Black Light

 Black Light: Stories by Kimberly King Parsons
2019
Weight: 14 oz
Method of Disposal: Donating

I always love a good, seedy, short story, and it was nice to read something published in the last couple years.  The stories in this collection exist well together.  There is a sort of continuum even as every story is a different.  They are dark and often sad in a not-beating-you-over-the-head-with-tragedy sort of way.  They fit my current malaise and general outlook on life, which is nothing but unfortunate for me. 

Laughable Loves

 Laughable Loves by Milan Kundera
1999
Weight: 9.1 oz
Method of Disposal: Leaving in Lending Library

How is it that Milan Kundara was one of my favorite authors at some point?  I really did not enjoy this book at all.  I do think he is an excellent writer, but he treats women like trash and there is never a believable woman character.  They are all just receptacles for toxic masculinity and potentially ejaculate, depending on how successful the deplorable, inhumane male characters are.  I hated it.

Free and Other Stories

Free and Other Stories by Anika Nailah
2002
Weight: 10.4 oz
Method of Disposal: Leaving somewhere

This book snuck onto my shelves and hid there for years. I am pretty sure I bought it when it was on a bargain rack without really even understanding what it was about or what type of book it was. I picked up at random a couple weeks ago, and it read fast so I just kept going. The first couple pages seemed contrived and did not hold my attention, but then I was thrown into all sorts of places with all sorts of people, and I liked it. I was hanging out with a drunk a man trying to be a part of something. I was furious with the adults in my life for not protecting my dog, rather they got rid of him. I was grieving and hysterical. This book covers a lot of ground with few words.

The last story told by a woman whose mother had just died is the one that is sticking with me right now. It was so sad. She was laughing at the funeral and acting up. Her family was embarrassed and did not understand exactly how deep her mourning went or how great of a relationship she obviously had with her mom. It hurt to read, but it was beautiful.

If you would like to own this book let me know before I release it somewhere.

Nocturnes

Nocturnes: Five Stories of Music and Nightfall by Kazuo Ishiguro
2009
Weight: 1 lb
Method of Disposal: Giving Away/Donating



I had never read anything by Kazuo Ishiguro—at least nothing bound in bound up in a book form. I am not sure how I let him slip under my radar since he is obviously quite renowned. My grandmother called him “the most popular” English author right now. According to Wikipedia, he received “four Man Booker Prize nominations, including winning the 1989 prize for his novel The Remains of the Day. In 2008, The Times ranked Ishiguro 32nd on their list of "The 50 greatest British writers since 1945."

All of that being said, I get it. This was not one of my favorite books of all time, but it almost could have been. Even if the plot of a story wasn’t piquing my interest the writing was drawing me forward. This isn’t even one of his most acclaimed books. The writing was just beautiful and simple and easy to read. The stories were about loneliness (amongst other things), which I never tire of.

My grandmother on my mother’s side held onto this book and gave it to me the last time I visited. She said it was really weird, and she thought I would like it. She is an avid reader too, and she is usually spot on. I really appreciate her willingness to share her books and thoughts.