Happy New Year. Great review and I’ll have to find a clean copy. The comment on the inside about tearing off the cover was in many paperbacks. When booksellers did returns to publishers for unsold books, they only had to return the covers of paperbacks. The rest of the book was supposed to go in the trash. If you bought a book without the cover, it was “stripped” and the publisher and by extension, the author were not paid for it.
CORRECTION: I have updated this review to indicate that the protagonist's friend is named Helmsley, NOT Hartley. I even double-checked the name as I was writing the review, but I guess I just have Hal Hartley on the brain today. Fitting, I guess, for a book with this title to have one of my own. Donna and I are usually very through, but this one got by us. Apologies!
I've seen that "stripped book" thing before, in books I read as a kid in the late 90s and early 2000s. Wonder where it went, and whether ebooks are the reason publishers don't worry as much about naked books anymore.
If I had to say fate led me to any one book, I'd say it's the fantasy novel I'm currently writing, which I'm happy to talk about if anyone wants to hear about it.
I'm adapting the best D&D campaign I've ever played in, and between the campaign and the novel, this story is most of what's kept me sane the last two years. It's a magical-1930s-ish-Americana road trip ensemble romance about bringing the gods back to unfuck the government and the climate. Some highlights:
- A pansexual druid and an asexual wizard learn to meet each other halfway
- Werewolves as queer found family allegory, including the god of werewolves as the Ultimate Dad Friend
- Crises of faith, including but not limited to "escaped from a cult" and "small-town rabbi learns there's more than one god"
- Magic by telegraph, and the "booklegger" underground who steal spells from the government
- As much culture clash comedy as I can pack in without it getting awkward
- As much divine sublimity as I can fit in without it getting overwhelming
- Intelligent people being intelligent at each other
Most recently, I’d have to say “The Transit of Venus” by Shirley Hazzard. This came at me from multiple directions; I have a copy and will start it soon!
read this in college and always wondered why more people hadn't heard of it. also can't figure out the f train logic, but i do love that i just read your little life review, on point, which also had an f train mention. long live the f train.
I read this book during my senior year of high school and thought it made me the coolest person in our high school both because it was ~so obscure~ and because carrying it around my Texas public school landed me in detention. I was very wrong, but I’ve loved it ever since anyway. It’s a great story.
Thanks, Valorie! That’s a great story and it is the perfect book for looking cool. Such a scandalous title! Recently, I found another of his books on the used shelf at a local bookstore and was shocked someone would part with it. I had to get it, it was the cool thing to do after all, and I am excited to read it. I’m really interested in reading more of his work after really enjoying this book!
So I read this book when I was 18 (in 2006) and it was everything I hoped it would be. A fucked up protagonist I didn't really like all that much but was fascinated by anyway, a dirtiness to the prose and descriptions that I hadn't encountered in my high school required reading, and a feeling of subversion while I read it. I haven't heard about it since then, and was delighted to come across this review of it.
Thanks! I'm glad the book resonated with you and that you enjoyed the review. I think your take is spot on. This book feels so refreshing and different, and exciting to read. I'm looking forward to reading more of his work!
Happy New Year. Great review and I’ll have to find a clean copy. The comment on the inside about tearing off the cover was in many paperbacks. When booksellers did returns to publishers for unsold books, they only had to return the covers of paperbacks. The rest of the book was supposed to go in the trash. If you bought a book without the cover, it was “stripped” and the publisher and by extension, the author were not paid for it.
Ah! I had no idea! Thanks for the backstory, Kate. Happy New Year!
I really hope it was the same copy stalking you. Happy New Year!
Me too! Thanks! Happy New Year!
CORRECTION: I have updated this review to indicate that the protagonist's friend is named Helmsley, NOT Hartley. I even double-checked the name as I was writing the review, but I guess I just have Hal Hartley on the brain today. Fitting, I guess, for a book with this title to have one of my own. Donna and I are usually very through, but this one got by us. Apologies!
I've seen that "stripped book" thing before, in books I read as a kid in the late 90s and early 2000s. Wonder where it went, and whether ebooks are the reason publishers don't worry as much about naked books anymore.
If I had to say fate led me to any one book, I'd say it's the fantasy novel I'm currently writing, which I'm happy to talk about if anyone wants to hear about it.
Yes, tell us about the book!
I'm adapting the best D&D campaign I've ever played in, and between the campaign and the novel, this story is most of what's kept me sane the last two years. It's a magical-1930s-ish-Americana road trip ensemble romance about bringing the gods back to unfuck the government and the climate. Some highlights:
- A pansexual druid and an asexual wizard learn to meet each other halfway
- Werewolves as queer found family allegory, including the god of werewolves as the Ultimate Dad Friend
- Crises of faith, including but not limited to "escaped from a cult" and "small-town rabbi learns there's more than one god"
- Magic by telegraph, and the "booklegger" underground who steal spells from the government
- As much culture clash comedy as I can pack in without it getting awkward
- As much divine sublimity as I can fit in without it getting overwhelming
- Intelligent people being intelligent at each other
- Actual relationship communication!
Most recently, I’d have to say “The Transit of Venus” by Shirley Hazzard. This came at me from multiple directions; I have a copy and will start it soon!
I loved 'The Transit of Venus.' It's an amazing book. I hope you enjoy it. Please let me know what you think!
read this in college and always wondered why more people hadn't heard of it. also can't figure out the f train logic, but i do love that i just read your little life review, on point, which also had an f train mention. long live the f train.
Thanks! I hope more people find/read this book. Long live the F train!
I read this book during my senior year of high school and thought it made me the coolest person in our high school both because it was ~so obscure~ and because carrying it around my Texas public school landed me in detention. I was very wrong, but I’ve loved it ever since anyway. It’s a great story.
Thanks, Valorie! That’s a great story and it is the perfect book for looking cool. Such a scandalous title! Recently, I found another of his books on the used shelf at a local bookstore and was shocked someone would part with it. I had to get it, it was the cool thing to do after all, and I am excited to read it. I’m really interested in reading more of his work after really enjoying this book!
So I read this book when I was 18 (in 2006) and it was everything I hoped it would be. A fucked up protagonist I didn't really like all that much but was fascinated by anyway, a dirtiness to the prose and descriptions that I hadn't encountered in my high school required reading, and a feeling of subversion while I read it. I haven't heard about it since then, and was delighted to come across this review of it.
Thanks! I'm glad the book resonated with you and that you enjoyed the review. I think your take is spot on. This book feels so refreshing and different, and exciting to read. I'm looking forward to reading more of his work!