The Fairy Godmother: Revisited

Luna Books

The Fairy Godmother
Mercedes Lackey
2004

The Summary
"In the land of the Five Hundred Kingdoms, if you can't carry out your legendary role, life is no fairy tale...

"Elena Klovis was supposed to be her kingdom's Cinderella--until fate left her with a completely inappropriate prince!  So she set out to make a new life for herself.  But breaking with 'The Tradition' was no easy matter--until she got a little help from her own fairy godmother.  Who promptly offered Elena a most unexpected job...

"Now, instead of sleeping in the chimney, she has to deal with arrogant, stuffed-shirt princes who keep trying to rise above their place in the tale.  And there's one in particular who needs to be dealt with.

"Sometimes a fairy godmother's work is never done..."

The Good
I decided to reread The Fairy Godmother on a whim.  I liked it the first time around and I was craving something with adventure, magic, fantasy and romance.  And, honestly, I wasn't disappointed when I picked up Mercedes Lackey's novel.

It's chock full of fairy tales:  Cinderella, Rapunzel, the Fairy Godmother, Prince Charming, Snow White, the Evil Queen, and much more.  Each one is given a fresh twist that draws their stories together in new and exciting ways.  Plus, it has fairies.  Not the dainty little sprites you might imagine, but the tall, lithe fair folk--the kind you meet in The Lord of the Rings--which, somehow, I'd forgotten.

I found it interesting to reread The Fairy Godmother.  Despite knowing how the story ends, I enjoyed going back and seeing the small details I'd missed during my previous trip.  More importantly, I took the story at a slower pace and I enjoyed it far more than I expected.

I mean, in my last review (which you can check out here), I pointed out that Lackey's novel was missing some indefinable quality that would have made it perfect.  While I still don't think it's the perfect fantasy novel, I do have a new appreciation for the characters and the stories as a whole.  I loved the different strands of folklore and fairy tales that come together to create a wonderful story that's full of humor, heart, magic, and adventure.

It was just the thing I need.

The Bad
No complaints.  Like I said, I enjoyed The Fairy Godmother much better the second time.

The Ugly
These fairy tales are not for children.

Norse Mythology

HarperAudio

Norse Mythology
Neil Gaiman
2017

The Summary
"Neil Gaiman has long been inspired by ancient mythology in creating the fantastical reams of his fiction.  Now he turns his attention back to the source, presenting a bravura rendition of the great northern tales.

"In Norse Mythology, Gaiman stays true to the myths in envisioning the major Norse pantheon:  Odin, the highest of the high, wise, daring and cunning; Thor, Odin's son, incredibly strong yet not the wisest of the gods; and Loki--son of a giant--blood brother to Odin and a trickster and unsurpassable manipulator.

"Gaiman fashions these primeval stories into a novelist arc that begins with the genesis of the legendary nine worlds and delves into the exploits of deities, dwarfs, and giants.  Through Gaiman's deft and witty prose emerge these gods with their fiercely competitive natures, their susceptibility to being duped and duping others, and their tendency to let passion ignite their actions, making these long-ago myths breathe pungent life again."

The Good
I listened to Norse Mythology as an audiobook and, personally, I think that's the only way to enjoy Neil Gaiman's latest book.  I absolutely adored Norse Mythology, and I loved listening to Neil Gaiman narrate it.  It has quickly become one of my favorite audiobooks, simply because Gaiman is a master storyteller whether he's using the written word or reciting it aloud.

There's something magical about Norse Mythology.  I mean, you can really tell that Norse myth means something to Gaiman.  He's poured his heart and soul into telling these stories and telling them well, and he's created something that's both familiar and wholly unique.

Moreover, I loved the way Gaiman told the story.  I'm not just talking about the language and cadence of the text; I'm talking about the way he spoke, the way he gave life to his characters by changing tones and inflections to give them depth, real meaning.

For instance, I could tell the difference between Loki and Thor with just a word, because Gaiman imbued them with such distinct personalities.  Likewise, I could envision the enormity and ferocity of Fenris just through his harsh, graveled tones; or the haughty elegance of Freya; or the cool, calculating intelligence of Loki.

Personally, I thought Norse Mythology was fantastic.  After reading The Gospel of Loki by Joanne Harris, I have found myself captivated by Norse myth more and more--and Norse Mythology only lifts these myths higher in my esteem.  Although I know all the stories, Norse Mythology is a wonderful addition to any collection and it's great for readers who are both familiar with the myths and those who are just starting.

The Bad
No complaints.

I absolutely loved every minute of Norse Mythology, all 389 of them.

The Ugly
I'll say the same thing that I said about Joanna Harris' novel:  the gods are cruel, brutal, violent, and licentious.  More often than not, they're terrible people.  I found it difficult to like any of them, plus it's best not to get attached.  If you know anything about Ragnarok, then you know how things are going to end for the gods.

Wonder Woman: Blood (Volume 1)

DC Comics

Wonder Woman:  Blood (Volume 1)
Brian Azzarello
Cliff Chiang
Tony Akins
2012

The Summary
"Wonder Woman is a woman apart.  Raised as a daughter by the Queen of the Amazons, the warrior princess Diana is different from her countrywomen.  They've all heard the legend of how she was formed from clay to give the childless Queen the daughter she dreamed of--and they treat her like an outsider and outcast because of it, no matter how hard she fights for justice as a super hero in the outside world.

"But far from the Amazons' Paradise Island, the gods of Olympus are playing their own dark games.  The prodigal sun Apollo is making his move for Father Zeus' vacant throne, and both vengeful gods and innocent humans are caught in the crossfire.

"And at the beating, bloody heart of the conflict?  Wonder Woman, and a secret that will shatter everything she thought she knew.  Wonder Woman is about to learn the truth about her origin.  And when she does, blood will run..."

The Good
Wonder Woman.

What more is there to say?

The Bad
I struggled with Wonder Woman:  Blood (volume 1).

I like Wonder Woman--I mean, c'mon, she's amazing.  How could I not like her?--and I like Greek mythology, so the narrative threads were fascinating as all the pieces and relationships of the Greek gods started to come together; however, I wasn't enchanted by this first volume of Wonder Woman.  It just wasn't my cup of tea.

I was honestly a little disappointed, especially since I came into this comic with such high expectations.  I'm a fan of powerful, self-sufficient women (if that's not apparent from my infatuation with Rejected Princesses), and I love the idea of Wonder Woman, who is a warrior first and foremost, a protector and provider and a guardian for women everywhere; however, I'm not so sure how much I like her character in practice.

It's difficult to describe, but let me put it this way: I like Batman, because he's human and he's deeply flawed.  I like Superman, because he's an alien who grew up in Kansas and he's good to the best of his ability.  Likewise, I like Aquaman, because he's half-human/half-Atlantean and he struggles daily with his dueling identity.  And all these characters have one thing in common:  they were raised, in my opinion, in a recognizable place and fashion.

I mean, think about it.  Bruce Wayne had a semi-traditional upbringing, as traditional an upbringing a multi-billionaire can have; likewise, Superman grew up in Kansas and experienced a completely normal childhood.  And, while I'm a little fuzzy on Aquaman's adolescence, I know he had a human father and he grew up with pretty normal, human experiences.

Diana, on the other hand, was trained as a warrior from birth, learned to worship the Greek gods.  She was raised on Paradise Island with a different set of beliefs and a completely different set of rules, which makes it difficult to relate to her on a personal level.  She's amazing, but she's evokes a distant kind of admiration.  Like how you might admire a lioness:  she's beautiful and deadly and you're glad she's in the world, but she's best appreciated from afar.  (A strange analogy, I know, but it just felt right.)

The Ugly
Read the subtitle:  blood.

This is a book that hinges on violence.  Trust me when I say there's plenty of gore to go around.

Rejected Princesses: Tales of History's Boldest Heroines, Hellions, and Heretics

Dey St.

Rejected Princesses:  Tales of History's Boldest Heroines, Hellions, and Heretics
Jason Porath
2016

The Summary
"Well-behaved women seldom make history...and these women are far from well behaved.

"Let's face it:  the list of historical women we learn about in school is lacking.  It's safe, it's censored, it's short.  And even when we learn about a true legend--say, Harriet Tubman--we get half the story (and it's usually not the half about her as a plantation-torching Union spy-master).  This is just the list of women we know about.  What of the women we don't?

"In place of complex, real-life heroines, we get sparkly, doe-eyed animated damsels who dominate children's minds everywhere.

"Rejected Princesses is here to provide an alternative to all that.

"In this fully illustrated, deeply researched, and totally entertaining collection, Jason Porath offers 100 women too uncompromising, too untoward, or too uncomfortable to fit the modern princess mold.  Gathering together a diverse set of some famous, some infamous, some forgotten, and some virtually unknown figures from history and myth, from all over the globe, this book presents the female role models we never knew we needed.  Yes, there are a few princesses, but there are also pirates, spies, journalists, activists, concubines, empresses, ninjas, pilots, samurais, mathematicians, sword-slingers, and war-lords too.

"These women were rebels and rulers, pioneers in their fields, and fighters for their causes (and sometimes for themselves).  In a time when women are still pushing for equal pay and equal opportunity, shouldn't we be putting brave women like Sybil Luddington, Hatshepshut, Nzinga Mbande, Josephine Baker, Khutulun, Rani Lakshimbai, Harriet Tubman, Emmeline Parkhurst, and Joan of Arc on equal footing with Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty?

"Women have always played a key, kick-ass role in revolutionizing our world.  The girls of today are the latest links in a long chain of geniuses, warriors, and fearless women.  It is the birthright of every woman to have a connection to that history.  Empowering, uproarious, and anything but traditional, Rejected Princesses seeks to provide just that."

The Good
I loved this book.

Yes, loved.

If it's not already apparent, I'm a bit of a history nerd and I love learning about quirky, unconventional history and feisty females who made their mark on history (see:  Bad Girls), so Rejected Princesses was the best of both worlds for me.

I imagine that many of the women featured in this book were too rebellious, too dangerous and, sometimes, too deadly to make it into high school textbooks; in fact, many of the women--whether resigned to the darkest parts of history or lingering at the edges of myth--were a pleasant surprise.  That is, I'd never read about them and I loved learning about them and the impact they made on history.

Here are some of my favorites:

• Khutulun
• Noor Inayat Khan
• Julie d'Aubigny
• Annie Jump Cannon
• Iara
• Mariya Oktyabrskaya
• Olga of Kiev
• Ching Shih
• Sybil Luddington
• Alfhild
• Mary Bowser
• Nanny of the Maroons
• Tomo Gozen
• Marjana

All of these women were incredible.  I mean, on this list alone you have fighters and warriors, spies and astronomers, pirates and Vikings, rebels and freedom fighters.  They're incredible.  Granted, I know some of them didn't exist (Marjana is a literary character, whereas Iara and, I think, Alfhild are myths and/or legends), but it was wonderful getting a glimpse into these individual cultures and their perceptions of women--and how these women flaunted conventions.

It was great.

And, of course, I can't forget the Night Witches from my list.  You can hear about me rhapsodize about the Night Witches here, so I won't go into much detail about them, except to say that they are without a doubt the most incredible pilots of World War II (I'm not joking) and, perhaps, some of the most incredible women about which I've had the pleasure to learn.

Overall, Rejected Princesses is a wonderful book.  Full of humor, colorful art, historical facts and, of course, incredible women, it's a great resource for those who wish to dabble in history--and it will show you just what it means to fight like a girl.

The Bad
No complaints.

I seriously want a copy for myself.

The Ugly
History is not always pretty--and, let's be honest here, it hasn't always been kind to women.  Some were burned at the stake because they were different; others were buried alive or faced a firing squad; some were even assassinated for their own violent reactions to society.  Not all these ladies had the luxury to happily retire.

In Progress: Rejected Princesses (Completed)

Dey St.

Okay, so I finished reading Rejected Princesses by Jason Porath--and, in many ways, it makes me proud of my gender right about now.  I mean, sure, there are a few dark parts to history (Boudica, here's looking at you!) and they aren't always nice, considerate, or remotely moral; however, I enjoyed reading Rejected Princesses just for the simple fact that it decided to chronicle interesting, sometimes terrifying, sometimes brutal, but always fascinating women of history.  I learned so much more than I expected.

I've heard of Mata Hari, Joan of Arc, Harriet Tubman, Elizabeth Bathory, Boudica, Ching Shih, and a few others.  I read Bad Girls by Joan Stradling and gained a whole new appreciation for the most infamous women in history; however, Porath offers a more comprehensive look at these famous--and, of course, infamous--ladies and he does it with a touch of humor.  His passages are relatively short (three to four pages, max), but they're simultaneously informative and entertaining.

More importantly, I discovered aspects of history about which I never knew.  I love history and I love learning about history, whether it's in my own back yard or across the ocean, and I loved that I was able to deepen my knowledge of various time periods.  For instance, I was excited to learn more about female contributions to the American Revolution with Sybil Ludington.  Or learning about the Canary Islands, about which I knew nothing, with Andamana.  Or learning more about technological, mathematical, and scientific discoveries with Annie Jump Cannon, Hypatia, Ada Lovelace, and so many more.

It was exciting.

But, I have to say, I think I loved the Night Witches of World War II the best.

I mean, I am fascinated by World War II.  I've read several books about it, and I've studied it probably more than the average person.  I'm not an expert by any means, but I find myself constantly fascinated by conflicts and social/political shifts that occurred in WWII.  It's an era that has such wide-reaching effects we can still see the ripples today; heck, we can still talk to the people who endured it.  I may not enjoy violence, but I like hearing stories about it and I like piecing together my knowledge of it, I like holding those stories.

And yet I've somehow never heard of the Night Witches.

How?

But here's how cool they were:

"The Night Witches mark one of the greatest underdog accomplishments in military history.  Handed a bunch of slow, flammable trainer planes that had been designed only to dust crops, an all-female group of untrained civilians became one of the most decorated divisions in the entire Soviet military.  Flying without armor, guns, sights, radio, cockpits, brakes, parachutes, or virtually any navigation machinery, they dropped bombs on the Germans every three minutes, like clockwork, every night for three years."

Moreover, they would often cut their engines and dive over German military camps on the Eastern front, before kicking on their engines and dropping bombs.  They literally fell out of the sky, dropped bombs, and then did it again and again and again.  "They flew over 1,100 nights of combat, and each pilot flew over 800 missions."

Holy cow.

These women are super women.  They were--and are--amazing.  They pushed the physical limits of the human body, while simultaneously making due with substandard military equipment and challenging the typical military and/or social culture of Soviet Russia.  They're incredible!

Guess, I know what I'll be reading about next.

In Progress: Rejected Princesses (Continued)

Dey St.

Okay, so I've made it about half way through Jason Porath's book; however, I have wantonly skimmed it and skipped to some of the more intriguing--not to say they aren't all intriguing, or curious, or fascinating, or strange--entries.  Like the warlord's widow who cultivated an entire school of ninjas in Japan, or the Vietnamese sisters who waged a war against Chinese invaders, or Phoolan Devi (that was a difficult one to read), or Elizabeth Bathory (this one blew my mind).

There are so many of these entries.  Some of them mind-blowing, some of them fascinating, some of them hilarious and/or tragic.  You get the whole spectrum with Rejected Princesses and, truthfully, I haven't been disappointed yet.  I mean, all of these women are powerful and independent, and they don't adhere to the traditional roles of females in society.

Instead, they go out and kick butt, fight against a system that tries to squash them, and, in  general, be awesome.

I love that Porath takes the time to carefully research these ladies; honestly, I love that he makes an effort at all to chronicle the forgotten women of history who worked as shipbuilders and soldiers and strongmen--ahem, strongwomen--and ninjas, and so, so much more.  It's great.  It's not always safe for kids, as his trigger warnings make apparent on the corner at the introduction of each entry; however, it's a nice addition to any burgeoning historian's collection.

I mean, how could you not enjoy learning about these ladies who have made and redefined history and continue to influence our world today?

So far, I have a list of favorites:

• Khutulun
• Tatterhood
• Sybil Ludington
• Grace O'Malley
• "Stagecoach" Mary Fields
• Iara
• Trung Trac and Trung Nhi
• Mary Bowser
• Julie "La Maupin" d'Aubigny
• Nanny of the Maroons
• Tomoe Gozen
• Mariya Oktyabrskaya
• Ada Lovelace
• Laskarina Bouboulina
• Ching Shih

I'm just going to say it again:  This book is great.

In Progress: Rejected Princesses

Dey St.

So, I have just had my mind blown by Jason Porath's Rejected Princesses.  Thus far, I've only read a few entries, like Tatterhood and Agnodice, Andamana, Sybil Ludington, and Grace O'Malley; however, I have fallen completely and irrevocably in love with this book and Porath's humorous--yet surprisingly well-researched--entries.  It's funny, it's informative, and it's full of kick ass women who have been overlooked (and/or forgotten) by history.

It's amazing.

I mean, I never knew about Tatterhood.  I love fairy tales and yet, somehow, Tatterhood and her weird, winding story managed to escape me!  Granted, I might have enjoyed her story a little more with Porath's candid commentary on the story; regardless, I think I gained a new appreciation for Norwegian fairy tales and myths.  I'm curious to learn more.

Likewise, I'd love to learn more about Khutulun and Sybil Ludington.  Kutulun was a Mongolian princess (great-great granddaughter to Genghis Khan, by the way) who was an incredible fighter and a skilled ruler.  She issued a challenge to any potential suitors:  if any could best her in wrestling, they would have her hand in marriage; if they could not, she would get their horses.  (Spoiler alert:  she was never defeated.)  She's a fascinating historical figure and, while she isn't quite as brutal as her infamous ancestor, she made a huge impact on Mongolian culture even to this day.  How on earth haven't I heard about her?

And then there's Sybil Ludington.  She could be an American icon, and yet I've never heard her name.  Born in southeastern New York, she was the daughter of Colonel Henry Ludington--and a revolutionary solider in her own right.  Like Paul Revere, she set out on a midnight ride to warn about the impending British invasion; however, she took it a step further and rode out 40 miles in a little over three hours through the dark, rainy forest riddled with bandits and other dangers.  "By contrast," Porath writes, "a certain other someone...only went 12 miles across well-worn streets and was caught by British loyalists at the end of it.  Ahem."

She's awesome.

And, so far, this book is awesome.

I think I'll have to buy a copy for myself.

-

For more of Jason Porath's Rejected Princesses, you can actually check out rejectedprincesses.com for more entries and plenty more fun.

Fables: Storybook Love (Volume 3)

Vertigo

Fables:  Storybook Love (Volume 3)
Bill Willingham
Mark Buckingham
Lan Medina
James Jean
2004

The Summary
"A fairy tale ending?

"Not likely.

"In the Fables' world, there isn't a lot of happily-ever-after to go around.  As refugees from the lands of make-believe, the Fables have been driven from their storybook realms and forced to blend in with our gritty, mundane reality.

"But that doesn't mean they don't have any room for romance--or the pain, betrayal and jealous rage that go along with it.  In fact, love may be blooming between two of the most hard-bitten, no-nonsense Fables around.  But are they destined for happiness--or a quick and untimely death?"

The Good
Truthfully, I was curious to see how this story would develop.

Well, okay, I'll admit I was mostly curious to see what was going on between Bigby and Snow White.  They have a curious relationship: part romantic, part professional, yet incredibly complicated.  It's interesting to witness the way they react together, the way they protect one another when faced with deadly enemies--and it's interesting to see how they, eventually, manage to form a relationship.

More or less.

Like I said, it's very complicated.

The Bad
I read Fables:  Storybook Love, but I can't help but feel I started to lose some interest in the story.  I know the series continues for a grand total of 22 volumes, and I don't think I'll muddle my way through the rest of the story.  It's complex and dark and, truthfully, it's just not what I'm looking for right now.

The Ugly
It's hard to kill the Big Bad Wolf, but not for lack of trying.

Poor Bigby.  I know that has to hurt.

Fables: Animal Farm (Volume 2)

Vertigo

Fables:  Animal Farm (Volume 2)
Bill Willingham
Mark Buckingham
Steve Leialoha
2002

The Summary
"Fables of the world, Unite!

"Ever since they were driven from their homelands by the Adversary, the non-human Fables have been living on the farm--a vast property in upstate New York that keeps them hidden from the prying eyes of the mundane world.  But now, after hundreds of years of isolation, the Farm is seething with revolution, fanned by the inflammatory rhetoric of Goldilocks and the Three Little Pigs.  And when Snow White and her sister Rose Red stumble upon their plan to liberate the homelands, the commissars of the Farm are ready to silence them--by any means necessary!"

The Good
Fables is a complex series, morally and politically speaking.  You get a taste of the microcosm in which they exist, the intricate relationships that tie them together and the political juggling act performed by Snow and others, in volume one; however, in Animal Farm, you really get to see how the divisions between the humanoid and anthropomorphic parts of the community split the Fable world.

It reminds me of George Orwell's novel from whence it takes its name.  By turns brutal and complex, Fables:  Animal Farm really dives deep into the dark side of the Fable world--and attempts to shed light on a political situation that is at once volatile and surprisingly tenuous.  It's fascinating to watch the story unfold.

I also enjoyed the inclusion of other literary worlds, branching out into the old folktales, like Br'er Rabbit and Reynard the Fox, and classic tales, like The Jungle Book.  There's so much history to them, so much depth to them from all the years of telling and retelling--and its interesting to see how my views, my feelings of these characters match up to their newly imagined counterparts.  It's mind-boggling to think these characters will not always stay the same.

The Bad
I don't always recognize the fairy tales and stories involved in Fables.  But, I think, that's more or less my own failing rather than anything on the part of the authors who brought these characters together in new and exciting ways.

The Ugly
Graphic violence.  It made my stomach churn.

And for good reason.  I very much disliked the Lord of the Flies reference.  It's quite obvious when you see it, and it's just as sickening.  (All I can say is:  Poor Colin.)

Fables: Legends in Exile (Volume 1)

Vertigo

Fables:  Legends in Exile (Volume 1)
Bill Willingham
Lan Medina
Steve Leialoha
Craig Hamilton
2002

The Summary
"Who killed Rose Red?

"In Fabletown, where fairy tale legends live alongside regular New Yorkers, the question is all anyone can talk about.  But only the Big Bad Wolf can solve the case--and, along with Rose's sister Snow White, keep the Fabletown community from coming apart at the seams."

The Good
Fables:  Legends in Exile is an interesting concept, but it also succeeds with the execution.  I really liked the idea of fabled worlds, these literary lands where stories and their characters--like Snow White, Rose Red, Prince Charming (who I really dislike, just FYI), Beauty and the Beast, Briar Rose, Bluebeard, and even the Big Bad World--and it's incredibly fascinating to see these characters coming to life and mingling together.  It's a literary stew just brimming with all my favorite stories and fairy tales.  How could I not enjoy it?

I liked Snow White.  I like that she's basically in charge of Fabletown, that she has the capability to run a government and run it well.  She's smart, she's tough, and she's really quite amazing.  But I also like the Big Bad Wolf--or Bigby, as he's now known.  He's a cross between a hard-boiled detective noir and a werewolf, which, confidentially, makes him quite interesting.  Plus, he seems like a genuinely good guy (for the most part anyway).

Overall, I enjoyed it.  Although I'd tried to read Fables in the past and didn't care for them, I find now that I'm older--and, perhaps, a little more jaded when it comes to comic books and what is permissible in graphic novels--and a more knowledgeable of fairy tales, I enjoy Fables.  It's a catchy series with intriguing characters, complicated relationships, and fascinating stories.

The Bad
Admittedly, I wasn't always intrigued with the course of the plot.  It's an interesting story, don't get me wrong, but it was sometimes a little dry.  Plus, I couldn't always discern the relationships between the characters, unless it was spelled out for me, and I always closed the book feeling like I was missing something.

All the denizens of Fabletown have a history with one another  Everyone fears Bigby, because he was once the Big Bad Wolf who gobbled up unsuspecting travelers in the forest, and yet he's Fabeltown's enforcer; Bluebeard is a homicidal maniac who has managed to ingratiate himself into the political and social scenes of Fabletown; Snow White is sister to Rose Red, first wife to Prince Charming, and right hand to King Cole, mayor of Fabletown; Little Boy Blue is an assistant to Snow, helping to keep Fabletown running smoothly; Jack (of Jack and the Beanstalk fame) is a con-artist and computer hacker with a less-than-stellar record.

There's more, I assure you, and it's all very complicated.

The Ugly
These characters are not the saccharine sweet Disney characters fans of fairy tales have come to know and love.  They are tough, they are jaded, and, in some cases, they are homicidal maniacs.  In fact, they are closer to their roots in Brothers Grimm and Hans Christen Anderson than their modern counterparts.  Their stories are painted with a little more blood and gore, riddled with a little more tragedy, which is decidedly unpleasant.

Batwoman: World's Finest (Volume 3)

DC Comics

Batwoman:  World's Finest (Volume 3)
J.H. Williams III
W. Haden Blackman
2014

The Summary
"Goddesses among us.

"Trained at West Point and battle-tested on the mean streets of Gotham City, Batwoman is one of the world's finest crime fighters.  But the crimes she's fighting now are not of this world at all.

"A monster straight out of mythology is preying on the children of Gotham, using supernatural horrors from the city's urban legends as her foot soldiers.  Together they serve an organization called Medusa--and worship the Mother of All Monsters.

"Teaming up with none other than Wonder Woman, Batwoman begins a perilous journey into the underworld of Greek myths to rescue the children and save her city.  Can these two women warriors triumph over the stone-cold creature they must face?"

The Good
I was so excited to read Batwoman:  World's Finest.  I mean, I was still a little on the fence about my commitment to Batwoman, but, truthfully, this volume kicked me over the edge and turned me into an ardent Batwoman fan.  That, and it made me want to read the new Wonder Woman comics.  (Wonder Woman is amazing, just in case you didn't know.)

World's Finest is the culmination of a plot that has spanned three volumes and multiple issues.  In it, we get to meet Medusa and see the horrifying results of her plan, we get to see Wonder Woman in all her Greek demi-goddess glory, we get to finally--finally!--see Batwoman at her finest as she rescues the people she loves and the city she was sworn to protect.  It was awesome.

Please excuse my fan girl squealing.

The Bad
Confusing art direction.

I love the artwork in Batwoman, I will never deny that, but I was consistently frustrated by the panel arrangement in this volume.  I understand the need to be creative, to do something that's not often seen, to give detail and depth to a story through the art.  The illustrations help fill in the gaps when dialog cannot, which I totally get.

But I was not a fan of this:

The centipede thing is Nyx, goddess of Night.  Creepy, isn't it?
DC Comics

I was lost.  Completely and utterly lost.  Maybe that was the point, I don't know, but I didn't like it.  Not one bit.

The Ugly
Oh.  My.  Gosh.

I thought Hydrology and To Drown the World were macabre.  They're nothing like World's Finest, which basically confronts world-ending events when the Mother of All Monsters is summoned.  Whoo boy.  It gets ugly.

Very, very ugly.

Read Harder Challenge (Part Six)

I'm working on my Read Harder Challenge again, and this time I decided to:

1. Read a book out loud to someone else
2. Read a book that is by an author from Southeast Asia
3. Read a book about politics, in your country or another (fiction or nonfiction)

Putnam

First off, I read Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson out loud to my boyfriend.  At first, I read a few pages to my dog, but she didn't seem particularly interested and, moreover, she apparently had better things to do.  My boyfriend, on the other hand, was a little more receptive and seemed to enjoy Lawson's crazy (figuratively speaking) memoir.

He and I both enjoyed reading Let's Pretend This Never Happened, because it was just so funny.  After reading Furiously Happy, which is fueled by Lawson's frenetic energy and her off-kilter sense of humor, Let's Pretend This Never Happened was familiar ground--and equally hilarious.  I loved hearing about Lawson's childhood, her struggle to become an author, and her struggle to acclimate to her various disorders.

It's really quite funny, and it's hard not to laugh at the seemingly random and entirely crazy things that have happened to the author.  But, be warned, some of her stories may be jarring or, more accurately, scarring.  I mean, the incident with Stanley the Magical, Talking Squirrel left me with a feeling of revulsion and horror that's hard to beat.  But the embarrassing (and traumatizing) experience involving Jenny and a particular cow does its best to rival it.

William Morrow

Next, I read Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo, a Malaysian author.  Set during the British colonization of Malay, Ghost Bride is an intricate and beautiful novel full of Chinese folklore and regional myths and Malaysian history.  The story revolves around Li Lan, a young woman from a poor aristocratic family, who finds herself confronted with an unusual proposal:  a spirit marriage to a young noble who recently perished.  But Li Lan has no interest in becoming a bride for a ghost.  In this haunting debut novel, Li Lan must fight for her freedom--and possibly her very soul--if she ever hopes to escape the clutches of the dead and marry the man she truly loves.

Li Lan was a lovely, dynamic narrator.  I found it interesting to see how she changed as a person from her experiences in the underworld and through her relationship with the mysterious, enigmatic Er Lang.  Li Lan did a wonderful job of explaining much of the customs and beliefs in Malay without overwhelming you by offering too much information or leaving you lost, unable to discern what is happening in the narrative.  It strikes a perfect balance, which I greatly appreciated.

Ghost Bride is a bit of an unusual story, yes, but it's absolutely fascinating.  I was enchanted by Choo's descriptions of the spirit world and the rules which govern them, by the intriguing (and, sometimes, terrifying), full-bodied characters she created, by the history of the Pacific nation.  In short, it's a wonderful book--and I absolutely loved it.

Last, I read The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli.  I was not impressed, let me say so now.  I know part of that is because I purchased a translation that was--well, let's say less than spectacular.  While I was reading, I noticed little mistakes.  Some were simple typos, but a few were glaring grammar mistakes.  It's almost like the original Italian text was just fed through Google and published even with the transcription mistakes.

Dante University 

Plus I was so bored ALL THE TIME.  (Sorry for the capitals, I just feel that statement needed extra emphasis.)  It took me literal weeks to finish reading The Prince, even though it was only 114 pages.  I just couldn't keep up with it.  I was bored by it after only a few pages, and I couldn't stand reading it after I realized I couldn't consider the text reliable.

It was terrible.

I finished the book only because I needed a book on politics as one of the requirements for my Read Harder Challenge.  But, honestly, I wouldn't subject anyone to my copy of The Prince.  I would read it again for a college course, if necessary; otherwise, I don't think I'd ever read it again if I didn't have to read it.

The Gospel of Loki

Saga Press

The Gospel of Loki
Joanne M. Harris
2015

The Summary
"This novel is the wise and witty narrative of the rise and fall of the Norse gods--retold from the point of view of the world's ultimate trickster, Loki.  A Times bestseller in the United Kingdom, The Gospel of Loki tells the story of Loki's recruitment from the Underworld of Chaos and his many exploits on behalf of his one-eyed master, Odin, and the betrayal of Asgard."

The Good
The Gospel of Loki is an unusual novel.  Although it offers great insight into the cornerstone stories of Norse mythology, it's a novel told from the perspective of a notoriously unreliable narrator.  I mean, you literally cannot tell where the truth ends and the lies begin.  You'll never know which version of events to believe, or which stories are as he claims.  He manipulates the story as much as he likes, and it's hard to distinguish the truth when it's coming from the mouth of one of the greatest liars in literature and myth.

However, Loki makes an incredibly descriptive and wonderfully witty storyteller.  He gives Harris' novel an entirely unique flavor.  He's a piece of chaos thrust into the human world, wildfire forced into a human shape by Odin--and his story reflects his uncontrollable nature, his conflicting characteristics and his irrepressible instinct for pleasure.  He's one of the more interesting characters I've had the pleasure to meet.

Oh, sure, he's probably not the best person to look to for the truth.  He's manipulative, he's rather cruel, and he's terribly vindictive; more importantly, he's capable of great evil--and he's entirely unprincipled.  But he's also a funny, flawed narrator with a different perspective on the Norse gods as we know them.  Moreover, he knows how to weave a story and, I'll admit, I was impressed.

Granted, he might use a strangely modernized speech that conflicts with my own impression of the Norse gods and, well, what he sometimes portrays.  (But I attribute some of that to his ability to break the fourth wall, like Deadpool or Genie from Aladdin.)  It's a bit distracting when he uses modern words I wouldn't expect an ancient god to use, but it's not a deal-breaker.

Overall, I enjoyed reading The Gospel of Loki.  It's an interesting, engaging novel with an unusual--and completely untrustworthy--narrator.  I would highly recommend it to any readers with an interest in Norse mythology or, better yet, finds himself/herself intrigued by having a trickster and a villain as a narrator.

The Bad
If you know anything about Norse mythology, I find past knowledge sort of wrecks the story.  You know exactly what's going to happen to Baldur, and you know what terrible evils Loki will wreak on the Norse gods and, moreover, you'll have an inkling to the fate that he describes at the beginning of the book.  Any previous knowledge sort of dulls the luster of his story, because you know what the end will bring.

I don't think it should deter readers, since Loki has the opportunity to tell his side and give his impressions of the old stories; however, I can see how it might make Harris' novel a little less desirable.

The Ugly
Loki is not a nice person.

Like I said, he's a liar and a thief, a cheat and a manipulator--and a murderer.  (I'm not telling you anything new, so don't worry.)  And, unfortunately, the other gods aren't much better.  They're violent, they're crude, they're greedy and cruel.

Honestly, I'm surprised he doesn't fit right in.

Thor: Who Holds the Hammer? (Volume 2)

Marvel NOW!

Thor:  Who Holds the Hammer? (Volume 2)
Jason Aaron
Russell Dauterman
Jorge Molina

The Summary
"The Odinson pops the question:  Who is the new Thor?

"The Odinson wants Mjolnir back--and that means uncovering the identity of the new heroine holding the hammer!  As he narrows down the list of suspects, tensions continue to flare between the All-Mother and the All-Father.  As Malekith the Dark Elf forges his most dangerous pact yet, the new Thor prepares to face her greatest challenge:  the unstoppable machine of death and destruction that is...the Destroyer!  While the battle for Mjolnir rages on, an unexpected character makes a shocking return--and the new Thor's identity is revealed at last!  Plus:  Young Thor enters a drinking competition!  The new Thor takes on a surprising foe!  In the future, King Thor's granddaughters quest to find him the perfect birthday gift!  And more!"

The Good
I have officially fallen in love with the new Thor.  I'll admit, I was on the fence about her in the first volume, but, after reading the second (and discovering her true identity, her true motivation for taking up the hammer of Thor), I can't help but fall in love with her character and her story.  She's wonderfully complex and amazingly courageous.

Of course, I love the artwork.  It's detailed and colorful, vibrant and beautifully depicted in a way that's almost difficult to describe, because it reflects so much of the attitudes of the characters, the unique characteristics of each scene--and it just works perfectly with the narrative.  I love the art in Thor:  Who Holds the Hammer?, but there's something more to it, something in the way the story is told and in the way that Thor's identity is revealed that makes it extraordinary.

I liked the mystery lingering behind Thor's mask, the intrigue that her new identity invokes.  And it's nice to know that someone else (namely, a woman) is worthy of wielding the hammer.  It's a nice change of pace, as I pointed out in the my review of the first volume.

Moreover, I love the depth and complexity of the story with the addition of new characters.  I found it fascinating to see how the authors would incorporate the different facets and stories of Norse mythology to create a brand-new tale.  I also like that the narrative manages to incorporate subtle political and social undertones, giving it an added layer of intricacy.

I could go on, but I think I made my point.  I love the new Thor, so let's just leave it at that.

The Bad
I've never been a big fan of Thor.  I'm still not a fan of the language, the attempts to make speech more reminiscent of "archaic" dialects.  I mean, it just doesn't keep me engaged.  I much prefer Thor's internal voice for this reason.

The Ugly
War.

The worlds may not know it yet, but they are in the midst of a great and terrible war that may or may not mean the destruction of several realms--and much, much more.  It's a desperate situation that many seem blind to confronting or resolving.  Equal parts infuriating and depressing, it's really not fun to see the gradual breakdown of all political stability.

Thor: Goddess of Thunder (Volume 1)

Marvel NOW!

Thor:  Goddess of Thunder (Volume 1)
Jason Aaron
Russell Dauterman
Jorge Molina
2014

The Summary
"Who is the Goddess of Thunder?

"The secrets of Original Sin have laid low one of Marvel's greatest heroes.  The God of Thunder is unworthy, and Mjolnir lies on the moon, unable to be lifted!  But when Frost Giants invade Earth, a new hand will grasp the hammer--and a mysterious woman will take up the mantle of the mighty Thor!  Her identity is secret to even Odin, but she may be Earth's only hope against the Frost Giants.  Get ready for a Thor like you've never seen before as this all-new heroine takes Midgard by storm!  Plus:  The Odinson clearly doesn't like that someone else is holding his hammer--it's Thor vs. Thor!  And Odin desperate to see Mjolnir returned, will call on some very dangerous, very unexpected allies.  It's a bold new chapter in the storied history of Thor!"

The Good
As my introduction to Thor and his Marvel mythology, Thor:  Goddess of Thunder makes a nice stepping stone into the world of Asgard.  It picks up where Original Sin left off and, while it doesn't go into a lot of detail about previous events, it manages to give readers enough detail that they can continue with the story unimpeded.  Yes, some of the Norse mythology woven into the story can get a bit complex, but, otherwise, I think it's a decent place to start in the series.

I initially picked it up because I was curious to see how a female would be portrayed under a primarily male title, and I can't say I'm disappointed.  It was nice to see how this new goddess stacks up against the other heroes of Asgard and Midgard; more importantly, it was nice to see a positive portrayal of a woman in comic books.

The new Thor is getting used to her new role.  She's much the same as her predecessor:  serious, snappish, and slightly egotistical.  (It's the language, I think.  There's something about the way the gods speak that makes them sound almost...snobbish, like they're somehow greater than all the other realms.  It's weird.)  However, she certainly has more of a sense of humor than the original Thor, which, I found, I could appreciate.

Moreover, I liked that the new Thor had two different voices:  one, her internal voice; two, her speaking voice.  I know that seems a weird thing to mention, but I really liked that Thor had her own unique internal voice that was completely under her control versus her speaking voice which was modified by the magic of Mjolnir.  Her internal narration is more relatable and, more importantly, easier to access.

She speaks as we would speak.  She has that unique quality that marks her apart as a hero and a god, but also a mortal.  (She obviously comes from Earth, since her thoughts don't reflect the inflection or language quirks of the Norse gods.)  She's something special, something vastly different from the other gods and goddesses of Asgard.

And I'm intrigued to see where it will go.

Oh, and did I mention that I love the art?  Yes, I love the art.  It's incredibly detailed and filled with a wide, beautiful array of colors.  I love the tones and hues, the subtle differences that denotes the changes in scenery and changes in characters and, sometimes, changes in mood.  I love all the different panels and I love how beautifully depicted the scenery and characters are.

And although I dislike Malekith on a personal level, I love how he's drawn and I love the striking colors of the magic he invokes.  There's such a supernatural brightness to him that I think appropriately reflects his strange and twisted nature.

The Bad
Although I really enjoyed reading Thor, I'm still not a fan of Thor.  I'm just not quite "sold" on the series yet.  I like the way it plays with Norse mythology and I love the art, but I'm not sure if it will keep me committed.  I'll see it through the second volume, but I can't really make anymore promises after that.

The Ugly
Frost giant violence and gore.

I mean, they're not good guys, so I don't exactly feel sorry for them.  But it's a little gruesome and a bit graphic, so I don't think I'd recommend it to younger readers.  Otherwise, it's not so bad.

Well, there is the macabre incident with Odinson and an axe...but, like I said, not so very bad.

Lumberjanes: Beware the Kitten Holy (Volume 1)

Boom! Box

Lumberjanes:  Beware the Kitten Holy (Volume 1)
Noelle Stevenson
Grace Ellis
Shannon Watters
Brooke A. Allen
2015

The Summary
"Friendship to the max!

"At Miss Qiunzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet's Camp for Hardcore Lady-Types, things are no what they seem.  Three-eyed foxes, secret caves, anagrams.  Luckily, Jo, April, Mal, Molly, and Ripley are five rad, butt-kicking best pals determined to have an awesome summer together...and they're not gonna let a magical quest or an array of supernatural critters get in their way!  The mystery keeps getting bigger, and it all begins here."

The Good
As an ardent fan of Nimona, I couldn't not read Noelle Stevenson's latest foray into the comic book world.

Let me say, first off, Lumberjanes is great.  It's fun, if slightly absurd, and full of strong female characters who learn and grow and form relationships as they go along.  Jo, April, Molly, Mal, and Ripley all have unique characteristics, quirks, and qualities that make them both enjoyable and endearing.  Morever, each girl has special skills that make her invaluable to the group--and, you know, helps them save their camp from certain destruction.

Jo is highly intelligent, specializing in mathematics and puzzles; April is dramatic and witty, and she has more than a few surprises up her sleeves; Molly is an incredible archer (which does come in handy in their misadventures), and she has a special companion you'll be more than happy to know in later issues; Mal is cautious, but she's incredibly detail-oriented and highly skilled at crafting plans, even on the fly; and Ripley, while naive and childish, is a ball of energy willing to take on any task--even if it means riding like a rodeo cowboy on the back of a raptor.

And, yes, there really is an incident involving dinosaurs.  (I told you it was sometimes absurd, but I think that might be volume 2.)

Although the Lumberjanes is good wholesome fun with an uplifting message for girls everywhere (i.e. it's okay to be tough, take adventures, and, in general, kick butt), it has an underlying layer of complexity that can make it appealing to readers of all ages and genders.  Not only does the story incorporate hints of mythology, deal with everyday difficulties most girls face, it also supports a level of diversity that feels natural.

For instance, I recently learned that Jo is transgender, while Mal and Molly are lesbians.  But their identities aren't defined by their sexuality.  If anything, their friendships and their adventures define who they are, who they will become.  Honestly, I loved seeing the different facets of their personalities, which helped flesh them out as characters, and how they developed with each subsequent challenge they faced.  They're good, solid characters and, truthfully, they're probably the nicest girls you're ever likely to meet.

Yes, it's a weird adventure.  Yes, it's sometimes so crazy random that you don't really know what's going on.  But that's totally okay.  It's a story about adventure, self-discovery, and forging lasting friendships--and it's fun to follow along for the ride.

The Bad
Lumberjanes sometimes feels a little fragmented.  Although it has a overarching narrative that contains the full story, it's primarily a collection of separate adventures that just so happen to come together.  I liked it, but I found it came as a bit of an acquired taste.

The Ugly
Lumberjanes is a pretty mild graphic novel.  I mean, it's safe for kids while remaining appealing for older readers, so it strikes a good balance.  It's not explicit, or graphic, or full of foul language.  Seriously, the harshest phrase you're likely to hear is "What the junk?" or "Holy Mae Jemison!"

Read Harder Challenge (Part Three)

I've discovered some more books as part of my commitment to the Read Harder Challenge of 2016, and I've discovered some great stories in my explorations.  I have managed to:

1. Read a horror book.
2. Read the first book in a series by a person of color.
3. Read a play.

HarperTeen

Usually, I don't read horror novels.  Dracula and Frankenstein are about it for me, but I have managed to read Stephen King's The Shining and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, among a handful of other novels that are considered good and scary.  And so, in order to satisfy my challenge criterion and read a horror story, I read Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard.

Although I didn't initially lump Dennard's novel into the horror genre, I reconsidered my stance after necromancy and ritualized violence became involved.  The novel is pretty mild, all things considered--I mean, I certainly wouldn't put it at the level of The Walking Dead or Stephen King, or even Dracula--but it's still rather gory and riddled with a tough kind of suspense that leaves you hanging on the edge of your seat, hoping for more answers.  However, I think it's the zombies that pushed it over the edge and helped me give it a final designation as a horror novel.

I wouldn't call Something Strange and Deadly one of my favorites, but it isn't a bad book; in fact, I initially enjoyed it.  I liked the creepy atmosphere of it coupled with the turn of the century setting, and I even liked the story:  a wicked necromancer comes back from the dead to terrorize Eleanor Fitt, while the Dead continue to rise from their graves across Philadelphia.  It's an intriguing adventure, to say the least; however, I wasn't entirely thrilled with the story when I examined it in retrospect.  The phrase "shut pan" annoyed me to no end.  (Part of me began to think the author found a new, novel phrase and decided to run with it.)

Harper Voyager

Next, in reading the first book in a series by a person of color, I picked up My Soul to Keep by Tananarive Due.  As the first book in the African Immortals series, My Soul to Keep fit the bill perfectly to fulfill this challenge and check it off my list.  I stumbled across it purely by accident, finding it in audiobook form from my local library's website--and I was immediately hooked.

I was intrigued by the premise:  an Ethiopian warrior stumbles across the secret to immortality and spends the rest of his eternal life alternating between identities, enduring a number of years as a slave on a Southern plantation, before becoming a Civil War soldier, a jazz singer, and, finally, a college professor and author.  His story is one of sorrow and loss, desperation in trying to hold tight to the ones he loves.  I was riveted from the first word, from the first moment the narrator spoke and started to weave a complex, beautiful story about Dawit--David--and his wife, Jessica.

At just over eighteen hours long, it took me a number of weeks whittling away at the story to complete it, but I have to say I was thrilled.  It's detailed and strongly written (and narrated by Peter Francis James, who has an amazing voice by the way), and it's absolutely riveting.  The story packs a punch, pulling together a myriad of religions, myths, cultures, and countries to create a flawless tapestry of history and suspense, beauty and sorrow.  I became emotionally invested in Dawit and Jessica's story, and I found myself hoping for the best outcome--and crying (just a little) when tragedy strikes.  I highly recommend picking up My Soul to Keep and reading it for yourself.

Dover Publications

Last, I worked on Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House.  Having read a portion of the play during a theater history class in college, I was intrigued about the prospect of reading the entire play this time around.  It was just my good fortune that I found a copy of the play for a dollar at my local used bookstore.  It's almost as if it was fated to be.

A Doll's House is an interesting play, not action-packed or suspenseful (like either of the two entries listed above).  For the time period, it's thought-provoking and, even now, it raises a lot of questions about women as spouses and mothers--and what are the typical roles of women in society.  It's a play designed to make you think, rather than thrill you.

Personally, I thought it was fascinating to see how Nora managed to flaunt convention, managed to get what she wanted despite the restrictive constraints of her time that were placed upon her gender, and, more importantly, proved she was capable of making her own decisions.  It's a bit slow, but I think it's worth reading at least once, especially if you're interested in theater.

Uprooted

Del Rey

Uprooted
Naomi Novik
2015

The Summary
"Agnieszka loves her valley home, her quiet village, the forests and the bright shining river.  But the corrupted Wood stands on the border, full of malevolent power, and its shadow lies over her life.

"Her people rely on the cold, driven wizard known only as the Dragon to keep its power at bay.  But he demands a terrible price for his help:  one young woman handed over to serve him for ten years, a fate almost as terrible as falling to the Wood.

"The next choosing is fast approaching, and Agnieszka is afraid.  She knows - everyone knows - that the Dragon will take Kasia:  beautiful, graceful, brave Kasia, all the things Agnieszka isn't, and her dearest friend in the world.  And there is no way to save her.

"But Agnieszka fears the wrong things.  For when the Dragon comes, it is not Kasia he will choose."

The Good
Uprooted is a truly intriguing piece of fantasy.  It has all the elements of traditional fantasy - a menagerie of magical creatures, a malevolent forest, a grumpy wizard - but it feels different from the usual books I pick up.  Sure, I can see where Tolkien, among others, might play a part in Novik's novel, and I can pinpoint familiar myths that have influenced many fantasy writers; however, Naomi Novik pulls from unexpected resources, dipping into multiple mythological pools.  Most notably, she incorporates pieces from Slavic folklore, even engaging Baba Yaga in her work.

For this reason, Novik's novel has a different flavor to it than most fantasy I've read.  It's a complex amalgamation of political and social intrigue, magic, myth and folklore, and, most importantly for young Agnieszka, coming-of-age, but Novik manages to keep it fresh and interesting.  I'm unfamiliar with much of the background, with the intricate history and folklore of Agnieszka's native Polnya, so I found it particularly invigorating.

I also liked Agnieszka.  She's clumsy and inexperienced, but she's very intelligent and she's incredibly candid about her experiences.  As she shares her fears, her hopes and dreams and desires, you have the opportunity to see her character in many different ways and through many different experiences that will change her, mold her and make her into a new person.  She's a fantastic narrator.

I was especially taken with her descriptions of magic.  Agnieszka, who spent her entire childhood and much of her adolescence in the great outdoors, climbing trees and running through the woods in bare feet, has an earthy quality to her character that reflects in her descriptions of the world and, most importantly, magic.  She engages tactile sensations, like digging your fingers into fresh dirt, and offers descriptions that often evokes images of soil, summer, and green, growing things - new life.

I loved the way Agnieszka saw the world.

Additionally, I was pleased with Novik's character development.  Although the Dragon - Sarkan - remained fairly unchanged (he was very stalwart in his refusal to bend), I liked how Agnieszka developed.  She goes from a shy, fearful young woman to a powerful, self-reliant young witch.  I enjoyed seeing her mature, develop and grow as a person and as a magical practitioner.

The Bad
Uprooted felt almost too long.  I mean, don't get me wrong, I don't mind a lengthy story, but Novik's novel just seemed to keep going.  So many secrets unfolded, so many bad things kept happening, so many narrow escapes occurred that it bordered on ridiculous.

I can't tell you how many times Agnieszka escaped an immediate and painful death, even down to the last 50 pages.  As another reviewer pointed out in his article, "It's just that one can't help but be reminded that Novik's Temeraire series will conclude next year as a nine-novel cycle and wonder why a writer so skilled at pacing a long, complicated chronicle over multiple books has crammed this story into one."

This rings true through much of the book.  The last few chapters feel especially rushed, having too much adventure and too many discoveries jammed into a little portion.  Uprooted really does need to be cut into separate novels, preferably a trilogy.

The Ugly
Blood and gore.

Honestly, I didn't expect this novel to be as horrifyingly gory as it was.  Perhaps, because Agnieszka was unused to such violence, we (as readers) see the tragic events as she does - with new eyes and a burgeoning sense of a horror.

Like Agnieszka, we are scarred by terrible things we witness.

---

For more of the article I quoted, check out Mac Roger's article on Slate.com:  http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/books/2015/06/naomi_novik_s_fantasy_novel_uprooted_reviewed.html

Pagan Meditations: The Worlds of Aphrodite, Artemis, and Hestia

Spring Publications

Pagan Meditations:  The Worlds of Aphrodite, Artemis, and Hestia
Ginette Paris
1986

The Summary
Pagan Meditations is a look at feminism and the psychology of feminism in both the ancient and modern worlds.  Furthermore, Ginette Paris examines underlying tones of feminism in Greek mythology, specifically through the stories and legends surrounding the goddesses of love (Aphrodite), wilderness (Artemis), and hearth (Hestia).

The Good
In her investigation, Paris provides intriguing depictions of the gods and goddesses of Greek myth as they were embraced by ancient society and examined in the modern world.  It's interesting to see the links that the author makes in studying the psychology of the ancients who worshiped these goddesses and the modern individuals who embrace similar patterns of feminism.

While I enjoyed the thoughtful psychological studies and intriguing parallels Paris drew, I also enjoyed the historical elements of Pagan Meditations.  Paris delves deep into ancient Greek traditions, showing practices of worship, investigating spirituality and individual/community beliefs, unearthing important ladies in Greek society and religion.

Paris, despite her background as a psychologist, does an excellent job of bringing history to the forefront of her work.  I loved the inclusion of such little historical morsels, such as her study into the high priestesses of Aphrodite, the courtesans who became mistresses to great generals and Greek thinkers and became powerful patrons of culture in their own right, or her examination of the ladies who inspired the tales of Amazons.

Although periodically dry, Pagan Meditations is both insightful and informative - and intriguing for the concepts of feminism, female social and political power, and, yes, even female sexuality, which she explores.

The Bad
Admittedly, I sometimes had trouble slogging through Pagan Meditations.  The author is obviously brilliant, having devoted copious amounts of time and attention to the details of her work; however, she is an academic, a scholar, and a psychologist.  Occasionally, her words fall flat.  More to the point, she sometimes waxes philosophical, throwing in psychological dialogue that truthfully went over my head.

Paris manages to relate real life examples to her investigation, making her writing a little clearer and, more importantly, accessible, but her work borders on dry, cerebral.  She's an academic making a point, rather than a storyteller.

The Ugly
Other than the occasional, unsavory historical fact or awkwardness concerning the in-depth conversation about female and general human sexuality, Pagan Meditations is pretty mild.