BOOK: The Suitcase Clone (2022)

by benmweilertNo Comments
The Suitcase CloneYear: 2022Author: Robin SloanLength: 78 pages Much like Ajax Penumbra 1969 helped fill in some of the lore for Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore, Robin Sloan expounded on his book Sourdough with The Suitcase Clone. This short story doesn’t necessarily share any of the main characters from Sourdough, but it gives some insight about the mysterious “creature” that’s in the sourdough while also providing an interesting look into intellectual property theft when it comes to specific wines—which itself is reason enough to read this short story. Sloan takes a somewhat unorthodox approach to the point of view here, which took some getting used to. His language bordered on being too flowery, and it lost me as to what was happening at least a few times. But in terms of straight vibes, The Suitcase Clone successfully gives off that eerie, otherworldly feeling that helps add to the mystery of this almost microorganism entity. Reading this story is what I would imagine taking...
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BOOK: Sideways (2004)

by benmweilertNo Comments
Sideways Year: 2004 Author: Rex Pickett Length: 665 minutes / 11.08 hours When I got into this book, the only things I knew about it were that it was about wine and it was made into a movie of the same name by Alexander Payne. Unfortunately, unlike a good wine, this book doesn’t seem to have aged well. Maybe people were able to put up with buddy comedy sex romps back in the early 2000’s, but the social climate has changed considerably since then. I doubt a book like this would be written today, at least without some outcry from people who find the women in it to be inherently objectified. Most of my issue with this book comes down to the characters. I’ll give the author credit for creating individuals that made me react to them so vehemently. The problem is that I hated these characters. I hated Jack for being so sex-crazed that he felt obligated to satiate his urges mere days before...
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