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wrestleacademic's review
4.0
Steven Millhauser continues to be a favorite author of mine--though I think, having read this one, thus far I can say I like the short stories over the novellas. Still, all three novellas are engaging, with twists, turns, and maybe a little bit of magic, too...well worth checking out.
sixdaysago's review
3.0
Millhauser's collection of three novellas was of varying interest and quality. The first story, The Little Kingdom of J. Franklin Payne was the clear standout; emotionally engaging and an imaginative look at both the concept of art as an extension of its creator as well as early animated cinema. The next two novellas, though, were significantly less interesting, both felt more like experiments in form rather than solid narratives.
The Princess, the Dwarf, and the Dungeon wasn't of any real interest to me, a play on oral storytelling as history and medieval fairytales that lacked real connection and seemed an overlong genre exercize.
Catalogue of the Exhibition was better than the novella that preceded it, although it only really picked up as it neared its Gothic movement at the end. The listlike reference points for these fictional paintings was tedious and, although it acted to maintain some sense of historical reality, merely drew me away from the narrative.
I am interested in reading his full-length novels, though, purely based on my enjoyment of the Payne story.
The Princess, the Dwarf, and the Dungeon wasn't of any real interest to me, a play on oral storytelling as history and medieval fairytales that lacked real connection and seemed an overlong genre exercize.
Catalogue of the Exhibition was better than the novella that preceded it, although it only really picked up as it neared its Gothic movement at the end. The listlike reference points for these fictional paintings was tedious and, although it acted to maintain some sense of historical reality, merely drew me away from the narrative.
I am interested in reading his full-length novels, though, purely based on my enjoyment of the Payne story.
samisokay's review
5.0
Millhauser spins three haunting tales that exist on the very edge of reality in Little Kingdoms. A collection of three novellas, each has a dark charm of its own.
The first happens to be my favorite, dealing with a quiet cartoonist creating fanciful and scary images from his real life.
The second is a story of a castle, told by a bystander. Interestingly, it is the broken commentary of the teller throughout the story that adds a touch of suspicion throughout the tale.
The third is told through a description of a painter through passages regarding his paintings. The paintings are dark and sinister, and correspond with his real life, in a way that hints on magic, but is not truly so.
Overall, Millhauser's writing was excellent, effectively rendering a creeping feeling in the dark corners of a readers mind. Through this, he has created a brilliant work of literary art.
The first happens to be my favorite, dealing with a quiet cartoonist creating fanciful and scary images from his real life.
The second is a story of a castle, told by a bystander. Interestingly, it is the broken commentary of the teller throughout the story that adds a touch of suspicion throughout the tale.
The third is told through a description of a painter through passages regarding his paintings. The paintings are dark and sinister, and correspond with his real life, in a way that hints on magic, but is not truly so.
Overall, Millhauser's writing was excellent, effectively rendering a creeping feeling in the dark corners of a readers mind. Through this, he has created a brilliant work of literary art.
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