The Mysteries by Bill Waterson and John Kascht
In this short fable, Watterson and Kascht evoke the poignancy of a world lost to cynicism. The brevity of this story evokes those existential and meditative “Calvin and Hobbes” Sunday strips that made us put the newspaper down and stare out the window for several minutes. With a message that lasts much longer than it takes to read, Watterson and Kascht tell a powerful story that turns all of human accomplishment on its ear.
Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman
I’m currently about 40 pages into this book. Initial impressions of my last post, which thought that the story was mostly focused on the relationship between Erin, the main character, and her fiance, have proven to be only half right. While there is a strong focus on that relationship, that’s currently only half the story. The other half is focused on Erin and her documentary about three incarcerated individuals who are about to be released. The balance between the two stories is well done so far and I look forward to continuing. However, I didn’t initially think that I would be reading this book after the first couple of chapters. The story starts in media res, the first chapter taking place in October, and then backtracking three months to July. I have more to say about that style of storytelling, which I’ll dive into at a later date, and link here when I do so.
Novelist as a Vocation by Haruki Mruakami
I vastly prefer fiction to nonfiction, especially at the book length, so when I have a nonfiction book to read, I often read it concurrently with another book, as I am doing now. I found this book while browsing the stacks at my local bookstore with my wife and picked it up, only to find it disappear from my bedside table and reappear a month later as a Christmas present. I was mostly intrigued to read Murakami’s story about how he became a novelist because it seemed mostly accidental, which, to be honest, has always infuriated me. However, I’m coming around to the idea proffered by Murakami in the opening chapter, that anyone can write a novel, but it takes hard work and dedication to write a second (and third, and fourth, etc.) novel. I’m not sure what I’m hoping to get out of this book; I’ve read other nonfiction books by authors I hoped to emulate in style or success. For now, I’m simply reading for the enjoyment of Murakami’s engaging style, though his self-deprecation is wearing a little thin.
Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage
I was attracted to this novel by its cover, featuring a broken red lollipop. It immediately evoked the short novel Sour Candy by Kealan Patrick Burke, though with a more fitting cover illustration. Reading the back of the book, it reminded me of the backstory of Clean Freak. Whereas my story focused on Clarence and the ghosts that haunt his life, Baby Teeth would be the story of those ghosts. Not exactly, I’m sure. But I’m still intrigued as hell!
The Chimerical Dark 