Pride and Prejudice Revisited

            The classic eighteenth-century novel Pride and Prejudice, written by Jane Austen, has inspired many other books; some of which update the storyline and others which continue the adventures of its well-known characters. Here are some of these titles, for Jane Austen aficionados and neophytes alike.

            The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet, written by Bernie Su, explores the life of the twenty-four-year-old graduate student who still lives at home with her two sisters and is posting her views on YouTube for her thesis project, The Lizzie Bennet Diaries. Then she meets the arrogant William Darcy.

            Longbourn: a Novel, is written by Jo Baker. It presents the story of Pride and Prejudice, but as seen through the eyes of the Bennet servants, fleshing out their characters and focusing on their life events.

            The Pursuit of Mary Bennet, written by Pamela Mingle, tells the story of the socially awkward Bennet sister and her chance at love. To escape another one of Lydia’s scandals, sisters Mary and Kitty are bundled off to Jane and Bingley’s house where Mary meets Henry Walsh, an eligible bachelor who seems genuinely interested in her.

           
           Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: the Classic Regency Romance – Now with Ultraviolent Zombie Mayhem is written by Seth Grahame-Smith. In this altered tale, Elizabeth Bennet battles zombies who rise up from the plague-stricken dead. Joining forces with Elizabeth, a highly skilled warrior, is the equally talented-in-combat Mr. Darcy.   

            Death Comes to Pemberley is written by P.D. James, a well-known mystery writer. Who should unexpectedly arrive at the Darcy’s ball but Elizabeth’s disgraced sister Lydia, who claims that her husband Wickham has been murdered. Mayhem is the result until the situation is masterfully handled by Mr. Darcy.

          
          The Darcys Give a Ball: a Gentle Joke, Jane Austen Style is written by Elizabeth Newark. Here the children of the original characters – Elizabeth, Jane, Georgianna Darcy, Charlotte Collins, and others – come into their own as they find romance.

            The Independence of Miss Mary Bennet is written by Colleen McCullough, author of The Thorn Birds. After the death of Mrs. Bennet, Mary sets off to pursue adventure and romance. Meanwhile, the other family members have some brushes with scandal before all is resolved.

Losing Our Way: An Intimate Portrait of a Troubled America

 

            Author Bob Herbert was formerly an opinion columnist for the New York Times and is now a Distinguished Senior Fellow at Demos, a public policy think tank. He presents his argument for the need to rebuild the economic structure of America. Herbert’s suggestions on alleviating the financial woes of the middle class and poor that have escalated during the past forty years are decidedly influenced by his liberal views.

            Herbert’s examination of what he sees as problems are divided into chapters focusing on various social ills, including: a shortage of well-paying jobs, insufficient training for the jobs of the future, perpetual wars and their financial and human tolls on us, public vs. charter schools in education, and our country’s infrastructure (transportation, communication, etc.) and how it has worsened due to neglect and natural disasters. Herbert accompanies the description of each problem with anecdotal reports about its victims, and offers recommendations on improving these situations.

March is Women's History Month

            This is the month to celebrate contributions made by women in all walks of life, whether  their accomplishments are great or conventional. Here are some books written by and/or        
about political leaders and activists.

            Bella Abzug was a lawyer, U.S. Representative (1971-1978), social activist and a leader of the Women’s Movement. Bella Abzug: How One Tough Broad from the Bronx Fought Jim Crow and Joe McCarthy, Pissed off Jimmy Carter, Battled for the Rights of Women and Workers, Rallied Against War and for the Planet, and Shook up Politics along the Way: an Oral History, is written by Suzanne Levine.

            Betty Friedan was an American writer, activist, and feminist. She wrote The Feminine Mystique, considered an important book of the American Feminist Movement of the 1960s. Friedan also was the first president of the National Organization for Women. Friedan’s autobiography is entitled Life so Far.

            Kirsten Gillibrand currently is a United States senator from New York State (since 2009). Her book Off the Sidelines: Raise Your Voice, Change the World is both a biography detailing her youth and her political career, and an appeal for more women to become politically active.

            Condoleezza Rice is the former Secretary of State (2005 – 2009) and currently is a faculty member of the Stanford Graduate School of Business. She has written the book Condoleezza Rice: a Memoir of My Extraordinary, Ordinary Family and Me, which details her childhood in segregated Birmingham, Alabama and her road to politics.

            Margaret Sanger was a nurse who became a sex educator and birth control advocate during the early and middle twentieth century. She established organizations that eventually became the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. You can read The Autobiography of Margaret Sanger, written by her. Also, The Birth of the Pill: How Four Crusaders Reinvented Sex and Launched a Revolution, written by Jonathan Eig describes Sanger’s contributions along with those of three other individuals in developing what was the first birth control pill.

            Sonia Sotomayor is currently an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (2009 - ). Her book My Beloved World describes her journey as a Hispanic-American lawyer who progressed through the ranks as a district attorney to an appointment as a judge in the U.S. District Court to the U.S. Court of Appeals and finally the Supreme Court.

New Ideas in Gardening

            Each year brings new book selections on gardens and gardening. This year is no different – ideas on plant selection, layout, care and garden building projects can be yours with these titles.

            Plant this Instead!: Better Plant choices – Prettier – Hardier – Blooms Longer – New Colors – Less Work – Drought-Tolerant – Native is written by Troy B. Marden. Here, the reader is introduced to the recently developed plants and cultivars that will add excitement to your garden. Each selection is accompanied by planting requirements, product trademarks, and color photos

            Cultivating Garden Style: Inspired Ideas and Practical Advice to Unleash Your Garden Personality is written by Rochelle Greayer. Your garden can be a decorating statement! Just leaf through this book to see the many gardens dreamed up and developed by artists, designers, and homeowners the world over.  Craft projects and outdoor accessory ideas are included. Color photos abound.

            Gardens in Detail: 100 Contemporary Designs is written by Emma Reuss. Visit the gardens of the wealthy from around the world, all lovingly described through text and color photos. Designer, year completed and location are given for each garden.

            The Backyard Homestead Book of Building Projects is written by Spike Carlsen. It features 76 projects, arranged in chapters with such themes as garden tools, harvesting and food prep items, storage and workspaces, and more. Each project is presented with a list of required materials, detailed instructions and drawings

            Backyard Building: Treehouses, Sheds, Arbors, Gates and other Garden Projects is written by Jeanie and David Stiles. From the basic (picnic table, gates), to the playful (treehouses and playhouses), to the advanced (artist’s studio) – each project is accompanied by color photos, detailed drawings, and comprehensive instructions.

Gone Girl

     A seemingly perfect love story at the start, the relationship between Nick and Amy Dunne has taken a wrong turn by their fifth wedding anniversary. Author Gillian Flynn presents their stories, in alternating first-person narrative chapters, from their first meeting to Amy’s disappearance on their anniversary day.

    Nick dutifully reports Amy’s disappearance to the police but within a few days he is the chief suspect in the case. He finds himself ostracized by the townspeople, officials, the media and the world; all suspecting him of murder. Nick’s only support comes from his twin sister Go and even she isn’t entirely sure of his innocence.
   
    All is not as it seems as we learn of lies told by both Nick and Amy. Twists and turns abound as the mystery progresses and the ending is unexpected yet unsurprising.
   
    All of Flynn’s characters, major to minor, are well-drawn and the dialog is realistic. Sarcastic barbs are aimed at several subjects, from Amy’s lovey-dovey perfect parents, to the media, and others; giving a humorous touch to this mystery/thriller.

Motive: an Alex Delaware Novel

            Here is the 30^th Alex Delaware novel in author Jonathan Kellerman’s repertoire. For over thirty years we have followed the adventures of psychologist Alex Delaware in his role as special consultant to the Los Angeles Police Department and particularly to Milo Sturgis, a homicide detective and Delaware’s close friend. Sturgis, a gay man and a loner among the other police staff, often is given the most difficult assignments. But with his doggedness and attention to detail, and with the help of Delaware’s astute observations, the cases always get solved.

            In this story, Sturgis is downhearted about his inability to find the murderer of Katherine Hennepin, a young female bookkeeper. She apparently was killed during a dinner date at home; the table was set for two and the cuisine was selected with care. With no suspects, the case was put on the back burner.

            Weeks later, another woman’s body is found in a parking garage. It is Ursula Corey, who has been gunned down; this appears to be a revenge killing. Alex and Milo settle on two possible suspects. But then another murder similar to Hennepin’s pops up. And then others, all with dinner date themes, leading Alex and Milo to believe that a serial killer is at large. Superior detective skills and psychological studies help them with the surprise identification of the murderer.   

Hot Looks for the New Year: a Woman's Guide

 These five books can guide you in changing your beauty and fashion style for the New Year.

            Beauty Rewind: a Makeup Guide to Looking Your Best at any Age is written by Taylor Chang-Babaian, one of the country’s top makeup artists.  Large color photos accompany step-by-step instructions for improving your skin and makeup techniques, no matter what your age. Also given are 100 quick tips to looking younger, and a list of resources for products and services mentioned in the book.

            The Everyday Supermodel: My Beauty, Fashion, and Wellness Secrets Made Simple is written by Molly Sims with Tracy O’Connor. Chapter by chapter, in her down-to-earth style, Molly discusses her thoughts on diet, exercise, fashion, skin and makeup, hairstyle and positive life outlook. All are accompanied by large color photos.  

            500 Eye-Makeup Designs: Inspired and Inventive Looks for Every Mood and Occasion is written by Kendra Stanton, a makeup artist and beauty blogger. Photos of all 500 designs are grouped by chapter featuring such themes as daytime to night, holiday accents, seasonal looks, sports teams, from the movies, and more.

            Love, Lashes, and Lipstick: My Secrets for a Gorgeous, Happy Life is written by Mally Roncal, a celebrity makeup artist and the founder of her own cosmetics line. The book is part memoir and part beauty guide; the beauty guide focusing both on outer and inner beauty. Mally’s personal photos, celebrity photos and color illustrations accompany the text.

            Make Up: Your Life Guide to Beauty, Style, and Success – Online and off is written by Michelle Phan, an entrepreneur who has launched her beauty and style secrets on You-Tube and other social media. After two chapters of memoir, Michelle presents her tips on skin care, makeup, hair, nails and fashion. Then she continues with advice on manners (both traditional and those in social media) and job/career search.