Stephen Fry talks Language

I just had to share this fantastic kinetic typography animation which RogersCreations has created from one of Stephen Fry's "podgrams."

Once Wicked, Always Dead

Title: Once Wicked, Always Dead by T. Marie Benchley
Genre: Fiction, Mystery
Rating: 2/5

With the tragic death of her parents and the disclosure of her husband's affair with another man, Molly Madison's upscale life is turned upside down. In order to heal and start anew, she returns to the family ranch in Montana. But the local old boys' club isn't happy with a woman taking over and someone's trying to scare Molly into selling. As if that wasn't enough, a sociopath begins killing men in the same area.

I was really intrigued by the synopsis of Once Wicked, Always Dead that AtlasBooks sent around a few months ago and was excited to read the book. Unfortunately, the writing just didn't hold up to the promise of a good mystery. It felt unfinished, like the book could have used another heavy edit. And the characters could have been engaging if they didn't feel so wooden.

However, the story is interesting and moves quickly. And with the revelation of Molly's husband's sexuality and his affair, their subsequent divorce and her blooming romance with the foreman of her father's ranch, the story has a strong soap opera feel to it. I couldn't wait for each new twist.

In the end, I probably won't recommend Once Wicked, Always Dead to anyone. Unfortunately the writing is just too rough and distracts from what could have been a good story.

Thanks to M.M.W.E. Publishing House for the Advanced Reading Copy of Once Wicked, Always Dead. The views expressed above are my own. For more information on Once Wicked, Always Dead, check out T. Marie Benchley's website.

Plain Kate

Title: Plain Kate by Erin Bow
Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, YA
Rating: 4/5

Plain Kate lives in a world of magic, witches and curses. A talented woodcarver, Kate has lived alone in the woodcarver's stall since her father's death. But when a sickness comes to her village, the townspeople begin to turn against the gifted orphan and Kate makes a horrifying deal with a gypsy to escape being burnt as a witch.

I loved Plain Kate. It's beautifully written and I was captivated by Kate's story. My favourite books tend to be ones where I'm truly fascinated by the characters, and this book accomplished that, even moving me to tears at one point.

Plain Kate is darker than most other YAs I've read. The way the villagers look for someone to blame and burn when things look bad reflects the Spanish Inquisition and the witch trials of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Also, Linay's plan to take revenge on the town that caused the death of his sister illustrates the desperation of grief. Moreover, the self-mutilation, even to control a ghost, is a little disturbing, though very well done.

I thought Bow's depiction of Taggle was absolutely perfect. A cat-owner myself, it seems completely fitting that a talking cat would be stuck up and pompous, consistently talking about his superiority when not talking about food or being hungry. And I thought his slow transformation to something more than cat was fantastic.

As well, I enjoyed the inclusion of lyrics. They were lovely and poetic and it seemed fitting that spells would be cast in song. It also reminded me of the medieval bards and minstrels of times past, which seems appropriate considering the setting.

I'd recommend Plain Kate to all and sundry. It's a beautiful and emotional story and leads me to expect great things from Erin Bow's future novels.

Mr. Toppit

Title: Mr. Toppit by Charles Elton
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 4/5

When an obscure British children's author is killed by a cement truck in a freak accident, he is comforted in his last moments by an unknown American tourist, who then insinuates herself into his family. She becomes obsessed with his books and champions them back in America, bringing them to posthumous fame worldwide and rocketing her own celebrity career. But fame is not always what it's cracked up to be.

I was hooked from the very first line of Mr. Toppit. It's an entertaining and emotional read, chronicling the life of the Hayman family after Arthur's death and the posthumous success of The Hayseed Chronicles.

There's a hint of mystery throughout the book; several secrets that are answered as the story unfolds and which help keep the narrative moving. The most notable mystery is the eponymous Mr.Toppit, a sinister character in The Hayseed Chronicles, who had only just appeared in the last book published, but whose presence is felt throughout all five books and who becomes one of the major points of discussion about the series.

The story of the Haymans is rather reminiscent of the success of AA Milne, author of the Winnie-the-Pooh books. Like Christopher Milne, Luke Hayman resents the fame the his father's books brought him. He wants nothing more than to fade back into obscurity and to avoid people who assume they know him just because they've read the books.

There's also a strong thread throughout illustrating the possible consequences of success, particularly the inability to deal with the stress of living in the public eye and to regulate desires when everything is at your fingertips. In the books, Luke is an only child and as a result, Arthur's daughter overcompensates by trying to become involved in every aspect of The Hayseed Chronicles' success. She offers to write the next book in the series and her father's biography, and tries to influence filming decisions for the BBC miniseries based on the books. She drowns her sorrows and insecurities in drink and drugs, spiraling further and further into depression. The star of the BBC miniseries was already a bit of an alcoholic, but later rumours circulated that he'd become an addict and was HIV positive.

I found Elton's writing witty, smooth and moving, though a little dark. At the end of the book, everything seems to be tied up but I still found myself asking "That's it?" I look forward to seeing what else Mr. Elton writes and I definitely recommend this book to those who enjoy an engaging, more literary read, particularly one with a hint of mystery.

Thanks to Other Press for the Advanced Reading Copy of Mr. Toppit. The views expressed above are my own. For more information on Mr. Toppit, check out the Other Press website.