In New York, there’s a cinema that shows kid-friendly revival films on Sundays, where booster seats are provided. My 5-year-old and I frequently attend these screenings. A while back, we enjoyed the musical “Meet Me in St. Louis,” released in 1944. We were captivated by the colorful depiction of St. Louis in 1903, with Judy Garland inviting us to join her at the fair and yearn for the boy next door. However, an elderly man sitting behind us repeatedly shouted, “JUMP HIS BONES!” every time the teen characters Esther and John Truett interacted. The children appeared puzzled but thankfully didn’t understand his comment.
I returned home eager to share our experience, but also interested in rereading the Sally Benson book that inspired the film. Thus, during my next visit to my parents’ house, I searched through my boxes and found my paperback edition.
—Sadie
Benson was primarily recognized for her short stories; both this book and her collection “Junior Miss” largely consisted of tales first published in The New Yorker. The semi-autobiographical sketches collected in this book reflect her childhood in a large St. Louis family. These stories originally appeared between 1941 and 1942 in her series titled “5135 Kensington.” By the time the book was released, the film adaptation by MGM was already in the works, prompting Benson to retitle her work to mirror theirs. She also included four additional vignettes and organized the book to depict a year in the Smith family’s life.
The narrative focuses on the humor, friendships, conflicts, and loyalties among the siblings: Lon, the college student; Rose, the beauty; Esther, her boy-crazy friend; the independent Agnes; and morbid little Tootie. Benson excels at creating engaging character sketches. In the first chapter, titled “June, 1903,” we get introduced to the entire family through Rose’s new love interest, John Shepherd, with Mr. Smith being both tolerant and unimpressed, while Mrs. Smith has the dressmaker rush a new gown.
There’s a layer of gentle yet poignant moments—addressing financial struggles and minor heartaches that the film doesn’t capture, along with the touching bonds between Grandpa and the younger children. This book serves as Benson’s ode to her childhood and a bygone era, yet it also possesses wit, sharpness, and humor. Upon finishing the book, I realized I was smiling so much that my face actually hurt. This is definitely something worth sharing, right?
Read if you like: The musical “Meet Me in St. Louis;” “Life Among the Savages” by Shirley Jackson; the Betsy-Tacy high school series. Available from: Various used book websites. Although it’s currently out of print, it was a bestseller during its release. (I have a Bantam edition from 1958.)
“The Tokyo Zodiac Murders,” by Soji Shimada
Fiction, 1981 (originally in Japanese); 2004 (in English)
I’ve wanted to recommend this impressive debut mystery novel by a talented author for a long time, but I was unsure how to express its complexities without revealing the plot twists and delights. It’s helpful if you’re already familiar with the Japanese storytelling style called “honkaku,” which emphasizes intricate puzzles where readers have all the necessary clues to solve the crime.
“The Tokyo Zodiac Murders” has a playful take on the locked-room mystery trope, as well as themes of enigmatic documents, storytelling within storytelling, perplexing wills, and astrology. In 1936, an artist working on a zodiac-themed series is discovered dead in his locked studio. His journals— or maybe a short story?— unveil a chilling plan to create his ideal woman using body parts from his relatives, seven of whom eventually go missing and are found dismembered.
Fast forward 40 years: Kazumi Ishioka, an illustrator and mystery enthusiast, receives a complex new clue regarding the murders that could implicate police, prompting him to travel across Japan while incorporating elements of astrology. I’ll borrow a quote from author Anthony Horowitz, whose endorsement appears on the cover of my edition: “The solution is among the most original I’ve ever encountered.” I agree, but I’d emphasize that the joy lies in the reading experience. Whether you’re trying to solve the mystery on your own (I didn’t succeed) or simply immersing yourself in a captivating story, this book will provide hours of enjoyment, making it perfect for a week’s vacation or a relaxing evening before bed.
Read if you like: Honkaku mysteries, Sherlock Holmes stories, brain teasers, astrology. Available from: Pushkin Press.
Why not …
Visit the library? The Morgan Library’s exhibition “Belle da Costa Greene: A Librarian’s Legacy” showcases a remarkable collection highlighted by Greene’s acquisitions and her time with J.P. Morgan. Greene, the daughter of Harvard’s first Black graduate, navigated her career while “passing” as white and managed Morgan’s collection for years. The Morgan’s online exhibits also serve as an excellent alternative for those unable to visit in person, offering delightful insights like annotated Balzac editions filled with doodles.
On the topic of Balzac, have you checked out Henry James’s literary critiques? A collection was recently published by NYRB, titled “The Lessons of Balzac,” celebrating French realists while also critiquing even young authors like James himself, as well as George Eliot (“Romola” is criticized for “an excess of analysis”) and Thomas Hardy (accused of clever yet superficial imitation). As Michael Gorra notes in his insightful introduction, “The nerve he had.”
Explore dull roots? During my childhood, I often listened to T.S. Eliot on vinyl—it’s the best way to perceive the cruelest month.
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