I hope you are having a good week! Today I would love to chat about one of my favorite TV dogs -- Scooby Doo. Scooby Doo was a Great Dane who appeared in the Scooby Doo cartoon series as well as several movies. The cartoons first ran on CBS (1969 - 1975): Scooby Doo, Where Are You? and The New Scooby Doo Movies. Later there were a number of Scooby Doo cartoons on ABC (1976 - 1991). The original cartoons were created by Hanna-Barbera.
Scooby Doo helped his teenage friends solve mysteries. The human members of Mystery, Inc. were Shaggy, Fred, Velma, and Daphne. Scooby spoke - and he sounded a lot like Astro from The Jetsons. That is not a coincidence -- Scooby Doo and Astro were both voiced by actor Don Messick. Scooby is often hungry and gets scared easily - just like his human buddy, Shaggy. Of course, Scooby inspired lots of merchandise, like lunch boxes:
Comic books:
Toys, like this View-Master reel:
A few fun tidbits of Scooby Doo trivia:
When the show was in the planning stages, the dog was originally a Sheepdog named Too Much.
Scooby Doo's full name is Scoobert "Scooby" Doo.
Scooby Doo's nickname came from a line in the Frank Sinatra song "Strangers in the Night."
Scooby's catch phrase is "Scooby Dooby Doo!"
Scooby has a nephew named Scrappy Doo.
Scrappy Doo
Here is the opening of the Scooby Doo cartoon (1970). Do you remember Scooby Doo? I'd love to hear from you in the comments, below. Love, Abby xoxoxo
Book Synopsis Elise Hooper’s debut novel conjures the fascinating, untold story of
May Alcott—Louisa’s youngest sister and an artist in her own right.
We all know the story of the March sisters, heroines of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women. But
while everyone cheers on Jo March, based on Louisa herself, Amy March
is often the least favorite sister. Now, it’s time to learn the truth
about the real “Amy”, Louisa’s sister, May.
Stylish, outgoing, creative, May Alcott grows up longing to
experience the wide world beyond Concord, Massachusetts. While her
sister Louisa crafts stories, May herself is a talented and dedicated
artist, taking lessons in Boston, turning down a marriage proposal from a
well-off suitor, and facing scorn for entering what is very much a
man’s profession.
Life for the Alcott family has never been easy, so when Louisa’s Little Women is
published, its success eases the financial burdens they’d faced for so
many years. Everyone agrees the novel is charming, but May is struck to
the core by the portrayal of selfish, spoiled “Amy March.” Is this what
her beloved sister really thinks of her?
So May embarks on a quest to discover her own true identity, as an
artist and a woman. From Boston to Rome, London, and Paris, this brave,
talented, and determined woman forges an amazing life of her own, making
her so much more than merely “The Other Alcott.”
My Review One of the first chapter books I ever read was Little Women. My copy was a Whitman Book, and I remember the joy of reading about the March family, and especially Jo, who was always one of my favorite heroines. Little Women has always held a special place in my heart (and my bookshelf!), so I was thrilled to have a chance to read The Other Alcott.
The Other Alcott tells the story of Louisa May Alcott's younger sister May, who was the inspiration for Amy in Little Women. May wants to be more than just "the other Alcott." She wants to travel, to study art, and make a living as an artist -- at a time when this was not a likely career for women.
I found the relationship between Louisa and May fascinating. Initially I was most interested in the glimpses of Louisa in this book, but as I went on I became interested in May's story too.
That said, I have to share this intriguing passage with other fans of Little Women. Louisa is writing to May:
"I don't see how Mr. Niles expects me to spin 400 more pages of this 'Little Women' hokum, but I suppose I must. He vexes me to no end with all his suggested titles - 'Wedding Marches' is the latest stupidity. ... I'll keep writing what they want. But I'll be getting the last laugh -- I've given into perversity and have made a quirky husband for Jo March" (p. 40).
May travels from her family home to Boston to study art, and later to Europe. I found her life and studies fascinating. She struggles to find her own way as an artist, and also to be taken seriously because she was a woman. In one memorable scene she goes to a life drawing session attended only by other men who heckle her and tease her until she takes up her charcoal and just ignores them, drawing the man posing in front of the group.
There are mentions of some memorable names in art history: John Ruskin, J.M.W. Turner, William Morris Hunt, Thomas Eakins. I found the historical details of art and life 1868 - 1880 fascinating.
The author's style of writing and descriptions in this novel are lovely. For instance:
"She had arrived back in Concord to find the town fully ripened with summer. Strawberries the size of May's thumb hung off bushes at the side of the road. The cucumber vines dragged the ground under the heft of gigantic vegetables. Lush greenery swathed the yard. Yet in the midst of all of this bounty, her family appeared diminished and forlorn" (p. 140).
Most of all, though, the characters, especially May and Louisa, are so beautifully drawn in this novel. The Other Alcott is sure to interest fans of historical fiction, Louisa May Alcott, art history, or a really well told story. I recommend it highly.
Author Bio Though a New Englander by birth (and at heart), Elise Hooper lives
with her husband and two young daughters in Seattle, where she teaches
history and literature. Find out more about Elise at her website, and connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
I received a copy of this book from HarperCollins and TLC Book Tours.
Book Synopsis Ditched at the altar, Shelby Hart tosses down her
bouquet, quits her job, and accepts a position as gardener and event
coordinator at an upscale retirement community. Her first day on the job
results with a dead body in the greenhouse under the orchids and with
her as the prime suspect!
Toss in a handsome handyman, quirky characters, and a flirtatious grandma and the fun never stops.
Author Bio Multi-published and Amazon and ECPA
Best-Selling author Cynthia Hickey has sold over a million copies of her
works since 2013. She has taught a Continuing Education class at the
2015 American Christian Fiction Writers conference, several small ACFW
chapters and RWA chapters. You can find her on FB, twitter, and
Goodreads, and is a contributor to Cozy Mystery Magazine blog and
Suspense Sisters blog. She and her husband run the small press, Forget
Me Not Romances, which includes some of the CBA’s best well-known
authors. She lives in Arizona with her husband, one of their seven
children, two dogs, one cat, and three box turtles. She has eight
grandchildren who keep her busy and tell everyone they know that “Nana
is a writer”.
Dear Friends, I have a fun cartoon dog to introduce you to today. The Jetsons was an animated TV show that ran from 1962 - 1963. It was produced by Hanna-Barbera. Astro was a Great Dane who lived with The Jetsons family. The Jetson family consisted of parents George and Jane Jetson, their children Judy and Elroy, and their dog Astro. In the show, Astro was originally owned by a wealthy man named Mr. J.P. Gottrockets. At the end of each episode, George is shown walking Astro on an automatic dog walker (treadmill) outside their apartment. The dog walker goes too fast and George always says, "Jane, stop this crazy thing!"
The character of Astro was voiced by actor Don Messick. Astro actually talked, and inserted many extra "R's" in his sentences. For instance, when he wanted to tell George Jetson that he loved him, he would say "I ruv roo, Reorge." (Later, Scooby Doo, another famous Hanna-Barbera dog, would have a similar style of speech.) Astro's famous phrase was "Ruh-roh!"
Like other famous TV dogs, Astro appeared on some fun products, including a board game:
A Little Golden Book:
... and a lunch box:
Here is a clip of The Jetsons. George Jetson dresses up as a burglar to see if Astro is a good watch dog. And, of course, he is!
Do you remember Astro from The Jetsons? This was one of my Momma's favorite cartoon shows when she was a little girl. (She saw it in later reruns.) I would love to hear from you in the comments, below.
Book Synopsis Maggie Crozat is back home in bayou country during the
most magical time of the year. In Pelican, Louisiana, Christmastime is a
season of giant bonfires on the levee, zydeco carols, and pots of
gumbo. Except, this year, the Grinch has come to stay at the family-run
Crozat Plantation B&B. When he floods travel websites with vicious
reviews, Maggie thinks she’s identified him as rival businessman Donald
Baxter. That is, until he’s found stabbed to death at Maggie’s
workplace. And Maggie and her loved ones become top suspects. The Crozats quickly establish alibis, but Maggie’s boyfriend,
Detective Bo Durand, remains under suspicion. With Bo sidelined during
the investigation, Maggie finds herself forced to work with an unlikely
ally: longtime family enemy Rufus Durand. Her sleuthing uncovers more
suspects than drummers drumming, and lands her in the crosshairs of the
murderer. The sleigh bells are jingling, and the clock is ticking for Maggie
and Rufus, who must catch the killer or it will be the opposite of a
Joyeux Noël in A Cajun Christmas Killing, the recipe-stuffed third
installment of USA Today bestselling author Ellen Byron’s Cajun Country
mysteries.
My Review A Cajun Christmas Killing is a cozy mystery set in a small town in Louisiana. Maggie Crozat is an artist who has left her life in New York to help out at her family's bed and breakfast. When one of the B&B guests is discovered murdered, Maggie works to solve the crime ... especially because her boyfriend, police detective Bo Durand, is a suspect.
This is my first read in the Cajun Country Mystery series and it was really enjoyable. It worked as a stand alone, but I now want to look for the other books in this series and catch up!
I loved the Cajun country atmosphere. I have spent time in Louisiana and loved it, and the author, Ellen Byron, really captured the area's charm so well.
I also liked the Christmas setting and the descriptions of decorations and festivities. Anyone who enjoys Christmas mysteries will like this as well.
As a bonus, there were even a few dogs in this book (which always makes a mystery better!) -- basset hound Gopher, rescued stray dog Jolie (and her puppies), and a tiny little dog named King Cake.
I liked the character of Maggie. I enjoyed "meeting" her family and friends in the book, and liked the way she worked with Bo's relative Rufus to solve the mystery. I also liked the slow-building relationship between Maggie and Bo.
I recommend A Cajun Christmas Killing to fans of cozy mysteries, Christmas mysteries, and atmospheric southern mysteries. This book is perfect for a leisurely weekend read!
Author Bio
Body on the Bayou, the second in Ellen’s Cajun Country Mystery series,
won the Left Coast Crime Lefty Award for Best Humorous Mystery, and was
nominated for a Best Contemporary Novel Agatha Award. Her debut book in
the series,Plantation Shudders, made
the USA Today Bestsellers list, and was nominated for Agatha, Lefty,
and Daphne awards. Ellen is also a recipient of a William F.
Deeck-Malice Domestic Grant from the Malice Domestic Convention. Her TV
credits include Wings, Still Standing, and Just Shoot Me, as
well as network and cable pilots. As a journalist, she’s written over
200 magazine articles for national publications. Her plays, published by
Dramatists Play Service, include the popular Graceland and Asleep on the Wind.
A native New Yorker and graduate of Tulane University, Ellen lives in
the Los Angeles area with her husband, daughter, and
the family’s spoiled rescue dogs.
, the second in Ellen’s Cajun Country Mystery series,
won the Left Coast Crime Lefty Award for Best Humorous Mystery, and was
nominated for a Best Contemporary Novel Agatha Award. Her debut book in
the series, 
, made
the USA Today Bestsellers list, and was nominated for Agatha, Lefty,
and Daphne awards. Ellen is also a recipient of a William F.
Deeck-Malice Domestic Grant from the Malice Domestic Convention. Her TV
credits include Wings, Still Standing, and Just Shoot Me, as
well as network and cable pilots. As a journalist, she’s written over
200 magazine articles for national publications. Her plays, published by
Dramatists Play Service, include the popular Graceland and Asleep on the Wind.
A native New Yorker and graduate of Tulane University, Ellen lives in
the Los Angeles area with her husband, daughter, and
the family’s spoiled rescue dogs.