Scott Graham
Contains spoilers
- The author, Annie Jacobsen, takes a worst case scenario of insane actors, lack of communication, slow-to-be-made decisions and weaves them together in a nuclear war that escalates from limited to full out superpower involvement. Told in a minute by minute fashion, she ratchets up the tension as people and systems fail mankind until the inevitable ending. Informative, depressing, but compelling in the telling.
Contains spoilers
Told in two parts essentially, part one is a thought provoking exploration of author Sebastian Junger's close call with death, and either a unique glimpse into the afterlife, or the imaginings of his dying brain.
The second part describes Mr Junger's pursuit to understand what happened, what it might mean for each of us to be alive and then to not be alive, and how the universe accounts for it all. Spoiler: nothing is decided, but many interesting facts are explained that may impact that meaning. Food for thought.
I assume this novel was a roman à clef, written in prose, hitting you like poetry and fine art. Lyrical and visual, it's difficult to navigate because your eyes and your mind often fail to work in concert.
Your eyes, familiar with the mechanics of reading keep moving forward in the text while your mind wanders through the painting that Ocean Vuong has created with his words, so I found myself rereading passages quite often; my comprehension was still back at buffaloes careening off a cliff while my eyes had just finished a passage about monarch butterflies. The fault is mine and not the author's. I enjoyed it immensely, found the characters of Little Dog, Rose, Lan, and Trevor compelling, each in their own way, sometimes comical, occasionally infuriating, and in a few cases sadly tragic. I will reread it again, and be better prepared to go at the lazy, indulgent pace that the novel cries out for and deserves.
A dense analysis of the history and music of Steely Dan through its permanent and transient members, its music, and the characters in the songs from Steely Dan, or characters both real and fictional related to the same. Highly recommended for Dan fans and enthusiasts. Others should listen to the music of Steely Dan for a couple decades before diving in to the deep end, because I kid you not, this book is the deep end and there ain't no lifeguards.
An exploration of the life of Joan Lindsay, the author of the novel, The Picnic at Hanging Rock, the novel, and movie adaptation. The synchronicities and coincidences in the life of the author, the probable mysteries the story was based on, and the open ended nature of the story has remained with me for 45 years. This book does not resolve the mystery of what happened to the girls of Appleyard College or its real life equivalent, but it is a satisfying investigation into why the book was written and film adaptation made. Primarily it is a description of the extraordinary woman who may have lived the mystery, dreamt of the story, put it to paper, and oversaw its film adaptation in a small way. Well worth the time of the fan of the novel and/or the movie.
An appendix to Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell of sorts, the story is paced and illustrated as a child's story, but with a dark grey undertone that suggests that it's more of a whimsy for adults.
Some children that are not prone to fearful reactions to the unknown, and the most mild of suggestions of death would also like it, especially for its connection to Christmas, however tangential it might be. As an amply illustrated short story, it is a quick read, but satisfying nonetheless.
Beautifully written but at times too dense. The story of a mixed race journeyman actor from the 1960s through the pandemic era 2020s left me cold.
Supporting characters were more relatable than the leads, but unfortnately walked on and off the page with little fanfare. The lead character had no depth, and if that was the intention, then well done I say.
This anthology of short stories by Ken Liu is a mixed bag of satisfying and unsatisfying. The stories with a more traditional structure are, for the most part, the more satisfying of the collection. Some of the earlier stories in the collection are more experimental in subject matter and narrative but are less engaging because they either read like a text book or require the reader to make some decisions on the author's intentions for themself. Overall it's an interesting set of stories with a few that range from fever dream to thought experiment, with varying results for this reader.
Contains spoilers
Lie with Me lived up to its reputation. Read everything; the author reveals the ending before the story begins. Bittersweet, and full of sorrow, for the things that might have been but could not be. Mild spoilers follow.
Should the deal have been broken? Should the phone call have been made? Would things have turned out differently? Were there 2 or 3 lead characters? What were the intentions of the putative 3rd character's penultimate and last actions? I'm not haunted by the questions, but they DO nag at me a little.
Highly recommended, as long as you don't require a HEA ending.
Contains spoilers
This tale of Native Americans in Oakland CA converging at a Pow Wow in Oakland Coliseum is slow paced for the first three-quarters as we are introduced to all the ins a d outs of the characters, then switches gears in part IV and finishes at 120 mph. The description of the continued life struggle of these people displaced by the European migration is depressing, but effectively told. The characters are all interesting and Tommy Orange gives them all some level of sympathy, even the villains of the piece. The devestating ending is almost a fait accompli. I had a strong visceral reaction to the end, particularly one death, and subtracted a star for that reason.
The Hole is an mildly unsettling tale of the wife in a couple moving into a house owned by her husband's parents. Nothing appears normal to the reader, but the characters don't seem to notice; nothing much happens. and the reader is left with the bagagge of unease picked up along the way. The translation into English is very good although it reads a bit literal at times. Recommended for readers looking for a novella that will leave you with an unsettled feeling.
Otherwise it's not for the reader looking for a good tale that goes somewhere and does something.
A lovely story about special children in a home intended to keep them safe from the world, and the world safe from them. As the protagonist learns to love the children and find love for himself, he spreads his wings (figuratively) and having emerged from his self-imposed cocoon, acts for the protection and betterment of the inhabitants of the titular house on the cerulean sea. Told in a Grimms Fairy Tale fashion, the author's prose fits the story well, which makes the immersion into the magical world of the novel easy for the reader. Although a skinch heavy-handed at times, the tale has the right message. Who can resist a winsome son of satan?
I wanted to love it but I only liked it very much. Most of it I had already learned through various interviews and one-man-shows. If you're new to Mel Brooks' personal and professional story, then this is an excellent book to learn all you need to know about Mel Brooks' formative years both in youth and profession. Well written and at times funny, but always entertaining, it just seemed to be a little bit perfunctory.
Another good reading experience from Mr. Barzak. I enjoy his stories of the living interacting with the dead very much. This novel involving the destruction of a town by a cluster of tornadoes, as told through the post-cataclysmic experiences of the young female protagonist, was apparently intended for a young adult audience but that doesn't preclude a more mature reader from enjoying it. There isn't a lot of depth to the ideas presented here; it's straight plot with little character development beyond the protagonist, and not much exploration of the idea behind how a sudden death might leave someone stranded on this side of the veil. I started and finished the book during the 2020 SARS-CoV-2 outbreak, so that was what the times called for, an enjoyable and well-written easy read.
Another Compelling Story from Mr Barzak.
A very imaginative and compelling read, more overtly magical than One for Sorrow and The Love We Share..., but just as wrapped up in love and death as each. Strongly recommended. Note to author: I look forward to reading your autobiography one day. There has got to be a very interesting story behind your unique vision.
An illuminating examination of the island and people of Tangier Island, VA. Without going into the details, I do admit that although I found the book interesting, well-written, and often compelling, I also think that it paints a less than flattering picture of the inhabitants who cling to a way of life that is literally disappearing around them. Although some will find their resolute determination to pursue their life in the Chesapeake crab grounds and oyster beds admirable, others will see their unforgiving piety and deliberate blindness as arrogant and repugnant. Worth reading? Definitely. Don't be surprised if you end the book with no sympathy for the inhabitants of the island which is swiftly becoming an archipelago before it sinks into the bay, perhaps ironically to host new generations of the blue crabs that they make their livelihood.
