This French novel set in Alaska was a best-seller, but I just couldn't get into it. There are multiple characters, each with their POV. Information drThis French novel set in Alaska was a best-seller, but I just couldn't get into it. There are multiple characters, each with their POV. Information dribbles out, and the mysteries deepen. I couldn't keep it all straight in my echo-y head, and the way more and more information kept leaking out made me feel toyed with.
Not sure when this book was supposed to be set, but the Alaska details did not ring true for me. But what do I know? I've never been to Alaska (but I have peered across the border into Alaska from Yukon).
As is typical for me, at this point I blame myself, not the book, blah blah blah, I'm too busy gardening and swatting black flies and cannot enjoy a good blizzard in Alaska right now. Sorry.
A classic spooky tale, of the sort where corrupt intentions are rewarded in kind.
This is a story about gambling, or perhaps it is a morality tale. ActA classic spooky tale, of the sort where corrupt intentions are rewarded in kind.
This is a story about gambling, or perhaps it is a morality tale. Actually, as I reflect on it, there is quite a bit going on considering it it only a few pages long....more
An allegorical tale, an early example of the now-popular "shifter" genre in fiction,—in which a man watches his wife connect to her animal nature. TheAn allegorical tale, an early example of the now-popular "shifter" genre in fiction,—in which a man watches his wife connect to her animal nature. The transformation is both sudden and then gradual.
There are touches here of the complicated feelings sharing one's wife with another man; gossip from Garnett's own life indicates this shading is informed by experience.
I didn't love this story very much, took me several tries to get through it, and I was often bored. I'm going to round down to 2 stars, because I can, and who cares....more
The imagination of women is especially adapted to the various little conventions and mysteries of polite society.
An early "ghost story" from Henry JamThe imagination of women is especially adapted to the various little conventions and mysteries of polite society.
An early "ghost story" from Henry James, one that is relatively straightforward and simply rewarding.
Is it normal to effuse about punctuation? Yes! I was thrilled here to encounter multiple examples of a combination comma and dash,—quite sensational yet perfectly understated.
But there is more to this short story than quirky old-fashioned type-setting. There is also character development, subtle plotting and foreshadowing, scene-setting, and emotional verisimilitude,—all contributing to a quietly powerful and rewarding story from the mysterious depths of Henry James....more
Written at a time when caddish rakes in pursuit of "fur, feathers, and girls" were seen as humorous types, this short story will certainly put some reWritten at a time when caddish rakes in pursuit of "fur, feathers, and girls" were seen as humorous types, this short story will certainly put some readers off by the carelessly predatory inclinations of Ringwood and Bates.
I was particularly amused when Ringwood encountered a "one-eyed horse dealer". I wondered if this was a person with one eye, or perhaps a dealer who specialized in one-eyed horses.
Rakish cads, rootless young wastrels, often get their comeuppance in fiction. If that is what you want to happen, you will not be disappointed....more
Historical fiction, set in small town 1950s western Canada, based on the friendship between two boys — one white and one First Nations.
When I picked tHistorical fiction, set in small town 1950s western Canada, based on the friendship between two boys — one white and one First Nations.
When I picked this book up I didn't realize it was the sequel to a prior novel (my heart always sinks a bit when I find this out; publishers often don't mention it).
The plot here is convoluted, and at times the plot overwhelms the characters and setting. The novel deals with racism and stigma, as well as the individual things we all have that we are ashamed about. There are touches of magic realism at critical moments, especially regarding elements of First Nations spiritual beliefs and practices; however these are all shown through the vehicle of the white boy.
The plot was a bit much for me, but I managed to wade through to the other side. I did find myself thinking about some of the characters later, such as the boys' fathers, who are both present but are little seen. The mothers are the ethical force, and the source of wisdom and compassion. The white boy's father in particular is damaged....more
Originally published as "Flowers for Mrs Harris" this novel was written in the 1950s and evokes an even earlier, simpler time, when people knew their Originally published as "Flowers for Mrs Harris" this novel was written in the 1950s and evokes an even earlier, simpler time, when people knew their place and the class system was firmly entrenched.
"Mrs Harris Goes to Paris" is a much better title, although the Brits do insist on the apostrophe in order to telegraph the accent (and the class).
While this short novel somewhat redeems itself by the end, it is riddled and infused with the attitudes of the time regarding gender roles and (dare I say it again) class.
Honestly, I mostly hated this book, had never even heard of the "major motion picture", but one or two of my withered sentimental heartstrings managed to be tugged, at least a tiny bit, and that was enough to give this 3 stars. Also — it is a cultural artifact of the 1950s, a land so far away and long gone. (But may be coming back. Gulp)....more
he found nothing but a degenerate, dissembling mob of bestial fops, who seemed to be an unbeautiful mixture of all the animal species
Ah dear old Hermahe found nothing but a degenerate, dissembling mob of bestial fops, who seemed to be an unbeautiful mixture of all the animal species
Ah dear old Hermann Hesse! Such an upbeat assessment of the human race.
This story gives a long introduction to Ziegler, emphasizing how average he is, how utterly unremarkable in every way. All the many unremarkable aspects are listed and detailed.
It's been many years since I've read any Hermann Hesse. Perhaps I'll wait another few decades before reading anything more. ...more
At that time, my father was definitely dead. He had been dying a number of times, always with some reservations that forced us to revise our attitude At that time, my father was definitely dead. He had been dying a number of times, always with some reservations that forced us to revise our attitude toward the fact of his death. This had its advantages.
A blend of Kafka and some bizarre folk tale about the nature of grief and letting go, this Polish short story features magic realism, metamorphosis, and the bumpy process of letting go.
When family members die, aspects of them do linger in the furniture and their belongings. Memories pop up unexpectedly; fragments skitter though the mind. This story can be seen as a teaching on impermanence — a topic of universal importance.
What do you think it means, that I have a soft spot for magic realism?...more
Modern writing, it is hoped, has passed the stage where simple events are stated in the void without any clue as to the psychological and hereditary fModern writing, it is hoped, has passed the stage where simple events are stated in the void without any clue as to the psychological and hereditary forces working in the background to produce them.
A playful narrative, a writer playing with the reader, teasing our notions the nature of storytelling, acknowledging how much interaction is necessary (and normally unmentioned) between readers and writer.
We now approach the really important part of the plot, the incident which gives the whole story its significance.
I was utterly charmed by this declaration; in equal parts I was pleasantly baffled by the events of this story. It is such thin gruel to have formed the basis of a satisfying meal, and yet O'Brien manages a narrative miracle....more
When one is in the mood for harsh humour, some biting satire, a dash of irreverence, and lashings of crude and rude, The Simpsons never fail to hit thWhen one is in the mood for harsh humour, some biting satire, a dash of irreverence, and lashings of crude and rude, The Simpsons never fail to hit the spot.
An early story from a writer that offers insight into the progression of a Japanese master's craft.
"Deep in h"everywhere beauty and strength were one"
An early story from a writer that offers insight into the progression of a Japanese master's craft.
"Deep in his heart the young tattooer concealed a secret pleasure, and a secret desire."
Sadomasochism is a twisty blade that cuts in all directions, and the young tattooer is obsessed and manipulative. The story is overwrought, the fanciful plot tenuously strung from a thin thread of eroticism.
The notion of torture attracts the tattooist, and he also sets up the means to be tortured by his creation. Such is the nature of a secret desire....more
Shades of the life of Buddha — a sheltered member of the ruling class discovers the tawdry reality of the world outside the palace gates.
Shades of TheShades of the life of Buddha — a sheltered member of the ruling class discovers the tawdry reality of the world outside the palace gates.
Shades of The Picture of Dorian Gray — a painting has magical properties, capturing and containing an extra-vivid world; also offers escape.
Shades of a coming-of-age story, wherein young Ling, afraid of his own shadow, has his eyes opened by a chance encounter with an older mystical artist. This enigmatic guru/painter consumes Ling's life, painting him as a princess and his wife as a prince, in the process stealing her beauty. A portrait of Ling's wife as a sprite among clouds foreshadows her death.
I enjoyed the clunkiness here, the unusual grammar, the mysterious circumstances. A fantasy story that lives in the land of pure art, where art overshadows — and outwits — the machinations of humans....more
This is a fresh slangy voice, set in the Canary Islands. The narrative is disjointed and aimless, and eventually I reached my saturation point for aimThis is a fresh slangy voice, set in the Canary Islands. The narrative is disjointed and aimless, and eventually I reached my saturation point for aimless chaos.
DNF at 60%.
I appreciated the playful quirky language, which must have proved a challenge for the translator. For example a couple making out outside were called hornballs / hornballers.
Some readers list this as lgbtq, but I would not. Same-sex crushes in childhood are nothing more than a same-sex crush — no need to read more into it. (Of course, I don't know what happened after I drifted away).
Perhaps at a mother time in my life I might have been able to give this book the attention it deserves....more
An old-fashioned type of tale, which presents a story told to a traveller in a tavern after buying a loquacious local a pint or two. We don't learn muAn old-fashioned type of tale, which presents a story told to a traveller in a tavern after buying a loquacious local a pint or two. We don't learn much about the traveller, but that is normal in this type of short story.
The story we hear, rendered in the dialect of the story teller is (unsurprisingly) about a white cat with one blue eye and "one yaller eye" who is at the centre of a dispute about inheritance. Local personalities, jealousies, lies and tricks — and that is just the people in the story. The original owner of the cat — "the fuss 'e made o' that cat was sinful."
(Such a cat is likely to be deaf, but that is not a feature of this tale.)
I thought I didn't know this author, but it turns out he wrote The Monkey's Paw which has been widely anthologized....more
A short story whose cultural touchstones are circa 1845, such as a reference to "John Randolph" and which assumes a familiarity with the nature and prA short story whose cultural touchstones are circa 1845, such as a reference to "John Randolph" and which assumes a familiarity with the nature and processes of "mesmerism".
I'll make a small confession: if I was compiling a list of my favourite authors, no matter the length of that list I would never think of including Edgar Allan Poe.
There, I feel better just getting that off my chest. Confession is good for the soul.
I was more amused by the detail in the blurb here, that when first published the story was not labeled as fiction and so many readers took it to be true. Ah, the fake news of the day!
Back to the story, the facts in the case of Voldemort (I think that's what he was called). This is the prototype of the zombie story, the birth (if one can say that) of the undead.
This is V when still feeling relatively spry: His face wore a leaden hue; the eyes were utterly lustreless; and the emaciation was so extreme that the skin had been broken through by the cheek-bones. His expectoration was excessive. The pulse was barely perceptible. He retained, nevertheless, in a very remarkable manner, both his mental power and a certain degree of physical strength.
After being "mesmerized in articulo mortis" I'm afraid poor old V's condition did not improve.
Don't think I ever read this one before; poor little Oliver's dreary circumstances would not have appealed to me as a child.
This novel has more "twistDon't think I ever read this one before; poor little Oliver's dreary circumstances would not have appealed to me as a child.
This novel has more "twists" than a soap opera! The plot was contrived, the coincidences quite remarkable. At times I was gripped but at other times I was bored, and once, just once, my eyes rolled right out of my head. Oops!
Dickens, though — you can see here the groundwork for some of his later novels. There are also many insights into human nature, such as one scene with Fagin and Oliver and Dickens describes (without using the words) gaslighting and Stockholm syndrome.
Dickens employs a droll humour to great effect, often stating the opposite of what is meant to be conveyed (for example, at the coffin-maker, the boy Noah who is a charity boy but not a workhouse orphan, is mean and arrogant towards Oliver. Dickens has this to say: It shows us what a beautiful thing human nature sometimes is, and how impartially the same amiable qualities are developed in the finest lord and the dirtiest charity-boy.
There are many distressing elements in this novel, not least of which is Fagin being persistently labeled as "the Jew" (my edition says Dickens revised the text for book form and substitutes Fagin for some of the references to "the Jew"; but many still litter the book).
My edition also claims Queen Victoria read the novel when it was first published, and so I often wondered what Victoria would have made of this scene or that scenario. There is a subtle classist elements here, where Oliver's resistance to bad behaviour is a sign of his good birth, but lower classes have no such aversion to venal behaviour and criminal tendencies.
4 stars because it is not the best of Dickens....more
A story of childhood infused with tradition and a marvellous white horse. The adults have a gentleness and wisdom unusual to see; the horse was "stoleA story of childhood infused with tradition and a marvellous white horse. The adults have a gentleness and wisdom unusual to see; the horse was "stolen" yet returned stronger than ever, and better-tempered.
How much of this is traditional Armenian culture, and how much is the magical thinking of childhood? We may never know, but in the meantime it is pleasing to listen for the tapping on the window, and be greeted by the sight of your favourite cousin (who was considered crazy by everyone but you) riding a beautiful white horse....more
Not quite as good as the first volume, wherein we meet the talented Mr. Ripley. In the second volume he is living on the spoils of his scheme, and allNot quite as good as the first volume, wherein we meet the talented Mr. Ripley. In the second volume he is living on the spoils of his scheme, and all is well . . . until the inevitable obstacles arise.
It must be said that while not as good as the first volume, this second volume is much better than the third. And that is as far as I went....more
Loading...
