More Than The Genre Allows
590860
This book has a gorgeous cover. MacGregor is a skilled writer who knows her craft, so you won't be distracted by any flaws in character, setting, no holes in plot, everything is nicely done so that the reader can relax and enjoy this novel. If you like lesbian romance novels, and you've read enough of them, you'll be able to compare this author's effort, but if this is your first time with this genre, you certainly won't be disappointed. The story starts slowly and builds at a satisfying pace. Paula works at an upscale hotel in Orlando, and Wynne is a frequent patron. They meet, get to know each other, slowly become friends, each refusing to act on the growing attraction between them. Both Paula and Wynne are dedicated to advancing their careers. Despite the fact that they like each other and have things in common, they are reluctant to allow the relationship to grow beyond the casual. Wynne flies in from Baltimore for a series of business meetings dealing with the merger of her travel company into a much larger corporation. When the merger is complete, her periodic visits to the Orlando hotel will be over. For this and other reasons, both women struggle to keep their friendship casual. There is subplot and tension, as Wynne's family and home life intrude, but when the casual dinner dates increase the sexual tension between them, things begin to heat up. The main characters are fully developed, interesting, and believable. As the attraction between the two increases, so does the tension and interest for the reader. Usually, the lesbian romance ends when the girl finally gets the girl, but real relationships are sometimes much more complicated than that. Adults have obligations and entanglements, and MacGregor provides her characters with realistic problems, some of which may seem unsolvable. Sometimes, we make mistakes that cannot be forgiven or overcome. I've read literally dozens of novels in this genre, and this author handles the requirements and parameters very well, but she also manages to go beyond the requisite elements to offer the reader a little bit more than one would expect. If this is your first encounter with the genre, you'll be thoroughly entertained. If you're a fan of the lesbian romance, you'll find more than you normally get from an author, in clear, crisp writing, solid characterization, attention to detail and plot, and a good, professional, enjoyable, and very entertaining novel.
821309
This is a total standalone that builds on the character Prunella Smith, who appeared in Tahlia Newlands earlier metaphysical, mixed genre delight, "World Within World's". This one is again a weave of differing themes and stories that interlink based around the thoughts, life and writing of the author Prunella Smith. Each of the main story elements would work as independent short stories. These superficially independent threads are spliced together into one mystical reality. The binding themes are ultimately metaphysical. Each of the four main plotlines run as strands in Prunella's possible past and certainly present being. Actually the book reflects, openly from a deeper level, many elements of Newlands real life that are flickering away in the background. Prunella isn't Newland, but she might be in some parallel existence. The Australian bush, cats, steampunk, crafts and Buddhism continually bounce around the complex reality that is the real author. All fiction carries some sense of the author. This one does everything but try hiding the connectivity. The beating heart of the book is classic romance, which is always, quite unavoidably, deeply personal. Possibly I'm not even deep enough yet, because there is another even stronger binding theme than romance, that being of female emancipation and the associated problems of finding real psychological independence from cultural and emotional ropes that affect all of us.
The point of the book, as I read it, is that Newland is exploring different aspects of herself, not through introverted memoir but rather through extrovert expression in her layered fictional plot inventions. We have Newland herself, Prunella, Nell and Daniela, all giving us insight into each other and into one spiritual female whole. The stories strongest plot protagonist is also female, though, classically, true evil only rests in a male persona. We must excuse that device, as that is a more than fair reflection of the physical worlds in which most of us have always lived. The relative weaknesses and strengths of the sexes are after all the whole social history of mankind. The book is about both spiritual and physical emancipation. Male readers need not be put off by this review. We generally come out of these stories well. The romantic spirit wins through, but not without clear reflections from real life.
This is a beautifully written and intelligently crafted book. It is at once, spiritual, contemporary, historical fiction, a steampunk thriller, speculative fiction, philosophical and a social commentary, and above all else, a classic romance. We are still in worlds within worlds, such that at finish I'm not sure if some sort of spiritual 'Buddhism' is driving the author, or the author is demonstrating her own magical realism. You may have to read several of Newlands books before you can make any deep judgement. I've read them all and still can't be sure.
1109305
"Reader's Block" somehow manages to pick up where "This Is Not a Novel" left off, even though the latter was written later. This is managed by TINaN being more polished, more reader-ready, more "practiced," and is thus a good introduction to the genre; but Reader's Block is more true to the genre by being less "produced" and therefore more "honest." And yet, if you go back even further to "Wittgenstein's Mistress," the genre is exploited in the form of actual fiction-- biographical fiction, to be sure, but fiction nevertheless-- so that if one needs fiction as an introduction to the genre, one has it available, and again, Reader's Block will pick up where W'sM leaves off.
I can't speak to still earlier works by Markson, but I can say the "adventurous reader," the literary equivalent of the day-walker who sets out in strange cities with nothing more than a bottle of water and power-bar, will enjoy the adventure of discovering this genre. "This Is Not a Novel" is the packaged tour; "Reader's Block" is the nitty gritty.
Oh, by the way, the genre is called "zuihitsu." It's Japanese.
3123517
Watchmen is more than a comic book and it's beyond most modern graphic novels.
The book includes a written story, giving us more than the panels and dialog found there.

This isn't a story of joy, fun, and good old beating on the bad guys.
These heroes are normal folks who took up lives as crime fighters and patriots. They're human at heart though, or mostly anyway.

Foibles, faults, and histories make these heroes less than the comic book heroes like Superman, Batman, and Captain America.

Contains adult themes, violence, and the good guys aren't always that good.

The quality of the art is wonderful and this rendition carries that well.

I highly recommend this as required reading for those into heroic fiction.
1901341
Although the circumstances are exotic, fantastic, and wild they have an incredible flavor of someone who has actually lived them or lived very close to them, rather than just a writer's fantasy.  And the characters have much more complexity and depth than I imagined, having seen some of the film versions. Readers who are hunting for some morality underneath it all will be disappointed.
4046675
"Canterbury" demonstrates that it is possible to break the mold of this genre as well.  Characterization, plotting, and costuming put this on a level with some Sundance offerings.  Alas, as with many films from books, a lot is left out.
1212264
Ben Bishop's debut novel is not for those bereft of patience. That is not to say it lacks in energy or imagination - which it most certainly does not. But it is not one that can be picked up and put down lightly. It demands much from the reader. Ben's rich and at times labor-intensive prose bring Aghaux and it's inhabitants to life in a way that makes it difficult to leave the world behind when the final page comes. For a debut novel this is an impressive achievement and I look forward to enjoying more of his work in the future.
1900556
This isn't my typical read, but a friend suggested I check it out, so I did.  After a slightly slow opening, things picked up and I was compelled to keep turning the pages.  The story takes an unexpected and powerful twist at the perfect moment, transforming what might have been a routine dark fantasy tale into something considerably more thought-provoking.

I'd say this would probably be four stars if you enjoy the genre.
3573118
The stories in this collection showcase the versatility of three outstanding authors.  Short stories, because of the length restriction, often seem lacking in character development.  That isn't the case here.  Because of the title and the cover, I had the initial impression that this was an erotica anthology.  I soon found out that "undercover" refers to covert law enforcement/P.I. work, the common thread of all the stories.  The other reviewers have said enough about the imaginative plots, but I think each author deserves additional recognition for giving us a story that could be considered atypical for her style.

I liked Blayne Coopers "Quicksand" the best.  I've read most of her other books ("Echoes from the Mist" and "Cobb Island" being my favorites), but this one shows a character's critical self-evaluation, as well as a wry sense of humor, that doesn't appear in her other work.

KG MacGregor's "Stolen Souls" tells a story of strange happenings on the fringes of society.  (Rose Beecham's "Grave Silence" is a novel-length work that deals with a similar type of weirdness.)  The double-whammy of a morbidly fascinating topic and a unique treatment of it adds up to a winner.

Susan Meagher's "Narc/Narc Redux" is the most unusual of all.  What is certainly a complete story at the beginning of the book gains a new dimension at the end.  It's an effective approach.  Again, the style is very different from her "San Francisco" series, and I loved seeing this other side to her writing.

For those not familiar with the authors, this book provides a good introduction.  While the stories are a variation from their usual type of work, the reader can gain an appreciation for their skill.
339112
Ive read literally hundreds of collections of short stories, and very often, I find that the stories are just small versions of novels. Joy Castro, however, shows why short stories are not just little novels but are a genre unto themselves. If you are looking for stories with beginnings, middles, and ends, you probably won't like much of what you find in this collection of 28 stories, some as short as two pages and none longer than 18. Some of the stories in this collection might be better described as vignettes or tableaux than stories. But if you are looking for deft portrayals of complex characters in a wide variety of situations, you should be, as I was, delighted by most of the stories here.

Castro takes the short-story form seriously and uses its flexibility fearlessly. The title story, for instance, is told backward. Another story (I won't say which) depends heavily on its title for context: change the title, and you have a completely different story. In other words, these aren't pithy little tales. They are carefully crafted stories that resist quick consumption. I spent a good 20 minutes on one story, compulsively reading and rereading to try to find as much meaning as I could and admire the craft as much as possible.

If there is a theme to this book, it exists in the overlap of gender and ethnicity, with special emphasis on the former. But I think its probably better to focus on the quality, which is superb.
2286542
I wasn't familiar with this story, and only recently started reading works in the Gothic horror genre, and enjoyed this work. As with other Gothic novels I've so far read (Dracula, Frankenstein), morality is an important theme, and I was intrigued by the psychology explored, especially the illustration of how fear of repercussions can sometimes temporarily motivate virtuous behavior, while habituation to a relatively clear conscience can sometimes lead to a relaxing of control and a fall back into vice.

What is not examined, as far as I can tell - perhaps because it was not understood - is what makes the difference between a context where this back-and-forth is more likely, and one where virtue more likely succeeds? Where in this novel are men (or women) for whom a virtuous life is also rewarding and pleasurable? The good lawyer who tells much of the story and is a reliable, steady man, is also painted as fairly distant from others relationally, not involved in the sensual pleasures of life.

My favorite in this genre thus remains Dracula, where love plays a central role. But I still rate this four stars; the story progresses entertainingly and the writing style is well measured and engagingly atmospheric.
375940
I was drawn to this book by the cover, then I noticed Stephen King's blurb and I was sold. After reading the book, I was surprised.

The graphic novel form, as well as Jensen's skill at flipping the story back and forth through time, elevates what would ordinarily be a by-the-numbers serial killer thriller into a poetic and complex work of literature. It might not be what some people want or expect from such a title, but I thought it was so much more than a "true crime" story, and that's a good thing.
4264069
This book may not be an easy read. However, it is definitely an enjoyable one. This book's pleasures, like those in Dostoevsky's "The Brothers Karamazov," come from (1) the examination of how the traditional culture and ideas of a small town conflict with the imposing culture and ideas of the west, (2) the existence of and appropriate role for God in each culture, (3) what must be done to find happiness, and above all (4) the basic humanity that can be found even in one's enemies. Of course, this is a simplification. I've probably left out some important themes, and the themes I have listed also interact in interesting ways. Going beyond Dostoevsky, Pamuk also makes some interesting points about authenticity, on several occasions allowing the line to blur or disappear altogether  between reality and reflections of reality in media such as a play or a newspaper.

There is a plot around these ideas, of course. It includes love-triangles, suicide, politics, revolution, terrorism, religion, poetry, and gossip, all set in a gigantic snow storm. But if the ideas in the first paragraph don't interest you, the plot probably won't either. I often read books and find myself disappointed that they don't tackle themes that are at the core of what it means to be human. When I began reading this book, I wasn't expecting it to tackle those themes, but I was very pleasantly surprised. I don't want to lay it on too thick, but, while not completely living up to the standard set by authors like Dostoevsky (what book can?), this book got pretty close and actually revived my hope in books.
875382
I expected this novel to be `just another romance'. The early encounter between super-tall, super-cool, super-successful Dr Running Deer and feisty, elfin, down-and-out Morning Dove suggested the inevitable philharmonic of violins was tuning up ready for a big number before too long. But it soon became apparent that this novel had far more substance than the almost formulaic `big bloke meets wispy chick'. Contrary to initial mis-impression, Medicine Man is a well-researched historical novel, a delicately handled time-shift novel and a breathlessly exciting adventure story long before it is a romantic one. It poses the important and sobering question: what if we could go back and do things differently? Or, perhaps more poignantly: what if I could go back and do things differently?
Shannon Running Deer has turned his back on his calling as a medicine man and his life on the reservation to qualify as an ER surgeon, embracing modern American culture and twenty first century medical science. Morning Dove is an American Indian specially empowered by the spirits to draw members of her race back through time in order to rewrite history. Of course they are attracted to one another and the sexual undertow of their developing relationship is powerful in its rendering if slightly disappointing in its consummation, but there is far more involved here and as the narrative progresses it becomes apparent that this is a cultural and ideological collision as well as a relational one. Morning Dove's role is much more than to break Shannon's period of involuntary chastity, it is to challenge his ethnic affiliation and individual identity.
The writer handles the time-shift aspect of the story with extreme subtlety. Imperceptibly at first, but with increasingly puissance, weird occurrences - brief, corner-of-eye glimpses of a solitary grey wolf and a menacing elk-man, moments of dj-vu, shifting shadows, echoed chanting and the sudden arrival of Shannon's elderly and curmudgeonly grandfather in the ER - develop into periods in another time and place altogether. The author gradually builds up the frequency and duration of Shannon's visits to the past so that the reader, like Shannon, can come to terms with them.  It is beautifully done. Eventually the entire novel is transported to a place and time in America's BC history but the metamorphosis is seamless.
I found the descriptions of life with the Blackfoot tribe to be detailed and believable. The social politics and cultural mores were very well described. Braided in amongst the particulars of accommodation, subsistence and specific anthropology were timeless issues of the struggle for leadership, aspects of spirituality and the place and potential of women in society. Overarching all of these is Shannon's journey to acceptance of who he is.
SR Howen's prose is deft and engaging, her narrative pace compulsive. She does not shy away from harsh, even brutal aspects of tribal life and the struggle for leadership, but these episodes are entirely justified within the context of the novel.
My only reservation goes back to the relationship between Shannon and Morning Dove. Given the richness and multi-layered texture of their relationship, why did their disparate physicality have to be such a clich? His seven feet against her not-quite five seemed comic at first and as their relationship developed, just plain awkward. Perhaps that is why the writer shied away from a description of their final union.  So much, as the story continues, depends upon the mutual bond of confidence and loyalty of these two, forged in their one night of passion, that it seemed a little coy of Ms Howen to deny us an account of it.  At least she didn't resort to violins!
Four stars for this engaging read.
3696543
Most novels are strong in either one of two things: plot or characters. Generally, I prefer character-driven stories. I read to better understand human nature - what drives people, how they react in situations, what they think about and how they feel - and to make an emotional connection to the characters.

That said, The Night Has Teeth is stronger on the plot side, and though I don't often read young adult and supernatural fiction, I believe this is typical of that genre. There is tons of action, suspense, and mystery, which I expected, but I was surprised and delighted by how relatable the main character is, too. What sets this book apart is how real the protagonist is, even when he's a teenaged boy with a history of biting people until they spill blood on the schoolyard.

The story is told in first person, a challenging feat for any writer but perhaps particularly so for a woman writing from the point of view of a teenaged boy. Kat Kruger pulls it off. Connor is a believable 17-year-old, an American living in Paris who is trying to make friends and fit into a new culture that is rife with people who have their own motivations for befriending him. He's awkward at parties and around girls, self-conscious at times about his body, and smart but not sure about what to do with his intelligence. He is thoughtful but brave when he needs to be, as he continually finds himself confronted with things that aren't what they appear, people who transform into beasts, and scientists who covet his DNA.

The Night Has Teeth also wins on cool appeal with secondary characters such as his tattoo artist roommate and her brooding, rugged boyfriend the butcher, and his school chums from Canada. And I have to mention Paris, which is both the setting and another character in The Night Has Teeth. The city sets the mood, and the night scenes in the catacombs and graveyards gave me chills.

The Night Has Teeth is the first book in the Madgeburg Trilogy, published by the innovative Fierce Ink Press, and deservedly won the 34th Atlantic Writing Competition. It whisked me away to another world that was both familiar yet foreign, and proved to me that plot and character don't have to come at the expense of one another. I can't wait to sink my teeth into the sequels.
2686499
I grabbed this book because it promised an interesting psychological thriller, but what it turns out to be is so much more, and so well presented.

The story follows Pepper, an everyman who works as a furniture mover and is just trying to make it in life.  One day, he gets in a scuffle with some people who turn out to be police, and when taken into custody, he is dropped off at a mental hospital, because arresting him would be more paperwork than the lazy officers are willing to do.  From here, Pepper meets an interesting cast of patients and staff, and before too long, he learns that some*thing* stalks the halls at night hunting the patients.  Now, Pepper must survive not just the life of a psychiatric patient, but he must survive the monster in the night.....

What makes me rave about this novel is not the thriller aspect, which was very good, but the way the author allow a reader to connect and sympathize with people with mental health problems, and understand the challenges in the way society cares for those individuals.  LaValle brings us some characters who are pretty relatable and fleshed out, and I would not have had the emotional connection I did without the care he takes to make the patients and staff truly *human*.

At times scary, tragic, funny, and touching, this is an unexpected delight of a novel.
424558
The current ways in which people casually hook up and then sometimes unexpectedly and even reluctantly begin to love one another is definitely on the table in this one. It's more than your typical mystery thriller and in some ways could be a mainstream book. Rivie is not exactly an ideal heroine, but boy does she wriggle herself into your head. She comes at you from more angles than any woman character I've met lately. And some of her male pursuers aren't far behind her. This is a whodunit that will resonate with most readers.