L.S. Popovich's Blog, page 9

Review of The Plotinus by Rikki Ducornet

If Rikki keeps releasing short experimental, post-Consumerist dystopian novellas, steeped in imagery that evokes nostalgic aesthetics, I will keep rating them 5 stars.  A nice accompaniment to Trafik. Highly recommended, though this one is a bit weird. Imagine a person imprisoned in a monotone cell, reading bars of light through a vent and knocking at […]

Review of Fables by Alexander Theroux

A few good and shiny examples of rare Theroux wit.  But mostly not. I say rare because his humor is an acquired taste, and it can also spoil after a time. The Therouxian works released by Tough Poets Press are glorious in theory but do not compare to the author’s two or three magnificent “early” […]

Review of On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

This book is heavy on the PTSD, bullying, and other trauma triggers.  I try to shy away from reading peoples’ accounts of living in an unfair world. It’s not all about blaming the world for our individual struggles. However, there is legitimate pain that goes along with it. And you can feel more of it […]

Review of Suggestion Diabolique, by David Vardeman

Having read all of Vardeman, I can’t help wanting more Vardeman. Remember that character from As I Lay Dying who says “My mother is a fish.” Isn’t that kid named Vardaman? >Coincidence? I think not.Vardeman observes and portrays American life in an acerbic, quirky style. This volume of stories in particular is heavy on the […]

Review of Solarium by Braden Matthew

Sui generis. Books about bibliophiles ring too true for me. I dream of books, bathe in books, eat books without condiments, I drink books black, without cream sugar or a wedge of lemon, I take them straight, not watered down. I burn only abridged editions. I store books in my car, my shoes, my closet, […]

Review of The End of August by Yū Miri

Does in 700 pages what can be done in 120 pages. Ceaseless repetition, much of which is in Korean. Songs and prayers and onomatopoeia constantly invoked. The rhythm reminded me of Ducks, Newburyport, which I hated. -5 stars for abusing the reader’s time and patience. +2 stars for strong descriptions interspersed throughout the book. +2 […]

Review of In Dreams: The Very Short Stories of Ryūnosuke Akutagawa by by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa

I often re-read Akutagawa’s stories. Before this publication I had read all of his stories in English, even the ones translated online and obscure scholarly publications. I had read about 97 pieces total. This book brings the total number of pieces available in English closer to 150, which is around half of the author’s total […]

Review of Every Day Is for the Thief by Teju Cole

Teju Cole gives an account of a stay in Nigeria, told by a Nigerian-American. It purports to be a work of fiction, but could easily be construed as autofiction or nonfic. The journalistic approach is offset by the deeply humorous writing. You can feel the conflict within the narrator toward the inhabitants of this country […]

Review of The Book of Dede Korkut by Anonymous

I like to collect rare and unusual Penguin Classics. This was one of my favorite I’ve come across. A strange and inconsistent series of tales from Medieval Turkey. The 13 tales, combined with the copious notes and introduction (which almost constitutes a 14th tale’s worth of material since it details how the manuscripts were reconciled […]

Review of The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer

While not as approachable as high school teacher’s would have you believe, the Canterbury Tales is an entertaining mix of history, lyricism, and satire. In my opinion Chaucer missed a major opportunity to add a pastoral component to his work. The tales either all take place in disparate locations and times, telling of old events […]