Book Reviews
Book Review: Breath of Life by L.H MoorePublished by: Apex Book Company
Breath of Life is a series of short stories, vignettes, and poems that explore the mythology, superstition, and folklore of Afro American cultures. It is at its strongest when set in Colonial Era America, where the stories and set pieces told through the eyes of slaves and black Americans reveal otherworldly myths rarely touched on in popular media. With aspects ranging from voodoo, ghosts, and other boogeymen, this backdrop adds a unique spin to an otherwise stale niche, breathing new life into something we all know so well. This comes as no surprise, given the author’s background in history and contributions to the African American National Biography: this is L. H. Moore’s bread and butter. The characters in these sections feel like real people, the dialogue authentic, and the world lived in.
“They threw me in the river after they hanged me, that’s the snatches of the story I’ve heard folks say as I still roam these hallways, walk along that long front verandah, and wander in the gardens.”
Breath of Life is at its weakest when regurgitating more run-of-the-mill sci-fi space operas, vampires, and other overused tropes that are only unique in that they feature characters with Afro-sounding names. Some of these tales left me scratching my head, wondering how one story could have deep impact and cultural resonance, while the next felt like a 90s Goosebumps-esque afterschool special.
“‘So, what now… are we expected to go out and bite necks now? I am not biting people,’ Zina said, crossing her arms.”
Or perhaps it was supposed to resemble Twilight with its teenage cringe? Either way, it was rough.
The poetry redeems the weaker aspects of the story with short, smooth lines that often come after a darker, heavier piece. This helped pace the story and add pauses that were always pleasurable to read.
Breath of Life certainly has its ups and downs, but I say the stories that truly resonate make the whole anthology a worthwhile read.
Book Review: ChloroPhilia by Cristina JuradoPublished by: Apex Book Company
Chlorophilia is one of those novels that sneaks up on you; not in an “oh, this novel was surprisingly good despite my expectations” kind of way, but more so in an insidious timebomb-that-teases-you-along until it detonates. At first, I found myself wondering what the point was. The early sections feel heavy with excessive description and a bit too much telling among the set pieces. But this turns out to be purposeful, so be patient. Chlorophilia dives into our humanity, our moral ambiguity and its interrelationship with nature, not just as a backdrop, but as a deeper theme of the novel.
The novel follows humanity after a storm has ravaged the earth, forcing residents to live out the remainder of their lives in protective domes. The rest of society, not privy to the protection of said domes, has devolved into chaos. Chlorophilia follows a world-weary doctor tasked with solving their crisis and a little boy who might just be the saviour.
Chlorophilia is not always for the faint of heart; some of the moments left me feeling icky, yet moved, and I believe that was the point. This book does a wonderful job of matching moving moments with humour and darkness; it knows how to push and pull its readers, and it does so with skill.
One standout moment for me comes when the doctor reflects on his life before the storm:
“The old man spoke about host families in remote places that treated him like an adopted son, about dancing to hypnotic rhythms with thousands of others in clandestine raves, about crossing the ice in a dogsled at freezing temperatures. Majestic waterfalls, prairies stretching on until they were lost on the horizon, streets adorned with colors and music, mountains vomiting fire, and places so high as to erase the blue sky and stop the world.”
Which is then abruptly undercut by:
“The doctor stopped many times to cover his ears and shout curses at the animals. Several of the livestock handlers gestured for him to go away and one even threw dry cow dung at him.”
Chlorophilia doesn’t linger, which makes it all the more compelling.
Chlorophilia pulled me into some reflection, made me think, and rewarded me for paying close attention. This is a novel that pays justice to the careful reader; so watch out, pay attention, and enjoy the winding ride.
