"The Bureau d'Echange de Maux" is a supernatural short story, a fable about curiosity and hubris, a fantastic exploration of the notion "the grass is "The Bureau d'Echange de Maux" is a supernatural short story, a fable about curiosity and hubris, a fantastic exploration of the notion "the grass is greener on the other side of the fence." Our narrator discovers the shop of the title in an alley in Paris, and learns that one is able to exchange an evil of one's own for a comparable "commodity" from another.
A marketplace for evil, for worries and phobias, for nagging concerns and lost hopes. One customer exchanged wisdom for folly — he left happy.
As in fairy tales of this general type: things don't quite turn out quite as the narrator expected....more
I've picked away at this collection over the years, which includes a number of prose poems. Having just completed "The Fisherman and his Soul" (Wilde'I've picked away at this collection over the years, which includes a number of prose poems. Having just completed "The Fisherman and his Soul" (Wilde's longest work of short fiction) I now feel that I have read this whole collection.
There is quite the range here, everything from tales often considered to be for children, such as "The Happy Prince" and "The Selfish Giant", as well as a deep dive into the mysteries of Shakespeare's muse, "The Portrait of Mr. W.H."
There is a strong fairy tale quality to most of these short pieces, tales of princes and giants, of nightingales and young kings. There are even a couple of ghost stories....more
A fairy tale for adults, "The Fisherman and his Soul" is described in the text I read as "Wilde's most ambitious tale", and his many sources of inspirA fairy tale for adults, "The Fisherman and his Soul" is described in the text I read as "Wilde's most ambitious tale", and his many sources of inspiration are listed, particularly poems by Matthew Arnold (it mentions The Forsaken Merman).
The language is lush and olde-timey, the imagery a tapestry of notions and phantasms. The layers of metaphor here are also rich and the story can be read on different levels.
The young man, who "tossed his brown curls", wants to follow his forbidden love — but to do so he must cut off his soul.
The soul, without a heart, enjoys cruelty.
A scholar of Christianity could spend many years exploring the symbolism in these 33 pages; a literary critic could chase down the many sources echoed in this text, and comment on Wilde's "complex working out of the conflict of spirit and flesh, beauty and goodness, earth and heaven"; a reader of romance might ponder the pleasures and rewards, the perils and risks, of a great love....more
Perhaps I've already read too many books lately about "Ghost stories" and the "Supernatural" and was too stuffed full to absorb another morsel.
Many boPerhaps I've already read too many books lately about "Ghost stories" and the "Supernatural" and was too stuffed full to absorb another morsel.
Many books of this type are titled "ghost stories" but the actual stories are about a range of experiences — premonitions, shared death experiences, and so on, as well as stories about experiences which might involve a "ghost".
Rounded down to 2 stars (it was okay) because this book ended on a particularly weak note, with an unfocussed story about . . . I'm not sure. It was a blend of fiction and storytelling which felt like a first draft of something, maybe.
There are a number of photos reproduced which helped to flesh out stories. My favourite tales here in this book of ghost stories were the ones that were not ghost stories. Also, since this is the second volume, I kept having the nagging feeling that all the best stories were in the first volume. Don't know if that is true or not, but I kept wondering if this book was comprised of the reject pile.
Does a past love, a long-ago love, now feel like a miniature version of the real thing?
This is what I found myself thinking about as a I read this fanDoes a past love, a long-ago love, now feel like a miniature version of the real thing?
This is what I found myself thinking about as a I read this fantasy depiction of a man discovering a miniature woman. He does not treat her well at all, and spends the rest of his miserable life thinking about her.
This is all about the story "Clorinda" which is included in this collection by a French writer. The collection title ("Wolf Sun") is a reference to the moon.
No more than three stars, since the elements are far more creepy than endearing....more
"Autumn Mountain" : A work of art which may or may not exist, be much praised and talked about but rarely glimpsed.
Layers of storytelling, oral histor"Autumn Mountain" : A work of art which may or may not exist, be much praised and talked about but rarely glimpsed.
Layers of storytelling, oral histories repeated and passed around; the reputation of a painting (a scroll, a masterpiece) is the foundation of its true value.
Is a particular piece a copy or the real masterpiece? No one is completely convinced, yet the memory of artistic brilliance persists.
[Note: this review concerns the short story "Autumn Mountain" and not any of the other material in this collection.]...more
Not sure what to make of this short story, about a cat named Sam who reveals hidden depths to his human companion and she becomes most upset.
The storyNot sure what to make of this short story, about a cat named Sam who reveals hidden depths to his human companion and she becomes most upset.
The storytelling was a bit vague for my taste. Written in 1925 it evokes, in some ways, the mannered prose of Henry James, skirting around ideas without stating them.
This short story is not long, but took days to get through. I read it in this anthology: Of cats and men....more
The past is a trap in a way, a series of never-ending rooms full of mysterious objects, a dream that devolves into a nightmare.
Nabokov is writing hereThe past is a trap in a way, a series of never-ending rooms full of mysterious objects, a dream that devolves into a nightmare.
Nabokov is writing here about his lost life of privilege in Russia, which haunts him, and the bad dreams he continued to experience — and could not awaken from.
I admired the tone in the early section of this short story, which is mostly grounded in reality, but ever so gradually becomes surreal, and the reader and the narrator both start to realize it must be a dream. However the dream is not one that the narrator is able to escape....more
The cover blurb from Neil Gaiman says this is "The best graphic novel I've read in years" and you know what? I absolutely agree!
Clever insights into tThe cover blurb from Neil Gaiman says this is "The best graphic novel I've read in years" and you know what? I absolutely agree!
Clever insights into the intersection of art and celebrity, the meaning of life, and so much more; buttressed by full use of the graphic novel medium to display character, fantasies, and art pieces themselves.
I plowed through these 488 pages in no time, and I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a graphic novel so much, and also immediately wanted to read it again....more
Some of the humans played against the message of the title.
There is much going on in this long novel, which appears to be YWell — I liked the octopus!
Some of the humans played against the message of the title.
There is much going on in this long novel, which appears to be YA in tone and themes. Some of the subplots were less engaging, but of course through a series of remarkable coincidences everything comes together. The ending was not all neatly wrapped up, but ...
[As a general note, often there is a very sentimental romantic approach to the notion of living free in nature, living the best life in the wild. Living free in nature means, for example, being free to be eaten by a predator. Nature is not all cuddles and cuteness.]...more
Children often see connections between things, or imagine them. Rumours, too, have their own magic, a power conjured out oWas he a saint or a warlock?
Children often see connections between things, or imagine them. Rumours, too, have their own magic, a power conjured out of thin air through the force of repetition.
What to make of this short story from an Argentinian writer? Two boys, one the narrator and one the mysterious other, who may be behind the occurrence of certain events. Coincidence tweaks reality.
A strange little story, not gripping or thrilling, but perplexing....more
Of course, I can convey nothing of that indescribable quality of translucent unreality
This review concerns the title story only, The Door in the Wall,Of course, I can convey nothing of that indescribable quality of translucent unreality
This review concerns the title story only, The Door in the Wall, representing an opening into other dimensions, the road not taken, the impact of choices we make, how when one door opens other possibilities are neglected, how regrets can shape our destiny, how longings can inform our dreams . . .
Gosh, that's a lot, isn't it?
The format of this short story is presented in a familiar frame: the narrator says, "so-and-so told me an incredible story, I don't know if it is true or not, but here it is just as he told it." And of course, the storyteller's death so soon after confessing his fantastic tale cranks up the narrative tension.
As hinted above, the door in the wall has great metaphoric potential. The door in question arises unexpectedly, during decisive moments. An ambitious man may long for playing in a park rather than working. A lonely boy may wish for friends. And then of course there are always those souls who (paradoxically) expect life to be better once theirs is over.
It's a well written story, apparently one of Wells's best (or most popular), and provides the reader with much to think about. When do we decide to go through that door, and create a new life?...more
This is an extraordinary work, at times profound, dazzling, puzzling, distancing, immediate, gripping, and confusing.
A series of shortish chapters, soThis is an extraordinary work, at times profound, dazzling, puzzling, distancing, immediate, gripping, and confusing.
A series of shortish chapters, some of which are related to each other in obvious ways, some of which are obscure to this dazed reader. The voice early on (different in each chapter) is magnificently unique and extremely impressive. Also—there was not, as in a typical novel, a reason to keep reading. A cherished voice or chapter would disappear from view, never to be revisited in full.
As much as I admired this book (novel? linked stories?) at one point I put it aside and read other things. I craved a bit of narrative propulsion and carry through. If this were not a library book clamouring to be returned (much requested) I might not have picked it up again to finish it. It's beautiful, and magnificent, but not gripping.
But I did and I'm glad I did. Although I don't know how to talk about this book, I am quite fond of it.
At risk of spoilers (spoilers! Be warned!) the jacket or promotional materials never seem to mention that it is, very strongly, a ghost story....more
Surrender is a short piece from Winesburg, Ohio; in fact it is doubly embedded in that not only is it part of the Wineburg tales, it is also a part ofSurrender is a short piece from Winesburg, Ohio; in fact it is doubly embedded in that not only is it part of the Wineburg tales, it is also a part of a chapter called "Godliness, a Tale in Four Parts".
"Surrender" is the story of a teenage girl, friendless and lonely, who is isolated and uninformed. She is desperate for love, and seizes on the nearest opportunity. Her life is thus forever altered....more
Having only the slightest familiarity with the "Outlander" universe, I foolishly thought that this graphic novel might be a standalone work.
I didn't hHaving only the slightest familiarity with the "Outlander" universe, I foolishly thought that this graphic novel might be a standalone work.
I didn't have a clue what was happening or who the characters were. The male characters all wore a kilt and a sash and were indistinguishable — sometimes one had messy hair but that might have just been a gust of wind. Not being able to tell the characters apart meant I never knew what was going on.
Perhaps readers who are already immersed in the Outlander mythology would get more out of this, and know more about the characters to understand the conflicts and context. As a standalone it is baffling and opaque — probably because I am easily confused.
Originally published in three short volumes, this tale is best enjoyed as one book, with no gap between the segments.
Afro-futurism is what this is, buOriginally published in three short volumes, this tale is best enjoyed as one book, with no gap between the segments.
Afro-futurism is what this is, but what that is, exactly, is beyond me. The conflict here is the youthful desire for education and the modern world, in competition with the deep pull of tradition....more
A classic tale of fantasy and horror that is often in anthologies. I know I have read this before but I barely remembered it — in fact, I was sure it A classic tale of fantasy and horror that is often in anthologies. I know I have read this before but I barely remembered it — in fact, I was sure it was written by Edgar Allen Poe.
"Be careful what you wish for" is a common cautionary motif. In "The Monkey's Paw" we never learn what others have wished for, or how it turned out, but the cleverness in this tale is that much of the horror is "off-stage" and therefore left to the reader's imagination....more
A long, long time ago, in a small country-village in Japan, there lived a poor farmer and his wife, who were very good people.
The author Lafcadio HearA long, long time ago, in a small country-village in Japan, there lived a poor farmer and his wife, who were very good people.
The author Lafcadio Hearn lived in Japan and collected (and translated) traditional Japanese folk tales. In this one, the youngest son was not a good farm worker, so was sent off to become a priest. But all he wanted to do was draw cats. That was his talent, and his passion.
When the priest has had enough he sends the boy away, with these mysterious words of advice: "Avoid large places at night — keep to small!" ...more
This short tale, "The Wizard Postponed," was written in the 1330s; I thought I had read it before but it is also very likely that it has been much imiThis short tale, "The Wizard Postponed," was written in the 1330s; I thought I had read it before but it is also very likely that it has been much imitated in the world of fantasy tales over the past 700 years.
The moral of the story is to stand by your promises, and to remember those who have helped you when in turn you are able to help them.
The master magician leads the deacon down a stone staircase, very far down; such a journey represents the descent into the subconscious.
At the bottom of the stone staircase is a beautiful room, full of books and everything else they might need. This room is a dream chamber, where the true self is revealed....more
A relatively straightforward Japanese folk tale, involving such themes as keeping promises, seasonal rituals, and (in a complicated manner) respectingA relatively straightforward Japanese folk tale, involving such themes as keeping promises, seasonal rituals, and (in a complicated manner) respecting the necessity of honourable behaviour.
In his introduction to this short story, Alberto Manguel says that "younger Japaneses consider him [Hearn] too traditional for their taste." I wondered about that; perhaps a Greek-born European who considered himself "an American writer" specializing in Japanese folktales might be viewed, by younger Japanese, as practicing what could today be called cultural appropriation....more
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