Featuring an angry house and generations of angry women with varying relationships with said angry house (and the ghosts, and the spiritual world in gFeaturing an angry house and generations of angry women with varying relationships with said angry house (and the ghosts, and the spiritual world in general). ...more
This was lightweight but still thoughtful and fun. I wasn't sure what to expect from readers describing this as darkly comedic, but I was pleasantly sThis was lightweight but still thoughtful and fun. I wasn't sure what to expect from readers describing this as darkly comedic, but I was pleasantly surprised by how while yes, the humor was often dark and dry, this book still allowed itself to be enjoyably silly, too: (view spoiler)[the clones not even needing to discuss the method by which they'd decide which one of them would die: they simply break out into a game of rock, paper, scissors; the threesome with Mickey's gf (hide spoiler)]. While Mickey was an annoyingly smartass protagonist, I appreciated his interest in ethics, philosophy, and history, which was well-earned and both worked through and demonstrated on the page. I also appreciated his very clear anti-genocide beliefs. The plot was a mess, and like with a lot of sf, I wanted more of the aliens! But I enjoyed this, and I'm going to read the next....more
A romance anthology of original standalone novellas, each featuring an uptight protagonist who, well, becomes undone. It's a strong collection, with eA romance anthology of original standalone novellas, each featuring an uptight protagonist who, well, becomes undone. It's a strong collection, with each contribution examining different facets of the prickly/well-ordered/starchy archetypal character, and it was a joy to see the different romantic dynamics in each story bloom.
"Appasionata" (Emma Barry, a new-to-me author) was exquisitely emotional, in all the best ways. I enjoyed the romantic territory created by Brennan and Kristy both confronting their their self-imposed limits and challenging each other. I love the uptight hero archetype in general, and Brennan was a fine character, but honestly? Kristy and her ambitions and her fears and her liberation stole the show for me.
"Caught Looking" (Adriana Herrera) is connected to Herrera's Dreamers series but can stand alone. I loved how both the decades of friendship and the possibility of romance were built here, intertwined and still creating friction. It was angsty and funny all at once. Herrera's so good at first-person POV, and every time she switched between Yariel and Hatuey, I was so excited to get to get back into both of their heads, impatient to see how they were dealing with each new revelation and insight and challenge.
"Yes, And..." (Ruby Lang, another new-to-me author, though I think most of her books already reside on my TBR, lucky me) was both funny and sweet. Darren and Joan were both so careful and considerate, and it was lovely watching them lay claim to bigger ideas of their selves than they thought they were capable of.
"Tommy Cabot Was Here" (Cat Sebastian) is the only historical, and it was my favorite story of the anthology. There was such a nice mixing of past and present, with Everett and Tommy now both back in town at/near the school where they'd grown up and fallen in love. I like how much kindness and thoughtfulness was in their dynamic--and how that didn't mean they didn't/won't make mistakes, won't hurt each other unintentionally, but it did mean they were both working with hopefulness and love toward something new.
(I DNFed Olivia Dade's story, which I feel bad about; I've historically bounced off her writing style, and this novella was no exception, despite my affection for dioramas.)
FTC Disclosure: I received an advance review copy of this book....more
I liked the prose (there was one writing trick I was tracking--(view spoiler)[specific moments when the narrator chose to describe someone's body partI liked the prose (there was one writing trick I was tracking--(view spoiler)[specific moments when the narrator chose to describe someone's body part as disembodied or depersonalized (hide spoiler)]--and I was rewarded at a climactic moment for paying that attention), and I liked all the Bruno stuff (possibly I'm just a soft touch when it comes to weirdos contemplating prehistory). But aside from enabling the main character to be the kind of protagonist Kushner likes to write about, the spy side of the story didn't do anything vital. Yeah, yeah, the cynicism and soullessness was the point, but, like, narrative-ly wise, there wasn't much interesting friction to enjoy....more
This was so much fun! As a bunch of figures of pulp horror begin to congregate and conspire in preparation for a potential unleashing of cosmic horrorThis was so much fun! As a bunch of figures of pulp horror begin to congregate and conspire in preparation for a potential unleashing of cosmic horror on a Halloween full moon (some are pro! some are anti! some are...there!), their animal familiars also congregate and conspire among themselves. This is narrated by a watchdog named Snuff, who along with his master Jack is an old hand at this Game, and when I tell you I love Snuff very, very much...! (I also was endeared by all the other familiars, except [redacted] and [redacted].)
Because this is divided into 32 chapters comprising an introductory prologue + daily accounts of the month of October, other readers often advise reading this one chapter a day in October. I was doubtful that that kind of schedule would work for me on an initial read, because a) I'm an impatient reader who likes to have things whole in her head and to finish them, and b) I was uncertain I had the pulp horror background to really get the most out of this book, anyway. I'm pleased with my choice to just forge on ahead, on both counts, because I knew enough about the horror archetypes (and all the Lovecraftian nonsense) from cultural osmosis to still enjoy this book, even if some of the more specific details went over my head. I can definitely see how this is a fun annual group re-read for so many people.
A couple other things:
It has possibly my favorite grave robbing scene in all of literature--it made me laugh out loud to picture it.
The friendships and alliances and strategizing among the familiars was one of the best parts, and like I said, I loved Snuff so much.
I loved one plot twist a lot because I was not expecting it, and the consequences were delightful. (view spoiler)[Both of the reveals re: Bubo! Who he was! What he does! What a good rat! (hide spoiler)]...more
This was where I started my 2024 National Book Awards reading, and I enjoyed it a lot: I was on its wavelength when it came to metaphors and to puzzliThis was where I started my 2024 National Book Awards reading, and I enjoyed it a lot: I was on its wavelength when it came to metaphors and to puzzling out verb tenses, and I really enjoyed that aspect of it. If you want to wade and wallow in the idea of the concept of memory, and how narrative warps around what you think of the concept of memory, you might also have a good reading experience with this. I couldn't always meet the book plot-wise, but in the give-me-themes-and-metaphors-and-askewed-emotions sense, I enjoyed this....more
This was so good. I was surprised by some of the emotional turns (the characters were, too!), and I was impressed by how well said turns were set up bThis was so good. I was surprised by some of the emotional turns (the characters were, too!), and I was impressed by how well said turns were set up beforehand....more
Me, joining in the conversation nearly a century post-publication: charlieredstringpepesilvia.gif (view spoiler)[I understand that ambiguity is both tMe, joining in the conversation nearly a century post-publication: charlieredstringpepesilvia.gif (view spoiler)[I understand that ambiguity is both the thematic and practical point, and that the ambiguity gap is done so elegantly, but omg IRENE TOTALLY PUSHED CLARE WHY ELSE WOULD THERE HAVE BEEN THE PARALLEL GESTURE WHERE SHE FLICKS HER GLOWING CIGARETTE OUT THE WINDOW!! (hide spoiler)]
Anyway, very good book, all the accolades are right....more
A couple important things in this installment: there is a very good dog (literal) in this one and Li Haku, also a very good dog (metaphRibbit, ribbit.
A couple important things in this installment: there is a very good dog (literal) in this one and Li Haku, also a very good dog (metaphorical), has been assigned to be his handler; there are some good horror stories and good discussion of them in the usual TAD sense (in that Maomao analyzes them scientifically and anthropologically); and when things come to, um, a head between Maomao and Jinshi, she resorts to using some enjoyably ridiculous language for it. BLESS.
Notes to myself, in case I don't re-read before the next installment: (view spoiler)[Jinshi in disguise(?) or at least masked at the summer retreat and with a hidden identity, he and Maomao survive a firearm-based assassination attempt by jumping off a waterfall, shenanigans are going on re: the investigation of his disappearance, a set-up with arrow identifications, but Maomao and the dog and probably Li Haku (witlessly, for the latter) are going to solve it all (hide spoiler)]...more
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