I struggled with this rating and review. House of Leaves is different things to different people: for many (many, many, MANY) people it is mind-blowing, complex, and a richly rewarding treat if you take the time to completely parse it. This is not a small undertaking. Entire sections are printed like this — or this — and the visual impact of coming across pages like that — intended, obviously, to draw the reader into the mindset of the characters — is daunting. There are oodles […]
One Last Time
If you are a Discworld fan, you know this is the last book in the series. It’s a Tiffany Aching story and because she’s a witch, the Ramptop witches figure prominently in the story as well. Since this is Terry Pratchett’s last book, one can’t help but think this is his last message to the world. Brace yourself because Granny Weatherwax dies. I’m not really spoiling anything here because it happens at the beginning of the book and is a catalyst for Tiffany’s journey in […]
Area X and its “poisonous” snakes (eye twitch)
Thirty years ago, a mysterious border appeared, cutting off an isolated area of coast and swampland which has come to be known as Area X. Area X appears normal from the outside, but it’s not. Expeditions are sent in regularly to gather samples and to try and understand the changes taking place in this landscape. Sometimes they return, sometimes they don’t. Those who return are changed. Annihilation is the first book of the Southern Reach trilogy. It focuses on the 12th expedition, made up of […]
Bradbury was the Best!
I’m not entirely sure why I chose to read Dandelion Wine but I am very glad that I did. The book is a collection of short stories and yet much more at the same time. It is more like a series of vignettes that occur within one loosely organized plot and it is utterly delightful. Dandelion Wine, according to the author’s forward (and my memory), began as a writing exercise that Bradbury would do to persevere through stints of tough writing. He created the mythical […]