I grew up in upstate NY.
A compendium of wonders! Perhaps the most creative and captivating wonderland ever conjured, this book is a playful art book to be pored over. An untranslatable encyclopedia depicting a fantastical imaginary world and all of the facets therein: flora, fauna, humanoid life & society, all laid out with a gorgeous fictional alphabet. Like the brainchild of Italo Calvino and Lewis Carroll matched with the artistic sensibilities of René Magritte and Dr. Seuss—Luigi Serafini’s Codex Serafinianus is 100% delightful. ~ Reviewed by Joe Michon-Huneau
Vermont author Genevieve Plunkett’s debut collection of short stories stunned me! Capturing the mood of the Green Mountains with every description, Plunkett’s incredibly natural voice sweeps you into each story. On display here are the hardships and complications of self-discovery and family life: youthful exploration, doomed relationships, flawed and failed marriages, childhood disillusionment, parenting woes, mental illness, attraction, embarrassment, and regret. Graceful, biting, and nuanced, these slices of life are distinct but familiar, and are peppered with some of the cleverest metaphors and most satisfying endings I’ve read in a very long while. ~ Reviewed by Joe Michon-Huneau
Evenson is a masterful short story writer, and these bite-sized creations are perfectly horrific. Bridging the gap between Lovecraftian terror and Bradbury-esque oddity, each story beckons its protagonist into ever darker domains. From a captain whose prosthetic leg turns murderous to a high-stakes card game with the devil himself, Evenson explores worlds where the air is unbreathable, where technology turns sinister, and where humans and monsters should be equally feared. ~ Reviewed by Joe Michon-Huneau
Hauntingly beautiful illustrations reminiscent of H.R.Giger's artwork or Jean-Pierre Jeunet's films. In a dark, ominous world where children wear animal masks, a shy girl discovers solace in her own silence. But her solitude allows her to read, to imagine, and to prepare herself for a world in which she will "make a shimmering noise." An ode to the quiet power of introverts of all ages! I wish I had stumbled across this book when I was a child. ~ Reviewed by Joe Michon-Huneau
After everyone goes to the moon, Vasco is left alone on a surreal, deserted, polluted earth. As buildings crumble and vehicles toppled around him, his shadow—his only companion—guides him away from danger and toward a less lonely future. Brilliantly illustrated, this is legendary children's author Tomi Ungerer's final work, and it is a visual masterpiece full of hope and perseverance. ~ Reviewed by Joe Michon-Huneau
