I think I acquired this either in college or just afterwards, and I probably should have read it then; I have now consumed so much excellent queer litI think I acquired this either in college or just afterwards, and I probably should have read it then; I have now consumed so much excellent queer literature that this feels highly meh. It's most interesting as a snapshot of New York gay life in the 1980s, but as the characters are almost all wealthy and white, this portrayal feels lopsided. Favorite stories were "Interview with the Drag Queen" (ha) and "A Christmas Carol." I'm glad I finally read it, but it's not one I need to keep in my collection....more
I'm 99% sure I've read this one before...but unfortunately not recently to remember that it's not all Jeeves and Bertie. There is too much Reggie PeppI'm 99% sure I've read this one before...but unfortunately not recently to remember that it's not all Jeeves and Bertie. There is too much Reggie Pepper by half! (Literally.)...more
Some books are best read at a young age, when they can creep into your blood and your bones and your imagination. I'm reading thiMystery box book #29!
Some books are best read at a young age, when they can creep into your blood and your bones and your imagination. I'm reading this a bit too late -- I can't help noticing that so many of Bradbury's women are shrews, and he tends to overuse exclamation marks!, and many of these tales take promising, atmospheric setups and then descend into cheap horror and dun dun DUN! endings. Yet I can also see how influential these stories clearly are -- there are bits of Neil Gaiman and Stephen King ("The Cistern"!) and many more in here. And I can remember how the Bradbury I did read when I was young made me feel....more
Oh dear. I think this was in the box because I had tried previously to get through it and failed. Now, I adore Sayers' Lord PeterMystery box book #28!
Oh dear. I think this was in the box because I had tried previously to get through it and failed. Now, I adore Sayers' Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries, so no one is more disappointed than me. But these stories simply do not do for me what the (better) novels do. I think this is because the focus of the novels is on character; here, they are on the mysteries themselves, and Sayers has a tendency to try to be too clever (with timings, crossword clues, outdated technology, evil twins, etc.). Some of these tales have an evocative gothic atmosphere, which is kind of fun, but since Peter just floats in and out of the narratives, there's rarely any emotional impact. And like, the ramifications for the overall canon: he pretended to be dead for two years??? Literally where did he find the time?
Also I have to say, Sayers is usually better than Christie in terms of letting her (generously: period typical) unpleasant views show like a sloppy slip, but there's an unusual amount of antisemitism in these pages, and some shocking uses of the n-word. I didn't care for it!...more
Truman Capote writing fake Tumblr stories decades before Tumblr.
Everyone Clapped, Oppa Homeless Style, and the Down With Cis BusMystery box book #19!
Truman Capote writing fake Tumblr stories decades before Tumblr.
Everyone Clapped, Oppa Homeless Style, and the Down With Cis Bus are all more convincing than "Handcarved Coffins," the "nonfiction novel" at the center of this collection. Listen, I know In Cold Blood was largely/in part B.S., but it was effective and atmospheric and feels like it contains enough truth to be, if not real, than somehow realer than real. "Handcarved Coffins," likemost of the other pieces in Music for Chameleons, feels faux.
Also Capote claims to have slept with Errol Flynn, which: sure, Jan.
And yet I feel kind of bad for him! The book opens with a grandiose introduction in which he brags about his in-progress magnum opus, Answered Prayers, which he never finished; it ends with a piece that's him masturbating/talking to himself, which made me wrinkle my nose and then feel deeply sad. This is not a book written by a man doing well. It's also not a very good book. In every way, I'm sorry, Truman....more
Why was this released by itself? Why does it exist by itself? The is a great opening to something, introducing a fun librarian character who Peter GraWhy was this released by itself? Why does it exist by itself? The is a great opening to something, introducing a fun librarian character who Peter Grant must help with her possibly haunted library. And then just as it gets going, it...ends. Not satisfyingly. A pity, because it is always fun spending time with Peter, and a library is a terrific setting for supernatural shenanigans....more
The title story is about two bitchy gay interior decorators (of course interior decorators; it was the 1950s) stealing a clearly closeted man away froThe title story is about two bitchy gay interior decorators (of course interior decorators; it was the 1950s) stealing a clearly closeted man away from his new wife on their honeymoon; I was like, I'm rooting for the gays! But the story is actually not not rooting for them: Greene, while far from the most enlightened man to ever live, is equally cynical toward everybody -- and then, at key moments, equally sympathetic too. And in fact there are a surprising number of nuanced portraits of queer people in this book, particularly queer women.
Though there are some forgettable entries, there are also a lot of winners: besides the title story, I really liked the surprisingly sweet "A Shocking Accident," and the German farce, "The Root of All Evil." I've missed reading Greene so this is a fun toe-dip back in....more
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