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Revision as of 07:51, 7 October 2013
, 07:51, 7 October 2013Created page with "{{infobox |title=The Color Master |sort=Color Master |author=Aimee Bender |reviewer=Ani Johnson |genre=Short Stories |summary=Another collection from Aimee Bender, the writer ..."
{{infobox
|title=The Color Master
|sort=Color Master
|author=Aimee Bender
|reviewer=Ani Johnson
|genre=Short Stories
|summary=Another collection from Aimee Bender, the writer who twists
our perception till the extraordinary feels normal forming a happy
marriage between short stories and quirk.
|rating=4.5
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|pages=240
|publisher=Hutchinson
|date=August 2013
|isbn=978-0091953898
|website=http://aimeebender.com/
|video=
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0091953898</amazonuk>
|amazonus=<amazonus>0091953898</amazonus>
}}
Another parade of fascinating, unusual personalities and odd events
from the author of [[Willful Creatures by Aimee Bender|Willful
Creatures]]. This time out [[:Category:Aimee Bender|Aimee]]
introduces us to people like Hans the fake Nazi, young William to whom
all people look the same and Janet who decides to spice up her
love-life with detrimental results. Among other things we also
witness a less-than-altruistic anti-war demonstration and an odd
occurrence in an orchard showing how odd an apple-only diet could make
us.
In the past, American Ms Bender has written a highly acclaimed novel
([[The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender|The Particular
Sadness of Lemon Cake]]) but her great talent is for short stories of
an unusual kind. If you enjoyed ''Willful Creatures'' as much as I
did then the news is good – these are just as innovative and
unexpected. (By the way, the unpretentious, honest style also
includes adult themes and occasional adult language.)
Aimee creates worlds which invite us in and, once we're there,
anything can happen around us. Sometimes, as in the sad tale of ''The
Fake Nazi'' we're in an exact replica of our world. However sometimes
we're in a world of fantasy. For an example of this we need go no
further than the amusing and deliciously odd ''Tiger Mending'' in
which two sisters set out on a conservation project that the WWF
hasn't come up with (and probably for good reason).
When I read Aimee's last collection I desperately sought meaning from
each self-contained story. However I now realise that's totally
unnecessary: it's about the surface journey as much as the depth.
Yes, there are meanings to be gleaned; the conversation in ''The
Doctor and The Rabbi'' could remind us of our connection with the
universe and perhaps ''The Red Ribbon'' (the spiced up marriage that
goes over the top) is a comment on a society that's unable to enjoy
anything for its own sake. But then what meaning could you pin onto
the reverse robbery in ''Americca''? My advice is, if one doesn't
come to mind, don't force it. Just enjoy the quirky voices and the
scenery as it goes by.
It would be interesting to see if you come away with a favourite
episode. I have a different one each time I read them. At the moment
I love the adult fairy story feeling of the title tale. When I say
it's about an apprentice colour mixer who matches shades for shoes and
clothes it doesn't sound much but it waltzed me into an absorbing
universe of princesses and colour magic that seems perfectly credible.
That in a nutshell isn't just the magic of ''The Color Master'', it's
also the magic of Aimee Bender.
I'd like to thank Hutchinson for providing us with a copy for review.
If this appeals, we think you'll also enjoy of [[Willful Creatures by
Aimee Bender|Willful Creatures]]. If you're already a fan, try
something just as original and just as good: [[My Mother Was An
Upright Piano: Fictions by Tania Hershman]]
{{amazontext|amazon=0091953898}}
{{commenthead}}
[[Category:Literary Fiction]]
|title=The Color Master
|sort=Color Master
|author=Aimee Bender
|reviewer=Ani Johnson
|genre=Short Stories
|summary=Another collection from Aimee Bender, the writer who twists
our perception till the extraordinary feels normal forming a happy
marriage between short stories and quirk.
|rating=4.5
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|pages=240
|publisher=Hutchinson
|date=August 2013
|isbn=978-0091953898
|website=http://aimeebender.com/
|video=
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0091953898</amazonuk>
|amazonus=<amazonus>0091953898</amazonus>
}}
Another parade of fascinating, unusual personalities and odd events
from the author of [[Willful Creatures by Aimee Bender|Willful
Creatures]]. This time out [[:Category:Aimee Bender|Aimee]]
introduces us to people like Hans the fake Nazi, young William to whom
all people look the same and Janet who decides to spice up her
love-life with detrimental results. Among other things we also
witness a less-than-altruistic anti-war demonstration and an odd
occurrence in an orchard showing how odd an apple-only diet could make
us.
In the past, American Ms Bender has written a highly acclaimed novel
([[The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender|The Particular
Sadness of Lemon Cake]]) but her great talent is for short stories of
an unusual kind. If you enjoyed ''Willful Creatures'' as much as I
did then the news is good – these are just as innovative and
unexpected. (By the way, the unpretentious, honest style also
includes adult themes and occasional adult language.)
Aimee creates worlds which invite us in and, once we're there,
anything can happen around us. Sometimes, as in the sad tale of ''The
Fake Nazi'' we're in an exact replica of our world. However sometimes
we're in a world of fantasy. For an example of this we need go no
further than the amusing and deliciously odd ''Tiger Mending'' in
which two sisters set out on a conservation project that the WWF
hasn't come up with (and probably for good reason).
When I read Aimee's last collection I desperately sought meaning from
each self-contained story. However I now realise that's totally
unnecessary: it's about the surface journey as much as the depth.
Yes, there are meanings to be gleaned; the conversation in ''The
Doctor and The Rabbi'' could remind us of our connection with the
universe and perhaps ''The Red Ribbon'' (the spiced up marriage that
goes over the top) is a comment on a society that's unable to enjoy
anything for its own sake. But then what meaning could you pin onto
the reverse robbery in ''Americca''? My advice is, if one doesn't
come to mind, don't force it. Just enjoy the quirky voices and the
scenery as it goes by.
It would be interesting to see if you come away with a favourite
episode. I have a different one each time I read them. At the moment
I love the adult fairy story feeling of the title tale. When I say
it's about an apprentice colour mixer who matches shades for shoes and
clothes it doesn't sound much but it waltzed me into an absorbing
universe of princesses and colour magic that seems perfectly credible.
That in a nutshell isn't just the magic of ''The Color Master'', it's
also the magic of Aimee Bender.
I'd like to thank Hutchinson for providing us with a copy for review.
If this appeals, we think you'll also enjoy of [[Willful Creatures by
Aimee Bender|Willful Creatures]]. If you're already a fan, try
something just as original and just as good: [[My Mother Was An
Upright Piano: Fictions by Tania Hershman]]
{{amazontext|amazon=0091953898}}
{{commenthead}}
[[Category:Literary Fiction]]
