Ready?
No, it's not a Dr. Seuss book, although I must confess, I was behaving a bit like one of his characters. You know that foolish fella who's so adamant about not liking green eggs and ham... without ever trying them? Shame on me, that's kinda how I reacted when it came to some book genres.
Well, earlier this year, a young Aussie writer left a comment on my blog, asking if I'd be interested in reading his book. Said he'd send it to me gratis, so what did I have to lose, right? Since his dark fantasy sounded way outside my usual (old lady) comfort zone, I told him I wouldn't mention it on my blog if I didn't like it. Well, whattaya know? Not only did I like his book, but his writing actually expanded my comfort zone.
This book is a compilation of short stories, flash fiction, and poetry, and I simply cannot tame and corral it all into a single genre. Dark fantasy? Yes. But it also contains elements of allegory, fairy tale, satire, insightful political and social commentary, and downright laugh-out-loud humor. Some poems are very short and pithy, while others are more grand and epic. Thought-provoking, imaginative, and clever... this book is all that and more. And ya know what? I would read it... anywhere.
And I definitely recommend it to all of you, too. You can purchase it (Sorry... in e-version, only) at a number of places, including Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, and DriveThruFiction.
James has also recently published the first chapter of another story at a new JukePop Serials website. As he describes it, The Case of the Syphilitic Sister is a detective / superhero story set in a two-fisted version of the 1930s.
If you'd like to check it out, you can find it HERE
Well. scratch my head in amazement... I DO like fantasy...
Until next time, take care of yourselves. And each other.
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| Ya never know what you like if you don't give it a try. [source] |
Fantasy isn't my favorite genre, but it can definitely be a delightful form of legal escapism.
ReplyDeleteWandering from our personal Comfort Zones now and then should be mandatory.....
I think you might like this book. The underlying intelligence behind the writing is quite appealing, and then there's the somewhat twisted humor. Not, um, saying that you're "twisted", but um... hey! I think you'd like it, okay?
DeleteIt's good to branch out on occasion to find those little gems we might not have otherwise found.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, and now that I've learned this year that I like YA and fantasy, who KNOWS what I might try next? I'm gonna be branching out like a chestnut tree.
DeleteClicked link to "Syphilitic Sister". Promising 1st installment! Lately I've needed energy and mystery in my reading. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI thought his story's first chapter was kinda interesting, too, but I like the stories in his book more. The language in them is more grand, like in an old-fashioned fairy tale or myth.
DeleteHi Susan .. what a great review - I love his covers and the category description .. "Juke Pop Serials" - I see it's a website .. but sounds like snap, crackle, pop!! My vintage too .. but if you recommend them I think I'd probably love them ..would love the New Death and Others in book format - so I can leave it around to amuse .. and market ...
ReplyDeleteCheers Hilary
Yeah, it really is too bad "New Death" isn't available in paperback. I think you'd find some of the stories in there quite amusing. The poetry, too, especially the stuff he writes about cats.
DeleteI agree with Jon and Lynda. Aren't you wondering what we're all doing up so late? Great review Susan and this does sound
ReplyDeletelike an entertaining read! I also love the title of James' JukePop Serial! Julie
Hmmmph! Did y'all have a party and forget to invite me? These days, if I'm up at 3AM, it doesn't mean I'm "still up" partying; it means I've gotten OUT of bed to start a new day.
DeleteTalk about going out of my comfort zone, I once tried to write a poem about a summer day on the beach. It was an utter disaster and left me feeling silly. Even worse than the day I tried dance at one of my wife's friend's wedding.
ReplyDeleteYou should go outside your comfort zone and try your hand at poetry again. The only one it has to please is you, and if you had the urge to try it once, that means the words must already be in you somewhere. Okay, so maybe they're reeeeeally deep down in there, but go ahead and dig 'em out. You might enjoy it. As for the dance, if someone has a problem with your "moves", they don't have to watch.
DeleteIt's really interesting to me what the internet is doing to art,in all forms. I guess, in a way, it's like a retailer's loss-leader, you get something from free so that you will purchase something else.
ReplyDeleteYou'd be surprised how many e-books you can get from Amazon for FREE, or for less than five bucks. Good stuff, even some classic stuff. If you don't already have a kindle, I highly recommend it. Never thought I'd like mine as much as I do, but I can't imagine NOT having one now. Instead of just carrying a single book with me when I travel, now I can carry a virtual library.
DeleteWhoa, they both look out my "norm" kind of books too. But I do like to branch out and read something completely different as a cleanse the pallet/genre sorbet thing. :)
ReplyDeleteI won't call his stories mind-expanding, but in a way, they are, because they make you look at some things in a whole new angle. If you're looking for something "completely different", this is it. (Not as fattening as sorbet, either!)
DeleteThese both look like my kind of books!!
ReplyDeletePearl
Try 'em... you'll like 'em!
DeleteGood review and interesting post, Susan.
ReplyDeleteBut more about Florida next time please. We need cheering up in damp old England.
HA! More Florida... coming up!
DeleteFirst of all, are those Amish riding those motorcycles?
ReplyDeleteOK, you did good trying the book, you just never know, know what I mean? I don't care for horror,fantasy or whatever, but I saw a movie I liked a lot -"Transformers". Hated Hunger Games and did not finish the one with the pale boy who is a vampire in love with a normal girl.
Hey Sue, have a great Thanksgiving.
Good eye... yep, they're Amish, all right. That's why I like got such a kick out of that picture. I used to read a lot of horror... Stephen King, and Dean Koontz, especially, but I haven't read any of that genre for quite a while. Haven't tried any of the vampire ans zombie stuff, either, and not sure I will. (But, who knows?) You have a wonderful Thanksgiving, too.
DeleteYay! Another convert to fantasy. Heheh.
ReplyDeleteHA! Who'd a thunk it? (Not me!) Hmm, that laugh sounds kinda sinister...
DeleteSus, you've got me thinking. I'm very much like that, where I have these knee-jerk reactions against anything too dark. I love his cover art and, honestly I have to say that the first genre-defying collection has me intrigued. Thank you for profiling his work!
ReplyDeleteThese stories are far more clever than they are dark. I think you'd be as intrigued by them as I was.
DeleteI keep thinking I should branch out my reading genres...but then I realize I like what I am reading. I do try to read the occasional fads, like Hunger Games, just to reassure me why I like my classics.
ReplyDeleteI still haven't done much "fad reading", so you're ahead of me there. Not only have I not read the Hunger Games books, but I haven't even read Harry Potter. (gasp!)
DeleteI love James' cover for The New Death, and the story sounds really interesting. I'm going to check it out! Thanks for sharing, Susan.
ReplyDeleteAnd I was sorry to see your Falcons lost yesterday!
Good, I hope you do check it out... and enjoy it as much as I did. Yeah, we were pretty bummed to see the Falcons lose, too, although we didn't expect them to win EVERY game. (much) It was a fairly high-scoring game, though, so we were both (ahem) smiling by the end. (We even had a bonus shooter to celebrate the end of the third quarter... well, they SHOULDA scored! HA!)
DeleteCool! I do like fantasy. Thanks for telling us about James's book. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely one of the most unusual books I've read in a very long time. Guess I like fantasy, too. (I had no idea that little girl who used to read and love fantasy was still alive and well and living inside of me!)
DeleteFantasy rocks! Welcome to the club :)
ReplyDeleteThanks. Seems to be a verrrrry large club.
DeleteThe illustration looks Tim Burtonish. I love Time Burton. I wanna marry him when I marry Johnny Depp. After all, they work together quite a bit.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Yeah, it looks a little Burtonish to me, too. Marry 'em both, huh? How about Elvis? Poor guy.
DeleteOh, I can't marry Elvis, nor can I co-habitate conjugally with him. I'd lose my maintenance. Time Burton and Johnny Depp are mere fantasies, so I can't lose anything because of them.
DeleteIsn't it cool when you agree to read someone's book and end up loving it? :)
ReplyDeleteIt sure is. (And it's absolutely horrible when someone, especially someone you LIKE, asks you to read a book, and you DON'T like it.)
DeleteI read so many different genres of books that I can't tell you which one I enjoy most, it all depends on the book I suppose, the last one you suggested for me will be my next read :)
ReplyDeleteI've always read a lot of different genres, too. Fantasy just wasn't one of 'em. Not for a lot of years, anyway. But I reckon, it is NOW! (Sheesh, I'll NEVER finish reading all the books on my TBR list!)
DeleteNot sure if this would be a book that I would pick up to read either. However, your description of it sounds interesting. I might give it a try. Right now though, I have a pile of four books that I have not gotten a chance to read yet. I seem to be falling behind on many things lately as I have been doing a lot of grandchildren sitting and going to kid's soccer games.
ReplyDeleteSpending time with the kids trumps reading a book any day. And I don't say that lightly ... I have a serious lifelong addiction to the written word.
DeleteThanks for plugging my stories.
ReplyDeleteIn case anyone's interested, I'm selling The New Death and others on Amazon and Smashwords.
Perfect! Thanks for providing the links. For whatever reason, when I tried to include them within the post, they didn't work. Okay, people, go buy it!!!
Deleteyour blog gets more surreal everytime I visit!
ReplyDeleteHmmm, I hope that's a GOOD thing...
Delete