Trigger warning: SPOILERS Set in the middle of eighteenth century in London, The Foundling is a book about a poor girl forced to have renounced her child. Step by step, we discover not only what has happened to the child but also to the woman, that other, who fostered it. We also learn of things … Continue reading Literature as the Mirror of Author’s Time: The Foundling by Stacey Hall
Author: Bess Appledore
I'm a literature freak obsessed with classics, fantasy, and eighteenth/nineteenth century revolutionaries.
The Saga of Recluce—a Bad Trip
When there's a long book series, how many volumes do you need to estimate it's bad and boring, and you are no longer interested in it? The Saga of Recluce has twenty volumes or so. I've read two and a half, and I already know there's something bad about it. It isn't a controversial stuff. … Continue reading The Saga of Recluce—a Bad Trip
My Year with Jane Austen
It took me a year to read the works Jane Austen had completed. Maybe it was because they were collected in a doorstopper of a book, or maybe I needed time because at first, it wasn't an easy journey for me. Reading Sense and Sensibility, I thought that the style was deft and that the … Continue reading My Year with Jane Austen
Literature as the Mirror of Author’s Time: Kristin Lavransdatter
WARNING: Huge spoilers on an old boring book by a Noble-prize winner I wasn't sure how to start this essay. I wasn't sure whether to mention and describe our assumptions about the historical literature of the (broadly understood) past. Eventually, I decided to not reflect on it. Because it's a fact, not an opinion, that … Continue reading Literature as the Mirror of Author’s Time: Kristin Lavransdatter
“His Dark Materials” (and Co.) as an Anti-Narnia
I would say that His Dark Materials and its sequels are a religion-sceptic response for books on Narnia by C. S. Lewis. Religion-sceptic, maybe even atheist, but not necessarily progressive. I don't mean, of course, that it is bad then. But to be honest, if I want to see the topics of class, race and … Continue reading “His Dark Materials” (and Co.) as an Anti-Narnia
Revisiting Six Duchies—Part Three
There is a whole world beyond Six Duchies. Let's explore it! A Nostalgic Reflection on “Assassin's Fate”. Yes. Nostalgic. I must admit that it was a great surprise to me, to like the last part of Fitz and Fool trilogy so much, and to mourn after its characters. I liked the first trilogy about Fitz … Continue reading Revisiting Six Duchies—Part Three
Revisiting Six Duchies—Part Two
A Not-so Nitpicky Reflection on “Fool's Quest” by Robin Hobb Who is who Fitz Farseer—our protagonist Bee—his younger daughter Shun—Fitz's ward Chade—Fitz's old mentor Fool—Fitz's buddy, a White Prophet FitzVigilant—once Bee's tutor Dutiful—Six Duchies' king Elliania—his Queen Consort Starling—a bard, once Fitz's lover Where is where Six Duchies—our main Homely Kingdom Chalced—west from Six Duchies … Continue reading Revisiting Six Duchies—Part Two
Revisiting Six Duchies—Part One
A Nitpicky Reflection on “Fool's Assassin” by Robin Hobb WARNING: heavy spoilers and heavy angst Who is who Fitz Farseer—a royal bastard, assassin and magician, now living under disguise as a gentryman Molly Chandler—his wife. Once the wife of Burrich, Fitz's foster daddy. Kinky. Nettle—their elder daughter, living at Buckkeep's court Bee—Fitz and Molly's late-comer … Continue reading Revisiting Six Duchies—Part One
The Falcon Throne by Karen Miller
Warning: spoilers and ranting OK... It was a very bad read. When a book is boring for over 700 pages it isn't a good sign. When it makes you angry and irritated, and feeling that you've wasted your money, it's even a worse sign. And the worst thing is that this reading wasn't a foretold … Continue reading The Falcon Throne by Karen Miller
On Sexism of Older Speculative Fiction and on Excusing It
This may be an unpopular opinion but I feel I should express it. And if I am expressing it, it isn't only because I'm a feminist. It's because I can prove it. With proofs going as far as to nineteenth century. Stop making this excuse, please. Stop talking that “the times were different” or that … Continue reading On Sexism of Older Speculative Fiction and on Excusing It
Left Hand of Fiction 