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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
I liked this book more than I though I was going to. Somewhat Tom Robbins-esque, though not quite as graphic or provocative as his writing tends to be. Kind of predictable, a little bit preachy, but clever and fun enough to keep the pages turning.
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This soared onto my favourites list like a crafty erstwhile Raven deity taking it's rightful place in cultural relevance. The characters genuine, idiosyncratic and relatable, but they're also likable in their realistically flawed personalities. Even the "villains," or the ones with more dubious morals are compellingly human, their motivations and driving forces are clear, and the reader is even made to empathize with them. Perfect pacing, there is always something interesting happening, and something even more interesting imminent.
This book's portrayal of female personalities is gratifyingly good. There is a passage in which the titular Molly observes a scene of chaos and conflagration, and remarks that it is just so "patently male," which I found both accurate and hilarious. While I disagree that anything can be "patently male" (because gender is a passe social construct), the idea behind the quote is clearly that "a violent fire around which people are running like headless chickens is a typical patriarchy-produced mess." This resonated with me on such a deep level when I read it that I actually had to put the book down, laugh, and restock my mental store of respect for male-identifying folk who truly understand the often boorish nature of their fellow men.
Beyond a solid theme of strong women with excellent ideas in leadership positions, this book deals with magic and the supernatural in a wonderful way, touching on it but never fully articulating the details (soft magic system rather than hard magic system, if you're familiar with [author:Brandon Sanderson|38550]'s First Law of Magic Systems (http://brandonsanderson.com/sandersons-first-law/). The method can be tricky, but Grant executes it perfectly. Tex and Molly simultaneously invokes the school of "well of course there are naiads and elves and Sun and Moon God(ddesse)s" as well as the attitude that "hard facts, science, Laws of Nature are my God," complete with detailed scientific interludes about the biological makeup of trees and slime mold DNA!
This book's portrayal of female personalities is gratifyingly good. There is a passage in which the titular Molly observes a scene of chaos and conflagration, and remarks that it is just so "patently male," which I found both accurate and hilarious. While I disagree that anything can be "patently male" (because gender is a passe social construct), the idea behind the quote is clearly that "a violent fire around which people are running like headless chickens is a typical patriarchy-produced mess." This resonated with me on such a deep level when I read it that I actually had to put the book down, laugh, and restock my mental store of respect for male-identifying folk who truly understand the often boorish nature of their fellow men.
Beyond a solid theme of strong women with excellent ideas in leadership positions, this book deals with magic and the supernatural in a wonderful way, touching on it but never fully articulating the details (soft magic system rather than hard magic system, if you're familiar with [author:Brandon Sanderson|38550]'s First Law of Magic Systems (http://brandonsanderson.com/sandersons-first-law/). The method can be tricky, but Grant executes it perfectly. Tex and Molly simultaneously invokes the school of "well of course there are naiads and elves and Sun and Moon God(ddesse)s" as well as the attitude that "hard facts, science, Laws of Nature are my God," complete with detailed scientific interludes about the biological makeup of trees and slime mold DNA!
Really good. A bit of its time (over the hill counter culture types aren't the leads of many books these days), but intriguing characters and story. Ending's a bit weird, but it seems to fit. I'm surprised Mr. Grant seems so low profile (maybe it's just me).
Tex and Molly in the Afterlife by Richard Grant (1996)
Clever and quirky romp by a bunch of activists and misfits in the woods of coastal Maine. Focuses on mortality, living in the moment, exploitive corporations and redemption. Unusual writing style makes for a challenging and interesting read.