Sadly, this was not among my favourite Montgomery collections. It felt too sentimental, its characters almost too good and its plot devices too repetiSadly, this was not among my favourite Montgomery collections. It felt too sentimental, its characters almost too good and its plot devices too repetitive. Perhaps I wasn't in the mood and the timing was wrong � or perhaps this was just a bit too much of a good thing....more
A wonderful collection of short stories and poetry by some of the history's most acclaimed writers. Louisa May Alcott's fairy tales were a special treA wonderful collection of short stories and poetry by some of the history's most acclaimed writers. Louisa May Alcott's fairy tales were a special treat � and I think I'm inspired to go hunting for more, which may be the ultimate success criteria for a collection such as this; making readers hungry for more....more
�I am always half in life, half in a fantastical version of it in my head.�
I was just about to write that I love this book, but I realised it wouldn't�I am always half in life, half in a fantastical version of it in my head.�
I was just about to write that I love this book, but I realised it wouldn't be accurate. Not only do I love this book, I've fallen in love with this book. Dolly Alderton has completely put me under her spell and her witty and thoughtful observations have kept between states of recognition and awe, wild entertainment and well-known heartbreak.
From her wonderfully nostalgia-ridden passages about MSN Messenger (oh God, so many things I had forgotten) to her woeful tales of complex relationships with friends as well as lovers, her words felt deeply intimate, like a conversation with a dear old friend.
It really shines through that we're of the same generation. That we grew up and found the magic of the internet, felt the ever-increasing pressure of society's expectations and, finally, turned 30. She describes it so well, almost becoming the voice of an entire generation of women.
Such beautiful poetry filled with musings nature, sorrow and despair. I love Hopkins' imagery, conj"As kingfishers catch fire, dragonflies draw flame"
Such beautiful poetry filled with musings nature, sorrow and despair. I love Hopkins' imagery, conjuring glimpses of wildflowers and orange sunsets....more
Odd stories that never succeed in causing goosebumps. Perhaps they would benefit from being whispered in the dark or told around a campfire; as they aOdd stories that never succeed in causing goosebumps. Perhaps they would benefit from being whispered in the dark or told around a campfire; as they are, they're too short to delight and too stiff to be shocking. ...more
I committed the oldest of sins and judged this book by its colourful, wonderful and alluring cover. And I must OK, I'll admit it.
This was a cover buy.
I committed the oldest of sins and judged this book by its colourful, wonderful and alluring cover. And I must have been lucky because it paid off. Even though what I thought was magic realism turned out to be a fantasy novel, I enjoyed every word and every page.
Woven in Moonlight is based on Bolivian folk tales and lore. Entangled with Spanish words I had to look up and filled with wonder, it's nothing like anything I've ever read. The plot was so fast-paced and fun that I only managed to spend 24 hours in Ibañez' world before the pages had run out.
Such fun. Such joy. I cannot wait for the sequel....more
A love letter to the bustling streets of Tokyo and the people living their lives in them, this book follows a stray cat as it carelessly wanders arounA love letter to the bustling streets of Tokyo and the people living their lives in them, this book follows a stray cat as it carelessly wanders around the city. Through a beautiful chain of interlinked stories, the cat's randomly chosen route allows the reader to connect the dots.
There's murder. There's poetry. Mixed media such as manga drawings and photographs. There's madness and sanity, broken relationships, lost love and people resurfacing and finding forgiveness after years of trying.
Oh, and there's robots too � though not in the way, one would expect.
In the opening story a tattoist gets commisioned to tattoo a map of the entire city on his client's back. He loses himself completely in the task, marveling at the interconnected web of street names and crossroads, buildings and trees. In the end, he loses his mind over the task, the jarring complexity of the city; like a puzzle that he will never finish. Reading this book had a similar effect. Though it's a hopeful and beautiful experience....more
This book has been standing on my bookshelf for so long, that I've entirely forgotten why I wanted to read it in the first place.
It has survived the jThis book has been standing on my bookshelf for so long, that I've entirely forgotten why I wanted to read it in the first place.
It has survived the journey from one apartment to another and several bookshelf purges. So many times, I've been holding it in my hands, wondering whether it had to go, or if I really wanted to read it.
For some reason, I've always kept it with me. Something that I'm now quite grateful for.
Because this was a pleasure to read. A familiar take on the almost Austenesque marriage plot; but in this case revolving around a woman with plenty of suitors, but a strict family trying to live up to what's expected of them � and of a potential marriage.
There's drama. Scorned suitors, scolding marriage advisors, and a younger sister arranging secret meetings. All set in Japan against the backdrop of a forthcoming war.
While it was perhaps a bit too long in places, it was a bittersweet tale of a family gradually torn apart; of sisters and lovers and hope and disappointment. It was definitely worth the wait....more
As hard-hitting, heartbreaking and gut wrenching as ever. I first came across Wilfred Owen when reading Dulce et Decorum est at uni and have been fascAs hard-hitting, heartbreaking and gut wrenching as ever. I first came across Wilfred Owen when reading Dulce et Decorum est at uni and have been fascinated with his brutal war poetry ever since. ...more
I love reading Penguin Black Classics � because I never know what I'm going to find.
This turned out to be two short stories; one about faith and one aI love reading Penguin Black Classics � because I never know what I'm going to find.
This turned out to be two short stories; one about faith and one about family ties during the French Revolution. Both filled with wonderful insight and wit.
While the stories themselves perhaps don't make unforgettable reading experiences, the book has done its job as an appetizer and made me hungry for more. Which is the point with these tiny volumes after all. ...more
Over the years, it has almost grown into a physical and palpaple thing; my longing for the sea. It overpowers me when I least expect it, making the paOver the years, it has almost grown into a physical and palpaple thing; my longing for the sea. It overpowers me when I least expect it, making the pavement and the apartment buildings cave in around me to the point where I can hardly breathe.
I grew up by the sea. By the wild, roaring and fierce powers of Denmark's Western Coast. And when I close my eyes, I'm still there. Listening to the waves crashing in.
It's a hard thing to explain, this odd connection between the forces of nature and one's home. Yet Montgomery still manages it in the opening story of this collection, The Magical Bond of the Sea. Here a young woman tries to leave her homestead for better options and a brighter future � and throws it all away, just to be able to return.
In this short story collection, many of Montgomery's characters travels to the sea in order to spend a carefree holiday by the shores � some resulting in marriages or even tragedy. Many hearts get broken and mended, but the stories that truly touched me were the ones where Montgomery explores the fierce nature of the sea and the power it holds on its inhabitants.
Montgomery always excels in poetic descriptions of nature, possessing the ability of a photographer to magnify even the smallest details. As evidenced in quite a few of these short stories....more
A tragic love story � or at least, that's what it seems to be. I found the gender roles to be the most interesting subject in this book. The narrator A tragic love story � or at least, that's what it seems to be. I found the gender roles to be the most interesting subject in this book. The narrator keeps lamenting the fact that his wife was born a woman, when she'd have so many privileges as a man....more
I've only just realised how similar Gaskell and Dickens are. How synchronized their versions of England are; how they both lead their characters throuI've only just realised how similar Gaskell and Dickens are. How synchronized their versions of England are; how they both lead their characters through hard work and toil, through overlooked tragedies � only to conclude with endings with a heavy tinge of bitterness.
And so, it only seems that natural that the two writers in fact knew each other. That the short stories in this collection first appeared in Dickens' Household Words.
Most of all, these short stories are tales of work; of social stature and class hierarcy. Of women and their rights (or lack thereof) in marriage. While Gaskell does tend to preach a bit and depict her heroines as saints, her imagery of working class England is perfect as ever....more
Perhaps the least sentimental and most fun of Montgomery's short story collections that I've read so far.
And I did not expect this.
Perhaps because of Perhaps the least sentimental and most fun of Montgomery's short story collections that I've read so far.
And I did not expect this.
Perhaps because of its rather pompous title � or because of Montgomery's almost mythic descriptions of climbing to the alpine path that so beautifully runs through her entire authorship, I imagined this to be a rather solemn book about characters who had to fight, tooth and claw, to achieve their dreams.
Instead, it was a collection of lighthearted and rather silly tales about people who tricked their way into marriages or jobs or who stumbled on a stroke of luck. There's actually very little achievement in this book, and more coincidences. But that's what makes it fun.
However some of the stories are horribly dated and betrays a prejudiced world-view � and I would take this into consideration when starting the book. ...more
Loading...
