The Boy Who Lost Fairyland by Catherynne M. Valente
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I’m kinda conflicted about this one, and it makes me sad, since I wanted to love it so much.
It’s not the change in characters so late in the series (only one more book to go): Hawthorn and Tamburlaine are lovely, especially the little troll’s struggle to understand human society and all its little quirks and unspoken rules that make absolutely no sense.
It’s not … (Read more)
The Art of Asking; or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Let People Help by Amanda Palmer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Part autobiography, part business insider, part long-form blog post, The Art of Asking is an insightful slice into Amanda Palmer’s mind and her relationship with the fans.
While inspired by her TED talk on the same topic, this book is (thankfully) not really a business model. Unlike those self-help books that try to translate life experiences … (Read more)
Conservation of Shadows by Yoon Ha Lee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
All right, the important bits first: if you haven’t read this book yet DO IT DO IT NOWWWWWWW. Ahem.
The only word that comes to describe this collection of short stories by Yoon Ha Lee is “astounding”. The author’s prose is rich and succulent, each phrase a meal in itself, at times reminding me of Borges and Cat Valente.
Most of the stories in the collection are … (Read more)
Since the snow had finally decided to give us a cease fire, and since all my American friends had been raving about it, yesterday we decided to go see what Birdman was all about.
Birdman really is a fantastic movie, both for the story, the acting, and the direction. Every single choice points to its focus on duality, real and imagined, stage and backstage. It’s made to look like it was shot all in one take, and there are very … (Read more)
Siamo andati ieri a vedere le mostre in esposizione Foro Boario di Modena. Nonostante l’altissima qualità di Mimmo Jodice, sono le foto di Kenro Izu che ci hanno particolarmente colpito per la loro potenza.
Luoghi sacri da tutto il mondo, isolati e privi di persone, ritratti con grandi grigi come le foto vittoriane a cui Izu si ispira. Spettacolare.
The Bread We Eat in Dreams by Catherynne M. Valente
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a wonderful anthology, and a perfect starting place for those who want to delve into the writings of Catherynne Valente without committing to a full novel.
I have read most of the stories in this anthology before and, on a second read, they don’t come as strong or shocking, but more like long-time friends or forgotten lovers with which to share a … (Read more)
Queers Dig Time Lords: A Celebration of Doctor Who by the LGBTQ Fans Who Love It by Sigrid Ellis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Most of the pieces in this collection deal with growing up with the Doctor (or Captain Jack, who features a whole lot in the first part of the book). There’s nothing wrong with writing an essay as your personal life story, but when they make up the majority of your book they all tend to … (Read more)
The Melancholy of Mechagirl by Catherynne M. Valente
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I had already read most of these stories separately, so reading them again together was like visiting a distant country for the second time: though the overall panorama has not changed, some things have moved, some have changed, some touch you in different ways.
I will leave judging the poetry to someone else, as that is not really my usual field. I liked Tsukayama Park better … (Read more)
Valour and Vanity by Mary Robinette Kowal
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Poor Jane and Vincent cannot get a break.
On the trip to Venezia their ship is assaulted by corsairs and all their goods are stolen, their host Lord Byron is nowhere in sight, and they’re now forced to face the city penniless, without documents nor a letter of presentation.
So begins the latest Glamourist book, a tale of deceptions, financial struggle, and heists. With nuns. And racing … (Read more)
File Under: 13 Suspicious Incidents by Lemony Snicket
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A brief respite from the main series, these are 13 short and fairly easy mysteries to solve in Stain’d-by-the-Sea, with the solutions in a separate section at the end of the book. Except the solutions seem to come with some extra information that seems to firm another mystery altogether…
Delightful as usual, this book gives a little more insight to the characters and location of the … (Read more)