At these prices, I'm an ecdysiast

[sovay]

In which I practice the genteel art known in vulgar parlance as BookPimpage.

For example, Jeannelle Ferreira's first novel, A Verse from Babylon: you want this book. If you don't read Holocaust novels. If you know nothing about Hirsh Glik or Raissa Gellerman or Violeta Stern. If you have never been in fear for your life, or written a poem, or loved someone. There are still stories that need to be heard. Vi a parol zol geyn dos lid fun dor tsu dor.

Or Catherynne M. Valente's The Labyrinth. If you thought you knew anything about the nature of quests and mazes, monsters and seekers, read this novel and think again. Did I mention that it might seriously reorder the ways in which you view language? Don't worry: the effect will probably fade. Unless you go on to read Yume no Hon: The Book of Dreams, which will also mess with your ability to separate reality, story, and dream. I can't promise that will go away either. But these books are well worth the hazard.

Lastly, let me be honest: there really isn't anything else like Anna Tambour's Monterra's Deliciosa & Other Tales & out there. Poetry, fiction—you will find neither this style nor these sensibilities anywhere else. For those who desire proof, I recommend "How To Play The Cows." See? This is a good thing.

All right, BookPimpage over. But a preemptive happy birthday to Sean Wallace, who was sucker enough to publish all of these. And we love him for it. Many more years of reading to you!

Comments

[metallumai.livejournal.com]

Just passing through-- followed you here from Selkie's LJ. You seem to listen to my music (and obviously it's a major thing with you or you wouldn't be Sovay....)and you're the only person besides me who's ever heard of Emma Christian! Of course I do live in St Louis, and that could affect my sample. It's a nice piece, "Vreeshy vreeshy"-- as is the rest of that cd. Do you know if she has others?

[sovay]

I only have the Brigid carol, but I'd love to hear the rest of the album: it does not seem to exist on amazon.com, where I track down most of my music. Do you know where it can be found?

Pleased to meet you!

[metallumai.livejournal.com]

I run a folk club here; she toured the States a few years back and sent me one as a demo, to play on the radio. (Great concert, by the way!) It's called "Beneath the Stars" -- copyright Manx/Celtic Productions, P.O.Box 4475, London, SW195XD, UK. and a phone number: 0181-946-9772. If you decide to phone them, I would dial o11-441 first and take off the first zero and one in the number.

The copyright date is 1994; if it's out of print let me know and I'll copy it for you. :D

[sovay]

Thanks for the info! I may yet take you up on that offer. : )

[sovay]

Has too much time gone by for me to ask for that copy?

[crwtdrwg.livejournal.com]

Hi,

I've been trying to get a copy of Emma Christian's 'Beneath the Twilight' for ages.

I just found the topic in the Livejournal listings.

I'm actually located in the UK (Wales) and speak a number of the Celtic languages.

I wonder whether there's any chance that we could come to some sort of arrangement? Perhaps I could send you a CD or something?