Ghouls and goblins are scary enough, but the real horror draws heavily from the worst parts of real life. That’s certainly the case in The Keeper, a graphic novel from power couple Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes that gives form to the amorphous threat of racism and generational trauma. Aisha’s luck could hardly be worse.Continue reading “Beware the Shadows in ‘Keeper’”
Tag Archives: Fiction
‘Jaded Women’ A Fireworks Show of Family Relationships
There’s also no skirting around the fact that these are all messy women. They harp on each other, they back-bite, they keep old grudges close, and lock away the love they think makes them vulnerable. Maybe that’s why I was rooting for reconciliation so hard.
‘Juliet’ a Dark but Gripping Look at One Teen’s Spiral
From self-harm to drug use to taking clothes from a dead girl in a dumpster, Juliet gives a matter-of-fact account of the events from her teenage years. But now and then, adult Juliet puts in her two cents about her experience thinking back on those experience half a lifetime ago. That reassurance she survives is crucial for getting through some of the tough parts.
‘Legends’ Warm Enough to Melt Any Heart
Nothing about Legends & Lattes is going to change the world, but it’s comforting and uplifting. It made me smile. Apparently, it makes a lot of people smile, and that’s plenty valuable all by itself. Then again, maybe it can change the world, just a little.
‘Search’ Strikes Confusing Tone – but Ends Deliciously
What do you do with a book that mostly works as a slice-of-life story verging on the dramatic when it’s supposed to be funny?
‘Heavens’ a Disorienting Tale of Dreams and Reality
A lot of things are working in The Heavens, but it feels like those things sometimes have to work hard to compensate for other elements in the book.
‘My Murder’ A Critique of Lurid Interest
True crime may be alluring, but Williams doesn’t mince words when it comes to who makes the most alluring victim, even in the future. The victims are all fair, fairly young, and fairly attractive, and everyone is fully aware of how narrow a demographic the victims here represent.
‘Crane Husband’ a Critical Look at Love, Art
The Crane Husband is a meditation on responsibility and art and what love actually means, and so beautifully written that even with material like this you may still feel that you could fly away when you reach the end.
‘Salt’ a ‘Heavy’ Horror Novella with Unexpected Lightness
If you can get through those scenes, there’s something tender waiting at the end. Khaw could have sent us into a tailspin of blood of gore, and it wouldn’t feel out of place. Instead, we get a far more gentle adieu to this kingdom of blood and ash.
‘Shutter’ a Mystery Marred by Blur
Shutter has the makings of a fantastic story that takes its character far beyond the tropes of a typical murder mystery protagonist, but by the climax, I only felt exhausted.
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