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Discover Dragons: I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons and To Shape a Dragon’s Breath

15 May

I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons
by Peter S. Beagle
I had previously read Beagle’s classic The Last Unicorn so couldn’t resist to see what his latest novel involving Dragons was like. I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons reads a bit like a fairy tale in some ways with a handsome prince and beautiful princess, but the prince struggles with bravery and the princess secretly wants to learn to read as much as find her true love. In the mix is also a lad of humble birth who along with two friends works as a dragon exterminator, despite a fascination with the creatures and secretly keeping a few as household pets. When an evil sorcerer threatens the kingdom, it will take all their collective skills to save the land. I felt the book held my interest more earlier on with its quirky depiction of a dragon infested castle and dragon market than later when it became somewhat more predictable in the climatic battle, but If you enjoyed The Last Unicorn you will also likely be charmed by this sweet coming of age tale.

To Shape a Dragon’s Breath
by Moniquill Blackgoose
We read To Shape a Dragon’s Breath as part of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Discussion Group in March. The group enjoyed the novel which although marketed as Young Adult (it was picked by a member who is a school librarian), still has plenty to appeal to adult fantasy fans. Blackgoose is of Native American descent and she works in issues of colonization and differing worldviews into her story about a teen girl, Anequs, attending a dragon academy. Beyond Native Americans there is also diversity in many of the other characters represented including one student who is neurodiverse. What I enjoyed was that this is done in an authentic feeling way and doesn’t read as simply tokenism and even characters we route for have their own flaws so one culture isn’t all perfect. There is a surprising twist on the typical romantasy love triangle and some Steampunk elements are included since her brother and his friends are part of a collective of inventors interested in “enginekraft.” The most unique concept though in the book was the way in which dragon fire is used to manipulate matter; it can both be used to split things apart as well as form new things depending on what the dragon’s companion, called Nampeshiweisit by Anequs’s people and Dragoneers by the Anglish, has them do.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager

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Fabulous Foodie Fiction set in France: A Murder Most French and The Paris Novel

24 Apr

A Murder Most French
by Colleen Cambridge
A Murder Most French is the second in the charming An American in Paris mystery series which centers around Tabitha Knight who grew up in America, but travels to post-war France to learn more about her French heritage. She is staying with her Grandfather and his companion and works as English tutor. The hook of the first novel was that she had become best friends with Julia Child who was studying cooking and would pass along tips to clueless in the kitchen to Tabitha. In this novel Child again is found throughout and brought alive by Cambridge from what feels like considerable research into Julia’s life and interests, as well as, cooking. The mystery this time is culinary in nature. Famous chefs are being poisoned by rare vintages of wine. Tabitha can’t resist being curious about not only the mysterious wine gifter, but also who has been recently vandalizing shopkeepers’ stalls in the local market. I liked how like the last mystery this one works some history in with what triggers the murderer to act rather than feeling like it could be something set in any place or time. The novel will appeal to foodies, fans of Julia Childe, and historic mystery lovers; if like me you are all three than it is sure to be a fun, enjoyable read. It is also the perfect time to check out the first in the series Mastering the Art of French Murder since Hoboken resident card holders can borrow it for free from Hoopla this month without having it count as any of their 20 monthly checkouts as part of the Hoopla Bonus Borrows.

The Paris Novel
by Ruth Reichl
I’ve been a fan of Ruth Reichl since she was writing memoir pieces including about her time as a restaurant critic. She had published her first novel Delicious! in 2014 and most recently before this work, Save Me the Plums, a memoir about her time as editor of Gourmet. No one can bring to life the delicious smells and flavors of dishes the way Reichl can. The Paris Novel is broken into three distinctive sections that feel as if they could of each satisfyingly be separated into their own individual pieces, but together form the evolution of Stella, a damaged young woman into a happier life by following in the footsteps of two Parisian women before her. The novel is set in the 1980’s. The first section deals with Stella’s discovery of a beautiful couture dress in a shop that once belonged to women named Severine; a chance encounter with someone from Severine’s life leads Stella to many new friends and experiences in the city of light. In the second section Stella looks into the mystery of Victorine the famous muse for artworks like Manet’s Olympia whose own paintings were lost for years and only recently have works like her self-portrait been again displayed. Through these other courageous women, Stella finally explores her own history in third section of the book and through this exploration finds a love of cooking and the love of her life.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager

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