Vintage Book of the Week - Sudden Fear

  

Vintage Book of the Week - Sudden Fear by Edna Sherry


Stunner of a pulp! Myra is a famous, middle-aged, rich, bored playwright. One day she saves a woman from drowning. To gain inspiration for her next play, Myra brings the girl to her home where Myra lives with her young husband. Naturally Myra's 'philanthropy' goes awry when she plays her tape recorder. On it, Myra hears her 'beloved husband' and 'guest' Irma plotting Myra's murder. A race against time of whom will murder whom first. Loved it from start to finish. Definitely kept me guessing as to what the truth was and who would get murdered first.

It's no wonder this book was turned into a film.  The 1952 stars the fabulous Joan Crawford, Jack Palance, and Gloria Grahame.  I can definitely see Joan Crawford in the role of Myra.  I haven't seen the film yet, but hope to if it gets cheaper.  It was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actress (Joan Crawford), Best Supporting Actor (Jack Palance), Best Cinematography (Black and White), and Best Costume Design (Black and White).

On a side note, the book mentioned Schiaperelli clothing about 100 times.  I'm not sure if she paid them or if the author is obsessed with them, but here are a couple gorgeous gowns from Schiaperelli.

Nancy Never Changes

It's funny how books change or don't change over the years. As you all know, Nancy Drew is one of my favs. The book on the left is one of the redone yellow spine books. I bought the entire set of them over several years in the 1980s and early 1990s. I bought my yellow spine 99 steps in about 1994. The one on the right is from 1966. I bought it for 1.49 about 5 years ago at a used bookstore.

Above is the entire set of Nancy Drews in my bungalow bookcase. I can't believe I've been in my house since 2007!

And a few of my vintage ones

Pulp of the Week: River Barge Virgin by Wright Williams

I've been in the mood for Pulp novels lately and so I was able to breeze through this 127 page quickie, River Barge Virgin by Wright Williams. It was published in 1949 by Phoenix Press. The cover was naturally intriguing, but does not quite portray what the book is about.

There is a girl on a barge - that much is true. This tale is a complicated story about why people marry. Do you marry for love, or for money? A complicated love triangle forms between poor Carl Vanners who is staying in his uncle's New York penthouse; a stunning model who is looking for money, Joan Ransome; a lovely, simple girl, Diana Monroe, whose only possession is a river barge which she inherited - so naturally she lives on it and girlies it up. Diana docks in front of poor Carl's apartment, so he starts seeing Diana after he is ditched by Joan for lack of money.

Enter a reporter who is convinced Diana is a murderess as well as Joan's mercenary mates and you get a ripping tale about morals and what lengths women will go to to find security. This fast, easy read made me feel quite sad for the main male character, Carl Vanners, who seemed like a regular guy just trying to find love without the interference of unsavory characters. Had a noir-ish tinge to it, and the ending was a total surprise.

Vintage Book of the Week - The Gracie Allen Murder Case by S.S.Van Dine

(Image from http://warren-william.com/blog/)

I had high hopes for this one because I adore the Philo Vance books and films, but after reading The Gracie Allen Murder Case, I was really annoyed. I know it is sacrilege, but I can't stand Gracie Allen! Her voice and manner are just grating to me. This book fully captured her mannerisms, so I suppose S. S. Van Dine did a good job.

Philo Vance for some reason came across Gracie Allen and her entourage. She basically helped Philo Vance solve the mystery. There were some site antics with her family and George Burns. They weren't yet together at the beginning of the novel, and at the end they got engaged. For some reason they also both worked at a perfume factory.

This was a pretty good book if you love Gracie Allen and mysteries. I love mysteries, but not really Gracie Allen. She seemed like a sweetie, but that voice is just nails on a chalkboard for me. Oh well, on to the next mystery.

Vintage Book of the Week - The Cutie by Donald E Westlake

Mavis St John is a mercenary, using men to get to the top of the entertainment world. When she ends up dead, Clay has a huge problem on his hands. You see, a junkie was framed for the killing and it's Clay's job to clear the junkie's name - and keep him alive. Another Hard Case treat from 1960 written by Donald E. Westlake. Total edge of your seat read as you follow Clay on his quest to find and clear the missing junkie's name. How you you go wrong with political corruptness, mob connections, and a dead body? Watch out for the Sopranos style ending. How do you think it ended?

Vintage Book of the Week - Night Walker by Donald Hamilton

I have been way into Hard Case Crime books lately. They're basically noir books, some new and some reprints of classic pulp books. This gem is by Donald Hamilton, creator of Matt Helm. Anyway, the story begins with a naval lieutenant hitchhiking his way back to his base. Lieutenant David Young suddenly finds himself in a hospital with his face bandaged and under a different name and basically kidnapped. There are so many twists and turns in this book I could never guess what was coming up next or who was on what side. I didn't know if I would like it, but it was a fabulous read. I've read about 5 of the Hard Case Crime books and they have all been fantastic. Definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a good noir or suspense book. And the covers are fantastic, too.

Vintage Book of the Week - Fright by Cornell Woolrich

Just finished this gem from one of my favorite book series, Hard Case Crime. They basically reprint old pulp novels as well as new books written in the pulp style. Fright was written by the fabulous Cornell Woolrich. Woolrich wrote fantastic mysteries. This gem was written in 1950.

Anyway, Fright is the tale of Prescott Marshall and his horrible mistake. A few days before his wedding, Marshall decides to have some fun with a prostitute. His indiscretion decides to blackmail him and basically stalks him wherever he goes. Not only that, but an hour before he gets married, he basically goes nuts and kills the prostitute.

This book was very disturbing and suspenseful. I was a little leery of it at first, but I really liked it. I loved the cover too. It was created by Arthur Sydam. To me, it totally looks like Marilyn Monroe.

Buy it at Amazon

Buy it at Barnes and Noble

Favorite Foods of Famous Stars Ida Lupino

Ida Lupino offers the modern housewife a fabulous meal in 1934

Her meal includes Cream of Mushroom Soup, Ripe Olives, Celery Curls, Southern Cheese Salad, Bran Muffins, and Coffee

To shake things up, she also included some oddities including: Southern Cheese Salad, Rice Paramount, and Cantaloupe Ice

I have never heard of Southern Cheese Salad, and aside from the mayo, I would eat it. The Rice Paramount sounds pretty interesting, so I would venture to try it once.

If you need a recipe for Bran Muffins, here are a few links:

http://foodiefarmgirl.blogspot.com/2007/02/back-into-bran-muffins.html

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Classic-Bran-Muffins/Detail.aspx

For some Cream of Mushroom Soup Recipes, check out:

http://www.verybestbaking.com/recipes/detail.aspx?ID=7041

http://goneraw.com/node/15768

Obviously we all know Ida Lupino made it big (and well deserved). This is Ida in one of my favorite Twilight Zone Episodes 16MM Shrine (1959). I often wish that I could jump back into one of my favorite films, perhaps something fun like The Thin Man or one with fabulous fashion like The Women. What film would you like to jump back into?

Favorite Foods of Famous Stars Adrienne Ames

This beauty is Adrienne Ames. Pretty decent meal plan. The Ginger Snacks sound good. Click on the picture to get the recipes.

She graced the screen in only about 30 films, dying of cancer at the ripe old age of 40 in 1947. Depressing. One of her claims to fame was being one of the best dressers in the States. I can see why. She was stunning!

Check out her in the trailor for Women Wanted: