Perky's Books and Gifts
Evelyn Rainey, 2013
Bedlam Press
223 pp.
ISBN-13: 9781939065377
Summary
Welcome to Perky's Books & Gifts where gardening books blossom into bouquets, cookbooks sizzle with succulent juices, and military history books can be lethal. Don't mind the mutilated body behind the werewolf display, or the fact that the cafe manager is an egregore; Frankenstein was one, too.
The story of Perky's Books and Gifts begins with murder and ends with true love. It is told by Madison, Perky's Night Manager. She must band with her quirky (maybe just plain crazy) staff to figure out just what is making the books spring to life terrorizing the store and its customers. Does it have something to do with the new café worker, the possible new tribe of owners, the no-nonsense Colonel or the mysterious lady who just suddenly appears at a cafe table only to disappear just as suddenly with only a feather remaining?
Perky's Books & Gifts…a place where you can find murder, mystery, love, monsters, demons and giant festive hats. All of that, and books too!
Author Bio
• Birth—May 23, 1960
• Raised—on military posts around the world
• Education—B.S., Florida Southern College
• Currently—lives in central Florida, USA
Evelyn Rainey lives very quietly in a small southern town with her dog, three cats, and thousands of home-grown tadpoles and frogs (don't ask). She spends her time in this incarnation teaching, writing, and belly dancing.
Her first novel Minna Pegeen was published in 2011 and was followed by Bedina's War in 2012. Perky’s Books & Gifts, her third novel, began to take form during the six years she worked at Books-a-Million as a part-time paperback specialist and Red Badge. The Island Remains, her fourth book, is due out in July, 2014. Evelyn's guest-author appearances have have included the 2012 Carolina Renaissance Festival and upcoming ALT*Con and Necronomicon. She has also been published in anthologies, magazines, columns, and newspapers.
Rainey facilitates Writers for All Seasons. She has been an educator for thirty-one years with certifications in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Middle School Integrated Curriculum, English for Speakers of Other Languages, Gifted Education, and Journalism.
Outside of the school system, she is an herbalist, a singer, belly-dancer and she loves to do book-signings. Her online presence includes Evelyn-Rainey.com, WritingRainey.blogspot.com, Twitter (EvelynRainey), MySpace, Delicious, Digg, Stumbleupon, Reddit, and Facebook as (WritingRainey), and Goodreads as (Evelyn_Rainey). She also writes the weekly Science Fiction/Fantasy Books column for BellaOnline (From the author.)
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Book Reviews
Madison Jefferson is the night manager at Percival’s Books & Gifts...and tells us the story of a interesting period where everything goes more weird than normal when a mutilated body is found behind an in-store werewolf display.... Evelyn Rainey has created a wonderful world that is completely centered on one location, Percival’s Books & Gifts...and the employees that work there and in doing so creates a world that would seem small but instead makes a environment that seems as if it doesn’t end.... Perky’s Books & Gifts is a fast paced interesting read that is littered with characters that all have something to offer in the story whether it be a somewhat major conversation to just a small nudge. And it is the characters that moves the story always forward and keeps it fun and magical.
Jason Bonton - Mass Movement Magazine
Discussion Questions
1. Compare and contrast the descriptions of Jeremy and Calvin. Now, using the same criteria and style, describe yourself and your best friend/worst enemy.
2. Several classic Science Fiction novels were given literary “nudges” in this book. Name three of them. Identify which book each alludes to.
3. Before the prevalence of the internet, there were certain books which were not allowed to be sold in “brick & mortar stores” without documenting the buyer’s identification. How do you feel about this?
4. Following the procedures in the book, deal a simple (Past, Present, Future, Fortune, Fate) tarot reading for yourself. If you don’t have a tarot deck, use a “normal” deck of playing cards and add 4 Jokers to represent the Pages. Evaluate the cards and write them down. In one week, return to your reading and describe any responses to it you may have. (If you would like assistance in interpreting the spread of cards, email the author with exactly what cards were laid in which position:
5. Identify as many Star Trek episodes as you can which were alluded to. Match the Perky’s event to the episode.
6. Compose a conversation with a Tobogatan with whom you are stuck in an elevator.
7. The relationship between Maddie and the Colonel drives the story from the beginning to the end. What other relationships (real or fictional) can you describe which are similar?
8. Seth Green and Michael Landon are mentioned as portraying the same kind of character. What was that character? Name three other actors who have played the same type of role.
9. Admit it—have you ever walked into a book store and told the clerk you were looking for a book? What was his/her reaction?
10. Uncle Billy gave one classic hint that he was illiterate while being questioned by Jack. What was it?
11. Maddie doesn’t actually speak in Latin when she babbles. What language is it?
12. This book puts forth the idea that Lazarus might still be alive because once Jesus brings someone back to life, that person can never die. Discuss your feelings and beliefs about this idea.
13. What classic comedy is alluded to during Norman’s funeral? (hint: starring Danny Kaye)
14. What classic fantasy movie is alluded to when Henry gives Kwichatklnds back the betrothal bracelet? (hint: starring Rutger Hauer)
15. The marriage scene does go on and on. Of all the opinions presented by the attendees, with whom would you most agree? With whom would you disagree?
16. Abstinence outside of marriage is advocated throughout this novel (Sam Wayne, Henry and Norman, Maddie and Thomas, and the spritephage demon-bait team). What are your opinions about abstinence outside of marriage?
17. Have you ever fallen prey to a swindler? How did he/she bamboozle you? What was the result?
18. Tell about your most recent experience with a book signing. How did you feel about the author? How did the author feel about being there? Did you buy a book?
19. All of the Cold Case Missing Person/Murder files listed in Perky’s are factual. Choose one and write or discuss a possible solution to the case.
20. One of the creatures described and prevalent in Perky’s is painted on the walls of a 14th century European chapel. What is the creature? What is your stance on the existence of such creatures?
21. If you were a character in Perky’s, would you be a customer or an ambassador? Describe what character you would portray.
22. Billy’s cussing is done symbolically in this book. How do you feel about curse words in novels?
23. You have bought an outfit from Jeremy’s Jresses. Describe the clothing and the event to which you will wear it.
24. Each character changes during the story. Choose one character and describe how friendship in the light of overwhelming differences helped or hurt that one character’s personal path.
25. In the sequel to Perky’s Books & Gifts, Thomas’ twin is going to show up, the Ancient spritephage demoness will return, and true love will again wing its way through the store. What else would you like to see happen?
(Questions courtesy of the author.)