The Amazing Mackerel Pudding Plan by Wendy McClure

Review by Chris C. (chrisnsally)

How do you write a book with no plot, no characterization, no climatic event and no conflict resolution? One book style fitting this description would be a cookbook, a second book category that fits this description is joke books. Wendy McClure has combined these two genres to great success in The Amazing Mackerel Pudding Plan. (T.A.M.P.P.)  This is a book of photos and snappy one-line jokes, like  I Can Haz Cheezburger, that are so popular with the publishing houses these days. While I may imply that this style of photo themed joke book has a limited appeal I did find Ms. McClure’s book hilarious.

T.A.M.P.P. begins the comedy with the dedication and any book with a funny dedication grabs my attention and makes me want to read more. Wendy dedicates the book to her mom, “who never makes these recipes, and to Chris, “who might, if I dared him.” How does she get jokes from a cookbook? The photos featured here are from a set of Weight Watchers recipe cards from 1974. The title of the book is derived from a recipe for Fluffy Mackerel Pudding and Ms. McClure creates characterization out of the many adjectives and the creative use of quotation marks on the recipe cards.

One character who appears repeatedly in these jokes is Marcy from the recipe for Marcy’s “Enchiladas” from page 9. Wendy describes this card with, “We don’t know who Marcy is, only that she thinks that ‘enchilada’ is wacky Mexican talk for ‘shit on a shingle.’”  Later, for the photo accompanying the recipe for New Pizza Sauce, McClure explains “Uh-oh. Marcy needs to be stopped.” I’m not certain what the Weight Watcher’s editors intended with their use of quotation marks on the recipe cards but the punctuation marks join Marcy in the jokes too. One card was a recipe for Fish “Tacos” and McClure writes, “Mexican food is easy to make! All you need are toast and quotation marks! Just ask Marcy!” Ms. McClure seems to be combating the quotation marks with a liberal use of exclamation points.

Recipe cards may seem like dull content for a joke book but the photos which illustrate these cards seem tailor made as Ms. McClure’s cannon fodder. First, the prepared dishes look like they were cooked by High School Home Economics students or anyone without any concept of how prepared food should appear.  Some of the dishes don’t even appear to be cooked like this illustration for Onion Sauce which looks like tomato sauce on a raw fish to me.

Wendy frequently comments on the props in the photos and she’s right to do so because the props rarely add to the quality or the content of these diet food illustrations. The photos appear to have been arranged and processed by first year Art School students.  For example, in the photo for Crab Newburg the focal point is a drinking glass and some campy (crappy) beach souvenir which should be in the background of the photo.

The nature and talent of Wendy McClure’s sense of humor can be seen in her chapter titles too. Themes like; chapt. 2: Sauces, Light Meals, Lunches, Loathing and, chapt. 4: Main Dish Malevolence provide a hint to the witty one liners and inside jokes that accompany this old set of Weight Watchers recipe cards. This book is a very fun, very quick and delightful read, Sally and I both laughed out loud as we experienced the silliness of these meal plans from the 1970s.

Making Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat

by David Dosa, MD

Review by McGuffyAnn M. (nightprose)

The instincts and intuitive abilities of animals are long debated, yet proven. After meeting Oscar, even skeptical Dr. Dosa will now agree with that.

Dr. Dosa began his rounds at the retirement home quite skeptical of the stories of such things as animal intuition and the power of pets. Yet those who knew Oscar knew of his power to know who needed him and were quite protective of Oscar and his gift. He was a special member of the staff.

Over time, Dr. Dosa bonded with patients and their families and the nurses at the facility. Eventually he bonded with Oscar, as well. As he did he could no longer deny Oscar’s gift. It was not only a gift that Nature had bestowed on Oscar, but one that Oscar bestowed on those who needed comforting.

No one can deny that Oscar comforted many people. He had a sense who needed it the most, and that is where he stayed, easing their final days on earth. He was a constant presence with those that were dying and their families, as well.

Dr. Dosa learned the power of Oscar’s extraordinary gift and finally accepted it and Oscar. And Dr. Dosa was comforted, too.

Mysterius the Unfathomable by Jeff Parker (writer) and Tom Fowler (artist)

Review by Bowden P. (Trey)

Have you ever had someone describe something in such a way it sticks in your mind? Sticks so well that years later when you see it you go “Oh!” and move to look closer? Well, that’s how I got interested in Mysterius the Unfathomable. What was the little phrase? “Dr. Seuss meets Lovecraft.” I wish I could remember who used that for me so I could give credit where credit is due, but…

So what have we got? The graphic novel opens with a mysterious fog shrouded rendezvous that introduces, Delfi, actually Ella, and then moves into a séance. And it is one of the more darkly funny things I’ve read in a while. Its hosted by Victor Chesnea, a rich playboy who wants to speak to his deceased mother, who in order to spice things up has invited a renowned skeptic to the party as well. Then there is Mysterius who is there to conduct the séance. To put it mildly, it doesn’t go well – especially for Chesnea who winds up with his soul temporarily sucked out. And Ella? Well, she’s there to cover the séance as a reporter, but it goes even less well for her later forcing her to take a job with Mysterius.

The characters make the book. Mysterius, one of our protagonists (sorry, he’s not a hero) is a greedy, manipulative, arrogant, self-centered, beer bellied magician named Mysterius. Parker does a great job showing Mysterius as he is, and then making him occasionally likable person. That’s a real trick. The other protagonist (and I think she deserves the title hero) is Ella/Delfi (named Ella, but all of Mysterius’ assistants are Delfi – long story), she stands in contrast to Mysterius by being short, black, sassy, but good hearted. Not to say she’s his Jimminy Cricket. No, she can be a bit self-indulgent too, but also knows it comes at a cost. Still, compared to Mysterius, Ella is the height of virtue.

This is a fun book. From the séance from Hell, to a wealthy man with a unique skin problem, to thinly disguised parodies of Dr. Seuss, his creations and Burning Man. Then there is the parody that combines Anton LeVey and Jim Jones into one unpleasant magical package.

Oh, and its not just the concepts. Tom Fowler does some amazing work. His art really helps make the characters, especially Mysterius. Mysterius comes across as I described him above, but also kind of clownish (but then so do most of the men in the book). He also shows some great command of anatomy in what he draws, because while there are cartoonish elements, its realistic. Most of the people look like people – even Mysterius and Ella.

Did I like it? Yes I did. Five stars.

Likes: Excellent art and characterization; Lots of fun parodies; Seuss meets Lovecraft to good effect; Magic is powerful, occult and dangerous; A well drawn villain; The Dr. Seuss parody; Sorcerers hiding in plain sight.

Dislikes: Needs a sequel.

Suggested for: Anyone that enjoys magic comics like Zatanna, Books of Magic and the John Constantine Hellblazer books. Maybe for the Dresden fans as well, but only maybe.

Roselynde by Roberta Gellis

Review by Jerelyn (I-F-Letty)

I have gone through a bit of a reading slump lately.  I have been anxiously awaiting the releases of several of my favorite author’s new books.     So when this happens I go back to my comfort reads.  Now I have been here at PBS long enough to know that there are those who never re-read anything; The too many books so little time group.  Then there is the group who has books that they read once a year for whatever reason.  Then there are those who have comfort reads.  I have comfort reads because quite honestly I am uncomfortable when I don’t have a book on the nightstand.  These books are invariably romances, something that is just a love story with a happy ending.  So I decided to write a series of reviews on older books but they might be new to someone.  They are also readily available here at PBS.

Roselynde by Roberta Gellis, was first published in 1978.  The story begins in the summer of 1189, after Henry II dies and just before his son Richard’s coronation.  Richard’s mother Queen Eleanor has spent 16 years in close confinement after leading her sons to rebel against their father.  In this story of a young woman fictional Alinor joins the ranks of real life heiresses that had been wards of King Henry II, he was in no hurry to marry these girls off not while he had the use of their money, and the power of the knights, sworn liege men of these Countesses to bolster his own army while he was at war with his son Richard and King Philip in France.

Alinor doting Grandfather has raised her to be Mistress of Roselynde’s vast holdings, not to be someone chattel.  But Richard has to raise a great deal of money.  For he has promised to go on Crusade and must get all his ducks in a row so to speak before leaving for 3 years in the Holy land.  He has sent his mother to Roselynde Keep to assess this young and powerful Countess.  The Queen upon meeting Alinor realizes she is in the present of a kindred spirit, a young woman just like she had been at that age, intelligent, capable, and nobody’s fool.  Often times Royal wards fortunes we stripped from them by those who were supposed to protect them. Alinor fears this is just what the Queen intends, when she is introduced to Simon, a man who was, at age 40 is a minor Baron unsuitable as a husband for Alinor and completely and utterly loyal to Eleanor and to Richard.

As Alinor’s warden Simon fights against his attraction to his young ward, as he protects her from fortune hunters who often used abduction and forced marriage, to get around the Kings intentions for his wards.  But she looks very like the young Queen Eleanor, whom he has loved with and unrequited passion for 25 years. He being nearly 20 years older than the 16 year-old Alinor makes it almost more than he can bare.  It is not honorable to have these feelings for a girl he is supposed to protect.  It doesn’t help that Alinor has developed the same passion for him, and has decided that here is a man whom she can trust not to ride rough shot over her, and her duty as Mistress of Roselynde, and she will have him.   Navigating the Court of Richard and then to the holy land Alinor and Simon’s love story is a joy to watch.  And with all of Gellis’s works, her history is well researched.  With some forgivable errors considering the time they were written.

This is one of those books that you really need to over look the cover; there is enough history to make H/F people happy and enough romance to make most romance readers happy.  Also for those who just don’t know if romance is for them they should give it a try.  What sex there is, is restrained and it is making love not just sex.  This is one of my 5 star reads.   It has been re-published into e-book format.  Be warned this is a family saga and if you read this there are 5 equally excellent books that follow,  Roselynde. In order, Alinor, Joanna, Gilliane, Rhiannon and Sybelle. There is another book called Desiree that chronologically falls between Roselynde and Alinor but was written years later and in my opinion the weakest of the books.  I have to wonder if Gellis’s heart was in it.  It is hard to come by and I only suggest it to those who really love the series.

Animal Attraction by Charlene Teglia

Review by Cynthia F. (frazerc)

Good read, action based paranormal.

Like most little adopted girls, Chandra dreams someday her real family will find her and she’ll actually be a princess.  Beware of what you ask for…

Her family does find her and she’s their princess.  But they’re werewolves.  If being about to go furry and fanged isn’t enough, she is about to go into heat, big time.  That means she has to work her way through the dozen pack males to check their ‘suitability’ as her mate.  Publicly.  Through a large portion of the book.  And just to complicate matters, her mate will become the pack alpha…

There are additional plot elements – including old werewolf enemies [one of whom killed her father] and a werepanther pride which seems to be helping him.

The sex scenes are many and varied including ménage [no m/m though].

Book seems to be a stand alone.

Dreams Unleashed by Linda Hawley

Review by Kelsey O

First Line:

“I hurried off the metro at the Union Station stop, looking around to see if I was being followed.”

Ann Torgeson is a character that is definitely more than meets the eye. Throughout Dreams Unleashed more and more is revealed about Ann’s past and a lot is foreshadowed of what future holds. Ann wants the US to be what it was when she was growing up not what it has become. Now, Big Brother is everywhere and every house is wired with SmartWire. The government is able to track every citizen. There are chips even in people’s driver’s licenses. She joins with GOG, Get Out! Government, an underground organization that operates worldwide. Their mission is to assist citizens around the globe in uniting to fight the tracking, excessive taxation and government control.

With her past as a CIA spy for the Clandestine Service, a branch of the Science and Technology Division, Ann is a perfect member of the GOG. Her stint with the CIA had her using her strong astral projection abilities to sense any object, person or even existing anywhere in the present, future or past called remote viewing. Others who aren’t as naturally strong as Ann seemed to die early in life of cancer or heart disease and the project supposedly was shut down. But after a unique “dream” where Ann returns to her very first remote viewing “dream” and returns with a long lost Herkimer crystal, the government is asking questions about her. Currently she holds a job with AlterHydro, the first company to capture the supercharged energy of the Strait of Georgia and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Now her mission is clear, to take down Big Brother’s control she must first practice with the Canadian RFID program and her Herkimer crystal is the key. With help from a very unlikely ally she hopes it is possible so that no one has to live in fear again.

What was unique about Dreams Unleashed was the fact that our lead heroine is 44 years old. There aren’t many books out there that the main character is older. She has an acute smelling ability and can tell you the exact date and location of a smells origin. You also see her vulnerability when she reminices about her late husband, Armond. They were so in love and she has resigned herself to never find that love again. Another thing I loved about Anne, her fondness to enjoy a nice warm bath to relax.

The content of the book can seem a little overwhelming but once laid out is understandable. Bouncing from the past to the future to the present at times got a bit confusing but Dreams Unleashed is a captivating read.

The Virgin of Small Plains by Nancy Pickard

Review by Susan R. (Sue-in-AZ)

Synopsis

The story highlights life in small town Kansas. But this isn’t just any small town.  In the graveyard lies the body of a young, unidentified girl who was brutally murdered years ago – the “Virgin” from the title.  The town gave her a funeral and a tombstone – and now they believe the Virgin helps people with their troubles. If you need help with you love life, finances, health – or even if you just need someone to talk to – just go see the Virgin in the cemetery.  Word of the Virgin’s abilities to heal the sick have spread over the internet, and people come from far and wide to experience the Virgin’s special abilities.

As the story unfolds, we learn that the Virgin is not completely unidentified. There are people in town who not only know who she is, but may have intentionally covered up her murder.  And they may be willing to kill again to protect themselves.

The town sheriff, just a high school kid when the Virgin was murdered, is now faced with growing pressure to solve this old case.  And what he uncovers could tear apart friends, families, maybe even the whole town.

The story is told from the point of view of three best friends (two boys and a girl) whose lives have been deeply affected by the murder of the Virgin.  The story line bounces back and forth in time – between the time when the Virgin was murdered and 17 years later in current time.

My Review

Very well written.  I thought I knew who did it about 2/3 of the way through, but in the end I found out I guessed wrong.  The author did a great job of laying out clues to follow, but didn’t tip her hand until the end of the story.

There are a few love triangles in the story. Lots of regret and redemption. Sad and happy moments.  There’s even a giant, destructive tornado (what story set in Kansas would be complete without a tornado?).  All the story threads come together in a very satisfying conclusion.

This book was nominated for quite a few awards*, and after reading I can see why.  Definitely a good read.

*Finalist 2007 Edgar Award for Best Mystery Novel

*Finalist 2007 Agatha Award for Best Novel

*Finalist 2007 Macavity Award for Best Novel

*Finalist 2007 Anthony Award for Best Mystery Novel