Two Masters, Two Must Read Books: Joyland & The Ocean at The End of The Lane

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two Masters released two books this summer that toped my best of summer reading experiences.

 

Joyland

Everything about Joyland is an experience: From the noir influenced cover, the little Hard Case Crime logo, to the actual experience of holding and turning the pages, since the book is only available in print format. Yet like all of King’s books there is more to this story underneath the surface. Joyland is the first person narrative of  college student Devin Jones. Devin is spending the summer working at Joyland.  The work days are long and hot yet Devin somehow thrives, he makes to wonderful friends, finds a hidden talent for entertaining while wearing the ‘fur” and he experiences the deepest heartbreak of his young life when his girlfriend breaks up with him right before a planned reunion.

 

Devin decides to take a year off of school and work full time at the park. During this time the pleasant facade of the park begins to tear apart and a deep secret is revealed. I loved this story! It was a snapshot into a different time and wonderfully creepy . There is also the classic Kingesque young boy who “knows” things. A perfect summer or Fall read :)

 

The Ocean at The End of The Lane

I kept this book for over a week before I read it. I knew from the description of the book i would love it. Ocean is a story of childhood and memory. As the protagonist of our story returns to his childhood home the doors to his memory swing open and he remembers a series of events long forgotten and a girl with her own personal ocean. I loved everything about this story. The characters and situations resonated with me for days, pure joy in every page .  

 

Highly recommend both of these books!! Happy Reading!

Blog Tour: Review: Tremble by Tobsha Learner

PUBLISHER:

Penguin

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for posting my thoughts on Fiction State of Mind

After reading Tobsha’s previous book Quiver I thought I had her style figured out. Lets call it reader’s hubris :) As an avid reader you begin to notice certain patterns and styles and think Ah Ha! I get this writers style. Tobsha is the exception to the rule. Their are many doorways in a humans heart and Tobsha’s gift is to to open each of those doors and thrill readers.

It’s my habit to look at Anthologies as a ‘Mixed Bag” . You often don't know what you will get and its possible that some stories will be more enjoyable then others. That wasn’t the case with Tremble. As I’ve mentioned earlier Tobsha can really access different parts of her self with each story. So though one author writes all the stories in this book no two are the same and each carries a different emotional resonance.

True To It’s Title

Mystical and Sinister. These stories really live up to the title. Witches, Ghosts, environmental revenge, these stories run the gambit from thrilling and strange to sexy and surprising. I also really enjoyed the variety of protagonists. There is a great balance of male and female leads and a variety of personalities. I also enjoyed the imperfections of many of the protagonists. Character depth and motivation are the main reason these stories have such resonance. The sexuality varies from story to story as well. Some encounters are comical, others are bitterly sweet and others consumed with passion. I’ve had my definition of erotica really broadened by reading Tobsha’s work.

Favorite Stories

The Root

The first story in the anthology and the most memorable. Dorothy Owen has returned to her natal welsh village to try to sort out her life. The Owen homestead has always had a hold on the Owens women no matter how far they have roamed. Rumors surround the family. They are thought to be witches and in reality are in many small ways. Dorothy settles into life with her Great-Aunt Winifred and finds joy in her archival work at a local museum.

Things change for Dorothy really quickly when her Aunt dies and leaves her a strange legacy. A mandrake root.Once she plants it her life takes another strange and erotic twist. I’m sooo not telling you guys why I read this story with a mixture of hilarity and disbelief. its such a unique twist that I don't want to spoil :)

Rainmaker

This story was so bittersweet. It starts with Jacob Kidderminister pulling into a small drought struck town. It is something he  has done hundreds of times before. He offers the town a solution to their problems. Jacob doesn't want money or property. He wants flesh. All he asks is that one of the women in the town consent to a night with him. It outrages the town at first yet with in a few days Jacob begins receiving nightly visitors. How ever his main attention is drawn to the voice he keeps hearing in his head. A female voice from a young woman that has been trapped and abused her whole life. a woman with many of the same talents and powers of Jacob. As the two of them move closer to each other dark forces are in play that may tear them apart permanently.

This is just a few of the stories I enjoyed in this anthology. There were one or two stories I didn't connect with in this book but it probably had more to do with my narrative preferences then the stories themselves.

Thanks to TLC Tours I have 1 copy of Quiver and Tremble to give away to one lucky entrant!

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Review: The Matisse Stories by A. S. Byatt

 

 

 

 

PUBLISHER:

Random House

SOURCE:
PURCHASED

 

Reading a Byatt book is like a box a fine chocolates: You cant have just one! I’m already planning my next Byatt read possibly Angels & Insects  maybe Possession. I’ve had a craving for art in my life so I plucked this book off my TBR pile.

 

This novel consists of three novellas involving contemporary women and works by Matisse.

Medusa’s Ankles

The Rosy Nude in the window of a hair salon, brings Susannah into a trendy shop and the magical hands of hairstylist Lucian. As Susannah’s appointments unfold she looks forward to the flow of the salon and the beautiful nude in the window. Less welcome is the drama of Lucian’s personal life and the remolding of the salon. A look  that now reflects the tight brittle harsh realities of Lucian’s salon and Susannah's emotions.

 

Art Work

Mrs. Brown keeps the harried life of work from home mom Debbie.  Mrs. Brown also has a secret. She has a private passion for art . Has her time around Debbie's husband been an attempt to learn more about the process of creation ? Or has she just quietly been nurturing her skill through the struggles in her personal life. Either way Mrs. Brown’s fame has greatly changed the dynamic of the family and Mrs Browns future.

 

The Chinese Lobster

I didn't really connect with this story. The main character is off scene for the entire story. Grad student Peggi has filed a complaint against her advisor. Gerda Himmelblau meets with the professor to discuss the students Matisse project . The two share tea and a verbal exchange of attack and parry trying to find the solution to the situation. Byatt always has strong dialogue for her characters but I really didn't enjoy the chemistry between these two characters.

 

A fine anthology overall, and the author has inspired me to check out a book about Matisse which I will be reviewing tomorrow :)