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4.26 AVERAGE
4.26 AVERAGE
I got through this collection of short stories slowly but surely, and it cemented Angela Carter as one of my favourite authors. The Bloody Chamber will always have a special place in my heart; the titular story remains my favourite, but I found “The Lady of the House of Love” particularly inspiring. “The Snow Child” and “The Erl-King” caught my eye to, for the way the played around with tenses and point of views.
But each collection had stories that made my imagination run wild and enthralled me with their prose.. For example, Nine Profane Pieces felt more experimental, in terms of language and structure. The stories I found most memorable were “The Executioner’s Beautiful Daughter” and, especially, “The Loves of Lady Purple.” Other favourites were “Impressions: The Wrightsman Magdalene,” or “The Scarlet House.”
But each collection had stories that made my imagination run wild and enthralled me with their prose.. For example, Nine Profane Pieces felt more experimental, in terms of language and structure. The stories I found most memorable were “The Executioner’s Beautiful Daughter” and, especially, “The Loves of Lady Purple.” Other favourites were “Impressions: The Wrightsman Magdalene,” or “The Scarlet House.”
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Carter destroyed my childhood fairy tale imaginings-- I will never be the same. Very powerful and purchase-worthy (I borrowed it from the library, as I do most books).
dark
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
She is a very interesting author and I really enjoyed reading her works. They made me think and kept me entertained at the same time.
A collection of all of Angela Carter's tales.
Each one of these stories is so dense as to be a novel packed up in a portmanteau. To unpack them is a great deal of work. For example, in order to understand the John Ford story, you have to know that there was both a director of Westerns named John Ford, and a playwright around Shakespeare's time named John Ford. Or at least be willing to stop and research same.
I can't give these five stars--the three unpublished stories at the end made me realize that she probably edited all her stories practically to death to make them that dense--but when I step back from the actual marks on the paper, the tales she's telling are wonderful, fascinating, and inventive. I just wish she'd told them at their natural length.
Each one of these stories is so dense as to be a novel packed up in a portmanteau. To unpack them is a great deal of work. For example, in order to understand the John Ford story, you have to know that there was both a director of Westerns named John Ford, and a playwright around Shakespeare's time named John Ford. Or at least be willing to stop and research same.
I can't give these five stars--the three unpublished stories at the end made me realize that she probably edited all her stories practically to death to make them that dense--but when I step back from the actual marks on the paper, the tales she's telling are wonderful, fascinating, and inventive. I just wish she'd told them at their natural length.
I have technically been reading this, in spaced out bursts, since last year. Don't know when I started, but I decided that I should actually add this to my GoodReads. I will update this review accordingly until I finish.
What I've Read So Far:
"The Man Who Loved a Double Bass." A story that seems simple at first, about a musician who greatly admires the titular instrument, but it is actually unsettling. Was just a tad bit confused with some things. 3.5/5 stars.
"A Very, Very Great Lady and Her Son at Home." Another story with an unsettling end. A woman recounts her complicated upbringing. But perhaps her upbringing has so disturbed her she can't conceptualize who is who and what is what. 4/5 stars.
"A Victorian Fable (With Glossary)." Wasn't really sure what the story was here. I think this is more Angela Carter playing with language. Fun for the writer, not the reader. 2/5 stars (Sorry, Angela!)
"A Souvenir of Japan." Inspired by Carter's time in Japan with her then-lover, Sozo Araki, who was not faithful to her. Part of her experiences in Japan helped her forumalte her thoughts on patriarchy and gender--which would later go into her novel [b:The Passion of New Eve|34338703|The Passion of New Eve|Angela Carter|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1487507163l/34338703._SY75_.jpg|398273]. This story seems to be Carter realizing that patriarchy is everywhere, but also her love letter to her time in Japan. 4/5 stars.
"The Executioner's Beautiful Daughter." Holy crap...That ending. An unnamed society, possibly somewhere in Central Asia or the Caucasus (we don't know), that has a huge taboo against incest; something that haunts their history. In the beginning, the titular executioner kills his own son for committing such a taboo with his own sister. But we soon learn that those who hold all the power can commit such taboos; and the most seemingly innocent acting and looking individuals are not always forced into it. A tough subject matter that will disturb some. 5/5 stars
What I've Read So Far:
"The Man Who Loved a Double Bass." A story that seems simple at first, about a musician who greatly admires the titular instrument, but it is actually unsettling. Was just a tad bit confused with some things. 3.5/5 stars.
"A Very, Very Great Lady and Her Son at Home." Another story with an unsettling end. A woman recounts her complicated upbringing. But perhaps her upbringing has so disturbed her she can't conceptualize who is who and what is what. 4/5 stars.
"A Victorian Fable (With Glossary)." Wasn't really sure what the story was here. I think this is more Angela Carter playing with language. Fun for the writer, not the reader. 2/5 stars (Sorry, Angela!)
"A Souvenir of Japan." Inspired by Carter's time in Japan with her then-lover, Sozo Araki, who was not faithful to her. Part of her experiences in Japan helped her forumalte her thoughts on patriarchy and gender--which would later go into her novel [b:The Passion of New Eve|34338703|The Passion of New Eve|Angela Carter|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1487507163l/34338703._SY75_.jpg|398273]. This story seems to be Carter realizing that patriarchy is everywhere, but also her love letter to her time in Japan. 4/5 stars.
"The Executioner's Beautiful Daughter." Holy crap...That ending. An unnamed society, possibly somewhere in Central Asia or the Caucasus (we don't know), that has a huge taboo against incest; something that haunts their history. In the beginning, the titular executioner kills his own son for committing such a taboo with his own sister. But we soon learn that those who hold all the power can commit such taboos; and the most seemingly innocent acting and looking individuals are not always forced into it. A tough subject matter that will disturb some. 5/5 stars
there are a handful of good stories among a sea of overwrought, mediocre ones.