More miniviews of books...

[deborahjross]

Charles Stross, THE JENNIFER MORGUE. In our house, all you have to say is, "I'm reading a Charlie Stross," as shorthand for "a wildly inventive, absorbing, thoughtful read." This follows THE ATROCITY ARCHIVES aka Cold War spy agencies with delusions of bureaucratic paperwork in Cthulu-Land. Now our computer-geek hero (and his violin-waving philosopher lady) are trapped in an unfolding James Bond scenario.

Charles DeLint, THE MYSTERY OF GRACE. Not a "big" novel, but a sweet, lyrical fantasy. Heroine is a tattoed Latina car mechanic named Grace. She says:

"Every time we make something out of nothing, that's an act of magic. It doesn't matter if it's a painting or a garden, or an abuelo telling his grandchildren some tall tale. Every time we fix something that's broken, whether it's a car engine or a broken heart, that's an act of magic.

"And what makes it magic is that we choose to create or help, just as we can choose to harm. But it's so easy to destroy and so much harder to make things better. That's why doing the right think makes you stronger.

"If we can only remember what we are and what we can do, nothing can bind us or control us."

Comments

[flyinamazon.livejournal.com]

Every intentional act is a magical one.

-Marcie.

[deborahjross.livejournal.com]

I like that way of looking at magic, and of course my writer's mind is filling with thoughts of how to design and portray a system of magic based on pure, focused intention. No magic gadgets needed!

[flyinamazon.livejournal.com]

*chuckle* It's my take on something my Feri trad priestess taught me. It's how I try to live my life -- no fiction required.

OTOH, it might make some pretty good fiction. It's not what you dream that comes true, it's what you act that does. It's very "Wizard of Oz" -- courage, intelligence and heart.