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sargasso_c's Reviews (516)
Dreamland Burning is everything I could ever want from a YA novel. Historical fiction at its best, the book keeps all the good parts of a mystery while peppering in realistic relationships between flawed characters that will make your heart ache with your love for them. While mainly about the Tulsa "riots" of 1921, the book has diversity through two time periods and shows perfectly how mistakes of history can so easily become mistakes of the present. The point of the book is not resolution or justice being served, but it has a clear message: lessons unacknowledged from the past will repeat themselves until learned.
The Topless Widow of Herkimer Street doesn't lack the basics of a good short story collection. Engaging characters, plots that stretch beyond what is written on the page, and (most importantly) good writing. The book is mostly made up of short stories that are as you think they would be, with one or two that are bit more funny or romantic than the others.
My absolute favorite of the collection was Towards Uncharted Waters. Without giving too much away, I feel it was the best representation of Appel's work in this book. It elevated all the things I liked in the other tales to their highest forms, and transformed the elements I didn't care for into something I felt was truly necessary to the story. The irony was swift, piercing, and unexpected. A true joy to read.
Of course I must look for the overarching theme throughout this collection, and it seems to be men using women to find some essential thing about themselves. Taking a normal or typical situation to something just a hair beyond normal is something Appel does well, and it happens to be one of my favorite writing techniques. Of course, the theme I noted could be a result, or even a thought-out goal of that writing style (think Cheever-esque commentary on the norm). I only wish that there had been more diverse perspectives throughout the collection, or that the book had pushed this theme closer into the realm of the uneasy in order to drive home the point of commentary.
I received a free copy of this book for review. 3.5 stars.
My absolute favorite of the collection was Towards Uncharted Waters. Without giving too much away, I feel it was the best representation of Appel's work in this book. It elevated all the things I liked in the other tales to their highest forms, and transformed the elements I didn't care for into something I felt was truly necessary to the story. The irony was swift, piercing, and unexpected. A true joy to read.
Of course I must look for the overarching theme throughout this collection, and it seems to be men using women to find some essential thing about themselves. Taking a normal or typical situation to something just a hair beyond normal is something Appel does well, and it happens to be one of my favorite writing techniques. Of course, the theme I noted could be a result, or even a thought-out goal of that writing style (think Cheever-esque commentary on the norm). I only wish that there had been more diverse perspectives throughout the collection, or that the book had pushed this theme closer into the realm of the uneasy in order to drive home the point of commentary.
I received a free copy of this book for review. 3.5 stars.
Prolonged decay is abundant in this book. Every character has a distinct brand of "off-ness" that makes you want to take two steps back, even though they are only on the page. Weirdness abound, it will take a self-push to keep reading. The Lizzie Borden story, vaguely known, is made very uncomfortably personal as if you yourself are a member of this sinuously dysfunctional family. Strong stomachs and constitutions required. I felt this book focused on making you feel a certain way rather than revealing a specific plot.
An interesting read. I wish that Appel had gone further to illustrate the quasi robotic-ness with which his protagonist was supposed to act in regards to his own interests. In my opinion the ending was not pursued as it could have been. The twist of the green ribbon hanging on the door to his new house implies that someone knows he was the killer: a twist, but not a surprising one for a book in the thriller genre. In addition, there was only one person that the reader was given evidence to suspect of suspecting Balint -- the unstable neighbor. I wouldn't be surprised if Amanda had, but I feel that her style is more "report Balint to the police immediately" than a clandestine threat/warning. If it was someone else in Balint's life, I would have preferred a bevy of clues leaving the reader wondering who it could be because it could be so many people, not wondering who it could be because it seems like it really wouldn't be anyone.
In the end, it was a good, quick-read novel but again, I wished the author had "pushed" the characters and the narrative to more extremes. It seemed a relatively tame plot in that the protagonist decides on an action, carries that action through with no consequences, and everything ends up working out perfectly except for a hint of conflict/danger on the last page.
I received a free electronic copy of this book to review.
In the end, it was a good, quick-read novel but again, I wished the author had "pushed" the characters and the narrative to more extremes. It seemed a relatively tame plot in that the protagonist decides on an action, carries that action through with no consequences, and everything ends up working out perfectly except for a hint of conflict/danger on the last page.
I received a free electronic copy of this book to review.
I love this book! The fantasty world is seamless in that so much is possible, and the rules are so arbitrary that Jones can write about anything and it seems plausible. As much as that sounds, like a criticism, the author weaves everything together in such a way--characters, rivalries, romance, locations--that the world inside and around Howl's Moving Castle often seems more real and plausible than my own. The message of Sophie seeking out her fortune and her worth despite her "setback" of being the eldest of three always reminds me of the importance of finding and working for one's own desired destiny. I love the fact that this is a subtly romantic novel, but that that aspect does not drive the plot--there is plenty else going on. This is my second or third read of this book, and it has been great as always.
A wonderful book that doesn't shy away from the hard things. This is the story of a trans superhero named Danielle who must find who she is not only as a person, but as the new owner of the "mantle" (or set of powers) of the most powerful superhero in North America.
