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carol26388's review against another edition
5.0
Update: So Not Surprised... review was moved into the entire Apex Magazine edition
Review for "A Witches' Guide For Escape" by Alix Harrow
A boy who needs escape meets a librarian. As we all do.
"Because I am a librarian of the second sort, I almost always know what kind of book a person wants. It’s like a very particular smell rising off them which is instantly recognizable as Murder mystery or Political biography or Something kind of trashy but ultimately life-affirming, preferably with lesbians."
I love the mix of humor and sadness here. Harrow also has some lovely worth-smithing.
His caseworker was one of those people who say the word “escapism” as if it’s a moral failing, a regrettable hobby, a mental-health diagnosis. As if escape is not, in itself, one of the highest order of magics they’ll ever see in their miserable mortal lives, right up there with true love and prophetic dreams and fireflies blinking in synchrony on a June evening.
And, of course, a character I can relate to. I also appreciate the cultural nods.
I’m not a natural rule-follower. I roll through stop signs, I swear in public, I lie on online personality tests so I get the answers I want (Hermione, Arya Stark, Jo March). But I’m a very good librarian of either kind, and good librarians follow the rules. Even when they don’t want to.
found at https://www.apex-magazine.com/a-witchs-guide-to-escape-a-practical-compendium-of-portal-fantasies/
Merged review:
You silly kids. There's no way the GR Librarians are going to let this stand by itself, are they?
~~~
A Southern boy who needs escape meets a middle-aged librarian. A very interesting intersection of books, librarians, economics, and life.
"Because I am a librarian of the second sort, I almost always know what kind of book a person wants. It’s like a very particular smell rising off them which is instantly recognizable as Murder mystery or Political biography or Something kind of trashy but ultimately life-affirming, preferably with lesbians."
I love the mix of humor and sadness here. Harrow also has some lovely worth-smithing.
"His caseworker was one of those people who say the word “escapism” as if it’s a moral failing, a regrettable hobby, a mental-health diagnosis. As if escape is not, in itself, one of the highest order of magics they’ll ever see in their miserable mortal lives, right up there with true love and prophetic dreams and fireflies blinking in synchrony on a June evening."
And, of course, a character I can relate to. I also appreciate the cultural nods.
"I’m not a natural rule-follower. I roll through stop signs, I swear in public, I lie on online personality tests so I get the answers I want (Hermione, Arya Stark, Jo March). But I’m a very good librarian of either kind, and good librarians follow the rules. Even when they don’t want to."
found at https://www.apex-magazine.com/a-witch...
Review for "A Witches' Guide For Escape" by Alix Harrow
A boy who needs escape meets a librarian. As we all do.
"Because I am a librarian of the second sort, I almost always know what kind of book a person wants. It’s like a very particular smell rising off them which is instantly recognizable as Murder mystery or Political biography or Something kind of trashy but ultimately life-affirming, preferably with lesbians."
I love the mix of humor and sadness here. Harrow also has some lovely worth-smithing.
His caseworker was one of those people who say the word “escapism” as if it’s a moral failing, a regrettable hobby, a mental-health diagnosis. As if escape is not, in itself, one of the highest order of magics they’ll ever see in their miserable mortal lives, right up there with true love and prophetic dreams and fireflies blinking in synchrony on a June evening.
And, of course, a character I can relate to. I also appreciate the cultural nods.
I’m not a natural rule-follower. I roll through stop signs, I swear in public, I lie on online personality tests so I get the answers I want (Hermione, Arya Stark, Jo March). But I’m a very good librarian of either kind, and good librarians follow the rules. Even when they don’t want to.
found at https://www.apex-magazine.com/a-witchs-guide-to-escape-a-practical-compendium-of-portal-fantasies/
Merged review:
You silly kids. There's no way the GR Librarians are going to let this stand by itself, are they?
~~~
A Southern boy who needs escape meets a middle-aged librarian. A very interesting intersection of books, librarians, economics, and life.
"Because I am a librarian of the second sort, I almost always know what kind of book a person wants. It’s like a very particular smell rising off them which is instantly recognizable as Murder mystery or Political biography or Something kind of trashy but ultimately life-affirming, preferably with lesbians."
I love the mix of humor and sadness here. Harrow also has some lovely worth-smithing.
"His caseworker was one of those people who say the word “escapism” as if it’s a moral failing, a regrettable hobby, a mental-health diagnosis. As if escape is not, in itself, one of the highest order of magics they’ll ever see in their miserable mortal lives, right up there with true love and prophetic dreams and fireflies blinking in synchrony on a June evening."
And, of course, a character I can relate to. I also appreciate the cultural nods.
"I’m not a natural rule-follower. I roll through stop signs, I swear in public, I lie on online personality tests so I get the answers I want (Hermione, Arya Stark, Jo March). But I’m a very good librarian of either kind, and good librarians follow the rules. Even when they don’t want to."
found at https://www.apex-magazine.com/a-witch...
expendablemudge's review against another edition
5.0
2019 UPDATE "A Witch's Guide to Escape: A Practical Compendium of Portal Fantasies" has won the Hugo Award for Best Short Story!! Many congratulations, Author Harrow!
5-star read. Perfect. Read it free.
Delight and deliciousness confected for your unworthy gaze. Don't let it slip out of your grasp.
5-star read. Perfect. Read it free.
(There have only ever been two kinds of librarians in the history of the world: the prudish, bitter ones with lipstick running into the cracks around their lips who believe the books are their personal property and patrons are dangerous delinquents come to steal them; and witches.)
***
Agnes always does the “we will be closing in ten minutes” announcement because something in her voice implies that anybody still in the library in nine minutes and fifty seconds will be harvested for organ donations, and even the most stationary patrons amble towards the exit.
***
(All you people who never returned books to their high school libraries, or who bought stolen books off Amazon with call numbers taped to their spines? We see you.)
Delight and deliciousness confected for your unworthy gaze. Don't let it slip out of your grasp.
chessakat's review against another edition
5.0
Wow wow wow. I finished this one with goosebumps. At turns delightful and desperate, this was fantastic. Read for 2019 Hugo voting (short story).
fshguy's review against another edition
4.0
Fantastic tale about librarians and what really happens behind the scenes...
mikewhiteman's review against another edition
5.0
A Witch's Guide To Escape: A Practical Compendium Of Portal Fantasies -Alix E Harrow *****
Work, And Ye Shall Eat - Walker McKnight ***
Ghost Marriage - P Djèlí Clark ****
Work, And Ye Shall Eat - Walker McKnight ***
Ghost Marriage - P Djèlí Clark ****
ortija's review against another edition
4.0
Read: "A Witch's Guide to Escape: A Practical Compendium of Portal Fantasies" by Alix E. Harrow
meredtihf's review against another edition
5.0
Best quote:
It’s official library policy to report truants to the high school, because the school board felt we were becoming “a haven for unsupervised and illicit teenage activity.” I happen to think that’s exactly what libraries should aspire to be, and suggested we get it engraved on a plaque for the front door."
It’s official library policy to report truants to the high school, because the school board felt we were becoming “a haven for unsupervised and illicit teenage activity.” I happen to think that’s exactly what libraries should aspire to be, and suggested we get it engraved on a plaque for the front door."
alexanderp's review against another edition
4.0
This is a wonderful little tale about the inherent magic of reading and a fun homage to libraries the source of that magic.
Really enjoyed this one.
Really enjoyed this one.
carolinedenise's review against another edition
3.0
(My rating is only for the Hugo 2019 nomination, A Witch's Guide to Escape: A Practical Compendium of Portal Fantasies by Alix Harrow.)
bookwyrmknits's review against another edition
5.0
This review is only for Alix Harrow's "A Witch’s Guide to Escape: A Practical Compendium of Portal Fantasies". I have not read any other pieces from this magazine at this point.
I really enjoyed this short story. It has some great library and book quotes, and I love the message at the end. I can completely see why it won the Hugo Award.
I really enjoyed this short story. It has some great library and book quotes, and I love the message at the end. I can completely see why it won the Hugo Award.
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