𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗶𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝘄𝗹
𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 Artemis Fowl 𝘣𝘺 𝘌𝘰𝘪𝘯 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘧𝘦𝘳
His father is presumed dead, his mother has gone insane, and child-criminal mastermind Artemis knows it’s up to him to restore the family fortune. He wants a fairy’s ransom. But the fairies are fighting back.
𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 Artemis Fowl 𝘣𝘺 𝘌𝘰𝘪𝘯 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘧𝘦𝘳
His father is presumed dead, his mother has gone insane, and child-criminal mastermind Artemis knows it’s up to him to restore the family fortune. He wants a fairy’s ransom. But the fairies are fighting back.
If you haven’t read this rather sophisticated children’s book, the most important thing I can tell you is DON’T JUDGE IT BY ITS HORRIFIC MOVIE ADAPTATION. The book is funny and clever and one of the better instances of a plot that sets two characters at each other’s throats and makes you root for both of them.
𝗘𝘂𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗮
𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 The Queen’s Thief series 𝘣𝘺 𝘔𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘯 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘯 𝘛𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘳
Turner’s writing is pure witchcraft. The books are swift, tense adventures, and yet somehow also explorations of politics and religion. Despite all the forces bearing down on them, the characters are never helpless puppets. The emotional stakes are beyond high. Everyone risks everything. Nobody pulls a punch. There are intrigues, there are sacrifices, and then there’s the bloody aftermath. If I’m making it sound too grim, there is also Gen’s complete inability to keep his mouth shut. Read them, they are wonderful and nothing I can tell you will actually give you a clue what you are in for.
𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 The Queen’s Thief series 𝘣𝘺 𝘔𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘯 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘯 𝘛𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘳
Turner’s writing is pure witchcraft. The books are swift, tense adventures, and yet somehow also explorations of politics and religion. Despite all the forces bearing down on them, the characters are never helpless puppets. The emotional stakes are beyond high. Everyone risks everything. Nobody pulls a punch. There are intrigues, there are sacrifices, and then there’s the bloody aftermath. If I’m making it sound too grim, there is also Gen’s complete inability to keep his mouth shut. Read them, they are wonderful and nothing I can tell you will actually give you a clue what you are in for.
𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘀
𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell 𝘣𝘺 𝘚𝘶𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦
Who's reading Clarke's new release, Piranesi? I'm about halfway through and still unsure where it's headed, but I trust Clarke, mainly due to the incredible feat that is Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. While both of the titular characters are well done, it's the secondary characters that flesh out the world of the novel, particularly Mr. Norrell's untamed servant, Childermass, who (unlike the main characters) keeps an unwavering eye on the story's true stakes and doesn't trip over his own ego.
𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell 𝘣𝘺 𝘚𝘶𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦
Who's reading Clarke's new release, Piranesi? I'm about halfway through and still unsure where it's headed, but I trust Clarke, mainly due to the incredible feat that is Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. While both of the titular characters are well done, it's the secondary characters that flesh out the world of the novel, particularly Mr. Norrell's untamed servant, Childermass, who (unlike the main characters) keeps an unwavering eye on the story's true stakes and doesn't trip over his own ego.
𝗠𝗿. 𝗗𝗮𝗿𝗰𝘆
𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 Pride and Prejudice 𝘣𝘺 𝘑𝘢𝘯𝘦 𝘈𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯
Darcy is one of the most buttoned-up characters in literature; when he declares in the middle of the book, "My feelings will not be repressed," the reader feels Elizabeth's shock, because up to now we have seen neither hide nor hair of these irrepressible feelings. Darcy's inner turmoil is real though, and laces its way through the back half of the book. I tried to draw him looking very calm, the shaking tea cup the only sign of what's roiling underneath.
𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 Pride and Prejudice 𝘣𝘺 𝘑𝘢𝘯𝘦 𝘈𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯
Darcy is one of the most buttoned-up characters in literature; when he declares in the middle of the book, "My feelings will not be repressed," the reader feels Elizabeth's shock, because up to now we have seen neither hide nor hair of these irrepressible feelings. Darcy's inner turmoil is real though, and laces its way through the back half of the book. I tried to draw him looking very calm, the shaking tea cup the only sign of what's roiling underneath.
𝗘𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗮𝗯𝗲𝘁𝗵 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘁
𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 Pride and Prejudice 𝘣𝘺 𝘑𝘢𝘯𝘦 𝘈𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯
I think I was about 10 when my aunt gave me an illustrated edition of Pride and Prejudice. I devoured it then and have re-read it every few years since, often by accident, because I'll need to reference something in the book and next thing I know I'm sucked in all over again. Elizabeth remains one of the most sympathetic heroines I've ever come across. She navigates one prickly social situation after another, most of them with people who believe they are far more entitled to their opinion than she, a young unmarried woman of no particular fortune, is to hers. We've all experienced the awkwardness of dealing with overbearing neighbors and relatives, an aspect of life unavoidable no matter what century you live in; watching Elizabeth handle hers gracefully but firmly is a large part of her enduring appeal.
𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 Pride and Prejudice 𝘣𝘺 𝘑𝘢𝘯𝘦 𝘈𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯
I think I was about 10 when my aunt gave me an illustrated edition of Pride and Prejudice. I devoured it then and have re-read it every few years since, often by accident, because I'll need to reference something in the book and next thing I know I'm sucked in all over again. Elizabeth remains one of the most sympathetic heroines I've ever come across. She navigates one prickly social situation after another, most of them with people who believe they are far more entitled to their opinion than she, a young unmarried woman of no particular fortune, is to hers. We've all experienced the awkwardness of dealing with overbearing neighbors and relatives, an aspect of life unavoidable no matter what century you live in; watching Elizabeth handle hers gracefully but firmly is a large part of her enduring appeal.
𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗱𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻
𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 Cotillion 𝘣𝘺 𝘎𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦 𝘏𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘳
Freddy is basically a genderbent Elle Woods. Because of his foppish ways, no one expects much of him; even Kitty, who begs for his help, thinks he'll be a fiancé in name only. But in a way that surprises everyone, and yet is totally in keeping with his character, Freddy rises magnificently to the occasion.
Probably because they have so much in common, he turned out looking a lot like the New Yorker mascot, Eustace Tilley.
𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 Cotillion 𝘣𝘺 𝘎𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦 𝘏𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘳
Freddy is basically a genderbent Elle Woods. Because of his foppish ways, no one expects much of him; even Kitty, who begs for his help, thinks he'll be a fiancé in name only. But in a way that surprises everyone, and yet is totally in keeping with his character, Freddy rises magnificently to the occasion.
Probably because they have so much in common, he turned out looking a lot like the New Yorker mascot, Eustace Tilley.
𝗣𝗮𝗸 𝗝𝘂𝗻 𝗗𝗼
𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 The Orphan Master's Son 𝘣𝘺 𝘈𝘥𝘢𝘮 𝘑𝘰𝘩𝘯𝘴𝘰𝘯
Under constant threat of death in Kim Jong-il's North Korea, everyone in the novel works to tell the best lies they can to save their skins. The lies are often ludicrous, but the characters just need to demonstrate their willingness to chuck out the truth and pledge allegiance to whatever narrative would most please the Supreme Leader. Yet Jun Do's lies take on a life of their own, and he goes from soldier to kidnapper to surveillance officer to unwitting diplomat to disgraced miner to fake top general. His family is stolen from him when he's a child. Eventually he steals a family of his own, one he's willing to die for.
Though Johnson shows many side effects of tyranny within the book (poverty, bribery, etc.), the one he lingers over is how personal identity is suppressed in the service of the dictator, because only one voice can be the Supreme Voice. But with the ultimate sacrifice, Jun Do does write his own story, and his first step toward becoming his own person happens when a Texas senator's wife gives him a Catahoula puppy.
𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 The Orphan Master's Son 𝘣𝘺 𝘈𝘥𝘢𝘮 𝘑𝘰𝘩𝘯𝘴𝘰𝘯
Under constant threat of death in Kim Jong-il's North Korea, everyone in the novel works to tell the best lies they can to save their skins. The lies are often ludicrous, but the characters just need to demonstrate their willingness to chuck out the truth and pledge allegiance to whatever narrative would most please the Supreme Leader. Yet Jun Do's lies take on a life of their own, and he goes from soldier to kidnapper to surveillance officer to unwitting diplomat to disgraced miner to fake top general. His family is stolen from him when he's a child. Eventually he steals a family of his own, one he's willing to die for.
Though Johnson shows many side effects of tyranny within the book (poverty, bribery, etc.), the one he lingers over is how personal identity is suppressed in the service of the dictator, because only one voice can be the Supreme Voice. But with the ultimate sacrifice, Jun Do does write his own story, and his first step toward becoming his own person happens when a Texas senator's wife gives him a Catahoula puppy.
𝗠𝘆𝗳𝗮𝗻𝘄𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘀
𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 The Rook 𝘣𝘺 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘦𝘭 𝘖’𝘔𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺
Myfanwy Thomas wakes in a park with two black eyes and no memory of anything, even her own name. The name is provided by the letter she helpfully left in her own pocket. Following a trail of clues from her former self, Myfanwy tries to figure out who tried to kill her while faking her way through her job — not easy since it turns out she's a high-ranking official of a supernatural MI6. The plot is what makes the book so much fun, but it’s Myfanwy that makes it stand out. A quiet, methodical young woman taking out monsters and then recuperating with tea and a bunny is a heroine I can sympathize with.
𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 The Rook 𝘣𝘺 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘦𝘭 𝘖’𝘔𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺
Myfanwy Thomas wakes in a park with two black eyes and no memory of anything, even her own name. The name is provided by the letter she helpfully left in her own pocket. Following a trail of clues from her former self, Myfanwy tries to figure out who tried to kill her while faking her way through her job — not easy since it turns out she's a high-ranking official of a supernatural MI6. The plot is what makes the book so much fun, but it’s Myfanwy that makes it stand out. A quiet, methodical young woman taking out monsters and then recuperating with tea and a bunny is a heroine I can sympathize with.
𝗣𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴
𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 Pippi Longstocking 𝘣𝘺 𝘈𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘥 𝘓𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘯
Few characters deliver the pure wish fulfillment that Pippi Longstocking embodies. Armed with super strength and a pirate treasure, she is an invincible nine-year-old who lives exactly as she chooses. Though her ambitions are actually quite tame — playing with the neighbor children, tending her pets, and fixing up her family home while she waits for her father, the Pirate King, to find her — some adult is always trying to rob her of her fortune or her independence, and Pippi cheerfully fends them off, sometimes by tossing them in trees. She also protects the other children from bullies. Lindgren said that “Pippi represents my own childish longing for a person who has power but does not abuse it.”
𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 Pippi Longstocking 𝘣𝘺 𝘈𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘥 𝘓𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘯
Few characters deliver the pure wish fulfillment that Pippi Longstocking embodies. Armed with super strength and a pirate treasure, she is an invincible nine-year-old who lives exactly as she chooses. Though her ambitions are actually quite tame — playing with the neighbor children, tending her pets, and fixing up her family home while she waits for her father, the Pirate King, to find her — some adult is always trying to rob her of her fortune or her independence, and Pippi cheerfully fends them off, sometimes by tossing them in trees. She also protects the other children from bullies. Lindgren said that “Pippi represents my own childish longing for a person who has power but does not abuse it.”
𝗘𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗻
𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 Broken Earth trilogy 𝘣𝘺 𝘕.𝘒. 𝘑𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘯
Absolutely thrilled that N.K. Jemisin was awarded a much-deserved MacArthur Fellowship! The Broken Earth trilogy is a landmark work, deeply moving and so well-crafted that I frequently had to pause just to savor how brilliantly it was put together. If I had to pick one character to go through the apocalypse with, it would hands-down be the stalwart Essun.
𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 Broken Earth trilogy 𝘣𝘺 𝘕.𝘒. 𝘑𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘯
Absolutely thrilled that N.K. Jemisin was awarded a much-deserved MacArthur Fellowship! The Broken Earth trilogy is a landmark work, deeply moving and so well-crafted that I frequently had to pause just to savor how brilliantly it was put together. If I had to pick one character to go through the apocalypse with, it would hands-down be the stalwart Essun.
