Fuentes� collection are short stories that focus on the women in one huge and extended family. Some of the stories taDisclaimer: ARC via LibraryThing
Fuentes� collection are short stories that focus on the women in one huge and extended family. Some of the stories take place before the families� immigration out of Cuba and some take place during the revolution in Cuba. There is a sense of magic in all the tales though some hew more closely to magic realism than straight forward fantasy � some of the tales draw from real life figures.
The first story is one of these. It focuses, in part, on the ghost of the artist Ana Medieta haunting the home/studio of fellow artist Donald Judd. The focus on this story isn’t so much just art, but the effect of art on the people around it and what art can be as well as the intersection of race, class, and gender. The story ends on a rather beautiful and heartbreaking image.
It is followed by the tale of two close friends and what happens in the aftermath of the revolution. “The Burial of Fidela Armando Castell� . Some of the same themes from that story are used in “The Night the Almiqui� though a completely different way.
Both “Two Gallon Heat�, “Elephant Foot�, and “The Field of Professional Mourning� all highlight both the fantastic and horror, but also different areas of society - from the relationships in familiar to the relationships between girls to the idea of grief and performance, if it is, in fact performance.
In many ways the idea of creation and gender � in particular creation and women - takes center stage in many of the stories, answering that question that the title of the book asks. And this does make it a stand out short story collection. It’s true that there a few stories that don’t quite gel, at least for me, but even in those, I have to give Fuentes credit for experimentally and taking narrative or structural risks.
Many of the stories, even some of the ones I didn’t like, have powerful images and description. You can understand why BOA Short Fiction prize.
Merged review:
Disclaimer: ARC via LibraryThing
Fuentes� collection are short stories that focus on the women in one huge and extended family. Some of the stories take place before the families� immigration out of Cuba and some take place during the revolution in Cuba. There is a sense of magic in all the tales though some hew more closely to magic realism than straight forward fantasy � some of the tales draw from real life figures.
The first story is one of these. It focuses, in part, on the ghost of the artist Ana Medieta haunting the home/studio of fellow artist Donald Judd. The focus on this story isn’t so much just art, but the effect of art on the people around it and what art can be as well as the intersection of race, class, and gender. The story ends on a rather beautiful and heartbreaking image.
It is followed by the tale of two close friends and what happens in the aftermath of the revolution. “The Burial of Fidela Armando Castell� . Some of the same themes from that story are used in “The Night the Almiqui� though a completely different way.
Both “Two Gallon Heat�, “Elephant Foot�, and “The Field of Professional Mourning� all highlight both the fantastic and horror, but also different areas of society - from the relationships in familiar to the relationships between girls to the idea of grief and performance, if it is, in fact performance.
In many ways the idea of creation and gender � in particular creation and women - takes center stage in many of the stories, answering that question that the title of the book asks. And this does make it a stand out short story collection. It’s true that there a few stories that don’t quite gel, at least for me, but even in those, I have to give Fuentes credit for experimentally and taking narrative or structural risks.
Many of the stories, even some of the ones I didn’t like, have powerful images and description. You can understand why BOA Short Fiction prize....more
This does read like fan fiction, yet there is a slight nod to a daughter being pressured to date a jerk - if this idea had been given more room, the sThis does read like fan fiction, yet there is a slight nod to a daughter being pressured to date a jerk - if this idea had been given more room, the story would have been a bit better.
Merged review:
This does read like fan fiction, yet there is a slight nod to a daughter being pressured to date a jerk - if this idea had been given more room, the story would have been a bit better....more
This is not a good sequel. It's not bad, but it is very, very predictable. If you read the first book, you can call every single plot "twist" in this This is not a good sequel. It's not bad, but it is very, very predictable. If you read the first book, you can call every single plot "twist" in this one. There really isn't a surprise, and sometimes the characters feel very, very, very modern. Like really modern - even the characters supposedly religious and conservative feel far too modern, like they got in the Tardis or something.
But it was nice reading a book where the woman actually interact.
Merged review:
This is not a good sequel. It's not bad, but it is very, very predictable. If you read the first book, you can call every single plot "twist" in this one. There really isn't a surprise, and sometimes the characters feel very, very, very modern. Like really modern - even the characters supposedly religious and conservative feel far too modern, like they got in the Tardis or something.
But it was nice reading a book where the woman actually interact....more
I have to say any book that makes a student walk up to a teacher to hand said teacher the book and tell them to read it, is worth something. So while I have to say any book that makes a student walk up to a teacher to hand said teacher the book and tell them to read it, is worth something. So while for me, personally, this book is two stars, I have a student who loves it and that is great.
For me, while the writing is engrossing, even if the two central characters express themselves relatively in the same voice, the plot doesn't quite work. There is not enough time for the student's in the hospital. I also find it hard to believe that they would be placed together. To be fair, Walton does give reasons for this, but considering the torment that Bull inflicted, I have my doubts. Also the whole love from a woman makes everything better isn't a trope I like.
But I also think if I were younger, I would have like it more....more
Storr's retelling of Lucretia and the fall of the Empire that precedes the Republic isn't anything really new, though it's interesting to see it from Storr's retelling of Lucretia and the fall of the Empire that precedes the Republic isn't anything really new, though it's interesting to see it from the female point of view.
Merged review:
Storr's retelling of Lucretia and the fall of the Empire that precedes the Republic isn't anything really new, though it's interesting to see it from the female point of view....more
My mom has a friend who is a supposedly devout Catholic and who is completely anti-abortion. He votes RepDisclaimer: I received an ARC via Netgalley.
My mom has a friend who is a supposedly devout Catholic and who is completely anti-abortion. He votes Republican because of abortion, and only because of abortion. He presents himself as a good caring man, and maybe he actually is to other people. But last year, when I was recovering from a lumpectomy, I received an email from him. The email stated I was not doing enough to care for my mother and that caring for our parents as they grow older is a duty. He knew, he said, that I had health issues at the moment, but I needed to do more far more for my mother, to put her first as a good daughter should. Now, I got this email when I was recovering from surgery and basically, one armed for six weeks. The things that he claimed I hadn’t been doing broke down into two groups: (1) those I had already done before surgery and (2) those I offered to do before the surgery but my mom said no, and because of the surgery I couldn’t do at that time. At no point in the email was there an offer of help. I was furious in part because of the unjustness of the accusations, but also because this man knew that I had been caring for my mother (and my brother) for years and, more importantly, he never took care of his own parents. His sisters did. (In fairness, his sisters and parents lived in Canada; he lived in the US). This man knew that my brother had died of cancer a year before my cancer surgery and chose to make a very stressful time more stressful. Needless to say, after I replied, I blocked him.
I thought about him a lot while reading Valenti’s excellent book about abortion because he really is the type of guy she is writing about. It is the casual cruelty dressed up in religious language and tone. The cruelty is a point. And people think because they cloak themselves in religious language that the charge wouldn’t sick.
Valenti’s book about abortion is more about the arguments and strategies that anti-choice groups use to outlaw abortion. She looks at not only the impact of the laws but also the why. Basically, the why is controlling or punishing of women. But Valenti also addressed the actually science behind pregnancy and the fact that the majority of Americans support the right of women to chose. She showcases the effects of abortion bans � the difficulty of women to get out of state for an abortion (and how that might become illegal), the difficulty of proving that a woman needs an abortion for her own life. There are footnotes and citations. It is a well documented book, and as such debunks many claims that anti-choice people make about abortion.
Valenti’s book is born in part out of her Abortion, Everyday newsletter, but her analysis of certain aspects is particularly striking. The sections that discuss how the media reports on the abortion debate are great because of the examination of language. The morning after pill, for example, is not an abortifacient, something the media rarely directly says. Language is important; it is why pro-life is used instead of anti-choice. One sounds better than the other. Valenti notes that in some cases, anti-choice group uses strange language to describe an abortion that they see as acceptable � a separation for instance when talking about an abortion due to an ectopic pregnancy. Her in depth look at the Crisis Pregnancy Centers run by anti-choice groups is horrifying, especially when governmental funds go into. How some states are addressing teaching pregnancy is also rage inducing. She also addresses the question of access not only to abortion put to good maternal care (over five million women in the US live in counties where there is little or no maternal care).
Valenti links much of the laws and would be laws back to how segments of society view women and what they see as a woman’s place. Why else arrest a woman who had miscarriage? It should also be noted that Valenti details how the impact is greater on women of color.
Valenti also addresses how various law makers address the issue (her description of Ted Cruz will make you laugh just a little). She also links abortion laws to threats to access to birth control, such as the forementioned morning after pill. But Valenti doesn’t only address law makers who are anti-choice; she points out how pro-choice lawmakers could be more vocal about being pro-choice.
Perhaps the book’s best bit is at the end. Here Valenti includes not only further reading material, but also a fact sheet so that a reader can easily present facts to conflicted parties. This was really nice touch.
While Valenti, rightly, says she does not debate anti-choice speakers, this book is an engaging primer on how to discuss abortion and to recognize attempts to curtail reproductive freedom. ...more
This was not quite what I expected but also what I expected.
Yeah, I know.
The book starts with a blog post and a response, and this leads to two peopleThis was not quite what I expected but also what I expected.
Yeah, I know.
The book starts with a blog post and a response, and this leads to two people who once knew each in way to reconnect while learning about themselves. It is strangely powerful and quite lovely. ...more
**spoiler alert** This is a frustrating book. On one hand, you can easily say that it is fairy tale retelling of Bluebeard when the emphasis on why wo**spoiler alert** This is a frustrating book. On one hand, you can easily say that it is fairy tale retelling of Bluebeard when the emphasis on why women say with bad men. It is a fable. On the other hand, you can say it is a novel that shows why women stay with bad men and uses Bluebeard as its frame. j
The problem is it doesn't fully work as either. It works better as a fable as opposed to a full throated novel. But it is also too long for a fable to really work.
As a novel, it pretty much fails. There is far, far, far too much telling rather than showing. And this makes Judith, the heroine, into something less than a character. You can't even hate her, she's nothing. Her abusive husband might as well be twirling his handlebar mustache.
Also whether or not Biller intended so, one of the messages is if you are a woman and a virgin in your 20s, you will chose the wrong man and then be sexually enslaved to him. Which is not a good take - whether or not a woman waits and why she does, is her choice. She should not be shamed for either having sex or not having sex.
I was engrossed for about 75-100 pages, but there is so much that doesn't work simply because Judith never seems real. Surely there are people who are in abusive relationships and they stay there even though they know their partner may have killed someone. There are a whole host of reasons for that. When Judith stays with her husband even though she is sure he killed her father, it doesn't work because Judith isn't even a cipher. She's not a character, she does not even transcend being a bunch of letters on a page. So the decision to stay is just annoying.
I can understand the desire to write a book that shows why women stay, to try to make people understand. This book does not do a good job of that. At least in terms of Judith's story. The story that Judith was writing, as little as it appeared was far better and I wish that had been novel. The point that Biller was trying to illustrate was better done in Our Mother's Murder among others....more
Halla has a problem and a sword that has a spirit warrior attached to it, ain't it.
This book takes place in the Kingfisher's world that includes the SHalla has a problem and a sword that has a spirit warrior attached to it, ain't it.
This book takes place in the Kingfisher's world that includes the Saint of Steel series and the Clocktaur duology. Paladins make an appearance and the Order of the Rat is vital to the plot of the book, but you can read this one first before reading the others. (There are a couple characters that will be familiar to readers of the other books, however - Beatongue and Brindle. Quite frankly, Beartongue needs her own book at this point).
This book also seems to be the first in a series, though a second volume has not been published yet. The ending hints and author's afterword make it clear there should be at least one follow up.
The book's winning grace is Halla, an middle aged widow who finds herself inheriting a good fortune much to the distress of her in-laws. Halla is a woman who has realized that women who seem stupid can get away with a lot. And she asks some really important questions. And then when she and Zale team up, I swear I would read a book with just Halla and Zale asking people questions and double teaming people verbally.
Zale is a servant of the Rat. They help Halla, and they are far more interesting than the handsome dude in the sword who is your stereotypical tragic hero (like, we have met his type before in the Saint of Steel series). The romance is pretty much standard.
For me, Swordheart has the same problem that pops up in the Saint of Steel series - sometimes there is too much travelling and too much on the road bits. In something like the Clocktaur wars, it works. It doesn't quite work well here. In part because one of the trips hints at a solution to the problem/issue that is expressed towards the end of the book. And then it is left hanging (possibly to be returned to later if this series actually continues). While the bits about how the other religions view the followers of the Hanged Mother could be important (liberal religions vs extremely conservative), there was far too much of it here. In fact, one encounter simply felt like creating a reason for getting the characters to go in a different direction on the road (Literally a road). And yes, all writing is creative, but something that screams "i'm doing just so x happens" really doesn't work.
If both Zale and Halla weren't there, the book would have been slog. Zale and Halla make it fun. Mostly Halla because she talks more.
It's not that I disagree with any Bertram writes about Dandridge, or even that I think the conclusions are incorrect. It's just it needs supporting deIt's not that I disagree with any Bertram writes about Dandridge, or even that I think the conclusions are incorrect. It's just it needs supporting detail. You are telling me a whole bunch of things, now illustrate it. What type of roles was Dandridge turning down exactly? I've seen the excellent Halle Berry film Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, so I have an idea, but Bertram should show it. She should give examples of things, instead of repeating the same statements over and over....more
I like the fact that the book starts with Clara Brown. The profiles are good. More straight forward history as opposed to fictionized biographies. NicI like the fact that the book starts with Clara Brown. The profiles are good. More straight forward history as opposed to fictionized biographies. Nicely done....more
See, this is what a good collection of ghost stories should be. Lewis works in Champ and a UFo sighting as well. It is mostly, though not entirely, thSee, this is what a good collection of ghost stories should be. Lewis works in Champ and a UFo sighting as well. It is mostly, though not entirely, the US side of Lake Champlin, not surprising because this is part of the Haunted America series While Lewis is ghost tour in Burlingon (and I would go on her tour without question), she includes many stories from outside her own stomping grounds. Her love for the area also comes across quite well. ...more
Despite the title, most of the supposed ghost stories center around Port Clinton. Additionally, a good portion of the book is biographical informat1.5
Despite the title, most of the supposed ghost stories center around Port Clinton. Additionally, a good portion of the book is biographical information about author's family (both blood related and found family). This would be fine it if were a memoir, but it's not. So how legendary these stories for other residents of Lake Erie's North Coast, I don't know. Also most of the ghosts are orbs. And the story telling when it comes to history is way off. Dolley Madison, for instance, did not stop the White House from being burned. She saved the portrait of Washingon, or is at least credited for it. ...more
"Life After Theft" - a Hope/Karl story. They have somehow become parents even though they never seemed to want to I have read several of these before.
"Life After Theft" - a Hope/Karl story. They have somehow become parents even though they never seemed to want to be. Meh. I don't like Hope/Karl.
"Forbidden" - a quasi mystery that leaves some unanswered questions. I like the fact that Morgan is part First Nations/Native American. It was nice to see Clay and Elena without the too old kids. Also nice play on the idea of small town culture/football culture.
"Angelic" - Read this one before. Still a good Eve story.
"Zen and the Art of Vampirism" - this story may gross out some people, but it was a fun ride.
"Ungrateful Dead"- Love Jamie, and I can actually stand Savannah when she works with Jamie.
"Counterfeit Magic" - read this one before and it still stands up....more
**spoiler alert** I enjoy the Women of the Otherworld, even if I don't like all the characters.
This is a collection of short stories and novella, many**spoiler alert** I enjoy the Women of the Otherworld, even if I don't like all the characters.
This is a collection of short stories and novella, many of (if not all) have appeared else, mostly in chapbook or ebook form.
The first story "Brazen" features Nick (from Elena's pack) and he teams with Vanessa to hunt down Macolm. I didn't buy the romance in the book (and it went from a hook-up with no strings to true love waaaaaay too quickly). But I did like Vanessa. And though the story makes use of too much violence towards women, it was a good story, in particular it allowed Nick to shine.
The second story is the first meet between Karl and Hope. As I don't like them, I really wasn't interested in "Chaotic". Actually, it is really Hope I don't like because she never really seems as developed or even as interesting as the others. Hell, even Vanessa in the previous story was more interesting.
The third, "Amittyville Horrible" I've read before. I love Jamie and Jeremy. I love kitsune.
"Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word" features vampires Cass and Zoe, and ties witb "Amittyville Horrible" for the best in the collection. It is fun story, almost more of a character study of Zoe. But a fun read.
"Off Duty Angel" - I normally like Eve, but this didn't really grab me. Liked the British Museum cameo though.
"The Puppy Plan" - this one had the makings of a good story. It features Elena, Clay and their twins , Kate and Logan. Logan doesn't quite act like a child for much of the story, and the story goes on far too long. It could have been tighter in the writing. But it is also at times funny and sweet Christmas story. It also address the question of vampires and dogs.
"Baby Boom" - I hated this story. Not every couple needs to have children. Truly, and Paige never want them. Because the Cabal got someone to mess with Paige's birth control, Paige gets pregnant. I understand that Armstrong lives in Canada which is a bit more progressive about abortion, but the fact that Paige is okay with what is basically a forced pregnancy and doesn't seriously consider abortion, is a bit much. I'm sorry but we know that abusive men have impregnated their wives and partners to keep control of them. We live a society were far too many people believe that if a woman just gets pregnant she will want to be a mother, and while that may be true for some, it is not true of every woman. Hell, Elena was unsure about children, so we basically have had this story before. Baby Boom just feels like Armstrong wanting to Lucas and Paige to have a child, and forcing it on them. The fact that abortion wasn't really considered was horrible. The only good part of the story is that Lucas makes it clear that it is Paige's decision. Why she changes her mind about kids, the reader really doesn't get.
Edited - over a month after reading this, I am still pissed at the story Baby Boom. In fairness, to Armstrong she seems to have both pro-choice and pro-life people pissed off at the story, so she must be doing something right. The problems for me with are two fold
(1) with the edition of Paige being a mother again (I'm sorry, but she was mother to Savannah) we now have every long term female character with the exception of Jamie as a biological mother. This includes two women who were totally no kids (not Elena, hope. With Elena there was reference to conversations with Clay). While it is perfectly acceptable for women to change their minds, to not really convey or show how those changes take place is disappointing, to be mild about it. Armstrong is simply, whether she intends to do it or not, re-enforcing the idea that all women want to be mothers. That's not true. This view is further complicated by Jamie, the only long term central character who doesn't have a child because she can't have a child. The reason she can't - botched abortion. Now, I always took the view is that Jamie's abortion was botched because it was done in secret, but by having the only childless woman be the one had an abortion, even one she was forced to by her mother, and indicating that Jamie had wanted children, Armstrong is showcasing aspects of the anti-choice groups, whether or not she intends to. (I have no idea what Armstrong's view on abortion is). More importantly, not every woman wants kids. WoO was a good series because the central woman who ran the length of series were so varied. By making them all biological mothers, Armstrong has undermined that in serious way.
(2) If Paige and Lucas had decided on their own that they changed mind - fine. But that's not what happens. Paige isn't pregnant because she chose to be or even her birth control didn't work. She is pregnant because the Cabal manipulated her into being so. They forced a pregnancy on her. However you want to dress it up, it is a form of control, even if you want rape, on both her and Lucas. The fact that they don't really have a serious conversation about this aspect is down right disturbing. The fact that Paige is basically consigned to baby factory by the story itself (it's Lucas who is seen doing the power play, btw not her) is also really off. If you are going to have character become pregnant because someone messed with their birth control, than you damn well need to do a good job at highlighting the abusive factor of that as well as the trauma on the victim. It's not that that I wanted Paige to have an abortion, it's the fact that her right to her own body was stripped from her, and she does not ever think about it that way. The Paige from early in the series would be smacking this one so hard.
Lowered to two stars because I am still pissed about this story...more
**spoiler alert** Oh god this was something. Really something. The first part is so boring. And the second part at times includes bits that don't make**spoiler alert** Oh god this was something. Really something. The first part is so boring. And the second part at times includes bits that don't make sense. Maybe it's because I know too many people like Toby, both as teacher and as a student. I get the whole theme of how we see ourselves and memories vs other people's view, but still. Toby is dumb as a bunch of rocks, and it is unclear if that was before or after his attack. There is happy-go-lucky and there is cruel wanna be bully without any common sense. I didn't like him from the bar scene and then it just goes, on and on. He doesn't seem to change or learn anything. And that would be fine, but then again what's the point?
Why is Melissa with him? Just to get naked?
And I have to say the remarks that point to Susanna's rape but leave out the sexual assault on Leon are interesting to say the least. Also, I'm sorry but Hugo isn't that much of dear, he knew something was wrong and didn't really try to help.
**spoiler alert** This book is pretty much what you see is what you get. There's nothing wrong with that. You can figure out what is going to happen a**spoiler alert** This book is pretty much what you see is what you get. There's nothing wrong with that. You can figure out what is going to happen and getting there is enjoyable. I do like the fact that the woman does not stay back in time because that always puzzled me in these things. Why, of course, I will still in a time where I didn't have any rights and health care was not really an option without a second thought. I get love but really? I thought our male lead was perhaps a bit too modern, but this would hardy be the first romantic historical where that happened.
I did like the little bit with Mr Shaw. I thought that was nice....more
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