One of the strangest novels I’ve ever read and as tedious as anything I’ve ever read. A few scenes memorably described, but this book deserves its repOne of the strangest novels I’ve ever read and as tedious as anything I’ve ever read. A few scenes memorably described, but this book deserves its reputation of being very unsatisfactory....more
A beautiful collection that is clearly a spiritual blueprint for Winter in the Blood.
His sins were numerous, this wrong man. Buttes were good to listenA beautiful collection that is clearly a spiritual blueprint for Winter in the Blood.
His sins were numerous, this wrong man. Buttes were good to listen from. With thunder- hands his father shaped the dust, circled fire, tumbled up the wind to make a fool. Now the fool is dead. His bones go back so scarred in time, the buttes are young to look for signs that say a man could love his fate, that winter in the blood is one sad thing....more
Yes, that’s right, I read it. Wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Mixed feelings, but overall I have to wonder at the revelation—I think in oneYes, that’s right, I read it. Wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Mixed feelings, but overall I have to wonder at the revelation—I think in one way it’s a very beautiful and full, loving portrait of a human being in her naked complexity. In another it’s a full portrait of a human being in her naked complexity when she’s not here to gainsay and it feels to me like a betrayal. Of something sacred. This book is probably a huge mistake....more
A book that gets better as it goes along; some really interesting pieces, some clunkers, some written in a beguiling voice, some kind of bland. By theA book that gets better as it goes along; some really interesting pieces, some clunkers, some written in a beguiling voice, some kind of bland. By the end however, I’m ready to read anything she’s written. Particular standouts are the title story, the exorcism story, the breathless lawyer, and the final piece about life under los Zetas....more
A devastating and beautiful, compact, tight little hardboiled tragedy of a novel—immediately among my favorites. My edition has an introduction by LouA devastating and beautiful, compact, tight little hardboiled tragedy of a novel—immediately among my favorites. My edition has an introduction by Louise Erdrich and I’m fairly haunted by the way she puts it:
“To me, the absence of personal affect in the narrator is more about the modesty of his despair.�
In light of how deeply mournful this novel is that’s hard to stop thinking about.
The novel itself is so tightly crafted. There are innumerable small touches that end up carrying a lot of thematic water. The descriptions of the natural world and work are superb, and juxtapose some very fine, very hellish hardboiled city/town scenes that in turn revolve around a curious little plot that feels loose and breezily plotted until it isn’t. Winter in the Blood quietly swings for the fences....more
An outstanding collection without a single weak, uninteresting piece. I found myself challenged and provoked agreeably on every single carefully craftAn outstanding collection without a single weak, uninteresting piece. I found myself challenged and provoked agreeably on every single carefully crafted page. Self’s nonfiction and journalism are DENSE with learning and the way he presents this learning to the reader is provocative in the way that the best friendships are....more
Didion’s best writing is all about equatorial spycraft, war, and esoteric politics. This falls into the top third of her work, in my opinion. Svelte, Didion’s best writing is all about equatorial spycraft, war, and esoteric politics. This falls into the top third of her work, in my opinion. Svelte, beautifully observed, sadly relevant....more
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