Mini Novella Review: Comfort Me With Apples by Catherynne M. Valente

Comfort Me With Apples by Catherynne M. Valente
Tordotcom
Publication: November 9th, 2021

Hardcover. 112 pages.

About Comfort Me With Apples:

"Sophia was made for him. Her perfect husband. She can feel it in her bones. He is perfect. Their home together in Arcadia Gardens is perfect. Everything is perfect. 

It's just that he's away so much. So often. He works so hard. She misses him. And he misses her. He says he does, so it must be true. He is the perfect husband and everything is perfect. 

But sometimes Sophia wonders about things. Strange things. Dark things. The look on her husband's face when he comes back from a long business trip. The questions he will not answer. The locked basement she is never allowed to enter. And whenever she asks the neighbors, they can't quite meet her gaze... 

But everything is perfect. Isn't it?"

Comfort Me With Apples is an odd little novella, but I would expect nothing less from Catherynne Valente. I've been struggling with how to adequately summarize this novella without saying too much and it's proven to be a bit of a task. In essence, this is a story about a woman, Sophia, who lives in what may be seen by some to be an idyllic, perfect community with her husband, whom she loves more than anything and essentially bases her entire life around. Things unfortunately begin to take a somewhat darker turn when Sophia begins to discover some unexpected items around her house and thus starts to question her life and surroundings.

Comfort Me With Apples is an incredibly sharp, intelligent, and clever story that is littered with hints and clues about some greater themes and backdrops that are at play than may be realized. Once I got near the end and started connecting a lot of the dots that had been laid out for me without realizing, I started making all of those connections that were right in front of me the entire time. This book has a lot of mythology incorporated into it in both overt and subtle ways that really made this an entertaining story to read. 

The writing is beautiful and flows effortlessly, and no matter how weird the things happening on the page are, it's hard not to be drawn into Valente's writing. Not to mention that the weird things happening on the page are, in fact, captivating in their own right and for their own reasons. 

Overall, I've given Comfort Me With Apples four stars! This was an unexpected, yet diverting read that gave me something new to ponder and enjoy. This is a quick read because you just have to keep turning the pages, so I would absolutely recommend to anyone even remotely curious about it. 

 

 *I received a copy of Comfort Me With Apples courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

Buy the book: Amazon | IndieBound

Can't-Wait Wednesday: She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan, The Past is Red by Catherynne M. Valente, The River has Teeth by Erica Waters

Can't-Wait is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released! This meme is based off of Jill @ Breaking the Spine's Waiting on Wednesday meme.

 

This week's upcoming book spotlights are: 

She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
Publication: July 20th, 2021

Tor Books

Hardcover. 416 pages.

Pre-order: Amazon | IndieBound

From Goodreads:

"In a famine-stricken village on a dusty yellow plain, two children are given two fates. A boy, greatness. A girl, nothingness…

 

In 1345, China lies under harsh Mongol rule. For the starving peasants of the Central Plains, greatness is something found only in stories. When the Zhu family’s eighth-born son, Zhu Chongba, is given a fate of greatness, everyone is mystified as to how it will come to pass. The fate of nothingness received by the family’s clever and capable second daughter, on the other hand, is only as expected.

 

When a bandit attack orphans the two children, though, it is Zhu Chongba who succumbs to despair and dies. Desperate to escape her own fated death, the girl uses her brother's identity to enter a monastery as a young male novice. There, propelled by her burning desire to survive, Zhu learns she is capable of doing whatever it takes, no matter how callous, to stay hidden from her fate.

 

After her sanctuary is destroyed for supporting the rebellion against Mongol rule, Zhu uses takes the chance to claim another future altogether: her brother's abandoned greatness."

 

and...

The Past is Red by Catherynne M. Valente

Publication: July 20th, 2021

Tordotcom

Hardcover. 160 pages.

Pre-order: Amazon | IndieBound

From Goodreads:

"The future is blue. Endless blue...except for a few small places that float across the hot, drowned world left behind by long-gone fossil fuel-guzzlers. One of those patches is a magical place called Garbagetown.

 

Tetley Abednego is the most beloved girl in Garbagetown, but she's the only one who knows it. She's the only one who knows a lot of things: that Garbagetown is the most wonderful place in the world, that it's full of hope, that you can love someone and 66% hate them all at the same time.

 

But Earth is a terrible mess, hope is a fragile thing, and a lot of people are very angry with her. Then Tetley discovers a new friend, a terrible secret, and more to her world than she ever expected."

I'm really excited for new Catherynne M. Valente, and frankly it doesn't even matter what this book is about! That being said, I do still think this sounds like a great synopsis that I'm excited to check out. I assume the title is similar to her The Future is Blue on purpose, also...

and...

The River Has Teeth by Erica Waters

Publication: July 20th, 2021

HarperTeen

Hardcover. 400 pages.

Pre-order: Amazon | IndieBound

From Goodreads:

"Lush and chilling, with razor-sharp edges and an iron core of hope, this bewitching, powerhouse novel of two girls fighting back against the violence the world visits on them will stun and enchant readers.

 

Girls have been going missing in the woods…

 

When Natasha’s sister disappears, Natasha desperately turns to Della, a local girl rumored to be a witch, in the hopes that magic will bring her sister home.

 

But Della has her own secrets to hide. She thinks the beast who’s responsible for the disappearances is her own mother—who was turned into a terrible monster by magic gone wrong.

 

Natasha is angry. Della has little to lose. Both are each other’s only hope."

This isn't a premise that I typically am drawn to, but I definitely think it has promise and I was enticed by some of the many ways it's been described by early readers as "eerie" and "haunting" and so on. Also, I love that cover quite a bit.

What do you think about these upcoming releases? What are your anticipated upcoming releases?

MIddle Grade Mini-Reviews: The Glass Town Game by Catherynne M. Valente & The Language of Spells by Garrety Weyr

The Glass Town Game by Catherynne M. Valente

Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2017
Hardcover. 544 pages.

The Glass Town Game is one hundred percent pure Catherynne Valente imagination, and that basically just means that this is an incredibly creative, magical, and exceptionally fun story. This book is about Charlotte, Emily, Anne, and Branwell Bronte as they accidentally end up in a fantasy world where things take some unexpected turns. The weird part about this fantasy world? It's based entirely off of the pretend game they themselves invented called Glass Town.

This is a truly stunning piece of fiction with a vibrant, completely unpredictable world and plot. Valente's prose, as always, is so gorgeous that it's almost as if you can feel the magic coming out of the pages. In addition to the writing itself being so wonderful, the content is also just as fun, with dazzling characters and plot points as well as tiny little tidbits/easter eggs littered throughout regarding various elements of the book and the history it is related to. There were so many little details and ideas that I just loved. There are Willy Wonka-esque food experiences and personified luggage that are adorable. Plus, we get some awesome cameos and characters based off of other historical figures, such as Jane Austen and Lord Byron. This book is a blast.

I will say that this if you're looking at this book for a young reader in life and not yourself, I'd recommend it to the older side of middle grade simply because of the size and prose. It's not that it's not kid-friendly, but it is pretty dense and Valente loves her creative wordplay, so a younger reader might not enjoy all aspects of that. Things also did start to feel slightly excessive and convoluted near the end, which is what took this away from being a five-star read for me, but I still really enjoyed it and can absolutely see myself re-reading it in the future. Overall, I've given The Glass Town Game four-and-a-half stars!

Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository

The Language of Spells by Garrett Weyr, illustrated by Katie Harnett

Chronicle Books, 2018
Hardcover. 256 pages. 

The Language of Spells is one of the sweetest, most heartwarming stories I have ever read. I truly fell in love with our two main protagonists: Grisha the dragon & Maggie, a young girl, and I guarantee that you will too. This is a historical-based story in a world in which dragons once existed alongside humans, but during World War II their freedom was taken away and now there only a few still around. This story follows both Maggie and Grisha through a small variety of topics, but the main issue that Maggie sets out to solve is what happened to all the missing dragons.

This is a very calm sort of story without much action or fast-moving plot, but it's still one that really gripped me. I thought the writing was so carefully done and has a lovely magical narration that almost borders on what I would call a sense of melancholy that simply envelopes you and sucks you in. The start of this book is a bit on the slower side, but once you get into it it really does start to pick up.

I really can't recommend this one enough. If you ever just want a break from the stress of your own life or from high conflict books, then this is the perfect book to read through. It's fairly short and it's also middle grade, so it's an easy read. I don't have any kids and I haven't spoken to any kids that have read this, but I do personally feel that this would be a good one. A bit of warning that it has the most bittersweet ending, and I was not at all prepared for it, so it felt like punch to the stomach... but it also felt so wonderful? Overall, I've given The Language of Spells five stars!

Buy the book: Amazon

Waiting on Wednesday: Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson & The Future is Blue by Catherynne M. Valente

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released!

This week's upcoming book spotlight is:

Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Preason
Publication Date: August 7th, 2018

Henry Holt and Co.

384 pages

Pre-order: Amazon | Book Depository 

From Goodreads: 

"A new novel in the New York Times–bestselling Remnant Chronicles universe, in which a reformed thief and the young leader of an outlaw dynasty lock wits in a battle that may cost them their lives—and their hearts. 

When the patriarch of the Ballenger empire dies, his son, Jase, becomes its new leader. Even nearby kingdoms bow to the strength of this outlaw family, who have always governed by their own rules. But a new era looms on the horizon, set in motion by a young queen, which makes her the target of the dynasty's resentment and anger. 

At the same time, Kazi, a legendary former street thief, is sent by the queen to investigate transgressions against the new settlements. When Kazi arrives in the forbidding land of the Ballengers, she learns that there is more to Jase than she thought. As unexpected events spiral out of their control, bringing them intimately together, they continue to play a cat and mouse game of false moves and motives in order to fulfill their own secret missions."

Besides the fact that the cover alone makes me want to read this book, I cannot wait to jump back into this world! I did not expect to enjoy the Remnant Chronicles books nearly as much as I did, so now I'm extra excited to finally read this one!

and...

The Future is Blue by Catherynne M. Valente
Publication Date: July 31st, 2018

Subterranean Press
368 pages
Pre-order: Amazon | Subterrean Press

From Goodreads: 

"Subterranean Press is thrilled to present a major new collection from one of the most dazzling, distinctive voices in the literary world. Catherynne M. Valente, the New York Times bestselling and multiple-award-winning author of The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making and other acclaimed novels, now brings readers thirteen stories unlike any others. 

In the title story, Theodore Sturgeon Award-winning novelette “The Future Is Blue,” an outcast girl named Tetley lives on floating Garbagetown, in a world that dreams of the long lost land. Lovecraft's Cthulhu mythos is explored and reinvented in style in “Down and Out in R'lyeh.” In the novelette “The Limitless Perspective of Master Peek, or, the Luminescence of Debauchery,” Perpetua masquerades as a man in order to continue her father's business as a glassblower and must fashion a special eye for a queen. And in “The Beasts Who Fought for Fairyland Until the Very End,” the wyvern A-Through-L, the warrior Green Wind and his giant cat the Leopard of Little Breezes cope with their broken-hearted disappointment over politicks as the evil Marquess ascends to rule."

I have yet to meet something by Valente that I don't like, so a new short story collection from her sounds just right. I was recently granted access to this one on NetGalley (!!!) so I'm thrilled to dive in--and still excited for the physical release at the end of the month!

What do you think about these upcoming releases? What are your anticipated upcoming releases?

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Waiting on Wednesday: House of Spines by Michael J. Malone & Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released!

This week's upcoming book spotlight is:

House of Spines by Michael J. Malone
Publication Date: March 13th, 2018

Orenda Books
276 pages
Pre-order: Amazon | Book Depository 

From Goodreads:

"Ran McGhie’s world has been turned upside down. A young, lonely, and frustrated writer, and suffering from mental-health problems, he discovers that his long-dead mother was related to one of Glasgow’s oldest merchant families. Not only that, but Ran has inherited Newton Hall, a vast mansion that belonged to his great-uncle, who it seems has been watching from afar as his estranged great-nephew has grown up. 

Entering his new-found home, it seems Great-Uncle Fitzpatrick has turned it into a temple to the written word—the perfect place for poet Ran. But everything is not as it seems. As he explores the Hall’s endless corridors, Ran’s grasp on reality appears to be loosening. And then he comes across an ancient lift; and in that lift a mirror. And in the mirror . . . the reflection of a woman."

The part that grabs me from this description is the new mansion that he moves into--it sounds incredibly intriguing. I am a huge sucker for weird mansions and the like!

and...

Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente
Publication Date: April 3rd, 2018

Saga Press
304 pages
Pre-order: Amazon | Book Depository 

From Goodreads:

"The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy meets Eurovision in an over-the-top science fiction spectacle from bestselling author Catherynne M. Valente, in which sentient species compete for glory in a galactic musical contest—where the stakes are as high as the fate of planet Earth. 

A century ago, the Sentience Wars tore the galaxy apart and nearly ended the entire concept of intelligent space-faring life. In the aftermath, a curious tradition was invented—something to cheer up everyone who was left and bring the shattered worlds together in the spirit of peace, unity, and understanding. 

Once every cycle, the civilizations gather for the Metagalactic Grand Prix—part gladiatorial contest, part beauty pageant, part concert extravaganza, and part continuation of the wars of the past. Instead of competing in orbital combat, the powerful species that survived face off in a competition of song, dance, or whatever can be physically performed in an intergalactic talent show. The stakes are high for this new game, and everyone is forced to compete. 

This year, though, humankind has discovered the enormous universe. And while they expected to discover a grand drama of diplomacy, gunships, wormholes, and stoic councils of aliens, they have instead found glitter, lipstick, and electric guitars. Mankind will not get to fight for its destiny—they must sing. 

A band of human musicians, dancers, and roadies have been chosen to represent Earth on the greatest stage in the galaxy. And the fate of their species lies in their ability to rock.."

I love Catherynne M. Valente's work, and Space Opera is one I've been waiting ages for; it sounds like such a crazy and fun adventure. A battle of the bands in space? I will definitely try it out!

What do you think about this upcoming release? What are your anticipated upcoming releases?

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