One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
While this book is one the surface a novel about a family, it is hard to shake the idea that the book is also about the power of reading. In some ways, the story is about the power of the reader to create life, to give the characters life beyond what the writer of the story can do. It is important that the book starts and ends with a sense of memory because in many ways that is what reading is. The history of the […]
The Juniper Tree by Barbara Comyns
“The Juniper Tree” is a Brothers Grimm story that is at once both unremembered and remembered. Many people think they don’t know, but when you tell them the plot, they go, “oh yeah”. It is also a rather bloody piece of work. (Not as bloody as their story about playing pig slaughter). Barbara Comyns reinvents the tale from an almost feminist perspective. She might not be as rich in language as Angela Carter, but despite its short length the book is far deeper than it […]
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
I really wanted to like this much more than I did. However, parts of the book are very been there and done that. What makes the book stand out is the use Russian folklore and setting. Arden really does have the knowledge that makes the world believable. In fact, the best parts of the book are the ones where the heroine is growing up. These are so beautifully written, and quite frankly are the reason why the book rates three stars from me. When the […]
As Long as Grass Grows by Dina Gilio-Whitaker
Disclaimer: I won a copy via a Librarything giveaway. I suppose I could just say that I was reading this on the way back from work and when I looked up, somehow, the trolley had gotten to one stop from mine without me knowing. It was that absorbing. Gilio-Whitaker makes what might have been a somewhat dull topic and engages the reader. But I suppose you want more than that. When I mentioned I was reading this book to my friend who teaches in the […]
Kuessipan by Naomi Fontaine
Early in her novel, Fontaine writes, “. . .the grey skin of a man who is too young for the varnished wooden box with its gilt pattern and golden handles” (13). A beautiful and tragic sentence, which in many ways sums up this slim novel. It isn’t so much a novel but more a collection of prose poems about the life of a reservation. The characters, if that is the right terms, are nameless and, for the most part faceless, but that makes it more […]
Aquaman Vol 1: The Drowning by Dan Abnett
This is the first straight forward Aquaman comic I’ve read. The artwork isn’t bad. The fact that Mera says my love quite a bit is rather annoying. However, This issue has several great things about it. 1. Mera – she decks Superman (and the reaction to this action is so wonderful). She is also kick ass. 2. The look at how people see Aquaman – how despite being part of the Justice League, he is still a bit outside of the league. He isn’t part […]
