Book review: ‘The Blonde’ by Anna Godbersen

Anna Godbersen is an American writer whose debut novel was the first installment of The New York Times’ bestselling Luxe series for young adults, which includes “The Luxe,” “Rumors,” “Envy,” and Splendor.” She also wrote the Bright Young Things series and “The Blonde,” her first book for grownups. “The Blonde” takes place at the height of the Cold War when Marilyn Monroe was the most infamous woman in the world and poses the question: what if she was also a secret Soviet spy? In 1947, a young, unknown Norma Jeane Baker meets a mysterious man in Los Angeles who transforms her into Marilyn Monroe, the star. Twelve years later he demands payback, and Marilyn is given her first assignment from the KGB: uncover something about John F. Kennedy that no one else knows.

“The Blonde” begins with a Prologue that chronicles Norma Jean’s early years beginning in 1926 when she was born and then jumps to New York in 1959. This fictional account, at the height of her career, has Marilyn Monroe coming across a man named Alexei Lazarev, a Russian, who reminds her that he helped make her famous and now wants her to repay him. He claims to know her real father, that he wants to meet her, and that he can make it happen. All she must do is get close to JFK. From there, the story speculates on what Marilyn and JFK’s relationship might have been like with the added intrigue of Russian spies and the Cold War. It is divided into five parts, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, and 1963. The Epilogue shows Marilyn as a guilt-ridden older woman visiting JFK’s gravesite. It is also the story of the Douglass Walls, the FBI agent who spied on Marilyn, told through his point of view.

The real story behind Marilyn Monroe and JFK may never be known but it is always fun to speculate, especially when spies, murder, and double agents are concerned. An easy read, the action flows through the pages and is mostly dialogue driven. The language is simple and down to earth, and at times even poetic: “The air coming off the high desert was over a hundred degrees, the kind of heat that melts the borders of a girl’s body.” It is an interesting insight into how far people are willing to go for power, wealth, status, and love. The line between fact and fiction are blurred and readers get a glimpse into Marilyn’s thoughts and what might have driven her to make the decisions she made. Part romance, part thriller, it is a fun novel that pulls the reader into the the lifestyle of that era. “The Blonde” is recommended for fans of Marilyn Monroe and Cold War era novels who appreciate fictional spins on real people.

“They forget that vulnerability can be itself, and it can also be a shield, and also a knife. Any old thing can be a weapon, so long as you know how to use it right.”

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

New book release: ‘Intercepts’ by T.J. Payne

‘Intercepts’ is the new book by T.J. Payne. Photo: amazon

T.J. Payne is the author of “The Venue,” “Intercepts,” and “In My Father’s Basement.” He writes primarily in the horror and thriller genres. His writing style relies on a light touch, using lean, smooth prose to build and maintain the story’s intensity. Through this style, Payne weaves in deeper themes and questions about human nature, particularly the subtle line between Good and Evil. Traditional Hero and Villain archetypes are often flipped in Payne’s work. His characters may not always be likable, but their faults and sins are profoundly human. Humans are the only species on Earth with the capability to create both great beauty and unspeakable acts of cruelty. The exploration of that duality has always been central to Payne’s work. His new book “Intercepts” is another chilling novel that is a must-read for fans of horror and is featured on Cosmopolitan’s “31 Best Horror Books of All Time” list. (amazon, 2021)

In “Intercepts,” Joe works at a facility that performs human experimentation. His work just followed him home. The government wanted to unlock hidden abilities in the human mind. They put subjects in extreme sensory deprivation. All the test subjects went violently insane. But the research continued. Today it has been perfected. Almost perfected. Noe Joe’s teenage daughter is experiencing terrifying hallucinations. Either Joe’s daughter is having a mental breakdown or her mind has been intercepted by the patients at the her father’s facility.

Latest news from Briscoe Western Art Museum

The Briscoe Western Art Museum. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Due to the overwhelming popularity of the fall series, the Briscoe Western Art Museum is extending its monthly “Locals Days” programming through the spring. To thank the San Antonio community for its support, the third Sunday of each month is “Locals Day” at the Briscoe, greeting locals with 50 percent off general admission. Bexar County residents can enjoy the Briscoe’s Locals Days on February 21, March 21, April 18, and May 16. As a further thank you, the Locals Days offer is being extended to the federal holidays of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (January 18) and Presidents’ Day (February 15) as well, giving everyone additional opportunities to enjoy the museum. As always, children 12 and under receive free admission, as do active-duty members of the military, making the Briscoe the perfect spot for local families to enjoy. Parking at City of San Antonio downtown meters is also free on Sundays and federal holidays, making it an affordable day of fun for families. (Briscoe Western Art Museum, 2021)

The Briscoe routinely updates its galleries to share new acquisitions and donations, providing guests the opportunity to enjoy more of the museum’s collection. The latest additions include “1876, Gall – Sitting Bull – Crazy Horse,” a 2011 bronze by John Coleman on loan courtesy of the Jack and Valerie Guenther Foundation. One of today’s leading contemporary Western artists, Coleman’s works portray the historical nature and mythology of western subjects in sculpture, paint, and charcoal. Guests can enjoy the sculpture in the museum’s San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Gallery.

Another recent addition is “Once Upon a Time,” by artist Mark Maggiori and donated to the Briscoe’s permanent collection to highlight the story of working Black cowboys. An award winning Western contemporary artist known for his realistic and academically tuned works, Maggiori is a French artist who paints modern cowboys in the nostalgic American West. The artist is a graduate from the prestigious Academie Jullian in Paris and has lived in the United States since 2010. The piece is now permanently installed in the Governor Dolph Briscoe, Jr. Gallery.

The Briscoe also features rotating works in its New Works Gallery. The new year brings a new selection of rotating works in the museum’s New Works Gallery as well. A collection of historic Western photographs, including 19^th and early 20^th century works from well-known western native photographer Edward S. Curtis and landscape photographer William Henry Jackson feature prominently in the gallery. Part of the museum’s permanent collection yet rarely on display, the images share a glimpse of the west as it was and highlight how photography preserved the landscape, life, and diverse western cultural groups before they experienced irreversible changes.

While at the museum, visitors may enjoy self-guided tours, watch short videos, and learn more about the artists behind the works through the Briscoe’s app, available for iOs systems. Lil Partner activities for children are located on the app, as well as the museum’s website through the museum’s “Beyond the Briscoe” program. The entire family can enjoy a scavenger hunt that explores the museum, play musical match-up or musical bingo, bringing the museum’s extensive collection to life for all ages.

An oasis of Western beauty just off the River Walk, the McNutt Sculpture Garden and the museum grounds feature 32 sculptures portraying various aspects of Western life. The Briscoe’s collection of Western art and artifacts showcases the stories of the West through visual art. Collection highlights include Santa Anna’s sword, works by Frederic Remington, Pancho Villa’s last known saddle, a fantastic Alamo diorama and artifacts, contemporary and historic paintings, sculptures, an impressive spur collection, and other cowboy and Native American relics, weapons, and photography.

The Briscoe is open Thursday through Monday, 10a.m. – 5p.m. and closed to the public on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Admission is free for children 12 and under and for active-duty members of the military and up to four members of their families. The museum is proud to participate in Museums For All, Blue Star Museums and Bank of America Museums on Us. The Briscoe is located on the south end of the River Walk, near the Arneson River Theatre and La Villita, with convenient parking at the Riverbend Garage directly adjacent to the museum or one of many downtown surface lots. Museum hours, parking and admission details are available online. The museum is operating at reduced capacity with health and safety protocols that require both staff and guests to wear masks.

Theater review: ‘Thurgood’ at The Public Theater of San Antonio

The virtual production of ‘Thurgood’ runs until next weekend. Photo: The Public Theater of San Antonio, used with permission.

Thursday was opening night of ‘Thurgood’ by George Stevens, Jr. at The Public Theater of San Antonio but this production is virtual only. It will run until Sunday January 24, 2021 with performances on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7:30p.m. and Sunday at 2p.m. Tickets are available online. Thurgood Marshall was an American lawyer and civil rights activist who served as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from October 1967 until October 1991. He was the Court’s first African American justice but before that, he successfully argued several cases before the Supreme Court, including Brown v. Board of Education. ‘Thurgood’ depicts the life of Thurgood Marshall, the first African American Supreme Court justice and his role in the historic decision on the Brown v. Board of Education case. This is a story rich in history, humanity, and humor.

‘Thurgood’ is one-man show with Marc Pouhé portraying the title role of the civil rights activist and Supreme Court justice. Strictly a biographical account of the life of Thurgood Marshall, it starts off with a slide show of the civil rights era after which Pouhé’s Marshall casually walks onto the set. He is excited to share his life story with the audience and begins with this childhood and how he was named after his grandfather but ended up shortening his name. His early life is not the focus even though he tells entertaining stories of growing up. He quickly shifts to his experiences in law-school after sharing how his mother had to pawn her wedding and engagement rings to pay the tuition. Most of the time is spent on the circumstances surrounding the Brown v. Board of Education case and how he used the equal protection of the law clause of the fourteen amendment to argue the case, or as he calls it, “Jim Crow deluxe,” using the separate but equal logic to demand truly equal schools for blacks. The 1954 decision concluded that separate but equal has no place because facilities are by nature unequal.

Ahead of Black History Month, ‘Thurgood’ is an excellent production to familiarize audiences with the highlights of Thurgood Marshall’s legislative career. It runs for an hour and a half with no intermission and may contain themes and content not suitable for all audiences, including various uses of the ‘n word.’ The simple set consists of a desk and chair with a pitcher of water, a glass, and sheets of paper besides it. There were a couple of glitches on the sound at the beginning but everything smoothed out a few minutes later. One of the highlights is when he makes his point on how segregation has detrimental effects on black children and uses the white vs brown doll test as as example; when questioned, most black children chose the white doll when asked which one looked nicer. His conclusion: “children learning together side by side is the best hope for this country.” Marc Pouhé’s portrayal of Thurgood Marshall grabs the audience’s attention with his commanding yet calming tone. ‘Thurgood’ is a well-balanced retelling of his personal life and legislative career, his humorous side evident when he declares “I expect to die at the age of 110 – shot by a jealous husband.” It is definite must-see.

New book release: ‘Bloodline’ by Jess Lourey

‘Bloodline’ is Jess Lourey’s chilling new novel based real events. Photo: amazon

Jess Lourey is the Amazon Charts bestselling author of “Unspeakable Things,” “The Catalain Book of Secrets,” the Salem’s Cipher thrillers, and the Mira James mysteries, among many other works, including young adult, short stories, and nonfiction. An Agatha, Anthony, and Lefty Award nominee, Jess is a tenured professor of creative writing and sociology and a leader of writing retreats. She is also a recipient of The Loft’s Excellence in Teaching fellowship, a Psychology Today blogger, and a TEDx presenter. In her new novel “Bloodline,” a pregnant journalist moves back to her fiancé’s hometown but everything seems too perfect; it is enough to drive some women mad. (amazon, 2021)

“Bloodline” is a a tale inspired by real events and centers around Joan Harken, who is cautiously excited to follow her fiancé back to his Minnesota hometown. After spending a childhood on the move and chasing the screams and swirls of news-rich city life, she is eager to settle down. Lilydale’s motto, “Come Home Forever,” could not be more inviting. And yet, something is off in the picture-perfect village. The friendliness borders on intrusive. Joan cannot shake the feeling that every move she makes is being tracked. An archaic organization still seems to hold power over the town. So does the sinister secret of a little boy who vanished decades ago. And unless Joan is imagining things, a frighteningly familiar figure from her past is on watch in the shadows. Her fiancé tells her she is being paranoid. He might be right. Then again, she might have moved to the deadliest small town on earth.

New book release: ‘Remote Control’ by Nnedi Okorafor

‘Remote Control’ by Nnedi Okorafor will be released on January 19, 2021. Photo: amazon

Nnedi Okorafor is an author of fantasy and science fiction for both adults and younger readers and an associate professor of creative writing and literature at the University of Buffalo. Her children’s book “Long Juju Man” won the 2007-08 Macmillan Writer’s Prize for Africa, and her adult novel “Who Fears Death” was a Tiptree Honor Book. She is the winner of Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy, Locus and Lodestar Awards and her debut novel “Zahrah the Windseeker” won the prestigious Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature. In her new novel “Remote Control,” an alien artifact turns a young girl into Death’s adopted daughter; it will be released on Tuesday January 19, 2021. (amazon, 2021)

“Remote Control” is a thrilling sci-fi tale of community and female empowerment. The day Fatima forgot her name, Death paid a visit. From here on, in she would be known as Sankofa―a name that meant nothing to anyone but her, the only tie to her family and her past. Her touch is death, and with a glance a town can fall. And she walks alone, except for her fox companion, searching for the object that came from the sky and gave itself to her when the meteors fell and when she was yet unchanged; searching for answers. But is there a greater purpose for Sankofa now that Death is her constant companion?

Goodreads’ Most Anticipated Books of 2021

The new year brings exciting new titles for readers of all genres. These are the highlights of Goodreads’ The Most Anticipated Books of 2021. The full list is available online.

Fiction: “The Paris Library” by Janet Skeslien Charles – release date: February 9
In Paris, 1939, young Odile Souchet is enjoying her dream job at the American Library in Paris. But when the Nazis roll in, things get real dark, real fast. Odile and her fellow librarians join the Resistance. Forty-some years later, a lonely teenager in Montana befriends her elderly neighbor, who has a story to tell

Mystery & Thriller: “Survive the Night” by Riley Sager – release date: July 6
The new thriller from pseudonymous superstar Riley Sager (Final Girls), “Survive the Night” is set in the early 1990s, back before smartphones could resolve plot points instantly. College student Charlie Jordan is sharing a ride back to Ohio with a guy who may or may not be a serial killer. Calling for help would require a pay phone. Running away would require a cruising speed less than 55 mph.

Fantasy and Science Fiction: “Project Hail Mary” by Andy Weir – release date: May 4
Andy Weir, author of “The Martian,” returns to space with the story of a last-ditch, fat-chance effort to save Earth from an extinction-level event. Astronaut Ryland Grace is on his own, millions of miles from home, having just awoken from a long cryogenic sleep. Using a patchwork spaceship, two corpses, and his very fuzzy memory, he is going to have to improvise.

Nonfiction: “The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race” by Walter Isaacson – release date: Mary 9
Biochemist Jennifer Doudna and her collaborators pioneered the world-changing genetic engineering technology known as CRISPR, which opens an entirely new universe of medical miracles and serious ethical questions. Biographer Walter Isaacson, author of previous tomes on Leonardo da Vinci, Albert Einstein, and Steve Jobs, turns his gaze to the world of life science and 21st-century genetics.

Young Adult: “Rule of Wolves” by Leigh Bardugo – release date: March 30
From the celebrated author of Ninth House, winner of a 2019 Goodreads Choice Award, “Rule of Wolves” returns readers to the land of Fjerda, where a king, a general, and a spy must work together to forge a new future. Bonus trivia: Several of author Leigh Bardugo’s previous works have already been optioned for film and TV.

Romance: “Act Your Age, Eve Brown” by Talia Hibbert – release date: March 9
Fans of Talia Hibbert’s series The Brown Sisters will be happy to hear a new story is coming, this one dedicated to Eve—invariably described as the flightiest of the sisters. The good news: Eve has found a guy. The bad news: She just hit him with her car. The weird news: He is now her boss.

New album release: There Used To Be Horses Here by Amy Speace

Amy Speaces’ new deeply personal album with The Orphan Brigade will be out April 30 but the first single is out this week. Photo: google

Looking back on a twelve-month span between her son’s first birthday and the loss of her father, award-winning singer and songwriter Amy Speace created eleven new songs directly from her depth of personal experiences, childhood memories, coming of age in New York City, and losing a parent while learning to become one, to create her new full-length album, There Used to Be Horses Here, which will be out Friday, April 30th on Proper Records/Wind Bone Records. While many of the subjects on the album are heavy, There Used to Be Horses Here is not a sad record. Instead, it is a direct reflection of a year in Speace’s life, propelled by a playwright’s eye for detail, a performer’s gift of vocal delivery, a poet’s talent for concise writing, and the extraordinary musicianship of collaborators, The Orphan Brigade. The result is a sum much greater than its parts; a calling card for fans and critics alike to ask themselves whether Speace still fits only into the folksinger box she has long been placed in, or perhaps, with this new album, she deserves to be seen in a new light. (IVPR, 2021)

This week, Rolling Stone premiered a music video for the album’s first single and title track, “There Used to Be Horses Here,” calling it “melancholy but gorgeous,” and noting that the video’s vivid imagery of a picturesque farm and its beautiful occupants serve “as a metaphor for all that we lose to both progress and the passing of time.” Speace laments, “During the last week of my father’s life, I drove [the road on the way to her parent’s house, past a farm she had grown to love] and the farm had been sold, gutted for condos, and the horses were gone. I wrote this song very quickly after he died, the loss of both the horses, my childhood, my parents’ house, and most acutely, my father all tied to the images in this song.” SiriusXM’s The Village also debuted the single with an exclusive interview, available here. Fans can hear “There Used to Be Horses Here” and pre-order or pre-save the album.

There Used to Be Horses Here Track listing:
Down the Trail
There Used to Be Horses Here
Hallelujah Train
Father’s Day
Grief is a Lonely Land
One Year
Give Me Love
River Rise
Shotgun Hearts
Mother is a Country
Don’t Let Us Get Sick

Thurgood at The Public Theater of San Antonio

Thurgood by George Stevens, Jr. opens at The Public Theater of San Antonio on Thursday, January 14, 2021. Photo: The Public Theater of San Antonio, used with permission.

Coming up at The Public Theater of San Antonio is Thurgood, which opens this Thursday, January 14 and runs until Sunday January 22. Performances will be virtual live stream only and ticket information is available online. (The Public Theater of San Antonio, 2021)

Thurgood by George Stevens, Jr. is a story rich in history, humanity, and humor and depicts the life of Thurgood Marshall, the first African American Supreme Court justice and his role in the historic decision on the Brown v. Board of Education case. He was an influential leader of the civil rights movement and his legacy lives on in the pursuit of racial justice. This performance may contain themes and content not suitable for all audiences.

New album release: Fall Like Rain by Justin Moses

Releasing via Mountain Fever Records, Justin Moses’ Fall Like Rain will be out Friday January 22, 2021. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

In the world of bluegrass music, Bluegrass Music Association Award-winner Justin Moses has risen to his now prestigious status as one of the finest multi-instrumentalists in acoustic music. On January 22, Moses’s pickin’ prowess and songwriting skills will be on full display with his release of Fall Like Rain, a new self-produced full-length album on Mountain Fever Records. Featuring Moses on vocals and a slew of stringed instruments—from flat-top six-string and Weissenborn guitar to mandolin and banjo—Fall Like Rain not only sheds light on his many talents, but on the skill and perseverance it takes to piece them all together to create the final product. Fans can pre-order a signed copy of the album and pre-save or pre-order the album digitally. (IVPR, 2021)

Moses began his musical journey at the age of six after becoming interested in the mandolin. He first started to improve his skills playing in his family’s band as a child and since then, he has toured with bands such as Blue Moon Rising, The Dan Tyminski Band, Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, Blue Highway, and The Gibson Brothers. In his two-year stint with Tyminski, he realized an early dream of playing the Grand Ole Opry for the first time and recorded the 2009 IBMA Album of the Year and Grammy-nominated album, Wheels. In 2018 and 2020, Moses was the recipient of the IBMA’s Resophonic Guitar Player of the Year award.

Moses has performed on prominent national shows such as The Late Show, Conan, The Today Show, and Grand Ole Opry LIVE. He performed alongside Hall of Famer Ricky Skaggs on the CMA Awards in 2018 and appeared with an all-star cast of artists on the PBS special Country Music: Live at the Ryman in conjunction with Ken Burns’ Country Music documentary in 2019. That same year, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum honored Justin by featuring him as a part of the American Currents exhibit.

Fall Like Rain Track listing:

Fall Like Rain (4:24)
Taxland (3:28)
Between The Lightning and The Thunder (feat. Dan Tyminski) (3:17)
Walking To Lebanon (3:50)
Wise & Born (2:49)
My Baby’s Gone (feat. Del McCoury) (3:13)
Looking For A Place (feat. Shawn Lane) (3:19)
Watershed (3:00)
U.F.O. (3:09)
Locust Hill (2:44)

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