With 25 years on the set under her belt, Eaton also has a wealth of stories about actors and other luminaries, such as Alistair Cooke, Maggie Smith, Diana Rigg, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Daniel Radcliffe (whose first TV role was playing David Copperfield). If you'd like a behind-the-camera look at
Masterpiece masterpieces, Eaton is an engaging and informative guide. She even talks about occasional missteps, such as her initial reticence about Downton Abbey, as she reviews a quarter century of top flight television entertainment.
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S STAR WARS by Ian Doescher. This one won't be for everyone - you'll need to have someone on your list with an appreciation of both the Bard and the Force. But this clever parody does allow you t
o return once more to a galaxy far, far away and a story that contains all the valor and villainy of Shakespeare's greatest plays - all reimagined by the author in iambic pentameter. Here's an excerpt that gives you the idea:
[Luke Skywalker, holding stormtrooper helmet.] Alas, poor stormtrooper, I knew ye not,
yet have I taken both uniform and life
From thee. What manner of a man wert thou?
A man of inf'nite jest or cruelty?
A man with helpmate and with children too?
A man who hath his Empire serv'd with pride?
A man, perhaps, who wish'd for perfect peace?
What'er thou wert, goodman, thy pardon grant
Unto the one who took thy place: e'en me."
COUNTING BY 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan. This middle-grade novel shows up on dozens of independent bookstore Holiday Recommended lists - it's a book that has generated tremendous buzz among children's booksellers over the
past few months. The 12-year-old protagonist is an endearing oddball, a genius obsessed with nature and with diagnosing medical conditions who finds it comforting to count by 7s. The story deals with being an outsider, coping with loss, and discovering the true meaning of family. It can be enjoyed by both parent and child. Here's a review from one indie bookseller fan:
"Willow Chance has just been orphaned for the second time. A genius obsessed with growing plants, she finds herself uprooted and without connections - except for a school counselor who is bad at his job, the Vietnamese family that lives in the garage, and the taxi driver who thinks she is his angel. Counting By 7s
is both touching and humorous, and you will fall in love with young Willow as she finds connections in the oddest places." - Kathy Adams, Valley Booksellers, Stillwater, MN
with more heartwarming animals. There are stories of parental love, like the Dalmatian who mothers a newborn lamb who just happens to be white with black spots; stories of playful love, including the fox and the hound who become inseparable; and stories of orphaned animals who have found unexpected familial ties. Both titles are paperbacks and reasonably priced at under $15 - either would be great for any animal lover.
iece Theatre and Mystery! shares personal anecdotes and interviews with writers, directors, and other contributors to shows like Upstairs, Downstairs, Prime Suspect, Downton Abbey, Sherlock, and many more.
