There is an understanding in Port Peter, that if someone abandons their baby to the bird women who live on the cliffs, that baby will be cared for. But there are exceptions, like Georgia. Now in her early twenties, Georgia’s life is complicated. She’s in a strange three-way relationship with priest Arlo and his wife, … Continue reading Review: Bird Suit, by Sydney Hegel (Invisible Publishing)
Review: Bad Dreams in the Night, by Adam Ellis (Andrews McMeel Publishing)
I love Adam Ellis’ work. Not only do his online comics always look incredibly sleek, his work is always original and absolutely terrifying. Bad Dreams in the Night (fantastic title) is filled with some brand new stories to give you the creeps. Here are my favorites: Me and Evangeline at the Farm - A great … Continue reading Review: Bad Dreams in the Night, by Adam Ellis (Andrews McMeel Publishing)
Review: What Kingdom, by Fine Gråbøl, translated by Martin Aitken (Archipelago)
What Kingdom is Dutch poet Fine Gråbøl’s debut novel, translated by Martin Aitken. Our unnamed, young narrator is navigating her life in a psychiatric care facility. Through direct, uncomplicated prose, we meet the fellow residents, follow the drudgery of organizing group meals and grocery shopping, and watch as caregivers come and go. For a book … Continue reading Review: What Kingdom, by Fine Gråbøl, translated by Martin Aitken (Archipelago)
Review: Myrrh, by Polly Hall (Titan Books)
Myrrh consists of three interwoven narratives, each intriguing in their own right. The titular Myrrh is trying to track down her birth father, who abandoned her mother shortly after impregnating her. She is also dealing with a goblin who lives inside her head. Marian is the wife of the aforementioned absent father, reflecting on this … Continue reading Review: Myrrh, by Polly Hall (Titan Books)
Review: A Better World, by Sarah Langan (Atria)
A new Sarah Langan book is an instant read for me, sorry TBR pile! Langan showed she is a master of domestic horror in her 2021 novel, Good Neighbors, and things get even more terrifying in her new book, A Better World. The planet is going to the dogs. Resources are scarce, and the air … Continue reading Review: A Better World, by Sarah Langan (Atria)
My Week in Reading, April 8th, 2024
What I’m Reading I finished Diavola, by Jennifer Thorne, which I loved. Her previous novel, Lute, is one of my recent favorites, and Diavola now joins that list. A family vacation in Italy goes incredibly wrong. I listened to the audiobook of The Purple Diaries, by Joseph Egan, which came highly recommended by a bookish … Continue reading My Week in Reading, April 8th, 2024
Review: A Different Sound – Stories by Mid-Century Women Writers, edited by Lucy Scholes (Pushkin Press)
Lucy Scholes does so much work to bring “forgotten” female writers into public consciousness. I am particularly thankful to her for ensuring the republishing of Kay Dick’s unnerving novel, They. With A Different Sound, Scholes has put together a fantastic primer for those interested in discovering some underrated women storytellers. The collection opens with The … Continue reading Review: A Different Sound – Stories by Mid-Century Women Writers, edited by Lucy Scholes (Pushkin Press)
Review: Anna, by Mia Oberländer, translated by Nika Knight (Fantagraphics)
Anna has a problem; she’s too tall for her small (and small-minded) German town. She receives little sympathy or support from her mother (also named Anna), who despairs at her daughter’s abnormality. Anna tries to navigate life towering above everyone else, tackling motherhood, and embracing her differences. Anna is a wonderfully charming and funny graphic … Continue reading Review: Anna, by Mia Oberländer, translated by Nika Knight (Fantagraphics)
Review: Tender, by Beth Hetland (Fantagraphics)
Oh man, this was a really tough read. Beth Hetland’s debut graphic novel is about the negative effects of social media, and how trying to “keep up” with societal expectations can prove to be our undoing. Carolann wants the kind of perfect life that she sees on Instagram. With no immediate romantic prospects, she engineers … Continue reading Review: Tender, by Beth Hetland (Fantagraphics)
Review: Green Frog, by Gina Chung (Vintage)
I was blown away by Gina Chung’s debut novel, Sea Change. Chung’s writing is so warm and charming, and this continues in her wonderful story collection, Green Frog. The opening, titular story is a wonderful snapshot of a character and a life. It’s a sweet tale about a young lady who has lost her mother, … Continue reading Review: Green Frog, by Gina Chung (Vintage)
California Reading 