ktymick's reviews
466 reviews

At times self-indulgent like the publishing of inside jokes, other times he contents himself to thunder down old testament proclamations, Eggers has published a peculiar work of sheer juxtaposition. For all its sparse, uncontextualized messages, Ungrateful Mammals can nothing without Egger's brisk, albeit full-bodied, doodles of various animals. To me, this work is about one man having fun with his hobby, each mammal affectionately drawn in equal parts sober and somber, often gazing disinterested off the page, exhibiting what I hope to be the new art movement called "Eggersian Ennui". Despite my yearning for answers behind these obscure images, I suppose one must learn to resign to this sage decree, put forth by one of Eggers's wide-eyed, tree branch-gripping squirrels: "The wind knows nothing / Don't flatter her with questions."

By the end you might be scratching your head, understandably perplexed, but I sense that most readers will do so with a wry smile.

Fantastic.

An historical fiction centering around an English gentleman, Richard Smith, who arrives in 1746 New York demanding a significant sum of capital without any expressed purpose. While the copy of his receipt proving the legitimacy of his claim is two months off from arriving by ship, Smith finds himself interacting with an odd, eclectic assembly of characters and customs in a town suspicious of his undeclared intent.

This quick read introduces characters in lively detail, containing narrative strands for an unlikely romance, dubious friendships, and the slow-burning reveal of Smith's purpose in New York. Spufford is a master of witty, clever dialogue and even more skilled at articulating ornate scenes of old New York's seedy, morally suspect societal life, and witnessing Smith flounder through the town and maneuvering its social circles sets the tone for a highly entertaining romp. This comedy of manners is ornamented with such a fine finish that it's a wonder that Golden Hill is only Spufford's first novel.

"I'm Jason Dessen and I have a perfect family. I love my life.

I have zero character depth.

The narrative themes in my tale are shallow so I undergo zero characterization change.

I want my family back. Everything in this story is a plot device to further the course of this motivation, including my family. My wife is gorgeous, perfect. Charlie, my son, is 15. This is why I love them. I need to get them back."

4.5 Stars

Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes could be the quintessential Halloween classic that readers of all ages can appreciate. The novel is buoyant enough on writing style alone, a dark and lyrical endeavor that might scare off the more casual reader. But those who option to follow Bradbury's two young protagonists into the midnight hours will feel just as heavily the sinister allure of the traveling carnival troupe that arrives like an apparition in their quiet Illinois town. As Will Halloway and Jim Nightshade encounter an odious panoply of unnatural occurrences during the carnival's stay, a narrative of good surmounting evil becomes clear. This relatively simple coming of age tale is nevertheless masterfully recorded, evoking an eerie, uncomfortable tone throughout. A perfect pick for the late October season, enlivening us before we slip forward into winter cold.

Here's someone else's review that encapsulates my misgivings near enough to exact:

"... the writing style is consistently one of the best things about this novel. I would perhaps question how appropriate it is in places. After all, if the book is intended for people the same age as Jim and Will (around 13-14) then why have a writing style that is so dense? On the other hand, if the book is meant for older readers, then why have such a contrived plot? There's a discrepancy there, between the story and the style, that severely hampers the book's effectiveness. It feels as though it's undergoing a mildly schizophrenic identity crisis, which can be off-putting." - http://strangehorizons.com/non-fiction/reviews/something-wicked-this-way-comes-by-ray-bradbury/

All in all, a great spooky read.