Ray
For a writer to have a book written about his work titled the “art of” and the “visual story” would seem on the surface to be contradictory. He isnt that sort of “artist” though he does occasionally “sketch” seemingly for fun. Doodling perhaps.
But much of his work , his output of words, have inspired or found life in and on art in the form of Graphic novels or if we are being less pretentious: comics.
This then is a novel sort of autobiography of his published work and an insight into his creativity. It succeeds in informing and entertaining and itself is a visual delight.
Chilling gothic for the young
Well worth the decision to re read. Bellairs has some nice touches as an author. His portrait of Lewis runs true as it should with his uncle and Florence shadowy as befits their warlock and witch status and yet leaves Lewis room to move and grow. So even if Lewis is up against the dead and blackest of necromancy the two adults provide reassurance. Lean nothing wasted in the story telling, no more complicated than it need be but always hinting at greater depths.
Butcher world building again. What I enjoy is his slow unveiling of the stage upon which his characters act. A world [not Earth it can be assumed ...perhaps?] on which humanity lives in gigantic towers miles high called Spires. Descriptive facts of this world are “dropped” into the text where appropriate. He used the same style in his Codex Alera series. I like this because it sets up in my mind a growing list of facts I want to know regarding this world which may or may not be referenced or developed as the plot develops.
And the plot... well its clear in the first chapter where Lady Lancaster states there are signs, things are changing and she unleashes her daughter [a force to be reckoned with] into the wider world, to be where she, as a Lancaster, needs to be. Page by page we are introduced to a group of comrades who are going to be set a quest, a standard trope, but which, other than the backdrop of a war with another Spire, we as reader will have to learn of as we turn the page.
The Aeronaught's Windlass is a page turner, well paced, well written, with characterisations even of the opposing forces that allows a degree of empathisation running just short of wanting them to emerge victorious. Again something I liked about the Codex series and which holds promise for this series. Jim Butcher writes a good story. I want Spires 2 now!
Oh and whilst other authors have transmogrified their cats into telepathic dragons Butcher marks his Map of this world with “Here be Cats”.
A more detailed review [with of course spoilers] I will put up on my review site.
Area X over the horizon bounded guarded The Southern Reach is the institution given the task of investigating which it has done by probing with little to show. We see the operation of Southern Reach from its newly appointed director. His task to work out what is happening given the mystery surrounding its last director. The reader this time is able or rather the author has the luxury of enabling the reader to relate to the director initially nameless but for his role ... Control.
Are there answers or more understanding amidst the few strange facts. Yes but well no maybe by the end have a better understanding of where we are in relation to Area X and its still bleak.
Third volume on my shopping list, I want answers.
In many ways breaks some rules I expect. Characters only known by their role serving some common purpose which beyond exploration they barely know. Difficult to see beyond their roles make connections but then they are not meant to either. Team in enemy or hostile territory but nothoing about them speaks of a team other than some purpose that if they dont know neither do you as reader. So as reader you are walking with the protagonists. Viewpoint of the Biologist. Her understanding, her knowledge she distrusts even the landscape around her and the little she does know from previous expeditions unclear how given that she knows few have returned and this is the 12th expedition.
A difficult read. Little to attract the reader to other characters and not much to sympathize with the Biologist. But it is a mystery. Shades of Lovecraft and his narrators.
Unsatisfactory ending. I and the Biologist know more or have experienced more but have no more significant understanding than perhaps how survival may be possible. So i immediately start the second in the series and am irritated early in that it seems I could have started reading here. But it drags me on. I want answers . What is Area X or rather the Why of it.
Definitely worth reading.
Gaiman is so good. Riddell is equally so.
Gaiman weaves. Riddell joins the dots.
anything else and i'll be into spoilers.
A book of craftsmanship that includes the presentation by Bloomsbury
a fuller review here which may ust hint towards spoilers.
I mean who did do it?
https://smallestroomreviews.wordpress.com/2015/12/03/32/
Such a wonderful engaging plot and setting. The Golden Age of comics, New York, the plight of Jews during World War 2. Two young protagonists, dreamers who have energy and faith in their shared dream. Stage magic, smoke and mirrors sparking imagination that leads to “The” comic strip, fortune, and the possibility of rescue from tyranny. The pogroms and the Final Solution are a major plot element but barely referenced. Fascism fought through superhero comics and in a nice touch in a couple of places that fantasy world merges for Kavalier with his world as if Kavalier is inhabiting his creation the Escapist. The culture of New York in the years pre-entry to WW2 and the actual history of the rise of the comic book are featured strongly. Who actually made any money out of the industry is often questioned, many writers and artists and their creations name-dropped but every time it is raised it's soon smoothed over. That issue is still alive for comic artists from the new age 1960s onwards. As I write, writers are taking issue with Disney corporation over Copywrite payments owed.
It's mostly a breezy read in its opening chapters as befits a standard adventure novel but what is happening off stage cannot fail to cast a pail over the heroes of the title.
Pulitzer Prize-winner 2001
Campbell for an easy read. His major works are just that, major and dense and deal with the deep mysteries and insights to man and the soul. Great place to start though as Campbell was a good communicator and his face to face discussions and interviews are both insightful and enjoyable.
An important book then to lead one deeper into Campbell
A pivotal Western myth that deserves to be better known than it is being one with deep roots into Celtic [Irish] Myth. Jungian psychology places considerable focus on Myth as a mirror on our souls, often leaving us with an enriched understanding of the myth and perhaps of ourselves. The great Joseph Campell placed much stock in its approach. We, is a very good example whether one is enamoured by Jung or not. It retells the plot of the myth and gives some context and increased understanding of the characters motivations. Added to this, one, [the use of We as a title forces one to be careful how one uses we!], then gets a good analysis of the symbolism that a Jungian review provides. Whether one considers this symbolism to be the bones or an overlay of the myth Johnsons perspective is perceptive and rewarding. If interested his books He and She make for good additional reading.
The theme is that of Romantic Love; our need and desire to be loved, male and female psychology and how one integrates these apparent polar opposites into a whole and healthy psyche. On the surface obsessive, given that it is driven by self-centered needs and so explains how, when it wains, so does love. The suggestion is though that it will occur and be a strong force. How we deal with it and consequently integrate it into our relationship with its object, our lover, requires work and understanding. Something it is suggested here, we are not good at.
No answers to be found here. It's not a self-help book. But perhaps it is, through the exposition of the myth, a guide book to a path and a country that needs exploring. Perhaps as all Myths are meant to be.
Neil Gaiman said what words can say about this novel. It left me floundering intellectually as I too was looking for answers; a resolution of Colin and Susan's story, and was forced to empathize with Colin's enigmatic journey. To be honest I cried a lot. Put the book down in frustration and picked it up again time upon time. When I first read the earlier books I lived on the side of Winter Hill. On my extreme southern horizon, I could see the Cheshire countryside around Elderly Edge and if the telescope dish was pointing to the setting sun. a gleam of silver. Much closer and in my view from the heights, was the setting for the “Stone Book”. Still in my mind a masterpiece of storytelling and writing. Red Shift mesmerized me at the same time I discovered Jimi Hendrix and teenage angst. The Owl Service woke my reverence for my Welsh heritage it's mythology and story. So Garner has been an important author for me. I must re-read Boneland as in writing this review the thought comes to me that I am not yet quite ready for it. I have difficulty with star ratings why did I give this 4 and not 5 because I think I still have, like Colin, to pursue that lost star which is just beyond my imagination.