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Sandworm

Sandworm

has 10 followers and is following 5 people

I am a 20s-ish writer, heavy on the ish. Some of my work can be read on anderbo.com and in Semaphore. My favorite part of writing is when the story just falls from your fingers as though the thought is just appearing on the page. My least favorite part is the realization that my fingers have made terrible mistakes, having failed to fully flesh... more »
  • Brooklyn, NY, USA
  • member since November 25, 2006

Reviews

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Displaying 1-10 of 13 reviews
  • Dibs in Search of Self
    • Rated 4 stars

    I took such delight in this book. It's often difficult to fully flesh out the character of a child, however this book not only achieves a full portrait of a deep but troubled child, it does so with great dignity. The writing itself is clean and while often tending towards clinical in tone, carries a warm thread of compassion. For those seeking to understand therapy, children and the importance of time and self-examination, this is an invaluable book.

    Sandworm wrote this review Wednesday, August 20, 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • Tree of Smoke
    • Rated 4 stars

    Johnson has been skirting around writing a "Vietnam" novel for years. This attempt is successful on multiple levels in that it's long, disjointed, often sloppy and startlingly violent--just like the war. The book itself is a physical representation of the war. The language can be lush and beautiful as well as stark and brutal. It's a difficult journey that has the reader constantly questioning when and where these threads are going to tie together--they often don't. Johnson however offers points of view that have not been articulated so clearly before, that of the nurse/missionary, German assassin and further on down the line. Johnson tries to show the endless permutations of suffering. In the end, it's a broken book containing large plot holes, dangling loose ends and a narrative thread that's harder to follow than the tunnels he writes about. However, it's a massive, important work that makes a statement on intelligence, confusion and the binding nature of human suffering.

    Sandworm wrote this review Thursday, August 7, 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • The Remains of the Day
    • Rated 5 stars

    A masterful tragi-comedy. The control Ishiguro wields is impressive and enviable. The narrative is deft, subtle and at times achingly paced. What I mean by this is that Ishiguro is so true to the character's voice (an aging butler from a grand house), so tied in with his protagonist's pacing that at times it's frustrating. This is the journey of the novel for the "contemporary" reader, particularly the American ones, who are often in favor of a quicker pace and louder conflicts. The methodical voice, the day by day structure and the flawless prose make this an artful exploration into the mindset of a dying breed. It's a book that forces one to make judgments, change them and look into the deeper meanings and importance of dignity.

    Sandworm wrote this review Saturday, May 24, 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
    • Rated 3 stars

    While many find this book to be a life-changer for the coming of age set; I found the voice and the ideals to be laced with arrogance. The writing itself is clear and strong. The characters are complex. Yet the protagonist for me was a complete anti-hero with misplaced perspective of himself, the world, relationships and personal responsibility. While the nature of the book is contemplative and connects with some, for me the arrogance of the narration was distancing, off putting and and at times angering.

    Sandworm wrote this review Friday, August 24, 2007. ( reply | permalink )
  • The Shipping News
    • Rated 4 stars

    Deeply atmospheric prose, Proulx has created an exploration of the common man in an uncommon place. The pacing at times can be grueling but the depth of the character study is mind boggling. Proulx mixes both broad strokes and caricature with minute detail that creates an unusual, rough yet lilting style.

    Sandworm wrote this review Monday, August 13, 2007. ( reply | permalink )
  • Enslaved by Ducks
    • Rated 4 stars

    A lighthearted book with a warning: once you start collecting pets, it's very, very hard to stop. Tarte is self-effacing and lovable with a dry wit. It's a fun read full of absurd situations, yet also an introspective one. Tarte journeys through depression and anxiety during his adventures in the animal world. An enjoyable read for the animal afficianado.

    Sandworm wrote this review Monday, August 13, 2007. ( reply | permalink )
  • I Was Amelia Earhart
    • Rated 5 stars

    Quite simply, the book I wish I'd written. It's lyrical, fluid, dreamlike and incredibly moving. A soft, fantastical possibility of what might have happened had Earhart and Noonan survived their crash, alone on an island. The book manages in a very small space to deconstruct the image, the woman behind it and the simple stuff that makes up people. Terrifically inspiring, so much so it fueled me to write a play. Achingly beautiful prose, a contemplative read.

    Sandworm wrote this review Monday, August 13, 2007. ( reply | permalink )
  • Dracula
    • Rated 4 stars

    The very definition of an epistolary novel, Dracula reads like a mystery, as though you've stumbled upon a pile of letters and journals. The reader is forced build their own narration to create frenzied pace that has been associated with Dracula's modern adaptations. However, it is a book for a closer read. The pace and emotion lies in the details of the letters and journal entries, the pacing is dictated by the dates and the wording. Dracula is not a book to do the work for you, and that's what makes it a challenging, artful and lasting book. Step away from the 3rd person narrations or even the popular modern sense of first person. It's work, but worth it for a sense reader created suspense.

    Sandworm wrote this review Monday, August 13, 2007. ( reply | permalink )
  • Geek Love
    • Rated 5 stars

    The characters are unapologetic. The narration is positively fierce. I have often referred to Geek Love as a "dirty little book," and yet it is far deeper than its grizzly exterior. Dunn manages to pull off a dissection of traditional family dynamics and society's standards of happiness and beauty, through an intricately woven tale of a sideshow family. Political and emotional at the same time, it's an engrossing read with a narrative voice that's humorous, frank and haunting. While not necessarily for the faint of heart, it's a mind stretching read that stays with you.

    Sandworm wrote this review Monday, August 13, 2007. ( reply | permalink )
  • American Wake

    by Greg Delanty
    • Rated 4 stars

    Achingly gorgeous poetry. Precise, compact, neat verse that captures an Irish American experience in a lyrical light.

    Sandworm wrote this review Wednesday, June 13, 2007. ( reply | permalink )
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Displaying 1-10 of 13 reviews