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rachelmanijaA novella and two short stories by Ellen Klages reviewed here. Beautifully written, engrossing historical fantasy.
rachelmanija
Echoes of Aurora, by Ellen Klages
Jul. 13th, 2018 10:49 ammllelaurelThis is a short story, found in the Wicked Wonders collection.
Following her father's death, Jo Norwood, now in her forties, returns to her childhood home. While sorting through and packing up her father's old belongings, as well as the remnants of the old arcade he used to run, she meets Rory, a strange, enchanting woman claiming to be a writer. As she starts falling for Rory, she doesn't question the way Rory never seems to leave the neighborhood, or the way she makes food appear seemingly out of nowhere. But the summer, or the wrapping up of familial loose ends won't last forever…
As with Passing Strange, Klages' eye for the perfect details, especially historical details, like the old-fashioned arcade machinery, really sells this story. The relationship moves fast, due to this being a short story, Klages does a good job of making me buy it. The mood is ultimately bittersweet, but not depressing. I liked that Jo wasn't super young and got to star in her own love story.
Following her father's death, Jo Norwood, now in her forties, returns to her childhood home. While sorting through and packing up her father's old belongings, as well as the remnants of the old arcade he used to run, she meets Rory, a strange, enchanting woman claiming to be a writer. As she starts falling for Rory, she doesn't question the way Rory never seems to leave the neighborhood, or the way she makes food appear seemingly out of nowhere. But the summer, or the wrapping up of familial loose ends won't last forever…
As with Passing Strange, Klages' eye for the perfect details, especially historical details, like the old-fashioned arcade machinery, really sells this story. The relationship moves fast, due to this being a short story, Klages does a good job of making me buy it. The mood is ultimately bittersweet, but not depressing. I liked that Jo wasn't super young and got to star in her own love story.
Passing Strange by Ellen Klages
Jun. 8th, 2018 12:07 pmsholioI read this because of a rec in this comm last week, and I really enjoyed it! If you'd like to read another review of it, mine is posted here on DW and also at my Mar Delaney blog.
Passing Strange, by Ellen Klages
Jun. 1st, 2018 11:51 ammllelaurelEllen Klages' Passing Strange is a love story, a romance between Emily, a runaway daughter of a blue-blood New England family, and Haskel, a brilliant artist who makes her living drawing lurid covers for the pulps. But it is also a love song to the city of San Francisco in the 1940s, vibrant in its descriptions of lesbian bars, Chinatown cocktail lounges, and the World Fair.
Klages' writing is superb. She pulls a few tricks I normally dislike, such as mid-scene point of views switches, but the style is so well-done it does not impact my enjoyment or the three-dimensionality of the characters. The romance goes quickly (this is a novella,) but it's both affecting and believable.
There are elements of magic, well-foreshadowed, but out of focus enough I'd label this book more magical realism than fantasy, and the final use of the magical elements leads to a satisfying ending just as I was bracing myself for something a lot more depressing.
Highly recommended.
Klages' writing is superb. She pulls a few tricks I normally dislike, such as mid-scene point of views switches, but the style is so well-done it does not impact my enjoyment or the three-dimensionality of the characters. The romance goes quickly (this is a novella,) but it's both affecting and believable.
There are elements of magic, well-foreshadowed, but out of focus enough I'd label this book more magical realism than fantasy, and the final use of the magical elements leads to a satisfying ending just as I was bracing myself for something a lot more depressing.
Highly recommended.
Two books and a fic
May. 14th, 2018 09:59 amel_stapladorPassing Strange (Ellen Klages), Lesbian Pulp Fiction (ed. Katherine V. Forrest) and Four Walls (I don't stand a chance). Here.
