The Ice Cream Blonde: The whirlwind life and mysterious death of Thelma Todd by Michelle Morgan

Posted on October 5, 2016 by Andrea Pryke

Published by Chicago Review Press

1 November 2015

Synopsis

A beloved film comedienne who worked alongside the Marx Brothers, Laurel and Hardy, and dozens of others, Thelma Todd was a rare Golden Age star who successfully crossed over from silent films to talkies. This authoritative new biography traces Todd s life from a vivacious little girl who tried to assuage her parents grief over her brother s death, to an aspiring teacher turned reluctant beauty queen, to an outspoken movie starlet and restaurateur.
Increasingly disenchanted with Hollywood, in 1934 Todd opened Thelma Todd s Sidewalk Cafe, a hot spot that attracted fans, tourists, and celebrities. Despite success in film and business, privately the beautiful actress was having a difficult year receiving disturbing threats from a stranger known as the Ace and having her home ransacked when she was found dead in a garage near her cafe.An inquest concluded that her death, at age just twenty-nine, was accidental, but in a thorough new investigation that draws on interviews, photographs, documents, and extortion notes much of these not previously available to the public Michelle Morgan offers a compelling new theory, suggesting the sequence of events on the night of her death and arguing what many people have long suspected: that Thelma was murdered.
But by whom?
The suspects include Thelma s movie-director lover, her would-be-gangster ex-husband, and the thugs who were pressuring her to install gaming tables in her popular cafe including a new, never-before-named mobster. This fresh examination on the eightieth anniversary of the star’s death is sure to interest any fan of Thelma Todd, of Hollywood’s Golden Age, or of gripping real-life murder mysteries.”

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My thoughts

In 1935 movie actress Thelma Todd dies at the age of 29 in mysterious circumstances.

In this volume Michelle Morgan (best known for Marilyn Monroe: Private and Undisclosed) investigates not only the mysterious and conspiracies surrounding Todd’s death, but takes us through her entire life, from her childhood in Lawrence, Massachusetts, to her death in a grim garage above the Pacific Coast on a windy December morning.

Although Michelle doesn’t dwell and expand on the scandals that plagued Thelma’s short life, she does deal with them in a responsible and articulate manner as they are part of Thelma’s story.

Far more interesting and important are the problems and issues facing Thelma in the months leading up to her death, this again is dealt with in a clear, yet in depth manner without letting Morgan’s own theories overwhelm the facts, this is a very important section in the book as it could essentially be the key to understanding Todd’s death.

Over the years I have read many biographies and have found that a less capable writer’s work can be difficult to read as the biographers thoughts tend to jump around making the narrative clumsy and the text then judders along like a car running out of petrol.

This is not the case with Michelle Morgan, each sentence is carefully constructed and flows beautifully into the next, making this a narrative that is seamless and fascinating at the same time.

 

Morgan brings to the fore the tragedy of Thelma Todd’s early death, a talented, beautiful, warm and intelligent woman who was making long term plans for her future. At 29 she had years of potentially great acting performances ahead of her.

This is a must have book for anyone interested in Thelma Todd and her career, or in the Golden Age of Hollywood itself.

 

I gave this 5 out of 5*

 

Look out for Michelle Morgan’s newest book – Carole Lombard 20th Century Star – out in October 2016!

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Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Posted on September 28, 2016 by Andrea Pryke

Synopsis

A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of curious photographs.
A horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.
A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.

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My thoughts

I Tore through this book in one sitting, I enjoyed the way the photographs helped to tell the story, I thought the time travel aspect was handled well  and  the explanation as to why the children from the past cannot stay in the present day made perfect sense

All the characters were well written, not all were likeable, but the idea of a home for children with magical abilities is brilliant and it is very clear to see why so many people love this book.

Ransom Riggs has created a fantastic world and the majority of the characters are represented with a photograph depicting their gift, as I also love old photographs it is no wonder that I enjoyed this book.

Who in their lives haven’t wished for a magical ability, but reading this, would you really want one?

A good fun book, which my Mum is now reading and I have bought the other 2 books in the series.

I gave this 4 out of 5*

 

Will you be going to see the film?, I will and will report back my thoughts once I have seen i

Posted in Fairy Tale, Magical Realsim, YA | Tagged , | Leave a comment

A Game of Thrones by George R R Martin

Posted on September 25, 2016 by Andrea Pryke

Synopsis

Summers span decades. Winter can last a lifetime. And the struggle for the Iron Throne has begun.
As Warden of the north, Lord Eddard Stark counts it a curse when King Robert bestows on him the office of the Hand. His honour weighs him down at court where a true man does what he will, not what he must … and a dead enemy is a thing of beauty.
The old gods have no power in the south, Stark’s family is split and there is treachery at court. Worse, the vengeance-mad heir of the deposed Dragon King has grown to maturity in exile in the Free Cities. He claims the Iron Throne.

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My thoughts

Okay, so I am 20 years behind everyone else in reading this – also I have never watched the TV show – and to be honest 20 years ago I would not have picked this up, let alone read it! Then I wasn’t really in to fantasy fiction with the exception of Terry Pratchett. But recently I decided to find out for myself what all the fuss was about, but rather than take the easy option and watch the show, I decided to read the book instead.

Although the book took me a while to get through, I actually enjoyed it. Obviously there is a lot going on, and there are so many characters, but each one is well written, whether they are likeable or not. I don’t know it is just me, but there didn’t (at the beginning) seem to be a clear definition of who the heroes were and who were the bad guys, obviously towards the end a clearer split is seen with the Starks being better than the Lannisters

Generally I just felt that these were people just trying to get along, with the only problem appear to be from across the sea, with Viserys Targaryen, his sister and the Dothraki.

It is a bog book and very complex and you do need to concentrate as a lot is going on constantly. I did enjoy the way that each chapter focused on the story of a particular character a this made it easier to keep track of who was who.

A great book and I will be reading A Clash of Kings soon.

 

I gave this 4 out of 5* on Goodreads

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A girl called Pearl by Michelle Morgan

Posted on September 20, 2016 by Andrea Pryke

Synopsis

Set in Los Angeles during the period of the Great Depression, A Girl Called Pearl tells the story of Pearl Parker, a young child growing up in the foster system. Through years of living with her beloved ‘Aunt’ Thelma, her abusive stepfather, her psychologically ill mother, and finally in an orphanage, Pearl spends her days reading about film stars, and wishing for a happy life. Finally, a chance comment by her mother sets Pearl off on a journey that will change her life forever… A quest to meet and speak to her idol, Jean Harlow. Will she succeed?

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My thoughts

Michelle Morgan jumps into her first children’s book with a heart-warming story of a semi orphan named Pearl. Beautifully written with well-defined characters Michelle’s story will take you through the first 11 years of Pearl’s life in Depression hit Los Angeles, from the drawer that was her first bed to the orphanage, from superstar Jean Harlow’s house to a secure home with her Aunt Thelma. A girl named Pearl will touch your soul and bring tears to your eyes, an extremely tender account of a little girl with nowhere to call home.

This book is one of a few (very few) that have left me wanting to know more, more of Pearl and what happened to her after I completed the last page and closed the book.

 

I am still thinking of her now and all the other boys and girls that suffered during the depression and for those today who do not have a home of their own.

Ordering information

A girl called Pearl is available from Lulu.com for £6.50

You can order a copy by clicking HERE

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The Graces by Laure Eve

Posted on September 14, 2016 by Andrea Pryke

Published by Faber and Faber

30th August 2016

Synopsis

Everyone said the Graces were witches.
They moved through the corridors like sleek fish, ripples in their wake. Stares followed their backs and their hair.
They had friends, but they were just distractions. They were waiting for someone different.
All I had to do was show them that person was me.

Like everyone else in her town, River is obsessed with the Graces, attracted by their glamour and apparent ability to weave magic. But are they really what they seem? And are they more dangerous than they let on?

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My thoughts

This was one of two books that I received in the August Illumicrate subscription box..

I have read a few mixed reviews of this book with some people accusing the book of being a poor twilight imitation. Now I have not read the Twilight series (and have no intention of doing so), but I have seen the first film, and I can completely see where they are coming from with this.

 

A new girl moves to town and has no friends, she is besotted by the Grace Family, the twins Fenrin and Thalia and their younger sister Summer, she also meets their parents, the Graces are beautiful, rich, powerful and prominent and their position is rumoured to be the work of witchcraft – everyone believes they are witches – sound familiar? I know up to this point it is very similar, however although our main character who calls herself River (we never learn the name her parents gave her) has a thing for Fenrin, she becomes good friends with Summer who is her own age.

River moves to the small town where the Grace family live with her mother, after her father mysteriously disappears, River desperately wants to become a part of the Grace’s lives because she hopes that with their magic they can bring back her father as she blames herself for his disappearance as well as other things that go wrong.

All the characters are well written and have their own personalities, the Grace siblings have their similarities as well as their differences, and the way River assimilates into their lives and is then rejected after a tragic accident is heart-breaking but also understandable.

The twists at the end of the book completely shocked me, I am usually pretty good a predicting which way an ending is going to go but the twist here completely floored me. It was so shocking to me that it will stay with me for a while as I did not see it coming at all.

There is going to be a sequel to this next year and I am already chomping at the bit for it, I will definitely be keeping an eye out for it and pre-ordering it as soon as I can.

I gave this 5 out of 5 stars on Goodreads

Posted in Science Fiction & Fantasy, Thriller, YA | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Book buying ban!!!

Posted on September 12, 2016 by Andrea Pryke

I have to stop buying books, I have around 580 on my TBR, to be fair the majority of them are on my Kindle, but the stack of unread books in my room is threatening to squash me flat.

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my physical TBR

But I can’t help, there are still so many books that I wasnt, I still have book tokens to use and they are burning a hole in my purse. I have an addiction, the feel of crisp new pages, the smell of the book!

I can’t stop, so I’m if I order a book from an online retailer I am going to leave it in the packaging and try and decimate the giant, looming piles of books by my bed.

Of course when I open them, the pile will grow again, but I am hoping that the sight of so many unopened boxes of magic will inspire me to stop buying new ones.

Of course I still have to avoid the book aisle in the supermarket and the various bookshops that I haunt in town, so I don’t think it will work but I have to try.

 

I guess the best way to get the TBR down is to get reading.

See you on the flip side!!!

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Tamzin Clarke v Jack the Ripper by Lauren Stock

Posted on September 8, 2016 by Andrea Pryke

Dragon Girl Press

19th Jan 2016

Synopsis

Tamzin Clarke’s life seems to be falling into place. She has Jimmy, her musician boyfriend, and a solid group of friends. She’s been taking dance class for ten years, and has been promoted to instruct a first year tumbling class. She works in her dad’s antique shop on the weekends, and is proud of her grades in school. Then she meets Daniel, the one who makes her question everything. Who is Daniel, and why does he keep disappearing? When her sister is murdered, Tamzin’s mom is the lead detective on the case, which soon turns into a serial killing spree. The deaths mirror the case of Jack the Ripper, but there couldn’t be a connection. Could there? Tamzin is now on the case.

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My thoughts

This book was free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest and fair review

I enjoyed this book and the concept of Jack the Ripper being half human half demon, and that he needs to eat the flesh of his victims to keep the demon side sated (also shades of Sweeney Todd as he bakes the victims innards in pies).

When Tamzin’s Aunt Vickie is horrifically murdered by the Ripper, Tamzin’s mother who is a homicide cop leads the investigation, however it is really down to Tamzin to save the day.

The book was a well written YA supernatural thriller, that for a change is not about Zombies or Vampires (you can have too much of a good thing).

The characters are all interesting and Tamzin comes across as a spunky teenager, who amazingly has time for school, dance, teaching, helping in her dads shop and watching her boyfriend’s band at gigs. However, when the mysterious Daniel turns up she does develop feelings for him.

Other than Jack and Daniel, the rest of the characters are mainly peripheral, but as this is going to be a series, I am sure those characters will be explored more in future books.)

I do like the way that the author has no qualms about killing off likeable characters and the injuries inflicted by the Ripper, while horrific are consistent with the real Jack the Ripper (although he did mutilate the face as well)

One of the problems however is the fact that they have Tamzin’s mother investigating Vickie’s death, although Vickie is called Tamzin’s Aunt they are not related however it is unlikely that someone that close to the victim would be allowed to investigate the case due to a conflict of interests. Other than that, it’s a great story which I really enjoyed.

I gave this 4 out of 5 stars

Posted in Occult Fiction, Review, YA | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Marilyn Monroe: A day in the Life – April VeVea

Posted on August 30, 2016 by Andrea Pryke

Synopsis

Marilyn Monroe is an icon for millions around the world, young and old alike. Now a comprehensive timeline is available for Marilyn’s life. Track the superstar’s path to icon status through her success and failure, her husbands and lovers, and the general ups and downs of everyday life.

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My thoughts

April VeVea adds another book to the must haves on Marilyn Monroe. Not a biography as such but it does contain a biographical timeline, starting in 1926 and ending in 1962, it lists all the known things that Marilyn did on particular days, so if you wanted to check out a particular date, you just open the book to the correct year and see if anything is recorded.

Obviously not every date in her life is accounted for, but some of the dates included do lay to rest some of the false claims made over the years.

As this is a self-published book, there are spelling mistakes in it and there are some formatting errors, however the content more than makes up for it, there are things included here that I never knew, and I have been collecting books and information on Marilyn for over 20 years, that alone shows the level of research conducted by the author.

I gave this 5 out of 5 stars on Goodreads

 

Posted in Biography, Non-Fiction | Tagged , | 1 Comment

The Before now and After Then by Peter Monn

Posted on August 26, 2016 by Andrea Pryke

Published by Pen Name Publishing

7th October 2014

Synopsis

Danny Goldstein has always lived in the shadow of his identical, twin brother Sam. But when a hurricane of events forces him into the spotlight, he starts to realize that the only thing he’s truly afraid of is himself.
With the help of his costume changing friend Cher, a famous gay uncle with a mysterious past of his own, two aging punk rocker parents and Rusty, the boy who will become his something to live for, Danny begins to realize that the music of the heart is truly the soundtrack for living.

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My thoughts

 

This is a story about finding yourself and finding first love. The characters in this book are beautifully written, Danny always in his twin brother’s shadow, is suddenly the centre of everything, especially for his parents who are terrified of losing him as well, his friend Cher, struggling with who she is and who she wants to be until events decide things for her and Rusty, constantly moving from place to place as his mother desperately tries to find a cure for his ill sister.

Each one has their issues, but together they work it out.

The book was so well written that I could feel that excited flutter your heart goes through only with first love, and the love and issues face by Danny and Rusty actually had be in tears on more than one occasion.

All I can say is that this is one of the best books I have read this year – everything from Danny’s loneliness at losing his brother, to falling in love at first sight with Rusty is so well done and believable.

You must read this book

I gave this 5 out of 5 stars on Goodreads 

Posted in Humour, LGBT, Romance | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Life after Life by Kate Atkinson

Posted on August 18, 2016 by Andrea Pryke

Synopsis

What if you had the chance to live your life again and again, until you finally got it right?
During a snowstorm in England in 1910, a baby is born and dies before she can take her first breath.
During a snowstorm in England in 1910, the same baby is born and lives to tell the tale.
What if there were second chances? And third chances? In fact an infinite number of chances to live your life? Would you eventually be able to save the world from its own inevitable destiny? And would you even want to?
Life After Life follows Ursula Todd as she lives through the turbulent events of the last century again and again.

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My thoughts

This is one of the most bizarre books I have ever read.

What if you could live your life over and over again until you got it right?

That’s what happens to Ursula Todd each time she dies, her life begins again and again each time slightly (or a lot) different, depending on the choices she makes, and these change each time as well as the character experiences deja vu at certain key points, sometime this helps her from dying in the same way.

This is a great premise for a book, but I’m afraid that’s all it is and the character of Ursula, while experiencing new things with each life doesn’t really accomplish anything major, the nearest she comes to changing history is when she attempts to assassinate Hitler before the start of World War 2, of course she herself is killed at this point and then of course history resets and her life begins again.

And the sad thing is that there were some really good points but I just  did not care enough about the character and wanted to know more about her Aunt Izzie, who sounded much more interesting.

If Atkinson had created a international disaster that Ursula had to stop and that is why she was born at that point in history the book would have worked really well, but because after World War 2 she went on and lived a normal life it left the premise of the book looking pointless.

However although I didn’t like this particular book, I would still pick up a book by Atkinson as when the story was good the writing was excellent.

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