

Pages - 292 pages
My Rating - 2.5/5

**purchased**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Originally published in Paris, this is a collection of Hollywood's darkest and best kept secrets from the pen of Kenneth Anger, a former child movie actor who grew up to become one of America's leading underground film-makers.

Hollywood Babylon is sort of treated as a gossip filled must read for those with an interest in the golden age of Hollywood. I had heard it talked about in near mythic terms. Kenneth Anger was synonymous with gossip. It was therefore no surprise that it could not live up to the hype.

I'll start by saying that it is an entertaining read but that it is pretty obvious that not all of it (in fact it appears a large part of it) is not true. It takes events that actually happened and mixes in rumour and innuendo as actual facts. Actual verifiable facts are ignored for snide comments and speculation. I wanted a dishy tell all and instead got something that felt a little incomplete and misleading.

Thr photos interspersed throughout are certainly eye catching and work with the flow of the story. They are used effectively and complement the way in which each chapter leads into the next. The photos are, however, often unlabeled making it harder to identify some of the subjects. This amount of effort also goes into the writing which is rushed and messy at times. 

The stories included are (mostly) worthy of a tell all. It is a testament to how underdeveloped some of the chapters are that it leaves the reader hungry for more and wanting to dive down many rabbit holes. There are some that stay with you, such as the unanswered questions surrounding the death of Virginia Rappe, but others leave only a fleeting impression. 

One positive is that the various sections are short making them easily consumed during a commute or on lunch breaks. The book itself reads very fast because, like the writing, a lot more style is put in place of substance. It makes it so that anyone midly curious could pick this up and finish it rather quickly.

I mainly wanted to read this before starting the You Must Remember This season that revolves around this book. I have to say that the podcast has made a perfect companion piece so far and has only served to increase my enjoyment of the book. 

If you are looking for a quick Hollywood read that has more lies than truth I would maybe recommend this one. I would certainly advise pairing it with a real deep dive into the stories explored in this book. Avoid the hype and you might enjoy it more than I did.

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 week. 

BOOKS

Cover For A Certain Appeal by Vanessa King (goodreads)

I featured this book in my 2021 Most Anticipated event and now it finally has a cover. It's fun, flirty, and I love it. It fits the synopsis of the book perfectly.

This Pride and Prejudice set in the world of burlesque inspired novel will certainly look stunning on shelves. 

Cover For Duke, Actually by Jenny Holiday (goodreads) 

I love cute holiday season set romance so when a friend brought this book to my attention I immediately had to add it to my reading list.

This is such a cute illustrated cover! It has perfectly captured the holiday season in New York City vibe that this book has in the synopsis.  

MOVIES/TELEVISION

American Horror Story Season 10 Announcement

The official theme/title of American Horror Story's tenth season will be revealed the day this post goes up (Friday). Ryan Murphy broke the news on his social feeds recently.

pic.twitter.com/iC3NSst4BV

— Ryan Murphy (@MrRPMurphy) March 17, 2021

Based on the clues I expect it will deal with mermaids or sirens of some kind. I know they have filmed a lot of the show in Provincetown so it'll fit with the water/coastal vibes all the teasers have had.

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

The Initial Insult by Mindy McGinnis

The Initial Insult by Mindy McGinnis

Release Date - Feb 23, 2021

Publisher Website - Harper Collins
Publisher Social Media - Twitter/Facebook/SavvyReader/Frenzy

Pages - 370 pages
My Rating - 4/5

**received for an honest review from the publisher**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Welcome to Amontillado, Ohio, where your last name is worth more than money, and secrets can be kept… for a price.

Tress Montor knows that her family used to mean something—until she didn’t have a family anymore. When her parents disappeared seven years ago while driving her best friend home, Tress lost everything. She might still be a Montor, but the entire town shuns her now that she lives with her drunken, one-eyed grandfather at what locals refer to as the “White Trash Zoo,” – a wild animal attraction featuring a zebra, a chimpanzee, and a panther, among other things.

Felicity Turnado has it all – looks, money, and a secret that she’s kept hidden. She knows that one misstep could send her tumbling from the top of the social ladder, and she’s worked hard to make everyone forget that she was with the Montors the night they disappeared. Felicity has buried what she knows so deeply that she can’t even remember what it is… only that she can’t look at Tress without having a panic attack.

But she’ll have to.

Tress has a plan. A Halloween costume party at an abandoned house provides the ideal situation for Tress to pry the truth from Felicity – brick by brick – as she slowly seals her former best friend into a coal chute. With a drunken party above them, and a loose panther on the prowl, Tress will have her answers – or settle for revenge.

In the first book of this duology, award-winning author Mindy McGinnis draws inspiration from Edgar Allan Poe and masterfully delivers a dark, propulsive mystery in alternating points of view that unravels a friendship... forevermore.

The Initial Insult kicks off a duology that is inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's The Cask of Amontillado. It offers a twisted tale of revenge that ends up being quite the page turner.

I have a mixed track record with Mindy McGinnis' books. I have been impressed with her writing style in all of them but some have not quite worked plot wise for me. This one turned out to really work for me. There is something about the tone and the deliberate way the story comes together that worked for me.

I have not read The Cask of Amontillado so I cannot comment on the inspiration element and if it works. The basics of that story does carry over in that one character is encasing their former friend turned frenemy inside a brick wall (in essence burying them alive). This aspect is taunt and provides palpable anxiety as each layer is added. This menacing tone and atmosphere shapes thr novel. It is a novel of revenge and secrets and that only adds to its allure.

Tress is a volatile hot mess. She is unapologetic about everything and hell bent on finding out what happened the night her parents disappeared. She is absolutely going to bring out different reactions in people but I feel that the reader at least understands her motivations. We may not agree with her actions but can understand why she would want to burn everything down. Her anger feeds the tone of the story and makes them work together.

Felicity is just as interesting as Tress is. She is kind of a counter balance to Tress and their characters work off each other. She is hiding her own secrets and has her own issues going on and it makes for a really interesting dynamic between the two girls. I feel you need two headstrong characters for this story to work and the author definitely succeeded. 

Communication, and lack thereof, is a huge part of this story. If Tress and Felicity were different characters and actually talked to each other so much could be cleared up. It makes the tension feel a little more taunt because the reader knows how different things could have been. Thr mystery of what happened to Tress' parents is certainly interesting but it is the dynamic between the girls that is the heartbeat of this story.

The ending is a bit of a cliffhanger while also feeling very satisfying. Things ramp up in the end so you are left wanting to pick up the next book immediately. It manages to close out the first half of the story while keeping you hooked for the second half.

I recommend this one if you like dark, atmospheric stories filled with interesting characters. It is an wildly twisted tale that highlights the one saying of digging two graves if you set out in the path of revenge.

Waiting On Wednesday ... Gilded

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 Gilded by Marissa Meyer

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Marissa Meyer, #1 New York Times-bestselling author, returns to the fairytale world with this haunting retelling of Rumpelstiltskin.

Long ago cursed by the god of lies, a poor miller's daughter has developed a talent for spinning stories that are fantastical and spellbinding and entirely untrue.

Or so everyone believes.

When one of Serilda's outlandish tales draws the attention of the sinister Erlking and his undead hunters, she finds herself swept away into a grim world where ghouls and phantoms prowl the earth and hollow-eyed ravens track her every move. The king orders Serilda to complete the impossible task of spinning straw into gold, or be killed for telling falsehoods. In her desperation, Serilda unwittingly summons a mysterious boy to her aid. He agrees to help her… for a price. Love isn't meant to be part of the bargain.

Soon Serilda realizes that there is more than one secret hidden in the castle walls, including an ancient curse that must be broken if she hopes to end the tyranny of the king and his wild hunt forever.

Marrisa Meyer's fairytale retellings are always incredible and I am very excited to learn that she has another one coming out this year! This is based off of the Rumpelstiltskin tale and sounds like a return to the books that made everyone fall in love with her writing.

It's poised to be a big release with a autumn release date that is sure to have everyone adding it to their autumn reading lists and holiday wish lists.  

Expected release date - November 2, 2021