Turning the Screw…. Florence & Giles is an intriguing Gothic tale, well thought-out and deftly plotted. It owes much of its inspiration to Henry James’s ‘The Turn of the Screw’ and is a tribute to that classic story of misguided and obsessive madness. Set in remote and crumbling New England mansion, twelve-year-old orphan Florence is neglected by her guardian uncle and banned from any formal education as her absent uncle has strong opinions on the dangers of a clever woman. Ignored by the minimal staff of the house and left to her own devices, she finds the abandoned library, teaches herself to read and devours books in secret – she appears a resourceful and intelligent young heroine. Keeping her self-taught accomplishments a secret from all, she considers them her own personal triumph, seeing herself as literary and articulate against all the odds. She insists on narrating her own story in a language of her own invention. This contrived language is a little awkward to get used to. Her insistence on turning nouns and adjectives to verbs and verbs to nouns “no budgery was to be had. I was in a weepery of frustration” – can rather grate and irritate at first, but…

Former Distinguished University Teaching Professor of History and current author Douglas R. Skopp

After the war ended, Brenner has accidentally taken on a new identity and becomes a janitor in the courthouse where the Nuremberg Trials are being heard. Trying to heal is conscious, Brenner writes a letter to his wife which set up each chapter of the book.

Solomon Kugel moved is family to Stockton, New York, a town famous for nothing which is why Kugel likes it so much. Kugel hopes to begin again. However, Kugel gets something he didn’t bargain for, an elderly, foul mouthed Anne Frank living in his attic writing a sequel to her book and a lunatic burning down old farmhouses.

The Coldest City by Antony Johnston (art by Sam Hart) is a graphic novel taking place during the Cold War in Berlin, Germany, following an MI6 agent

On this day in 1883 Lebanese author, poet and artist Khalil Gibran was born. Growing up in the United States, Gibran has written in English

Known by his code name Snow, Owens becomes a remarkable spy and the first great double-cross agents who played a major role in the war’s victory.

The book is peppered with GI slang and phrases in French and German which I liked, the writing is engrossing and very good for a first time author

Kingdom Come by Mark Waid and Alex Ross was the mega comic book event of the 1990’s. The story is complex, multiple layers upon layers opened to interpretation

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson (my thoughts) have produced some wonderful covers for this fantastic story. Take a look at the few below, tell me which one is your favorite. Cover of the 20011 Campfire Classics Graphic Novel Handmade oil painting reproduction of Front cover of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson 1850-94 c.1910, a painting by Edmund Joseph Sullivan. Jason Edmiston’s version from Required Reading Bookcover Remix My favorite is the Campfire Classics cover. The picture has many elements of the story, the laboratory, the duel personality, The green smoke, one red eye, even a different suite. So tell me, what’s your favorite? Zohar – Man of la Book Related articles Fun Facts Friday: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (manoflabook.com) Thoughts on: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson (manoflabook.com) Book Review: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson (blogcritics.org) 20 Brilliant Novellas You Should Read (listverse.com)