shorter works
Jan. 17th, 2007 02:51 pmThis week, I explored Neil Gaiman's new anthology, Fragile Things, and a children's classic, David and the Phoenix by Edward Ormondroyd and Joan Raysor.
Fragile Things came as something of a disappointment. It has a lot of great stories in it, but many of them ("A Study in Emerald," "The Problem of Susan," "Bitter Grounds," "Harlequin Valentine," "Goliath") I had already read in other volumes. Very very sad. However, I deeply enjoyed "Strange Little Girls" and "Keepsakes and Treasures." My favorite line: "One day she won't love you, too. It will break your heart." I'd still give it three stars - it's not Gaiman's fault I chase him down in all sorts of strange places.
David and the Phoenix, on the other hand, was simply magical. What an amazing and wonderful book. I wish I had read it when I was smaller. The silliness and vanity of the Phoenix are charming, and David's loyalty and sense of wonder make me want to recapture my own childhood. If you haven't read it, then you should. Four stars.
Recently, I've noticed that I've been reading a lot of fluffy comfort-food kinds of books. That's all well and good, but woman cannot live on junk food alone. Does anyone have recommendations for a thoughtful book or two?
Fragile Things came as something of a disappointment. It has a lot of great stories in it, but many of them ("A Study in Emerald," "The Problem of Susan," "Bitter Grounds," "Harlequin Valentine," "Goliath") I had already read in other volumes. Very very sad. However, I deeply enjoyed "Strange Little Girls" and "Keepsakes and Treasures." My favorite line: "One day she won't love you, too. It will break your heart." I'd still give it three stars - it's not Gaiman's fault I chase him down in all sorts of strange places.
David and the Phoenix, on the other hand, was simply magical. What an amazing and wonderful book. I wish I had read it when I was smaller. The silliness and vanity of the Phoenix are charming, and David's loyalty and sense of wonder make me want to recapture my own childhood. If you haven't read it, then you should. Four stars.
Recently, I've noticed that I've been reading a lot of fluffy comfort-food kinds of books. That's all well and good, but woman cannot live on junk food alone. Does anyone have recommendations for a thoughtful book or two?
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Date: 2007-01-17 08:18 pm (UTC)I also really liked the Walter Isaacson biography of Benjamin Franklin.
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Date: 2007-01-18 02:14 am (UTC)I will check out that biography, though. Sounds good. :)
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Date: 2007-01-18 02:54 am (UTC)Blanche Cleans Up by Barbara Neely
and some thoughtful books, though I bet you and I have already read a lot of the same stuff, I'll still put out a few:
For Her Own Good by Barbara Ehrenreich (for when I forget my mission in life, but I bet more money that I have you've already read it)
A Language Older Than Words - Derrick Jensen