Comments on things mean a lot: Magic for Beginners by Kelly Link

This sounds really good. Thank you for the review!...

2009-11-10T16:09:43.947Z

This sounds really good. Thank you for the review!

I recently read Pretty Monsters, another short sto...

2009-11-10T02:11:08.585Z

I recently read Pretty Monsters, another short story collection by Kelly Link. It includes "The Faery Handbag" as well as "Magic For Beginners," but not the others. I didn't particularly enjoy Pretty Monsters, so I'm not planning to read anything else by this author.

Great stuff, Ana! I first read about this book i...

2009-11-06T10:40:10.591Z

Great stuff, Ana!

I first read about this book in October last year and posted a link for its free download. :D

I have an ebook of this and I'm so excited, I will...

2009-11-06T07:55:18.734Z

I have an ebook of this and I'm so excited, I will definitely read this sometime :)

Vivienne: Isn't that a GREAT one? :D It doesn't hu...

2009-11-05T20:27:19.018Z

Vivienne: Isn't that a GREAT one? :D It doesn't hurt that it mentions such a wonderful book.

Jill: Remember what I said about how questions remain unanswered? So it is with those rabbits :P But the brilliant thing is that it's not unsatisfying!

Jeane: Read it, read it...you know you want to :P

JoAnn: I thought you'd all understand :D

Jenny, I hope you enjoy her stories as much as I have! She'd been on my radar for literally years, and now I wish I'd read her sooner.

Steph: Even though I enjoyed them all in this case, that's normally what happens to me with short story collections - some are hits, others are misses. I'll download the e-book of her first collection and keep what you said in mind.

Debi: I wonder if it exists! Is Boston near you? Can we go there when I go visit you? :P We could stalk Amanda Palmer while we're at it :P

Gavin: I did! And Kij Johnson also won for "26 Monkeys, Also the Abyss" :D :D :D I did a happy dance for them both!

Jodie: Aww, you are too kind! I have nothing against review copies, but I'm actually glad I'm not sent any...I like following my reading whims and don't deal well with pressure :P

Kailana: I know you're not the biggest short story fan, so I'll refrain from recommending it to you :P

Sandy: lol, if I wrote like that I WOULD write a book! You're not dumb, though - I wish the code to indent passages indented them a little bit more. I'm sure there's a way to adjust that in my template, so I just need to stop being lazy and look it up :P

Jennie: I know! Isn't it wonderful?

Aarti: I have! Except for Phantom of the Opera, but more on that later :P

Bermudaonion: yay! Mission accomplished :P

Jeanne: I hope you enjoy them!

Lenore: I'm glad to hear you'll be able to borrow it, and I hope you enjoy the stories :)

Zibilee: This was my first time reading her, but it seems that whatever you pick up it's hard to go wrong :)

Lena: How neat that you talked about her! And most of all, that you got to meet :D

Melody: yay :D

trapunto: She REALLY is. I loved both the images and the unexpected touches of humour. And that's a good point about the free e-book version. I WILL get my hands on Pretty Monsters, as well as on her other collections!

Staci: Yep :P

Terri B: Yes you must!

Amy: I've yet to make it to the US, but someday!

Stephanie, isn't that an amazing cover?

Ladytink: True, it is in The Faery Reel! Which I seriously need to read :P And I'd love a sequel! Though I liked the lingering mysteries too :)

I've read The Faery Handbag! It was in The Faery R...

2009-11-05T16:46:28.794Z

I've read The Faery Handbag! It was in The Faery Reel anthology. I liked it okay but the "rhythm" kind of threw me off. I read somewhere that the author has talked about doing a sequel. I might have to pick this one up to try out some of the other stories by Link.

Another wonderful review! And I like the cover -- ...

2009-11-04T21:55:29.596Z

Another wonderful review! And I like the cover -- reminiscent of Lady With the Ermine.

I enjoy short stories and the stories in this book...

2009-11-04T04:50:20.367Z

I enjoy short stories and the stories in this book sound wonderful, heartbreaking and heartwarming, full of promise and magic...
I am so sorry to say that I never made it to the Garment Districy wwhen I visited Boston numerous times in my college years. I would have loved that place. It sounds like you had a lot of fun there. I am sure they have beautiful things. If I ever get back to Boston maybe I'll stop there!

This book sounds absolutely delightful! All fairyt...

2009-11-04T02:58:43.604Z

This book sounds absolutely delightful! All fairytale-ish. I'd not heard of it until you mentioned it in your vlog. Now I must read it :o)

Another short story collection that I must try to ...

2009-11-04T02:38:09.142Z

Another short story collection that I must try to get my hands on!!!

Hear hear! You picked out some of my favorite pas...

2009-11-04T01:41:54.044Z

Hear hear! You picked out some of my favorite passages. I've read the title story four times, and I still can't get past the part about the hideous and eldritch couches without laughing. Isn't Kelly Link a master of detail? That sinister rubber band ball, the compulsive room painting--the images from Stone Animals are probably the ones that stayed with me longest, though the title story was my favorite. I just love how in the middle of those crowds of (to use her word) eldritch images, she can also present her characters with emotional delicacy and sympathy.

I suspect they can't put all the stories in the free e-book because a lot of them have been reprinted in a big anthology called Pretty Monsters by another publisher, which is being marketed as "Young Adult." There's a really good new one in there that I think you will like if Cat Skin is your favorite.

I love that opening line! All of the stories sound...

2009-11-04T00:12:08.424Z

I love that opening line! All of the stories sound so intriguing! I'm putting this on to my wishlist!! :D

Much like a lot of commenters, I'm sold on that fi...

2009-11-03T23:27:33.333Z

Much like a lot of commenters, I'm sold on that first paragraph. I've heard gorgeous things of Kelly Link (us bloggers talked about her books at our meet-up recently!) but i haven't yet read her work. i'll definitely put this on hold and give her a try.

I've read a lot of good things about Kelly Link, b...

2009-11-03T22:32:43.535Z

I've read a lot of good things about Kelly Link, but haven't yet got a chance to read one of her books. Based on that paragraph you posted, I think this will be the first one I try. Great review, you have made me want to go rush right out and grab this book! Thanks!

Thanks for giving us the first paragraph - it real...

2009-11-03T21:44:35.690Z

Thanks for giving us the first paragraph - it really does make me want to read on! I discovered this book on my friend's shelf on Saturday, so now I know I really need to borrow it.

These do sound like great stories. They're going ...

2009-11-03T21:20:48.078Z

These do sound like great stories. They're going on my list, too.

You've convinced me too!

2009-11-03T20:30:08.249Z

You've convinced me too!

It seems like you've been reading FABULOUS books r...

2009-11-03T20:18:30.048Z

It seems like you've been reading FABULOUS books recently, Ana! I will definitely download this ebook :-)

I'm most interested in the cover, which is so clea...

2009-11-03T19:58:58.080Z

I'm most interested in the cover, which is so clearly based on daVinci's Lady with an Ermine!

I am SO there. It has been promptly added to my w...

2009-11-03T17:59:15.540Z

I am SO there. It has been promptly added to my wish list. I only recently have come to love short stories, and these sound thoroughly enchanting! (You will laugh, but when I first read your review, I thought that little excerpt at the beginning was your description, not the authors. I was sitting here with my mouth hanging open, saying "Ana you need to freaking write a book!" I am so dense sometimes!

Glad you enjoyed this! Great review. :)

2009-11-03T17:23:57.772Z

Glad you enjoyed this! Great review. :)

That does sound wonderful and Vivienne is right, a...

2009-11-03T16:49:06.950Z

That does sound wonderful and Vivienne is right, authors should be queuing up to have you review. General reviews create interest, but when you slice into the story and let us all have a little look you show us the details that make books great.

That does sound wonderful and Vivienne is right, a...

2009-11-03T16:49:01.741Z

Kelly Link is a wonderful writer and a fabulous ed...

2009-11-03T15:20:07.762Z

Kelly Link is a wonderful writer and a fabulous editor who has gathered some great story collection. Did you hear the Tender Morsels just won the World Fantasy Award?

LOL...not only does that first paragraph make me w...

2009-11-03T15:08:43.689Z

LOL...not only does that first paragraph make me want to read on, it definitely makes me want to find that thrift store! :D

I've only ever read one story by her (The Surfer), but I really liked it. Goes without saying, this book is now on the old wish list, too.