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On Christmas Eve, 1930, in America's dust bowl, a young woman delivers her baby alone. Plain, warmhearted Martha Drusso takes the downy-haired infant she names Belle to raise as her own, along with another orphan in her care, a little boy named R.C.

But when Belle is three, her stepbrother mistakenly puts her on a train bound for Los Angeles, then leaves to get her a treat. The train takes off, and Belle is pitched into a child's worst nightmare: a series of orphanages and foster homes. When she is adopted into a loving Japanese-American family, it seems Belle's troubles are over -- until World War II breaks out. Never defeated, Belle is adopted again, and her beautiful singing voice ultimately leads her to Hollywood, and to love and marriage.

All the while, Martha and R.C. steadfastly continue to search for Belle. For thirty years they believe that the persistence of their hearts will bring their little family together again . . . .

"The power and integrity of Harris's prose turn this novel into something valuable." -- Atlanta Journal & Constitution

The book has a lot going for it. An intriguing plot, some interesting characters, and the background of a changing America.

Martha and R. C. are especially appealing. Their lives are often hard, but they manage to overcome adversity and carry on. They enjoy what they have, yet always in the background is Belle, the lost child.

Unfortunately, that’s where things go off the rails. Belle is too perfect. She’s beautiful, and has a voice like an angel. She’s brilliant, but her naivety, which I suppose is supposed to show the pureness of her heart, can be a bit much sometimes. She overlooks, and I guess the reader is supposed to, too, the manipulative and insensitive nature of her boyfriend’s father. What would happen next was pretty obvious. And kind of creepy.

I think the book could have done without the last ten years. At that point the story started to get redundant, as they almost find each other, their paths almost crossing.

The ending left me wondering if there was going to be more to Belle and R.C.’s relationship. Not sure how I would have felt about that.

( Mount TBR 2025 Book Links 1-20 )

21. We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer
22. America First: Roosevelt vs. Lindbergh in the Shadow of War by H.W. Brands
23. American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House by Jon Meacham
24. The Seventh Veil of Salome by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
25. A Beginning at the End by Mike Chen
26. Lost and Found by Marilyn Harris

Goodreads 27

MAY – Lost, City, Wind, Hide, Lie, Fan, Room, Clear

Lost and Found by Marilyn Harris
⁠

gilda_elise

How do you start over after the end of the world?

Six years after a global pandemic wiped out most of the planet’s population, the survivors are rebuilding the country, split between self-governing cities, hippie communes and wasteland gangs.

In post-apocalyptic San Francisco, former pop star Moira has created a new identity to finally escape her past—until her domineering father launches a sweeping public search to track her down. Desperate for a fresh start herself, jaded event planner Krista navigates the world on behalf of those too traumatized to go outside, determined to help everyone move on—even if they don’t want to. Rob survived the catastrophe with his daughter, Sunny, but lost his wife. When strict government rules threaten to separate parent and child, Rob needs to prove himself worthy in the city’s eyes by connecting with people again.

Krista, Moira, Rob and Sunny are brought together by circumstance, and their lives begin to twine together. But when reports of another outbreak throw the fragile society into panic, the friends are forced to finally face everything that came before—and everything they still stand to lose.

Because sometimes having one person is enough to keep the world going.

This is a truly different take on what goes on after a global pandemic; probably not since Alas, Babylon, has a book focused so much on, not how people got there, but where do they go from here. Yes, the pandemic is important, since it set the stage for what was to come. But people lives must go on.

All four characters are well drawn, though Sunny probably not as much as the grownups, since there is less history to draw from. Yet, at the same time, she is very much in the center of what is going on with the three people within her orbit. So while Sunny’s character changes very little, Krista’s, Moira’s, and Rob’s certainly do. All three must face the mistakes of their pasts, and deal with them within the difficult surroundings of a world vastly changed. How they do so shows their growth as individuals. Even more importantly, it shows that, just maybe, there will still be a future for them.

przed

I've signed up for

intoabar a couple of times, and have gotten terrible assignments, but I'm trying to get myself back into writing so I thought I'd give it one more go.

And I got the pairing of my dreams!

I'm not going to say what it is quite yet, because I could still screw the pooch. But seriously, if I'd had to pick my own match, this is exactly what I'd have picked.

gilda_elise

A powerful and fierce reimagining of the earliest Roman legend: the twins, Romulus and Remus, mythical founders of history’s greatest empire, and the woman whose sacrifice made it all possible.

The names Romulus and Remus may be immortalized in map and stone and chronicle, but their mother exists only as a preface to her sons’ journey, the princess turned oath-breaking priestess, condemned to death alongside her children.

But she did not die; she survived. And so does her story. Beautiful, royal, rich: Rhea has it all—until her father loses his kingdom in a treacherous coup, and she is sent to the order of the Vestal Virgins to ensure she will never produce an heir.

Except when mortals scheme, gods laugh.

Rhea becomes pregnant, and human society turns against her. Abandoned, ostracized, and facing the gravest punishment, Rhea forges a dangerous deal with the divine, one that will forever change the trajectory of her life…and her beloved land.

To save her sons and reclaim their birthright, Rhea must summon nature’s mightiest force – a mother’s love – and fight. All roads may lead to Rome, but they began with Rhea Silvia.

The story aligns quite closely to the mythology, but this is Rhea Silvia’s story and she is very much front and center. Who she was, her life before her father’s kingdom was taken from him. And how she managed to survive afterwards makes for a compelling story. She makes some huge mistakes, but ultimately finds a way forward. Her sons are her world, and she does everything she can to insure their survival.

But there were others in her life; her cousin, Antho, is probably the most important. I loved their relationship, more like sisters than cousins. Unlike so many others in Rhea’s life, she manages to survive. There is Rhea’s father, who disappoints her so many times, yet she clings to her memories of their time together when she was a child. And, of course, the gods.

I’m so looking forward to reading more by this author.

Goodreads 25

tinturtle

Fandoms in this post: The Breakfast Club

After rereading what_alchemy's Breakfast Club fic during the previous step of my project, I had a hankering to read The Supper Club by Kaneko, the other Breakfast Club story in my Beloved Collection. Later, I found that The Breakfast Club is the only fandom Kaneko has written for that I have much knowledge of, so I ended up reading two more of their Breakfast Club works, as well.

In order not to bore my readers, I had intended to make sure that each of my future Old and New Project posts had at least a couple Professionals or Man from U.N.C.L.E. fics. I have not been feeling well, though, and I lack the concentration for much reading. So that I don't forget the details of these fics before I can read any to accompany them, I'm writing these up now on their own. Sorry if it's not interesting, Pros and MFU fans who are subscribed to my journal.

( Read more... )

gilda_elise

A young woman wins the role of a lifetime in a film about a legendary heroine — but the real drama is behind the scenes in this sumptuous historical epic from the author of Mexican Gothic.

1950s Hollywood: Every actress wants to play Salome, the star-making role in a big-budget movie about the legendary woman whose story has inspired artists since ancient times.

So when the film’s mercurial director casts Vera Larios, an unknown Mexican ingenue, in the lead role, she quickly becomes the talk of the town. Vera also becomes an object of envy for Nancy Hartley, a bit player whose career has stalled and who will do anything to win the fame she believes she richly deserves.

Two actresses, both determined to make it to the top in Golden Age Hollywood—a city overflowing with gossip, scandal, and intrigue—make for a sizzling combination.

But this is the tale of three women, for it is also the story of the princess Salome herself, consumed with desire for the fiery prophet who foretells the doom of her stepfather, Herod: a woman torn between the decree of duty and the yearning of her heart.

Before the curtain comes down, there will be tears and tragedy aplenty in this sexy Technicolor saga.

The book is slow to start, as we’re introduced to the main characters. There’s Vera, who has lucked into a prime role. Nancy, who probably isn’t as talented as she thinks she is. And then there’s Salome, whose story is intertwined with that of the actress who’s portraying her. There’s also the men in their lives, who don’t come across as strongly as the women do. Their roles are very much second string.

This is definitely a step away from Moreno-Garcia’s usual work; there’s not a touch of the mystical, and the only horror is the way some of the characters are willing to do anything in order to get ahead. I have to say, I missed the unworldliness that usually permeates her books.

It wasn’t until near the end that the pace picks up; enough to make up for the rest of the book. The tragedy of their lives comes full circle with Salome’s. No one walks away unscathed.

MAY: “Virtual Book Club” - Read a book from a celebrity/influencer book club list, an organization’s book club list, your library’s book club lists, or a book club you’re a part of.

Good Morning America Book Club
The Seventh Veil of Salome by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

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Box of Tricks

2022 schedule

February 1: Writer sign ups begin
March 1: Writer sign ups close
May 1: Artist sign ups begin
May 31: Artist sign ups close
July 1: Writers’ rough drafts (6,600 words minimum)/full outlines due. Story summaries also due
July 9: Artist Claims Day. Artists will claim stories based on anonymous story summaries, first come, first served
September 23: Final stories (10,000 words minimum) and artwork/vids due
October: Posting begins

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Page Summary

gilda_elise - Lost and Found by Marilyn Harris
gilda_elise - A Beginning at the End by Mike Chen
przed - Into a Bar We Go
gilda_elise - Mother of Rome by Lauren J.A. Bear
tinturtle - Old and New Project: 3 by Kaneko
gilda_elise - The Seventh Veil of Salome by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

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Box of Tricks

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Lost and Found by Marilyn Harris

A Beginning at the End by Mike Chen

Into a Bar We Go

Mother of Rome by Lauren J.A. Bear

Old and New Project: 3 by Kaneko

The Seventh Veil of Salome by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

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October 2022

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