I wasn't too sure what to expect from Joshua Chaplinksy's debut collection. I had been wanting to read something from the indie publisher, Clash Books for a while, and I was intrigued by the collection's title, WHISPERS IN THE EAR OF A DREAMING APE. I was grateful that Chaplinksy could send me a copy of … Continue reading Review: Whispers in the Ear of a Dreaming Ape
Book Review
The Poppy War
Finally managed to get around to another Nebula nominated book, and THE POPPY WAR by R.F. Kuang is a marvelous debut, that is layered in all the right ways. I listened to it on audio book, narrated by the perfect Emily Woo Zeller and it is a riiiide. Content warnings: sexual assault, rape, extreme violence, … Continue reading The Poppy War
Review: The Violent Bear It Away
I'll come clean and say that I haven't been reading any books for my local men's book club over the past few months, but I could not stop myself when they chose a Flannery O'Connor novel, THE VIOLENT BEAR IT AWAY. There's so much that has been said about this novel already, but I can't … Continue reading Review: The Violent Bear It Away
Review: Record of a Spaceborn Few
I've been reading the Wayfair's series over the past few months and I finally got around to wrapping up the last in this loose trilogy of books. The Hugo nominated, RECORD OF A SPACEBORN FEW by Becky Chambers, feels like both an homage to humanity and a hopeful look to the future. The Exodus Fleet … Continue reading Review: Record of a Spaceborn Few
Review: The Fearing Pt. 4 – Earth & Ember
Late on this, but you know #Nanowrimo. Anyway, we finally have the climatic finale of John F.D. Taff's epic serial novel, THE FEARING, with Part four: EARTH & EMBER. And this book, folks, is a lot. The longest of the installments and of course the one that holds (almost) all our answers is here. With … Continue reading Review: The Fearing Pt. 4 – Earth & Ember
Review: The Warren
Brian Evenson's THE WARREN was one story I have been waiting to get into for a long time. After reading it, I'm left with so many more questions, than how it began and for its brevity, I wish there was just a little bit more. Evenson does not seem hung up on giving the reader … Continue reading Review: The Warren
Review: Socialist Realism
The title immediately hooked me and what made me stay was the stark, brutal honesty that Trisha Low offers in SOCIALIST REALISM. This is a book long essay that is part travelogue, part stream of conscious, part art criticism, and part memoir. Low finds herself moving west, searching for home or a utopia or an … Continue reading Review: Socialist Realism
Review: Severance
I wasn't sure what to expect from Ling Ma's debut novel, SEVERANCE, but the only true label I can ascribe to it, is that it is first and foremost a millennial novel. Ma is the first author to so thoroughly nail the working ethos, apathy, and thirst for belonging that encapsulates millennials. Set in the … Continue reading Review: Severance
Review: A Point of Honor
The sixth installment of the FUTURES series, brings a disquieting reflection on what it means to live both online and offline. A POINT OF HONOR by Aeryn Rudel, featuring art by Sabrina Cintron, is an off-putting, but intimate snapshot of what could happen if you could literally duel online trolls. Set in a near future … Continue reading Review: A Point of Honor
Review: What You Call
We are now more than half way through the FUTURES series and Radix Media refuses to let up with the emotional gut punches with each of these installments. WHAT YOU CALL by germ lynn wrecked me. It's 2061 and the government launches what is believed to be a benevolent program to create and give support … Continue reading Review: What You Call
Pyles of Books 