Jack

I am truly glad that I finally got around to reading this book. It is a beautifully written book that follows 3 women through their individual tragedies and their relationships with Lake Superior.

Ragnarok, by A. S. Byatt is the newest release in the Canongate Myths series. This is a tale of a young girl evacuated to the English countryside during WWII, and her use of the mythology as an escape and coping method. It is, primarily though, a retelling of the Norse myth of the end of the world. The purely mythological aspects of the tale are very well done. There is some fleshing out of bits of the myth, but it is doesn't feel inaccurate to the characters involved. The aspects of the tale dealing with the young girl were also well done. It involves her fear in a war torn country, and concern for her absent pilot father. She views the war through the lens of mythology in an attempt to understand it. Overall, this is a beautifully written adaptation of the myth.

Add Toner is the second Cometbus collection to come out. This one collects issues 44 through 48 of the original photocopied zine format. It has the "Lanky" novella and covers Aaron's chronicles of life in the East Bay as well as some fantastic interviews he has conducted over the years.

-Jack

Just Kids is Patti Smith's memoir of becoming the artist we know her as, and her relationship with Robert Mapplethorpe. Fantastically well written.

-Jack

The Raven's Gift is a compelling exploration of Siberian indigenous religion and shamanism as viewed by a fellow who normally is a writer of academic textbooks. Witnessing the analytical mind of Jon Turk struggling to come to terms with what he experiences in the north made for a fantastic read!

-Jack

This is a nicely balanced piece of travel writing from Frazier. There is a fairly thorough history of Siberia, both geographically and politically, as well as the tales of the adventures, frights, and occasional drudgery of the author's visits.

-Jack

Last Light of the Sun is a brilliant piece of fantasy writing with historic and folkloric backbone. Kay takes the era of England's struggle with the Danes and Saxons and skillfully weaves elements of folklore into this epic tale.

-Jack