a re-read, maybe the fifth or sixth time but first time in english. found this novel in a small library in a small german town during the nineties and love it since
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Alexander commented on Fool on the Hill by Matt Ruff
Alexander reviewed Unheil im Zeichen des Krebses by Phyllis Cocker (Abenteuer-Geister, #35)
review of "Unheil im Zeichen des Krebses"
2 stars
that's what pulp is for (i guess): quite a good story wrapped in generic presentation. the mood is wildly swinging and the characters unstable or i would have enjoyed it a bit more. the last part even borrows the 'schnodderdeutsch' of 'die zwei' (the persuaders).
that's what pulp is for (i guess): quite a good story wrapped in generic presentation. the mood is wildly swinging and the characters unstable or i would have enjoyed it a bit more. the last part even borrows the 'schnodderdeutsch' of 'die zwei' (the persuaders).
Alexander commented on The Five by Hallie Rubenhold
being a longtime fan of the Holmes stories, I'm being amazed how much this text adds grim reality background
being a longtime fan of the Holmes stories, I'm being amazed how much this text adds grim reality background
Alexander rated Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon: 4 stars

Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon by Wole Talabi
Shigidi is a disgruntled and demotivated nightmare god in the Orisha spirit company, reluctantly answering prayers of his few remaining …
Alexander reviewed The West Passage by Jared Pechaček
Alexander rated The West Passage: 3 stars

The West Passage by Jared Pechaček
When the Guardian of the West Passage died in her bed, the women of Grey Tower fed her to the …
Alexander reviewed Goddess by Kelly Gardiner
review 'Goddess'
4 stars
tough choice how to rate and review this book: the life of Julie d’Aubigny is so fascinating that i would state, you really should read the book, no matter what. and the way in which Gardiner evokes the 17th century france is also convincing, less explaining, more atmosphere and anecdotes. so what's to dislike: i can't stand the attitute of the heroine, it's simple. one part of the book is Julie telling her own life on her deathbed to a priest. i'm aware, she is exceptional and to motivate and kind of explain her to the reader you want to give her a torn but free-minded character. but all i hear is an artist oscillating between self pity and hubris.
tough choice how to rate and review this book: the life of Julie d’Aubigny is so fascinating that i would state, you really should read the book, no matter what. and the way in which Gardiner evokes the 17th century france is also convincing, less explaining, more atmosphere and anecdotes. so what's to dislike: i can't stand the attitute of the heroine, it's simple. one part of the book is Julie telling her own life on her deathbed to a priest. i'm aware, she is exceptional and to motivate and kind of explain her to the reader you want to give her a torn but free-minded character. but all i hear is an artist oscillating between self pity and hubris.
Alexander rated The Silver Mistress: 4 stars

The Silver Mistress by Peter O'Donnell (Modesty Blaise series)
Alexander commented on The West Passage by Jared Pechaček
Alexander commented on Athos 2643 by Nils Westerboer
Alexander rated Athos 2643: 5 stars
Alexander reviewed Das Grauen by Hanns Heinz Ewers
review 'Das Grauen'
2 stars
this one needs a big warning because of it's antisemitic and racist stories (and you have to add the casual mentioning of pedophiliac acts)! mind you there a eleven stories and most of them are no more than what you might expect from a writer in the first years of the twentieth century (although the edition is from 1922, the stories were written before the great war). but two of them are far worse then the zeitgeist might had demanded.
die tomatensauce (the tomato sauce): sadly enough it's nothing about creepy spice but blood lust, surprisingly gory die herzen der könige (the hearts of the kings): lengthy story about how the french kings literally added to arts das weiße mädchen (the white girl): i would say a decadent (in the Huysman-sense) tableau about lust, but with less art (than huysman) das feenland (the land of faeries): the same, but …
this one needs a big warning because of it's antisemitic and racist stories (and you have to add the casual mentioning of pedophiliac acts)! mind you there a eleven stories and most of them are no more than what you might expect from a writer in the first years of the twentieth century (although the edition is from 1922, the stories were written before the great war). but two of them are far worse then the zeitgeist might had demanded.
die tomatensauce (the tomato sauce): sadly enough it's nothing about creepy spice but blood lust, surprisingly gory die herzen der könige (the hearts of the kings): lengthy story about how the french kings literally added to arts das weiße mädchen (the white girl): i would say a decadent (in the Huysman-sense) tableau about lust, but with less art (than huysman) das feenland (the land of faeries): the same, but about innocence. both stories are depending on a kind of twist in the end die herren juristen (those jurists): an emotional piece against death sentence die wasserleiche (the body of a drowned): a kind of satire -- i think John Hamilton Llewelles ende (The end of John Hamilton Llewelles): in my opinion one of the best in the collection. an artist falls prey to an natural mummy. several elements make this one (for the sake of our times) a proto-lovecraftian story. aus dem tagebuch eines orangenbaumes (from the diary of an orange tree): nice executed version of the circe myth der tote jude (the dead jew): it's the antisemitic one of course, at the core a ghost story in a unbelievable rough fraternity setting die topharbraut (the bride of the tophar): a very nice gothic story die mamaloi (the mamaloi): a racist voodoo story, very brutal
an odd mixture in quality
first impression: as in almost every kind of literature so is in christian epics to apply show-don't tell. stop feeding me the hymns and praises and tell the story already, use the scenes to bring your point. 'til now a rather hard read
first impression: as in almost every kind of literature so is in christian epics to apply show-don't tell. stop feeding me the hymns and praises and tell the story already, use the scenes to bring your point. 'til now a rather hard read
Alexander reviewed The Silver Mistress by Peter O'Donnell (Modesty Blaise series)
review the silver mistress
O'Donnell sure knows his formula, but it's a good one: uber-villains, uber-heros and the answer to the question, how to stop a fast approaching car with armed passengers bare handed.
(better than any bond novel in my opinion, maybe more like the best bond movies)
O'Donnell sure knows his formula, but it's a good one: uber-villains, uber-heros and the answer to the question, how to stop a fast approaching car with armed passengers bare handed.
(better than any bond novel in my opinion, maybe more like the best bond movies)






