Books matching: lyrical prose and imagery
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- #1
Save:The Death of Bunny Munro by Nick Cave is a dark and disturbing novel that follows the unraveling journey of Bunny Munro, a sleazy and troubled traveling salesman of beauty products who is haunted by the suicide of his wife, Libby. As Bunny travels with his young son, Bunny Jr., he begins to believe that Libby's spirit is haunting them, leading to a story that is funny, tragic, and transcendent. The book delves into themes of addiction, grief, self-destruction, and redemption, with a writing style that is described as thrilling, inventive, and clever.
‘I am damned,’ thinks Bunny Munro in a sudden moment of self-awareness reserved for those who are soon to die. He feels that somewhere down the line he has made a grave mistake, but this realisation p... - #2
Save:A lovely bunch of words felt like reading aloud and did several times. Loved the language of the hill folk and the way the story was woven from person to person. And, like life, the threads were not tied off, but left to hang, ready for the next piece. Well worth the read. An interesting story of a family and their bonds during the early 1950's in the rural south. Fleming seemed, at first, to have no goals or outllok on life. As the story grew, so did Fleming's bond with his grandfather. Tough reading at times but very well written. Recommended reading. William Gay writes about the same area and subjects but his language is much more lyrical evocative. I LIKED Devil all the Time. I LOVE Provinces of Night. A strange and absurdly poignant novel, with an intriguing cast of characters and a slew of intersecting plotlines that give you an almost gnarled bluesman's roadman of life in rural times. What William Gay does best is shape a world that seems to exist outside of the pages character who still seem to be living even when they are outside the narrative. Fleming was one hell of a hero, and I could see a lot of myself in his thoughts and fears. EF, the old man, comes across as both genuine and lost, set adrift by thousands of bad decisions he's had a lifetime to fuck up. Strong, the archaic, almost atavistic, portrayal of the old fashioned Man. Jr Albright is a hilarious fool of a character, well meaning but silly beyond belief, like Cormac McCarthy's Harrogate mixed with a character from the Trailer Park Boys. Raven Lee was funny and charming, Boyd frustrating but intriguing, a mystery himself, the blood that flows thru Fleming. Brady is a mewling fool, as if he and Warren could make only one functioning man between them. Only the cobbled together conclusion, a wrap up, knocks this down from a 5. Truly funny and beautiful in many ways. The voices of dead bluesmen churning out their stories.
JUST AT TWILIGHT Boyd came up the graveled walk, the chain with its plowpoint weight drawing the gate closed behind him, before him the shanty black and depthless as a stageprop against the failing li... - #3
Save:"Here On Earth" by Alice Hoffman is a modern retelling of Wuthering Heights, set in a small town in Massachusetts. The story follows March Murray as she returns to her hometown with her daughter Gwen for a funeral. March rekindles a destructive romance with her childhood lover, Hollis, leading to a whirlwind of all-consuming love and dark emotions that evoke the themes of obsession and sacrifice from the classic Bronte novel. Hoffman's writing style is described as enchanting, dark, and whimsical, capturing the intensity of emotions and relationships that are both haunting and compelling.
Tonight, the hay in the fields is already brittle with frost, especially to the west of Fox Hill, where the pastures shine like stars. In October, darkness begins to settle by four-thirty and although... - #4
Save:The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia A. McKillip is a fantasy novel that follows the story of Sybel, a secluded wizard woman living with legendary animals. When a man brings her a child to raise, her solitary life changes as she learns about love, hate, and revenge. The book reads like a fairy tale, with stylized characters, idealized settings, and a plot that delves into themes of romantic relationships and human emotions.
The wizardHeald coupled with a poor woman once, in the king’s city of Mondor, andshe bore a son with one green eye and one black eye. Heald, who had twoeyes black as the black marshes of Fyrbolg, came... - #5
Save:In the book 'Snow' by John Banville, Inspector St. John Strafford is called to investigate the murder of a Catholic priest in the library of Ballyglass House in 1950s rural County Wexford. The story unfolds with Strafford, an outsider in many ways, navigating through a closed and secretive community, exploring themes of post-War poverty, the class and religious divide, and the scandals of the Catholic church. The writing style is described as spare and bleak, mirroring the weather and setting, creating a blend of a classic whodunnit and a piece of literary fiction that delves into deep societal issues.
Detective Inspector Strafford was accustomed to cold houses. He had spent his earliest years in a great gaunt mansion much like this one, then he had been sent away to school to a place that was even ... - #6
Save:Biting the Sun by Tanith Lee is a novel set in a distant future where all needs are instantly satisfied, leading to a world of luxury and pleasure devoid of purpose. The main character, a young female narrator, embarks on a journey outside the city's protective dome, which unravels her perception of life and society. The novel explores themes of rebellion, self-discovery, and the hollowness of a seemingly perfect existence in a dystopian world.
The Q-R went away, and someone came and asked me what I wanted to come out as, and by then, you see, I’d anti-Hergaled myself. How drumdik it would be if people actually thought I was Hergall! What wi... - #7
Save:"The Yellow Birds" by Kevin Powers is a poignant and powerful novel that delves into the horrors and emotional turmoil experienced by soldiers during the Iraq War. The story follows Private Bartle and Murphy as they navigate the brutality of war, their friendship, and the aftermath of their experiences. Through lyrical prose and non-linear storytelling, the author captures the confusion, trauma, and psychological impact of war on the young soldiers, providing a raw and gripping account of their journey through Al Tafar in 2004 to post-war life in Richmond, VA in 2005.
The war tried to kill us in the spring. As grass greened the plains of Nineveh and the weather warmed, we patrolled the low-slung hills beyond the cities and towns. We moved over them and through the ... - #8
Save:'The Guest Cat' by Takashi Hiraide is a poetic and reflective tale centered around a young couple living in a guest house in Japan. Their lives are touched by the presence of a neighbor's cat named Chibi, who becomes a frequent visitor to their home. The book explores the subtle changes that take place in the lives of the couple, the landlady, and the cat, as their relationships evolve over time. Set against the backdrop of suburban Japan, the story captures the essence of everyday moments, the impact of fleeting connections, and the beauty found in simplicity and nature.
The narrative of 'The Guest Cat' unfolds in a gentle and contemplative manner, focusing on the emotional bond between humans and animals, particularly the enigmatic nature of cats. Through lyrical prose and vivid imagery, the author paints a portrait of life in a Japanese suburb during a period of societal transition. The book delves into themes of love, loss, and the profound influence that even a temporary companion like Chibi can have on the characters' lives, offering a poignant reflection on the transient nature of relationships and the appreciation of life's small joys.
The small window in the corner of our kitchen bordered on a tall wooden fence, so close a person could barely pass by. From inside the house, its frosted glass looked like a dim movie screen. There wa... - #9
Save:Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo is a novel in verse that tells the moving story of two teenage girls, Camino and Yahaira, who are devastated when their father dies in a plane crash while traveling from New York City to the Dominican Republic. Unbeknownst to each other, they discover that they share the same father, who had two separate families. The book explores themes of love, family, grief, and secrets as the girls navigate through their loss and uncover the truth about their father's double life. Written in verse, the novel captures the emotions and struggles of the characters as they come to terms with their new reality and find solace in each other's existence.
- #10
Save:Arcadia by Lauren Groff is a beautifully written novel that delves into the life of Bit, a boy born in an upstate New York hippie commune in the 1960s. The story follows the rise and fall of Arcadia, a commune that starts small but grows into a large counter-cultural hub before collapsing under the weight of egos, permissiveness, drugs, and sex. Through Bit's perspective, readers witness his journey from viewing Arcadia as a perfect and idyllic world to discovering its flaws and eventually venturing out into the wider world. Groff's prose is described as poetic and rich, capturing both the language and the depth of the story.
Bit is already moving when he wakes. It is February, still dark. He is five years old. His father is zipping Bit within his own jacket where it is warmest, and Abe’s heart beats a drum against Bit’s e...
