The Archive of Alternate Endings: Stories | 
so-soPer the cover, this work is described as a novel (albeit of novella length). While they are closely linked, I think it more accurately reads as a set of short stories with interstitials. There are themes that follow through, but the chronology and the narrative is constantly remixed rather than linear in its progression, with new characters, subplots to follow. 1/?
This one hits hard.
Think I should poll other older siblings whose younger sibling lives far away to see if it resonates the same way.
When oral traditions fade ...strange to think of books as the terminus, rather than the beginning of a tale.
A codex can preserve...ONE version of a story.
I read 100% queer books in May and it felt awesome. 10/10, would recommend to all.
I found two new-to-me 5-star reads among them: the tagged book and FELIX EVER AFTER by Kacen Callender. Whee!
pickTHE ARCHIVE OF ALTERNATE ENDINGS is made of siblings and queerness and stories that echo across centuries, and I‘m obsessed with it.
5 stars
#gaymay
so-soThere are some beautiful, poignant passages in this book. But I didn‘t believe any of the dialogue.
pickThe multiple strands of the millennium spanned in this novel-told-in-fragments are set 70 years apart, timed with each pass of Halley‘s comet. Pairs of brothers & sisters, with one excluded from their families, often because of one being queer, & the other sticking with them in solidarity—the Hansel & Gretel theme works very well. History is recorded by the dominant in society; it‘s refreshing to see things from a different perspective. #LGBTQ
What is story if not the safe harbour for our most disturbing imaginings? I learned early that the notion of what will come to pass haunts better. But, too, it is about the storyteller—who you choose to trust and why.
I love book serendipity. I just finished a novel about a fairytale collector/creator who is searching for his sister, and my next book opens with the sibling bond between the Grimm brothers. 🙃
so-soThis is not a traditionally structured narrative. Like the chambered shell on the cover, the narrative unfurls and folds back on itself. The power of story, Hansel and Gretel, homosexuality, sibling relationships, and more weave in and out of the story following the 75 year circuit of Halley‘s Comet. Not for everyone for sure. Full review at https://booknaround.blogspot.com/2019/10/review-archive-of-alternate-endings-by....
pickAn 'exploration of sibling love in the face of trauma over the course of a millennium' flipping back and forth in time on the years' of Haley's comet and intertwined with the story of Hanzel and Gretel. Strong LGBTQ themes/presence.
So yeah, not for everyone but I loved it! 5⭐
Reading from my swaps this month as much as possible so Thanks again to @BookNAround for the book and @leslieO helping keep my place with this fabulous bookmark.
Going to start this one that apparently tracks Hansel and Gretel in 75 year intervals over centuries. Very curious to see what it‘s like.
The overall feel is one of sadness for circumstances that could be much improved, how queer people have been treated through history, how often women were restricted, how the planet and the people on it, given our current trajectory, seem doomed to perish as a result of our own wrecking of the climate, before any concerns about a collision with a comet could come 2mo
I respect the book for how strongly the plight of the characters affected me emotionally, and the unique way it was written. I guess I hope for happier alternate endings for the future.
⚠️ homophobia, AIDS crisis, cannibalism, child abuse, terminal illness
2mo