Author: Gustav Flaubert
A classic and very readable, even though I didn't particularly like any of the characters. Now to reread Gemma Bovary.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Saturday, November 26, 2011
The Rational Optimist
Author: Matt Ridley
I confess I lost interest one-third of the way into this one. He makes some good points about specialization and trade being the human actions that have allowed us to progress so far.
I confess I lost interest one-third of the way into this one. He makes some good points about specialization and trade being the human actions that have allowed us to progress so far.
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making
Author: Catherynne M. Valente
Novel referenced in Palimpsest.
Amazing journey into Faerie, with all the classic features, threshold guardians, test and allies, elixir etc. At one point September meets her death and sings it to sleep. Simply a joyous and dark romp. I think I'll reread it a few times.
Interesting to look at the structure as well, since it was written like Dickens, episodically and web-published. That's when fairy-tale structure really helps.
Novel referenced in Palimpsest.
Amazing journey into Faerie, with all the classic features, threshold guardians, test and allies, elixir etc. At one point September meets her death and sings it to sleep. Simply a joyous and dark romp. I think I'll reread it a few times.
Interesting to look at the structure as well, since it was written like Dickens, episodically and web-published. That's when fairy-tale structure really helps.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
The Gifts of Imperfection
Author: Brene Brown
Self-help book, worth buying because I can't renew it. Wholehearted living- something to work towards. Readable and engaging.
Self-help book, worth buying because I can't renew it. Wholehearted living- something to work towards. Readable and engaging.
Coventry
Author: Helen Humphreys
Tale of one night of bombing and the paths that cross and miss. Beautiful, short and touching. Vivid descriptions of the experience.
Tale of one night of bombing and the paths that cross and miss. Beautiful, short and touching. Vivid descriptions of the experience.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Poppy Shakespeare
Author: Clare Allan
Hard to put down tale of life inside the mental health system of Britain. Poppy isn't crazy, but is 'voluntarily' put in daycare with dribblers and flops. Her guide tells us the story, and an unreliable narrator at that. Incredibly funny and human.
Hard to put down tale of life inside the mental health system of Britain. Poppy isn't crazy, but is 'voluntarily' put in daycare with dribblers and flops. Her guide tells us the story, and an unreliable narrator at that. Incredibly funny and human.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Mr. Fox
Author: Helen Oyeyemi
A re-imagining of the Bluebeard fairytale's British version: Mr. Fox.
Fascinating and playful, and at times sad, always engaging. The narrative structure allows two fictional authors to play back and forth with story.
Very certain and confident in its approach, slightly historical and very hard to put down, despite always having the option between story changes.
A re-imagining of the Bluebeard fairytale's British version: Mr. Fox.
Fascinating and playful, and at times sad, always engaging. The narrative structure allows two fictional authors to play back and forth with story.
Very certain and confident in its approach, slightly historical and very hard to put down, despite always having the option between story changes.
Palimpsest
Author: Catherine Valente
Picked this up because it was the source of 'The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making'. It's a baffling cross between Calvino's 'Invisible Cities' and an unknown book of longing. Quite beautiful and vividly alive and horrific at the same time.
Sometimes the images are too detailed and overwhelming to pause long enough to picture. A book that needs a slow read and a few rereads.
Picked this up because it was the source of 'The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making'. It's a baffling cross between Calvino's 'Invisible Cities' and an unknown book of longing. Quite beautiful and vividly alive and horrific at the same time.
Sometimes the images are too detailed and overwhelming to pause long enough to picture. A book that needs a slow read and a few rereads.
Chime
Author: Franny Billingsley
One of my favorite authors - very high shivers down the spine rating. Her coming of age and into love characters are great. I really enjoyed the daft twin in this book, and all the references to the creatures that run amuck in the swamp.
One of my favorite authors - very high shivers down the spine rating. Her coming of age and into love characters are great. I really enjoyed the daft twin in this book, and all the references to the creatures that run amuck in the swamp.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott
Author: Kelly O'Connor McNees
Using the biographical fact of a summer of penury spent at a house in a village, a romantic yarn is spun around the famous author. It was a bit stilted in parts, made me curious to read her letters and see if her father really was that far gone. Looking forward to Lousia May Alcott and Me.
Using the biographical fact of a summer of penury spent at a house in a village, a romantic yarn is spun around the famous author. It was a bit stilted in parts, made me curious to read her letters and see if her father really was that far gone. Looking forward to Lousia May Alcott and Me.
The Talented Clementine
Author: Sarah Pennypacker
Illustrator: Marla Frazee
Clementine has no talent to share at the talent show - except her great empathetic skills that help her direct the whole show. Great. The illustrations always clinch it for me.
Illustrator: Marla Frazee
Clementine has no talent to share at the talent show - except her great empathetic skills that help her direct the whole show. Great. The illustrations always clinch it for me.
Stop That Stagecoach!
Author: Frieda Wishinsky
Canadian history alive when kids time travel on a Canadian Flyer sled. Brisk pace, realistic detail and a gateway to seeing history from a modern POV.
Canadian history alive when kids time travel on a Canadian Flyer sled. Brisk pace, realistic detail and a gateway to seeing history from a modern POV.
Scandal in Spring
Author: Lisa Kleypas
Another wallflower regency romance. I enjoy the series, varied characters returning as on-lookers.
Another wallflower regency romance. I enjoy the series, varied characters returning as on-lookers.
The Season
Author: Charlotte Bingham
Too many characters and not enough time to spend with each. Otherwise an OK light but thick book. Interesting time period but it reads very much like a regency novel despite being set post Titanic.
Too many characters and not enough time to spend with each. Otherwise an OK light but thick book. Interesting time period but it reads very much like a regency novel despite being set post Titanic.
Chinese Dragons - choose your own adventure
Author: R. A. Montgomery
Made all the feminine choices and had a lame outcome. Hate reading 2nd person POV. Otherwise, not too bad. Will look at more examples - this had fairly lengthy and detailed results from each choice.
Made all the feminine choices and had a lame outcome. Hate reading 2nd person POV. Otherwise, not too bad. Will look at more examples - this had fairly lengthy and detailed results from each choice.
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