SIX-GUN SNOW WHITE by Catherynne Valente

4 Stars

Just wonderful.

Valente has a powerful voice and a gift for visceral descriptions, which breathe a vibrancy to the stories and the uncanny ability to take myth and fable and turn them into modern tales. Allegories of womanhood and what it means to be female. The themes are universal and in many ways cautionary tales.

I loved this version of Snow White in the Old West. I was captivated by the concept when I spotted it, but it was even better than I tried to imagine. Valente took the story and turn it inside out. I'll be honest, the ending confused me, I reread it. When I began this the ending would always be a tricky endeavor, and while I like the concept of it, not sure if I loved the execution. I'm still thinking on it, and will be for sometime, but the fact is that it doesn't detract from the strength of the story.

Valente's stories are ones mothers should give their teenage daughters because they do not lie. They tell the paradox of being female. The sacrifice and choices we all make. Discussions of what is danger and being prey, the illusions of fairy tales are deconstructed with the real price shown. How all of these things play into women's lives now is sophisticated and an approachable vehicle.

This is my second Valente book after DEATHLESS earlier this year, and without a doubt not my last. I'll be stalking her backlist, now.

Favorite passage: This is what it means to be a woman in this world. Every step is a bargain with pain. Make your black deals in the black wood and decide what you'll trade for power. For the opposite of weakness, which is not strength but hardness. I am a trap, but so is everything. Pick your price. I am a huckster with a hand in your pocket. I am freedom and I will eat your heart.

THE SWIMMER by John Cheever

4 Stars

A twisted little tale of heartache.

Powerful, as all good short stories should be, this is a wonderful ride from the halcyon days of endless summer through autumn and winter. I can taste the gin and tonic on my lips, so perfect a summer drink that fades from glory in the crispness of chillier days.

In many ways this reminded me of The Great Gatsby.

FERAL DUST BUNNIES by Angel Martinez

3 Stars

Love this series because it's fun and quirky and just a twist of ridiculous that makes reading it fun. Feral dust bunnies, I am right? Somehow the concept seemed fun, but it didn't work for me. I don't know if it's because I'm really off romance right now in my reading, I enjoyed the paranormal police plot, but the ending seemed to fall fast and without satisfying resolution.

Alex Wolf is adorkable. Truly, sweet and socially awkward as a wolf-human, not werewolf, he's spent a lot of time trying to understand people. It's frustrating and he feels like he makes wrong steps, but he's got a great partner, Krisk, and his mother. On the job, after many interactions, he finally connects with animal control officer, Jason Shen. It's sweet and awkward--honestly, I feel like it may be me, but I didn't connect with them as a couple very well. I'm sure that I'm not a cat person didn't help, either.

Anyway, the story was more interesting than the romance for me and I felt a little shorted in that department since so much time had to be devoted to explaining Wolf's view of the world and how it differed than most individuals, including paranormals. Looking forward to the next one in the series.

SYLVESTER by Georgette Heyer

3.5 Stars

Living La Vida Loca.

Alrighty, so this starts off with the trapped heroine Phoebe and then proceeds...some of it's reasonable and some is just a ride on the crazy train. Boy does she meet some interesting people on this ride. Phoebe is headstrong and rather indiscreet while communicating (lacks a filter) is rightfully chaffing at the bit and when it all looks horrible she flees. Trust me, I've been in the chew your leg off to get away situation and I'm sympathetic. All for the idea. Alas, the execution of her plan lacked thought. 




Tom, sensibility and patience are his key attributes as he deals with the immature and idiotic. Frankly, the best character in the story. I liked Tom.

Sylvester, the Ice Duke, starts off fine and the character seems to stay true until the end when he turns and smashes straight into a tree. I had a really hard time making the change of heart leap with him.

And the ending...

Seemed like a lesser Cotillon to me. Freddy is a better Tom and Kitty is less flighty/ridiculous/impetuous than Phoebe. But! I came away with a winter beverage idea, so overall, good. 3.5 stars rounded up because it was a fast and fun read.

Keighley, fortified by a potation of gin, beer, nutmeg and sugar, which he called hot flannel, raised no objection; so the horses were put to again.

SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES by Ray Bradbury

4 Stars

Jim Nightshade and Will Holloway are neighbors born hours apart, the best of friends, inseparable. A life of mischief and adventure shared. One leans towards the shadows, the other, the light. They balance each other out, in a push-pull through the years. Their corner of the world is a playground, well-trodden and explored.


Until... SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES.


The Carnival arrives and with it an unsettling change. Late in the year, it seems more than a little usual. But it calls, calls to the boys... and the townspeople.

Evil lurks.

Bradbury's prose is laden with fantastical descriptions that are rich, evocative, and have a tangible quality. It's been awhile since I've read his work so I forgot the power of his words, their ability to completely illustrate the scene. I recommend this as a fall selection read.

Resilience and being tested, tempted, is life. Two boys on the cusp of being teenagers, this is a book where childhood falls aside and the mantle of adulthood is donned. I loved the story of their friendship and the newly forged understanding between a father and son, for in such a dark book it lights the way out. I found the devotion in both relationships emotionally touching and hopeful. For as horrible as it all can get, there are a few things you should be able to look to and count on.
Remember:  the wolf is always at the door.

DARKLY DREAMING DEXTER by Jeff Lindsay

4 Stars

Anybody can be charming if they don't mind faking it, saying all the stupid, obvious, nauseating things that a conscience keeps most people from saying. Happily, I don't have a conscience. I say them.

And this is both charming and terrifying to read. Delightfully so. Just the right amount of shivers tingling up your spine. Mimicry is such a useful tool and Dexter is quite adept at it. Frankly, I find him refreshing and certainly less boring than most. The puzzles and tidiness, I do like them very much.

I don't watch TV often, so I haven't seen the show, though I've heard of it. Regardless, I can tell you that this series is on my list. If I don't finish it this year, then I expect to next.

There's really nothing scary about Dexter. I'd say I'd be friends with him, but he's incapable. So alas, the fishbowl observation will have to do.

No, I do my job to make order out of chaos.