July 13-August 1 Reads

Been slacking a bit on updating the books read, so some of these may just be the book listed and very little on the content. Sorry.

245 Angela Carter, Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella and Other Classic Fairy Tales of Charles Perrault - A translation of sorts from the French writer/story collector whose forms of 10 classic fairy tales will be familiar in some fashion to most Western audiences, but a translation that contains notes that twists certain elements of Perrault's morals into new forms. Enjoyable read.

246 Geoff Ryman, WAS - Already reviewed.

247 Poul Anderson, Three Hearts and Three Lions - To be reviewed in the near future for the Fantasy Masterworks reading/commentary project.

248 José Saramago, Cadernos de Lanzarote - Diary (read in Portuguese) of one year of Saramago's life living in the Canary Islands. Good, reflective entries.

249 Ernest Hemingway, In Our Time - Hemingway's first book/short story collection, published in 1925. Good, solid stories that hint at the great tales that emerged later as Hemingway matured as a writer and stylist.

250 Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince (re-read) - One of my all-time favorite stories, one that I re-read every 1-2 years in as many languages as I can acquire.

251 Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Mali Princ (re-read) - Serbian translation.

252 Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Le Petit Prince (re-read) - French original.

253 Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, El Principito (re-read) - Spanish translation.

254 Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Il Piccolo Principe (re-read) - Italian translation.

255 Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Regulus: Vel Pueri Soli Sapiunt (re-read) - Latin translation.

256 Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, A Kis Herceg (re-read) - Hungarian translation.

257 Joanna Russ, The Female Man - I hope to have the time to write a review of this later this book. Interesting book, with a few ideas that felt "dated" to me, but many, many more that are still vitually urgent ones today.

258 Gene Wolfe, Shadow and Claw (re-read) - Already reviewed.

259 Grace Marmor Spruch, Squirrels at My Window: Life with a Remarkable Gang of Urban Squirrels - Considering how much I love/fear these rodents, this was a very moving, sometimes funny read. I'd recommend it to most who love animals, especially for those who love (fear?) squirrels.

260 Roger Luckhurst, Cultural History of Literature: Science Fiction - Nice exploration of the cultural history/values that lie behind the creation and development of SF as a perceived separate entity. Might comment more about this later.

261 Goran Petrović, Diferencias - Collection of five short stories/novellas whose themes reminded me strongly of Borges.

262 Goran Petrović, Atlas descrito por el cielo - His first book and one that I wish were available in English so I can recommend it more to others here. Might say more later, when I have had more time to digest it (and to re-read it).

263 Mark Teppo, Lightbreaker - Solid debut fantasy novel involving a man in search of the woman who may have stolen his soul. First of a trilogy, I believe.

264 José Saramago, El viaje del elefante - Saramago's latest novel (Dec. 2008), dealing with the historical account of the journey of an elephant from the court of Portugal's John III to that of the Austrian court. Told of course in Saramago's excellent inimitable style.

265 Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Der Kleine Prinz (re-read) - German translation.

266 Svetislav Basara, Chinese Letter - Comic, sometimes manic short novel told from the point of view of "Fritz," whose name changes ever and anon. Good stuff.

267 Milorad Pavić, Drugo Telo - Finished this last night. Excellent, excellent story. Might review this later.

268 Milorad Pavić, Second Body - English translation.

269 Javier Negrete, La Gran Aventura de los Griegos - Well-written popular history of the Greeks from the Minoan years to the Roman conquest in 146 BCE.

270 Tim Hamilton, Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451: The Authorized Adaptation - Graphic novel adaptation of Bradbury's classic tale. Good artwork adds to the spookiness of the story.

271 Lev Grossman, The Magicians - Will be reviewing this either later today or tomorrow. Very well-done, moving in places.


In Progress:

Jesse Bullington, The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart


Future Plans:

Gene Wolfe, Sword and Citadel (re-read)

Brooks Hansen, The Chess Garden

Clive Barker, The Books of Blood (vols. 1-3)

Brian Stableford (ed.), The Dedalus Book of Decadence: Moral Ruins

Remy de Gourmont, The Angels of Perversity