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smalltimereads) wrote2021-06-17 06:09 pm
smalltimereads) wrote2021-06-17 06:09 pm
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Review: In Calabria by Peter S. Beagle
In Calabria was published by Tachyon Publications, an independent sff publisher.
I think I'm just not that into Peter S. Beagle's recent books, which is disappointing considering how much I love his older ones. But between In Calabria and Summerlong, it feels like the magic has been...not entirely lost, but lessened.
Everything with the unicorn was lovely- Beagle has a way of writing them that really makes me believe in their wonderful otherness. You can't see a unicorn without somehow being changed by it. The everyday farm scenes and descriptions of the farm and the little town life were charming. Bianchi and Gio were lovely characters.
The plot was fine. There wasn't anything wrong with it, and I do enjoy stories of people coming together to protect one another, but it didn't excite me either. And the romance. There are times I've enjoyed older man/younger woman romances, but they have to be pretty special and also not feature several moments in which the man recalls knowing the woman as a child. There wasn't anything skeevy about the relationship when it happened, but I just don't really like the dynamic.
Also: there is a short but graphic scene featuring cat death.
In Calabria wasn't awful! But it was just ok, and I am disappointed.
I think I'm just not that into Peter S. Beagle's recent books, which is disappointing considering how much I love his older ones. But between In Calabria and Summerlong, it feels like the magic has been...not entirely lost, but lessened.
Everything with the unicorn was lovely- Beagle has a way of writing them that really makes me believe in their wonderful otherness. You can't see a unicorn without somehow being changed by it. The everyday farm scenes and descriptions of the farm and the little town life were charming. Bianchi and Gio were lovely characters.
The plot was fine. There wasn't anything wrong with it, and I do enjoy stories of people coming together to protect one another, but it didn't excite me either. And the romance. There are times I've enjoyed older man/younger woman romances, but they have to be pretty special and also not feature several moments in which the man recalls knowing the woman as a child. There wasn't anything skeevy about the relationship when it happened, but I just don't really like the dynamic.
Also: there is a short but graphic scene featuring cat death.
In Calabria wasn't awful! But it was just ok, and I am disappointed.