Boyd J. Petersen was named the next editor of Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought. Another former AML President, Melissa Proffitt, published her first novel. SLC ComicCon is going on, and lots of LDS authors are there waiting for you to meet them. There was a change in the top leadership at Covenant Communications. Michaelbrent Collings is on the preliminary ballot for a Bram Stoker award, and the LDS Poetry Slam winners are announced. Some good news on the Nunes plagiarism case. Among the newly published books are Mary Bradford’s personal essay collection, Michael Jensen and David Powers King’s Woven (the book that Cedar Fort controversially dropped in 2013, and ended up at Scholastic instead), and Brandon Sanderson’s Steelheart sequel Firefight (which went to #1 on the NYT YA list). The Maze Runner stays the #1 NYT Children’s Series for 5 weeks in a row. Two films by Mormon directors premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, Jared Hess’ comedy Don Verdean, and Greg Whitley’s documentary Most Likely to Succeed. A new Melissa Leilani Larson web series. Jim Bennett writes with bitter humor about his experiences rewriting the outdoor musical Utah! at Tuachan in 2002, and the difficulty of making art while trying not to offend anyone. And speaking of funny, read Steven Peck’s replies to student questions.
News and blog posts
The finalists for both the Whitney Awards and the AML Awards will be announced in the next couple of weeks.
Boyd J. Petersen, who was president of the AML around 2009-2011, has been named the next editor of Dialogue. Petersen will take over in 2016, replacing Kristine Haglund. Petersen teaches Mormon literature courses at UVU and BYU, among other courses.
William Morris at A Motley Vision offers “A quick thought on Boyd Petersen being named editor of Dialogue”. “Having a former president of the Association for Mormon Letters leading Dialogue, and, it specifically being Boyd, definitely amps up my interest in submitting and subscribing to the journal. I say amp up. I should say instead: maintain. Or: not diminish. Because Kristine L. Haglund’s editorship (And that of fiction editor Heather Marx, which Kristine was gracious enough to remind of in the comments below) is a key reason that I have continued to write Mormon fiction instead of focusing solely on mainstream SF&F/lit fic. Frankly, I still can’t believe that she published a 10,000 word, Mormon, near future, post-apocalyptic, second person POV story that I wrote. And I doubt that I would have written the straight up Mormon literary fiction story I wrote last fall without there being the slight possibility that Dialogue might be interested in it.”
Barry Evans, who has been the managing director of Covenant Communications for 15 years, will step down from his position, effective at the end of January. Managing director is the most senior position at Covenant, which is a business unit of Deseret Book Company, which is owned by the Church. Robby Nichols, who has been at Covenant for twenty-six years as the vice-president of marketing, will assume leadership of Covenant as its managing director. In a statement sent to authors on January 20, Managing Editor Kathy Gordon said, “Barry Evans, Covenant’s general manager, has resigned from Covenant to pursue other opportunities. In his fifteen years at Covenant, Barry has made a substantial contribution in moving the company forward, and it was under his inspiring vision that Covenant has developed a thriving line of clothing and home décor, which have increased our revenues and enabled us to weather out several economic downturns. His support of our book publishing role has been dramatic.” About Nichols, it said, “We have already seen his tremendous leadership ability as he has begun implementing some exciting new ideas, and I am confident you will love working with him as he transitions into his new role at the company. His legacy position at Covenant has given him a solid knowledge of our authors and their works, and he is committed to preserving Covenant’s strong position as a quality publisher in the LDS market.” Some authors I have talked to have been cautiously optimistic that the change will help move Covenant’s contract practices closer in line with the industry norms.
SLC ComicCon is going on Jan 29-31 at the Salt Palace. LDS authors are available for book signing and sitting on panels in great numbers. Participants include: Brandon Sanderson, Bree Despain, Colleen Houck, D. J. Butler, Dan Wells, David Farland, David J. West, David Powers King, Eric James Stone, Frank Cole, JR Johansson, J Scott Savage, Jennifer Nielsen, Larry Correia, Lisa Mangum, Michael Jensen, Michaelbrent Collings, Michelle Witte, Natalie Whipple, Nathan Shumate, Richard Paul Evans, Robison Wells, Sara B. Larson, Tracy and Laura Hickman, and Daryn Tufts.
This year’s Bram Stoker Awards (horror’s answer to an Oscar, Hugo, etc.) has announced their preliminary ballot. Michaelbrent Collings’ This Darkness Light is up for Superior Achievement in a Novel, one of ten on the ballot. It’s also the only self-published work in that category.
Theric reported on Rachel Ann Nunes’s case accusing another author of plagiarism, and helped Nunes get in contact with Mormon author and lawyer SP (Shawn) Bailey, who will represent Nunes on the case. At A Motley Vision.
Also at A Motley Vision, Tyler Chadwick shares On Reading within the Context of Gospel Values: An Open Letter to Young Mormons (Part 1) and (Part 2),his reply to a BYU-Idaho student who was upset to be assigned a reading that included profanity. Chadwick talks about what he sees as BYU-Idaho’s mission, and the role of literature.
BYU’s Fall 2014 English Reading Series includes: John Bennion, Jan. 16, Laura Stott, Jan. 23, Courtney Miller Santo, Jan. 30, Lance Larsen and Jana Richman, March 6.
New LDS Fiction’s 2014 Best Fiction Cover Finalists are open for voting until midnight, Jan. 31.
The 2nd Annual #MormonPoetrySlam Winners were announced. The Audience Choice Performance goes to Laura Craner reading “How Long?” by Darlene Young. The Editor’s Pick Performance goes to Jim Richards reading “Little Lion Face” by May Swenson.
M. K. Hutchins’ Drift was named by VOYA magazine one of the “Top Shelf” Middle School Readers for 2014.
Was ‘The Book of Mormon’ a Great American Novel? The Daily Beast.
Art Conservation and Restoration of Mormon Art. By Scott M. Haskins, a professional art conservator since 1975.
Scott Hales interview at Mormon Misfit podcast.
Mormon Artist Podcast Episode 7: Joan Layton Merrell, calligrapher.
At the Good Word Podcast, interviews with L.R.W. Lee and Dustin Bradshaw
“David Pace, Postum and the Three Nephites” (15 Bytes). Interview with author David Pace, talking about the publication of his upcoming first novel, Dream House on Golan Drive (Signature Books) this June. An excerpt: “15B: You say it took two decades to get it published. Why did it take so long? Pace: You tell me. One agent told me that she didn’t like it because when the main character leaves Mormonism he’s still not okay. In fact in many ways he’s worse off. She was reading it as an expose of a fundamentalist faith and wanted some kind of reward for her reader that I wasn’t offering. But more to the point the delay in its publication speaks to the lack of an audience for a serious literary treatment of Mormons. “Good” Mormons don’t want to necessarily read about flawed characters who are living the life. Outsiders, apostates or “Jack” Mormons aren’t interested, usually, in anything that doesn’t demonize the faith and its members. There are about three of us right now out there who want to see something nuanced. Something that will dignify the culture.”
LDS.net’s LDS Poetry Contest deadline is January 31. Send poems on Mormon beliefs, history, and culture to submit@ldsnet.email
Annette Lyon gives tips to authors on navigating the Whitney Awards.
Short stories, essays, and magazines
Analog Science Fiction and Fact, March 2015 includes Eric James Stone’s short story “An Immense Darkness, and a science fact article by Steven L. Peck, “Five Wagers on What Intelligent Life Elsewhere in the Universe Will Be Like.”
Steven L. Peck’s short story “Down Courthouse Wash” has been published in Perhilion, an online science fiction journal. Peck says: “It has aliens! It takes place in Moab Utah! It has science. Government conspiracies. Videos that go viral. Alien break-ins at nuclear facilities. And a story of young love. Plus people building fences in Arches National Park!”
Theric Jensen’s super-short story. “All Right, Have It Your Way – You Heard a Seal Bark” appears in 365 Tommorrows.
Sunstone. Issue 176—November 2014 (But apparently not published until January). Includes: “The Blood of Thy Son”, Short story by Larry Menlove. A horror story about murders committed in a Mormon family. Purple, by Mary Lythgoe Bradford. 2009. Reviewed by Stephen Carter. The Epistles of Kishkumen and Gadianton, Humor by Marty Nabhan. Leeds, Personal essay by Tom Kimball. Wisdom of the Elders: Is there Beauty in Your Bucket?, By Elouise Bell. Poetry: Not as the World Giveth, By Javen Tanner, Elm Trees, By Lorraine Jeffery,To Tom, the Ox, By Glen Lassen
Eric James Stone. “Lobstersaurus”. A short story in the anthology 2015 Young Explorer’s Adventure Guide. Corie and Sean Weaver, editors. Dreaming Robot Press, Jan. 3. An anthology of middle grade science fiction stories directed at girls.
Jaren Watson. “The Fox”. Origami. A personal essay about chasing a fox on a snowmobile on an Idaho farm. Watson recently had a manuscript of essays accepted by Torrey House.
Speaking of Jaren Watson, he reported on Facebook about leading a class of BYU-Idaho students in a discussion of Steven L. Peck’s The Scholar of Moab. “Our discussions have been full of raucous laughter, occasional insight, and some downright confusion. Overall, it’s been a lot of fun. The author was gracious enough to entertain questions. Here’s a sample of what the students submitted. If you’ve read the book, I think you’ll be surprised by how convinced many of them are that the book is autobiographical. None of them are students of literature, so you’ll forgive them if their questions imply a lack of depth.” Steven replied with answers to all of the questions.
1. Why doesn’t Edward ever get the spotlight?
His shy retiring nature disinclines him to being put forward. He has always felt his brother was the one that needed more recognition and attention. He, as the leader of a congregation, tries to exemplify humility.
2. How much of Hyrum is autobiographical?
Only the spelling and the book, ‘Words of Power.’
3. Why did you leave the church? (For those of you who don’t know Steven, he is an active member of the church who teaches at BYU.)
I left the church because after teaching the High Priests that day I was exhausted, especially after the three hour block, so I left to go home, get a snack, and prepare my lesson for next week.
4. How did you publish a book when you don’t use proper puncutation (sic)?
The publishers are very avant-garde and thought I was just being funny and post-modern rather than recognizing I just can’t figure out what to do with commas and such so, removed, them,.
5. What is the moral of this story?
Most people think it is a meditation on knowledge, science, faith, and consciouniousness. But for me the moral of the story is to respect statues. Their defacement is one of the greatest signs of moral decay in our society. The entire book is really a meditation on caring for those memorials that touch our lives and how we ought to respect them.
6. Where did you find all the journals, in a library or something?
The journals were found on a shelf in the Library of Babel, wherein the author spent a A Short Stay in Hell.
7. Why do you call yourself the title <redactor>?
Well, I’m just a bystander. One day the <redactor> appeared in my consciousness and demanded a place in the book. Who am I to argue with him?
8. Why did you repeat “Man! What a Dickensian life you lead?” so many times?
Frankly, I wanted to know how many times Hyrum threw a rock, and I was too lazy to count them, and figured it was time for the reader put a little work in the story instead of me having to do every little thing.
9. Do you like Dickens as much as Hyrum does?
It’s true. I do. Absolutely. My favorite? “A Tale of Two Cities.”
10. Clearly, these characters are too crazy to be fiction. Do you have to get permission to write about them?
No, and it’s turned out badly. The estate of the twins is suing me for libel, suggesting that the way I portrayed them was slanderous. Dora has appeared out of the blue and demands a share in the royalties, and even Sandra is trying to get a piece of the pie because I included her poem. The <redactor> is mad and fuming, but because was never named doesn’t have a case. A lesson for young writers is always get permission from your characters before playing with their lives. It never ends well when they aren’t on board with what you are doing with them.
11. Does Hyrum have a mental disease?
Not as bad as some, but more than the average Joe or Jane.
New Books and their reviews
C. R. (Christauna Rose) Asay. Heart of Annihilation. WiDo, Aug.Military SF. Debut novel.
Michael Collings: “A complex, carefully thought through story that balances military action-adventure aplenty with strong infusions of alternate-world science fiction, complete with aliens who are remarkably like humans except they live on and control electricity, and the intriguing premise that one planet might house as many as thirteen planes or dimensions simultaneously, each in its own way a threat to the others.”
Emily H. Bates. Demon’s Heart. Sweetwater/Cedar Fort, Dec. 7. YA fantasy. Pre-modern fantasy setting, a boy escapes his village, falls in with new friends, and faces demons and a lost people in the forest. Debut novel.
Rachel Helps, Deseret News. “A young adult fantasy-adventure novel centered around the adventures of an abused runaway, Rustav, and Dantzel, the young lady he meets in a mountain village. Together, they are always running away from someone, including his abusive uncle and demons in the forest; being held captive; or being taken care of by some kind soul who happens to rescue them. Rustav endures this cycle three times, and the convenience of the kind soul is a bit inconceivable by the third time. Also mixed in are fantasy beings and the legend of an heir that also point to Rustav. Rustav’s character is annoyingly moody, perhaps overacting the role of reluctant hero, although fans of the fifth Harry Potter book will feel right at home. Many of Rustav’s actions are illogical or unlikely. At one point, he trusts a villain who has proved untrustworthy in the past. The villain’s magical ability to get Rustav to trust him has no explanation and seems contrived . . . Demon’s Heart” is best suited to young adults and adults looking for a light read — so long as they aren’t bothered by the types of plot contrivances listed above.”
Mary Bradford. Mr. Mustard Plaster and Other Mormon Essays. Greg Kofford Books, Jan. 27. Personal essay compilation. “Poet, biographer, editor, and pioneer in the genre of the Mormon Essay, Bradford influenced an entire generation of LDS writers and readers. Her impressive and longstanding career in Mormon letters led Joanna Brooks to describe Bradford as “the original literary ‘Mormon Girl.’ Long before anyone even imagined the bloggernacle, she believed that writing about everyday Mormon life—especially women’s lives—could be beautiful and powerful.” Brooks describes Mr. Mustard Plaster as “an incredible opportunity for a new generation of Mormon readers to get to know one of our faith’s wise women elders. Don’t miss it.”
Endorsements: “I love Mary Bradford’s essays. They are a delicious combination of personal reflections and family history! Everything I read of hers makes me hungry for more.”— Lavina Fielding Anderson.
“Mary Bradford believes that the distinctive nature of the personal essay originates from what she calls the three “I’s” (“I’s,” eyes, ayes)—the authors’ first-person perspective, their clear and rich vision, and their honest and affirming testimonies of life. Mary’s own essays are true to form: her essays are vibrant portraits of a kind and loving soul, a rich and unique perspective, and a life well-lived and deeply loved.” Boyd Jay Petersen.
“For nearly half a century Mary Bradford has perfected the personal essay, that most under-appreciated of literary genres. . . . Bradford has expanded our vision through the unique perspective of her poetic, feminine, and Mormon voice—a voice of grace, beauty, and deep meaning.” Robert A. Rees.
“Mary Lythgoe Bradford offers her autobiography in personal essay—revealing a lifetime that bridged generations and pioneered the power of essay in Mormon literature. Since the first issue of Dialogue in 1966, Mary’s wisdom and presence as an editor, writer, poet and biographer have linked us together, reaching back to women like Virginia Sorensen and moving us forward into feminism. Today at 84, Mary is still helping ‘Mormon women speak.’” Maxine Hanks.
Carol Pratt Bradley. Light of the Candle. WiDo, Jan 20. Bible historical. Daniel, Jeremiah, and Sarai in Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar comes and takes Daniel away . Debut novel.
Lauren Winder Farnsworth. Keeping Kate. Cedar Fort, Jan. 13. Contemporary romance. Kate Evans has never had a real family—and she’s never dreamed of falling in love. But when she gets a job taking care of a little girl on a lonely Utah ranch, Kate’s determined to make a life for herself. Sparks fly in this LDS twist on Jane Eyre. Debut novel.
Mindy, LDSWBR. 4 stars. “I really enjoyed this retelling of Jane Eyre. Kate has had a very sad life, but I loved that she didn’t let it break her spirit and her faith in her Heavenly Father. I was also glad that the author didn’t let that back story be the whole focus of the book. The glimpses into her life, told by Kate to others, was perfect.”
Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen. Betrayed. Covenant. January 2. Romantic suspense/historical. In 1851 Niagara Falls, a young Mormon woman is looking forward to going West with her family, is caught between two men, and is drawn into a dangerous mystery.
Mindy, LDSWBR. 5 stars. “Oh my goodness this book was so good! I was on pins and needles the whole time. Betrayed starts off strong and barely gives you time to catch your breath until the last page. Ronda creates a perfect web of secrets and with every page there was something new to worry about. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, BAM! Another exciting twist . . . I loved the setting of Niagara Falls and this cover is so beautiful. What was really intriguing was the Underground Railroad twist. I loved how involved Julia and her family were in protecting others. Who stole the show for me was Penny. She was so brave and had to endure so much. I thought the ending was fantastic and bittersweet at the same time.”
Bloggin’ ‘bout Books: C. “Despite its exotic setting, there’s not a lot about Betrayed that’s truly original. With cookie cutter characters, humdrum dialogue, and a plot that winds here and there without really coming together, it gets tedious. I did appreciate the setting—which came alive for me more than anything else in the book—as well as the clean, uplifting (but not preachy) nature of the story. Still, I didn’t love it. Betrayed isn’t a horrible book, not at all, it’s just kind of … average. Nothing special. And, doggone it, I wanted special! Ah, well.”
Melanie Jacobson, Jennifer K. Clark, and Julie Daines. Love Unexpected: A Storybook Romance. Covenant, January 5. Romance novellas.
Mindy, LDSWBR. 4 stars. “I very much enjoyed these three romance novellas from these great authors. Each was very well written. Each read quickly and had fantastic characters. I love and appreciate clean books that have great stories, and these novellas did not disappoint. I especially liked the settings . . .”
Bloggin’ ‘bout Books: B-. “While the first and last stories appealed to me more than the middle one (which just seemed silly and far-fetched), all of them are light, clean, and romantic. Predictable, of course, but fun, too. At 162 pages, the whole book can be enjoyed in an hour or so. If you’re in the mood for a quick, heart-happy read, look no further.”
Michael Jensen and David Powers King. Woven. Scholastic, Jan 27. YA Fantasy. Magic and ghosts. This is the book that Cedar Fort dropped because they insisted that Jensen be allowed to identify himself as gay.
Kirkus: “In a world where reality is created on looms and woven into complex tapestries, Nels’ life dangles from a single vulnerable thread. Nels longs to be a knight and can’t understand why his mother’s forbidden him to pursue his dream. Coaxed into disobeying her to attend the summer festival, he beats Avërand’s chief knight in a wrestling match but is publicly snubbed by Princess Tyra, who reneges on her promise to kiss the winner (after all, Nels is a mere peasant). Just hours later, Nels is murdered by a mysterious stranger and becomes a ghost, visible only to Tyra. She may be able to help him back to life, but first he must persuade her to do so and to accompany him on a dangerous quest before time runs out. Mentoring the heroes’ journey is Ickabosh, who practices Fabrication, as he is able to perceive and manipulate the threads from which reality is woven. They’re pursued by Rasmus, Bosh’s former apprentice, bent but powerful and wielding a terrifying gift. Jensen and King’s cosmology draws from weaving and tailoring, as do the tools fabricators manipulate—thread, thimbles, scissors—and what they create with them. While the plot follows a familiar high-fantasy arc that occasionally dips into melodrama, the worldbuilding is dynamic, original and intriguing (if a tad schematic), and the characters, appealing.
Hikari Loftus, Deseret News. “A unique fantasy novel, bringing a magical twist to the art of sewing and weaving in their debut novel. While the Fabrication-related terms might initially be a bit confusing, it doesn’t take much to understand their meaning or power. Jensen and King present a fast-paced tale with interesting character development and growth, a truly evil villain, unhappy ghosts and phantoms, a little romance, and an interesting new line of magic. Based on the writing style, the novel seems more geared toward a younger, middle grade audience, but it could be read and enjoyed by readers of any age.”
Reading for Sanity: 4 stars. “The magic and the fantasy that Jensen and King have created is truly unique. I loved their fresh take on the fantasy genre, and found myself sucked in by the story and the characters. Their spins on reality were well-explained (always a danger when you’re entering a new world) and I loved the continuity that their chosen threads of magic lent the story.”
Publishers Weekly: “While the novel is aimed at a YA audience, its language sometimes feels closer to middle grade and tends to summarize the protagonists’ feelings rather than demonstrate them (“In spite of the peasant’s insolence, Tyra was intrigued and curious about him—if only a little”). Still, this brisk adventure from first-time authors Jensen and King is a charming quest tale in classic fantasy tradition.”
Marsh, Reading for Sanity. 4 stars. “The magic and the fantasy that Jensen and King have created is truly unique. I loved their fresh take on the fantasy genre, and found myself sucked in by the story and the characters. Their spins on reality were well-explained (always a danger when you’re entering a new world) and I loved the continuity that their chosen threads of magic lent the story.”
Janet Kay Jensen. Gabriel’s Daughters. Jolly Fish, Jan. 20. General. Sequel to “Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys,” although the fact is not mentioned much, probably since it was published by a different publisher. “Wrestling with issues of polygamy, homosexuality, and modernity, Gabriel’s Daughters examines them through the lives of the large, loving, and polygamous Martin family. The story is told primarily through the eyes of Zina Martin, a young girl who—upon discovering she is impregnated by her “sterile” teacher and will soon be married off to a man three times her age—escapes the enclosed polygamous town of Gabriel’s Landing, Utah. Zina then embarks on a journey of self-discovery, yet she can never fully escape the longing she has for her family and even the controversial and outdated lifestyle she once lived.”
Marion Jensen. Searching for Super. HarperCollins, Jan. 20. Middle grade adventure. Almost Super #2. Comic family superhero adventure.
Kirkus: “Rafter makes a likable narrator, emotionally open and determined to be both a good superhero and a good friend. Like its predecessor, a satisfying, Incredibles-style mix of awesome exploits and common family issues.”
Booklist: “Packed with action and humor, this is a superhero tale in the spirit of The Incredibles. Jensen’s wit and light tone give the story a playful quality while still managing to incorporate suspense. Family dynamics and teamwork drive a plot that has, above all, a super amount of heart.”
J. R. Johansson. Cut Me Free. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. January 27. YA romantic suspense. “Seventeen-year-old Charlotte barely escaped from her abusive parents. Her little brother wasn’t as lucky. Now she’s trying to begin the new life she always dreamed of for them, but never thought she’d have to experience alone. She’s hired a techie-genius to remove the last ties to her old life. But while she can erase her former identity, she can’t rid herself of the memories. And her troubled history won’t let her ignore the little girl she sees one day in the park. The girl with the bruises and burn marks. That’s when Charlotte begins to receive threatening notes left in her apartment—without a trace of entry. As the messages grow in frequency, she doesn’t just need to uncover who is leaving them; she needs to stop whoever it is before anyone else she loves ends up dead.”
PW: “Johansson never loses sight of her determination to instruct readers about the evils of human trafficking and child abuse, but her story suffers from sensationalism. Charlotte’s reasons for not seeking out or trusting the police are never fully justified, further stretching the limits of believability in this grim, brutal novel.”
Booklist: “Richly developed characters, swift pacing, and a present-tense narrative plunge the reader effectively into the moment, while Johansson’s empathy for victims of domestic abuse draws attention to an important issue.”
SLJ: “In this breathless, melodramatic escape fantasy, a profoundly traumatized teenage girl manages to exorcise her demons, vanquish an evil human trafficker, and find true love . . . With over-the-top present-tense narration and dramatic descriptions of torture and human slavery, this novel will appeal to readers with a taste for sensationalism.”
Kirkus: “Johansson creates a painfully real protagonist in Piper. When moments of light shine through the near-constant darkness, readers will feel the surge of hope too. But the relationship between Piper and Cam reads less as passionate and more as situational; their constant clashes grow tiresome in an already bleak book. A thriller tracing the evolution of a strong-willed protagonist as she rallies against the demons of her past, dampened by forced romance.
Deborah Lytton. Silence. Shadow Mountain, Jan. 6. YA general. A high school girl with aspirations to sing on Broadway is rendered deaf in an accident. She meats a boy who is struggling with a stutter. Lytton does not appear to be LDS, that would be a first for Shadow Mountain to publish a novel by a non-Mormon.
Kelly Nelson. The Keeper’s Council.Walnut Springs, December 18. YA fantasy. Keepers Saga #4.
Adrienne Quintana. Eruption. Cedar Fort, Jan. 15. SF/thriller. An employee at an electronics company finds a tablet that appears to have been sent from the future.
PW: “Quintana’s debut is a standard fast-paced techno-thriller, its momentum set more by intrigue than action as her characters question each other’s motives and loyalties. This quick, entertaining read unravels toward the end but holds potential for future installments to resolve the time-travel paradoxes it sets up.”
Mindy, LDSWBR. 4 stars. “Excuse me while I catch my breath… Great story with excitement around every page. In the beginning, I was screaming at Jace, she frustrated me at first, but what an awesome character she turned out to be . . . Jace’s quirks and breathing techniques were for a good reason, which is slowly revealed through the book. The last fourth of the book is, WOW, make sure you aren’t needed for awhile, because you will want to find out what happens. Great ending, too!”
Melissa McShane (pen name of Melissa Proffitt).Emissary. Night Harbor Publishing, Jan. 2. Fantasy. Melissa Proffitt is a former president of the AML. This is her debut novel. “When unquiet ghosts walk the earth, the servants of Atenas, God of Death, guide them to their final rest in His domain. For six years, Zerafine, priestess of Atenas, and her companion Gerrard have walked the known world, bringing peace to the dead and fair judgment to the living. Hated and feared as a death-bringer by many, Zerafine has never regretted her decision to serve Atenas and never doubted her ability to carry out His will. Until now . . .”
Frank Richardson. Deadly Secrets. Covenant, January 2. Suspense. An innocent young homeless man is arrested on suspicion of being a serial killer. His probation officer becomes a romantic interest he must protect from the real killer.
Jennie Hansen, Meridian. 5 stars. “Fascinating! . . .Drawing on a lifetime of social work, the author creates flawed characters facing realistic dilemmas and gives them the ability to share with the reader the torn emotions, the self doubts, the hurt and anger of real people along with their hopes, dreams, and minor triumphs. He shares the life of “street people” in a way most of us know little about and creates a compelling mystery along with a hopeful story of self-redemption.”
Brandon Sanderson. Firefight. Delacorte Press. January 6. YA science fiction. Reckoners #2. After defeating the “epic” (super-villian) Steelheart, David goes to New York City to get answers.
Kirkus: “Teen slayer of evil, superpowered Epics David Charleston carries the fight from Newcago to New York in this slash-and-burn sequel . . . Sanderson presents a Marvel Comics–style mix of violently destructive battles, fabulous feats and ongoing inner wrestling over morality and identity. He lightens this with such elements as an Epic who is felled by Kool-Aid balloons and David’s predilection for hilariously lame similes (a room is “lit by fruit that dangled from the ceiling like snot from the nose of a toddler who had been snorting glowsticks”). Risky romance plus late revelations about the source and flaw in all the Epics’ powers set up the (probable) closer. Big in size and vision, this is the rare middle volume that keeps the throttle open and actually moves the story along significantly.”
AV Club: B+. (Beware of spoilers) “At the end of Steelheart, David is forced to question his fanatical hatred of Epics by the revelation that both his love interest, Megan, and mentor, Prof, have powers but avoid using them because of their terrible psychological effects. While Steelheart gave David the task of persuading Prof and his resistance group to take on a seemingly implacable external force, this one focuses on facing internal struggles. There are certainly fearsome new external threats that play out through gripping, fast-based action sequences, but the conversations David has with his companions as he tries to understand their inner struggles are some of the novel’s most compelling moments. David remains an extremely likable character, avoiding the pitfalls of other YA heroes by seemingly refusing to despair. When situations get ugly, as they often do when a team of humans has to face a scripture-quoting psychopath who destroys whole cities and a near-omniscient mastermind who has flooded all of Manhattan, David manages to keep the narrative upbeat with his ridiculous similes, such as, “You’re like a potato in a minefield.” Unfortunately, the setting and supporting cast takes a big hit here. Firefight is set in Babilar, a drowned city populated by easygoing fatalists. While Sanderson does a good job at describing sunken skyscrapers mixed with glowing jungles created by some unknown force, Babilar never takes on the same life that Steelheart’s Newcago did through meshing dystopia and noir sensibilities. That change in location also brings some new faces. With all the most important characters from Steelheart still part of the story, it’s obvious that Sanderson just doesn’t feel the need to develop the supporting Epic-fighters in the same way he did in his first novel . . . Firefight isn’t a perfect novel, but it’s certainly a compelling one. Much like in Steelheart, Sanderson uses plot twists that he teases enough for readers to pick up on to distract from the more dramatic reveals he has in store. While Sanderson devoted his first Reckoners book to bringing readers into the world, Firefight digs deeper into its mythology—beginning to answer the questions of where the Epics come from and what makes them so terrible.”
Richard M. Siddoway. The Cottage Park Puzzle. Sweetwater/Cedar Fort, Jan. 13. General. A family and a community tries to understand a violent act that may have been committed by an autistic son.
E.M. Tippetts. The Hunt for the Big Bad Wolf.Self, Jan. 12.Romantic suspense. Someone Else’s Fairytale #3. Albuquerque police officer and her Hollywood husband run into trouble when their jobs collide.
G. G. Vandagriff. Exile. OW Press (self), Dec. 30. Historical romance. Stand alone sequel to The Last Waltz. 1938 Europe and secret missions.
David J. West. The Mad Song & Other Tales of Sword & Sorcery. Lost Realms Press, Jan. 16. Fantasy & horror collection. 21 stories.
Julie Wright, Melanie Jacobson, and Heather B. Moore. The Boardwalk Antiques Shop. Mirror Press. January 12. Tangerine Street #2. Three novellas, each about a customer who buys an antique.
Reviews of older books
S.P. Bailey. Millstone City (FoxyJ). “It was a pretty well-written little thriller that read quickly and easily. I think it could have been a bit deeper in terms of characterization, but as an example of the genre it wasn’t too bad. I’m still sad about the death of one character that I really liked.”
Julie Berry. The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place (Rosalyn). 5 stars. “Berry’s newest novelis nothing like her previous, All the Truth that’s In Me (excepting a historical setting)–which may be a good thing. As moving as that book was, I found this one utterly delightful. It mixes so many of the things I love: a good mystery, Victorian manners, clever girl heroines, and humor . . . The premise is wildly implausible, but Berry executes it with such panache that I didn’t mind at all. While some reviewers have complained about the adjectives preceding the girls’ names, I found them funny (and a fairly Victorian touch). Smooth Kitty is the clear leader, but I also loved Stout Alice, who was stout of both form and heart, Pocked Louise (a clever young scientist)–even Dour Elinor, with her fascination for all things macabre, had her charm. The dialogue was witty, the characters interesting (if not always likeable), the situations funny, the bits of romance sweet, and the writing clever. Overall, a terrific middle grade novel. I’m not honestly sure how this appeals to the target 10-14 year old demographic, but I loved it.”
Carys Bray. A Song for Issy Bradley (FoxyJ).“At first I didn’t want to read it, simply because I have a four-year-old daughter and also because I have a few friends that have lost children. Dead or dying children are not something I like to read about. However, I read enough reviews of the book that I became intrigued by it and decided to check it out after it crossed my desk at work. On the one hand, I was frustrated by the fact that the novelist managed to reduce an entire ward (and stake) to a few of the most ridiculous characters. Yes, there are Mormons that are that weird, but usually there are plenty of others to balance them out. I understand that authors have to limit the number of characters in a book for many reasons but I still didn’t like it. It didn’t really strike me as deliberately anti-Mormon; instead, I mostly didn’t like it because it felt like the worst kind of contemporary fiction where every character in a novel is some kind of freak or oddball (I’m looking at you, Jonathan Safran Foer and Brady Udall). I get tired of books like that. However, despite the many things I found uncomfortable about the book and the characters, I admired the author’s skill in constructing the story. The ending was beautiful and I loved the way the many different threads of stories came together; I ended the book on a positive note, but still violently disliked some aspects of it.”
Carys Bray. A Song for Issy Bradley (Scott Hales). A long review. “This is a feeling common to many Mormons, of course, and Bray uses it, along with many other cultural subtleties, to show the Bradley’s insular Mormon world as a bubble stretched to its breaking point. Initially, to be sure, their aloofness and orthodoxy is a sign of their faith and devotion to the Church. Yet, as the novel develops, it becomes clear—at least to the reader—that their faith, like their commitment to the routine, relies too heavily on gospel clichés and unchallenged cultural norms. As the father, for example, Ian feels responsible for nurturing the faith of his family, but since his own faith is rather shallow and unexamined, the family is like a house of cards on a wobbly table. This becomes especially apparent when Issy, the youngest Bradley, dies suddenly from meningitis. Her loss sends a shockwave through the family, and each member crashes and copes differently . . . Upsetting the house of cards is a common formula for conflict in Mormon fiction, particularly since the late 1960s, so situating the novel in Mormon literary traditions is not challenging. Its most obvious precursor is Linda Sillitoe’s 1987 novel Sideways to the Sun, which likewise explores the consequences of complacency and routine Mormon faith in times of loss. Written when campaigns against the Equal Rights Amendment were common practice among members of the LDS Church in the United States, Sillitoe’s novel tells the story of a Mormon woman who finds strength—and power—after being abandoned by her husband, a man who had hitherto been the center and ordering figure of her life. Like A Song for Issy Bradley, though, the novel is about the whole family and the ways it restructures itself once the trauma of loss awakens it to the flaws in the system holds it together . . . Perhaps, some Mormon readers might dismiss A Song for Issy Bradley for offering a too imbalanced—even shallow?—portrait of Mormonism and the Mormon people. While I have sympathy for this position—personally, I would have liked to see more nuance in the novel—I read its selective treatment of Mormonism as a kind of utopian gesture towards identifying areas in Mormon culture that could be improved on for the benefit of families like the Bradleys. The platitudes are there, after all, and they can be harmful for those who treat them as absolutes. If the novel challenges Mormon readers in any way, it is in how it asks them to engage more meaningfully with the world around them and rely less on gospel clichés that remove them from the moment and lead—ironically—to a kind of spiritual death . . . Some readers might think this a cruel way to end a novel, but for me it is one of the most aesthetically satisfying endings in recent Mormon fiction. While I want to read a better future for the Bradley family—one in which all of them find better ways to engage the present as more compassionate and true Mormons—I know that’s not where the novel wants me to be. The uncertainty and possibility and horror of the moment—that’s where it dropped me off and that’s where it wants me to stay.”
Ally Condie. Atlantia (Ashleey, Reading for Sanity). 2 stars. “I have to admit that I read this book in spite of the title. Because let’s face it. The title is completely lame. Yes, it’s a kind of paranormal, YA fic spin on Atlantis, but Atlantia? Seriously. Just putting that out there. So the thing that I don’t love about paranormal romance is when it turns all “But he’s my destiny!” and then you have 15-year-old girls running amuck, picking weirdoes they hardly know, and it turns all dramatic, and I know teenage girls eat that stuff up cause ya know, but I am far, far from a teenage girl. I am happy to report that this book did not have any of the destiny talk, although of course there was a romance. And I get that it’s no fun without a romance, and so if I’m going to read about a paranormal romance, this is a fine kind to have. Man, I’m an old fuddy duddy. The story itself was interesting I guess. It wasn’t anything shockingly new, it was a kind of a typical paranormal romance post-apocalyptic story set underwater, but the descriptions and ideas were detailed enough and different enough to make it interesting in its own right. There were some holes and confusing things, though . . . I’m thinking the author either thought the readers either didn’t need to know or maybe she didn’t even know, but it just made the book seem incomplete and the background story felt like it was missing. I think that because YA Fic can get away with some incomplete world building or less-detailed descriptions of how everything works, but to me this just felt like a huge oversight in this book—like the author had penned a book really quickly, just wanting to get it out there, and didn’t put the time or thought into what it would take to make it feel more realistic and complete.”
Chris Crowe. Death Coming Up the Hill (Rosalyn) 4 stars. “Death Coming Up the Hill has the potential to be gimmicky: after all, it’s written entirely in haiku (976 stanzas–one syllable for each of them 16,592 American soldiers who died in Vietnam), it deals with a boy coming of age in 1968, at the height of the Vietnam war, and his parent’s imploding marriage–both of which have the potential for heavy clichés. Surprisingly enough, despite the format, the book is compulsively readable (I read the entire thing in less than an hour). The haiku is almost effortless–after the first couple of pages, I stopped noticing that the story was in haiku and was drawn, instead, to Ashe’s life, to his obsession with the mounting casualties in Vietnam, his growing relationship with his girlfriend, and the truce he tries to negotiate between his parents, an unlikely couple who married only because he was on the way. In fact, it might be the haiku itself that lends a kind of sparseness and elegance to the prose. I found the story thought-provoking and poignant, and I think it would probably work great in a high school English classroom (or history, for that matter). There were a few places where the sparseness lent itself more to telling than showing–we get a lot more of what’s in Ashe’s head than fleshed out scenes from his life, though that isn’t always a bad thing. And the alignments between his parents’ war and the war in Vietnam were sometimes a little too heavily drawn. All told, these are pretty minor critiques for a book that deserves credit for taking an unusual form and crafting it into a powerful story.”
Stephanie Fowers. Jane and Austen (Shelah Books It) 2 stars. “Okay, so this is going to sound less diplomatic than perhaps it should– can everyone just lay off on the Jane Austen remakes? I think most people agree that Jane Austen was pretty much the best at writing smart romances that were really cultural commentaries. Chances are that if you try your hand at modernizing or rewriting or I-don’t-really-know-what-this-is-ing to a Jane Austen story, you’re going to fall significantly short of the original. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t the Cluelesses of the world, but Jane and Austen is not a Clueless. Fowers provided a directory in the back of the novel to show draw the parallels between characters in Jane and Austen and in Jane Austen, but I decided I didn’t really care enough by that point. A little less madcap, a little less cutesy would have gone a long way with this story.”
Guy Morgan Galli. Keepers of the Sword (Jennie Hansen, Meridian). 5 stars. “Most characters in this story are portrayed well, are distinct individuals, and are complicated enough to feel real. Zoram has high standards and an idealistic view of Jewish leaders. His naive approach to life makes him gullible and too easily manipulated. He is most comfortable following rather than leading, but can be strong and powerful once he is convinced of the rightness of his course. I always thought he followed Nephi too easily in the Book of Mormon account, so I found this view of him appealing and realistic. Laban is rotten and conniving, an egotistical and greedy man which leads him to over-confidence. His assumption that he can outsmart everyone else to gain what he desires leaves him unable to see he is being played as well. His lack of faith in God leaves him unprepared to consider the consequences of tampering with sacred things. Galli’s portrayal of female characters lacks depth and feels a little incomplete. On a personal note, I’m not comfortable with Sam, Nephi’s brother, portrayed as simple nor Laman, the oldest brother, as a brutish oaf. Readers who enjoy David Woolley’s and Heather Moore’s accounts of this historical era of “the prophets” will find Keepers of the Sword a fascinating read. It has a fast, well paced plot line and though it stays within the realm of possibility of the known facts of the time and incidents brought out, it introduces some thought provoking possibilities that will keep the reader turning pages.”
R. C. Hancock. An Uncommon Blue (Bloggin’ ‘bout Books): B-. “I agreed to read An Uncommon Blue because the premise sounded intriguing. I kept reading it because the story grabbed my attention and refused to let go. While the fast-paced, action-packed plot will pull in even reluctant readers, it’s the humor and heart of the novel that really captured me. Although I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the book’s writing, I do have to admit to finding Hancock’s world-building a bit shoddy. The rules of his magical land often seemed contradictory and confusing. Interesting, yes, just not always logical. I enjoyed the intensity of An Uncommon Blue, but I think a little bit slower start would have gone a long way toward creating a more convincing setting as well as stronger, more impacting relationships between the characters. All in all, though, I quite enjoyed this one. The twist at the end didn’t surprise me too much, but I’m still anxious to see where it will lead. An Uncommon Blue is the first installment in a planned series—I, for one, am looking forward to Book Two.”
Mette Ivie Harrison. The Bishop’s Wife (FoxyJ). “I am afraid that I was a little disappointed. Perhaps I expected something different; I’ve read quite a bit of Harrison’s writing and have particularly liked her non-fiction. This book was promoted as a mystery, and based on the blurbs I expected a faster pace and a bit more excitement. The plot meandered a bit and both of the big mysteries in the book (there are two) seemed to be resolved rather quickly and mostly without much actual help from the protagonist–characters suddenly and conveniently supplied explanations for both of the mysteries. The book is really more of a character study, but the characterization was the part that I struggled with the most. It mostly consisted of a lot of explanation and not a lot of action. I know what Linda thinks about a lot of things (and what she says the Church thinks about a lot of things), but I didn’t see her actually doing very much. I felt that the amount of explaining done by her character was annoying and I was still left with a vague feel for who she really was. Despite the fact that I’m also a Mormon women living in Utah, I found this book surprisingly opaque.”
Mette Ivie Harrison. The Bishop’s Wife (Doug Gibson, Standard-Examiner). ““The Bishop’s Wife,” stands alone as a fine addition to crime fiction. It has a strong main plot, an almost-as-compelling chief secondary plot, the requisite twists and turns and an exciting climax. As a Mormon-themed novel, penned by active Mormon wife and mother Mette Ivie Harrison, the novel is unique for two reasons: It has a Mormon, stay-at-home mom as its narrator and protagonist, and it deals frankly and provocatively with discrimination, subtle and frank, that is part of a church with a male hierarchy. The book is a great mystery read, and only the fact that I had to work the next morning kept me from finishing it with an all-night read . . . The truth doesn’t come easy in “The Bishop’s Wife.” The “normalcy” of an LDS ward is taken apart layer by layer as serious injuries and dysfunctions are revealed. And these layers can’t be peeled back in a nice manner. They are torn off the facade of the ward, with the requisite pain, bleeding and adverse consequences. If there’s a quibble with “The Bishop’s Wife,” it’s Linda’s specific action that leads to the climax. I’m not sure Ivie Harrison’ character, while impulsive, would willingly put herself into such certain danger. But it’s an exciting scene nevertheless, and wraps up a novel that’s well worth reading, either all night long or during a particularly boring Sacrament meeting.”
Melanie Jacobson. Painting Kisses (FoxyJ). “I’ve loved everything I’ve read so far by Jacobson, but this was not as good as some of her other books. One of the things I like about her writing is that she writes about contemporary LDS single adults in a way that is very insightful and realistic. This book is still a romance, and set in Salt Lake, but the characters are not LDS. The book was a fun, escapist read and perfect for a sick day I spent at home. But in the end I really wanted more from it–I felt like the book could easily had another 50 pages or so that would have added more depth to the story. I loved the characters but felt that the plot was a little thin and rushed”.
Krista Lynne Jensen. Falling For You (Shelah Books It) 3 stars. “My favorite thing about Falling For You was to see someone who was fairly unlikeable in another story become redeemed in this one. It makes me question how I often misjudge people and situations and don’t see the big picture of people’s lives. The romance was fairly predictable, and the conversion story (which was explored pretty thoroughly in The Orchard with Elizabeth’s sister) seemed a little repetitive, but this was still a worthwhile read.”
Sally Johnson. The Skeleton in my Closet Wears a Wedding Dress (Shelah Books It) 3 stars. “While there is a romantic element to The Skeleton in my Closet Wears a Wedding Dress, what makes the book a good read, a book I might even recommend to my girls, is the way that Sophia starts to know herself through this experience. It’s true that her ex was a jerk, and that the friend she confides in turns into more than a friend, but Sophia learns that she has strengths she didn’t know she had. This one is cute, and a quick, enjoyable read. The BYU culture in the novel is more fun than annoying, and Johnson is spot-on with her cast of roommates.”
Robin M. King. Remembrandt (Hikari Loftus, Deseret News). “King debuts her first novel with an exciting plotline of teen spies and dangerous secret missions. While the story, in theory, is thrilling, Alexandra may be hard for readers to believe. While many book characters are written as too perfect, good at everything immediately or quick to become irrationally angry, King’s execution of the stereotypical attributes left for a somewhat unsatisfying read.”
Kimberley Griffiths Little. Forbidden (Bulletin for the Center for Children’s Books). “Rich historical details are deftly woven into Jayden’s narration, and the dynamics of Jayden’s tribe are vividly drawn, making her powerlessness in the situation painfully clear. The romance between Kadesh and Jayden is sweet and tender, but through her journey to the city and in ultimate decision to reinvent her life, Jayden’s story becomes as much about finding herself as it is about finding love.”
Kimberley Griffiths Little. Forbidden (School Library Journal) “Middle Eastern dance is a major part of this story. The protagonist and the women of her tribe dance to celebrate betrothals, to ease childbirth, and to mourn death. The women at the temple of Ashtoreth also dance, ostensibly in worship of the goddess, but male spectators see their dance as sexually titillating, an attitude offensive to Jayden’s people. This is a fast-paced, entertaining choice which will appeal to fans of historical fiction and romance, as well as readers interested in this dance form.”
Kimberley Griffiths Little. Forbidden (Rosalyn). “An unusual, evocative historical YA novel . . . For me, the setting (cultural and physical) of the novel was one of my favorite parts. I loved The Red Tent back when it came out, and I enjoyed revisiting a world where the women of a tribe had such a lovely, close-knit bond. Looking at some of the history behind belly dancing was also fascinating to me. Little does a nice job evoking the setting–at once harsh and beautiful. I liked, too, that Jayden’s issues with her sister were realistic and complicated, how Jayden both loves her sister but struggles to understand her choices. There were a few places in the last half of the novel where the plot swirled quite quickly, and sometimes I struggled to keep pace with the twists, but I’m not sure that is a bad thing!”
Kimberley Griffiths Little. The Time of the Fireflies (Rosalyn) 5 stars. “A charming middle grade story that combines creepy (a weird voodoo doll) with a lovely family saga . . . Although I guessed the identity of the unknown caller pretty early on, other elements of the story surprised and charmed me. I particularly liked the glimpses of the past and the way they helped inform Larissa’s growing understanding of herself and her place in the world.”
Gerald N. Lund. A Generation Rising (Marsh, Reading for Sanity). 2.5 stars. “Have you ever had an author that . . . you have such loyalty to that you’ll buy the book without thinking. Growing up, Gerald Lund was one of those authors . . . I was shocked. You see, the problem with having an author that you follow for years is that while you age, so do they. And not all authors age well with their writing ability . . . The storyline felt clunky, storybook-ish (very little substance, just an “And then this happened, and it was cool…” vibe), and just didn’t sit well with me. Until the last chapter. The ending shouldn’t have shocked me, but it truly did. Enough so, as well, that I’ll definitely be reading the second volume when it comes out. This was a quick read, and relatively work-free. The storyline felt quite simplistic, but an American family will be introduced in the next book, and then we’ll be able to watch the two families’ lives as they intertwine. I’m not writing the series off quite yet!”
Aubrey Mace. Before the Clock Strikes Thirty (Shelah Books It) 3 stars. “This story is cute, if predictable (is it even a legitimate criticism to say a romance novel is predictable– isn’t that part of the genre?). I read two BYU romances in a row, and while I think these stories definitely have their appeal, and I was a BYU bride myself, they also make me cringe a little bit. It makes me sad that Shannon is so eager to fulfill the fortune teller’s promise when she’s still so young. I did like the “friends before lovers” aspect of this story, and though that the story of how they met at BYU (involving fainting and lots of pizza) was pretty charming.”
Shallee McArthur. The Unhappening of Genesis Lee (Rosalyn). “A phenomenal book. Well written, fast-paced, intriguing characters, but best of all, a smart world view . . . I thought the book had a nice balance of Gena’s own internal conflicts with forgetting and the external tension rising between the Mementi and Populace. The story had some cool twists, but my favorite parts were the relationships. I liked how things were complicated: her relationship with Kalan and other Populace, her relationship with her best friend (who’s forgotten the last two years of their relationship), and with her family. And I was so impressed with how smart the book was–I’ve done some research in memory studies (mostly in terms of collective memory, rather than physiological memory), and it was clear to me that McArthur knows her stuff. A great read for fans of light sci-fi.”
Jennifer Moore. Lady Emma’s Campaign (Shelah Books It) 3 stars. “An exciting novel with lots of action. There were parts of the story I enjoyed a lot (the beginning, in particular). However, the campaign itself dragged a bit, and I was eager for the couple to return to safety and to find a way to live happily ever after.”
Brandon Mull. Sky Raiders (Reading for Sanity). 4 stars. “I just really like Brandon Mull. I’m a huge fan of Fablehaven, I love that his books are fast-paced enough to hold my interest, but that I can (for the most part) pass them to my almost-nine year old without fear. This new series is so intriguing! I was sucked in from the first couple of chapters, and wasn’t disappointed at all. There was some predictability in the plot, but enough twists and turns that had me pleasantly surprised! If you’re looking for a good series to keep your middle readers occupied, this is definitely one to check out!”
Kelly Oram. Cinder and Ella (Rosalyn). “I read it purely for fun, in about two days. It was a quick read and a lot of fun, but after reading I have a few hesitations about the story . . . My favorite part was probably Ella’s evolving relationship with her father and step-sisters (I actually cried at one point). And I liked that the family issues and Ella’s struggle to accept her newly-scarred body added some gravitas to the book–but ultimately, there were some issues I had a hard time accepting. First, I didn’t love Cinder. By the end, his support of Ella made me like him more, but at the beginning, he comes across as a pretty convincing jerk. The love triangle that’s introduced felt a little unrealistic–I liked that a nice guy gave Ella confidence, but his open acceptance of her love for someone else felt a little too much. And the conclusion seemed just a little too pat. I also struggled a little with the fact that, while Ella had all these horrible scars, her face was still undamaged and she was clearly very pretty. I would have loved to see Cinder (and everyone else) love a girl whose face was also scarred. I will say, though, that none of these hesitations kept me from whizzing through the book.”
Jenny Proctor. Mountains Between Us (Shelah Books It) 3 stars. “Proctor’s second book that centers on the Rose Creek community (The House at Rose Creek was a finalist in the Whitney general category in 2013), and the protagonists of that novel reappear as minor characters in this story. I think this is the better executed of the two books, and I found myself engrossed in Eliza’s dilemmas with her sister, her students, and her future.”
Avi Steinberg. The Lost Book of Mormon: A Journey Through the Mythic Lands of Nephi, Zarahemla, and Kansas City, Missouri (Shelah Books It) 3 stars. “And while I was attracted by the premise of the book, I wasn’t as entranced by the execution. I’ve read a lot of immersion/stunt journalism projects (AJ Jacobs, Gretchen Rubin, Michael Pollan), and this is one of the least successful of these types of books. Steinberg starts in Jerusalem, where Nephi and Lehi may have walked (which was interesting), and then goes on a Mormon tour of ancient ruins in Mexico and Guatemala, where the story was much less about the Book of Mormon than it was about the fellow Mormons on the bus. His experience getting kicked out of the Hill Cumorah Pageant was interesting, but not necessarily insightful to the project. All in all, I enjoyed the idea of the book more than the book itself.”
Brad Torgersen. Racers of the Night (Attack of the Books!). “With each story in Racers of the Night I found myself more impressed. Brad’s often scoffed at the highfalutin style of heavy handed academic types, and his style, artistry, and story-telling emphasizes an experience that immerses the reader in something that is entertaining, even when it has a message. The short stories of Racers of the Night, and one novella, are each an exciting adventure, sensitive to the human condition and what the future might contain. Even when there is some social commentary— if science-fiction doesn’t contain some kind of commentary, it doesn’t really seem like science-fiction—Brad’s writing is driven by entertainment value, first and foremost, which Brad does well. The worlds he writes are so fully formed, his stories so engrossing, that I do a mental double take when i catch the underlying message. To paraphrase Henry James, a writer is someone on whom nothing is lost, and to write good science-fiction is to notice everything that the future might hold. Brad’s stories are clearly examinations of what happens when the future arrives. Very little seems lost on him. But I digress. My point is: the stories are so entertaining that I had to remind myself that Brad actually was, with several stories, addressing what could be a sensitive topics.”
Carol Lynch Williams. Signed, Skye Harper (Rosalyn). 3 stars. “There are lots of things I loved about Carol Lynch Williams’ newest YA novel, Signed, Skye Harper, starting with the voice of the fifteen-year-old protagonist, Winston (a girl, by the way), who loves swimming and a boy named Steve and her grandmother and trashy Harlequin romances (with titles that made me laugh). She felt realistic to me as someone still trying to figure out her place in the world–and because of the way the YA/MG division works out, it doesn’t feel like we have enough characters in that weird in-between stage. Winston fills this beautifully . . . Things I didn’t love: I’m still not sure about the ending, and I didn’t love Steve. I had a hard time buying his appeal–I wasn’t ever convinced that his affection for Winston was more than physical attraction (here’s a fifteen-year-old boy who’s had three serious girlfriends, appears to be somewhat experienced sexually, and is smoking marijuana the first time we meet him). I guess I wanted someone with a little more sweetness and naivety to match Winston’s inexperience.”
Tim Wirkus.City of Brick and Shadow(FoxyJ). “I ended up reading this book just a few weeks after Millstone City, which I guess was good because it made the inevitable comparison fairly easy to do. Although the books share a similar plot–Mormon missionaries run into trouble with gangsters in Brazil–they are quite different. Wirkus mentions Borges as one of his influences and it really shows; despite the fact that this book is written in English, the style feels like much of the contemporary Spanish literature that I have read. The writing is beautiful, with many little details that I am still ruminating about several weeks after finishing the book.”
Tim Wirkus.City of Brick and Shadow (Theric, A Motley Vision). “My all-time favorite mystery stories commit the crime against convention that City of Brick and Shadow commits . . . When Booklist says, “Wirkus’ twisted tale . . . is an absorbing mental exercise that’s opaque enough for the most jaded armchair detectives and is guaranteed to spark delicious book-group debates,” it seems to suggest that a lack of answers at least has a positive aspect as entertainment . . . As in terrific novels like City of Glassor The Colorado Kid or Mr White’s Confession, the mystery in City of Brick and Shadow is never resolved. Although I suppose if this were true of every mystery I might not find a lack of resolution so satisfying, I do find that most mysteries aren’t really about the mystery at all. They are about the solution. They are solution stories. The true mystery story (as defined here by me) has no solution. The weighty question in the final pages is whether or not Elder/John Toronto knows this. Has he learned to appreciate mystery? or is he still in earnest search of a solution?” See more Theric posts about City of Brick and Shadow here.
Tim Wirkus.City of Brick and Shadow (Daily Pilot, Orange County California). “A brilliant debut novel whose resolution, if that’s the word, will no doubt draw polar reactions from those who expect a typical whodunit conclusion and those who are more charmed by conundrums. The ending of this book might well be termed an anti-ending — but that depends on what kind of plot developments you think would adequately tie up a story like this, and why. What is clear from the opening pages of is that Wirkus, an Irvine resident, emerges here as a formidable talent — the kind of writer who, like Michael Chabon and Chad Harbach, combines wicked verbal felicity with an amused eye for human behavior. Writers like these make us almost want to offer ourselves as characters in their fiction, since they would help us to understand our cravings and put our foibles in context . . . As its narrative unfolds, “City of Brick and Shadow” constantly surprises with short vignettes and sharp observations. A neighborhood legend described throughout, about a Vila Barbosa kingpin who suffers an existential crisis, is droll comic writing, and Wirkus has a knack for pushing imagery up a notch. It’s one thing to have a character vomit from unease, but to have a dog trot over and “investigate” the puddle evokes an entire world of decrepitude. Back to the ending. It’s not what you might expect. It classifies “City of Brick and Shadow” not as a mystery novel but as a novel about mystery. Roger Ebert, complaining once about a movie thriller with a too-neat ending, compared it to a crossword puzzle: “It keeps your interest until you solve it. Then it’s just a worthless scrap with the spaces filled in.” The spaces in “City of Brick and Shadow” may be filled in or not. But as I write these words, I already want to turn to Page 1 and start rereading.”
Tim Wirkus.City of Brick and Shadow (Johnny Townsend, Main Street Plaza). “The level of description is quite vivid, helping the reader feel like an unwilling visitor to the slum all along the way. In some respects, the mystery is pretty banal—a petty con artist is probably killed—but Wirkus raises several philosophical issues as well, all without making the story too heavy. Ultimately, the book raises a very Mormon question—what is the purpose of life, and what are we willing to pay to fulfill that purpose. The two main characters, the missionaries, form a pair almost like Sherlock Holmes and John Watson, the main character being a slightly dull Watson dragged along by his energetic and condescending senior companion. And yet it’s much sadder than any story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The climax is surprising and shocking, but the conclusion, not to give too much away, left me feeling quite unsettled and more than a little depressed. But that’s what good literature does, it makes one think and question and leave thinking things he or she hadn’t thought much about before, even if those thoughts aren’t always sunny. This is the kind of accomplishment Mormon literature should strive for. We don’t need to be told everything is wonderful for those who follow the Lord. We need to see life, and ourselves, as the imperfect creations we are, so that we can answer those difficult questions posed so clearly by this extremely well-written story.”
Julie Wright. Victoria’s Promise (Shelah Books It). “I’ve probably read about half a dozen of the books in The Newport Ladies Book Club series now, and I think this one was my favorite. I’m finally seeing all of the stories start to intersect more clearly, and I think that’s working well. I also really liked Tori as a character, and identified with her dilemma. I wish there had been more of Chris in the story– she spends so much time avoiding him that it seems that she’s more in love with the idea of him than actually being in love with him. That said, I really loved the surprising way the story came together in the end. This is definitely a fun read.”
Film
Melissa Leilani Larson has written a comic web series called iJane, about a grandmother, played by Colleen Baum, who is learning to stay in contact with her family by computer. It is funded and is intended to promote a technology support company called iTok, but the company is not mentioned, at least in the first episode. Melissa points out that in days more people had seen the web series than had ever seen her plays. Episode 2.
Two films by Mormon directors premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, Jared Hess’ comedy Don Verdean, and Greg Whitley’s documentary Most Likely to Succeed.
Don Verdean. Directed by Jared Hess. Written by Jared and Jerusha Hess. Produced by Dave Hunter, Brandt Andersen, and Jason Hatfield (all BYU alums). Stars Sam Rockwell, Jermaine Clement, Danny McBride, Amy Ryan, and Will Forte.. Acquired by Lionsgate on Jan. 21.
Variety: “The “Napoleon Dynamite” magic fails to re-materialize in Jared and Jerusha Hess’ latest comedy. “Don Verdean” has a promising premise: The titular protagonist is a self-appointed “biblical archaeologist” roaming the globe for famous relics that have mysteriously evaded far more qualified experts for centuries. But the expected satire of religious gullibility and charlatanism proves toothless; worse, a cast of very funny people is given very little funny to do. This Lionsgate title looks to make its primary, modest impact in ancillary formats. Things look encouraging enough at the outset, as we are privy to a highlight reel of low-end video clips from “Verdeen Acheological Discovery Prods.,” in which Sam Rockwell’s intrepid explorer for Jesus is seen allegedly wowing international audiences of the faithful with his amazing — or perhaps just credulity-stretching — finds in the Holy Land dirt. It seems whenever he thinks of a key memento from a biblical story, his faith leads him like a divining rod to its burial site. A decade later, however, he’s lecturing to paltry audiences back home in the U.S., his visibility perhaps diminished by the fact (as one attendee points out) that he appears to be entirely unknown or dismissed as a quack by any body of recognized, accredited archaeological researchers . . . All this is fair enough in outline, but individual situations and dialogue are pedestrian at best, downright witless at worst. The Hesses seem reluctant to risk insulting the faithful, so they’ve made a film about evangelical fraud that isn’t willing to let anyone (except Jewish Boaz) have clearly less-than-virtuous intentions. It would be better for comedic purposes if Verdean were either an overt con man or a holy fool, but the script and Rockwell’s performance play for a tepid middle ground that achieves little beyond being inoffensive. The actor is an executive producer here, and he’s been so consistently good in almost-star-making roles for the past couple of decades that it’s disappointing that this lead turn proves to be one of his more forgettable ones. Ryan doesn’t find much humor in her role, while others like McBride and Bibb have nowhere to go after making amusing first impressions. Forte does brighten his scenes with a MacGruber-esque crass bravado, while Clement steals nearly all of his — proving that one really funny accent can lift an entire movie. (He also has the sole, regrettably brief bit of inspired physical comedy, a swivel-hipped disco seduction dance.) But these two manage to be standouts with scant help from their material. Shot in Utah and Israel, pic’s assembly is OK, though budgetary limitations are somewhat noticeable. There’s no price tag on the film’s real poverty, however, which lays in the realm of inspired comedic situations and dialogue. The only notable soundtrack element is a jokey use of a few obvious gospel-pop oldies.”
Hollywood Reporter: “Biblical archeology and satirical comedy make for uneasy bedfellows in Don Verdean, the fourth feature of director Jared Hess after the hits Napoleon Dynamite and Nacho Libre and the more-strange-than-funny Gentlemen Broncos. Here too, there’s a sense that the goings-on are more quirky than comical as a self-described Biblical archeologist, played by Sam Rockwell, sets out to find the skull of Goliath — the giant downed by a stone from little David’s sling — at the request of a U.S. pastor hoping to draw a younger crowd with “hard evidence.” Bought by Lionsgate before its Sundance premiere, this film should be closer to Broncos’ cheerless box-office numbers than the tens of millions made by Hess’s first two films, though perhaps some savvy marketing could somehow make a miracle happen and turn this into a minor, ahem, cult item. Like Broncos, the funniest bit is placed right up front, with the opening consisting of a poor VHS-quality copy of a TV report about the recent excavational exploits of Donald Verdean (Rockwell) in the Middle East, where he managed to locate the Biblical Samson’s shears . . . But apart from a zinger about the only true place of religious relics (hint: It’s not in the Holy Land) and a chuckle-inducing song, Hess and his co-writer, his wife Jerusha Hess, who are Utah-based Mormons, don’t push the material far enough to develop any comic momentum, let alone sustain it or find an opportunity to develop any kind of insightful satire of religion or at least charlatans who use religion for their own gains. One of the film’s few lines to get more than a chuckle involves someone being compared to “that whore from Les Miserables.” This line wouldn’t raise any eyebrow in most movies but is a rather unusual one here, as none of Hess’s previous films contained any swear words. This concession isn’t crucial to the (relative) success of the movie, though it does suggest how the Hesses might have been struggling to find the right tone for the material. Indeed, one of the film’s major problems is its ambivalence about the title character. Is Don a ruthless (and thus probably Godless) imposter hoping to either become famous or improve his station — his rickety trailer is certainly ready for an upgrade — or someone who, as the movie at times seems to suggest, actually cares about helping “someone get to heaven who wouldn’t get there otherwise” via his fake artifacts that are in demand by churches everywhere? Even after Don’s gone to Israel to fabricate a skull he can pass off as the head of Goliath and later gets involved with a Chinese Christian billionaire looking for the Holy Grail of Biblical artifacts in an Indian reservation, it’s kind of hard to tell. The fact that the film sort just sort of peters out instead of coming to a rousing end doesn’t help matters either.”
Slate interview of the cast, talking about working with the Mormon Hess, and how that impacted their normal “blue” comedy.
Most Likely to Succeed, directed by Greg Whiteley. Documentary.
Hollywood Reporter: “A mostly smart and engaging look at education in 21st-century America. At the beginning of Most Likely to Succeed, a documentary about education and curriculum reform in 21st century America, filmmaker Greg Whiteley watches his young daughter struggle to pay attention during a parent-teacher conference about her recent dip in performance. As the educator spouts off rhetoric stressing the role of homework as a perseverance-builder, the image freezes on the disinterested 4th grader and Whiteley provides a little context. “I know this look. It’s a look that says, this is bullshit.” Instead of lambasting his child for not giving proper credence to the institutional process that has been in place since 1892, Whiteley asks a key question. Why has our education system stayed the same while our economy has so drastically shifted due to changes in technology? After giving a brief history lesson about Horace Mann, The Committee of 10, and the influence of the Industrial Revolution, he begins to explore alternative ways of schooling, specifically the model developed by Larry Rosenstock at High Tech High in San Diego, Calif . . . Whiteley and his crew spend an entire year documenting the experiences of two freshman classes. The filmmakers are given incredible access to the inner workings of the classroom and are also afforded the opportunity to cherish and question these methods along the way. It quickly becomes clear that Most Likely to Succeed sees very little point in looking at education reform from a political standpoint. This is a film about parents, teachers and, most importantly, students, namely the grassroots participants that make up all the statistics we hear about on the nightly news. We see their victories and defeats, their excitement and anxiety . . . Whiteley begins to formulate a stronger thesis in defense of this new wave of education practices. Taking a cue from Michael Moore, Whiteley utilizes quip-laden voiceover, stock footage and graphics to passionately and vehemently argue his point that institutions like High Tech High could be producing graduates that may be better prepared for an economy where human creativity and innovation are the most important traits . . . Whiteley has constructed an engaging look at how big picture issues can be intimately explored through human confessionals. All of his subjects offer contemplative and honest assessments of their role in a system that might need a complete overhaul to survive. Most Likely to Succeed is smart enough to sit back and listen carefully.”
RadioWest interview with Greg Whitley. Salt Lake Tribune feature story on Whitley and the film. Whitley’s documentary Mitt had been held up by some of Romney’s circle, especially his sons, as the way he should have been marketed in 2012, and hoped to use it in a 2016 campaign, which now will not happen.
Locally shot movie Nowhere Safe provides a serious look at the effects of cyberbullying (Deseret News).
The Christmas Dragon. Directed by John Lyde. Mainstay Productions, Oct. 2014. Distributed by Excel. Had some Utah screenings in October and November, then DVD in December. Stars Heather Beers. “16th century Europe where a bunch of orphans try to figure out why Father Christmas stopped coming so they end up running away from the monastery to look for Father Christmas and in the process they save this dragon and in turn it helps save Christmas.” “Home Alone meets How to Train Your Dragon” What is the deal with these guys and dragons, this is like the third or fourth direct-to-DVD dragon movie they have made in recent years, with more to come.
Romance in the Outfield. Written and directed by Randy and Rebecca Sternberg. Star Mountain Pictures. A female softball player and a male baseball player meet cute. He has never been kissed, and she tries to get that first kiss. “But she is not even a member of our Church!” he says to a friend. First feature film, Randy Sternberg studied film at UofU. Appearing at 6 Utah theaters on Feb. 6.
Prophet’s Prey, is a 2015 documentary about FLDS leader Warren Jeffs. Screen Daily reviews it. “In the age of Serial, This American Life and the rise of podcasts, the story of Prophet’s Prey would have made for a great radio series. Whether the sleepy, droning voice of Warren Jeffs, the megalomaniacal leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints (FLDS), or the short audio recording that provided undeniable proof of his sexual abuse of adolescent girls, the best moments in the new documentary from Oscar-nominated director Amy Berg (Deliver Us From Evil) are entirely audio-based. As a piece of filmmaking, however, the documentary is as drab as the prairie dresses worn by FLDS’s female members. Already acquired for U.S. broadcast by Showtime, the documentary could also see some foreign TV play, given its depiction of yet another creepy American religious cult . . . Berg chooses to tell the story largely through the voices of two outsiders: author Jon Krakauer (who wrote the LDS nonfiction book Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith) and private investigator Sam Brower (whose 2011 book shares the film’s name). As Krakauer and Brower recount their dual investigations into Jeffs and the FLDS, there is a lot of talk about the community and the struggles of those within it, but Berg has limited access to its actual members . . . Prophet’s Prey is more effective at presenting the enigmatic figure of the Prophet himself. His drawling somnolent voice hovers over the movie like a menacing ghost, ominously intoning prophecies such as “All of you are not going to survive.” Though there are few actual video recordings of Jeffs—the most defined observe him sitting behind bars during a deposition or standing in his jail cell—these rare glimpses only add to his eerie mystique. And that Jeffs remains in power, despite his prison sentence, is chilling indeed.”
Theater
Jim Bennett, in a Deseret News article about the historical issues involved in the film Selma, speaks about his own experiences rewriting the musical Utah! at Tuachan in 2002. Utah! was an outdoor musical, featuring a flood. It was first produced in 1995, written by Robert Paxton (who was then the Tuachan Festival director), with lyrics by Doug Stewart and music by Kurt Bestor and Sam Cardon. Reed McColm headed up a revised version in 1997. Marvin Payne and Tim Slover did a third version in 1998, in which “all was left was the title, the music (not the lyrics), and the flood.” Bennett, under the nom-de-plume “Stallion Cornell”, wrote the 2002 version.
“In 2002, when I was the artistic director for the Tuacahn Center for the Arts, I was tasked with rewriting “Utah! The Jacob Hamblin Story,” the musical that served as the signature piece of the first four years of Tuacahn’s existence. The show had gone through several different incarnations, but it had floundered at the box office. Tuacahn’s CEO was of the opinion that “Utah!” had never really caught on because it offended too many people. Previous versions of the show depicted sensitive topics in Utah history like polygamy and the Mountain Meadows Massacre. Participants in those historical events were mentioned by name, and the living descendants of those people weren’t happy about the way their ancestors were depicted. My goal, then, was to write a version of “Utah!” that wouldn’t offend anybody. (Believe me, the final product was just as exciting as that sounds.) Good stories require conflict, and that means someone has to be right and someone has to be wrong. And since Jacob Hamblin was a real person and was the hero of the story, it would naturally follow that the story’s antagonist would also have to be a real person. But the real people who were available to fill that role had been placed off limits. So I made the bad guy up, and I made up a phony, relatively insignificant conflict to go along with it. The end result was an inoffensive and boring piece of pablum that was an even bigger bomb than some of the previous versions.” Bennett tells the story of the play in more detail here.
Bestsellers
January 11, 18, 25, Feb. 1, 8
Brandon Sanderson. Firefight
USA Today: x, x, #9, #84, #116 (3 weeks)
PW Childrens: x, x, #2, #13, #22 (3 weeks). 10,845, 3629, 2672 units. 17,146 total.
NYT Young Adult: x, x, #1, #6, #6 (3 weeks)
Brandon Sanderson. Steelheart
NYT Young Adult: x, #11, #11, #15, x
James Dashner. The Maze Runner
USA Today: #10, #8, #12, #14, #15 (61 weeks)
USA Today: (full series) #55, #114, x, x, x (16 weeks)
PW Children’s: #7, #10, #10, #15, #16 (25 weeks). 2014: 239,032 total. 2015: 6862, 5833, 3502, 3335 units. 17,713 total.
NYT Children’s Series: #1, #1, #1, #1, #1 (120 weeks)
James Dashner. The Kill Order
USA Today: #73, #66, #106, #93, #84 (24 weeks)
PW Children’s: #9, #7, #7, #5, #6 (40 weeks). 2014: 241,657 total. 2015: 8790, 5651, 5484, 5422 units. 25,357 total.
James Dashner. The Scorch Trials
USA Today: #19, #14, #20, #21, #22 (46 weeks)
James Dashner. The Death Cure
USA Today: #31 #27, #37, #37, #41 (48 weeks)
Richard Paul Evans. The Mistletoe Promise
PW Hardcover: #21, x, x, x, x (6 weeks). 6045 units. 2014: 77,248 total.
Off NYT Hardcover and USA Today after 5 weeks.
Shannon and Dean Hale. The Princess in Black
NY Times Middle Grade: #6, #15, #14, #15, x (10 weeks)
Shannon Hale. Ever After High: Once Upon a Time
PW Children’s: #22, #25, x, x, #24 (11 weeks). 2014: 56,544 total. 2015: 3204, x, 2583 units. 10,491 total.
Glenn Beck, with Harriet Parke. Agenda 21: Into the Shadows (Beck did not write the book)
USA Today: x, x, #111, x , x(1 week).
PW Hardcover: x, x, #9, #9, #12 (3 weeks). 6276, 5587, 4098 units. 15,961 total.
NYT Hardcover: x, x, #18, x, x
Orson Scott Card. Ender’s Game
PW Sci-Fi: #8, #7,#7, #7, #7
Brandon Mull, others. Spirit Animals
NYT Children’s Series: x, #9, x, x, x
“Bitter humor” is my preferred métier. Thanks for the link!
I forgot when I first posted this to mention the change of leadership at the top of Covenant Communications. I just put it in.
Awesome post, Andrew. In the words of Onnie Jay Holy, I feel up to date.