light of the mind

A recent read: 20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill. Enjoyed it!

I knew the author is the son of SK, but nonetheless went to the book with no expectations other than looking forward to a short story collection. Overall, a good read if you like horror and dark fantasy from a literary fiction approach.

I could see traces of his father’s influence but I came away with more of a Ray Bradbury vibe because the stories leaned more toward dark fantasy and slice of life with weird edges type scenarios. Also the writing style strikes me as more 00s MFA program. The stories are fascinating but also inconclusive. Several don’t have solid endings, they just kind of stop.

This is the first time I’ve read Hill, and I would consider reading another of his books when I’m in the mood for horror.

Finnegans Wake is a hot mess but I like it because it’s based on a simple story with universal themes:

• Falling off the ladder: life’s hardships


• Death: loss of spirit, depression


• Wake: concern of friends and family


• Fight: they have their problems too


• Splash of whiskey: that random thing that can revive you

So in its way, the story makes sense.

I finished the Tama Janowitz book. Overall, I enjoyed it as a period piece to go with Bright Lights, Big City by Jay McInerney and Less Than Zero by Brent Easton Ellis.

The characters in Slaves of New York live in the space between the last remnants of funky 70s New York and 80s glammed up New York. Some of the stories were more interesting than others, yet I like her writing style. Descriptive, with sudden and witty turns of phrases.

While reading, I thought back to other 80s pop culture trends in storytelling like The New Yorker magazine where I read new fiction and stand up comedians like Judy Tenuta, Emo Phillips, and Louie Anderson. I also thought about the Memphis Milano design and art trend, displayed on the set of the Pee Wee Herman Show.

The 80s had a lot of quirky, diverse creativity still in the mainstream. But it was also a time of casual racism, homophobia, and transphobia. We’ve come a long, long way from those days.

I also thought while reading that Slaves of New York is something of a predecessor to Sex and the City. It’s like the arty Greenwich Village version of Carrie and the girls and Charlotte got the art gallery job.

4 stars. The better stories were at the beginning and the end of the collection and the middle part dragged. Oddball, morally ambiguous characters. The writing was excellent.