I guess it is not a mystery to everyone –of course, for the ones who read some of my blog entries— that Ruth Rendell is one of my favorite authors (in a sense that I would read everything she writes), so it is expected that I’ll possibly have biased opinions but if I do sound too favorable which is easy to do, just do say so.  But I promise I will be honest as possible.

This collection of short stories is my first Rendell anthology and it’s not excitement I just felt before I start reading anything from her but it includes expectations for the author I respect and grew to love. Stories from this collection compose of different themes, from the clever happy tone, the mischievous, from the moving and to the shocking. Honestly, some of the stories here leave me with enough confusion. Asking myself like if I really understand the story or it just holds a self-interpretative ending. Some of it are also ‘just okay’ stories, like I’ve fully understand them but I guess I can’t quite relate that makes them less memorable. I also chose not to mention those titles not just with the intention of not spoiling readers but to give them an unbiased reaction when a time came they encounter this collection. All in all, by the time I’m ready to give the whole collection an impression that I don’t like majority of its stories, thus came the moment I read –the title story— The Copper Peacock, which saves the whole team from losing.

The title story is one of the most moving stories I’ve read. It is not just clearly and beautifully written but as I’ve finished reading, I have the triumph of not just having the thought that I’ve understand the story completely –ha-ha— but mostly, a particular character from it still haunts me, which is until now still makes me think of him/her. Oh well.  And a Chief Inspector Wexford –Rendell’s most famous creation— story, just saves the whole ship from sinking. In the end, I realize that what I’ve read is a wonderful collection, and each is made with precision, style and is carefully planned and written which makes them very readable. I recommend this to everyone not just for Rendell fans but for large readers of fiction especially of the short story form.

Stories:

A Pair of Yellow Lilies

Paperwork

Mother’s Help

Long Live The Queen

Dying Happy

The Copper Peacock

Weeds

The Fish-Sitter

An Unwanted Woman (A Chief Inspector Wexford Story)

                Ordinary People is about a typical –I can say that is fairly ordinary— American family (ordinary in a sense of not having something unique but possessing problems which makes the novel believable, the characters, human). The Jarrets composes of four members; unfortunately, we get to know them as just three, for they are struck with an inevitable tragedy. And that’s one of the factors that revolves around the story.

                Someone would likely to comment that the novel is a way bit long than the intended storyline. Readers would likely get tired of the slow narrative of events, even though how it is written is very admirable. Having said this, I guess that it cannot pull enough emotions if the author doesn’t narrate the story as it is, slow –at times— it is.   Basically, I would not recommend this for readers who want to read something fast-paced and thrilling. But if one wants to read something that builds in an emotional tension and understanding, don’t look around further.  Yeah, the novel has a tendency to bore some readers, but perseverance is well paid-off.

                Ordinary People is made into a major motion picture. Robert Redford’s direction of the adaptation is highly praised and it won the Oscar for Best Picture in 1980.

                Opening Sentence: To have a reason to get up in the morning, it is necessary to possess a guiding principle.

                Ending Sentence: He picks up the nine-iron, swinging it lightly through the grass as he walks toward the house.

I have read a fair amount of psychological thrillers especially of the British crime genre which leads me somehow to have a fair judgment on what is a ‘good’ or the ‘not-so-good’ of the genre. Elizabeth George is an American who is fond of writing Classic British thrillers, with that is an instant challenge for the author to convince readers specially the British the she is capable of writing a novel with a foreign subject.

Thomas Lynley together with her redoubtable detective, Barbara Havers has been sent to solve a murder that shocked a peaceful countryside. For the unlovable Roberta Teys has been found an axe in her lap, seated in an upturned bucket beside her father’s headless corpse.  Her first and last words were “I did it. And I’m not sorry.”

What I like about the novel is its supposed questions on whether Roberta kills her father; on whether the novel is a whodunit or a whydunit. I’ve read somewhere that one of George’s favorite authors is John Irving which is also my favorite writer.  And with that information, makes me notice Irving’s writing in George’s prose. George cut’s a scene abruptly in a good manner and then retells what has happened later on. I’ve also read a quote from Irving in a different manner but that one doesn’t make me judge the author’s ability, in fact, before I finish this one, Elizabeth George won me over.

The novel is somewhat long, but one can understand why the length for the author has a flair for characterization and detail; descriptions that is really necessary for a superb ‘English’ mystery. She affects the reader with her three-dimensional character that’ll make you watch for them not just for the solving of the crime.

I have this rule in rating a novel. I categorize them as good, better and best and when I chose a rating, it still undergoes another category.

Good – (Good, Better, Best)

Better – (Good, Better, Best)

Best – (Good, Better, Best)

And A Great Deliverance, I categorize as ‘Best better’. Why not ‘Best best’? There are parts that I do feel a ‘trashy scene’ is present. The mouse in the head reminds me of an old paperback cover of a horror novel. I guess that the headless corpse is enough violence for the whole novel –and that alone makes the whole crime creepy—, need not to put ‘yucky’ parts. All in all, it is a superb mystery, specially coming from an American author. The success of the novel fairly credits the author’s talents for convincing and writing a great ‘English’ mystery.

The novel won the Anthony Award and the Agatha Award for best first novel in 1988.

                Opening Sentence: It was solecism of the very worst kind.

                Ending Sentence: She ran up the slope into her mother’s arms, and they entered the house together.

Like being killed,
Josie and Jack.
Revenge of the rose, all over.
But the shoutin’.
Where the heart is,
lucky Jim.

Dance on my grave, disordered minds.
Everlasting, star-burst.
Time enough for love,
The torment of others.

Juggling
the stars.
Early from the
dance.
Girlfriend in a coma, madness.
The easy way out?
The extra man.

September, the first hurt,
something happened.
The brutal language of love;
”Hello, I lied.”,
becoming a man.

Hope y’all like it. ^_^

Fear of Flying by Erica Jong. (1973)
Kinflicks by Lisa Alther. (1975)
The World According to Garp by John Irving. (1978)
Parachutes and Kisses by Erica Jong. (1984)

I have come up with the list for the sole purpose of pointing and clarifying some things about these books because each entry –if you’ve read them all— will make you associate one from the other. Not that I accuse some particular writer of copying some ideas from others work.
Kinflicks is a funny, insightful, perceptive, sad, and a moving read. It presents some of the most original wisdom about life and death in fiction. If John Irving’s Garp is obsessed with the safety of his own family, and having the realization of no way to protect them from the harsh reality, irony and madness of life, Kinflicks talks about and illustrates how cruel, unfair and unpredictable life is.

From the start of the novel, it gives me the sense that I am once again to read a novel from my favorite author, John Irving. I am about to praise the novel as a female-Garp, however, learning of its publication that Kinflicks precedes Garp, I suddenly dropped the idea. Garp is much powerful in its entirety that I also wouldn’t dare calling Garp the male-Ginny. I might also call Alther as an informative writer, and her fascination with encyclopedias’ is obvious in which it is a good thing with the unavailability of the internet at the time.

Kinflicks tells the story of of a 27 year-old heroine named Virginia ‘Ginny’ Babcock. The novel is separated in two parts; the first is narrated in Ginny’s point of view in the past while the alternating chapters are narrated in third-person. Ginny’s voice talks about her coming-of-age journey, her struggles to take hold of her future, and desperately tries to join in everything that comes her way. These parts –Ginny’s submissions— may somehow irritate the reader, but in my opinion, I understand her actions for I got to see the part where she’s trying to live a life without the influenced of her parents while unconsciously trying to shape things around her with the prejudices and bias she learns from her family. Her adventures remind me of Erica Jong’s heroine, Isadora Wing from her novel Fear of Flying. The feeling to take control on things without shame, to grasp without reluctance and to decide without being guilty afterwards. To stand about your choices no matter the consequences. Ginny’s past and Isadora on ‘Fear’ are both narrated by the heroine.

On the other hand, the part where it is narrated in third-person which talks of the present makes me remember another of Jong’s novel, Parachutes and Kisses –also narrated in third-person’s point of view— being the third novel and continuing Isadora’s adventure and finally her being a mother. Just like Isadora, Ginny is now in the stage of motherhood or struggling to be. In Jong’s novel in which spirituality and death plays a big part; Ginny comes home to take care of her sick mother. Ending with the understanding of their actions from the past and though they might not admit it, a final act of understanding and acceptance for their deeper selves. I’m also not blind by the fact that some might notice Ginny as lacking in character, that she doesn’t learn something grand in the end. However, I find this to be interesting, and since Ginny is still trying to live her life (again) in the end, there is a possibility that someday she is more than just a lost soul. I just hope the author writes a sequel about her.

I don’t really know what’s happening to my reading list, it is as if it is lined after my own life. Having suffered some recent tragedy makes my vision while reading be crystallized with tears, and moments unknown to me, I’d suddenly stomped my feet like a hammer on the arm rest for no apparent reason while tears continuously flows down my cheeks, not that I want to stop myself from crying but I guess to bring back what was lost. There are times at the end I want to hurl away the novel for making me cry like a baby.
I’ve given the novel a higher rating but before doing it, I’ve pondered on some questions why I should. I’ll try to ask you those. Will you give a novel a higher rating that makes you remember something depressing? Makes you cry because you can relate into it? A novel which makes you sad? I’ve tried not to answer those because if I do, this will be poorly rated.

I just consider of how wonderfully written it is, how the author manages to construct it beautifully, how the author’s ability to make it believable and how she carefully illustrates the many guises of life. And finally, convincing the reader how life, though we may not all accept it, is harsh and cruel than reality.
It is hard to tell what it’s really all about and narrating of some of its superlatives may not give justice on how a good story Kinflicks is. You just have to read it, but be careful.

Opening Sentence: My family always has been into death.

Ending Sentence: She left the cabin, to go where she had no idea.

I have often heard about the Chronicles of Prydain as it said to set standards of excellence in fantasy for children’s literature. Honestly, I really wanted to read fantasy books from the past for it evoke a sentimental feeling in me, maybe because of it written in the year of 1964? For I believe that fantasy from the past (The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, etc…) are more original for they are less influence by technology and just based on pure thoughts, humble opinions that makes heroic deeds much more believable and rooting, the quality of its magic and adventure is much grounded which makes it somehow much more possible to happen. Its wisdom is not totally old-fashioned but has a sentimental quality in it for it is picked from troubled times. And that’s how I’ve decided to read about the land of Pyrdain.
In The Book of Three –the first of the five books in the series– we are introduced to Taran, an assistant pig keeper who grumbles on just how he lives his life and yearns to go into battle and search for an adventure like his hero, Prince Gwydion. An unfortunate incident I wouldn’t spoil makes the pig, Hen Wen that Tarran keeps escapes from her pen and thus the adventure of the just pig-keeper begins. He starts his journey together by meeting an unexpectedly companion he yearns to meet, and then starts a new with a strange assortment of companions on a dangerous mission to save his beloved land of Pyrdain (this part reminds me of the Final Fantasy series for its recruiting allies, though this would remind me that the latter doesn’t own the concept). At times, Taran irritates me by his clumsiness and finds it as his necessary weakness, which makes me care for him through his adventure. He is also carefully illustrated by the author for sometimes when he tries to act sincere and heroic; he is suddenly mocked by his companions which I think is funny and gives the novel a jolly atmosphere even though in times of impending troubles. But I’ll conclude that is Taran’s way of coping with the situation, he knows he isn’t capable, but to act as if can somehow lift the situation. Facing the evil leader who threatens the peace of Pyrdain; makes me wonder how Tarran could have defeated such powerful creature. And I wouldn’t want to read something far-fetched and contrive. But that aspect is the one that what makes the book unpredictable. The characters fragility makes you care for them until the end. All of them are carefully described and characterized. I can’t recall if I was depressed while reading this one, but I find myself on the verge of tears as I reached the end. I am very sentimental but it is not often and is rare for a book to make me cry.
I really can’t put a finger on any particular part, aspect or scene of the book that makes it special, I guess the book as a whole is what I should be referring. After I’ve finished this one I had to read the next book to see what happened. Not that the first book can’t stand alone, it is simply because of the fact that it’s too exciting and compelling that I just wanted to know what’s next.
I recommended this not just for fantasy readers but for everyone who wants to read something entertaining in a short sweep, for its wisdom and sense of heroism. The prose is easy to read and the story flows smoothly and fast that makes it much readable. It can also be classified as a coming-of-age story for after the adventure, Tarran learns of his growth and maturity and what quality he admires for his hero, he unconsciously possessed. And that is something far more rewarding for the reader as Tarran accomplished. The book contains everything a great book should have, great adventure, foreboding danger, sense of evil, and love and death.
There are books you feel warm that stays with you and never be forgotten and The Book of Three is one for me. I highly recommend it to everyone.

Opening Sentence: Taran wanted to make a sword; but Coll, charged with the practical side of his education, decided on horseshoes.

Ending Sentence: “Hwoinch!” said Hen Wen.

.

The Left Hand of Darkness tells the story of a solitary human emissary named Genly Ai, in a cold planet called Gethen or Winter as Terrans’ call it. His mission is to facilitate Winter in an intergalactic civilization, more like to be an alliance to establish communication and friendship even though there aren’t neighboring planets. Being an alien in an alien world is very hard for Genly, and although Winter’s inhabitants offers certain kindness and treats him more likely as any other scholar or foreigner working in an important subject or matter, the latter notices peculiarity about the world he now occupies which constantly makes him question everything  he sees. Imagine, us human beings here on earth are used to (hope I used the right word) having the company of the opposite sex in which the planet Winter doesn’t have. I didn’t say they are of one sex, but they can change their gender and that is something one can’t choose or control. When having sex or undergoes the process of Kemmer (more like of fertilization as familiar to us) in which all the process of changes appear, they are of a single sex and one is suddenly transform in to the female’s role and the other goes for the male. Like, if one of the couple becomes male, the other automatically becomes the other.  I don’t mean about how someone act while having sex, I mean who will bear the child after the copulation. Have you heard of a pregnant king?

For me, The Left Hand of Darkness is a tale of trust and equality. The major point of Genly’s mission is somehow simple. But with lies and misunderstandings thus makes it ridiculous and impossible, well we can’t blame other for not trusting an individual alien to us and vice-versa. As I’ve said earlier, Le Guin’s insights are exciting and enjoyable to read, forget it being possible but the thought of it being true offers us answers for the questions that is somehow unable to provide us its answers for the facts is somewhat impossible.  Other’s regarded the novel as being feminist, maybe for its vision of equality. Feminists’ novels are those that talks about the subject matter directly.

But I don’t think it as such together with the author, for she just illustrates us human beings in a world without prejudices especially in gender roles. Like would their be equality if we are of one gender like in the planet of Winter? No black or white, top or bottom, passive and active, seme and uke? Although I’m not just talking about roles, it is also applicable on anything, like their will be no rape because no one will abused someone and willing to be, there is no superior and inferior of the others.  Is that possible? Equality in being one? Hmm.

It is not a doubt that the novel is heralded as a classic for its depth, vision and originality in the science fiction canon and stand without a question as the best from the best of its genre. Readers of this novel will agree that no science fiction bookshelf is complete without it. Published in 1969 to great acclaim, this is truly a groundbreaking novel at that time and is now considered as timeless.  With such creativity, wisdom and insight, its mythology and construction and the ability to create a world with its unique culture and traditions, Le Guin’s tale is much ahead of her time and is still unsurpassed (and very hard to) by any other science fiction author. I highly recommend this one, and believe it could convert non-science fiction readers to one, and read as many as they can to experience something what they have read from Le Guin. The ending I believe will make the reader question himself about whether he liked it or not, in my opinion, the journey going through the end is much more worthy than the one that is inevitable. Though I really don’t read a book twice, it is the type of novel I want to reread in the future.

The Left Hand of Darkness won both the Hugo Awards (given every year by the World Science Fiction Society for the best science fiction and fantasy works. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the science fiction magazine, Amazing Stories) and the Nebula Awards (as the year’s “best novel” according to convention participants and science fiction writers. The award is also described as one of “the most important of the American science fiction awards” and “the science-fiction and fantasy equivalent” of the Emmy Awards) respectively in 1969.

Opening Sentence: From the Archives of Hain. Transcript of Ansible Document 01-01101-934-2-Gethen: To the Stabile on Ollul: Report from Genly Ai, First Mobile on Gethen/Winter, Hainish Cycle93, Ekumenical Year 1490-97.

Ending Sentence:  “I should like to hear that tale, my Lord Envoy,” said old Evans, very calm. But the boy, Therem’s son, said stammering, “Will you tell us how he died? –Will you tell us about the other worlds out among the stars– the other kinds of men, the other lives?”

If you want to read something fast and exciting, don’t try to read this book. I’m conscious to say anything bad about the novel that might put-off a suspecting reader, because I love this book.  Alison and Veronica meet in the year of the glamorous 80’s era in New York. Alison is a young model trying to escape the wreck of her blossoming career and Veronica – the eccentric, critic, fashionable middle-aged office worker- her friend. Over the next twenty-years their friendship blooms and encompasses tenderness, sacrifice, love and death. Narratives from the present to past and the other way that creates a timeless depth and comparison to an era we can only knew if that is where we belong.

I love everything about the 80’s. Being born in the year of 1987, I guess I can feel for the era through its music. Unconsciously hearing something from that year over the radio as a kid that even though I don’t really recall hearing something (and having no specific memory about it), places and everyday actions –like taking a bath- sometimes makes it utterly recognizable, asking myself ‘when did I heard that song?’. Why did I tell you this one? The book makes me think. And reminisce.

Well anyway, the novel is somehow nostalgic for my taste that I began to like it. Gaitskill’s prose here is like a multi-colored yarn. Connected in one piece but different and none the less have connections that I have to remind myself the point of view is from two different timelines. I also never find myself confuse because I was so attached with her narratives. The writing is edgy, there is violence but it’s not pretentious, describing things around with a keen observation for the macabre but in a poetic way. It doesn’t have the ‘what will happen next’ feel to it but you continue to read the story anyway. Basically it doesn’t have a plot to start with, but somehow the thought of questioning the novel’s drive is really not needed here. Gaiskill presents the reader nothing but leaves the reader questioning without hoping for an answer and feeling satisfied without having something. It is a feeling with a word I really cannot describe. I can call this novel ‘to each his own’ type since I would agree if someone hates it. But it has some pleasure I don’t know what to call. It resides within beauty and ugly. Maybe you reading it would have a name for it. It is also like an art, viewed in many different interpretations. Like what gift Allison got from Veronica.

The novel is a finalist for the National Book Award for fiction. A New York Times Review Best Book of the Year and a finalist for both Los Angeles Times Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award.

Opening Sentence: When I was young, my mother read me a story about a wicked little girl.

Ending Sentence: I will be full of gratitude and joy.

Sometimes I wonder how something outrageous makes literature a bit more interesting as in life. In Kotzwinkle’s Nightbook, a combination of ideas from ancient Greece with modern subjectivities often confronts me with shocking possibilities. I mainly remember sexual aspects of this book, which I have not read lately, but I remember a few parts of it from years ago.

Reading Kotzwinkle’s Night Book is fast, insightful, weird and eccentric. My first attempt on reading this sort of novella makes my forehead furrow and leaves me with confusion enough for me to ask myself the question of reading it or not. Having no idea of the constantly shifting point of view and narrative makes me feel irritable about it. The second try makes me hope that it would become interesting as I first hate it and in the end, it thus leaves me utterly satisfied. The novel is about a combination of ideas and folklores from ancient Greek using themes which are more familiar in any of us living in this present day.  Although its acceptance in every society is not much clear as it is before. Themes mainly of pleasures like incest, bestiality, voyeurism, homosexuality, masturbation, transvestism, sadism, masochism and the likes. Kotzwinkle’s prose assures you that he is a brilliant writer even though with such themes that he carefully analyzes with sensitivity and connecting it with our lives. The writing which I predict to be confusing for the first time somehow makes me fall flat while I read, unexpectedly making me stop to savor on how well accomplished he constructs the story leaving me with wide admiration.

There is no question that Kotzwinkle -as the blurbs on the back cover of my paperback copy- is one of the few interesting and insightful of writers. It is not arguable to call this novella erotica but I have to stop myself for the brand’s connotation, for in here, indeed he makes erotica to be of literary use. And I would probably read anything from him to experience once again what I’ve savor just from reading this small and witty masterpiece.

Opening Sentence: “Did you ever eat a girl?” she asked quietly.

Ending Sentence:  “I can’t use it.”

Mary Gordon’s Final Payments is one of the few novels I’ve encountered that shock me just after reading what its plot is all about. It doesn’t just caught my attention –not that the plot is something capable of shocking- but also makes me nod in recognition in reasons I would just keep for myself.

Isabel Moore, the novel’s protagonist is suddenly launched into life after the death of her father whom she took care for eleven years. Being twenty-nine and is stripped of the idea what to do with her life now that she is alone at first thrilled her. It offers her something new, something exciting and took it as if accepting a new adventure. Indeed, having a new life to live is such an exciting experience. Like changing identity, leaving the past and being free from it. Deciding on things she knew herself we’re the best ideas and decisions. A journey with no hints and clues but with her two girl-friends, a priest and her father’s friends and an old lady -that for a time serves as a housemaid for Isabel and her father- to seek help and lean on to. But it is also a terrifying one for Isabel, having no experience at all on something for her to land on a decent job, experiencing things she should have experienced long before when she was still young and active. What decisions in life she has come through somehow manages her to assess herself and ask if she is living in the right way. But before she starts a new, Isabel decides to pay the final payments just before going through what life has left for her.

What I could mostly say about Mary Gordon’s prose here in her debut novel is how she constructs the whole story. I didn’t notice something special about her sentences but when you start to gather them in whole, constructing images in your mind, reading every page is a delight. Every voice of Ms. Gordon’s characters’ makes you care for them that I sometimes doubt the protagonist, even hate Isabel for doing something and its effects on people around her. It is as if you’re caught between two people you care for and doesn’t have an idea on whose side will you choose. The novel also makes me conscious of Isabel’s decision as to what will happen to her. And nearly at the end of the novel, one of Isabel’s virtues really caught me of guard for it is one of the most original and humane acts I’ve ever read, that I doubt it being perform in real life.

Published in 1978 to great acclaim, Final Payments capability to moved and inspire, its effect and power is still recognizable in my opinion as it is first received and almost 35 years has passed before I encounter the novel. I recommend this one with my warm heart.

Opening Sentence: My father’s funeral was full of priest.

Ending Sentence: There was a great deal I wanted to say.