Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Viking Juvenile (2008), Edition: First Edition (1 in number line), Hardcover, 400 pages
Description
A collection of nine short stories for young adults.
Media reviews
The stories are wryly funny, spine-chilling and occasionally outright frightening (if I'd read "Monster" at night I'm fairly certain I'd have had nightmares). Perhaps most importantly for such surreal stories, the characters are real, easy to relate to.
User reviews
LibraryThing member GingerbreadMan
“When you’re dead, the babysitter says, everything is a lot easier. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. You don’t have to have a name, you don’t have to remember. You don’t even have to breathe.
She shows them exactly what she means.”
I have no idea how to try and
Kelly Link writes a crystal clear, accessible, crisp prose, full of momentum. It takes me to places I’ve never been, without me hardly even realizing how we even get there. She often uses deceptively simple, naive structures, like fairy tale elements, but in her own unpredictable way. A reader of Murakami might find the same “right, just accept this” approach to strangeness here. But Kelly Link is different – darker, subtler, funnier, scarier.
Sometimes the ride is just bewildering and charming, as in “Magic for beginners” where a group of teens become obsessed with an incredibly strange TV show about a library, broadcast on random channels at irregular intervals. Sometimes it’s a tall tale full of weird twists that perhaps shouldn’t really work, but do, as in “The constable of Abal” where the daughter of a ghost collector and con artist is suddenly expected to be respectable – and male. And sometimes, as in “The Specialist’s hat”, it’s so utterly creepy it gives me goosebumps just thinking about it (even writing this) – even though I couldn’t explain to you exactly why or even what’s going on.
Seriously, books like this is why I read. My only little complaint is that two of the stories in this book were also in Link’s last volume, “Magic for beginners”. But if there was just one Kelly Link story, I’d still read it again and again. If this isn’t one of my top reads this year, I’ll eat my hat. And then the monster would come to eat me.
She shows them exactly what she means.”
I have no idea how to try and
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describe Kelly Link’s writing. It’s fantasy meets horror meets teen angst meets surrealism, I suppose. But you’ve heard me say those words before. How about this? Kelly Link’s short stories are like strange jigsaw puzzles, where every piece in itself seems to make perfect sense. But when you put them together the picture they form is distorted and eerie and weird and full of dark corners and it seems to be totally different depending on what angle you look at it from. And yet, when you look at the individual pieces, they’re still completely clear.Kelly Link writes a crystal clear, accessible, crisp prose, full of momentum. It takes me to places I’ve never been, without me hardly even realizing how we even get there. She often uses deceptively simple, naive structures, like fairy tale elements, but in her own unpredictable way. A reader of Murakami might find the same “right, just accept this” approach to strangeness here. But Kelly Link is different – darker, subtler, funnier, scarier.
Sometimes the ride is just bewildering and charming, as in “Magic for beginners” where a group of teens become obsessed with an incredibly strange TV show about a library, broadcast on random channels at irregular intervals. Sometimes it’s a tall tale full of weird twists that perhaps shouldn’t really work, but do, as in “The constable of Abal” where the daughter of a ghost collector and con artist is suddenly expected to be respectable – and male. And sometimes, as in “The Specialist’s hat”, it’s so utterly creepy it gives me goosebumps just thinking about it (even writing this) – even though I couldn’t explain to you exactly why or even what’s going on.
Seriously, books like this is why I read. My only little complaint is that two of the stories in this book were also in Link’s last volume, “Magic for beginners”. But if there was just one Kelly Link story, I’d still read it again and again. If this isn’t one of my top reads this year, I’ll eat my hat. And then the monster would come to eat me.
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LibraryThing member bluesalamanders
There is some wonderful imagery and ideas in these stories, but Link has a problem with endings. The stories either sort of fade away or just stop with no resolution. And the final story, the titular story, was a great idea with a twist that surprised me and I really wanted to liked, but it was
Overall, like I said before, I wanted to like these stories, but there were only one or two that I cared for and I don't plan to read any more of her work.
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ruined at the end by an annoying patronizing moralistic bit directed at the reader, who the author clearly thinks must be too stupid to realize the clever thing she just did there. Overall, like I said before, I wanted to like these stories, but there were only one or two that I cared for and I don't plan to read any more of her work.
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LibraryThing member AltheaAnn
I'd come across a few stories by Link in anthologies, and that was enough to make me excited to pick up this book at the store.
Unfortunately, I think every story I'd already read by Link was in this book. That's OK, though, because these stories are all good enough to read at least twice.
The Wrong
A very Neil-Gaiman-ish feel to this one. Some time after his high school girlfriend is killed in a car accident, a guy decides to dig up her grave to retrieve the undoubtedly-brilliant poetry he buried with her. In doing so, he released an undead girl, who doesn't seem at all like his girlfriend...
The Wizards of Perfil
It is probably impossible to convey, over the internet, how much I love this story. I've read it twice now, and I cried both times. It is beautiful, tragic, but above all, hopeful.
The servants of the mysterious Wizards buy children, and take them off to Perfil, for who knows what purpose. When the children in the story get there, the purpose is not revealed. All they seem to do is menial tasks, and the Wizards are nowhere to be seen...
Magic for Beginners
Jeremy and his friends are obsessed with a pirate TV show called 'The Library,' an ongoing drama where actors and characters are oddly interchangeable. Meanwhile, Jeremy's mom, and his very peculiar dad, who reupholsters sofas and has written a novel in which he kills Jeremy, are having marital problems. Jeremy's mom packs him off with her for a cross-country road trip, and fiction and reality intersect in indefinite ways.
The Faery Handbag
She's grown up with the stories: open the handbag one way, and it's an entrance to another world; full of all the refugees from her grandmother's village, long ago. Open it the other way, and beware, because the sinister guardians will be released. She's never believed the stories. But bad things have happened, and boy has she messed up.
The Specialist’s Hat
Creepy! Creepy, creepy, creeeeeepy! If you buy, and move into a haunted house, you PROBABLY should check the babysitter's references, and maybe her ID, too, before you leave your young children with her. Better yet, just get the hell out of that house before it's too late.
Monster
Kids at summer camp, forced to go on a remarkably unpleasant camping trip in the rain. There's petty bullying, and a lot of mud. And then it gets significantly more unpleasant.
The Surfer
A kid is drugged by his dad and kidnapped. He wakes up enroute to Costa Rica. All he can think about is how upset he is to be missing his big soccer game, back home. But maybe his dad did know something - he's a doctor, and in Costa Rica they find themselves imprisoned in a quarantine camp - back home, a plague has broken out. In Costa Rica, half the people there are hoping to join a surfer guru who preaches the imminent return of benevolent aliens who may save humanity from themselves...
The Constable of Abal
Ozma (no, not the princess of Baum's Oz) tags along after her mother, a woman who has mysterious powers over ghosts. Ozma does too. She puts them on leashes like pets. She particularly likes the ghost of a constable that her mother killed on the road, and hangs on to it secretly even when her(?) - things get a bit indefinite - mother tells her to let it go. Her mother says they're going 'home,' but that goal isn't in sight. Instead, she goes into service at the home of a strange woman whose house is full of ghosts...
Pretty Monsters
Teenage girls. A hopeless schoolgirl crush. Hazing. Werewolves. Two stories twine and interact, incorporating these things. What will happen at the end? We're not sure, but we can guess.
As I said earlier, I really like Link's writing. I do, however, have ambiguous feelings about her love of ambiguity. She really likes indefinite endings and unanswered questions. Sometimes it works really well (The Specialist's Hat), at other times (Magic For Beginners) I really felt as if the end of the story was missing - and I really wanted to read it. Still, a remarkably excellent book.
Unfortunately, I think every story I'd already read by Link was in this book. That's OK, though, because these stories are all good enough to read at least twice.
The Wrong
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GraveA very Neil-Gaiman-ish feel to this one. Some time after his high school girlfriend is killed in a car accident, a guy decides to dig up her grave to retrieve the undoubtedly-brilliant poetry he buried with her. In doing so, he released an undead girl, who doesn't seem at all like his girlfriend...
The Wizards of Perfil
It is probably impossible to convey, over the internet, how much I love this story. I've read it twice now, and I cried both times. It is beautiful, tragic, but above all, hopeful.
The servants of the mysterious Wizards buy children, and take them off to Perfil, for who knows what purpose. When the children in the story get there, the purpose is not revealed. All they seem to do is menial tasks, and the Wizards are nowhere to be seen...
Magic for Beginners
Jeremy and his friends are obsessed with a pirate TV show called 'The Library,' an ongoing drama where actors and characters are oddly interchangeable. Meanwhile, Jeremy's mom, and his very peculiar dad, who reupholsters sofas and has written a novel in which he kills Jeremy, are having marital problems. Jeremy's mom packs him off with her for a cross-country road trip, and fiction and reality intersect in indefinite ways.
The Faery Handbag
She's grown up with the stories: open the handbag one way, and it's an entrance to another world; full of all the refugees from her grandmother's village, long ago. Open it the other way, and beware, because the sinister guardians will be released. She's never believed the stories. But bad things have happened, and boy has she messed up.
The Specialist’s Hat
Creepy! Creepy, creepy, creeeeeepy! If you buy, and move into a haunted house, you PROBABLY should check the babysitter's references, and maybe her ID, too, before you leave your young children with her. Better yet, just get the hell out of that house before it's too late.
Monster
Kids at summer camp, forced to go on a remarkably unpleasant camping trip in the rain. There's petty bullying, and a lot of mud. And then it gets significantly more unpleasant.
The Surfer
A kid is drugged by his dad and kidnapped. He wakes up enroute to Costa Rica. All he can think about is how upset he is to be missing his big soccer game, back home. But maybe his dad did know something - he's a doctor, and in Costa Rica they find themselves imprisoned in a quarantine camp - back home, a plague has broken out. In Costa Rica, half the people there are hoping to join a surfer guru who preaches the imminent return of benevolent aliens who may save humanity from themselves...
The Constable of Abal
Ozma (no, not the princess of Baum's Oz) tags along after her mother, a woman who has mysterious powers over ghosts. Ozma does too. She puts them on leashes like pets. She particularly likes the ghost of a constable that her mother killed on the road, and hangs on to it secretly even when her(?) - things get a bit indefinite - mother tells her to let it go. Her mother says they're going 'home,' but that goal isn't in sight. Instead, she goes into service at the home of a strange woman whose house is full of ghosts...
Pretty Monsters
Teenage girls. A hopeless schoolgirl crush. Hazing. Werewolves. Two stories twine and interact, incorporating these things. What will happen at the end? We're not sure, but we can guess.
As I said earlier, I really like Link's writing. I do, however, have ambiguous feelings about her love of ambiguity. She really likes indefinite endings and unanswered questions. Sometimes it works really well (The Specialist's Hat), at other times (Magic For Beginners) I really felt as if the end of the story was missing - and I really wanted to read it. Still, a remarkably excellent book.
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LibraryThing member kittyjay
Kelly Link's collection of short stories range from fantasy to horror to somewhere in-between. Her ideas are absolutely amazing - tying ghosts to ribbons, or enchanted libraries with oceans on the third floor, or any number of tiny details that make her work some of the most imaginative I've read -
The only reason that I didn't rate this higher was due to the horror stories. Link is one of those authors who feels that ambiguity makes a scary story scarier. Each of the horror stories felt like it ended just too soon, like it was just getting interesting, then finished without a proper ending.
The others, the ones that were more fantasy in nature, did not suffer from this problem. I'm not sure why an author as talented as Kelly Link so clearly is would choose not to exercise those talents. Ambiguity in a story is fine, but after a while, it started to feel like a cheap trick.
As I said, though, the ideas were interesting, and the more "fairy tale" stories escaped the mysterious syndrome plaguing the horror stories.
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and the writing does them justice.The only reason that I didn't rate this higher was due to the horror stories. Link is one of those authors who feels that ambiguity makes a scary story scarier. Each of the horror stories felt like it ended just too soon, like it was just getting interesting, then finished without a proper ending.
The others, the ones that were more fantasy in nature, did not suffer from this problem. I'm not sure why an author as talented as Kelly Link so clearly is would choose not to exercise those talents. Ambiguity in a story is fine, but after a while, it started to feel like a cheap trick.
As I said, though, the ideas were interesting, and the more "fairy tale" stories escaped the mysterious syndrome plaguing the horror stories.
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LibraryThing member delphica
Overall, three stars, but a few individual stories were a four (I especially liked the one about the mysterious TV show). YA short stories, with YA protagonists in a variety of situations from very vaguely supernatural to full out fantasy. I liked them in general, although some aspects blended
I felt like the author is a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer; there was a lot of pop culture supernatural stuff that was cute and fun when it worked, although it occasionally felt like filler in a way that made me ask myself "If I was writing stories, would I really want my authorial voice to be so closely linked to a fandom?"
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together in a way that is not a compliment. I think it's one thing for a short story collection to feel cohesive and dovetailed -- this didn't seem that intentional. I felt like the author is a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer; there was a lot of pop culture supernatural stuff that was cute and fun when it worked, although it occasionally felt like filler in a way that made me ask myself "If I was writing stories, would I really want my authorial voice to be so closely linked to a fandom?"
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LibraryThing member datrappert
Reviewing each story as I read it.
The Wrong Grave (**) - Really annoying intrusions by the authorial voice spoil whatever fun this throwaway tale of a young man digging up the grave of his former girlfriend to retrieve a book of poetry he left in her coffin, but for which he has no copies. Sort of
The Wizards of 'Perfil (*** 1/2) - This story has a completely different tone and could be from a different writer. It is written at a juvenile level, but tells a satisfying tale of a young girl and her cousin who are sold to the wizards of the title. The narrative here is quite effective and the ending satisfying.
Magic for Beginners (** 1/2) - This story of a strange television show and a group of young people who are obsessed by it is enjoyable, but just sort of rambles on and on. The protagonist is likable, and there are some good scenes and observations, especially about male-female relationships. Some might describe the story of the TV show as being Borgesian--but Borges never rambled, and in the end I just have to conclude that the author knows how to write--but doesn't know how to tell a story.
The Faery Handbag (**) - Another interesting idea, a handbag that opens up into another dimension, but the author just doesn't seem to care enough to give the story any depth or lasting meaning.
The Specialist's Hat (*** 1/2) is suitably creepy and, because it is mercifully short, quite effective.
The Wrong Grave (**) - Really annoying intrusions by the authorial voice spoil whatever fun this throwaway tale of a young man digging up the grave of his former girlfriend to retrieve a book of poetry he left in her coffin, but for which he has no copies. Sort of
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pointless.The Wizards of 'Perfil (*** 1/2) - This story has a completely different tone and could be from a different writer. It is written at a juvenile level, but tells a satisfying tale of a young girl and her cousin who are sold to the wizards of the title. The narrative here is quite effective and the ending satisfying.
Magic for Beginners (** 1/2) - This story of a strange television show and a group of young people who are obsessed by it is enjoyable, but just sort of rambles on and on. The protagonist is likable, and there are some good scenes and observations, especially about male-female relationships. Some might describe the story of the TV show as being Borgesian--but Borges never rambled, and in the end I just have to conclude that the author knows how to write--but doesn't know how to tell a story.
The Faery Handbag (**) - Another interesting idea, a handbag that opens up into another dimension, but the author just doesn't seem to care enough to give the story any depth or lasting meaning.
The Specialist's Hat (*** 1/2) is suitably creepy and, because it is mercifully short, quite effective.
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LibraryThing member ChrisRiesbeck
Another collection, much in the vein of Magic for Beginners (which is included here for some reason). I really enjoy Link's characters and auctorial voice, but the similarities across stories makes her collections a bit challenging for me. The final story, Pretty Monsters, is original to this
Recommended.
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collection. The fantastic element is held off for quite a while. I enjoyed The Surfer the most, I think because it was very different from the others -- more SFnal and less fantasy -- even though fantasy is her strength.Recommended.
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LibraryThing member krau0098
This was a collection of nine stories by Link. Some of them were really good and some were just so-so. Like most short story collections there is a lot of variability. My favorites were “The Faery Handbag” and “The Constable of Abal”. You can see a short description of the stories in this
Overall it was a decent collection of short stories. While it’s not a great collection of short stories there are some neat ideas in here. Link’s writing style is very unique and if you are a Kelly Link fan I think you will enjoy this collection of stories. I personally wasn’t a huge fan of Link’s writing style; it was a bit too stark for me.
“The Wrong Grave” (3/5 stars)
This is the story about a teenage boy who digs up his girlfriend’s grave to retrieve some of his old poetry and ends up digging up the wrong girl. The ending was a bit confusing and also a bit ironic. It was okay.
“The Wizards of Perfil” (4/5 stars)
This was a longer story about a young woman who gets sold off by her parents to the Wizards of Perfil. As war approaches she is frustrated by the wizards lack of action. This was an interesting story and well written. I liked the twist at the end, even though it was a bit predictable.
“Magic For Beginners” (4/5 stars)
This was a strange and rambling story about a boy living in a TV episode called the Library who is obsessed with a TV show called the Library. In this episode of the Library Jeremy has to save a character in his version of the Library from dying. It’s a bit hard to follow but ended up being an interested if somewhat twisted story. I ended up enjoying it.
“The Faery Handbag” (5/5 stars)
I really loved this story about a girl who is supposed to find and keep track of her grandmother’s handbag. Supposedly her grandmother’s handbag contains a whole town of people and when the heroines boyfriend disappears into the handbag she is determined to get him back. This is a fun and imaginative story and was one of the most cohesive stories of this collection so far.
“The Specialist's Hat” (3/5 stars)
A quick story about two young girls who have a strange babysitter. This was an okay story about ghosts and a creepy hat. It was pretty short and a bit difficult to tell what happened in the end.
“Monster” (3/5 stars)
This story took place at a camp where some goes go out for an overnight hike and are terrorized by a monster...kind of. It was okay but again a bit ambiguous and confusing about what was going on.
“The Surfer” (3/5 stars)
There was some good world-building in this short story. It takes place in a future Earth that’s plagued with influenza outbreaks. Our protagonist is kidnapped by his father who is taking him to go see aliens when they are quarantined in Costa Rica during a flu outbreak. What’s follows is a lot of soccer playing in an airplant hanger, a bit of irony, and a very open ending. It was okay but again not a lot of point.
“The Constable of Abal” (5/5 stars)
I enjoyed this story a lot. This is about a girl and her mother who help people collect ghosts as pets, taking advantage of both the money people are willing to pay the ghosts and the ghosts themselves.. Then the girls mother has a change of heart and moves to a town of Gods. There her mother tries to be devout and is frantically looking for something. I loved the ending and thought some elements of the story were intriguing (at one point the girl is able to turn herself into a boy and then back into a girl again). I thought it was very creative and really loved it.
“Pretty Monsters” (4/5 stars)
This was an interesting story that was really two stories woven together and then those were woven under a third story. The main story is about some girls who are taking one of their girlfriends out for her Ordeal (kind of like hazing). One of the girls involved in planning the Ordeal is reading a YA paranormal romance novel and half of the story is the story she is reading. There is an additional twist at the end. It was a creative way to structure and story but was still a bit confusing; some of the ideas here could have been communicated better. I ended up liking it.
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collection and what I thought about them below.Overall it was a decent collection of short stories. While it’s not a great collection of short stories there are some neat ideas in here. Link’s writing style is very unique and if you are a Kelly Link fan I think you will enjoy this collection of stories. I personally wasn’t a huge fan of Link’s writing style; it was a bit too stark for me.
“The Wrong Grave” (3/5 stars)
This is the story about a teenage boy who digs up his girlfriend’s grave to retrieve some of his old poetry and ends up digging up the wrong girl. The ending was a bit confusing and also a bit ironic. It was okay.
“The Wizards of Perfil” (4/5 stars)
This was a longer story about a young woman who gets sold off by her parents to the Wizards of Perfil. As war approaches she is frustrated by the wizards lack of action. This was an interesting story and well written. I liked the twist at the end, even though it was a bit predictable.
“Magic For Beginners” (4/5 stars)
This was a strange and rambling story about a boy living in a TV episode called the Library who is obsessed with a TV show called the Library. In this episode of the Library Jeremy has to save a character in his version of the Library from dying. It’s a bit hard to follow but ended up being an interested if somewhat twisted story. I ended up enjoying it.
“The Faery Handbag” (5/5 stars)
I really loved this story about a girl who is supposed to find and keep track of her grandmother’s handbag. Supposedly her grandmother’s handbag contains a whole town of people and when the heroines boyfriend disappears into the handbag she is determined to get him back. This is a fun and imaginative story and was one of the most cohesive stories of this collection so far.
“The Specialist's Hat” (3/5 stars)
A quick story about two young girls who have a strange babysitter. This was an okay story about ghosts and a creepy hat. It was pretty short and a bit difficult to tell what happened in the end.
“Monster” (3/5 stars)
This story took place at a camp where some goes go out for an overnight hike and are terrorized by a monster...kind of. It was okay but again a bit ambiguous and confusing about what was going on.
“The Surfer” (3/5 stars)
There was some good world-building in this short story. It takes place in a future Earth that’s plagued with influenza outbreaks. Our protagonist is kidnapped by his father who is taking him to go see aliens when they are quarantined in Costa Rica during a flu outbreak. What’s follows is a lot of soccer playing in an airplant hanger, a bit of irony, and a very open ending. It was okay but again not a lot of point.
“The Constable of Abal” (5/5 stars)
I enjoyed this story a lot. This is about a girl and her mother who help people collect ghosts as pets, taking advantage of both the money people are willing to pay the ghosts and the ghosts themselves.. Then the girls mother has a change of heart and moves to a town of Gods. There her mother tries to be devout and is frantically looking for something. I loved the ending and thought some elements of the story were intriguing (at one point the girl is able to turn herself into a boy and then back into a girl again). I thought it was very creative and really loved it.
“Pretty Monsters” (4/5 stars)
This was an interesting story that was really two stories woven together and then those were woven under a third story. The main story is about some girls who are taking one of their girlfriends out for her Ordeal (kind of like hazing). One of the girls involved in planning the Ordeal is reading a YA paranormal romance novel and half of the story is the story she is reading. There is an additional twist at the end. It was a creative way to structure and story but was still a bit confusing; some of the ideas here could have been communicated better. I ended up liking it.
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LibraryThing member kmaziarz
Link’s first collection of short stories explicitly aimed at a young adult audience is a collection of small wonders – or pretty monsters! Each story mixes the conventions of the “story about teenagers” with those of the “story about magic,” managing to turn both on their heads.
Standouts in the collection include “The Wizards of Perfil,” in which a cruel young girl sold as a servant to wizards comes to realize the strengths she holds within herself; “Magic For Beginners,” about a boy’s quest to aid the possibly real characters in a beloved television series;” and “Monster,” in which a misfit teen boy who has often been subject to the teasing and bullying torments of his fellow campers finds himself confronting the very real monster who has just devoured his tormenters and cannot decide whether or not to consume him as well.
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Link’s protagonists are all teens, but not all of them are entirely human. With a sly and often deadpan wit, she casts classic coming-of-age dilemmas in terms both magical and often alien.Standouts in the collection include “The Wizards of Perfil,” in which a cruel young girl sold as a servant to wizards comes to realize the strengths she holds within herself; “Magic For Beginners,” about a boy’s quest to aid the possibly real characters in a beloved television series;” and “Monster,” in which a misfit teen boy who has often been subject to the teasing and bullying torments of his fellow campers finds himself confronting the very real monster who has just devoured his tormenters and cannot decide whether or not to consume him as well.
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LibraryThing member kpickett
A collection of nine short stories for teens on a variety of fantastic and supernatural topics. Some of my favorites are: "Moster" about a summer camp story that comes to life and eats campers, "Magic for Beginners" about a TV show named The Library that invades reality, "The Constable of Abal"
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about a little girl and her mother who travel from town to town selling ghosts as clothing accessories to the rich, and "The Faery Handbag" where an ancient town hides from a natural disaster in an old woman's handbag. Show Less
LibraryThing member figre
I have always suspected that Kelly Link is one of the strongest science fiction/fantasy/speculative fiction/whatever-genre-you-want-to-call-it authors out there. I had read a few of her short stories and had never found disappointment. After reading this collection, my suspicions are confirmed, and
These stories have their closest link to fantasy, but with none of the cloying aspects of fantasy that can drive people away in disgust. (Fantasy is a word just like Science Fiction that conjures pictures to many peoples’ mind that do not truly represent what the genre has to say. If you knee-jerk away from fantasy, do not knee-jerk away from these stories.) It is not that she shies away from the normal props one sees in fantasy. On the contrary, there are at least two “monster” stories here, as well as a wizard story. It is the fact that she deals with these in ways that are unexpected, in ways that are familiar but new, in ways that show how much depth there can be in these tales.
There are three award winners in this book representing Locus and Nebula and Hugo and many other awards. But do not read this book just to get to the award winners or just because it contains some award winners. (And, if the only story you read from this book is “Magic for Beginners”, then you will have at least read a story that I believe will be a longstanding classic.) Read the book because there is not a bad story in the batch (nor is there a mediocre story in the batch). Read this book because it is a strong collection by one of the great authors currently writing.
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I will add she is one of the best author’s (no qualifiers) out there.These stories have their closest link to fantasy, but with none of the cloying aspects of fantasy that can drive people away in disgust. (Fantasy is a word just like Science Fiction that conjures pictures to many peoples’ mind that do not truly represent what the genre has to say. If you knee-jerk away from fantasy, do not knee-jerk away from these stories.) It is not that she shies away from the normal props one sees in fantasy. On the contrary, there are at least two “monster” stories here, as well as a wizard story. It is the fact that she deals with these in ways that are unexpected, in ways that are familiar but new, in ways that show how much depth there can be in these tales.
There are three award winners in this book representing Locus and Nebula and Hugo and many other awards. But do not read this book just to get to the award winners or just because it contains some award winners. (And, if the only story you read from this book is “Magic for Beginners”, then you will have at least read a story that I believe will be a longstanding classic.) Read the book because there is not a bad story in the batch (nor is there a mediocre story in the batch). Read this book because it is a strong collection by one of the great authors currently writing.
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LibraryThing member obscuresoul13
This collection of short stories had a little bit of everything when it comes to the supernatural. My favorite story was the one titled "The Wizards of Perfil". The stories were interesting, the only thing that I wasn't too happy with was that some of the stories ended in what you would consider
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cliffhangers. Overall, an enjoyable read. Show Less
LibraryThing member edspicer
The book is composed of short stories. So, if you get bored with one them be another one to read. The short stories [are compelling]. The short stories were all different. No comments, unless you want to make a book about a crazy 'nam veteran who is still wary of Charlie being everywhere. AHS/JD
LibraryThing member alwright1
Pretty Monsters is the first young adult collection from Kelly Link. I had never read anything by her before this collection, but Neil Gaiman mentioned her on his blog and it piqued my interest. I picked up the book to leaf through in a book store and thought it looked like a lot of fun from the
The stories are all fantasy or paranormal stories about young people. My favorite story "Magic for Beginners" is about a boy and his favorite show The Library, but there was hardly a story in this book that I didn't wish would continue on to be an entire book itself.
I have to find some more of her collections now so that I can officially add her to my favorite authors list. The stories caught my fancy, and I've been thinking about them for days. I really enjoy her imagination and language. I can't wait to find more to read from Kelly Link.
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few sentences I read.The stories are all fantasy or paranormal stories about young people. My favorite story "Magic for Beginners" is about a boy and his favorite show The Library, but there was hardly a story in this book that I didn't wish would continue on to be an entire book itself.
I have to find some more of her collections now so that I can officially add her to my favorite authors list. The stories caught my fancy, and I've been thinking about them for days. I really enjoy her imagination and language. I can't wait to find more to read from Kelly Link.
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LibraryThing member Goldengrove
Although this has become one of my favourite books (I've read it 3 times in the last 6 months, and it's joined the immortals - Wells, Conan Doyle and Shakespeare - on my bedside table) I'm loath to review it 'properly' for fear of giving too much away, and spoiling the marvellous surprise awaiting
The stories are linked by their unexpected and surprising approaches, but at the same time they're quite different. There are various little nods to other tales: Monster visits the American 'Summer camp' story in a darkly funny way; The Faery Handbag toys with Tir Na Nog; and Magic for beginners, my favourite, has traces of Dr Who and manga. All of the stories are in the best radition of fantasy in that they are internally consistent, and any 'strangeness' is quite in keeping with the world Link creates.
I'm surprised to read in other reviews that this is considered a 'teen' title. Not that is isn't suitable for teens - but it should definitely not be confined to any narrow category. One to treasure.
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the uninitiated. The stories are linked by their unexpected and surprising approaches, but at the same time they're quite different. There are various little nods to other tales: Monster visits the American 'Summer camp' story in a darkly funny way; The Faery Handbag toys with Tir Na Nog; and Magic for beginners, my favourite, has traces of Dr Who and manga. All of the stories are in the best radition of fantasy in that they are internally consistent, and any 'strangeness' is quite in keeping with the world Link creates.
I'm surprised to read in other reviews that this is considered a 'teen' title. Not that is isn't suitable for teens - but it should definitely not be confined to any narrow category. One to treasure.
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LibraryThing member vampiregirl76
This was my first time reading Kelly Link. She is quite the find, I really enjoyed her stories. An award winning author, Pretty Monsters is the third book to be released featuring her short stories. Pretty Monsters was originally published as a hardcover in September 2008.
A fun read, out the the 10
A fun read, out the the 10
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stories I really enjoyed Pretty Monsters and The Cinderella Game. Take your mind on a fantastic voyage with Kelly Link's Pretty Monsters. Each tale is new and adventurous. Storytelling that is unique, wacky and filled with paranormal elements. Ms. Link spins exciting tales that are worth re-reading. Show Less
LibraryThing member tcalvert
Link’s latest collection of stories is her first aimed at young adults (most of the protagonists are teens), yet the stories aren’t really that different from the fiction she writes with adult characters. And this is a good thing; she’s not writing down to anyone, and the stories are
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fantastic. There are werewolves, ghostly baby-sitters, goddesses, phone booths, surfers, siblings, a dead girlfriend and a poet. Best is Link’s comfort with ambiguity and her staunch resistance of comfortable conclusions and decisions. Throughout these stories are people acting in very believable ways despite very strange circumstances-they behave the way we we would, only we really don’t know how we would in similar circumstances; somehow Link does. One of my favorite stories, “Pretty Monsters,” has the best conclusion of any story I’ve read this year, and “The Wrong Grave” is one of the most original stories I’ve read in a long while. Fans of the fantastic, the macabre, the sweet and the sad should enjoy this book’s nonchalant surreality and abundant, honest emotions. Show Less
LibraryThing member peajayar
Reality and fantasy mix seamlessly in these stories. The writing is spare and the world of each story is totally convincing while you are in the story. In "Monster" for example, the relationships among the boys at camp are heartbreakingly ordinary and cruel at the same time.
LibraryThing member AmyLynn
Kelly knows how to end a story, leaving you salivating for more. In every one of her stories, I'm left wanting just one more page, to know what happens next. She ends the short stories in such a way the ending is truly up to you.
Each of these nine stories are well crafted accounts of the
I highly recommend this book for fans of Holly Black, Melissa Marr and Charles de Lint.
Each of these nine stories are well crafted accounts of the
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fantastical, otherworldly and just strange. A handbag with a village inside, a monster negotiating eating a camper, and an undead babysitter are just a few of the beautifully bizarre things in this amazing book.I highly recommend this book for fans of Holly Black, Melissa Marr and Charles de Lint.
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LibraryThing member omnia_mutantur
I have a crush the size of Portugal on this author. Seriously, I'm not sure I've felt this fangirly in a long, long time.
LibraryThing member rachelhunnell1
Pretty Monsters is a collection of short stories for young adults. The stories vary in nature from futuristic to fantastical and everything in-between. It's a wonderful resource for high school teachers to get their students interested in reading, and also great for introducing short stories as a
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genre. Students as well as teachers will enjoy reading these stories aloud or individually. Teachers could also use these stories for drama, since many stories can be easily adapted for scripting. Really, because of the variation of stories this book is an invaluable tool for English teachers, but can also be adapted to fit nearly any subject. The very non-traditional nature of the stories allows for accommodation of any reading interest especially that of young men. A great tool for teachers trying to help motivate struggling readers. Show Less
LibraryThing member TFS93
This is an ecclectic, bizarre, mix of short stories. My favorite here was The Specialist's Hat. Some of these may be a little scary for some children, and some may be over their heads.
LibraryThing member NRTurner
The Faery Handbag by Kelly Link
rating: 5/5 It's amazing!
Audio read by Maggie Blake (my favourite reader).
A family heirloom has magical powers.
When the narrator was a child her grandmother always told her magical stories about her ratty old hand bag - people could fit inside it and there was a whole
As she grows up these faery stories seem silly and unbelievable. But one day events take a turn for the eerie.
rating: 5/5 It's amazing!
Audio read by Maggie Blake (my favourite reader).
A family heirloom has magical powers.
When the narrator was a child her grandmother always told her magical stories about her ratty old hand bag - people could fit inside it and there was a whole
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other world where time ran at a different rate.As she grows up these faery stories seem silly and unbelievable. But one day events take a turn for the eerie.
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LibraryThing member elizardkwik
An interesting collection of short stories with a variety of characters. My personal favorite was the library one, though even it was a bit confusing.
LibraryThing member jenniferthomp75
I didn't fall in love with this book, and it's not in my Top 8 for the Printz award (in my opinion, "Tender Morsels" should've made the cut instead). However, that's not to say I didn't enjoy it. Link's 9 short stories were hit or miss for me. Some of the tales I enjoyed thoroughly. Others... well,
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not so much. Link is clever and witty and offers unique perspectives on story-telling and twist endings. I guess I just got burnt out reading 9 of these stories in a row... Show Less
Awards
Locus Award (Finalist — Collection — 2009)
World Fantasy Award (Nominee — Collection — 2009)
Locus Recommended Reading (Collection — 2008)
Best Fiction for Young Adults (Selection — 2009)
Original publication date
2008
Physical description
400 p.; 9.2 inches
ISBN
0670010901 / 9780670010905