Garth
Set in a world very similar to our early 19th century, except a sort of powerful magic has been harnessed via the pairing of silver and linguistic translation. The concentration of power this gives the English is used as a devastating metaphor for the actual colonial project, particularly cultural appropriation. The moral is far from new, but the form is immediate & refreshing, with a clear passion for Oxford University and linguistics.
Set in a world very similar to our early 19th century, except a sort of powerful magic has been harnessed via the pairing of silver and linguistic translation. The concentration of power this gives the English is used as a devastating metaphor for the actual colonial project, particularly cultural appropriation. The moral is far from new, but the form is immediate & refreshing, with a clear passion for Oxford University and linguistics.
Added to listNon Fictionwith 570 books.
Added to listFemalewith 838 books.
Added to listSrc Friendwith 162 books.
Biography of George Orwell's impressive wife, Eileen, and how he and his biographers erased her contribution from history. Masterfully shows how the infrastructure provided by women is kept invisible. The fictionalised sections made me uncomfortable, being based on so little source material - how much of herself has the author put into this? But that is the very point she is making about biography. Also: Orwell was a misogynistic lecher.
Biography of George Orwell's impressive wife, Eileen, and how he and his biographers erased her contribution from history. Masterfully shows how the infrastructure provided by women is kept invisible. The fictionalised sections made me uncomfortable, being based on so little source material - how much of herself has the author put into this? But that is the very point she is making about biography. Also: Orwell was a misogynistic lecher.
A girl enters a spirit wood to rid herself of her magic, but instead finds power, purpose & love. Based on Polish fairytales, so reminiscent of Katherine Arden's The Bear and the Nightingale. Fairly simple YA story with one plot line and few surprises, but well realised and doesn't take the easy way out.
A girl enters a spirit wood to rid herself of her magic, but instead finds power, purpose & love. Based on Polish fairytales, so reminiscent of Katherine Arden's The Bear and the Nightingale. Fairly simple YA story with one plot line and few surprises, but well realised and doesn't take the easy way out.
Two parallel stories connected across time by, of all things, a taxidermied aardvark. The "Not Gay" congressman is amusing in his superficiality and Reagan-esque pretensions. The Victorian-era taxidermist (also "not gay") is boring & obsessive. Quirky & original, and enjoyable enough.
Two parallel stories connected across time by, of all things, a taxidermied aardvark. The "Not Gay" congressman is amusing in his superficiality and Reagan-esque pretensions. The Victorian-era taxidermist (also "not gay") is boring & obsessive. Quirky & original, and enjoyable enough.
A *very* early kids fantasy story (1872!) where a primodial race of humans living underground has evolved into brutish goblins who enjoy nothing more than to cause havoc. Plenty of classic tropes: working-class boy, brave princess, fairy godmother, all working together to save the day (and the adults). I quite liked the goblin's sensitive toe-less feet, and their hatred of rhymes.
https://shows.acast.com/just-sleep-bedtime-stories-for-adults/episodes/the-princess-and-the-goblin-by-george-macdonald
A *very* early kids fantasy story (1872!) where a primodial race of humans living underground has evolved into brutish goblins who enjoy nothing more than to cause havoc. Plenty of classic tropes: working-class boy, brave princess, fairy godmother, all working together to save the day (and the adults). I quite liked the goblin's sensitive toe-less feet, and their hatred of rhymes.
https://shows.acast.com/just-sleep-bedtime-stories-for-adults/episodes/the-princess-and-the-goblin-by-george-macdonald
