This is a strange choice but the book that comes to mind is Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl by Andrea Lawlor. Can a fairy be code for a shapeshifter, be code for queer liberation? You tell me. Thanks for these thoughtful links and recs
For me, THE fairy novel is probably John Crowley’s Little, Big. Like all of his books, it’s more about possibility and implication than what actually, concretely happens, which I think is the right way to approach a fairy story. None of the rules a swath of modern fantasy wants to apply to them, like Seelie vs. Unseelie or summer vs. winter. Just elemental beings going about their business, which is incidentally quite terrifying or beautiful (or terrifyingly beautiful) to humanity.
The story "Fiddler, Fool, Pair" from Kathryn Harlan's fantastic collection "Fruiting Bodies" comes to mind! It's about an anthropologist who tests her luck trying to study the fair folk by gambling in their weekly card game. Loving the rest of the recommendations here!
I live down 89 from you (exit 2) and have a concept2 rower, bike, and ski erg. Best investments ever. Solidly made in Vermont, great service from real humans. My son rowed in college and started my addiction. I agree that rowing is the most satisfying cardio workout, something about it feels really complete. Also thanks so much for the article on Ayat in Brooklyn, my daughter goes to Columbia and the protests there make me think people have finally really and truly lost their minds. I feel so reassured that there are sane people in NYC.
I just started Su Bristow's new book, The Fair Folk. Holly Black is the queen of writing about the modern Fae. I deeply love Pamela Dean's Tam Lin, which was a huge influence on my own Roses and Rot. (and I'm definitely going to be making my own reading list from the comments here.)
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black and The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt are two fairy-related novels that are extremely different from each other but I loved both. I'm so looking forward to reading The Book of Love and Dead in Long Beach, California. Looking up the Chris Adrian novel now!
As a mostly non fiction reader who was recently gifted ACOTAR and got Fourth Wing from the library, I can say I’m very much enjoying my winter vacation into fantasy (in every meaning of the word) lit. I hope you enjoy yours as well!
Not a novel, but I would recommend Rachel Eisendrath’s strange and lovely critical memoir, Gallery of Clouds, to anyone interested in the readerly and writerly yearnings for Arcadia, fairyland, dreaminess and escape.
This is a strange choice but the book that comes to mind is Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl by Andrea Lawlor. Can a fairy be code for a shapeshifter, be code for queer liberation? You tell me. Thanks for these thoughtful links and recs
For me, THE fairy novel is probably John Crowley’s Little, Big. Like all of his books, it’s more about possibility and implication than what actually, concretely happens, which I think is the right way to approach a fairy story. None of the rules a swath of modern fantasy wants to apply to them, like Seelie vs. Unseelie or summer vs. winter. Just elemental beings going about their business, which is incidentally quite terrifying or beautiful (or terrifyingly beautiful) to humanity.
The story "Fiddler, Fool, Pair" from Kathryn Harlan's fantastic collection "Fruiting Bodies" comes to mind! It's about an anthropologist who tests her luck trying to study the fair folk by gambling in their weekly card game. Loving the rest of the recommendations here!
I live down 89 from you (exit 2) and have a concept2 rower, bike, and ski erg. Best investments ever. Solidly made in Vermont, great service from real humans. My son rowed in college and started my addiction. I agree that rowing is the most satisfying cardio workout, something about it feels really complete. Also thanks so much for the article on Ayat in Brooklyn, my daughter goes to Columbia and the protests there make me think people have finally really and truly lost their minds. I feel so reassured that there are sane people in NYC.
I just started Su Bristow's new book, The Fair Folk. Holly Black is the queen of writing about the modern Fae. I deeply love Pamela Dean's Tam Lin, which was a huge influence on my own Roses and Rot. (and I'm definitely going to be making my own reading list from the comments here.)
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black and The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt are two fairy-related novels that are extremely different from each other but I loved both. I'm so looking forward to reading The Book of Love and Dead in Long Beach, California. Looking up the Chris Adrian novel now!
I'm working on a picture book about one of the fairies from The Dream. Does that count?
Also, can't wait to get my hands on Kelly Link's novel!
I love that Chris Adrian novel.
As a mostly non fiction reader who was recently gifted ACOTAR and got Fourth Wing from the library, I can say I’m very much enjoying my winter vacation into fantasy (in every meaning of the word) lit. I hope you enjoy yours as well!
Not a novel, but I would recommend Rachel Eisendrath’s strange and lovely critical memoir, Gallery of Clouds, to anyone interested in the readerly and writerly yearnings for Arcadia, fairyland, dreaminess and escape.