The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-12
BOOK NOTES.

| About every big book critics are GER
tain to differ. That is inevitable and
| all writers of experience are prepared
| for it, but it is very rarely that the
| same periodical expresses two such
| widely divergent opinions about a novel
as have recently appeared in a leading
Chicago paper on Gertrude Atherton's
Z Tower of Ivory. When it was first
published the reviewer declared: cts
all wildly portrayed, of course with
fire, spirit and free use of the fervid
imagination that seems so wonderful
! to anaemic girls and jaded fathers of
families. The disorganizing effects of
passion are so picturesquely impress
sively presented that a dose of mental
promo setter really should accompany
each chapter" This is not verv en-
couraging. A few days later, however.
the New York correspondent has his
say; 1T sometimes happens that a
novelist who has appealed to various
mentalitieS in as many fields of human
life and varied character delineation.
identified and consistent with these en-
Vlronments, produces a book which is
the quintessence of former endeavors.
Such a book, if its artistic presenta ton
be in keeping with its theme and char
acters, usually amounts to a master
piece. Gertrude Atherton's Tower Of
ivory VIII probably be so designated
An unusual symposium of booksell-
erS' opinions as to a suitable selling
title for novel has been gathered by
CaSsell & Company. The debated title
is "a House of Lies,'' by Sidney War
wick; and the story deals with a young
man whose romance and career are
built upon "a house of lies" its dra-
matte collapse. and his final regenera-
ton The entire book trade was can
Vassed for an opinion of the title from
those dealers who responded about
20 per cent voted in favor of it. OF
the standpoint of the bookseller. of
the remainder some did not know"
some disapproved. one said the title re-
called too wildly 1.-The House of
Mirth.'' while a number of others re-
ported that their clerks were equally
divided for and against it. Consequent
ly, the book has been announced as "A
House of Lies" and it is now for sale
on the booksellers counters. 1t will be
interesting to observe how Well the
publishers prediction of best seller
and the booksellers choice of a title
are verified by the sale of Mr.. War
wick's interesting novel
If you have ever thought or read
much about burglars, your impression
of the type is that of a low-browed.
brutal, heaVy-handed individual You
will get surprise in Arsene Lupin,
whose adventures are being told by
Maurice Leblanc. exclusively in the
Popular Magazine. Arsene steals not
for the value of the thing he steals, but
because he loves to pit his wits against
society. He never takes life. he gen
orally restores the value of the thing
he steals, and he does it all with such
dash. good humor, and dexterity that
your sympathies are with him from the
first.
In line with the most advanced be-
lief concerning future life, is a new
book now in the presses of Thomas
Y. Crowell and Company. 1t is The
Winning of Immortality" by the Rev.
Frederick Palmer. and is spoken of
by advance readers as a work calcu-
lated to arouse considerable discussion
The growing practice of exchanging
gifts at Eastertide makes the publica-
ton this week of 1.-THE Book of
Easter most opportune This little vol
ume has an Introduction by Bishop
Doane and decorative drawings by
George Wharton Edwards. The selec-
tons. chosen from a great variety of
authors, illustrate the customs and
ceremonies in different lands in the
springtime and the beliefs which have
given rise to them. Beginning with
the old hopeless view of life, the quo
tations gradually change in character
until in the final section they depict the
joy and hope which the Easter season
inspires today There is section on
Easter plays, with special reference to
Oberammergau, one on Easter stories