These are so very funny, like goddamn, Austen was flexing even as a teen. They are absolutely outrageous, but the sudden flip from the sort-of Austen These are so very funny, like goddamn, Austen was flexing even as a teen. They are absolutely outrageous, but the sudden flip from the sort-of Austen story we're used to, to utterly ridiculous and contrived plot points delivered straight-faced with only a hint of flippancy is just... hilarious.
"The Colonel in gratitude waited on me the next day with an offer of his hand-. I am now going to murder my Sister. Yours Ever, Anna Parker"
I'm sorry, but to anyone who rated this low: Do you hate fun????
Although they are obviously written entirely to amuse family, and don't have a lot of literary value, you can definitely glimpse the sort of writer Austen would become. She knows how to write people and her comedic timing is impeccable. It's also suddenly extremely apparent why Northanger Abbey was her first novel. She was clearly intrigued from very early on by the extravagance and exaggerated nature of the gothic novel, something she eventually grew away from.
I wish so ardently that she might have lived to become at least 80. I want to see the stories she'd write at 65 when she no longer gave a fuck. To have a mature Jane Austen have a go at an alcoholic protagonist? A murderess? Perhaps to see her go full-blown satire? God, what I wouldn't give to see it....more
I still have very little grasp on what Camp is, but Sontag is a very interesting writer and both the included essays were rather enlightening nonethelI still have very little grasp on what Camp is, but Sontag is a very interesting writer and both the included essays were rather enlightening nonetheless....more
I have shelved this under horror, although technically it might not be. I simply found the ending so monumentally creepy that I didn't even think twicI have shelved this under horror, although technically it might not be. I simply found the ending so monumentally creepy that I didn't even think twice about putting it in that particular genre.
Perhaps it's more science fiction. It's more subdued, but it definitely falls in the "mad scientist meddles in affairs that should be left to God (or the uncaring universe)". It's in many ways the classic tale of trying to solve metaphysical questions with science, while not truly considering the ramifications if you should manage to find an answer.
Du Maurier does atmosphere so fucking well, and while this is short it manages to convey that particular feeling of isolation when you're cut off from the world and only have a few select people to rely on. You become more sympathetic towards them. You start believing things you might not have otherwise. If left alone long enough with someone could they not eventually persuade us of anything?
I find parts of the story problematic and unpleasant, especially the way it talked about disabled people, and it's the reason I won't rate it any higher. However the ending really was, to me at least, supremely creepy and unsettling. (view spoiler)[ A soul trapped in a machine begging to be let go? Begging through a little girl? It sent a chill up my spine. The implications of the soul being real and then the soul being trapped after death is nightmarish to me, and somehow this little story captured that horror so well. (hide spoiler)]
I've been reading a lot of these little black classics lately, as I've had them for ages and am trying to get through them, and by some coincidence I read stories by Edgar Allan Poe and Elizabeth Gaskell right before this, both include horror stories, and this managed what neither of those did, what few things manage. It made me genuinely afraid for a moment....more
They really did Jean Rhys dirty with this one. What a weird collection of tales. The first two fit together in theme and style, and then the last two They really did Jean Rhys dirty with this one. What a weird collection of tales. The first two fit together in theme and style, and then the last two are supernatural? None of them are bad, I actually rather liked them all, especially the first two, but something about these four stories together just feels off and is a very bad introduction to her as an author, which is the opposite of what these books are supposed to do.
I have never read any of her shorter fiction before this, but even so I can tell you she deserves better than this mediocre presentation. A damn shame....more
It's also good to know that even good old Emily went to bed aEmily. Emily, listen.
My gal, my friend, my sister.
You gotta brighten up.
You just gotta.
It's also good to know that even good old Emily went to bed and was assailed by uncalled for emotions and thoughts. And felt the weight of wasted days.
"'The evening passes fast away. 'Tis almost time to rest; What thoughts has left the vanished day, What feelings in thy breast?
'The vanished day? It leaves a sense Of labour hardly done; Of little gained with vast expense - A sense of grief alone!"
No wonder she wrote a book like Wuthering Heights this shit is bleak. And at times hopeful. But mostly bleak. ...more
I feel cheated by this Little Black Classic. On the back it says "Advice on marriage, foreign travel and much more from the irrepressible Margery KempI feel cheated by this Little Black Classic. On the back it says "Advice on marriage, foreign travel and much more from the irrepressible Margery Kempe: medieval pilgrim, visionary and creator of the first autobiography".
I knew nothing of Margery Kempe, who she was, what she did, so I thought, based on that description, that this was a book of, well, advice. I thought it was Margery giving advice on life, based on her own experiences. Obviously, that's not what this is at all. It's a biography of her life with religion. Had I known that, I would not have bought it, because I don't find that interesting at all, I personally just don't care for it. So the rating for this is not because the book itself is bad, it's because it's 1) not what I expected, and 2) not something I'd have ever read otherwise, because I know I find it dull.
And this was unbelievably dull for me to read. The stories themselves are slightly interesting, and there were moments I found compelling, but ultimately I can't relate to her experiences at all, and found little of use for me in this small excerpt. Of course it has historical significance, but to me, personally, it had no interest. And something about the way it's written was just too tedious for me. I mean, some of that is probably that it's one of the first autobiographies ever written so style wouldn't have factored in the way it does now, plus it's an account of a religious life, so there are limits to the way you can tell a story like that. If you were medieval, that is. Well, I assume, I don't know much about it.
And the fact that it's the (possibly true) biography of a woman who was shunned and ridiculed for her religious beliefs and the way she communed with God makes it interesting in itself. It's just not interestingly written. At all. I'd say you'd have to have an explicit interest in the subject to find this book enjoyable, but at least now I know it's not for me to read the full book, so that's something. ...more
"Untainted Graces With wrists like roses, Please come close,"
There was this tumblr post, that was something like:
them: "do you have any fantasies?"
me: "Untainted Graces With wrists like roses, Please come close,"
There was this tumblr post, that was something like:
them: "do you have any fantasies?"
me: "so, I find this complete, untarnished document of Sapphos poems"
and I related to it a lot.
Sappho is just so goddamned poetic. Like some drunk, seductive nymph in a clearing, resting in a crystal blue pond, and you look at her and you realize the world is beautiful, you are mortal, and love is a rock hard punch and a feather light touch that you feel all at once.
She's wisdom, she's grace, she's sassy as fuck, and I love her.
Why did they not store your documents in the well-protected vaults of history? Why did they let you slide into near-oblivion, with your fierce words and fiercer loving?
The world is cruel and your words are soothing. I have a two-thousand year old crush. Can you imagine.
"Some call ships, infantry or horsemen The greatest beauty earth can offer; I say it is whatever a person More lusts after." ...more
This contains 'The Yellow Wall-Paper', 'The Rocking Chair' and 'Old Water'.
'The Yellow Wall-Paper' is well known and a classic piece of feminist writiThis contains 'The Yellow Wall-Paper', 'The Rocking Chair' and 'Old Water'.
'The Yellow Wall-Paper' is well known and a classic piece of feminist writing. It had been on my to-read list for ages, so that's partly why I got this LBC. It didn't disappoint me either, although it's very obvious what it's trying to do and what the theme of it is. I just loved it, I loved the slow spiraling into madness, I loved the eerie tone, I loved the claustrophobic feel. I loved the barely concealed rage and indignation, and I love that it doesn't cut corners, it doesn't compromise. I also found it spectacularly creepy, and as a commentary both on the ridiculous and harmful "rest" treatment of that time and the overall suppression of women, it's fantastic. It might be straight to the point, but who can blame Charlotte Perkins, it's not like anyone would've listened otherwise (or did listen at all).
The second story, 'The Rocking Chair', was more classic horror, still with some interesting subtext (especially about how men will be idiots when it comes to women), and while it was pretty straight forward as well, it was still fairly uncanny - at least if you read it late at night.
The best one of the bunch is the last one though. 'Old Water' is just a delight. What a story, what a tale! In this the woman gets to be the practical, non-nonsense character, while the man is poetic, lofty, irrational and madly in love with her. Does it end well? Depends how you look at it. I loved, loved the ending, it might even, from the right perspective, be considered a happy one.
This is definitely a decent collection of short-stories, and a worthy addition to your horror (or LBC) collection... you can put it next to Poe and they can fight it out. ...more