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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
A recent London Review of Books appreciation of Byatt by Patricia Lockwood reminded me that I wanted to read this when the title novella became a George Miller movie a couple of years ago. I had thought Byatt fussy and dense, but if this is true at all, then maybe those are among her virtues. This is dense, fussy, but mostly sublime. As Lockwood writes of Byatt’s overall approach: “A woolgathering rhythm, beginning slow and gathering intensity, climbing open-handed from one idea to another.”
Li este conjunto de contos em português já há algum tempo, mas lembro-me de ter gostado bastante.
"O Caixão de Vidro" de 1997 da Lisboa: Tempus Editora.
"O Caixão de Vidro" de 1997 da Lisboa: Tempus Editora.
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
I didnt enjoy this entire book, but the titular story - The Djinn in the Nightingale's Eye - is INCREDIBLE and definitely made the book as a whole worth reading.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Finding an immaculate copy of the first edition in a London used bookstore - reviewing slip hidden between the pages - I decided to indulge in reading more of Byatt's inventive and refreshing "fairy stories," tales with more than a nodding familiarity to conventions Propp would have argued for, but told with wonderful humour and sensitivity. My chance was amply rewarded: the stories in this little volume are a mix of short and long, serious and light-hearted. I particularly liked the closing tale that provides the book its names, as well as "The Story of the Eldest Princess."
This is an interesting little book with five fairy stories. Most of them are in a very traditional style, but the title story, which is by far the longest (I would call it a novella myself) is a modernized version of a story of a genie in a bottle, and Byatt pulls off the blend of modern and ancient admirably.
I didn't particularly like the first two stories, but the third and fourth were good, and I really enjoyed the last, which was more like the A.S. Byatt writing that makes her one of my favorite authors.
adventurous
emotional
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
I would definitely read it again. I can see why others have said the collection has a disjointed feel. The titular novella has a much different feeling than the 4 shorter tales. It feels like the author gave the reader a space to explore the complexity of growing older, being older, missing one's self, being content and yet unsatisfied and other we often have no names or words for. It's a story to not just read but to slow down and sink into, to breathe, to feel. It's a lovely collection.
not the most cohesive of short story collections, but it was ok.