Book Review: Tails of Wonder and Imagination, Compiled by Ellen Datlow

Tails of Wonder and ImaginationTails of Wonder and Imagination by Ellen Datlow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Tails of Wonder and Imagination is an anthology of short stories by various writers. I picked it up because one of the stories is by Susanna Clarke, who wrote Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. Also included are Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, George RR Martin, Joyce Carol Oates and many others, of course. I thought, due to the name, that the stories would be of the more fantastical nature, but some of them are just scary, or disturbing. The Gaiman story, called "The Price", was haunting, it has stuck with me. Some were interesting, and some were just gruesome. I love cats, and the stories in which cats were tortured and killed were upsetting. One of the stories, "Returns", simply broke my heart. Among the sadness and horror, there are some delightful, even funny stories, like the one about Schrödinger’s Cat. All in all, if you're a cat lover, you might not like to read this book because it will make you sad and angry, but some of the tales shine.



View all my reviews

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Book Review: Death of a Ghost (Hamish Macbeth, #32) by M.C. Beaton

Image
Death of a Ghost by M.C. Beaton My rating: 3 of 5 stars Oh Hamish, how I loved ye. I'm pretty sure I've read almost all of the Hamish Macbeth books (this is #32), including the little stories. I think I might have missed one before this one, somehow, because I didn't remember quite how Hamish got the poodle, although I do remember how he lost Sonsie. I've enjoyed them all, for the most part, being a lover of cozy mysteries. This one was not so great. It seemed like new characters, who could have been more interesting if fleshed out a little more, were popping up every chapter, along with the good old friends you expect from the books of the past. There really wasn't a Death of a Ghost, rather a fake ghost was being used to cover up scurrilous activities in the old castle now inhabited by former police bigwig Handy Ebrington, who also has a shady past. Hamish and his new co-hort, Charlie, inspect the scene, lose a body, and are off to solve the mystery. T
Read more

Weekend Fun, Including MOVIES!

Image
This weekend was great! We had warm weather and snow all in two days! We also did something we don't do a whole lot of, and that was to go to a movie, at the theater, with the whole family. We saw: We've been huge fans of Wes Anderson since we saw "The Fantastic Mr. Fox". It's really not just a children's movie. I've probably watched it 5 or 6 times, maybe more. Meryl Streep, George Clooney, and many other great actors. Half the fun is trying to identify the voices. Anyway, back to The Grand Budapest Hotel. It's very Andersonesque, stars Ralph Fiennes, as M. Gustave H, the Concierge at the hotel, and a newcomer named Tony Revolori as Zero, the lobby boy. How can I describe it. It's funny, and sad, and dramatic and as always, whimsical. Here is a bit of dialogue from a part when M. Gustave has been locked up in prison: M. Gustave H.: "Good morning, Pinky" Pinky: "Mendl's again?" M. Gustave H.: "Precisely. No
Read more

Book Review: Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

Image
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke My rating: 5 of 5 stars I can't say enough - I saw the mini-series, was delighted, and then read the book. Now I am enchanted. If you've read any of the reviews, you know the basic story - magic is almost gone from England, until the reclusive and odd Mr. Norrell decides to bring it back in spectacular fashion, publicly. He does, then comes forth the reluctant magician, Jonathan Strange, a fop, a dilettante, who just happens to be so much more naturally talented than Mr. Norrell. Add the incredible cast of magical and not characters, and you've got an immense allegory of the Prodigal Son that is very hard to put down. I found myself sitting at work, wishing I was reading my book. Who hasn't watched bitterly from the sides as a newcomer seems to charm everyone and not miss a pitch? The introverted Mr. Norrell really just wants to be with his books, at his house - “I have a scholar's love of silence and solitu
Read more