Sharp writing that showcases a delightful sense of humor.
Guiaşu offers a collection of funny tales and lists that tackle a vast array of subjects.
The first story in this delightful and eclectic compilation begins with the unnamed protagonist in a pub, celebrating the publication of his first short story, only to be told by a friend, “Don’t take this personally, but you can’t be a writer. You just haven’t lived enough.” It’s a clever opening for a book whose vast scope encompasses an awful lot of what life has to offer. “Logical Flaws and Other Problems with Jurassic Park,” presents an imagined letter to John Hammond, the fictional creator of Jurassic Park, in which the correspondent points out the several issues that give the story its title. Other stories tell of a rabid squirrel squaring off against a German shepherd and a human-resources department announcing “Bring Your Pants to Work” day. And, in “Trying to Figure Out Which One of My Neighbours Ratted Me Out During the Pandemic,” police appear at a person’s door with complaints that they left their house for nonessential reasons. Lists include “Life Lessons You Probably Won’t Find in Self-Help Books” (“Know your limitations, but don’t share that knowledge with anyone”) and “Things That Go Through Your Mind as You Are Taking Part in the Running of the Bulls Event in Pamplona” (“Generally speaking, quadrupeds are faster than bipeds”). No matter the topic, it’s funny stuff, although a few pieces have more serious overtones, such as “Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow,” with its antibullying theme. The author is a university professor at who delights in skewering academia; “Submission Guidelines” is a laugh-out-loud parody of scientific journal requirements, and it’s followed by “An Honest Rejection Letter,” which includes such gems as “We wish we could tell you to keep trying, but that wouldn’t be good advice.” Guiaşu also plays with different styles along the way, particularly scoring with the clipped prose of “In the Wilderness, Reading Hemingway.” Overall, there’s much to like about this congenial, diverting, and agreeable collection.
Sharp writing that showcases a delightful sense of humor.Pub Date: Nov. 26, 2024
ISBN: 9781039194946
Page Count: 222
Publisher: FriesenPress
Review Posted Online: Sept. 25, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
PERSPECTIVES
An affecting portrait of a prickly woman.
A lifetime’s worth of letters combine to portray a singular character.
Sybil Van Antwerp, a cantankerous but exceedingly well-mannered septuagenarian, is the titular correspondent in Evans’ debut novel. Sybil has retired from a beloved job as chief clerk to a judge with whom she had previously been in private legal practice. She is the divorced mother of two living adult children and one who died when he was 8. She is a reader of novels, a gardener, and a keen observer of human nature. But the most distinguishing thing about Sybil is her lifelong practice of letter writing. As advancing vision problems threaten Sybil’s carefully constructed way of life—in which letters take the place of personal contact and engagement—she must reckon with unaddressed issues from her past that threaten the house of cards (letters, really) she has built around herself. Sybil’s relationships are gradually revealed in the series of letters sent to and received from, among others, her brother, sister-in-law, children, former work associates, and, intriguingly, literary icons including Joan Didion and Larry McMurtry. Perhaps most affecting is the series of missives Sybil writes but never mails to a shadowy figure from her past. Thoughtful musings on the value and immortal quality of letters and the written word populate one of Sybil’s notes to a young correspondent while other messages are laugh-out-loud funny, tinged with her characteristic blunt tartness. Evans has created a brusque and quirky yet endearing main character with no shortage of opinions and advice for others but who fails to excavate the knotty difficulties of her own life. As Sybil grows into a delayed self-awareness, her letters serve as a chronicle of fitful growth.
An affecting portrait of a prickly woman.Pub Date: May 6, 2025
ISBN: 9780593798430
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Crown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 15, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2025
A dark and twisty look at just how far one woman is willing to go to find inspiration.
A struggling writer finds an unexpected muse when a mysterious man shows up at her cabin.
Petra Rose used to pump out a bestselling book every six months, but then the adaptation happened—that is, the disastrous film adaptation of her most famous book. The movie changed the book’s storyline so egregiously that fans couldn’t forgive her, and the ensuing harassment sent Petra into hiding and gave her a serious case of writer’s block. Petra’s one hope is her solo writing retreat at a remote cabin, where she can escape the distractions of real life and focus on her next book, a story about a woman having an affair with a cop. When officer Nathaniel Saint shows up at her cabin door, inspiration comes flooding back. Much like the character from Petra’s book, Saint is married, and he’s willing to be Petra’s muse, helping her get into her characters’ heads. Petra’s book is practically writing itself, but is the game she’s playing a little too dangerous? Does she know when to stop—and, more importantly, is Saint willing to stop? Hoover is no stranger to controversial movie adaptations and internet backlash, but she clarifies in a note to readers that she’s “just a writer writing about a writer” and that no further connections to her own life are contained in these pages—which is a good thing, because the book takes some horrifying twists and turns. Petra finds herself inexplicably attracted to Saint, even as she describes him as “such an asshole,” and her feelings for him veer between love and hate. The novel serves as a meta commentary on the dark romance genre—as Petra puts it, “Even though, as readers, we wouldn’t want to live out some of the fantasies we read about, it doesn’t mean we don’t enjoy reading those things.”
A dark and twisty look at just how far one woman is willing to go to find inspiration.Pub Date: Jan. 13, 2026
ISBN: 9781662539374
Page Count: -
Publisher: Montlake
Review Posted Online: Sept. 27, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2025
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