54. The Girls in the Picture

54. The Girls in the Picture. Melanie Benjamin. 2018. 448 pages. [Source: Review copy] [5 stars, adult fiction, adult historical fiction, Golden Age Hollywood, silent films]

First sentence: Lately the line between real life and movies has begun to blur. 

Premise/plot: The Girls in the Picture is the story of a troubled friendship between Frances Marion (writer, scenarist, director) and Mary Pickford (silent film actress, celebrity, half of a power couple). These two met in the early-early days of silent films, even before films moved to Hollywood, before there was HOLLYWOOD. This one roughly covers the span of 1914 through 1932. Chapters alternate between these two narrators. Readers learn about famous directors, movie studios, actors and actresses, and details about how the movie making business got its start. These are real actors, actresses, directors, movies being mentioned. For example, Frances Marion wrote The Poor Little Rich Girl which was one of Mary Pickford's biggest hits. While it doesn't cover every movie in which either was involved, it does plenty of name dropping.

While there is romance in both their lives--Frances with Fred Thomson (silent cowboy movie star) and Mary Pickford with Douglas Fairbanks (silent film star)--the focus mainly is on the complexity of their decades long friendship.

My thoughts: I have been meaning to read this one for years. When I started deep diving into silent films earlier this year, I knew the time was finally right. My months watching silent films and my experiences watching several documentaries about silent films helped greatly bring this one to life. (For those that are curious--though no one is that curious--Buster Keaton gets one mention as a pall bearer to Fred Thomson.)

I definitely enjoyed this one. I thought it was well researched and definitely worth reading.

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

53. The Peepshow

 

53. The Peepshow: The Murders at Rillington Place. Kate Summerscale. 2024/2025. 320 pages. [Source: Library] [true crime, adult nonfiction, 4 stars]

First sentence: In the evening of Tuesday 24 March 1953, Harry Procter, the star crime reporter of the Sunday Pictorial, drove over to a Victorian terrace in Notting Hill in which the bodies of three young women had been discovered. 

Premise/plot: Kate Summerscale's newest nonfiction book--true crime focused, of course--is about the killings at Rillington Place. It is a story that unfolds through the perspective of several interested in the case--namely Harry Procter and Fryn Tennyson. Procter is a crime reporter who GETS very involved in his stories. Fryn Tennyson Jesse is a [female] crime writer. This isn't a book solely focused on the criminal case alone. It is a story about HOW that story is conveyed to the public. It is a story that focuses on true crime reporting itself. It is about the pros and cons, the possibilities for sensationalism, the possible ethical violations of this type of reporting. It is also about the crimes--the many, many crimes. But it is also about the public's interest in true crime and how crime can be 'entertainment' for the masses. The book does focus more on these crime reporters THAN on the police investigation or the legal aspects of the case.

My thoughts: Kate Summerscale's books are almost always dark, dark, super dark. Her books often have horrifying details of crime that aren't for the casual reader. For those, however, who do have an interest in true crime, her books are always worth reading. I read this one in two days. It was a compelling read for sure. 

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

52. Scarlet

52. Scarlet. A.C. Gaughen. 2012. 287 pages. [Source: Library] [YA Fiction, YA Historical, YA Romance, 5 stars]

First sentence: No one really know 'bout me. I'm Rob's secret, I'm his informant, I'm his shadow in dark places. No one ever takes me for more than a knockabout lad, a whip of a boy. They never really see. And I don't mind that they don't see. Like, when you walk through a room full of big men drunk off their skulls, it ain't so bad to be ignored.

Premise/plot: Scarlet is a young adult twist on Robin Hood. It is narrated by 'Scar' [aka 'Will Scarlet' or 'Scarlet'). Only Robin's gang know her secret--that she's a young woman in disguise. To the rest of the world she's just a thief, one of Robin's gang. If you're familiar with Robin Hood--and who isn't--you can fill in the blanks. Robin Hood is trying to help the poor and save them from the injustices of the powers that be [local sheriffs and such as well as 'King' John]. Readers get to know Rob, Scarlet, John Little, Much, etc. as they try to stop the thief-hunter Gisbourne from destroying everything. Gisbourne has a strong dislike for Scarlet whom he knew before...under her real name. He is the one who in fact gave her her scar.

My thoughts: It's been over ten years since I visited this series. But I've always intended to reread this series. Scarlet is far from perfect. I know this. But I enjoyed spending time with her and all the others. I think the characters have some depth. The story is somewhat familiar, to be sure, but I have always liked it.

Quotes:

• Rob's head pressed harder against mine. "I know what it's like to look into your past and see nothing but your mistakes," he said. My fingers crushed tight into his skin, clawing him like if I could break the skin we'd be connected by blood, and I could comfort him and he could see into me without me having to speak out loud. "They were your orders, Rob. You were a soldier for the King's Crusade. It can't be a mistake if you didn't have a choice."
• "More people care about you than you know, Scarlet. No matter how you got your scars. Not just those scars. The ones that make you think you're unlovable."

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Week in Review #21

 This week I reviewed six books.

49. Amazing Annie: The Spectacular and Mostly True Adventures of Annie Kopchovsky. Stephen Krensky. Illustrated by Adriana Predoi. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, picture book biography, children's nonfiction]

Read this if...

• You enjoy picture book biographies
• You enjoy Jewish children's books
• You enjoy history

50. The Hawthorne Legacy. Jennifer Lynn Barnes. 2021. 380 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, YA fiction, YA romance, YA mystery]

Read this if...

• You enjoy YA series
• You enjoy mysteries and romance
• You don't mind a love triangle

51. Painting Wonder: How Pauline Baynes Illustrated the Worlds of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. Katie Wray Schon. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, nonfiction picture book]

Read this if...

• You enjoy picture book biographies
• You enjoy art, art appreciation
• You have an interest in all things Lewis and Tolkien

 49. Just a Banana (Board Book, Lift the Flap) Barney Saltzberg. 2025. 24 pages. [Source: Library] [board book, 4 stars]

Read this if

• You enjoy board books
• You enjoy silly books

50. Downpour: Splish! Splash! Ker-Splash! Yuko Ohnari. Translated by Emily Balistrieri. Illustrated by Koshiro Hata. 2025 (2018). 40 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book, 5 stars]

Read this if...

• You enjoy picture books about rain
• You enjoy rhythmic picture books
• You enjoy international literature

44. Child's Garden of Bible Stories. Arthur W. Gross. Illustrated by Rod Taenzer. 1948. 146 pages. [Source: Bought] [5 stars, bible story books, children's books, children's classic]

Read this if....

• You enjoy bible story books
• You enjoy children's classics

 Century of Viewing, Week 21:

1920s

• 1928 The Cameraman Buster Keaton stars in this silent feature, a romantic comedy. It is love at first sight. He falls hard and fast for a receptionist at MGM. He pursues a 'new' career in news journalism just to be near her. Can he succeed at winning the girl and getting the job? This one is wonderful and adorable and sweet and FUNNY. I love so many scenes. It's got some great scenes--very memorable. Definitely one of the first I'd recommend. I'm not sure I love it *more* than the General. It is just different than The General.

1960s

• 1968 Planet of the Apes. I never thought I'd watch this one. But I decided part of the whole challenge is to go outside my comfort zone and watch things that I wouldn't normally seek out. I liked it more than I thought I would. (I had seen bits and pieces as a kid and was frightened). I'm not sure I'll seek out the sequels. But I don't regret watching this one. Anyway, astronauts return to earth to discover some shocking truths about the fate of man....

1980s

• 1981 Chariots of Fire. I think in my memory I like this one more than I actually actually do. I think it's because I remember the theme song being so epic. Or perhaps this time Buster Keaton has spoiled it. I am so used to watching Buster Keaton run fast, fast, fast and look absolutely adorable and beautiful. This one has a lot of close-up, slow-motion running and it's just not a good look. That being said, the story is a good one. I do like the story. I do. It's just not love, love, love.
• 1984 Cloak & Dagger. I am SO glad that I didn't watch this one as a kid. I am VERY glad I watched it as an adult. This action-packed thriller stars two kids....who are on the run from international bad guys and none of the adults in their lives believe them....at all....not even a little bit. There is one, but he's imaginary. Can these two kids survive?
• 1989 Batman. Michael Keaton as Batman. I am in definitely like with this one. I have seen it twice now. Once this week and once a few years ago? It has some memorable scenes....and it is FUN and campy.

2010s

• 2012 The Dark Knight Rises. This one is SO GOOD. I absolutely love this trilogy. I love the music. LOVE. I love the depth of the stories. Particularly in this final one. Though I think the second and third ones are both excellent in terms of depth.

2020s

• 2024 Paddington in Peru. I don't regret my time. I don't. Paddington is always delightful. And the Brown family is always fun. But this is not my favorite or best of the three. Though perhaps seeing it a second or third time might change my mind. After all, if you judge the Paddington movies solely on the ridiculous, silly villains, none of them would be all that great. It's more in spite of the ridiculous villains that the movies delight. I prefer London settings to Peru. But again, maybe I'll change my mind if I give it more chances.
• 2025 Call the Midwife, season 14. This season is SO MUCH BETTER than last year's season. I actually loved most of the episodes. I am so glad I didn't give up on the show. I still prefer earlier seasons perhaps, but, this season was solidly GOOD.
• 2025 Miss Austen. I have such conflicting feelings. Two timelines are unfolding as Cassandra races against the clock, if you will, to find and burn all her sister's letters. As Cassandra rereads all the letters she finds--none of the letters were originally addressed to her--she revisits the past with all its varied emotions and experiences. The present story line has several of her nieces in trouble as they face uncertain futures. I wasn't equally attached to both timelines. And the last few episodes felt RUSHED.

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

51. Painting Wonder: How Pauline Baynes Illustrated The Worlds of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien

51. Painting Wonder: How Pauline Baynes Illustrated the Worlds of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. Katie Wray Schon. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, nonfiction picture book]

First sentence: This little girl will grow up to draw pictures that will wing their way around the world, flying to faraway places. Her pictures will be held in millions of hands--maybe even yours. But who is she? And what will she draw? 

Premise/plot: This isn't the most traditional picture book biography. It is more a picture book biography with a pointed focus on how Pauline Baynes--artist, illustrator--came to illustrate for J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. 

My thoughts: I knew her as the illustrator of the Narnia books--the interior illustrations particularly. Her work isn't always used for the covers. (That's a whole other story. The Narnia books have gone through SO MANY covers.) I did not know that she also illustrated a book cover for Tolkien (paperback Lord of the Rings, one of the editions) and a map  of Middle Earth and a few of his lesser known books that are not connected to Middle Earth. 

I don't know that I absolutely love, love, love, love, love this one. But I do appreciate the story it tells. I did learn quite a bit by reading it. While picture book biographies exist for a LOT of writers/authors, fewer exist that focus on illustrators. (Unless they are author-illustrators). Illustrations are so important for stories and storytelling. 

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews