The Paying Guests

The Paying Guests Sarah Waters 4 / 5	Published 2014 First Sentence "The Barbers had said they would arrive by three."
Publisher's Description: A truly extraordinary, masterful novel of brilliant storytelling, sensuality, and psychological suspense set in post-WWI London, from the internationally bestselling author of The Little Stranger. Three-time Booker Prize finalist Sarah Waters is at the height of her powers.  A psychological and dramatic tour de force from beloved international bestseller Sarah Waters. The year is 1922, and London is tense. Ex-servicemen are disillusioned, the out-of-work and the hungry are demanding change. In South London, in a large silent house now bereft of brothers, husband, and even servants, life is about to be transformed, as Mrs Wray and her daughter Frances are obliged to take in lodgers. With the arrival of Lilian and Leonard Barber, the routines of the house and the lives of its inhabitants will be shaken up in unexpected ways. And as passions mount and frustration gathers, no one can foresee just how far, and how devastatingly, the disturbances will reach. Waters proves once again that her eye for the telling details of class and character that draw people together as well as tear them apart is second to none in this masterpiece of psychological tension and emotional depth.
Dear Reader, I had to kind of rush my way through this book a little bit, because it was an ebook I borrowed from the library and thus available for only a limited time (and because it's currently in high demand, there's no way I could have gotten it out again for quite some time). So! I had to go quickly. Did I mind? Not at all! The story carried me along, especially the trial - I was kept on the edge of my seat almost the entire last third of the book. Whew! Boy, did that book make me THINK. For one thing, I couldn't figure out who I was rooting for: why did I care that the murderers got away with their crime? But I kind of wanted them to! That was a first odd thought. Then, later, I realized I didn't really LIKE any of the characters in the book - and usually I am drawn in by one or another, by caring about what happens to them. Not so with Frances, or Lillian, or Leonard! Don't get me wrong: I did really like some of the characters in that they were interesting, but not so much the characters' characters - you know what I mean? In any case, wow - you just have to read this book. So much to think about! I should point out that there are some graphically intimate scenes, so definitely a more adult book. But nothing really untoward, or at least I didn't think so. The story focuses tightly on the main character, Frances, who is a committed (albeit young) spinster in postwar (WWI, that is) London. Women have just gotten the vote, but that's about the extent of things - inequality and repression still abound, and that is part of what this book explores. Frances becomes quite close with the new lodgers who move into her and her mother's house; since they have been left without any men after losing the three in their family to the war, they must find income to pay off some unexpected debts. This means the introduction of the eponymous "paying guests," which was a term used by polite society of the time to refer to the vulgar idea of tenants. I suppose the title is a great one, too, because the "guests" named paid in more ways than one, ultimately. And it seemed to be a particularly tense situation to begin with, as Frances' family is much more well off, in terms of social class, than the Barbers, who move in. To have to - for all intents and purposes - beg money from those who are of a lower class? It must have been unbearable to contemplate at the time. But an unlikely friendship is established between the families, and I loved seeing that. What I liked most about this book, though, was its real examination of homosexuality in 1920s England - while we think things are still unequal here and now, back then it was many more times difficult to be a lesbian. The inability to express one's love in public, and having to do everything clandestinely, is a very interesting idea to explore: I've often seen the story told as a barrier between social classes, but never as a barrier due to gender. There is just SO MUCH to discuss after reading this book; I don't even think I'm doing it justice. I wish I had a book club to talk this one over with, whew! Please let me know if you read it, Reader, so we can have a good talk! Yours, Arianna

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The First Bad Man

The First Bad Man Miranda July 4/5	Publication Date: January 13th, 2015 First Sentence "I drove to the doctor's office as if I was starring in a movie Phillip was watching - windows down, just one hand on the wheel."
Publisher's Description: From the acclaimed filmmaker, artist, and bestselling author of "No One Belongs Here More Than You," a spectacular debut novel that is so heartbreaking, so dirty, so tender, so funny--so Miranda July--readers will be blown away. Here is Cheryl, a tightly-wound, vulnerable woman who lives alone, with a perpetual lump in her throat. She is haunted by a baby boy she met when she was six, who sometimes recurs as other people's babies. Cheryl is also obsessed with Phillip, a philandering board member at the women's self-defense non-profit where she works. She believes they've been making love for many lifetimes, though they have yet to consummate in this one. When Cheryl's bosses ask if their twenty-one-year-old daughter Clee can move into her house for a little while, Cheryl's eccentrically-ordered world explodes. And yet it is Clee--the selfish, cruel blond bombshell--who bullies Cheryl into reality and, unexpectedly, provides her the love of a lifetime. Tender, gripping, slyly hilarious, infused with raging sexual fantasies and fierce maternal love, Miranda July's first novel confirms her as a spectacularly original, iconic and important voice today, and a writer for all time. "The First Bad Man" is dazzling, disorienting, and unforgettable.
Dear Reader, I had NO expectations going into this book, nor did I know much about it since it was placed in my lap to review. Sometimes I think this helps and more often than not, this is how I discover new Authors I end up loving. I'm not overly gaga towards Miranda July after this, but I might be a little starry eyed if I see her in person. Let me explain, the plot of this book was little more than "meh" (with a shrug of your shoulders). So why am I rating it so high? Good question reader! I absolutely LOVE the way July can verbalize on paper the inner thoughts of a person, I'm talking about those deep, down, hidden thoughts.... the ones you probably wouldn't share with your best friend/lover/spouse, THOSE thoughts. Gah, I love when Authors can capture things like that. It makes me remember why I have FAVORITE authors. Funny thing is, I actually bought an "e-book deal" of hers, "No One Belongs Here More Than You" and was planning on reading it... but then I got accepted to read and review this for netgalley. I'm excited to have something else of hers to read sitting on my kindle! Okay, so the deal is... I have to give a disclaimer to all those readers who don't like anything raunchy, sexually explicit and sometimes controversially upsetting, The First Bad Man has all of that. Remember how I said I didn't really like the story? Well let me give you a tiny breakdown and you can decide to risk it or not. The main character, Cheryl, is a middle aged woman, living alone in a tidy organized apartment and works at a very productive office. One day the owners of the company ask if someone can take in their daughter, who is trying to find her way in life via acting. This task ultimately ends up in Cheryl's lap and this ends up "literally" the case... in her lap (wink, wink... if you know what I mean). So Cheryl has her life turned upside down with this creatures crazy unsanitary ways and ultimately we get to see Cheryl grow into someone different and more tolerable of everything around her. I'm still not sure if she was happier the way before or after, that would be fun to discuss. The best parts of the book are entwined in the language and writing Miranda July intricately plucks out... right out of our brains. I don't know how to explain it, maybe I should hire her to explain it for me, ha! I believe everyone has quirky habits and sides of themselves they don't want to share with anyone, but I also believe some people let a little bit of that out and then you get those sideways looks from people... the ones that whisper "what's wrong with her?" "Why is she acting so abnormally?". I want to scream at them, NORMAL?!? What the heck is normal? Who decides this and why do we as society suppress others to tone down this "quirky" "socially rejected" behavior??! I ask everyone to stand up tall, read Miranda July and unleash your quirky self (at least for a day). Should you read this book? I dunno, the better question is, will you unleash your inner thoughts willingly? ;) Happy Reading, AmberBug P.S. - I think the style (or lack thereof) of the cover is her thing? The other book I bought of hers is a yellow cover with black writing.

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The New Art of Capturing Love (Review by Holly Scoville)

The New Art of Capturing Love Kathryn Hamm and Thea Dodds 4/5	Published 2014 First Sentence "The moments that matter most can come quite unexpectedly."
Publisher's Description: The first guide to posing and sensitively capturing same-sex couples on their big day, The New Art of Capturing Love equips semi-pro and professional wedding photographers to enter the exciting new LGBT wedding photography market. These are exciting times for marriage equality—but capturing memorable LGBTQ portraits requires a novel approach to posing, which until now has been nearly exclusively oriented toward pairing a taller man in black with a smaller woman in white. What works for Jack and Jill won't necessarily work for Jack and Michael, let alone Jill and Louise. The New Art of Capturing Love shatters the “old standards” of wedding and engagement photography by showing how inappropriate they can be for today’s diverse couples, then shares easy-to-implement poses and techniques that can be applied to any couple (and wedding party), no matter their orientations, to create lasting memories. Featuring a collection of more than 180 same-sex portraits from 46 photographers, this guide is proudly the first—and most comprehensive—of its kind. Whether you are a wedding photographer looking to enter this burgeoning market, or a gay or lesbian couple looking for visual inspiration, these gorgeous images will both instruct and inspire.
Dear Reader, Let me start by saying that I am not a photographer. The appeal of Kathryn Hamm and Thea Dodds', The New Art of Capturing Love however, is that you do not need to be a professional photographer to relate to the wisdom and beauty in its pages. One of the most comprehensive volumes of LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) wedding photography to date, The New Art of Capturing Love appeals to both professional and amateur photographers, those wanting to break into the ever-expanding market of same-sex weddings, as well as established photographers who want to extend their offerings to the LGBTQ community, their families, and friends. This book is not only for the photographer, but for the newly engaged couple looking for information or ideas on the current trends in wedding photography, including ideas for possible settings or poses, and for the general lover of photography. The genuine and thoughtful images captured in its pages not only record the intimate moments shared between two people, but serve to inform and inspire both the photographer and potential client. With the arrival of new federal benefits for legally married same-sex couples as well as same-sex marriage becoming legal in an ever-growing number of states, the business of same-sex weddings has become a booming billion dollar industry. So why does this book matter? The book challenges the old concepts of traditional wedding photography where a tall masculine man in a black tux and smaller, feminine woman in a white dress were established doctrine captured with a stale set of traditional poses. But what if there are two brides, or two grooms? Two black tuxes, or two white dresses? No dress as a focal point, mixed genders, or a cross-dressing wedding party? And how does this change the background, lighting, posing, and overall mood of the shot? What if the traditional rituals of heterosexual weddings - staples of traditional wedding photography - are not performed or modified? What if the couple is not comfortable with public kissing or other displays of affection? The New Art of Capturing Love addresses all these questions, explains the physical and cultural differences between opposite and same-sex couples, as well as provides tips and examples for direction, posing, and inspiration to capture authenticity. The images, from various contributors, are captioned with technical specifications for photographers, and details of each couples story for the reader. The book is broken into chapters addressing the engagement sessions, photographing two brides, two grooms, wedding parties, and the technical and business aspects of same-sex wedding photography. It reinforces that as the traditional views of marriage are changing, so must the traditional rules of photography in order to embrace the exploding market of the same-sex wedding industry. The beauty of this book however, lies within the photos on its pages. Casual, intimate, reflective, and above all authentic - the images do not merely capture a still slice of the two individuals photographed, but a momentary breath at the start of each couples journey together. Photographs are not just a picture to look at while flipping through a book. A great photograph should make us pause, should make us feel something, stir a memory, capture an essence genuinely evoked, if only for a moment. The New Art of Capturing Love does just that, one beautiful couple at a time. Read on, Holly Scoville P.S. - I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review. Here are a few resources about the book: The Art of Capturing Love Press Release More Info Author Bio

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