Writing in a time of severe social, economic, and psychological dislocation (the COVID-19 pandemic), I relished “The Wee Free Men,” the initial book of four, whose plucky main character, Tiffany Aching, experiences a more surreal existence than she ever imagined. … Continue reading Terry Pratchett’s Coup de Coeur
[In the last installment, Ella called Animal Control Officer Falk back to her neighborhood. She suspected an abused dog lived captive in 2A, the apartment next to hers. Earlier, Falk had discovered a mutilated corpse inside a trash-burner a few … Continue reading “Only Regrets” Installment 11 (Apartment 2A)
These days, when an intelligent and determined person like Greta Thunburg can convey the urgency of climate degradation and hope to lead others to effect change, her actions and message defy societal limitations often imposed on people who manage their … Continue reading THE KITCHEN DAUGHTER
Although the works are not analogous, Elizabeth Strout’s Olive Kitteridge reminds me of Edgar Lee Master’s Spoon River Anthology. Both works survey and reveal the heart of a community and the relationships of its inhabitants. Strout experiments successfully with multiple … Continue reading Notes on “Olive Kitteridge”
Plenty of reviews favor Emily St. John Mandel’s Station Eleven, an apocalyptic novel whose narrative kills off 99% of humanity in a contemporary 21st century setting. I picked it up to read in tandem with Good Morning, Midnight by … Continue reading Notes on “Station Eleven”
An intense psychological experience, Lily Brooks-Dalton’s “Good Morning, Midnight” carried me through the heart-freezing interior landscapes of its two main characters as they struggled to survive in hostile settings. My two days with this speculative novel set me on edge … Continue reading Notes on “Good Morning, Midnight”
[After a strange incident around a trash burner a few blocks from her home, Ella is unnerved by reports of a corpse discovered inside it. Her neighbor Fanny helps her calm down but when Ella returns to her apartment, she … Continue reading Next Installment: “Only Regrets” (Animal Control)
Speculative fiction, whether fantasy or science fiction, has fascinated me since my adolescence. In created worlds, echoing our own or totally alien, writers in these genres question the nature of the universe and our species. Who hasn’t pondered the Big … Continue reading Source Materials
[After her casual walk reveals a corpse, Ella suspects her new neighborhood has some unpleasant secrets. Fanny, a tenant one floor down, comforts her with tea and sympathy. To read previous installments, start with https://susanbassmarcus.net/first-paragraphs-of-a-new-scary-short-story%5D Fanny made excuses about an … Continue reading New Installment of “Only Regrets”
[Ella loves her neighborhood and her new home, but a mutilated body turns up in the trash-burner, site of her terrifying encounter with a beastly dog. The police will be in touch, but meanwhile her neighbor Fanny offers her some … Continue reading Ella’s Dilemma: more “Only Regrets” [working title]
