I read only nonfiction for years. Now, I'm getting back into fiction. (he/him)
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"I was born twice: first, as a baby girl, on a remarkably smogless Detroit day …
This is a great book. Good writing, engaging story, full characters. For some reason I couldn't get into it though, like it wasn't what I was looking for. But don't listen to me; it really is a wonderful book, and Eugenides is a wonderful writer.
A marvelous new novel from the Pulitzer Prize winning author of The Lowland and Interpreter …
Not really a novel. Nor related short stories. The gathered snippets are short scenes. All from the same narrator, but almost unrelated. The book gives a poetic sense of place and a melancholy feeling, but not much of a narrative.
Alma Cruz, the celebrated writer at the heart of The Cemetery of Untold Stories, doesn’t …
Epic storytelling (although not technically an epic) that takes you throughout a few characters and through the culture of the Dominican Republic. The device of the cemetery is excellent and the stories we tell ourselves and others are investigated thoroughly. The question still remains in the end as a good story will teach you about yourself but not give you an answer.
Alma Cruz, the celebrated writer at the heart of The Cemetery of Untold Stories, doesn’t want to end up like …
Content Warning: cultural racism and sexual harassment. (for the book, not the review)
One of the best titles about an enormous a**hole. And he is the 'good' guy. Great Leonard dialog from horrible Floridians.
A marvelous new novel from the Pulitzer Prize winning author of The Lowland and Interpreter of Maladies—her first in …
This is a review about the whole series since the success of this final book is completely dependent upon how it resolves. And it does conclude well. Of course in a jittery, amorphous plot, nothing will be completely resolved, but that's what you expect. If it were tied up nicely, it would be a cop-out, a Disney-fication. If you like the first book, continue through the rest of the series.
If, like I usually enjoy, you are looking for an emotional story, then you will be disappointed. I already knew VanderMeer's propensity toward the plot-driven, so I expected it. But I only lost the thread in the last part of the second book. The first and last are strongly consistent.
There are some really neat things done with these books. You do get to know the characters well despite the bouncing around in space and time. And the prose can …
This is a review about the whole series since the success of this final book is completely dependent upon how it resolves. And it does conclude well. Of course in a jittery, amorphous plot, nothing will be completely resolved, but that's what you expect. If it were tied up nicely, it would be a cop-out, a Disney-fication. If you like the first book, continue through the rest of the series.
If, like I usually enjoy, you are looking for an emotional story, then you will be disappointed. I already knew VanderMeer's propensity toward the plot-driven, so I expected it. But I only lost the thread in the last part of the second book. The first and last are strongly consistent.
There are some really neat things done with these books. You do get to know the characters well despite the bouncing around in space and time. And the prose can be both technical and poetic. It also gives the reader the feeling of what it might be like to loose one's self in the world; not a comfortable feeling but very interesting.
@loppear Thanks for this review. I hadn't heard of this book. Bookmarked it for later perusal.
“A scathing critique of capitalism that holds onto the humanity of its characters.” —Laura Zornosa, …
Like some reviews say, this novel is a scathing rebuke of the capitalist system, but that's not what it's about. It's about finding one's place in the world. It explores this using dreams and literally walking into them. But what's different is that McGhee uses a protagonist that has zero emotional awareness to explore the self.
It is super interesting to watch the protagonist flounder around his life. And with these disparate elements McGhee's brought together, I can say she's totally successful to the point of endearment.
Ted Chiang's first published story, "Tower of Babylon," won the Nebula Award in 1990. Subsequent …
The two stories of 'Stories of Your Life' (the inspiration of the movie Arrival) and 'Tower of Babylon' are very readable. The others are still great, but get technical. Chaing really is a great short story writer if you like the media.
Ted Chiang's first published story, "Tower of Babylon," won the Nebula Award in 1990. Subsequent stories have won the Asimov's …
“A scathing critique of capitalism that holds onto the humanity of its characters.” —Laura Zornosa, TIME
Jonathan Abernathy is a …
"I was born twice: first, as a baby girl, on a remarkably smogless Detroit day of January 1960; and then …
