The Bibliophile's Compass

Title : There But For The Author : Ali Smith Publication Year : 2011 Rating : ⭐⭐⭐💫 Pages : 288 Source : ebook Genre : literary fiction, queer Awards : longlisted for the 2012 Orange Prize for Fiction There But For The is Ali Smith’s fifth novel, starring a man named Miles Garth, an "ethical consultant" who decides the most ethical thing he can do is…lock himself in a spare room in a stranger’s house and stay there. For a long time. Why does he do it? Why does he stop doing it? Smith refuses to tell us in any straightforward way, and as someone who agrees with Katherine Mansfield’s “I hate mystery” (quoted in epigraph), I was not exactly thrilled to be handed this particular knot and told, “Enjoy!” The book quickly wanders away from its human hermit and starts circling the lives of people who crossed paths with Miles at some point. He becomes less a character and more a rumor, the novel once heard and is still thinking about. Through them, Smith ruminates on time, sp...

Title : The Story of Antigone Author : Ali Smith Publication Year : 2011 Rating : ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Pages : 100 Source : audiobook @storytel.tr Genre : retelling, Greek Mythology, Historical fiction, YA, Children Who better than Ali Smith to give Greek mythology a cheeky twist, turning it on its head by letting a crow do the talking and a dog sit quietly, presumably thinking about snacks? In this wild retelling, we, the readers, are mere spectators in a feathery soap opera where a mama crow narrates the story of Antigone to the dog (not us). It’s such an unconventional choice that you might forget you are navigating a tragedy—until you find yourself laughing at the crow's perspective on humans. They seem so dramatic and tragic, yet the crow can't help but wonder how delicious they would be if only they weren’t so busy wallowing in their own misery! After reading a few of Ali Smith’s books, I thought I had a grasp on her quirky style and themes. But just when I felt like I was in the...

Title : Moral Ground: Ethical Action for a Planet in Peril Editors : Kathleen Dean Moore, Michael P. Nelson Publication Year : 2011 Pages : 464 Rating : ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Genre : Nature writing Source : Ebook “Moral Ground” is a treasure trove of essays from an eclectic mix of authors: think popes, presidents, poets, and scientists—basically anyone who has ever gazed upon our planet and thought, "Yikes, we might be heading for trouble!" You might be rolling your eyes and saying, "Enough already, we’ve heard it all before!" But let’s be real: it can never be too much when we’re barreling towards an apocalypse faster than a kid on a sugar high. This book truly has something for everyone, no matter your beliefs! Are you the super-religious type who scoffs at scientists? Fear not! The Pope or other religious figures has some words of wisdom that might light a fire under you. A die-hard rationalist who brushes off any hint of the supernatural? Don’t worry—our scientific pals are here...