This charming sequel to Before the Coffee Gets Cold complements the first volume beautifully. Its tone matches that of its predecessor, treating of soThis charming sequel to Before the Coffee Gets Cold complements the first volume beautifully. Its tone matches that of its predecessor, treating of sorrow and comfort with a gentle touch. This book expands the world of the first one, explaining a bit more about the way that the magic works, and giving more background on the main characters, and developing them as they grow and change. I am relieved to report that this book does not fall into the trap of over-explaining; it maintains the air of mystery and keeps the tales feeling fresh. Delightful....more
I suppose it's all right for what it is. The story is interesting and the characters likeable. The stunning artwork elevates the book and endows it wiI suppose it's all right for what it is. The story is interesting and the characters likeable. The stunning artwork elevates the book and endows it with beauty. I enjoyed the experience of reading it. That plot, however. Ooh. I feel like the book couldn't quite decide when to be a fairy tale for adults and when to be realistic, and—given that the premise is a talking whale who apparently never needs to eat, who also has a library inside of her—I found some of the more "realistic" elements of the story to be quite unbelievable, even jarring and out-of-place. This book tried to be a lot of things: atmospheric, beautiful, joyful, funny, and tragic. Unfortunately, they just didn't mesh....more
A wonderful short story by Bradbury: creepy and memorable. The descriptions of the fog and the dark ocean create a vivid setting, and the drama pays oA wonderful short story by Bradbury: creepy and memorable. The descriptions of the fog and the dark ocean create a vivid setting, and the drama pays off nicely. Ten years after I read it, I could still recall it in detail. Recommended for fans of science fiction or of tales about the sea....more
What a pleasure to read a book compiled by an expert who so clearly loves his topic! Hugh Lamb, in gathering this collection of macabre Victorian fictWhat a pleasure to read a book compiled by an expert who so clearly loves his topic! Hugh Lamb, in gathering this collection of macabre Victorian fiction, has sought out many authors who, while successful in their day, have not necessarily remained in the public consciousness. These forgotten (or nearly) writers are once again given attention and acknowledgement in this little gem of a book. These stories are dark, powerful, and creepy—and while they certainly have a strong 19th-century flavor (that is their time period, after all) the content is never saccharine, and the writing is such that could hold its own against the tales of the present day.
Here are some good things: • The book is well-organized. • Each author has a mini (1 page) introduction. • Lamb, in his intros, gives salient information without being loquacious. • There are many unknown (or at least not well-known) authors. • The stories show a wide variety of styles. • The stories are interesting and quite well-written. • Lamb clearly knows his craft and has done his research, but he never condescends to his readers or comes off as pretentious.
I suppose perhaps the best compliment I can give is this: these tales tend a bit too much toward the macabre for my taste, and yet I enjoyed reading each and every one of them, partly because Lamb’s introductions helped me understand their value, and mostly because his love for these stories shone through every page....more
I wasn't sure that I liked this at first, but it turned out to be an interesting and enjoyable tale. The protagonist wasn't especially likeable at theI wasn't sure that I liked this at first, but it turned out to be an interesting and enjoyable tale. The protagonist wasn't especially likeable at the start, but I was certainly rooting for him by the end. This ghostly tale mixes the supernatural with elements that are distinctly human. A haunted house, a missing will, and even a specter! Well worth the read....more
A strong end to the trilogy, and a definite improvement over book #2. Here, the two main friends from the first novel are working side-by-side, so mucA strong end to the trilogy, and a definite improvement over book #2. Here, the two main friends from the first novel are working side-by-side, so much of the joy that was missing from book #2 is present here. The stakes are higher than ever, and there are a great many obstacles to be overcome in this action-packed finale. There is also a lot that is disappointing, mostly in the form of a minor character who, for some reason, is unnecessarily hurtful to others, but everyone somehow loves her for it. She is particularly cruel right at the end, but everyone seems to think she has acted well. But as I said, she is a minor character, and this is a minor point. What works exceptionally well in this tale is the way that the two main characters get pushed to their limits. One shines, and the other, well, doesn’t, and that, too, is well-written and compelling. This book also earns points for making terrific use of ambiguity. There is a major plot point that is unclear in its resolution, and while such approaches often feel cheap and gimmicky, this does not. This feels real, and the uncertainty of the character’s future is extraordinarily well-handled. If it weren’t for a few sour notes in other aspects of the storytelling, I would say that this was one of the most satisfying endings to a fantasy series that I’d ever read. This isn’t the world’s greatest book, by any stretch, and it’s only getting 4 stars from me. But the resolution is quite solid, and the story threads, the ones that are neatly tied up and the ones that are not, are quite well-chosen. ...more
What a disappointing sequel. The main character is so very much out of character that it’s hard to believe he’s the same person from the last story. IWhat a disappointing sequel. The main character is so very much out of character that it’s hard to believe he’s the same person from the last story. It isn’t so much a matter of the character growing or regressing; it’s just that he’s so altogether different. And he’s not even all that likeable here, but to be fair, the other characters aren’t, either. Add to that a confusing and tedious plot—so slow-moving—and it’s easy to see why it took me so long to finish reading this one. The best part of the first novel was the friendship between the two main characters, but one of those friends isn’t even in this story except for a handful of pages. This novel, the middle in the trilogy, is supposed to involve a drastic surprise for the hero that shakes his whole understanding of the world of magic. But as it happens here, it just seemed to me that the author tore down her excellent world-building from the first novel to replace it with something that wasn’t as well-crafted. All in all, I found it hard to care. 2.5 stars rounded up to 3, mostly for the sake of the last 25% of the story. The book ends in a riveting drama that kept me turning pages and—finally—made me care again about these characters. If the whole book were that well-written, this would have been a very different reading experience....more
I was pleasantly surprised by the high quality of the writing. The characters were nuanced and believable, and it was care for the characters that kepI was pleasantly surprised by the high quality of the writing. The characters were nuanced and believable, and it was care for the characters that kept me reading. The plot was certainly interesting, and the world-building—it is a fantasy novel, after all—is expertly achieved. Berg does not waste pages expounding all the details of her magical world, but she nevertheless creates a world that is vibrant and distinctive. She also deserves credit for making her world unique; so many fantasy novels try too hard to imitate writers who have gone before. She doesn’t. That said, the book isn’t perfect. Things are solved a little bit too neatly at times, and the final battle feels way too much like a video game. But on the whole, a well-told and compelling story....more
An excellent resource for children that explains the myth of the kraken, the history of the myth, and the actual science that might account for the exAn excellent resource for children that explains the myth of the kraken, the history of the myth, and the actual science that might account for the existence of these tales. This book is clear, concise, well-sourced, and a lot of fun! Resources for further reading, a glossary, and even a listing of modern references to krakens make this book all the more useful. And of course, the many illustrations and photographs simply add to the joy....more
As of this moment, this book has one review and only three ratings (not including mine). That's a pity, because Steve Vernon's Sea Tales deserves to bAs of this moment, this book has one review and only three ratings (not including mine). That's a pity, because Steve Vernon's Sea Tales deserves to be read by a much wider audience. Unfortunately, that audience is not I. I DNF'd after only 4 of the 7 stories.
The writing is great. Moody, atmospheric, gripping. Characters are more nuanced and developed in their few pages here than some other characters are in novels. This author really knows his craft.
That said, I don't care for his style. I stopped reading Stephen King because I decided that gruesome horror tales are not for me, and it turns out, that a large part of what this collection is. I don't know if I'd call this horror, per se—maybe disturbing magical realism—but the subject matter is a little too disturbing for me. If you like authors with excellent skill, are okay with supernatural elements in tales, and can stomach a few morbid and unsettling plot twists, you may love this book....more
What on earth did I just read? The art didn't really appeal to me; it looked hastily drawn, even amateurish. The characters kept changing a bit from iWhat on earth did I just read? The art didn't really appeal to me; it looked hastily drawn, even amateurish. The characters kept changing a bit from image to image; sometimes the protagonist's fingers would look disproportionately small, or his jawline would change shape a little. It seemed less an artistic decision and more like a few careless mistakes. It was jarring.
The plot was pretty well nonexistent. I guess it was supposed to be an allegory? Or maybe the protagonist is mad? (Or maybe I was, to keep reading?) This wasn't a little bit of ambiguity: it was just a bunch of bizarre moments strung together, too vague to have meaning. This wasn't like that famous optical illusory picture that could look like either a duck or a bunny; this felt more like an inkblot test, designed to absorb whatever meaning someone imposes on it. The story doesn't make sense, the characters aren't all that interesting, and there is therefore not much opportunity for me to become emotionally invested.
Still, it wasn't a total loss. I liked a little of the characters' banter. I was an English major, so when the characters started tossing out creative synonyms for common complaints, I grinned. It was funny. I also liked the book's length. The author made a point, did it succinctly, and trusted the book to stand on it. (I don't think it was a successful book, but that's not the point.) The point is that this author did not feel the need to expound on the book's themes. She did not love to hear herself talk. She trusted in the book's own strengths and didn't belabor her points or bore her readers.
The book's biggest strength was its setting. The ocean, the sky, the boat. The inclusion of different knots, and the mention of various boat-parts (which felt a bit like name dropping, or, I guess, nautical-vocabulary-dropping, but which was still fun). They stereotypical crusty old sailor. The archetype of the waiting woman. The loneliness of it all. The raw beauty of nature. Death.
I think this author was trying for a visual poem of sorts, but it's just not cohesive enough to work as a book or artsy enough to work as a literary fever-dream IMO. It reminds me a little of James Joyce, but visually; there is a stream-of-consciousness style that is vaguely reminiscent of Joyce's distinctive tone, but again, there isn't a lot of substance here. I wouldn't rule out the possibility of reading more by this author. I think I can see what the intent was here, but the execution disappointed. It may be that Villadsen's craft will improve in later stories....more
What a highly enjoyable book! This collection features a wide variety of stories in various styles, and all of them were tales I likely would never haWhat a highly enjoyable book! This collection features a wide variety of stories in various styles, and all of them were tales I likely would never have encountered otherwise. This anthology brings together stories that are lesser-known, even obscure, and presents them with a brief introduction about each author. I would have preferred a bit more information in the introductions, or at least the year that each story was first published, but that is minor. These are terrific yarns, and they reflect a voice and a cadence that are not often used in modern storytelling. For want of a better way of putting it, they feel old-timey. Taken together, the stories evoke the sea, not just with their subject matter, but with their mood; one can almost hear the ship's bell, feel the spray, taste the salt. As with most anthologies, I found some stories to be more enjoyable than others. There was one that I found too disturbing to finish. But most of them were fun, and even the less enjoyable ones still contributed to the overall feeling created by placing these tales together in a volume. Collectively, they create an atmosphere that is at turns brooding, terrifying, serene, and beautiful—just as is the sea itself....more
This beautiful fantasy story for children weaves together different magical creatures and traditions into a tale that is both timeless and thoroughly This beautiful fantasy story for children weaves together different magical creatures and traditions into a tale that is both timeless and thoroughly modern. At the heart of this story are a dragon and a boy, and their adventure is so much bigger and brighter than I could possibly describe. The characters are all distinctive and richly developed (and some are just downright hilarious!), and I found the story itself to be good fun. A compelling plot, lots of delightful moments on the way, and a climactic struggle that kept me on the edge of my seat. And if you think that sounds wonderful, let me just say that the version I read was even better than that, since I listened to the audio book performed by Brendan Fraser, who reads with such energy and skill that I had a hard time believing he was the only performer. Highly recommended!...more
I think it is excellent. I wasn't sure whether to give it 4 or 5 stars, but I went with 5 because I found so many of the stories to be enjoyable. In aI think it is excellent. I wasn't sure whether to give it 4 or 5 stars, but I went with 5 because I found so many of the stories to be enjoyable. In any collection, there are bound to be some stories that just aren't as interesting to me as others, but I found here that even the stories I didn't care for as much were still quite entertaining. I know that it used to be the custom (and perhaps still is, in some places) to tell ghost stories on Christmas Eve, but I've had no personal experience with that, and I've only ever just read a handful. How nice to find so many such stories all contained in a single volume! Not only did I get to read the stories, but I appreciate how this book has strengthened my understanding of that particular tradition. I also must say how impressed I am with the editor for her informative and brief introductions to each tale. The stories are all chronological, and each is grounded in a bit of context and given alongside some information about the author's life. She put a lot of thought into this book, and it shows. All in all, a lot of fun....more
Reading this was such a wonderful experience! A nice mix of tales that I wouldn't normally consider together. There is mystery, satire, and horror herReading this was such a wonderful experience! A nice mix of tales that I wouldn't normally consider together. There is mystery, satire, and horror here, and yet they all complement each other beautifully. They are less about gore and scares as they are about strangeness and wonder. As with any short story collection, some are better than others, but there is only one tale here that I strongly disliked (and even regretted reading)—the rest were great fun. Highly recommended!...more
It was okay. It was a nice departure from King's usual fare, and as a fantasy novel, it delivers a nice story with tension building throughout.
What waIt was okay. It was a nice departure from King's usual fare, and as a fantasy novel, it delivers a nice story with tension building throughout.
What was good:
• The fantasy setting. King doesn't get bogged down in world-building, but still his world is believable. It also has a bit of its own history that gets fleshed out, and that was nice to see. Its vaguely Medieval feel lets it feel right at home in the high fantasy genre. • The minor and supporting characters. They are interesting and nuanced. The villain is super creepy, even if some parts of him don't make sense. (He's super powerful and magical and demonic, yet he'll still follow their laws? A minor point. He's still a great villian.) Peter's friends have an intersting arc, too, and I enjoyed following their story. • The heroic dog. There's a dog, and some parts of the story are told from the canine perspective, which is amazing. Animal viewpoints, even in fantasy, are rare. All too often, they are either saccharine or too anthropomorphized. This felt real. • Themes of forgiveness. Characters make mistakes (except Peter) and grow from them. • Themes of courage. Often a must in fantasy novels, but difficult to do well. • It's memorable. Still thinking about it all this time later. • It's unique. I've never read anything quite like it.
What was bad:
• The plot. It's an incredibly simple story. This is disguised by the fact that it jumps around so much chronologically. It feels as though it's building to something that never happens. For a good long while, I thought that whole business with Peter being arrested for a crime and trying to clear his name was the setup for the book's main plot. Turns out, that's pretty much just the whole plot. • The tone. It feels like a children's tale. Nothing wrong with children's stories, except that this isn't meant for children. Marital sex (and impotence and a "flaccid penis") and rape and wife-beating and all sorts of things that usually aren't found in children's fantasy stories abound in this tale. Yet the narrator also talks directly to the reader in a folksy homey sort of way, kind of like the narrator in The Hobbit (which is, by contrast, an actual children's tale). • The content. This was gross. I mean, really super gross. Way too many references to bodily functions, especially (but not exclusively) "boogers." People keep having them, eating them, looking at them, and thinking of them. Even when mucous isn't involved in a scene, people keep talking about it. There's nothing like a little random mention of "boogers" to turn even the most mundane conversation inane. Is this a Stephen King thing? Are his other books like this? It felt weird and out of place here. Worse, there is a sad scene when Peter gets spat on by strangers. If I hadn't just read umpteen references of gratuitous, gross bodily functions by the time I reached that part of the story, I might have felt something a little more deeply in the scene where this stuff actually mattered. • Peter. Oh dear. He's the hero of the story, and I don't like him—not as a person, and not as a character. This made it hard to read the book, since he is the center of this relatively simple story. As a character, he is too perfect. He never does anything wrong. He instinctively knows things. He can out-reason or out-fight everyone else in the tale (except the main villain, at least at first). People he defeats are overcome with hero-worship for him. The wise, stern authority figure (who truly believes that Peter is a spoiled brat who murdered his father) still respects him, even reveres him, enough to donate money for bribes to get him luxuries in prison. People are falling over themselves telling each other how wonderful he is. And Peter, even as a young boy, still instinctively knows exactly what to say to sound wise and strong and dignified while still getting his own way. Granted, I liked Peter too at the beginning of the story. He reminded my of the heroic boy from the Narnia series (also named Peter) in that he was strong and wise and kingly. But this isn't as well-done as Narnia, nor is C. S. Lewis ever as preachy as Stephen King manages to be here. As for Peter (this Peter, not the Narnian one) as a person, well, the thing is that he *does* fall short. He may be a great son and wise ruler, but he is a lousy brother. He ignores his brother for much of their childhood, he doesn't notice his pain, and he doesn't try to engage him in any kind of meaningful conversation (so far as we know). In one scene, he wants his brother to join him for something nice. The brother doesn't understand, so Peter just leaves him out. He doesn't even try to connect with him or explain it to him. Full stop. And in the future, he doesn't even invite him. Sure, Peter may not have been evil-ambitious enough to overthrow the king, but neither was he humble or gentle or even kind enough to be close to someone he outranked. And in all Peter's years of imprisonment, he never seems to hold himself accountable for this. I'm not blaming Peter for his brother's sins, per se, but I do blame him for ignoring his brother's suffering all those years and for the role he played in isolating him. He left him vulnerable to be exploited. • The ending. Wow, what a cop-out! 'Nuff said....more
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