The History of Love by Nicole Krauss

I laughed, I cried, I loved it.

5/5

The Truth About Unicorns by James Cross Gilbin

The Truth About Unicorns by James Cross Gilbin, is the third nonfiction text I have read about unicorns. I will rate it on a different scale than normal
- Quality of information 3/5
- Layout 5/5
- Quality of pictures 4.5/5
- Quality of writing 2/5

The thing is, this book didn't really make any claims at the age group it was trying to hook. The writing was not scholarly at all and implied that unicorns don't exist. As this is an ongoing debate, I think it irresponsible to not give both sides of the modern argument. Also if it's a book for kids, it should be more clear. Kids aren't the only people who care about unicorns, come on.

3/5

Geek Love by Katherine Dunn

Geek Love by Katherine Dunn is told from the perspective of a dwarf albino hunchback. She was purposefully conceived that way, to become a circus freak in her family's traveling circus act. The story, insane as it is, is so well told that amidst the tents and lions and saw dust and cooky characters, it is still completely comprehensive. Simply achieving this feat makes me bow to Ms. Dunn in literary awe. But it isn't just a story about the albino dwarf hunchback's childhood, it also simultaneously follows her present day, where she survives in Portland as a radio dj, taking care of those around her. The two stories never take away from one another or distract. I was never wishing to be in the past when I was in the present of vice versa. Presenting dueling stories that remain equally interesting is another literary task accomplished. And not only that.
THE STORY
The story is amazing. The characters are as solid as wood. The entire thing takes place before the reader's eyes, like a play on a stage. And at the end, Dunn has the reader feeling as though it was all her own history that she just learned about in the 300 pages. This story was masterfully woven, expertly told, and clearly written. If all books were this way, the world would be a better place.

5/5

Something Wicked this Way Comes

Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked this Way Comes is an attempt at a thriller. The story tries to follow two young boys and their experience with a supernatural carnival that comes to town. Where3 Bradbury failed is in another character, Will's father. Will's father is composed of Bradbury's own fears about aging and death. This character takes page after page of nearly nonsensical philosophy that has no real place in the action/adventure preteen story. I thought at first that Bradbury wrote it when he himself was too old to comprehend what he was writing but it turns out good ol' Ray was only in his 40s. Maybe I need to go back and re-read Fahrenheit 451. Maybe it's not as good of a book as I remember. Or maybe Bradbury just stumbled on this one and that's why no one has heard of it.

I have to mention two characters though that really stood out and made the story worth reading. The first is the Illustrated Man. Pure evil incarnate, he wasn't quite as enrapturing as the dust witch.
THE DUST WITCH. A witch with her eyes sewn shut. She travels in a hot air balloon and feels the earth with her hands. She struck me almost as strongly as Coraline's Other Mother.


2/5