"The Shakespeare Mask" by Newton Frohlich

I went into this book with high expectations. The author is part of a group of scholars such as Dickens and Emerson who believe that Edward De Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford was the real Shakespeare. There are many coincidences that, depending on who you speak to, could prove this theory to be true. Either way, the earl was a fascinating figure of his time and seeing as how the author put in 15 years of research into it,I was sure this would be a title to recommend to many of my customers.

I couldn't have been more wrong. This reads like a fawning tribute to De Vere as Shakespeare but lacks the substance to stand up to the challenge. Edward is a caricature of the historical Earl and lacks any dimension whatsoever. He comes across as a selfish man who shows no sign of the facets of intelligence and passion that are so integral to Shakespeare's works. Taking artistic license into account I still cannot believe how many times I had to stop to utter the words, Give me a break nor the amount of time I had to spend checking established FACTS. Eg. Arthur Brooke is supposedly a pen name for Edward as a young poet, yet Arthur Brooke is historically known to have lived as a poet who died at sea. Another moment in the book has Robert Cecil treating Edward as a friend/co-conspirator, yet it is widely known that Robert hated Edward with a passion as he was tormented by Edward who lived at Cecil house as a ward.

In the end, trying to believe Frohlich's Edward could ever have written these plays and sonnets or was one of the few blessed to tread the boards is ridiculous.

"Rooms" by Lauren Oliver

I have never read anything else by Oliver but I know of her other titles which I've been told are a must read. I am going to have to read them now. This is a ghost story told by the members of a dead man's family who've come to prepare to sell the place and the ghosts that are inhabiting it. This is not a happy family; they are dysfunctional to say the least and are only in the house because they have to be but the ghosts are there because they have no other choice. The house is them and they are the house. This is a very evocative story, it is not written to bring a sense of peace about dying, if anything the result is an unsettling view of the many lies and tricks we use to avoid facing the realities of our lives. We fabricate webs of illusion so that we can manage our existence but even in death the truth still needs to be faced in order to set one free, no matter what the cost to the living.

"Heck: Where Bad Kids Go" by Dale E. Basye

This was a funny and original start to a new series that I read a few years ago. I often recommend this because the kids are so realistic and are determined to find their way back home. Great visualizations.

"Botticelli's Bastard" by Stephen Maitland-Lewis

This is an intriguing little novel. An art restorer who is going through some emotional upheaval in his life discovers a potential Botticelli included in some paintings his father left him but how and where the painting came to be in his fathers possession is the least of Fabrizzi's problems. It seems that the portrait is haunted by the Medici depicted in it and after so many years kept in a dark crate he has a lot to say. As Fabrizzi comes to realize this spirit is real he begins to learn more about the pictures past and begins a journey of discovery that will take him from Paris during the Nazi occupation to the streets of 9th Avenue in New York City unveiling a family secret that has been hidden all this time. This journey mirrors Fabrizzi's struggle to let go of the wife who died from cancer and to give himself and his new wife a chance. A tale of grief, lose, and the deeds that cannot be undone or forgiven, or can they.

"Slimy Underbelly" by Kevin J. Anderson

A witty monster mash detective story featuring the case files of zombie detective Dan Chambeaux. He's your typical average wiseguy except he's dead. Ten years ago something happened to the world and some people woke up a little different than others. Dan woke up in his grave, dusted himself off and got back to the business of helping those in need. Whether it's future super villains or frog demons opening up a new spa for the masses of monsters who could use stress relief, Dan's your man. With his ghost sweetie Sheyenne and human partner Robin as his side kicks, he's got it made. However, when you throw in weather wizards running campaigns for top position and causing weather to change as quickly as one block away not to mention the illicit love child of a senior elder god trying to flood the world with effluence to prove he's worthy of her love, things get a little, messy.

"Bitten (Women of the Otherworld #1)" by Kelley Armstrong

Like the author, like the characters, did not enjoy this book so much but since it's one of the early ones for these guys I'm glad to say they get better. Still a good read.

"The Secret Place (Dublin Murder Squad, #5)" by Tana French

I have read all of French's titles and have always been intrigued by her immersion into the human psyche and it's blurred edges. The past three were good crime stories of the human capability of extreme cruelty and manipulation. Happiness is not handed out like candy but fought for with tooth and claw and sometimes the pot at the end of the rainbow is filled with manure. This latest edition is to me quite frankly a let down. A murder committed at a fancy school for girls is the basis of the story. I won't go into details, you can judge for yourself but all I can say is that not only was a gifted writer on vacation here but I was actually relieved to finish reading this book, like thank goodness that's done, next chore. There are some areas of the book that were beautifully cut out of the air but all in all there were too many moments that seemed to lack that spark that a story needs to make a book sing. At the end of it, the only thing I would want to know more about are the cypress trees in the secret glen.