Debbie Ann Ice talks to animals
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  • Some Stories and Essays
  • Communicate
  • Reviews
  • Ducks

Very few words about very long stories.  

​
  • Let's talk about reviews and writing first.  Two things:
  • 1. I review novels I have enjoyed reading. If I did not enjoy reading it, I usually don't review it. I may have issues with themes, plots, characters, but I may still like the book. I do not trash writers, stories, writing. I find nasty reviews are covers for bad critical writing skills. If you know how to write, you know how to say something without being nasty. Otherwise, don't write. 
  • 2. I do not write more than quick summary of plot. I like to talk about the energy of a book. What made it work. What themes  the author touched upon. Character development. Did I learn something? Etc. 
 

A few mainstream books.

9/30/2020

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OK.Commercial.
Commercial fiction is fast and light, but, for me, it truly needs to lift me out of my present life and place me elsewhere. After last night's train wreck (September 29 Presidential debates, or that is what they are calling it), we will all want to be lifted out of this present life, right? Ellen Meister knows how to do that. LOVE SOLD SEPARATELY is a mystery with a side romance. It also educates us a bit about the shopping network and lives of struggling actors.
  A fast read with interesting family subplots, clever whodunnit, romance, and even observations about the evolution of addiction (although the story does not delve into addiction deeply, and it shouldn't). Take a break from the chaos of 2020 and treat yourself to this book!
Now, literary.

I've read every novel Ferrante has written, so I couldn't miss this.  

This is another coming of age story about a girl whose life changes when she uncovers her family's secrets. She latches onto a very eccentric, unstable but deadly honest Aunt who teaches her to see her parents, her life   for exactly what it is. Remove the cover of pretension and beauty and underneath you find something else.  

The development of character was not quite as in-depth and interesting as the Neapolitan books, but it has the usual, brilliant and complex interior monologues and excellent prose. The aunt--Vittoria--is another great Ferrante character--eccentric, unstable, at times cruel and abrupt, other times vulnerable and brilliant.

Everyone wanders around a bit blind until they finally find truth and regain footing.  And the girl does eventually figure out how to take control in a quite interesting way at the end. 
 
"There's a black veil that can drop and any moment. It's a sudden blindness, you don't know how to keep your distance, you crash into things." 

 





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