Once Upon a Time: New Fairy Tales

edited by Paula Guran
4/5 stars
Prime Books, 2013
384 pages
Adult Fairy Tales Short Story Collection

Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

As has been long documented on this blog, I adore fairy tales in pretty much all iterations so of course I was going to take the opporutnity to read the new variations contained in this book. My usual policy for short story collections is to review each individually (just a few sentences) so be ready for a long one today because we have eighteen to cover.

"The Coin of Heart's Desire" by Yoon Ha Lee: This story is based on a Korean folktale so it was not one I was familiar with but it does have dragons and is very well-written. I was not expecting the ending but loved how it all panned out.

"The Lenten Rose" by Genevieve Valentine: This is based on The Snow Queen, a story I only vaguely know and I did not really like this retelling. I wonder if more familiarity with the original tale would have helped me here. I kept feeling like I was missing something...

"The Spinning Wheel's Tale" by Jane Yolen: This is an author whose name I've seen a lot but who I actually haven't read though several of her books are on my list. Here her offering is a short variation on the tale of Sleeping Beauty, looking at the innocent at the heart of the story. It's very short so it didn't make much of an impression on me.

"Below the Sun Beneath" by Tanith Lee: The Twelve Dancing Princesses was always one of my favorite stories as a kid so I just adored this elaborate retelling. Though the beginning left me wondering where we were going, I soon caught on and was thrilled with the feminist slant included. This was probably my favorite of the stories.

"Warrior Dreams" by Cinda Williams Chima: I admire the intention behind this story which looks at a contemporary soldier struggling to reintegrate himself to civilian life and being brought into a battle with some fantastical creatures. The writing for this never clicked with me and I had trouble staying engaged with the story.

"Born and Bread" by Kaaron Warren: I've never heard of the Russian story "Sivka Burka," which inspired this interpretation but I loved how it was rolled out here. I don't have much to say about it but this was another one I liked.

"Tales That Fairies Tell" by Richard Bowes: This was a weird take on Puss in Boots though admittedly that is never one of my favorite stories despite getting to live with an adorable cat who could totally rock boots if he so chose. I did not find much to impress in this story but I'm sure it will intrigue others.

"Sleeping Beauty of Elista" by Ekaterina Sedia: takes as a starting point a pediatric AIDS outbreak in Elista and weaves in a bit of Sleeping Beauty to shake things up. This one had a heavy air of melancholy over it but was beautiful all the same.

"The Road of Needles" by Caitlin R. Kiernan: Little Red Riding Hood is the inspiration here though it's a shaky one. I thought the ending pages were most excellent but the beginning is a bit of a slog in this sci-fi twist-there are many made-up words and terms thrown at the reader. I preferred focusing more on the familial relationship.

"Lupine" by Nisi Shawl: This was such a weird story beginning with a mother who hates her daughter. I liked how this eventually ended but hated the starting point :(

"Flight" by Angela Slatter: I was not familiar with either of the stories referenced by the author in her introduction this story, which made me nervous as I tend to like the retellings more when I know their source material. Still it was beautifully written and the start, middle, and end were clearly distinguished. I especially loved the use of the sister-sister relationship as well as mother-daughter when looking at two standout parts.

"Egg" by Priya Sharma: A woman is somewhat incautious when wishing for a child and having that wish fulfilled. The heartbreak is palpable in this story as the mother struggles with her daughter and ends up doing the difficult but right thing.

"Castle of Masks" by Cory Skerry: This was such a cool story. It owes a bit to Beauty and the Beast and has so many great moments. Another standout in the collection.

"The Giant in Repose" by Nathan Ballingrud: I enjoyed this story more upon giving it a second read as I initially found the story bewildering. When I read it the second time, I knew the characters better. I liked how it played with the Story, making me think of Mercedes Lackey's fairy tale novels where the Story will impel people to fulfill certain tropes.

"The Hush of Feathers, The Clamor of Wings" by A.C. Wise: Such a sad story with a brother who chose to remain a bird after his sister's sacrifice of silence and knitting a nettle shirt for each of her seven brothers; what will he give up for her to allow her to live?

"Eat Me, Drink Me, Love Me" by Christopher Barzak: I did not really like this retelling of The Goblin Market though I suspect this is one I'd have at least enjoyed if I was familiar with that poem. Instead I just kept reading hoping to eventually fall in love but never succeeding.

"The Mirror Tells All" by Erzebet YellowBoy: I loved how the starting point for this Snow White retelling is not about mother-daughter competition or jealousy but instead is about triumph in the face of those who would "try to stifle a young woman's spirit." I thought it was very neat how the elements of the original story were woven in.

"Blanchefleur" by Theodora Goss: I think this was the longest story in the collection and it ended up being one of the best too. It really honors the traditional fairy tales with the young man who no one much values, undergoing three trials, rescuing a kingdom, and learning from a mysterious frightening woman. It may have been a bit on the long side for this collection but the characterization really benefited from that.

Overall: I enjoyed this collection, finding more stories to enjoy than skip. If you like short story fairy tale collections, this would be worth checking out.

Yellowcake

Yellowcake by Margo Lanagan
3/5 stars
Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2013
223 pages
YA Short Stories

Source: Received an ARC through Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review.

I have been very interested in short stories lately so I was thrilled to see another collection available for review. I wasn't very sure about what to expect as I hadn't really noticed any other reviews. To be perfectly blunt: this book was weird. There were a few stories I really liked but most of them went way past me and were super uncomfortable (like the one from the point of view of a rapist) or just plain confusing (like last story "Eyelids of the Dawn"-I'm not really sure what went on there.)

In an effort to keep this positive, I'll just share about the three stories I liked and feel that I at least partially understood. The other seven either completely bewildered me or disgusted me (like the cruel fascinator who curses two girls just for having the audacity to not fall in love with him or the aforementioned rapist.)

"The Golden Shroud" is a new take on Rapunzel, focusing far more on the prince and Rapunzel's magical hair while the girl herself is pretty wimpy and weak. I would have liked a stronger heroine in this take on a fairy tale but I appreciated its familiar context at least.

"Night of the Firstlings" was incredibly confusing until I figured out that it was during the time of Moses when the plague is sent to kill all firstborns and the Red Sea is parted. As I said, the beginning of this was very confusing to me but I warmed up to it as I continued reading. I guess this shows how careful reading pays off.

Lastly we have "Ferryman" which I was highly anticipating after seeing it mentioned on the back cover. I was right to look forward to it as I really liked it-possibly my favorite. This relies on Greek mythology as well as a deep father-daughter relationship.

Overall: A set of stories that does not hesitate to take you to uncomfortable places; the kind that rewards careful reading and an adventurous mind.

Other Opinions:
Good Books and Good Wine
Steph Su Reads

Passion and Poison

Passion and Poison by Janice M. Del Negro
4/5 stars
Marshall Cavendish, 2007
64 pages
YA/MG Horror Story Collection

Source: Received a copy from Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review.

Lately I've been really into short stories so I was excited to see this available for review. I like how there is a woman on the cover as well as mentioned in the subtitle. This is a collection of seven stories with various horror themes, intended by the author to be read aloud as I discovered when I read the author's note at the end. I only had myself so I read silently but I wonder how a crowd would respond to them especially if they were told around a campfire or on a dark and stormy night.

I'm not going to go in-depth to any of the stories as I had basically the same impression for all. This is certainly competent writing with some killer closing lines (inevitably the line I wanted to highlight for almost all of the stories was the last one.) But it wasn't very scary, if that was in fact the intention, which I assumed it was due to the creepy cover and mention of ghosts. That's why I wonder if the setting in which this was read would play a factor in how you processed it.

Of further interest was the author's note, which explains how she came to compose these stories and her purpose in reclaiming some ground for the anonymous women who populate folklore. Each of the women here do have a name and their agency is clearly revealed to the reader, if not to the other characters of the story. Inspiration for each story is also cited so the curious can research more.

Overall: A well-done short story collection-though were standouts, all were good on about the same level. Maybe a fun library read for a camping trip?

Two and Twenty Dark Tales

Two and Twenty Dark Tales edited by Georgia McBride and Michelle Zink
4/5 stars
Month9Books, 2012
311 pages
YA Fantasy Short Stories

Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

As an electronic galley, this book is missing the full entries from Nancy Holder, C. Lee McKenzie, and Georgia McBride's poem. I have reviewed what was contained in what I received. One other note is that the formatting on this e-ARC is very odd with a mixing of fonts that made it a little difficult to read at times but I persevered! I also anticipated recognizing most of the stories but as it turns out, I am not very familiar with the Mother Goose fairy tales. Still I enjoyed almost all of the stories and think this collection is well-worth seeking out.

As Blue as the Sky and Just as Old by Nina Berry: First up, starting by quoting a poem I did not recognize (which made me think I wouldn't enjoy this) but I ended up loving this one. It starts out very mysteriously but then the action ramps up. I loved the theme of breaking bad cycles to create your own future as well as the fact that it reminded me of this song I adore ("Meadowlark" as sung by Sarah Brightman).

Sing a Song of Six-Pence by Sarwat Chadda: Having read Dark Goddess by Chadda, I had high expectations for the writing in this selection in addition to actually being familiar with the story that inspired it. This is a very dark tale (as are most of the stories as hinted by the title) about a woman going after her child and the being she goes to for help.

Clockwork by Leah Cypess: Another rhyme I recognized-definitely one of the standouts in this collection! A princess was turned into a mouse while her cousin took over the throne-what sacrifices will she have to make for the greater good?

Blue by Sayantani DasGupta: I found this story to be very bizarre and not at all to my liking. It was very lyrical but not much happened.

Pieces of Eight by Shannon Delany with Max Scialdone: This story seemed very fairy-tale-esque to me. The hero has a quest and conveniently receives all the aid and assistance he needs before digging deep within himself to complete his journey. It felt a little haphazard in that I sometimes had trouble following how one event led to the next.

Wee Willie Winkie by Leigh Fallon: I found this one very scary (especially harrowing for those under sixteen) although I had a little trouble getting involved at first. By the ending, I was on the edge of my seat!

Boys & Girls Come Out to Play by Angie Frazier: Unfortunately this story has something I hate (girl has the hots for her sister's fiance, which are reciprocated if tamped down) and there was a confusing middle but I loved, loved, loved the ending. So perfect for the tone of this collection!

I Come Bearing Souls by Jessie Harrell: I loved that this story used Egyptian mythology (more of that in YA please!) but I don't think we spent enough time here to really appreciate everything.

The Lion and the Unicorn, Part the First by Nancy Holder: As suggested in the title, this is part one of a two part story; the second part was not in this ARC so I don't know how the story ends (I suspect unhappily given what happens in just about every other story) but I was very intrigued by this taste. Set during the reign of James I, we see a different side to the witchcraft trials.

Life in a Shoe by Heidi R. King: In a dystopian future, women are naught but child incubators, having baby after baby as the men arrive for short breaks from fighting a never-ending war. Very bleak although the ending does try to leave us with some hope.

Candelight by Suzanne Lazear: Bratty kids escape their "overbearing" mom only to discover that their actions have consequences! This seemed very familiar to me and the "twist" at the ending was not at all surprising to me.

One for Sorrow by Karen Mahoney: Although this was one of the more anticipated stories for me, after liking The Iron Witch, I was not very impressed. Amid all the other stories, I kind of forgot about this one. It does not help that there is a crow after the second story also featured a crow.

Those Who Whisper by Lisa Mantchev: I thought this story was amazing! I think that was partly because it really reminded me of a fairy tale; additionally it actually had a happier ending than most of the other ones with an excellent survivor of a main character.

Little Miss Muffet by Georgia McBride: This story kind of confused me. I understand the idea somewhat as I'm very familiar with the rhyme but it was too weird for me.

Sea of Dew by C. Lee McKenzie:  Want to read about people adrift at sea dying of dehydration? Well, you've got your wish here. This story was just so depressing.

Tick Tock by Gretchen McNeil: I thought this story had a very creepy atmosphere but I was puzzled by what happened. The events didn't lead into each other.

A Pocket Full of Posy by Pamela van Hylckama Vlieg: I thought the writing and suspense were great here as a boy wakes up with his girlfriend dead and no memory of how that happens. As he searches to prove to himself that he didn't do it, he discovers what did; I didn't like that ending but I did like the beginning.

The Well by KM Walton: A sort of apocalyptic Jack and Jill-very dark but a little too short for my taste.

The Wish by Suzanne Young: I feel like most of my favorite stories were in the beginning but this is an exception as this was another delight for me. A young girl wishes she were dead and then meets a boy who makes her want otherwise.

A Ribbon of Blue by Michelle Zink: I liked the start but wasn't as sold on the ending. I also wish there had been an editor's note to close the anthology instead of just nothing.

Overall: It looks like these stories are arranged alphabetically by author's last name and although it may seem daunting from looking at my list, I think it was fairly well balanced with a mix of genres and writing styles to suit everyone. I think this book is a winner!

Cover: Not thrilled about the dead girl; at the least, we could have been shown her dress.

 

Diverse Energies

Diverse Energies edited by Tobias S. Buckell and Joe Monti
4/5 stars
Tu Books, 2012
309 pages
YA Dystopia/Science-Fiction Short Stories

Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was grabbed by the mention of three of these authors who have either written books I enjoyed or have written books I hope to read soon (those three being Ellen Oh, Malinda Lo, and Cindy Pon). Its stated intention is to provide more diversity in our YA fiction, whether race, gender, culture, sexual-orientation, etc. These stories mix dystopia, science-fiction, and fantasy. Like many short story collections, it's a definite mixed bag with some stories working well for me and some not clicking with me.

The Last Day by Ellen Oh-what a powerful story and a great way to start the collection! Atomic non-stop war between the President of the West and the Emperor of the West with nowhere safe for the people.

Freshee's Frogurt by Daniel H. Wilson-Interesting story about robots going berserk and attacking humans; warning about language. Not one of my favorites as it's very short and just focusing on this one battle.

Uncertainty Principle by K. Tempest Bradford-was really interesting and played with time, one of my favorite concepts. A young girl keeps having time shifted around her with no one else noticing until the day she uploads all the times it has happened and she is contacted by others to do something about it.

Pattern Recognition by Ken Liu-I really loved this story although there was an awkward shift at the end, hopefully due to the fact that this is an ebook. I wasn't really sure where it was going but I loved the main characters. It made me think of Ender's Game a little bit, which is a good thing as that's one of my favorite books.

Gods of Dimming Light by Greg van Eekhout-I didn't really like this one; it felt a bit more on the violent side featuring a young Indonesian boy discovering a Norse connection.

Next Door by Rahul Kanakia-This was very weird to me: there are haves and have-nots, the former don't even notice the latter being so plugged into their technology and I didn't quite understand that even as I know people are always talking about how technology is isolating us but I could not imagine not noticing other people in the way that the haves do here.

Good Girl by Malinda Lo-did I mention that all of these stories are pretty uniformly depressing? This was definitely one of those with our main character searching the underworld for her brother, meeting a love interest, and confronting the grim reality of her world.

A Pocket Full of Dharma by Paolo Bacigalupi-I didn't really know what to make of this story, about a boy on the streets and trying to survive among conniving adults in a bleak world. What's in his pocket? It's not a ring of power for one.

Blue Skies by Cindy Pon-I thought this was another really good story, especially because it seemed a little lighter and it had a hint of romance. Although such romance is impossible in the world, I liked the little hit within.

What Arms to Hold by Rajan Khanna-Indian children labor in a mine, searching for a big prize that will ensure their promotion to a better job...guess what? That's not exactly the case as is so heartbreakingly shown here.

Solitude by Ursula K. Le Guin-I'm not really sure I got this story, which was one of the longest included. It's about a woman who uses her son and daughter to explore and study a foreign culture on another planet.
 

Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death

Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death by James Runcie
4/5 stars
Bloomsbury, 2012
435 pages
Mystery; Historical; Short Stories

Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I like finding new detectives in mystery stories and the setting for this one, early 1950s, sounded pleasingly different. Our detective, as you might have surmised from the title, is Sidney Chambers, vicar of Grantchester, the quiet English village. Through the short stories in this collection, Sidney is induced to become involved in investigating several mysterious crimes. He is friendly with an inspector and his position in the church lends some authority to his actions while rendering his investigations relatively unobtrusive to the wrongdoer.

Despite the nature of the crimes (the violence of several murders and two thieveries), this is a very quiet book. This is perfect for those of us who like cozies, who don't necessarily want violence in their reading material but may not work for people who want suspense. I'll admit that there were times when it seemed too slow but I enjoyed the leisurely pace. It seems fitting for the time and place, where rationing is only finally starting to end, where televisions have yet to grace practically every household. We also get insight into Sidney's spiritual and personal life, from the way he feels about his preaching to potential wife material.  

The quality of the stories varies. I really liked the story of the missing engagement ring while I found the one about the missing portrait to be quite sickening and much darker than the other stories. Although each mystery provides the framing and ostensible purpose for the story, it does not always come across as the most important element. Sidney's romantic connections and his life in the church sometimes overshadow his investigations, drawing my attention and sympathy.  While each short story is self-contained, it is good to read all of them because the characters drift through, sometimes in London, sometimes in Cambridge. What we learn in the previous story provides additional color to the next.

Overall: Slower than what I had expected but not without its charms. Sidney is a fascinating character and I would definitely be interested to spend more time with him.

The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories

The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories by Susanna Clarke
Bloomsbury, 2006
235 pages
Short stories; fairy tale
4.5/5 stars

Source: Library

Summary: A collection of short stories with magical elements and fairy tale aspects.

Thoughts: I put this on my list after reading Irena's review at This Miss Loves to Read and after remembering how much I enjoyed reading Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell (pre-blog with delightful footnotes!) I found the writing lovely, at some points reminiscent of Jane Austen (high praise from me!)  I enjoyed the variety of style, tone, theme, and length in the stories. Now for a closer but brief look at each.

The  Ladies of Grace Adieu: Set in the universe of Jonathan Strange and apparently referenced in the book itself; this is about ladies using magic which was frowned on by Mr Norrell. I liked the ladies but not fantastic. 4/5

On Lickerish Hill: Retelling of Rumpelstiltskin with archaic spelling that made it difficult to read thus only 3.5/5

Mrs Mabb: A lady returns from nursing her friend to find that her beloved has fallen under the sway of Mrs. Mabb.  She attempts to fight for him, despite the magical confusion around.  I really felt for Venetia as she bravely fought for Captain Fox who she was certain had not abandoned her.  4.5/5

The Duke of Wellington Misplaces His Horse: Very short, set in the same world as Stardust. The Duke of Wellington plays with the thread of time and fate. 4/5

Mr Simonelli or The Fairy Widower: Mr Simonelli is the new rector who ends up matching wits with a fairy lord and ensnaring himself in romantic entanglements; told through his journal entries, a format I really love. 5/5

Tom Brightwind or How the Fairy Bridge Was Built at Thoresby: A Jew and a fairy king travel to Lincoln and end up constructing a bridge. 4.5/5

Antickes and Frets: This is about Mary, Queen of Scots and her imprisonment by Elizabeth I.  While she attempted to leave, she couldn't and used embroidery as a coping mechanism. 4/5

John Uskglass and the Cumbrian Charcoal Burner: Possibly my favorite. A charcoal burner lives in isolation and gets revenge on Fairy King John Uskglass multiple times; quite funny and very quick. 5/5

Overall: Very enjoyable even without having read Jonathan Strange (I can barely remember anything about it) and highly recommended!

Kiss Me Deadly

Kiss Me Deadly, Ed. Trisha Telep

Running Press Teens, 2010

401+ pages*

YA; Short Stories; Paranormal Romance

3.5/5 stars

Source: From 1 ARC Tours

Summary: A collection of short stories from some of today's most popular authors including Maggie Stiefvater, Carrie Ryan, Michelle Zink, and more!

Some spoilers but I tried not to ruin the stories if they have twists.

Thoughts: I always find it easiest to talk about short story collections by just going through them and listing what I did and didn't like so this will be LONG. My particular favorites are highlighted. I had a quibble with these "short" stories as many of them were quite long; I was expecting twenty pages to be the max but that was more like the min. I'm not complaining because of course I want more to read but it made it difficult to fit in to the little snatches of time I have to read throughout the day unlike say the short sections of Terry Pratchett's books.

I'm evaluating these stories on the paranormal elements and the romance given the subtitle of "paranormal love" although writing and sheer enjoyability play a part.

The Assassin's Apprentice by Michelle Zink: It felt rushed-I was unsure of the mythology surrounding the story. And most disappointing to me, I didn't really feel the romance as there wasn't much build-up: they saw each other and they knew. Very unsatisfactory for me. 3/5

Errant by Diana Peterfreund: I think this is connected to her series of unicorn books, which I have not read, but the story still made sense. The romance was also lacking in this but it ended with the empowerment of Elise who was able to draw unicorns to her land for protection against the vile men while Gitta will continue to travel with her unicorn Enyo. 4/5

The Spirit Jar by Karen Mahoney: This features vampires, or rather one named Moth who apparently was in The Eternal Kiss but I don't think you need to have read this in order to follow the story. I liked Moth who is conflicted over being a vampire, specifically whether or not she has a soul. But the romance wasn't very good and I didn't love it. 3/5

Lost by Justine Musk: I would classify this as an updated version of a Greek myth (I think it would be spoiled if I told you which one). Sasha (I have loved this name ever since I first heard it as the name of Sasha Cohen the ice-skater) is good at finding things and Haiden helps her develop and strengthen the those abilities in paranormal terms. The romance was a little half-baked although I can see it growing and flourishing. 4/5

The Spy Who Never Grew Up by Sarah Rees Brennan: This took me a while to get in to but I liked it, probably the second funniest story. It is a sort of sequel to Peter Pan, incorporating spy thriller elements. There are references to Wendy, Captain Hook, Tinker Bell, and Tiger Lily although sadly no Crocodile. It was interesting to see how Pan might be after approximately six generations have passed in human years. 4.5/5

Behind the Red Door by Caitlin Kittredge: An incredible ghost story: I would say both elements of paranormal and romance were probably strongest in this one. Jo and the ghost Nicholas had a unique relationship that culminated in some frightening moments. 5/5

Hare Moon by Carrie Ryan: I believe this is the story of the character Sister Tabitha from The Forest of Hands and Teeth who was once in love with a boy named Patrick. I felt their love but I'm still not a fan of the world and the Unconsecrated. If you loved the book, you'll probably love this story. 3/5

Familiar by Michelle Rowen: I would call this the funniest story although not many even included any funny bits. Brenda is a witch who needs to get a familiar who ends up being Owen. This had a strong romantic element with a light sprinkling of several paranormal elements. 5/5

Fearless by Rachel Vincent: Another rather scary story: Sabine is a mara, someone who feeds on humans's nightmares and Nash is another paranormal creature who understands and loves her. Sabine is sent to a halfway home to help her straighten up but she finds it even worse there 4.5/5

Vermillion by Daniel Marks: This was another outstanding story about Velvet and Nick who had one of the best romances of the stories. The paranormal elements also kicked my butt which I'm sure would please Velvet. 4.5/5

The Hounds of Ulster by Maggie Stiefvater: Bryant's best friend Sullivan is a brilliant musician who also happens to fall in love with one of Them, thereby destroying their friendship and their usual jam sessions. Another great story from Stiefvater 4/5

Many Happy Returns by Daniel Waters: I didn't really like this story but I'm not familiar with the Generation Dead universe where it takes place. It's one of the sadder stories, which I think accounts for why I didn't like it very much. 3/5

Dungeons of Langeais by Becca Fitzpatrick-when I started this I was worried I wouldn't be able to follow it since it's a Hush, Hush story and I haven't read that yet. It focuses on Chauncey who is apparently in Hush, Hush but I could follow it anyway. Because it is about Chauncey, one quite hates the evil angel who bamboozled him; said angel being Patch who is apparently the romantic hero. I already don't like him. But it was very readable. 3.5/5

Overall: Because I didn't like the first few stories that much, it lowered the rating of the book as a whole. However I would still recommend the collection especially if you've had the pleasure of reading books by these writers and are familiar with the universes. I definitely felt that romance was lacking in a few stories but they all had their unique mythologies which made the paranormal aspects pleasing to me.

Cover: Kind of creepy which is appropriate.

*I received this from the publisher with Becca Fitzpatrick's story typed on regular pages and inserted folded in to the book.

The Man with Two Left Feet and Other Stories

The Man With Two Left Feet and Other Stories by PG Wodehouse

First Published in 1917

Short Stories; Humor

4/5 stars

Source: Through Daily Lit

Summary: A collection of stories, including the first appearance in print of the characters Jeeves and Bertie Wooster.

Thoughts: I decided to give this a read because I've never read any Wodehouse and I wanted to try Daily Lit through my google reader. Unfortunately for me, it is not a method that seems to work well. Some days I wouldn't have time to read it so that the next day, I'd have two installments. Other days it seemed like I had forgotten what I had read before. I think I really do better when I have the whole text before me, whether it's an ebook or a real book. That was also part of my problem with audiobooks.

Overall: The stories were pretty easy reads and there were some delightfully funny bits sprinkled throughout. I can't choose a favorite but I can recommend that you give it a try.

Cover: I didn't have a cover since I read this through Daily Lit but I believe this picture fits at least one of the stories and I think it's quite attractive.

A Truth Universally Acknowledged

A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Great Writers on Why We Read Jane Austen ed. Susannah Carson

Random House, 2009; 277 pages

Summary: Collections of essays by writers on why we read Jane Austen.

Why I Read This: "I am a Jane Austenite, and therefore slightly imbecile about Jane Austen."

My thoughts: I really enjoyed this. It definitely encourages me to reread Emma which I was already planning to do, having been inspired by the recent miniseries (which was meh but I'm always happy that people want to continue to read and reinterpret Austen so I don't mind too much; the main thing that stuck out to me was that there was a lot of Frank Churchill and I want to see if I get that feeling from the book too.) My favorite point was the delightful pleasure we get from rereading Austen. Any book that can be reread like that is something worth cherishing. My main complaint is repitition as in some essays repeat the same couple of quotes about or from her which got old fast.

Overall: 4/5 Good for people who love Austen's works

Question: What is your favorite Austen? And what did you think of the 2009 Emma miniseries, if you saw it? My answers are Pride and Prejudice and meh.

M Is for Magic

M Is for Magic by Neil Gaiman

Summary: A collection of short stories that are alternately fantastic, scary, and funny, written during various periods of Mr Gaiman's career.

As this is a collection, I would only like to talk about my favorite stories although as I really enjoyed this I definitely recommend all.

[In the order that I read them]

1. "The Case of the Four and Twenty Blackbirds"-This is sort of a children's noir story with a hardboiled detective Jack Horner searching out the answer to "Who killed Humpty Dumpty?" It starts the book out on a high note.

2. "How to Sell the Ponti Bridge"-funny story about swindling people set in another world

3. "October in the Chair"-I liked the framing story which is of the twelve months gathering to tell stories as each month ends, but I didn't really like the story told by October which was unresolved to my mind.

4. "The Witch's Headstone"-this is the story that became The Graveyard Book, which I really liked. I read it a while ago but I'm pretty sure this extract can be found in its entirety in the book. Unfortunately without the context of the book, I'm pretty sure this story would have left me baffled as it sets up many subplots but doesn't quite connect them.

Overall: 4.5/5 so good!