An excerpt from my review of We Kiss Them With Rain by South African writer Futhi Ntshingila, which can be read in its entirety over at Necessary Fiction. It might be the mood I’m in, but I’m finding subtle allusions to the Victorian-era in quite a few of the books I’ve been reading. Frankenstein In Baghdad is the most blatant call-out, but there’s also The … Continue reading We Kiss Them With Rain by Futhi Ntshingila
Books can develop personalities separate from the characters and author. This is not true for every book – I’m not endorsing some new form of literary theory based on the psychoanalysis of literature. But sometimes it does happen. For example – Blood Meridian, by Cormac McCarthy is definitely a sociopath. Mundane day-to-day existence and violence are so enmeshed that they easily transition in and out … Continue reading Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson: A Novel is Jerome Charyn’s love letter to the poet. He admits as much in his author’s note. His attachment is not unusual. Others have attempted first person, fictionalized accounts of Dickinson’s life. What is astonishing is the skill with which he assumes the voice of the poet, completely capturing the ferocity of her attachments and the violence in … Continue reading Blog Tour: The Secret ‘Inner’ Life of Emily Dickinson by Jerome Charyn
Milk & Cookies. Chocolate & Peanut Butter. Zombies & Bloggers. The best things in life come in pairs. Mira Grant’s Newsflash Trilogy takes her readers into a world where the people no longer trust the conventional news media, we’ve cured cancer and the common cold… and side effects include lots of moaning and attempting to eat your neighbors after you die. Georgia (George) & Shaun … Continue reading FEED by Mira Grant
Nada is a strange novel. I’m not completely sure what to make of it. Spanish literature can often have a labyrinthine quality to it, which isn’t surprising when you remember that Spain gave us Gaudi, Dali & Picasso. It’s a theme picked up by contemporary Spanish authors like Zafon; in films like Pan’s Labyrinth; and in Nada, Carmen Laforet’s award winning 1944 novel – translated … Continue reading Nada by Carmen Laforet (translated by Edith Grossman)
READER AT LARGE 