Oops . . . I Mean a Big Oops . . . I Missed My Third Day Yesterday . . . Menage & Paranormal Romance--from the Sublime to the Ridiculous .

So I am going to post something now and hope Mother Tracy doesn't get on my case. I have certainly done that often enough in her growing up years. Actually, I had something all composed and got stuck in the doctor's office for four hours yesterday. What a pain . . . no pun intended . . . and when I got home I was thrashed. So after an already full day today--we even went to the county animal shelter to scope out a dog for the National English Shepherd Rescue--I realized that I hadn 't taken the time to put up anything for yesterday or today. So here goes . . .

I was first introduced to Paranormal and Menage romances about two years ago. Go figure . . . I must have been living in a cave. Just too busy with other stuff and had, in truth, just let my love of reading get stuffed away for quite a few years. I was busy going back to school and such, so when T

Wolf Signs was one of the first and I absolutely loved it. I was so over the top over this book that I didn't hesitate to get all the succeeding stories in the series and I still enjoy them whracy challenged me to get involve in book reviewing and blogging, I discovered these two genres of romances and found them fascinating. I rapidly developed a love for the work of authors like Vivian Arend and Tymber Dalton, Nalini Singh and others who created alternative species and universes in which they looked perfectly normal but were most definitely unique.

en I go back to one or the other. Maya Banks' Golden Eyes was also the first feline shifter

story I read and I also began to appreciate her writing style and the gifts she brought to telling a story that really should sound strange but just didn't. I couldn't get enough of those sexy shifters.

But then I caught on to Menage stories and here again Maya Banks shown brightly with her Coulter Family series of books. But even then, I began to wonder about the multiple lovers and such. Now I don't think there's much out of the ordinary and the multiple partner component is more often in stories than ever before.

Now it seems that the multiple partner component is even greater and I just recently found a series about some shifter brothers that had all fallen love with the same young woman--longhorn shifters. I have to acknowledge that I was so fascinated with the thought of men turning into behorned cows that I had to buy the novellas. Each story now is about one of the seven brothers. It wasn't enough that this woman took on seven husbands. They all started sprouting horns everytime they spied anything red--you know, red is, I guess, a real turn-on for bulls.

Move on to a menage series that recently came out which was set in the future--on a planet where seven brothersbought" a woman at an auction--where women who had no resources and were not allowed to work and had been brought and dumped on this particular planet--and now she was deemed worthy of only being a purchased house woman who "serviced"others (the eighth brother seemed to have dropped out of sight) were research scientists and security personnel and were on a planet where there were few women. They "serviced" the men who bought her, kept house, etc. Apart from the very upsetting use of women in that setting, it did turn out that all seven men fell in love with her and as multiple/plural marriages were allowed and in this instance, encouraged, this young woman was released from slavery to become the darling of her husbands. The eighth brother turned up eventually and this "lucky" (?) woman took on another brother and seemingly was happy to do so--at least, in the story, anyway.

I don't know how much more we can tease out this multiple partner business but it seems that it just keeps growing. I certainly believe in a fantasy world, but I don't know--I have a deep respect for these women to take on seven bulls or eight brothers or whomever. It just keeps on getting gooder and gooder. I know now that I have lived a very sheltered life--just haven't lived at all if this is what I have missed. Anyway, its fun reading and even as riduculous as it gets sometimes, we all need fantasy in our lives, possibly more than we realize.

In truth, I am astounded at all the variety that is out there, and in a world where people are often required to live pedantic lives according to someone else's template--even we here in the States find social and moral codes oppressive at times--it is delightful to encounter writers who are willing to push our boundaries out into the unexpected and possible the overly fantastic. Keeps us thinking and makes us appreciate the possibilities when brains are allowed to think at will. Ain't creativity grand???

Thanks for letting me visit these days. I have loved being a guest here and appreciate your responses more than you can know. Be safe and well.

Review: Taken By Surprise by Tonya Ramagos

Dr J Here. I have been asked to share the review of a novel that I particularly like and so I have chosen one that I think is a wonderful example of what I call "The Complete Novel." You will find hot love scenes, covert action, suspense, unresolved issues, partially resolved relationships, human and imperfect characters, consistent writing quality, a plot that can stand alone but has been expertly connected to all the stories that precede it. The publisher's blurb is as follows:

Rhonda Ramsey's future plans didn't include a man until she met temptation in a set of exotic eyes and a six foot package of pure sex appeal. Unable to resist, she lets him into her life only to watch him walk away months later.

She's furious with herself for allowing her desires to control her head. But when a drug lord takes her hostage, depending on the man who tempts her soul might be her only chance to survive.

DEA Agent Michael Cosmos has done a lot of tough things in his career. Walking away from Rhonda topped the list. He did it to keep her safe. He failed. Now she's at the mercy of a drug lord out for revenge. Michael will put his career and his life on the line to get her back in his arms. But will it be enough to hold on forever?

This novel is actually the 7th book in "The Heroes of Silver Springs" series which features the stories of firefighters and local law enforcement officers. There are also some secondary characters that have been introduced in previous novels that serve with the FBI, DEA, and a Special Ops SEAL team. Throughout the novels, like a poisonous snake, winds the presence of a Cambodian drug lord. He is highly successful in his international drug business, seemingly velcro-coated as he continually eludes law enforcement and continues to bring disaster and destruction to individuals and families. Silver Springs is a fictional community that is on the Easter seaboard and thus is a target port for drug illegal importation. Thus it is also the site where these government agencies and their personnel have gathered.

Michael Cosmos has been a presence throughout several of the novels and it was during another rescue operation that he encountered divorcee Rhonda Ramsey. She had finally left a 9 year marriage that had really been over for six of those years, was working so hard to support herself and her young son, and was on a mission to become a truly independent woman. She had dreams of becoming a published author of erotic romance and she wasn't about to allow another man to take over her life. Their attraction was immediate and almost impossible to resist, but Rhonda never lost sight of her goals. Michael couldn't stand the thought of having some involvement in her life, so they agreed to just remain friends. I didn't get the impression that anyone else bought that story, and Rhonda and Michael knew it was just biding their time. After several months of doing things together and just hanging out, it became evident that the drug lord had plans to use Rhonda to nab Michael, just about his #1 target for revenge. In an effort to protect Rhonda and Lucas, Michael just walked away, broke contact, with no "good-bye" or "see you later," or "it's been fun."

Many months later, Rhonda had an opportunity to take a vacation trip to Thailand with a good friend, and it was during their sojourn in Bangkok that the drug lord kidnapped Rhonda, murdered her friend, and took her back to his Cambodian jungle compound where he promptly fell in love with her and planned to keep her. Even though she hoped otherwise, because of Michael's turning his back on her months earlier, she really didn't think he would ever come after her. She was really wrong on that score.

Throughout this story there are several other tentative love relationship that were hanging fire. Michael's FBI partner was gay, was suffering a massive crush on their boss who was bi-sexual and keeping that fact under wraps, but Adrien was also strongly attracted to one of the new Silver Springs firefighters. Even after they spent a night of hot loving together, Adrien still couldn't get past his crush and thus he and Thaddeus were at an impasse, one he knew he could end with a word. Another FBI agent who accepts an undercover assignment as a sexual submissive in a fetish club is twin to a Silver Springs firefighter. ( His partner in this operation is with the DEA, has spent several years establishing herself as a dominatrix who doesn't share her lifestyle with the DEA and doesn't allow the DEA affiliation to influence her participation in the BDSM lifestyle.) He has long hankered after the sister of his boss, a woman who really wants him as well but her fear of commitment prevents them from anything more than an occasional sexual romp. Their story continues on in segments throughout this book.

I think the only moment of puzzlement for me was thinking about the heroine taking a vacation in the Far East when she already knew that the Cambodian drug lord was taking hostages and kidnapping children of those connected to the U. S. government agencies. This may have permitted a smooth segue to the rest of the story, but that really seemed patently foolish for a woman who appears to be really smart in so many other ways. I guess even in such a good book as this overall, the author must be permitted some literary license. I can't figure out why she wouldn't be aware that she was putting herself even closer to danger by visiting a country that was in very close proximity to Cambodia. Oh well . . .

All that aside, this is one of those novels that not only brings all the strands that are woven throughout the series into final form, it also is the kind of book that doesn't require the preceding novels for the reader to make sense of it all. However, I would recommend the entire series as being a wonderful introduction to a community that holds its firefighters and police officers in high esteem, who have a deep sense of being connected as a community, and who care deeply about one another. It is the kind of book that readers will find digs deep into the emotions and which celebrates the best that people can be while being honest about the pervasive evil of drugs and those who live by their sale and distribution. I think any reader can relate to many of the feelings that the characters express, their hopes and dreams, their disappointments, even their delayed gratification.

Tonya Ramagos is a writer I first encountered about ten months ago and I have been so delighted with the consistency of her writing, her stories that are so well told, her celebration of people involved in all kinds of relationship configurations and orientations, and her characters that seem to display the full range of feelings and opinions common to all people. She has rapidly moved on to my "favorite authors" list and I am careful not to miss any of her new releases. I am now working through some of her early publications and shorter series.

I hope you will take a serious look at this series which is published by Siren Publishing and especially this novel. For a number of reasons, I give this novel a rating of 5 out of 5.

Playing the Game of Life: Hardball by V. K. Sykes

After years of hard work and keeping her nose firmly to the grindstone, Dr. Holly Bell has finally achieved her dream: a position as a pediatric surgeon at a prestigious teaching hospital. Children’s lives rest in her skilled hands. That means total dedication to her work and her patients without letting anything or anyone get in the way. And a hot affair with a superstar athlete is most definitely getting in Holly’s way.

Nate Carter, star pitcher for the Philadelphia Patriots, has the world in the palm of his baseball glove. He’s at the height of his game, a west coast team is about to lure him with even greater riches, and the most gorgeous women in town are in full pursuit. Nate has everything he wants, or at least he thinks he does, until he meets the beautiful and brainy Dr. Holly Bell. He’s totally up for a hot affair, and Holly turns out to be the hottest.

But will Holly be willing to play his game? When the lovely doctor starts changing the rules, Nate realizes he just might be playing for keeps.

Coming from a family with a confirmed baseball "fanatic" as a husband, this book was one that I found extremely interesting as it involved a professional baseball player as the hero. My hubby is still talking about the great players of the old Brooklyn Dodgers even though he is now a LA Dodger fan (and his all-time favorite is Sandy Koufax, a pitcher), and I found it interesting that the hero, a star pitcher, was considering possibilities with the LA Dodgers. So it was with a great deal of background that I came to this story. Add in my own involvement with the medical community as a nurse in past years, and I felt I could sit down and find something I understood contextually.

Having said that, I must say that I was truly impressed by this novel. I have not read any works by this team of writers before and so came to this reading task with no preconceived notions about "good, bad, or indifferent." Yet the story held my interest from the first paragraph. (I have a particular bias that good writers need to do as much to grab their readers with the first paragraph as they do about the rest of the story.) Doctors must deal with lots of issues that are, in many ways, side issues to the actual treatment of patients. In this doctor's case, she was new to the teaching hospital, was taking over patients from a retiring pediatric surgeon, and was getting to know the hospital personnel as well. Add in the long days, getting settled in a new living setting, and dealing with parents who know almost nothing about her, and you have a pressure cooker of context before she even lays a single hand on a single patient. So it was with Holly Bell, a young woman who had finally reached one of her life goals--be a pediatric surgeon in a well-known teaching hospital. It took lots of time, study, sleepless days, and working with lots of other professionals and patients to get to this place, and she was confident she could meet any challenge given her. That is, until she met a parent who absolutely refused to allow her to operate on his son, a youngster who needed an artificial heart valve to not only prolong his life but to increase the quality of his life. But it wasn't just the parent's refusal; it was the violent nature of that refusal and the threats that went with it--threats that kept on increasing in tone and intensity. Not a good beginning for Dr. Bell.

Now she has come face to face with Nate Carter, professional baseball pitcher, charmer par excellence, and reputed all-round ladies' man. He was the last person she needed in her life, but she was captured by his open manner with her patients, his apparent love of kids and concern for their morale as they lay in the hospital, as well as feeling an unaccustomed physical response to his nearness. As for Nate, he was bowled over by the good Dr. Bell and determined to find a way to begin some kind of friendship with her, hopefully leading to a more romantic involvement. He was quite up front about that.

This novel is about the clash of two worlds--professional baseball and surgical medicine--and the cultures that surround them. There was no doubting the sparks that flew between them and the fire those sparks ignited. But it didn't take too long, just a matter of a few weeks, for the realities of their lives to intrude on their love affair. But I think there was far more going on with these two. Nate was a joyful pro athlete, making buckets of money, enjoying all the perks of being the darling of his fans, and able to select just about any woman he desired for however long he chose. His life was all about fun and women were all about fun, too. He loved to play! And considering the fact that he was being paid millions to play what was originally a child's game, Nate took the concept of play to the maximum degree. Consider Dr. Holly Bell: a woman who had effectively expunged "play" from her life in her efforts to reach the lofty goals she set for herself. She also came from a family where she dealt with an absentee father and a mother whose acidic "drip, drip, drip" of bitterness about the untrustworthiness of men shaped and formed her attitudes whether she was aware of that fact or not. There was lots more to overcome than the gap between their professional worlds. And those life issues were the very ones that threatened this relationship.

Perhaps it is also a book that might pose the question of whether or not love really can conquer all. I sometimes wonder if that is a truism we all want to believe but are loath to recognize that there are situations where just loving someone falls short of what is needed. Certainly Holly came to love Nate, but their values, their approach to living and relationships, their view of fidelity and trust were so different. Add in the need for a mature understanding of oneself and life's challenges, and you have, in my opinion, the core issues that drove this story and out of which grew the crisis in their togetherness.

This is a wonderful story that certainly embraces the reality of a very hot love affair, filled with erotic loving and descriptions of encounters that were steamy, to say the least. Yet there were the raw realities of a dying child, an angry and threatening parent, the inadequacies of law enforcement to provide safety for those who are threatened, the necessities of trust and fidelity between two people, the pressures of a professional team management, the worries surrounding an incapacitating injury, and the prospect of a long-distance relationship. All gave balance to a story that was certainly romantic, but one that is rooted in real life and its stresses. I found the characters to be very realistic, edgy, clearly defined and able to stand on their own, with strength and with a sense of who they were. Even the secondary characters were quite wonderful even though several of them were "on stage" only briefly.

Sports-based novels can be a drag when they contain so much about the sport that readers are turned off. That is not the case here. This is really about people and relationships. Ultimately, that is what romance fans are looking for, and that is what the reader will find here. There are surprises, and certainly I was thrilled to see that the plot took some twists and turns that were unexpected. Kept me on my toes, to be sure. I was delighted to have the opportunity to read and review this novel, and I highly recommend it as being a story that is well told, characters that are engaging, a novel that is vastly entertaining, and one that is well-worth the time to read. I give it a rating of 4.5 out of 5.

Westerns and Cowboys . . . A Journey of Discovery

For most of my life I have shuddered when contemplating reading any kind of Western fiction. In my growing up days we were awash with Western movies, Zane Grey novels along with other Western action authors, the Lone Ranger, Paladin, Have Gun Will Travel, and other like shows that inundated TV programming. It was either a Western or I Love Lucy (which I refuse to watch anymore because that was all that was on when my kids were growing up.)

So now I am faced with an entirely new kind of romance fiction and one that has found a very comfortable niche as a contributor to erotic romance. So what's an old adversary to Westerns going to do with all this erotica set in the West, with Texas/Oklahoma cowboys that are reported to be gorgeous, tall, with their iron-set chins, their 5 o'clock shadow, a Stetson that casts a mysterious shadow over their solemn faces, and jeans that just keep on looking better and better the older they get? Why, give in, of course!!

Thanks to authors like Linda Lael Miller, Carolyn Brown, Sandra Hill, Lorelei James, Heather Rainier, Missy Martine, Jodi Thomas and others, this ole gal is having a blast with cowboys. Cowboy romance is IN and it is very revealing when surfing through the various ebook publishers at the really extensive line-up of publications available. Whatever your preference, there are cowboy stories to fit the bill. They come in singles, doubles, triples, and more. If menage is your bag, there are cowboys to fill your reading hours. If you like the old fashioned historical variety, authors like Beth Williamson can provide scads of wonderful cowboys who may be drifters, old soldiers from the Civil War days, ranchers, bounty hunters--you name it, you can find it.

My finest discovery, however, is the groups of books such as the Rough Riders from Lorelei James and the Creeds from Linda Lael Miller. Such good writing, such unique heroes and getting to know an entire family has an addictive effect when a reader begins to feel that they know these characters personally. Beth Williamson has written a seven-book series about a historical Malloy family that I found fascinating. And like all historical fiction, these romps through the Old West are educational as they are entertaining. (When I was teaching school I would often find a historical novel that highlighted the time period we were studying in history class. The students took to those books lots better than they did to the history textbook!) And who can forget those captivating heroes in Sarah McCarty's books--men who really don't figure on being steady and dependable husbands and family men, but discover that the love of a very good woman makes a world of difference. I have just finished a trilogy from Miller about the Creeds of Lonesome Bend, Colorado that I really enjoyed. In fact, they were so good that I was really upset when each book ended. That has to be the mark of some really good writing! Who would have thought only a handful of years ago that I would be eating up those cowboy novels.

What am I reading right now? Well, I just finished a review for The Book Binge

entitled Love Drunk Cowboy by Carolyn Brown. It was the first Brown novel I had ever read, and perhaps that made me more aware of her as an author. Lo and behold, All-Romance eBooks were offering two of her novels at a reduced price and even if I hadn't ever read some of Ms Brown's books previously, the reduced price really got my attention. (Those who know me really understand that statement.) Now I am enjoying Hell, Yeah, a part of her Honky Tonk series. Narly, prickly, I-don't-need-a-man-in-my-life heroine, a gorgeous, intrepid, and transcient cowboy who gives her a New Year's kiss and manages to sneak past her defenses-- it is such a fun story with rockem sockem characters, witty conversation, improbable action and surprises all along the way. Each book in the series is about a new owner of the Honky Tonk bar, each is a woman who has had her fill of irreverent men and impersonal affairs, and who have come to feel that the Honky Tonk is really a good place to focus her energies.

So needless to say, there are a variety of historical and contemporary cowboy-related books in my TBR pile--an entire series from some authors that I have picked up for myself at the second hand book store and some that are awaiting review and which will be released soon. Like other types of romance fiction, these stories embracing the ranching lifestyle or highlighting rodeo or just involving cowboys in a variety of settings, they are fun reading and most come with their own Happily Ever After. (Got to have that at least a good portion of the time.) I really can't believe how far I have come. After all, and I certainly know this better now than ever, a good romance is a good romance, no matter the setting. Finding love in a messy world is a great discovery, no matter where or with whom.

So let's get on our literary horse and ride that cowboy book . . . well, actually, if you can find a cowboy, that's even better!!

Books I Almost Missed Reading . . . My Expanding Literary Consciousness

Hi, everyone . . . Dr. J. here.

Now don't get all worried . . . I'm not going all high-tech and big words on anyone. When thinking about what I would write for these three days I looked over some of the past posts on this blog and realized that it is quite a mixture of reviews and commentary, and I found that there were some books that I have to admit I would never have read two or three years ago. I know the old truism says that . . . "confession is good for the soul." So I am fessing up -- getting it all out there so that my own literary prejudices are laid bare for all and sundry to view.

I have always been a fan of romance, primarily historical romance set in the Regency Era as made popular by Georgette Heyer et al. Since I started reading romance fiction the boundaries of that genre have expanded so, and there are literally untold novels, short stories,

and novellas available for just about any taste and pocketbook. When I started my own blog -- Dr. J's Book Place --over a year ago, I suddenly was faced with the vast array of books available for review. As a guest at The Book Binge I received books unlike any I would have ever chosen. But the biggest gulp occurred when my daughter requested that I review an M/M book for her blog--Tracy's Place. O my!! I just hadn't ever read an M/M book before and wasn't sure how I felt about it. But thanks to her urging, I read a really good one, and it opened some doors in my thinking that I

realized had been closed. Josh Lanyon's Someone Killed His Editor was the first M/M book I encountered and it was a delight. I couldn't have started with a better one. From there I moved on to his Adrien English series and found myself delighted with the stories and the romance of the main characters. Just this week my review of Snowball in Hell appeared on The Book Binge--a novella that was first released in 2007 and has now been re-released as a stand alone novella. Such a good story!! Reminds me of those Erle Stanley Gardner PI novels as well as the Raymond Chandler detective stories from Dashiel Hammett. In the final analysis, love is love in all its myriad forms and expressions. Encountering true, authentic loving is one of life's most precious experiences and one we all seek--to love and be loved by a person whose caring is rooted in respect and a desire for the ultimate well-being of one's partner. There's lots of fake stuff out there and lots of emotional predators. But the characters in these stories havehad the privilege of finding the real deal. How can we ever close our hearts and minds to that?

I remember receiving a list of books for review from the ladies over at The Book Binge and stating that I just didn't think I could read and review any BDSM books--just not my "thing." Well, should've kept my yap shut!! In the course of reading some Desiree Holt, Katalina Leon, and friends, I encountered BDSM in some relatively mild forms. Not too bad. Then I came across The Doms of Dark Haven by Sierra Cartwright, Cherise Sinclair, and Belinda McBride, and I found stories that were much more intentionally rooted in BDSM but written by authors who were committed to protraying safe, sane, and consensual encounters. I also was challenged to think about individuals whose inner needs were, perhaps,

some I found hard to understand, but they were still needs that cried out to be met. In a world where abuse and misuse of human beings is rife and where the long-term effects of rape and incest and psychological oppression are often overlooked, this "lifestyle" can hold the key to moving past those wounding experiences and their old scars. It's still not for me, but I now have an entirely different "take" on what many find compelling about this world of fetishes and kink. I have just finished the newest anthology from these three writers: Doms of Dark Haven 2: Western Night. Characters from the first anthology as well as one or two from other books by these authors appear here and all are persons who have become locked in fear that is stifling and paralyzing. Loving dominance appears to be the key to their freedom emotionally. It continues to be a learning experience.

And then there is the world of shifters and vampires and creepy crawlies and such. Not for me! No way!! That

is, until I read some Vivian Arend, Crissy Smith, and Christine Warren and I was off and running. I couldn't believe how interesting and riveting these stories were--they really grabbed me. I wasn't quite ready to go whole hog over the vampire stuff. That is, until I was asked to review A Jeanine Frost book and Cat and Bones did their number on me. What fun stories and while they were the stuff of which romance and eroticism and relationship were made, the added dimension of shifter or vampire or both really ramped up the heat and got my interest. Wolf Signs began a love affair with those Alaskan wolves that is still alive and well and I while I have not read the latest adventure involving Cat and Bones, I still remember my shock at how much I liked that vampire culture when reading This Side of the Grave. Needless to say, it was quite a revelation, and perhaps the best part of it was that it opened up a whole new world of literary possibilities that I had previously been very willing to simply exclude--write off as being something that didn't interest me. I couldn't have been more wrong.

I guess the upshot of all this is that I have some people to thank for pushing my limits and getting me involved with some of these books that I said I didn't want to read. Those ladies over at The Book Binge have been shoving all kinds of books at me and it has been quite an education and simply lots of fun and satisfying hours with my nose in a book. And then my daughter never failed to talk with me about books--really drives her dad crazy--and without fail she would say: "Mother, you have to read this book. It is soooooo good! You will love it!" So I would read it and it was sooooo good, and yes, I really did love it. Just goes to show that the kids can educate the parents--well, maybe about some stuff, anyway.

Have a great day and keep those noses where they belong . . .in a book, where else????

As Long As We're Talking Movies . . . Films That Spoke With a Social Voice

Hey, hey, it's Dr. J. again. If you didn't have a chance to take a look at yesterday's post, you might want to . . . I started thinking about movies that came from books. While on that subject, my mind just started wandering over some of the movies that I really enjoyed through the years and then became aware that there were quite a few that were very overt in talking about social issues that were current in the 50's and 60's.

Believe it or not, there really was a time when drugs weren't nearly so obvious in American life and the incidence of drug use in America's teen population was almost non-existent. Morphine, opium and heroin were the street drugs of choice, and most social change advocates were taken up more with the devastation from alcoholism than from drug addiction. But it was there as we all so well know, and there were some in Hollywood who had the moxie to make movies about the problems. One such movie hit the viewing public very hard. Frank Sinatra starred in The Man With the Golden Arm and not only was the subject matter raw and a punch in the collective gut, but few ever expected to see Ole Blue Eyes playing something so uncharacteristic as a drug addict. Frank was so serious about this role that he lived for a time with recovering drug addicts in order to authenticly depict the terrors of drug withdrawal known as "cold turkey." It sent shivers down America's spines.

And speaking of alcoholism, there were those in Hollywood who weren't necessarily opposed to drinking, but they were against alcohol abuse. One of Hollywood's best starred Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick in The Days of Wine & Roses, depicting the love affair and marriage between the two main characters as well as their descent from social drinkers to alcoholics. It is not a Happily Ever After kind of film but it was real life and hit the American movie goer right between the eyes. It got all kinds of Academy Award nominations and they were all well-deserved. I don't think I will ever forget the sense of helplessness I experienced as a young woman watching this family fall apart. It was some of the best acting either Lemmon or Remick ever did. If I remember correctly, Lee Remick earned a number of awards for her portrayal.

Then there is the whole issue of race. Few who were alive in the 50's and 60's can forget the upheaval over racial desegregation, the Watts riots in Los Angeles, and the horror of killings, cross-burnings, and state national guard units facing down unarmed marchers in Selma, Alabama and throughout the South. Yet there were other racial issues that Hollywood had the moxie to depict in movies, two of which were taken from Broadway smash hits and which have become movie classics. Few Americans have missed South Pacific and its delightful music, dancing and fun antics that took place during the waning years of World War II. Yet this movie was cutting edge in dealing with the interracial relationships between Lieutenant Joe Cable (John Kerr) and a Balinese girl he wanted to marry, as well as Lieutenant Nellie Forbust (Mitzi Gaynor) and her love affair with a French planter whose children had been born to him and his Asian wife. The love songs were beautiful, but the biting lyrics of several songs dealt directly with prejudice--"You Must Be Carefully Taught" as well as "How Far Away, Littlerock, ARK"--as well as the struggle that Lt. Forbush had accepting those children into her life and her future.

Gangs and the racial conflict inherent were really beginning to make themselves known and West Side Story was right in the forefront telling that story. Based on Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, this smash musical detailed the harsh realities for a young couple, one who was the leader of the Jets, an Anglo gang, and his lady love, the sister of the Sharks, the Puerto Rican gang. As in the Shakespeare tale, this story had no happy ending and for Americans who loved the music, the stark reality of death and hatred depicted there made people aware of the racial struggle in a way most could no longer avoid. Two of America's most popular actresses starred--Natalie Wood and Rita Moreno. Rita won a Best Supporting Oscar for her role. One still hears the music from this story, and it is my hope that the present generation can once again grasp the true destruction that hatred can create.

Not many people today remember that the post-war years were alive with lots of social and political issues. Almost immediately after WW II ended in August, 1945, the problem of rebuilding Europe and Japan as well as the desire of Jews to return to the Holy Land became front page news stories most every day. Leon Uris' novel Exodus told just a little bit of the story of the clash between the occupying forces in Palestine and the Israeli pioneers who were seeking to establish Israel as an independent nation. This did indeed happen in 1948, but the troubles weren't over and this book/movie was a shock and surprise to thousands who really didn't understand what was going on. Starring Paul Newman (at his most hunkyest) and Sal Mineo (who was America's great teen idol at the time) this movie got rave reviews and lots of notice at the movie theaters. Most Americans have forgotten that only five years after WW II was ended, the United States became embroiled in a "police action" known as the Korean War.

I truly applaud those in the entertainment industry who have taken the "bull by the horns" and dared to bring instructive and socially upsetting movies to our theaters. We still have some of that going on today and there are really some very thought-provoking movies making an appearance. Certainly movie makers like Robert Redford and others who have become campaigners for social change and environmental awareness are trying to use their clout to make a difference. I am sure you can think of some of your favorites which have had an impact on you or on society. Why not share? Until next time . . .

Whence Cometh That Grand Movie? or Great Movies Often Start With Books!

Hello to All! I'm Dr. J and am one of the "newbie" Dik ladies that will be posting here from time to time. I have had my own blog--Dr. J's Book Place--for some time now and have been delighted to become a part of the blogging community, especially with all the great people I have met that are involved in book blogs. I have been following DIK for some time and am in awe when I see some of the creative and witty postings. Not sure I can measure up, but I have some ideas that might spark some interest and perhaps set your minds to think along the same lines.

Some years ago Steven Spielberg was asked why some of the classic movies were so great and he never hesitated when he replied, "Because they come from great books!" I know that when I was first introduced to movies and through the years following, I knew that most of the blockbuster movies and those that were most popular came from novels. The original screen play was much more rare in those days. Today, probably because it costs a lot more to pay an author for their work, then hire someone to turn a book into a screen play, and then on and on, there are far fewer books that make it to the movie screens and when they do, they are somehow changed to make them funnier, sexier, more acceptable to the stars to whom they are paying millions to show up every day. So I have been thinking about some of the classic movies that are out there, most of which are faithful for the most part to the text of the novels.

Of course, the quintessential classic movie made from a novel is Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell. I believe that was the only novel she ever wrote and the entire movie was shot on a sound stage including the scenes showing the burning of Atlanta during the Civil War. It was made in Technicolor which was a very expensive process--sort of layering the color over each scene, but because it was a very precise process, more movies made in Technicolor have had their beautiful colors survive the ravages of time than those made in the cheaper color processes since. Curiously, in 1939 when the movie was released, book sales skyrocketed. That was the way for decades following. Every girl in America fantasized about Clark Gable as Rhett Butler and envisioned themselves being forcefully carried up that grand staircase to be ravaged by him. It was sex 1939 style, but without nudity and raw language, it caused proper maidens of every social strata to take out their hankerchiefs and fan their blushing cheeks.

There were, of course, the movies that were made to showcase the careers of particular stars. Movie studios looked for books whose stories were taylor made for a particular actor who happened to be "big boxoffice" at that particular time. Sometimes those screen plays weren't as good as they could have been, and perhaps the actors didn't fit the role as well as could some other actor, but they got made anyway. Of course, there were movies that just simply pulled at one's heart strings and seemed to tunnel into the emotions better than others. Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights was one of those kinds of movies. With Lawrence Olivier, one of Hollywood's great actors and Merle Oberon who had the fluttering, fainting, wilting lily kind of character down to a tee, who wouldn't like that movie. I know I still love to watch it on Turner Classic Movies channel and wonder that our present generation hasn't experienced such intensity

Emily Bronte's sister, Charlotte, along with their sister Anne and brother Branwell lived in their home in Yorkshire, children of a minister. I don't think any of them married but all had a literary career. The sisters started out writing under pseudonyms because of the prejudice against women authors at the time. You may remember that the author George Sand, contemporary of Chopin, wrote under this masculine name because of the same prejudice against female authors. Charlotte's novel Jane Eyre was emmensely popular both in Britain and in the U. S. where it was made into a very popular movie in 1944, starring Joan Fontaine and Orson Welles. It was dark andGothic in tone, didn't contain nearly as much of the story as versions made in the later decades, but it still stands as one of the classics of its time. Perhaps it would be interesting to note that the movie poster came out in color but the movie was made in black and white. It is still one of my favorites--I think I had a crush on Orson Welles in those days. Such a marvelous voice!

Last, but not least, one of my favorite authors and whose books I have read for many years was Anya Seton, known best for her historical novels mostly because they were so well researched that they could easily have passed for history texts. But a couple of her books were made into movies that were quite popular. One was Dragonwyk, a film noir with a very dark plot and almost bordering on the fantastic--as in fantasy literature. But my favorite was Foxfire starring Jeff Chandler and Jane Russell, and I might add, who in American wasn't in lust with Jeff Chandler? Tall, muscular, with a gravelly voice that drove women wild, and a full head of platinum blonde hair that looked almost white against his tanned skin. Yum!! I think I saw this film about 25 times, but remember that was back in the days of "continuous run" at the theaters so you could pay your $2 in the morning and stay all day, watching your favorites over and over.

So there you have it . . . some of the movies that have wowed us through the years. I am sure you all can think of others -- The World According To Garp comes to mind that is a book-related movie made in recent decades. Would love to get your thoughts on this and see what you all can come up with. Until next time . . .

Welcome Our New DIK Team Member: Dr J

And last but certainly not least...our last new member...please twirl all your mini umbrellas and welcome Dr. J!

1. What is the screen name that you want to go by?

Dr J

2. What is your date of birth? (day and month only!)

August 17

3. What are your 5 favorite books? (these won't necessarily be the books you'll bring to the island with you)

*Promises Prevail by Sarah McCarty
*Katherine by Anya Seton
*Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austin
*Just about any Lisa Kleypas novel
*Any one of the Lora Leigh "Breeds" series

4. Which heroes would you bring to the island and why? (these won't necessarily be the heroes you'll bring to the island with you)

*Of couse, Mr. Darcy--such a study in contrasts;
*Cam McKay, one of Lorelei James' most flawed but heroic characters'
*Lucas Mitchell, a "damaged hero" in Sandy James' book All The Right Reasons
*Dax McCall from Aftershock by Jill Shalvis

5. What is your favorite movie that is based on book?

Giant with Elizabeth Taylor, James Dean, Rock Hudson based on the book by Edna Ferber

6. Name one fun thing you would bring to the island?

If I would have to choose something that was not dependent on electricity or any outside resource, I would have to say Scrabble--words--books--they all go together, eh?

7. Why are you interested in coming to the island?
DIK has always been a favorite blog since it was introduced to me by my daughter, Tracy. I have also liked the concept that we all have books, authors, characters that we would like to have with us no matter where we may be. I find that DIK just has a very interesting mix of attractions for interested bloggers/readers/internet literary junkies. It would be fun to be a part of it.

You can visit Dr J at her blog: Dr J's Book Place