Patricia Engel has published two other books, the short story collection Vida and the novel It’s Not Love, It’s Just Paris. Even though I haven’t read either of those books, I felt that I needed to read her new novel, The Veins of the Ocean. Not only because the reviews were intriguing (and very positive) but also because I don’t remember ever reading anything by a Colombian American novelist. The Veins of the Ocean is the story of Reina Castillo. When we first meet Reina […]
Everything We Keep
Imagine. You’re engaged to your childhood sweetheart. It’s your wedding day. But instead of wearing white, you’re wearing black. It’s the church you were supposed to be married in, but instead of attending a wedding, you’re attending a funeral. And not just any funeral, but the funeral of you’re fiancé. This is where we meet Aimee. Instead of spending what’s supposed to be the best day of her life celebrating her marriage and future with her new husband, she is burying him instead. He was left […]
The Hidden Chamber
I got on the library queue for this book because I knew that it contains “The Monarch of the Glen,” which is the novella follow-up to American Gods. I am committed to my American Gods love, and wanted to complete my library of knowledge of all things Shadow. But this book, oh, this wonderful book. It’s a collection of some of the most beautiful poetry and short stories, in perfect Gaiman-ian language, set in dark landscapes that are undeniably his. I could pick these works […]
When I’m Missing My Dad, I Read This
Everything about my dad was big. Even without an arm, leg and three fingers (Vietnam injuries), he rode a motorcycle (modified of course), was part of a biker gang, had curse words tattooed on his arm(! that went over well in private school, believe me!!!) and everyone who has ever met him has had a story about him. He was an imposing man, with a giant beard and a very loud voice (also probably due to becoming a bit hard of hearing in Vietnam). He […]
A Study of Grief You Need to Experience
“Wow.” That was me when my husband, seeing me turn the last page of Levels of Life and close the book, asked me “How was it?” I didn’t elaborate very much except to say, “You really need to read this,” with the added disclaimer, “but you might find it distressing.” How to describe Levels of Life? The book is divided into three parts: essentially, three essays that spin from the book’s premise, “You put together two things that have not been put together before. And […]
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