All Consuming : Arethusa

A story about "Haweswater: A Novel (P.S.)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Arethusa) — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 02:54:00 GMT

by Sarah Hall

I haven’t finished the book yet, but I beg to disagree with the previous commenter about the prose being “pretentious and unreadable”. What Sarah Hall does is to give as much careful, tender attention to creating the natural setting as she does to the characters. There are odd moments where she leans toward the sentimental but most of the time I’m in awe at the old English northern world she’s rebuilt on the pages.

If you want the unreadable stuff try her “Electric Michelangelo”. And even then I wouldn’t call it pretentious, simply overeager and obstructively ornamental.

And all should try her latest book “The Carhullan Army”, released under the title “Daughters of the North” in the USA: her prose takes a complete 180 to match the bared back, roughly honed, brutal dystopian world in her book.

A review of "My Swordhand Is Singing" (rated 2 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Arethusa) — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 19:57:15 GMT

My Swordhand Is Singing

by Marcus Sedgwick

Terribly mediocre pap. If you’ve seen any vampire film in the last decade nothing in this book will prove to be surprising or particularly compelling.

A review of "Melusine" (rated 2 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Arethusa) — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 01:43:14 GMT

Melusine

by Sarah Monette

Ugh, this wasn’t even slightly original. It’s just your regular cheesy sword & sorcery tale with some homosexuality added to add to the pretense that it’s significantly “different” than any other fantasy out there. The writing is mediocre, the dialogue often hackneyed and the overall story in desperate need of some editing. A great disappointment.

A review of "The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner (Broadview Literary Texts)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Arethusa) — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 01:07:57 GMT

The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner (Broadview Literary Texts)

by James Hogg

Here’s an excellent Scottish classic which should be more widely read. Hogg displays such dexterity in adapting different voices to various points of views, and combines serious commentary with a ridiculous, even ludicrous humour that makes the novel an entertaining read.

A review of "The Lord of the Rings" (rated 5 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Arethusa) — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 20:30:06 GMT

The Lord of the Rings

by J.R.R. Tolkien

It was great to re-read it this time around after having seen the movies. Naturally the book’s scope is so much wider and deeper, and therefore a more pleasurable experience, but it was also cool to see how the movie took lines from the book and shifted it around to suit the film’s needs.

Why I gave up consuming "Crystal Rain"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Arethusa) — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 20:28:21 GMT

Crystal Rain

by Tobias S. Buckell

It just wasn’t a compelling read for me. Partly my fault, partly the writer’s.

A review of "Lessons of Desire" (rated 3 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Arethusa) — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 20:18:28 GMT

Lessons of Desire

by Madeline Hunter

It’s not bad, in parts quite good, but I enjoy Hunter’s romance for the combination of smart writing and involving romance. For the last two books there’s been a significant drop in the latter. She makes the heroes so obviously good and in love that the heroines look pretty dumb for not seeing what’s right in front of their eyes.

A review of "Od Magic" (rated 3 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Arethusa) — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 20:15:48 GMT

Od Magic

by Patricia A. McKillip

Showed some promise but McKillip did not deliver.

A review of "The Ides of March: A Novel" (rated 4 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Arethusa) — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 21:45:06 GMT

The Ides of March: A Novel

by Thornton Wilder

This book turned out to be some much better than expected. It’s an epistolary novel in which the last year of Julius Caesar is constructed primarily through his letters to (an invented) secluded friend Lucius Turrinus, and occasionally other figures such as his aunt, Cleopatra and Clodia Pulcher. Ideas on religion, fate, the impact of individuals and world affairs, even love are explored with a verve found in the best classics. And of course the reader’s knowledge of the Caesar’s inevitable fate lend everything a particular tension.

I have always been more interested in Augustus but Wilder has managed to make this historical figure live for me.

A review of "Fairyville" (rated 4 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Arethusa) — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 19:35:36 GMT

Fairyville

by Emma Holly

Another good Emma Holly after Prince of Ice. I especially loved that the gay relationship got as much focus, if not more, than the straight one. Her stories include, at their best, developed, sympathetic characters that are more emotionally complex than found in the typical romance. Also, they’re a lot of fun.

A review of "Breton folktales" (rated 4 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Arethusa) — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 14:27:13 GMT

Breton folktales

by Re Soupault

Fun stories that are intentionally and unintentionally amusing. They’re very Roman Catholic and the way the Breton locals incorporated their religious beliefs and experiences into these stories was highly entertaining and often unexpected.

A review of "Averno: Poems" (rated 5 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Arethusa) — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 14:25:40 GMT

Averno: Poems

by Louise Gluck

This is the first contemporary poetry collection that I’ve read from start to finish. Gluck is able to take the simplest words and create rich, complicated, but not abstruse poems that are both aesthetically beautiful and philosophical. Her ruminations on the Roman mythology, specifically the abduction of Persephone, were an added pleasure for this Western mythology buff. Get it, get it, get it.

A review of "The Rest Falls Away: The Gardella Vampire Chronicles (Signet Eclipse)" (rated 2 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Arethusa) — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 00:04:42 GMT

The Rest Falls Away: The Gardella Vampire Chronicles (Signet Eclipse)

by Colleen Gleason

Eh. There’s nothing new here. “Fresh voice” ~~- or whatever they’re trying to peddle this as -~~ my butt. Clichés all over the damn place.

A story about "Flight Volume Four"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Arethusa) — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 05:28:56 GMT

Flight Volume Four

This is an amazing collection of stories done by artists who truly take advantage of the graphic medium of story telling. The style, the emotional strength, the humour, the brilliant interpretation of ideas and themes of varying complexities guarantee its re-readability. I’m a convert and will set out to acquire all of the instalments in this fantastic series.

A review of "Edge of Midnight" (rated 4 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Arethusa) — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 15:48:57 GMT

Edge of Midnight

by Shannon McKenna

Her books are becoming rather predictable, not just in plot but in character types and relationship dynamics, but this one still managed to be entertaining, probably because Sean was one of my favourite McClouds. Over-the-top, Mckenna style as usual.

A review of "The Well of Loneliness" (rated 5 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Arethusa) — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 01:54:33 GMT

The Well of Loneliness

by Radclyffe Hall

This is a powerful, potentially transforming read, and infuriating both on behalf and because of Stephen Gordon, the main character. It’s a book that needs to be read.

Why I gave up consuming "The Electric Michelangelo"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Arethusa) — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 01:46:21 GMT

The Electric Michelangelo

by Sarah Hall

Terribly over-the-top prose. Descriptive writing with elaborate, solely ornamental metaphors are every where and it’s too damn annoying. I may return to it but I have too many good books lying around to waste time.

Why I recommend "Mrs. Dalloway (Penguin Modern Classics)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Arethusa) — Mon, 28 May 2007 19:07:51 GMT

Mrs. Dalloway (Penguin Modern Classics)

by Virginia Woolf

It boggles the mind that it took the academy so long to realise that this was a literary treasure. The sensual experience this novel offers is distinctive and unparalleled.

A review of "Lady Fortune (Zebra Historical Romance)" (rated 1 star)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Arethusa) — Sat, 19 May 2007 22:44:19 GMT

Lady Fortune (Zebra Historical Romance)

by Anne Stuart

It started out so well with a fairly good plot and great humour but somehow, around the half-way mark, the humour bubbles over into the implausibly ridiculous and the characters’ behaviours take an exaggerated turn into the opposite direction. What an odd novel.

Why I gave up consuming "Diplomatic Baggage: The Adventures of a Trailing Spouse"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Arethusa) — Thu, 03 May 2007 12:35:04 GMT

Diplomatic Baggage: The Adventures of a Trailing Spouse

by Brigid Keenan

The writing is vacuous and mundane.

Why I recommend "Wedding Jester"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Arethusa) — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 20:05:54 GMT

Wedding Jester

by Steve Stern

Here is an author whose entire body of work is worth experiencing, whether or not you’re jewish. Stern pulls on jewish mythical folklore to explore the flaws, fears and desires of his characters in early 20th century America. His irreverent humour is often farcical, astonishing and earthy but you’re always aware of the love and respect he has for his history and the characters in his stories. There’s everything here, from flying rabbis to literally elevating bedroom romps to a bride possessed by a dead comedian at her wedding.

Stern is definitely one of the best living authors writing today. He deserves ten times the readership he has now.