Homeland and Other Stories

Barbara Kingsolver is my absolute favorite author. This collection of short stories titled: Homeland and Other Stories is one of her earliest work. Actually, the author's works list had only two novels in the edition that I read. Another note, before I work on my review, this is my 8th Barbara Kingsolver work (more like 8 1/2) out of 14 total works: including essays, novels, short stories, and prequels. Because of this, I'm probably bias on my opinion of her works.

Barbara Kingsolver in her
younger years.

Unless a short story is famous, or about sci-fi; I don't think I've read any for fun. Short stories as a genre are not enough time for me to reach a deep connection with the characters. With that in mind: this wasn't my favorite work. It is not because of the lack of author's talent, but just a personal preference. Although Homeland is Kingsolver's only series of shorts. I think her artistic preference is in novels and character development, such as The Poisonwood Bible and The Bean Trees. It's also difficult to review a series of small stories--I'm not individually looking at each story.

One of the things that Homeland did for me though was open my eyes to others' experiences. A couple of her stories made me stop and a put the book down. 

Always a fan,

Emily&Jeoffry the Cat

The Thief

This series, The Queen's Thief, was recommended to me by my older sister Hannah. It was her favorite series when she was in early high school. With that in mind, the story is written for a younger audience. But this doesn't take away from the story's content which is incredibly intriguing. 

The first book in the series, The Thief, starts off with Gen stuck in the King of Sounis' prison. Renowned for his abilities for thievery, the King's scholar, the Magnus, forces Gen to follow them on a journey to find a mythical item. 

Instead of the traditional fantasy time-line, this book has a very slow beginning. The majority of the story is background foundation and traveling. Mentally, I was waiting for the story to begin as far as action is concerned. Until chapter eight, the plot is relatively flat. Besides of the occasional skirmish, the story is hanging over stealing this mythical item. Even though the story has a slow beginning, the end makes the waiting worth it. In the last ten pages, the story reveals information that changes the story from the very beginning. Without a doubt, I only want to read the next books in the series because of these last pages. It would feel incomplete to not finish this story in its entirety. Not to mention that the series is still in the process of being written. Who doesn't love that?

One of the benefits of these books, is the fandom is really small. They are not well known, but that makes the author's relationship with her fans really intimate. According to Hannah, my sister, the author: Megan Whalen Turner has been known to get lunch or coffee with her fans if she's in the area. It something I'm interested in looking into. 

Becoming a new fan,
Emily