Articles tagged "Below Stairs"

Monday Fun Day! (7/23/2012 Edition)

Today we're reveling in all of the good news coming from the pages of Library Journal!

- We're delighted to see that the Debut of the Month is SHADOW OF THE ROCK by Thomas Mogford!

"Guns, grit, and torture: this breathtaking debut runs through the shifting sands with aplomb. Mogford’s exotic locales, gorgeous prose, and closing twist make this debut a showstopper." –Library Journal (starred review)

- They offered their affection to an excellent financial guide for women, THE SEVEN PEARLS OF FINANCIAL WIDOM by Carol Pepper and Camilla Webster.

"Written by women for women, this gem of a book presents up-to-date information in a way that’s easy to read and understand. [...] Women are encouraged to start their own business, invest wisely, practice leadership, react with grace, and live well. Women in every phase of life, regardless of their financial status, will find something of interest in this guide to economic success. Men may learn something as well." –Library Journal (starred review)

- And Barbara Hoffert ran an article "Three Downton Abbey Readarounds, Including a new Fay Weldon Novel" and all three are titles from St. Martin's Press!

LIFE BELOW STAIRS by Alison Maloney
"Kent-based Maloney, author of the best-selling THE MUM'S BOOK, offers a detailed look at the servant’s life in early 20th-century England, reporting first-hand anecdotes and drumming up numerous black-and-white illustrations as well."
SERVANTS' HALL by Margaret Powell
"This continuation [of BELOW STAIRS] focuses on Rose, the underparlour maid to the Wardham family at Redlands, who elopes with the family’s only son. Scandal!"
HABITS OF THE HOUSE by Fay Weldon
"First in a trilogy, Weldon’s new work opens in 1899—not the Downton Abbey era but directly before; it’s being marketed as an enticing prequel. Weldon in fact wrote the pilot for Upstairs, Downstairs, for which she won a Writers’ Guild Award."

- Finally, as promised: a picture of Shmackies navigating the journey to North Carolina:

shmackies

Reviews and Publicity

Downton Abbey Fever Affecting Both Teens & Adults!

With the second season of Downton Abbey currently airing for us Americans on PBS, I'm sure many of your teen patrons have been looking for a way to extend the experience into their reading lives.

School library Journal offers a list of great books to keep the Downton experience alive between episodes including our tie-in titles, THE WORLD OF DOWNTON ABBEY and BELOW STAIRS. And just for fun, we want to add a deliciously scandalous novel to this fine list: THE AMERICAN HEIRESS.

Of THE WORLD OF DOWNTON ABBEY School Library Journal says,

"Filled with lush photos, interesting facts, and insider perspectives, this volume will captivate YAs who long to linger in the stately halls of Downton Abbey."

See a sample spread here on the blog.

Of BELOW STAIRS School Library Journal says,

"Entertaining and poignant anecdotes (an employer with a fetish for viewing house staff in their curlers or the sad fate of a pregnant under-parlor maid fired for being seduced by her mistress's nephew) and vividly drawn characters are woven into a narrative that skillfully re-creates a moment in time."

See School Library Journal's full list of Downton-esque books here.

And a little something fun for the crafty crowd: Downton Abbey Paper Dolls!