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emilycm's review
5.0
Holy shit. I did not expect to be as gobsmacked as I was by this book. Yet, here I am. There is something about the profound way that Duchovny can bring such control but continuous magic and mystery to this narrative he paints of the old and the new, set in New York City.
I marked several instances where I was just like “what oh my god,” because where it dragged, it was rewarding in the end. It took completely a twist I didn’t expect, and I was so here for it, and taken by surprise in the direction he took.
He is a master, dare I say, at balancing a particular level of authentic and this poetic prose in his writing.
If you’re looking to get into Duchovny’s writing, please read this. I will be thinking about this for a while.
I marked several instances where I was just like “what oh my god,” because where it dragged, it was rewarding in the end. It took completely a twist I didn’t expect, and I was so here for it, and taken by surprise in the direction he took.
He is a master, dare I say, at balancing a particular level of authentic and this poetic prose in his writing.
If you’re looking to get into Duchovny’s writing, please read this. I will be thinking about this for a while.
suddenlyjamie's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
jessicabeckett's review
5.0
Blog | Twitter | Instagram | As a note, a finished copy of this novel was sent to me via the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinions in any way.
David Duchovny is back with his new, and completely enthralling, novel Miss Subways. After two fantastic releases under his belt ("Holy Cow", "Bucky F*cking Dent") Duchovny has more than proven his chops as an author. I've said it once, and I'll say it again: David Duchovny knows how to tell a story. And Miss Subways is, perhaps, his best, and most ambitious, work to date.
Armed with a whimsical twist, and Duchovny's hypnotic prose, Miss Subways takes a spin on mythology and the ever-present theme of love and impossible choices. Based partly around The Only Jealousy of Emer by W.B. Yeats and this particular form of mythology, Miss Subways weaves itself into its own tale and then within the reader. It refuses to let go until you have reached the end of the road.
Intelligent, at times cheeky, and heartfelt, Miss Subways will undoubtedly be compared to Neil Gaiman's beloved novel American Gods.
While there is--of course--a similarity in structure, darkly laced humor and the use of mythology between Miss Subways and American Gods, the parallels don't extend past the mundane. Both tell a deeply engrossing, thought-provoking story but ultimately that is where the similarities end.
What is most striking about Miss Subways is how genuine, and yet fantastical, the novel feels as it unfolds. Duchovny crafts a cast of compelling, full of life, characters with many flaws. Just the way we like 'em.
Some of these characters are ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances, others are anything but. He takes the familiar--the story is set in New York City, the dialogue and narration are sprinkled with pop culture references--and gives it a new edge. If you were to ask me to describe Miss Subways in one word (as opposed to my typical ramblings) I'd pick sharp.
My second choice would be electric.
Once again, Duchovny's characters take on a life of their own. Emer is the heroine readers will love to meet on paper; delightfully real and at a crossroad of impossibilities. Her relationship with Con, and the timelines they are destined to meet within, is equal parts heartbreaking and deliberately loving. Miss Subways tackles the complexities of life and then some; managing to somehow stay grounded in all its twists and turns of the supernatural.
Further, the side characters are just as wonderful to meet. (We all have an Izzy, right?) Readers will find themselves in a balance of humorous interactions casually placed in all of Miss Subways chaos. Because in the midst of all its tension, the book itself is damn funny.
At its core, Miss Subways is a witty glimpse into what one might call fate. The story is reinvented in ways that keep readers on their toes. And, of course, leave them aching for a satisfying conclusion they aren't certain will come.
Miss Subways is can't-miss-literature and will take you on a wildly imaginative ride. Duchovny is on fire! Once again, he has penned one of my favourite books of the year.
David Duchovny is back with his new, and completely enthralling, novel Miss Subways. After two fantastic releases under his belt ("Holy Cow", "Bucky F*cking Dent") Duchovny has more than proven his chops as an author. I've said it once, and I'll say it again: David Duchovny knows how to tell a story. And Miss Subways is, perhaps, his best, and most ambitious, work to date.
Armed with a whimsical twist, and Duchovny's hypnotic prose, Miss Subways takes a spin on mythology and the ever-present theme of love and impossible choices. Based partly around The Only Jealousy of Emer by W.B. Yeats and this particular form of mythology, Miss Subways weaves itself into its own tale and then within the reader. It refuses to let go until you have reached the end of the road.
Intelligent, at times cheeky, and heartfelt, Miss Subways will undoubtedly be compared to Neil Gaiman's beloved novel American Gods.
While there is--of course--a similarity in structure, darkly laced humor and the use of mythology between Miss Subways and American Gods, the parallels don't extend past the mundane. Both tell a deeply engrossing, thought-provoking story but ultimately that is where the similarities end.
What is most striking about Miss Subways is how genuine, and yet fantastical, the novel feels as it unfolds. Duchovny crafts a cast of compelling, full of life, characters with many flaws. Just the way we like 'em.
Some of these characters are ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances, others are anything but. He takes the familiar--the story is set in New York City, the dialogue and narration are sprinkled with pop culture references--and gives it a new edge. If you were to ask me to describe Miss Subways in one word (as opposed to my typical ramblings) I'd pick sharp.
My second choice would be electric.
Once again, Duchovny's characters take on a life of their own. Emer is the heroine readers will love to meet on paper; delightfully real and at a crossroad of impossibilities. Her relationship with Con, and the timelines they are destined to meet within, is equal parts heartbreaking and deliberately loving. Miss Subways tackles the complexities of life and then some; managing to somehow stay grounded in all its twists and turns of the supernatural.
Further, the side characters are just as wonderful to meet. (We all have an Izzy, right?) Readers will find themselves in a balance of humorous interactions casually placed in all of Miss Subways chaos. Because in the midst of all its tension, the book itself is damn funny.
At its core, Miss Subways is a witty glimpse into what one might call fate. The story is reinvented in ways that keep readers on their toes. And, of course, leave them aching for a satisfying conclusion they aren't certain will come.
Miss Subways is can't-miss-literature and will take you on a wildly imaginative ride. Duchovny is on fire! Once again, he has penned one of my favourite books of the year.
whiteraven191's review
1.0
DNF 35%
I was really excited for this when I saw it was a modern retelling of the story of Emer and Cu Chulainn. But it’s not, really. Cu Chulainn gets written out of the story pretty early so now the book is just about Emer going through her life. It was still written engagingly but I got fed up with the right wing leanings of the novel. After a whole chapter that was basically two characters complaining about how obnoxious PC culture is, with the examples being straw man caricatures, I gave up. Maybe I’m being unfair but I’m just really not feeling this book.
I was really excited for this when I saw it was a modern retelling of the story of Emer and Cu Chulainn. But it’s not, really. Cu Chulainn gets written out of the story pretty early so now the book is just about Emer going through her life. It was still written engagingly but I got fed up with the right wing leanings of the novel. After a whole chapter that was basically two characters complaining about how obnoxious PC culture is, with the examples being straw man caricatures, I gave up. Maybe I’m being unfair but I’m just really not feeling this book.
rowan_d's review
3.0
I have conflicting feelings about this book. I wanted to love it. I'm glad I read it, but I don't believe it truly lived up to its potential. First off, I will say that I "read" this book via the audiobook, and though I rarely say this, I believe this might be the best way to experience this particular book. David Duchovny is a fabulous narrator and his reading gave me a clearer sense of how the (his) narrative was meant to be read than I might have gleaned on my own. And Tea Leoni brings the character of Emer to life in a way that I believe made me love her more than I might have otherwise. But as for the story itself, I feel like the first half of the book laid the groundwork for a payoff that the second half never quite delivered. There were little recurring facts now and then I assumed would be significant in the end but were simply dropped - perhaps they were meant to be red herrings? I love the intellectualism of the book, the solid grasp on human history, human nature, philosophy, and cultural phenomena. I love the meandering stream-of-consciousness to it all. The characters were strong and will stick with me. But I feel like all of this richness needed a stronger message, a stronger framework. Overall, the book is worth the read, but I can't help feeling it lost its way in the telling, and I find myself wishing it could have been something just a bit MORE.
leucocrystal's review
4.0
"His not writing made her want to write. She wanted him to leave so she could begin." The adept handling of a woman's mind by a male author -- something so often embarrassingly, infuriatingly botched -- in this book really did surprise me. Emer, in every slightly different version of her that exists in this story, is a hell of a character. I really had no idea what to expect going in, but it was a very compelling ride.
amalia1985's review
5.0
‘’Because ye old gods are not dead. They walk among us still, with their pagan ideas and habits, waiting for reanimation. They are lonely. They are bored. And very, very pissed off.’’
Well, this is a difficult task, writing a review about such an outstanding book that integrates all the best elements of a number of genres. Urban Fantasy, Folklore, Contemporary, Literary Fiction, Magical Realism, you name it. If you enjoy any of these genres, if you are keen on world traditions and religions, if Gaiman’s American Gods is one of your absolute, most favourite books, if you love New York or if you simply want to read one of the best novels of the year, then Miss Subways was written for you.
The story follows Emer, a young woman who commutes daily to her work. Emer is a teacher in the second grade class of a private Catholic school whose principle is a snazzy, sassy, absolutely wonderful priest. She is in a relationship with a rather aloof man who goes by the name Con. Now, for reasons beyond her understanding, Emer and Con cannot be together. The powers that be (wherever they are) want them apart and Emer accepts. However, Fate has other plans and our heroine finds herself in a vortex of rules, teachings and strange otherworldly figures, all gathered in the endlessly mesmerizing setting of New York.
Now, I feel that the paragraph above must be the worst synopsis of a book ever written but truly, it is impossible to summarize Miss Subways in a cohesive paragraph. It is so rich and complex and one must read it to fully comprehend its essence. First of all, the influence of American Gods is evident. However, Duchovny uses this inspiration to create a plot with its very own character and substance and not for a moment did I think I was reading a copycat, The major difference is that Duchovny's focus is placed on the humans and not on the deities and the mythical figures, The story at the heart of this novel is the relationship between Emer and Con, inspired by a well known Irish myth of the Union of Emer and Cú Chulainn, the greatest hero in Irish Mythology. In our contemporary version, it is Emer who has to pass the trials to defend her love and the odds of our era are always stranger and much more complex than any mythical ordeal.
The writing is beautiful. Approachable and literary, poetic and sharp. The saltry, urban scenery of New York provides the best background for a story where gods and myths need to be lost among the mortals and their mundane lives. The descriptions of the city, whether we’re reading morning or nightly scenes, are hypnotic. There is one of the most beautiful descriptions of Central Park I’ve ever read and mystifying Chinatown jumps right out of the page. Papa Legba, Sidhe, Anansi. The myths of the Aboriginals, the teaching of Chinese philosophy, the wealth of Celtic tradition. There are references to the Witches of Macbeth. Deities from different cultures retain all the characteristics of their homelands, antagonizing and cooperating with each other according to their purposes. There is a wonderful passage where Sidhe describes the behavior of the gods in the myths we love. He talks of an age when feelings were experienced to the fullest by deities and mortals alike.
Emer is someone I immediately loved. She is a teacher who lives and breaths for her profession, she has a close relationship with her father and her only best friend is an adorable, edgy lunatic. She remains firmly nailed to her principles and doesn't let her heart rule her mind. She’s courageous with a deep sense of never giving up. Duchovny writes with respect about a teacher’s feelings of love and hope. The satisfaction when the little ones start reading for the first time was movingly portrayed. It’s rare for a writer to pay such an homage to the teaching profession and I was truly moved. I could relate to each and very feeling and every classroom scene described by Emer and this made me fall in love with the novel.
Take away the folklore and the mythical influences of the story and you’ll still have a beautiful and touching exploration of aspirations, fears and insecurities. A quirky, moving, clever and complex love story and above all, a story about the obstacles a woman has to surpass in every stage of her life. Duchovny writes excellent female characters and Miss Subways definitely deserves all the praise it receives.
‘’The very next morning, Emer was back on the train. What did it mean that she spent so much of her life underground? Regardless of whether or not she’d ever be crowned, Emer felt in her bones that she was and always will be Miss Subways.’’
Many thanks to Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.
My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com
Well, this is a difficult task, writing a review about such an outstanding book that integrates all the best elements of a number of genres. Urban Fantasy, Folklore, Contemporary, Literary Fiction, Magical Realism, you name it. If you enjoy any of these genres, if you are keen on world traditions and religions, if Gaiman’s American Gods is one of your absolute, most favourite books, if you love New York or if you simply want to read one of the best novels of the year, then Miss Subways was written for you.
The story follows Emer, a young woman who commutes daily to her work. Emer is a teacher in the second grade class of a private Catholic school whose principle is a snazzy, sassy, absolutely wonderful priest. She is in a relationship with a rather aloof man who goes by the name Con. Now, for reasons beyond her understanding, Emer and Con cannot be together. The powers that be (wherever they are) want them apart and Emer accepts. However, Fate has other plans and our heroine finds herself in a vortex of rules, teachings and strange otherworldly figures, all gathered in the endlessly mesmerizing setting of New York.
Now, I feel that the paragraph above must be the worst synopsis of a book ever written but truly, it is impossible to summarize Miss Subways in a cohesive paragraph. It is so rich and complex and one must read it to fully comprehend its essence. First of all, the influence of American Gods is evident. However, Duchovny uses this inspiration to create a plot with its very own character and substance and not for a moment did I think I was reading a copycat, The major difference is that Duchovny's focus is placed on the humans and not on the deities and the mythical figures, The story at the heart of this novel is the relationship between Emer and Con, inspired by a well known Irish myth of the Union of Emer and Cú Chulainn, the greatest hero in Irish Mythology. In our contemporary version, it is Emer who has to pass the trials to defend her love and the odds of our era are always stranger and much more complex than any mythical ordeal.
The writing is beautiful. Approachable and literary, poetic and sharp. The saltry, urban scenery of New York provides the best background for a story where gods and myths need to be lost among the mortals and their mundane lives. The descriptions of the city, whether we’re reading morning or nightly scenes, are hypnotic. There is one of the most beautiful descriptions of Central Park I’ve ever read and mystifying Chinatown jumps right out of the page. Papa Legba, Sidhe, Anansi. The myths of the Aboriginals, the teaching of Chinese philosophy, the wealth of Celtic tradition. There are references to the Witches of Macbeth. Deities from different cultures retain all the characteristics of their homelands, antagonizing and cooperating with each other according to their purposes. There is a wonderful passage where Sidhe describes the behavior of the gods in the myths we love. He talks of an age when feelings were experienced to the fullest by deities and mortals alike.
Emer is someone I immediately loved. She is a teacher who lives and breaths for her profession, she has a close relationship with her father and her only best friend is an adorable, edgy lunatic. She remains firmly nailed to her principles and doesn't let her heart rule her mind. She’s courageous with a deep sense of never giving up. Duchovny writes with respect about a teacher’s feelings of love and hope. The satisfaction when the little ones start reading for the first time was movingly portrayed. It’s rare for a writer to pay such an homage to the teaching profession and I was truly moved. I could relate to each and very feeling and every classroom scene described by Emer and this made me fall in love with the novel.
Take away the folklore and the mythical influences of the story and you’ll still have a beautiful and touching exploration of aspirations, fears and insecurities. A quirky, moving, clever and complex love story and above all, a story about the obstacles a woman has to surpass in every stage of her life. Duchovny writes excellent female characters and Miss Subways definitely deserves all the praise it receives.
‘’The very next morning, Emer was back on the train. What did it mean that she spent so much of her life underground? Regardless of whether or not she’d ever be crowned, Emer felt in her bones that she was and always will be Miss Subways.’’
Many thanks to Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.
My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com
melloftheball's review against another edition
4.0
I didn’t know David Duchovny could write, but the man can write. Miss Subways is part love letter to New York, part love story, part folk lore, and it’s all excellent. Duchovny as a writer is funny, endearing, sexy, and thrilling. I particularly enjoyed the audiobook version, read by Duchovny, his daughter West, and Téa Leoni. Highly recommend!
llynn66's review against another edition
4.0
This is such a strange little book. Generally, in my lexicon, 'strange' is a positive adjectives. In the case of Miss Subways, it definitely is! When reflecting a bit about the story and beginning to formulate ideas about how to write a review, I became hung up on how to categorize this story. Is it fantasy? Yes. Is it a romance? Yes. Is it a parable about modern urban living? Yes. Is it of special interest to X-Files/David Duchovny fans? Yes, to a degree. Can it stand on its own merits outside of the fact that it was written by a well known actor? Very much yes.
So some readers will see Duchovny's name on the jacket and choose Miss Subways because they will wonder what one of their favorite actors wants to write about and some people will pick it up to find out if a Hollywood actor can write. Either way, they are in for an interesting dive into the unusual.
My only foray into mythology was back in my school days when the venerable Edith Hamilton collection was assigned regularly. I still own my tatty paperback copy but have not thought to read it in over 30 years. Thus my education in mythology is remote and limited to the Greek and Roman variety that was required reading in my school days. I know absolutely nothing of Celtic mythology and needed to Google Emer and Cuchullain to grasp even a basic understanding of the characters upon whom Duchovny based his protagonists in Miss Subways. (Already, I learn something new!)
Emer, in this reading, is a 40-something New York City schoolteacher whose life revolves around her work and the care of her elderly father, who suffers from dementia. When we first meet her in chapter one, she appears to have a certain level of contentment in her life, despite the toll that middle age can take. She has a steady relationship with her boyfriend, Con, and together they have formed a coupling that provides a balm to both the routine dullness and the tragedies that befall older adults. Like most New Yorkers, Emer takes the subway to work each day. While on her commutes, she passes the time reading the promotional information posted about the once popular Miss Subways contests that were sponsored by the NYC transit system. Regular subway riders, such as Emer herself, were selected to be 'Miss Subways' in montly (and later, bi-monthly) drawings. (Again, a new topic to study. As a midwesterner, I have never heard of this contest.)
Emer is charmed by the notion of Miss Subways and daydreams about being selected in a contemporary version of this contest. (By the way, the Miss Subways contest is returning and is now open to both genders!) Perhaps Emer does crave some recognition and glamor in her anonymous life.
More color and conflict will soon be supplied. In an early scene, Emer rushes to an event where Con (an academic who is less than fashionable, potentially because of his somewhat right-wing slant) is speaking. Con is speaking of mythology and old gods. He posits that the Judeo Christian dominance of the recent centuries on earth has been a positive force because it has kept the older and more capricious gods at bay....gods who suffer the same weaknesses and foibles as the humans they rule and who enjoy interfering in the lives of their subjects.
Con does not come home with Emer after his presentation. He is courted by some members of his audience, including a striking black woman named Anansi who shows a keen interest in Con's subject. Emer is somewhat threatened by the attention Anansi showers on Con, but feels guilty for her jealousy. She goes home alone and decides to have an early night with a bowl of ice cream and some Late Night viewing in bed.
Emer falls into a dream which is more vivid and real than any dream. Is it a vision? Is it a parallel reality? Is it reality itself? In this state, she is visited by a diminutive doorman named Sid/Sidhe. Sid shows her a vision of Con walking to the tavern with Anansi and her group. In this vision, Con is struck by a car and killed. Emer is given the choice: relinquish Con and her love for him and he lives. Attempt to retain Con in her life and the vision will come true, ending Con's life. As Sid tells Emer, "Con lives. Love dies."
Emer, of course, reluctantly chooses to let go of Con in order to save him. When she awakens in the morning, all presence of Con and their life together is erased. Her memory of him, on the other hand, is still clear. She feels Con as a presence that she should have...but, somehow does not. Thus Emer begins a new version of her life without her love. As she rides the subway alone knowing only the life of a single woman who has not had a relationship in years, she feels a certain lacking in her life. And she notices a man who also appears to notice her.
Miss Subways might be read as a straight up romance where two people are torn asunder and must endure trials to find their way back to one another. It may be read as a mad fantasy where various supernatural and mythological beings are alive and well and living in New York, messing with people either for fun or to keep some sort of cosmic scale balanced. (As mere mortals, we know not which.) In either case, Miss Subways is a smart and entertaining read that is often very funny and occasionally a little sad.
I have read that David Duchovny was working toward a PhD in literature when he was tapped for the role of Fox Mulder. It appears that he used his time well in class and that, had fate led him in a different direction, career-wise, he would have been an interesting teacher. As it is, it seems he has found a new creative outlet in writing and he has the knack for it. I will move on to Bucky F*cking Dent as I was also a seventies kid raised with the sound of baseball always somewhere in the background.
So some readers will see Duchovny's name on the jacket and choose Miss Subways because they will wonder what one of their favorite actors wants to write about and some people will pick it up to find out if a Hollywood actor can write. Either way, they are in for an interesting dive into the unusual.
My only foray into mythology was back in my school days when the venerable Edith Hamilton collection was assigned regularly. I still own my tatty paperback copy but have not thought to read it in over 30 years. Thus my education in mythology is remote and limited to the Greek and Roman variety that was required reading in my school days. I know absolutely nothing of Celtic mythology and needed to Google Emer and Cuchullain to grasp even a basic understanding of the characters upon whom Duchovny based his protagonists in Miss Subways. (Already, I learn something new!)
Emer, in this reading, is a 40-something New York City schoolteacher whose life revolves around her work and the care of her elderly father, who suffers from dementia. When we first meet her in chapter one, she appears to have a certain level of contentment in her life, despite the toll that middle age can take. She has a steady relationship with her boyfriend, Con, and together they have formed a coupling that provides a balm to both the routine dullness and the tragedies that befall older adults. Like most New Yorkers, Emer takes the subway to work each day. While on her commutes, she passes the time reading the promotional information posted about the once popular Miss Subways contests that were sponsored by the NYC transit system. Regular subway riders, such as Emer herself, were selected to be 'Miss Subways' in montly (and later, bi-monthly) drawings. (Again, a new topic to study. As a midwesterner, I have never heard of this contest.)
Emer is charmed by the notion of Miss Subways and daydreams about being selected in a contemporary version of this contest. (By the way, the Miss Subways contest is returning and is now open to both genders!) Perhaps Emer does crave some recognition and glamor in her anonymous life.
More color and conflict will soon be supplied. In an early scene, Emer rushes to an event where Con (an academic who is less than fashionable, potentially because of his somewhat right-wing slant) is speaking. Con is speaking of mythology and old gods. He posits that the Judeo Christian dominance of the recent centuries on earth has been a positive force because it has kept the older and more capricious gods at bay....gods who suffer the same weaknesses and foibles as the humans they rule and who enjoy interfering in the lives of their subjects.
Con does not come home with Emer after his presentation. He is courted by some members of his audience, including a striking black woman named Anansi who shows a keen interest in Con's subject. Emer is somewhat threatened by the attention Anansi showers on Con, but feels guilty for her jealousy. She goes home alone and decides to have an early night with a bowl of ice cream and some Late Night viewing in bed.
Emer falls into a dream which is more vivid and real than any dream. Is it a vision? Is it a parallel reality? Is it reality itself? In this state, she is visited by a diminutive doorman named Sid/Sidhe. Sid shows her a vision of Con walking to the tavern with Anansi and her group. In this vision, Con is struck by a car and killed. Emer is given the choice: relinquish Con and her love for him and he lives. Attempt to retain Con in her life and the vision will come true, ending Con's life. As Sid tells Emer, "Con lives. Love dies."
Emer, of course, reluctantly chooses to let go of Con in order to save him. When she awakens in the morning, all presence of Con and their life together is erased. Her memory of him, on the other hand, is still clear. She feels Con as a presence that she should have...but, somehow does not. Thus Emer begins a new version of her life without her love. As she rides the subway alone knowing only the life of a single woman who has not had a relationship in years, she feels a certain lacking in her life. And she notices a man who also appears to notice her.
Miss Subways might be read as a straight up romance where two people are torn asunder and must endure trials to find their way back to one another. It may be read as a mad fantasy where various supernatural and mythological beings are alive and well and living in New York, messing with people either for fun or to keep some sort of cosmic scale balanced. (As mere mortals, we know not which.) In either case, Miss Subways is a smart and entertaining read that is often very funny and occasionally a little sad.
I have read that David Duchovny was working toward a PhD in literature when he was tapped for the role of Fox Mulder. It appears that he used his time well in class and that, had fate led him in a different direction, career-wise, he would have been an interesting teacher. As it is, it seems he has found a new creative outlet in writing and he has the knack for it. I will move on to Bucky F*cking Dent as I was also a seventies kid raised with the sound of baseball always somewhere in the background.
easyqueenie's review
3.0
Finally, Sophie picked up David Duchovny’s latest book, Miss Subways. Although generally rather dubious of celebrities penning books, Sophie hugely enjoyed Duchovny’s previous novel Bucky F*cking Dent (that Masters and partially completed English Literature PhD probably helped him quite a bit) and was hoping for more intimate New York storytelling. Instead, Miss Subways tries to be a mashup of Neverwhere and American Gods but falls short of both.
Emer Gunnels once had a brain tumor that caused her to experience vivid hallucinations. One evening she is approached by a “strange little man” who shows her a video of her boyfriend Cuchulain (the pair are named for figures from Irish folklore) being pushed in front of a car by a woman named Nancy/Anansi whom he met that evening. The man offers Emer the opportunity to save Con’s life but in doing so the world will change, Con and Emer will have never known one another and must never meet. Emer accepts the offer and saves Con’s life, waking up in a new reality with no memories of her old life, but things do not go smoothly from here as Gods and monsters begin entering her life causing her to wonder if her experiences are real, or more hallucinations and the universe seems determined to bring Emer and Con back together.
This was a very weird book. Think elderly people having an orgy in the Central Park reservoir while chanting their allegiance to a Chinese food delivery service God level weird. In fact, Sophie’s favorite line came from one of the sex scenes (all written in the worst kind of 12-year-old fanfiction style): “his lips were like that sci-fi tool in the movie Men in Black that make you forget everything.” True genius.
Sophie couldn’t say she enjoyed it as much as Bucky F*cking Dent, but it’s certainly one of the most bizarre books she’s read in a long while, and sometimes that burst of “WTF am I reading here?” is just what the doctor ordered.
Emer Gunnels once had a brain tumor that caused her to experience vivid hallucinations. One evening she is approached by a “strange little man” who shows her a video of her boyfriend Cuchulain (the pair are named for figures from Irish folklore) being pushed in front of a car by a woman named Nancy/Anansi whom he met that evening. The man offers Emer the opportunity to save Con’s life but in doing so the world will change, Con and Emer will have never known one another and must never meet. Emer accepts the offer and saves Con’s life, waking up in a new reality with no memories of her old life, but things do not go smoothly from here as Gods and monsters begin entering her life causing her to wonder if her experiences are real, or more hallucinations and the universe seems determined to bring Emer and Con back together.
This was a very weird book. Think elderly people having an orgy in the Central Park reservoir while chanting their allegiance to a Chinese food delivery service God level weird. In fact, Sophie’s favorite line came from one of the sex scenes (all written in the worst kind of 12-year-old fanfiction style): “his lips were like that sci-fi tool in the movie Men in Black that make you forget everything.” True genius.
Sophie couldn’t say she enjoyed it as much as Bucky F*cking Dent, but it’s certainly one of the most bizarre books she’s read in a long while, and sometimes that burst of “WTF am I reading here?” is just what the doctor ordered.