Wednesday, July 13, 2005

I read an unexpectedly 9/11 novel

last night, Necklace of Kisses by Francesca Lia Block (and do click on that link and check out her author photo, it is really beautiful in a demented and anorexic kind of way). I like these Weetzie Bat books (and the bumper omnibus is definitely a good deal if you like this kind of thing, which I do--I always read the first few pages thinking "god, this is kind of great but slightly whimsical and narcissistic, why am I reading it?" and then a few pages later I'm completely caught up in it). Block is a very good writer in a completely non-writerly way; you feel like she could be producing weird artworks (polaroids of Chanel suits and punk-rock album covers glued onto clear plastic raincoats, say, or something equally punk-couture-surreal) but it happens that they come out in the form of novels instead.

2 comments:

  1. Hi Jenny

    The Weetzie Bat books are wonderful! Too poetic for teenagers? They were unlike anything else I read when I was younger...you've made me think I should get myself another copy soon...

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  2. Yeah, there's something curiously appealing about them. Definitely get another copy! But even more so, you must read Holly Black's books! They have a certain amount in common with the Weetzie Bat ones but are somehow much more my particular kind of thing. VALIANT is simply superb.

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