book
Rated The Birds & Don't Look Now 8/10
Two great, unsettling stories read by one of my favorites, Peter Capaldi. I will admit to listening to these solely BECAUSE of him and his fantastic voice, but these are legitimately enjoyable stories. I've seen the film version of The Birds, and it's always interesting to note the differences between the film and book versions. Definitely recommend this two-fer download.
Rated Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? 8/10
<div>I was surprised by how much liked this.</div>
Rated Torchwood: The Green Life 9/10
<div>I like it when older Jo pops up in things, and pairing her with Captain Jack worked well. And I gotta say, just hearing about the giant maggots instead of seeing them this time was preferable, ha.</div>
Rated The Age of Innocence 10/10
<div>Edith Wharton is one of the best to ever do it.</div>
Rated Doctor Who: Colditz 8/10
I haven't listened to too many Seventh Doctor audio adventures, but I liked this one. Ace is always good, and it was interesting to hear David Tennant as the baddie, since this was made before the show came back. Decent story, side good characters.
Rated Love and Other Consolation Prizes 8/10
His best one yet.
Wants to read Otherwise Pandemonium / Not a Star
Rated Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair 6/10
For some reason, I didn't connect with this one as much as I did with his Cien Sonetos de Amor, but I still liked it. More thoughts soon.
Rated The Abortionist's Daughter: A Novel 6/10
I liked The Abortionist’s Daughter, and it reminded me a little bit of another book I’ve read, [b:The House of Eliott|748336|The House of Eliott|Jean Marsh|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1177989270s/748336.jpg|734478] by Jean Marsh. Though Marsh’s book is set a decade later, both she and DeCarlo delight in describing the fashions and food of their chosen time period. I’m not an expert, but it <i>feels</i> authentic, and that’s the important thing. Although there are technical and craft missteps that took me out of the story here and there, I’m still pleased that I read it, and anyone looking for a lighter take on early feminism may very well enjoy it too.<br><br>(My full review appears at <a href="http://persephonemagazine.com/2014/11/book-review-the-abortionists-daughter-by-elisa-decarlo/">Persephone Magazine</a>.)
Rated Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic 10/10
Excellent. Would love to see the musical.
Rated Bad Feminist 10/10
Of course I recommend this wholeheartedly.
Rated The Good Soldier: A Tale of Passion 8/10
This is a sneaky one. At some points, it seems so disjointed that it takes a minute for one to grasp the thread: a tragedy of living by expectations. Can see why people reread this even with nobody to like and a story of nothing but dashed hopes and comeuppances.
Wants to read I Miss You When I Blink: Essays
Rated The Narrow Door: A Memoir of Friendship 10/10
I guess if I were being nitpicky, I'd say it's a 4.5 for me because sometimes I was hoping for the story arcs to be a bit more firm/clear, but I also understand that part of the point is that life does not work out neatly. We do the best we can. Still, this is an excellent book.
Rated Magic Lessons: The Prequel to Practical Magic 8/10
<div>I got this prequel to <em>Practical Magic</em> ages ago and only just now got around to reading it. But since I finished it on a day when no one knows quite what to say, I'll just give you a quote from the book:<br><br><em>"Some creatures do not care how polite a person might be, they will hurt you for no reason, and then all you can do is heal yourself with whatever ingredients are necessary."</em></div>