Just as great as everyone said it was, though probably not my single favorite non-fiction book in this arena (for that I'd lean more toward Into the WJust as great as everyone said it was, though probably not my single favorite non-fiction book in this arena (for that I'd lean more toward Into the Wild)....more
As I understand it, this is Magpie (as I was originally introduced to her)'s first full-length novel. I have read and enjoyed a number of her previousAs I understand it, this is Magpie (as I was originally introduced to her)'s first full-length novel. I have read and enjoyed a number of her previous works, and this is a really excellent work of anarchist fantasy fiction.
Well-plotted, well-paced, and a pleasure to read—and the first really interesting, original "fantasy" setting I've seen in a long time. It takes a lot of known tropes that would be otherwise be potentially boring or overdone (knights, witches, etc) and reinvents each in some way. Furthermore, although the anarchist themes are clear (the witches tend to be anarchists in one sense or another, the knights tend to be, you know, knights), they're not simplified. Not all witches are good, not all knights are bad, and no one way of thinking is "correct" (outside, perhaps, of simply not oppressing others).
The Sapling Cage has a simple core hook—the protagonist wants to be a witch, but only girls can be witches—and drives a strong narrative about a young person discovering/inventing herself. If I'm not mistaken, it's the first in an intended trilogy ("Daughters of the Empty Throne") and I look forward to continuing the story, though this book definitely stands on its own.
Edit: oh, and by the way, the cover art is really outstanding!...more
I had known about this book for years but never read it until now, after I suggested to one of my daughters that she give it a try (yes, I had some exI had known about this book for years but never read it until now, after I suggested to one of my daughters that she give it a try (yes, I had some explaining to do about the swastika on the cover and everything that entails).
It's exactly as outstanding as it's cracked up to be, so I'm not sure I have much to add. Its 1992 Pulitzer Prize is well-deserved. One of the things I really appreciate about it is that the art and graphic style is a little rough compared to the factory-perfect young-adult graphic novels that my kids are used to, especially when you get to "Prisoner on the Hell Planet," the expressionist comic Spiegelman had drawn years earlier reprinted in Maus. It really throws into relief how uncreative the page layouts are for the many previously-mentioned graphic novels (which, I suspect, are cranked out as quickly as humanly possible).
I requested part II from the library so I'll read that when it arrives. Part I was a quick read�2 sittings—that will stay with me for a long time.
Also: holy fucking shit, I just learned that Art Spiegelman was also the creator of Garbage Pail Kids!!!! WHAT!!! My mind is blown....more
Short stories are their own, unique medium, fundamentally different than novels, and many of the stories in this collection are basically perfect examShort stories are their own, unique medium, fundamentally different than novels, and many of the stories in this collection are basically perfect examples of the medium.
My first impressions were strongly informed by the cover art of my edition (Vintage Books), an incredibly evocative photo of a house and driveway at night by contemporary photographer Todd Hido (the photo is untitled but appears to be numbered #7373, and can be seen in with the photographer).
Just as these stories are perfect examples of the medium, Todd Hido's photo is a perfect accompaniment to (or maybe evocation of) Carver's world(s): spare, nocturnal, cold, in some sense desolate, and so very, very American. They're a lot like Andrew Wyeth or Edward Hopper paintings in literary form. These are stories of average Americans, living in average homes and places, living average lives. These are stories of relationships and the ends of relationships, families, blue-collar jobs, violence (or threats or implications of violence), fishing, and above all, drinking.
I found the first handful of stories vaguely interesting or unusual but not necessarily memorable—and then I got to "The Bath." The Bath is simple, short, and utterly, utterly haunting. Frankly I consider it to be, quite literally, a perfect short story. This perfection is achieved principally through its ambiguous ending, which leaves you never knowing the outcome, forever wondering. Its last sentence gives me chills—especially as a parent.
That piece is followed directly by "Tell the Women We're Going," another standout, which has a sudden, unexpected and shocking turn, just as harrowing as The Bath, leaving you with a disturbed lump in your stomach.
I could say more about some other individual stories—the first one, "Why Don't You Dance?" is acutely surreal—but suffice to repeat what many have already observed: Carver is an undisputed master of this art form....more
Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" is one of the most popular English-language novels in history, which is why I decided to finally read it, but—I'llJane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" is one of the most popular English-language novels in history, which is why I decided to finally read it, but—I'll just come out and say it—I'm not really clear on why.
I mean, I guess it's because humans like stories about human relationships, and Pride and Prejudice is (apparently) the prototypical romance novel? The entire thing is literally about who's going to marry who. Are people really that crazily interested in marriage?
I'm obviously not in the target audience for this book but I still find myself mystified by its insane popularity. The prose is not especially interesting or poetic. It's in the characteristically "elevated" style of the era, but I don't find it to be a work of literary art.
Don't get me wrong, I certainly didn't dislike the book. I really liked the characters of Elizabeth and her father. Elizabeth has this wonderful acerbity and Mr. Bennet is rational and sarcastic. Actually Elizabeth kept reminding me of the character of Mary Crawley from Downton Abbey (who could, for all I know, be inspired by Elizabeth).
In conclusion, I leave you with this questionable tidbit from Wikipedia: "In 2010, scientists named a pheromone identified in male mouse urine darcin, after Mr Darcy, because it strongly attracted females."...more
Continuing my "Books I Never Actually Read" list. One of the first things that struck me about this book was: "Damn, Sylvia Plath really knew how to wContinuing my "Books I Never Actually Read" list. One of the first things that struck me about this book was: "Damn, Sylvia Plath really knew how to write a novel." I had previously only been (somewhat) familiar with her poetry, but knew her reputation and relationship with sorrow and suicide.
The Bell Jar is an outstanding novel about depression, especially with regards to the treatment (both societally and medically) of mid-century women. It is largely autobiographical, to the point that Plath published it under a pseudonym and didn't want it published in the US in the fear that friends and family would read it, recognizing themselves.
The prose is as tight and effortlessly impressive as her poetry, and though it's not plotted, per se, it reads very compellingly. I breezed through it, despite the overwhelming heaviness of its subject. Suffering from clinical depression myself, I recognize her state of mind exactly, and she conveys it in a way that only she could:
"To the person in the bell jar, blank and stopped as a dead baby, the world itself is the bad dream."
To my amazement, The Bell Jar did not, in fact, make me feel depressed (or more depressed). It actually has a distinct hopeful note. I only wish that the rest of Plath's life had somehow held onto that note. We can only imagine what else she could have written....more
Continuing in my "Books I Never Actually Read" list. For a while I didn't really get the big deal about this book—many people seem to focus on HemingwContinuing in my "Books I Never Actually Read" list. For a while I didn't really get the big deal about this book—many people seem to focus on Hemingway's comparatively spare prose, which I don't think is an interesting or useful angle at all. Evidently most people don't like Melvillian prose—I do—and seem to need to whine about it by lauding the opposite.
But when I finished this book I was moved more than I was expecting. I think what The Old Man and the Sea is rightly famous for is the pure distillation of narrative into The Struggle. For the entire book, the reader struggles along with the Old Man as he tries to fish. That's it. But importantly, you want him to succeed. This is the purest essence, the most central principle, of narrative. You want the protagonist to succeed, no matter what they're trying to achieve, and you follow along with them, experiencing the ups and downs and obstacles and setbacks and wins and triumphs.
The Old Man and the Sea zeroes in on this notion and nails it, and concludes the question of "Well, how does it end for the Old Man? In success or failure?" with "Both!" Simplicity itself, but totally ineffectual without the detail to back it up and make it real for the reader. Without the level of detail of this book—where you imagine Hemingway must have been the Old Man himself in order to have written this—it would be nothing. It would be a diagram, not a story. Detail on this level has always impressed the hell out of me, because it makes me wonder what on earth I could possibly detail with that much authenticity and authority.
In any case, Hemingway brings it. And, if you look again, you'll find that his prose is not actually that famously spare....more
An absolute classic in the history of feminism, The Yellow Wall-Paper speaks to undiagnosed postpartum depression and the infuriating, and still livinAn absolute classic in the history of feminism, The Yellow Wall-Paper speaks to undiagnosed postpartum depression and the infuriating, and still living, tradition of male ignorance of female experience....more
A very brief but useful guide to basic improvisation, storytelling, and RPG collaboration. It emphasizes taking chances, building on others ideas (yesA very brief but useful guide to basic improvisation, storytelling, and RPG collaboration. It emphasizes taking chances, building on others ideas (yes-and-ing), and reversals of fortune (though it doesn't use that term) as a means of telling memorable stories....more
Despite the vague spiritualism and hackneyed mystical philosophy, I actually liked this book. I think you can subtract the bullshit (god, Personal LegDespite the vague spiritualism and hackneyed mystical philosophy, I actually liked this book. I think you can subtract the bullshit (god, Personal Legend, etc.) and still get a reasonable message: don't stop working towards your dreams....more
One of the definitive allegories, especially among political satires. Animal Farm tells the terrifying tale of Stalinism, the rapid transformation froOne of the definitive allegories, especially among political satires. Animal Farm tells the terrifying tale of Stalinism, the rapid transformation from socialist utopia to autocratic dystopia. A classic by every measure. I only wonder how many people will or have read it and completely misunderstand it as a denunciation of socialism instead of dictatorship....more
Man, but Vonnegut makes it look easy. "Bluebeard" is the completely fictional autobiography of an erstwhile artist named Rabo Karabekian. The amount oMan, but Vonnegut makes it look easy. "Bluebeard" is the completely fictional autobiography of an erstwhile artist named Rabo Karabekian. The amount of pure invention in this book is mind-blowing. The book is packed full of microstories of friends, acquaintances, cab drivers, World War 2 casualties, and anything else you can imagine. This is what impresses me most: the real, believable detail. It all sounds so natural, like it's being plucked from memory instead of being made up from whole cloth.
Combine that with the fast readability (you don't want to put it down and can't wait to pick it back up) and you've got a truly outstanding book. My only complaints are that, for a book sort of about the Abstract Expressionists, there's not really much Abstract Expressionism, and Vonnegut's reveal at the end (the mystery in the potato barn) makes a pretty clear statement that he thinks that very Abstract Expressionism is basically soulless and not "real" art. That's an interpretation, but I think there's a strong basis for it in the text. Happy to argue about it. X-)...more
What a great read! I hadn't read any kind of fantasy in possibly decades, so I wasn't sure if I'd get into it or not, but I didn't want to put it downWhat a great read! I hadn't read any kind of fantasy in possibly decades, so I wasn't sure if I'd get into it or not, but I didn't want to put it down and really blew through it. I rarely pursue series(es?), but I might even consider reading more of these at some point.
The Last Wish is a collection of a short stories about the now well-known Witcher, and from what I understand is considered a good introduction to the books. I would say it is, not knowing anything about the other ones. Full of memorable characters and plots and very well-paced....more
It's completely absurd that the edition I have of this book is the promotional version for the embarrassing 2004 Will Smith movie. It features Will SmIt's completely absurd that the edition I have of this book is the promotional version for the embarrassing 2004 Will Smith movie. It features Will Smith on the cover with the tagline "One man saw it coming."
I say this is absurd because that movie has effectively nothing to do with this book except ripping off the title. It contains exactly 3 references to the book: the Laws of Robotics, the name of the company (nearly), and the idea of an AI that manages everything. That's it. The rest is completely made up and has absolutely nothing to do with the stories in this book.
Anyway, as for the book itself, it's historical scifi, which is subject to a certain number of modern criticisms (including some eye-rolling sexism). Most of the stories revolve around extrapolated effects of the Laws of Robotics, but it constantly stipulates that Robots definitely follow these laws without ever seriously delving into how that would even be possible.
It is admittedly interesting reading this in an age of burgeoning AI, because nobody today is even TRYING to come up with some kind of similar protections for humanity. Oh well!...more
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