On the one hand, I very rarely read short story collections because I also have a strong desire to finish a book once I start, and if I read too many short stories in a row, I get irritated about not getting to spend more time with characters. Collections of short stories related to series don’t count since those are opportunities to experience short side adventures, thus having more time with beloved characters. On the other hand, Atwood’s Gertrude Speaks is one of my favorite […]
How to prove sentience? A meta-galactic version of Eurovision, of course!
It is the near future and life is far more prevalent in the galaxy than anyone had dreamed. Humanity learns this, much to their chagrin, when an Esca appears to each and every person on planet Earth simultaneously and explains they are not alone. It would be one thing to find out that aliens exist in an astonishingly wide variety but that was not the reason for the Esca’s visit. Instead, humanity was informed that they must prove their sentience in order to continue existence. […]
404: Girl Not Found
Never give up your voice for a man, you fucking guppy!” I don’t know how I missed melanir’s review of The Refrigerator Monologues last year. It ticks a lot of my boxes comic books feminism sarcasm I read melanir’s review before writing my own and there were many nods of agreement. The Refrigerator Monologues is a series of short stories told in the first person by the dead and sidelined women from comic books. The stories are loosely tied together by Paige Embry, the first […]
This is Jezebel in Hell
The Refrigerator Monologues by Catherynne M. Valente is a super meta, feminist, hilariously sarcastic novella about women in comic books. I’ve said before that Valente can be hit or miss with me, I love her and even the misses are still fantastic but sometimes her books don’t resonate with me. This one though? This one I devoured and I am considering going back for a second helping. It’s… great. If I’m really honest, it’s probably more of a four and a half star read (partly […]
Narfna, you’re my book lobster. Thanks for knowing exactly what I needed today.
I just got home (from book shopping, naturally) and found a lovely package from Narfna waiting for me. So amazing that she just KNEW I had finished The Wise Man’s Fear just last night and was in need of a new fantasy to keep me busy. Also, how gorgeous is that Catherynne Valente book? Can’t wait to read it. And Night Shift!!!! Amazing. Thanks so much. Your choices were perfect. Cannonball book exchange truly is the most wonderful time of the year.
A Constellation of Tales
Though the title makes it sound like it’s a collection of new stories, The Starlit Woods is a collection of re-told fairy tales. I had a different perception going into the book, though being a fan of retold fairy tales I didn’t mind that the stories were retellings and not completely original stories. This is a really good collection of stories and while there were a couple I wasn’t fond of, most were very compelling. I decided to check this book out because the list […]