Glass Soup by Jonathan Carroll

Glass Soup

by Jonathan Carroll

I enjoyed reading “The Ghost In Love” so much that I bought another Jonathan Carroll novel, “Glass Soup”. I did not know prior to reading “Glass Soup” that some of the characters were from his previous novel called “White Apples”. Nevertheless, “Glass Soup” is comprehensible without reading the prequel and sated my desire for a striking imaginative fantasy.

Similar to Carroll’s most recent novel “The Ghost In Love”, “Glass Soup” explores the concept of life and death. Cosmic equilibrium is contended for between good and evil. Bring back her beloved Vincent from death, Isabelle has inadvertently initiated Chaos’ ability to think and become a formidable contender creating nefarious adversary John Flannery. Tipping the balance dependence on whether Isabelle Nuekor’s and Vincent Ettrich’s child Anjo, is born in land of death.

Broximon, an infinitesimal man that can fit into a manila envelope and Bob, a polar bear that is God are just two of Jonathan Carroll’s surreal characters, but Carroll’s main characters are multidimensional serving to establish realistic characters. An aspect that manifests realism is that almost all of the main characters have committed adultery or has character flaws, but these moral imperfections are only an aspect that constitutes being human. In addition, Carroll’s witty humor pervades throughout the book. For example, Carroll conveys nemesis John Flannery despicable lascivious persona when he writes, “John Flannery was writing in his journal when the doorbell rang. He stopped, capped the silver fountain pen, and read what he had just written: Up close, most women’s pussies look like a piece of chewed gum” (p. 245).

I will most certainly look forward to another Jonathan Carroll novel.

The Ghost In Love: A Novel by Jonathan Carroll

The Ghost In Love: A Novel 

by Jonathan Carroll

"The Ghost In Love” is more than a mere ghost story regarding love. Jonathan Carroll creates an unpredictable story that tackles the subject of destiny and identity using unconventional circumstances that will make you laugh and discern that those are some profound prose that can motivate the most cynical human being. Love is a principal component, but not the cliché, I would do anything for you, rather how love can guide you to happiness. A clandestine confabulation between man and best friend (dog) conducted in a secure atmosphere (refrigerator), the angel of death appearing on a plate of bacon and eggs, and cancer floating around as a pink substance looking for its assignment seems preposterous, but Jonathan Carroll has a talent for making outlandish circumstances realistic.

Synopsis:

Ben Gould, a man that should have died has come back with extraordinary abilities that seem more like a neurosis, which has overtaxed his relationship with girlfriend German Landis. Ben must find a way to put his life back together, but he must contend with his nemesis, someone we have all probably contended with throughout life. With his ghost Ling, dog Pilot, ex-girlfriend German, and death survivor Danielle Voyles, Ben is the evolution of humanities quirk to that pesky problem called death. 

I am rushing to buy another Jonathan Carroll novel.

Collector's Edition of The Tales of Beedle the Bard

When I arrived home from a long day, my doorman handed me a wonderful package. It was evident from the smile on the box that it was from Amazon. My preorder of J.K. Rowling’s Collector’s Edition “The Tales of Beedle the Bard” is finally here in my hands. I could not wait to rush upstairs to open my book dose for the day.

It was well packages to not shift around in the box. The book was plastic wrapped then covered with a soft paper slipcase. The disguised wizard textbook that contains “The Tales of Beedle the Bard” is marvelously built. The front cover, back cover, and spine feels like it is made out of leather. The front cover is impressed with the title and an illustration by J.K. Rowling. The fake pages of the textbook are made of slabs of wood, painted gold and page lines are carved to create a realistic look. Inside on the right, “The Tales of Beedle the Bard” is stored in a burgundy velvet bag, and to the left is a side pocket, which holds an envelope containing 10-printed illustration by J.K. Rowling. The book looks very similar to the handwritten book J.K. Rowling auctioned at Sotheby except for the lack of tattered page edges, and the bookmark is not green but blue. I am very satisfied with my purchase of the Collector’s Edition; all I need now is a reading copy.

Click "Read more..." to view the 10-printed illustrations, which is not available with the standard edition or original and photographs of my copy.

Pages within "The Tales of Beedle the Bard"

Front of the envelope, which contains the 10-printed illustrations

Front of disguised wizard textbook

A. Lee Martinez's Too Many Curses

Too Many Curses
by A. Lee Martinez 

Too Many Curses is A. Lee Martinez's fifth and most recent novel. Like all his novels except The Automatic Detective, which is the only Martinez's book that I have not read, Too Many Curses is what I would call a comical fantasy. Reading an interview, I discovered Martinez does not intentionally try to write comically, and this is seen in his writing style. The humorous aspects flow naturally with his story; it is never trying. 

Similar to Martinez's other comical fantasies, the characters are all unique, and his protagonist is the underdog with many idiosyncrasies that do not always attribute to the classic hero, in this circumstance heroine. Nessy, a kobold with dog like features (can be similar to Germanic mythological kobold, but also differs) is lowly housekeeper for Margle, a diabolical wizard that meets an unfortunate end, which leaves Nessy to protect and maintain the inhabitance of his castle. The inhabitances of the castle are Margle's foes that he has cursed into bizarre forms and monsters he has created and collected. For instance, Margle's brother Yazpib is a gooey substance of teeth and eyes in a glass jar. Almost all Margle's cursed adversaries have their own story to tell, and participates with Nessy to fight the forces contending to destroy the castle and the creatures within it.

Though I enjoyed reading Too Many Curses, and thought that the many characters within the story were interesting, Nessy I believed lacked depth until the end. I did not seem to care about her well-being as much as I cared for other supporting characters like Sir Thedeus, the bat. Nevertheless, it was a good magical story with imaginative characters, but my favorite A. Lee Martinez book is still Gil's All Fright Diner. If you are a fantasy fan that appreciates humor then you should read A. Lee Martinez's books. 

Another humorous writer I recommend is Christopher Moore especially his novel A Dirty Job

Women Writers

The Laughing Corpse

by Laurell K. Hamilton

Bookstores sheives are now packed with great female writers in the genre of horror / fantasy / science fiction / mystery thrillers. In your local Barnes & Noble and Borders you'll likely see Charlaine Harris (Sookie Stackhouse series), Laurell K. Hamilton (Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series), Kim Harrison (Rachel Morgan series), and Kelly Armstrong (Women of the Otherworld series). What's so great about these books, women are the heroines, so if you're a female reader you can relate to certain aspects of the novel. Personally, I'm a fan of Charlaine Harris' Sookie series, and I can't wait for book 6, Definitely Dead; it will be released 5/2/06.

Hamilton's book, The Laughing Corpse is the second book in her Anita Blake series. Anita an Animator, must solve a brutal murder streak, and she must also save herself from an over zealous want to be client who wants her to do the unthinkable act.

Hamilton's descriptions are phenomenal; she makes every murder scene lucid. She writes, "I poked the side of it with two fingers. It was like poking a side of fresh beef. A nice, solid feel to it. My fingers traced the bumps of bone, ribs under the flesh. Ribs. Suddenly I knew what I was looking at. Part of the rib cage of a human being. There was the shoulder, white bone sticking out where the arm had been torn away".

The Laughing Corpse is a good read for its well thought out plot, but is seemingly to convenient when it all comes together. It is highly descriptive, but not tedious. Lastly is should be read by any dark fantasy lover.

I highly recommend Bite edited by Laurell K. Hamilton. It's an awesome female heroine anthology written by women.

Comical Fantasy: Gil's All Fright Diner & Bloodsucking Fiends

Gil's All Fright Diner by A. Lee Martinez 

Bloodsucking Fiends by Christopher Moore 

I have just finished reading Moore's Bloodsucking Fiends. After reading some reviews from Amazon, I expected it to be much funnier; however, it was a delightful little read, and I did find myself smile and laugh at certain segments. An aspect of the book I enjoy was the progression of the main characters relationship, and the ending was not bad either. 

When compared to A. Lee Martinez's Gil's All Fright Diner, I must confess Martinez's comical fantasy is truly funny and leaves me craving more of his work. His protagonists are unique; they stray from the normal vampire and werewolf. Sad to say, that Gil’s All Fight Diner is Martinez only book at the moment. If anyone is reading this and want to try something a little dark and light hearted, I recommend Martinez’s book, and Charlaine Harris’s Sookie series. Oh, a little scope that you could read in Mrs. Harris' site, HBO might try a series pertaining to the Sookie series.