E. Lockhart: Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, The
You might think the world doesn't need any more boarding school novels, but if you haven't read this one then you're wrong, wrong, wrong. E. Lockhart has surpassed herself with this fable of a girl coming into her own and challenging the boy's club at her prep school -- while falling in love with its members at the same time. Lockhart never simplifies or skirts gender issues and power dynamics, and lets Frankie be realistic instead of a treatise disguised as a character. The sly omniscient narrator tells the story perfectly, and leaves hope that maybe one girl can change the world. More novels as funny and true and perfect as this one, please.
Kathi Appelt: The Underneath
Appelt's first novel is a beautiful, magical fantasy for younger readers that will instantly become a classic. Seriously. I can imagine this book being in classrooms right alongside Charlotte's Web in a hundred years. The writing is poetic in the good way, and there's a lamia. Children are going to absolutely fall in love with Appelt's equally kind and brutal universe, where love conquers most, and it can take millenia to come to your senses.
Jincy Willett: The Writing Class
With her second novel, Willett matches the perfect pitch and execution of her brilliant short stories. Every writer will want to read this novel--very little wincing is involved, but expect a great deal of laughter. C and I found ourselves reading pieces aloud, after howling provoked the "what's so funny?" question. As with any good writing workshop or class, the characters become more appealing as you get to know them, and ultimately what she has pulled off is a satisfying mystery, and a satisfying exploration of humanity. Amy Gallup is a character to remember.
Karen Joy Fowler: Wit's End
A new novel by Karen Fowler really is something to be excited about, unlike many of the writers for whom such praise gets bandied about. (If you're smirking because you think you know something about her work from the title--not the book--The Jane Austen Book Club, please go sit in the corner and read any of her novels. You're welcome.) This is an unmystery-like mystery, concerned not so much with dead bodies--though there are plenty--as with the mysteries of healing and the heart, politics and people. How is it that a writer gets a lens on the present that's as revealing as the one she employs in historical fiction? Now that's a mystery. Highly recommended.
Steve Erickson: Zeroville
Steve Erickson novels are often like dreams, or revelations, or discovered artifacts, or written just for you. Zeroville's no different, although it is perhaps the most readily graspable example of his work to date. The Rosetta Stone is there; the secret decoder ring is a film projector. The dizzying Hollywood confidential stylings will make your inner film geek happy, but the uncovering of a truly mythic cinematic story--since cinema has existed forever--of sacrifice and redemption is even more memorable. See also: this review.
Ursula Dubosarsky: The Red Shoe (Neal Porter Books)
Set in Sydney during WWII, this wonderful novel travels between the view from inside each of three sisters. Dubosarsky perfectly captures the differences that come from being the younger, older, or middle child. Perfectly conjuring the period, and yet creating a completely accessible story, the narrative contrasts chapters focusing on the family with interstitials from the Sydney newspapers of the time, stories of polio, the H-bomb, and a defecting Russian spy (who happens to be in hiding next door). Nothing here is heavy-handed. Everything is perfectly balanced. It's a beautiful, beautiful novel. See my full take here.
That really is a bizarre little article. So dealing with "geeks" is a necessary evil? I'm not sure, though, if it's Itzkoff creating that little nugget or if Braga and company are really wanting to distance themselves from SF.
I like "Threshold," but the writing is probably the least of the reasons why. Number one is the cast, who--with the exception of the bohunk and, sadly, Charles S. Dutton, who's been giving little to do but be grumpy at everyone--really make the characters live. Dinklage is the bomb.
Posted by: Dave Schwartz | October 03, 2005 at 09:58
The fact that anyone can still listen to Brannon Braga talk about SF on television without punching his lights out is frankly baffling to me.
Also, what's geeky about being a champion fencer?
Posted by: Abigail | October 03, 2005 at 10:10
By the way, you're kidding about Dr. Shrinker, right? I will never forget that show, or the cheesy theme song. "Dr. Shrinker, Dr. Shrinker, he's a madman with an evil mind . . ."
Posted by: Dave Schwartz | October 03, 2005 at 11:13
Very much agreed on Threshold (yay for Peter Dinklage) and no, I'd never heard of Dr. Shrinker! I'm so jealous.
Posted by: gwenda | October 03, 2005 at 12:15
Here's a Dr. Shrinker site, with audio of the theme (done by the Osmonds!). It was a Sid & Marty Krofft Production, like Sigmund and the Sea Monsters, H.R. Puffnstuff, and all that other madness.
Posted by: Dave Schwartz | October 03, 2005 at 16:30
Just reading the post got the theme rolling in my headm just like Dave. It was a much better theme song than the one Electra Women and Dyna Girl had. I vaguely remember finding Dr. Shrinker scary but Sigmund's brothers were even scarier. Ah the Krofft Super Hour...
Posted by: Kristin | October 04, 2005 at 00:52
How did I miss this? This sounds like the best show ever. (With the possible exception of Monkey.)
Posted by: gwenda | October 04, 2005 at 13:46