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A review by bryce_is_a_librarian
Speaking with the Angel by
4.0
I usually don't buy Anthologies as at best they're like Mix Tapes with a few bum tracks, this one went for a good cause though and was put together by Nick Hornby so I figured hey why not it's got a few bum tracks but it's still pretty strong. A Bit of a Breakdown.
-PMQ, Robert Harris: Very funny very British FPS Account of a Prime Minister having a nervous breakdown, a bit dry but I dug it.
-The Wonder Spot: Mellisa Banks- Look I know Chick Lit is an unseemly putdown that dismisses the work without engaging it. I don't like to use it. That said this is fucking Chick Lit at its navel gazingiest worst. Bollocks
-Last Request: Giles Smith- Creepy story about an old spinster who cooks the last meals for prisoners on Death Row in a seemingly semi Orwellian future Britain. Like Good Shirley Jackson.
-Peter Shelley: Patrick Maber- I really liked this one, though I don't expect everyone to. After all 13 pages of Teenagers fucking is probably not everyones idea of great literature. But to me this really captures the heat of clumsy eager Teenage sex in away that most works dealing with the subject don't. And it's punk rock and tea fueled first encounter was similar enough to my own first few trips around the block to give me a warm feeling of affection and nostalgia. Of course I could also just be a big old dirty perv, so we can't rule that out. Surprisingly warm coming from the author of Closer.
-I'm The Only One: Zadie Smith- The Anorexic Supermodel of the bunch. Looks fine from far away but get up close and you realize a strong breeze could blow it away. Indulges Smith's worst habits allowing her to write a florid slice of life that doesn't feel like much of a slice or very life like and adds up to nil.
-Nipple Jesus: Nick Hornby- Solid Hornby. Real solid.
After I Was Thrown In The River And Before I Drowned- David Eggers: Well It's David Eggers which Means it was either A) Brilliant or B) Twee Pretentious Shit. Please choose accordingly. Given your foamy mouth bias.
Luckybitch- Helen Fielding- See this is Chick Lit I like.
The Slave- Roddy Doyle- Look I love Roddy Doyle but not when he decides that he needs to be James Joyce.
Catholic Guilt- Irvine Welsh- Wonderfully funny shaggy dog story with a pitch black sense of humor. Like Peter Shelley this one might piss alot of people off but I loved it. The story of a homophobe who gets a very unique Purgatory from St. Peter is more or less the definition of Love it or Hate it. It does after all feature a Priest getting anally violated by The Rape Ghost from Robot Chicken. Makes very good use of Welsh's trademark gutter poetry and keen sense of the obscene.
-PMQ, Robert Harris: Very funny very British FPS Account of a Prime Minister having a nervous breakdown, a bit dry but I dug it.
-The Wonder Spot: Mellisa Banks- Look I know Chick Lit is an unseemly putdown that dismisses the work without engaging it. I don't like to use it. That said this is fucking Chick Lit at its navel gazingiest worst. Bollocks
-Last Request: Giles Smith- Creepy story about an old spinster who cooks the last meals for prisoners on Death Row in a seemingly semi Orwellian future Britain. Like Good Shirley Jackson.
-Peter Shelley: Patrick Maber- I really liked this one, though I don't expect everyone to. After all 13 pages of Teenagers fucking is probably not everyones idea of great literature. But to me this really captures the heat of clumsy eager Teenage sex in away that most works dealing with the subject don't. And it's punk rock and tea fueled first encounter was similar enough to my own first few trips around the block to give me a warm feeling of affection and nostalgia. Of course I could also just be a big old dirty perv, so we can't rule that out. Surprisingly warm coming from the author of Closer.
-I'm The Only One: Zadie Smith- The Anorexic Supermodel of the bunch. Looks fine from far away but get up close and you realize a strong breeze could blow it away. Indulges Smith's worst habits allowing her to write a florid slice of life that doesn't feel like much of a slice or very life like and adds up to nil.
-Nipple Jesus: Nick Hornby- Solid Hornby. Real solid.
After I Was Thrown In The River And Before I Drowned- David Eggers: Well It's David Eggers which Means it was either A) Brilliant or B) Twee Pretentious Shit. Please choose accordingly. Given your foamy mouth bias.
Luckybitch- Helen Fielding- See this is Chick Lit I like.
The Slave- Roddy Doyle- Look I love Roddy Doyle but not when he decides that he needs to be James Joyce.
Catholic Guilt- Irvine Welsh- Wonderfully funny shaggy dog story with a pitch black sense of humor. Like Peter Shelley this one might piss alot of people off but I loved it. The story of a homophobe who gets a very unique Purgatory from St. Peter is more or less the definition of Love it or Hate it. It does after all feature a Priest getting anally violated by The Rape Ghost from Robot Chicken. Makes very good use of Welsh's trademark gutter poetry and keen sense of the obscene.