“No living organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality; even larks and katydids are supposed, by some, to dream.” - Shirley Jackson
Much of Bourgeois' work here depicts the relation or tension between the self, in particular herself, and structures; the body, the house, identity, society, memory. As such, her paintings are affecting and relatable, and set the stage for her later work. This compilation is truly beautiful and the included writings insightful. Highly recommend! ~ Reviewed by Arabella Peterson
This is a rather comprehensive view of a group of people in 1700s Poland (and nearby), of their magnetic leader, and of the society and environment around them. Tokarczuk retains her characteristic style of seeing the humanness in anyone, never descending into spectacle, and the translation is gorgeous. I thought it was excellent. ~ Reviewed by Arabella Peterson
Fraught and ebullient, intricately crafted and broad in scope, this is a story that asks questions and tries to work out the answers; that captures some of the best things and the worst things people are capable of, and that goes all the way to Alpha Centauri while doing it. Brilliant. ~ Reviewed by Arabella Peterson
The price women and girls pay when conflict arises, told through the lens of Partition. This book is very absorbing; I tore through the pages furiously as though awaiting news about my own sister-daughter-mother-auntie-friend rather than fictional characters. ~ Reviewed by Arabella Peterson
This book is about the Tulsa Race Massacre and in relating this story also chronicles the history of this area from the time of the first peoples to call this land home. The result is we see not only the sequence of events but also the complicated history that led to them. A deeply researched and well-told history. ~ Reviewed by Arabella Peterson
