This week, I’m reading two books by authors with the first name of Charles. Of course, I’ve known one of them as “Chuck” for decades, and I had to be told by the other that I didn’t need to call him “Mr. de Lint.” Ah, memory…
For those of you unfamiliar with this column, the Friday Fragments lists what I’ve read over the past week. Most of the time I don’t include details of either short fiction (unless part of a book-length collection) or magazines. The Fragments are not meant to be a recommendation list. If you’re interested in a not-at-all-inclusive recommendation list, you can look on my website under Neat Stuff.
Once again, this is not a book review column. It’s just a list with, maybe, a bit of description or a few opinions tossed in. And it’s also a great place to tell me what you’re reading.
Recently Completed:
Hide Me Among the Graves by Tim Powers. A semi-sequel to The Stress of Her Regard, focusing on the son of characters from the previous novel and his interactions with Christina, Dante Gabriel, and others of the talented Rossetti clan. I had no idea until I read this that John Polidori was their uncle. Truth is phenomenally weirder than fiction. When Tim Powers gives his twist to the material, I end up believing his “secret history.”
Ikenga by Nnedi Okorafor. Audiobook. Hamlet meets The Incredible Hulk in the person of a twelve-year-old boy whose police chief father is murdered. If you stick with it, the final chapters are probably the best part.
In Progress:
This Broken World by Charles E. Gannon. Advanced Review Copy. Due for November release. Epic Fantasy. I’ve been waiting to read this book for decades. Literally. I’ve known Chuck since I was an undergrad and he was a newly graduated friend-of-a-friend.
Moonheart by Charles de Lint. Audiobook. I’ve read this in print, but couldn’t resist the temptation to try as audio. I’ll let you know if it works.
Also:
Catching up with Vogue. Not only the magazine’s staff, but a number of the advertisers are really working to expand the definition of “beauty.” Particularly great are an on-going campaign by Oil of Olay and a new one by Dick’s Sporting Goods. I am reminded of a sign I saw a few weeks ago and loved: Fashion is what you buy. Style is how you wear it.