Comments on things mean a lot: Black Juice by Margo Lanagan

Ahhhhh! After reading your review I'm now doubly s...

2009-11-03T15:14:11.216Z

Ahhhhh! After reading your review I'm now doubly sad that I had to return this to the library without reading it.

As I read your review, I really wanted to read thi...

2009-10-31T16:20:30.593Z

As I read your review, I really wanted to read this -- especially "Singing my sister down". Imagine my surprise when I discovered my library had this book. I've now read the story and I agree that it is stunning.

Ok, based on how you felt about this book and the ...

2009-10-14T21:04:50.884+01:00

Ok, based on how you felt about this book and the quotes you provided, I am going to be grabbing a copy this week. It sounds like there is some really beautiful imagery in the book, and that some of the stories were boundary pushing. Since I have a little bit of a hard time picking short story collections, I am going to be taking your recommendation and reading this book.

Fence, a book that first introduces me to a favour...

2009-10-14T20:17:10.719+01:00

Fence, a book that first introduces me to a favourite author is always special for me too! And yes, the new novella does sound amazing :)

I usually prefer novels to short stories too, mayb...

2009-10-13T22:13:30.717+01:00

I usually prefer novels to short stories too, maybe its the fact that Black Juice was the first book by Lanagan that I read that makes it all the more special.
Her new novella looks great too. Selkies! :)

Amanda: I always really them much more slowly than...

2009-10-13T13:10:02.126+01:00

Amanda: I always really them much more slowly than novels, and I made this one last about two months! I'd recommend it to you for the writing alone.

Debi: That makes me so happy, for SO many reasons <3

Megan: As I am in the face of yours! Did I tell you I get A Gathering Light? No? Well, I did :P

Loren Eaton: lol! Luckily I had no toe-stubbing incidents. And that too is a wonderful passage.

Gavin: She truly is!

Melody: lol, fair enough :P

Tracie Yule and Sandy: Sweet Pippit is such a wonderful story - and so completely unlike everything I'd read before. I have a soft spot for elephants myself.

Vivienne: It's an unforgettable story!

Staci: Hooray! So glad your library has it :D

Belle: It went straight to my list of favourite short stories!

Memory: It really is!

Renay: I can't wait to hear what you think! I'd actually been reading this since...August, I think? It's one of those collections that are probably better enjoyed if read slowly.

Kailana: Yes you do. I'm going to pester you and Chris nonstop until you read it :P

Mee: Australia has the best authors!

ds, I hope you love it as much as I did!

Alice: It was so sad and unforgettable and beautiful at the same time.

Chirs: You know the last thing I want to do is discourage you from reading Tender Morsels, but I'm not completely sure if I'd recommend it for the read-a-thon. First because it's slow - the writing is dense and demands your full attention. And secondly because it's one of those books after which you'll probably be unable to read anything else!

Violet: These are different from most horror fiction, and some of them aren't even horror at all...they're all quite dark, though, and very hard to forget!

Carol: So do I - I have read so few this year!

Allison, very true!

Wendy: So do I! :)

Jill: I'm terrified of drowning :S But somehow that made the story work even better for me.

Josette: I'm in love with the cover art myself!

Naida: It was sad and tender and beautiful and I don't even know what else...so many emotions in only a few pages.

Carl: Definitely no need to worry! There's so much great stuff out there :)

Marie: I am a fan of gushing, I confess :P

Jen, it really was!

Darla: Isn't she? I'm so glad I discovered her.

Mariel, don't worry about Piece by Piece! Take your time!

Fyrefly: Do give in! You know you want to :P

Fence: It's quite something, isn't it? Tender Morsels is my favourite, but then again I've always preferred novels to short fiction!

Vasilly: Yes - breathtaking is the word!

Dreamybee: You know, Smoke and Mirrors was one of the books that got me hooked on short stories! I read them very seldom before I discovered Neil Gaiman's.

I'm not normally a short-story person, but these s...

2009-10-13T10:42:07.776+01:00

I'm not normally a short-story person, but these sound interesting. Also, I just finished Neil Gaiman's Smoke and Mirrors, and really enjoyed it, so I am feeling much more game for short stories these days.

I definitely agree with you on "Singing My Sister ...

2009-10-13T00:38:23.974+01:00

I definitely agree with you on "Singing My Sister Down". The beauty of the rhythm of the language used in the book is just so . . . breathtaking. Great review.

This is my favourite of Lanagan's books. Well, tha...

2009-10-12T14:04:35.604+01:00

This is my favourite of Lanagan's books. Well, that I've read so far anyway :) Sweet Pipit was my favourite too, I just loved the way she uses language.

Amazon keeps recommending Red Spikes to me, and I'...

2009-10-12T02:44:13.701+01:00

Amazon keeps recommending Red Spikes to me, and I'll admit that I'm thinking about giving in, but this collection sounds really excellent as well.

Wow. I have not read Lanagan, but your description...

2009-10-10T21:46:19.529+01:00

Wow. I have not read Lanagan, but your description of her work is wonderful, and the cover very enticing. I am struggling a great deal with reading at the moment, being so busy at work, planning the party, trying to move house and to top it all being quite ill for the past few weeks, so it encouraging when I get excited about a review. Thank you for that. And I promise to try and finish Piece by Piece as soon as I can.

Lanagan is such a wonderful writer - and these sto...

2009-10-10T20:41:43.399+01:00

Lanagan is such a wonderful writer - and these stories sound fantastic!

Sounds like a pretty powerful collection!

2009-10-10T17:33:45.448+01:00

Sounds like a pretty powerful collection!

Gushy posts are the best posts. And the most seduc...

2009-10-10T16:34:37.248+01:00

Gushy posts are the best posts. And the most seductive! :-)

The cover and the fact that this is short stories ...

2009-10-10T16:00:38.241+01:00

The cover and the fact that this is short stories that blend across favorite genres had me sold even before you gushed about it! Once in a blue moon I despair that I'll one day run out of short stories of the kind I particularly enjoy. Such a foolish feeling, I love that this medium continues to be explored.

wow, this does sound good. I need to read this one...

2009-10-10T15:59:08.515+01:00

wow, this does sound good.
I need to read this one.
the Tar Pit story does sound very sad.
http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/

From your review, the book does sound dark. I'm j...

2009-10-10T12:24:27.693+01:00

From your review, the book does sound dark. I'm just beginning to read collections of short stories - this one will be on my list.

I like the cover.

This sounds fantastic. WEll, except for the tar p...

2009-10-10T04:36:42.864+01:00

This sounds fantastic. WEll, except for the tar pit....I'm not to sure about that, as I've always had a fear of drowning.

You always read the best books, Nymeth. I love st...

2009-10-09T21:14:55.247+01:00

You always read the best books, Nymeth. I love stories that really get under my skin--the ones I can feel.

Some of the best stories often require full attent...

2009-10-09T19:40:45.687+01:00

Some of the best stories often require full attention! This set of stories sound very interesting!

Allison
Well-Read Reviews

I keep meaning to read more short story collection...

2009-10-09T17:41:43.459+01:00

I keep meaning to read more short story collections. This one sounds like one to add to the list.

Sounds really good, I'm not into short stories muc...

2009-10-09T08:25:04.112+01:00

Sounds really good, I'm not into short stories much but somehow I love short stories in horror.

Oh yay I have this :D And I wants to read it now. ...

2009-10-09T06:05:10.639+01:00

Oh yay I have this :D And I wants to read it now. What the hell is wrong with me Ana??? I still haven't read Tender Morsels!! Ok...I think it's going to be my first read for the readathon this year for real. Do you think it's manageable for the read a thon? Tender Morsels that is? I read Nation for last Octobers...so I'm thinking if I could read that one for the read a thon I should be able to do Tender Morsels, right?

I think I'm going to read this. I'm with Viv on th...

2009-10-09T05:07:30.260+01:00

I think I'm going to read this. I'm with Viv on the story about the girl being executed in the tar.

I think it would take me a lot longer than two wee...

2009-10-09T04:14:39.702+01:00

I think it would take me a lot longer than two weeks to recover from "Singing My Sister Down" but oh, my, the "discovery" of reading this writer sounds incredible. I will have to find her work. Thank you.