Little Bee - Chris Cleave

ENGLISH REVIEW
(scroll down to see the review in Spanish // Reseña en español debajo)

The premise was promising, but I feel there was something missing. Or should I say that there were three things that bothered me.
One was that I would have left out the chapters with Sarah's view point, because I truly enjoyed the story when it was told by Little Bee in such beautiful writing, but I found myself utterly uninterested in Sarah. In fact, the most striking aspect for me was how well Little Bee's voice and culture was represented, coming from a white, male, English author. Bravo for that!
The second problem had to do with how Andrew is portrayed, for the reader not to like him and thus justify an unimportant plot point. Also, I believe the relationship aspect should have been left out because it didn't contribute to he story at all.
And my last criticism is related to Bee saying that she would have to explain things in a different manner to the girls back home when retelling her story. I get that it is supposed to denote a clash of cultures, but I took it as the author unconsciously underestimating Nigerian people's reasoning capacity.
Nonetheless, I would recommend this book because of the refugee story and the fragments of beautiful writing.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Original language: English

Language read: English 

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Edition: paperback

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6948436-little-bee

RESEÑA EN ESPAÑOL

(Scroll up to see the review in English // Reseña en inglés arriba)

La idea sonaba prometedora, pero me faltó algo. O quizás debería decir que hubo tres cosas que me molestaron.
Por un lado yo no habría incluido los capítulos con el punto de vista de Sarah, porque cuando más disfruté la historia fue durante los capítulos relatados por Little Bee, y no me interesó para nada el personaje de Sarah. De hecho, el aspecto que más me sorprendió, para bien, fue lo bien que estaba representada la voz de Little Bee y su cultura, sobre todo viniendo de la pluma de un autor hombre, blanco e inglés. Lo felicito por eso.
El segundo problema tiene que ver con la caracterización negativa de Andrew, porque apunta a que resulte desagradable para el lector para justificar un punto poco importante de la trama. Además, me parece que se debería haber excluido el tema de las relaciones  porque no aporta nada a la historia.
Por último, la tercera crítica es que Little Bee se la pasa diciendo que tendría que explicar su historia de otra forma si se la estuviera relatando a las chicas en casa. Si bien entiendo que se supone que eso se usa para representar un choque de culturas, sentí como si el autor estuviera subestimando inconscientemente la capacidad de razonamiento de las personas nigerianas.
No obstante, recomendaría este libro de todos modos por la historia sobre la realidad de los refugiados y por los momentos de escritura hermosa.


Estrellas: 3,5 de 5 

Idioma original: inglés 

Idioma de lectura: inglés
Editorial: Simon & Schuster

Edición: tapa blanda

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10373413-con-el-coraz-n-en-la-mano

Ex Libris: Stories of Librarians, Libraries, and Lore - Paula Guran

Although this is a rather large book, the review will be short and sweet.

Sci.Fi, Gothic, Mystery, Existential, you name it. This book touches on a variety of topics and genres, al revolving around the theme of books, libraries and librarian.

A book that is alive, another acts as a philosopher's stone, a baby as payment for a late return, witches, authors living after their deaths through their books, and much more.

What I love the most about anthologies is that they are a great medium for discovering new authors, some that I would probably never have heard of in other circumstances.

My favorite stories were:

5 stars
- Exchange by Ray Bradbury
- Paper Cuts Scissors by Holly Black
- The Green Book by Amal El-Mohtar
- The Fort Moxie Branch

4.75 stars
- The Inheritance of Barnabas Wilcox by Sarah Monette
- The Midbury Lake Incident by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
- What Books Survive

4.5 stars
- If on a Winter's Night a Traveler by Xia Jia
- Ad Librum by Paula Guran

4 stars
- In Libres by Elizabeth Bear
- In the House of the Seven Librarians by Ellen Klages
- Special Collections by Norman Partridge

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Original language: English

Language read: English 

Publisher: Diamond Book Distributors 

Edition: ebook (provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review)

Expected Publication; 05/30/2017

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33163204-ex-libris?ac=1&from_search=true

* NOTA: No hay reseña en español porque por el momento solo está disponible en inglés.

Eileen - Ottessa Moshfegh

ENGLISH REVIEW
(scroll down to see the review in Spanish // Reseña en español debajo)

The story was disturbing, intriguing, disgusting and twisted -all in a good way. The writing style is gripping and makes you want to finish the whole thing in one sitting.

Then why 2.5 stars, then? you might be asking. The problem I had with it was hearing the author say that she wanted to write something different, strange, that would get her noticed so she could become famous. Hadn't I learned that, I would have given it 3.5 stars. 


I don't like it when authors o publishers think they are better than the reader/consumer, that they know what we like and would buy; them trying to play puppet master as if we were chess pieces.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Original language: English

Language read: English 

Publisher: PENGUIN GROUP (The Penguin Press)

Edition: ebook (provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review)

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23453099-eileen

RESEÑA EN ESPAÑOL

(Scroll up to see the review in English // Reseña en inglés arriba)

El libro es perturbador, intrigante, desagradable y retorcido (todo en el buen sentido). La escritura es atrapante y hace que te quieras comer el libro de un saque.

Se preguntarán "entonces, ¿por qué solamente 2 estrellas y media?. El problema que tuve con este libro fue que me enteré que la autora dijo que quería escribir algo diferente y raro, que le diera notoriedad, porque quería hacerse famosa. De no haberme enterado de eso, este libro se llevaría una estrella más.


Me molesta cuando los autores y/o editoriales se creen mejores que el lector/consumidor porque "saben" lo que nos gusta y vamos a comprar; que jueguen al titiritero y nos quieran manejar como piezas de ajedrez.

Estrellas: 2,5 de 5 

Idioma original: inglés 

Idioma de lectura: inglés
Editorial: PENGUIN GROUP (The Penguin Press)

Edición: ebook (proporcionado por Netgalley a cambio de una reseña honesta)

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33384705-mi-nombre-era-eileen

REVIEW: Scratch: Writers, Money, and the Art of Making a Living

Manjula Martin did a great job editing this collection of essays and interviews on what the title says: writers, their lives, money, finance and advertising, among other topics.

This collection allowed me to discover new authors, make up my mind on others I had been curious about and also rediscovered a few.
Because I usually do mini reviews of each component in collections and anthologies and there are so many essays compiled in this book, I am going to "pull an Aesop" and provide morals I got from some of them or quotes that I feel summarize the main idea of the essay. Please do bare in mind that some concepts may sound or even be similar and not all of the essays will have a summary. Here we go:

The book is divided into three sections:

1) EARLY DAYS, which delves into the making of a writer and the process to being published.

In Owning This, Julia Fierro talks of herself as a bookaholic, comparing books to people (as if they were living beings) and even considering books as her family. They will always be what she turns to when in need of comfort and company.
Moral: Stay true to yourself.

With Compliments: Nina MacLaughlin took the plunge and left her journalist job, but then her new way of making a living ceased to exist. What could she do next? Keep writing for free as a means of keeping herself occupied and trained.
Moral: Never stop doing what you love.

Faith, Hope and Credit: Cheryl Strayed gives a realistic view of income and success as a writer.
Moral: Some things are not as they seem.

On Staying Hungry by Rachael Maddox.
Moral: Keep the balance.

Porochista Khakpour did an amazing job at giving Joyce's famous work in Portrait of the Artist as A Debut Novelist. Here she describer what vould be called 'writer's stages'.
Morals: What you've been wishing for can happen -and probably will- when you least expect it.
              Believe in -and don't be so hard on- yourself.

Colin Dickey's The Mercenary Muse could be described as a short history of the writing business from the Greeks to today.
Quote: "Wrtie from the heart, not from the pocket."

Running the Widget Factory by Susan Orlean.
Moral: It is always good to try things out, because practice makes -almost- perfect.

The Wizard by Alexander Chee.
Moral: Money doesn't necessarily mean success, because what you get paid isn't always what you're worth.

You Are the Second Person by Kiese Laymon.
Moral: Don't compromise your ideals for "success," and never stop doing whatever makes you happy.

Five Years in the Wilderness by Cari Luna.
Morals: Sometimes you don't need others to conquer your dreams.
            One must know when to step aside.

Freedom by Richard Rodríguez.
Moral: The image you project is how you are seen.
            Luck generally plays an important part.

Work Hard, Read Dead by Yiyun Li.
Moral: Perspective is key to creating a realistic story.
Quote: "If you get there first, it doesn't mean you're the best."

Let's Suffer, Let's Starve by J. Robert Lennon.
Moral: Art for Art's sake osn't possible because money gets in the way..


2) THE DAILY GRIND, which tackles the struggles of working writers.

The Best Work in Literature by Manjula Martin centres around going up in the professional ladder.
Moral: Don't underestimate your day job or overstimate your freelance one.
Quote: "The best work in literature is walys done by those who do not depend on it for their daily bread." - Oscar Wilde.
Quote: "Work is work, even when we call it art or love, or culture and even when it's not. I want ro be valued, as much as often as possible, regardless of which clock I'm punching."

The Insider by Kate McKean.
Morals: If you pay attention you'll have something to learn from every experience.
             Take advantage of the knowledge you've gained from life itself."
             Play with the cards you are dealt.

Against "Vs." by Leslie Jamison.
Moral: That which influences a writer's work isn't only literary.

Love for Sale by Harmony Holiday depicts the perspective of people of color.
Moral: Celebrate people who add to the country's culture.

Unlikeable by Emily Gould is the most feminist of the bunch.
Moral: Don't try to please others and be liked if that means acting like a person you are not.

Sad Birthday Lady™ by Meaghan O'Connell is the only one that bothered me immensely and inspired the rant that follows.
Moral:

Freedom by Richard Rodríguez.
Moral: The image you project is how you are seen.

Freedom by Richard Rodríguez.
Moral: The image you project is how you are seen.

Freedom by Richard Rodríguez.
Moral: The image you project is how you are seen.

Freedom by Richard Rodríguez.
Moral: The image you project is how you are seen.

Freedom by Richard Rodríguez.
Moral: The image you project is how you are seen.

Freedom by Richard Rodríguez.
Moral: The image you project is how you are seen.


3) SOMEDAY, which comprises hopes, dreams and advice.


MY FAVORITES

4.5 stars:
- Worth by Jennifer Weiner
- Unlikeable by Emily Gould
- The Jump by Sarah Smarsh
- Not A Complaint by Nell Boeschenstein

4 stars
- The Wizard by Alexander Chee
- A Sort of Fairy Tale by Malinda Lo
- Like a Fish in A Tweet Suit by Jonathan Franzen
- Portrait of the Artist as a Young Novelist by Porochista Khakpour
- The Best Work in Literature by Manjula Martin

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Original language: English

Language read: English 

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Edition: ebook (provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review)

Expected Publication; 01/03/2017

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29430716-scratch

Los primeros cuentos - Truman Capote

RESEÑA EN ESPAÑOL

(Scroll up to see the review in English // Reseña en inglés arriba)

Descubrí este libro por casualidad mientras hacía tiempo a la salida del cine (en una librería, por supuesto). Cuando vi que había algo "nuevo" de Capote casi me muero de la alegría porque es uno de mis escritores preferidos.
Las historias son de distintos géneros pero todas conservan la atmósfera sureña latente. Disfruté mucho algunas, otras menos y una no me gustó. Al tratarse de escritos tempranos en la carrera de Capote, es evidente que le faltaba bastante para terminar de moldear ese estilo tan particular suyo. De todos modos, hay vestigios del Truman que todos conocemos en las temáticas abordadas y en las descripciones.

5 estrellas:
- La señorita Belle Rankin

4,5 estrellas:
- Si te olvido
- De parte de Jamie
- Lucy

4 estrellas:
- La polilla en la llama
- El extraño familiar

3,5 estrellas:
- El pantano del terror
- La tienda Mill

2,5 estrellas:
- Louise
- Rumbo al Oeste
- Almas gemelas
- Donde comienza el mundo

1,5 estrellas:
- Hilda

Estrellas: 3,5 de 5 

Idioma original: inglés 

Idioma de lectura: español
Editorial: Lumen

Edición: tapa blanda

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1987413650

The Complete Masters of the Poster

ENGLISH REVIEW
(scroll down to see the review in Spanish // Reseña en español debajo)

I have always loved Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec's work ever since we studied him in Elementary -primary- School. However, I have to confess I had no idea that there was such a thing as 'Masters of the Poster' until I came across this book. I immediately applied in the hope I would get the opportunity to review it and here I am.
Surprisingly, Toulouse-Lautrec is my favorite artist from that period and style no more, because thanks to this publication I was able to discover some of my new favorite 'Masters', such as Chéret, Grasset, de Feure, Mucha, Steinlen, The Beggarstaffs, Roedel and Berthon (in that order.)
This book is essential for everyone; from the lay person like me that likes -or is interested in- the period and style to the collector, because this publication's design allows for the works to be fully appreciated in their entirety.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Original language: English

Language read: English 

Publisher: Dover Publications

Edition: ebook (provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review)

Expected Publication; 01/12/2017

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1099814.The_Complete_Masters_of_the_Poster_?ac=1&from_search=true

RESEÑA EN ESPAÑOL

(Scroll up to see the review in English // Reseña en inglés arriba)

Admiro el trabajo de Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec desde que lo estudiamos en la primaria. Sin embargo, debo confesar que no tenía la menor idea de la existencia de "Los maestros del Cartel" hasta que me crucé con este libro. Inmediatamente envíe la solicitud con la esperanza de que me permitieran leerlo para reseña y, por suerte, acá estoy.
Es increíble, pero Tousolouse-Lautrec ya no es mi artista preferido de ese período y estilo, porque gracias a esta publicación descubrí nuevos "Maestros" preferidos como lo son Chéret, Grasset, de Feure, Mucha, Steinlen, The Beggarstaffs, Roedel y Berthon (en ese orden).
Este libro es esencial para cualquier persona: desde los legos, como yo, a quienes les gusta o interesa ese período o estilo hasta los coleccionistas, porque el estilo en el que están publicados los carteles permite disfrutar completamente de las obras en su plenitud, ya que se pueden apreciar los detalles.

Estrellas: 5 de 5 

Idioma original: inglés 

Idioma de lectura: inglés
Editorial: Dover Publications

Edición: ebook (proporcionado por Netgalley a cambio de una reseña honesta)
Fecha de publicación: 12/01/2017

Por el momento solo disponible en inglés (en este caso no dificulta la lectura porque se trata de carteles y nombres de autores; lo único que no se pdoría disfrutar sería la introducción).

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1099814.The_Complete_Masters_of_the_Poster_?ac=1&from_search=true