It was a dark and stormy night… As funny as it might seem to echo the opening sentence of Snoopy’s novel in the Peanuts cartoons, it’s an apt description of the atmosphere and ambience of Carlos Ruiz Záfon’s second novel in the Cemetery of Forgotten Books series, The Angel’s Game. For anyone who has ever spent time in Barcelona and remembers it as being a sunny, youthful and vibrant place, Záfon imbues his Barcelona of the 1930s as a dolorous, dark and mysterious city full of […]
Saga Saga
Target: Brian K. Vaughan’s Saga. Art by Fiona Staples. Collecting issues 7-18 Profile: Comics, Science Fiction, Space Opera It’s been too long, but I’m finally getting around to reviewingSaga Volume 2 and, as a limited time bonus offer, you get Volume 3 thrown in for free. Back when I first picked up this epic comic series, I noted that the one flaw holding it back was the lack of focus and development. To quote myself, “While many of the details needed for true long-term success are still […]
The Ocean at the End of the Lane
Quick Synopsis: A man remembers his childhood friend and her family, and the unlikely experiences he had with them Quick Review: One of the most beautiful, yearning, perfect books I’ve ever read. Read the full review here
The Winds of Marble Arch: Personal Correspondence and Travel Guides
Quick Synopsis: The second and third parts of the short story collection, dealing with letters and travel. Quick Review: Another four stories, two in each section. Newsletter was the standout of Personal Correspondence, a funny take on the traditional holiday newsletter. Nonstop to Portales was my favorite of Travel Guides. Read the full review here.
The Winds of Marble Arch: Weather Reports
Quick Synopsis: The first set of stories in Connie Willis’s massive collection of novellas and short stories, all dealing with weather or natural phenomena Quick Review: Four short stories, ranging from the fallout of the Blitz to the explosion of the sun. Daisy in the Sun was probably the standout for me of these. Read the full review here
Magical Quest in a Winter Wonderland
Though aimed at a younger audience, the novel reminded me a bit of His Dark Materials trilogy. I think that honestly just may be the animal side kick here that reminded me of the daemon familiars in Pullman’s story. Other than that, it’s probably more reminiscent of Narnia, with a human girl chosen to cross the borders between two worlds and save a magical, wintery land – in this case one where favorite, beloved pets go after they die. Full review. Also, this may be one of my favorite covers […]